bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of surgeon handedness in total hip replacement
Authors: Pennington N , Redmond A , Stewart T , Stone M
Published: September 2014

Introduction

Total hip replacement (THR) is successful and performed commonly. Component placement is a determinant of outcome. Influence of surgeon handedness on component placement has not been considered previously. This study was a radiographic assessment of component positioning with respect to handedness. Early data from 160 patients are reported.

Methods

Overall, 160 primary THRs for osteoarthritis were included. Equal numbers of left and right THRs were performed by four surgeons, two right-handed and two left-handed. Postoperative radiography was assessed for THR component position by measurement of leg length inequality, acetabular inclination and centre of rotation. Surgeons’ handedness was assessed using the Edinburgh inventory.

Results

For leg length inequality, no significant interaction was seen between hip side and surgeon handedness. Acetabular inclination angles showed a statistically significant difference, however, depending on hand dominance, with higher inclination angles recorded when operating on the dominant side. There was a trend towards greater medialisation of the centre of rotation on the non-dominant side although this did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

Surgeon handedness appears to influence acetabular component position during THR but it is one factor of many that interact to achieve a successful outcome.
A cross-specialty survey to assess the application of risk stratified surgery for differentiated thyroid cancer in the UK
Authors: Craig WL , Ramsay CR , Fielding S , Krukowski ZH
Published: September 2014

Introduction

This study describes variability of treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer among thyroid surgeons, in the context of changing patterns of thyroid surgery in the UK.

Methods

Hospital Episodes Statistics on thyroid operations between 1997 and 2012 were obtained for England. A survey comprising six scenarios of varying ‘risk’ was developed. Patient/tumour information was provided, with five risk stratified or non-risk stratified treatment options. The survey was distributed to UK surgical associations. Respondent demographics were categorised and responses analysed by assigned risk stratified preference.

Results

From 1997 to 2012, the Hospital Episode Statistics data indicated there was a 55% increase in the annual number of thyroidectomies with a fivefold increase in otolaryngology procedures and a tripling of cancer operations. Of the surgical association members surveyed, 264 respondents reported a thyroid surgery practice. Management varied across and within the six scenarios, and was not related consistently to the level of risk. Associations were demonstrated between overall risk stratified preference and higher volume practice (>25 thyroidectomies per year) (p=0.011), fewer years of consultant practice (p=0.017) and multidisciplinary team participation (p=0.037). Logistic regression revealed fewer years of consultant practice (odds ratio [OR]: 0.96/year in practice, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.922–0.997, p=0.036) and caseload of >25/year (OR 1.92, 95% CI: 1.044–3.522, p=0.036) as independent predictors of risk stratified preference.

Conclusions

There is a substantial contribution to thyroid surgery in the UK by otolaryngology surgeons. Adjusting management according to established case-based risk stratification is not widely applied. Higher caseload was associated with a preference for management tailored to individual risk.
Using mobile technology to overcome language barriers in medicine
Authors: Chang DTS , Thyer IA , Hayne D , Katz DJ
Published: September 2014

Australia has a large migrant population with variable fluency in English. Interpreting services help ensure that healthcare services are delivered appropriately to these populations. However, the use of professional interpreters in hospitals is expensive. There are also issues with service availability and convenience. Mobile devices containing software with translating abilities have promising potential to improve communication between patients and hospital staff as an adjunct to professional interpreters. It is highly convenient and inexpensive. There are concerns about the accuracy of the interpretation done with such software and more research needs to be carried out to support or allay these concerns. For now, clinically important and medicolegal related interpretation should be undertaken by professional interpreters whereas less crucial tasks may be performed with the help of interpreting software on mobile devices.
Use of navigation aids as an additional training tool for orthopaedic trainees
Authors: Konan S , Hossain F , Soler A , Haddad FS
Published: September 2014

It is widely believed that the European Working Time Regulations have led to working practices that have altered the trainee–consultant trainer relationship in the UK. The time-tested apprenticeship model of training risks being lost inadvertently as a result of the limitations in continuity of care and decreased trainee–trainer interaction. 1,2
Coding for clinicians
Authors: Eve-Jones Sue
Published: September 2014

Clinical coding is the translation of certain clinical information into a coded form following principles and rules. In the UK this is generally done using the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10), which is produced by the World Health Organization to capture information about diagnoses and health status, and the OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures Version 4.7 (OPCS-4.7), which is produced by the Health and Social Care Information Centre to capture information about certain interventions.
Tree species identification in aerial image data using directional reflectance signatures
Authors: Korpela Ilkka , Mehtätalo Lauri , Markelin Lauri , Seppänen Anne , Kangas Annika
Published: September 2014

Tree species identification using optical remote sensing is challenging. Modern digital photogrammetric cameras enable radiometrically quantitative remote sensing and the estimation of reflectance images, in which the observations depend largely on the reflectance properties of targets. Previous research has shown that there are species-specific differences in how the brightness observed changes when the viewing direction in an aerial image is altered. We investigated if accounting for such directional signatures enhances species classification, using atmospherically corrected, real and simulated multispectral Leica ADS40 line-camera data. Canopy in direct and diffuse illumination were differentiated and species-specific variance-covariance structures were analyzed in real reflectance data, using mixed-effects modeling. Species classification simulations aimed at elucidating the level of accuracy that can be achieved by using images of different quality, number and view-illumination geometry. In real data, a substantial variance component was explained by tree effect, which demonstrates that observations from a tree correlate between observation geometries as well as spectrally. Near-infrared band showed the strongest tree effect, while the directionality was weak in that band. The gain from directional signatures was insignificant in real data, while simulations showed a potential gain of 1â3 percentage points in species classification accuracy. The quality of reflectance calibration was found to be important as well as the image acquisition geometry. We conclude that increasing the number of image observations cancels out random observation noise and reflectance calibration errors, but fails to eliminate the tree effect and systematic calibration inaccuracy. Directional reflectance constitutes a marginal improvement in tree species classification.
ELIMED: MEDICAL APPLICATION AT ELI-BEAMLINES. STATUS OF THE COLLABORATION AND FIRST RESULTS
Authors: Schillaci Francesco , Cirrone Giuseppe A. P. , Korn George , Maggiore Mario , Margarone Daniele , Calabretta Luciano , Cavallaro Salvatore , Cuttone Giacomo , Gammino Santo , Krasa Josef , Prokupek Jan , Velyhan Andriy , Renis Marcella , Romano Francesco , Tomasello Barbara , Torrisi Lorenzo , Cutroneo Mariapompea , Tramontana Antonella
Published: September 2014

ELI-Beamlines is one of the four pillars of the ELI (Extreme Light Infrastructure) pan-European project. It will be an ultrahigh-intensity, high repetition-rate, femtosecond laser facility whose main goal is to generate and apply high-brightness X-ray sources and accelerated charged particles. In particular, medical applications are treated by the ELIMED task force, which has been launched by collaboration between ELI and INFN researchers. ELIMED aims to demonstrate the clinical applicability of laser accelerated ions. In this article, the state of the ELIMED project and the first scientific results are reported. The design and realisation of a preliminary beam handling system and of an advanced spectrometer for diagnostics of high energy (multi-MeV) laser-accelerated ion beams will also be briefly presented.
INHIBITION OF CANDIDA ALBICANS GROWTH ON SURFACES TREATED BY DIELECTRIC BARRIER DISCHARGE WITH VARIOUS BARRIERS
Authors: Sláma Jan , Kríha Vítezslav
Published: September 2014

Discharges generating low temperature plasma at atmospheric pressure have the potential to treat surfaces biologically contaminated by organic matter in a non-destructive manner. We have been studying ways of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms with the use of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma. The effect of the choice of a barrier material and its thickness on the
germicide properties of the DBD is described. We used Saboraud agar inoculated by 105 cfu/cm2 of Candida albicans yeast as the model contaminated surface. After cultivation, the proportion of the treated surface with no C. albicans colony was evaluated.
COMPARATIVE MEASUREMENTS OF HEAD ANGULAR MOVEMENTS USING A CAMERA SYSTEM AND A GYROSCOPE SYSTEM
Authors: Socha Vladimir , Kutilek Patrik , Cakrt Ondrej , Cerny Rudolf
Published: September 2014

Assessments of body-segment angular movements are very important in the rehabilitation process. Head angular movements are measured and analyzed for use in studies of stability and posture. However, there is no methodology for assessing angular movements of the head, and it has not been verified whether data measured by fundamentally different MoCap systems will lead to the same results. In this study, we used a camera system and a 3DOF orientation tracker placed on the subject’s head, and measured inclination (roll) and flexion (pitch) during quiet stance. The total length and the mean velocity of the traces of the pitch versus roll plots were used to measure and analyze head orientation. Using these methods, we are able to model the distribution of the measured 2D data, and to evaluate stability and posture. The results show that the total lengths and the mean velocities related to the 3DOF orientation tracker do not differ significantly from the total lengths and the mean velocities of traces related to the IR medical camera. We also found that the systems are not interchangeable, and that the same type of system must be used each time. The designed methods can be used for studies not only of head movements but also of movements of other segments of the human body, and can be used to compare other types of MoCap systems, depending on the requirements for a specific rehabilitation examination.
Ethylene polymerization with an alpha-diimine nickel (II) complex covalently supported on SiO2
Authors: Jiang Hongliu , Lu Jinshan
Published: September 2014

A new strategy has been developed to prepare silica-supported α- diimine nickel (II) complex for ethylene polymerization. The bis(4-allyl-2,6- diisopropylphenyl-imino)acenaphthene was modified by the introduction of reactive Si-Cl end groups, allowing the immobilization of them via the direct reaction of the Si-Cl groups with hydroxyls on the silica surface. The resultant Si-Cl-modified bis(4-allyl-2,6-diisopropylphenyl-imino)acenaphthene ligand and the SiO2 supported ligand were characterized by NMR and FTIR spectroscopic techniques, respectively. The reaction of the supported ligand with (1,2-dimethoxyethane)NiBr2 ((DME)NiBr2) gives rise to silica-supported Ni(II) precatalyst, which exhibits high catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization in the presence of inexpensive general alkylaluminum compounds. According to high-temperature GPC, the polyethylene had average molecular weights in the range 0.246x106---1.217x106 and molecular weight distributions in the range 3.17-3.51. The resultant polyethylenes were confirmed by 13C-NMR to contain significant amounts not only of methyl but also of ethyl, propyl, butyl, amyl, and longer side chains (longer than six carbons).
Synthesis and characterization of new, liquid, branched poly(methylvinylborosiloxanes)
Authors: Chruściel Jerzy , Fejdyś Marzena , Fortuniak Witold
Published: September 2014

New liquid branched poly(methylvinylborosiloxanes) (br-PMVBS) of random structure were synthesized in three steps. By reacting boric acid with an excess of dimethyldichlorosilane (Me2SiCl2) in dry ether a “borosiloxane precursor”: tris(chlorodimethylsilyl) borate B(OSiMe2Cl)3 was prepared. In the second step of synthesis ether solution of B(OSiMe2Cl)3 was added to a mixture of appropriate organic chlorosilanes (Me2SiCl2, MeViSiCl2, MeSiCl3, and Me3SiCl) and all reagents were reacted with stoichiometric amounts of water, in the presence of pyridine (as an acceptor of HCl), in dry ether, at low temperature (usually at -10 to 0 C). In order to fully react (“to block”) trace silanol groups, reactions of intermediate PMVBS with additional batches of Me3SiCl were carried out in the third step, C5H5N·HCl was filtered off and washed with a dry ether. The solvent was distilled off from filtrates and low molecular weight siloxane oligomers were removed by a vacuum distillation at 130-150 C. Chemical structures of br-PMVBS were confirmed by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods (FTIR, emission atomic spectroscopy ICP-AES, and NMR: 1H, 29Si and 11B). On the basis of analysis of their 29Si-NMR spectra the microstructure of polysiloxane chains was proposed. The prepared br-PMVBS had in their structures: triple branching borosiloxane units: BO1.5 and in some cases methylsiloxane moiety CH3SiO1.5 (T). They contained linkages: Si-O-Si, Si-O-B, vinyl(methyl)siloxane functional groups (CH2=CH)MeSiO (Dvi), dimethylsiloxane mers (CH3)2SiO (D), and non-reactive trimethylsiloxy terminal groups (CH3)3SiO0.5 (M), but they did not have: hydroxyl functional groups: Si-OH and B-OH, and sensitive to water B-O-B linkages. Molecular weights of br-PMVBS (Mn = 1500-3300 g/mol; Mw = 3800-7400 g/mol) and their polydispersity (Mw/Mn = 2.0-2.5) were determined by a size exclusion chromatography (SEC).
Real-time clinical clutter reduction in combined epi-optoacoustic and ultrasound imaging
Authors: Jaeger Michael , Gashi Kujtim , Akarçay Hidayet Günhan , Held Gerrit , Peeters Sara , Petrosyan Tigran , Preisser Stefan , Gruenig Michael , Frenz Martin
Published: September 2014

Flexible imaging of the human body, a requirement for broad clinical application, is obtained by direct integration of optoacoustic (OA) imaging with echo ultrasound (US) in a multimodal epi-illumination system. Up to date, successful deep epi-OA imaging is difficult to achieve owing to clutter. Clutter signals arise from optical absorption in the region of tissue irradiation and strongly reduce contrast and imaging depth. Recently, we developed a displacement-compensated averaging (DCA) technique for clutter reduction based on the clutter decorrelation that occurs when palpating the tissue. To gain first clinical experience on the practical value of DCA, we implemented this technique in a combined clinical OA and US imaging system. Our experience with freehand scanning of human volunteers reveals that real-time feedback on the clutter-reduction outcome is a key factor for achieving superior contrast and imaging depth.
Bentham’s Contextualism and Its Relation to Analytic Philosophy
Authors: Bronzo Silver
Published: September 2014

This paper (i) offers an interpretation of some central aspects of Jeremy Bentham’s philosophy of language, (ii) challenges the received view of its relation to analytic philosophy, and (iii) seeks to show that this investigation into the prehistory of analytic philosophy sheds light on its history proper. It has been often maintained, most notably by Quine, that Bentham anticipated Frege’s context principle and the use of contextual definition. On these bases, Bentham has been presented as one of the initiators of a tradition that shares a common commitment to the “semantic priority of sentences” and that includes authors as otherwise diverse as Frege, Russell, and Wittgenstein. In opposition to this narrative, I argue that Bentham did indeed anticipate the use of contextual definition, but was not a forerunner of Frege’s context principle. The two issues should be sharply distinguished. I show that Bentham’s philosophy of language is informed by a set of empiricist assumptions that Frege’s contextualism was centrally meant to oppose. I conclude that with respect to the question of the relation between propositional and sub-propositional meaning, we should distinguish two opposed strands in the history of analytic philosophy: an empiricist strand anticipated by Bentham, represented most notably by Russell, and an anti-empiricist strand, represented most notably by Frege and Wittgenstein.
Effect of Preheated Jatropha Oil and Jatropha Oil Methyl Ester with Producer Gas on Diesel Engine Performance
Authors: C. Nayak, B. P. Pattanaik and S. K. Nayak
Published: September 2014

The present experimental study demonstrates the performance and emission characteristics of a single cylinder dual fuel diesel engine with producer gas as the primary fuel and diesel, preheated Jatropha oil and Jatropha oil methyl ester as injected fuels. In order to reduce the viscosity of Jatropha oil, a shell and tube type heat exchanger was designed and fabricated for preheating Jatropha oil using engine exhaust gas. The performance parameters, such as brake specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency and  exhaust gas temperature, have shown improved results with baseline diesel and producer gas, whereas the above parameters are very close to other test fuels under different loading conditions. All the emission parameters are found to be on the higher side for preheated oil- compared to diesel-producer gas dual fuel operation at all load conditions. With Jatropha oil methyl ester-producer gas dual fuel operation, however, emission parameters such as CO2, smoke and NOx are higher compared to diesel-producer gas operation. The smoke emission for preheated Jatropha oil-producer gas dual fuel operation is approximately 60% higher than that of diesel-producer gas operation at full load. From the present experimental investigation it may be concluded that alternative fuel combinations such as preheated Jatropha oil-producer gas and Jatropha oil methyl ester-producer gas can successfully replace diesel as the major fuel in diesel engines with little modification. The present paper also recommends further investigation to improve fuel properties and in-cylinder combustion phenomena of preheated Jatropha oil and its methyl ester before use in a diesel engine.
Association between serum cystatin C and diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a cross-sectional study of a Chinese type 2 diabetic population
Authors: Hu Yanyun , Liu Fang , Shen Jing , Zeng Hui , Li Lianxi , Zhao Jun , Zhao Jungong , Lu Fengdi , Jia Weiping
Published: September 2014

Objective

Serum cystatin C (CysC) is a sensitive marker of kidney function and recent studies have shown that CysC plays a critical role in degenerative diseases in both the central and the peripheral nervous systems. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between serum CysC and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

In total, 937 type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Serum CysC concentration was measured by immunoturbidimetry. DPN was evaluated by neurological symptoms, neurological signs, neurothesiometer, and electromyogram.

Results

Serum CysC levels were significantly higher in DPN patients (1.3 (1.1–1.5) mg/l) compared with patients with signs of DPN (1.1 (0.9–1.3) mg/l,P<0.001) and non-DPN patients (1.0 (0.9–1.3) mg/l,P<0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that DPN was associated with age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, and serum CysC. Spearman's correlation analysis showed that serum CysC was closely related with age, sex, diabetes duration, hypertension, glomerular infiltration rate, and serum creatinine (Cr) level. The patients were divided into quartiles according to the serum CysC levels. Compared with quartile 1 (referent), the risk of DPN was significantly higher in quartile 2 (odds ratio (OR), 1.753; 95% CI, 1.055–2.912;P<0.05), quartile 3 (OR, 2.463; 95% CI, 1.445–4.917;P<0.01), and quartile 4 (OR, 5.867; 95% CI, 2.075–16.589;P<0.01). Receiver-operating characteristic analysis revealed that the optimal cutoff point of serum CysC to indicate DPN was 1.25 mg/l in male patients and 1.05 mg/l in female patients. High serum CysC level indicated a onefold higher risk of DPN.

Conclusions

High serum CysC level is closely associated with DPN and may be a potential biomarker for DPN in type 2 diabetic patients.
Confronting the Problems of Professional Sports: A Public Policy Response to Franchise Relocation and Stadium Subsidization
Authors: Brinkman Taylor F
Published: September 2014

During the past decade, forty-six professional sports venues were constructed in the United States, while only 16 expansion teams were created by the major sports leagues. Nearly two thirds of these newly built stadiums and arenas were funded with public tax revenues, despite substantial evidence showing no positive economic impact of new sports stadium construction on local communities. In reviewing the economic literature, this article investigates the role of professional sports organizations in the construction and public subsidization of new sports venues. Franchise relocation and public stadium subsidization is a direct result of the monopoly power of professional sports leagues, whose franchise owners extract large subsidies from their host communities by threatening to relocate to viable alternative locations. After explaining how the most common methods of stadium subsidization project a disproportionate allocation of the benefits and costs of hosting a professional team to local community interests, this article outlines several considerations for local policymakers who seek to reinvigorate public discussion of equity concerns in professional sports finance.
Particle Identification in High Energy Collisions at RHIC
Authors: Love Brian T
Published: September 2014

This article provides a technical introduction to the study of collider physics by focusing on the concept of particle identification (PID). Through a general overview of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and the Pioneering High Energy Nuclear Interaction Experiment (PHENIX), the author discusses the role of Vanderbilt University researchers in collaborative work at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. After explaining the concept of event reconstruction and centrality with graphical images of experimental results, the author outlines the time-of-flight method of particle identification in high energy physics. A final presentation of the design concept for the Multi-Gap Resistive Plate Chamber (MRPC) integrates the more traditional foundations of theoretical physics with the next generation of physics experimentation in the field.
The Vanderbilt Concrete Canoe Design Project: The Little Engine that Canoed
Authors: Schmitt Stephen Brian
Published: September 2014

The Vanderbilt Concrete Canoe (VCC) Team has a competitive history at the Southeastern Regional ASCE Conference, placing in the top five schools throughout the past three years. The most recent concrete canoe project was named The Little Engine That Canoed in 2006 to honor Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt’s origins in the railroad industry and as a reminder of the power of persistence. Developing The Little Engine was a small portion of the overall project objectives. The design team first compiled a significant body of literature that systematically outlined the steps for a successful concrete canoe project. The Little Engine boasts a fresh hull, three-dimensional finite element analysis, and an optimized concrete composite. The canoe construction efforts yielded a female mold, canoe carrier, and stands. Team members found the process of modeling the V-shaped bow and stern sections and a rounded stern stem to be the most challenging obstacles. Three-dimensional analysis was performed for the first time in school history and provided insight into graduate level coursework. Similarly, designing a concrete composite to withstand the rigors of competition required the use of a polymer to replace water in the concrete mix. To reach new heights, the team utilized a functional breakdown structure. Teamwork and communication, in the face of limited manpower, resulted in performing over 800 man-hours of concrete canoe related activities during a two-year period.
Religion, Rhetoric, and Social Change after Hurricane Katrina
Authors: Arlinghaus Anne Marie
Published: September 2014

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and in its aftermath, Americans were left asking why it had happened. This paper explores the discussions that occurred in newspaper articles, editorials, websites, and blogs in an attempt to distill the multiple interpretations people had of such a major natural disaster. Three major meanings emerge: that the hurricane was a type of divine retribution, that the hurricane was caused or its consequences exacerbated by human failings, and that the hurricane could serve as a catalyst for social change.
Advertising an Agenda? Examining the Consistency between Campaign Issue Emphasis and Presidential Issue Priorities, 1980-2001
Authors: Randolph, Jr. Christopher S.
Published: September 2014

Presidential candidates often make issue appeals during their campaigns, but question exists as to whether the actions of presidents are consistent with their messages as candidates. Examining presidential documents and direct communications between candidates and voters allows an exploration of the degree to which presidential priorities reflect issues emphasized in campaigns. This analysis is followed by a discussion of the effects of electoral dynamics on the consistency between campaign messages and presidential agendas.
Design of an External Combustion Engine and its Application in a Free Piston Compressor
Authors: Webb Jonathan Hogan
Published: September 2014

The design of a free piston compressor and an analysis on integrating an external combustion engine into the compressor design are presented in this article. A free piston compressor is a device which converts chemical energy to work on a volume of air through the kinetic energy of an inertia driven piston, which is not rigidly attached to a ground. An external combustion engine serves as in intermediate chamber which transfers combustion gases to a device to perform some work. The following discusses the design and experiments on an external combustion engine, with a focus on eliminating an injection holding force on a free piston compressor’s elastomeric membranes. The efficiency of the external combustion engine to transfer energy without significant losses due to heat, dead volume, air/fuel mixtures, and actuated valve speed are also presented.
Vanderbilt Biodiesel Initiative
Authors: Runge William O , Cousins Amelia
Published: September 2014

The Biodiesel Initiative is a plan to create a self-sufficient, sustainable, student run biodiesel production system at Vanderbilt University. The biodiesel processing system will be used to convert waste vegetable oil from Vanderbilt Dining services into environmentally responsible biodiesel fuel that can be used in any diesel engine. On campus, applications might include student activity vans, buses, or landscaping machinery. The ultimate goal of the project will be to curb the consumption of petroleum-based fuel by the Vanderbilt and Nashville community, and to educate others about the viability of biodiesel as an effective alternative fuel. The group also hopes to serve as a model for other campuses, by documenting and publishing the ongoing work at http://dorediesel.blogspot.com.
They Moved the Earth: The Slaves Who Built the Tennessee State Capitol
Authors: Broderick IV Thomas Joseph
Published: September 2014

By utilizing primary and secondary source material, this essay attempts to examine both the use of slavery during the construction of the Tennessee State Capitol and the lives of the slaves involved. Though written histories on the Capitol agree that slavery was used at the construction site, no further details are given. The goal of this essay is to bring to light the full story of the group of slaves that were involved in the construction.

In the spring of 1846, fifteen slaves, all men, were loaned to the state government by A.G. Payne, a Nashville stone mason. For nearly a year they carved out the Capitol’s cellar, their skilled labor worth nearly twice as much as the unskilled labor of free men. These slaves broke through tons of limestone rock, carting it away after digging.

When construction required skilled stonemasons, the slaves returned to their master’s properties. For fourteen years up until Payne’s death, they worked at both a farm and brick factory, the monotony briefly punctuated by being hired out. Due to debts incurred by Payne just before his death, the slaves were to be sold. The Civil War imminent, the slaves remained with Payne’s widow until their emancipation.

After emancipation, the records on all but three of the men stop completely. Out of the three remaining men, the children of one were prospering. They had been taught to read. The government their father had helped physically build was finally working for their interests.
The Reichstag and the New Berlin
Authors: Ross Lauren Ann
Published: September 2014

This work examines the Reichstag’s emblematic role in Berlin’s history. Today the Reichstag is a major tourist attraction and home to Germany’s democratic parliament. However, the building has had a complicated history spanning five distinct times in German history: the Imperial Age and World War I, the troubled Weimar Republic, Nazism and World War II, the divided Cold War, and finally a unified Germany. The progressions of the building mirror those of German society and the city of Berlin over the pasts century, culminating in the vibrant Western European democratic country, city, and building we see today. Specifically, the revitalization of the Reichstag building itself through Christo’s wrapping project and Sir Norman Foster’s reconstruction were vital steps for a torn city to embrace its past while transitioning the building from a history museum into the seat of the German parliament. Furthermore, this change is emblematic of Berlin as a whole, in its quest for its own Hauptstadtkultur as the capital moved back to Berlin from Bonn. Architecture has played a significant role in this New Berlin, and the case of the Reichstag building is no different. Foster’s design, adding a modernist glass and steel dome to the nineteenth century building, emphasizes political transparency while maintaining traces of the past. Focusing on the example of the Reichstag, I argue that this merging of history and hope for the future has proved essential and successful, though often controversial, in recreating a unified, vibrant, and strong Berlin.
Iraq's Burgeoning Judiciary: Current Issues and the Best Way Forward
Authors: Roberts Justin Charles
Published: September 2014

Following the United States takeover of Iraq in 2003, the Department of Justice released an assessment of Iraq’s fractured judiciary. Corruption, public distrust of the courts, and other roadblocks provided a bleak outlook on the rebuilding of the Iraqi judiciary. Nevertheless, recent large-scale judicial reforms have been moderately successful, including the separation of executive and judicial power, guarantee of due process, and efforts to protect the system from corruption, bribery, and political pressure. Now, during a period of relative stability, the Iraqi government must focus the improvement of the judiciary on four major areas: judicial independence, the debate between transparency and national security, the ability to prosecute high-ranking officials, issues with Kurdish autonomy, and international assistance and training. While each of these issues is deeply complex, this research asserts that there are six crucial improvements that will best enhance the Iraqi judiciary going forward. These improvements include increased courthouse rehabilitation to provide security for judges, a policy of erring on the side of transparency instead of worry over national security, a focus on promoting judges by merit instead of removing them through review, the rolling back of the ministerial protection law, a movement toward the election of judges instead of appointment, and an initiative to educate the Iraqi people and judiciary on the rich history of Iraqi law, as Iraq was the birthplace of codified law. If these improvements begin to be implemented now, they will ensure solid and sustainable growth of the Iraqi society and economy in the long-term.
The design and implementation of a computer interface for a Raman spectrometer using the LabVIEW software package
Authors: Burger Dan M
Published: September 2014

A user-friendly computer interface was created for the SPEX 1403 Raman spectrometer using the LabVIEW computer package. The interface allows the user to align the spectrometer easily, produce a graph of the Raman spectra, and save the file to a format readable by a spreadsheet program. The program has three screens: the first allows the user to set initial settings, the second allows the user to read from a particular wavelength for proper alignment, and the third allows the user to set scan settings and perform the scan. The interface was successful in reading Raman spectra easily and efficiently.
The Effects of Social Deprivation within Orphanages on Parent- Child Attachment: How Adoption can Ameliorate Attachment Problems
Authors: Clemons Ariel Hilary
Published: September 2014

Since the mid-20th century, developmentalists have researched how social deprivation within orphanages affects a child’s ability to later form an attachment to his primary caregiver. John Bowlby’s theory of attachment posits that children who do not develop any attachment style within the first two years of their life will subsequently never be to able to become attached to their primary caregivers. However, longitudinal studies conducted on children reared in orphanages have proved that there is no critical period within which attachment must be formed. A child’s ability to form an attachment to his adoptive parent is not based on his age, but rather on the parent’s commitment to promoting a secure attachment style through affectionate and responsive care.
These Signs Shall Follow: the serpent-handling Christians of Appalachia
Authors: Bain Aja L.
Published: September 2014

This paper traces the roots and development of the Church of God with Signs Following, a charismatic Christian group of worshippers that has been increasingly investigated and publicized by the courts and media in the last half century. A Church of God with Signs Following service is much like any other within the Pentecostal Holiness tradition, utilizing spiritual gifts such as “glossolalia” (speaking in tongues) and healing, but with a few important exceptions: members regularly take up poisonous serpents and imbibe deadly toxins during the course of worship. According to members, their ways are Biblically justified and they are subject to no law but God’s. This unique tradition has caused widespread notoriety and stigmatization of the group and to their current position as one of the least understood sects of Christianity. This paper also examines their particular beliefs and practices to explain and hopefully dispel the basis of the modern-day view of the group as deviants from Christianity, or as members of a barbaric cult. The presence of the church as a uniquely rural and southern phenomenon is also explored, as well as popular opinion and litigation that the church has historically faced. Above all, we seek an understanding of how and why this particular (and undeniably peculiar) denomination has endured and staked its claim as a legitimate religious institution in a land where it has been the object of fear and ridicule for decades.
F. Scott Fitzgerald: Writing Under the Influence of Europe
Authors: Xu Tim
Published: September 2014

As one of the notable figures in 20th Century American literature, F. Scott Fitzgerald has been studied widely by authors, critics, and historians alike. This paper addresses the role of Fitzgerald's time abroad in creating the inspiration for his work as well as Europe's part in catalyzing his eventual decline in the public eye. As a member of the so-called "Lost Generation" of American writers who took up residence in Paris during the 1920s, Fitzgerald was profoundly influenced by his peers, notably Ernest Hemingway. Another guiding factor in Fitzgerald's writing was the presence of Zelda, Fitzgerald's wife, whose mental illness placed both an emotional and financial strain on Fitzgerald. This paper examines the ups and downs of Fitzgerald's life while incorporating the analysis of several of his Europe-inspired works, including his last completed novel Tender is the Night and his famed short story "Babylon Revisited." Fitzgerald's life and work support the claim that Europe was fundamentally a double-edged sword - while Europe provided the thrilling lifestyle that fueled Fitzgerald's writing and widespread notoriety, it also brought about his ultimate disintegration.
Forging an Iron Woman: On the effects of piracy on gender in the 18th century Caribbean
Authors: Hernandez Christine Mae
Published: September 2014

Piracy in Caribbean during the 18th century affected numerous social issues including race, class, and nationality. However, it also effectively introduced ideas of sexual equality three hundred years ahead of its time by embracing a group historically rejected by both the general public and academic scholars alike: women. Female pirates like Anne Bonny and Mary Read thrived alongside their male counterparts, learning to benefit from both sexes by fighting like men in war and escaping execution through pregnancy. Despite the sharp social stratification found on land, life at sea afforded strong men and women the opportunity to escape the lives prescribed to them.
Anthrax: Real Threat or Useful Scare Tactic?
Authors: O'Donohue Sarah N
Published: September 2014

In the years following the attacks of September 11, both the United States Government and the general public have become increasingly aware of the threat of terrorism and its many forms. Not only do we fear "weapons of mass destruction" such as nuclear missiles, but also microscopic spores such as anthrax which has opened up a whole new world of "bioterrorism." On June 12, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act in response to the "Amerithrax" attacks in late 2001. However, the risk of biological warfare use is not well understood, and bioterrorism is a threat without precedent. The extremely low incidence of real biological events in the early 21st century contrasts with the outburst of political rhetoric and mass-media coverage surrounding the subject. Thus, the question arises whether bioterrorism is a real threat or merely a useful scare tactic. Research shows that anthrax is both a real threat—on account of its contagiousness, durable spore structure, complex lethal toxin, and demonstrated use as a weapon of biological warfare—and a useful scare tactic as the bacterium has become a public obsession and the subject of countless hoaxes. America and its allies must confront the reality of bioterrorism by organizing defenses for possible attacks and by further investigating the nature and properties of anthrax and other pathogenic agents—after all, knowing your enemy is the best strategy in any type of warfare.
Making Money Grow on Trees: Forest Policy in Light of a Carbon Tax
Authors: Polson Chester W
Published: September 2014

This paper addresses one specific aspect of reducing global climate change. Carbon emissions, global climate change, and the need to reduce the volume of these emissions has had greater attention recently. Logically, if carbon emitters are taxed for emissions under a carbon tax framework, there should be no reason not to subsidize for sequestering carbon. Since trees naturally sequester carbon, there is the possibility for them to fall under a carbon subsidy resulting in greater carbon sequestration in US forests. This paper considers necessary factors to include when designing a subsidy to encourage additional carbon sequestration in US forests under a carbon tax framework. It does this by modeling tree growth and carbon sequestration in trees. Next, the paper models the current value of an acre of trees, including the market value of timber, non-timber recreational values, and growing costs. After calculating the rate of return for a given acre of trees at any given point in time, the paper discusses the effect the subsidy has on the amount of trees grown per acre. Finally, it considers what effect the subsidy could have nationally on carbon sequestration, critiquing various provisions of the Markey Bill. Finally, the paper considers possible considerations and consequences of implementing the designed subsidy independently of any other legislation and some other possible ways to use trees to sequester carbon and then looks at the Obama administration’s carbon reduction emissions targets to see how useful a policy of this type could be in the near future.
Oxidative Stress Resistance and Viability of C. elegans in the Presence of Manganese through SKN-1 Protein Expression
Authors: Sequeira Lauren Accacia
Published: September 2014

Oxidative stress plays an imperative role in viewing how humans respond to diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, as well as in the process of aging. Through research and experimentation of Caenorhabditis elegans, scientists can study organismal and cellular aging that is analogous to that of humans. C. elegans are used as an ideal model of study due to their eukaryotic existence, as well as the relative ease of development and growth protocol. Through C. elegans, researchers can examine relevant signaling pathways, such as those that regulate metabolism, nutrition, and stress responses. As the complete genome for C. elegans has been identified, researchers known the exact cell differentiation pattern of each cell, therefore allowing for in depth study about the responses of C. elegans to different conditions and stresses. The SKN-1 protein in this species initiates development of the digestive tracts and other mesendodermal tissues during the primary stages of C. elegans development. By studying the genetic mechanisms that are rooted in C. elegans aging, humans have the opportunity to identify new human genes, as well as the pathways associated with both disease and aging in humans.
Risk and Regulation: Methylmercury Exposure and Fish Consumption
Authors: Gendzier Jonathan M
Published: September 2014

Exposure to organic mercury (methylmercury) occurs almost universally due to ingestion via

contaminated fish and shellfish tissue. Ultimate sources of mercury consist of air release by domestic

industrial combustion, mining, and international mercury emissions transported via a global cycle.

Deposition of mercury from air to surface waters results in methylation to organic methylmercury and

bioaccumulation in the aquatic food web.

Health effects from methylmercury exposure consist mainly of neurological and

neurodevelopmental effects, with fetuses particularly sensitive. Thus regulation of methylmercury

exposure has concentrated on acceptable exposure levels and reference doses aimed toward protecting

developing fetuses.

The risk of methylmercury exposure in humans is regulated largely by the federal government,

especially by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The EPA imposes limits on mercury emissions and seeks to research methylmercury levels in fish and humans. The EPA sets a reference dose for methylmercury exposure. The FDA conducts uses date on methylmercury levels in fish to advise consumers on how to make informed decisions regarding fish consumption.

There are numerous shortcoming to government regulation of this issue. Further scientific

research, improved implementation of available data and scientific conclusions, and improved public

communication of risk would all lead to more effective treatment of the risk of methylmercury

exposure via ingestion of fish and shellfish. This could include more effective monitoring systems of

human and fish methylmercury levels, research into the process of bioaccumulation, and

implementation of stricter fish labeling standards, as well as research into higher-risk subpopulations

allowing for targeted standards and recommendations.
Facial Perceptions: Age's Influence on People's Perceptions of Facial Modifications
Authors: Howell Nascine , Overhalser Lindsey Erin , Randall Abigail Eliza , Dillon Rachael
Published: September 2014

A 2x7 between-subject experiment examined the affect of age on people’s perceptions of facial modifications. Researchers instructed participants aged 18-60 to complete two online surveys. One survey contained 10 modified faces (facial piercings and neck tattoos) and the second survey contained 10 non-modified faces. Participants were instructed to look at each face and rate the face using a 5 point Likert scale on five traits: Trustworthiness, Attractiveness, Confidence, Intelligence and Friendliness. Modified faces were rated higher and perceived more positively than the non-modified faces by participants in all age groups. There was an effect of modification on age groups one (18-23 years old), two (24-29 years), five (30-35 years) and six (36-41 years) for the traits Attractiveness and Confidence. These findings suggest people’s perception of strangers’ is influenced by their own age at the time of the encounter and the age of the faces.
Bioarchaeological Insights on Dental Health and Diet After the Fall of the Wari Empire in the Peruvian Andes
Authors: Tribbett Alysha L , Tung Tiffiny
Published: September 2014

This research project looked at the dental health of Late Intermediate Period skeletons from the Wari capital to assess their consumption patterns. A high rate of dental disease coupled with carious lesions indicative of coca chewing supports the hypothesis that post-Wari populations maintained many of the agricultural practices and trade networks of the former state, including consumption of large quantities of maize and frequent coca chewing.