cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interspecific and temporal variation of ant species within Acacia drepanolobium ant domatia, a staple food of patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) in Laikipia, Kenya.

The ants that live in the swollen thorns (domatia) of Acacia drepanolobium are staple foods for patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas). To obtain a better understanding of these insects as resources for patas monkeys, we sampled the contents of 1,051 swollen thorns (ant domatia) over a 22-month period from December 1999 to September 2001, in Laikipia, Kenya. First, we confirmed that of the four species of ants that live on A. drepanolobium, Crematogaster sjostedti, the competitively dominant ant in this system, does not rear significant brood in the swollen thorns and is therefore not a major food item of patas monkeys. Second, across the other three species that do use swollen thorns for rearing their brood, C. nigriceps, C. mimosae, and Tetraponera penzigi, the number of worker ants per swollen thorn increased with increasing competitive dominance. Third, although there was considerable month-to-month variation in the number of workers, immatures, and especially alates (winged reproductives) within species, there was less variation across species because ant production was asynchronous. Variation in domatia contents was poorly related to rainfall for each of the three species. Finally, distal thorns held more alates and fewer workers than interior thorns, and branches higher off the ground held more alates and more workers than lower branches. For the numerically dominant C. mimosae, higher branches held significantly more immature ants than did lower branches. Ants are reliable food resources for patas monkeys, and are probably more reliable than many plant resources in this highly seasonal environment. We estimate that patas monkeys may get as much as a third of their daily caloric needs from these ants year-round. As ants and other insects are widely consumed by primates, we suggest that greater consideration be given to species differences in animal food choices and that further studies be conducted to examine the degree to which ants influence
Experimental test of socially mediated sex change in a protandric simultaneous hermaphrodite, the marine shrimp Lysmata wurdemanni (Caridea: Hippolytidae)

In Lysmata wurdemanni, individuals begin benthic life in a male phase (MP) but later change to a female phase (FP) with female external morphology, but with both male and female reproductive capacity (protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism). Previous studies have demonstrated that the size (timing) of sex change varies considerably in natural populations. We experimentally tested for social mediation of sex change by rearing male-phase individuals (MPs) in both large and small social groups with different sexual and size composition. In the “large group” experiment, speed of sex change was inversely related to the abundance of female-phase individuals (FPs) in the group (sex-ratio induction). Increased allocation to female function (more rapid change to FP) may occur when male mating opportunities are lower because the simultaneous-hermaphrodite FP can immediately reproduce as a female while maintaining male mating capacity. When FPs are abundant, delayed sex change might be adaptive because the costs of female reproduction are considerable. An MP may gain reproductively by increased growth before changing to FP at a larger size (fewer but much larger broods). Size-ratio induction of sex change by small MPs was suggested but not confirmed. Experimental results from “small groups” (1–2 individuals) were qualitatively similar but not as conclusive as those from large groups. The number and complexity of social interactions in large groups may be necessary to stimulate labile sex change in this species. In L. wurdemanni, sex change may be influenced not only by abiotic factors related to breeding [Bauer (2002) Biol Bull 203:347–357] but also by social factors in certain demographic situations.
The genomics of speciation: investigating the molecular correlates of X chromosome introgression across the hybrid zone between Mus domesticus and Mus musculus

Understanding the genetic details of reproductive isolation is a key goal in the study of speciation. Hybrid zones, geographical regions where two species meet and exchange genes, can provide insight into the genetic basis of reproductive isolation. This is especially true in species with mapped molecular markers because patterns of gene flow can be compared among different genomic regions. Even greater insight can be obtained in species with complete genome sequences because gene identity, gene number and other features of interest can be assessed for genomic regions with different patterns of introgression. Here, we review recent studies on the well-characterized hybrid zone between Mus domesticus and M. musculus, including a detailed survey of patterns of introgression for 13 markers on the X chromosome. We then compare levels of introgression for these 13 regions to a number of genomic attributes inferred from the complete sequence of the X chromosome, with two purposes. First, we identify candidate genes for reproductive isolation by finding genes that map to an X-linked region of reduced introgression and that are only expressed in the male germ line or that show high rates of protein evolution in comparison with rat. Second, we ask whether patterns of gene flow are correlated with recombination rate, gene density, base composition, CpG island density, mutation rate and the rate of protein evolution, as might be expected if many genes contribute to reproductive isolation. We identify seven candidate genes for reproductive isolation between M. domesticus and M. musculus, and our analyses reveal no general correlations between levels of introgression and other measured sequence characteristics. These results underline the utility of the house mouse as a model system for the study of speciation.
Single level lumbar disc herniations resulting in radicular pain: pain and functional outcomes after treatment with targeted disc decompression.

Study Design. Single-arm prospective clinical trial. Objective. To determine the treatment effect and MRI changes of targeted disc decompression using an intradiscal catheter for focal heating of symptomatic lumbar disc protrusions resulting in radicular pain. Summary of Background Data. Percutaneous methods for treatment of lumbar disc herniations are potentially attractive alternatives to open surgical discetomies. The effects of a newly designed, percutaneous electrothermal intradiscal catheter were evaluated. Methods. Twenty-two subjects with MRI confirmed, single-level contained lumbar disc protrusions, a minimum of 8 weeks of radicular pain (average 63 weeks) and failed nonsurgical treatment were invited. Nineteen patients underwent the decompression procedure. Follow-up was performed by physical exam and pain severity visual analog scale (VAS), SF-36 bodily pain (BP)/physical functioning (PF) scores for 12 months post-procedure. MRIs were obtained prior to treatment and at 3 months post-procedure. Results. Eighty-four percent of treated patients were available for follow-up at 12 months. The mean reduction in leg pain VAS scores was 2.6 points (40.6%, 95% CI 1.0–4.1). The mean reduction in back pain VAS scores was 2.4 points (44.4%, 95% CI 0.8–4.0). SF-36 BP scores improved 28.8 points (95% CI 17.5–40.0) and SF-36 PF scores improved 25.4 points (95% CI 13.0–37.7) on average. Effect sizes were small for VAS scores and moderate for SF-36 scores. Fifty-four percent of disc herniations were improved or resolved on MRI. No device-related or intraoperative complications were observed. Conclusions. Targeted disc decompression provided moderate improvement in leg pain and function in the majority of patients with chronic radicular pain.
Testing the validity of eating disorder diagnoses

Objective: This paper overviews the issue of validity testing for eating disorder diagnoses. Method: A variety of different approaches to validity testing are reviewed, with an emphasis on clinically oriented validity testing for the DSM-V. Results: Validators of eating disorder diagnoses are likely to vary in terms of their scientific and clinical utility. Given that the DSM-V is a clinical document, validators which provide predictive clinical information will be most useful. Conclusion: Clinicians and researchers alike may differ in their approach to validating eating disorder diagnoses depending on the purpose of the validation. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2007
Cloning, expression, and nucleotide sequence of a Staphylococcus aureus gene (fbpA) encoding a fibrinogen-binding protein.

Septicemia due to Staphylococcus aureus often begins as a focal infection (e.g., colonized wounds or catheters) from which the organism gains access to the bloodstream. On the basis of recent data from this laboratory, it is likely that S. aureus colonizes catheters and endothelium by using a fibrinogen-binding protein to mediate adhesion to fibrinogen-coated surfaces. To characterize the fibrinogen-reactive protein, we screened a lambda Zap library of S. aureus DB, a clinical isolate, for clones that were reactive with fibrinogen. Of 100,000 plaques screened, 3 were found to react with fibrinogen on immunoblots. Plasmid DNA prepared from clones 14, 30, and 36, upon digestion with EcoR1, which released the insert, revealed fragments of 4.6, 3.6, and 3.2 kb, respectively. To identify the cloned protein expressed in E. coli, cells were fractionated into periplasmic, membrane, and cytoplasmic fractions. Expression studies of clone 14, which comprised approximately two-thirds of the mature molecule, including the C terminus, revealed a 34-kDa fibrinogen-reactive protein in both the periplasmic and membrane fractions. This protein, designated FbpA, could be partially purified on a fibrinogen column. By using both clones 14 and 36 as templates, the complete DNA sequence of the fibrinogen-binding protein was obtained, yielding a molecule with a predicted size of 69,991 Da. Although sequence analysis revealed a high degree of homology with coagulase, there is a unique sequence of 11 amino acids that is not found in three known coagulases as well as two recently cloned fibrinogen-binding proteins. This unique sequence shares homology with a cell wall anchor motif found in other gram-positive surface proteins.
Brittle interfacial fracture of PBGA packages soldered on electroless nickel/immersion gold

Electroless nickel (Ni)/immersion gold (Au), an alternative metal finish on printed circuit board (PCB), has been used successfully for many electronic products. However, brittle fracture of PBGA packages soldered on this metal finish was reported recently by several companies. This paper describes brittle fracture in mechanical testing of thermal enhanced, cavity-down PBGA packages, in the as-reflowed and the aged conditions. In the as-reflowed condition, the fracture is a cleavage between PBGA solder balls and PCB conducting pads. The fracture loads, determined from four-point bending, were typically half of that for peeling off PCB conducting pads. Failure analysis showed that the fracture occurred at the interface between Ni/sub 3/Sn/sub 4/ and Ni-P. Three possible failure mechanisms were explored: (1) phosphorous segregation at the interface, (2) contamination or oxidation during the Ni-Au plating or after plating via diffusion, and (3) brittle fracture of Ni-P and Ni/sub 3/Sn/sub 4/. After aging at 150/spl deg/C for a few days, the AuSn/sub 4/ particles, once in the interior of solder joint in the as-reflowed condition, migrated onto the interface. The weak adhesion between Ni/sub 3/Sn/sub 4/ and AuSn/sub 4/ resulted in a more brittle fracture than that before the aging. This Au-related brittle fracture occurred although the Au concentration in solder joint was only 0.1 wt%, much less than 3 wt%, the rule of thumb concentration for brittle solder joint. The Au-related interfacial fracture may be eliminated by reflow after the aging which moved the AuSn/sub 4/ back to the solder joint interior.
Graft Rejection: The Basics

Organ failure results in major human morbidity and economic burden. Quality of life and life expectancy are optimised with organ transplantation, usually occurring across histocompatibility barriers. The molecular mechanisms of graft rejection are based on recognition of foreign transplanted cells or tissues by the expression of polymorphic, codominant genes coded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) or genes on chromosome 6 by recipient T cells and by the generation of donor-specific antibodies to HLA and other donor-specific immunogenic antigens. Advances in histocompatibility and immunosuppression have improved short-term graft and patient survival rates, but rates of accelerated graft loss due to humoral alloimmunity have remained largely unchanged. Key Concepts In the ‘direct’ pathway of antigen presentation, MHC molecules on donor APCs from the graft tissue present graft-derived peptides to host T cells. In the ‘indirect’ pathway of antigen presentation, host APCs take up graft antigens and present donor-derived processed peptides on host MHC molecules to host T cells. HLA antibodies and endothelial cell activation are important regulators of immunogenicity, recruiting leukocytes to the site of inflammation. Acute rejection can be classified by presentation into hyperacute (occurring within minutes), acute (occurring within days to weeks), late acute (occurring after 3 months) or chronic (occurring months to years after transplantation). Acute rejection can be classified according to pathophysiological changes (cellular-interstitial, vascular, antibody-endothelial) or underlying immunologic mechanisms (adaptive or innate immune injury) or severity (histologic injury graded by the Banff schema). Acute rejection can be clinical or subclinical (based on the presence or absence of associated renal dysfunction). Acute rejection can be treatment resistant or sensitive (based on clinical and histologic resolution of diagnostic histology 4–6 weeks after treatment intensification). Keywords: alloantibodies; allograft; antigen-presenting cells; autograft; chronic rejection; cytokines; endothelial cells; hyperacute rejection; immunosuppression; inflammation; major histocompatibility complex; T cells; transplantation; xenograft
Abstract 48: Myelopoiesis Following Myocardial Ischemia (MI) Involves Activation of the Nlrp3 Inflammasome by Neutrophil-Derived S100a8/a9

Ischemic myocardial damage triggers leukocytosis, particularly the production of monocytes and neutrophils from the bone marrow and spleen (myelopoiesis). These cells infiltrate the evolving myocardial wound, degrade extracellular matrix, and aid in the clearance of dead cardiac myocytes and their debris. Although this inflammatory process is a prerequisite for tissue healing, it is non-specific and often blunt. If unchecked, excessive production of monocytes and neutrophils may result in abnormal ventricular remodeling and heart failure. The myocardial cellular and molecular events that orchestrate with the BM/spleen to regulate myelopoiesis remain unclear. We report here that the number of circulating monocytes and neutrophils peak within 24 hours following coronary artery ligation (LAD) in mice. This is due to expansion and proliferation of hematopoietic stem and multi-potential progenitor cells (HSPC) in the BM as well as extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen. MI induced-myelopoiesis was associat...
Formulating diets containing corn distillers dried grains with solubles on a net energy basis: Effects on pig performance and on energy and nutrient digestibility1

ABSTRACT A field-scale study was conducted to determine whether formulating diets containing corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, and corn dried distillers grains with solubles (C-DDGS) on an equal NE basis would affect pig performance. Two additional experiments were conducted to determine the DE and ME of these same diets (Exp. 2) and the same C-DDGS sample (Exp. 3) used in Exp. 1 to generate data to support results obtained from the field trial. In Exp. 1, 3 barns, each containing 48 pens and 20 pigs per pen (2,880 pigs) were used. Diets were formulated to contain 0, 10, 20, and 30% C-DDGS, with calculated dietary NE and standardized ileal-digestible Lys being equal across all C-DDGS levels. The NE values (kcal/kg as is) used in feed formulation were corn, 2,557; soybean meal, 1,960; soybean oil, 7,544; and C-DDGS, 2,284. Diets were additionally formulated to meet or exceed the amino acid and mineral needs according to the NRC (2012) recommendations. There were no differences ( P ≥ 0.10) noted for pig ADG, ADFI, or G:F among pigs fed the different C-DDGS levels when evaluated on d 28 (36 replications per treatment) or on d 39 (24 replications per treatment due to scale calibration error in one barn). In addition, there was no effect of dietary treatment on DP ( P ≥ 0.10), suggesting that the estimates of NE used for feed formulation were relatively accurate. When the complete diets were fed to pigs in metabolism crates (Exp. 2), apparent total-tract digestibility of DM, ether extract, NDF, and phosphorus, and dietary DE and ME, increased with increasing C-DDGS levels ( P ≤ 0.05). In Exp. 3, the ME in the C-DDGS used in Exp. 1 and 2 was determined to be 3,682 kcal/kg of DM, which was similar to the formulated value of 3,702 kcal of ME/kg of DM. Overall, the data suggest that the NE levels used for corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, and C-DDGS were relatively accurate given that pig performance and DP were unaffected by C-DDGS inclusion level. Differences in apparent total-tract digestibility of dietary DM, ether extract, NDF, and phosphorus could be directly related to digestibility differences in these nutrients, C-DDGS compared with corn, soybean meal, and soybean oil. These results support the formulating of diets on a NE basis, which is especially important in using alternative feedstuffs in swine feed formulation.
Travel-time anomalies and distribution of earthquakes along the Calaveras Fault zone, California

The U.S. Geological Survey's telemetered seismic network in central California was supplemented over a 7-week period with 13 portable seismograph stations in the area of the Calaveras Fault southeast of San Jose. Travel-time data from small quarry explosions indicate a vertical low-velocity zone apparently associated with the fault and extending to a depth of at least 6 km. When this zone is taken into account, the hypocenters of 55 earthquakes recorded to study this effect show an arrangement of a near-vertical dipping plane that coincides remarkably well with the mapped trace of the fault. The previously determined distribution of foci was off the fault by several kilometers to the east.
Simplified Least Squares Shadowing sensitivity analysis for chaotic ODEs and PDEs

Abstract This paper develops a variant of the Least Squares Shadowing (LSS) method, which has successfully computed the derivative for several chaotic ODEs and PDEs. The development in this paper aims to simplify Least Squares Shadowing method by improving how time dilation is treated. Instead of adding an explicit time dilation term as in the original method, the new variant uses windowing, which can be more efficient and simpler to implement, especially for PDEs.
Cas9 Functionally Opens Chromatin

Using a nuclease-dead Cas9 mutant, we show that Cas9 reproducibly induces chromatin accessibility at previously inaccessible genomic loci. Cas9 chromatin opening is sufficient to enable adjacent binding and transcriptional activation by the settler transcription factor retinoic acid receptor at previously unbound motifs. Thus, we demonstrate a new use for Cas9 in increasing surrounding chromatin accessibility to alter local transcription factor binding.
Impact of synthetic antioxidants on lipid peroxidation of distiller's dried grains with solubles and distiller's corn oil stored under high temperature and humidity conditions.

This experiment evaluated the effect of antioxidants, oil content in distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), quality of distiller's corn oil, and storage time on lipid peroxidation. A source of low-oil DDGS (LO-DDGS; 5.0% ether extract [EE], as-fed basis), high-oil DDGS (HO-DDGS; 13.0% EE, as-fed basis), and 2 sources of distiller's corn oil (DCO; 1.20, 0.08, and 0.48% moisture, insoluble impurities, and unsaponifiables [MIU], respectively [DCO-1], and 1.20, 0.01, and 0.10% MIU, respectively [DCO-2]) were obtained. Each of the 4 ingredients was divided into 18 representative subsamples (approximately 908 g for DDGS or 2 kg of DCO). Six subsamples of each ingredient were mixed with either no supplemental antioxidants (CON), Rendox-CQ (REN; 1,000 mg/kg EE; Kemin, Industries, Des Moines, IA), or Santoquin-Q4T (SAN; 1,500 mg/kg EE; Novus International, St. Louis, MO). Each mixture ( = 72) was split into thirds, and 1 portion was immediately frozen at -20°C (d 0). Two portions were stored under hot (38.6 ± 0.1°C) and humid conditions (94.0 ± 0.3% relative humidity) for 14 or 28 d. The MIXED procedure of SAS was used to evaluate the effects of ingredient, antioxidant, storage time, and interactions, with d-0 values used as a covariate. From d 14 to 28, peroxide value (PV), -anisidine value (AnV), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of DCO and DDGS increased by 3- to 4-fold ( 0.05) between antioxidants (TBARS = 6.1 ± 0.2 and 5.9 ± 0.2 mg malondialdehyde Eq/kg oil, respectively, and AnV = 1.9 ± 0.2 and 1.8 ± 0.2 for REN and SAN, respectively). The PV on d 14 and 28 and overall was less ( < 0.05) when either antioxidant was added relative to CON (16.0 mEq O/kg) and was greater for ingredients treated with SAN ( < 0.05) compared with REN (8.8 ± 0.2 and 8.0 ± 0.2 mEq O/kg oil for SAN and REN, respectively). In summary, antioxidants reduced peroxidation of DDGS and DCO by approximately 50% during 28 d of storage at 38.6°C and 94.0% relative humidity, but neither antioxidant completely stabilized the ingredients.
Solvent Dependence of the Morphology of Spin-Coated Thin Films of Polydimethylsiloxane-Rich Polystyrene-block-Polydimethylsiloxane Copolymers

The as-spun, thin film morphologies of a series polydimethylsiloxane-rich cylinder and lamellar-forming polystyrene-block-polydimethylsiloxane (PS-b-PDMS) copolymers with constant PDMS molecular weight and varying PS volume fraction were studied with a range of solvents of varying solubility parameter. It was found that PDMS occupies the surface of the thin films regardless of the choice of solvent used in spin-coating due to its extremely low surface tension. The morphology shifted from parallel cylinders to hexagonally perforated lamellar to parallel lamellar as the solvent was varied from PDMS to PS selective solvents (increasing solvent solubility parameter). The transition points between each morphology were also dependent on the volume fraction of the block copolymer where the transitions were observed at lower solubility parameter with increasing PS volume fraction of the polymer. The morphology variations are attributed to selective swelling effects of the individual blocks even under good solvent...
Home Rule: Households, Manhood, and National Expansion on the Eighteenth-Century Kentucky Frontier. By Honor Sachs

Home Rule: Households, Manhood, and National Expansion on the Eighteenth-Century Kentucky Frontier . Lamar Series in Western History. By Honor Sachs. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2015. xv + 193 pp. Illustrations, maps, notes, index. $65.00.) Honor Sachs’s monograph takes its title from Carl Becker’s much-quoted proposition that the American Revolution was not so much a contest for “home rule” as it was a battle about “who shall rule at home.” For more than a century, Becker’s assertion has shaped scholarly debates about the birth of the United States. In Home Rule , Sachs suggests that the American settlement of Kentucky during and immediately following the revolution brought forth deeply unsettling fights against both imperial outsiders and national elites. But what separates Home … saron{at}history.ucla.edu
Association of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 gene polymorphisms with essential hypertension

Objectives To study whether the angiotensin converting enzyme 2(ACE2) gene polymorphisms are associated with essential hypertension(EH) or not in southern Chinese population. Methods Three hundred and sixty nine patients with EH and 199 cases with normal blood pressure were included in the study to assess the contribution of polymophisms of G9570A in ACE2 gene. Following the principle of case control,polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism were used to observe polymorphisms of ACE2 and genotyping was confirmed by gene sequencing in 20 subjects selected from the EH patients randomly. Results The genotyping data indicated that the G allele frequencies of male subjects were 75.3% in EH patients and 60.4% in control (χ2=7.0086,P=0.0081), while the G allele frequencies of female, 57.4% in EH patients, 45.4% in control(χ2=6.9443,P=0.0084). In female patients, the GG allele frequencies was superior to other genotypes(χ2=12.9499,P=0.0015). The risk developing hypertension in population carried G allele was significantly higher than that in population carried A allele[odds ratio(OR):1.9945, 95% confidence interval(CI):1.1916-3.3385,P=0.0082 in men; OR:1.603,95% CI:1.1274-2.2792; P=0.0085 in women]. Conclusions The ACE2 gene G9570A polymorphism may be associated with EA. The risk developing hypertension in the male gender carrying G allele and in female gender carrying only the G allele is higher than those carrying other allele,therefore ACE2 gene can be considered as a sensitive gene associated with EH.
Some reaction diffusion models in spatial ecology

The goal of this survey is to introduce applications of reaction diffusion equations in biology, focusing on the effect of environmental spatial heterogeneity on population dynamics, evolution, and disease spread. On one hand we develop and analyze a series of reaction diffusion models which integrate spatial ecology, evolution and disease spread, hoping to understand the underlying biological processes and mechanisms. On the other hand we propose new mathematical models, raise new mathematical questions, develop some new mathematical techniques, and hope to stimulate further research in theories of reaction diffusion equations. The topics covered include total biomass of a single population in heterogeneous habitat, effect of spatial heterogeneity on competing species, role of diffusion and advection in persistence and competition of populations, evolution of population in heterogeneous environment, persistence and competition of single or multiple phytoplankton species, transport of organisms in rivers, and spatial spread and evolution of disease in heterogeneous environment.
Ion Pairing as the Main Pathway for Reducing Electrostatic Repulsion among Organothiolate Self-assembled on Gold Nanoparticles in Water

Organothiol binding to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in water proceeds through a deprotonation pathway in which the sulfur-bound hydrogen (RS-H) atoms are released to solution as protons and the organothiol attach to AuNPs as negatively charged thiolate. The missing puzzle pieces in this mechanism are (i) the significance of electrostatic repulsion among the likely charged thiolates packed on AuNP surfaces, and (ii) the pathways for the ligand binding system to cope with such electrostatic repulsion. Presented herein are a series of experimental and theoretical evidence that ion pairing, the coadsorption of negatively charged thiolate and positively charged cations, is a main mechanism for the system to reduce the electrostatic repulsion among the thiolate self-assembled onto AuNP surfaces. This work represents a significant step forward in the comprehensive understanding of organothiol binding to AuNPs.
The Wildland-Urban Interface: Introduction and Overview

(1993). The Wildland-Urban Interface: Introduction and Overview. Journal of Leisure Research: Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 1-5.
Ideology and Hegemonic Party Rule in South Africa, Hungary, and Turkey

ABSTRACTIn recent years, there has been an increasingly prevalent trend observed in emerging democracies in which popular parties rise to a position of dominance and engage in actions that seriously threaten democracy and democratic consolidation. I ask, why do some dominant parties veer into authoritarianism and undemocratic rule while others do not? I theorize that in societies where dominant parties veer into authoritarian practices (which we call hegemonic party system) rests on the fact that there are deep, long-standing, and seemingly irreconcilable social cleavages around race, religion, or the economy. Using the cases of ANC (African National Congress) in South Africa, Fidesz in Hungary, and AKP (Justice and Development Party) in Turkey, I find that only in countries in which a particular party or viewpoint has been institutionally marginalized will hegemonic party rule become more likely. This is in contrast to parties such as Japan’s LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) which did not become hegemonic,...
3D printing of large, complex metallic glass structures

Abstract Metallic glasses (MGs) or amorphous alloys although have superior mechanical properties their products are limited to simple geometries such as foils/plates or rods with thin section-thickness due to the requirement of high cooling rates. In this study, 3D, large dimensions of amorphous structures with complex geometry are manufactured by our newly developed Laser Foil Printing (LFP) technology. Zr-based (LM105, provided by Liquidmetal Technologies, Inc.) amorphous foils of 100 μm thickness are used as feedstock, and they are laser welded, layer-by-layer, to become 3D amorphous structures. Test results by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and micro-hardness confirm that the printed structures at selected process parameters achieve the same or better degree of amorphization as the raw foils. A mathematical model was developed to calculate the heating and cooling rates during structure manufacturing which helps the selection of process parameters. This study expands MG products to 3D arbitrary geometries with large dimensions due to the inherited advantages of the LFP technology which would open many potential applications.
Outcome-Based Evaluation: Robert L. Schalock, Plenum Press, 1995, 242 pp.

The field of program evaluation has seen a number of new developments over the past several years. One of those developments has been a shift toward oufcomes evaluation, in an attempt to identify and measure program effects on client knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors, or conditions. This shift has impacted virtually all not-for-profit organizations, who now need to demonstrate to donors, decision-makers, taxpayers, clients, and other stakeholders that a given program is achieving its intended goals and objectives. This focus on client change has been advocated by a host of individuals and organizations (see, e.g., Drucker, 1990; Hatry, et al., 1992; United Way of America, 1996). Schalock’s Outcome-Based Evaluation continues this shift by providing a primer on outcome evaluation, intended for both consumers and producers of program evaluations. This focus on outcomes is a welcome addition to the program evaluation textbook market, because so many of the major texts have yet to dedicate any meaningful space to outcomes-for example, Rossi and Freeman’s (1993) highly regarded text, even in its fifth edition, spends little time on outcomes evaluation. This book would probably best serve as a text in a program evaluation course for graduate students. Its strengths are, first, in its coverage of an important new approach in evaluation (a “paradigm shift,” according to the author); and among others, a very fine chapter covering the specifics of data management, with details on collecting and organizing data. Most other evaluation texts tell the reader about the importance of data collection and management, but fail to provide adequate instruction on the techniques. Another plus for the reader of this book is the inclusion of “study questions” at the end of each chapter, which help to crystallize the major points contained in the chapter. While the book claims it also is written for a “consumer” of evaluations and evaluation reports, I would guess that the organization of the book is a bit too confusing for someone not already versed in some of the techniques and issues of program evaluation. Part of the confusing organization of the book, at least for me, is the placement of the topics-for example, the treatment of evaluation designs is left until chapter 8. Moreover, the “Benefit-Cost Analysis” chapter is mostly a rendering of a traditional “efficiency” model, rather than a cost-effectiveness (cost per positive outcome) approach. While the author briefly mentions and recognizes cost-effectiveness as an approach, he does not explore it further, and the discussion seems to
The Capitalist Advertising and Marketing Complex and the US Social Order: A Political-Materialist Analysis

In this article, we explore the complex interconnections between monopoly power and commercial promotion and explain their role in maintaining the United States (US) social order in the twenty-firs...
Do persistence and passion matter: Evidence from the educational testing service major field test in business

The authors examined the determinants of success on the Educational Testing Service Major Field Test in Business. The authors find that gender, SAT performance, and concentration are significant pr...
Importance of 25-Hydroxylation to the Renal Tubular Actions of Vitamin D Metabolites

Experimental observations from my own laboratory as well as data from other workers have documented an acute effect of vitamin D and certain of its metabolites on renal tubular electrolyte transport (1–5). Both in the dog and the rat, the infusion of the biologically active derivative of vitamin D3, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25 HCC) and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25 DHCC) has been demonstrated to produce an acute enhancement of phosphate (1–5), calcium and sodium (4,5) reabsorption. Recently, a series of additional metabolites and analogues has been discovered (6). Their subsequent characterization and synthesis have provided us with the opportunity to study the structural requirements of these vitamin D3 derivatives with regard to their ability to alter renal tubular transport. The protocol utilized for these studies was identical to that originally described (1).
Ensemble Averaging of Repeatable Noisy Signals

All signals produced by instruments contain various systematic and non-systematic components which are not produced by the phenomenon of interest (e.g., random noise generated by electronic components, background absorption in spectrophotometers, etc.). Collectively, all components which are extraneous and which the scientist would prefer to have entirely eliminated from the signal are called “noise.” Clearly, noise may be either random or systematic. Various methods may be employed to minimize or eliminate noise, but all depend upon a detailed understanding of the source of the noise and its relationship to the signal of interest. In many cases, careful hardware design can minimize noise via judicious use of electronic filters, good wiring practices, and the like. It is, however, often the case that due to experimental limitations it is necessary to accept a low signal-to-noise ratio from an instrument. In this situation, provided the noise has certain characteristics, it may become possible to significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio by using a combination of appropriate data-sampling techniques and mathematical analysis. In this experiment, the use of such methods to eliminate random noise will be explored.
Balloon prophylaxis of aneurysmal vasospasm.

Mechanical treatment with transluminal balloon angioplasty (TBA) is now a well established treatment for vasospasm refractory to medical treatment [1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 18, 21, 25, 29, 30, 34]. The time-window for performing effective TBA in symptomatic vasospasm is short, and is successful in reversal of delayed ischemic neurological deficit (DIND) in only 31 to 77% of the cases, leaving substantial numbers of patients with neurological deficits from vasospasm [2, 3, 6, 12].
A Multi-level Account of Selective Attention

Neural information processing systems must overcome a series of bottlenecks that interrupt the sequence of events between sensory input and motor output. First, the sensory neurons that encode external stimuli are noisy. As a result, an identical stimulus will evoke a slightly diff erent response pattern each time it is presented, and this instability can place limits on the amount of information that neurons can relay about stimulus features (Pouget, Dayan, and Zemel 2003; Seung and Sompolinsky 1993). Second, multiple items in the visual fi eld compete for representation, and this competition must be resolved so that the most behaviourally relevant sensory stimuli are represented and allowed to guide goal-directed behaviour. Th ird, there are limits on the number of responses that can be selected simultaneously (Pashler 1994), and obvious limits on the number of simultaneous motor plans that can be executed. All of these factors restrict the speed and accuracy of sensory–response mappings, and at each stage, relevant stimuli must be prioritized over irrelevant distractors to ensure the successful completion of behavioural goals. Th e ability to prioritize relevant stimuli is generally referred to as selective attention , where the prefi x selective is intentionally used to distinguish the term from changes in general arousal or states of consciousness. Th ere are three general mechanisms that support selection attention: signal enhancement, external and internal noise suppression, and selective read-out. Th e fi rst two mechanisms infl uence selection by directly mediating the information content of neural representations as sensory signals are relayed and transformed across the processing hierarchy. Selective read-out is conceptually diff erent, as it does not directly modify the quality of sensory representations. Instead, selective read-out infl uences the effi ciency with which sensory information is used to inform decisions about the contents of the sensory array, either in the absence of or in combination with signal enhancement and noise suppression. OUP UNCORRECTED PROOF – REVISES, Mon Dec 02 2013, NEWGEN
Multimodal Optical and Terahertz Biopsy of Nonmelanoma Cancers Skin

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) remains the most common form of cancer in the United States with the cost of treatment exceeding $8 billion per year [1]. The most effective form of treatment is Mohs Micrographic Surgery, but the process is time consuming and labor intensive. An imaging modality capable of in vivo margin delineation can significantly the time, labor and cost of treatment. Terahertz imaging is non-ionizing and offers intrinsic contrast between normal and cancerous skin, however the resolution is wavelength limited to around 0.5 mm, thus morphological information is not available. Optical polarized light imaging (PLI) offers a rapid wide-field data acquisition with high resolution but does not offer intrinsic contrast. We explore the combination of terahertz and PLI for nonmelanoma skin cancer detection. Fresh, thick excisions of NMSC were imaged using both modalities- an initial study was used to determine a terahertz reflectivity threshold for cancer detection. A fresh set of specimens was then imaged – thresholded terahertz images were compared to histopathology to determine sensitivity and specificity. We then used a combined approach using both PLI and terahertz images and sensitivity and specificity was determined for this technique as well. Our results indicate that a combination of terahertz and PLI is capable of detecting NMSC in thick, fresh excisions with a sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 99% respectively.
Surfaces in Three Dimensional Contact Manifolds

The aim of this chapter is to study surfaces in three dimensional contact manifolds. This will give us a so-called oriented singular foliation on the surface which is an important invariant of the contact structure. Roughly speaking, the construction is as follows. The contact planes and the tangent planes of a given surface are either transverse or they coincide at some point. In the latter case we will speak of a singular point. In the first case the contact planes define some direction field on the surface. An oriented singular foliation will be a class of vector fields on the surface which are pointing into this direction and which are zero exactly at the singular points.
Anesthesia Considerations in Ear Reconstruction

Advances in anesthesia care make microtia surgery medically and economically feasible in an ambulatory setting. The planned surgical procedure may be an external ear reconstruction, an otologic external auditory canal plus middle ear reconstruction, or a combination of both. Anesthesia care can be safely carried out in a freestanding surgery center or office-based operating room, avoiding the increased costs of hospital operating rooms or an overnight stay. Combined atresia and microtia (CAM) procedures of 8–9 hours of anesthesia duration can be safely done in an ambulatory setting, followed by discharge to home or a hotel setting. Anesthetic challenges for pediatric patients include (1) preoperative evaluation and medical clearance of the patient, many of whom are traveling from remote geographic locations, (2) anesthetic induction at a freestanding outpatient facility, (3) intraoperative care designed for safety and quick recovery, and (4) postoperative management of an ambulatory pediatric patient following an anesthetic of up to 9 hours in duration. Anesthesia care for adult ear reconstruction is discussed as well.
Practical Evaluation and Management of Insomnia in Parkinson's Disease: A Review

Background Insomnia is one of the most common nonmotor features of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, there are few practical guidelines for providers on how to best evaluate and treat this problem. Methods and findings This review was developed to provide clinicians with a pragmatic approach to assessing and managing insomnia in PD. Recommendations were based on literature review and expert opinion. We addressed the following topics in this review: prevalence of insomnia in PD, sleep-wake mechanisms, theoretical models of insomnia, risk factors, assessment, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments. Insomnia treatment choices may be guided by PD severity, comorbidities, and patient preference. However, there is limited evidence supporting pharmacotherapy and nonpharmacologic treatments of insomnia in PD. Conclusions We provide a pragmatic algorithm for evaluating and treating insomnia in PD based on the literature and our clinical experience. We propose personalized insomnia treatment approaches based on age and other issues. Gaps in the existing literature and future directions in the treatment of insomnia in PD are also highlighted.
“They Just Went After Us:” Reproductive Justice Advocacy at an Abortion Fund

In this study, I explore how organizers at an abortion fund use new media to create communication outreach about abortion and their hotline service. The data for this study includes one year of digital ethnographic work as a hotline volunteer at the abortion fund, along with in-depth interviews with the fund’s advocacy team. The fund organizers want to appeal to supporters, protect and empower communities, confront systemic oppression, and dispel medically incorrect, neoliberal (i.e. racist, sexist, and classist) anti-abortion myths. Due to societal stigma and silence, public abortion discourse is largely shaped by media (mis)representation. To combat misinformation and misogyny, reproductive justice (RJ) organizers disrupt mainstream abortion narratives with their own outreach. The organizers in this study use social media to interact with the public, supporters, donors, and anti-abortion activists alike. While these organizers publish anonymous data and stories from their hotline on social media, they also vigorously protect the privacy of their callers and hotline volunteers. The organizers recognize the importance of callers seeing their experiences represented in public discourse while also feeling protected from anti-abortion backlash. Therefore, I argue the abortion fund organizers carrying out this digital advocacy work are engaging in multifaceted emotional labor and putting their bodies on the line for a stigmatized issue. This study is informed by research that speaks to the promises and perils of new media for community building, movement organizing, and what Molina-Guzman (2010) calls “symbolic rupture.” Social movement organizers work within the shifting media environment to transform cultural narratives, build solidarity, sustain their organizations, fundraise, and stand on the front line of stigmatized issues—even while enduring the consequences of personal exposure.
A Review of the Year in Family Law: Parentage and Assisted Reproduction Problems Take Center Stage

This article provides a brief review of pertinent cases in family law for reporting year 2004-2005. Last year the focus was on same-sex marriages. This year major cases combined issues of same-sex marriage and a range of children’s issues. Two of the most important cases affecting children came from the federal bench. The first was Roper v. Simmons in which the U.S. Supreme Court found that the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments forbid imposition of the death penalty on offenders who were under age eighteen when their crimes were committed. The second case came out of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The court found that the right to counsel guaranteed to foster children in deprivation proceedings, pursuant to the Due Process Clause of the Georgia Constitution, means the right to effective counsel. Over the next few years we expect courts to continue to struggle with these issues.
The effects of HEROES on the achievement levels of beginning readers with individualized education programs

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 requires the use of evidence in adopting programs, particularly for children with reading disabilities. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate t...
Characterization of vapor emissions from pentaerythritol tetranitrate solids in nitrogen by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry and in ambient air by ion mobility spectrometry

The emission of vapors from solid samples of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) in a flow of nitrogen from ~20 to 140°C was characterized using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectr...
Hyperspectral grating optimization and manufacturing considerations

Hyperspectral imaging systems are finding broader applications in both the commercial and aerospace markets. It is becoming clear that to optimize the performance of these systems, their instrument transfer function needs to be tailored for each application. Vis-SWIR systems in the full 400nm to 2500nm waveband present particular design and manufacturing challenges. A single blazed grating is inadequate for a system operating in the full vis-SWIR wavelength range. In addition, optical materials and broad band coatings present a challenge for non-reflective systems. An understanding of the application and wavelengths of interest, combined with a judicious choice of a focal plane array, can then lead to an optimized system for the specific application. The ability to tailor the grating and manufacture a wide variety of grating profiles and substrate shapes becomes a significant performance enabler. This paper will discuss how the use of optical, coating, and grating design/analysis software, combined with grating manufacturing techniques assure meeting high performance requirements for different applications.