cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COMPARATIVE GROWTH OF SALMONELLAE, COLIFORMS, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE MICROFLORA OF RAW AND RADURIZED GROUND BEEF

The population of salmonellae in raw ground beef at 5 C was stable during 6 days while that of the total microflora increased markedly. Radurization reduced the numbers of salmonellae and of the total population. The buildup of numbers also was retarded by radurization so that the total count was < 106 per gram after 6 days while the number of salmonellae remained constant. Ground beef incubated at 25 C showed a rapid increase in numbers of salmonellae, coliforms, and in the total microflora. While radurization reduced the numbers of these microorganisms, it did change the general pattern of competitive growth. Highly contaminated samples contained some coliforms able to grow at 5 C. Unirradiated samples as well as samples immediately following irradiation showed the coliforms to consist predominately of Escherichia coli, but during storage there was an increase in the proportion of intermediate types and of Aerobacter.
Can there be too much of a good thing? The effect of option number on cognitive effort toward online advertisements

Abstract Many television viewers are making the transition to online services. One main motivation for this transition is to limit or eliminate advertisement exposure. As a result, online advertisers are developing new techniques to compensate for this avoidance. One technique, advertisement choice, allows online viewers to select the message they watch. Previous research on advertisement choice has shown various cognitive effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the number of options presented within this choice moderated these effects. Participants from two Midwestern universities (United States institutions) were randomly assigned to conditions that varied in the number of options. Some participants were not allowed to choose what type of message to watch (i.e. zero options). Other participants were presented with a choice between two, three, or six options. The amount of cognitive effort allocated to the advertisement after the choice manipulation was the dependent variable of this study. The results showed a curvilinear relationship between the number of choice options and cognitive effort. Effort was significantly higher for choices using two and three options compared to no choice and six options. These results demonstrate that there is a complex relationship between advertisement choice and various psychological outcomes for viewers.
Abstract 155: TGF-β1 Positively Modulates Cell-Metal Interaction in Cardiovascular Applications

Introduction: The interaction between a metallic implant and local cells in the cardiovascular system determines the fate of the implant. We have recently developed a hybrid scaffold for tissue engineering of valves, which consists of an extra thin layer of Stainless Steel mesh tightly enclosed by three distinct layers of cells. We have examined the effect of TGF-β1 on degree of cell attachment to the metal mesh. Methods and Results: By using a 3D cell culture method a Stainless Steel mesh with desired size and thickness was enclosed through cultured layers of cells similar to a heart valve leaflet pattern. Human aortic smooth muscle cells and adventitial fibroblast/myofibroblast cells were used to fulfill the role of valvular interstitial cells, and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells were used to cover the construct in place of the valvular endothelial cells. The layers were seeded in sequence on a three dimensional, porous biological scaffold comprised of bovine type I collagen gel mixture. The effect of TGF-β1 supplementation at proper time-steps on the cultured hybrid tissue after two months of cell culture was determined. TGF-β supplementation resulted in significant increase in proliferation, and extra ingrowths into the outer portions of the tissue. DAPI staining of nuclei showed that the number of cells at the surface of the mesh progressively increased due to TGF-β, and eventually formed a thicker tissue around the mesh Conclusions: We have demonstrated the effects of TGF-β1 on cell attachment and tissue development by using a hybrid tissue material that helped us study the direct cell-metal interactions in-vitro.
Optimization of in-plane functionally graded panels for buckling strength: Unstiffened, stiffened panels, and panels with cutouts

Abstract The work of this paper deals with the in-plane material optimization with the objective of minimizing the amount of the nano-reinforcement required to satisfy the desired buckling constraints. The minimization of the reinforcement is necessary for nano-reinforced composites because the price of the reinforcement is very high. Three types of panels are considered; (1) unstiffened panel, (2) panels with cutouts, and (3) stiffened panels. The in-plane distribution of the reinforcement is represented using the polynomial expansion technique which is also extended to model non-rectangular domains via coordinates transformation. It was found that material grading can saves a very significant amount of the reinforcement up to 200% relative to homogenous panels. The saving of the reinforcement depends on four factors; (1) the problem nature, (2) the boundary conditions, (3) the applied loads, (4) the direction of the material gradings.
A Philosophy of the Unsayable

This chapter questions what William Franke understands by “a philosophy of the unsayable.” Apophatic practice is traditionally tied to theology, not philosophy, and is a practice in which the loving soul seeks to gain unity with God not by knowledge but by repentance and love. Yet there is also philosophical apophaticism that can be found in Kant’s detaching of God from theoretical discourse, and in Burke’s account of the sublime. In postmodernity, these strains continue in another key, by way of the transcendental and the transcendent, which are analyzed by way of fascination and contemplation.
Resolving single-actin filaments within the contractile ring of fission yeast.

Cell division is an essential step in the life of all cells. Fungi, amoeboid, and mammalian cells divide by the assembly and constriction of a contractile ring of actin, myosin, and other highly conserved proteins (1). The mechanism of cytokinesis is best understood in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe . Combined years of research have identified more than 100 genes involved in building and constricting the contractile ring (1). Quantitative fluorescence imaging techniques have been developed to calculate the local and global concentration of endogenously tagged proteins involved in cytokinesis (2, 3). Mathematical models were built using these quantitative data to explain the principles that govern the mechanisms of contractile ring assembly (4) and constriction (5). These mathematical models were limited by the lack of information about the organization of proteins within the contractile ring. How the proteins involved in building and constricting the contractile ring organize to generate tension force is still vastly unknown. Recently, superresolution imaging has enabled us to capture the molecular organization of proteins within the constricting contractile ring in fixed cells (6), and high-speed superresolution imaging combined with quantitative analyses has provided molecular organization of protein complexes within the assembling and constricting contractile ring in live cells (7). Even with this combined knowledge, there are still many aspects of the general mechanisms of contractile ring assembly, constriction, and disassembly that we do not understand (8). One remaining enigma about cytokinesis is the how the network of actin filaments, the most abundant protein of the contractile ring, is structured during constriction. Actin filaments within the contractile ring are polymerized, severed, depolymerized, and pulled upon by the action of many other actin-binding proteins present in the cytokinetic machinery. Together, these modifications to the actin network generate tension force that is transmitted to the ingressing plasma membrane … [↵][1]1Email: claplan{at}ncsu.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Quantifying Boreal Forest Structure and Composition Using UAV Structure from Motion

The vast extent and inaccessibility of boreal forest ecosystems are barriers to routine monitoring of forest structure and composition. In this research, we bridge the scale gap between intensive but sparse plot measurements and extensive remote sensing studies by collecting forest inventory variables at the plot scale using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a structure from motion (SfM) approach. At 20 Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) subplots in interior Alaska, we acquired overlapping imagery and generated dense, 3D, RGB (red, green, blue) point clouds. We used these data to model forest type at the individual crown scale as well as subplot-scale tree density (TD), basal area (BA), and aboveground biomass (AGB). We achieved 85% cross-validation accuracy for five species at the crown level. Classification accuracy was maximized using three variables representing crown height, form, and color. Consistent with previous UAV-based studies, SfM point cloud data generated robust models of TD (r2 = 0.91), BA (r2 = 0.79), and AGB (r2 = 0.92), using a mix of plot- and crown-scale information. Precise estimation of TD required either segment counts or species information to differentiate black spruce from mixed white spruce plots. The accuracy of species-specific estimates of TD, BA, and AGB at the plot scale was somewhat variable, ranging from accurate estimates of black spruce TD (+/−1%) and aspen BA (−2%) to misallocation of aspen AGB (+118%) and white spruce AGB (−50%). These results convey the potential utility of SfM data for forest type discrimination in FIA plots and the remaining challenges to develop classification approaches for species-specific estimates at the plot scale that are more robust to segmentation error.
Arthropods as Vectors and Reservoirs of Animal Pathogenic Viruses

Arthropods have been serving undoubtedly as vectors and possibly as reservoirs of virus diseases of man and other vertebrates for many centuries. However, recognition of the viral etiology and role of arthropods as vectors for these infections has all ensued in the twentieth century; and the majority of our knowledge has accrued in the past 25 years. These infections have received major attention in this period; and as a result the group is no longer limited to the classical triad of viral agents which cause yellow fever, dengue and sand fly fevers, but instead encompasses nearly 50 distinct viruses. Inevitably additional etiological agents in this group remain to be discovered, as is evidenced by the knowledge that several laboratories have isolated such agents but have not reported them in the literature, and there is a continuing intensive search for additional agents. It must be assumed that virus diseases will soon constitute the largest group of arthropod-borne animal infections, if they do not already exceed the vector borne infections of animals caused by protozoa, bacteria or rickettsiae.
Effect of Overexpression of Protein Kinase Cα on Rat Lacrimal Gland Protein Secretion

Tears are a complex fluid, the components of which are secreted by several different glands and cell types. Tears are responsible for maintaining optimal concentrations of pH, osmolarity, ionic concentrations and proteins necessary for the function of the ocular surface.1,2 Thus, exquisite control of secretion of tears is required, and, when this control is compromised, disruption of the ocular surface and eventually ocular surface disease can occur.4 These ocular surface diseases include a range of tear-deficient disorders known as dry eye syndromes.
My Friends, My Network, My Job

Social networks have a profound impact on individual labor market outcomes. This paper establishes a theoretical framework where firms, workers, and applicants are linked through a social network of friendships and family links, which can be used by firms to reduce information asymmetries and increase match quality during the recruitment process. Here, the bayesian signaling game focuses on the decision of the worker, who is employed inside the firm and has links with the applicant outside the firm; the model proposes a set of equilibria where firms are able to generate matches with increased match quality through a social network. The theoretical framework pays special attention to potential incentive problems that arise due to nepotism and favoritism. The empirical model brings these predictions to the data and focuses on labor market outcomes at the individual level. The analysis exploits the panel dimension of the German Socio Economic Panel and highlights differences in labor market outcomes that can be linked to the existence of the aforementioned social networks. Empirical results focus on three key issues: First, findings allow for further insight on the determinants of the event I found my last job using either friends or relatives. Second, the paper evaluates the relationship between the use of a social networks and the starting wage of applicants. Third, results shed light on the question of how far long term labor market outcomes such as the duration of the job and the earnings profile differ by the entry channel into a job. Findings illustrate fluctuations in the use of social networks over the business cycle which highlight the decision making process of the worker who acts an an intermediary between the firm and the applicant. More specifically, the higher level of the unemployment rate reduces the probability to find a job through a social network. Additionally, results from the empirical model suggest that social networks improve match quality, resulting in longer employment spells and higher starting wages.
Pulmonary Artery Banding in Post-tricuspid Congenital Cardiac Shunting Defects with High Pulmonary Vascular Resistance.

Reports of “treat and repair” of cardiac shunting lesions with inoperably high pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) mostly concern pre-tricuspid defects; post-tricuspid lesions are different. We report our experience with pulmonary artery (PA) banding ± targeted pulmonary hypertension medications in five patients with a large VSD and inoperably high PVR, and review previous reports of PA banding with post-tricuspid defects. Three of our 5 patients had mean PAP > 50 mmHg after banding and no or only a transient fall in PVR. Two patients had mean PAP < 50 mmHg and lower PVR after banding; they had closure of their VSDs but have since had a progressive increase in PVR (follow-up after closure, 3.5 and 7.7 years). Previous reports have also documented difficulty in achieving sufficient band gradient. Of previously reported patients, only one became operable only after banding and targeted therapy, and was repaired; follow-up after repair was short-term (16 months). Our and previous experience demonstrate the difficulty in placing a PA band sufficiently tight to substantially reduce PA pressure. Reported attempts to “treat and repair” post-tricuspid defects are few and have met with limited success, and we found that PVR may increase significantly over time after repair. But more information is needed. Accurate interpretation of experience with “treat and repair” requires: careful characterization of the pulmonary circulation prior to “treating”; considering spontaneously reversible factors at pre-treatment catheterization before ascribing reduction in PVR to medical therapy; and long-term observation of PVR in patients who have had defect closure.
The Surgeon-Patient Relationship: Built Upon Trust

Trust, a key element of all human interactions, is especially precious in the physician-patient relationship. Without trust, a successful therapeutic relationship is often impossible. Due to the nature of their discipline, surgeons must establish a particularly strong bond of trust with their patients. The basis of this bond is clear, effective, and caring communication, the quality of which will be judged not just by what is said but how it is said. Recent shifts in society’s expectations and healthcare delivery have brought new challenges to the surgeon-patient relationship. Thus, the surgeon today must possess not only the necessary technical skills but the ability to foster trust between himself or herself, the patient, and the larger system – all while adapting to a rapid changing environment.
Characterizing neuronal synaptic transmission using stochastic hybrid systems

Abstract Action potential-triggered release of neurotransmitters at chemical synapses forms the key basis of communication between two neurons. To quantify the stochastic dynamics of the number of neurotransmitters released, we investigate a model where neurotransmitter-filled vesicles attach to a finite number of docking sites in the axon terminal, and are subsequently released when the action potential arrives. We formulate the model as a Stochastic Hybrid System (SHS) that combines three key noise mechanisms: random arrival of action potentials, stochastic refilling of docking sites, and probabilistic release of docked vesicles. This SHS representation is used to derive exact analytical formulas for the mean and noise (as quantified by Fano factor) in the number of vesicles released per action potential. Interestingly, results show that in relevant parameter regimes, noise in the number of vesicles released is sub-Poissonian at low frequencies, super-Poissonian at intermediate frequencies, and approaches a Poisson limit at high frequencies. In contrast, noise in the number of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft is always super-Poissonian, but is lowest at intermediate frequencies. We further investigate changes in these noise properties for non-Poissonian arrival of action potentials, and when the probability of release is frequency dependent. In summary, these results provide the first glimpse into synaptic parameters not only determining the mean synaptic strength, but also shaping its stochastic dynamics that is critical for information transfer between neurons.
The "Rule of W" in Urology: Testing Surgical Dictum.

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the timing and frequency of postoperative occurrences as described in the “Rule of W” mnemonic for modern urologic and general surgical cases. Methods Using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, patients who underwent a urologic or general surgery procedure and developed a postoperative pneumonia (PNA), urinary tract infection (UTI), surgical site infection, venous thromboembolic event, or myocardial infarction (MI) were included. Frequency and median days to complication were compared. Results A total of 445,639 general surgery and 57,963 urology patients were included. Median time to occurrence differed between the cohorts for PNA, UTI, superficial infection, organ space infection, and MI. MI occurred earliest on POD3 for both groups (P = .0438). PNA occurred second on POD4 and POD5 for general surgery and urology, respectively (P = .0034). Venous thromboembolic events occurred third with PE occurring on POD8 for both cohorts (P = .1225) and deep venous thrombosis occurring on POD10 and POD11 (P = .6879) for general surgery and urology, respectively. Wound-related complications occurred at days 9-12 for general surgery and 11-13 for urology. The final sequence yielded waves, wind, walking, water/wound for general surgery and waves, wind, walking, wound, water for urology. Conclusion A different chronology of postoperative events was found for urology patients than that described in the original mnemonic. UTIs and wound-related complications represent the most frequent morbidities for the urologic and general surgical patient, respectively. As patient demographics and practice patterns evolve, the “Rule of W”, and other teaching tools, will need to be continually and critically reviewed.
Enhancing Transformation: The Value of Applying Narrative Therapy Techniques When Engaging in Critical Reflection:

Transformative learning (TL) is a powerful approach to education. Instead of promoting the efficient encoding and recall of information, TL has students identify, and consider, the assumptions they...
Management und Nachsorgeintervalle kolorektaler Polypen

Die meisten kolorektalen Karzinome entstehen aus Adenomen, in etwa 30 % uber die serratierte Karzinogenese mit serratierten Adenomen als Ausgangslasion. Risikofaktoren fur die Karzinomentwicklung sind Anzahl und Grose der Adenome, villose Histologie und hochgradige Neoplasie. Auch wenn sich aus der Mehrzahl der Adenome nie ein Karzinom entwickeln wird, muss zur effektiven Senkung des Karzinomrisikos das Ziel einer Koloskopie dennoch ein polypenfreier Darm sein. Dass nach einer Polypektomie generell ein erhohtes Zweitneoplasierisiko besteht, ist die Rationale einer strukturierten Nachsorge nach Abtragung von Adenomen.
Tactical Investment Algorithms

There are three fundamental ways of testing the validity of an investment algorithm against historical evidence: a) the walk-forward method; b) the resampling method; and c) the Monte Carlo method. By far the most common approach followed among academics and practitioners is the walk-forward method. Implicit in that choice is the assumption that a given investment algorithm should be deployed throughout all market regimes. We denote such assumption the “all-weather” hypothesis, and the algorithms based on that hypothesis “strategic investment algorithms” (or “investment strategies”). The all-weather hypothesis is not necessarily true, as demonstrated by the fact that many investment strategies have floundered in a zero-rate environment. This motivates the problem of identifying investment algorithms that are optimal for specific market regimes, denoted “tactical investment algorithms.” This paper argues that backtesting against synthetic datasets should be the preferred approach for developing tactical investment algorithms. A new organizational structure for asset managers is proposed, as a tactical algorithmic factory, consistent with the Monte Carlo backtesting paradigm.
Extraction on Paper Activity: An Active Learning Technique to Facilitate Student Understanding of Liquid–Liquid Extraction

Undergraduate students often find it difficult to understand the chemical principles underlying liquid–liquid extractions. Explanations on how extractions work at the molecular level in textbook and internet resources are plentiful, but students still do not seem able to grasp how extractions work before having to perform the technique in a laboratory course. To address student discomfort with conducting extractions, we developed an Extraction on Paper activity. We envision this activity as a tool to help students understand and apply the chemical principles underlying liquid–liquid extractions outside of and before entering into a laboratory setting.
A Case of Persistent Muscle Cramps in an American Football Player With Cystic Fibrosis.

Exercised-associated muscle cramp (EAMC) is a common occurrence in sports medicine. We highlight a 17-year-old male high-school football player with a history of cystic fibrosis and hyponatremic seizure, who presented for recurrent EAMC. After establishing an appropriate electrolyte replacement and hydration plan, he was able to complete his season with minimal symptoms. This case highlights the importance of hydration and nutrition planning when managing athletes with cystic fibrosis.
Acoustic Measures of Emotion in School-Age Children Who Stutter: Findings From a Single Subject

Purpose The purpose of this study was to encourage and justify the examination of acoustic measures of emotion (mean fundamental frequency [F0], F0 range, jitter, and shimmer) from school-age child...
Is pain catastrophizing associated with poor mobility performance and falls in older adults

Abstract Background Pain catastrophizing has been associated with pain intensity and mobility limitations in adults, and may be associated with mobility problems among older adults with chronic pain. This study examined the associations between pain catastrophizing and pain characteristics, and physical performance in older people. Methods The MOBILIZE Boston Study II (MBS) included 354 adults aged ≥70 years, living in the Boston area, originally enrolled in the MBS I from 2005−2008. Pain catastrophizing was measured using the 13-item Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), with scores ranging from 13−65. Pain severity and pain interference were assessed by subscales of the Brief Pain Inventory. Pain distribution was classified as none, single site, and multisite. Mobility performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Falls were assessed prospectively using monthly fall calendar postcards. Results One-fourth of all participants (24 %) had high scores on the PCS (score>30). PCS was inversely associated with age and was greater among those with osteoarthritis, depression, or anxiety (p-value Conclusion Although pain catastrophizing is prevalent in older adults with chronic pain, it was not associated with mobility or falls in older people. Further research is needed to determine possible long-term effects of pain catastrophizing on chronic pain and functioning in older adults.
Authority Control Today: Principles, Practices, and Trends

Authority control enhances the accessibility of library resources by controlling the choice and form of access points, improving users’ ability to efficiently find the works most relevant to their ...
Introduction: Visualizing Violence

This special issue emerged from a 2018 Modern Languages Association (MLA) Convention panel that was curious about the possibilities and limitations of the visual arts when documenting social, polit...
CLINICAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR GERMLINE PHARMACOGENETICS AND MANAGEMENT OF DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED SOLID CANCERS

PURPOSE: Precision medicine approaches, including germline pharmacogenetics (PGx) and management of drug-drug interactions (DDIs), are likely to benefit advanced cancer patients who are frequently prescribed multiple concomitant medications to treat cancer and associated conditions. Our objective was to assess the potential opportunities for PGx and DDI management within a cohort of adults with advanced cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medication data were collected from the electronic health records (EHRs) for 481 subjects since their first cancer diagnosis. All subjects were genotyped for variants with clinically actionable recommendations in Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) guidelines for 13 pharmacogenes. DDIs were defined as concomitant prescription of strong inhibitors or inducers with sensitive substrates of the same drug-metabolizing enzyme and were assessed for six major cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. RESULTS: Approximately 60% of subjects were prescribed at least one medication with CPIC recommendations, and ~14% of subjects had an instance for actionable PGx, defined as prescription of a drug in a subject with an actionable genotype. The overall subject-level prevalence of DDIs and serious DDIs were 50.3% and 34.8%, respectively. Serious DDIs were most common for CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C19, occurring in 24.9%, 16.8%, and 11.7% of subjects, respectively. When assessing PGx and DDIs together, ~40% of subjects had at least one opportunity for a precision medicine-based intervention and ~98% of subjects had an actionable phenotype for at least one CYP enzyme. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate numerous clinical opportunities for germline PGx and DDI management in adults with advanced cancer.
An intersectional examination of the opportunity gap in science: A critical quantitative approach to latent class analysis

Abstract This study employs a critical quantitative lens to model intersectionality in quantitative analysis and examine how inequities are perpetuated in U.S. schools. Using the U.S. sample from nationally representative PISA 2015 data, Latent Class Analysis was used to identify intersectional student background groups based on indicators of race/ethnicity, social class, immigration background, language spoken at home, and measures of cultural capital associated with cultural reproduction theory. A regression auxiliary model combined with latent class regression was then used to determine if intersectional group membership moderated the relationship between a covariate, gender, and two distal outcomes: sense of belonging to school and opportunity to learn (OTL) inquiry-based science. Differences between intersectional background groups on the two distal outcomes were also examined. The findings from this study reinforced the use of LCA as a promising method for incorporating intersectionality frameworks in quantitative research designs. Six distinct intersectional background classes were identified and findings revealed evidence of a wealth gap between classes of similar affluency based on parent occupational status and education. In addition to this evidence of systemic inequality, significant gender disparities within classes were found for OTL and sense of belonging.
Early-stage macular telangiectasia type 2 vascular abnormalities are associated with interdigitation zone disruption.

Purpose To investigate the relationship between disruption in different photoreceptor layers and deep capillary plexus (DCP) telangiectasias in eyes with macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel). Methods 35 eyes (21 patients) with MacTel imaged with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were included. Circumscribed areas of DCP telangiectasia were traced from OCTA slabs and the corresponding spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) slabs were used to visualize the photoreceptor layer interdigitation zone (IZ) and ellipsoid zone (EZ). IZ attenuation, IZ loss, and EZ loss were graded by reviewing en face SD-OCT slabs for hypo-reflective areas and confirming their status on cross-sectional views. Total area of photoreceptor disruption and overlap with DCP telangiectasia were evaluated with respect to OCT-based MacTel stage. Longitudinal changes were evaluated in a subset of patients with follow-up imaging. Results Overlap of DCP telangiectasia with IZ attenuation significantly decreased with MacTel severity, while overlap with IZ and EZ loss significantly increased. Overlap with IZ loss peaked in moderate MacTel (Stages 3-5). Longitudinal imaging showed that new EZ loss at 6 months was largely predicted by baseline IZ loss. Conclusions Worsening MacTel severity is characterized by greater overlap between DCP telangiectasia and zones of increasing severity of photoreceptor disruption, with EZ loss enlarging over time within areas of preexisting IZ disruption. We suggest that IZ disruption may indicate early photoreceptor dysfunction that eventually progresses to EZ loss, with IZ loss being a more reliable metric than IZ attenuation. Additional studies will be necessary to further explore long-term photoreceptor changes and evaluate their relationship with visual function in MacTel.
Counterinsurgency and the Rule of Law

The Roman orator Cicero is credited with the phrase ―Silent enim leges inter arma‖—―When swords are drawn the laws fall silent . . . .‖1 The nature of counterinsurgency conflict belies Cicero‘s statement—in counterinsurgencies, laws must instead be vibrant and active in order to secure success. Rather than a convenience that can be restored at the cessation of hostilities, the rule of law should play a fundamental role in the conflict. While it may be possible for an incumbent power to succeed in a counterinsurgency without a strong focus on the rule of law, this success will likely come at an extremely high cost in terms of military resources, civilian life, and international legitimacy.
Work in progress - interdisciplinary laboratory-based advanced MEMS course for undergraduates

We have developed a two-course sequence in MEMS for undergraduate students at Rose-Hulman. The second course in this two-course MEMS sequence - and the focus of this WIP - has an integral term-length laboratory project. The study of MEMS provides a rich environment in which to provide students with truly interdisciplinary work and to present them with design problems having real constraints. Challenges include faculty coordination in these team-taught courses and delivering educational materials to a relatively disparate student audience.
The Consequences of Fiscal Decentralization on Poverty and Income Equality

Many countries around the world are currently pursuing policies for poverty reduction and the improvement of income distribution, and most of them are also implementing fiscal decentralization reforms. Although, separately, fiscal decentralization, poverty, and the distribution of income have been the subjects of extensive theoretical and empirical research, to date we have little understanding of what may be the impact of fiscal decentralization on poverty and inequality. We set out to shed some light on those relationships. We describe the possible channels through which fiscal decentralization might affect poverty and income inequalities and carry out an empirical analysis using panel data for a large number of countries. We find that fiscal decentralization may have significant effects on poverty and inequality. In particular, fiscal decentralization appears to lead to increases in the poverty measures we use, but it also appears to reduce income inequality if the general government represents a signi...
On the identity of “isolated chromosomes”

Abstract Serial specimens were taken for phase and electron microscopic examinations during the isolation of chromatin threads from chicken erythrocytes with the Waring Blendor or the Logeman Mill. In fresh wetmounts, distorted or “drawn” nuclei were seen very infrequently; characteristic threads appeared progressively in the presence of round nuclei. In electron microscopy of parallel specimens, distorted nuclei were most common but the proportions of predominant nuclei with threadlike protrusions and of “drawn” nuclei were statistically constant and similar throughout the widely different mechanical treatments. Grossly distorted nuclei with “drawn” aspect resulted when untreated whole cells were exposed to osmotic abuse and drying stresses incidental to preparations for electron microscopy. The origin of most of the distorted nuclei seen in the electron microscope thus appears extraneous. The results indicate collectively that “drawn” nuclei do not here play a central role in the generation of the characteristic chromatin threads, as was postulated by Lamb.
Document Summarization using Wikipedia

Although most of the developing world is likely to first access the Internet through mobile phones, mobile devices are constrained by screen space, bandwidth and limited attention span. Single document summarization techniques have the potential to simplify information consumption on mobile phones by presenting only the most relevant information contained in the document. In this paper we present a language independent single-document summarization method. We map document sentences to semantic concepts in Wikipedia and select sentences for the summary based on the frequency of the mapped-to concepts. Our evaluation on English documents using the ROUGE package indicates our summarization method is competitive with the state of the art in single document summarization.
Cry1A toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis bind specifically to a region adjacent to the membrane-proximal extracellular domain of BT-R1 in Manduca sexta:: involvement of a cadherin in the entomopathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis

Abstract Many subspecies of the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produce various parasporal crystal proteins, also known as Cry toxins, that exhibit insecticidal activity upon binding to specific receptors in the midgut of susceptible insects. One such receptor, BT-R1 (210 kDa), is a cadherin located in the midgut epithelium of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. It has a high binding affinity ( K d ∼ 1 nM) for the Cry1A toxins of B. thuringiensis. Truncation analysis of BT-R1 revealed that the only fragment capable of binding the Cry1A toxins of B. thuringiensis was a contiguous 169-amino acid sequence adjacent to the membrane-proximal extracellular domain. The purified toxin-binding fragment acted as an antagonist to Cry1Ab toxin by blocking the binding of toxin to the tobacco hornworm midgut and inhibiting insecticidal action. Exogenous Cry1Ab toxin bound to intact COS-7 cells expressing BT-R1 cDNA, subsequently killing the cells. Recruitment of BT-R1 by B. thuringiensis indicates that the bacterium interacts with a specific cell adhesion molecule during its pathogenesis. Apparently, Cry toxins, like other bacterial toxins, attack epithelial barriers by targeting cell adhesion molecules within susceptible insect hosts.
The psychophysiology of mixed emotional states

How to conceptualize mixed emotional states is a central issue in the field of affective science. Nondifferentiation, additive, and emergence accounts of mixed emotions make divergent predictions regarding physiological responses in mixed emotions. To test these predictions, 43 women watched film clips that elicited amusement, disgust, or mixed emotions while feeling self-report, facial electromyography, cardiovascular, electrodermal, and respiratory measures were assessed. Simultaneous self-reports of amusement and disgust confirmed elicitation of a mixed emotional state. Physiologically, mixed emotions differed from pure amusement and pure disgust both in intensity and pattern. This suggests a distinct physiological response of the mixed emotional state, as predicted by the emergence account of mixed emotions. Implications for emotion theory and research are discussed.
High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of (−)-β-D-2,6-diaminopurine dioxolane and its metabolite, dioxolane guanosine, using ultraviolet and on-line radiochemical detection

(-)-beta-D-2,6-Diaminopurine dioxolane (DAPD) and its metabolite dioxolane guanosine (DXG) have potent activity against hepatitis B virus and HIV, in vitro. A reversed-phase HPLC analytical method using UV and on-line radiochemical detection for the determination of DAPD and DXG in monkey serum and urine is described in this report. Retention times for DXG, DAPD and internal standard (2',3'-didehydro-2'deoxythymidine, D4T) were 5.0, 6.0 and 13.0 min, respectively. The extraction recovery was greater than 97% for DAPD and 94% for DXG. The limit of quantitation for UV detection was 100 ng/ml and 125 ng/ml for DXG and DAPD in monkey serum. The standard curves were linear from 0.1 microgram/ml to 5 micrograms/ml for DXG and 0.125 microgram/ml to 5 micrograms/ml for DAPD. For radiochemical detection, calibration curves of standard solutions of DAPD and DXG were linear in the range of 3500 Bq to 32,000 Bq and 7500 Bq to 60,000 Bq. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations were less than 7.2% using UV and less than 8.6% using on-line radiochemical detection. The HPLC method was applied to serum and urine samples collected from a male rhesus monkey that was administered 33.3 mg/kg DAPD with 200 microCi of [3H]DAPD intravenously.
Los nombres, ¿con o sin artículo?

The present work is a didactical proposal designed to be implemented in the classroom at an initial or elementary level of Spanish as a Second Language. This proposal aims to introduce the use and meaning of three types of noun phrases: a) the bare nouns (plurals and mass nouns) as referential expressions of unspecified amounts; b) the noun phrases introduced by the indefinite article (un/una/unos/unas) as referential expressions of single units, and c) the noun phrases introduced by the definite article (el/la/los/las) as generic or individuative references.This proposal is based on a cognitive approach to the extent that not only it’s nourished by the contributions of Cognitive Grammar regarding nominal expressions in English, but it attempts to offer a cognitive vision of the issues in Spanish, highlighting an essential meaning for each type of noun phrases. Furthermore, it’s supported by a contrastive approach in order to identify the most relevant aspects on which an introduction to the mentioned grammatical issues should be focused.The proposed approaches and suggestions are in line with those proposed in a doctoral thesis that is currently in progress. Therefore, we should take into account that both this didactical proposal as well as the doctoral thesis on which it is based are not legitimised yet by the academic and scientific community. However, we are venturing to share this work because it may be helpful in the teaching and learning of Spanish as a Second Language.
Improved throughput bounds for interference-aware routing inwireless networks

Interference is a fundamental limiting factor in wireless networks. Due to interaction among transmissions of neighboring nodes and need for multi-hop routing in large networks, it is a non-trivial problem to estimate how much throughput a network can deliver. In an important piece of work, Gupta and Kumar [3] showed that in a random model, where n identical nodes are distributed uniformly in a unit square and each node is communicating with a random destination, the capacity of the network as measured in bit-meters/sec is \({O}(\sqrt{n})\). This result articulates the packing constraint of the n paths: on average each path is \(\Theta (\sqrt{n})\) hops long, and thus in the space of size O(n), only \({O}(\sqrt{n})\) paths can be accommodated.
Analysis of Bragg Diffractions by Superimposed Transmission Phase Gratings for Optical Computing and Interconnection

We present a numerical computation technique on analyzing Bragg diffractions by superimposed transmission phase gratings. It can account for diffractions by any number of superimposed gratings with symmetric and asymmetric diffraction geometries. The angular and wavelength selectivity curves are shown to be still (sinc)2 functional dependent in the examples provided. The selectivity bandwidth on one diffraction angle is found to depend on other superimposed diffraction gratings selected. The simple computation technique should be suitable for design engineers to establish grating index combinations prior to experimental implementation of optical beam splitting components.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Accelerated Nitrate Uptake in Wheat Seedlings: Effects of Ammonium and Nitrite Pretreatments and of 6-Methylpurine and Puromycin

The experiments reported herein had two objectives. One was to determine if the slow rate of nitrate uptake which occurs upon initial exposure of nitrogen-depleted wheat (Triticum vulgare cv. Knox) plants to nitrate was the result of insufficient reduced nitrogen. The second was to determine the impact of restrictions in ribonucleic acid or protein synthesis on both nitrate uptake and nitrate reduction. Pretreatments of 14-day-old seedlings for a few hours in ammonium or nitrite did not result in an enhancement of the initial slow rate of nitrate uptake. Growth for two additional weeks in ammonium also failed to eliminate the induction period. The evidence indicates that the presence of nitrate, rather than a product of its reduction, was required to initiate development of the accelerated rate of nitrate uptake. Puromycin (400 μg ml−1) and 6-methylpurine (0.5 mM) prevented development of the accelerated phase of nitrate uptake. With both compounds, the relative restriction of nitrate uptake was greater than that of nitrate reduction as revealed by incorporation of 15N from labeled nitrate into reduced forms. The proportion of reduction which occurred in the root system under the imposed treatments could not be delineated precisely, preventing an unequivocal determination of the extent to which the two processes are coupled in the root system. The data nevertheless indicate nitrate reduction was closely associated with nitrate uptake. Accumulation of nitrate in the shoots was markedly restricted in presence of 6 methylpurine. This effect most likely was a result of a severe restriction in the translocation of nitrate into the xylem, rather than an increase in the reduction rate in the shoots.
Characterization of Lens Fiber Cell Triton Insoluble Fraction Reveals ERM (Ezrin, Radixin, Moesin) proteins as Major Cytoskeletal-associated Proteins

To understand lens fiber cell elongation- and differentiation-associated cytoskeletal remodeling, here we identified and characterized the major protein components of lens fiber cell Triton X-100 insoluble fraction by mass spectrometry and immunoblot analysis. This analysis identified spectrin, filensin, vimentin, tubulin, phakinin, and beta-actin as major cytoskeletal proteins in the lens fibers. Importantly, ezrin, radixin, and moesin (ERM), heat-shock cognate protein 70, and beta/gamma-crystallins were identified as major cytoskeletal-associated proteins. ERM proteins were confirmed to exist as active phosphorylated forms that exhibited intense distribution in the organelle free-zone fibers. Furthermore, ERM protein phosphorylation was found to be dramatically reduced in Rho GTPase-targeted transgenic mouse lenses. These data identify the ERM proteins, which cross-link the plasma membrane and actin, as major and stable cytoskeletal-associated proteins in lens fibers, and indicate a potential role(s) for the ERMs in fiber cell actin cytoskeletal and membrane organization.
Estimation error guarantees for Poisson denoising with sparse and structured dictionary models

Poisson processes are commonly used models for describing discrete arrival phenomena arising, for example, in photon-limited scenarios in low-light and infrared imaging, astronomy, and nuclear medicine applications. In this context, several recent efforts have evaluated Poisson denoising methods that utilize contemporary sparse modeling and dictionary learning techniques designed to exploit and leverage (local) shared structure in the images being estimated. This paper establishes a theoretical foundation for such procedures. Specifically, we formulate sparse and structured dictionary-based Poisson denoising methods as constrained maximum likelihood estimation strategies, and establish performance bounds for their mean-square estimation error using the framework of complexity penalized maximum likelihood analyses.
Multimodal system for the planning and guidance of bronchoscopy

Many technical innovations in multimodal radiologic imaging and bronchoscopy have emerged recently in the effort against lung cancer. Modern X-ray computed-tomography (CT) scanners provide three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution chest images, positron emission tomography (PET) scanners give complementary molecular imaging data, and new integrated PET/CT scanners combine the strengths of both modalities. State-of-the-art bronchoscopes permit minimally invasive tissue sampling, with vivid endobronchial video enabling navigation deep into the airway-tree periphery, while complementary endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) reveals local views of anatomical structures outside the airways. In addition, image-guided intervention (IGI) systems have proven their utility for CT-based planning and guidance of bronchoscopy. Unfortunately, no IGI system exists that integrates all sources effectively through the complete lung-cancer staging work flow. This paper presents a prototype of a computer-based multimodal IGI system that strives to fill this need. The system combines a wide range of automatic and semi-automatic image-processing tools for multimodal data fusion and procedure planning. It also provides a flexible graphical user interface for follow-on guidance of bronchoscopy/EBUS. Human-study results demonstrate the system’s potential.