cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating covariance matrices II

Abstract Let S1 and S2 be two independent p × p Wishart matrices with S1 ∼ Wp(Σ1, n1) and S2 ∼ Wp(Σ2, n2). We wish to estimate ζ = Σ2Σ1−1 under the loss function L 1 = tr (ζ − ζ)′ Σ 2 −1 (ζ − ζ) Σ 1 tr ζ . By extending the techniques of Berger, Haff, and Stein for the one sample problem, alternative estimators to the usual estimators for ζ are obtained. However, the risks of these estimators are not available in closed form. A Monte Carlo study is used instead to evaluate their risk performances. The results indicate that the alternative estimators have excellent risk properties with respect to the usual estimators. In particular, dramatic savings in risk are obtained when the eigenvalues of Σ2Σ1−1 are close together.
Two-Party Politics in the One-Party South: Alabama's Hill Country, 1874-1920

Samuel L. Webb presents new evidence that, contrary to popular belief, voters in at least one Deep South state did not flee en masse from the Republican party after Reconstruction. Instead, as Webb conclusively demonstrates, the party gained strength among white voters in northern Alabama's Hill Country region between 1896 and 1920. Not only did GOP Presidential candidates win more than a dozen area counties during this period but also Republican congressional candidates made progress in Democratic strongholds and local officials gained control of several county courthouses. These new Republicans were not simply the descendants of anti-Confederate families, as some historians have claimed. Rather, they were former independents, Greenbackers, and Populists, who, in keeping with the 1890s Populist movement, reacted against what they perceived as the takeover of the Democratic party by the "moneyed elites" and Black Belt planter-landlords. By 1900, many Hill Country Populists had found a congenial home in the GOP, albeit one with a populist and progressive bent. Webb breaks with previous historical opinion by showing that ex-Populists in the Hill Country, who were radical reformers during the 1890s, remained reform-minded after 1900. Continuity existed between their movement and progressivism. Webb uses the pivotal year of 1912 to exemplify how many ex-Populists were attracted by Theodore Roosevelt and his Bull Moose Progressive party and supported a variety of reforms, particularly those related to the rights of labor. Webb then analyzes retrospectively and prospectively the reasons for the movement.
The post-collapse equilibrium structure of cosmological haloes in a low-density universe

An analytical model is presented for the postcollapse equilibrium structure of virialized objects which condense out of a low-density cosmological background universe, either matter-dominated or flat with a cosmological constant. This generalizes the model we derived previously for an Einstein-de Sitter (EdS) universe. The model is based upon the assumption that cosmological haloes form from the collapse and virialization of “top-hat” density perturbations and are spherical, isotropic, and isothermal. This leads to the prediction of a unique, nonsingular, truncated isothermal sphere (TIS), a particular solution of the Lane-Emden equation (suitably modified when Λ 6= 0). The size and virial temperature are unique functions of the mass and redshift of formation of the object for a given background universe. The central density is roughly proportional to the critical density of the universe at the epoch of collapse. This TIS model is in good agreement with observations of the internal structure of dark matter–dominated haloes on scales ranging from dwarf galaxies to X-ray clusters. It also reproduces many of the average properties of haloes in simulations of the Cold Dark Matter (CDM) model to good accuracy, suggesting that it is a useful analytical approximation for haloes which form from realistic initial conditions. Our TIS model matches the density profiles of haloes in CDM N-body simulations outside the innermost region, while avoiding the steep central cusp of the latter which is in apparent con-
Role of organic modifier sorption on retention phenomena in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Abstract Distribution phenomena associated with the elution of solutes of varying retention from reversed-phase chromatographic columns have been examined. For solutes slightly more retained than the organic modifier component of the mobile phase, displacement of a portion of the modifier that has been extracted into the bonded phase resulted. For longer retained solutes, a vacancy band was produced, indicating a net flux of organic solvent into the bonded phase. These effects revealed that the composition of the extracted modifier system could be varied by the addition of a second solvent to the mobile phase, such as occurs in ternary mobile phase systems. Polar group selectivities of solutes could in large part then be rationalized on the basis of specific solute-modifier interactions in the stationary phase. On the basis of these results unusual organic modifiers have been used in ternary mobile phase systems to achieve large selectivity differences.
Simultaneous selection and weighting of moments in GMM using a trapezoidal kernel

Abstract This paper proposes a novel procedure to estimate linear models when the number of instruments is large. At the heart of such models is the need to balance the trade off between attaining asymptotic efficiency, which requires more instruments, and minimizing bias, which is adversely affected by the addition of instruments. Two questions are of central concern: (1) What is the optimal number of instruments to use? (2) Should the instruments receive different weights? This paper contains the following contributions toward resolving these issues. First, I propose a kernel weighted generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator that uses a trapezoidal kernel. This kernel turns out to be attractive to select and weight the number of moments. Second, I derive the higher order mean squared error of the kernel weighted GMM estimator and show that the trapezoidal kernel generates a lower asymptotic variance than regular kernels. Finally, Monte Carlo simulations show that in finite samples the kernel weighted GMM estimator performs on par with other estimators that choose optimal instruments and improves upon a GMM estimator that uses all instruments.
Interrater Reliability of the Outcomes and Assessment Information Set: Results From the Field

The Outcomes and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) is now used extensively for regulatory, reimbursement, research, and clinical purposes in home health care. However, little is known about the interrater reliability of OASIS items based on assessments from home-health-agency clinicians. Therefore, we evaluated OASIS item interrater reliability among 88 patients from 21 agencies. Of 25 items studied, all except 2 had weighted kappa values of kappa > or = 0.60. We conclude that OASIS item interrater reliability was highly adequate in this study, but we recommend routine interrater-reliability evaluation by agencies to maximize the quality of OASIS data nationally.
Mechanism of opioid-induced pupillary effects.

Abstract Objective This study tested the hypothesis that increased activity in the pupilloconstrictor nucleus by the addition of ambient light and by the administration of fentanyl, sufficient to block pupillary reflex dilation, constricts the pupil of anesthetized patients. Methods Pupil diameter was measured in 10 anesthetized patients during noxious stimulation above an epidural block level, in darkness and then with light directed into the left eye. Two measurements were taken from the right eye separated by 5 min. Following the second measurement, fentanyl (1 mcg/kg) was administered and the measures in light and dark were repeated. The effect of light and fentanyl on pupil size and pupillary reflex dilation were analyzed. Results An increase in light directed into the left eye constricted the pupil from 2.15 ± 0.38 to 1.87 ± 0.40 mm before fentanyl. Fentanyl did not constrict the pupil either in darkness or light but it did decrease pupillary reflex dilation by 49%. Conclusions The miotic pupil during general anesthesia is not maximally constricted. Increased excitation of the pupilloconstrictor nucleus does not account for blockade of pupillary reflex dilation after fentanyl administration during desflurane anesthesia. Significance This study does not support the hypothesis that opioid effects on the human pupil are brought about by a direct excitatory action on the pupilloconstrictor nucleus.
Mechanical Energy Harvester With Ultralow Threshold Rectification Based on SSHI Nonlinear Technique

Harvesting energy from ambient sources has become of great importance these last few years. This can be explained not only by advances in microlectronics and energy harvesting technologies, but also by a growing industrial demand in wireless autonomous devices. In this field, piezoelectric elements offer outstanding performances, thanks to their high power density that makes them suitable for integrated microgenerators. However, such a domain still offers challenges to the research community. Particularly, embedding piezoelectric inserts as MEMS components raises the issue of low voltage output. Classical energy harvesting interfaces that feature bridge rectifier suffer from threshold voltage introduced by such discrete components, therefore compromising their use in real-life applications. In this paper is presented a new energy harvesting circuit that operates with ultralow voltage output, by the use of a magnetic voltage rectifier that does not present significant voltage gap. Experimental measurements performed on a simple transducer confirm theoretical predictions, and show that the proposed architecture operates well even for low-level vibrations, outperforming all known energy interfaces. Particularly, it is theoretically and experimentally shown that such an interface provides a gain greater than 50 compared to classical energy harvesting structures.
Treatment of head and neck cancer with bone or cartilage invasion by surgery and postoperative radiotherapy

Abstract Purpose The study goal was to review our experience with patients with bone or cartilage invasion (BCI) by adjacent head and neck cancer (HNC) who were treated with curative surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (SPR). Patients and methods Thirty-eight individuals treated with SPR for HNC with BCI were identified after review of the radiation oncology charts and pathology reports for the period 1981 through 2000. Results The thyroid cartilage and mandible were predominantly invaded by HNC. The follow-up time for the surviving patients was 65.5 months (range, 17 to 106 months). The local, regional, and distant relapse rates were 5%, 11%, and 13%, respectively. The overall disease-free survival rates at 3 and 5 years were 54% and 41%, respectively. Conclusion Although these results were not obtained from a randomized trial, the present observations may be beneficial in clinical decision making concerning patients with HNC and contiguous invasion of bone or cartilage.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation against Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening—Point

Screening is one of the cornerstones of preventive medicine. The purpose of screening is to identify preclinical and asymptomatic cases of disease in a population at risk—as opposed to making a diagnosis based on a patient's presentation with symptoms and disease. The assumption is treatment in
From "Either-Or" to "When and How": A Context-Dependent Model of Culture in Action

In this article, I outline a framework for the sociological study of culture that connects three intertwined elements of human culture (cultural motivations, resources, and meanings) and demonstrates the concrete contexts under which each most critically influences actions and their subsequent outcomes. In contrast to models that cast motivations, resources, and meanings as competing explanations of how culture affects action, I argue that these are fundamental constituent elements of culture that are inseparable, interdependent, and simultaneously operative. Which element provides the strongest link to action, and how this link operates, must be understood as a function of the actor's position within wider social contexts. I argue that on average motivations have the most discernable link to action within a social strata, cultural resources provide the strongest link across strata, and meanings have the greatest direct influence when codified and sanctioned. I then offer a reframing and synthesis that reintegrates previously “competing” theories of culture into a more holistic context-dependent model of culture in action. Finally, I use evidence from prior empirical research, as well as new data from an ongoing ethnographic study of health behaviors among the aged, to show how various elements of culture are concretely linked to action in eight different social contexts. In doing so, I provide a roadmap for the transition out of the “either-or” logic underlying much of cultural theory and reemphasize the importance of the classical sociological concern for “when” and “how” various aspects of culture influence action and outcomes in concrete social contexts.
Requirements for budding of paramyxovirus simian virus 5 virus-like particles.

Enveloped viruses are released from infected cells after coalescence of viral components at cellular membranes and budding of membranes to release particles. For some negative-strand RNA viruses (e.g., vesicular stomatitis virus and Ebola virus), the viral matrix (M) protein contains all of the information needed for budding, since virus-like particles (VLPs) are efficiently released from cells when the M protein is expressed from cDNA. To investigate the requirements for budding of the paramyxovirus simian virus 5 (SV5), its M protein was expressed in mammalian cells, and it was found that SV5 M protein alone could not induce vesicle budding and was not secreted from cells. Coexpression of M protein with the viral hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) or fusion (F) glycoproteins also failed to result in significant VLP release. It was found that M protein in the form of VLPs was only secreted from cells, with an efficiency comparable to authentic virus budding, when M protein was coexpressed with one of the two glycoproteins, HN or F, together with the nucleocapsid (NP) protein. The VLPs appeared similar morphologically to authentic virions by electron microscopy. CsCl density gradient centrifugation indicated that almost all of the NP protein in the cells had assembled into nucleocapsid-like structures. Deletion of the F and HN cytoplasmic tails indicated an important role of these cytoplasmic tails in VLP budding. Furthermore, truncation of the HN cytoplasmic tail was found to be inhibitory toward budding, since it prevented coexpressed wild-type (wt) F protein from directing VLP budding. Conversely, truncation of the F protein cytoplasmic tail was not inhibitory and did not affect the ability of coexpressed wt HN protein to direct the budding of particles. Taken together, these data suggest that multiple viral components, including assembled nucleocapsids, have important roles in the paramyxovirus budding process.
Mikania Weed: A Challenge for Conservationists

The varied bioclimatic conditions of Nepal favour the introduction of different invasive alien weeds. Mikania micrantha (L.) Kunth is one of the well established invasive alien weeds in the tropical part of eastern and central Nepal. The weed has been caused serious problems in the forests, grasslands, fallow lands, croplands and wetlands of the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and its buffer zone. It kills other plants by blocking sunlight and smothering them. The Reserve has initiated to manage the weed with local community in the buffer zone. The paper attempts to highlight the problem of Mikania in the Koshi Tappu area and the efforts of community to manage the weed. Keywords: Mikania micrantha , invasive alien weed, Koshi Tappu, Nepal doi:10.3126/on.v5i1.801 Our Nature (2007)5:70-74
Kinetic Evidence for Channeling of Dopamine between Monoamine Transporter and Membranous Dopamine-β-monooxygenase in Chromaffin Granule Ghosts

The nature of coupling between the uptake and dopamine-β-monooxygenase (DβM) catalyzed hydroxylation of dopamine (DA) was studied in bovine chromaffin granule ghosts. Initial rate and transient kinetics of DA uptake and conversion were determined under a variety of conditions. The uptake kinetics of DA, norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine demonstrate that DA is a better substrate than NE and epinephrine under optimal uptake conditions. The transient kinetics of DA accumulation and NE production under both optimal uptake and uptake and conversion conditions were zero-order with no detectable lag or burst periods. The mathematical analyses of the data show that a normal sequential uptake followed by the conversion process could not explain the observed kinetics, under any condition. On the other hand, all experimental data are in agreement with a mechanism in which DA is efficiently channeled from the vesicular monoamine transporter to membranous DβM for hydroxylation, prior to the release into the bulk medium of the ghost interior. The slow accumulation of DA under optimal conversion conditions appears to be caused by the slow leakage of DA from the channeling pathway to the ghost interior. Because DβM activity in intact granules is equally distributed between soluble and membranous forms of DβM, if an efficient channeling mechanism is operative in vivo, soluble DβM may not have access to the substrate, making the catalytic activity of soluble DβM physiologically insignificant, which is consistent with the increasing experimental evidence that membranous DβM may be the physiologically functional form.
Feature-assisted multistatic tracking using the PACsim data set

Target tracking has traditionally focussed on the use of kinematic information such as bearing, range, position, or speed. In some cases it is possible to extract additional target information that may be useful in the maintenance of reliable tracks or the establishment of target type or identity. Several methods have been proposed for the use of feature information in target tracking. In this paper we discuss and evaluate featureassisted tracking using a feature component in the cumulative likelihood ratio used for track initiation and maintenance in a multihypothesis (MHT) tracker. The data set used in the evaluation, PACsim, was specifically developed to investigate the use and value of feature information in multistatic tracking and has been the subject of collaborative analysis by the Multistatic Tracking Working Group (MSTWG).
He Followed the Funereal Steps of Ixtab: The Pleasurable Aesthetics of Suicide in Newspaper Journalism in Yucatán, Mexico

Resumen Este articulo argumenta que las fotografias y reportajes en el periodismo rojo Yucateco representan al suicidio como un fenomeno que sucede casi exclusivamente entre los jovenes indigenas. El articulo presenta un analisis textual y discursivo de noticias sobre suicidios en Yucatan entre los anos 2005–2010, y argumenta que en Yucatan esas imagenes sugieren que los mayas tienen una predisposicion cultural al suicidio. Esto no significa que no exista un problema serio en Yucatan, dado su elevado indice de suicidios, los cuales doblan media nacional. Mas bien, sugiere que en el proceso de representar a la victima como un “otro” perdemos perspectiva de los matices sociales presentes en las condiciones, construccion social y realidades que empujan a la gente a tomar la decision de suicidarse. Por otra parte, la idea del Maya suicida presupone la existencia de una identidad maya definida, lo cual ha sido problematizado.
The Effect of System Characteristics, Stage of Adoption, and Experience on Institutional Explanations for ERP Systems Choice

SYNOPSIS: Existing studies have found a linkage between institutional factors and systems adoption, but the literature has overlooked an important question: When is the decision to implement a system influenced by institutional factors? In this paper, the author argues that decisions to adopt systems are not influenced equally by institutional factors, and examines how system characteristics moderate the effects of institutional factors on adoption decisions, specifically decisions to adopt enterprise resource planning (hereafter, ERP) systems. The results of the study reveal that institutional factors, such as mimicry of peers, compliance with industry norms, and coercion from powerful entities influence ERP adoption decisions. The results also show that the effects of institutional factors on adoption decisions are amplified when participants have not already adopted an ERP system, the benefits of the system are difficult to quantify, and the system enhances organizational interaction throughout the sup...
Electronic structure of graphene tubules based on C 60

The electronic structures of some possible carbon fibers nucleated from the hemisphere of a ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ molecule are presented. A one-dimensional electronic band-structure model of such carbon fibers, having not only rotational symmetry but also screw axes, is derived by folding the two-dimensional energy bands of graphite. A simple tight-binding model shows that some fibers are metallic and are stable against perturbations of the one-dimensional energy bands and the mixing of \ensuremath{\sigma} and \ensuremath{\pi} bands due to the curvature of the circumference of the fiber.
Postprocessing of JPEG-2000 images to remove compression artifacts

Motivated by error concealment applications, this letter proposes a method for the postprocessing of JPEG-2000 compressed images at very low bitrates. The proposed method counter-intuitively employs further compression to achieve image enhancement. This approach, although not widely known, is not entirely new: it is an adaptation of a technique originally designed for the removal of block-transform coding artifacts. The contribution of this work is to demonstrate its applicability to wavelet coders. In its simplest form, this algorithm uses existing system components with little or no additional hardware or software. Experimental results show a distinct reduction of ringing artifacts at very low bitrates.
Tracers for assessing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke: what are they tracing?

Abstract The effectiveness of various tracers for measurements of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) as a complex chemical mixture is based on the physicochemical properties of four major organic components and their dynamic behavior in indoor environments. For the particulate matter (PM) component and the very volatile organic compounds, emission and ventilation rates are generally the most important processes controlling indoor concentrations and exposures of nonsmokers. For the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), sorption on and desorption from indoor surfaces are additional processes that influence exposures. Laboratory and modeling studies of the dynamic behavior of nicotine, an SVOC, and PM indicate that nicotine can be used to estimate PM exposures from ETS in indoor environments when certain criteria are met: (italic>a(/italic>) smoking occurs regularly in the environment, (italic>b(/italic>) the system is near quasi-steady state, and (italic>c(/italic>) sampling time is longer than the characteristic times for removal processes. Measurements in residential and workplace buildings also support the use of nicotine as a tracer for PM in ETS. Recent laboratory and field data indicate that the VOCs from ETS can be traced using compounds with similar physicochemical properties, such as 3-ethenylpyridine, pyrrole, or pyridine. The effectiveness of nicotine for estimating exposures to the VOCs and SVOCs has not been determined, although these constitute major mass fractions of ETS.
"Phase capture" in the perception of interpolated shape: cue combination and the influence function.

This study was concerned with what stimulus information observers use to judge the shape of simple objects. We used a string of four Gabor patches to define a contour. A fifth, center patch served as a test pattern. The observers task was to judge the location of the test pattern relative to the contour. The contour was either a straight line, or an arc with positive or negative curvature (the radius of curvature was either 2 or 6 deg). We asked whether phase shifts in the inner or outer pairs of patches distributed along the contour influence the perceived shape. That is, we measured the phase shift influence function. We found that shifting the inner patches of the string by 0.25 cycle results in almost complete phase capture (attraction) at the smallest separation (2k), and the capture effect falls off rapidly with separation. A 0.25 cycle shift of the outer pair of patches has a much smaller effect, in the opposite direction (repulsion). In our experiments, the contour is defined by two cues––the cue provided by the Gabor carrier (the feature cue) and that defined by the Gaussian envelope (the envelope cue). Our phase shift influence function can be thought of as a cue combination task. An ideal observer would weight the cues by the inverse variance of the two cues. The variance in each of these cues predicts the main features of our results quite accurately. � 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Studies of the Microscopic Nature of Cu-Pairs in Silicon

Studies of the thermal dissociation kinetics ofCu-pairs inp-type silicon revealed that the dissociation energy of the pairs is 1.02±0.07 eV, which is twice as large as the binding energy of a coulombically bound donor-acceptor pairs formed by singly charged ions placed on nearest neighbor sites. The dependence of the hole emission rate from the center versus electric field in the depletion region was found to be much weaker than predicted by the Pool-Frenkel law. On the other hand, the polarization potential describing emission from a neutral impurity gave a satisfactory fit to the experimental data. It is concluded that theCu-pair is a donor with either covalent or mixed type of bonding of interstitial and substitutional copper atoms.
VI. British Intervention in the Persian Revolution, 1905–1909*

The activity of the foreign Powers in Persia during the early twentieth century has begun to receive historians’ attention; the British role in the Persian struggle against Kajar despotism, however, has not been made clear. The British have been pictured as indecisive and as not significantly supporting the Persian revolution. Or, where they have been described as aiding rebellion, only vague implications exist as to their purpose: hints that before the Anglo-Russian Convention the British encouraged the revolutionaries in order to extend British influence, presumably at Russian expense, and that after the Convention the British tried to make the shah honour his promises to the constitutionalists to obtain political stability and a secure environment for British trade. At least partly correct, if limited in scope and inexplicit about details, these ideas do not allow a full understanding of British policy during the tumultuous Persian struggle for a constitution. A thorough examination of the exact impact of the Anglo-Russian Convention on Russians and revolutionaries in Persia is required for comprehension of British attitudes and policies.
Half-att site substrates reveal the homology independence and minimal protein requirements for productive synapsis in λ excisive recombination

Abstract The early events in site-specific excisive recombination were studied with phage λ half- att sites that have no DNA to one side of the strand exchange region; they carry a single core-type integrase binding site and either P or P′ arm flanking DNA. These half- att R and half- att L sites exhibit normal properties for the initial (covalent) top-strand transfer and form stable intermediates independent of later steps in the reaction. With these novel substrates we show that Xis specifically promotes the first strand exchange and that att L enhances Int cleavage at the top-strand site of att R. It is also shown that synapsis and initial strand transfers do not require DNA-DNA pairing but are mediated by protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. These involve the two top-strand Int binding sites (required for the first strand exchange) and, in addition, one of the two bottom-strand sites (C′) responsible for the second strand exchange.
Identifying and Determining the Symptom Severity Associated With Polyvictimization Among Psychiatrically Impaired Children in the Outpatient Setting

Polyvictimization involves experiencing multiple forms of maltreatment or other interpersonal victimization, and places children at risk for severe psychosocial impairment. Children with psychiatric problems are at risk for polyvictimization, and polyvictimized child psychiatric inpatients have been found to have particularly severe psychiatric symptoms. Cluster analysis was used to identify a polyvictimized subgroup (N = 22, 8%) among 295 outpatient admissions in 2007-2009 to a child psychiatry outpatient clinic, based on chart review of documented maltreatment, parental impairment (history of arrest, psychiatric illness, and substance use), and multiple out-of-home placements. Polyvictimization was associated with severe parent-reported externalizing problems and clinician-rated psychosocial impairment, independent of demographics and psychiatric diagnoses. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was the only psychiatric diagnosis associated with polyvictimization. Polyvictimization merits further clinical and research assessment with child psychiatry outpatients. Evidence-based PTSD assessment and treatment for polyvictimized children with adaptations to address their severe impairment and externalizing problems also warrants empirical evaluation. Language: en
Teacher Retention in Refugee and Emergency Settings: The State of the Literature

Teacher quality is recognized as a primary driver of variation in student learning outcomes, particularly in refugee and emergency settings, but few studies have examined the factors that motivate or demotivate teachers in these contexts. In this article we use secondary source materials from academic experts and gray literature from United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations to identify seven key areas that affect teacher retention in such contexts: teacher recruitment, selection, and deployment; the teaching environment; certification; professional development; incentives; management structures; and status and social recognition. Further, we identify critical gaps in the literature surrounding refugee teachers and their retention and suggest specific areas for further research.
Party Formation through Petitions: The Whigs and the Bank War of 1832–1834

When President Andrew Jackson removed the public deposits from the Bank of the United States, he set off an economic and political crisis from which, scholars agree, the Whig Party emerged. We argue that petitioning in response to removal of the deposits shaped the emergence of the Whig Party, crystallizing a new line of Jacksonian opposition and dispensing with older lines of National Republican rhetoric and organization. Where petitioning against removal of the deposits was higher, the Whigs were more likely to emerge with organization and votes in the coming years. We test this implication empirically by using a new database of petitions sent to Congress during the banking crisis. We find that petitioning activity in 1834 is predictive of increased support for Whig Party candidates in subsequent presidential elections as well as stronger state Whig Party organization.
Prolonged bursts occur in normal calcium in hippocampal slices after raising excitability and blocking synaptic transmission.

This study examined the conditions that are required for the appearance of the long-duration seizure-like activity that can be recorded in hippocampal slices. Spontaneous interictal activity was in...
Trafficking: When Awareness is Not Enough

Stealing is a bad thing, and is something that we are all made aware of as children. What if someone is stealing food out of hunger? Does it solve the issue of hunger by making someone aware that stealing is bad? No. Awareness also does not solve the problem of trafficking because it does not solve the core issues behind trafficking: the lack of enforcement of laws, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and gender discrimination. This paper will show that by enforcing the laws currently in place, with combined efforts of the Nepalese government and the international community, Nepal will be further along in combating trafficking. This includes the enforcement of border control between India and Nepal. The lack of border patrol enforcement has resulted in the increase of trafficking between the two countries. Most importantly this paper will show that in order to combat trafficking, the core issues mentioned above need to be resolved. In addition, this paper will show that by helping girls and women become financially stable and able to receive an education, their chances of falling victim to trafficking by the lure of financial gain and a better life will decrease.The paper will focus on three main areas. The first section will give an overview of the history of trafficking in Nepal, the international and domestic laws against trafficking and the Catholic Church’s view on trafficking. The second section will discuss the various reasons for why trafficking of girls and women occur. The discussion is based on the Trafficking In Person (Especially On Women and Children) In Nepal 2008-2009, National Report by the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Women and Children (OSRT), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and the Report on Trafficking by Terre des Homes, an international organization that advocates for children’s rights. The second section will focus on women and families choosing trafficking for their children as a way to provide financial stability for the family. The desire to become independent from one’s community and family is also a reason why some women may choose to go with the trafficker. Lastly, the paper will talk about the efforts currently in place to prevent trafficking and the solutions such as: giving women sufficient funds to start their own businesses or assisting them in furthering their education, and tighter border control efforts between India and Nepal.
The Influence of Problem Solving Abilities on Students' Performance on Different Assessment Tasks in CS1

Previous research has suggested that cognitive tests, including instruments seeking to measure problem solving, are significant predictors of students' programming performance. This paper seeks to expand upon this previous research by using a more theoretically grounded approach to measuring problem solving as a means of predicting performance in an introductory undergraduate programming course. Programming course performance has typically been measured by overall course grades; however, in this paper we used a more fine-grained approach to measuring student programming performance. Specifically, we utilized different types of course assignments (projects and tests) to measure programming outcomes. Results from this study indicate that problem solving ability significantly correlates with performance on programming assignments, but does not correlate with performance on multiple-choice exams.
Endothelial Membrane Modulation by OxLDL: Molecular-Scale Effects of Oxidation Products on Model Membranes

Oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) has been implicated in a range of disorders, including certain cardiovascular, metabolic, and immunological diseases. The bioactive oxidation products of this lipoprotein include a vast array of oxidized lipids, sterols, and triglycerides. Some of these species may play a significant role in the pathophysiological effects observed at elevated OxLDL concentrations. However, the particular biological effects of specific OxLDL components, as well as the mechanisms by which they elicit these responses, are poorly understood. To elucidate some of the effects of OxLDL, we undertake a molecular-scale investigation of changes induced in endothelial membranes in the presence of various oxidation products. Specifically, in order to disaggregate the individual effects of particular oxidized species, we utilize coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. With this technique, we probe alterations to the biomechanical properties (structure and dynamics) of multi-component model membranes by compounds that have been previously shown, through experimental means, to induce endothelial stiffening. This study may begin to clarify some of the molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial cell dysfunction resulting from exposure to OxLDL.
Ethics in the Supply Chain: Follow-Up Processes to Audit Results

Ethics and sustainability audits are a common practice to evaluate the social and environmental performance of vendors, but firms struggle with proper follow-up to the auditing results. In a supply chain workshop, business participants identified four challenges that relate to communication and collaboration among the actors of a supplier audit. The first challenge is managing information from the supply chain, the second is motivating suppliers to pay for audits and complete questionnaires, the third is responding to audit results uncovering ethical violations in the supply chain, and the fourth is increasing awareness for a responsible supply chain among buyers. Considering the marketing, supply chain, and ethics literature, this article explores the ethical issues of a supply chain that drive supplier audits and defines the actors of a supplier audit. Core marketing theories on interorganizational relationships guide a research agenda for responding to challenges in effective follow-up to supplier audits.
Practical Observer Design for Real-Time Helicopter Weight Estimation

In-flight estimates of helicopter weight and mass center can be used to improve flight control system performance and inform condition-based maintenance. This paper introduces a two-stage observer design that uses an extended state observer and Kalman filter to produce real-time weight estimates. The proposed algorithm is practical in the sense that it is designed to provide accurate estimates of helicopter weight in the presence of parametric and non-parametric model errors. By decomposing lumped disturbance estimates into a set of perturbation terms and injecting non-parametric corrections into the model, the sensitivity to model error is reduced. Following a description of the proposed algorithm, performance is demonstrated in simulation using the AH-1G helicopter. Under dynamic excitation, the algorithm is shown to converge reliably to the helicopter’s weight even in the presence of significant parametric model discrepancies. This added robustness is reliant on an accurate mass center estimate. Larger model error sensitivity is exhibited in the presence of non-parametric model discrepancies. Several example cases characterize filter performance as a function of the type and degree of model error.
Risk evaluation of import and transmission of poliovirus in Jiangmen city

Objective To evaluate the poliovirus import and transmission risk in Jiangmen city,and make suggestions for prevention and control policy making.Methods Poliovirus import and transmission risk was evaluated by import risk.Acute Flaccid Paralysis case surveillance and population immunity level indexes.Results 35 AFP cases were reported during 2009-2011,of which 97.14% received investigation within 48 h.The polio virus vaccination and quick evaluation rate of districts and counties was ≥95%.The IgG positive rates of 56 random samples for polio virus type Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ were 91.07%,94.64% and 92.86%,respectively.The average attack rate of measles was 0.51 / 105.The highest attack rate was in Pengjiang district(2.21 / 105),while other districts / counties were all 1 / 105.Kaiping city and Jianghai district were high risk regions,with risk evaluation scores of 45 and 42,respectively.Conclusions There was high poliovirus import risk in Jiangmen city.Counties and districts,especially the high risk ones,should strengthen the surveillance work for acute flaccid paralysis case.
Analysis of Gene Expression through RNA Sequencing in Prefrontal Cortex of NicotineTreated Rats

Objective To investigate the effects of nicotine on the gene expression profile in prefrontal cortex(PFC) region of rats. Methods Twenty-four adult male F344 rats were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, with 12 animals in each group. Animals in treatment group were injected with nicotine solution while those in control group were given physiological saline for 17 days. At the end of drug administration, the tissue of PFC region was sliced from the brain of each animal. RNA sequencing(RNA-Seq) was utilized to analyze the gene expression profile in PFC of each animal. Bioinformatics tools including Bowtie, Tophat and Cufflinks were used to map the sequencing reads to the reference genome of rat, and to measure the relative expression level of each transcript. Genes whose expression levels were significantly different between the two groups were identified. The functional categories and the biochemical pathways associated with these genes were further analyzed. Results By comparing the expression level of each transcript between two groups, 885 significantly differentially expressed genes were identified. These genes were enriched in multiple Gene Ontology Biological Process categories(e.g., G protein coupled receptor protein signaling pathway, protein ubiquitination, and neurotransmitter uptake) and biological pathways(e.g., insulin signaling pathway, Alzheimer's disease, and long term potentiation). Conclusion Nicotine treatment may regulate signaling transduction, energy metabolism and other biological processes in PFC of rat brain.
Microvascular response to blockade of prostaglandin synthesis in rat skeletal muscle

The contribution of endogenous prostaglandins (PGs) to the control of arteriolar diameter in the microcirculation is incompletely defied and has only been studied in drug-anesthetized animals. To test the possibility that endogenous PGs are tonically released to exert a net dilator influence at certain levels in the microcirculation, television microscopy was used to quantitate the arteriolar responses in the rat cremaster muscle to local blockade of PG synthesis with indomethacin. Rats were decerebrated by a midcollicular transection and were allowed to recover from surgical anesthesia. The cremaster muscle with intact circulation and innervation was suspended by sutures in a temperature-controlled Krebs bath. Diameters, vasomotion frequency, and vasomotion amplitude of arterioles at several anatomic levels were measured before and after local inhibition of PG synthesis in the presence and absence of alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade. Inhibition of PG synthesis produced marked constriction (42-66% of control) at all arteriolar levels, with greater responses occurring in the smaller arterioles. PG synthesis blockade increased vasomotion frequency in arterioles that exhibited spontaneous vasomotion during control periods, and blockade induced vasomotion in vessels lacking spontaneous vasomotion. Pretreatment with phentolamine significantly attenuated the constriction and augmentation of vasomotion. These data indicate that dilator PGs participate in the moment-to-moment regulation of arteriolar tone and local blood flow in skeletal muscle. Further, their mechanism of action may involve alterations in neuronal norepinephrine release or alpha-receptor sensitivity.
The perionychium: anatomy, physiology, and care of injuries.

The human fingernail performs a variety of important functions, contributing to skilled hand function and delicate touch; thus, treatment of fingernail injuries is much more than a cosmetic undertaking. The principles that should be followed when treating traumatic nail deformities and performing reconstructive surgical procedures are discussed; they are equallly applicable to toenail injuries.
Surgical Updates on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a widely recognized, yet highly disputed, syndrome mostly affecting structures of the thoracic outlet, including the brachial plexus, subclavian artery, and subclavian vein. Surgical decompression in the form of first rib resection with scalenectomy remains the mainstay of treatment particularly for venous and arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. This review serves as an update of recent publications/updates in the literature. Approaches to operative management continue to evolve as minimally invasive techniques have increased in popularity. Diagnostic techniques continue to evolve, particularly with regard to neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, to allow for more timely and accurate diagnosis. Conservative management strategies, such as anterior scalene muscle blocks, are utilized with increasing frequency, although their long-term outcomes remain unclear. The aim of the present work is to review updates in the diagnosis and management of thoracic outlet syndrome over the last decade, and discuss utility and outcomes of various strategies.
Chapter 28 – Tumor-induced Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells

Immune escape and inflammation are now recognized as hallmarks of tumor onset and progression. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells that are present in virtually all patients and mice with advanced cancer, are a major contributor to immune escape through their inhibition of innate and adaptive antitumor immunity. Immature myeloid cells with the phenotype of MDSC are present in low levels in healthy individuals; however, chronic inflammation perturbs normal myelopoiesis and mobilizes MDSC, thereby facilitating tumor growth. This chapter reviews the experimental and patient findings that identified MDSC as an immune suppressive cell population mediating tumor immune escape, the phenotypic characteristics and heterogeneity of MDSC from cancer patients and mice, the diversity of mechanisms used by MDSC to facilitate tumor progression and metastasis, the pro-inflammatory mediators that drive the induction and accumulation of MDSC, and therapeutic approaches that have been developed to reduce MDSC levels and/or impair MDSC function.
Unplanned Emergency Department Visits and Hospital Admissions Following Ureteroscopy: Do Ureteral Stents Make a Difference?

Objective To evaluate unplanned medical visits within the early postoperative period after ureteroscopy in patients with and without ureteral stent placement. Materials and Methods We identified all ureteroscopic procedures for urinary stone disease in the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development database from 2010 to 2012. The primary outcome was any emergency department visit or inpatient hospital admission in the first 7 days following ureteroscopy. Patients were subcategorized by type of ureteroscopy (ie, laser lithotripsy vs basket retrieval) and were analyzed for significant differences between stented and unstented patients. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine if ureteral stent placement was independently associated with unplanned visits. Results Our analytic cohort included 16,060 patients undergoing 17,716 ureteroscopy procedures. A ureteral stent was placed in 86.2% of patients undergoing laser lithotripsy and in 70.5% of patients receiving basket retrieval. In the 7 days following ureteroscopy, 6.6% of patients were seen in the emergency department and 2.2% of patients were admitted to a hospital. In a fully adjusted model, the utilization of a ureteral stent was not associated with emergency department visits or inpatient admissions. Conclusion Ureteral stent placement during ureteroscopy is not associated with an increased odds of emergency department visits and inpatient admissions in the early postoperative period.