cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Narrative and Metaphor in Human Rights Law: When Rights-Talk Meets Queue-Talk

Much contemporary legal scholarship on human rights sees the lapses between rhetoric and reality, symbol and substance, and rights-talk and rights-action, as human rights law’s greatest deficiency. That approach, however, fails to acknowledge the power of the human rights vocabulary to change people’s political commitments, and with them, especially in democratic states, the authority, meaning, and ultimately, effectiveness of human rights law. Yet the power of language cuts both way: it is both constitutive and distortive of rights. This chapter, which is part of an edited collection by Mike Hanne and Robert Weisberg, entitled Narrative and Metaphor in Law (forthcoming, 2017), explores how narrative and metaphor provide the literary, cognitive, and cultural frames for events and issues to be understood as part of human rights law. Metaphor, in particular, is understood not simply as an ornament to language, but as a fundamental scheme by which people conceptualize and organize their moral, social, and legal worlds. With this contribution in mind, this paper examines a metaphor which frequently accompanies rights talk: the metaphor of “the queue”. The queue, or waiting line or wait list, is ubiquitous in modern, especially urban, life. It distributes resources, usually on a first-come, first-served basis, in conditions of scarcity or where simultaneous provision is not possible. For example, surgery wait lists for health care or waiting lines in the emergency room, housing wait lists or the waiting lines for shelters, or visa entry wait lists for immigration, or for deportation, are all pivotal aspects of human rights law configured by a queue. The common experience of participating in other queues, in transport, recreation, or other contexts, helps to explain the metaphor’s resonance. And yet, the metaphor’s connection with rights provokes disagreement around notions of entitlement. The queue institutionalizes, but also discredits, the political and social reordering compelled by human rights law. By using examples of “queue talk” around the constitutional right to housing in South Africa, the paper examines how the queue metaphor occupies the doctrinal vacuum of the obligation to “progressively realize” certain human rights, particularly economic and social rights, and particularly when positive obligations are at issue. Moreover, it explores how the metaphor exaggerates the state provision of a good or service, rather than the state’s regulatory, or private law, levers of control. In each respect, the queue metaphor reveals severe limits on what human rights law makes possible.
A description of familial clustering of meningiomas in the Utah population.

Background Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors in adults, yet the genetics and cause of sporadic meningiomas are not well understood. Few familial clusters have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the familiality of meningiomas within the Utah Population Database. Methods Meningioma cases reported in the Utah Cancer Registry were identified. Relative risk of their relatives was calculated. All possible cases were assessed with the Genealogical Index of Familiality (GIF), which measures average pairwise relatedness of all possible pairs using the Malecot coefficient of kinship. Clusters of cases descending from a common ancestor were identified. Results Eight hundred fifty-eight meningioma cases were reported. The relative risk of a first- or second-degree relative was 3.13 (95% CI: 1.67, 5.36) or 2.28 (1.30, 3.70), respectively. The GIF statistic demonstrated a clear excess of relationships for genetic distance <4 (closer than first cousins). We identified 920 pedigrees, including 2-21 meningioma cases. One hundred eighty-nine of these pedigrees, including 2-15 cases, had a significant excess (P < 0.05) of meningioma cases over what was expected. Conclusions This Utah population-based analysis of meningiomas shows clear evidence of familial clustering and supports both a familial and a germline variant basis for meningioma. These clusters may allow identification of genes likely to contribute to tumorigenesis in high-risk pedigrees. These relative risk data provide the basis for further investigations of genetic contributions to meningioma. These data may contribute to developing a basis for determining screening criteria of higher-risk pedigrees for the presence of meningiomas.
David Oliver: When "resilience" becomes a dirty word.

We need to talk about “resilience.” One dictionary definition is “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.”1 Health Education England describes it as “the ability to bounce back—a capacity to absorb negative conditions, integrate them in meaningful ways, and move forward.”2 The General Medical Council announced in recent years that doctors under investigation and all medical students would receive “emotional resilience” training.34 Practising medicine has never been straightforward, and it has always required such attributes. Doctors carry responsibility, risk, uncertainty, and self doubt. We make difficult decisions and witness harrowing scenarios weekly—that’s the nature of …
Automated assessment tools: too many cooks, not enough collaboration

The demand for computer science education is rapidly growing. Given the rate of increase in enrollments, faculty can struggle to provide quality instruction and assessment to students. When faced with assessing a larger group of students, automated assessment tools (AATs) are often suggested as a resource. Researchers have been creating tools for decades, but often in isolation. These tools have been growing in popularity in introductory programming courses, but researchers may have a difficult time synthesizing valid data to draw conclusions about the tools' efficacy for increasing student learning. This paper briefly examines the range and usefulness of AATs and demonstrates the need for collaboration between the researchers creating them in order to produce higher quality tools that can demonstratively show an increase in student learning.
Leading the Implementation of a Successful Community College e-Learning Program

This chapter provides the reader with an understanding of what it takes to successfully develop and implement an e-learning program for a community college campus. A case study of Cayuga Community College (Cayuga), a small community college in Central New York that is part of a larger state-wide system, State University of New York (SUNY) is analyzed. As a result of reading this chapter, the reader will: Gain an understanding of the challenges and opportunities to implement successful e-learning programs at community colleges. Explore the critical success factors, project management approach, and leadership skills that must be present in community college settings to enable successful e-learning program implementations. Review the implementation of a specific program—a fully online, credit-based event management certificate program at SUNY’s Cayuga Community College, a small, rural college in central New York. Consider practical implications for leading the implementation of successful community college e-learning degree programs.
Take It to the Limit

Choreographers: Ken & Sue Davis, 11345 E. Monte Ave, Mesa, AZ 85209 Phone: 480-699-4713 email: davisfam2@cox.net Website: www.davisfam.info/~dance/ Release Date: August, 2008 Rhythm: Waltz Phase: 6 Footwork: Opposite except where W’s noted by ( ); Timing 123 except as noted Music: “Take It To the Limit” Artist: The Eagles (from Album “One of These Nights”) (music available online at AmazonMP3, iTunes Music Store, Walmart Music, etc.) (music cut at 3:20, begin fade-out at 3:17 times noted are before slowing; contact choreographers for music questions) Sequence: A-B-Amod-B-END Speed: 43 rpm (28 mpm)
Mutational landscape of goblet cell carcinoids and adenocarcinoma ex goblet cell carcinoids of the appendix is distinct from typical carcinoids and colorectal adenocarcinomas.

There is limited data on the spectrum of molecular alterations in goblet cell carcinoids and adenocarcinoma ex goblet cell carcinoids of the appendix. We used next generation sequencing to determine mutations of potential pathogenetic and therapeutic significance in this rare group of tumors. Adequate DNA was successfully extracted in 34/46 cases and the final group included 18 goblet cell carcinoids and 16 adenocarcinoma ex goblet cell carcinoids. Illumina TruSeq™ was used for sequencing exons of a custom 282 gene panel using an Illumina HiSeq 2000. All cases had a minimum coverage depth of at least 50 reads. After filtering through the Exome Sequencing Project, the number of mutations per case ranged from 0–9 (mean:3). The mutational burden in adenocarcinoma ex goblet cell carcinoids was significantly higher than goblet cell carcinoids (mean 5 vs. 3; p < 0.05) but the spectrum of alterations overlapped between the two groups. The most frequent mutations included ARID1A (4/34), ARID2 (4/34), CDH1 (4/34), RHPN2 (4/34), and MLL2 (3/34). Some mutations typically seen in conventional colorectal adenocarcinomas were also identified but with much lower frequency (APC :4/34; KRAS :2/34). MLL2 and KRAS mutations were only seen in adenocarcinoma ex goblet cell carcinoids and TP53 mutations were limited to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma ex goblet cell carcinoids (2/34). Copy number changes could be evaluated in 15/34 cases and showed low copy number gains in CDKN1B (6/15) and NFKBIA (6/15), among others. The overlapping molecular alterations suggest that goblet cell carcinoids and adenocarcinoma ex goblet cell carcinoids are best considered two grades of differentiation of the same tumor rather than two distinct histological types. Mutations in TP53, CDH1 and MLL2 mutations were predominantly present in the adenocarcinoma ex goblet cell carcinoid group consistent with transformation to a higher grade lesion. The unique mutational profile also offers an explanation for the poor chemosensitivity in these tumors and highlights the need for developing new targeted therapies.
Molecular Structure of Forest Trees

Knowledge of genome structure is a prerequisite to the genetic engineering of trees and their subsequent clonal propagation, because some characterization of nuclear and organellar DNA must precede its manipulation. We need information on nuclear genome size and how much of the DNA is composed of highly repeated, moderately repeated, and near-unique or single-copy genes. We also need to locate and characterize genes of interest with regard to their molecular structure, repetition frequency, and base sequence. It is useful to know what genes have a highly conserved structure, making them similar in DNA sequence to genes in other organisms. Some genes are steady-state, i.e., expressed in all tissues and at all stages of development, and some are stage- or tissue-specific. Information is also required on the mechanisms regulating expression of genes in forest trees if we are to be successful in eliciting their expression in recombinant cells.
Of and be Stars

The Of stars are characterized by broad emission lines of N III 4634, 4641, and He II 4686, in addition to absorption lines shown by normal O-type stars of corresponding spectral type. The presence of these emission features can be understood in terms of selective fluorescence processes proposed by Bowen (1935). Emission can also usually be found at Ha and C III 5696 in most Of stars, and at Si IV 4089 and 4116, Ni IV 4057, N V 4603 and 4619, and He I 5876 in some Of stars (Underhill 1966).
Influences on safety consciousness in a utility company: A sequential mediation model

Abstract Introduction : The purpose of this research was to determine whether the influence of supervisory support for safety on safety consciousness is direct or indirect. Based in part on predictions from the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), we examined the extent to which belief (safety self-efficacy) and attitude (cavalier safety attitude) mediate the impact of supervisory support for safety on employee safety consciousness. Method : A survey of 995 employees was distributed across 24 work groups in an electric utility company, and sequential mediation modeling was used to determine indirect effects on safety consciousness. Results: We found that the effect of supervisory support on safety consciousness was indirect, fully mediated through both efficacy and attitude in a sequential mediation model. Practical applications: Supervisors should be aware of and emphasize supportive behaviors and create welcoming conditions for employees to raise safety concerns. Furthermore, organizational programs pertaining to safety improvement need to consider how to develop positive beliefs regarding safety activity and attitudes and reduce negative ones.
Short communication: Behavioral attitude scores associated with bovine respiratory disease identified using calf lung ultrasound and clinical respiratory scoring.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine whether calves exhibit differences in behavioral attitude when diagnosed with their first bovine respiratory disease (BRD) event and whether fever (≥39°C) at the time of BRD diagnosis affected attitude. Preweaned dairy calves (n = 280; 21 ± 6 d) were examined twice weekly until weaning using a clinical respiratory score (CRS; CRS+: 2 respiratory categories with scores of 2 or greater; CRS−: 1 respiratory category with a score of 2 or greater or all respiratory categories scoring less than 2), lung ultrasound, and attitude score (normal = bright, alert, responsive; depressed = dull but responds to stimulation, slow to stand, or reluctant to lie down). Bovine respiratory disease was categorized as subclinical BRD (SBRD; CRS− and lung consolidation ≥1 cm2; n = 164) or clinical BRD (CBRD; CRS+, with or without lung consolidation; n = 79). Calves without BRD (NOBRD; n = 37) remained CRS− with lung consolidation
Glia modulate growth of the fly neurovascular unit.

The last decade has seen an explosion of research on exosomes, small (30 to 100 nm) vesicles that are trafficked to the extracellular environment by the fusion of the multivesicular body to the plasma membrane (1, 2). Exosomes arise from endosomal microdomains that, through the agency of ESCRT proteins and Alix, curve inward and bud as intraluminal vesicles (50 to 150 nm) into the lumen of the multivesicular body. The small GTPases, Ral1, Rab27a, and Rab27b, mediate the transport and fusion of multivesicular bodies to plasma membrane, resulting in the exocytic release of the exosomes into the extracellular space (3, 4). Once thought of primarily as disposal devices, tiny garbage bags, exosomes are now appreciated to act as hormone-like signals. Cells may use exosomes to exert systemic influence through the activity of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs), messenger … [↵][1]1Email: asg2236{at}cumc.columbia.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Line Failure Detection from PMU Data after a Joint Cyber-Physical Attack

The joint cyber and physical attacks propose new threats to many cyber-physical systems including smart grids. Due to the critical interdependency of power grids on the cyber components, modern power grids exhibit new vulnerabilities to cyber and physical attacks. In this paper, a joint cyber-physical attack is considered in which an adversary damages some lines physically (physical attack) and prevents the information flow from the attacked zone to the control center to tamper the observability of the grid and mask the physical failure (cyber attack). The goal of the presented work is to evaluate if the PMU data available from outside of the attacked zone can be used to estimate the state of the components in the attacked zone and how various scenarios of attacks will affect the state estimation. In this regard, a linear Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) estimation is applied to simulated PMU data. The MMSE is further extended to an iterative process with feedback to improve the performance of estimation. In this paper, the state estimation to recover the status of the components after the joint cyber physical attack is a data-driven approach and does not use system models. The IEEE 118 test case is used to show scenarios that the state of the lines can be estimated with minimum error as well as the lines that are difficult to estimate their state and thus may require more protection.
Happiness Participatory Media: Cultural Differences in Happiness on Instagram

The Happiness Participatory Media analyzes Instagram data for visual cues with emotional expression (happiness), hashtags (words), gender, age, and locations, in order to get a clearer picture of how people portray their happiness from different cultures. This research looked at the actual patterns of the dataset to see how it is different and/or similar to the generalized idea of happiness today.
Pentagalloyl Glucose (PGG) Partially Prevents Arterial Mechanical Changes Due to Elastin Degradation

Elastic fibers are composed primarily of the protein elastin and they provide reversible elasticity to the large arteries. Degradation of elastic fibers is a common histopathology in aortic aneurysms. Pentagalloyl glucose (PGG) has been shown to bind elastin and stabilize elastic fibers in some in vitro studies and in vivo models of abdominal aortic aneurysms, however its effects on native arteries are not well described. Perform detailed studies of the biomechanical effects of PGG on native arteries and the preventative capabilities of PGG for elastin degraded arteries. We treated mouse carotid arteries with PGG, elastase (ELA), and PGG + ELA and compared the wall structure, solid mechanics, and fluid transport properties to untreated (UNT) arteries. We found that PGG alone decreased compliance compared to UNT arteries, but did not affect any other structural or biomechanical measures. Mild (30 s) ELA treatment caused collapse and fragmentation of the elastic lamellae, plastic deformation, decreased compliance, increased modulus, and increased hydraulic conductance of the arterial wall compared to UNT. PGG + ELA treatment partially protected from all of these changes, in particular the plastic deformation. PGG mechanical protection varied considerably across PGG + ELA samples and appeared to correlate with the structural changes. Our results provide important considerations for the effects of PGG on native arteries and a baseline for further biomechanical studies on preventative elastic fiber stabilization.
A Novel Clustering Scheme for Heterogeneous Vehicular Networks

Effective clustering is vital to mitigate routing scalability and reliability issues in heterogeneous vehicular networks. In this paper, we propose an adaptive clustering scheme to maximize the cluster stability in vehicular networks. The scheme uses the predicted driving behavior of vehicles over a time horizon to maximize the clusters' lifetime. To this end, we first define the stability degree of vehicles by exploiting the unique aspects of vehicular environments. We then formulate the clustering problem as an optimization problem, which is used within a rolling horizon framework in the cluster formation process. Our scheme is based on a heterogeneous vehicular network architecture, which allows the coexistence of dedicated short-range communication and cellular network for vehicular communications. The simulation results demonstrate that our scheme significantly outperforms alternative clustering algorithms in terms of the overall clusters' lifetime under different traffic conditions. Our scheme can also be utilized to provide a well-grounded comprehension of the optimally of the existing and future distributed clustering algorithms.
The Past, Present, and Religious Studies Future of Civic Engagement in American Higher Education

We argue that Civic Engagement is fundamental to the stated work of the university, the humanities, and the project of religious studies. We trace the historical connections between Civic Engagement and higher education in the American context to the present, highlighting a consistency of focus on Civic Engagement across diverse university contexts even as educational priorities and instantiations shift. We then explore the particular role of Civic Engagement in Religious Studies pedagogy. We contend that being explicit about integrating Civic Engagement in the religion classroom enhances our students’ ability to understand complex concepts in late antique religion and underscores for them how relevant the study of late ancient religion is to students’ lives today. We offer three ways that instructors in Religious Studies can incorporate Civic Engagement into their classes: cultivating naming practices, focusing pedagogical exercises on honing students’ Civic Engagement skills, and, where practicable, engaging in community-based learning.
Patterns of healthcare utilization among patients with sickle cell disease hospitalized with pain crises.

Background Vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) are the hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD). Adults experiencing VOC often have high rates of unexpected healthcare utilization. We characterized prior and future healthcare utilization among adults hospitalized with VOC at an urban, academic medical center. Methods We identified 449 VOC hospitalizations among 63 patients from 2013 to 2016. Patients were categorized based on receiving established care at the medical center and prior utilization: (a) not established (n = 21); (b) newly established (n = 10); (c) established with low utilization in past 12 months (<4 VOC hospitalizations) (n = 22); and (d) established with high utilization in past 12 months (≥4 VOC hospitalizations) (n = 10). Patient and hospitalization characteristics and future utilization were compared across categories. Results Median age was 26 years (Q1 = 22, Q3 = 29) and 55.6% were female. Established patients with high prior utilization tended to have higher median pain scores at admission (10, P = .08). Thirty-day readmissions were highest in established patients with high prior utilization (P = .06), but 30-day clinic visits were highest in established patients with low prior utilization (P = .08). Adjusted linear regression found that newly established patients (β = -4.6, P < .01) and established patients with low prior utilization (β = -5.6, P < .01) had fewer VOC hospitalizations in the ensuing 12 months than established patients with high prior utilization. Conclusion Among patients with SCD hospitalized for VOC, there was heterogeneity in healthcare utilization, with persistence in utilization over time for some patients. Efforts are needed to shift care from the acute setting to the outpatient clinic, which may lead to improved outcomes.
Astrometric-Spectroscopic Determination of the Absolute Masses of the HgMn Binary Star φ Herculis

The mercury-manganese star Her is a well-known spectroscopic binary that has been the subject of a recent study by Zavala and coworkers in which they resolved the companion using long-baseline interferometry. The total mass of the binary is now fairly well established, but the combination of spectroscopy with astrometry has not resulted in individual masses consistent with the spectral types of the components. The motion of the center of light of Her was clearly detected by the Hipparcos satellite. Here we make use of the Hipparcos intermediate data ("abscissa residuals") and show that by combining them in an optimal fashion with the interferometry the individual masses can be obtained reliably using only astrometry. We reexamine and then incorporate existing radial velocity measurements into the orbital solution, obtaining improved masses of 3.05 ± 0.24 and 1.614 ± 0.066 M⊙ that are consistent with the theoretical mass-luminosity relation from recent stellar evolution models. These mass determinations provide important information for the understanding of the nature of this peculiar class of stars.
Hierarchical Model-Free Transactional Control of Building Loads to Support Grid Services

A transition from generation on demand to consumption on demand is one of the solutions to overcome the many limitations associated with the higher penetration of renewable energy sources. Such a transition, however, requires a considerable amount of load flexibility in the demand side. Demand response (DR) programs can reveal and utilize this demand flexibility by enabling the participation of a large number of grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEB). Existing approaches on DR require significant modelling or training efforts, are computationally expensive, and do not guarantee the satisfaction of end users. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a scalable hierarchical model-free transactional control approach that incorporates elements of virtual battery, game theory, and model-free control (MFC) mechanisms. The proposed approach separates the control mechanism into upper and lower levels. The MFC modulates the flexible GEB in the lower level with guaranteed thermal comfort of end users, in response to the optimal pricing and power signals determined in the upper level using a Stackelberg game integrated with aggregate virtual battery constraints. Additionally, the usage of MFC necessitates less burdensome computational and communication requirements, thus, it is easily deployable even on small embedded devices. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated through a large-scale case study with 10,000 heterogenous GEB. The results show that the proposed approach can achieve peak load reduction and profit maximization for the distribution system operator, as well as cost reduction for end users while maintaining their comfort.
MicroBooNE experiment, NuMI absorber, and heavy neutral leptons

Motivated by the recent search for a Higgs portal scalar decaying inside the MicroBooNE detector, we demonstrate that the same search can be used to constrain heavy neutral leptons. These are gauge-singlet fermions that interact with the Standard Model by mixing with neutrinos only and could be related to the origin of neutrino masses. By recasting the results of the MicroBooNE Collaboration's analysis, we show that, for a heavy neutral lepton that mixes predominantly with muon-flavored neutrinos, previously unexplored parameter space can be excluded for masses between 30 and 150 MeV. Additionally, we make our Monte Carlo tools publicly available.
Inspectors General and the Law of Oversight Independence

President Trump’s defiance of basic norms threatened the oversight institutions of American democracy. His brazen assault on the prosecutorial and investigative independence of federal law enforcement was well documented and criticized. Yet few have thoroughly scrutinized his violations of the oversight independence of internal institutions that monitor the government to promote integrity, transparency, and accountability. This Article examines the independence of Inspectors General (IGs), the internal watchdogs of the Executive Branch, and the President’s attacks on the institution. President Trump breached longstanding independence norms when he fired or replaced IGs in retaliation for their legitimate exercise of oversight duties. Then, in some cases, he named political appointees as acting IGs, despite clear conflicts of interest. This Article analyzes the constitutionality and policy implications of recent congressional proposals that seek to reinforce IG independence and prevent future abuses of power by codifying norms into law: specifically, proposals to limit the President’s appointment and removal authority, including statutory removal for cause protection and restrictions on acting appointments. Recently, in Selia Law v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Supreme Court narrowed the grounds for congressional removal protection. However, this Article argues that a constitutional basis exists in the Court’s reframed doctrine for Congress to enact IG removal protection, primarily because the President and agency heads remain ultimately accountable for acting upon IGs’ investigative findings and recommendations. The Article also considers structural changes to the IG institution – a multimember commission, court-appointed officers, or agency appointees – as alternative forms of protection and then applies removal protection to particular cases to evaluate whether it supplies the proper balance between IG independence and accountability. The Article then explains the validity of proposed restrictions on acting IG appointments and offers additional policy recommendations to enhance statutory qualifications for permanent IG appointments. In the case of the IG institution, the law of oversight independence reveals the interplay between internal constraints on executive power, the external separation of powers, and the dynamics of presidential accountability in the design and protection of oversight institutions.
Efficient Graph Analytics in Python for Large-Scale Data Science.

Graph analytics is important in data science research, where Python is nowadays the most popular language among data analysts. It facilitates many packages for graph analytics. However, those packages are either too specific or cannot work on graphs that cannot fit into the main memory. Moreover, it is hard to handle new graph algorithms or even customize existing ones according to the analyst’s need. In this paper, we develop a general graph C++ function based on a semiring algorithm including two math operators. The function can help solve many graph problems. It also works for graphs that cannot fit in the main memory. Our function is developed in C++, but it can be easily called in Python. Experimental comparison with state-of-art Python packages show that our C++ function has comparative performance for both small and large graphs.
Structural and biophysical analysis of UCH37: ubiquitin recognition and binding to ADRM1 (952.3)

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase 37 (UCH37) is a deubiquitinating enzyme capable of dismantling Lys48-linked polyubiquitin chains when associated with the 26S proteasome. Upon binding to the proteasomal subunit ADRM1, UCH37 is activated for cleavage of the distal monomer in a chain, an exo-specific activity. Prior to binding with ADRM1, it is thought that UCH37 is inhibited by its own C-terminal UCHL5-like domain (ULD). Our interests lie in UCH37’s mechanism of activation by ADRM1 as well as its exo-specificity. Previously we have reported the crystal structure of T. spiralis UCH37 bound to ubiquitin vinyl methyl ester, which revealed that the ULD domain interacts with ubiquitin’s Lys48, an event we believe accounts for its exo-specificity. In order to further examine specificity and activation, we have generated a series of ULD mutants of UCH37. To probe exo-specificity, we are purifying the 19S regulatory particle of the proteasome from rabbit skeletal muscle, will reconstitute each ULD mutant within the ...
An Experimental Analysis of Consensus Tree Algorithms for Large-Scale Tree Collections

Consensus trees are a popular approach for summarizing the shared evolutionary relationships in a collection of trees. Many popular techniques such as Bayesian analyses produce results that can contain tens of thousands of trees to summarize. We develop a fast consensus algorithm called HashCS to construct large-scale consensus trees. We perform an extensive empirical study for comparing the performance of several consensus tree algorithms implemented in widely-used, phylogenetic software such as PAUP* and MrBayes. Our collections of biological and artificial trees range from 128 to 16,384 trees on 128 to 1,024 taxa. Experimental results show that our HashCS approach is up to 100 times faster than MrBayes and up to 9 times faster than PAUP*. Fast consensus algorithms such as HashCS can be used in a variety of ways, such as in real-time to detect whether a phylogenetic search has converged.
CRC handbook of avian body masses

Body Masses of Birds of the World Body Masses and Composition of Migrant Birds in the Eastern United States Literature Cited Index
Trichinella spiralis infection alters small bowel motor activity in the fed state

The effect of Trichinella spiralis infection on small intestinal transit and motor activity in the fed state during the intestinal phase of infection was studied. Contractions were recorded by strain gauge transducers, and mean transit time was measured by marker dilution technique. The mean amplitude and area of individual phasic contractions decreased, but no change occurred in their mean duration during trichinosis. The total amplitude and area of phasic contractions also decreased; this was caused by a decrease in the frequency of contractions as well as a decrease in the mean parameters. The reduction in the total duration was entirely caused by the decrease in frequency. The reduction in the total parameters of all contractions was the result of a reduction in the same parameters for both propagating and nonpropagating contractions. However, the decrease in the parameters of propagating contractions was much greater. Also, there was a decrease in the distance of propagation of phasic contractions. The transit time as a result of phasic contractions increased during T. spiralis infection. Additionally, T. spiralis infection induced giant migrating contractions in the fed state that were never observed during control. Chyme was propelled very rapidly and effectively by giant migrating contractions. The findings of the present study suggest that during diarrhea induced by T. spiralis infection, the phasic contractions may act to decrease transit and, hence, allow more contact time for absorption of water and nutrients. However, this response may be counter-balanced by giant migrating contractions that rapidly propel chyme into the colon and compound the diarrhea associated with T. spiralis infection.
Psychic disorders among pre-school children in a geographically delimited area of Aarhus county, Denmark

A study was undertaken concerning prevalence of psychic disorders among 175 5- to 6-year-old, pre-school children randomly selected from the general population in the municipality of Aarhus and the island Samso of Aarhus County, Denmark. Deviant behaviour was arbitrarily defined, with a symptom considered aberrant if it occurred in 10% or less of the children studied. Mental health of the children was assessed by (a) the number of deviant symptoms, (b) opinions of the parents and (c) the personal assessment of the author, who interviewed all the families. Thirty-five probands (20%) showed good adjustment, 113 (65%) were coping well with only minor symptoms, and 27 children (15%) were poorly adjusted. A high prevalence of psychosomatic, behavioural, and emotional symptoms was observed, some of them more frequently among boys than girls. No significant difference was found between urban and rural children. The need for psychiatric help even among supposedly normal, pre-school children is discussed and emphasized.
Contralateral Oblique View is Superior to Lateral View for Interlaminar Cervical and Cervicothoracic Epidural Access

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the reliability of the lateral fluoroscopic view and several contralateral oblique (CLO) views at different angles in visualizing and accurately predicting the position of the needle tip at the point of access in the posterior cervical and cervicothoracic epidural space. Design After the epidural space was accessed but before confirmation with contrast fluoroscopy, we prospectively obtained fluoroscopic images at eight different angles. Subsequent contrast injection confirmed epidural spread. Needle tip visualization and location of needle relative to bony landmarks were analyzed. Results The needle tip was clearly visualized in all CLO projections in all 24 subjects. CLO view at 50 degrees and at obliquity measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images provided the most consistent needle tip location. In these views, the epidural space was accessed at or just beyond the ventral laminar margin at the ventral interlaminar line or within the proximal half of the predefined CLO area in all patients. The needle tip was poorly visualized in the lateral view and the location of the needle tip was less well defined and independent of the needle location in the anteroposterior (AP) view. Conclusions This study provides evidence that during cervical and cervicothoracic epidural access, the CLO view at 50 degrees and at MRI-measured obliquity is superior to the lateral view for the purpose of needle tip visualization and in providing a consistent landmark for accessing the epidural space. This article also introduces the concept of zones to describe needle position in the cervical and cervicothoracic spine in AP, lateral, and oblique views.
Single unit activity of locus coeruleus neurons in the freely moving cat. II. Conditioning and pharmacologic studies.

A series of experiments were carried out in which the single unit activity of presumed noradrenergic (NE) neurons in the area of the locus coeruleus (LC) was examined in freely moving cats during two conditioning paradigms and in response to pharmacologic manipulations relevant to anxiety. LC unit activity was examined during conditioned emotional response (CER) and conditioned food reward (CFR) training. During CER training, LC units showed a large increase in activity in response to a stimulus paired with a noxious air puff, whereas no increase in unit activity was seen in response to a stimulus not paired with the air puff (both comparisons relative to their appropriate control conditions). By contrast, during CFR training, a stimulus paired with a rewarding food delivery did not elicit a significant increase in LC unit activity relative to its appropriate control condition. Therefore, NE units in the LC greatly increase their activity in response to a stimulus that predicts the occurrence of a noxious event, but not in response to a stimulus that predicts the occurrence of a rewarding event. Administration of the anxiolytic drug diazepam (0.25 and 2.0 mg/kg, i.p.) had no significant effect on the spontaneous activity of LC neurons, but significantly reduced the excitatory response of LC neurons to simple sensory stimuli. Administration of the anxiogenic drug yohimbine (2.0 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the spontaneous activity of LC neurons. These results support the hypothesis that LC neurons play a role in aversive but not appetitive conditioning, and are consistent with the hypothesis that these neurons may play a role in anxiety. These data are discussed within the broader context of LC neurons mediating the organism's adaptive response to environmental or physiological challenges.
Indiana 200 MeV Cyclotron Project

The 200 MeV accelerator in course of development is a variable energy machine intended for the acceleration of a variety of particles from protons to “heavy ions”. It employs separate sector magnets (like S.I.N.), but in a pure “Thomas” configuration, for which the radial oscillation frequency is independent of amplitude.
Fast Fourier transformation results from gamma‐ray burst profiles

Several gamma‐ray bursts in the BATSE data have sufficiently long durations and complex temporal structures with pulses that appear to be spaced quasi‐periodically. In order to test and quantify these periods we have applied fast Fourier transformations (FFT) to all these events. We have also performed cross spectral analyses of the FFT of the two extreme (high‐low) energy bands in each case to determine the lead/lag of the pulses in different energies.
CANCER PAIN: FROM MOLECULES TO SUFFERING

Within the field of pain management, cancer pain treatment requires integration of multiple specialties. This book provides focused summaries of these wide-ranging topics. In Cancer Pain: From Mole...
Using 2D NMR spectroscopy to assess effects of UV radiation on cell wall chemistry during litter decomposition

Litter chemistry is one of the most studied controls on decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. Solar radiation has been shown to increase litter decomposition rates in arid ecosystems through the process of photodegradation. However, it remains unclear how photodegradation affects litter chemistry, especially the abundance and composition of lignin, which is thought to play a key role in photodegradation. Using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR) spectroscopic methods, we quantified the molecular-level changes in litter chemistry associated with photodegradation. Litter of Bromus diandrus was exposed in the field to two levels of radiation [with and without ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths] and two durations of exposure (2.5 months during summer, and 1 year). Through fiber analysis by sequential digestion, we found that the litter hemicellulose fraction decreased significantly from 31.6 to 24.9 % after 1 year of decomposition. In litter exposed for 1 year, the hemicellulose fraction was significantly lower in litter with UV exposure compared to litter without UV exposure (23.8 vs. 25.9 %). These results indicate that UV photodegradation has a small but significant effect on litter chemistry compared to other decomposition processes. Even though fiber analysis showed no loss of total lignin, 2D NMR analysis demonstrated that UV exposure reduced the major lignin structural units containing β-aryl ether inter-unit linkages by 9 % and decreased the relative abundance of lignin p-hydroxyphenyl units by 20 %. The 2D NMR analysis also revealed that lignin guaiacyl units were preferentially lost after 1 year of decomposition relative to the reference material, but no effects of UV exposure on guaiacyl units were observed. These results suggest that photodegradation causes partial degradation, not necessarily complete breakdown, of lignin structures. Our data also demonstrate that applications of 2D NMR methods are valuable for acquiring detailed information on lignin and polysaccharide chemistry during both biotic and abiotic decomposition processes.
Abstract 270: Reduction of Mitochondrial Antioxidant Levels Augments Osteogenic Signaling Independent of Changes in Vasomotor Function in Aorta from Hypercholesterolemic Mice

Mitochondrial antioxidant genes are major regulators of oxidative stress in the vasculature. Previous data has shown that reducing antioxidant capacity accelerates atherosclerotic plaque size, however, it is unclear whether reducing mitochondrial antioxidant capacity alters plaque composition. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that reductions of mitochondrial antioxidant capacity will increase osteogenic markers and intimal plaque calcification in aorta from hypercholesterolemic mice. We used Ldlr-/-ApoB100/100 (LA) mice that were either wild-type (LA-MnSOD+/+) or heterozygous (LA-MnSOD+/-) for manganese superoxide dismutase that were fed a Western Diet (TD88137) for 3 or 6 months. Changes in changes gene expression were assessed in aortic arch using qRT-PCR, plaque calcium levels were examined using histological evaluation from aortic cryosections, and endothelial function was measured using isolated organ bath chambers (ex vivo). While expression of SP7 (an osteogenic transcription factor) was unchang...
Mapping the 3D Connectivity of the Rat Inner Retinal Vascular Network Using OCT Angiography

Inner retinal metabolism requires a continuous supply of oxygen and other nutrients, as well as waste removal, by blood flow through a network of vessels.1,2 Vascular architecture constrains how blood flow can be controlled to meet metabolic needs in the inner retina.3 Moreover, vascular structure in the retina may aid the diagnosis and management of diseases that involve vascular dysfunction, such as diabetic retinopathy,4 glaucoma,5,6 and cardiovascular disease.7,8 Thus, comprehensive architectural analysis of the inner retinal vasculature will impact both basic research and clinical practice. Optical imaging through the transparent ocular media offers the opportunity to quantitatively assess vasculature noninvasively in vivo. The blood vessels of the inner retina exhibit a characteristic three-dimensional (3D) layered structure, with superficial, intermediate, and deep vessel layers, corresponding to the ganglion cell layer/nerve fiber layer, the inner plexiform layer, and the outer plexiform layer, respectively.9 A fundamental limitation of 2D photography-based techniques, such as fluorescein angiography,10 is the lack of depth discrimination,11 due to overlapping signals from the individual retinal layers and the choroid. Optical coherence tomography (OCT)12 enables 3D optical sectioning of the retina with micron-scale resolution,13 employing only intrinsic contrast without the requirement for additional contrast agents. The superior axial resolution of OCT distinguishes the layered architecture of the retina, including the capillary plexuses located in the plexiform layers.14 Optical coherence tomography angiography techniques,15–18 based on enhancing contrast arising from motion and scattering, were recently developed for selective imaging of only the “functional” vasculature perfused with moving blood cells. Doppler OCT19,20 has also been shown to perform quantitative assessment of blood flow.21 Optical coherence tomography–based studies involving 2D segmentation have proven effective for visualization22 and feature detection,23 however, 3D analysis is required to assess the true vascular topology, more directly related to function. In this work, we derive a 3D representation, or “graph,” of the vasculature in the rat inner retina based on OCT angiography data. Unlike previous segmentation efforts in the retina, the interconnected nature of the multilayered vascular structure is implicitly incorporated into the derived representations and analysis. Using the graph, in conjunction with experimentally-quantified blood flow data (computed using Doppler OCT methods24) and a simple theoretical network model of blood flow, the capability of blood vessel dilation to produce localized and lamina-specific changes in blood flow is examined.
FAR-ADVANCED INTIMAL PROLIFERATION AND SEVERE PULMONARY HYPERTENSION SECONDARY TO TOTAL ANOMALOUS PULMONARY VENOUS DRAINAGE.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage with pulmonary hypertension secondary to marked intimal proliferative changes in the pulmonary arterioles is reported for the first time in an infant. That this is an entity which can be recognized during life has been demonstrated. The assumption that severe pulmonary hypertension in association with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage is always secondary to pulmonary venous obstruction can no longer be made.
Prognostic importance of the tumor-free laryngectomy specimen.

• In a review of 500 consecutive laryngectomies, 36 specimens were found with no tumor. All patients had received radiation treatment preoperatively. Patients with small primary tumors and no tumor evident in microscopically examined lymph nodes had excellent long-term survival. Those patients with extensive (T 4 ) primary tumors or with tumor found microscopically in their lymph nodes had poor survival statistics. This information reconfirms the known limitations of radiation and surgery in the case of the patient with advanced head and neck cancer. Hopefully, adjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy will improve the survival of these patients. ( Arch Otolaryngol 104:505-507, 1978)
Invariance properties in Hermite-Padé approximation theory

Abstract The Pade approximant is invariant under both linear fractional transformations of the function value and linear fractional transformations (origin fixed) of the argument. The paper reports on an investigation of these invariance properties to the class of Hermite-Pade approximants based on the class of general ordinary nonlinear differential equations. Further, the paper characterizes the class with these invariance properties. Uniqueness is discussed. Examples are given, such as the Pade-Riccati approximants, and allowed types of singular points are discussed.