cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A biosystematic study of Coreopsis tinctoria and C. cardaminefolia (Compositae)

This paper presents evidence which leads the authors to propose the reduction ofCoreopsis cardaminefolia (DC.) Nutt. to synonymy underC. tinctoria Nutt.Coreopsis cardaminejolia andC. tinctoria overlap morphologically in all characters measured, except for winging vs. non-winging of the achenes. The winging character is shown to be dependent upon segregation at one or two loci. Both “species” have chromosome numbers of 2n = 24 and 2n = 26. The basic number isx = 12, with some plants showing a supernumerary pair of chromosomes, which apparently undergo post-meiotic preferential distribution on both the maternal and paternal sides. The two taxa overlap extensively in range and occupy the same habitat, rather commonly occurring in mixed colonies.Coreopsis tinctoria is redefined to include the intrapopulational variation heretofore designatedC. cardaminefolia.
Auditory periphery as speech signal processor

The main thrust of this article concerns models of the auditory periphery and their properties as speech processors. Physiological studies are given attention, as they provide the basis for the models. Although studies of activity of single auditory nerve fibers have been underway in several laboratories since the early 1960s, it was not until the late 70s that reports of systematic investigations using speech signal stimuli appeared. The author considers: cochlear structure and dynamics; auditory nerve physiology (tuning characteristics); speech signals and the auditory periphery; comparisons between physiological and model results; wavelets and time-frequency distributions. >
Flavopiridol in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a concise review

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with high-risk cytogenetic features such as del(17p13) have limited treatment options and decreased overall survival. Dysfunction of p53 leads to resistance to fludarabine-based therapies. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKi) are a novel class of agents that induce apoptosis in CLL cells independent of p53 mutational status. The synthetic flavone flavopiridol demonstrated promising in vitro activity in CLL. In initial phase I studies using a continuous infusion dosing schedule in a variety of malignancies, no clinical activity was observed. Detailed pharmacokinetic modeling led to the development of a novel dosing schedule designed to achieve target drug concentrations in vivo. In phase I testing, this dosing schedule resulted in acute tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) as the dose-limiting toxicity. With the implementation of a standardized protocol to prevent severe TLS, flavopiridol was administered safely, and responses were observed in heavily pretreated, fludarabine-refractory patients, cytogenetically high-risk patients, and patients with bulky lymphadenopathy. In a pharmacokinetic analysis, flavopiridol area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) correlated with clinical response and cytokine release syndrome. Phase II studies are under way with encouraging preliminary results. Flavopiridol is currently under active investigation in combination with other agents and as a means to eradicate minimal residual disease in patients following cytoreductive chemotherapy. Several other investigational CDKi in preclinical and early clinical development are briefly discussed in this review.
Head-trunk coordination in subjects with two motor neuron diseases during linear anterior-posterior translations

This paper looks into the influence of cerebellar disease and bilateral vestibular deficit along with visual inputs on head stabilization during a-p oscillatory linear acceleration at 0.60, 0.81, and 1.11 Hz. The results may infer that at these frequencies the system mechanism instead of voluntary movement, VCR and CCR dominates the head stabilization.
Exercise Intolerance in Individuals With Postconcussion Syndrome

Context: Little is known about exercise intolerance or the utility of an exercise evaluation in patients with postconcussion syndrome (PCS). Objective: To assess exercise intolerance in male and female patients with PCS. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Laboratory setting. Patients or Other Participants: Participants included a convenience sample of 34 patients with PCS (17 males, 17 females; age = 25.9 ± 10.9 years) and 22 uninjured individuals on whom we gathered historical deidentified laboratory data (control group; 11 males, 11 females; age = 23.3 ± 6.2 years). Main Outcome Measure(s): Self-reported symptoms, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BPs), and the Borg rating of perceived exertion were measured before, during each minute of, and immediately after a graded treadmill exercise test (Balke protocol). Exercise was stopped when participants could no longer maintain the effort or reported the onset of or increase in PCS symptoms. Results: Exercise test duration (8.5 ± 4.4 m...
Reducing the storage requirements of constraint dataflow graphs

Most one-way constraint solvers use directed dataflow graphs to represent the dependencies among variables in a constraint. Unfortunately, dataflow graphs require a great deal of storage. These storage costs can help push a large application into virtual memory, thus significantly degrading interactive performance. Reducing the storage costs of dataflow graphs is therefore an important goal in constraint research. This paper describes a study that makes two contributions to solving this problem:
NASA team algorithm for sea ice concentration retrieval from Defense Meteorological Satellite Program special sensor microwave imager: Comparison with Landsat satellite imagery

The present study describes the validation of the the NASA team algorithm for the determination of sea ice concentrations from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program special sensor microwave imager (SSM/I). A total of 28 cloud-free Landsat scenes were selected to permit validation of the passive microwave ice concentration algorithm for a range of ice concentrations and ice types. The sensitivity of the NASA team algorithm to the selection of locally and seasonally adjusted algorithm parameters is discussed. Mean absolute differences between SSM/I and Landsat ice concentrations are within 1 percent during fall using local and global tie points (standard deviations of the difference are +/-3.1 and +/-6.2 percent, respectively). In areas with greater amounts of nilas and young ice, the NASA team algorithm was found to underestimate ice concentrations by as much as 9 percent. It is inferred that the standard deviation between SSM/I and Landsat ice concentrations decreases from +/-7 to +/-5 percent with local tie points compared to the global ones for spring and fall.
Physical Manifestations of Neurodevelopmental Disruption: Are Minor Physical Anomalies Part of the Syndrome of Schizophrenia?

The well-documented excess of minor physical anomalies (MPAs) among individuals with schizophrenia generally supports the neurodevelopmental model, which posits that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to structural and functional brain changes in the intrauterine and perinatal periods that predispose one to developing schizophrenia. This review synthesizes select areas of research findings on MPAs to address the question, Are MPAs part of the syndrome of schizophrenia? Although MPAs are not specific to schizophrenia, their presence in some patients indicates that aberrations in the development of the nervous system contribute to risk for the disorder. The broadly defined, heterogeneous MPA construct may be of limited value in further elucidating the specific pathophysiology of schizophrenia, though particular anomalies, such as those pertaining to nasal volumes, palatal abnormalities, or craniofacial morphology, may be informative. Given the availability of more sophisticated microarray technologies, and in light of recent findings on spontaneous mutations in patients with schizophrenia, it is possible that MPAs will prove to be useful in identifying etiologic subtypes and/or the loci of genetic risk factors. It remains to be determined whether MPAs-which, of course, are fixed markers present throughout childhood and adolescence well before the onset of the prodrome and psychosis-may have utility in terms of risk stratification for future preventive efforts. Taken together, research findings on MPAs indicate that these minor anomalies are indeed part of some schizophrenia syndromes, representing a stable systemic or physical set of manifestations of the underlying neurodevelopmental processes that lead to the illness.
Causal status effect in children's categorization

The current study examined the causal status effect (weighing cause features more than effect features in categorization) in children. Adults (Study 1) and 7-9-year-old children (Study 2) learned descriptions of novel animals, in which one feature caused two other features. When asked to determine which transfer item was more likely to be an example of the animal they had learned, both adults and children preferred an animal with a cause feature and an effect feature rather than an animal with two effect features. This study is the first direct demonstration of the causal status effect in children.
Position-sensitive analysis in curved-crystal three-axis neutron spectrometry (quasielastic scattering case)

The use of bent perfect crystals in focusing three-axis neutron spectrometry with position-sensitive detection (PSD) is analyzed on the basis of a phase-space theory. With PSD, the usual sequential scans are replaced by simultaneous scans. The case of high resolution in energy transfer is considered in detail. With commercial thin silicon wafers, the achievable resolutions are in the 10–150 µeV range, depending on neutron energy. Resolutions around 10 µeV are obtained on the peak of cold-source spectra. To take advantage of the possibilities offered by silicon wafers, PSD with spatial resolution well below 1 mm will be needed. With PSD analysis, a new kind of focusing exists that allows the thickness of bent perfect analyzer crystals to be increased, providing an intensity gain at no resolution loss. With multilamella assemblies a gain in count rate by the number of lamellae in the packet is achievable. Results of a demonstration experiment are presented, confirming that under the right conditions, a multilamella analyzer may resemble a single bent wafer, the individual curves of many wafers having been combined to provide the intensity gain.
Adaptive Mesh Refinement for Global Magnetohydrodynamic Simulation

The first part of this paper reviews some physics issues representing major computational challenges for global MHD models of the space environment. These issues include: (i) mathematical formulation and discretization of the governing equations that ensure the proper jump conditions and propagation speeds, (ii) regions of relativistic Alfven speed, (iii) regions dominated by strong intrinsic planetary magnetic field with strong gradients, and (iv) the religiously debated issue of controling the divergence of the magnetic field. The second part of the paper concentrates to modern solution methods that have been developed by the aerodynamics, applied mathematics and DoE communities. Such methods have recently begun to be implemented in space-physics codes, which solve the governing equations for a compressible magnetized plasma. These techniques include high-resolution upwind schemes, block-based solution-adaptive grids and domain decomposition for parallelization. While some of these techniques carry over relatively straightforwardly to space physics, space physics simulations pose some new challenges. We give a brief review of the state-of-the-art in modern space-physics codes. Finally, we describe the space physics MHD code developed at the University of Michigan and its recent coupling to a thermosphere-ionosphere and inner magnetosphere model.
A wideband, high-resolution, low-probability-of-detection FFT beamformer

Navigation of an underwater minefield by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or an autonomous undersea vehicle (AUV) requires the detection, localization, and avoidance of obstacles. The sizes of obstacles to be avoided range from the diameter of cables up to the size of other vehicles. A classical solution to this problem is the use of an obstacle avoidance sonar, but due to the high degree of sophistication of modern-day mines and unfriendly vehicles, it is desirable to avoid signal energies that might be detectable. The use of spread-spectrum signal structures is one possible way to avoid this difficulty while retaining the capability of despreading the energy at the receiver. This paper presents the development of a beamforming system that uses a frequency-decomposition FFT beamformer and a spread-spectrum signal structure for low-probability-of-detection navigation. >
Stents and statins: history, clinical outcomes and mechanisms

The 1980s witnessed the inception of both stents and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). While they evolved separately, it was soon realized that they each offered a unique and powerful mechanism for targeting the major offender in cardiovascular disease, namely atherosclerosis. Coincidentally, the first statin was approved by the US FDA in 1987, the same year that the coronary stent was conceived. Since that time, stents and statins have revolutionized the field of cardiovascular medicine and their paths have been intertwined. Several pivotal randomized clinical trials have established statins as an effective therapy for improving clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) among patients presenting with stable coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndromes. In addition, chronic statin therapy and acute loading of statins prior to PCI has consistently been shown to limit periprocedural myocardial necrosis. The mechanism for improved clinical outcomes with statins has clearly been associated with statin-induced reductions in LDL. In addition, statins may also exert 'pleiotropic' effects, independent of LDL lowering, that might counteract the inflammatory and prothrombotic mileu created with PCI. This article provides a brief historical perspective of the evolution of the use of statins and stents in patients with coronary artery disease, an evaluation of the available clinical data supporting the use of statins in patients undergoing PCI across a wide spectrum of clinical scenarios, and a discussion of the potential mechanisms of the benefit of statins in these patients.
Effect of Mismatched Sintering Kinetics on Camber in a Low-Temperature Cofired Ceramic Package

Linear shrinkage profiles of an unconstrained gold thick film material and a low -tempearture cofireable glass-ceramic (LTCC) green tape were measured using a noncontact optical technique. A laser beam scans across a sample, at various times during the sintering process. The unconstrained sintering kinetics of the gold film were found to differ significantly from those of the LTCC tape. The densification of the gold film was nearly completed before the LTCC began to densify. The development of camber (warpage) during consintering of a gold/LTCC composite structure was monitored and recorded with a video camera. This camber development is analysed based on the viscous constitutive relations for porous based on the viscous constitutive relations for porous sintering bodies. The mismatched sintering kinetics of the two materials lead to the development of in-plane stresses in the two constituents of the composite structure as one material being constrained from composite structure as one material being constrained of the composite structure as one material being constrained from sintering by the other. The resulting camber during the consintering process is explained by the development of these stresses.
Spectral Efficiency in Single-Hop Ad-Hoc Wireless Networks with Interference Using Adaptive Antenna Arrays

Receivers with N antennas in single-hop, ad-hoc wireless networks with nodes randomly distributed on an infinite plane with uniform area density are studied. Transmitting nodes have single antennas and transmit simultaneously in the same frequency band with power P that decays with distance via the commonly-used inverse-polynomial model with path-loss- exponent (PLE) greater than 2. This model applies to shared spectrum systems where multiple links share the same frequency band. In the interference-limited regime, the average spectral efficiency of a representative link E[C] (b/s/Hz/link) is found to grow as log(N) and linearly with PLE, and its variance decays as 1/N. The average signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) on a representative link is found to grow faster than linearly with N. With multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) links where transmit nodes have multiple antennas without Channel- State-Information, it is found that E[C] in the network can be improved if nodes transmit using the optimum number of antennas compared to the optimum selfish strategy of transmitting equal-power streams from every antenna. The results are extended to random code-division-multiple-access systems where the optimum spreading factor for a given link length is found. These results are developed as asymptotic expressions using infinite random matrix theory and are validated by Monte-Carlo simulations.
Left ventricular diastolic filling response to stationary bicycle exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of pregnancy and of maximal exercise on left ventricular diastolic filling response. STUDY DESIGN: Transmitral pulsed Doppler echocardiography was obtained in 10 healthy women during each trimester of pregnancy and at 12 weeks after delivery. Doppler studies were performed at rest and at each exercise workload. The P-R interval, the early and atrial peak flow velocities, the mitral early deceleration time, and the isovolumetric relaxation time were analyzed. Data are expressed as the mean and standard deviation of the mean. Values obtained during the last trimester of pregnancy were used as the pregnant value; values at the 12 weeks after delivery were used as the nonpregnant value. Paired t-test, analysis of variance, and mixed models were used to determine significance with a probability value of <.05. RESULTS: Pregnancy significantly increased the early and atrial peak flow velocities. Pregnancy decreased the P-R interval, the early deceleration time, and the isovolumetric relaxation time. Exercise significantly decreased these diastolic functions; but pregnancy, in any of the 3 trimesters, did not significantly affect this response. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy increased left ventricular diastolic camber stiffness at rest and shifted left ventricular diastolic filling during exercise from predominantly early to atrial filling. This finding suggests that there is an increase in left ventricular chamber stiffness during maximal upright bicycle exercise in pregnancy. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:822-7.)
Reenginering Clinical Research Teams: An Organizational Modeling Approach

In this study, simulation models were developed to explore the effects of decentralization and interdependence on individuals working in research groups. We conducted the study by simulating clinical health-services research with large repositories of data. First, we modeled the standard research process, which we called "centralized activity," in which a highly-paid researcher accomplishes all tasks. In our second model, which we called "distributed activity," tasks were performed in parallel by specialized technicians at lower wage scales. The results showed that centralized activity is slower (21.5 weeks vs. 17.7 weeks) and more expensive ($69,700 final cost vs. $34,600) than distributed activity, and places too great a load on the lone researcher. We concluded that while the distributed model may initially seem more complex, it results in shorter completion times and lower overall costs.
ON CARMICHAEL NUMBERS IN ARITHMETIC PROGRESSIONS

Assuming a conjecture intermediate in strength between one of Chowla and one of Heath-Brown on the least prime in a residue class, we show that for any coprime integers a and m 1, there are infinitely many Carmichael numbers in the arithmetic progression a mod m.
Facial nerve preservation after vestibular schwannoma Gamma Knife radiosurgery

Objective Facial nerve preservation is a critical measure of clinical outcome after vestibular schwannoma treatment. Gamma Knife radiosurgery has evolved into a practical treatment modality for vestibular schwannoma patients, with several reported series from a variety of centers. In this study, we report the results of an objective analysis of reported facial nerve outcomes after the treatment of vestibular schwannomas with Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Materials and methods A Boolean Pub Med search of the English language literature revealed a total of 23 published studies reporting assessable and quantifiable outcome data regarding facial nerve function in 2,204 patients who were treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma. Inclusion criteria for articles were: (1) Facial nerve preservation rates were reported specifically for vestibular schwannoma, (2) Facial nerve functional outcome was reported using the House–Brackmann classification (HBC) for facial nerve function, (3) Tumor size was documented, and (4) Gamma Knife radiosurgery was the only radiosurgical modality used in the report. The data were then aggregated and analyzed based on radiation doses delivered, tumor volume, and patient age. Results An overall facial nerve preservation rate of 96.2% was found after Gamma Knife radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma in our analysis. Patients receiving less than or equal to 13 Gy of radiation at the marginal dose had a better facial nerve preservation rate than those who received higher doses (≤13 Gy = 98.5% vs. >13 Gy = 94.7%, P 1.5 cm3 95.5%, P < 0.0001). Superior facial nerve preservation was also noted in patients younger than or equal to 60 years of age (96.8 vs. 89.4%, P < 0.0001). The average reported follow up duration in this systematic review was 54.1 ± 31.3 months. Conclusion Our analysis of case series data aggregated from multiple centers suggests that a facial nerve preservation rate of 96.2% can be expected after Gamma knife radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma. Younger patients with smaller tumors less than 1.5 cm3 and treated with lower doses of radiation less than 13 Gy will likely have better facial nerve preservation rates after Gamma Knife radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma.
Response of modulated doublet modes to travelling wave excitation

The forced vibration of a rotationally periodic structure when subjected to travelling wave excitation is discussed, with emphasis placed on the steady-state response of doublet modes having either repeated or split frequencies. Such vibration modes have spatially modulated shapes defined by (1) the number of nodal diameters present in the limiting case of axisymmetry, and (2) certain additional Fourier harmonics which contaminate and distort their appearances. The natural frequency and mode structure of a model periodic structure is discussed in the context of an otherwise axisymmetric disk having evenly spaced, sector-shaped, line distributions of stiffness and inertia. Through perturbation analysis, the contamination wavenumbers present in a doublet having repeated frequency are shown to comprise two subsets, the members of which have sine and cosine coefficients of the same, or of differing, signs for each wavenumber in the mode shape's Fourier expansion. The structure of the wavenumber content is explored further with respect to the response of repeated and split doublets to a harmonic travelling wave excitation. The individual Fourier components comprising a modulated doublet can respond and propagate in the same direction as the excitation, or opposite to it, depending on the wavenumber of the excitation and the subset to which the contamination wavenumber belongs. The response of the split frequency doublets and the circumstances under which travelling or standing wave responses, or a blend of the two, can occur in the structure's reference frame are also examined in the context of the model periodic structure. The qualitative character of the response, the forward or backward propagation direction of each mode's constituent wavenumber components, and the phase speeds of those components are discussed in illustrative case studies.
From light modulation to far-field excitation of graphene plasmons: science and applications of graphene-integrated metasurfaces (Presentation Recording)

Graphene has emerged as a promising optoelectronic material because its optical properties can be rapidly and dramatically changed using electric gating. Graphene’s weak optical response, especially in the infrared part of the spectrum, remains the key challenge to developing practical graphene-based optical devices such as modulators, infrared detectors, and tunable reflect-arrays. We demonstrate experimentally and theoretically demonstrated that a plasmonic metasurface with two Fano resonances can dramatically enhance the interaction of infrared light with single layer graphene. An order of magnitude modulation of the reflected light was accomplished by designing a novel type of a metasurface supporting double Fano resonances and integrating it with an under-layer of graphene. The unique aspect of such modulator is its high baseline reflectivity and large reflectivity extinction coefficient (modulation depth). Using laser interferometry, we demonstrate that the phase of the reflected infrared light can also be modulated by back-gating graphene. This work paves the way to future development of ultrafast opto-electronic devices such as dynamically reconfigurable holograms, single-detector imagers, dynamical beam-steering devices, and reconfigurable biosensors. Moreover, we will show that strong non-local response of graphene can be induced by exciting graphene plasmons which are confined inside the narrow gaps in the plasmonic metasurface. Such graphene plasmons excitation dramatically boosts the intensity of the infrared light confined by the metasurface.
Expression of steroidogenic enzyme and gonadotropin receptor genes in bovine follicles during ovarian follicular waves: a review

Ovarian follicular development in cattle is characterized by waves of growth during the prepubertal and postpartum periods and during estrous cycles. Each wave of follicular growth is characterized by recruitment of a cohort of follicles 4 to 5 mm in diameter. From the cohort, one follicle is selected for continued growth and becomes dominant. If luteolysis occurs during the growth phase of dominant follicles, final maturation and ovulation occurs. If luteolysis does not occur during the growing and maintenance phase of follicles, the fate is atresia. Changes in mRNA expression for the gonadotropin receptors (FSHr and LHr), key steroidogenic enzymes (cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage [P450scc], cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase-[P450c17], cytochrome P450 aromatase [P450arom], and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase [3beta-HSD]), and growth factors (IGF-I and -II) and their binding proteins (IGFBP) have been associated with different stages of follicular growth and atresia. In general, expression of mRNA for the gonadotropin receptors, steroidogenic enzymes, and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) increase with progressive follicular development and is highest when dominant follicles approach maximum size. Expression of mRNA declines rapidly and becomes low or undetectable in atretic follicles. The IGF-I (granulosal cells) and IGF-II (thecal cells) are increased, whereas IGFBP-2 (granulosal cells) is reduced, in dominant follicles. Recruitment of a cohort of follicles is associated with initiation of expression of mRNA for P450scc and P450arom in granulosal cells. Selection of dominant follicles is associated with expression of mRNA for LHr and 3beta-HSD in granulosal cells. Thus, changes in gene expression likely are important to recruitment, selection, dominance, and atresia in ovarian follicles.
A Framework for Teaching Practice-Based Research With a Focus on Service Users

The integration of research and practice in social work education and agency practice is both complex and challenging. The analysis presented here builds upon the classic social work generalist framework (engagement, assessment, service planning and implementation, service evaluation, and termination) by developing a three-part framework to capture practice, research, and service user involvement. The article also includes a case vignette to illustrate the application of the framework. The evolution of practice-based research provides a venue for these integration issues, with special attention to the role played by service users. The analysis concludes with a series of questions to guide evolving practice and future research.
A ‘Real and Substantial’ Improvement? Van Breda Reformulates the Law of Jurisdiction in Ontario

In February 2010, the Ontario Court of Appeal released the much-anticipated Van Breda v. Village Resorts Ltd. decision, which radically reformulated the real and substantial connection test for the assumption of personal jurisdiction over a defendant. Prior to Van Breda, the approach adopted in Ontario – and indeed, much of Canada – was that based on the Court of Appeal’s 2002 decision in Muscutt v. Courcelles. This article explores whether the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in Van Breda represents a “real and substantial” improvement over the jurisdictional approach which prevailed under Muscutt. It examines the presumptive categories framework for the assertion of jurisdiction, the content of the re-conceptualized real and substantial connection test, the role of “analytic factors,” and the newly formulated forum of necessity doctrine. The article concludes that although Van Breda’s formulation of the jurisdictional test appears to be an improvement over Muscutt, it will take some time to see whether Van Breda’s guidance is implemented effectively by lower courts – if indeed the Van Breda formulation of jurisdiction survives scrutiny by the Supreme Court of Canada.
Fusarium Species Stored on Silica Gel and Soil for Ten Years

(1993). Fusarium Species Stored on Silica Gel and Soil for Ten Years. Mycologia: Vol. 85, No. 1, pp. 21-23.
Epiretinal membrane: optical coherence tomography-based diagnosis and classification

Epiretinal membrane (ERM) is a disorder of the vitreomacular interface characterized by symptoms of decreased visual acuity and metamorphopsia. The diagnosis and classification of ERM has traditionally been based on clinical examination findings. However, modern optical coherence tomography (OCT) has proven to be more sensitive than clinical examination for the diagnosis of ERM. Furthermore, OCT-derived findings, such as central foveal thickness and inner segment ellipsoid band integrity, have shown clinical relevance in the setting of ERM. To date, no OCT-based ERM classification scheme has been widely accepted for use in clinical practice and investigation. Herein, we review the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and classification of ERMs and propose an OCT-based ERM classification system.
Development of 750kV Power Current Transformer

For solving the problems in 4 kV and above current transformer site error handover test of pot breaker,GIS,HGIS,N individual power current transformer units with same type and structure are adopted to form power current transformer for obtaining output current and voltage through parallel connected,series-connected,parallel-series combined connected single or multiple power current transformer unit.Ring core is adopted,and output winding uses several position-changed wire which is winded uniformly on ring core.The device has completely solved the problems of transmission,resistance to external force,heat dissipation,safe earthing of heavy current equipment,reduced the leak reactance,internal losses of power current transformer unit,contact resistance of external primary circuit,thus realized the effective transmission of energy.Lab test and site application proved that power current transformer has good effect and has the value of extension.
Post-Mortem Right of Publicity in Arkansas: Protecting Against the Unauthorized Use of a Person’s Identity for Commercial Purposes

The right of publicity protects against the use of a person’s name, identity, likeness, or other personal characteristics (collectively, the “identity”) for commercial purposes, without that person’s consent. A person’s identity may arise from the “fruit of his labor” and is considered a type of property entitled to legal protection. Depending on the jurisdiction at issue, the right of publicity may apply to private individuals, celebrities, public figures, or public officials. The term “right of publicity” was first recognized in 1953. Since then, many states have adopted a statutory right of publicity or have recognized it
An FDA Analysis of Formal Dispute Resolution in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research 2003 Through 2014

Scientific and/or medical disputes will inevitably arise with regard to the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) decision making related to drug development, new drug review, generic drug review, and postmarketing oversight. As these disputes can involve complex judgments and issues that are scientifically and commercially important, it is critical that FDA have procedures for effective and efficient resolution. FDA regulations allow a sponsor to obtain a review of an FDA decision by submitting a request for formal dispute resolution (an appeal). FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) received 137 appeal issues for fiscal years 2003 through 2014. However, sponsors can appeal the same issue multiple times, and each is considered a unique appeal; CDER received and analyzed 173 of these unique appeals. Of these 173 unique appeals, CDER accepted 140 (81%) for review and refused to accept for review 25 (14%). Eight (5%) were withdrawn by the sponsor prior to CDER making a decision whether to accept the appeal for review. Of the 140 unique appeals accepted and reviewed, CDER granted 23 (16%) appeals and denied 117 (84%). The analysis also examines an array of aspects of the process, such as (1) reasons why CDER rejected appeals, (2) reasons why sponsors submitted appeals, (3) the types of appeals that sponsors submitted, (4) the characteristics of the sponsors that submitted appeals (eg, size, past regulatory experience, legal representation), and (5) CDER's performance in meeting user fee goals associated with dispute resolution.
Use and importance of feathers as nest lining in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor)

Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) commonly line their grass nests with feath- ers of other species. In one of three years studied, there was a significant negative correlation between numbers of feathers in the nest and chick nestling periods (i.e. broods surrounded by more feathers fledged earlier). In the third year of the study, the population was divided into two groups, balanced for all measurable aspects of parental quality. In the "removal" group, all feathers were removed daily and in the "control" group all feathers were allowed to remain. All nests and their contents were disturbed equally. Chicks in removal nests had lower growth rates (in mass, wing chord and tarsus) and higher infestations of mites and lice. I suggest that feathers aid chicks directly by preventing hypothermia and indirectly through higher growth rates by allowing earlier fledging when necessary. Protection from ectoparasites may be an important advantage in natural nests where nest cavities are not cleaned out annually. Inadvertent removal of feathers from nest boxes may be an important cause of posthatching declines in feather numbers. Received 19 July 1991, accepted 14 August 1992. TREE SWALLOWS (Tachycineta bicolor) usually line their nests with feathers, and one of the most conspicuous and distinctive behaviors during this swallow's breeding season is the frequent contests over feathers. These contests involve high-speed aerial chases accompanied by considerable aerial jostling and bodily con- tact, often involving several birds (e.g. Wey- demeyer 1934, Kuerzi 1941; for an illustration see Audubon (Peterson and Peterson 1981:plate 276)). Having been intrigued by these aerial contests and the apparent worth of the resource being contested, I began a study of the feathers used in Tree Swallow nests in 1987. I present here a brief description of the natural history of the use of feathers as nest lining, some cor- relative evidence of the feathers' importance, and the results of an experimental study doc- umenting the effect of feathers in the nest on chick growth and ectoparasite infestations. The nest linings of birds generally have been thought to provide insulation for the devel- oping offspring (e.g. Haftorn 1978, Capreol 1983, Moller 1984) or protection against ectoparasites (e.g. Wireberger 1984), and my experiment test- ed the two predictions that feather relnoval would lead to: (1) decreased chick growth and/ or survival; and (2) increased numbers of ec- toparasites. METHODS
A modified peer rating system to recognise rating skill as a learning outcome

AbstractThe peer rating system used here advances the quantitative literacy goals outlined in the social sciences. We instituted a mid-semester intervention to teach rating skills and used an index to track longitudinal changes of skill mastery over the course of the semester. Seventy-four students in five advanced research classes followed the procedure of the existing peer rating system by completing reading assignments, writing reflections online, engaging in class discussions, rating their peers’ reflections and receiving feedback on their group effort. Peer ratings were then compared with each other and also with the instructor ratings to derive individualised indices of reliability and validity. These technical indicators enabled two rounds of assessment before and after a class-wide intervention. An omnibus test across the five classes showed a significant improvement in rating quality due to the intervention. Our courses not only met a quantitative learning outcome but also promised vocational com...
Lab-on-a-chip detection of illicit pigment in food using photonic crystal biosilica

We developed a facile route for detecting illicit pigment in real food sample using photonic crystal biosilica, which serves as a new lab-on-a-chip platform combining surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensing and thin layer chromatography.
Notes on the Fauna of the Chipola Formation- XXVII: On the Occurrence of the Bivalve Genus Nucinella Wood

Recently, sorting some fine-sieving from Tulane University locality TU 999 in the Chipola Formation (Farley Creek, a tributary of the Chipola River), the writer found a single left valve of a new species of the genus Nucinella Wood, 1851. Careful examination of material previously sorted from all of the 57 Tulane localities in the type area of the formation failed to reveal any additional valves. This scarcity is not unusual, however; of the 35 described species of the genus known to the writer, 11 were based upon single valves.
Follow-up of a simple method for aortic valve reconstruction with fixed pericardium in children.

In 2013, we published a simple method for aortic valve reconstruction in children using fixed pericardium in this journal. This was not expected to be a durable solution but a temporizing measure in the absence of other solutions, in order to buy time for growth that would allow subsequent prosthetic valve insertion. As such, this was implemented in 3 patients with excellent immediate results, as reported in our original publication. We are now writing to provide longer term information. In 2 cases, a newborn and a 12-year-old boy, the valve calcified heavily at 4 years' follow-up. By then, the valvar annulus had grown sufficiently to accept a prosthetic valve in both cases. In these 2 cases, the material used for valve reconstruction was autologous pericardium fixed in 0.6% gluteraldehyde. In the third patient, a 3-year-old girl, the valve failed by dehiscence of the suture line 6 months following surgery. In this case, fixed bovine pericardium had been used, which is more rigid than autologous pericardium, thus possibly explaining the dehiscence. However, the pericardial patch was not calcified. Thus, the described method lived up to our expectation of buying time for growth for later insertion of a prosthetic valve in 2 of the 3 cases.
International approaches to school-based mental health: Intent of the Special Issue:

This article provides an overview of the special issue on international approaches to school-based mental health. It introduces the significance of the issues associated with mental health across t...
Occupational mobility among individuals in entry-level healthcare jobs in the USA.

Aims The aim of this study was to explore career transitions among individuals in select entry-level healthcare occupations. Background Entry-level healthcare occupations are among the fastest growing occupations in the USA. Public perception is that the healthcare industry provides an opportunity for upward career mobility given the low education requirements to enter many healthcare occupations. The assumption that entry-level healthcare occupations, such as nursing assistant, lead to higher-skilled occupations, such as Registered Nurse, is under-explored. Design We analysed data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, which is a nationally representative and publicly available longitudinal survey of US households. Methods Using longitudinal survey data, we examined the job transitions and associated characteristics among individuals in five entry-level occupations at the aide/assistant level over 10 years timeline (2003-2013) to determine whether they stayed in health care and/or moved up in occupational level over time. Results/findings This study found limited evidence of career progression in health care in that only a few of the individuals in entry-level healthcare occupations moved into occupations such as nursing that required higher education. While many individuals remained in their occupations throughout the study period, we found that 28% of our sample moved out of these entry-level occupations and into another occupation. The most common "other" occupation categories were "office/administrative" and "personal care/services occupations." Whether these moves helped individuals advance their careers remains unclear. Conclusion Employers and educational institutions should consider efforts to help clarify pathways to advance the careers of individuals in entry-level healthcare occupations.
Alois Höfler — Polymath

Alois Hofler was born in Kirchdorf in Upper Austria on April 6, 1853. Both his father and mother died while he was in his early and middle teens. He and his two younger sisters were then raised by a second mother, Amalie Boheim, with great concern and care. He attended both Volkschule and Gymnasium in Vienna.1 It is interesting that Ernst Mach who also had two younger sisters like Hofler also became a physicist. In fact, Alfred Adler, the one-time follower of Freud, made much of the tendency of “big” brothers to go into science, perhaps partly on the basis of Hofler, Boltzmann, Einstein, and Mach, who were all the oldest children in their families.
Dessert and Aperitif Wine Quality Control

The acceptance of dessert wines in the American marketplace has declined steadily during the past several decades, and table wines have become more popular. Aperitif wines have been more consistent, however, perhaps due primarily to the complementary nature that these wines have in the role of mixers and adjuncts to other more positively disposed products.
Citizen Mobilization in Africa: A Role for Grassroots, Faith-Based Organizations?

This paper addresses a timely and crucial issue in Africa. Roughly two decades after democratic liberalization in many African countries, corruption, limited rule of law, and low leadership accountability remain (Gyimah-Boadi 2004; Tripp 2010). Citizen involvement in politics is limited despite attempts to educate citizens about the need to hold leaders accountable (Ruitta 2009). While a few Christian leaders have begun to act on the need for citizenship development (Sanneh 2011), little is known about these efforts, particularly at the grassroots level. This paper investigates the role of local faith-based organizations in citizen mobilization in Africa. Citizen mobilization includes, but is not limited to, civic education, political advocacy, and leadership training. During the summer of 2013, the authors of this paper will conduct fieldwork that will include interviews and the analysis of organizational documents with two grassroots Christian organizations. Zwane Centre in South Africa and Jubilee Centre in Zambiathat are engaged in citizen mobilization. This paper presentation will present the findings on this research. Through its analysis of how and why local Christian organizations engage in citizen mobilization, the paper will contribute to scholarship on citizenship and democratic transitions, religion and politics, and social movements in Africa.
The carcinogenicity of pesticides

The growing public concern in this country regarding the widespread existence of pesticides in the environment has reached an unprecedented level in recent years. This concern relates to (1) the possible damaging effects of pesticides on human health and (2) the problems of environmental contamination.
The Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986

The third of October 1986 was a momentous day in the history of the United States and also in the presidency of Ronald Reagan, one of the most popular United States presidents at home and abroad: both houses of Congress voted by significant majorities to override President Reagan’s veto and thereby enact into law the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act (CAAA) of 1986 (H.R. 4868). The law was intended to express strong United States opposition to the apartheid regime of the White-controlled minority government of South Africa. In addition to imposing economic and trade sanctions on that country, the law sought to bring worldwide political and economic pressure on South Africa’s government with a view to creating a democratic, nonracial society there.
Tunable charge states of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond for ultrafast quantum devices

Abstract A prerequisite condition for next-generation quantum sensing, communication, and computing is the precise modulation of the charge states of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. We have achieved tuning of these centers in highly concentrated NV-diamonds using photons, phonons, and electrons. These NV-diamonds are synthesized employing a unique nanosecond laser processing technique which results in ultrafast melting and subsequent quenching of nitrogen-doped molten carbon films. Substitutional nitrogen atoms and vacancies are incorporated into diamond during rapid liquid-phase growth, where dopant concentrations can exceed thermodynamic solubility limits through solute trapping. This ultrafast synthesis technique generates fewer surface traps thereby forming ∼75% NV− centers at room-temperature, which are optically and magnetically distinct as compared to NV0 centers. We dramatically increase the NV− concentration in NV-diamonds by ∼53% with decreasing temperature from 300 to 80 K. With negative electrical biasing, the Fermi level in NV-diamond rises and crosses the NV0/- level, thereby promoting an exponential conversion of NV0 to NV− centers. We have also photonically enhanced the photoluminescence signal from NV− centers, thereby ascertaining the conversion of NV0 into NV− via absorption of electrons (excited by 532 nm photons) from the valence band in NV-diamond. These NV-centers in diamonds also reveal large excitation lifetime, which ultimately leads to ∼65% quantum efficiency at room-temperature. With these results, we believe that the precise tuning of charge states in these uniquely prepared highly concentrated NV-diamonds will lead to superior quantum devices.