cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reading Rosita or The Language of Flowers

AbstractIn reading Dona Rosita la soltera o El lenguaje de las flores, Garcia Lorca's 1935 play about a young woman awaiting her fiance's return, commentators have attended to the play's visual and verbal aspects. They have noted the spectacular period staging and costumes and song-and-dance numbers. The dialogues too have received discussion. But, filled with mundane details and social formulae, these typically elicit charges of superficiality, excess verbiage camouflaging empty lives. The essay that follows offers an alternative view. It takes as its point of departure the Housekeeper's remark enumerating the tasks that occupy the woman-centred household; that is, those undertaken '[c]on las puntillas de los dedos, con hilos, con tallos, con confituras' and synecdochally pertaining to clothing, flowers, and food. Parsing each element, which like Rosita herself, may be seen as a metaphor for language, either visual (written and fixed) or oral-aural (spoken and transient), I suggest that, far from trivial...
Surface charge variation in aging ferric hydroxide

The variation with time of exchangeable surface charge of amorphous ferric hydroxide in aqueous suspension was monitored by a titration technique. After 120 days, the surface charge of suspensions with initial pH 'from 8.5 to 10.5 was about one-fourth of the initial value, and goethite had formed from the ferric hydroxide. After the same time interval, the exchangeable surface charge of suspensions with initial pH from 5.5 to 8.0 was about two thirds the original value and the ferric hydroxide was still largely amorphous. The initial rate of crystallization and surface charge reduction increased with initial pH for suspensions with pH from 8.5 to 10.5, whereas the rate of surface charge reduction appeared to be independent of pH for suspensions with initial pH between 5.5 and 8.0. Based on these results it is suggested that at pH from 8.5 to 10.5 ferric hydroxide ages to goethite via a solution stage involving the Fe(OH)2 ion, whereas at pH values below 8.5 ferric hydroxide aging proceeds via mechanisms which do not involve the particle surface or bulk solution.
Teaching Business Ethics with Management and Marketing Games

Because of an apparent decrease in the business world's sense of ethics and an increase in illegal activities by many executives, America's business schools have taken steps to correct the situation through the education process. Management games, which are played in many schools and simulate the types of competitive conditions faced by real-world executives, may be useful devices for teaching ethics and helping managers to deal with the moral and ethical dilemmas they will face in their careers. A review of the games available, however, reveals that few directly deal with ethical issues or punish firms for engaging in illegal activities within their simulation models. Because of this general deficiency, this article describes how vignettes created by the game administrator can correct these inadequacies.
Authorship and Characteristics of Articles in Pharmacy Journals: Changes Over a 20-Year Interval

Background:To our knowledge, no studies have evaluated authorship patterns and characteristics of articles in pharmacy journals,Objective:To investigate changes over a 20-year period in authorship and characteristics of articles in pharmacy journals.Methods:All articles published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, and Pharmacotherapy in 1989, 1999, and 2009 were reviewed. Data collected for each article included article type, number of authors, number of physician authors, whether any author was affiliated with a pharmaceutical company, and source of funding.Results:The number of articles included was 574 in 1989, 659 in 1999, and 589 in 2009. The mean number of authors per article increased from 2.5 in 1989 to 2.8 in 1999 and 3.6 in 2009 (p 6 authors) increased from 2% i...
Feature kernel functions: improving SVMs using high-level knowledge

Kernel functions are often cited as a mechanism to encode prior knowledge of a learning task. But it can be difficult to capture prior knowledge effectively. For example, we know that image pixels of a handwritten character result from a few strokes from a single writing implement; it is not clear how to express this in a kernel function. We investigate an explanation based learning (EBL) paradigm to generate specialized kernel functions. These embody novel high-level features that are automatically constructed from the interaction of prior knowledge and training examples. Our empirical results showed that the performance of the resulting SVM surpasses that of a conventional SVM on the challenging task of classifying handwritten Chinese characters.
Divine hiddenness and belief de re

In this paper I argue that Poston and Dougherty's attempt to undermine the problem of divine hiddenness by using the notion of belief de re is problematic at best. They hold that individuals who appear to be unbelievers (because they are de dicto unbelievers) may actually be de re believers. I construct a set of conditions on ascribing belief de re to show that it is prima facie implausible to claim that seemingly inculpable and apparent unbelievers are really de re believers. Thus, while it is indeed possible that a de dicto unbeliever is a de re believer, it is unlikely that this has sufficiently general application to actual individuals to alleviate the problem of divine hiddenness.
Models and Managers: The Concept of a Decision Calculus

(This article originally appeared in Management Science, April 1970, Volume 16, Number 8, pp. B-466-B-485, published by The Institute of Management Sciences.) A manager tries to put together the various resources under his control into an activity that achieves his objectives. A model of his operation can assist him but probably will not unless it meets certain requirements. A model that is to be used by a manager should be simple, robust, easy to control, adaptive, as complete as possible, and easy to communicate with. By simple is meant easy to understand; by robust, hard to get absurd answers from; by easy to control, that the user knows what input data would be required to produce desired output answers; adaptive means that the model can be adjusted as new information is acquired; completeness implies that important phenomena will be included even if they require judgmental estimates of their effect; and, finally, easy to communicate with means that the manager can quickly and easily change inputs and obtain and understand the outputs. Such a model consists of a set of numerical procedures for processing data and judgments to assist managerial decision making and so will be called a decision calculus. An example from marketing is described. It is an on-line model for use by product managers on advertising budgeting questions. The model is currently in trial use by several product managers.
Images in vascular medicine. Unusual etiology of painful leg ulcers.

A 61-year-old Caucasian female with prior history of bilateral femoro-popliteal bypass grafts, chronic venous insufficiency and long-standing rheumatoid arthritis was admitted with painful bilateral lower extremity ulcerations. Presumptive diagnosis of infected venous or vasculitic ulcers was made and vascular medicine consultation was obtained. Anterolateral aspects of bilateral lower extremities were erythematous and revealed several tender ulcers with well-defined edges. The ulcer bases were composed of predominantly pale granulation tissue and serous discharge (Panel A). Ankle‐brachial index and toe pressures were normal at rest. Pertinent laboratory results included a rheumatoid factor of 392 IU/ml and a Westergren sedimentation rate of 115 mm/h. The serum cryoglobulins, C-ANCA, PANCA and complement levels (C3/C4) were within normal limits. An MRI did not suggest osteomyelitis. A wound biopsy was requested due to the atypical nature of the ulcers and revealed cutaneous large T-cell lymphoma. Panel B shows the microscopic appearance of the large T-cell lymphoma with angioinvasive features. Beneath an ulcerated epidermis, malignant lymphoid cells infiltrate the deep dermis and subcutis and invade small and medium-sized arterioles in the deep dermis (1: hematoxylin and eosin, 200). At higher magnification, the cells have a large cell morphology (2: hematoxylin and eosin, 400). Immunohistochemistry for the T-cell-associated antigen CD3 shows a brown colorimetric reaction decorating the cytoplasmic membranes of the neoplastic cells (3: anti-CD3, 400). CHOP chemotherapy was started but she died several months after the diagnosis. Malignant transformation of chronic ulcers is well documented, although uncommon. 1 Patients with rheumatoid arthritis frequently present with leg ulceration 2 and are at increased risk for lymphoma. 3
Modeling and analysis of a low-actuation-voltage MEM mirror with spring structure for tunable optical filter

Tunable optical filters are key components for dense wavelength-division-multiplexed DWDM optical networks. One of the successful mechanisms to realize the wavelength tunability is by utilizing micro-electromechanical systems MEMS technology. The tuning mechanism works by applying a voltage between the top mirror and the bottom electrode. Micromechanically actuated optical filters are desir- able because of their wide tuning range and process compatibility with other optoelectronic devices. Modeling and simulation play important roles in the MEMS domain. In this paper, we present four different mirror models. A detailed theoretical analysis including both static and dynamic aspects was developed on the four mirror models. A record tuning range of 149 nm with a very small actuation voltage of 2.5 V is achieved for the MEMS-based tunable optical filter. © 2007 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumenta-
What Explains the Carcass Field Processing and Transport Decisions of Contemporary Hunter-Gatherers? Measures of Economic Anatomy and Zooarchaeological Skeletal Part Representation

This paper uses rationale derived from central place foraging models to explore the factors that guide the carcass processing and transport decisions of modern hunters. Using data derived from butchering experiments, I test different economic indices that purportedly reflect the field processing and transport decisions of contemporary African Hadza hunter-gatherers. The results show that no single index predicts part processing and transport for the species examined in this analysis. Processing and transport decisions are, however, patterned in ways that are consistent with theoretical predictions. While similar processes likely guide carcass treatment and transport decisions among all hunter-gatherers, different ecological, social, and historical constraints define the range of solutions to problems involving carcass treatment. In this specific example, intertaxonomic differences in carcass size and bone properties constrain how the trade-offs between field processing and transport costs are resolved. I conclude by suggesting ways in which analysts might make use of central place foraging rationale and models to explain variation in skeletal representation and abundances across time and space.
Reduced-order adaptive controller design for disturbance attenuation and asymptotic tracking for SISO linear systems with noisy output measurements

We study the reduced-order adaptive control design for SISO linear systems under noisy output measurements, as compared to the full-order adaptive control proposed in Z. Pan and T. Basar (July 2000). We make the same assumption as Z. Pan and T. Basar and follow the same design paradigm, where we simplify the dynamic order of the controllers by using a slightly modified design at a particular step of the control design. The dynamic order of the controllers obtained in this paper is n - 1 or n - 2 less than those presented in Z. Pan and T. Basar (July 2000), depending on the eigen-structure of a particular feedback matrix. We prove rigorously that reduced-order controllers admit the same robustness properties as those of Z. Pan and T. Basar. The order reduction simplifies the controller structure enormously without any sacrifice in performance. A numerical example is included in the paper, which demonstrates the improved performance resulting from the order reduction, even though there is no theory justifying the improvement.
Engaging Birds in Vegetation Restoration after Elwha Dam Removal

Elwha River restoration is humanity's largest dam removal project to date. Reservoir revegetation will be most effective if it is rapid and spatially extensive to stabilize residual sediment, impede invasive plants, and restore other riparian functions. I evaluated how birds could enhance Elwha restoration by dispersing native seeds to reservoir sediment deposits. I evaluated three factors affecting avian seed dispersal: (1) number of native woody plants with bird-dispersed seeds; (2) identity and abundance of seed-dispersing birds; and (3) distribution of avian seed deposition. (1) I sorted Elwha early seral woody plants into species dispersed by birds vs. other mechanisms. (2) I recorded avian flights from seed sources, and I estimated disperser abundances from Elwha avian inventory data. (3) I assessed patterns of avian seed dispersal by evaluating eight causal hypotheses, using fresh scat as a seed surrogate. I recorded scat density and habitat characteristics along random transects in Lake Mills reservoir delta and Geyser Valley floodplain. I evaluated models for each hypothesis using Akaike's Information Criterion. Birds disperse seeds of most (59%) native woody plants likely to establish in the reservoirs. American robins ( Turdus migratorius ) accounted for most flights between seed sources and sediment deposits, with mean abundance 1 bird/ha. Most avian scats occurred on logs, and scat density increased with log volume. These results suggest birds can disperse native seeds throughout Elwha restoration sites. Revegetation programs associated with dam removal can leverage birds as restoration agents by retaining or placing large woody debris to recruit fruit-bearing plants.
The rise and the fall of a citizen reporter

Recently, there has been some research interest in the development of online communities sharing news and information curated by "citizen reporters". Using "Big Data" techniques researchers try to discover influence groups and some of the major events in the lives of such communities. However, the big picture may sometimes miss important stories that are essential to the development and evolution of online communities. In particular, how does one identify and verify events when the important actors are operating anonymously and without sufficient news coverage due to safety concerns, as in drug war-torn Mexico? In this paper we present some techniques that allow us to make sense of the data collected, identify important dates of significant events in them, and direct our limited resources to discover hidden stories that, in our case, affect the lives and safety of prominent citizen reporters. In particular, we describe how focused analysis enabled us to discover an important story in the life of this community involving the reputation of an anonymous leader, and how trust was built in order to verify the validity of the story.
Numerical Solution of Quasilinear Boundary Value Problemsm

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the numerical solution of quasilinear boundary value problems, and presents a weighted two-sided difference scheme that gives a balance between the centered form (accurate, unstable) and the one-sided upwind form (stable, excessively diffused). If the first order derivative term is not present, the boundary value problem becomes a mildly nonlinear problem for which the above difficulties do not appear. The standard three-point difference approximation of uxx can be used. For a mildly nonlinear problem, using the fact that the difference operator is inverse positive, monotonically converging iterative schemes have been studied. For more general nonlinear boundary value problems, based on the maximum principle, the monotone iterative method is used in theory to prove the existence of multiple solutions. This theory is useful in order to obtain analytical bounds for the solution. However, the scheme is not numerical. The constant used to obtain the monotonicity is too large and this, in turn, slows down the convergence rate drastically. Numerically, the boundary value problem becomes more difficult because of the above-mentioned inherent drawbacks with the difference approximations. In the chapter, the Newton (quasi-linearization) schemes are also described. .
Autonomous Tracking of UAS Using GPS Data with a Two-Axis Gimbal System

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Engineering (UASE) laboratory at the University of North Dakota (UND) has developed an autonomous system tracking device for an aircraft transmitting its Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. This pointing system uses GPS coordinates from the aircraft to point directional communication antennas. The pointing algorithm is a closed form analytical expression that specifies the rotation angles of the gimbal. This device also eliminates the presence of ground personnel required to angle the directional antennas at the aircraft. The directional antennas provide better signal bandwidth and strength for communication purposes. Through the use of already developed technology and payload systems, the integration of this technology proves to be a valuable addition to existing unmanned aircrafts and payloads.
Renal cryoablation and radio frequency ablation: an evaluation of worst case scenarios in a porcine model.

ABSTRACT Purpose: Although ablative technologies, including radio frequency (RF) ablation (RFA) and cryoablation (CA), are being used to treat renal masses, complications associated with injury to vital renal structures are not well understood. We investigated these worst case scenarios by deliberately targeting vital renal structures with CA or RFA in a porcine model. Materials and Methods: Following surgical exposure of the right kidney in female pigs a cryoneedle or an RF probe was deliberately placed under visual and ultrasound guidance in the renal pelvis (CA in 5 pigs and RFA in 7), major calix (CA and RFA in 5 each) or subsegmental renal vessels (CA in 5 pigs and RFA in 7). Cryo-energy or RF energy was then applied to create a 3 cm lesion. After 10 days the kidneys underwent gross and histological examination for urine and blood extravasation, cell death and injury. Ex vivo retrograde pyelography was performed to evaluate for urinary fistulas. Results: All pigs tolerated the treatment and no procedure related deaths occurred. No significant bleeding was noted. RFA and CA created reproducible lesions and areas of cell death and necrosis. Despite significant intentional injury to the collecting system no urinary fistulas were demonstrated in CA specimens (0 of 15). In contrast, damage to the renal pelvis (4 of 7) by dry (3 of 4) or wet (1 of 3) RFA was associated with a high likelihood of urinary extravasation. Conclusions: This short-term study demonstrates that CA is safe, effective and not associated with urinary extravasation. In contrast, RFA to the renal pelvis is associated with urinary extravasation. Further studies are needed to support these findings.
Robust Aging among the Young-Old, Old-Old, and Oldest-Old

This study defined and examined the interrelationships among four multicategory definitions of robust aging: productive involvement, affective status, functional status, and cognitive status. Data are from a sample of 1,644 adults aged 60 and older who participated in a nationwide household survey in 1986. The four robust aging indicators were minimally correlated, suggesting that they tap a multidimensional phenomenon. Several personal characteristics were found to distinguish robustly aging individuals from their less-well-functioning counterparts for at least one robust aging criterion. The most robustly aging individuals reported greater social contact, better health and vision, and fewer significant life events in the past three years than their less robustly aging counterparts. The data also indicated a linear age-related decrease in the proportion of respondents found in the most robust aging categories, but membership in the oldest-old cohort did not preclude one from being identified as aging robustly.
The adrenocorticotropic hormone and arginine vasopressin responses to hypercapnia in fetal and maternal sheep

Previous studies have demonstrated that fetal adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are increased during periods of acidemia produced by infusion of acid intravenously or by acidemia secondary to hypovolemia. The purpose of this study was to quantify ACTH and AVP responses to hypercapnic acidemia and to test the role of the peripheral chemoreceptors in the control of these responses. Chronically catheterized fetal sheep were subjected to carotid sinus denervation and bilateral vagotomy or were studied intact. At least 5 days after surgery, fetuses were exposed to a 60-min period of normocapnia or hypercapnia, delivered via a polyethylene bag containing 5-8% CO2 in 21% O2 fitted over the head of the pregnant ewe. Hypercapnia significantly increased fetal arterial PCO2 to 55.2 +/- 1.8 and 55.9 +/- 2.2 mmHg and decreased arterial pH to 7.257 +/- 0.011 and 7.281 +/- 0.010 in intact and denervated fetuses, respectively. Fetal mean arterial blood pressure was decreased slightly in the denervated fetuses during hypercapnia. Fetal plasma AVP was increased in both groups equally, and plasma ACTH and cortisol were increased in the denervated fetuses only. Fetal heart rate was increased significantly in intact but not denervated fetuses. We conclude that respiratory acidemia is a mild stimulus to AVP secretion and that this response is not attenuated by peripheral chemodenervation.
THE TECHNIQUE OF PREPARING AND STAINING LARGE BONE SECTIONS FOR HISTOLOGICAL STUDY

Exact technique is given for successfully cutting and staining large bone sections of adequate thinness for histological study.
Dynamic Analysis and Sliding Mode Control of a Novel Extendable Modular Multi-DOFs Link

In this paper, we have considered the new extendable modular multi-DOFs link to have a larger reachable workspace and more dexterous manipulability, as compared to a typical link. As a part of the extendable modular robot (EMR), our link is implemented to allow free motion when performing required tasks. In addition, this paper deals with a function of adjusting the link’s length (within 25% of the nominal length). Our investigation also focuses on the dynamics of a multi-DOFs link and the nonlinear controller for a given trajectory. The simulation results show the effectiveness of this control approach.© 2012 ASME
An infectious fibroma of deer.

SummaryA naturally-occurring fibroma of the skin of deer has been transimitted experimetally. The causative agent survives for at least 22 months in fibroma tissue stored in 50% glycerol-saline at 0°F and further-more is filterable through Berkefeld N filters, properties characteristic of a virus. The experimentally produced deer fibroma has an incubation period of approximately 7 weeks and a very slow rate of growth.
Tree-based Risk Factor Analysis of Preterm Delivery and Small-for-Gestational-Age Birth

Using data collected at the Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, in 1980-1982, the authors conducted a tree-based statistical analysis using preterm delivery and small for gestational age as outcomes and the following variables as putative risk factors: maternal age, marital status, ethnicity, education, current employment, smoking, alcohol use, caffeine consumption, marijuana use, hormones/diethylstilbestrol used by the mother, gravidity, parity, and passive smoking. The authors' analyses indicate that ethnicity is a leading factor contributing to both outcomes: Black women are more likely to have preterm deliveries as well as to deliver small-for-gestational age infants. The tree-based procedure leads to generally consistent results with more traditional secondary analyses of the same data set, but also provides a more fully integrated picture of the important relation. The full utility of these procedures for hypothesis generation remains to be explored.
Preliminary Studies on Selection of High-Phosphorus-Utilization Rice Variety Resources

Phosphorus utilization efficiency of 20 rice varieties was studied preliminarily under three level,i.e.,low(0 kg/hm2),medium(75 kg/hm2) and high(150 kg/hm2).The results showed that rice varieties were divided into four kinds: efficient phosphorus,inefficient phosphorus,sensitive phosphorus and middle types.'Jijing 88','Ji 03-2355',and'Jijing 78'were efficient phosphorous varieties.'Shennong 6014','Ji 06-44'and'Ji 03-55'were inefficient phosphorous varieties.'Ji 03-2843'and'Ji 06-43'were sensitive phosphorous varieties.The rest were meddle types.Efficient phosphorous rice varieties had high yield of grain and biomass at three level of phosphorus,especially under high phosphorous condition.Inefficient phosphorous rice varieties were opposite.Sensitive phosphorous rice varieties had low yield of grain and biomass under low phosphorous condition,but they were increased greatly under medium phosphorus.Increasing phosphorus fertilizer properly can raise the yield,dry mater yield and the number of effect ears per unit area,it can also lower blighted rate obviously.
A Brief Historiographic Essay on References to Islamic Culture on the Early Modern English Public Stage

With the break with Rome, early modern England for the first time began active trade with Persia, Morocco and the Turkic lands. The paper briefly reviews, in light of the theories of Spivak and Said, some recent critical reactions to the emergence of Islamic themes on the public stages of London.
The Impact of Perioperative Aspirin on Bleeding Complications Following Robotic Partial Nephrectomy

Abstract Introduction: Perioperative administration of aspirin for high-risk urologic procedures is controversial. We evaluated whether continuation of perioperative aspirin alters bleeding complications in patients who undergo robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN). Materials and Methods: Retrospective review identified 214 consecutive patients who underwent RPN at our institution from May 2012 to March 2015. Comparisons were performed between 49 patients continuing aspirin (81 mg), 34 patients holding aspirin for at least 7 days before surgery, and 131 patients who had never taken aspirin. Overall bleeding complications included postoperative hemoglobin drop of >3 g/dL during admission, postoperative blood transfusion, or necessity for urgent selective angiographic embolization. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the independent association between aspirin administration and bleeding complications. Results: Patients continuing aspirin were older and had higher Charlson Comorbidity Inde...
Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase and Its Evolutionary Relatives

Abstract Bioinformatic analysis of the heme-binding fragment of mammalian soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) has uncovered a domain called HNOB (Heme NO Binding) that is widespread in bacteria and eukarya. Some heme-containing HNOB domains can bind oxygen, by contrast to mammalian sGC, which binds nitric oxide but not oxygen. Additionally, the Drosophila melanogaster proteins Gyc-88E and Gyc-89Da and Gyc-89Db were found to govern hypoxia-activated cGMP synthesis in an in vivo assay, and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was observed to display aerotaxis behaviors that require the sGC-like protein GCY-35. A crystal structure of an oxygen-bound HNOB domain from the Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis methyl-accepting chemotaxis receptor Tar4 (also called Tt-HNOX or Tt-SONO) has led to various proposals about motifs for heme binding and the occurrence of oxygen-binding HNOB domains. Overall, the data suggest a broad role for HNOB-coupled sensors in responding to diatomic gases. We examine these results, taking care to note some of the overstatements arising from the excitement generated by these novel heme-based sensors and to consider the outstanding questions. Recent advances on mammalian sGC research are also discussed, and a sGC switching mechanism is proposed that is consistent with the structural results and available data on sGC activators such as YC-1 and BAY58–2667.
Neutral point testing of color vision in the domestic cat.

Despite extensive study, the basic nature of feline spectral sensitivity is still unresolved. Most electrophysiological studies have demonstrated two photopic receptors within the cat's retina, one most sensitive to longer wavelengths near 560 nm and the other most sensitive to shorter wavelengths near 460 nm, providing the neuroretinal basis for dichromatic vision. A few studies, however, have detected a third photopic receptor most sensitive to medium wavelengths between 500 and 520 nm, overlapping in spectrally sensitivity with the feline scotopic receptor, that potentially could allow trichromatic vision. Indeed, one behavioral study has demonstrated trichromatic vision in cats, but a flaw within its experimental design raises the possibility that achromatic intensity cues might have allowed the accurate identification of medium wavelength targets. This study tested for a spectral neutral point in the domestic cat using a two-choice discrimination task. The positive targets were created using monochromatic light from various single wavelength light emitting diodes (LEDs) combined with a white light of variable intensity, while the negative targets were created using white light of variable intensity. Trials were performed with varying intensities of positive and negative targets, from brighter positive targets to brighter negative targets, to eliminate achromatic intensity cues. Two cats with prior experience with two-choice discrimination tasks, one male and one female, successfully discriminated monochromatic light from 456 nm to 497 nm and from 510 nm to 524 nm, but both failed to discriminate monochromatic light at 505 nm over multiple trials. These results provide strong evidence that cats are dichromatic with a neutral point near 505 nm. This neutral point is nearly identical to the neutral point of the human deuteuranope, making feline vision a more accurate a model for red-green colorblind individuals than normal trichromats.
Optimization of filtered back-projection for a Rayleigh task

We consider the performance of the Hotelling Observer (HO) on a Rayleigh task in order to characterize the resolution properties of alternative implementations of the filtered back-projection (FBP) algorithm. Two alternative strategies, Hanning filtering in the reconstruction and Gaussian smoothing post-reconstruction, are considered. We find that use of the HO provides insight into the properties of these alternatives that would be lost through subjective image quality evaluation.
Flow signaling and atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis rarely develops in the region of arteries exposed to undisturbed flow (u-flow, unidirectional flow). Instead, atherogenesis occurs in the area exposed to disturbed flow (d-flow, multidirectional flow). Based on these general pathohistological observations, u-flow is considered to be athero-protective, while d-flow is atherogenic. The fact that u-flow and d-flow induce such clearly different biological responses in the wall of large arteries indicates that these two types of flow activate each distinct intracellular signaling cascade in vascular endothelial cells (ECs), which are directly exposed to blood flow. The ability of ECs to differentially respond to the two types of flow provides an opportunity to identify molecular events that lead to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. In this review, we will focus on various molecular events, which are differentially regulated by these two flow types. We will discuss how various kinases, ER stress, inflammasome, SUMOylation, and DNA methylation play roles in the differential flow response, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. We will also discuss the interplay among the molecular events and how they coordinately regulate flow-dependent signaling and cellular responses. It is hoped that clear understanding of the way how the two flow types beget each unique phenotype in ECs will lead us to possible points of intervention against endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases.
Do Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques Affect Qualitative or Numerical Identity

Mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRTs), known in the popular media as 'three-parent' or 'three-person' IVFs, have the potential to enable women with mitochondrial diseases to have children who are genetically related to them but without such diseases. In the debate regarding whether MRTs should be made available, an issue that has garnered considerable attention is whether MRTs affect the characteristics of an existing individual or whether they result in the creation of a new individual, given that MRTs involve the genetic manipulation of the germline. In other words, do MRTs affect the qualitative identity or the numerical identity of the resulting child? For instance, a group of panelists on behalf of the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has claimed that MRTs affect only the qualitative identity of the resulting child, while the Working Group of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) has argued that MRTs would create a numerically distinct individual. In this article, I shall argue that MRTs do create a new and numerically distinct individual. Since my explanation is different from the NCOB's explanation, I shall also offer reasons why my explanation is preferable to the NCOB's explanation.
3-D Microwell Array System for Culturing Virus Infected Tumor Cells

Cancer cells have been increasingly grown in pharmaceutical research to understand tumorigenesis and develop new therapeutic drugs. Currently, cells are typically grown using two-dimensional (2-D) cell culture approaches, where the native tumor microenvironment is difficult to recapitulate. Thus, one of the main obstacles in oncology is the lack of proper infection models that recount main features present in tumors. In recent years, microtechnology-based platforms have been employed to generate three-dimensional (3-D) models that better mimic the native microenvironment in cell culture. Here, we present an innovative approach to culture Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infected human B cells in 3-D using a microwell array system. The results demonstrate that the KSHV-infected B cells can be grown up to 15 days in a 3-D culture. Compared with 2-D, cells grown in 3-D had increased numbers of KSHV latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) dots, as detected by immunofluorescence microscopy, indicating a higher viral genome copy number. Cells in 3-D also demonstrated a higher rate of lytic reactivation. The 3-D microwell array system has the potential to improve 3-D cell oncology models and allow for better-controlled studies for drug discovery.
Engaging Women in Public Leadership in West Virginia

As the 113th Congress begins to tackle the issues of the day, men and women alike celebrate the inclusion of a record number of women representatives. The historic numbers indicate progress, but the reality is that women compose slightly more than half of the national population but less than twenty percent of the national legislative representatives. Women fare slightly better at the state level, holding just under a quarter of state legislative seats and executive offices. In this study we explore the challenges faced and advances made by women in attaining statewide executive office in rural states by examining how they have fared in Appalachia and particularly West Virginia. We integrate theoretical understandings and statistical data with lived experiences gleaned from personal interviews conducted with the women who have held executive office in West Virginia.
The Horwitz ratio (HorRat): A useful index of method performance with respect to precision.

The Horwitz ratio (HorRat) is a normalized performance parameter indicating the acceptability of methods of analysis with respect to among-laboratory precision (reproducibility). It is the ratio of the observed relative standard deviation among laboratories calculated from the actual performance data, RSDR (%), to the corresponding predicted relative standard deviation calculated from the Horwitz equation PRSDR (%) = 2C(-0.15), where C is the concentration found or added, expressed as a mass fraction. It is more or less independent of analyte, matrix, method, and time of publication (as a surrogate for the state of the art of analytical chemistry). It is now one of the acceptability criteria for many of the recently adopted chemical methods of analysis of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, the European Union, and other European organizations dealing with food analysis (e.g., European Committee for Standardization and Nordic Analytical Committee). The origin and applications of the formula are described. Consistent deviations from the ratio on the low side (values 2) may indicate inhomogeneity of the test samples, need for further method optimization or training, operating below the limit of determination, or an unsatisfactory method.
Advances in Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, Electrophysiology, and Structural Heart Disease: A Moving Target.

Welcome to this special issue of Annals of Translational Medicine on the advances in cardiology, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, and structural heart disease: a moving target.
Exploring Characteristics and Health Care Utilization Trends Among Individuals Who Fall in the Health Insurance Assistance Gap in a Medicaid Nonexpansion State.

States that did not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the United States have seen a growth in the number of individuals who fall in the assistance gap, defined as having incomes above the Medicaid eligibility limit (≥44% of the federal poverty level) but below the lower limit (<100%) to be eligible for tax credits for premium subsidies or cost-sharing reductions in the marketplace. The purpose of this article is to present findings from a secondary data analysis examining the characteristics of those who fell in the assistance gap (n = 166) in Missouri, a Medicaid nonexpansion state, by comparing them with those who did not fall in the assistance gap (n = 157). Participants completed online demographic questionnaires and self-reported measures of health and insurance status, health literacy, numeracy, and health insurance literacy. A select group completed a 1-year follow-up survey about health insurance enrollment and health care utilization. Compared with the nonassistance gap group...
Basic Staining Techniques for Cartilage Sections

Historically, growth plate (physeal) and articular cartilage have received greater attention than bone because they can be processed and sectioned more easily following paraffin and glycol methacrylate embedment and because they contain extracellular matrix (ECM) components whose interest and importance is not only confined to the skeleton.23 Histology has also played a role in defining the cell and matrix degradation that occurs in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, there has been renewed interest in reliable and informative staining methods for articular cartilage, which can be used in the evaluation of tissue-engineered cartilage. The purpose of this chapter is to review the utility of fundamental staining procedures for cartilage specimens.
Family Structure and Adolescent Labor Market Participation

We argue that focusing on only one type of fragile family structure—generally single-parent families, without distinguishing how these families were formed—obscures important processes and mechanisms among different types of families. We focus on a specific adolescent risk behavior, high-intensity work, and theorize that adolescents in certain types of fragile families will work more hours because of financial need, while teens in other types of fragile families will extend their work hours to avoid family conflict and stress. Using data from the 1990 and 1992 waves of the National Education Longitudinal Study, we examine the effects of living in a never-married, divorced, widowed, stepparenting, or cohabiting family on work hours. We then look at whether work hours and the motives behind their scheduling can help to explain why teachers assess students from fragile families more negatively than those from intact families. Results provide support for the more general argument that scholars hoping to understand fragile families must distinguish among different family structures and processes.
2012 William M. Murray Lecture: Some Curious Unresolved Problems, Speculations, and Advances in Mechanical Fastening

Mechanical joining is one of the oldest, most important, and most neglected aspects of engineering design of machines and structures of all types and sizes. Approximately 250 U.S. companies manufacture fasteners worth over $8 billion per year. There are 18,000 fasteners in a common fighter jet airframe, and fasteners account for roughly one-third the cost of a typical airplane. Yet, most failures of structures, including aircraft, originate at fasteners, suggesting that improved understanding of fastener mechanics, better design criteria, and informed applications of fundamental knowledge are required. This issue is exacerbated by increased demands on systems, particularly in the transportation and military sectors, and by the growing use of composites, for which current fastening practice seems to be underdeveloped owing to the complexities of material structure and response. This lecture first traces a brief history of mechanical joining, its importance, and the problems faced by engineers in designing for fastening. Research and development of fasteners through analysis and experiment are complicated by the large array of variables involved, and investigators must have at hand an extensive array of experimental and analytical techniques as well as an appreciation of the practicalities of fastening. Verification and validation of findings are crucial, and extrapolation is fraught with pitfalls. Described subsequently are some examples of experimental results that generate speculation and that might provide points of entry for investigators who are willing to take on difficult challenges where progress would be valuable but is not easily realized. These cases include, among others, odd and perhaps dangerous behaviors resulting from coldworking holes in engines and structures, impact stresses caused by joint slippage in composites, the use of inserts to control stress concentrations, difficulties in applying sufficient clamping force in composites, merits of hole shaping, and unusual configurations of conical washers. Finally, some ideas for hybrid joining and for systems that allow quick field assembly/disassembly are briefly described.
Studies on the disbonding initiation of interfacial cracks.

With the continuing trend of decreasing feature sizes in flip-chip assemblies, the reliability tolerance to interfacial flaws is also decreasing. Small-scale disbonds will become more of a concern, pointing to the need for a better understanding of the initiation stage of interfacial delamination. With most accepted adhesion metric methodologies tailored to predict failure under the prior existence of a disbond, the study of the initiation phenomenon is open to development and standardization of new testing procedures. Traditional fracture mechanics approaches are not suitable, as the mathematics assume failure to originate at a disbond or crack tip. Disbond initiation is believed to first occur at free edges and corners, which act as high stress concentration sites and exhibit singular stresses similar to a crack tip, though less severe in intensity. As such, a 'fracture mechanics-like' approach may be employed which defines a material parameter--a critical stress intensity factor (K{sub c})--that can be used to predict when initiation of a disbond at an interface will occur. The factors affecting the adhesion of underfill/polyimide interfaces relevant to flip-chip assemblies were investigated in this study. The study consisted of two distinct parts: a comparison of the initiation and propagation phenomena and a comparison of the relationship between sub-critical and critical initiation of interfacial failure. The initiation of underfill interfacial failure was studied by characterizing failure at a free-edge with a critical stress intensity factor. In comparison with the interfacial fracture toughness testing, it was shown that a good correlation exists between the initiation and propagation of interfacial failures. Such a correlation justifies the continuing use of fracture mechanics to predict the reliability of flip-chip packages. The second aspect of the research involved fatigue testing of tensile butt joint specimens to determine lifetimes at sub-critical load levels. The results display an interfacial strength ranking similar to that observed during monotonic testing. The fatigue results indicate that monotonic fracture mechanics testing may be an adequate screening tool to help predict cyclic underfill failure; however lifetime data is required to predict reliability.
Medication prior authorization from the providers perspective: A prospective observational study.

Abstract Background The prior authorization (PA) process for medications used by community providers requires modernization. Therefore, a deeper understanding of current state of PA from the community provider perspective is imperative to inform and modernize this managed care tool. Objectives Objectives of this study were to identify, analyze and categorize the issues associated with the medication PA process from provider practice perspective. Methods A prospective non-experimental, cross sectional, observational study was performed using semi-structured interviews and direct observation at a convenience sample of eight primary care and medicine subspecialty group practices in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Participating practices were required to have an established medication PA process. The participant feedback from each site was analyzed using the Richards qualitative coding technique that includes descriptive coding, topic coding, and analytical coding. Results Data were obtained from eight unique community provider offices (8 sites) at which 29 prescribers practice. The pain points identified represented five main categories: 1) information transfer gaps; 2) format disparities; 3) outdated technologies; 4) care consequences; and 5) workarounds. Prescribers and their staff suggested improvements that included real time eligibility and formulary alerts regarding PA during the e-prescribing process, accurate, up-to-date formulary data with easy-to-access alternatives, and embedded PA that is integrated with electronic medical record data. Three sites used medication PA portals such as CoverMyMeds® for information gathering, but at the time of data collection, no sites used these PA portals for prospective electronic prior authorization (ePA) or the electronic process of requesting authorization from health plan payers for coverage. Conclusion The PA process for medication used by community providers is in urgent need of modernization. Pain points identified in this study could be alleviated by implementing medication ePA solutions. However, providers and their staff are largely unaware that ePA exists. Additional research in this area is needed.