cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Quantitative Comparison of Low-Cost Structure from Motion (SfM) Data Collection Platforms on Beaches and Dunes

ABSTRACT Conlin, M.; Cohn, N., and Ruggiero, P., 2018. A quantitative comparison of low-cost Structure from Motion (SfM) data collection platforms on beaches and dunes. Observations of beach and dune geomorphology are critical for characterizing coastal processes and hazards. A relatively new approach for monitoring the coastline is Structure from Motion photogrammetry (SfM), a technique that uses overlapping photographs to reconstruct three-dimensional surfaces. In this study, a quantitative comparison of multiple low-cost kite-, pole-, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)–based SfM data collection platforms is performed to illuminate important considerations when choosing an SfM platform for use in measuring beach and dune topography. A multicriteria analysis based on SfM results and platform usability is used to complete this comparison. Results show that UAV-based platforms received high performance scores, largely because these stable, high-flying platforms provide images with adequate texture to allow ...
ICT and Knowledge Challenges for Entrepreneurs in Regional Economic Development

This paper examines the knowledge needs of entrepreneurs in a regional context with particular emphasis on the information and communication technology (ICT) industry sector. The paper begins by clarifying and defining the basic concepts. This is followed by the introduction of the entrepreneurial fountain as a model of the entrepreneurial milieu and as a framework for examining factors that influence the expansion and contraction of knowledge and entrepreneurial activity. The role knowledge plays in entrepreneurial discovery and action is thus examined and the implications are examined. The paper ends with a set of conclusions and recommendations for future research.
Characterization of strain in annealed Cu—Ni multilayers using X-ray diffraction

The strain profile of annealed Cu–Ni multilayers was analysed using an X-ray diffraction (XRD) theory. The annealing times of the multilayers ranged from 0 to 20 h. The strain in each layer was found by fitting the theoretical peak intensities with the experimental ones by iteration and using a kinematical/dynamical theory of XRD. It was found that for increasing annealing times, there was a decrease in the strain profile due to increased interdiffusion between the Cu and Ni layers. The increase in diffusion changed the composition modulation of the multilayers progressively from a trapezoidal wave for the 0 h annealed sample to a sinusoidal wave for the 20 h annealed sample.
HISTORIAS DEL MEXICO AGRARIO

DESDE LA REMOTA INVENCION DE LA agricultura hasta mediados del siglo X X , los pueblos del territorio que ahora es Mexico vivieron en sociedades agrarias. Milenios antes de la conquista espanola, en el territorio mexicano o cerca de el se cultivo por primera vez el maiz, el frijol y el chile, y asi se creo el perdurable sistema alimentario mesoamericano. Tambien fue en territorio mexicano donde el cultivo del campo se convirtio en la base de organizaciones sociales cada vez mas complejas y pujantes: sociedades regionales primero y, despues, hacia el periodo clasico, estados e imperios agricolas mas opulentos. Los conquistadores espanoles encontraron en ese territorio sociedades de agricultores a cuyos gobernantes pudieron conquistar y cuya produccion habria de sostener un complejo europeo de colonizacion y mineria de la plata que hizo de Mexico una colonia modelo. En los siglos recientes, al mismo tiempo que las fuerzas del industrialismo urbano capitalista han hecho presion para redefinir al pais, los mexicanos comprometidos con los modos de vida rurales han luchado inquebrantablemente, al menos con un exito limitado, por demorar la destruccion, ya casi completa, del Mexico agrario. Las sociedades agrarias se basan en el cultivo; la vasta mayoria de sus miembros, por lo general en unidades fami-
Evaluating de novo locus-disease discoveries in GWAS using the signal-to-noise ratio.

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) involves examining representative SNPs obtained using high throughput technologies. A GWAS data set can entail a million SNPs and may soon entail many millions. In a GWAS researchers often investigate the correlation of each SNP with a disease. With so many hypotheses, it is not straightforward how to interpret the results. Strategies include using the Bonferroni correction to determine the significance of a model and Bayesian methods. However, when we are discovering new locus-disease associations, i.e., so called de novo discoveries, we should not just endeavor to determine the significance of particular models, but also concern ourselves with determining whether it is likely that we have any true discoveries, and if so how many of the highest ranking models we should investigate further. We develop a method based on a signal-to-noise ratio that targets this issue. We apply the method to a GWAS Alzheimer’s data set.
Battling over political and cultural power during the Chinese Cultural Revolution

Cet article retrace un aspect du conflit qui a oppose les elites intellectuelles aux elites du parti communiste chinois durant la Revolution culturelle. Il se penche en particulier sur les conflits entre factions dans deux ecoles d'elite de Beijing : l'universite de Tsinghua, et l'etablissement d'enseignement secondaire qui y est rattache
Artificial Neural Networks that Learn Many-Body Physics

Neural networks are systems of neuron-like units that store information in the connections between the units.1–4 From the viewpoint of the many-body theorist, the neurons may be thought of as particles, and the weighted connections between units provide the interactions between these particles. The neuronal units exhibit varying degrees of activation, and the activation of a given unit in turn promotes or hinders the activation of a unit to which it extends a connection, depending on whether the connection has a positive or negative weight, respectively. Thus, neurons turn each other on (or off). Since there are in general many pathways by which information can travel through an intricate mesh of connections, processing in a neural network is said to be “massively parallel” as opposed to sequential.
Abstract 3810: Ovarian tumor-induced changes in macrophage phenotype are associated with tumor metastasis

Background: Ovarian cancer (OVCA) differs from other gynecologic malignancies in its dissemination pattern where the tumor migrates in a diffuse intrapelvic and -abdominal manner. OVCA also triggers a variety of cellular and/or humoral immune responses to a variety of tumor-associated proteins. OVCA is mostly diagnosed at late stages where tumor has already metastasized, indicating an escape from immune responses. Despite several immune response factors, ovarian tumor metastasizing to omentum indicates presence of one or more immune evasion mechanisms. Immune system recognizes and eliminates pathogenic products and tumor cells and macrophages play a critical role in this process. Macrophages in tumor condition express anti-inflammatory cytokines that induce immune suppression. Cellular immune response maximizes killing efficacy of macrophages and proliferation of CD8+ T cells. M2 macrophages are tumor-associated macrophages involved in active growth and progression of tumors. However, the mechanism of ovarian tumor-induced changes in M1 macrophages to M2 phenotype is not well understood. Therefore, the goal of our study was to determine the tumor-induced changes in macrophage phenotype and cytotoxic T cells in association with OVCA metastasis. Materials and Methods: This study was performed in exploratory design using ovarian specimen from normal subjects (60-80 years, n=10) and ovarian malignant tumors at early (n=16, 4 from each histologic type of OVCA) and late stages (n =20) as well as omental tissues from normal (n=3) and OVCA patients (n= 3). Tissue specimen were processed for immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting (WB) and gene expression studies. Expression of M1 and M2 macrophages, CD8 and PI3K was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting (WB) and qPCR. Results: Compared with normal ovaries, more M1 and M2 macrophages were localized in tumor tissues. However, compared with early-stage OVCA, the frequency of M2 macrophages was significantly higher in ovarian tumors and omental tissues at late OVCA. Intensity of PI3K was also higher in ovarian tumors and omental tissues at late OVCA compared with normal ovarian tissues. Frequency of CD8+T cells was higher in tumor ovarian samples in comparison with normal ovarian tissues. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that the growth and metastasis of ovarian tumors are associated with increased conversion of M1 macrophages to M2 phenotype. This change in macrophage phenotype may be mediated by the increase in PI3K expression. Support: Swim Across America. Citation Format: Aparna Yellapa, Pincas Bitterman, Sameer Sharma, Sanjib Basu, Animesh Barua. Ovarian tumor-induced changes in macrophage phenotype are associated with tumor metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3810.
Transitioning from equal-time to light-front quantization in ϕ 2 4 theory

We use the interpolating coordinates studied by Hornbostel to investigate a transition from equal-time quantization to light-front quantization, in the context of two-dimensional ${\ensuremath{\phi}}^{4}$ theory. A consistent treatment is found to require careful consideration of vacuum bubbles, in a nonperturbative extension of the analysis by Collins. Numerical calculations of the spectrum at fixed box size are shown to yield results equivalent to those of equal-time quantization, except when the interpolating coordinates are pressed toward the light-front limit. In that regime, a fixed box size is inconsistent with an accurate representation of vacuum-bubble contributions and causes a spurious divergence in the spectrum. The light-front limit instead requires the continuum momentum-space limit of infinite box size. The calculation of the vacuum energy density is then shown to be independent of the interpolation parameter, which implies that the light-front limit yields the same spectrum as an equal-time calculation. This emphasizes the importance of zero modes and near-zero modes in a light-front analysis of any theory with nontrivial vacuum structure.
Criminal Justice in Indian Country: A Theoretical and Empirical Agenda

Examinations of the Native American experience in the US criminal justice system are still relatively sparse, despite earlier calls for increased attention to Native American crime and justice issu...
Limits on Mode Coherence Due to a Non-static Convection Zone

The standard theory of pulsations deals with the frequencies and growth rates of infinitesimal perturbations in a stellar model. Modes which are calculated to be linearly driven should increase their amplitudes exponentially with time; the fact that nearly constant amplitudes are usually observed is evidence that nonlinear mechanisms inhibit the growth of finite amplitude pulsations. Models predict that the mass of DAV convection zones is very sensitive to temperature (i.e., $M_{\text{CZ}} \propto T_{\text{eff}}^{-90}$) leading to the possibility that even "small amplitude" pulsators may experience significant nonlinear effects. In particular, the outer turning point of finite-amplitude g-mode pulsations can vary with the local surface temperature, producing a reflected wave that is slightly out of phase with that required for a standing wave. This can lead to a lack of coherence of the mode and a reduction in its global amplitude. We compute the size of this effect for specific examples and discuss the results in the context of Kepler and K2 observations.
A SUCCESSFUL USE OF IMPELLA IN HIGH-RISK PRIMARY PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION IN PATIENT WITH CRITICAL AORTIC STENOSIS

Impella is increasingly used for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We present an acute myocardial infarction case complicated by critical aortic stenosis underwent a successful PCI with her hemodynamic supported by Impella CP. A 79-year-old female with hypertension, diabetes, and
Natural attenuation of indicator bacteria in coastal streams and estuarine environments

Abstract One of the most significant causes of poor water quality is the presence of pathogens. To reduce the cost of human exposure to microbial contamination, monitoring of Fecal Indicator Bacteria (FIB), as a surrogate for the presence of pathogens in natural waters, has become the norm. A total maximum daily load (TMDL) framework is used to establish limits for microbial concentrations in impaired waterbodies. In order to meet microbial loads determined by the TMDLs, reductions in microbial sources varying from 50% to almost complete elimination are required. Such targets are fairly difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. A natural attenuation (NA) framework is proposed that takes into account the connectivity between freshwater streams and their receiving coastal estuaries. The framework accounts for destructive and non-destructive mechanisms and defines three regimes: NA 1 - reaction-dilution mixing at the freshwater-tidal interface, NA 2 - advection-reactions within the tidally influenced coastal stream, and NA 3 - dilution-discharge at the interface with the estuary. The framework was illustrated using the Houston Metropolitan area freshwater streams, their discharge into the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) and into Galveston Bay. FIB concentrations in Galveston Bay were much lower when compared to FIB concentrations in Houston streams. Lower enterococci concentrations in tributary tidal waters were found compared to their counterparts in fresh waters (NA1 regime). Additionally, 70% reduction in FIB loads within the HSC was demonstrated as well as a decreasing trend in enterococci geometric means, from upstream to downstream, on the order of 0.092 day−1 (NA2 regime). Lower enterococci concentrations in Galveston Bay at the confluence with the HSC were also demonstrated (NA3 regime). Statistical testing showed that dilution, tide-associated processes, and salinity are the most important NA mechanisms and indicated the significant effect of ambient temperature and rainfall patterns on FIB concentrations and the NA mechanisms.
Hang Son Doong and other caves of the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng karst, Quảng Bình Province, Vietnam

Abstract The dense tropical rainforest of Phong Nha-Kẻ Bang National Park harbors part of the most extensive karst landscape in southeast Asia. Located within the karst are giant river caves that drain the Kẻ Bang massif where over 300 caves have been documented so far. Hang Son Doong (Mountain River Cave) is a segment of one of the cave systems that drains the massif and contains the largest-dimension cave passage in the world. Hang Khe Ry, located upstream of Hang Son Doong is among the longest river caves in the world and both are segments of the Phong Nha drainage system which runs from the southern end of the national park near the Laos border northeast to the Hang Phong Nha resurgence on the Son River (song Troc). The core of PNKB National Park covers 857.54 km2 with a buffer zone that includes 1954 km2 created to protect one of the world's largest karst regions as well as the ecosystem of the limestone forest of the Annamite Mountain Range.
Antibodies against the DNABII protein integration host factor (IHF) inhibit sinus implant biofilms.

Objectives Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common, costly condition often treated with endoscopic sinus surgery and intraoperative placement of intranasal sinus implant materials. Whereas these materials aid in postoperative healing, they also support bacterial biofilm formation and thus contribute to negative outcomes. This study examined pretreatment of sinus implant materials with antibody against an essential bacterial biofilm structural component, the DNABII family of DNA-binding proteins, as a strategy to prevent biofilm formation. Methods Sinus implant materials were equilibrated in immunoglobulin G (IgG)-enriched antiserum against the DNABII protein integration host factor (IHF), individually or in combination with amoxicillin-clavulanate prior to inoculation with nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI), a predominant pathogen of chronic rhinosinusitis. After 16 hours, the bacterial burden was quantitated and compared to pretreatment with saline, IgG-enriched naive serum, or amoxicillin-clavulanate alone. Results NTHI readily formed biofilms on all three materials in vitro. However, pretreatment of each material with IgG-enriched anti-IHF resulted in a significant decrease in bacterial burden compared to controls (P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, a significant and synergistic outcome was achieved with a cocktail of anti-IHF plus amoxicillin-clavulanate (P ≤ 0.05) with complete inhibition of NTHI biofilm formation on all three materials. Conclusions Biofilm formation was well supported in vitro on three sinus implant materials that vary in composition and resorption characteristics; however, pretreatment of each with DNABII protein targeted antibodies in combination with a previously ineffective antibiotic was highly effective to prevent the formation NTHI biofilms. These data demonstrate the potential for clinical utility of pretreatment of sinus implant and additional surgical materials with anti-DNABII antibodies. Level of evidence NA Laryngoscope, 130:1364-1371, 2020.
Influence of preoperative light vaginal bleeding for perinatal adverse outcomes on physical examination-indicated cerclage.

To clarify the relationship between light vaginal bleeding (LVB) before physical examination-indicated cerclage (PEIC) and perinatal adverse outcomes.This was a retrospective cohort study involving...
Comfort Level and Barriers to the Appropriate Use of Clozapine: a Preliminary Survey of US Psychiatric Residents.

Clozapine is the gold standard treatment for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Prior surveys of mental health providers have identified multiple causes for underutilization of clozapine; however, no previous survey has been conducted to assess US psychiatry residents’ level of comfort in prescribing clozapine. A survey was sent via email to program directors of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–affiliated psychiatry residency programs requesting the survey to be distributed to current residents. The survey included questions regarding demographics, clozapine-prescribing practices, comfort levels with prescription, and perceived barriers to prescription. A total of 164 psychiatric residents completed the survey, 37% PGY-1 and 2 residents and 63% PGY-3 or higher. One-third of the respondents had a clozapine clinic in their program. Only 18% of the residents felt “very” comfortable in initiating clozapine and 41% felt “somewhat” comfortable. Two main reasons for not starting clozapine were (1) side effect profile (41%) and (2) limited experience and inadequate training in clozapine use (38%). More than 4/5ths of the residents (83%) responded that they would feel more comfortable in prescribing clozapine if they were trained in a clozapine clinic. Major limitation of this study has been the small sample size, lack of representativeness, and generalization. Forty-one percent of the respondents did not feel comfortable with clozapine prescription. Major concerns cited included the side effect profile as well as lack of experience and training. The majority of the respondents felt that they would be more comfortable prescribing clozapine if they had the opportunity to train in a clozapine clinic.
Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging-derived free water detects neurodegenerative pattern induced by interferon-γ.

Imaging biomarkers for immune activation may be valuable for early-stage detection, therapeutic testing, and research on neurodegenerative conditions. In the present study, we determined whether diffusion magnetic resonance imaging-derived free water signal is a sensitive marker for neuroinflammatory effects of interferon-gamma (Ifn-γ). Neonatal wild-type mice were injected in the cerebral ventricles with recombinant adeno-associated viruses expressing the inflammatory cytokine Ifn-γ. Groups of mice expressing Ifn-γ and age-matched controls were imaged at 1, 5 and 8 months. Mice deficient in Ifngr1−/− and Stat1−/− were scanned at 5 months as controls for the signaling cascades activated by Ifn-γ. The results indicate that Ifn-γ affected fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and free water (FW) in white matter structures, midline cortical areas, and medial thalamic areas. In these structures, FA and MD decreased progressively from 1 to 8 months of age, while FW increased significantly. The observed reductions in FA and MD and increased FW with elevated brain Ifn-γ was not observed in Ifngr1−/− or Stat1−/− mice. These results suggest that the observed microstructure changes involve the Ifn-gr1 and Stat1 signaling. Interestingly, increases in FW were observed in midbrain of Ifngr1−/− mice, which suggests alternative Ifn-γ signaling in midbrain. Although initial evidence is offered in relation to the sensitivity of the FW signal to neurodegenerative and/or inflammatory patterns specific to Ifn-γ, further research is needed to determine applicability and specificity across animal models of neuroinflammatory and degenerative disorders.
MLModelScope: A Distributed Platform for ML Model Evaluation and Benchmarking at Scale

Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) innovations are being introduced at such a rapid pace that researchers are hard-pressed to analyze and study them. The complicated procedures for evaluating innovations, along with the lack of standard and efficient ways of specifying and provisioning ML/DL evaluation, is a major "pain point" for the community. This paper proposes MLModelScope, an open-source, framework/hardware agnostic, extensible and customizable design that enables repeatable, fair, and scalable model evaluation and benchmarking. We implement the distributed design with support for all major frameworks and hardware, and equip it with web, command-line, and library interfaces. To demonstrate MLModelScope's capabilities we perform parallel evaluation and show how subtle changes to model evaluation pipeline affects the accuracy and HW/SW stack choices affect performance.
Probabilistic Modeling for Optimization of Resource Mix With Variable Generation and Storage

Renewables, such as solar and wind generation, combined with storage are becoming a key part of modern grid. This paper develops probabilistic tools for analysis of grid reliability with such variable generation resources. The developed tools improve speed and accuracy of the reliability analysis compared to usual Monte Carlo methods. This is achieved by using an extension of well known convolution method applicable to interdependent variables. The interdependent distributions are obtained from historical data using Machine Learning of quantile models. The paper presents a novel approach to the analysis of reliability contribution of storage based on these models and related to Information Theory. The developed tools are demonstrated in several example scenarios for ISO-New England service area.
Chapter 20 – AIDS Vaccines

Despite more than three decades of global research efforts, an HIV vaccine remains elusive. Although tremendous advances have been made in providing access to life extending combination antiretroviral therapy, and multiple new prevention modalities have been developed, a long-term solution to the epidemic will require an effective HIV vaccine. In this chapter, the unique challenges for HIV vaccine design are discussed, along with insights provided by efficacy trials conducted to date. Promising candidate vaccines in various stages of development are also discussed.
Electron Energy-Loss Spectra of CdS, CdSe, and CdTe

A study has been made of the electron energy-loss spectra of the three $\mathrm{II}B\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{VI}A$ compounds, CdS, CdSe, and CdTe. These spectra have been obtained by both electron reflection and electron transmission. The electron-reflection measurements were made over an energy-loss range of 0 to 50 eV on single crystals cleaved in an ultrahigh vacuum atmosphere. Changes in these spectra were then observed as the surface was slowly contaminated. The electrontransmission measurements were made using as-grown platelets or thin films. The spectra of these compounds consist of a series of low-lying peaks between 0 and 9 eV associated with interband transitions from the valence band and a peak between 12 and 15 eV associated with an interband transition from the $d$ band. There also exists a peak between 9 and 12 eV and another between 15 and 19 eV. The former has been tentatively identified as a surface-plasmon peak, the latter as a bulk plasmon. These results are compared with optical reflectivity measurements and induced-electron-emission measurements.
Intermolecular Alkene Difunctionalization via Gold‐Catalyzed Oxyarylation

The gold-catalyzed intermolecular oxyarylation of alkenes is reported. This work employed the oxidative addition of aryl iodides to Me-DalphosAu+ for the formation of a AuIII -Ar intermediate. The better binding ability of alkenes over O nucleophiles ensured the success of intermolecular oxyarylation, giving desired products with a broad substrate scope and high efficiency (>50 examples with up to 95 % yield). One-pot converting of methoxy groups into other nucleophiles allowed achieving alkene difunctionalization with the construction of C-N, C-S, and C-C bonds under mild conditions.
To Bring the Good News to All Nations: Evangelical Influence on Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Relations: Lauren Frances Turek, (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2020). 312 pages. $47.95 hardcover.

Lauren Frances Turek's new book is a welcome addition to the growing literature on evangelical Christianity and U.S. foreign relations. Among many areas of their historical interaction, Turek focus...
Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Cases and Deaths: Theories and Evidence

Non-white individuals are 1.75 times more likely to get infected with COVID-19 and 1.54 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than white individuals. Using county-level data on COVID-19 cases by race, I find that average household size and public transportation use are statistically significantly correlated with case rates by race. Consequently, equalizing demographic, socio-economic, and environmental characteristics across racial groups, in particular average household size and percent elderly, is expected to reduce Black-white case rate differences by 66%, Hispanic-white case rate differences by 300%, and AIAN/NHPI-white case rate differences by 44.5%. Equalizing the strength of correlations between these characteristics and case rates across racial groups is expected to increase Black-white and AIAN/NHPI-white racial disparities, but decrease Hispanic-white disparities due to the strong relationship between average household size and case rates among the Hispanic population.
Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis: A review

Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis (SCST) is a rare, yet severe, process typically arising from infections of the paranasal sinuses (predominately ethmoid and/or sphenoid sinusitis) and less commonly, otogenic, odontogenic, and pharyngeal sources. Clinical symptoms of SCST arise from obstruction of venous drainage from the orbit and compression of the cranial nerves within the cavernous sinus. In the preantibiotic era SCST was considered universally fatal (80-100%); however, with the introduction of antibiotics the overall incidence, morbidity, and mortality of SCST have greatly declined. In spite of dramatic improvements, morbidity and mortality remain high, with the majority of patients experiencing neurological sequalae, highlighting the severity of the disease and the need for prompt recognition, diagnosis, and treatment. Here we review of the literature on SCST with a focus on the current recommendations and recent evidence for diagnostic and medical management of this condition.
Disability in the Hebrew Bible: A Literature Review

This article charts the emergent engagement of scholars with disability in the Hebrew Bible, highlighting key aspects of the major edited works and monographs in the field. The HB contains numerous...
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: A Brief Historical Perspective and Uses in Multijunction Devices

A brief history of the development of solar-to-electric devices is discussed for the classically researched solar cell technologies including Si, CIGS, CdTe, GaAs, OPV, DSC, and PSC devices. Relative strengths and weaknesses of these technologies are presented along with the importance of multijunction system research toward higher efficiency solar-to-electric systems. The combining of DSCs with each technology is discussed along with potential directions for designing next generation multijunction systems.
Refugees in borderlands: Safe places versus securitization in Athens, Greece

Following the start of the Syrian civil war, the Mediterranean Sea gradually became a cemetery for refugees. As Europe closed borders and criminalized refugee rescue efforts, some gateway cities to...
Two-Party Structural Countermandering

The popular narrative surrounding gerrymandering frames it as a performative phenomenon—achieved through the intentional manipulations of malevolent partisan actors. Efforts to curb partisan gerrymandering—which I call countermandering—have been performative, in turn, focusing on constraining these bad actors through judicial review or mapmaker neutrality. Yet performative countermandering has had limited success. Judicial and institutional constraints are only sometimes available and are often cumbersome and costly. More important, their utility is inherently limited, because gerrymandering is not only performative. It is also structural—an inevitable product of the American electoral schema itself. This paper makes the case for structural countermandering. It explains why transformative change to our electoral schema is urgently necessary. It also hypothesizes that such transformative change has no practical chance of success unless it preserves the two-party system. Accordingly, this paper proposes a new electoral schema called MM2. It operates much like the traditional Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP) system used successfully for decades in Germany and New Zealand, but its goal is two-party, not multiparty, proportionality. Like MMP, MM2 preserves personal, geographic representation by selecting most legislators through single-seat districts; and it implements structural countermandering by allocating additional seats to political parties to compensate for any vote-seat distortion these districted elections produce. But whereas MMP allocates these seats to achieve vote-seat proportionality for every party, MM2 allocates these seats to achieve vote-seat proportionality only for the top two parties. By preserving certain core features of American democracy, while structurally nullifying gerrymandering, MM2 presents a promising and feasible prospect for transformative change.
How a Schema is Used to Interpret Information

Information about public events is typically both ambiguous and inconsistent. Despite the ambiguities and inconsistencies, decision-makers must cope with their environment as best they can. In order to cope with their environment they evaluate what information they have in an attempt to make sense out of their complex world. Thus decision-makers are also information processors. But there are many ways of processing a set of information in an attempt to make sense out of it. The precise techniques which are used may be quite important in determining the actual image of their environment which the decision-maker adopts. The information processing is not simply an averaging process—it can result in large amounts of “error correcting” on the one hand or “distortion” on the other hand depending on whether the techniques are suitable or unsuitable to the task.
Reproducible Network Benchmarks with coNCePTuaL

A cornerstone of scientific progress is the ability to reproduce experimental results. However, in the context of network benchmarking, system complexity impedes a researcher’s attempts to record all of the information needed to exactly reconstruct a network-benchmarking experiment. Without this information, results may be misinterpreted and are unlikely to be reproducible.
High efficiency phosphorescent OLED technology

Universal Display Corporation and its University partners at Princeton and the University of Southern California, are developing high-efficiency phosphorescent OLEDs for both active and passive matrix displays. Recent results show excellent device efficiencies and lifetimes.
The Demand for Financial Planning Services

Based on 1998 to 2007 Survey of Consumer Finances datasets the proportion of households reporting use of a financial planner increased from 21% in 1998 to 25% in 2007, with an estimated increase of almost five million households between 2004 and 2007. Multivariate analysis shows that the likelihood of using a financial planner is strongly related to risk tolerance, with those with low risk tolerance the least likely, and those with above average risk tolerance the most likely to use a financial planner, controlling for income, net worth, age, and other factors. Those with substantial risk tolerance have significantly lower likelihood of using a financial planner than those with above average risk tolerance. Black households are more likely but Hispanic and Other/Asian households are less likely than comparable White households to use a financial planner. The likelihood of using a financial planner increases with net worth for ranges above zero, but also increases as net worth decreases below zero.
Eigenvalue Methods for Sparse Matrices

The problem of eigenvalue computation has received relatively little attention since the early and mid 1960’s. Among the reasons for this are the following.
Reinforcement and Stabilization of Soil by Vegetation

This note discusses the soil stabilization and reinforcement achieved on slopes by using vegetation. Recent research has shown that plant roots can significantly increase shear strength. Creep behavior on clear-cut slopes versus vegetated slopes is discussed.
Derandomizing Arthur-Merlin Games

We establish hardness versus randomness trade-offs for Arthur-Merlin games. We create efficient nondeterministic simulations of bounded round Arthur-Merlin games, using a language in exponential time which small circuits cannot decide given access to an oracle for satisfiability. Our results yield subexponential size proofs for graph nonisomorphism at infinitely many lengths unless the polynomial-time hierarchy collapses. The same holds for any other language with a bounded round interactive proof system. We also apply our techniques to related complexity classes.
On Rock and Book and Leaf: Reading Ondaatje’s Handwriting

Considered within the context of his earlier works, Michael Ondaatje's collection of poetry Handwriting is at first surprising and unpredictable. While his work has followed an arc of accumulating self-exposure, Handwriting, rather than acting as a culmination of this process, is a work in which the self is again defaced. In Handwriting, Ondaatje considers the notion of selfhood by sublimating the authorial voice -- a technique that allows an inclusive pluralism to arise. In Handwriting, Ondaatje explores ideas of place and the imaginative interpretation of it, different patterns of sound and form, and the ways personal history fuels the artistic process. In its minimalist aesthetic and fragmented poetics, Handwriting casts a singular light on the individual manifestation of selfhood while setting in motion a rhythm that incorporates the voice of collective memory.
What is the quality in your quantity

Purpose – To outline the potential hazards of a purely numerical approach to evaluating development professionals and development programs.Design/methodology/approach – Narrative paper outlining various means used to assess a library development program.Findings – Library development assessment that utilizes quantitative analysis alone without substantive analysis of the underlying numbers will likely yield incorrect conclusions.Originality/value – Practical suggestions for utilizing qualitative techniques when assessing a library development program or development professional.
Precise thermal NDE for quantifying structural damage

We have developed precise thermal NDE as a wide-area inspection tool to quantify structural damage within airframes and bridge decks. We used infrared cameras and image processing to produce precise temperature, thermal inertia, and cooling-rate maps of flash-heated aircraft skins. These maps allowed us to distinguish major structural defects from minor flaws which do not warrant costly repairs. We quantified aircraft skin corrosion defects with metal losses as low as 5% with 3% overall uncertainty [1–6]. We proved the feasibility of precise thermal NDE to inspect naturally-heated asphalt-concrete bridge decks. To this end, we quantified structural damage within asphalt-concrete slabs by locating the sites, and determining the relative volumes, of concrete displacements from 2-inch deep and 4-inch deep synthetic delaminations in asphalt-concrete slabs [4–8].
A destructive feedback loop mediated by CXCL10 in central nervous system inflammatory disease.

Objective Paraneoplastic neurologic disorders (PND) are autoimmune diseases associated with cancer and ectopic expression of a neuronal antigen in a peripheral tumor. Patients with PND harbor high-titer antibodies and T cells in their serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that are specific to the tumor antigen, and treatment with the immunosuppressant FK506 (tacrolimus) decreases CSF white blood cell counts. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of FK506 on CSF chemokine levels in PND patients. Methods CSF samples before and after FK506 treatment were tested by multiplex assay for the presence of 27 cytokines. Follow-up in vitro experiments aimed to determine whether T cells secrete CXCL10 in response to cognate antigen. Results Here we report that PND patients harbor high levels of the chemokine CXCL10 in their CSF. CXCL10 is a cytokine that recruits CXCR3+ cells such as activated T cells, and we found that FK506 treatment specifically decreased CSF CXCL10 from among 27 cytokines tested. In vitro, CXCL10 was only produced during antigen-specific cognate interactions between T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) when interferon-γ (IFNγ) receptors were present on the T cell. Interpretation These results support a model in which antigen-specific T cell stimulation by PND APCs triggers IFNγ, followed by CXCL10 production and further lymphocyte recruitment, suggesting that treatments targeting T cells or CXCL10 in the central nervous system (CNS) may interrupt a destructive positive feedback loop present in CNS inflammation. Ann Neurol 2015;78:619–629
Gender, State and Medicine in Highland Ecuador: modernizing women, modernizing the state, 1885–1950A. KIM CLARK

In Gender, State, and Medicine in Highland Ecuador, Clark explores the experiences of Ecuadorian women as both objects and agents of state formation during the first half of the twentieth century; ...
FLOW BEHAVIOR of TOMATO SAUCE WITH OR WITHOUT PARTICULATES IN TUBE FLOW1

Viscosity and density are two properties of fluids that are affected by temperature changes. the flow behavior of tomato sauce (7° and 14° Brix) in a tube viscometer was studied at varying concentrations of added particulates (2 and 5 wt%) at temperatures in the range of 70 to 95°C. the results indicate that the Power Law model described the flow behavior of the non-Newtonian fluids better than the Casson model. the effects of temperature, concentration of carrier fluids and particulates on the flow behavior indices and viscosity was studied. the effect of temperature on the flow behavior index (n) and consistency index (K) were modeled as exponential relationships. the values of n and K for 7° Brix sauce ranged from 0.30 to 0.86 and 0.04 to 0.34, respectively. For the 14° Brix sauce these values were 0.27 to 0.53 and 0.20 to 0.60 respectively. the values of n decreased and K increased with increase in concentration of solids and particulates. the relative changes in K and n were lower for higher concentrations of solids and particulates. It was found that temperature had a greater effect on K than on n. The effects of temperature on viscosity was modeled as an Arrhenius type equation from which the activation energies were calculated. the combined effects of temperature, concentration of solids in the sauce and added particulates on apparent viscosity can be predicted by a nonlinear model.
Substance abuse among African-American children : A developmental framework for identifying intervention strategies

Abstract Substance abuse has devastating effects on the lives of African-American children and adolescents who are both directly and indirectly victims of this problem. This article discusses child and adolescent substance abuse from a psychosocial developmental perspective within an Africentric paradigm. The authors explore contributing and intervention factors related to substance abuse that impact developmental milestones. They delineate preventive tactics for addressing the problem of substance abuse and delineate implications for social work practice.
Preventing medication errors: a summary.

Purpose. To summarize key recommendations and supporting evidence from the most recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Preventing Medication Errors. Summary. Starting in 2000, IOM reports brought the problem of medical safety into public awareness and made four major points: errors are common and costly, systems cause errors, errors can be prevented and safety can be improved, and medication-related adverse events are the single leading cause of injury. The most recent report is an attempt to think about what needs to be done to reach the next level of medication safety. Some have had difficulty implementing these recommendations, but these challenges can be overcome by learning from these experiences. Evidence supporting the recommendations made in this report includes research on computerized prescriber order entry (renal insufficency geriatric patients, meta-analysis, unintended consequences, pediatric transfer patients); intravenous infusion safety systems; and dispensing errors and bar-coding. Conclusion. Preventing Medication Errors lays out a blueprint for change in medication safety. The report makes clear that providers have m any opportunities to improve. Technologies, such as computerized order entry, bar-coding and smart pumps and computerized ADE monitoring, will undoubtedly play a key role, and institutions should be thinking seriously about implementing a number of these. The report also emphasizes how essential a culture change, combined with well-designed technologies, will be necessary to achieve the next level of safety called for in the IOM report.
Computer aided surgical planning for congenital aural atresia

We have designed and implemented a prototype system to aid in the surgical repair of congenital aural atresia. A two- level segmentation algorithm was first developed to separate tissues of similar intensity or low tissue contrast. Then an interactive visualization modular was built to display the labeled tissues. The system allows a 3-stage interactive planning in which positioning, marking and drilling simulates the surgical operation of congenital atresia repair. A voxel-based volume CSG operation was implemented to ensure the efficiency of interactive planning. Six patients with congenital aural atresia underwent virtual planning in preparation for surgery. This technique has proved to be a valuable planning tool, with the potential for virtual representation of the surgical reconstruction.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Abnormalities in the Biosynthesis of Cartilage and Bone Proteoglycans in Experimental Diabetes

Proteoglycans synthesized in developing cartilage and bone were investigated in control and streptozotocin-induced (65 mg/kg, i.v.) diabetic rats. Ten days after streptozotocin injection, animals were implanted subcutaneously with demineralized bone matrix particles. This system induces formation of cartilage and bone on days 7 and 14, respectively. Two hours before they were killed, animals were injected with 35SO4 and the labeled proteoglycans were extracted from the explants and metaphyses by either a direct associative extraction (0.5 M GuCl2) or a direct dissociative extraction (4.0 M GuCl2). These procedures extract 80-90% of the total counts incorporated. To characterize the proteoglycans, extracts were subjected to cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation and molecular sieve chromatography. These data showed that (1) there is less proteoglycan made in diabetic bone; (2) the proteoglycan aggregate is of a smaller molecular weight in bone than in cartilage; (3) 10% of the proteoglycan synthesized in diabetic bone was in the form of aggregates compared with 48% of the control bone; (4) aggregates did form in the diabetic cartilage, and their molecular weight was smaller than in normal cartilage. This investigation shows that proteoglycans, structurally important macromolecules of cartilage and bone, are altered in experimental diabetes. This metabolic abnormality may be an important factor contributing to decreased bone formation observed in diabetes.
Portraits of Partnership: The Hopes and Dreams Project

This article describes an innovative practice in family involvement developed by one early care and education center engaged in professional development. The Hopes and Dreams Project documented family involvement in children’s lives and education through the pairing of pictures and narratives about their lives, histories, priorities, goals, and responsibilities with the school community. Narrative inquiry was a powerful method for increasing understanding of complexity of family involvement. Findings showed that families’ priorities in forming partnerships included the importance in belonging to the community, being involved in their children’s lives and education, experiencing diversity, and experiences in childhood for children’s futures. This research supports the importance of redefining family partnerships in early care and education in a manner that is inclusive of family values and priorities. The implications are that early care and education providers have an important role in developing and defining involvement practices that empower families and educate professionals.
Localized Autofrettage as a Design Tool for the Fatigue Improvement of Cross-Bored Cylinders

An investigation was launched into the feasibility of improving the fatigue life of thick-walled cylinders with cross-bores by using a localized autofrettage technique. This technique utilized the high stress concentration at the cross-bore to induce localized residual stresses using relatively low internal pressures. An elastic-plastic finite-element analysis indicated that the resulting residual stresses in the vicinity of the cross-bore were predominately compressive and not sufficient in magnitude to induce reverse plasticity. When the resulting residual stresses were used with an elastic fracture-mechanics assessment of a quarter-circular crack at the intersection of the cylinder and cross-bore inner diameter, a significant extension of fatigue life was shown to be possible. In addition to prolonging the useful life of the cylinder, the localized residual stresses were shown to be possible at pressures below the yield threshold for the thick-walled cylinder. Thus, reverse plasticity, permanent deformations, and the need for post-autofrettage machining operations that could inadvertently lessen the beneficial results of a traditional autofrettage were avoided.