cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Marking live feeds with inert metal oxides for fish larvae feeding and nutrition studies

Yttrium oxide (Y2O3), ytterbium oxide (Yb2O3), lanthanum oxide (La2O3) and dysprosium oxide (Dy2O3) were evaluated as potential live feed markers for feeding and nutrition studies with ¢sh larvae, by determining the uptake and depletion of markers over time in two trials, and quantifying ingestion of Y2O3-marked rotifers (Branchionus plicatilis )b y Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua ) in at hird trial. In the ¢rst two trials, Artemia nauplii and rotifers quickly took up markers within 10 min to concentrations useful for nutrition studies (42% dry weight). There was no signi¢cant diierence (P40.05) among temperatures in depletion of markers (10,15, 201C) with Artemia or rotifers. Depletion from rotifers was not signi¢cantly diierent (P40.05) between 5 and 20 min nor between 5a nd 30 min forArtemia when marked at a concentration of 50 mg of marker per litre of seawater. In the second trial, rotifers and Artemia were marked with a higher concentration (250 mg L 1 ) and allowed to deplete for a longer time (90 min). In the third trial, visual estimates of Artemia consumed by Atlantic cod larvae were similar to consumption estimates determined by analysis of Y2O3-marked Artemia using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (r 2 50.77).
Rethinking Intractability: A New Framework for Conflict

Campus riots . . . are usually initiated in a very rapid fashion, but are inevitably preceded by a series of incidents, such as the humiliation of individuals, discriminatory acts, or the denial of basic rights. Since each of these specific instances is not necessarily dramatic in itself, group opposition to them (inhibiting feedback) may be fairly minimal and contained. Each incident, however, creates and deepens a latent attractor for hostilities that can subsequently determine the pattern of interaction. Once an attractor for destructive conflict has been firmly established, relatively small provocations may move the system into this attractor, thereby dragging the whole system into full-blown conflict (p. 170).
Developing a scoring rubric for resident research presentations: a pilot study.

Background A requirement for all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) approved residencies is the provision of “an opportunity for residents to participate in research.” To comply with this requirement, most training programs encourage their residents to conduct research and to report their results. Few guidelines exist, however, for assessing the efficacy of the presentations. The goal of this pilot study was to develop a valid, one-page scoring rubric to be used during oral resident research presentations. Such a scoring rubric will facilitate acceptable agreement among faculty raters. Methods Content validity was addressed by adhering to the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. A one-page, five-domain, behaviorally worded scoring rubric was developed. Inter-rater reliability was derived and three ACGME General Competencies were also addressed within the rubric. Results The initial scoring rubric was tested with 11 resident oral presentations. The inter-rater reliability was 0.56 using Cronbach’s alpha. The rubric was modified and the scale restricted to a 3-point scale. It was then tested with 17 additional presentations, which were independently rated by two general surgery faculty members. Cronbach’s Alpha increased to 0.61. Conclusions An objective method to evaluate a resident’s oral research presentation has been successfully piloted. This content valid rubric possesses good inter-rater reliability according to established guidelines. Clearly defined behaviors have been outlined within the rubric. Program directors will have psychometrically sound evidence for the ACGME. Future research will address generalizability and concurrent validity using other types of resident assessment data.
Rapid Chemical Stabilization of Soft Clay Soils

Since World War II, the military has sought methods for rapid stabilization of weak soils for support of its missions worldwide. Over the past 60 years, cement and lime have been the most effective stabilizers for road and airfield applications, although many nontraditional stabilizers also have been developed and used. The most effective stabilizer to increase the strength of two soft clay soils within 72 h for contingency airfields to support C-17 and C-130 aircraft traffic needed to be determined. The treatment of one clay with cement resulted in relatively high unconfined compressive strengths (UCS), whereas treating the same clay with quicklime and calcium carbide resulted in lower UCS. The treatment of another clay with higher plasticity resulted in similar UCS for cement, quicklime, and calcium carbide. Secondary stabilizers, including sodium silicate, superabsorbent polymers, a superplasticizer, and an accelerator, were ineffective in increasing the UCS of a soil treated with cement, quicklime, or...
Decoding Patterns of Human Brain Activity

Considerable information about mental states can be decoded from noninvasive measures of human brain activity. Analyses of brain activity patterns can reveal what a person is seeing, perceiving, attending to, or remembering. Moreover, multidimensional models can be used to investigate how the brain encodes complex visual scenes or abstract semantic information. Such feats of "brain reading" or "mind reading," though impressive, raise important conceptual, methodological, and ethical issues. What does successful decoding reveal about the cognitive functions performed by a brain region? How should brain signals be spatially selected and mathematically combined to ensure that decoding reflects inherent computations of the brain rather than those performed by the decoder? We highlight recent advances and describe how multivoxel pattern analysis can provide a window into mind-brain relationships with unprecedented specificity, when carefully applied. However, as brain-reading technology advances, issues of neuroethics and mental privacy will be important to consider.
Ballistic transport in nanowires and carbon nanotubes

The charge carriers in nanowires (NWs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and those confined to a very high magnetic field have one-dimensional (1D) character as quasi-free propagation of electron waves with analog energy spectrum exists only in one direction. The energy spectrum is quantum (or digital) in other two cartesian directions where electron waves are standing waves. In the quantum limit, an electron (hole) occupies the lowest (highest) digitized/quantized state giving it a distinct 1D character. The energy E =v F | k | in carbon-based devices is linearly dependent on the wave vector k, where v F ≈ 106 m/s. This is in direct contrast to parabolic character E =ħ2 k2/2m∗ in solids with effective mass m∗, for example in silicon NWs. The probability of changing wavevector from +ve to −ve direction through scattering or vice versa is greatly reduced and hence high mobility is expected, especially at low temperatures. The crucial outcome of this paper is the answer to the question: Does a higher mobility leads to a higher ultimate saturation velocity? The distribution function in a high electric field e is then naturally asymmetrical affected by the energy ±qel absorbed or emitted by a carrier of charge q during its ballistic flight in a mean free path l. The ultimate drift in response to a high electric field results in unidirectional streaming of the otherwise randomly-oriented velocity vectors in equilibrium. The high-field drift limited by the intrinsic velocity is ballistic, unaffected by scattering-limited processes. The ultimate velocity is further limited to an emission of a quantum either in the form of an optical phonon or a photon by an electron excited to a higher state by the applied electric field. The velocity does not depend on scattering parameters. Ballistic processes as a result of reduction in length of a CNT or NW below the scattering-limited mean free path l in the quasi-free direction are also discussed.
Investment under Uncertainty with Strategic Debt Service

The presence of a well designed bankruptcy code is an important part of the ﬁnancialarchitecture in developed economies. By allowing the creditors to seize the assets of theborrowers who fail to make contractual payments, the code generates beneﬁcial ex ante eﬀectson debt capacity and ﬁrm value. By giving the borrowers options to renegotiate their debtobligations and seek bankruptcy protection, the code increases the likelihood that borrowersmay avoid ineﬃcient ex post liquidation. As Hart (1999) notes, the code should balanceex ante ﬁrm value maximization with ex post eﬃciency. The bankruptcy codes in diﬀerentcountries weight this tradeoﬀ diﬀerently and hence vary in terms of the distribution of rightsand powers between borrowers and lenders.In this paper, we provide an inter-temporal framework to examine how the creditors’liquidation rights and the distribution of ex post bargaining powers inﬂuence the ﬁrm’s in-vestment and ﬁnancing decisions, and aﬀect ex ante ﬁrm value. We show that strongerequityholders’ bargaining power lowers debt capacity, reduces ﬁrm value, and discouragesgrowth option exercising. Our calibration suggests that the quantitative eﬀects of ex poststrategic renegotiation on ex ante ﬁrm value may be large.Our paper provides an attempt to integrate ﬁnancial architecture into the theory of in-vestment (growth option exercising), by building on two strands of literature: investment anddebt pricing. We extend the real options approach to investment, pioneered by McDonaldand Siegel (1986) and Brennan and Schwartz (1985), to allow for capital structure decisionsunder strategic debt service. We also draw insights from corporate debt pricing/capital struc-ture literature, which focuses on leverage and security pricing after investment has alreadybeen made (Merton (1974), Black and Cox (1976), and Leland (1994)). Our paper bridgesthe gap between these two strands of literature by characterizing the optimal investment andﬁnancing decisions, and the option value of waiting in closed form. We show that the inter-action between ﬁnancing and investment decisions in the presence of strategic debt servicegenerates new insights and also quantitatively important eﬀects on ex ante ﬁrm value.
Beryllium emissions from a coal‐fired power plant

Abstract Beryllium concentrations have Deen measured in coal, process ashes and in‐stack particulates at a coal‐fired power plant in Maryland. Mass balance calculations reveal that less than 4% of the Be in the coal burned is being emitted to the atmosphere. These results are compared to other power‐plant studies which have reported Be data.
ANALYTICAL DYNAMIC MODEL AND EXPERIMENTAL ROBUST AND OPTIMAL CONTROL OF SHAPE-MEMORY-ALLOY BUNDLE ACTUATORS

In this paper, the analytical dynamic model derivation and the robust and optimal position control of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) bundle actuators using the LQR and H2 techniques are presented. SMA bundle actuators, composed of multiple SMA wires placed in parallel, have been recently proposed as a means to considerably increase the lifting capabilities of SMA actuators. Robust and optimal linear controllers could provide the desired robustness in the performance of these nonlinear and highly sensitive actuators combined with the simplicity of these control schemes. The novel contributions of the present research are: a) the derivation of a generic, linearized, time-invariant analytical system model for SMA Bundle actuators that is used in the design of the LQR and H2 based controllers; b) the development of a new improved estimator in discrete-time H2 optimal control design based on the Kalman Filter predictor form for use in the control of SMA bundle actuators; c) the experimental study of two control design methods using state-space models, LQR and H2 Optimal Design, in discrete-time domain, using an experimental SMA bundle actuator consisting of 48 Flexinol SMA wires and able to apply up to 100 lbs. (445 N). As demonstrated in the experiments, the designed controllers provide satisfactory results in accuracy, stability and speed.
Contexts Matter: Two Teachers' Language Arts Instruction in this High-stakes Era

This retrospective cross-case analysis compares two fourth-grade language arts teachers’ beliefs and practices as they respond to an influx of high-stakes tests, including district-mandated benchmark testing systems. One teacher works in a suburban school, the other in an urban school. Results from the study show that the teachers’ beliefs about literacy instruction are somewhat similar. Both teachers believed that creating a text-rich atmosphere engages students’ interests, social interactions around texts aid comprehension, and “best practices” such as guided reading and literature discussions are useful methods. Both teachers harshly criticized the continuous barrage of tests in their district (between 10 and 17 districtmandated benchmark assessments per nine-month school year). However, their practices differed dramatically and created inequitable educational opportunities. Students in the suburban setting spent more time socially constructing knowledge about texts, themes, and topics while students in the urban school spent more time individually practicing the skills necessary to achieve understanding of a text’s inherent meaning. Results from the study suggest that research on the influence of high-stakes assessments should go beyond surveys or interview statements of knowledge and should investigate teachers’ practices in contexts where evidence of inequity may present itself.
Morphological variation in Sarracenia purpurea (Sarraceniaceae): geographic, environmental, and taxonomic correlates

Geographic variation in morphology reflects phenotypic responses to environmental gradients and evolutionary history of populations and species and may indicate local or regional changes in environmental conditions. The pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea) illustrates these principles. At local scales, its morphology reflects nutrient availability. At points along its broad geographic range (from Florida to northern Canada) morphology has been used to distinguish subspecies and varieties, but there has been no detailed study of the continuum of morphological variation across this entire range. Patterns of morphological variation in S. purpurea were characterized as a function of climatic and environmental conditions at 39 sites spanning its range. Differences in pitcher size and shape were strongly correlated with temperature, annual precipitation, and availability of ammonium and calcium in peat pore water. Pitcher shape (lip width, mouth diameter, and pitcher width) in Florida panhandle populations differed significantly from pitcher shape of all other populations, even after accounting for environmental correlations. In contrast, the northern and southern subspecies of S. purpurea (the latter exclusive of the Florida panhandle populations) cannot be distinguished based on these morphological measurements alone. These results support a recent proposal that identifies the Florida populations as a distinct species, Sarracenia rosea.
Localized Populations of CD8low/− MHC Class I Tetramer+ SIV-Specific T Cells in Lymphoid Follicles and Genital Epithelium

CD8 T cells play an important role in controlling viral infections. We investigated the in situ localization of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-specific T cells in lymph and genital tissues from SIV-infected macaques using MHC-class I tetramers. The majority of tetramer-binding cells localized in T cell zones and were CD8(+). Curiously, small subpopulations of tetramer-binding cells that had little to no surface CD8 were detected in situ both early and late post-infection, and in both vaginally and rectally inoculated macaques. These tetramer(+)CD8(low/-) cells were more often localized in apparent B cell follicles relative to T cell zones and more often found near or within the genital epithelium than the submucosa. Cells analyzed by flow cytometry showed similar populations of cells. Further immunohistological characterization revealed small populations of tetramer(+)CD20(-) cells inside B cell follicles and that tetramer(+) cells did not stain with gammadelta-TCR nor CD4 antibodies. Negative control tetramer staining indicated that tetramer(+)CD8(low/-) cells were not likely NK cells non-specifically binding to MHC tetramers. These findings have important implications for SIV-specific and other antigen-specific T cell function in these specific tissue locations, and suggest a model in which antigen-specific CD8+ T cells down modulate CD8 upon entering B cell follicles or the epithelial layer of tissues, or alternatively a model in which only antigen-specific CD8 T cells that down-modulate CD8 can enter B cell follicles or the epithelium.
Flow Dynamics and Plasma Heating of Spheromaks in SSX

We report several new experimental results related to flow dynamics and heating from single dipole-trapped spheromaks and spheromak merging studies at SSX. Single spheromaks (stabilized with a pair of external coils, see Brown, Phys. Plasmas 13 102503 (2006)) and merged FRC-like configurations (see Brown, Phys. Plasmas 13, 056503 (2006)) are trapped in our prolate (R = 0.2 m, L = 0.6 m) copper flux conserver. Local spheromak flow is studied with two Mach probes (r 1 ≤ ρ i , r 2 ≥ ρ i ) calibrated by time-of-flight with a fast set of magnetic probes at the edge of the device. Both Mach probes feature six ion collectors housed in a boron nitride sheath. The larger Mach probe will ultimately be used in the MST reversed field pinch. Line averaged flow is measured by ion Doppler spectroscopy (IDS) at the midplane. The SSX IDS instrument measures with 1 μs or better time resolution the width and Doppler shift of the C III impurity (H plasma) 229.7 nm line to determine the temperature and line-averaged flow velocity (see Cothran, RSI 77, 063504 (2006)). We find axial flows up to 100 km/s during formation of the dipole trapped spheromak. Flow returns at the wall to form a large vortex. Recent high-resolution IDS velocity measurements during spheromak merging show bi-directional outflow jets at ±40 km/s (nearly the Alfven speed). We also measure T i ≥ 80 eV and T e ≥ 20 eV during spheromak merging events after all plasma facing surfaces are cleaned with helium glow discharge conditioning. Transient electron heating is inferred from bursts on a four-channel soft x-ray array. The spheromaks are also characterized by a suite of magnetic probe arrays for magnetic structure B(r,t), and interferometry for n e . Finally, we are designing a new oblate, trapezoidal flux conserver for FRC studies. Equilibrium and dynamical simulations suggest that a tilt-stable, oblate FRC can be formed by spheromak merging in the new flux conserver.
Steele Mackaye's Marriage: The Beginning of a Movement Toward American Realism

Theatre critics and historians generally acknowledge a movement toward realism in nineteenth century American dramaturgy and cite Augustin Daly, Bronson Howard, William Gillette, and James A. Herne as innovators in the development of American realism. Steele Mackaye, however, is rarely included as a significant part of this movement; although his theatrical inventions are hailed as far-sighted and innovative, his plays are usually dismissed as unworthy of consideration, as conventional melodramas reflecting the fashion of the day. The close study of Mackaye's plays, however, reveals that he was in the vanguard of the movement toward realism.
Three-Dimensional Structural Analysis of Recombinant Rotavirus-Like Particles with Intact and Amino-Terminal-Deleted VP2: Implications for the Architecture of the VP2 Capsid Layer

Rotaviruses are the leading cause of severe infantile gastroenteritis worldwide. These viruses are large, complex icosahedral particles consisting of three concentric capsid layers enclosing a genome of eleven segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). The amino terminus of the innermost capsid protein VP2 possesses a nonspecific single-stranded RNA and dsRNA binding activity, and the amino terminus is also essential for the incorporation of the polymerase enzyme VP1 and guanylyltransferase VP3 into the core of the virion. Biochemical and structural studies have suggested that VP2, and especially the amino terminus, appears to act as a scaffold for proper assembly of the components of the viral core. To locate the amino terminus of VP2 within the core, we have used electron cryomicroscopy and image reconstruction to determine the three-dimensional structures of recombinant virus-like particles that contain either full-length or amino-terminal-deleted forms of VP2 coexpressed with the intermediate capsid protein VP6. A comparison of these structures indicates two significant changes along the inner surface of VP2 in the structure lacking the amino terminus: a loss of mass adjacent to the fivefold axes and a redistribution of mass along the fivefold axes. Examination of the VP2 layer suggests that the proteins are arranged as dimers of 120 quasi-equivalent molecules, with each dimer extending between neighboring fivefold axes. Our results indicate that the amino termini of both quasi-equivalent VP2 molecules are located near the icosahedral vertices.
Profile Context-Sensitive HMMs for Probabilistic Modeling of Sequences With Complex Correlations

The profile hidden Markov model is a specific type of HMM that is well suited for describing the common features of a set of related sequences. It has been extensively used in computational biology, where it is still one of the most popular tools. In this paper, we propose a new model called the profile context-sensitive HMM. Unlike traditional profile-HMMs, the proposed model is capable of describing complex long-range correlations between distant symbols in a consensus sequence. We also introduce a general algorithm that can be used for finding the optimal state-sequence of an observed symbol sequence based on the given profile-csHMM. The proposed model has an important application in RNA sequence analysis, especially in modeling and analyzing RNA pseudoknots.
'We aren't quite as good, but we sure are cheap': prospects for disruptive innovation in medical care and insurance markets.

The concept of “disruptive innovation” by new products of moderately lower quality and much lower cost is useful for the medical care sector. Such products are rarely offered, and when they are (as in the case of health maintenance organizations), they are subject to intense criticism. This Perspective argues that both the legal system and accepted discourse in public policy have inhibited discussion of such alternatives; indeed, the paper by Jason Hwang and Clay Christensen loses its focus on them at the end. The applicability of this concept is quite limited but, given sufficient changes in framing and regulating, might be helpful in the future.
Professional Commitment of Russian Provincial Specialists

This article examines the determinants of professional commitment of college-educated specialists in one of the Russian provinces. We analyze the specialists’ professional commitment as determined by two sets of orientations: universalistic instrumental factors (compensation, career advancement and opportunities of alternative employment) and specifically professional noninstrumental factors (professional responsibility, cognitive orientation, and cultural capital). Although both instrumental and noninstrumental factors affect professional commitment of Russian specialists, noninstrumental factors are the most important. The article also identifies significant differences between two groups of Russian professionals, technocrats, and the traditional intelligentsia.
Knowledge, attitudes and potential response to menu labelling in an urban public health clinic population.

Objective The present study examines the receptivity to and potential effects of menu labelling on food choices of low-income and minority individuals - a group often at disproportionate risk for preventable, lifestyle-related health conditions (e.g. obesity, diabetes and CVD). Design We conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine the knowledge, attitudes and potential response to menu labelling in an urban public health clinic population. Setting United States. Subjects A total of 639 clinic patients were recruited in the waiting rooms of six, large public health centres in Los Angeles County (2007-2008). These centres provide services to a largely uninsured or under-insured, low-income, Latino and African-American population. Results Among those approached and who met eligibility criteria, 88 % completed the survey. Of the 639 respondents, 55 % were overweight or obese based on self-reported heights and weights; 74 % reported visiting a fast food restaurant at least once in the past year, including 22 % at least once a week; 93 % thought that calorie information was 'important'; and 86 % thought that restaurants should be required to post calorie information on their menu boards. In multivariate analyses, respondents who were obese, female, Latino and supportive of calorie postings were more likely than others to report that they would choose food and beverages with lower calories as a result of menu labelling. Conclusions These findings suggest that clinic patients are receptive to this population-based strategy and that they would be inclined to change their food selections in response to menu labelling.
Savings for the Poor: Banking on Mobile Phones

The paper reviews the relevance of formal financial services - and in particular savings - to poor people, the economic factors that have hindered the mass-scale delivery of such services in developing countries, and the technology-based opportunities that exist today to make massive gains in financial inclusion. We also highlight the benefits to government from universal financial access, as well as the key policy enablers that would need to be put in place to allow the necessary innovation and investments to take place.
Molecular phylogeny of the snubnose darters, subgenus Ulocentra (genus Etheostoma, family Percidae).

Snubnose darters comprise one of the largest subgenera of the percid genus Etheostoma. Many species are described based on differences in male breeding coloration. Few morphological synapomorphies have been proposed for the subgenus and their relatives, making it difficult to delineate monophyletic clades. The phylogenetic relationships of the 20 snubnose darter species of the subgenus Ulocentra and 11 members of its proposed sister subgenus Etheostoma were investigated with partial mitochondrial DNA sequences including 1033 bp encompassing the entire mitochondrial control region, the tRNA-Phe gene, and part of the 12S rRNA gene. Two hypotheses on the relationship and monophyly of the two subgenera were evaluated. Both maximum-parsimony and neighbor-joining analyses supported monophyly of the subgenus Ulocentra and resolved some species-level relationships. The banded darter, E. zonale, and its sister taxon, E. lynceum, were not closely related to the snubnose darters and appear to be diverged from the other members of the subgenus Etheostoma, fitting their former distinction as the recognized subgenus Nanostoma. The sister group to Ulocentra appears to be a restricted species assemblage within the subgenus Etheostoma containing E. blennioides, E. rupestre, E. blennius, and the E. thalassinum species group. The placement of the harlequin darter, E. histrio, is problematic, and it may represent a basal member of Ulocentra or of the restricted subgenus Etheostoma. Despite recent estimates of divergence times between nominal Ulocentra taxa, each species exhibits its own unique set of mtDNA haplotypes, providing no direct evidence for current genetic exchange between species. The nominal taxa of snubnose darters thus appear to be evolving independently from each other and therefore constitute valid species under the Phylogenetic Species Concept.
Protein engineering of toluene ortho-monooxygenase of Burkholderia cepacia G4 for regiospecific hydroxylation of indole to form various indigoid compounds

Previous work showed that random mutagenesis produced a mutant of toluene ortho-monooxygenase (TOM) of Burkholderia cepacia G4 containing the V106A substitution in the hydroxylase α-subunit (TomA3) that changed the color of the cell suspension from wild-type brown to green in rich medium. Here, DNA shuffling was used to isolate a random TOM mutant that turned blue due to mutation TomA3 A113V. To better understand the TOM reaction mechanism, we studied the specificity of indole hydroxylation using a spectrum of colored TOM mutants expressed in Escherichia coli TG1 and formed as a result of saturation mutagenesis at TomA3 positions A113 and V106. Colonies expressing these altered enzymes ranged in color from blue through green and purple to orange; and the enzyme products were identified using thin-layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy. Derived from the single TOM template, enzymes were identified that produced primarily isoindigo (wild-type TOM), indigo (A113V), indirubin (A113I), and isatin (A113H and V106A/A113G). The discovery that wild-type TOM formed isoindigo via C-2 hydroxylation of the indole pyrrole ring makes this the first oxygenase shown to form this compound. Variant TOM A113G was unable to form indigo, indirubin, or isoindigo (did not hydroxylate the indole pyrrole ring), but produced 4-hydroxyindole and unknown yellow compounds from C-4 hydroxylation of the indole benzene ring. Mutations at V106 in addition to A113G restored C-3 indole oxidation, so along with C-2 indole oxidation, isatin, indigo, and indirubin were formed. Other TomA3 V106/A113 mutants with hydrophobic, polar, or charged amino acids in place of the Val and/or Ala residues hydroxylated indole at the C-3 and C-2 positions, forming isatin, indigo, and indirubin in a variety of distributions. Hence, for the first time, a single enzyme was genetically modified to produce a wide range of colors from indole.
Multiple cortical surface correspondence using pairwise shape similarity

Accurately corresponding a population of human cortical surfaces provides important shape information for the diagnosis of many brain diseases. This problem is very challenging due to the highly convoluted nature of cortical surfaces. Pairwise methods using a fixed template may not handle well the case when a target cortical surface is substantially different from the template. In this paper, we develop a new method to organize the population of cortical surfaces into pairs with high shape similarity and only correspond such similar pairs to achieve a higher accuracy. In particular, we use the geometric information to identify colocated gyri and sulci for defining a new measure of shape similarity. We conduct experiments on 40 instances of the cortical surface, resulting in an improved performance over several existing shape-correspondence methods.
Persistence of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in filtered surface water from waterfowl habitats in Georgia, USA.

The natural reservoirs for avian influenza virus (AIV) are wild bird species of the orders Anseriformes and Charadriiformes. The primary route of transmission for wild birds is through fecally contaminated surface water on shared aquatic habitats. A distilled water model has shown that AIV remains infectious in water for weeks to months with pH, salinity, and temperature affecting stability. To evaluate the effect of pH, salinity, and temperature on AIV persistence in natural surface water, we measured the duration of infectivity for two common low pathogenic AIV subtypes in 15 filtered surface water samples collected from major waterfowl habitats in Georgia, USA. Trials were performed at three incubation temperatures 10, 17, and 28 C. Consistent with previous studies, pH and temperature had a significant effect on the stability of AIV in filtered surface water. Both viruses were less stable at warmer temperatures and in acidic water (pH<5.0). Due to the limited range of salinity of the field water sample...
Informatics in radiology (infoRAD): Introduction to the language of three-dimensional imaging with multidetector CT

The recent proliferation of multi–detector row computed tomography (CT) has led to an increase in the creation and interpretation of images in planes other than the traditional axial plane. Powerful three-dimensional (3D) applications improve the utility of detailed CT data but also create confusion among radiologists, technologists, and referring clinicians when trying to describe a particular method or type of image. Designing examination protocols that optimize data quality and radiation dose to the patient requires familiarity with the concepts of beam collimation and section collimation as they apply to multi–detector row CT. A basic understanding of the time-limited nature of projection data and the need for thin-section axial reconstruction for 3D applications is necessary to use the available data effectively in clinical practice. The axial reconstruction data can be used to create nonaxial two-dimensional images by means of multiplanar reformation. Multiplanar images can be thickened into slabs w...
Evaluation of growth curves in children after supraglottoplasty

Abstract Objectives To determine if monitoring weight growth curves is a sensitive objective parameter for evaluating operative outcomes after supraglottoplasty. Study design Retrospective chart review. Methods An IRB approved retrospective review of patients who underwent supraglottoplasty from 2/28/2012 to 10/20/2014 by the otolaryngology department at a single institution was performed. Variables collected included age, race, sex, preoperative weight percentiles, and weight percentiles at 3 month, 12 month, and 3 year followup intervals. Results 20 patients met inclusion criteria. 15 (75%) patients were male and 5 (25%) were female. 9 (45%) patients were African American, 8 (40%) were Caucasian, and 3 (15%) were other. Average weight for age at surgery was 29.8 percentile. 6 (30%) had failure to thrive by weight. By 3 months postop average weight had increased by 7.67 percentile (p = 0.09, 95% CI − 1.62 to 17.0), by 12 months there was an observed increase of 19.1 percentile (p = 0.06, 95% CI 0.47–37.8), and by 3 years the average weight had increased by 26.53 percentile (p = 0.03, 95% CI 4.47-48.59). By three years postop the average weight had normalized (64.5 percentile). Among those who met preoperative failure to thrive criteria (average 0.11 percentile), weight gain was still dramatic with average weight percentile of 37.5 by 3 years postop. Conclusion Patients undergoing supraglottoplasty are typically underweight for age. Statistically significant weight gain occurs in children after going supraglottoplasty. This intervention can normalize their growth chart growth patterns by 3 years postoperatively, even in children with failure to thrive.
A Model for the Performance Evaluation in Comparative Studies

The paper describes a model for the performance evaluation in an arbitrary comparative study of mathematical algorithms. Distinctions will be made between “static” testing, i.e. evaluation of the design of the corresponding programs and “dynamic testing”, i.e. evaluation of the performance of these programs when implemented and run on a digital computer. For both levels, relevant criteria for choosing among codes are described. Advantages and disadvantages of real life, hand selected, and randomly generated test problems, respectively, are outlined. It is furthermore shown how a decision maker can combine a variety of performance measures into a final score for each major criterion and program.
Beyond the myth : addressing suicide among African American males.

Historically, African Americans were never considered at risk for suicide; however, in the last 20–30 years there has been a precipitous increase in the number of suicides and suicide attempts among African American males. The authors of this chapter provide an overview of the literature surrounding suicide and African American males. Furthermore, a number of preventative measures are investigated, such as community building strategies, mentorship, and support groups. Lastly, the implications that suicide has on African American males, as well as their families and communities are also explored in detail.
Comparison of morphologies of a uranyl peroxide precursor and calcination products

An understanding of the relationships between morphologic signatures of uranium oxide materials and precursor materials used to prepare them would be valuable for determining process history of intercepted materials. Here, three different high purity uranium oxide materials were prepared from a single source of uranyl peroxide hydrate (UO2(O2)·xH2O) to determine variability of texture between the precipitate precursor and calcination products. Scanning electron microscopy images of the materials were characterized using a lexicon of descriptors. Analyses revealed that morphologic textures of calcination products were indeed equivalent to that of the UO2(O2)·xH2O precipitate, revealing a morphologic signature for forensic analyses of process history.
A Figure-of-Merit for Design and Optimization of Inductive Power Transmission Links for Millimeter-Sized Biomedical Implants

Power transmission efficiency (PTE) has been the key parameter for wireless power transmission (WPT) to biomedical implants with millimeter (mm) dimensions. It has been suggested that for mm-sized implants increasing the power carrier frequency $(f_{p})$ of the WPT link to hundreds of MHz improves PTE. However, increasing $f_{p}$ significantly reduces the maximum allowable power that can be transmitted under the specific absorption rate (SAR) constraints. This paper presents a new figure-of-merit (FoM) and a design methodology for optimal WPT to mm-sized implants via inductive coupling by striking a balance between PTE and maximum delivered power under SAR constraints $(P_{L,SAR})$ . First, the optimal mm-sized receiver (Rx) coil geometry is identified for a wide range of $f_{p}$ to maximize the Rx coil quality factor $(Q)$ . Secondly, the optimal transmitter (Tx) coil geometry and $f_{p}$ are found to maximize the proposed FoM under a low-loss Rx matched-load condition. Finally, proper Tx coil and tissue spacing is identified based on FoM at the optimal $f_{p}$ . We demonstrate that $f_{p}$ in order of tens of MHz still offer higher $P_{L,SAR}$ and FoM, which is key in applications that demand high power such as optogenetics. An inductive link to power a 1 mm $^3$ implant was designed based on our FoM and verified through full-wave electromagnetic field simulations and measurements using de-embedding method. In our measurements, an Rx coil with 1 mm diameter, located 10 mm inside the tissue, achieved PTE and $P_{L,SAR}$ of 1.4% and 2.2 mW at $f_{p}$ of 20 MHz, respectively.
Elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disease in Danling County

Objective To evaluate the effect of iodine deficiency disease(IDD) control,and provide the basis for further prevention and control work.Methods The data of IDD control in Danling county from 1982 to 2009 were collected and analyzed.Results The work of investigating IDD was started in 1982 and the work were limited to issuing documents,perfecting organization,monitoring and popularizing taking iodized oil capsule.In the management project,it was 56 points in 1994 and 96 in 2009.Iodized salt managements were as following,in 2004 and 2009,there was statistical difference in the coverage rate of iodized salt(X2=67.19,P0.05),statistical difference in the qualified rate of edible salt in retail outlets(X2=5.38,P0.05)and statistical difference in the rate of qualified iodized salt of villagers(X2=33.90,P0.05).Condition monitoring results were as following,the thyroid enlargement rate and prevalence rate were 32.19% and 10.24% respectively in1989,and 16.00%,2.00% in 1998,among the students from 7 to 14 years old.There was statistical difference in the thyroid enlargement rates(X2=7.23,P0.05),and statistical significance in prevalence rates(X2=13.75,P0.05).Urinary iodine level rose gradually in the students of 8-10 years old.The average median was 40.63 μg/L in 1994,and 187.37 μg/L in 2009.There was statistical difference among the rates of normal average median(X2=134.83,P0.05).Conclusion All the indicators reached the national requirements for eliminating IDD by 2009.The effect of eliminating IDD was remarkable.
Effect of Bisphenol A on Reproductive Function of Male Workers with Occupational Exposure

[Objective]To investigate and analyze the population with higher dose of Bisphenol A(BPA)exposure,and attempt to clarify the characteristics of internal and external exposure and its effect on reproductive function.[Methods]Special questionnaire was adopted to conduct survey on each research object.Health examination and laboratory test were performed simultaneously;Semen collection was based on operational procedures of clinical examination,and then analyzed.[Results]The differences of sperm between exposure group and control group was not significant(P0.05)in terms of fast forward movement,slow forward movement,sperm density and sperm viability;but the difference of the rate of normal sperm morphology was significant(P0.05).Positive detection rate of urinary protein of exposure group was 4.67%,that of control group was 1.27%.Through analysis,the difference was significant(χ2=6.130,P0.05).[Conclusion]Exposure to BPA may affect the sperm morphology and Renal function of male workers.
Patient outcomes and cost analysis associated with an outpatient deep venous thrombosis treatment program

Low-molecular-weight heparins are safe and effective for outpatient treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). An outpatient DVT treatment program was established in a 532-bed nonprofit teaching hospital. With the cooperation and skills of a multidisciplinary team, 125 patients were treated for acute DVT primarily at home over 26 months. Preliminary results demonstrated a drop in average length of hospitalization from 5.4 days before the program to 0.97 days. All patients successfully completed a course of enoxaparin, averaging 5.23 days, with 4.26 days of treatment as outpatients. One hundred twenty-two patients (97.6%) required no rehospitalization for any reason, including recurrence of DVT and bleeding complications, throughout the 90-day anticoagulation treatment course. The hospital achieved a cost avoidance of $2470.68/patient. For all 125 patients, total cost avoidance was $308,835.17.
Modification of conditioned apneas in rats: evidence for cortical involvement

Apneic patterns in breathing can be classically conditioned in rats by brief neonatal exposures to hypoxia, noise, and petting during sleep (A. J. Thomas, W. Austin, L. Friedman, and K. P. Strohl, J. Appl. Physiol. 73: 1530-1536, 1992); thus animals may acquire apneic patterns by exposure to not only respiratory but also nonrespiratory stimuli. We hypothesized that conditioned apneas in these animals can be reduced or abolished by presentation of counterconditioning stimuli, which would prevent the respiratory controller from being influenced by nonrespiratory stimuli and affecting breathing rhythmicity. In five female rats conditioned during neonatal life to exhibit apneic breathing during adulthood and in five female unconditioned control rats, the effect of a brief quiet repetitive auditory stimulus (white noise, 50 Hz, 30 dB) presented for periods of 20 min on and 20 min off was assessed. In conditioned apneic rats, white noise reduced the frequencies of apneas by approximately 79% (P < 0.01) but did not alter the number of apneas in unconditioned control rats. In either group, white noise had no effect on the number of apneas preceded by a sigh. In a second experiment, the effect of Equithesin anesthetic was examined in five female conditioned apneic rats. In contrast to the white noise effect, not only apneic breathing but also apneas preceded by a sign were completely abolished by anesthesia (P < 0.0001). These findings suggest a role for counterconditioning and cortical influences on respiratory rhythm in the adult mammal.
An evaluation of Goldschmidt's work after twenty years.

Richard Goldschmidt was not the founder of a school. While he was at Munich he trained graduate students and some of these, notably Hans Nachtsheim and Julius Seiler, became prominent zoological geneticists. But after Goldschmidt had joined the Kaiser Wilhelm Institut in 1914, he did not teach any more nor did he accept graduate students. He held an appointment as honorary professor at the University of Berlin and his colleague at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institut, Max Hartmann, made use of his appointment giving a successful lecture course and training numerous prominent biologists. Goldschmidt, however, decided on accepting his position that henceforth he would devote himself exclusively to research. Later on, during his tenure at Berkeley he did indeed train a number of graduate students but few of them continued to carry out full-time research in genetics.
SU-F-R-17: Advancing Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Recurrence Detection with MRI Image Texture Feature Extraction and Machine Learning

Purpose: To test the potential of early Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) recurrence detection utilizing image texture pattern analysis in serial MR images post primary treatment intervention. Methods: MR image-sets of six time points prior to the confirmed recurrence diagnosis of a GBM patient were included in this study, with each time point containing T1 pre-contrast, T1 post-contrast, T2-Flair, and T2-TSE images. Eight Gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture features including Contrast, Correlation, Dissimilarity, Energy, Entropy, Homogeneity, Sum-Average, and Variance were calculated from all images, resulting in a total of 32 features at each time point. A confirmed recurrent volume was contoured, along with an adjacent non-recurrent region-of-interest (ROI) and both volumes were propagated to all prior time points via deformable image registration. A support vector machine (SVM) with radial-basis-function kernels was trained on the latest time point prior to the confirmed recurrence to construct a model for recurrence classification. The SVM model was then applied to all prior time points and the volumes classified as recurrence were obtained. Results: An increase in classified volume was observed over time as expected. The size of classified recurrence maintained at a stable level of approximately 0.1 cm3 up to 272 days prior to confirmation. Noticeable volume increase to 0.44 cm3 was demonstrated at 96 days prior, followed by significant increase to 1.57 cm3 at 42 days prior. Visualization of the classified volume shows the merging of recurrence-susceptible region as the volume change became noticeable. Conclusion: Image texture pattern analysis in serial MR images appears to be sensitive to detecting the recurrent GBM a long time before the recurrence is confirmed by a radiologist. The early detection may improve the efficacy of targeted intervention including radiosurgery. More patient cases will be included to create a generalizable classification model applicable to a larger patient cohort. NIH R43CA183390 and R01CA188300.NSF Graduate Research Fellowship DGE-1144087
Which Laws Do Your Marketers Know? Some Legal Issues on Price Discrimination

As the only marketing variable that directly generates revenue for the firm, marketers often “play around” with price in an attempt to maximize the firm’s revenue and/or profit. However, as one of the most regulated marketing variables, unwary use of certain pricing strategies can lead a marketer into legal troubles. This paper conducts a brief overview of legal issues related to pricing and draws the awareness of marketers to common pricing and promotion legal mine fields such as “naked” or tacit agreements to divided the field and ladies’ night price discount promotions. It also outlines other areas of intersection between marketing and law that could benefit from future research.
The Social Currency of Imagination: The Arts in Leading Change

Una riflessione personale su come estetica e/o abilita artistiche offrono resilienza per il cambiamento sociale, nonche esperienze di trasformazione personale.