cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Der Wiederaufbau der Deutschen Schweinezucht

Der zahlenmasige Ruckgang der deutschen Schweinehaltung auf etwa Zweifunftel des Vorkriegsbestandes ist sehr gros, aber schlimmer, ja katastrophal ist das Absinken ihrer Leistungsfahigkeit, die durch folgenden Hinweis deutlich wird: In normalen Zeiten lieferte die deutsche Schweinehaltung rund 65 % unseres verhaltnismasig grosen Fleischbedarfs. Seit Jahren erhalt aber die breite Masse der Normalverbraucher nur noch Fleisch in homoopathischen Dosen und Schweinefleisch uberhaupt nicht mehr.
Human Biodistribution and Radiation Dosimetry of 82Rb

delineated on the CT images and transferred to the PET images to obtain time-integrated activity coefficients. Radiation doses were estimated using OLINDA/EXM 1.0. Results: The highest mean absorbed organ doses (mGy/MBq) were observed for the kidneys (5.81), heart wall (3.86), and lungs (2.96). Mean effective doses were 1.11 6 0.22 and 1.26 6 0.20 mSv/MBq using the tissue-weighting factors of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), publications 60 and 103, respectively. Conclusion: Our current 82Rb dosimetry suggests reasonably low radiation exposure. On the basis of this study, a clinical 82Rb injection of 2 · 1,480 MBq (80 mCi) would result in a mean effective dose of 3.7 mSv using the weighting factors of the ICRP 103—only slightly above the average annual natural background exposure in the United States (3.1 mSv).
Silicon-based ultrasonic surgical actuators

A novel ultrasonic biomedical actuator technology fabricated using micromachining and piezoelectric ceramics is presented. Advantages and limitations of micromachining technology in the context of biomedical actuators are outlined. Micromachining allows the fabrication of extremely small devices with integrated electronics. Silicon's material properties make it ideal for high-intensity ultrasonic applications. Cutting tip velocity and sharpness were shown to be superior to that of conventional ultrasonic surgical tool technology.
The Invisible Hand of Democracy: Political Control and the Provision of Public Services

Despite considerable normative support, analysts have failed to identify any systematic effects of democracy on domestic policy outputs. Building on a theory of the state as a monopoly producer of ...
S-nitrosylation of Ras in breast cancer

Elevated expression of nitric oxide synthase 2 has been recently shown to correlate with poor survival in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer. In an article in Breast Cancer Research, Switzer and colleagues identify the transcription factor Ets-1 as a critical mediator of nitric oxide-dependent oncogenic gene expression in basal-like breast cancer. This pathway is driven by S-nitrosylation of wild-type Ras, which leads to mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent phosphorylation and activation of Ets-1. These results establish a new role for S-nitrosylation in mediating an aggressive breast cancer phenotype.
Autosomal Nondisjunction in Males of Drosophila Melanogaster.

B ECAUSE triploid females form large numbers of chromosomally unbalanced eggs it is possible to recover complementary types of unbalanced sperm. This technique revealed the occurrence of autosomal nondisjunction in males (STERN 1934; PONTECORVO 1940) and was also used by MULLER and PONTECORVO ( 1940) and PONTECORVO (1943) to recover sperm where radiation induced chromosome breaks caused one or more paternal chromosomes to be lost in the embryo. The same technique was employed for the present study of autosomal nondisjunction in males. There were two reasons for undertaking such a study, the first of which was to discover how males differed from females with respect to interchromosomal effects of inversions on segregation. Heterozygous inversions in females are known to have interchromosomal effects on crossing over and segregation, and COOPER, ZIMMERING and KRIVSHENKO ( 1955) have suggested that the interchromosomal effect of inversions on the frequency of X chromosome nondisjunction is caused by non-homologous pairing between the sex chromosomes and autosomes. If similar interchromosomal effects on segregation occurred in males, where crossing over is absent, the influence of inversions on segregation could be studied apart from their influence on crossing over. It was also hoped that a simultaneous study of sex chromosomal nondisjunction and autosomal nondisjunction might serve to test for the occurrence of non-homologous pairing. The second reason for studying autosomal nondisjunction in males was to reconsider STERN'S results. Over half the exceptions recovered by STERN required for their explanation the fertilization of a nondisjunctional egg (nullo I1 or nullo 111) from a triploid female, by a nondisjunctional sperm (diplo I1 or diplo 111) from a diploid male, and the number of exceptions recovered indicated that autosomal nondisjunction was fairly frequent. In order to understand the type of interchromosomal effects on segregation that might be expected in males, it will be necessary to review briefly the present knowledge of such effects in females. In females with structurally heterozygous X chromosomes the frequency of primary nondisjunction is increased when a
Special Considerations for Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Undergoing Lung Transplantation

This article reviews lung transplantation in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Lung transplantation is commonly utilized for patients with end-stage CF. There are several characteristics of CF that present unique challenges before and after lung transplantation. There is new information available that can be utilized to predict outcomes in patients with end-stage CF, and therefore can help in decisions of referral and listing for lung transplantation. The new lung allocation score, which allocates organs to patients who are on the lung transplant waiting list in the United States, presents new challenges and opportunities for patients with end-stage CF. In addition, the effect of the presence of microbiological flora prior to lung transplantation has been better linked to outcomes after lung transplantation. It is now known that, other than those patients harboring Burkholderia cepacia in their lungs before transplantation, most CF patients can undergo transplantation successfully. Nutrition remains an important issue among CF patients, and diabetes is a common problem after lung transplantation. In contrast, liver disease does not usually present major problems but, if it is severe, can necessitate liver and lung transplantation. Mechanical ventilation prior to transplantation might not be an absolute contraindication for CF patients. CF lung transplant recipients have good outcomes after lung transplantation compared with those of other lung transplant recipients. Quality of life is dramatically improved. However, they are still prone to common complications that all lung transplant recipients are prone to, including primary graft dysfunction, acute and chronic rejection, a variety of infections and malignancies, and renal failure.
Integral equations in electromagnetics for undergraduates

Summary form only given. Instructional materials and attendant computer software have been developed to serve as aids to students who wish to learn methods for formulating and solving simple integral equations applicable to problems in electromagnetics. The materials, which are highly tutorial and suitable for self-study, comprise a general discussion of integral equations, step-by-step derivations of integral equations, and development of numerical methods for solving these equations. They include numerous examples illustrating the formulations and solution techniques, all supported by discussions of applications of these methods to sample problems of practical interest and by computer codes that enable a student to observe an implementation of the numerical solution method. The codes provide an opportunity for the student to view the solution and to test the sensitivity of the solution to changes in problem parameters. The exercises (problems) provided give the student the opportunity to test his/her mastery of the material and to extend the material to current applications. >
Regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor through interaction of ganglioside GM3 with GlcNAc of N-linked glycan of the receptor: demonstration in ldlD cells.

We investigated interaction of GM3 with N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) termini of N-linked glycans of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), as the underlying mechanism for inhibitory effect of GM3 on EGFR activation, using ldlD cells transfected with EGFR gene. These cells, defective in UDP-Gal/UDP-GalNAc 4-epimerase, are incapable of synthesizing galactose (Gal)-containing glycans, unless Gal is provided in culture (+Gal). Key observations: (1) Expression of GlcNAc termini was high in −Gal cells, and strongly reduced in +Gal cells. (2) Comparative study of inhibitory effect of exogenously-added GM3 on EGFR activation in +Gal versus −Gal cells indicated that higher level of GlcNAc termini on EGFR is correlated with greater inhibitory effect of GM3. (3) GM3-, but not GM1-, coated beads bound to EGFR in lysate of −Gal cells, which have highly exposed GlcNAc termini. Such binding was inhibited in the presence of EDTA, similarly to other carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions.
Working Together to Improve the Lives of People Affected by Epilepsy in Zambia

Epilepsy is a neurologic disorder that results in recurrent, unprovoked seizures. The biomedical burden of epilepsy can be substantial, but for many the social consequences may be just as extreme, with epilepsy victims suffering from social abandonment as well as economic and physical vulnerabilities. Since its founding in 2000, the Chikankata Epilepsy Care Team, a collaborative project between Michigan State University and the rural Zambian community of Chikankata, has worked to improve the lives of people with epilepsy. What began as a local nurse–medical student partnership in one small rural Zambian hospital has grown into a program that supports and enriches clinical services and advocacy programs throughout Zambia. Recognizing the imperative for knowledge to influence policy, this university-community partnership works tirelessly to inform key stakeholders and policy makers of its findings. The program received the 2011 Outreach Scholarship/W. K. Kellogg Foundation Engagement Award for the North Central region.
Writing from Sources, Writing from Sentences

Instead of focusing on students’ citation of sources, educators should attend to the more fundamental question of how well students understand their sources and whether they are able to write about them without appropriating language from the source. Of the 18 student research texts we studied, none included summary of a source, raising questions about the students’ critical reading practices. Instead of summary, which is highly valued in academic writing and is promoted in composition textbooks, the students paraphrased, copied from, or patchwrote from individual sentences in their sources. Writing from individual sentences places writers in constant jeopardy of working too closely with the language of the source and thus inadvertently plagiarizing; and it also does not compel the writer to understand the source.
Falls from Height; Physical Findings – Pediatric

This chapter will discuss the injuries caused in children who fall from a height. A much larger literature has documented what injuries children sustain in falling from short distances. A problem common to studies of falls from heights is the definition of the height fallen so distances are not always comparable and studies are difficult to compare. The patterns of injuries which occur in children who fall from a height differ from the patterns of injuries seen in adults who fall from a height and these differences will be discussed. The height fallen does not predict either the severity of the injuries sustained or the type of injuries sustained.
An Essay on the Role of the Supreme Court in the Adjudication of Constitutional Rights

Constitutional law, and its American corollary, judicial review, are firmly imbedded in our jurisprudential thinking. Because of recent attempts to establish the illegitimacy of certain court pronouncements and thereby to erode the role of the judiciary, even in the area of human rights and liberties, it behooves us to reexamine the basis upon which judicial review is founded. This undertaking necessitates a reexamination of Marbury v. Madison in light of the controversies surrounding judicial review and accountability. This essay shall examine the modern assaults on the Supreme Court to the effect that it is engaged in noninterpretive judicial review-establishing constitutional law and invalidating political acts of coordinate branches of government and of the states without a firm basis rooted in the text of the Constitution or intent of the framers. Contrary to the popular belief that Marbury embraced a strict construction of the Constitution, this essay will demonstrate that the decision espoused a philosophy of judicial activism neither founded within the four corners of the text nor rooted in demonstrable proof of the intent of the framers. This essay offers justifications for the Court's focus on general principles of justice formulated by modern standards rather than by reference to more limited historical perspectives. Finally, this essay comments upon the role of other departments of the government and of the people in altering the course of badly decided constitutional law principles expounded by the Court.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE DOMINANT BURNSI GENE IN THE LEOPARD FROG, RANA PIPIENS'

Weed (1922, 1930) tentatively named two new species of frogs from Minnesota. The unspotted type, first described by Dickerson (1906), was called Rana burnsi (Fig. 1); the other type, previously undescribed, was named Rana kandiyohi (Fig. 2). Moore (1942) showed that burnsi is due to a single dominant gene in the leopard frog, Rana pipiens (Fig. 3), and Volpe (1955) that kandiyohi is due to another dominant gene at a different, probably unlinked locus (Volpe, 1956; Anderson and Volpe, 1958; Volpe, 1960; Merrell, unpublished). Thus, the genetics of these two types turned out to be quite simple and showed that they are not species, or even subspecies (Wright and Wright, 1949). Previous information about the distribution of burnsi and kandiyohi is summarized in Fig. 4. The area involved is roughly 100,000 square miles, larger than either New England or Great Britain. Breckenridge has given the most detailed account hitherto available on the distribution of burnsi and kandiyohi. However, his map is based on less than 300 frogs, all from Minnesota. Only six frequencies of burnsi were obtained, all from the Minneapolis area, and the only frequency for kandiyohi came from a fisherman's frog box. Hence, the available data are very limited. However, it was clear that these types were too common to be regarded as aberrant freaks arising from rare chance mutations. Rather they appeared to represent a case of polymorphism, presumably adaptive, in the leopard frog. The present paper presents data from the collection of some 16,000
Increased turnover of intestinal mucosal cells of germfree mice induced by cholic acid.

SummaryWhen germfree mice are fed a diet supplemented with cholic acid, the turnover of intestinal mucosal cells is reduced from 4.44 to 2.12 days, which is the turnover time in conventional mice. It is concluded that cholic acid, which is produced in conventional mice by hydrolyzing enzymes of bacterial origin, has a regulatory effect on intestinal mucosal cell turnover.
A Novel Photochemical Route for Modifying Surfaces: Prospects and Applications

Potential applications of a very general route to photochemically modifying a range of surfaces will be described. Surfaces which have been modified vary considerably and include polyimide, polyethylene, fluoropolymers, polyester, glass, tin oxide and aluminum. Photoactivated azides, for example 3-azidopyridine, have been found to be very effective at modifying a range of surfaces. Using this method organic type functional groups, in this case pyridine type groups, can be photografted on to the surface. As a result of photomodification the surface properties change. In the case of polyethylene for example the surface becomes more hyrophilic and shows improved adhesion to metals. These modified surfaces also display acid-base character. In the protonated form anions can be exchanged into the film. This method has been used to modify a metal oxide electrode surface to develop chemically modified electrodes. The process may also be used in lithography.
Major Trends and Issues in Higher Education Today—Implications for Improved Instruction

WE CAN no longer refer to our American institutions of higher learning simply as "communities of scholars." Neither can all of their activities be identified as "educational." One characteristic, however, dominates the transformed institutions. It is the pursuit of knowledge-a pursuit more intense and with clearer ends in view than previously. The ends no longer are to "know" but to "use" and to "produce action"-to free men from drudgery and starvation, to enable man to defend himself, to extend life, to reduce pain, and to influence and to improve man's mind. Neither is the pursuit of knowledge confined to universities-it permeates the inner core of all types of institutions of higher learning as well as many businesses, industries, and governments. Even churches are dissatisfied with old ideas and are earnestly searching for new answers to old problems. This quest for "hard" knowledge, the kind that produces, the kind that provides immediate tools for the management of man and his environment, has followed military demonstrations that scientific knowledge is power. The military uses of science and technology during World War II, and since, were effective, visible, and impressive. The excitement and enthusiasm for discoveries and their magic techniques returned to campuses with World War II veterans. Sputnik I reinforced and accelerated the pursuit of knowledge. So a swift and basic transformation of higher education was triggered in the postwar era.
Evidence of asymmetric behavioral responses to changes in gasoline prices and taxes for different fuel types

Abstract Using monthly data from the Spanish gasoline retail market we explore asymmetries in consumers’ behavioral responses to changes in gasoline prices and taxes. In particular, we are interested in investigating whether an increase in gasoline taxes has a more negative impact on the demand than a –similar in magnitude– increase in the “pre-tax” price of gasoline for different fuel types. We estimate fuel consumers’ responses using a rich set of robust panel data models considering potential dynamic effects and endogeneity problems. We find evidence to confirm the existence of asymmetric responses for the demand of unleaded fuels and agricultural diesel fuel. However we cannot support this statement for the regular diesel case: for this fuel both the tax-exclusive price and the tax elasticities are roughly the same. This result agrees with the fact that “diesel drivers” tend to be better informed about changes in both fuel prices and taxes. Some implications in terms of fiscal policy and pollution and climate change policy are also discussed.
Metabolic and Hormonal Regulation During Sleep

Sleep plays a major role in the regulation of metabolic and endocrine functions. Reproducible changes in the release of pituitary hormones and pituitary-dependent hormones occur during sleep and reflect the interactions between the three sleep regulatory processes, namely the homeostatic, circadian, and ultradian processes. The prevalence of sleep curtailment, obesity, and metabolism-related pathologies is increasing worldwide. Experimental evidence supports an association between sleep shortening and chronic metabolic changes that can lead to obesity and diabetes. Brain circuits regulating both sleep and metabolism may underlie these associations. Sleep curtailment is also suggested to be a chronic stressor that may contribute to increased risk of obesity and metabolic diseases, possibly in part through HPA axis dysregulation. The hypothalamic excitatory neuropeptides, hypocretin/orexin, have potent wake-promoting effects and act to stimulate food intake. These peptides are involved in the interactions between sleep–wake regulation and the neuroendocrine control of appetite. Western lifestyle has major impact on sleep, eating, and activity periods. Growing evidence suggests that this lifestyle, which is accompanied by disrupted biological rhythms, might affect metabolism leading to metabolic morbidities such as obesity and diabetes.
Attitudinal and Behavioral Changes of Small and Medium-Size U.S. Exporters

This paper examines the changes in the attitudes and behaviors of small and medium size firms toward exporting from 1979 to 1981. The evidence presented by the authors indicates that the government’s export promotion programs have succeeded in making small and medium size firms more aware of export opportunities. The authors also found that recessions do not necessarily have the effect on exports one would expect. They may reduce expectations of future growth through exports, but they do not affect current export levels. The paper argues that while government efforts have made businesses more aware of export opportunities, future export growth will come through the development of new products and the creation of new firms, not from increased awareness. Also, policymakers must maintain responsible policies to ensure that the awareness of international marketing developed by business can now be turned into activity.
Etxeak of memory: the Basque diaspora in the Oroitzapenak oral history project

Throughout the verdant hills of the Pyrenees, the foundation of Basque culture is built on the foundations of the etxeak the immense houses that form the centerpiece of Basque farms and symbolize the incredible cultural inheritance of the Basque people. This inheritance is most evident in their shared language, Euskara, and in their shared pride both of which followed the Basques throughout their long history in the New World. A joint project between the University of Nevada in Reno and the Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise, Idaho, with funding by the Basque government, is documenting the most recent stories of this long American history. Collecting oral history interviews conducted from the 1970s through the 2000s, the Oroitzapenak (“Memories”) Project now has excerpts from over 200 interviews online, along with transcripts, biographical information, and photographs. These interviews are part of the modern-day etxea of memory, helping to keep alive a difficult language and the stories of the Basques who immigrated to the United States to pursue greater economic opportunity for themselves and their families. With focused investments in social network outreach, collection, and online descriptive interfaces, these interviews can reach an even greater user constituency and remain a solid foundation for generations of Basque Americans to come.
Parallel Design of a Product and Internet of Things (IoT) Architecture to Minimize the Cost of Utilizing Big Data (BD) for Sustainable Value Creation

Abstract Information has become today's addictive currency; hence, companies are investing billions in the creation of Internet of Things (IoT) frameworks that gamble on finding trends that reveal sustainability and/or efficiency improvements. This approach to “Big Data” can lead to blind, astronomical costs. Therefore, this paper presents a counter approach aimed at minimizing the cost of utilizing “Big Data” for sustainable value creation. The proposed approach leverages domain/expert knowledge of the system in combination with a machine learning algorithm in order to limit the needed infrastructure and cost. A case study of the approach implemented in a consumer electronics company is also included.
The Uneven Application of the ‘Civil War’ Label to Iraq

AbstractMany scholars and policy practitioners believe that the US invasion of Iraq triggered a civil war. Several major scholarly data-sets, however, do not code a civil war, due to the challenge of coding multiple simultaneous patterns of violence. Further, many political actors have resisted the term, due to obvious political and public relations concerns. This paper analyses these discrepancies in the use of the label, arguing that, for scholars, the coding problem could limit or even bias models of civil war, while for policymakers, the failure to see Iraq’s civil war as such has contributed to major policy failures, from the Bush administration’s state of denial early in the war to the Obama administration’s withdrawal and the subsequent reescalation of violence.
Consolidated-Tomoka—A Real Estate Holding Company

A real estate holding company with a diverse array of real estate operations serves to introduce a number of accounting and finance topics. The company owns over 11,000 acres of raw land purchased many years past, thus the use of historical cost accounting has left significant asset value off the books. The company is debt free, but a shift in corporate strategy and the use of tax-free 1231 like-kind exchanges has created an ever growing deferred tax liability. The basics of valuation, particularly income capitalization and a sum-of-the parts methodology are relevant. Finally, pressure from an outsider shareholder has put the company's corporate strategy in flux. Management must assess its current strategy of liquidating raw land and reinvesting in income properties, or devise a new longer-term land-development strategy. Excerpt UVA-C-2315 Rev. Jan. 25, 2011 Consolidated-Tomoka: A Real estate Holding COMPANY The Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co. (CTO) was a real estate holding company with primary operations in Central Florida. Throughout its long history, the company had evolved into one engaged in a diverse array of real estate operations. These included the more conventional (land purchases and sales, development, and rental operations) but also the less conventional (agricultural farming, mineral extraction, and golf course management). CTO's properties were spread throughout the Southeast, with a heavy concentration in and around Volusia County, Florida. The three-year period spanning 2007 through 2009 was unlike any other experienced in the real estate industry. Most real estate companies, particularly real estate investment trusts (REITs) and homebuilders, experienced an unprecedented drop in business. In mid-2007, operating fundamentals for these companies began to deteriorate at a rapid pace. The U.S. financial crisis driving these declines was itself fueled by a national real estate bubble. Virtually all property owners witnessed sharp equity erosion, and those who were highly levered quickly found themselves with loan-to-value ratios greater than one. The declines in Florida real estate were particularly severe, with year-over-year drops in appraised values exceeding 30% (Exhibit 1). Although CTO was one of the few real estate companies that managed an operating profit in each quarter during 2007–09, it was not completely immune to the downturn's effects (Exhibits 2 through 4 provide the three-year balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flow, and Exhibit 5 lists a summary of key accounting policies related to those statements). Corporate Evolution and Current Strategy . . .
Cadmium Disrupts Vestibular Function by Interfering with Otolith Formation

Cadmium (Cd2+) is a transition metal found ubiquitously in the earth9s crust and is extracted in the production of other metals such as copper, lead, and zinc. Human exposure to Cd2+ occurs through food consumption, cigarette smoking, and the combustion of fossil fuels. Cd2+ has been shown to be nephrotoxic, neurotoxic, and osteotoxic, and is a known carcinogen. Animal studies and epidemiological studies have linked prenatal Cd2+ exposure to hyperactivity and balance disorders although the mechanisms remain unknown. In this study we show that zebrafish developmentally exposed to Cd2+ exhibit abnormal otolith development and show an increased tendency to swim in circles, observations that are consistent with an otolith-mediated vestibular defect, in addition to being hyperactive. We also demonstrate that the addition of calcium rescues otolith malformation and reduces circling behavior but has no ameliorating effect on hyperactivity, suggesting that hyperactivity and balance disorders in human populations exposed to Cd are manifestations of separate underlying molecular pathways.
Intercalation and desorption of oxygen between graphene and Ru(0001) studied with helium ion scattering

Graphene is a fascinating two-dimensional material that is being widely investigated for use in electronic devices due to its unique electronic and materials properties. Also, because of its high thermal stability and inertness, it is considered a promising candidate for use as a protection layer for metal substrates. Here, graphene films grown on Ru(0001) are held at 600 K while exposed to oxygen (${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$) and then investigated with helium low-energy ion scattering (LEIS). LEIS spectra collected at different scattering angles confirm that oxygen does not adsorb to graphene but instead intercalates between the graphene and the substrate. The intercalated ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ desorbs when the sample is annealed to 800 K. It is shown that this is a much lower temperature than is needed to remove chemisorbed atomic oxygen from Ru, thus inferring that the intercalated oxygen is molecular. During the desorption process, some of the graphene is etched away via a chemical reaction with the oxygen, with the proportion desorbing as ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ or reacting to etch the graphene being dependent on the amount of intercalated ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$.
Short vs. (vs) Prolonged Course of Therapy for Ventilator-associated Tracheitis (VAT) Caused by Non-lactose-fermenting Gram-negative Rods (NLFGNR) in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Background It is still unclear whether prolonged duration of therapy (DOT) for VAT might be protective against progression to pneumonia. From a stewardship view, shortening DOT may help to contain emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in PICU. To this effect, we sought to compare clinical characteristics and outcomes in PICU patients with NLFGNR VAT treated with >7 days (prolonged course group, PCG) vs. ≤7 days (short course group, SCG).
Nanoscale phase imaging of live cells

Quantitative phase imaging uses interferometry to obtain nanoscale information on live cells. Here we describe its use for disease diagnosis and analysis of cell biomechanical properties.
Robust principal component analysis in optical micro-angiography

Background: Recent development of optical micro-angiography (OMAG) utilizes principal component analysis (PCA), where linear-regression filter is employed to separate static and blood flow signals within optical coherence tomography (OCT). While PCA is relatively simple and computationally efficient, the technique is sensitive to and easily skewed by outliers. In this paper, robust PCA (RPCA) is thus introduced to tackle this issue in traditional PCA. Methods: We first provide brief theoretical background of PCA and RPCA in the context of OMAG where coherent (complex) OCT signals are utilized to contrast blood flow. We then compare PCA and RPCA on sets of 4D-OCT complex data (3 dimensions in space and 1 dimension in time), which are collected from microfluidic phantoms and in vivo nail-fold tissue. Results: In phantom experiments, both analyses perform relatively well since there are little motion within our observation time window, albeit small tail-noise artifacts from PCA. In nail-fold experiment, PCA suffers from tissue motion, from which RPCA does not seem to be affected. Results from RPCA also show enhancements of other dynamic signals, which are likely from the intercellular fluid. This unwanted result is yet to be proven useful for clinical applications. Conclusions: Traditional PCA method employs linear-regression filter and is sensitive to outliers (tail-noise and motion artifacts). RPCA method is robust against outliers, but is currently computationally expensive.
A systematic review of management efforts on goatgrass (Aegilops spp) dominance

Goatgrass (Aegilops) species are some of the most aggressive invasive plants in the Western U.S. Despite intense management efforts, goatgrass continues to reduce the ecological and economic integrity of natural and agroecological systems. The mismatch between current research outcomes and practical needs of land managers is likely a result of limitations associated with generalizing from single location, treatment, or season studies. We conducted a systematic review of experiments testing control of two dominant goatgrass invaders (A. cylindrica and A. triuncialis) to identify general patterns in treatment efficiency. Using data from 391 separate experiments, we found that experimental treatments were more successful at controlling the dominance of A. cylindrica compared to A. triuncialis. For A. cylindrica, no treatment demonstrated particular utility for control. Treatment of A. cylindrica in the vegetative stage was more effective for control than treatment at other stages. For A. triuncialis, burning and grazing demonstrated effective overall control among all treatments, although grazing produced variable results. Treatment in the fruiting stage of A. triuncialis was more effective for control than treatment at other stages. For both species, multiple applications of a management treatment within a year resulted in no better control than a single application within a year. Additionally, treatments deployed in two consecutive years resulted in better control of both species, than a treatment deployed in a single year. This work highlights promising avenues for more intensive research on goatgrass weed control and suggests that management funding is most effectively utilized when employed across years rather than focused on a single year.
Diagnosis and Management of Congenital Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common congenital sensory deficit, yet the etiology of up to one third of cases remains undetermined. The goal of this review is to outline current diagnosis and management practices in congenital sensorineural hearing loss. Early screening programs have significantly increased the identification of at-risk infants and has allowed for early intervention. Thus, newborn screening is universally advocated. It is important for practitioners to understand and recognize risk factors and possible causes of hearing loss in infants. Additionally, healthcare providers may provide prenatal and postnatal guidance as preventative measures. Once a child with hearing loss is identified, practitioners must know how best to manage and counsel patients regarding hearing loss. As our understanding of congenital sensorineural hearing loss improves and new genetic discoveries are made, physicians must remain aware of the changes to standard testing algorithms. It is essential that we stay current on advents in massive parallel sequencing and new diagnostic imaging strategies. Finally, knowledge of early intervention programs, hearing amplification technology, and cochlear implantation recommendations is crucial to providing adequate care to our patients.
Raman Spectroscopy of Proteins and Their Assemblies

Laser Raman spectroscopy, like infrared spectroscopy, is a method for determining molecular structure by measuring the energies (frequencies) of molecular vibrations. Although the two methods differ fundamentally in the mechanisms of interaction between radiation and matter, one obtains in both cases a vibrational spectrum consisting of a number of discrete bands, the frequencies and intensities of which are determined by the nuclear masses in motion, the equilibrium molecular geometry, and the molecular force field. An important advantage of Raman over infrared spectroscopy for biological applications is the virtual transparency of water (both H2O and D2O) in the Raman effect. This greatly simplifies the analysis of aqueous solutions and facilitates the investigation of hydrogen-isotope exchange phenomena. Changes in molecular geometry—particularly the conformational transitions characteristic of biological macromolecules—can produce large shifts in Raman band positions, often referred to as frequency shifts, empowering the technique in the diagnosis of protein secondary structure, determination of side-chain configurations, and detection of interacting side-chain groups. Since the molecular geometry and force field may be sensitive to interactions between molecules, the Raman method also has the potential for investigating intermolecular interactions, including the formation of biologically important protein complexes. Raman spectroscopy is gaining wide use as a method for probing protein structure, dynamics, assembly, and recognition.
A Comparison of Social Service Workers' and the Public's Views of Nursing Home Characteristics

Using the determinant attribute model, this study examined and compared the criteria which 277 social service workers and 842 members of a general population would employ in selecting a nursing home. The results suggested substantial differences between the two groups in selection criteria. Implications of these results and of the use of the determinant attribute model as an aid to practice are discussed. Among the roles performed by social service personnel in hospitals and those employed in community programs for the aged is providing consultation to older persons and their families about nursing home selection. Goldstucker, et al. (1974) suggest that the typical pattern leading to nursing home placement is for physician and family to conclude that nursing home placement is the most appropriate way to provide needed care. Families tend to decide which nursing home will be used (Goldstucker, et al. 1974), and thus their consultation with a social service worker is likely to involve discussion about how to choose the most appropriate home for the potential resident from among those which are available. While there is a growing literature concerning the initial decision to seek a nursing home placement (Korcher and *The author would like to express thanks to Dr. Rita Braito, University of Denver, Dr. David Klemmack, The University of Alabama, and Dr. Richard Durand, Auburn University, for their kind assistance in various phases of this project. The research was funded, in part, by the Venture Fund and by the Center for Business and Economic Research, The University of Alabama.
Reimagining the antiphospholipid syndrome, an enigmatic thrombophilic disorder, through the looking glass of microscopic imaging.

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune thrombophilic disorder that was described as a diagnostic entity over 30 years ago. And yet the pathogenic mechanisms that are responsible for its clinical manifestations remain to be definitively established. The syndrome is defined by (1) the concurrence of vascular thrombosis and/or pregnancy complications together with (2) positivity for immunoassays and coagulation tests that were derived from clinical observations of two anomalous laboratory test results—specifically, false positivity for syphilis infection in uninfected individuals and the finding of inhibitors of blood coagulation in patients who lacked any bleeding tendencies. Over the years, these were standardized into immunoassays and coagulation assays for APS. Here, we describe how prior knowledge of the immunologic and coagulation aspects of the disorder led to research involving a range of imaging modalities including light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, confocal scanning laser microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. In turn, the results from those studies led to a “reimagining” of APS that has advanced the understanding of pathogenic mechanisms of the disorder and has led to the development of novel mechanistically based diagnostics along with potential new treatment approaches that target disease mechanisms.
Colonial Specters: The Extramuro, History, Memory, and Urbanization in La Paz, Bolivia, 1900-1947:

This essay examines the racialization of space and the role of memory in the twentieth-century urbanization of La Paz, Bolivia. Historical memory linked particular races to specific spaces; this in turn helped determine spending on infrastructure, hygiene, and other urban projects. The essay analyzes the ways in which the extramuro (outside the walls of the city) was marked as the place for undesirable, but necessary elements of the city, and as the point of origin for the filth and a whole host of diseases within the city. The relationship between La Paz and the discourses on indigenas in public space in the twentieth century takes center stage: these discourses marked indigenas as undesirable and yet redeemable. This essay analyzes the close connection between the construction of race and the urbanization of that same space. I conclude by reassessing the links between race, space, and memory in Bolivia.
Sources of Free Speech in U.S. Higher Education: What the Law Tells Us

This critical literature review discusses how U.S. law has addressed the issue of free speech on college campuses. Ultimately, colleges and universities are tasked with balancing First Amendment rights with the safety of their students, faculty, staff, and campus members. In the future, more legislation should continue to inform how colleges and universities draft hate and bias policies and campus speech policies, meant to balance First Amendment rights and the aforementioned safety of educational stakeholders and the general public.
American black bear den-site selection and characteristics in an urban environment

Selection of den sites is a crucial aspect of American black bear (Ursus americanus) life history. High-quality dens provide thermal insulation, protection from disturbance, suitable environment for parturition and cub development, and proximity to available forage upon emergence. Black bears are increasingly coexisting with people in human-dominated landscapes; however, little is known about whether urban environments influence characteristics of dens and den site selection. Our objective was to determine the effect of housing density (a proxy for human activity and availability of anthropogenic resources) on selection of den sites in years of good and poor natural forage. We additionally compared size, shape, and location of dens of males and females to describe den characteristics and explore whether differences existed between males and females. We revisited 34 den locations detected during a 6-year (2005–2010) urban black bear study in Aspen, Colorado, USA, and measured den entrance and den volume. We fit a conditional logistic regression model using a resource selection function framework to determine the importance of housing density and other landscape variables (elevation, slope, aspect, and vegetation type) associated with den site selection. Slope was the best predictor of den site selection and there was no relationship between den selection and housing density, indicating that black bears were neither avoiding nor seeking urban areas for denning. Dens were smaller for females ( = 3.30 m3, SE = 1.94, n = 22) than for males ( = 7.56 m3, SE = 3.31, n = 8), supporting the idea that females have greater constraints in den characteristics, possibly related to cub development and security from predation or because females generally are smaller than males.
Transformations and Grids

If all CFD applications dealt with physical problems where a uniform, rectangular grid could be used in the physical plane, there would be no reason to alter the governing equations derived in Chapter 2. We would simply apply these equations in rectangular (x, y, z, t) space, finite-difference these equations according to the difference quotients derived in Chapter 5, and calculate away, using uniform values of Δx, Δy, Δz and Δt. However, few real problems are ever so accommodating. For example, assume we wish to calculate the flow over an airfoil, as sketched in Figure 6.1, where we have placed the airfoil in a rectangular grid. Note the problems with this rectangular grid: (1) Some grid points fall inside the airfoil, where they are completely out of the flow. What values of the flow properties do we ascribe to these points? (2) There are few, if any, grid points that fall on the surface of the airfoil. This is not good, because the airfoil surface is a vital boundary condition for the determination of the flow, and hence the airfoil surface must be clearly and strongly seen by the numerical solution.
The phonetic properties of the non-modal phonation in Shanghainese

This study investigates the acoustic and articulatory properties of phonation contrast in Shanghainese, the most thoroughly studied Chinese Wu dialect. Although previous studies generally suggest that the non-modal phonation associated with the lower register in Shanghainese is relatively breathier, it is unclear whether it is ‘breathy voice’, ‘slack voice’ or ‘whispery voice’. This study aims to provide a better understanding of the phonetic realization of the non-modal phonation in Shanghainese. Simultaneous audio and electroglottographic recordings were made from 52 speakers born before 1980. Both acoustic and articulatory data confirmed that the non-modal phonation in Shanghainese is produced with relatively less glottal constriction and more aperiodic noise than the modal phonation. The novel finding of this study is that aperiodic noise plays a much more important role than spectral measures (i.e. indicators of glottal constriction) in the phonetic realization of the non-modal phonation. This property is distinct from the breathier voices in Gujarati, White Hmong and Southern Yi. These results suggest that the non-modal phonation in Shanghainese should be characterized as ‘whispery voice’, which is phonetically distinct from both ‘breathy voice’ and ‘slack voice’.
An exploratory investigation of geographic disparities of stroke prevalence in Florida using circular and flexible spatial scan statistics.

Background Stroke is a major public health concern due to the morbidity and mortality associated with it. Identifying geographic areas with high stroke prevalence is important for informing public health interventions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate geographic disparities and identify geographic hotspots of stroke prevalence in Florida. Materials and methods County-level stroke prevalence data for 2013 were obtained from the Florida Department of Health's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Geographic clusters of stroke prevalence were investigated using the Kulldorff's circular spatial scan statistics (CSSS) and Tango's flexible spatial scan statistics (FSSS) under Poisson model assumption. Exact McNemar's test was used to compare the proportion of cluster counties identified by each of the two methods. Both Cohen's Kappa and bias adjusted Kappa were computed to assess the level of agreement between CSSS and FSSS methods of cluster detection. Goodness-of-fit of the models were compared using Cluster Information Criterion. Identified clusters and selected stroke risk factors were mapped. Results Overall, 3.7% of adults in Florida reported that they had been told by a healthcare professional that they had suffered a stroke. Both CSSS and FSSS methods identified significant high prevalence stroke spatial clusters. However, clusters identified using CSSS tended to be larger than those identified using FSSS. The FSSS had a better fit than the CSSS. Most of the identified clusters are explainable by the prevalence distributions of the known risk factors assessed. Conclusions Geographic disparities of stroke risk exists in Florida with some counties having significant hotspots of high stroke prevalence. This information is important in guiding future research and control efforts to address the problem. Kulldorff's CSSS and Tango's FSSS are complementary to each other and should be used together to provide a more complete picture of the distributions of spatial clusters of health outcomes.