cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward increasing the accuracy and realism of future optical turbulence calculations

Due to the increased use of laser and ground-to-satellite communications the need for reliable optical turbulence information is growing. Optical turbulence information is important because it describes an atmospheric effect that can degrade the performance of electromagnetic systems and sensors, e.g., free-space optical communications and infrared imaging. However, analysis of selected past research indicates that there are some areas (i.e., data and models) in which optical turbulence information is lacking. For example, line-of-sight optical turbulence data coupled with atmospheric models in hilly terrain, coastal areas, and within cities are few in number or non-existent. In addition, the bulk of existing atmospheric computer models being used to provide estimates of optical turbulence are basically one-dimensional in nature and assume uniform turbulence conditions over large areas. As a result, current optical turbulence theory and models may be deficient and in error for inhomogeneous (nonuniform) turbulence conditions, such as those that occur in urban environments or environments with changing topography and energy budgets. While it is anticipated that theoretical advances in environmental physics (and like disciplines) will be a catalyst for much new work this area, in the interim, we suggest that some very practical computational research can be performed to extend existing low-atmospheric turbulence and micrometeorological calculations beyond current limitations.
Effects of age on intrinsic heart rate, heart rate variability, and AV conduction in healthy humans

Heart rate, heart rate variability, and atrioventricular (AV) conduction were studied in 20 young (30 +/- 5 yr) and 19 older (69 +/- 7 yr) healthy men and women before and after single and double autonomic blockade (randomized order: atropine, 0.04 mg/kg i.v.; propranolol, 0.2 mg/kg i.v.). Basal R-R intervals did not differ, but older age increased P-R intervals (177 +/- 24 vs. 149 +/- 17 ms, P 98%, P < 0.0001). We conclude that age differences in heart rate variability can be explained by autonomic influences, but heart rate and AV conduction differences exist independently of beta-adrenergic and/or parasympathetic influences.
Muon Spin Research on Spin Glasses

Major results of muon-spin-relaxation (µSR) studies on canonical and oxide spin glasses are discussed. The metallic spin glasses AgMn, AuFe, CuMn, and CuFe and the oxide spin glass Fe2Ti05 are highlighted. The µSR work shows clearly that below the spin-glass temperature (Tg) both slow and rapid spin fluctuations occur. Single-crystal µSR investigations indicate that the freezing process in spin glasses is spatially inhomogeneous, whereas polyerystalline-sample µSR results point toward a dominantly homogeneous freezing process. Currently, the model descriptions of the dynamics in spin glasses observed above Tg are not unanimous; anisotropy appears to be the necessary ingredient to attempt to solve this problem in spin dynamics.
Loss of Smad4 in Sertoli and Leydig Cells Leads to Testicular Dysgenesis and Hemorrhagic Tumor Formation in Mice

As the central component of canonical TGFbeta superfamily signaling, SMAD4 is a critical regulator of organ development, patterning, tumorigenesis, and many other biological processes. Because numerous TGFbeta superfamily ligands are expressed in developing testes, there may exist specific requirements for SMAD4 in individual testicular cell types. Previously, we reported that expansion of the fetal testis cords requires expression of SMAD4 by the Sertoli cell lineage. To further uncover the role of Smad4 in murine testes, we produced conditional knockout mice lacking Smad4 in either Leydig cells or in both Sertoli and Leydig cells simultaneously. Loss of Smad4 concomitantly in Sertoli and Leydig cells led to underdevelopment of the testis cords during fetal life and mild testicular dysgenesis in young adulthood (decreased testis size, partially dysgenic seminiferous tubules, and low sperm production). When the Sertoli/Leydig cell Smad4 conditional knockout mice aged (56- to 62-wk old), the testis phenotypes became exacerbated with the appearance of hemorrhagic tumors, Leydig cell adenomas, and a complete loss of spermatogenesis. In contrast, loss of Smad4 in Leydig cells alone did not appreciably alter fetal and adult testis development. Our findings support a cell type-specific requirement of Smad4 in testis development and suppression of testicular tumors.
Running, breathing and visceral motion in the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): testing visceral displacement hypotheses

The relative motion of the visceral mass may be important to ventilation during running. A visceral piston hypothesis predicts that, during galloping, cranial motion of the liver during expiration and caudal motion of the liver during inspiration may characterize efficient quadrupedal mammalian locomotion. Although a theoretical model based on vibration mechanics casts doubt on this prediction, only limited direct measurements of visceral mass motion during galloping have been reported. In the present study, mechanical interactions between running, breathing and liver oscillations in the domestic rabbit are recorded using synchronized videographic, cineradiographic and pneumotachographic techniques. The analysis focuses on the variation in locomotor-respiratory coupling (LRC) and on the relative position of the liver. Results from running rabbits show (1) variation in phase angle between the locomotor and respiratory periods that is inconsistent with the 1:1 LRC ratio that has been reported for other galloping mammals; (2) a tendency towards a 1:1 LRC ratio at higher speeds and stride frequencies; and (3) that the relative motion of the liver is caudal during expiration and cranial during inspiration, which is inconsistent with the visceral piston hypothesis. The data presented here are generally consistent with the theoretical vibration mechanics model for liver motion and with a pneumatic stabilization hypothesis that the lungs serve an important role in the stabilization of the thorax during locomotion.
Cascade Regulation of Dimethyl Sulfoxide Reductase (dor) Gene Expression in the Facultative Phototroph Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1T

Under anaerobic-dark growth conditions, in the presence of the alternative electron acceptor dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1(T) respires anaerobically using the molybdoenzyme DMSO reductase (DMSOR). Genes encoding DMSOR and associated proteins are encoded by genes of the dor locus. Previously, we demonstrated that the expression of DMSOR is regulated by both the oxygen status of the cell via the FnrL protein and by the presence of DMSO or TMAO, presumably through the DorS-DorR two-component sensor-regulator system. Here we further investigate expression of the dor genes through the use of transcriptional lacZ fusions to the dorS, dorR, and dorC promoters. The expression of dorC::lacZ was strongly induced by the absence of oxygen and presence of DMSO. In accordance with our previous findings of DMSOR activity, dorC::lacZ expression was reduced by up to one-third when cells were grown photosynthetically in the presence of DMSO with medium or high light, compared to the expression observed after anaerobic-dark growth. The induction of dorC::lacZ expression in the presence of DMSO was dependent on the DorS and DorR proteins. Expression of the dorS and dorR genes was also induced in the absence of oxygen. In an FnrL mutant, dorS::lacZ expression was not induced when oxygen tensions in the media were lowered, in contrast to what occurred in the wild-type strain. The expression of dorS::lacZ and dorR::lacZ was dependent on the DorS and DorR proteins themselves, suggesting the importance of autoregulation. These results demonstrate a cascade regulation of dor gene expression, where the expression of the regulatory proteins DorS and DorR governs the downstream regulation of the dorCBA operon encoding the structural proteins of DMSOR.
An assessment of variable thickness and fiber orientation of the skeletal muscle layer on electrocardiographic calculations

A realistic model of a canine torso which includes extensive detail about skeletal muscle layer thickness and fiber orientation is compared with two other uniformly anisotropic models. A transfer coefficient is developed which relates torso potentials to epicardial potentials for a given anisotropic skeletal muscle layer thickness and muscle fiber orientation. The transfer coefficient is valid for any set of measured epicardial potentials and is independent of the conductivity of the heart. Transfer coefficients calculated for different thicknesses and muscle fiber orientations of the skeletal muscle layer are used to compute torso potentials directly from measured epicardial potentials. A comparison of the measured torso potentials with the potentials calculated from the different transfer coefficients indicates the effectiveness of including variations in fiber orientation and in thickness of the skeletal muscle layer in the model. >
TOURISM, ECONOMIC INSECURITY, AND NUTRITIONAL HEALTH IN RURAL COSTA RICA: USING SYNDEMICS THEORY TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE GLOBALIZING ECONOMY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

Rapid economic transformations have both positive and negative consequences for nutrition and health. This article presents data from an area of rural Costa Rica that has experienced a rapid economic shift from dairy farming and coffee production to a mixed economy based increasingly on tourism and to a lesser extent on agriculture. During a one-year period (2004–2005), sociodemographic, employment, dietary intake, food security, anthropometric, and ethnographic (food habits) data were collected from 148 households in two rural communities. The results show that 50 percent of the households are directly involved in the tourism industry, while many others rely on economic strategies that combine involvement in tourism with agricultural activities. Overall, high rates of food insecurity were documented (with over 70 percent of the households experiencing some level of food insecurity over the previous 12 months). The data also show high rates of caregiver and child overweight and obesity and a diet that varies according to food security status. Syndemics theory, which postulates that the dynamic interaction between co-occurring conditions magnifies the effects of each one in isolation can be used to understand how malnutrition (overnutrition) related to economic insecurity and overweight and obesity together may be contributing to the rise in chronic diet-related diseases, such as hypertension and type-2 diabetes, in the study area. The interactions between these comorbidities point to the need for the development of multidimensional public health interventions that couple individual behavior change and community-driven efforts that reduce economic insecurity and ameliorate food insecurity, resulting in more balanced diets and a reduction in overweight and obesity.
Jenseits der Werkästhetik – Wulf Tessins ‚Ästhetik des Angenehmen‘ als Beitrag zu einem neuen Verständnis von Landschaftsarchitektur

Nur einmal angenommen, es gabe einen neuen Park, aber niemand ginge hin. Dem Publikum wurde der Freiraum schlichtweg nicht gefallen, die Fachwelt aber ware begeistert. Die Wirklichkeit setzt selten so deutliche Signale. Aber in Ansatzen zeichnet sich gerade das in der stadtischen Freiraumgestaltung ab. Wulf Tessin geht in seinem Buch uber die ‚Asthetik des Angenehmen‘ der Frage nach, warum das so ist und was daraus folgt. Er reiht sich damit ein in den uber die letzten Jahre lebhafter gewordenen theoretischen Diskurs um ein neues Selbstverstandnis der Landschaftsarchitektur. Die Diskussion setzt an verschiedenen Stellen an. Einer der zentralen Kritikpunkte ist die Feststellung, die kunstlerisch orientierte Herangehensweise der zeitgenossischen Landschaftsarchitektur konne aufgrund ihres intuitiv gepragten Schaffensprozesses keine objektivierbaren Bewertungsmasstabe anbieten (Hofer/Kroniger 2001, 14). Damit liesen sich aber, so die Kritiker, weder Entwurfsentscheidungen transparent machen (Korner 2001, 447) noch die notwendige Diskursfahigkeit in einem demokratischen System gewahrleisten. Auch fur den Gegenstand der Landschaftsarchitektur selbst, die Landschaft, wird eine Neupositionierung gefordert, da die traditionelle Sichtweise offensichtlich zu eng und zu sehr an traditionellen Bildern orientiert ist, um neue landschaftliche Phanomene uberhaupt einschliesen zu konnen (Korner 2006; Prominski 2006).
Assessment of the actual condition of the electrical components in medium-voltage networks

Due to the large amount of electrical equipment and the costs of an individual diagnosis in medium-voltage networks, a general consideration of some representative electrical components is necessary to assess the actual condition of the electrical equipment. For a life model of electrical components, the individual aging phenomena of representative electrical components, as well as the general aging mechanisms of insulating materials, are taken into account in this paper. The aging of insulating materials can be estimated by an electrical breakdown occurring in electrical components so that the relationship between lifetime and failure probability of electrical components may be studied using the life model, the probabilistic failure model, and the enlargement law which are reasonably able to investigate the cause & consequence of failure in medium-voltage networks. Thereby, a new approach is developed for the assessment of the actual condition of electrical components in terms of failure time, failure probability, hazard rate, and other related variables of electrical components in medium-voltage networks. These reliability issues will support the decision-making in future deregulation of the electric energy market. Furthermore the model is verified through some electrical components like conductors, cables, transformers, and circuit-breakers with their specific failure statistics. It is demonstrated that the method is able to assess the actual condition of electrical components in medium-voltage networks with reasonable, accurate data.
The evidence base for the evaluation and management of dizziness.

Objectives Dizziness presentations pose many clinical challenges. The objective of this study is to broadly summarize the evidence base that supports clinical decisions in dizziness presentations. Methods MEDLINE (1966 to September 2007), Web of Science and The Cochrane Library were searched for articles with clinical relevance on topics concerning dizziness. Additional sources were also searched for clinical practice guidelines. The following information was abstracted from each article: year of publication, journal type, type of article and the topics of the article. Results Of nearly 3000 articles identified, 1244 articles met the inclusion criteria. The most common article type was a case report or case series, followed by expert opinion or review articles, studies of medical tests and clinical trials. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews were found on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and Meniere's disease, but only a few other topics. No clinical practice guidelines were found that focus specifically on dizziness. Conclusions The evidence base for the evaluation and management of dizziness seems to be weak. Future work to establish or summarize evidence in clinically meaningful ways could contribute to efforts to optimize patient care and health care utilization for one of the most common presenting symptoms.
The effects of corn hybrid kernel traits on performance in broiler chickens, laying hens, and pigs

v CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 Thesis organization 3 References 3 CHAPTER 2: THE EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL CORN KERNEL TRAITS ON PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE IN BROILER CHICKENS AND LAYING HENS 6 Abstract 6 6 Introduction 7 Materials and methods 8 Results and discussion 15 Implications 24 Acknowledgments 26 References 26 CHAPTER 3: THE EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL CORN KERNEL TRAITS ON PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS QUALITY IN PIGS 41 Abstract 41 4
Build vs. Buy

This chapter addresses a difficult and controversial decision that is made every time an organization seeks a software solution to meet its needs: do we make it to our specific needs or do we buy something that is made to order but may not do everything we want? Often the build decision is called the “make” alternative and suggests that the product will be made in-house vs. the buy concept that can be referred to as outsourcing. I do not believe these simple labels are accurate or appropriate. Whether something is build or bought has little to do with whether the process is outsourced, so we need to be careful in the way we label these two alternatives.
Rehnquist and Federalism: An Empirical Perspective

We attempt to articulate a vision of federalism, particularly the Rehnquist version of federalism. We find that there is little consistent thought on the role of the judiciary in protecting federalism. This lack of consensus makes it difficult to predict the decisions federalists might make, but we attempt to outline Chief Justice Rehnquist's contributions to understanding the role courts should play in protecting federalism. We then attempt to assess if Rehnquist adheres to his own vision of federalism. Using his votes since his elevation to Chief Justice in 1986, we test several hypotheses designed to determine if Chief Justice Rehnquist demonstrates the respect for the balance between state and federal governments which he has articulated in so many of his opinions. We generally find support for the proposition that Chief Justice Rehnquist adheres to the tenets of federalism. We conclude that, while there is an ideological component to Chief Justice Rehnquist's jurisprudence, there also appears to be evidence of a sincere commitment to the protection of the line between national and state governments.
Meeting Dr Jonah

Purpose – The purpose of this viewpoint is to draw attention to a relatively new set of ethical challenges presented by pills contain sensors and other similar “nanobots” that send information back to the doctor and to call for a public dialogue on these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The approach for this paper is to examine recent news reports on these new technologies and suggest an approach to an ethical framework based on similar challenges in digital privacy. Findings – Based on the rapid evolution of the technology, the author believes that there are four critical areas to be considered to create an ethical framework for implantable/ingestible devices that transmit real-time information – informed consent, anonymization, approved usage and the right of deletion. Research limitations/implications – The findings will need to be augmented once these devices are in common use to evaluate the real-world viability of the ethical framework proposed. Originality/value – To the best of our knowledge,...
A Modification in the Thermostromuhr Method of Measuring Flow of Blood

The proper construction of the unit applied to the blood vessel is fundamental to the success of the thermostromuhr method of measuring flow of blood. Rein1 developed the thermostromuhr and named the unit the diathermy thermo-element. This diathermy thermo-element is U-shaped and requires the use of collodion to hold it firmly on the blood vessel during an experiment. It is very satisfactory for short-time observations, but is less so for experiments in which the unit is to be kept on the blood vessel for several days.Since it was obvious that a drop of collodion could not be expected to hold the unit to the blood vessel firmly enough to insure good electrical contact when the animal was allowed to run about, it was necessary to construct a unit better suited to such conditions. Consequently the unit described here was developed.The dimensions of each particular unit depend on the size of the blood vessel to which it will be applied. Several units of varying sizes must be at one's disposal in order to per...
Adhesion Molecules on Normotensive and Hypertensive Rat Brain Endothelial Cells

The intercellular adhesion of circulating leukocytes to vascular endothelium is a prerequisite for leukocyte emigration from the blood to extravascular tissues. This process is facilitated by adhesion molecules on the surfaces of both the vascular endothelial cells and the leukocytes. The experiments presented here demonstrate for the first time that the leukocyte adhesion receptor, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, is constitutively expressed on cultured cerebromicrovascular endothelial cell lines derived from both spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Both cultures contained similar numbers of cells constitutively expressing this adhesion molecule (31.4% and 29.6%, respectively). Adhesion molecule expression was up-regulated by interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Both cultures exhibited similar maximum levels of adhesion molecule up-regulation to optimal concentrations of all three cytokines. However, SHR endothelial cells were more sensitive to all three cytokines; significantly higher levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression were seen on SHR as opposed to WKY endothelial cells cultured with sub-optimal cytokine concentrations. It was also observed that lipopolysaccharide up-regulated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression on SHR endothelial cells to a greater extent than on WKY endothelial cells. The findings that intercellular adhesion molecule-1 can be up-regulated to a greater degree on SHR endothelial cells may have important implications for in vivo perivascular leukocyte accumulation under hypertensive conditions. These observations indicate a possible mechanism by which hypertension may predispose to the development of disorders such as atherosclerosis and stroke.
NUCLEO-CYTOPLASMIC MALE STERILITY AND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO DIOECY.

Population-genetic models of nucleo-cytoplasmic gynodioecy are shown to allow invasion of males and conversion to dioecy in a single cytotype. Pleiotropic effects of restorer alleles on fertility through male or female function can maintain a cytoplasmic polymorphism in a population that prevents evolution to dioecy regardless of the pollen fertility of males. However, a cytoplasmic polymorphism has little effect on, and may even reduce, the minimum pollen fertility required for the spread of males into an equilibrium gynodioecious population. Where the thresholds for dioecy are similar, the presence of males during a transient preequilibrium high frequency of females can accelerate evolution to dioecy by more than 50 times relative to nuclear male sterility. However, the appearance of a nonrestorable male-sterile cytotype generally eliminates males from both subdioecious and dioecious populations, converting them to purely cytoplasmic gynodioecy. These models contradict the previously suggested notion that nucleo-cytoplasmic gynodioecy represents a "stable" intermediate breeding system and instead show that such gynodioecy can generally evolve to subdioecy, and often to dioecy, as easily as nuclear gynodioecy.
Alkylation of Rhodium Porphyrins Using Ammonium and Quinolinium Salts

Alkylation of rhodium(III) porphyrins [RhIII(por)] was achieved under relatively mild conditions in up to 98% yields, where readily available ammonium and quinolinium salts were utilized as the alkylating agents. This transformation tolerates air and water, thus serving as a convenient method to prepare a variety of alkyl- and benzyl-RhIII(por) complexes. Preliminary mechanistic studies support an SN2-like reaction pathway involving a RhI(por) anion intermediate.
Experimental study of the bacteria inhibition and endotoxin obsorption of rice oil

Objective: To study on the antibacterial effect and endotoxin absorption of rice oil.Methods: The filter paper method was used to determine inhibitory effect of rice oil for K. pneumonia,SAU,E. coli,Shigella,Salmonella and the LAL method was used to study the endotoxin absorption of rice oil powder. Results: Rice oil had some antibacterial effect of K. pneumonia and had no obvious antibacterial activity on SAU,E. coli,Shigella,Salmonella. The rice oil powder has obvious absorption.Conclusion: The rice oil has effects on some basteria and endotoxin
The Utility of Limb Symmetry Indices in Return-to-Sport Assessment in Patients with Bilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background:The incidence of contralateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is high. Often, return-to-sport (RTS) tests of strength and functional hopping rely on limb symmetry indices (LSIs) to identify deficits, although the utility of these measures in athletes with bilateral ACL injuries is unknown.Purpose/Hypothesis:The aim of this study was to investigate if LSIs used as RTS criteria in female patients after unilateral ACLR were appropriate for female patients with bilateral ACL involvement. The hypothesis tested was that asymmetries with traditional LSI measures would be present in a population after unilateral ACLR but would not be present in a population with bilateral ACLR due to the lack of a healthy internal control limb.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:A total of 45 female subjects were classified into 3 groups: after second (contralateral) ACLR (ACLR-B; n = 15); after primary unilateral ACLR (ACLR-U; n = 15); and uninjured...
ABC problem in elementary mathematics education: Arithmetic before comprehension

Mathematical habits of prospective teachers affect problem comprehension and success and expose their beliefs about mathematics. Prospective elementary teachers (PSTs) (n = 121) engaged in a problem solving activity each week in class. Data were collected from PSTs enrolled in an undergraduate elementary mathematics methods course at a Southeastern State University over multiple semesters (six semesters, seven classes). PSTs’ solution methods for one intentionally misleading mathematics problem were analyzed using a convergent parallel mixed methods content analysis. Two-thirds of PSTs misunderstood the problem scenario and directly translated numbers from the problem text. PSTs who answered correctly used a problem model strategy to comprehend the scenario and were more likely to use multiple models, draw a diagram, and draw a diagram before using another model. However, a large number of PSTs who answered incorrectly also used multiple models and drew diagrams. Self-correction was not common (8 of 121), because their equations did not provide feedback or support comprehension. Three kinds of imprecision also affected problem comprehension and were evident in both correct and incorrect solutions. Intentionally misleading problems helped PSTs see consequences of their mathematical habits and highlighted the importance of sense making and precision when creating problem models.
The impact of timing of salvage hormonal therapy on survival after brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose We aimed to evaluate the impact of timing of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on survival in a cohort of patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) after brachytherapy treatment for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials We retrospectively identified 2366 men receiving permanent prostate brachytherapy with or without external beam radiation therapy. Patients experiencing BCR were stratified by receipt of immediate or delayed (≥3 months) ADT and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure threshold of 10 ng/mL. Prostate cancer–specific mortality (PCSM) and all-cause mortality (ACM) were evaluated using Fine–Gray's competing risks regression and Cox proportional hazard model, respectively. Results We identified 109 patients in the study cohort treated with ADT for BCR, followed for a median of 11.4 years. Competing risk regression revealed that there was no difference in PCSM for patients receiving delayed vs. immediate ADT (hazard ratio [HR], 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44–2.00: p = 0.871) or for those initiating hormonal therapy at PSA threshold of 10 vs. <10 ng/mL (HR, 0.85; 95% CI: 0.41–1.75; p = 0.649); similarly, there was no difference in ACM. PSA doubling time <6 months (HR, 2.52; 95% CI: 1.22–5.23; p = 0.013), time to BCR <3 years (HR, 3.27; 95% CI: 1.67–6.42; p = 0.003), and permanent prostate brachytherapy with external beam radiation therapy (HR, 5.21; 95% CI: 2.05–13.26; p = 0.001) were significantly associated with PCSM, as well as ACM. Conclusions Among a cohort of brachytherapy patients, we identified no significant difference in survival for delayed salvage hormonal therapy. Shorter PSA doubling time and time to BCR are significantly associated with adverse outcomes, and these patients should be considered for immediate salvage therapy.
First results from the BNL plant imaging system

The BNL PET Imaging group has developed PET detector technology that can be used in many different configurations. The same technology has been adapted to a configuration with a larger diameter to accommodate plants up to a meter in height. The scanner is mounted on a computer controlled motorized support that can be moved up and down over 50 cm which allows for scanning the plants over nearly the entire length so that activity administered to the leaves can be followed as it migrates down the plant length to the roots. The larger field of view puts new demands on the image reconstruction processes since the vertical position of the scanner in relationship to the plant must be incorporated into the final image analysis. The details of the system construction will be described and preliminary imaging results presented.
Still in Chains: Black Women in Western Prisons, 1865–1910

o wrote a petitioner seeking a pardon for Sarah King, an Alabama mulatto woman, whose legal difficulties in Missouri began sometime in the spring of 1864. The petitioner, Mrs. Lavina P. Jorden, who wanted King released to her for domestic service, assured Governor Thomas Fletcher that the former slave had a husband away with the federal army, had a child who needed motherly attention, was a "good . . . trusty . patient and faithful" black woman, and that "the whole affair" was just a "kind of Negro fuss."2 Actually, "the whole affair" is suggestive of much more than a simple fuss. Nowhere in the country did opportunity seem more alluring after the Civil War than in the most promising of natural regions-the American West. It has been well documented that displaced persons-black and white, male and female-turned to the expanses of the frontier with hope for a more promising future.3 The Far West beckoned as the "new" region, where
Modeling of Six Pulse Voltage Source Inverter based STATCOM with PWM and Conventional Triggering

In the present study, a six pulse inverter is triggered using conventional sequential and pulse width modulation (PWM) technique simultaneously for comparing their results. FACTS devices such as STATCOM are the most emerging areas in today’s power system. This STATCOM is a power electronic based converter circuit in which inverter circuit is fabricated for the purpose of voltage control and reactive power compensation through its current flow. A six pulse inverter is developed that can be generalized for developing any number of multiple of six pulse inverters by cascading them in parallel using transformers connection. Voltage source Inverter (VSI) is the most commonly used inverter that can be modeled for electrical system based studies. A methodology is presented to trigger the STATCOM inverter circuit using conventional and PWM techniques, and then the results are compared using MATLAB Simulink model
Well-posedness and regularity of the generalized Burgers equation in periodic Gevrey spaces

Abstract We consider the generalized Burgers equation in a class of Gevrey functions G σ , δ , s ( T ) . We show that the generalized Burgers equation is well-posed in this space. Furthermore, we show that the solution is Gevrey-σ in the spacial variable and Gevrey-2σ in the time variable.
Mothers and Monsters: Women, Gender, and Genocide

This chapter focuses on the ways women are framed in genocide studies as well as in media narratives of genocide. It is shown that relying on received and uncontested concepts of gender leads to seeing women only as victims of genocide. This in turn makes it difficult to see women as perpetrators of genocidal violence. When forced to acknowledge that women are sometimes perpetrators of genocides they are confined to one of two frames: either they are cast as femmes fatales, or they are constructed as monsters and sometimes mother-monsters. It must be recognized that women in fact act as perpetrators of genocide. And it must also be recognized that casting women perpetrators as either femmes fatales or monsters precludes understanding how women do act when committing genocide. There are, indeed, many cases of women perpetrating genocide. To better understand how and why women act as perpetrators, it is argued that West and Zimmerman’s framework of “doing gender” can serve to illuminate the various ways in which women do perpetrate genocides.
Reorganizing a countywide school district: A critical analysis of politics and policy development toward decentralization

Policymakers and educational leaders continue to use school district decentralization as a reform effort that attempts to shift power and authority from central office administration to school-level leadership. In 2015, the Nevada Legislature passed legislation to restructure the Clark County School District (CCSD), the state’s largest school district, with the intent of breaking it up into smaller districts but instead evolving to decentralization. In this article, we use case study methods to explore the events leading up to the reorganization of CCSD. We take a critical perspective on Kingdon’s multiple streams framework to analyze the reorganization efforts, focusing specifically on how Nevada’s political context provided a window of opportunity for the reorganization to occur. We also examine the extent to which equitable educational opportunity was a factor in these efforts. Our analysis of the reorganization of CCSD contributes to a wider understanding of state-level policy development and politics within contemporary educational contexts. In this case, we find that state-level policymakers successfully leveraged the opportunity to enact the power and authority necessary to significantly and rapidly impact the structure of one of the largest school districts in the United States.
USE OF PERCUTANEOUS BIVENTRICULAR MECHANICAL SUPPORT IN POST INFARCTION VENTRICULAR SEPTAL RUPTURE: MECHANICAL SUPPORT FOR A MECHANICAL CATASTROPHE

Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a catastrophic sequela of acute myocardial infarction (MI). The 30-day mortality rate is 90% for medical treatment and 60% for surgical treatment. Bridging to repair poses a challenge due to the deranged hemodynamics. A 75-year-old woman with a history of
Gender-Associated Differences in Gene Expression of the Meibomian Gland

Previous research has shown that a sex-related difference exists in the casual level of meibomian gland lipids on the lid margin, with women having lower amounts than men from puberty to menopause.1 We hypothesize that this difference may possibly reflect a gender-associated variation in gene expression, and consequent function, of the meibomian gland. Moreover, we hypothesize that this sex-related difference may relate in part to the influence of androgens, which are known to modulate the meibomian gland.2–9 The purpose of this study was to begin to test these hypotheses.
Correlates of long-acting reversible contraception uptake among rural women in Guatemala.

Objective In many low-resource settings around the world utilization of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is low, in part due to access barriers. We sought to explore LARC utilization patterns as well as factors associated with LARC initiation by women seeking contraception in rural Guatemala from a program working to reduce contraception access barriers. Study design We analyzed data from a program that provides family planning in six remote, primarily indigenous, villages in Guatemala with limited access to alternative health services. Methods are free and delivered directly within villages by culturally competent providers. We conducted a retrospective chart review of all 288 women who initiated a contraceptive method over a 16-month period and conducted a logistic regression to obtain adjusted odds ratios (OR) for predictors of LARC uptake. Results Overall 79.2% of women elected a LARC method. More than half of women (49.8%) switched to LARC from short-acting hormonal methods. In the univariate analysis prior use of short-acting method (p = 0.014), number of prior methods (p = 0.049), and current contraceptive use (p<0.01) were significantly associated with choosing a LARC. In the logistic regression model current use of contraception remained significant (OR 3.29, 95% CI 1.67–8.04). Report of abnormal bleeding or other side effects from prior short-acting method use did not predict LARC uptake (p = 0.82 and p = 0.079). Conclusions Most women in this marginalized population opted for a LARC method. Implications Low utilization of LARCs may be related to service delivery factors. Further research is needed to validate these conclusions prospectively and in less selected populations.
Refraction Problems in Geometric Optics

We present a description of the far field and the near field problems for refraction when the source of energy is located at one point. The far field problem is solved using mass transportation and also a variant of the Minkowski method. Maxwell equations are developed and the boundary conditions studied to obtain Fresnel formulas. These are used to present a model for refraction that takes into consideration the energy used in internal reflection.
Homeostatic and Excretory Functions of the Kidney

The kidneys have a central role in the homeostasis of water and electrolytes, i.e., in the maintenance of volume and ionic composition of body fluids. This function is accomplished by appropriate changes in the rate of renal excretion of water and electrolytes, controlled by feedback mechanisms which involve participation of the nervous system, the endocrine system, or both. The homeostatic functions of the kidney include the control of the balance of water, sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium, hydrogen ions, and phosphate. The adaptability of the kidney to the requirements of homeostasis is demonstrated by the large changes in urine volume and composition which occur in response to alterations in the diet. There is no fixed normal composition of the urine. Normal homeostatic renal function is defined by the capacity of the organ to vary the volume and composition of the urine over a wide range, according to requirements imposed by intake, extrarenal losses, and other factors.
From Structuralism to Pluralism

The reader is introduced to pluralism from the starting point of structuralism. The starting position is Shapiro’s structuralist position. The pluralist is inspired by Shapiro’s position, especially by his anti-foundationalism and by his self-avowed pluralism. The pluralist joins Shapiro in argument against a naive realist position. Thus, in this chapter, the arguments of Chap. 2 are revisited and made stronger and more precise. Similarly, the pluralist joins Shapiro in endorsing the idea of there being several mathematical structures or theories each only compared to others from a meta-perspective/theory/structure, which, in turn, can only be judged, or compared, from a further meta-perspective/theory/structure. However, the pluralist pushes Shapiro’s pluralism further. In particular, the pluralist will not be confined to the perspective guided and blinkered by classical second-order logic and model theory. What is in dispute, is both the classical conception of logic, especially the idea that inconsistency necessarily leads to disaster in the form of triviality, and the notion of success in mathematics. To make the last point, a distinction is drawn between the optimal and the maximal pluralist. The pluralism advocated in this book is a maximal pluralism.
A Bibliometric Analysis of AEGC Scientific Outreach

The Asian Eye Genetics Consortium (AEGC) encourages and facilitates research and clinical collaborations to understand the genetic etiology and physiology of ophthalmic diseases and work toward clinical care and treatment. Bibliometric analysis of ophthalmic genetic publications in Asian countries provides a tool to better understand research strengths and challenges.
MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF SELECTED ANTICANCER DRUGS ON YEAST

ABSTRACT Clinical isolates of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans were exposed to selected anticancer drugs. Changes in morphology, chemical activities and susceptibility to Amphotericin B were noted. KEYWORDS Anticancer drugs;, lipids;, sterols;, Amphotericin B;, mutagenic;, opportunistic microorganisms.
Leveraging GTA's, LA's, and Student Leaders in the Classroom

BRIEF SESSION DESCRIPTION:Teaching Assistants (TAs) - undergraduate and graduate -Â and Learning Assistants (LAs)- not only make invaluable contributions to student learning but they can also benefit greatly from the intensive experiential learning opportunity offered by the TA role (Owen, 2011). Yet, faculty may often struggle with a) how to leverage TA/LA talents to support instruction robustly while b) designing effective learning experiences for the TAs/LAs they supervise. This panel, led by TA/LA voices, will address this challenge and provide practical strategies for striking this important balance. Presenters will also share TA/LA experience learning outcomes, sample learning contracts/assignments, and how to use BlackBoard to provide TAs with good infrastructure around learning. Â Participants will be able to describe several ways to support and leverage student leaders in the classroom._______________________________________________________________FULL ABSTRACT:The purpose of this Teaching Assistant (TA)-led and faculty-moderated panel is to explore and provide practical, impactful tools to George Mason University faculty who are eager to help their TAs grow as effective academic partners in the classroom while facilitating opportunities for TAs to stretch their understanding of peer mentoring and leadership, blossom in critical thinking and problem-solving, and connect the powerful TA experiential learning opportunity to TA's own academic and professional interests.Â Owen (2011), in her examination of peer educators, notes that "The higher education literature is replete with exhortations to foster out-of-class interaction between faculty and students, to promote collaborative and connected learning communities, and to help students develop a sense of agency and responsibility for their own education. Involving peer educators in classroom settings as authentic partners in the academic enterprise is one way to promote this kind of institutional transformation" (p. 63). This panel will serve as a living, breathing example of this observation and offer a practical approach to enriching the classroom through TA involvement AND enriching the TA's personal experience through intentionally-designed, TA-centered learning experiences. Participants and faculty who join this discussion will not only leave with tools for better serving their students but also tools for making the TA experience more meaningful.
Retrospectively reported childhood physical abuse, systemic inflammation, and resting corticolimbic connectivity in midlife adults

Abstract Childhood abuse confers risk for psychopathology and pathophysiology in midlife through intermediate pathways that remain unclear. Systemic inflammation was tested in the present study as one pathway that may link physical abuse in childhood to the adult functioning of corticolimbic brain circuits broadly implicated in risk for poor mental and physical health. Midlife adults (N = 303; 30–51 years of age; 149 women) without psychiatric, immune, or cardiovascular diagnoses provided retrospective reports of childhood physical abuse. Functional connectivity between corticolimbic brain areas (amygdala, hippocampus, ventromedial prefrontal cortex [vmPFC], anterior cingulate cortex [ACC]) was measured at rest using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Circulating levels of interleukin(IL)-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine previously linked to childhood abuse and corticolimbic functionality, were measured via blood draw. Consistent with prior studies, retrospectively reported childhood physical abuse was associated positively with circulating IL-6, and negatively with connectivity between the amygdala and vmPFC. IL-6 was also associated negatively with several corticolimbic functional connections, including amygdala-vmPFC connectivity. Moreover, path analyses revealed an indirect effect of IL-6 that partially explained the association between childhood physical abuse and adult amygdala-vmPFC connectivity. Consistent with recent neurobiological models of early life influences on disease risk across the lifespan, associations between childhood physical abuse and adulthood corticolimbic circuit functionality may be partially explained by inflammatory processes.
Prognosis of lymphotropic invasive micropapillary breast carcinoma analyzed by using data from the National Cancer Database.

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) is an uncommon subtype of breast cancer. Previous studies of this subtype demonstrated a higher propensity for lymph node metastases as compared with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). The purpose of the present study was to determine the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and propensity for lymph node metastasis of patients with IMPC of the breast recorded in the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Records of patients with IMPC diagnosed between 2004 and 2014 were retrieved from the NCDB. Log-rank test was performed to evaluate associations of clinical characteristics with overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine variables associated with OS. Overall, 2660 patients with IMPC met the selection criteria; the 5-year OS rate was 87.5% and 24.9% of patients had nodal involvement at presentation. Patients with ≥ 4 positive lymph nodes had shorter OS than node-negative patients, whereas patients with 1–3 positive nodes had similar OS to node-negative patients. Age < 65 years, receipt of radiotherapy, and estrogen receptor positivity were also associated with prolonged OS. The benefit of radiotherapy was limited to IMPC patients undergoing lumpectomy; there was no benefit for the patients undergoing mastectomy (regardless of nodal positivity/negativity). Favorable prognostic factors of IMPC patients included age < 65 years, < 4 positive lymph nodes, receipt of radiotherapy, and estrogen receptor positivity. The results presented herein suggest a survival benefit associated with radiotherapy in IMPC treatment, though this may be limited to the patients treated with lumpectomy.
Indexing effects in single-case experimental designs by estimating the percent of goal obtained

Single-case experimental designs are often used to examine the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions that are designed to change behaviors so that they are less problematic and more similar t...
Ein Unglück kommt selten allein

Die nichtinvasiven Gerate wie die optische Koharenztomografie (OCT) und die konfokale Lasermikroskopie (KLM) sind bei der Diagnostik und Therapieauswahl vieler Erkrankungen z. B. von nichtmelanozytarem Hautkrebs sehr hilfreich. Ihr Einsatz eignet sich insbesondere dann, wenn differenzialdiagnostisch mehrere Diagnosen infrage kommen, die eine die andere Erkrankung verschleiert oder ein tieferer nichtinvasiver Blick in die Haut notig wird. Wir berichten uber den Fall einer 89-jahrigen Patientin mit Stevens-Johnson-Syndrom (SJS) nach Einnahme von Allopurinol aufgrund von Hyperurikamie und Gicht. Mit der OCT und KLM konnen erstmals die Charakteristika beider gemeinsam vorliegender Erkrankungen in vivo dargestellt werden.