cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mapping the Language of Women's Interests: Sex and Party Affiliation in the Bundestag

This study maps the language that legislators use to define women's interests in the context of contemporary Germany. Using party groups' manifestos from the 2005 legislative elections and personal interviews with members of the 16th Bundestag (2005–9), the study compares female and male legislators within parties and female legislators across parties, with particular attention to how these interviewees' language cleaved to and from their party scripts (parties' positions on and language regarding women's interests). The map that emerges from this analysis suggests that legislators' language in talking about women's interests is mediated by sex and party affiliation in combination, such that female and male legislators differ within each party and female legislators differ across parties. The study shows that female legislators across parties share an emphasis on the inadequacy of formal equality in yielding women's equality in practice, but they diverge markedly in the policies that they recommend to add...
N,N‐Diethyl‐1,2,2‐trichlorovinylamine

N,N-diethyl-1,2,2-trichlorovinylamine intermediate: N,N-Diethyl-2,2,2-trichloroacetamide product: N,N-diethyl-1,2,2-trichlorovinylamine byproduct: tri-n-butylphosphine oxide byproduct: phosphine oxide Keywords: rearrangements; reduction, miscellaneous; distillation residues, exposure to air; tributylphosphine, reaction with air
Image Intensifiers and Fluoroscopy

This article details early fluoroscopic systems and the advent of image intensifiers and their progression and improvement to imaging quality. Keywords: fluoroscopy; image intensifier; X-ray; photon; radiologist; scintillator
Persistent dropping: an efficient control of traffic aggregates

Flash crowd events (FCEs) present a real threat to the stability of routers and end-servers. Such events are characterized by a large and sustained spike in client arrival rates, usually to the point of service failure. Traditional rate-based drop policies, such as Random Early Drop (RED), become ineffective in such situations since clients tend to be persistent, in the sense that they make multiple retransmission attempts before aborting their connection. As it is built into TCP's congestion control, this persistence is very widespread, making it a major stumbling block to providing responsive aggregate traffic controls. This paper focuses on analyzing and building a coherent model of the effects of client persistence on the controllability of aggregate traffic. Based on this model, we propose a new drop strategy called persistent dropping to regulate the arrival of SYN packets and achieves three important goals: (1) it allows routers and end-servers to quickly converge to their control targets without sacrificing fairness, (2) it minimizes the portion of client delay that is attributed to the applied controls, and (3) it is both easily implementable and computationally tractable. Using a real implementation of this controller in the Linux kernel, we demonstrate its efficacy, up to 60% delay reduction for drop probabilities less than 0.5.
How Are Humans Related to Other Primates?: A Guided Inquiry Laboratory for Undergraduate Students

Understanding that phylogenies depict the evolutionary history of species is a critical concept for undergraduate biology students. We present an inquiry-based laboratory exercise exploring this concept in the context of the human phylogeny. This activity reinforces several important biological concepts and skills. Bolstered concepts include that evolution is descent with modification, that evolution is a genetic process, and that humans are closely related to apes. In terms of thinking skills, the lab gives students practice with hypothetical-deductive thinking, quantifying patterns from complex data, and evaluating evidence.
Activation of the PI3'K-AKT pathway masks the proapoptotic effects of farnesyltransferase inhibitors

Abstract Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) usually cause growth inhibition,but in certain preclinical settings they have been shown to induce apop-tosis, a clinically desirable response. In this study, we show that theproapoptotic effects of FTIs in Ras-transformed cells are masked byactivation of phosphatidylinositol 3*-kinase (PI3*K) or AKT, which arecontrolled by cytokines and integrins. The results implied that FTIsdisrupt a signal that is crucial for survival of malignant cells, but notnormal cells, if the PI3*K-AKT pathway is inactivated. Our findings haveimplications for clinical applications of FTIs where apoptotic responseswould be preferred. IntroductionThe antitransforming properties of FTIs 4 , a novel class of cancertherapeutics, have been widely investigated. FTIs were originallydeveloped with the aim of inhibiting the posttranslational prenylationand oncogenic activity of Ras (1–4), although it has become apparentthat Rho and possibly other cellular proteins are also important targetsin malignant cells (5–7). Recent work in a variety of preclinicalmodels has established conclusively that FTIs can effectively reversemalignant phenotypes and even cause tumor regression (8–18). Asignificant question has been how regression is possible in vivobecause FTIs have not generally been found to be cytotoxic to eithernormal or malignant cells in vitro. In a previous study, we showed thatFTIs are cytotoxic to Ras-transformed cells if they are deprived ofsubstratum attachment, implicating an adhesion signal(s) as a requisitefor survival in the presence of drug (19). Here, we report that FTIs canalso be rendered cytotoxic by cytokine deprival, and that adhesion orcytokine signals, which are mediated by the PI39K-AKT pathway, areresponsible for the survival of drug-treated Ras-transformed cells.Notably, normal cells are not susceptible to FTI-induced apoptosisand do not rely on the PI39K-AKT pathway for survival in thepresence of drug, pinpointing a difference in survival mechanisms.The findings of this study provide proof-of-principle for combinato-rial applications of FTIs to exploit differential survival signals andtarget malignant cells for cell death.Materials and Methods
Diagnostic Parameters to Differentiate Benign From Malignant Ovarian Masses With Contrast-Enhanced Transvaginal Sonography

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic parameters to differentiate between benign versus malignant ovarian masses using contrast-enhanced transvaginal sonography (TVS). Methods Thirty-three consecutive patients with 36 morphologically abnormal ovarian masses (solid or cystic with papillary excrescences, focally thickened walls, or irregular solid areas) smaller than 10 cm received a microbubble contrast agent intravenously while undergoing pulse inversion harmonic TVS. The following parameters were assessed: presence of contrast enhancement, time to peak enhancement, peak contrast enhancement, half wash-out time, and area under the enhancement curve (AUC). Tumor histologic analysis was used to distinguish benign from malignant ovarian tumors. Results Twenty-six benign masses and 10 malignancies were studied. Of all examined criteria, an AUC of greater than 787 seconds(-1) was the most accurate diagnostic criterion for ovarian cancer, with 100.0% sensitivity and 96.2% specificity. Additionally, peak contrast enhancement of greater than 17.2 dB (90.0% sensitivity and 98.3% specificity) and half wash-out time of greater than 41.0 seconds (100.0% sensitivity and 92.3% specificity) proved to be useful. Conclusions Our data suggest that the AUC, peak enhancement, and half wash-out time had the greatest diagnostic accuracy for contrast-enhanced TVS in differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian masses.
Managing workforce resource actions with multiple feedback control schemes

Demand disturbances in service businesses are typically managed by resource actions such as hiring, releasing and cross training of the workforce. The magnitudes of resource actions are often decided by estimating the discrepancy between the demand for services and the supply of workforce. However, naive feedback control of the resource actions by policies that equate the discrepancy to the control action can produce undesirable effects such as oscillation between hiring and releasing of workforce, and amplified oscillation through the stages of the service processes. Effective combination of multiple feedback control schemes can produce desirable policies of workforce resource actions. In this work, we study application of control theoretic principles in managing resource actions to see how various feedback control schemes can improve costs, utilization and stability of workforce.
The case-agreement hierarchy in acquisition: Evidence from children learning Basque

Children acquiring Basque begin producing absolutive agreement earlier in development than ergative inflection (Barrena, 1995; Ezeizabarrena, 1996). In this paper, I compare the acquisition of absolutive and ergative to dative agreement, which is also inflected on the auxiliary in Basque, in order to evaluate factors which may influence the order of emergence of inflectional morphemes, including input frequency, the position of the affix on the verb and feature complexity. Data from 20 bilingual and 11 monolingual children between 2;00 and 3;06 years old showed a consistent pattern; children acquired absolutive agreement first, then ergative, and dative inflection last of all. This sequence replicates the implicational hierarchy of cases found in many languages (Blake, 2001). I argue that the complexity of inflectional features of the agreement morphemes best predicts this developmental order, along with the assumption that children acquire the inflectional forms earliest which encode the fewest positive values for features.
Relationship of Ventricular Excitability Characteristics to Ventricular Arrhythmias in Dogs

The relationship of the form of ventricular anodal strength-interval curves to the types of arrhythmias induced by trains of low-intensity stimuli was studied in 16 dogs. Strength-interval curves were determined after basic atrial driven beats and after induced premature ventricular depolarizations. The test stimuli for these determinations were 2-msec anodal square waves delivered in 1-msec decrements during the first half of the cardiac cycle and in 10-msec decrements during the last half of the cycle. At each time step, the stimulus intensity was increased in 5-µamp steps until a ventricular response occurred or a level of 1.2 mamp was reached. Three types of strength-interval curves were observed. Each form of the strength-interval curve was associated with a specific type of arrhythmia induced by a train of 50-Hz, 2-msec anodal stimuli of minimum threshold intensity which was applied for periods of up to several minutes. When the minimum threshold in the strength-interval curve following the basic driven beat was lower than the minimum threshold following the induced premature ventricular depolarization, the train of stimuli induced stable ventricular bigeminy. Accelerating ventricular tachycardia followed by ventricular fibrillation resulted if there were deep dips in the strength-interval curves following both the basic driven beats and the premature ventricular depolarizations. When the strength-interval curves following both the basic driven beats and the premature ventricular depolarizations smoothly approached diastolic levels without deep dips or supernormal periods, the train of stimuli caused either occasional premature ventricular depolarizations with long coupling intervals or slow ventricular tachycardia. These relationships may participate in the initiation and the maintenance of arrhythmias.
Determining a purely symbolic transfer function from symbol streams: Theory and algorithms

Transfer function modeling is a standard technique in classical linear time invariant and statistical process control. The work of Box and Jenkins was seminal in developing methods for identifying parameters associated with classical (r, s, k) transfer functions. Discrete event systems are often used for modeling hybrid control structures and high-level decision problems. Examples include discrete time, discrete strategy repeated games. For these games, a discrete transfer function in the form of an accurate hidden Markov model of input-output relations could be used to derive optimal response strategies. In this paper, we develop an algorithm for creating probabilistic Mealy machines that act as transfer function models for discrete event dynamic systems (DEDS). Our models are defined by three parameters, (l1,l2,k) just as the Box-Jenkins transfer function models. Here h is the maximal input history lengths to consider, l2 is the maximal output history lengths to consider and k is the response lag. Using related results, We show that our Mealy machine transfer functions are optimal in the sense that they maximize the mutual information between the current known state of the DEDS and the next observed input/output pair.
On the tracking of featureless objects with occlusion

The author discusses an extremely efficient low-level tracking algorithm using only centers of gravity and sizes of the objects. He uses the center of gravity as the main tracking mechanism and the size of the object to aid in solving occlusion problems. Thus the size of the objects is mainly used as an aid in deciding how and if the number of objects changes from one frame to another. The author reports on experiments using video images of tennis balls bouncing through the field of vision. The camera is fixed and the lighting conditions are controlled. The balls are easily extracted from the background by subtraction of the image from a registered image of the background under the same lighting conditions. It is concluded that the proposed techniques can be applied to both video and infrared images, and are especially useful when the objects lack significant 'features' for matching. >
Phase-measuring interferometry: new methods and error analysis

New methods that can be used to determine phase in phase-stepping interferometry are presented. It is shown that a combination of some of these methods can be used to reduce the error introduced by phase-stepper miscalibration and nonlinearity. Moreover these new algorithms can also be used to detect the presence of miscalibration or phase-shifter nonlinearity. A simplified approach to understanding the error introduced by miscalibration and nonlinearity of the phase stepper and its reduction in phase-shifting interferometry is also presented.
Functions of Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins (Pglyrps) at the Ocular Surface: Bacterial Keratitis in Gene-Targeted Mice Deficient in Pglyrp-2, -3 and -4

Purpose Functions of antimicrobial peptidoglycan recognition proteins (Pglyrp1-4) at the ocular surface are poorly understood. Earlier, we reported an antibacterial role for Pglyrp-1 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis. Here we investigated functions of three other related genes Pglyrp-2, -3 and -4 in a mouse model of P. aeruginosa keratitis. Methods Wild type (WT) and each of the Pglyrp-null genotypes were challenged with P. aeruginosa keratitis. The eyes were scored in a blinded manner 24 and 48h post infection. Viable bacterial counts and inflammatory factors (IL-12, TNF-α, IFN-γ, CCL2, IL-6 and IL-10) were measured in whole eye homogenates using cytometric bead arrays. Expressions of Pglyrp-1-4, mouse beta defensins (mBD)-2,-3, cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) were determined by qRTPCR in total RNA extracts of uninfected and infected eyes of WT and each of the Pglyrp-null mouse types. Results The Pglyrp-2-/- mice showed reduced disease and lower induction of pro-inflammatory TNF-α (p = 0.02) than WT or the other Pglyrp null mice. Viable bacterial yield was significantly lower in the Pglyrp-2-/- (p = 0.0007) and the Pglyrp-4-/- (p = 0.098) mice. With regards to expression of these antimicrobial genes, Pglyrp-2 expression was induced after infection in WT mice. Pglyrp-3 expression was low before and after infection in WT mice, while Pglyrp-4 expression was slightly elevated after infection in WT, Pglyrp-2 and -3 null mice. Pglyrp-1 expression was slightly elevated after infection in all genotypes without statistical significance. Transcripts for antimicrobial peptides mBD2, mBD3 and CRAMP were elevated in infected Pglyrp-2-/- males without statistical significance. Conclusions Efficient resolution of keratitis in the Pglyrp-2-/- mice may be due to a reduced pro-inflammatory microenvironment and synergistic antibacterial activities of defensins, CRAMP and Pglyrp-1. Therefore, in ocular infections the pro-inflammatory functions of Pglyrp-2 must be regulated to benefit the host.
Detonability of RDX Dust in Air/Oxygen Mixtures

A combined experimental and theoretical study was conducted to determine the detonability characteristics of high-explosive RDX dust dispersed in air. Toward this end, a special shock tube was constructed in which the dust was transported through the tube by a gas flow. Detonation of high-pressure gases in the driver served to transmit a strong blast wave into the dust mixture. The resultant wave was monitored by pressure switches, pressure transducers, a photocell, and streak photography. Within the limits of the facility, detonation was realized for dust with the larger of Ihe particles (37 fim) tested in oxygen-enrich ed air (12% O2 + 88% air by volume) and with ammonium perchlorate added to the dust mixture as an additional oxidizer (11% AP + 83% RDX by mass) in air. However, under the same conditions, the finer dust with the smaller particles (2 jim) could not be detonated. A theoretical model was developed to explain the effect of particle size on the detonability of dust/oxidizer mixtures. In this model, an unsteady particle heat-transfer equation with an Arrhenius type of reactive source term was coupled with the flow conservation equations. The thermal effect due to the presence of particles on the flow prior to ignition were calculated for various particle sizes and loading ratios. It was shown that a large concentration of very fine dust mixed with the gaseous oxidizer would cool the gas behind the incident shock wave sufficiently to deter the ignition of the particles. This provides an explanation for why the finer dust failed to detonate.
Electronic Structure of Fullerene Acceptors in Organic Bulk-Heterojunctions: A Combined EPR and DFT Study.

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices are a promising alternative energy source. Attempts to improve their performance have focused on the optimization of electron-donating polymers, while electron-accepting fullerenes have received less attention. Here, we report an electronic structure study of the widely used soluble fullerene derivatives PC61BM and PC71BM in their singly reduced state, that are generated in the polymer:fullerene blends upon light-induced charge separation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations characterize the electronic structures of the fullerene radical anions through spin density distributions and magnetic resonance parameters. The good agreement of the calculated magnetic resonance parameters with those determined experimentally by advanced electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) allows the validation of the DFT calculations. Thus, for the first time, the complete set of magnetic resonance parameters including directions of the principal g-tensor axes were determined. For both ...
The Quadratic Reciprocity Law

In this section we recall several well-known elementary facts, mostly without proof. We give the proof for some of them. An ideal I of a commutative ring R is called a prime ideal if R/I has no zero divisors; I is called principal if I = αR with some \(\,{\alpha}\in R.\) An integral domain (that is, a commutative ring with identity element that has no zero divisors) R is called a principal ideal domain if every ideal of R is principal. It is known that for a field F and an indeterminate x the polynomial ring F[x] is a principal ideal domain. Also, the ring Z. is a principal ideal domain. An integral domain is called a unique factorization domain if every principal ideal I of R different from {0} can be written uniquely in the form \(I=P_1^{e_1}\cdots P_r^{e_r}\) with prime ideals P i that are principal and \(\,0 < e_i\in{\bold{Z}}.\)
Data Base Use for Regional Environmental Planning

Data base management concepts applied in an established multicounty regional planning commission are identified and reviewed. The need for data base management is noted. Data base applications are examined, as used and interralated in described work programs of environmental planning—including air quality, water quality, and floodland management—and of related land use planning. The existing data structure and actual data file content are reviewed. The organizational setting is described, and the evolution of data base design is traced from large-cell data storage, to small-cell data storage, to digitized storage of irregularly shaped cells. Comparisons to state-level data base development for natural resource management are noted. The prognosis for overlay of areal data with line and point data is described, as is the potential use of optical scanning equipment for data entry of mapped information.
Relationship of Organochlorine Pesticides to Parkinsonism

Anecdotal reports and several epidemiological studies have pointed to pesticide exposure as a risk factor for Parkinsons Disease (PD). We have reviewed the evidence in the literature and from our laboratory which suggests that organochlorine compounds are the most likely class of pesticide capable of inducing parkinsonism. Chlorinated hydrocarbons are highly lipophilic compounds retained in adipose tissue for life. Several organochlorines, dieldrin and polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs), were found in human brain in significantly higher concentrations in caduate nucleus from post-mortem Parkinsons Disease (PD) brains compared to agematched controls. Dieldrin has toxic effects for dopaminergic neurons both in vitro and in vivo. Dieldrin inhibits mitochdondrial electron transport in a way similar to the known dopaminergic neurotoxin methyl-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP+) resulting in bioenergetic deficits and increased oxidative stress. We speculate that chronic exposure to low concentrations of dieldrin can lead to the demise of dopaminergic neurons and development of a clinical syndrome of parkinsonism.
Incubation of Egg Contents Pools at an Elevated Temperature (42°C) Does Not Improve the Rapid Detection of Salmonella Enteritidis Phage Type 14b

Detecting internal Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) contamination in eggs is essential for protecting public health. Pooling together > or = 10 eggs for sampling allows many eggs to be screened for contamination, but such pools must be incubated (usually at 25 to 37 degrees C) to permit small numbers of SE to multiply before further testing. The present study determined whether incubating egg contents pools at an elevated temperature (42 degrees C) could increase the rate of multiplication of a phage type 14b strain of SE sufficiently to support the detection of contamination by a rapid lateral flow immunodiffusion method within a single day. Pools of 10 eggs were contaminated with approximately 10 CFU of SE, supplemented with concentrated broth enrichment medium, and incubated at either 37 or 42 degrees C. Incubation of contaminated egg pools at 42 degrees C resulted in significantly higher SE levels after 6, 8, 10, and 12 h. However, incubation at 42 degrees C could only generate a mean log SE concentration of 4.21 CFU/ml within a single working day (8 h), inadequate to support efficient detection by most rapid assays. Detection of SE contamination in egg pools by a rapid lateral flow immunodiffusion test was not achieved at a high frequency until 12 h of incubation at 42 degrees C.
Privatization, Participation, and the Planning Process: A Case Study of Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure

Two broad models of planning inform public administrators and planners. One is a public management model in which involvement in decision making is on a “need-to-know ” basis, and public participat...
Evaluation on the effectiveness of two quality control models of sputum examination for tuberculosis

[Objective] To comprehend the situation of external quality assessment(EQA) for M.tuberculosis quality control system in Shanghai,and to evaluate two different quality control modes performed in shanghai. [Methods] The original mode had been performed from year 2001 to 2003,and the other mode was performed from year 2005 to 2007,were compared for their consistency. [Results] Using the original mode,the consistent positive rate was 100.0%(2741/2741) and the consistent negative rate was 99.1%(3388/3420).Using the new mode,the consistent positive rate was 99.5%(656/659) and the consistent negative rate was 99.3%(4575/4605). [Conclusion] The difference of the positive and negative rates from the original and new EQA mode is not significant statistically(P0.05),but the new mode played a greater role in promoting the standardization of sputum smear for microscopic detection.It can effectively reflect the quality of sputum smear,and is convenient for the communication between different laboratories.
Three-dimensional Modeling Approach Based on Stereo Vision

A stereo vision-based three-dimensional(3-D)reverse modeling approach was investigated.Linear structured light and stereo vision measurement principles were used to acquire geometric information through sampling the surface of a physical object mounted on the end-effector of a 4-DOF planar robot.Based on real-world sampling datasets,a realistic 3-D graphical model could be automatically built.For purpose of this,a new approach to system calibration and automatic surface reconstruction was proposed,and a prototype system of rapidly establishing a textured model was implemented for virtual reality application.
Medical treatment of low-renin aldosteronism.

The physiology and pathophysiology of aldosterone secretion and the diagnosis of low-renin aldosteronism are reviewed, with emphasis on medical treatment of the different subsets in this syndrome. First-line treatment for idiopathic hyperplasia and preoperative management of aldosterone-producing adenoma utilizes the aldosterone antagonist spironolactone and the sodium transport inhibitor amiloride. An alternative treatment would be the calcium channel blocker nifedipine or, for idiopathic hyperplasia, the converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril. Glu- cocorticoid-suppressible aldosteronism is another rare form of low-renin aldosteronism that is treated medically, usually with dexamethasone.
Postnatal decrease in muscarinic cholinergic influence on Ca2+ currents of rabbit ventricular cells

We have studied developmental changes in the muscarinic cholinergic modulation of L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) in enzymatically isolated adult and newborn (1–4 days old) rabbit ventricular cells using the whole-cell patch-clamp method. Carbachol (10 microM) caused a 2.8-fold increase in the half-maximal concentration (EC50) for isoproterenol to stimulate ICa for adult cells compared with the control with little effect on the maximal ICa density (Imax), whereas the stimulatory effect of isoproterenol on newborn ICa was completely eliminated by 10 microM of carbachol and was decreased by 40% at 0.1 microM carbachol. Carbachol increased the EC50 for forskolin to stimulate ICa 2.9-fold for adult cells and 7.3-fold for newborn cells with little effect on the Imax for either group. 59-Guanylyl imidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p; 100 microM] reduced the stimulatory effect of 0.1 microM isoproterenol on adult ICa (percent increase over predrug level) by a factor of 1.8 compared with the control (400 microM guanosine triphosphate), whereas the isoproterenol effect on newborn ICa was completely eliminated by Gpp(NH)p. The isoproterenol effect on adult ICa persisted after the washout of isoproterenol in the presence of Gpp(NH)p. Gpp(NH)p also reduced the stimulatory effect of 1 microM of forskolin by a factor of 2.0 and 8.2 for adult and newborn cells, respectively, in comparison to the control. Carbachol caused no additional effect on forskolin-stimulated ICa for either adult or newborn ICa in the presence of Gpp(NH)p. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin completely eliminated the inhibitory effect of carbachol on forskolin-stimulated ICa for both groups. In addition, the effect of forskolin on ICa was markedly enhanced by the pertussis toxin pretreatment in newborn cells, whereas the enhancement was relatively small for adult cells. We conclude that the muscarinic cholinergic influence on L-type ICa decreases after birth in rabbit ventricular cells, presumably through a diminishing influence of an inhibitory G protein on regulating adenylyl cyclase during the postnatal period.
Leadership for Social Justice and Equity: Weaving a Transformative Framework and Pedagogy:

Although many agree that theory, research, and practice should be intertwined to support the type of schooling (and society) that values rather than marginalizes, few scholars offer ground-breaking, pragmatic approaches to developing truly transformative leaders. From a critical theorist perspective, this article offers a practical, process-oriented model that is responsive to the challenges of preparing educational leaders committed to social justice and equity. By weaving a tripartite theoretical framework together in support of an alternative, transformative pedagogy, students learn “to perceive social, political, and economic contradictions, and to take action against the oppressive elements of reality”. The three theoretical perspectives of Adult Learning Theory, Transformative Learning Theory, and Critical Social Theory are interwoven with the three pedagogical strategies of critical reflection, rational discourse, and policy praxis to increase awareness, acknowledgment, and action within preparatio...
Equal Rights Association

Created at the 1866 Woman’s Rights Convention in New York to support both black suffrage and woman suffrage, the American Equal Rights Association offered a timely forum for a renewal of the cross-race coalition of the 1830s. However, debate at the convention reflected the formidable obstacles that blocked such a coalition.
Shelley’s Unknown Eros: Post-Secular Love in Epipsychidion

Whether Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Epipsychidion—a Platonic poem on love addressed to the patriarchally imprisoned Theresa Viviani or “Emily”—receives praise or blame has generally been determined by two focal passages: a secular sermon on free love and a planetary allegorical thinly veiling his own imbroglio. This essay re-reads Shelley’s 1821 work drawing on two recent arguments: Stuart Curran’s Dantean call to take the poem’s Florentine narrator seriously as a character, not just as an autobiographical cypher, and Colin Jager’s outline of Shelley’s move beyond the assumptions of his professed atheism after 1816. Based on the poem’s structure and imagery, the paper argues that Epipsychidion critiques the false sense of revolutionary ascent and dualistic escape offered to Emily, who is commodified and erased by the narrator’s egocentric, “counterfeit divinization of eros” (Benedict XVI). Turning from this Radical Enlightenment Platonism, the poem momentarily realizes an embodied, hylomorphic romantic union akin to the Christian nuptial mystery of two becoming “one flesh” (Mark 10:8). This ideal, however, collapses back into solipsism when the narrator cannot understand or accept love as a “unity in duality” (Benedict XVI). This paper thus claims Epipsychidion as a post-secular inquiry into the problem of love whose philosophic limits and theological horizons are both surprising and instructive. It also reclaims Shelley as a phenomenological poet who can open up the world to Christian and non-Christian readers, one whose Platonic and Dantean formation lend him an openness to transcendence and one whose countercultural path through life makes him wary of inhumane appropriations of religion.
Operation of Strained Multi-Quantum Wire Lasers

Strained quantum wire lasers have shown threshold currents in low 100’s of µA at room temperature, lowest currently for any laser, mainly due to the increase in differential gain in presence of very low optical losses. Consistent with multi-dimensional confinement, i.e., a lowering of the number of optically active electronic states and the total active gain volume, the devices also show low optical power (< 100 µW) and wavelength hopping 2–3 nm apart. Inconsistent with the increased differential gain are the operational frequencies in the 10’s of GHz which are achieved at midmA current levels. We show, based on experimental data and theoretical analysis, that quantum-wire lasers exhibit a substantial degradation in operable frequencies due to fundamental and practical reasons. Among the fundamental reasons is a substantial increase in apparent gain compression that arises from capture and emission processes and carrier heating. This is partially mitigated by two-dimensional charge transport in the structures. Among the practical reasons are transmission line effects in the presence of a large electric parasitic loading.
Mythographical and Literary Notes on the Catalogs of Argive and Theban Allies in Statius’ Thebaid

This article argues, in a series of discrete but interconnected notes, that Statius engages consistently and consciously with mythographical works—prose collections and exegesis on myth as myth—in the creation of his two major catalogs in the Thebaid, the catalog of Argive allies at 4.1-344 and that of Theban allies at 7.243-373. Both are patently based on Homer’s ‘Catalog of Ships’, but Statius reshapes his model by engaging ingeniously with mythographical and geographical works in prose to invent a unique pre-Iliadic landscape. This paper also explores some of the literary ways in which Statius reinvents Homer’s catalog, including offering his readers mythological puzzles that require knowledge both of Homer’s text and subsequent scholarship thereon.
Predicting Performance in an Advanced Undergraduate Geological Field Camp Experience.

ABSTRACT This study examined the factors that contribute to students' success in conducting geological field work. Undergraduate students (n = 49; 51% female; mean age = 22 y) who were enrolled in the 5-wk State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego) geology field program volunteered to participate in this study. At the beginning of the field program, students completed a series of questionnaires inquiring about their academic record and their personal attitudes and beliefs. Next, participants completed a continuous series of geological field activities across 35 d in two locations in the northeastern U.S. Finally, multiple instructors independently rated students' field work performance and assigned final field program grades. Findings indicated that factors such as students' cumulative grade point averages and self-perceived preparedness for field work did not predict higher final field program grades. Instead, self-reported indices of motivation, academic self-concept, and self-efficacy predict...
Implementing a Tier 2 behavioral intervention in a therapeutic alternative high school program

ABSTRACTThe research base for Check-in, Check-out (CICO), a targeted behavioral intervention within a schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports framework, is growing. However, little has been written about its application in therapeutic alternative programs. To extend the literature base, the current article describes a study conducted using an applied multiple baseline single-case research design involving three students with emotional disabilities enrolled in a therapeutic alternative education program. Overall, results indicate that improvements in the three participants' targeted behaviors were noted following intervention. Treatment fidelity and social validity data indicate that CICO steps were implemented as intended and were perceived as acceptable, understandable, and feasible. Implications for research and practice are described.
Embryology of congenital neck masses

Knowledge of the embryogenesis of the head and neck is essential to the evaluation and management of congenital neck masses. In this article, we describe the embryology of the most common congenital neck masses: branchial apparatus and thyroglossal duct cysts. The anatomy of both branchial clefts and pouches is reviewed along with the histology and descent of the thyroid from its origin at the foramen cecum of the tongue. This article serves as the foundation for understanding the anatomy surrounding surgical resection of these lesions, which will be discussed in later articles.
Evaluation of the Compatibility of Repair Materials for Concrete Structures

This study evaluates the compatibility of repair materials for concrete bridge decks. A new compatibility test set-up was designed and tested based on the concrete bridge deck cracking and delamination mechanism theory. The repair materials used in this study include lab formulated inorganic nano-aluminum silicates and commercially available organic two-part epoxy systems. Two different lab test-setups are proposed in this study: a prototype and a full-scale test. The developed test procedures were effective in communicating results in terms of compatibility of material properties, performance and quality. The prototype beams test can successfully serve as a small scale screening test providing insights on materials selection for the full-scale beam tests. The full-scale beams demonstrated the compatibility of the repaired system by providing data on authentic field conditions. Based on the observations it can be concluded that the proposed test setup is effective in examining the concrete bridge deck repair materials performance and selection, and compatibility in terms of mechanical properties and further guarantee the repaired structure safety.
Fuzzy c-means clustering and elliptic curve cryptography using privacy preserving in cloud

Cloud computing is the distribution of computing devices which reduce the cost for IT infrastructure. In this projected approach, the databases are measured to collecting method generate the transi...
Pediatric Primary Care in the ER: Is It Better than Waiting for an Appointment?

Increased use of emergency departments for primary care puts undue burden on EDs; however, EMTALA obligates EDs to provide care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Risk factors associated with strongylid egg count prevalence and abundance in the United States equine population

Abstract Equine strongyle parasites are considered ubiquitous in grazing equids across the world, and cyathostomin parasites are known pathogens causing well-described disease complexes in horses. Decades of intensive anthelmintic treatments have led to anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomins, and current recommendations are to lower treatment intensity and base control strategies on fecal egg count surveillance. Little is known about risk factors associated with strongyle parasite egg shedding patterns in the United States equine population, as the most recent national survey was conducted 20 years ago. The present study was carried out as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring Systems (NAHMS) Equine 2015–2016 study. The aims were to describe strongyle parasite egg shedding patterns in the United States equine population and identify risk factors associated with prevalence and egg count magnitude. Data were collected from equine operations in 28 states via questionnaires and fecal samples submitted to a parasitology research laboratory for fecal egg count analysis and the data gathered underwent comprehensive statistical analyses. Though region and season were related, overall, the summer months and the fall in the southeast tended to have the greatest odds of presence of strongyles eggs on a FEC. Generally, equids resident in the Western region (Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming) had significantly lower strongyle prevalence, no matter the season, as well as a markedly different distribution between strongyle egg shedding levels (p = 0.0005). Overall, egg counts were over-dispersed with about 27% of equids (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 20–34%) contributing 80% of the egg output. Pasture history was significantly associated with strongyle egg prevalence (p = 0.0003) and egg shedding levels (p = 0.0063) with daily access in the previous 30 days being associated with higher odds of presence and greater median egg count levels. Equid gender was significantly associated with strongylid presence (p = 0.0081) and egg count level (p = 0.0008), with male equids having significantly lower odds and median egg counts than female equids, and age was significantly negatively associated with strongylid prevalence (p
Developing and Defining Diversity

To gain and maintain legitimacy from internal and external stakeholders, public sector agencies and organizations have engaged in efforts to increase their diversity and cultural competency. While ...
Community Resources Used by the Rehabilitation Teacher

□ It is hoped that this brief description of community resources which were utilized in one state district by one rehabilitation teacher during a single year will suggest further possibilities to o...
Sampling and Analyzing Wetland Vegetation

Effectively sampling and analyzing wetland vegetation is an important part of wetland science, as an indicator of wetland health and quality, and jurisdictional and mitigation success determinations. This chapter explains spatiotemporal vegetation sampling considerations by addressing key questions, such as which wetlands should be sampled and when and at what scale sampling should occur. It also plainly discusses the advantages and disadvantages of basic sampling techniques, such as different types of plot-based, plotless, and releve systems. Methods of assessing different vegetation and environmental attributes, such as cover and functional groups are discussed in detail. The chapter then describes methods of analyzing wetland vegetation, including simple summary analyses and more complex multivariate methods, such as classification, ordination, and floristic quality indices. Explanations of different types of these analyses and their advantages and disadvantages are provided. Finally, both field and laboratory-based exercises in sampling and analysis are provided for faculty and students studying wetland vegetation.
Tariff Structures to Encourage Micro-Grid Deployment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review and Recent Trends

This article reviews trends for micro-grid tariffs in Sub-Saharan Africa from two perspectives: guidelines for setting tariffs and methods for structuring tariffs. Different approaches are briefly described, and general benefits and drawbacks presented based on recent experiences and available literature. The pace of micro-grid deployment has suffered from a lack of private sector investment, which is often inhibited by unfavorable policies and uncertainty around tariffs. Traditional utility tariffs are too low to allow micro-grid investors to recover their full costs, but a variety of new approaches can be applied to address these challenges. Broad consensus suggests that cost-reflective tariffs are a critical enabler for micro-grid scale-up. Such tariffs can be coupled with subsidies or with hybridized approaches as well as unique new methods of tapping alternative revenue streams to maintain affordability for low-income customers and financial sustainability for micro-grids. There is no one-size-fits-all approach so long as lifetime costs can be recouped.
Impact of complete molecular response (CMR) on survival in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

7034Background: Minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment can identify patients with ALL at increased risk for relapse and death. However, the impact of achieving CMR in Ph+ ALL remains undefined. ...
Formally Verified Hardware/Software Co-Design for Remote Attestation

In this work, we take the first step towards formal verification of Remote Attestation (RA) by designing and verifying an architecture called VRASED: Verifiable Remote Attestation for Simple Embedded Devices. VRASED instantiates a hybrid (HW/SW) RA co-design aimed at low-end embedded systems, e.g., simple IoT devices. VRASED provides a level of security comparable to HW-based approaches, while relying on SW to minimize additional HW costs. Since security properties must be jointly guaranteed by HW and SW, verification is a challenging task, which has never been attempted before in the context of RA. We believe that VRASED is the first formally verified RA scheme. To the best of our knowledge, it is also the first formal verification of a HW/SW implementation of any security service. To demonstrate VRASED's practicality and low overhead, we instantiate and evaluate it on a commodity platform (TI MSP430). VRASED's publicly available implementation was deployed on the Basys3 FPGA.
Low temperature plasma minimally invasive treatment of children piriform fossa fistula

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of lowtemperature plasma minimally invasive treatment of piriform fossa fistula in children at the infection stage and non-infection stage. Method: Twenty-five pediatric patients of piriform fovea fistula were treated with low-temperature plasma minimally invasive treatment. These patients were divided into the infection stage group(16 cases) and the non-infection stage group(9 cases). In both groups, low-temperature plasma ablation was performed to close the piriform fossa fistula under laryngoscope supported by endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia. For patients in infection stage, simultaneous cervical abscess incision and drainage were performed. The efficacy, postoperative recurrence rate and complications of the two groups were compared. Result: In the non-infection stage group, 7 cases were cured by 1 operation, and 2 cases were cured by the reoperation. In the infection stage group, 10 cases were cured by 1 operation, 5 cases were cured by the reoperation, and 1 case was cured by external fistula resection due to repeated purulent discharge of neck infection. No recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, massive hemorrhage or other complications occurred in these patients. Conclusion: Low temperature plasma minimally invasive treatment is safe and effective for pediatric patients of piriform fossa fistula.
The what? How? And Who? Of video based assessment.

Abstract Background Currently, there is significant variability in the development, implementation and overarching goals of video review for assessment of surgical performance. Methods This paper evaluates the current methods in which video review is used for evaluation of surgical performance and identifies which processes are critical for successful, widespread implementation of video-based assessment. Results Despite the advances in video capture technology and growing interest in video-based assessment, there is a notable gap in the implementation and longitudinal use of formative and summative assessment using video. Conclusion Validity, scalability and discoverability are current but removable barriers to video-based assessment.