cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cutting the Umbilical Cord: The Final Appellate Court in Former British Colonies

All legal systems have a court of last resort as the final judicial authority for public policy. For example, in the United States of America, the U.S. Supreme Court is the national final appellate court that provides answers to important legal questions that underpin public policy. Some sovereign nations also become members of a supra-national judicial entity which then serves as the court of last resort for those nations. Why would a state allow a court situated outside its borders the final decision making power on cases originating from within its borders? The case study is the British Commonwealth and Privy Council (PC). First, what factors influence the decision to utilize a supra-national court as the final appellate court in that state? Second, is the goal of the state in choice of appellate court? I hypothesize that the length and type of colonial rule influences whether a state abolishes appeals to the PC at Independence. This I test using a probit regression with 56 former British colonies (n-56). I also hypothesize that the higher the ratio of appeal court decisions upheld by the PC verses those overturned/dismissed by the PC is more likely to lead to greater state credibility operationalized by higher growth in GDP. This I test with a fixed and a random effect model using panel data. I will examine decisions in cases originating in six states (Australia, Canada, Gambia, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka) that retained appeals to the PC after Independence. This research contributes to our understanding of the relationship between supranational courts and states in two major ways. First, it will increase our understanding of the influence of colonial rule on the decision of whether a state to abolishes appeals to the Privy Council at Independence. Specifically, I explore whether the length and type of colonial rule--direct and indirect colonial rule (Lange 2009) -- is significant in the decision of a state to server ties with the Privy Council and establish their own national final appellate court. Second, my research will go beyond Voigt et al (2007) who examines the effect of the presence or absence of the right of appeal to the PC. My research will provide an understanding of the role the actual PC decisions play in the effort of the sampled states to establish credibility. Finally, I will briefly review now defunct supra-national courts such as the East African Court of Appeal (1967-1977) and a more in depth examination of the emergence of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in 2005. I will examine the CCJ with regard to issues such as the integration effect (Haas 1961) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and changes in norms as regards the importance of the colonial ties to the U.K. (Voigt et al 2007).
Sex Similarities and Differences in Locus of Control in Relation to Academic Adjustment Measures.

Correlations between Rotter's Internal-External (I-E) Control of Reinforcement Scale and the Omnibus Personality Inventory (OPI) were predicted based on previous research and a theoretical expectat...
Measuring team science: Associations between a clinical-translational science institute and investigator ego networks.

The National Institutes of Health’s Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) institutes have been created, in part, to have a positive impact on collaboration and team science. This study is the first to examine the associations between a CTSA hub, the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR), and investigators’ ego networks. We ran cross-sectional and panel models of the associations between consulting with MICHR and the ego network measure of two-step reach (TSR) – that is, colleagues of colleagues reachable in two steps – from a network of 2161 investigators who had co-submitted a grant proposal to an external sponsor in 2006. Our analyses covered the period 2004–2012, although some model specifications covered the shorter time period 2006–2010. Consulting with MICHR had positive associations with the size of and changes in an investigator’s TSR across and over time, even controlling for research productivity and organizational affiliation. For example, over the period 2006–2010 an investigator who consulted with MICHR reached 44 more individuals than a non-consulting investigator. This study expands our understanding of the indirect impacts that clinical and translational science institutes have on investigators’ scientific networks. This network-based approach might be useful in quantifying the impact of team science initiatives at the university level.
School corporal punishment and its associations with achievement and adjustment.

Corporal punishment in public schools is legal in nineteen states in the U.S. Over 100,000 students are disciplined with corporal punishment in public schools each year. Little is known about the forms school corporal punishment takes or about how school corporal punishment relates to students' outcomes. This study reports results from an anonymous online survey of emerging adults (ages 18 to 23) in the 19 states where school corporal punishment is legal. Of the more than 800 participants, 16% revealed that they experienced school corporal punishment. Propensity score matching was used to equate those who had experienced school corporal punishment and those who had not on a range of covariates. In regression models, having ever experienced school corporal punishment was linked with lower high school GPA, higher current depressive symptoms, and greater likelihood of spanking their own children in the future.
Eggs sunny-side up: A new species of Olea, an unusual oophagous sea slug (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia: Sacoglossa), from the western Atlantic.

Nearly all of the recognized species of sea slugs in clade Sacoglossa (about 300 taxa) are herbivorous, using a uniseriate radula in suctorial feeding. The only exceptions are a pair of monotypic genera in the ceratiform family Limapontiidae: Olea Agersborg, 1923 from the northeastern Pacific, and Calliopaea d’Orbigny, 1837 from the northeastern Atlantic coast of Europe and the Mediterranean. Both genera feed on the eggs of other heterobranchs, notably cephalaspideans, and lack cerata on the anterior dorsum. Major differences are that C. bellula d’Orbigny, 1837 has more cerata than O. hansineensis Agersborg, 1923, a more typical radula with ascending and descending rows of fully-formed teeth, and a much longer penial stylet. Here, we describe a new egg-eating sacoglossan species from the subtropical Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida, U.S.A. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from analyses of a four-gene dataset including 219 sacoglossan species indicated the new taxon (O. hensoni n. sp.) belongs to Olea. The generic placement of the new species is also supported by its highly reduced radula and comparatively short penial stylet. A full description of the reproductive, digestive, and nervous systems is also provided. Finding a new Olea species in the warm waters of the western Atlantic was surprising, given the genus was previously known only from the cold northern Pacific, and suggests further diversity in oophagous sacoglossans may await discovery.
Information Management and Hospital Enterprise Information Systems

Effective information management in knowledge-based industries, such as healthcare, is crucial to their success in achieving desired outcomes and product goals. Advances in computer and information technology, along with the evolution of the field of biomedical informatics, have contributed to the maturation of healthcare electronic information systems whose purposes are to support patient care and sustain hospital operations. Access to data across application systems through better integration of system components has become a preferred model for information system architecture and, as a result, institutions often choose to adopt enterprise-wide systems architecture formats using single-vendor application packages. Whether the information system architecture is comprised of multiple, variably, or non-integrated core components or is an integrated enterprise-wide system, this chapter emphasizes how data access, even using a hybrid information system structure, can be used to drive and, hopefully, advance the delivery of care.
A Study of Internship Satisfaction and Future Job Intention of Taiwanese Young Generation Z Students with Different Levels of Technology

The study aimed to investigate Taiwanese young Generation Z students’ internship satisfaction and future job intention from an aspect of gender and major. A quantitative method was adapted and a total of 270 junior college students in Taiwan served as subjects to fill out the 26-item questionnaire dealing with their demographic profiles, part-time job experience, internship satisfaction, and future job intention. All available data were computed by SPSS for descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and Regression analysis. Findings revealed that gender difference and majors with different technology levels did make a difference in student intern’s satisfaction and future job intention. Recommendations were provided for the three main stakeholders for a more successful “win-win-win” triangular internship program to help the young digital generation students get ready for the job market.
Post-hoc Bayesian Hypothesis Tests in Epistemic Network Analyses

Applied researchers are often forced to test an uninteresting (and unrealistic) hypothesis: that the mean difference between groups is zero in some imagined population. Misinterpretation of these common null hypothesis tests often obscure actual findings, and the testing process itself can result in inflated estimates over time. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of freely available software to conduct Bayesian hypothesis tests on ENA findings, in addition to traditional null hypothesis testing.
Tighter Bounds on the Independence Number of the Birkhoff Graph.

The Birkhoff graph $\mathcal{B}_n$ is the Cayley graph of the symmetric group $S_n$, where two permutations are adjacent if they differ by a single cycle. Our main result is a tighter upper bound on the independence number $\alpha(\mathcal{B}_n)$ of $\mathcal{B}_n$, namely, we show that $\alpha(\mathcal{B}_n) \le O(n!/1.97^n)$ improving on the previous known bound of $\alpha(\mathcal{B}_n) \le O(n!/\sqrt{2}^{n})$ by [Kane-Lovett-Rao, FOCS 2017]. Our approach combines a higher-order version of their representation theoretic techniques with linear programming. With an explicit construction, we also improve their lower bound on $\alpha(\mathcal{B}_n)$ by a factor of $n/2$. This construction is based on a proper coloring of $\mathcal{B}_n$, which also gives an upper bound on the chromatic number $\chi(\mathcal{B}_n)$ of $\mathcal{B}_n$. Via known connections, the upper bound on $\alpha(\mathcal{B}_n)$ implies alphabet size lower bounds for a family of maximally recoverable codes on grid-like topologies.
A review of the scientific evidence on the impact of biologically salient frightening devices to protect crops from avian pests

Abstract Many avian species are considered agricultural pests and cause severe and costly damage to crops worldwide. Crop producers use several methods to reduce damage by birds, with frightening devices serving among the most popular approaches. Biologically salient frightening devices, such as broadcast of conspecific alarm calls or placing predator models in fields, are considered particularly effective because they can trigger antipredator behaviors that reduce foraging activities or abundances of target birds locally. However, it remains unclear which type of biologically salient frightening device is most effective and whether some work best against certain bird species or on certain types of crops. We reviewed the published scientific literature to fill in these knowledge gaps about using biologically salient frightening devices for crop protection against avian pests. We found 48 experiments evaluating the impact(s) of biologically salient frightening devices. However, only 28 experiments statistically tested their results from which to draw conclusions. We found that alarm call playbacks, eye-spot balloons, or automated flying vehicles (UAVs) reduced avian abundance in all experiments. All experiments using alarm call playbacks, eye-spot balloons, hawk-kites, or UAVs effectively reduced crop damage. However, only experiments on passerine birds and in row crops were well-represented in these studies. We discuss potential biases in the literature that may limit our understanding of how birds respond to biologically salient frightening devices and suggest future directions that researchers might take to fill knowledge gaps.
Improving logistic regression on the imbalanced data by a novel penalized log-likelihood function

Logistic regression is estimated by maximizing the log-likelihood objective function formulated under the assumption of maximizing the overall accuracy. That does not apply to the imbalanced data. ...
Vulnerability of Street Trees in Upper Midwest Cities to Climate Change

Urban trees play an important role in helping cities adapt to climate change, but also are vulnerable to changes in climate themselves. We developed an approach for assessing vulnerability of urban tree species and cultivars commonly planted in cities in the US Upper Midwest to current and projected climate change through the end of the 21st century. One hundred seventy-eight tree species were evaluated for their adaptive capacity to a suite of current and future-projected climate and urban stressors using a weighted scoring system based on an extensive literature review. These scores were then evaluated and adjusted by leading experts in arboriculture in the region. Each species or cultivar’s USDA hardiness zone and American Horticultural Society heat zone tolerance was compared to current and future heat and hardiness zones for 14 municipalities across Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota using statistically downscaled climate data. Species adaptive capacity and zone tolerance was combined to assign each species one of five vulnerability categories for each location. We determined the number of species and trees in each category based on the most recent municipal street tree data for each location. Under a scenario of less climate change (RCP 4.5), fewer than 2% of trees in each municipality were considered highly vulnerable across all 14 municipalities. Under a scenario of greater change (RCP 8.5), upwards of 25% of trees were considered highly vulnerable in some locations. However, the number of vulnerable trees varied greatly by location, primarily because of differences in projected summer high temperatures rather than differences in species composition. Urban foresters can use this information as a complement to other more traditional considerations used when selecting trees for planting.
Anomalous X-Ray Scattering and its Relationship to EXAFS

X-ray anomalous scattering techniques are described which utilize the strong energy dependence of the atomic scattering factor near an atom’s absorption edge to separate the total radial distribution function (RDF) into more species-specific distribution functions. Differential anomalous scattering (DAS) techniques and transmission EXAFS have been applied to sputtered amorphous Mo42Ge58 films. Although each approach yeilds, in principle, a description of the average coordination distances and numbers of the atomic species whose absorption edge is utilized, there is a significant discrepancy between the EXAFS radial structure functions (RSF) and the DAS differential distribution functions (DDF). The RSF’s indicate shorter first neighbor distances and markedly narrower first shells than do the DDF’s. The DDF’s show more distant coordination shells clearly, whereas the RSF’s do not. We attribute these differences to the different k-space ranges accessible to the two experiments and to the significant spreads in interatomic distances. With the combination of experiments, chemical short range order is demonstrated in this material.
Análisis comparativo de la respuesta glicémica e índice glicémico del puré de papas instantáneo determinado en sujetos sometidos a gastrectomía vertical en manga laparoscópica y en sujetos controles

Background: the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a successful surgical procedure for morbid obesity. However, post surgery weight regain is usual, thus applying the glycemic index could promote good weight control. Objective: t o compare the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic response (GR) obtained of instant mashed potatoes in individuals subjected to LSG versus control subjects.
Influence of molecular characteristics on clinical outcome in human immunodeficiency virus-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: identification of a subgroup with favorable clinical outcome

The relationship between clinical and molecular characteristics of 45 treated individuals with histologically-documented human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was examined to determine whether differences in molecular features of lymphoma were associated with differences in clinical outcome. Tissue specimens from these tumors were evaluated for evidence of Ig heavy-chain gene rearrangements using both Southern blot analysis and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Lymphomas were also evaluated for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA sequences and c-myc gene rearrangements. Twenty-five lymphomas were characterized as polyclonal and 20 as monoclonal. PCR amplification of expressed Ig variable (V)-region genes confirmed polyclonality in three extensively studied polyclonal lymphomas. The median CD4 count was significantly higher in the group with polyclonal disease (277/microL) than in the group with monoclonal disease (123/microL), P = .04. The complete response rate to therapy was significantly higher in patients with polyclonal disease (78%) and CD4 greater than 200/microL (81%) than in those with monoclonal disease (31%) and CD4 less than 200/microL (33%). CD4 count, clonality, and presence of EBV DNA sequences were the most important predictors of survival. Both Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses showed a markedly prolonged survival in those patients with both CD4 > or = 200/microL and polyclonal disease. Histologically the polyclonal lymphomas were high grade in appearance and contained prominent macrophages. All seven surviving patients were in this group. Median survival for those individuals whose tumors contained EBV sequences was only 3.2 months (range, 0.4 to 19.5), whereas those with EBV-tumors survived for a median of 9.0 months (range, 0.7 to 65.2), P = .0007. These data indicate that molecular features of HIV-associated lymphomas may be important predictors of clinical outcome. These characteristics define a distinct subset of patients with polyclonal EBV-tumors and CD4 counts greater than 200/microL that appear to have a less aggressive clinical course.
Uses of the Collections at UNC Greensboro Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project

The Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project (WVHP) was established in 1988 as both a research collection and a project that honors the contributions women have made to U.S. military service. Housed at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG), the overall collection grows each year with new oral histories, and the addition of letters and scrapbooks, recruiting posters and brochures, uniforms and artifacts. We locate women veterans to interview from news stories, veterans and their families who stumble upon our website on the internet, and by word of mouth. The Project acquires materials as gifts from veterans or their survivors and by purchases of collections from vendors found on eBay. A major focus of the Project is to maintain a strong Web presence to promote and provide access to the collections. On our Web site (http://library.uncg.edu/dp/wv/) there are over two hundred and fifty oral history transcripts, over one thousand photographs, and over two thousand pages of scanned letters, recruiting brochures, and military documents posted. Additionally, we promote the project through undergraduate class presentations, an annual luncheon, and public exhibits. The goal is to preserve this aspect of history and make it available for all types of research.
Torsional oscillations and the magnetic field within the Earth's core

An estimate of the magnitude and geometry of the magnetic field within the Earth's core would be valuable for understanding the dynamics of the liquid outer core and for constraining numerical models of the geodynamo. The magnetic field down to the core–mantle boundary can be estimated from surface observations by assuming that the mantle is an insulator1, but such estimates cannot be further extrapolated into the conducting core itself. The magnetic field within the core has therefore remained largely unconstrained. Here we construct a simple picture of part of the magnetic field within the core by first showing that the fluid flow at the surface of the core is consistent with the presence of two large waves—‘torsional oscillations’ of the type that have been proposed to explain the temporal variation of the magnetic field at the core–mantle boundary. We then use the structure of these waves to calculate a one-dimensional map of the part of the magnetic field that points away from the rotation axis. These results may help distinguish between the different dynamic states proposed for outer-core flow2,3,4,5 and provide a test for recent numerical models of the geodynamo6,7,8,9.
Age-related changes in DNA methylation: do they represent continued developmental changes?

Publisher Summary This chapter examines DNA methylation, a single system that undergoes extensive changes in development,to present that the age-related changes in this system can be plausibly explained as an extension (or pleiotropic effect) of developmental programs. The role for DNA methylation and the theories presently dominant in gerontology are discussed. DNA methylation is known as a means of silencing transcription of mRNA from genes. A nucleosome-locking model for DNA methylation includes the proposal that genome-wide transient demethylation allows nucleosomes to slide along the DNA. Specific proteins called determinators can gain access to particular regulatory sites during this period of sliding. At the conclusion of the transient demethylation, a process of remethylation locks the nucleosomes into position wherever no determinators are protecting the DNA. At subsequent cell replications, the methylation of the DNA is catalyzed by methyltransferases that prefer to methylate hemimethylated sites, so that the locations of the nucleosomes can be passed on to future cell generations without the necessity to reinduce the determinator proteins. The methylation sites also play a role in stabilizing condensation of chromosomes for cell division.
Whose Kidney Is It Anyway? The Complexities of Sharing Deceased Donor Kidneys

Disparities in Access to Kidney Transplantation Between Donor Services Areas in Texas by Lewis et al is a clarion call for wider geographic sharing of donated kidneys in this country (1). The arbitrary boundaries of donor service areas (DSAs) are the impediment to equitable access for patients and Texas, although not unique, is a case study in how gerrymandering DSAs to serve individual transplant center agendas results in disenfranchisement of patients. However, eliminating geographic disparity is more than erasing DSAs boundaries, and while we agree with the sentiment expressed by the authors,we disagree that the solution is to consolidate the organ procurement organizations (OPOs) existing within a state’s borders into one. Fixing the geographic disparity that exists in kidney transplantation requires doing what is in the best interest of patients and understanding how the transplant profession must justify the trust society places in it for the stewardship of a precious national resource.
Anastrozole, a potent and selective aromatase inhibitor, versus megestrol acetate in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer: results of overview analysis of two phase III trials. Arimidex Study Group.

PURPOSETo compare the efficacy and tolerability of anastrozole (1 and 10 mg once daily), a selective, oral, nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, and megestrol acetate (40 mg four times daily), in postmenopausal women who progressed following tamoxifen treatment.PATIENTS AND METHODSTwo randomized, double-blind for anastrozole, open-label for megestrol acetate, parallel-group, multicenter trials were conducted in 764 patients. Because both trials were identical in design, an analysis of the combined results was performed to strengthen interpretation of results from each trial.RESULTSThe median follow-up duration was approximately 6 months. The estimated progression hazards ratios were 0.97 (97.5% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 to 1.24) for anastrozole 1 mg versus megestrol acetate and 0.92 (97.5% CI, 0.71 to 1.19) for anastrozole 10 mg versus megestrol acetate. The overall median time to progression was approximately 21 weeks. Approximately one third of patients in each group benefited from treatment. Twenty-s...
Development of knowledge about means of egress

This overview of the information and literature provides insight to the problems relating to means of egress. To provide a comprehensive as well as critical review of the field, the reader is especially referred to the reviews and assessments of the U.S. National Bureau of Standards relating to the technical basis for egress standards. Also mentioned are other broadly oriented publications, along with those describing large-scale studies of human movement related to egress. A basic list of references is suggested. For additional insight several excerpts relating to the controversial unit exit width concept are provided from U.S. and British committee efforts in 1935 and 1952.
A Nobel Nose: The 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine

On December 10, 2004, the anniversary of industrialist and philanthropist Alfred Nobel’s death, the eponymous prize in Physiology or Medicine bequeathed by his prescient will was awarded to Linda Buck and Richard Axel for their seminal work in understanding olfaction. It is the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for work reported in the decade of the 1990s, a relatively short time ago by the Nobel metric. Of particular significance, Linda Buck is only the seventh woman in its history to receive the prize in this category.
MO‐E‐18C‐03: Incorporating Active Learning Into A Traditional Graduate Medical Physics Course

Purpose: To improve the ability of graduate students to learn medical physics concepts through the incorporation of active learning techniques. Methods: A traditional lecture-based radiological physics course was modified such that: (1) traditional (two-hour) lectures were provided online for students to watch prior to class, (2) a student was chosen randomly at the start of each class to give a two minute synopsis of the material and its relevance (two-minute drill), (3) lectures were significantly abbreviated and remaining classroom time used for group problem solving, and (4) videos of the abbreviated lectures were made available online for review. In the transition year, students were surveyed about the perceived effects of these changes on learning. Student performance was evaluated for 3 years prior to and 4 years after modification. Results: The survey tool used a five point scale from 1=Not True to 5=Very True. While nearly all students reviewed written materials prior to class (4.3±0.9), a minority watched the lectures (2.1±1.5). A larger number watched the abbreviated lectures for further clarification (3.6±1.6) and found it helpful in learning the content (4.2±1.0). Most felt that the two-minute drill helped them get more out of the lecture (3.9±0.8) and the problem solving contributed to their understanding of the content (4.1±0.8). However, no significant improvement in exam scores resulted from the modifications (mean scores well within 1 SD during study period). Conclusion: Students felt that active learning techniques improved their ability to learn the material in what is considered the most difficult course in the program. They valued the ability to review the abbreviated class lecture more than the opportunity to watch traditional lectures prior to class. While no significant changes in student performance were observed, aptitude variations across the student cohorts make it difficult to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of active learning.
The viscoelastic and viscoplastic behavior of polymer composites: polycarbonate reinforced with short glass fibers

Abstract Observations are reported on polycarbonate filled with various amounts of short glass fibers (i) in tensile tests with a constant strain rate and (ii) in oscillatory torsion tests at room temperature. Constitutive equations are derived for the viscoelastic and viscoplastic responses of a polymer composite. The composite is treated as an equivalent network of chains bridged by junctions (entanglements and glass fibers). The network is thought of as an ensemble of meso-regions with arbitrary shapes and sizes. With reference to the theory of cooperative relaxation, the viscoelastic response is attributed to rearrangement of meso-domains that occurs at random times when the regions are thermally activated. The viscoplastic behavior is associated with displacements of meso-regions with respect to each other. The rate of sliding of meso-domains is proportional to the rate of macro-deformation. Constitutive equations for isothermal deformation of a polymer composite are derived by using the laws of thermodynamics. The stress–strain relations are determined by five adjustable parameters that are found by fitting the experimental data. The effect of the filler content on the material parameters is studied in detail.
Short communication: Diagnosis of bladder cancers with small sample size via feature selection

This paper proposes feature selection as an approach to deal with a bladder cancer data set with small sample size. Three feature selection methods and four classifiers were used to determine the best feature subsets that produce perfect classification accuracy. The smallest best feature subsets are used to build neural models with the small data set to achieve 100% training and testing accuracies. Therefore, the mega-trend-diffusion technique proposed by Li et al. to produce artificial samples is actually unnecessary. The similarity classifier proposed by Luukka was also applied to the small data set with the smallest best feature subsets to achieve 100% accuracy using only 4 samples (two with bladder cancer and two normal) for two selected p and m values. Given the same accuracy, using the best feature subsets selected is better than using all 13 features as done by Luukka. Furthermore, several indexes/methods commonly used in filtering feature selection methods were tested for their ability to find the best feature subsets for this particular small bladder cancer data set.
ECM gene expression correlates with in vitro tissue growth and development in fibrin gel remodeled by neonatal smooth muscle cells

A tissue growth and development process occurred in neonatal SMC-fibrin gel constructs when cultured in DMEM supplemented with TGF-beta1 and insulin over a 5 week period. These constructs may thus serve as the basis for cardiovascular tissue replacements and future models of cardiovascular tissue growth, repair and regeneration. Following fibrin gel contraction during week 1, peak rates of SMC proliferation, collagen production and tropoelastin production occurred between weeks 1-4. Organized, cross-linked collagen and elastic fibers replaced the degrading fibrin over weeks 3-5 and were manifested as increased mechanical strength. The peak rate of SMC proliferation (weeks 1-2) preceded that for maximum collagen production (weeks 2-4), which was consistent with the 3 week time point of maximum expression of collagen type I and III from qRT-PCR. Insoluble elastin quantification revealed that the majority of elastic fibers were produced by week 4, which was also consistent with the qRT-PCR data showing a dramatic down-regulation of tropoelastin expression by week 4, indicating elastogenesis occurred during the early stages of tissue growth and development. There was a strong up-regulation of lysyl oxidase expression during weeks 1-3 with a peak in expression at week 3, correlating with the phases of collagen and tropoelastin production. An increase in MMP-2 expression over weeks 1-5 suggested an increase in ECM remodeling as the tissue developed. Mechanical strength doubled over weeks 4-5 when production of collagen and elastic fibers and expression of lysyl oxidase were subsiding. This may have been due in part to the more organized collagen fibrils evident from the histological sections in weeks 3-5.
From Elephant Man to Jerry Springer: the rise of the psychological tele-spectacle.

In the circus sideshow, people with physical deformities were exhibited for profit and entertainment. The circus sideshow itself is no longer socially acceptable, but it has taken a different form. Television programs like The Jerry Springer Show make spectacles of psychological afflictions and variations in human behavior. On the one hand, these shows provide participants with attention, recognition, an outlet for masochism, and an identity. To the viewer, they offer both reassurance and an outlet for unacceptable thoughts and feelings. They also explore society’s collective subconscious. On the other hand, these shows approximate psychological interventions without concern for the result, have potentially negative consequences for vulnerable viewers, and blur the boundary between fantasy and real life.
Electroencephalographic findings in 186 cases of chronic post-traumatic encephalopathy.

Abstract 1. 1. A significant shift toward abnormal diffuse and focal types of EEG was found in comparing 186 head injuries with the 1000 normal controls of Gibbs. 2. 2. There was a pronounced change from the “normal” to the “focal” electroencephalogram as one moved from the “closed” through the “open, non-penetrating” to the “open, penetrating” group of head trauma. 3. 3. EEGs in cases of “open, penetrating” head wounds without localizing neurologic findings were as likely to be abnormal as in those with such signs. 4. 4. Of the “focal” tracings 24 or 77 per cent (86 per cent in the “open, penetrating” series) corresponded to the site of the wound. Of the remaining 8 cases, 6 satisfied most of the requirements for “contre-coup” injury. 5. 5. In this series the electroencephalogram did not reveal, with any degree of accuracy, those patients who had had convulsions prior to the tracing.
Characterization of a Metal-independent CAZy Family 6 Glycosyltransferase from Bacteroides ovatus

The myriad functions of complex carbohydrates include modulating interactions between bacteria and their eukaryotic hosts. In humans and other vertebrates, variations in the activity of glycosyltransferases of CAZy family 6 generate antigenic variation between individuals and species that facilitates resistance to pathogens. The well characterized vertebrate glycosyltransferases of this family are multidomain membrane proteins with C-terminal catalytic domains. Genes for proteins homologous with their catalytic domains are found in at least nine species of anaerobic commensal bacteria and a cyanophage. Although the bacterial proteins are strikingly similar in sequence to the catalytic domains of their eukaryotic relatives, a metal-binding Asp-X-Asp sequence, present in a wide array of metal ion-dependent glycosyltransferases, is replaced by Asn-X-Asn. We have cloned and expressed one of these proteins from Bacteroides ovatus, a bacterium that is linked to inflammatory bowel disease. Functional characterization shows it to be a metal-independent glycosyltransferase with a 200-fold preference for UDP-GalNAc as substrate relative to UDP-Gal. It efficiently catalyzes the synthesis of oligosaccharides similar to human blood group A and may participate in the synthesis of the bacterial O-antigen. The kinetics for GalNAc transfer to 2′-fucosyl lactose are characteristic of a sequential mechanism, as observed previously for this family. Mutational studies indicate that despite the lack of a metal cofactor, there are pronounced similarities in structure-function relationships between the bacterial and vertebrate family 6 glycosyltransferases. These two groups appear to provide an example of horizontal gene transfer involving vertebrates and prokaryotes.
Effects of foot placement on postural stability of construction workers on stilts

Stilts are elevated tools that are frequently used by construction workers to raise workers 18-40 inches above the ground. The objective of this laboratory study was to evaluate the potential loss of postural stability associated with the use of stilts in various foot placements. Twenty construction workers with at least 1 year of experience in the use of stilts participated in this study. One Kistler force platform was used to collect kinetic data. Participants were tested under six-foot-placement conditions. These 6 experimental conditions were statically tested under all combinations of 3 levels of elevation: 0'' (no stilts), 24'' stilt height and 40'' stilt height. SAS mixed procedure was used to evaluate the effect of different experimental conditions. The results of the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and repeated measures of univariate analyses of variance (ANOVAs) demonstrated that stilt height, foot-placement direction, and foot-placement width all had significant effects on the whole-body postural stability. This study found that the higher the stilts were elevated, the greater the postural instability. A stance position with one foot placed forward of the other foot produced greater postural instability than a position with the feet parallel and directly beneath the body. This study found that placement of the feet parallel and directly beneath the body, with the feet positioned a half shoulder width apart, caused a greater amount of postural sway and instability than one and one-and-half shoulder width. This study also found that construction workers using the stilts could perceive the likely postural instability due to the change in foot placements.
Detection of DNA Hybridization on Gold Surfaces by Polarization Modulation Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy

Polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) was used to detect DNA hybridization on gold surfaces. Mixed monolayers of 6-mercapto-1-hexanol (MCH) and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with a C6−SH 5‘ modifier were first formed on the gold surface by co-deposition. Then hybridization with the complementary ssDNA strand was performed to obtain double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). The PM-IRRAS spectra obtained contained absorptive features indicative of DNA arising from the phosphodiester backbone and the purine and pyrimidine rings. An infrared signature of dsDNA was observed at 1655 cm-1 that was absent in the ssDNA spectra. This band permitted the distinction between ssDNA and dsDNA to be made thus allowing for the detection of DNA hybridization on gold surfaces by PM-IRRAS.
Review of A Conspiracy of Images: Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, and the Art of the Cold War

John J. CurleyA Conspiracy of Images: Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, and the Art of the Cold War296 pagesNew Haven, CT: Yale University Press • 2013Hardcover $65.00Can paintings be double agents? Jo...
Graphical analysis of interactions between oxidation-reduction sites in two site oxidation-reduction proteins.

Abstract Many enzymes that catalyze electron-transfer reaction contain multiple oxidation-reduction centers (sites). The oxidation-reduction potential of one site as well as the kinetics of electron transfer through this site may be altered by the state of reduction of a neighboring site. Oxidation-reduction site interactions may be mechanistically important and quantitation of site interactions would aid the interpretation of thermodynamic data and possibly kinetic data. A graphical means to detect and quantitate interactions between oxidation-reduction sites from oxidation-reduction equilibrium data (type A + B C + D)is described and has its roots in the Scatchard analysis of ligand binding equilibria (type A + B C). Oxidation-reduction sites often have distinct physical properties allowing the titration behavior of specific sites to be monitored. Equilibrium measurements on specific sites of a two site protein allow a further analysis of the data which can be combined with the oxidation-reduction Scatchard analysis to solve for all four specific site equilibrium constants. Ligand binding systems can usually measure only total site binding and simplifying assumptions of identical sites or noninteracting sites are required to solve for the site specific equilibrium constants. Thus, specific site equilibrium measurements offer a distinct advantage over total site measurements. The principles of the method are illustrated by applying the graphical analysis to the two site protein, thioredoxin reductase, which contains an oxidation-reduction active site disulfide in addition to FAD. The specific site oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials ( E m ) of the FAD and disulfide couples of thioredoxin reductase at pH 6.0, 12°C, were found to be FAD FADH 2 -enzyme-(S) 2 = −0.183 V , FAD FADH 2 -enzyme-(SH) 2 = −0.199 V , (FAD)-enzyme- (S) 2 (SH) 2 = −0.202 V , and (FADH 2 )-enzyme- (S) 2 (SH) 2 = −0.218 V . Hence, at pH 6.0, the FAD and disulfide sites of thioredoxin reductase have E m values that differ by approximately 0.019 V and have a negative interaction of about 0.016 V.
The impact of state enterprise zones on urban manufacturing establishments

Since the early 1980s, the vast majority of states have implemented enterprise zones. This paper analyzes urban zones in six states, examining the factors that states use to choose zone locations and the subsequent effect of the zones on business activity and employment. The source of outcome data is the U.S. Bureau of Census' longitudinal research database (LRD), which tracks manufacturing establishments over time. Matched sample and geographic comparison groups are created to measure the impact of zone policy on employment, establishment, shipment, payroll, and capital spending outcomes. Consistent with previous findings, the difference-in-difference estimates indicate that zones have little effect, on average. However, by exploiting the establishment-level data to examine gross as well as net changes, the analysis finds that zones have a positive effect on the outcomes of new establishments and a negative effect on the outcomes of previously existing establishments. © 2004 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Domestic Violence and Chemical Dependency Co-Morbidity: Promoting Eclectic Responses to Concomitant Mental Health Concerns

Chemical dependency and a history of physical or sexual violence are problems commonly experienced concomitantly among women, yet barriers persist to implementing programs that deal with them together. This article describes an eclectic, cross-problem group intervention designed to acknowledge the specific needs of women who have experienced problems of both chemical dependency and domestic violence. Program evaluation data suggest a positive effect for the proposed intervention, providing support for creating and maintaining policies among mental health provider organizations to recognize and address common co-morbidity.
Aeroservoelastic Model Uncertainty Bound Estimation from Flight Data

Uncertainty modeling is a critical element in the estimation of robust stability margins for stability boundary prediction and robust flight control system development. There has been a serious deficiency to date in aeroservoelastic data analysis with attention to uncertainty modeling. Uncertainty can be estimated from flight data using both parametric and nonparametric identification techniques. The model validation problem addressed here is to identify aeroservoelastic models with associated uncertainty structures from a limited amount of controlled excitation inputs over an extensive flight envelope. The challenge is to update analytical models from flight data estimates while also deriving nonconservative uncertainty descriptions consistent with the flight data. Transfer function estimates are incorporated in a robust minimax estimation scheme to update models and get error bounds consistent with the data and model structure. Uncertainty estimates derived from the data in this manner provide an appropriate and relevant representation for model development and robust stability analysis. The method incorporates parametric and nonparamteric uncertainty into various uncertainty structures for quantitative measures of robust stability relating to parameter variations and unmodeled dynamics. This model-plus-uncertainty identification procedure is applied to aeroservoelastic flight data from the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center F-18 Systems Research Aircraft.
Shear Strength of Titanium Diboride under Shock Wave and Static Compressions

The mechanical behavior of ceramics under high pressures and temperatures is a subject of considerable interest. Since high pressures can be generated under static or dynamic conditions, it is necessary to measure mechanical properties of the materials under both. In the present work, compression and shear strength of titanium diboride measured under plane shock wave compression is revealingly compared with the recent measurement of compression and shear strength of titanium diboride obtained under static high pressures.
Nanoscale Consecutive Self-Assembly of Thin-Film Molecular Materials for Electrooptic Switching. Chemical Streamlining and Ultrahigh Response Chromophores

A broadly applicable approach to formation of self-assembled organic electrooptic superlattices for high-speed switching is reported. This two-step “one-pot” method involves (i) layer-by-layer covalent self-assembly of intrinsically acentric monolayers of a new high-hyperpolarizability donor−acceptor aminophenylbenzothiazolpyridinium chromophore (β(0.65 eV)calcd = 1620 × 10-30 cm5 esu-1) on hydrophilic substrates and (ii) in-situ chromophore deprotection concurrent with self-limiting “capping”/planarization of each chromophore layer with octachlorotrisiloxane. The resulting organic films are characterized using a combination of physicochemical methodolgies including synchrotron X-ray specular reflectivity, angle-dependent polarized second harmonic generation spectroscopy, optical spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and advancing contact angle measurements. The superlattices exhibit very large second-order responses, χ(2) ≈ 370 pm/V, and a large macroscopic electrooptic coefficient, r33 ≈ 120 p...