cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving test compression by retaining non-pivot free variables in sequential linear decompressors

Sequential linear decompressors are inherently efficient and attractive for compressing test cubes with many don't cares. The test cubes are encoded by solving a system of linear equations. In continuous decompression, typically a fixed number of free variables are used to encode each test cube in a “one-size-fits-all” manner. The non-pivot free variables used in Gaussian elimination are wasted when the decompressor is reset before decompressing the next test cube. This paper explores techniques for retaining the non-pivot free variables for a test cube and using them to help encode subsequent test cubes and hence improve encoding efficiency. This approach retains most of the non-pivot free variables with only a minimal increase in runtime for solving the equations and no added control information. Experimental results are presented showing that the encoding efficiency, and hence compression, can be significantly boosted.
Increasing Blood Donor Pledge Fulfillment

Two studies conducted during campus blood drives assessed two techniques derived from a commitment and social support analysis that were designed to increase the rate of pledge fulfillment by volunteer donors. A reminder about donation addressed to the individual donor plus two other named donors (Three-Name Reminder) elicited greater pledge fulfillment than a reminder addressed to the individual alone (One-Name Reminder). Similarly, a reminder addressed to the individual that simply stated that two other people would donate at the same time (Group Reminder) also enhanced pledge fulfillment relative to the One-Name Reminder.
Setting the Table: How Transformational Leadership Fosters Performance Information Use

The article offers a theory of how leadership affects the implementation of management reforms. The central premise of this theory is that leadership can have important but easyto-miss indirect effects on organizational factors that shape reform outcomes. To test this question, we examine how transformational leadership influences the implementation of performance reforms, using performance information use as a dependent variable. Previous research suggests that leadership can affect how performance information is used among employees but underspecifies the theoretical mechanisms by which this influence occurs. This article develops a theoretical model that proposes that transformational leaders ‘‘set the table’’ for performance information use via a positive but indirect effect on two mediating factors, goal clarity and organizational culture. A structural equation model using selfreported performance information use as a dependent variable provides empirical evidence consistent with our theory.
Architectural optimizations for a floating point multiply-accumulate unit in a graphics pipeline

Scientific visualization and virtual reality have pushed three-dimensional graphics engines to their limits for updating scenes in real-time. One bottleneck of graphic systems is the transformation of an object's vertices into normalized space based on an evaluated transformation stack. This operation as often done in floating point, requiring a fast floating point multiply-accumulate unit. This paper presents architectural optimizations to a graphics pipeline floating point multiply-accumulate unit by using block floating point and parallelism to bypass or merge trivial operations in the matrix multiplications.
Modeling and Characterization of the Scratch Drive Actuator

This paper presents the characterization of scratch drive actuators (SDAs) built using Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) SUMMiT TM V micromachining process. Experimental data is used to characterize the output step size as a function of input voltage. This data is correlated to an analytical model in an effort to better understand and predict the stepping motion of these devices. The experimental results match well with the predictions from the model. Experimental data shows that the step sizes are on the order of 10 nm, and force estimates show that one plate is capable of producing forces in excess of 100 µN for each step.
Flavonoids and auxin transport : modulators or regulators?

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds found in all vascular and non-vascular plants. Although nonessential for plant growth and development, flavonoids have species-specific roles in nodulation, fertility, defense and UV protection. Flavonoids have been shown to modulate transport of the phytohormone auxin in addition to auxin-dependent tropic responses. However, flavonoids are not essential regulators of these processes because transport and tropic responses occur in their absence. Flavonoids modulate the activity of auxin-transporting P-glycoproteins and seem to modulate the activity of regulatory proteins such as phosphatases and kinases. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that auxin transport mechanisms evolved in the presence of flavonoid compounds produced for the scavenging of reactive oxygen species and defense from herbivores and pathogens.
DEFINING SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT

South African agriculture is comprised of mainly two categories of farmers—the subsistence farmers in the former homeland areas and the large-scale commercial (mainly white) farmers. This is in contrast with the situation in many other countries in the world where one would find a whole range of farm sizes, ranging from the very small or subsistence farmer to the very large farmer/agribusiness. The paper highlights the situation of small-scale farmers in an international context and compares it with the South African situation that is totally different. Within this context, this paper has as basic premise that in South Africa the concept of “small-scale farmer” is usually value-laden, creates wrong impressions and is often viewed in a negative light. “Small-scale” is often equated with a backward, nonproductive, non-commercial, subsistence agriculture that we find in parts of the former homeland areas. This paper endeavours to correct the negative perceptions towards small-scale farms by redefining the sm...
Determining Trade Policy: Do Voters Hold Politicians Accountable?

Models of trade policy often depend on the efficient aggregation of individual preferences. While much of the recent empirical work on trade focuses on whether domestic coalitions form along class or sectoral lines, the process of preference aggregation itself remains understudied. In democratic countries, voting is typically assumed to be an unproblematic mechanism for aggregating preferences, but such an assumption may be misleading when the salience of trade policy is low or heterogeneous throughout the electorate. Using data from a survey of 36,501 potential voters in the 2006 U.S. midterm congressional elections, this article explores the salience of trade policy for voters as a whole and for populations predicted to be most affected by changing trade patterns. The article offers an estimation of trade policy salience based on the degree to which voters held Senate incumbents accountable for their 2005 vote on the Central American Free Trade Agreement, relative to roll call votes on other issues of the day. The article finds trade policy salience to be relatively low in terms of stated importance, in voters' knowledge of their representatives' policy positions, and in its effect on voters' propensity to vote for the incumbent. The low salience of trade policy, particularly among highly affected groups, calls into question voter-driven models of trade policy.
IL-1β stimulates alveolar fluid absorption in fetal guinea pig lungs via the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland axis

We tested the hypothesis that interleukin (IL)-1β-induced cortisol synthesis stimulates alveolar fluid clearance in preterm fetuses. IL-1β was administered subcutaneously daily to timed-pregnant gu...
Sediment Delivery on Rill and Interrill Areas

Equations which relate sediment delivery to a power function of flow rate and slope gradient were evaluated in this study. The data used to parameterize the equations were obtained from sites where crop residues had been removed, and moldboard plowing and disking had occurred. Measurements of sediment delivery resulting from simulated rainfall were obtained from preformed rills and interrill areas. The equations provided reliable sediment delivery estimates for selected soils located throughout the United States. To use the sediment delivery equations, soil-related parameter values must be identified. Multiple regression analyses were performed to relate parameter values used in the equations to selected soil properties. Equations were also developed for estimating rill sediment delivery under rainfall conditions from rill soil loss and discharge data collected without the addition of rainfall. The equations identified in this study, and appropriate soils information, can be used to predict sediment delivery on both rill and interrill areas.
Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Renal Allografts: Lessons from Pathology

The past 15 years have seen major advances in the understanding of the effects of anti-donor antibodies on renal allografts at various stages after transplantation. These advances have been due in large part to pathologic examination of both early and late renal allograft biopsies, including both routine histologic evaluation and immunohistology to detect complement split products. As pathologists have become increasingly adept at diagnosing antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) on allograft biopsies, substantial progress has been made in the treatment of AMR and in successful renal transplantation in recipients with pre-existing antibodies against donor blood group (ABO) and/or major histocompatibility (HLA) antigens. This article reviews the pathologic features of hyperacute, acute, and chronic AMR, including some newer findings impacting diagnosis and outcomes, and differences in the implications of similar pathologic findings in ABO- versus HLA-incompatible renal allografts.
A Systematic Review of Anti-Rotavirus Serum IgA Antibody Titer as a Potential Correlate of Rotavirus Vaccine Efficacy

Findings. We observed an inverse correlation between u5MR and IgA titers for RV1 (r 2 = 0.72; P 90 (85%; 95% CI, 82–88). Interpretation. We observed a significant correlation between IgA titers and rotavirus vaccine efficacy and hypothesize that a critical level of IgA antibody titer is associated with a sufficient level of sustained protection after rotavirus vaccination.
III-nitride avalanche photodiodes

Wide bandgap III-Nitride semiconductors are a promising material system for the development of ultraviolet avalanche photodiodes (APDs) that could be a viable alternative to photomultiplier tubes. In this paper, we report the epitaxial growth and physical properties of device quality GaN layers on high quality AlN templates for the first backilluminated GaN p-i-n APD structures on transparent sapphire substrates. The 25 μm x 25 μm device characteristics were measured, and compared with the same devices grown on GaN templates, under low bias and linear mode avalanche operation where they exhibited gains near 1500 after undergoing avalanche breakdown. The breakdown electric field in GaN was determined to be 2.73 MV/cm. The hole impact ionization coefficients were shown to be greater than those of electrons. These APDs were also successfully operated under Geiger mode.
The dynamics of idealized attention in complex learning environments

Effective allocation of attention is crucial for many cognitive functions, and attentional disorders (e.g., ADHD) negatively impact learning. Despite the importance of the attentional system, the origins of inattentional behavior remain hazy. Here we present a model of an ideal learner that maximizes information gain in an environment containing multiple objects, each containing a set amount of information to be learned. When constraints on the speed of information decay and ease of shifting attention between objects are added to the system, patterns of attentional switching behavior emerge. These predictions can account for results reported from multiple object tracking tasks. Further, they highlight multiple possible causes underlying the atypical behaviors associated with attentional disorders.
Physician Health Programs and the Social Contract.

Physician health programs for impaired or disruptive physicians are not coercive but part of the social contract governing professional licensure.
AN EXPERIMENT WITH AFRICAN COFFEE GROWING IN KENYA: THE GUSII, 1933-1950

This study analyzes the factors within and without Gusii society which directly influenced the introduction and expansion of coffee production. It also describes the assumptions of the colonial administrators in regard to the form and structure of the industry. Furthermore, salient characteristics of the pioneer growers, those who adopted coffee before 1938, are compared with a subsequent group of Gusii coffee farmers to test hypotheses on innovation. 't combination of research methods and techniques were employed. Primary, written documents and relevant secondary materials were consulted in the United States, England and Kenya. Also, pioneer, growers and other informants were questioned fol-lowing an interview guide. Then a structured questionnaire was administered to the pioneers, a random sample of the next set of coffee adopters, and respondents for the deceased members of the study unit. Information from the questionnaires is provided in tables, giving frequency counts and percentages, while chi-square tests indicate levels n7 significance.
Discussion by Nicholas Weir

Professor Ripley clearly presents the Bayesian paradigm as it applies to astronomical image reconstruction. The particular prior model he presents for image deconvolution appears to be a powerful one and an interesting alternative to the popular maximum entropy (MaxEnt) prior. Perhaps most important, however, he describes how our notion of restored images may be enlarged to include model spaces far different from the traditional pixel grid we associate with deconvolution. If recent results are any indication, research involving novel image models and their priors will soon provide the most significant breakthroughs in astronomical image restoration since Bayesian methods were first applied to the field nearly two decades ago (see [Pri72]).
To Defer or Not: Determining When and Why Courts Support FCC Expertise and Decision Making Authority

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has achieved a mixed record when reviewing courts decide whether to affirm a decision based on deference to the Commission’s expertise. Generally courts prefer not to “legislate from the bench,” or make policy decisions. However courts have to determine whether a regulatory agency has statutory authority to act. Where it does not appear obvious, regulatory agencies still may justify acting based on a reasonable interpretation of ambiguous language. Regulatory agencies like the FCC often have to make decisions based on cases and controversies involving new technologies and conflicts not anticipated by the organic statute creating the agency and conferring authority to act.This paper will examine several decades of appellate cases involving FCC decision making with an eye toward identifying factors that support judicial deference and other factors where courts are less deferential. Such predictive variables do not guarantee a particular judicial outcome, but can provide a template for assessing what the FCC must do to pass muster with reviewing courts.The paper identifies factors favoring deference including instances where the FCC opts to deregulate, addresses technologically complex issues and provides proof that it compiled a comprehensive evidentiary record. On the other hand, courts frequently second-guess the FCC and reject its expertise particularly when the Commission seeks to expand its regulatory wingspan, courts can use analogies and other strategies to understand technological complexity and litigants can credibly show that the Commission generated a flawed evidentiary record. The paper will examine appellate cases involving challenges to FCC authority and decision making with an eye toward specifying factors that can help predict whether a reviewing court will defer to the Commission’s expertise.
Segmented assimilation, neighborhood disadvantage, and Hispanic immigrant health.

We use a subset of Hispanics from the New Immigrant Survey, a nationally representative data set on immigrants recently granted legal permanent residency (n = 2245), to examine whether the relationship between assimilation and health is modified by neighborhood disadvantage and, in doing so, carry out an empirical test of the segmented assimilation hypothesis. Results indicate that assimilation in the least disadvantaged neighborhoods can be protective against poor health. Specifically, more assimilated men and women in the lowest disadvantage neighborhoods have a lower likelihood of self-reported poorer health and being overweight, respectively; no link was found in higher disadvantage neighborhoods. Assimilation was not found to be associated with self-reported health for women or BMI for men, regardless of neighborhood disadvantage level. Overall, we find some evidence supporting the hypothesis that the effects of assimilation on health depend on the context in which immigrants experience it.
Hair Follicle Nevus Located on the Chin of an Infant: Case Report and Review of Literature

Hair follicle nevi are rare, benign, congenital hamartomas that usually occur in the distribution of the first brachial arch. Histopathologically, the distinction between hair follicle nevus, trichofolliculoma, and accessory tragus has recently come into question, and it may be that they are all on a spectrum of the same condition. We report the case of a 7-day-old boy who presented with a "tag"-like lesion on his midline chin that had been present since birth. Biopsy of the lesion proved it to be a hair follicle nevus.
New insights into evolutionary relationships within the subfamily Lamioideae (Lamiaceae) based on pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) nuclear DNA sequences

2 PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Lamioideae, one of the most species-rich subfamilies within Lamiaceae, exhibits a remarkable diversity in morphology and habit and is found in many temperate to subtropical regions across the globe. Previous studies based on chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequence data produced a tribal classifi cation of Lamioideae, but so far this has not been confi rmed with nuclear DNA loci. METHODS: We investigated sequence variation in a low-copy nuclear pentatricopeptide repeat ( PPR ) region and compared the phylogenetic results with previously published sequence data from a concatenated data set comprising four cpDNA loci. We incorporated representatives of all 10 lamioid tribes and some unclassifi ed taxa, analyzed the data using phylogenetic inference, and estimated divergence times and ancestral areas for major nodes. KEY RESULTS: Our results showed overall topological similarities between the cpDNA and PPR phylogenies with strong support for most tribes. However, we also observed incongruence in the circumscription of some tribes, including Gomphostemmateae and Pogostemoneae and in the relationships among tribes. Our results suggest an Oligocene-Miocene origin of the Lamioideae crown group. Asia and the Mediterranean region appear to have been centers of diversity and place of origin for many lamioid tribes. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the fi rst phylogeny of subfamily Lamioideae inferred from low-copy nuclear DNA data. We show that most lamioid tribes are corroborated, although the exact circumscription of two tribes is questioned. We have shed further light on the evolutionary relationships within Lamioideae, and this study demonstrates the utility of the PPR region for such subfamilial-level phylogenetic studies.
Kinematics and Dynamics Simulation of Hybrid Machine Tool

Aimed at the questions of electromotor selection and parts design of five axes hybrid machine tool, this paper sets up the three-dimensional model of hybrid machine tool by using SolidWorks, then puts the assembled model into ADAMS/View, simulates the velocity and driving force curve of each driving shaft, carries out the work for simulating the kinematics and dynamics properties of five axes hybrid machine tool, thus provides the proofs for machine electromotor selection, framework design and control system design.
The Socio-Psycho Influence upon the Substitution of Dynasties Between the Western Han and Eastern Han Dynasties

After the middle of the Western Han Dynasty,with the ruling crisis increasingly rising,a wave of disgust for the Western Han Dynasty appeared and became widespread among different social classes,an important factor which eventually led to the substitution of the Western Han Dynasty.However,with the collapse of Wang Mang's reformation,nostalgia for the Western Han Dynasty was aroused,which contributed to the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Effect of TiO_2 content on microstructure of sinter

The effect of titanium on microstructure of sinter was investigated by metallographic microscope and sintering test.The results show that,with the increase of TiO2 content,the content of perovskite in binder phase has a notable increase,the content of calcium ferrite has a trend to decrease,the content of glass phase rises,the content of dicalcium silicate remains stable,the pores in sinter reduce significantly.In the structure of ore phase,most perovskite shows amorphous and allotriomorphic,which fills in the mineral powder.A little perovskite shows dendritic,which distributes intensively.Calcium ferrite shows acicular,columnar and platy structure,which distributes unequally.Dicalcium silicate distributes with willow structure.The shapes of gas hole are irregular and crack exists throughout them.Binder phase strength of sinter reduces with increase of the content of TiO2.Through the sintering cup test verifying,with the increase of TiO2 content,the tumbler decreases,which meets the influencing law of titanium on microstructure of sinter.
The Almagest and its Direct Predecessors

The Chaps. 10 and 11 of Book I of the Almagest contain the ancient theory of plane trigonometry and the resulting tables. The basic function, however, is not the sine function but its equivalent, the length of the chord subtended by the given angle in the unit circle. We shall use the notation crd α if the radius of the unit circle is 1, but Crd α if the radius R of the circle is the sexagesimal unit R = 1,0 = 60. Ptolemy uses Crd α exclusively but we shall frequently replace it by crd α which only implies a shift in the sexagesimal place value.
Water and the Hydrophobic Effect

Water is the most important biochemical in life and is now considered to be a fingerprint of life. Despite its apparent simplicity, water houses a plethora of subtle, but extraordinary properties. Liquid water is abundant, small in size and highly mobile. From a membrane perspective, it is water’s propensity to form hydrogen bonds that is responsible for its strong self-attraction (cohesion) and many remarkable properties. Even at physiological temperature, water exists as large extended clusters held together by hydrogen bonds. Water is life’s solvent, an essential reagent in life, the major thermal regulator in life and the driving force for all biological structure. The aversion of hydrocarbons for water, known as the Hydrophobic Effect, is the major stabilizing factor for membranes.
Noise Versus Outliers

In this chapter, the reader will learn about methods for identifying outliers in a dataset, and how different methods can be compared.
A Multisolver Scheme Based on Robin Transmission Conditions for Electromagnetic Modeling of Highly Complex Objects

A multisolver scheme based on Robin transmission conditions (RTCs) is proposed for electromagnetic modeling of highly complex objects. Different from the traditional finite element–boundary integral (FE-BI) method that applies BI equations to truncate the FE domain, the proposed multisolver scheme employs both FE and BI equations to model an object along with its background. To be specific, the entire computational domain consisting of the object and its background is first decomposed into multiple nonoverlapping subdomains with each modeled by either an FE or BI equation. The equations in the subdomains are then coupled into a multisolver system by enforcing the RTC at the subdomain interfaces. Finally, the combined system is solved iteratively with the application of an extended preconditioner based on an absorbing boundary condition and the multilevel fast multipole algorithm. To obtain an accurate solution, both the Rao–Wilton–Glisson and the Buffa–Christiansen functions are employed as the testing functions to discretize the BI equations. This scheme is applied to a variety of benchmark problems and the scattering from an aircraft with a launched missile to demonstrate its accuracy, versatility, and capability. The proposed scheme is compared with the multisolver scheme based on combined field integral equations to illustrate the differences between the two schemes.
Conservation of a Scalar Extensive in Integral Form

The transport of a scalar extensive, e, is considered across a stationary control volume and surface. The conservation of e in integral form is formulated for the transport in a stationary, Eulerian volume that includes a Lagrangean advection channel and a stagnant space. Internal transport between the moving and stagnant domains is included in the transport model by convection and diffusion or dispersion.
Lab-on-a-brane: nanofibrous polymer membranes to recreate organ–capillary interfaces

Drug discovery is a complex and time consuming process involving significant basic research and preclinical evaluation prior to testing in patients. Preclinical studies rely extensively on animal models which often fail in human trials. Biomimetic microphysiological systems (MPS) using human cells can be a promising alternative to animal models; where critical interactions between different organ systems are recreated to provide physiologically relevant in vitro human models. Central here are blood-vessel networks, the interface controlling transport of cellular and biomolecular components between the circulating fluid and underlying tissue. Here we present a novel lab-on-a-brane (or lab-on-a-membrane) nanofluidics MPS that combines the elegance of lab-on-a-chip with the more realistic morphology of 3D fibrous tissue-engineering constructs. Our blood-vessel lab-on-a-brane effectively simulates in vivo vessel-tissue interface for evaluating transendothelial transport in various pharmacokinetic and nanomedicine applications. Attributes of our platform include (a) nanoporous barrier interface enabling transmembrane molecular transport, (b) transformation of substrate into nanofibrous 3D tissue matrix, (c) invertible-sandwich architecture, and (d) simple co-culture mechanism for endothelial and smooth muscle layers to accurately mimic arterial anatomy. Structural, mechanical, and transport characterization using scanning electron microscopy, stress/strain analysis, infrared spectroscopy, immunofluorescence, and FITC-Dextran hydraulic permeability confirm viability of this in vitro system. Thus, our lab-on-a-brane provides an effective and efficient, yet considerably inexpensive, physiologically relevant alternative for pharmacokinetic evaluation; possibly reducing animals used in preclinical testing, costs from false starts, and time-to-market. Furthermore, it can be configured in multiple simultaneous arrays for personalized and precision medicine applications and for evaluating localized and targeted therapeutic delivery.
Nuclear reactions of /sup 197/Au with 11. 5- and 300-GeV protons. [Formation cross sections of >60 nuclides]

The formation cross sections of more than 60 nuclides produced in the reaction of 11.5- and 300-GeV protons with $^{197}\mathrm{Au}$ were measured. Most of the measurements were done by direct counting of the target with calibrated Ge(Li) $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectrometers and spectral analysis with computer programs. In addition, chemical separations of osmium and gold fractions permitted the assay of nuclides which could not be resolved in the unseparated targets. The cross-section ratio at the two energies $\frac{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{300}}{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{11.5}}$ was within 20% of unity for all nuclides studied, which ranged in mass from $^{22}\mathrm{Na}$ to $^{196}\mathrm{Au}$. This is interpreted as showing that the spectrum of excitation energies left in the nucleus is nearly independent of bombarding energy above \ensuremath{\sim} 10 GeV. The small cross-section changes observed are shown to be continuations of trends seen previously at lower energies. Charge dispersion curves were estimated with the aid of an empirical formula, and a mass-yield curve was constructed.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{197}\mathrm{Au}$ + 11.5-, 300-GeV protons; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ for formation of 63 nuclides from $^{22}\mathrm{Na}$ to $^{196}\mathrm{Au}$; estimated charge dispersions and mass yield curve.RADIO ACTIVITY Measured ${T}_{\frac{1}{2}}$ of $^{182}\mathrm{Os}$, $^{183}\mathrm{Os}$, $^{183}\mathrm{Os}^{m}$.
Disaster response: Victims' localization using Bluetooth Low Energy sensors

Disasters caused by terrorist attacks or by natural causes such as floodings or earthquakes pose a very challenging task for emergency responders. DIORAMA disaster situation awareness and management system enhances the situation awareness of emergency responders by localizing victims in real time. In this paper we introduce a low cost localization algorithm for DIORAMA system using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. The BLE based localization algorithm improves the localization accuracy of stationary victims as well as re-localizes moving victims opportunistically. Our localization algorithm introduces a Kurtosis-based confidence metric which is used to improve the location estimation and a Maximum Likelihood (ML)-based detector used to detect victims' movements. Our experiments show that the proposed localization algorithm can detect the movement of the victims with a false positive rate as low as 1.2% and can localize victims within an average accuracy of 11ft.
Language Violence and Nonviolence

Violence is a subject we all like to think is not a huge issue but know in the back of our minds that it is prevalent throughout the world for various reasons. However, what we do not often consider is how our word choices perpetuate violence within our culture and society. Elizabeth Howe opens our eyes to how our language affects this issue. During her undergraduate years, Howe was invited to work with Dr. Paul Heilker's Nonviolence in Communication Research Group. When asked about her work, Howe answered, “the research group was such a great project in that all eight of [the students involved] were able to adapt the topic to fit our specific interests, and the research we produced varied across all fields of the humanities.” Howe’s project within the group was influenced by her experiences as a military child, an ROTC cadet, and an aspiring journalist. Her work in military journalism “drew [her] attention to the relationship between the military, mainstream media, and the masses” and the conflicts that arise from these relations. She states that “certain euphemisms, enthymemes, and logical fallacies are enlisted to partially obscure truths or convey strategically constructed messages,” and this is the main idea that she draws from in her research paper. In her paper Howe explains each side of the argument: whether violence was being inflicted through skewed communications (language) or the public was being sheltered from violence in this way. The culmination of a semester's work with Dr. Heilker, her paper takes an objective stance toward her thesis, explaining the issues while simultaneously anticipating the counter argument. Howe first draws from everyday speech and common phrases that have an underlying connotation of destruction or violence. This example clearly explains to the reader that this is not only a problem in military communications, while also giving a simpler example to start off with. She then goes on to elaborate on euphemisms used in military communications, making examples of contemporary issues such as American operations against forces in Iraq and speeches made by former President George W. Bush. Not only does Howe bring contemporary issues into the spotlight, she turns back to America’s past to display that this is not a newly-learned habit in our military communications. She asserts the euphemisms that are currently used were part of a generation-to-generation inheritance of common language, resulting in the current issue. Howe also offers criticism to this idea of institutionalized concealment in our language and as result, our media. She shows that language can deceive or reveal what is truly happening in our world. If we choose to use words that deliberately change the connotation of our communications, are we protecting our citizens or keeping them in the dark? It ultimately comes down to whether the public should know the movements and operations of our nation’s military to its fullest extent. This subject is clearly open to further debate, but Elizabeth Howe offers a truly stellar piece of research to the table.
Flow cytometry for evaluation and investigation of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Publisher Summary The technology of flow cytometry plays a major role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in both patient monitoring and in research that has elucidated disease pathogenesis. The major use of flow cytometry to evaluate HIV infected persons is for the immunophenotypic analysis of lymphocytes. Whole blood samples are labeled with fluorescent dye conjugated monoclonal antibodies, and the proportion of T cells that express CD4 or CD8 is determined. Changes in these populations can indicate progression of disease, which may influence treatment decisions. A basic phenotyping panel applicable to HIV infected persons includes CD3/CD4 for quantitation of CD4 T cells and CD3/CD8 for CD8 T cells. For pediatric samples, the measurement of CD19 for B cells is included. For quality control purposes, enumeration of other antigens is required. The major use of flow cytometry to evaluate individuals infected with HIV is in the calculation of CD4 cell counts. The CD4 absolute count is calculated by determining the total white blood cell count, the percentage of white cells that are lymphocytes, and the percentage of lymphocytes that express CD4 by a combination of hematology cell counter and flow cytometry instrumentation.
What does it take? Comparison of research standards for promotion in finance

Abstract Promotion decisions for professors are critical for any university and this is especially true when promotion also involves the granting of tenure. In this paper, we report the number of publications for Finance professors promoted to Associate or Full Professor at schools similar to the University of Georgia and also at the Top 10 Finance Departments. We also provide evidence on citations of the individuals' research. Our data reveal similarities in terms of the total number of articles published (between 6 and 8 for promotion to Associate Professor), the number of articles published in Finance “A” journals (about 3), and the number of citations between peer and aspirant schools. We find evidence that Associate Professors at Top 10 Departments have slightly more “A” articles and receive more citations to their work than those at lower ranked institutions. We find similar results for those promoted to Full Professor – similar publication records but with more “A” publications and citations for those in Top 10 Departments. Our paper provides up-to-date information on some of the factors considered for promotion of Finance professors. However, the much more difficult part of promotion decisions is determining the impact of past research and the potential for future contributions. In addition, teaching, service, and other departmental contributions are key to the promotion decision.
Predictors of 30-Day Outcomes in Octogenarians with Traumatic C2 Fractures Undergoing Surgery.

Background Predictors of surgical outcomes following traumatic axis (C2) fractures in octogenarians remain undercharacterized. Methods Patients age ≥80 years undergoing cervical spine surgery following traumatic C2 fractures were extracted from the National Sample Program of the National Trauma Data Bank (2003-2012). Outcomes include overall inpatient complications, individual complications with an incidence >1%, hospital length of stay (HLOS), discharge disposition, and mortality. Demographics, comorbidities, and injury predictors were analyzed using multivariable regression. Odds ratios (OR), mean differences, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Statistical significance was assessed at P Results The cohort of 442 patients was 48.6% male and had a mean age of 84.3 ± 2.7 years. The distribution of admissions was 42.3% to the hospital floor, 40.3% to the intensive care unit (ICU), 7.7% to telemetry, 2.0% to the operating room, and 7.7% to other/unknown. Mortality was 9.7%, mean HLOS was 13.1 ± 9.2 days, the rate of complications was 38.5%, and 81.5% of survivors were discharged to a nonhome facility. Injury severity was predictive of mortality and overall complications. History of bleeding disorder/coagulopathy predicted mortality (OR, 4.02; 95% CI, 1.07–15.05), overall complications (OR, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.09–8.32), cardiac arrest (OR, 8.19; 95% CI, 1.06–63.54), and renal complications (OR, 10.36; 95% CI, 2.13–50.38). History of congestive heart failure predicted mortality (OR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.10–8.69). ICU admission (vs. floor) predicted overall complications (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.23–3.27) and pneumonia (OR, 4.65; 95% CI, 1.91–11.30). Telemetry admission (vs. floor) predicted unplanned intubation (OR, 7.76; 95% CI, 1.24–48.49). Conclusions In this cohort of octogenarians undergoing surgery for traumatic C2 fracture, injury severity and a history of bleeding disorder/coagulopathy were identified as risk factors for inpatient complications and mortality. Heightened surveillance should be considered for ICU and/or telemetry admissions for the development of complications. These findings warrant consideration by the clinician, patient, and family to inform clinical decisions and goals of care.
Evaluation of LANDSAT multispectral scanner images for mapping altered rocks in the east Tintic Mountains, Utah

The author has identified the following significant results. Positive findings of earlier evaluations of the color-ratio compositing technique for mapping limonitic altered rocks in south-central Nevada are confirmed, but important limitations in the approach used are pointed out. These limitations arise from environmental, geologic, and image processing factors. The greater vegetation density in the East Tintic Mountains required several modifications in procedures to improve the overall mapping accuracy of the CRC approach. Large format ratio images provide better internal registration of the diazo films and avoids the problems associated with magnifications required in the original procedure. Use of the Linoscan 204 color recognition scanner permits accurate consistent extraction of the green pixels representing limonitic bedrock maps that can be used for mapping at large scales as well as for small scale reconnaissance.
Color Blindness: Inherited

The term color vision refers to our ability to discriminate objects based on their color – in fact, humans can differentiate among millions of hues. However, over 8% of the population experiences an inherited deficiency in color discrimination. Actually, the majority of color-vision defects is inherited. The defects vary based on the type and number of photoreceptors affected, and correspondingly can have differing perceptual consequences. The genetic mechanisms and perceptual losses of the various forms of inherited color-vision deficiencies are discussed in this article.
Hybrid cloud tutorial: from planning to classroom

High availability systems and cloud computing are currently topics of interest for computer science and networking departments. Cloud computing systems in particular are slowly working their way into undergraduate programs both as a network architecture to consider and as a tool to enhance student learning. Before these technologies can be brought into the classroom effectively, a solid understanding of their planning, implementation, and testing must be developed. There are many types of cloud systems including public, private, and hybrid clouds. This tutorial will focus on the latter as hybrid cloud systems provide the benefits of private cloud management and the flexibility and availability of public clouds.
The Enzymology of SIR2 Proteins

Sir2 enzymes are NAD+-dependent histone/protein deacetylases that tightly couple the cleavage of NAD+ and protein deacetylation to produce nicotinamide, the deacetylated product, and O-acetyl-ADP-ribose. An increasing number of cellular processes including apoptosis, cell cycling, gene silencing, and longevity, have been shown to be dependent and regulated by these deacetylases. Several small molecules have been identified as regulators of Sir2 activity and related cellular processes. Understanding and modulating the cellular activities of these enzymes therefore necessitates an understanding of their enzymology. We review the enzymatic activities, the crystal structures, the basic kinetic mechanism, and the regulation of Sir2 enzymes.
Investigating the association between age at first alcohol use and suicidal ideation among high school students: Evidence from the youth risk behavior surveillance system.

Abstract Background Although various studies have investigated and found a significant link between age at first alcohol use and health risk behaviors, few studies have investigated the effect of age at first alcohol use on suicidal ideation among adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of age at first alcohol use on suicidal ideation. Methods Data for this study were obtained from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance system. A sample of 10,745 adolescents aged 14–18 years (50.9% males) were analyzed using logistic regression with suicidal ideation as the outcome variable and age at first alcohol use as the main explanatory variable. Results About 17% of adolescents experienced suicidal ideation during the past 12 months and 15.6% started having alcohol before age 13. Adolescents who started having alcohol before age 13 had 1.60 times higher odds of experiencing suicidal ideation and adolescents who started having alcohol by age 13 or over had 1.47 times higher odds of experiencing suicidal ideation. Other significant factors associated with suicidal ideation include experience of forced sex, physical teen dating violence, bullying, and feeling sad or hopeless. Having sufficient sleep lowered the odds of suicidal ideation. Limitations The use of cross-sectional data limits the extent to which we can make causal claims regarding age at first alcohol use and suicidal ideation. Conclusions Younger age at first alcohol use was associated with increased likelihood of suicidal ideation. Public health initiatives that seek to address the co-occurring problems of alcohol use and mental health illness, sexual violence, and victimization among sexual minority youth could help in reducing suicidal ideation.
Connecting Faculty in Geotechnical Engineering: Thriving in a Networked World

A robust social network, defined as a group of individuals and organizations with career-related and/or personal relationships with one another, is essential for operating successfully in today's business and research environments. Geotechnical engineering as a defined discipline forms such a group. Faculty in geotechnical engineering form a smaller network within the discipline. Given the increasing complexity of the problems geotechnical engineers face, including a stagnant economy and an environment that requires interdisciplinary and collaborative teams, competition for new projects is fierce. In addition, among engineering fields, geotechnical engineering is a comparatively small discipline. Geotechnical engineers must therefore make and maintain professional connections efficiently and effectively.
Chloride influence on the reaction mechanism of lanthanum hexaboride

Abstract Lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) is well-known for its established physical properties, such as its incredible hardness and thermionic emission. On the nanoscale, LaB6 is gaining in popularity as an IR-active plasmonic material. However, while researchers are learning how to control the synthesis and tune the plasmon of these particles to meet desired application needs, very little is known about the basic chemical mechanism behind its formation. The assumptions that high temperatures and pressures were required to drive the reaction of LaB6 have been proven false in recent years, raising even more questions with regard to what conditions are really mandatory when designing a synthetic protocol. This work reports the use of in-situ diffraction experiments to help determine how lanthanum chloride and sodium borohydride precursors interact with and change one another in the LaB6 synthesis, and highlights the importance of the halogen in the reaction scheme. In understanding the driving forces and mechanism behind LaB6 formation, it may be easier for researchers to predict and control the particle shape, size, and even electronic properties of their hexaboride materials.
The Role of Excited-State Proton Relays in the Photochemical Dynamics of Water Nanodroplets

In this work, we applied nonadiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics in tandem with ab initio electronic structure theory to illustrate a complete mechanistic landscape underpinning the ultraviol...
The Canna(business) of Higher Education

While the idea of legalizing cannabis for adult use is gaining on acceptance among the public, the past and current policies on both, the state and federal level, have resulted in dearth of research on the efficacy of cannabis for therapeutic purposes as well as possible societal and health consequences of recreational use. Institutes of higher education are best positioned to not only reform research on the substance, but to train a generation of cultivators, distributors, and healthcare professionals, and while doing so address some of the historical harms perpetrated by the policies of the War on Drugs. Students are seeking out ways to capitalize on a growing market and remedying past discrimination should be a top priority. This paper first provides an overview of cannabis legalization as it stands today, the political efforts that got it here, and those that will move it forward. It then discusses institutes of higher education and the efforts to bring cannabis into the classroom. Lastly, this paper argues that Historically Black Colleges and Universities can provide education, training, and a foot in the door for Black individuals who have suffered harsher criminal penalties in the name of the war on crime.