cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intangible Heritage and Tourism Development at the Tsodilo World Heritage Site

Through the case study of the Tsodilo World Heritage Site in Botswana, I investigate the relationship between heritage conservation and tourism development. This is done by analyzing what I argue are the opposing conservation aims of World Heritage status and the commodifying tendencies that this status encourages on cultural heritage through increased tourism. More specifically, intangible heritage (criterion vi of the World Heritage cultural listing criteria) is addressed as governments and NGOs in southern Africa are increasingly relying upon cultural heritage tourism to assist in the development of socially and economically marginalized populations. I discuss the transformation of local and national heritage sites into World Heritage sites through the processes of place making and heritage making, and I contend that heritage management plans for these sites do more than manage, but rather accelerate cultural change and change in heritage values, especially for those sites designated for their intangible heritage.In this dissertation, I also elaborate on issues of ethnicity and nationalism and women and development through an examination of the production of a heritage management plan at Tsodilo modeled on community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). Indeed, the significance of the tourism industry to Botswana's economy, coupled with the contentious relations that the government has with its ethnic minorities, foregrounds a critical examination of the politics of heritage and conservation in the country. Furthermore, due to Botswana's nationalist stance on identity politics as well as the globalizing processes of development, the gender roles of the country's ethnic minorities are being transformed as they progressively enter a market economy through their varied inductions into the tourism industry. As local communities living near Tsodilo are increasingly consigned to self-reliance through tourism development, I question whether commodification of the site's intangible heritage ultimately works against the conservation aims of World Heritage and, if so, in what specific ways. The case study of heritage and tourism at Tsodilo provides a window to looking at development in southern Africa, as well as how national narratives of inclusion and legitimacy produce a dilemma for the promotion of heritage tourism among Botswana's ethnic minorities.
Evidence for ERK1/2 phosphorylation controlling contact inhibition of proliferation in Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells

Increasing cell density arrests epithelial cell proliferation by a process termed contact inhibition. We investigated mechanisms of contact inhibition using a model of contact-inhibited epithelial ...
Hypermethylation of PTGER2 Confers Prostaglandin E2 Resistance in Fibrotic Fibroblasts from Humans and Mice

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating lung disease that is characterized by excessive proliferation of fibroblasts. The lipid mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has the capacity to limit fibrosis through its inhibition of numerous functions of these fibroblasts; however, in the setting of fibrosis, fibroblasts have been shown to be resistant to PGE2. We have linked such resistance to decreased expression levels of the E prostanoid 2 (EP2) receptor. In this study, in fibroblasts from both mice and humans with pulmonary fibrosis, we show that DNA hypermethylation is responsible for diminished EP2 expression levels and PGE2 resistance. Bisulfite sequencing of the prostaglandin E receptor 2 gene (PTGER2) promoter revealed that fibrotic fibroblasts exhibit greater PTGER2 methylation than nonfibrotic control cells. Treatment with the DNA methylation inhibitors 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine and zebularine as well as DNA methyltransferase-specific siRNA decreased PTGER2 methylation, increased EP2 mRNA and protein expression levels, and restored PGE2 responsiveness in fibrotic fibroblasts but not in nonfibrotic controls. PTGER2 promoter hypermethylation was driven by an increase in Akt signal transduction. In addition to results described for the PTGER2 promoter, fibrotic fibroblasts also exhibited increased global DNA methylation. These findings demonstrate that the down-regulation of PTGER2 and consequent PGE2 resistance are both mediated by DNA hypermethylation; we identified increased Akt signal transduction as a novel mechanism that promotes DNA hypermethylation during fibrogenesis.
Microvascular expression of mala‐2 correlates with In vivo lymphocyte trafficking and is preferentially enhanced in tumors by tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐1α

The role of endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression in the immune response to tumors is unknown. We have investigated the expression of murine lymphocyte activation antigen (MALA-2), the murine equivalent of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), in blood vessels of normal murine tissues and in melanoma tumors and evaluated the relationship between MALA-2 expression and lymphocyte trafficking in vivo. C3H/HeN mice were injected both i.p. and s.c. with a clone of K-1735 syngeneic melanoma cells. Day 11 tumor-bearing mice were killed and vascular expression of MALA-2 was quantified using immunohistochemistry. MALA-2 expression was high in lung, liver and spleen and low in lymph node, small bowel, muscle and tumor. Systemic administration of either recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (rTNF alpha) or recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha) over 2 days prior to organ harvest resulted in an increase in the number of tumor vessels expressing MALA-2, with no change in MALA-2 expression in other tissues. In vivo lymphocyte trafficking was evaluated using cultured, activated splenocytes radiolabeled with 111In. 111In-labeled splenocyte distribution correlated closely with MALA-2 expression, with high localization to spleen, liver and lung and poor localization to lymph node, small bowel, muscle and tumor. Systemic administration of rTNF alpha, but not rIL-1 alpha, resulted in a significant increase in 111In-labeled splenocyte distribution to tumor, but neither rTNF alpha nor IL-1 alpha altered 111In-labeled splenocyte distribution to normal organs. Our data demonstrate the in vivo pattern of vascular MALA-2 expression in normal murine tissues and tumors and suggest that the expression of MALA-2 can be preferentially enhanced in tumors by systemic administration of cytokines. Lymphocyte distribution in vivo correlates closely with the pattern of MALA-2 expression, and these data support the conclusion that MALA-2 plays an important role in the regulation of lymphocyte trafficking.
Persistent Effect of Red Cell Transfusion on Health-Related Quality of Life After Cardiac Surgery

Background Although red blood cell transfusion has been associated with an increase in early morbid outcomes and reduced long-term survival after cardiac surgery, its relationship to functional quality of life after surgery has not been previously explored. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between perioperative red blood cell and component transfusion and functional health-related quality of life 6 to 12 months after cardiac surgery. Methods Of 12,536 patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures between May 1995 and January 1999, 7,321 completed a self-administered Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) survey preoperatively and least one follow-up survey at nominally 6 or 12 months postoperatively. The influence of baseline DASI, preoperative risk factors, clinical status, laboratory values, operative events, and postoperative morbidities on follow-up DASI were examined with ordinal regression modeling. Results After adjustment for preoperative DASI, demographic, cardiac and noncardiac comorbidity, type of surgery, postoperative complications, and interval between follow-up DASI, during which patients continued to improve (p Conclusions Red blood cell and platelet transfusion have an unintended persistently negative risk-adjusted effect on health-related quality of life after cardiac surgery that extends well beyond initial hospitalization. Reductions in functional recovery paralleled increasing units of red blood cells transfused.
Activities of therapeutic agents against Naegleria fowleri in vitro and in a mouse model of primary amebic meningoencephalitis.

Inhalation of water contaminated with Naegleria fowleri may lead to a potentially fatal infection of the central nervous system known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Amphotericin B (AMB), an antifungal drug, is the only agent with established clinical efficacy in the treatment of PAM, though therapy with this drug is not always effective and has been associated with adverse effects on the kidneys and other organs. We investigated the activity of various therapeutic agents against N. fowleri in an attempt to identify other useful agents for treating PAM. Several of these agents exhibited in vitro activity against the Lee (M67) strain of N. fowleri. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of these agents were 0.1 μg/ml (ketoconazole), 1 μg/ml (liposomal AMB), and 10 μg/ml (minocycline, quinupristin–dalfopristin, and trifluoperazine). Other agents had a minimum inhibitory concentration >10 μg/ml (linezolid) or >100 μg/ml (rifampin). In a mouse model of PAM, none of the untreated control mice survi...
A flexible work force: Opportunities for women

For a society that may be faced with fewer rapid increases in the work force than we have known during the “baby boom” years, various kinds of restrictions on the use of labor certainly would not help. Deterrents on labor can only hurt.
2004 Presidential campaign messages: A functional analysis of press releases from President Bush and Senator Kerry

Abstract This study content analyzed news releases from Bush and Kerry in the 2004 election. Challenger Kerry attacked more and acclaimed less than the incumbent, Bush. Defenses were relatively rare. Candidates focused most on policy than character or campaign-related topics. When addressing policy, they discussed past deeds (53.3%), future plans (16.9%), and general goals (29.8%). When discussing character, they addressed personal qualities (57%), ideals (27.1%), and leadership ability (15.9%). Results were compared with Bush's and Kerry's 2004 television spots, debates, and 2004 primary campaign news releases.
Biochemical studies of stimulus convergence during classical conditioning in Aplysia: dual regulation of adenylate cyclase by Ca2+/calmodulin and transmitter

Activity-dependent facilitation is a mechanism of associative synaptic plasticity that contributes to classical conditioning in Aplysia. Previous studies of activity-dependent facilitation in the mechanosensory neurons of Aplysia suggested that the Ca2+ influx during paired spike activity enhances the transmitter-stimulated, cAMP-dependent, presynaptic facilitation in these cells. Moreover, paired activity was found to potentiate the activation of the adenylate cyclase by transmitter. It was therefore proposed that the Ca2+/calmodulin-sensitive cyclase may serve as a site of interaction between the inputs from the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. These studies were carried out to test whether a Ca2+/calmodulin-sensitive adenylate cyclase in the Aplysia CNS has the properties necessary to mediate such an associative interaction. Three lines of evidence indicate that the same cyclase molecules that are sensitive to Ca2+/calmodulin are also stimulated by receptor to facilitatory transmitter via the stimulatory G-protein, Gs: First, calmodulin inhibitors reduced stimulation of the cyclase by facilitatory transmitter. When membranes had been preexposed to one of these inhibitors, trifluoperazine, the addition of exogenous calmodulin partially reversed the inhibition. Second, when Gs had been activated by GTP gamma S, so that it persistently activated the catalytic unit of the cyclase, stimulation of the cyclase by Ca2+ was greatly amplified, suggesting that the two inputs interact in activating a common population of the enzyme. Third, solubilized cyclase activity that bound to calmodulin-Sepharose in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner was stimulated by Gs, which had been partially purified from Aplysia CNS, as well as by Ca2+/calmodulin. Having demonstrated dual activation of the cyclase, we have explored the dependence of cyclase activation on the temporal pattern of Ca2+ and transmitter addition. Optimal activation required that a pulse of Ca2+ temporally overlap the addition of facilitatory transmitter. These several results suggested that the dually regulated adenylate cyclase might underlie the temporal requirements for effective classical conditioning in this system.
Cobalt Oxalate Formation on Thin-Film Magnetic Recording Media

We describe a new type of corrosion product that can form on the media surface during exposure to elevated temperature and humidity. An experimental carbon overcoated Co alloy media on glass substrates that exhibited high corrosion was exposed to elevated temperature and humidity at 65 degC/100% RH (non-condensing) for 48 hrs (RH/T exposure). Light scattering site density in sites per unit area was measured with an optical surface analyzer (OSA) on the exposed media after each processing step following vacuum deposition. Unlubricated media had the lowest scattering site density. Lubrication with 1 nm of Ztetraol 2000 increased the number of light scattering sites by 8x over the unlubricated media. The number of sites was 2x higher after burnishing.
Isometric Muscle Strength in Alcoholic and Nonalcoholic Liver-Transplantation Candidates

Intensity of isometric muscle contractions was measured in alcoholic subjects with cirrhosis (N = 42), nonalcoholic subjects with cirrhosis (N = 33), and normal controls (N = 31). Muscle strength and endurance were comparable in the alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhotic subjects for all variables. Both cirrhotic groups were inferior to normal controls for all variables. The quantity X frequency (Q X F) index reported for the period during peak alcohol consumption correlated with 6 muscle-force variables, accounting for 9-20% of the variance. Alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhotic subjects did not differ in Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI) scales. Significant correlations, however, were found for the alcoholic cirrhotic subjects but not for the nonalcoholic cirrhotic subjects between quality-of-life indices and muscle strength and endurance. Muscle weakness is thus differentially associated with quality of life in alcoholic cirrhotic subjects as compared with nonalcoholic subjects with cirrhosis even though l...
Tiagabine: A Novel Antiepileptic Drug

OBJECTIVE:To provide a comprehensive review of tiagabine, including its pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, efficacy, adverse effects, and dosing recommendations.DATA SOURCES:A computerized search of the MEDLINE database from 1966 to December 1997 was used to identify publications related to tiagabine and nipecotic acid derivatives. Included in this review was information gathered from scientific meetings. Manufacturer's information was used when there was no primary literature.DATA SYNTHESIS:Tiagabine amplifies γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission, the predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its mechanism of action is selective and has shown promise as an antiepileptic drug (AED) in patients with seizures refractory to other pharmaceutical products. Tiagabine exhibits dose-independent absorption, 90–95% bioavailability, high protein binding (96%), metabolism via hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP3A subfamily), and displays first-order elimination pharmac...
Does the 9p21 Genetic Variant Have a Role in Cardiovascular Risk Prediction

Genetic variation at 9p21 has been one of the strongest, most common, and most consistent genetic markers associated with cardiovascular disease. Associations with 9p21 have been replicated across multiple populations and cardiovascular disease outcomes and have even been shown with subclinical markers of atherosclerosis. 9p21 variation is also not associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and thus is a natural candidate to evaluate for potential improvement in cardiovascular risk prediction. However, 9p21 variation has only shown modest, if any, improvement in assessment and prediction of cardiovascular risk. Although genetic information has led to useful biologic knowledge, it does not yet appear to be ready for incorporation into clinical cardiovascular disease risk prediction tools, nor can widespread population screening be recommended at this time.
Language of the Lost: An Explication of Stigma Communication

Although stigmas appear throughout history, even in present-day virtual communities, an explanation of stigma communication has yet to be offered; this essay attempts to do just that. This essay argues that stigma communication includes specific content: marks, labels, responsibility, and peril, in order to induce affective and cognitive responses to create stigma attitudes, to generate protective action tendencies, and to encourage the sharing of these messages with others. Stigma messages bear the following attributes: they provide cues (a) to distinguish people, (b) to categorize distinguished people as a separate social entity, (c) to imply a responsibility for receiving placement within this distinguished group and their associated peril, and (d) to link this distinguished group to physical and social peril. Different qualities of stigma messages, moreover, evoke different emotions (disgust, fear, and anger) that motivate people to access relevant social attitudes, form or bolster stigma attitudes, and to remove the stigmatized threat. Stigma attitudes encourage the sharing of stigma messages with others in a network, which may, subsequently, bond in-group members.
The Impacts of More Rigorous FHA Underwriting Guidelines

Summary of Impact Analysis The Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA’s) authorizing statute for insurance authorities, the National Housing Act, clearly states that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will adjust program standards and practices to operate the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMIF) on a self-sustaining basis. In the Notice “Federal Housing Administration Risk Management Initiatives: Reduction of Seller Concessions and New Loan-to-Value and Credit Score Requirements,” 1 FHA proposes to tighten portions of its underwriting guidelines that present an excessive level of risk to both homeowners and FHA. The benefit of the set of actions outlined in the Notice will reduce the net losses resulting from high rates of insurance claims on affected loans, and the cost of the action will be the value of the loan opportunity denied to the excluded borrow-ers. The total transfer to FHA would be $96 million, and the net cost of excluding borrowers could be as high as $85 million.
Liver Damage Preferentially Results from CD8+ T Cells Triggered by High Affinity Peptide Antigens

Little is understood of the anatomical fate of activated T lymphocytes and the consequences they have on the tissues into which they migrate. Previous work has suggested that damaged lymphocytes migrate to the liver. This study compares class I versus class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–restricted ovalbumin-specific T cell antigen receptor (TCR) transgenic mice to demonstrate that after in vivo activation with antigen the emergence of CD4−CD8−B220+ T cells occurs more frequently from a CD8+ precursor than from CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, this change in phenotype is conferred only by the high affinity native peptide antigen and not by lower affinity peptide variants. After activation of CD8+ cells with only the high affinity peptide, there is also a dramatically increased number of liver lymphocytes with accompanying extensive hepatocyte damage and elevation of serum aspartate transaminase. This was not observed in mice bearing a class II MHC–restricted TCR. The findings show that CD4−CD8−B220+ T cells preferentially derive from a CD8+ precursor after a high intensity TCR signal. After activation, T cells can migrate to the liver and induce hepatocyte damage, and thereby serve as a model of autoimmune hepatitis.
Salt Burst by Hydration Pressures in Architectural Stone in Urban Atmosphere

Salt bursts can cause extensive spalling in stone structures. Water-soluble salts and their hydrates Na2CO3 H2O (Na2CO3-7H2O, Na2CO3 10H2O), Na2SO4 (Na2SO4 10H2O), and MgSO4-H2O (MgSO4 7H2O) are trapped in pores of stone and concrete by both infiltration upward from the ground and by the reaction of carbonate and silicate rocks with sulfuric and carbonic acids from polluted urban atmospheres. The crystallization of the salts and their recrystalhzation from a lower to a higher hydrate within the range of mineral stability may develop stresses of high magnitude. Theoretical bursting pressures were calculated thcrmo-dynamically from vapor pressures of the hydrates and from humidities of the air for several air temperatures.
Maltreatment of Handicapped Children

As professional and public awareness of the problem of child maltreatment expands, increased attention is being directed toward abuse and neglect of handicapped children. Indeed, in the initial stages of controlled empirical research on child maltreatment, several authors speculated that handicapped children are at greater risk for abuse and neglect relative to their nonhandicapped peers (Helfer, 1973; Solomons, 1979). This belief was derived, in large part, from the growing literature reporting a disproportionate number of handicapped individuals in samples of abused and neglected children (e.g., Birrell & Birrell, 1968; Lightcap, Kurland, & Burgess, 1982). Methodological shortcomings in much of this literature, however, have prompted some authors to reject the link between handicap and subsequent maltreatment (Starr, Dietrich, Fischhoff, Ceresnie, & Zweier, 1984). In contrast, others have acknowledged the relative paucity of and methodological limitations in much of the research conducted to date, but argue that there are compelling reasons to suspect that a significant number of handicapped children are at heightened risk for maltreatment in general, and physical abuse in particular (Ammerman, Van Hasselt, & Hersen, 1988).
The Solubility of Calcite in Sea Water

The mineral calcite is one of the most prominent phases in deep sea sediments. Its distribution with water depth on the flanks of the oceanic ridges everywhere in the world oceans has the same basic character. Sediments with uniformly high calcite content extend from the crest down the ridge flank to what Berger (1968) has termed the lysocline. Here a decrease in calcite content with water depth commences. This decrease continues until sediments nearly free of calcite are encountered. Below this horizon (often referred to as the calcite compensation depth) the sediments are free of calcite. Although the pattern is everywhere the same the depth of the lysocline and the width of the transition zone (i.e. distance between lysocline and compensation depth) vary from basin to basin (see Fig. l).
Physiologies of eros: a response to Fiona Ellis

In her article, ‘Two erotic ideals’, Fiona Ellis offers a sustained critique of my interpretation of Nietzschean eroticism. In the following piece, I respond to her criticism by proposing a shift in emphasis away from ‘erotic ideals’ and towards a greater attentiveness to the physiological states that condition our desire. I argue that such a move allows us to see how questions about eroticism and questions about nihilism are in fact integrally connected.
Banking Systems, Bankruptcy Arrangements and Institutional Complementarity

Banking systems and bankruptcy codes define the legal environment in which financial contracts are concluded by, respectively, restricting financial intermediaries to certain contracts and defining reorganization proceedings. The theoretical link between these two institutions are thus financial contracting and financial distress. By defining institutional complementarity in terms of the subgame perfection of a sequential game induced by a given set of institutions, the interplay of banking and bankruptcy arrangements is studied for two polar cases: the US and Germany. It is found that both sets of institutions are complementary and correspond to different subgame perfect equilibria. Moreover, incentive and commitment issues arising in financial contracting are discussed and institutional evolution arising from the need of complementarity are related to banking and bankruptcy reform.
Nowhere to Hide: How the Judiciary's Acceptance of Warrantless GPS Tracking Eliminates the Practical and Legal Privacy Enjoyed by the Poor

Later this term, the Supreme Court will have a chance to decide the most pressing privacy issue the Court has heard since its landmark Kyllo decision a decade ago. Its decision, whether to allow warrantless GPS tracking in police investigations, will effect all citizens. However, one group will feel the impact of the Court's decision more than any other; the urban poor.This paper shows that the use of modern tracking technologies is most effectively used against the poor. This efficiency will lead law enforcement to use tracking technology against the urban poor in ways and in scope that will not be felt by other classes. Further, this paper will show that the Fourth Amendment protections currently enjoyed by all citizens have the least meaning in the context of the urban poor, and that traditional Fourth Amendment jurisprudence will not protect the rights of the urban poor in this context.The collision of practical realities and legal limitations create incentive effects that open the urban poor up to dragnet style policing in ways that other classes would not tolerate and likely do not understand. The Court's impending decision in U.S. v. Jones will likely determine whether the poor enjoy practical and legal privacy commensurate with other citizens or whether the rights of the poor will be diminished by new technology.
The Effects of State-Mandated Abstinence-Based Sex Education on Teen Health Outcomes

In 2011, the USA had the second highest teen birth rate of any developed nation, according to the World Bank, . In an effort to lower teen pregnancy rates, several states have enacted policies requiring abstinence-based sex education. In this study, we utilize a difference-in-differences research design to analyze the causal effects of state-level sex education policies from 2000-2011 on various teen sexual health outcomes. We find that state-level abstinence education mandates have no effect on teen birth rates or abortion rates, although we find that state-level policies may affect teen sexually transmitted disease rates in some states. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metabolomic analysis of survival in carbohydrate pre-fed pigs subjected to shock and polytrauma

Hemorrhagic shock, a result of extensive blood loss, is a dominant factor in battlefield morbidity and mortality. Early rodent studies in hemorrhagic shock reported carbohydrate feeding prior to the induction of hemorrhagic shock decreased mortality. When repeated in our laboratory with a porcine model, carbohydrate pre-feed resulted in a 60% increase in death rate following hemorrhagic shock with trauma when compared to fasted animals (15/32 or 47% vs. 9/32 or 28%). In an attempt to explain the unexpected death rate for pre-fed animals, we further investigated the metabolic profiles of pre-fed non-survivors (n = 15) across 4 compartments (liver, muscle, serum, and urine) at specific time intervals (pre-shock, shock, and resuscitation) and compared them to pre-fed survivors (n = 17). As hypothesized, pre-fed pigs that died as a result of hemorrhage and trauma showed differences in their metabolic and physiologic profiles at all time intervals and in all compartments when compared to pre-fed survivors. Our data suggest that, although all animals were subjected to the same shock and trauma protocol, non-survivors exhibited altered carbohydrate processing as early as the pre-shock sampling point. This was evident in (for example) the higher levels of ATP and markers of greater anabolic activity in the muscle at the pre-shock time point. Based on the metabolic findings, we propose two mechanisms that connect pre-fed status to a higher death rate: (1) animals that die are more susceptible to opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, a major factor in ischemia/reperfusion injury; and (2) loss of fasting-associated survival mechanisms in pre-fed animals.
Water-Driven Micromotors for Rapid Photocatalytic Degradation of Biological and Chemical Warfare Agents

Threats of chemical and biological warfare agents (CBWA) represent a serious global concern and require rapid and efficient neutralization methods. We present a highly effective micromotor strategy for photocatalytic degradation of CBWA based on light-activated TiO2/Au/Mg microspheres that propel autonomously in natural water and obviate the need for external fuel, decontaminating reagent, or mechanical agitation. The activated TiO2/Au/Mg micromotors generate highly reactive oxygen species responsible for the efficient destruction of the cell membranes of the anthrax simulant Bacillus globigii spore, as well as rapid and complete in situ mineralization of the highly persistent organophosphate nerve agents into nonharmful products. The water-driven propulsion of the TiO2/Au/Mg micromotors facilitates efficient fluid transport and dispersion of the photogenerated reactive oxidative species and their interaction with the CBWA. Coupling of the photocatalytic surface of the micromotors and their autonomous wat...
SSEPs: From Limb to Cortex

Short latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) consist of responses recorded at multiple locations along the peripheral and central sensory pathway following stimulation of a nerve. Median nerve (MN) and posterior tibial nerve (PTN) stimulation are commonly used for both clinical and intraoperative SSEPs. In order to obtain interpretable SSEP recordings, the technologist should have a basic understanding of the nerve pathway being evaluated, recording parameters and techniques, as well as the recommended minimal requirements for recording and interpretation. This article reviews these topics and includes information regarding electrode placement and alternate stimulation sites.
America’s “Broken Government” What Would James Madison Say?

It has become impossible, or so it seems, to reach agreement on reasonable solutions to the problems confronting American government. Many claim that our political system is broken, our unique Cons...
Roles for A Precursor Oxide Phase in The Siting, Shaping, and Shrinking of Oxygen Precipitates

Three separate “anomalous” effects in the precipitation of oxygen in silicon may be explained if typical poorly-crystallized platelet oxygen precipitates begin as tiny crystalline clusters. The first anomaly, sometimes referred to as the induction effect, may be explained if one postulates the existence of kinetically stable precipitate embryos (seeds) containing no more than one or two oxygen atoms. We show here that such a postulate, coupled with observations, places rather specific constraints on binding energy as a function of size for such tiny clusters. The second and third anomalies, arising in precipitate shape and retrogrowth behavior dependences, respectively, may be explained if one postulates the existence of a relatively dense precursor phase which undergoes first order phase transition, following otherwise classical rules, to the final-stage amorphous oxide normally found. In this case, both precipitate shape and strain field can be interpreted as a barometer of the interstitial ambient during key periods in a precipitate’s history.
Nutrition wound healing. A bio-psychosocial perspective

The effect of nutrition therapies on wound healing is discussed. The article assumes that, in addition to biologic therapies, psychosocial factors influence wound healing. Psychosocial factors include the patient's personality, ways of coping, and family and cultural make-up. Clinicians should consider the patient's psychosocial history when planning and implementing biologic therapies.
SU-F-J-79: Extension of Fixed-Point Iteration Algorithm for Inverse Deformation

Purpose: (I) To present a modification of the fixed point iteration algorithm to assure the convergence for a wide range of cases such as rotation and scaling deformations and (II) to provide implementation details with results from simulations and clinical images and emphasize more on practical considerations, such as how to choose good initial values to improve the speed of convergence. Inverse deformations are often applied to images, contours, and dose. Methods: The 2D or 3D inverse deformation field is iteratively found by taking a partial step size parameter (< 1) in a given direction which depends on the forward deformation field as opposed to a full step size parameter (= 1) as in the original fixed-point inverse deformation paper. The step size parameter controls the size of the change in the inverse deformation field during each iteration. The step size parameter is also dynamically changed to achieve convergence faster. Results: The new method was implemented in Matlab and tested for both 2D simulated cases and 3D clinical cases. We started the main iteration loop with step size parameter = 1 and then dynamically changed it to achieve convergence of maximum voxel error of 0.01. The same method was implemented for deformation fields from deformable registration of three patients to another set of patient data. Convergence of the inverse deformation fields was also achieved for the patient cases. Conclusion: If the step size parameter is small enough, then the improved iterative algorithm achieves convergence for a wider array of cases such as rotations and scaling of the image. The method is demonstrated to be successful for 2D simulated data and 3D patient data sets and allows for the finding of inverse deformation fields for a wider range of cases. Supported by Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) - ID RP150485
A protein-reinforced adhesive composite electrolyte

Abstract Adhesive composite electrolytes are of great interest due to the potential in achieving a good balance among electrochemical, mechanical and interfacial properties. However, in composite electrolytes, the fillers are usually rigid inorganic nanoparticles with limited functional groups contributing to mechanical properties and/or adhesion properties. In this study, abundant proteins are employed as unique additive for fabricating composite electrolytes with notable improvement in not only mechanical strength, but also adhesion properties. It is found that the introduced protein forms uniform nanoparticles in the final composite electrolyte. The influence of the protein nanofiller on the electrolyte properties (mechanical, ionic conductivity and adhesion properties) is investigated. The results indicate that proteins, particularly gelatin protein, can notably improve not only the mechanical properties (modulus and elasticity), but also the adhesion properties, while the high ionic conductivity of the electrolyte matrix is maintained. Benefited from the above significant properties of the composite electrolyte, the electrochemical performance of a half-cell with the gelatin-reinforced composite electrolyte is notably improved as compared with the cell with conventional liquid electrolyte. This study indicates that natural proteins can be a promising functional bio-filler for composite electrolytes.
Identification of roles for H264, H306, H439, and H635 in acid-dependent lipoprotein release by the LDL receptor

Lipoproteins internalized by the LDL receptor (LDLR) are released from this receptor in endosomes through a process that involves acid-dependent conformational changes in the receptor ectodomain. How acidic pH promotes this release process is not well understood. Here, we assessed roles for six histidine residues for which either genetic or structural data suggested a possible role in the acid-responsiveness of the LDLR. Using assays that measured conformational change, acid-dependent lipoprotein release, LDLR recycling, and net lipoprotein uptake, we show that H635 plays important roles in acid-dependent conformational change and lipoprotein release, while H264, H306, and H439 play ancillary roles in the response of the LDLR to acidic pH.
In vivo photoacoustic lipid imaging in mice using the second near-infrared window

Photoacoustic imaging has emerged as a promising technique to improve preclinical and clinical imaging by providing users with label-free optical contrast of tissue. Here, we present a proof-of-concept study for noninvasive in vivo murine lipid imaging using 1210 nm light to investigate differences in periaortic fat among mice of different gender, genotypes, and maturation. Acquired lipid signals suggest that adult male apoE-/- mice have greater periaortic fat accumulation compared to adolescent males, apoE-/- females, and wild-type mice. These results demonstrate the potential of photoacoustic tomography for studying vascular pathophysiology and improving the diagnosis of lipid-based diseases.
Factors That Influence Accounting Faculty Career Satisfaction: Comparisons by Program Prestige and Tenure Status

SYNOPSIS We report results of 266 surveys from untenured and tenured accounting faculty employed by both elite and non-elite accounting programs concerning factors that influence career satisfaction. We find that accounting academics are somewhat satisfied with their jobs, although factors that enhance or impair career satisfaction differ for faculty at elite versus non-elite programs and for untenured versus tenured faculty. Our findings suggest noteworthy implications for the accounting academy and provide insights about cultural differences between elite versus non-elite accounting programs. JEL Classifications: M40; M49. Data Availability: Please contact the authors.
The source and impact of student preconceptions in economics principles classes

Abstract Beginning students approach economic issues from a normative viewpoint and see things as ‘good, bad or should be’. These preconceptions and biases can interfere with the attempt to teach economics from a positive approach. This paper seeks to answer the questions 1) Do students come into economics training with preconceptions that could cloud their learning? 2) Is there a way to anticipate at what level specific preconceptions might occur in an identified group of students? Building on the work of Caplan this study uses survey techniques with two diverse student bodies; we find that students enter their study of economics with a significant set of preconceptions and biases, which are correlated with their initial understanding of factual information, and with their socioeconomic background. While the data in this study is limited to two specific set of students there are many students and situations where similar biases are likely to be important to the learning environment.
Interannual Variation in Stratification over the Texas–Louisiana Continental Shelf and Effects on Seasonal Hypoxia

A numerical dye is used to track freshwater released in May and June from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers using a hydrodynamic model. These months are chosen because discharge and nutrient load in May and June is significantly correlated with an area of the Texas–Louisiana continental shelf affected by seasonal bottom low dissolved oxygen. Results show that the two different river sources influence different parts of the region affected by hypoxia, so that both rivers appear to contribute to forming the hypoxic region. Analysis shows that both nutrient loading and stratification caused by freshwater fluxes from the rivers are consistent with the distribution of dyed freshwater in late July.
Multi-stage segmentation of the fovea in retinal fundus images using fully Convolutional Neural Networks

The fovea is one of the most important anatomical landmarks in the eye and its localization is required in automated analysis of retinal diseases due to its role in sharp central vision. In this paper, we propose a two-stage deep learning framework for accurate segmentation of the fovea in retinal colour fundus images. In the first stage, coarse segmentation is performed to localize the fovea in the fundus image. The location information from the first stage is then used to perform fine-grained segmentation of the fovea region in the second stage. The proposed method performs end-to-end pixelwise segmentation by creating a deep learning model based on fully convolutional neural networks, which does not require the prior knowledge of the location of other retinal structures such as optic disc (OD) and vasculature geometry. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on a dataset with 400 retinal images with average localization error of 14 ± 7 pixels.
Nanocrystalline high-entropy alloys

This article is a review of research on nanostructured high-entropy alloys with emphasis on those made by the severe plastic deformation methods of mechanical alloying and high-pressure torsion. An example of thin film refractory metal alloys made by magnetron sputtering is also presented. The article will begin with a discussion of the seminal research of B.S. Murty and co-workers who first produced nanocrystalline high-entropy alloys by mechanical alloying of powders. This will be followed by a listing of research, in mostly chronological order, of mainly 3d transition metal alloys made nanocrystalline by mechanical alloying. Research on the well-studied Cantor alloy, from the literature and the author’s laboratory will be presented. The author’s and co-worker’s research on a low-density high-entropy alloy with single-phase fcc or hcp structure and an extremely high strength (hardness)-to-weight ratio will be described.
Pedaling disaster: citizen bicyclists in disaster response—Innovative solution or unnecessary effort?

Citizens have historically become involved in response to disasters by helping both themselves and others. Recently, the idea has emerged of individuals providing this assistance in the response period using bicycles. Community events have been organized by bicycling enthusiasts in US cities to demonstrate how bicycles could potentially be of use in disaster situations. Yet, there has been no empirical research around the idea of citizen bicyclists in disaster response. This study explored the potential use of bicycles and their citizen riders in disaster events in the USA—specifically considering what role, if any, citizen bicyclists could play in such scenarios. Data were initially collected through 21 in-depth, telephone interviews with emergency management officials and bicycling advocates from bicycle-friendly cities in ten different states. Grounded theory was used to conceptualize the overall research design and analyze the data. Based on theoretical and snowball sampling, an additional six interviews were completed with individuals who had requisite knowledge and experiences applicable to the research question. Participants indicated that there are a variety of tasks and activities citizen bicyclists could undertake in disaster response; however, it would have to be an event of significant scope and magnitude for bicycle usage to be widespread—an unlikely occurrence for many jurisdictions. Concerns about training and integration with the formal emergency management structure were also identified. Implications for potential citizen bicyclists—and citizen responders more broadly—are discussed.
De novo composite design based on machine learning algorithm

Abstract Composites are widely used to create tunable materials to achieve superior mechanical properties. Brittle materials fail catastrophically in the presence of cracks. Incorporating softer constituents into brittle materials can alleviate stress concentration, leading to tougher and stronger composites. However, searching for the optimal designs of composites is extremely challenging due to the astronomical number of possible material and geometry combinations. Here, we apply machine learning to a composite system and demonstrate its capacity to accurately and efficiently predict mechanical properties including toughness and strength. The method we used incorporates machine learning techniques to generate optimal designs with orders of magnitude better than the mean properties of the input training data, and at a much lower computational cost compared to exhaustive methods. Additionally, the method can further rebuild the detailed performances of the designs, even when this information is lost in the training process. The results demonstrate the ability of machine learning to search for optimal designs with very limited training data. To demonstrate the application of machine learning to composite design, we optimize a large-scale system not tractable by an exhaustive brute force approach and show that it is a promising tool towards composite design. This work offers a new perspective in the exploration of design spaces and accelerating the discovery of new functional, customizable composites.
Examining the Interstate Mobility of Recent College Graduates

An increasingly important goal of state policymakers is to keep young, well-educated adults to remain in that state instead of moving elsewhere after college, as evidenced by New York’s recent move...
Clarifying the Conceptualization, Dimensionality, and Structure of Emotion: Response to Barrett and Colleagues

We present a mathematically based framework distinguishing the dimensionality, structure, and conceptualization of emotion-related responses. Our recent findings indicate that reported emotional experience is high-dimensional, involves gradients between categories traditionally thought of as discrete (e.g., 'fear', 'disgust'), and cannot be reduced to widely used domain-general scales (valence, arousal, etc.). In light of our conceptual framework and findings, we address potential methodological and conceptual confusions in Barrett and colleagues' commentary on our work.
On the problem and mystery of evil: Marcel’s existential dissolution of an antinomy

This paper maps out Marcel’s conception of evil onto his fundamental distinction between problem and mystery, shows that the distinction creates two effective methodologies for dealing with evil in...
Gender and Ethnic Differences in Pain Experience

Women are more sensitive to pain, with a lower pain threshold and tolerance than men. Women are less responsive than men to analgesic therapy, including therapy with ibuprofen and morphine. Pain perception is similar among ethnic groups; however, pain tolerance is reduced in African-Americans, Asians, and Hispanics. Pain-related psychological distress and disability is also higher in African-Americans. Physicians are more likely to prescribe nonspecific analgesics and lower opioid dosages to non-Caucasians. Patient selection of alternative or complementary therapy varies by ethnicity.
Easy as pi: an inexpensive platform for machine language instruction

Participants in this workshop will write, compile, debug and profile C++ and assembly language on a Raspberry Pi® [1] (RPi) computer. In the process, you will locate and use references to the ARM assembly mnemonics, the register architecture, the GNU debugger, and the procedure call reference. You will also receive an overview of the installation and configuration of the RPi for instructional use.