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Gymnosperms Demonstrate Patterns of Fine-root Trait Coordination Consistent with the Global Root Economics Space
Get PDFGymnosperms encompass a diverse group of mostly woody plants with high ecological and economic value, yet little is known about the scope and organization of fine-root trait diversity among gymnosperms due to the undersampling of most gymnosperm families and the dominance of angiosperm groups in recent syntheses. New and existing data were compiled for morphological traits (root diameter, length, tissue density, specific root length [SRL] and specific root area [SRA]), the architectural trait branching ratio, root nitrogen content [N] and mycorrhizal colonization. We used phylogenetic least squares regression and principal component analysis to determine trait-trait relationships and coordination across 66 species, representing 11 of the 12 extant gymnosperm families from boreal, temperate, subtropical and tropical biomes. Finally, we compared the relationship between family divergence time and mean trait values to determine whether evolutionary history structured variation in fine-root traits within the gymnosperm phylogeny. Wide variation in gymnosperm root traits could be largely captured by two primary axes of variation defined by SRL and diameter, and root tissue density and root nitrogen, respectively. However, individual root length and SRA each had significant correlations with traits defining both main axes of variation. Neither mycorrhizal colonization nor root branching ratio were closely related to other traits. We did not observe a directional evolution of mean trait values from older to more recently diverged gymnosperm families. Synthesis. Despite their unique evolutionary history, gymnosperms display a root economic space similar to that identified in angiosperms, likely reflecting common constraints on plants adapting to diverse environments in both groups. These findings provide greater confidence that patterns observed in broad syntheses justly capture patterns of trait diversity among multiple, distinct lineages. Additionally, independence between root architecture and other traits may support greater diversity in below-ground resource acquisition strategies. Unlike angiosperms, there were no clear trends towards increasingly thin roots over evolutionary time, possibly because of lower diversification rates or unique biogeographic history among gymnosperms, though additional observations are needed to more richly test evolutionary trends among gymnosperms
2024 March
Get PDFhttps://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/lawpublications_gavel2020s/1016/thumbnail.jp
Benchmarking Pretrained Models for Speech Emotion Recognition: A Focus on Xception
Get PDFSpeech emotion recognition (SER) is an emerging technology that utilizes speech sounds to identify a speaker’s emotional state. Computational intelligence is receiving increasing attention from academics, health, and social media applications. This research was conducted to identify emotional states in verbal communication. We applied a publicly available dataset called RAVDEES. The data augmentation process involved adding noise, applying time stretching, shifting, and pitch, and extracting the features zero cross rate (ZCR), chroma shift, Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC), and a spectrogram. In addition, we used many pretrained deep learning models, such as VGG16, ResNet50, Xception, InceptionV3, and DenseNet121. Out of all of the deep learning models, Xception yielded superior outcomes. Furthermore, we improved performance by changing the Xception model to include hyperparameters and additional layers. We used a variety of performance evaluation parameters to test the proposed model. These included F1-score, accuracy, misclassification rate (MCR), precision, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, false negative rate, false positive rate, false discovery rate, false omission rate, and false discovery rate. The model that we suggested demonstrated an overall accuracy of 98%, with an MCR of 2%. Additionally, it attained precision, sensitivity, and specificity values of 91.99%, 91.78%, and 98.68%, respectively. Additional models attained an F1-score of 91.83%. Our suggested model demonstrated superiority compared to other cutting-edge technique
Prosecution of Russian Corporations for War Crimes in Ukraine
Get PDFRussian corporate assets worth billions of dollars are frozen in western capitals pursuant to a robust sanctions regime imposed in the wake of Russia\u27s illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While frozen, those assets accrue interest. The costs of rebuilding Ukraine after the war are estimated to exceed $400 billion. This Article offers a legal framework to seize those assets through criminal prosecution of Russian corporations that were complicit in the commission of war crimes. By adapting the practice of securing international arbitration awards, which are regularly satisfied through attachment of assets by courts in foreign jurisdictions, the authors lay the legal process foundation for Ukraine to secure some of the funds that it needs to begin rebuilding its country
Contract Law, Equality and the State
Get PDFThere is a rich and diverse literature on contract law and equality, discussing whether contract law should advance social equality and if so how should contract law achieve that. However, this literature has yet to address the State’s role in combating social inequality through contract law. Filling this void this Article discusses three strategies the State can and should adopt in promoting social equality, by enforcing contracts, applying contract law doctrines, and regulating and legislating laws as background rules. After mapping these three state powers the Article further explores three test cases: enforcing nonmarital agreements, applying contract defenses in consumer contracts, and enacting the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act that voids mandatory arbitration agreements in sexual harassment and sexual assault cases. Based on this analysis, the Article concludes that contract law is not purely private, but rather has public aspects; that the State is an important facilitator in promoting equality; and that the State should use its different powers in concert to promote equality
The Second Amendment’s Domestic Violence Problem: How Rahimi Exposes the Flaws of Bruen’s Problematic Historical Analogue Test
Get PDFThis Article exposes the flaws of the Supreme Court’s historical analogue test established in Bruen. It details how modern Second Amendment jurisprudence evolved to a tenuous position through Heller and McDonald where the Supreme Court seemingly acknowledged the applicability of means-end scrutiny to the Second Amendment, before the Supreme Court more recently repudiated its use in Bruen in lieu of an inherently flimsy history-only standard that fails to account for modern societal issues. This approach not only severely undermines modern gun regulations—unanimously upheld as constitutional pre-Bruen—but it elevates the Second Amendment to a special status unlike other constitutional amendments. This is not sustainable.
The precise problem with Bruen’s test is playing out before the Supreme Court in Rahimi as the Defendant has levied a facial challenge to his conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) after he was prohibited from possessing a firearm while he was the subject of a domestic violence protective order. If the Bruen test is true to form, the Court will likely struggle to find a historical analogue at the founding era—as required to uphold the statute—because domestic violence was not widely prosecuted in 1791. Nonetheless, even if it was prosecuted, it did not result in the disarmament of the perpetrator. This succinctly demonstrates a clear issue with the historical analogue test in Bruen which would wrongfully lead to increased bodily harm and violent crimes if § 922(g)(8) is held unconstitutional.
The best decision the Court could make would be to return to a two-step approach for evaluating the Second Amendment where both history and means-end scrutiny apply. However, it is unlikely the Supreme Court reverses course on Bruen’s test less than two years after its implementation. Nonetheless, the Court can instead resolve this issue by turning to the United States’ history and tradition of disarming individuals believed to be dangerous. Although this approach is not without flaws, it allows the Court to easily resolve Rahimi in upholding § 922(g)(8) as constitutional without searching for a non-existent, relevantly similar historical analogue.
In sum, this Article argues the Second Amendment deserves dutiful protection, but it cannot be elevated to a special status beyond what other constitutional amendments are afforded. Simply put, neither history nor means-end scrutiny alone are a sufficient guide to evaluating the Constitution. Instead, pairing the two—as seen with the Court’s evaluation of most constitutional amendments—is the appropriate remedy. The Supreme Court backed itself into a corner with the Bruen test, and Rahimi now affords it the opportunity to reverse course, reframe Second Amendment jurisprudence to a focus on an individual’s dangerousness, or strike down § 922(g)(8)’s protection of domestic violence victims. The first outcome makes the most sense, and the second solution is most likely, but the third outcome would further undermine necessary protections
Industrial Waste Engineering
No full textDiscusses recent advancements in industrial and hazardous waste treatment Covers innovative environmental technologies and decontamination operations Details the management of acid mines, laboratories, nano pollutants and plant effluentshttps://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/encee_bks/1016/thumbnail.jp
Occupational Therapy Program Fostering the Development of School Readiness Skills in Refugee Children
Get PDFU.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)- Cleveland offers programming and services that help immigrants, refugees, and uprooted individuals transition to life within the United States. Refugee children face challenges with socialization, mental health, and experience a great deal of trauma and are unable to engage in meaningful activities. This paper aims to highlight programming that was created throughout a 14-week capstone experience at USCRI Cleveland that fostered the development of school readiness skills needed for pre- school aged refugee children and exposed them to new occupations and skill development, increased their quality of life, self-esteem and self-confidencehttps://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/ot_capstone_posters/1067/thumbnail.jp
Jim Schlecht interview, 07 August 2024
No full textNear West Side resident Jim Schlecht recollects his arrival to the Near West Side in the summer of 1972. Schlecht highlights how his faith has shaped who he is today. This interview focuses on Schlecht’s involvement in the Thomas Merton Community along with Cleveland’s Catholic Worker Community. Schlecht recollects his experience working with children and adults with special needs. He later shares how he provided transitional housing while raising a family in the community. Schlecht for many years has been involved in street outreach for Care Alliance and Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH)