cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concave Sand Grains in Eolian Environments: Evidence, Mechanism, and Modeling

ABSTRACT Many eolian sand grains have well-rounded concavities. These concavities occur in grains of all minerals in a single sample and preferentially at larger grain sizes, suggesting that they form by mechanical abrasion in the eolian environment rather than by chemical dissolution. The concavities develop through abrasion at contacts between near-surface grains in the bed. The energy for this abrasion is provided by collisions of saltating grains with the sand bed. As a grain with a concavity cycles through a range of depths in a ripple, agitation of the bed driven by grain-bed impacts promotes the formation of a grain-grain contact between that concavity and a protuberance on a neighboring grain. This in turn focuses further wear at the contact, thereby circumventing the natural tendency oward grain sphericity that would arise from random grain orientation. A quantitative physical model combining theories of grain-bed impacts and of granular materials with experimental surface erosion rates establishes the plausibility of this mechanism. Within the model, concavities grow to a limiting size that is a significant fraction (order 10-30%) of a grain diameter, within the range of observed concavity sizes.
Sphingomyelinase depresses force and calcium sensitivity of the contractile apparatus in mouse diaphragm muscle fibers

Diseases that result in muscle weakness, e.g., heart failure, are characterized by elevated sphingomyelinase (SMase) activity. In intact muscle, SMase increases oxidants that contribute to diminish...
Carbon Incorporation in Si1-yCy Alloys Grown by Ultrahigh Vacuum Chemical Vapor Deposition

Thin heteroepitaxial Si1-yCy films have been grown on Si (100) by Ultrahigh Vacuum Chemical Vapor Deposition (UHV/CVD) using silane and methylsilane as silicon and carbon precursors. Carbon incorporation has been studied in the growth temperature range of 550δC to 650δC. The layers have been characterized using high resolution X-ray diffraction and secondary ion mass spectrometry. The total carbon content of the alloys increases linearly with the methylsilane partial pressure and a methylsilane sticking coefficient approximately 2 times higher than that of silane was extracted. Layers with up to 1.34 % substitutional carbon have been obtained at the lowest growth temperature. Fully substitutional carbon can be obtained for levels up to 0.65%. Variations of the growth rate with temperature and carbon content are also discussed.
Binge eating behavior and weight loss maintenance over a 2-year period.

Objective. To investigate the relationship between binge eating behavior and weight loss maintenance over a two-year period in adults. Design. Secondary data analysis using the Keep It Off study, a randomized trial evaluating an intervention to promote weight loss maintenance. Participants. 419 men and women (ages: 20 to 70 y; BMI: 20–44 kg/m2) who had intentionally lost ≥10% of their weight during the previous year. Measurements. Body weight was measured and binge eating behavior over the past 6 months was reported at baseline, 12 months and 24 months. Height was measured at baseline. Results. Prevalence of binge eating at baseline was 19.4% (). Prevalence of binge eating at any time point was 30.1% (). Although rate of weight regain did not differ significantly between those who did or did not report binge eating at baseline, binge eating behavior across the study period (additive value of presence or absence at each time point) was significantly associated with different rates of weight regain. Conclusion. Tailoring weight loss maintenance interventions to address binge eating behavior is warranted given the prevalence and the different rates of weight regain experienced by those reporting this behavior.
Recruitment patterns of Alaskan crabs in relation to decadal shifts in climate and physical oceanography

Crabs in Alaska support large fisheries that have been unstable because of wide fluctuations in recruitment. Data from bottom-trawl and pot surveys and commercial fisheries were used directly to derive relative recruitment series for 15 stocks of red king (Paralithodes camtschaticus), blue king (P. platypus), Tanner (Chionoecetes bairdi), and snow (C. opilio) crabs in the Gulf of Alaska, along the Aleutian Islands, and in the Bering Sea. Recruitment to most stocks is periodic and strongly autocorrelated. Yearclass strength of red king crab stocks in Bristol Bay, in the northern Gulf of Alaska, and along the Aleutian Islands has similar trends and has been weak since the mid-1970s; year-class strength of Tanner crab stocks in the northern Gulf of Alaska has been weak since the early 1980s. Tanner crab recruitment patterns differ between the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska stocks. Recruitment trends in 7 of 15 crab stocks appear to be related to decadal climate shifts, periods of strong winter Aleutian Lows coinciding with periods of weak recruitment. Strong vertical mixing and an unstable water column associated with a strong Aleutian Low inhibits growth of Thalassiosira spp., diatoms that provide high-quality nutrition to early zoeal stages of crab larvae. Recruitment of many crab stocks may also be influenced by local conditions not indexed by the Aleutian Low.
Adaptive Pulse Compression: Preliminary Experimental Measurements

Preliminary experimental results from the adaptive pulse compression (APC) test bed are presented. A recently proposed adaptive processing technique has been shown via simulation to improve upon current pulse compression techniques through a process known as reiterative minimum mean-square error estimation (RMMSE). The RMMSE technique forms the basis of the APC and the Multistatic APC (MAPC) algorithms. In this paper, we present experimental results demonstrating the feasibility of these approaches. Several polyphase waveforms have been implemented in an experimental test bed. Initial results show that small non-linearities in the waveform generation process have only a marginal impact on the estimation performance of the algorithms. A discussion of the APC test bed followed by experimental results demonstrating the performances of the APC and MAPC algorithms are presented. These initial experimental results indicate that the APC approach is able to successfully mitigate pulse-compression sidelobes on measured data, and that the MAPC algorithm can successfully mitigate both the mutual-interference from shared-spectrum radar signals and pulse compression sidelobes on measured data.
Initial implementation indicators from a statewide rollout of SafeCare within a child welfare system.

There is a strong movement toward implementation of evidence-based practices (EBP) in child welfare systems. The SafeCare parenting model is one of few parent-training models that addresses child neglect, the most common form of maltreatment. Here, the authors describe initial findings from a statewide effort to implement the EBP, SafeCare®, into a state child welfare system. A total of 50 agencies participated in training, with 295 individuals entering training to implement SafeCare. Analyses were conducted to describe the trainee sample, describe initial training and implementation indicators, and to examine correlates of initial training performance and implementation indicators. The quality of SafeCare uptake during training and implementation was high with trainees performing very well on training quizzes and role-plays, and demonstrating high fidelity when implementing SafeCare in the field (performing over 90% of expected behaviors). However, the quantity of implementation was generally low, with relatively few providers (only about 25%) implementing the model following workshop training. There were no significant predictors of training or implementation performance, once corrections for multiple comparisons were applied. The Discussion focuses on challenges to large-scale system-wide implementation of EBP. Language: en
Parotid oncocytoma in the Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome

Abstract Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome consists of fibrofolliculomas, trichodiscomas, and acrochordons and has been associated with several noncutaneous tumors. We report the first case of Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome in association with a parotid oncocytoma, a rare salivary gland tumor. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:1120-2.)
Correlation between an embedded figures test and tennis rank order at three levels of skill.

To see if there were a significant relationship between the short form of Dees, O'Reilly, and Griffith embedded figures test and playing ability for tennis as measured by tournament rank order, setting the minimum correlation coefficient at .70, from 116 beginning, 37 advanced, and 72 intercollegiate male and female tennis students from 6 universities data were collected by 9 instructors. Spearman and Kendall rank-order correlations and partial correlation indicated that, even though several values were significant, most were not high enough to conclude that tennis players are field independent.
Charge generation and collection in p-n junctions excited with pulsed infrared lasers

The author examines optical absorption processes for applications of infrared lasers to the simulation of single-particle effects in silicon and GaAs, which require that the laser is focused to a small area on the device surface. The resulting charge generation is compared with charge generation from heavy ions. Charge funneling is reduced in silicon structures because of the lower charge density unless the LET (linear energy transfer) is above a threshold value. In both materials, the effective LET of a laser is inherently nonlinear because of nonlinear absorption at high intensities. These factors limit quantitative comparisons between lasers and heavy ions, and are increasingly important as devices are scaled to smaller dimensions. >
The Michelson resonator free-electron laser. II. Supermode structure and mirror detuning effects

For pt.I, see ibid., vol.29, no.2, p.452-64 (1993). Conventional mode-locked laser theory is applied to the longitudinal mode structure in an RF linac-driven Michelson resonator free-electron laser (FEL). A greatly simplified derivation of the small-signal small-gain FEL coupled mode equations is obtained. These equations are solved numerically in the frequency domain to study the supermode evolution in the presence of mode dependent cavity losses. The results are compared with simulations of the detuned Michelson resonator FEL using a pulse propagation code based on the Maxwell-Lorentz equations of motion. Increasing the interferometer detuning broadens and shifts the cavity detuning curve, narrows the supermode spectrum, and decreases the hypermode decay rates. The practical consequences of each of these effects are discussed. A simple theory describing the dependence of the hypermode decay rates on interferometer detuning, in which the decay rates are abruptly decreased beyond a critical detuning that depends primarily on the slippage length, is outlined. >
The Relationship between Body Size, Diet, and Habitat Use in Frugivorous Bats, Genus Carollia (Phyllostomidae)

I tested the hypothesis that body size significantly influences diet and habitat use in frugivorous bats of the genus Carollia (Phyllostomidae) by studying pairs or triplets of species in two Costa Rican habitats and by supplementing these data with published data from one Panamanian locality. I predicted that with an increase in body size, average size of fruit consumed increases, nutritional quality of fruit consumed decreases, and proportion of time spent feeding in second growth decreases. At each site, the smallest species of Carollia was the most common species in second-growth habitats, and its diet contained a higher proportion of nutritionally rich Piper fruits and a lower proportion of large fruits than that of larger species. A multivariate ecomorphological analysis indicated that sympatric Carollia species are similarly arrayed in niche space in wet and dry tropical forests and that sister species are farther apart in niche space than are nonsister species.
Rubber Photogelling Agents

Abstract This paper details an evaluation of a number of rubber photogelling agents or activators under insolation, particularly oxygen and sulfur. Contrary to previous statements, both elements are shown to be activators, and sulfur combines with rubber as in thermal vulcanization. Molecular oxygen, after allowing for degradative oxidation, is an extremely powerful gelling agent, comparable with quinonic or peroxidic oxygen.
Analysis of energy flow in16O+nucleus collisions at 60 and 200A GeV by the multistring model VENUS

We apply the multistring model VENUS to calculate transverse energy distributions and vetocalorimeter energy spectra as well as multiplicity distributions for oxygen-induced heavy ion collisions at 60 and 200A GeV, to compare with data from the WA80, NA34, and NA35 collaborations. We give a detailed description of the model, being an extrapolation of a successful model for nucleon-nucleon scattering.
Site-Differentiated Solid Solution in (Na1−xCux)2Ta4O11 and Its Electronic Structure and Optical Properties

The (Na1−xCux)2Ta4O11 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.78) solid-solution was synthesized within evacuated fused-silica vessels and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction techniques (space group: R3c (#167), Z = 6, ...
H3K9me3-mediated repression of KLF6: Discovering a novel tumor suppressor in liposarcoma using a systematic epigenomic approach

The pathogenesis of well-differentiated and dedifferentiated liposarcoma is poorly understood. We recently reported Kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) as a histone H3 lysine 9 trimethyl (H3K9me3)-regulated and differentially expressed transcription factor serving a previously unappreciated tumor suppressor role in liposarcoma. Mechanistically, KLF6 may drive adipocytic differentiation through increased expression of known regulators of adipogenesis.
DNA damage: Alkylation

Author(s): Guliaev, Anton B.; Singer, B. | Abstract: Alkylation is the reaction of electrophilic chemical compounds or alkylating agents with the nucleophilic centers in organic macromolecules. Alkylating agents include a large variety of chemicals, some of which are potent mutagens or carcinogens.
Mood Episode Recovery Changes Gear in the Intrinsic Clock.

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, which affects three out of 200 people is a long-term disease, presents remittent depressive, hypomanic, manic or mixed episodes of illness, and bears a serious risk of death from suicide (Grande et al., 2016). About half of the time patients with bipolar disorder have symptoms impairing their work, social activities or relationships with others. Treatment focuses on preventing the recurrence of episodes and can clearly improve the outcome.
Practice Patterns for Acute Ischemic Stroke Workup: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study.

BackgroundWe examined practice patterns of inpatient testing to identify stroke etiologies and treatable risk factors for acute ischemic stroke recurrence. Methods and ResultsWe identified stroke c...
Design, construction and implementation of spherical tissue equivalent proportional counter

In this work a new single anode spherical tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) was developed for mixed field radiation dosimetry. The approach used was to divide the cathode into several rings with different thicknesses and adjust the potential difference between each ring and the anode to produce an electric field that is nearly constant along the length of the anode. A-150 tissue-equivalent plastic is used for the detector walls, the insulator material between the cathode rings is low-density polyethylene, and the gas inside the detector is propane. The detector, along with the charge sensitive preamplifier, is encased in a stainless steel vacuum chamber. This 1.8-cm-diam TEPC provides low electronic noise, a gas gain of 550 at 782 V, good spectral resolution (26 ke V/μm), and a full-width at half-maximum value of 17%. This spherical TEPC detector system will improve the accuracy of dosimetry in space and as a result improve radiation safety for astronauts.
Noninvasive measurement of renal blood flow by magnetic resonance imaging in rats

Renal blood flow (RBF) provides important information regarding renal physiology and nephropathies. Arterial spin labeling–magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) is a noninvasive method of measuring ...
Use of Phone Sensors to Enhance Distracted Pedestrians’ Safety

Studies have shown that using smartphones while walking—called distracted walking —significantly increases the risk of pedestrians colliding with dangerous objects. In this paper, we explore how to mitigate this problem by exploiting the phone's built-in sensors only and developing an application called BumpAlert . BumpAlert provides a generic solution without requiring any prior knowledge of the user's surroundings by estimating distances to nearby objects using the phone's speakers and microphones. This process is enhanced further by using the images acquired from the phone's rear camera, when necessary. We have evaluated BumpAlert under a variety of settings ranging from aisle to outdoor environments with walls, pillars, signboards, dustbins, and people, etc., that are common in our daily surroundings. Our evaluation has shown an average accuracy of BumpAlert to be higher than 95 percent with a less than 2 percent false-positive rate to detect frontal objects 2–4m away, which suffices for the user to react and avoid collision. Even though BumpAlert is unable to detect all dangerous situations, most participants of our user study feel safer when they walk with BumpAlert enabled. Integrating our current design of BumpAlert with other safety systems can provide a practical solution for protecting distracted pedestrians.
Are Navy Weight Management Programs Ensuring Sailor Physical Readiness? An Analysis at Naval Medical Center San Diego.

INTRODUCTION The obesity epidemic in the USA includes active duty service members in the military and effects physical readiness. At the Naval Medical Center San Diego command, the Health & Wellness Department is charged with administering the Weight Management Programs (WMP) for sailors in the San Diego area to ensure military physical readiness requirements. The optimal allocation of personnel and resources to manage these programs is paramount for mission success. We analyzed the cost and effectiveness of the WMPs for the active duty population stationed at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) with the intent of offering potential recommendations for program optimization. METHODS As an approved quality improvement program, the cost and effectiveness of the WMP, namely Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP) and ShipShape (SS), for the active duty population stationed at NMCSD were analyzed from 2013 to 2014 by utilizing various official sources. Data analysis included reviewing historical data for trends and developing a budgetary analysis to include Direct Labor Hour rates and opportunity costs. Interviews were conducted with key staff and participants in the WMPs to determine essential aspects and potential beneficial changes to the programs. Overall results were evaluated to identify potential opportunities for program expansion and improvement. RESULTS Data analysis revealed that the FEP is producing a 78% success rate, with approximately 30% of the enrolled personnel actively participating. Concurrently, the SS program at NMCSD is producing a 71% success rate with 90% course completion rate. This success rate is significantly higher than the national SS average of 34%. Furthermore, our cost analysis revealed that the SS program a significantly higher return on investment. Interviews conducted of key staff and participants yielded several commonalities regarding key factors involved with WMPs success or needed improvements. CONCLUSIONS To improve the WMPs at NMCSD, the findings in this report support the following recommendations: (1) maximize the SS program, (2) increase utilization of FEP, and (3) increase the participation and training of Assistant Command Fitness Leaders. WMPs navy-wide may benefit from incorporating similar program improvements to increase physical readiness of service members and, therefore, support command mission success.
Tobacco-Free Policies and Tobacco Cessation Systems at Health Centers Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Clients.

Abstract Purpose: LGBT populations have high rates of tobacco use. Health centers serving LGBT clients are an important source of care. The researchers aimed to assess the implementation of recomme...
NMR Studies of the Enzyme Mechanisms of Vitamin B12 Biosynthesis

For the past 20 years our laboratory has been engaged in the elucidation of the vitamin B12 biosynthetic pathway.1. By 1977 it had been established that 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), porphobilinogen (PBG) uro’gen III and three intermediates, Factors I-III, now known to be transformed as the precorrins 1–3, were sequentially formed on the way to the corrin nucleus as summarized in Scheme 1. The ensuing decade has witnessed an exponential increase in the rate of the acquisition of pure enzymes using recombinant DNA techniques and these methods together with the exploration of new NMR pulse sequences have not only cast light on the mechanisms of the B12 synthetic enzymes but have given us considerable optimism with regard to the discovery of the remaining intermediates and of the enzymes which produce them.
Visceral organ mass and cellularity in growth-restricted and refed beef steers

Beef steers were fed in two phases to compare the effects of diet and intake on growth and cellularity of visceral organs. During the growing phase (237 to 327 kg), steers were fed either a high ( C ) or low ( F ) concentrate diet. Diet F was available ad libitum (FA), whereas diet C was available either ad libitum (CA) or on a limited basis (CL) to match live weight gains of the FA group. During the finishing phase (327 to 481 kg), all steers received diet C either ad libitum (CA-CA, CL-CA, and FA-CA) or restricted (CL-CL and FA-CL) to 70% of the intakes of corresponding CA steers. Marked nutritional effects on liver growth (e.g., -25 and -15% in CL and FA, respectively, relative to CA) were due mainly to changes in cell size (i.e., protein:DNA), with smaller changes in cell numbers (i.e., DNA). Hyperplasia and hypertrophy played a role in growth of the forestomachs, although cell numbers and sizes tended to change in opposite directions, limiting magnitudes of changes in organ mass. Protein synthetic capacity (i.e., RNA) varied as well, often in parallel with cell number. This result differed from that observed in intestines, which maintained constant cell sizes but underwent marked changes in cell number. For liver, amounts of absorbed nutrients seemed to be the main factor driving hypertrophy. The organs of the gastrointestinal tract responded to physical and chemical signals, as shown by the effects of dietary fiber on growth of the forestomachs and intestines. Forestomachs responded mainly to diet fiber content, whereas the intestines responded to diet type and nutrient supply. Feeding programs for beef animals often include changes in diet type and periods of feed limitation, and these in turn affect visceral organ growth and metabolism. Because visceral organs are a major contributor to whole-body energy expenditures, factors affecting these tissues must be understood. This study supports the concept that workload determines organ size, but dietary factors influencing workload clearly vary for each organ.
Neuromorphic Array Communications Controller to Support Large-Scale Neural Networks

Neuromorphic computing is one promising post-Moore’s law era technology. In order to develop and use neuromorphic systems, traditional von Neumann-based computers must be able to communicate with neuromorphic hardware to support functionality such as monitoring the state of the network, optimizing the array to better perform the task, and input/output data processing. In this paper, we describe our use of a separate neuromorphic array communications controller to support highthroughput, low-latency communication between a traditional computer and our implementations of neuromorphic systems. The goal of the communications controller is to provide enough performance to facilitate the desired interaction between the systems and to enable scaling of the neuromorphic systems to larger sizes.
Violent Conjunctures in Democratic India

The rise of populist, Right-wing governments in several democracies around the world is an important puzzle. In 2014, in the world’s most populous democracy, India, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya ...
Predicting opioid dependence from electronic health records with machine learning

The opioid epidemic in the United States is averaging over 100 deaths per day due to overdose. The effectiveness of opioids as pain treatments, and the drug-seeking behavior of opioid addicts, leads physicians in the United States to issue over 200 million opioid prescriptions every year. To better understand the biomedical profile of opioid-dependent patients, we analyzed information from electronic health records (EHR) including lab tests, vital signs, medical procedures, prescriptions, and other data from millions of patients to predict opioid substance dependence. We trained a machine learning model to classify patients by likelihood of having a diagnosis of substance dependence using EHR data from patients diagnosed with substance dependence, along with control patients with no history of substance-related conditions, matched by age, gender, and status of HIV, hepatitis C, and sickle cell disease. The top machine learning classifier using all features achieved a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of ~ 92%, and analysis of the model uncovered associations between basic clinical factors and substance dependence. Additionally, diagnoses, prescriptions, and procedures prior to the diagnoses of substance dependence were analyzed to elucidate the clinical profile of substance-dependent patients, relative to controls. The predictive model may hold utility for identifying patients at risk of developing dependence, risk of overdose, and opioid-seeking patients that report other symptoms in their visits to the emergency room.
Analysis of a sandwiched piezoelectric semiconducting thermoelectric structure

Abstract In this paper, we analyze the piezo-thermoelectric responses of an integrated n-type piezoelectric semiconducting (PS) thermoelectric (TE) film and substrate membrane structure. Equations governing the behavior of the laminated PSTE structure are first derived based on the phenomenological theories of thermoelectricity and piezoelectric semiconductors. Closed form solutions of stress, deformation, electric displacement and electric field are obtained under a steady state thermal gradient and fixed grip end conditions. A parametric study for a zinc oxide (ZnO) PSTE film sandwiched between zirconia (ZrO2) substrate membranes show that both tensile and compressive stresses develop in the ZnO film and all field variables are dramatically influenced by the pyroelectric constant.
Quantitative analysis of global protein lysine methylation by mass spectrometry.

Abstract Since protein activity is often regulated by posttranslational modifications, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of modification sites is critical for understanding the regulation of biological pathways that control cell function and phenotype. Methylation constitutes one of the many types of posttranslational modifications that target lysine residues. Although lysine methylation is perhaps most commonly associated with histone proteins and the epigenetic regulation of processes involving chromatin, methylation has also been observed as an important regulatory modification on other proteins, which has spurred the development of methods to profile lysine methylation sites more globally. As with many posttranslational modifications, tandem mass spectrometry represents an ideal platform for the high-throughput analysis of lysine methylation due to its high sensitivity and resolving power. The following protocol outlines a general method to assay lysine methylation across the proteome using SILAC and quantitative proteomics. First, cells are labeled by SILAC to allow for relative quantitation across different experimental conditions, such as cells with or without ectopic expression of a methyltransferase. Next, cells are lysed and proteins are digested into peptides. Methylated peptides are then enriched by immunoprecipitation with pan-specific antibodies against methylated lysine. Finally, the enriched peptides are analyzed by LC-MS/MS to identify methylated peptides and their modification sites and to compare the relative abundance of methylation events between different conditions. This approach should yield detection of a couple hundred lysine methylation sites, and those showing differential abundance may then be prioritized for further study.
Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Osteoarthritis Using a Water-Soluble Fluorocoxib

Clinical imaging approaches to detect inflammatory biomarkers, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), may facilitate the diagnosis and therapy of inflammatory diseases. To this end, we report the discovery of N-[(rhodamin-X-yl)but-4-yl]-2-[1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl]acetamide chloride salt (fluorocoxib D), a hydrophilic analog of fluorocoxib A. Fluorocoxib D inhibits COX-2 selectively in purified enzyme preparations and cells. It exhibits adequate photophysical properties to enable detection of COX-2 in intact cells, in a mouse model of carrageenan-induced acute footpad inflammation and inflammation in a mouse model of osteoarthritis. COX-2-selectivity was verified either by blocking the enzyme's active site with celecoxib or by molecular imaging with nontargeted 5-carboxy-X-rhodamine dye. These data indicate that fluorocoxib D is an ideal candidate for early detection of inflammatory or neoplastic lesions expressing elevated levels of COX-2.
Fractal characteristics of tall tower wind speeds in Missouri

Abstract The Hurst exponent H is used to determine the measure of predictability of a time series. The value between 0 and 1 with 0.5 representative of a random or uncorrelated series, H > 0.5 and H 0.5 reflect a data set which is persistent and anti-persistent respectively. The fractal dimension can be given from the Hurst exponent. The fractal dimension is a factor of the complexity of which the system is being repeated at various scales. If the fractal dimension does not change with scale it is deemed monofractal if not, multifractal. The Hurst exponents were determined in this study using the Rescale Range Analysis (R/S Analysis) and Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MF-DFA) for monofractal and multifractal investigations respectively. These methods were applied to daily 10 min wind speed time series data for the year 2009 from three locations within Missouri: Columbia, Neosho and Blanchard for three tall tower stations. The results obtained from the monofractal analysis showed minor variations in the Hurst exponents for the three stations and heights for all the months in 2009. These values ranged from 0.7 to 0.9 and its corresponding fractal dimension was ranged between 1.3 and 1.1. The results for the MF-DFA showed that the wind speed time series were multifractal in nature as the Hurst exponents were functions of the scaling parameters. Also, the plots of the Renyi Exponent were non-linear for the stations and the various channels; this is representative of multifractal signals. The fractal dimensions of the time series using multifractal analysis were determined to be greater than these values determined using monofractal analysis. However, there were no indications of consistent increases in the complexity of the systems’ multifractality with increasing heights for the various stations’ tall towers.
Bulk and interfacial interactions between hydroxypropyl-cellulose and bile salts: Impact on the digestion of emulsified lipids

Virginia Agriculture Experiment Station; Hatch Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), USDA
Why was the U.S. ban on ‘female genital mutilation ruled unconstitutional, and what does this have to do with male circumcision?

Summary There are now legally prohibited forms of medically unnecessary female genital cutting—including the so-called ritual nick—that are less severe than permitted forms of medically unnecessary male and intersex genital cutting. Attempts to discursively quarantine the male and female forms of cutting (MGC, FGC) from one another based on appeals to health outcomes, symbolic meanings, and religious versus cultural status have been undermined by a large body of recent scholarship. Recognizing that a zero-tolerance policy toward ritual FGC may lead to restrictions on ritual MGC, prominent defenders of the latter practice have begun to argue that what they regard as “minor” forms of ritual FGC should in fact be seen as morally permissible—even when non-consensual—and should be legally allowed in Western societies. In a striking development in late 2018, a federal judge ruled that the longstanding U.S. law prohibiting “female genital mutilation” (FGM) was unconstitutional on jurisdictional grounds, while also acknowledging the relevance of arguments concerning non-discrimination on the basis of sex or gender. It now appears that anti-FGM laws in other Western countries similarly risk being struck down. To resist this trajectory, feminist scholars and advocates of children's rights now increasingly argue that efforts to protect girls from non-consensual FGC must be rooted in a sex- and gender-neutral (that is, human) right to bodily integrity, if these efforts are to be successful in the long-run.
Debugging Incidents in Google’s Distributed Systems: How experts debug production issues in complex distributed systems

This article covers the outcomes of research performed in 2019 on how engineers at Google debug production issues, including the types of tools, high-level strategies, and low-level tasks that engineers use in varying combinations to debug effectively. It examines the research approach used to capture data, summarizing the common engineering journeys for production investigations and sharing examples of how experts debug complex distributed systems. Finally, the article extends the Google specifics of this research to provide some practical strategies that you can apply in your organization.
Transforming Power Relations: Leadership, Risk, and Hope

Longstanding, bitter communal conflicts resemble the prisoner’s dilemma of game theory: rational, self-interested political actors make choices that perpetuate the battle even if most people wish it resolved. Hopeful but politically risky acts of leadership that bridge communal divides are indispensable for transforming apparently zero-sum struggles into positive-sum outcomes. Such leaders implicitly view power itself in variable-sum terms: one needs an opponent strong enough to secure an agreement.The hopeful, risk-accepting leadership of Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk in South Africa is illuminated through rational choice and transformational models of leadership, Thomas Schelling’s theorization of mixed-motive conflict, and Robert Axelrod’s work on the evolution of cooperation – especially his attention to interdependent preferences and restorative strategies. Mandela’s and de Klerk’s improbable accomplishment in dismantling apartheid without civil war is contrasted with less successful leadership episodes from Northern Ireland and Israel-Palestine, and with American slaveholders’ rejection of any compromise on slavery.
Synaptic and Network Contributions to Anoxic Depolarization in Mouse Hippocampal Slices.

Abstract Ischemic stroke remains the third leading cause of death and leading cause of adult disability worldwide. A key event in the pathophysiology of stroke is the anoxic depolarization (AD) of neurons in the ischemic core. Previous studies have established that both the latency to AD and the time spent in AD prior to re-oxygenation are predictors of neuronal death. The present studies used hippocampal slices from male and female mice to investigate the electrophysiological events that affect latency to AD after oxygen deprivation. The results confirm that the epoch between AD and re-oxygenation largely determines the magnitude of synaptic recovery after anoxic challenge. Using a selective antagonist of adenosine A1 receptors, we also confirmed that adenosine released during anoxia (ANOX) suppresses synaptic glutamate release; however, this action has no effect on AD latency or the potential for post-anoxic recovery of synaptic transmission. In contrast, antagonism of AMPA- and NMDA-type glutamate receptors significantly prolongs the latency to AD and alters the speed and synchrony of associated depolarizing waves. Experiments using slices with fields Cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) and Cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) disconnected showed that AD latency is longer in CA1 than in CA3; however, the early AD in CA3 is propagated to CA1 in intact slices. Finally, AD latency in CA1 was found to be longer in slices from female mice than in those from age-matched male mice. The results have implications for stroke prevention and for understanding brain adaptations in hypoxia-tolerant animals.
Decompressive Hemicraniectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the US: Characteristics and Outcomes.

Abstract Objectives Decompressive hemicraniectomy can be life-saving for malignant middle cerebral artery acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, utilization and outcomes for hemicraniectomy in the US are not known. We sought to analyze baseline characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving hemicraniectomy for AIS in the US. Materials and Methods We identified adults who received hemicraniectomy for AIS, identified with validated International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9) code in the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2014. We calculated 30-day readmission rates, reasons for readmission, and procedures performed. Results 2850 of 531,896 AIS patients (0.54%) received hemicraniectomy. Although patients receiving hemicraniectomy were more likely to be younger (57.0, 95% CI 56.0–58.0; vs 70.9, 95% CI 70.6–71.2; p Conclusions Although hemicraniectomy is used more frequently in the treatment of younger, male, ischemic stroke patients, only half of the patients receiving hemicraniectomy in 2014 were
Overview of meta-analyses on giftedness

A meta-analysis is a statistical method for combining the results of primary studies on the same topic. Meta-analyses play a significant role in scientific research particularly in the field of gif...
Motion-insensitive diffusion imaging of the brain using optical tracking and dynamic sequence updates.

Purpose Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is sensitive to head movements, which may cause signal losses because of motion-induced gradient imbalances. Prospective motion correction using fast optical tracking can attenuate these artifacts. Approaches include quasicontinuous updates of gradients and radiofrequency (RF) pulses or dynamically applying a rebalancing gradient to restore the gradient balance, but these prior methods used bipolar diffusion gradients. The goal of this project was to develop and evaluate a motion-insensitive implementation for the more common monopolar diffusion sequence. Methods A monopolar diffusion sequence was developed with motion updates before each RF pulse and each diffusion-weighting gradient. The sequence was tested in a phantom and human brain at b = 1000 s/mm2 and rotational velocities up to 20°/s. Motion sensitivity, signal losses, and in vivo image profiles were compared between scans with and without intrasequence motion updates. Results With typical motion parameters, intrasequence motion updates with optimal parameters reduced the motion sensitivity of DWI (motion-induced gradient moment imbalance) sevenfold. Optimal results were achieved by matching the echo time of the pulse sequence to an even multiple of the tracking system frame-to-frame period. Average signal losses and the frequency of signal dropouts in phantom and in vivo measurements were reduced when intrasequence updates were enabled, and quality measures of DTI analyses were improved. Conclusion A correction scheme for the monopolar DWI sequence can reduce the motion sensitivity of brain DWI up to sevenfold compared with an implementation without intrasequence updates.
The Brat Pack: Mini-Influencers on the Internet

“Sharenting” is a phenomenon where parents share information and photographs of their children on social media, often without the children’s understanding or consent. In recent years, sharenting has become a lucrative business with parents of “mini-influencers,” children with a large following on social media, earning millions of dollars and free products through product placement and endorsements via social media posts aimed at other parents and children. Even though today’s children are digital natives that have grown up with the internet, they are part of a vulnerable group that has been found to lack the ability to discern ethical versus unethical activities on the internet. Given the vast earnings associated with mini-influencer posts and the lack of oversight protecting both the children in the posts and those viewing them, the purpose of this research is to investigate the public posts of mini-influencers (ages 5-10) on Instagram to investigate how children are being represented in terms of commercialized and sexualized appearances. Findings supported a link between appearance, sexualization, and brands in posts of child influencers. The researchers call for more oversight and protections for children on the Internet.
How Does My Mask Look? Nonverbal Communication Through Decorative Mask-Wearing

The CDC (How to select, wear, clean your mask, 2020) recommends wearing masks to slow the spread of COVID-19. Many states and municipalities require mask-wearing. An ABC News/Ipsos Poll Jackson et al. (Americans slow to change out-of-home behavior, 2020) reported that 87% of people in the U.S. wore a mask in public in the previous week. This study explores the role of decorative masks in mask-wearing compliance among adults. It also examines how decorative masks are used as nonverbal artifacts to communicate an aspect of the wearer’s individuality. A survey of 235 individuals across the U.S. found that most individuals (72%) believe their mask communicates something nonverbally to others. Messages such as “showing concern for others” (86%) and “a desire to slow the spread of COVID-19 (84%) were supported as possible messages mask-wearing communicates. Sex did have a significant effect on the choice of mask selection. A significant percentage of women and those identifying as intersex chose fashion masks more frequently than medical masks when compared to men.
Pathogenicity Islands and Other Mobile Virulence Elements of Vibrio cholerae

Cholera is acquired by ingesting food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The genome contains a variety of potentially mobile genetic elements including plasmids, bacteriophages, and pathogenicity islands (PAIs), which are reviewed in this chapter. The chapter describes recent exciting and provocative discoveries that the PAIs in epidemic V. cholerae can be acquired by horizontal gene transfer by bacteriophages. The genes encoding the most important virulence factors, cholera enterotoxin (CT) and the toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP), are not usually present in V. cholerae strains that are commonly isolated from the environment. All epidemic strains of V. cholerae contain ctxAB genes, which encode CT. The major protein forming the pilus structure (TcpA) is encoded by the tcpA gene and is 20.5 kDa in size. The determination of the genomic sequence of V. cholerae will undoubtedly reveal additional virulence factors, PAIs, and other mobile virulence elements. The recent findings described in the chapter should lead to future studies that will help us understand the emergence, pathogenesis, and spread of cholera, a disease which still surprises and challenges us after a century of study.
Diachronic Regional Social Dynamics

For 25 years it has been generally acknowledged that archaeological remains from cemeteries carry symbolic content, but the methods by which we may identify and interpret these symbols have been greatly contested. Two works set the tone for the 1970s: Lewis Binford’s seminal article, “Mortuary Practices: Their Study and Their Potential,” first offered in 1966 and published in 1971, and Arthur Saxe’s Ph.D. dissertation, Social Dimensions of Mortuary Practices, available since 1970. Both address the potential of mortuary studies for the reconstruction of social organization. This approach is particularly exemplified in the work of Joseph Tainter (1975, 1977a,b, 1978) during this period, and perhaps culminated in the volume The Archaeology of Death, edited by Robert Chapman and others (1981), with contributions by Richard Bradley, James Brown, Jane Buikstra, Lynne Goldstein, and John O’Shea. The Binford-Saxe approach may be encapsulated by the statement: The variability and structure in a society’s treatment of its dead, including that which can be archaeologically recovered, will be isomorphic with the variability and structure of the social dimensions of the society.
Simple eight bit, emulated computers for illustrating computer architecture concepts and providing a starting point for student designs

Students learn better when they both hear and do. In computer architecture courses "doing" can be difficult in small schools without hardware labs hosted by computer engineering, electrical engineering, or similar departments. Software solutions exist. Our success with George Mills' Multimedia Logic (MML) is the focus of this paper. We have found that students learn and understand more, and experience less frustration, without the additional complexity of hardware details. MML provides a graphical computer architecture solution with convenient I/O support and the ability to build and emulate a variety of computer designs. It has proven highly motivational to upper-division computer science students designing and constructing emulated computers. Student projects resulted in excellent student understanding of the detailed inner workings of computers. Students also developed better teamwork skills and produced useful training aids for the lower-division computer organization class. Designs implemented include 8-bit and 16-bit, von Neumann and Harvard architectures, from single-cycle to twelve-cycle instructions. Issues resolved during the learning process include timing, initialization, instruction set architecture, I/O, and assembler design. We provide two demonstration computers used to illustrate to students a design approach and an expected outcome in their individual design activities. One example is an eight-bit Harvard architecture with eight instructions that execute in a single clock cycle. The second is an eight-bit von Neumann architecture that has four instructions and executes each instruction in three clock cycles. This paper describes these two example computers.