cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of keyswitch design of desktop and notebook keyboards related to key stiffness and typing force

This study aimed to compare and analyse rubber-dome desktop, spring-column desktop and notebook keyboards in terms of key stiffness and fingertip typing force. The spring-column keyboard resulted in the highest mean peak contact force (0.86N), followed by the rubber dome desktop (0.68N) and the notebook (0.59N). All these differences were statistically significant. Likewise, the spring-column keyboard registered the highest fingertip typing force and the notebook keyboard the lowest. A comparison of forces showed the notebook (rubber dome) keyboard had the highest fingertip-to-peak contact force ratio (overstrike force), and the spring-column generated the least excess force (as a ratio of peak contact force). The results of this study could aid in optimizing computer key design that could possibly reduce subject discomfort and fatigue.
Symposium: The Set-Theoretic Comparative Method — Critical Assessment and the Search for Alternatives

The set-theoretic comparative method (STCM) — including very centrally Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) — has formulated valuable goals for comparative research. This symposium raises serious concerns about the specific analytic tools advocated for pursuing these important goals. George Lakoff challenges the key argument that natural language is inherently set-theoretic and suggests that fuzzy-set scoring is in fact not fuzzy. Giovanni Sartori argues that the set-theoretic framing privileges technique over real insight, and Sean Tanner critiques the tools for causal inference advocated by STCM. Chris Krogslund and Katherine Michel explore the difficult challenge of finding simulation tests appropriate to evaluating these methods; Zachary Elkins formulates alternative approaches to measuring partial membership in categories; and Bear Braumoeller evaluates four alternative models for the study of interactions, including QCA. Finally, Andrew Bennett presents a major breakthrough in tools for process tracing. He moves beyond the traditional classification of four process tests, as well as the characterization of the four tests according to whether they provide necessary and/or sufficient criteria for supporting a particular causal inference. Instead, he uses Bayesian tools to map the out the probative value of tests in terms of a continuous spectrum, treating the traditional tests simply as benchmarks on this spectrum.
Containment: A Variation of Cops and Robbers

We consider "Containment": a variation of the graph pursuit game of Cops and Robber in which cops move from edge to adjacent edge, the robber moves from vertex to adjacent vertex (but cannot move along an edge occupied by a cop), and the cops win by "containing" the robber---that is, by occupying all $°(v)$ of the edges incident with a vertex $v$ while the robber is at $v$. We develop bounds that relate the minimal number of cops, $\xi(G)$, required to contain a robber to the well-known "cop-number" $c(G)$ in the original game: in particular, $c(G) {\le} \xi(G) {\le} \gamma(G) \Delta(G)$. We note that $\xi(G) {\geq} \delta(G)$ for all graphs $G$, and analyze several families of graphs in which equality holds, as well as several in which the inequality is strict. We also give examples of graphs which require an unbounded number of cops in order to contain a robber, and note that there exist cubic graphs with $\xi(G) \geq \Omega(n^{1/6})$.
Combined inversion and thinning methods for simulating nonstationary non-poisson arrival processes

We develop and evaluate SCIATA, a simplified combined inversion-and-thinning algorithm for simulating a nonstationary non-Poisson process (NNPP) over a finite time horizon, with the target arrival process having a given "rate" function and associated mean-value function together with a given variance-to-mean (dispersion) ratio. Designed for routine use when the dispersion ratio is at most two, SCIATA encompasses the following steps: (i) computing a piecewise-constant majorizing rate function that closely approximates the given rate function; (ii) computing the associated piecewise-linear majorizing mean-value function; (iii) generating an equilibrium renewal process (ERP) whose noninitial interrenewal times are Weibull distributed with mean one and variance equal to the given dispersion ratio; (iv) inverting the majorizing mean-value function at the ERP's renewal epochs to generate the associated majorizing NNPP; and (v) thinning the resulting arrival epochs to obtain an NNPP with the given rate function and dispersion ratio. Numerical examples illustrate the effectiveness of SCIATA in practice.
Thermooptic bypass switch for multimode optical fibers

Electronically controllable optical bypass switches are key components in one type of fiber optic network (Fig. 1). In such a network, the switches must have two properties. First, they must be fail-safe: if power fails at a terminal, a passive link between the remaining terminals must be maintained. Second, they must provide a high degree of isolation between transmitter and receiver ports when the terminal is active, so that the retransmitted signal will not mask the weaker incoming signal at the receiver.
Inheritance in Kenya: The Intersectionality of HIV Serostatus, Poverty, and Gender

This study explores inheritance experiences among people living with HIV. Although Kenyan law provides protections that guarantee rightful transfers of wealth, results from this phenomenological st...
Wheels-Off Time Prediction Using Surface Traffic Metrics

This paper is motivated by the need for wheels-off time prediction required for improving departure scheduling. It will be possible to estimate wheels-off time with high precision at major U. S. airports where airport surface automation, such as the Surface Management System, is deployed. At other airports, controllers are expected to estimate wheels-off time for departure scheduling. This paper analyzes Dallas-Fort Worth airport state data metrics derived from the Aviation System Performance Metrics database and Surface Management System logs for use as inputs to a neural network for predicting wheels-off time at airports where the Surface Management System will not be available. At airports without Surface Management System, these metrics will be either directly available to controllers or can be computed using combinations of flight-plan data, taxi clearance data, surface surveillance data, airline provided Out-Off-On-In (OOOI) data and airport surface geometry data. Analysis of metrics derived from Aviation System Performance Metrics database and Surface Management System logs show that there is a high degree of correlation between these metrics and gate to wheels-off time. Correlations of these metrics with gate departure delay were found to be quite low, so no attempt was made to predict gate departure delay using these metrics. This study assumed the gate departure time to be known for estimating wheels-off time. Gate to wheels-off time is predicted using the neural network with chosen metrics as inputs. The neural network is trained with six days of data and tested on one day of data. Results show that the trained neural network performance on the test data is as good as on the training data. The main finding of the study is that a neural network trained on several days of airport state data was able to generate gate to wheels-off time predictions within the Call for Release departure compliance window of two-minutes early to one-minute late 59% of the time. This performance can be improved further by removing outliers in the training and test sets. Next, a linear model was created with the same set of metrics as independent variables and gate to wheels-off time as the dependent variable. Six days of data were used with the least-squares method to compute the coefficients. These coefficients were then used with one day of test data to estimate the gate to wheels-off time. Results were found to be comparable to that generated by the neural network based on the Mahalanobis distance metric. Comparison of predictions generated using the neural network and the linear model to the test data provide evidence that the chosen metrics are suitable for predicting gate to wheels-off time.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Depressive Symptoms Among Inpatient Adolescents: The Underlying Role of Emotion Regulation

ABSTRACTThe present study examined emotion regulation as a potential mechanism in the relationship between Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression among 50 inpatient adolescents receiving psychiatric care at an inpatient mental hospital. PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with emotion dysregulation and depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses and bias-corrected bootstrapping techniques supported emotion dysregulation as a mechanism underlying the association between PTSD and depression symptoms. These findings support the notion that adolescents with clinical levels of PTSD symptoms may engage in ineffective emotion regulation strategies, such as emotional avoidance and suppression, which may, in turn, be associated with increased depression. Findings and implications are discussed.
The Frequency of White Blood Cell and Temperature Events During Mechanical Ventilation and Their Association With Ventilator-Associated Events

Background:Changes in white blood cell (WBC) counts and/or temperature could have important implications in patients on ventilators, but the frequency of these events is uncertain.Methods:We reviewed the medical records from 281 ventilation episodes in our medical intensive care unit to determine patient characteristics and the indications for ventilation. We determined the number of days during each ventilation episode in which the temperature ( 100.4°F) or WBC count ( 12 000/µL) was out of the normal range.Results:This study included 257 patients with a mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation 2 score of 13.5 ± 5.9 and a mean initial Pao2/Fio2 of 210 ± 110. The median number of ventilator days was 4 (interquartile range, 3-9). One hundred ninety-six of 275 eligible ventilator episodes (71.3%) had 1 or more temperature events, and 194 of 253 eligible ventilator episodes (76.7%) had 1 or more WBC events. Nineteen patients met the Center for Disease Control criteria for a vent...
Orofacial Pain Models and Behavior Assessment

Orofacial pain remains an understudied area in pain research given that most attention has been focused on the spinal system. In this chapter, animal models of neuropathic and inflammatory orofacial pain are presented. Four different types of pain behavior tests are then described for assessing evoked and spontaneous pain behavior in addition to conditional reward behavior. The use of a combination of different pain models and behavior assessments is needed to aid in understanding the mechanisms contributing to orofacial pain in humans for developing effective therapy.
On the role of Sm in solidification of Al-Sm metallic glasses

Abstract During the solidification of Al-Sm metallic glasses the evolution of the supercooled liquid atomic structure has been identified with an increasing population of icosahedral-like clusters with increasing Sm concentration. These clusters exhibit slower kinetics compared to the remaining clusters in the liquid leading to enhanced amorphous phase stability and glass forming ability (GFA). Maximum icosahedral-ordering and atomic packing density have been found for the Al90Sm10 and Al85Sm15 alloys, respectively, whereas minimum cohesive energy has been found for the Al93Sm7 which is consistent with the range of compositions (from Al92Sm8 to Al84Sm16) found experimentally with high GFA.
Effects of GRAS Compounds on Natural Vibrio vulnificus Populations in Oysters

Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium indigenous to estuarine waters and is known to be a significant human pathogen. Infections are generally associated with the consumption of raw shellfish, especially oysters. We have previously determined that a variety of FDA-approved food preservatives were effective agents in causing lethality of V. vulnificus in vitro. In the present study we tested the effects of these compounds in treating natural oysters and found that diacetyl at concentrations of 0.05% or greater could significantly decrease the number of V. vulnificus naturally present in oysters. Lactic acid and BHA were found not to be effective at concentrations up to 0.05%. We conclude that diacetyl is a possible antimicrobial agent for this organism that might be used in shellfish stock.
80Kb 10ns read cycle logic Embedded High-K charge trap Multi-Time-Programmable Memory scalable to 14nm FIN with no added process complexity

An 80Kb logic Embedded Multi-Time Programmable Memory (MTPM) employs charge trapping and de-trapping behavior in 32nm/22nm High-K transistor, resulting in no added process complexity. Multi-step verification with overwrite protection employs block-write and signal margin degradation (∼30%) to satisfy 10 year retention at 105° C.
Variants and generalizations

There are several variants and/or extensions of the original Gelfond-Schneider Theorem that led to many significant advances in transcendental number theory in the twentieth century.
59. Multiplex Gene Activation by CRISPR/Cas9-Based Transcription Factors for the Direct Conversion of Fibroblasts to a Neuronal Phenotype

The reprogramming of cell lineage between mature somatic cell types has a significant potential to advance disease modeling, drug discovery, and gene and cell therapies for regenerative medicine. Several groups have established methods to reprogram cell phenotype through the ectopic delivery of cDNAs encoding master regulatory transcription factors. These factors can target epigenetically silenced genes and activate transcriptional networks specific to other cell lineages.The recent advances made in engineering the CRISPR/Cas9 system as a programmable transcriptional regulator provide an opportunity to study alternate methods to achieve cell reprogramming. The dCas9-based transcription factors (dCas9-TFs) can attain multiplex activation and repression of endogenous genes. It's simplicity of use enables a standardized method of regulating endogenous transcriptional networks in any cell type of interest. The ability of dCas9-TFs to target virtually any region of the genome within the native chromatin context provides an opportunity to study how non-coding regulatory elements and epigenetic signatures influence reprogramming outcomes.Here we demonstrate the capacity of dCas9-TFs to drive the direct conversion of murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to cells of a neuronal phenotype. We utilized a dCas9-TF with both N-terminal and C-terminal VP64 transactivation domains and demonstrated a 10-fold improvement in activation of target genes compared to dCas9-TFs with only a single VP64. Using this dCas9-TF variant, we demonstrated the multiplex activation of BRN2, ASCL1, and MYT1L (BAM factors) in MEFs. These three factors have been shown to generate functional neurons when expressed ectopically in MEFs.When compared to overexpression of the transgenes, dCas9-TFs induced significantly less mRNA and protein expression of the BAM factors, as determined by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. However, by day 14 in culture following the delivery of dCas9-TFs targeting the endogenous BAM factors, we identified cells positive for the pan-neuronal markers TUJ1 and MAP2 that exhibited complex neuronal morphologies. Furthermore, we found that dCas9-TFs were able to generate 23% more TUJ1/MAP2-co-positive cells than that achieved through the ectopic delivery of the BAM factors. Electrophysiological recordings of these cells identified single, action potential-like responses to step-depolarization by current clamp in the whole cell configuration. The cells also displayed calcium transients in response to KCl-induced depolarization, measured by monitoring fluorescence intensity of a GCaMP reporter.Ongoing work is focused on improving the functional maturity of the cells and addressing the kinetics of gene activation and epigenetic reprogramming at the target loci. We hypothesize that the targeted activation at the endogenous loci may more deterministically reprogram the chromatin to marks of active transcription that stabilize gene expression.
Mapping of invasive phragmites common reed in Gulf of Mexico coastal wetlands using multispectral imagery and small unmanned aerial systems

In coastal wetlands of the Gulf of Mexico, the invasive plant species Phragmites australis common reed rapidly alters the ecology of a site by shifting plant communities from heterogeneous mixtures of plant species to homogenous stands of Phragmites. Phragmites grows in very dense stands at an average height of 4.6 m and outcompetes native plants for resources. To restore affected wetlands, resource managers require an accurate map of Phragmites locations. Previous studies have used satellite and manned aircraft-based remote-sensing images to map Phragmites in relatively large areas at a coarse scale; however, low-altitude high-spatial-resolution pixel-based classification approaches would improve the mapping accuracy. This study explores the supervised classification methods to accurately map Phragmites in the coastal wetlands at the delta of the Pearl River in Louisiana and Mississippi, USA, using high-resolution 8 cm ground sample distance; GSD multispectral imagery collected from a small unmanned aerial system platform at an altitude of 120 m. We create a map through pixel-based Support Vector Machines SVM classification using blue, green, red, red edge, and near-infrared spectral bands along with a digital surface model DSM, vegetation indices, and morphological attribute profiles MAPs as features. This study also demonstrates the effects of different features and their usefulness in generating an accurate map of Phragmites locations. Accuracy assessment based on a a subset of training/testing samples to show classifier performance and b the entire ground reference GR map to show the quality of mapping is demonstrated. Kappa, overall accuracy OA, class accuracies, and their confidence intervals CIs are reported. An OA of 91% and kappa of 63 is achieved. The results of this study indicate that features such as MAPs are very useful in accurately mapping invasive Phragmites compared with existing region-based approaches.
Dynamic Focusing of Electrospinning Process With Quadrupole Traps

Electrospinning is the most widely used production method for polymer fibers formed from an electrified fluid jet. This method is very versatile, relatively inexpensive and simple. When the sufficiently high electric potential (about 20kV) is applied to the polymer solution, the electrostatic forces overcome the surface tension of the polymer and a thin liquid jet is ejected from the nozzle. However, after short straight distance of the motion of the fiber it rapidly grows into an electric charge driven bending instability and results in a 3D spiraling trajectory leading to a very random deposition on the grounded collector. This significantly reduces the positive qualities of the fiber and its use in biomechanical engineering like a production of tissue scaffolds mimicking the structure of the extracellular matrix or a delivery of expandable chemo- and radio-therapeutic stents. In this work we present the initial results from investigating the feasibility of using dynamic focusing of the electrified jet in a linear quadrupole trap. This is a new alternative to the more generally used mechanical approach with rotating mandrel, could in principle lead to the ability to control the deposition location without the use of any moving components. The proposed approach was originally developed for trapping and transporting individual charged ions. In contrast to ions, an electrified continuous fiber represents an infinite degree of freedom system, with potentially much richer dynamics and unknown stability regions in the parameter space.In order to understand the dynamics of the fiber, we present a discretized 2D reduced-order mathematical model which is investigated numerically. The resulting ODEs represent multi-dimensional form of a non-linear Mathieu’s and Meissner’s differential equations for harmonic, and step excitation functions, respectively. The model parameters were obtained from static experiments with electrodes compressing the fibers in a single plane. Finite-element model of the electrodes resulted in detailed potential maps, which were used to develop estimates of the required strength of the electrostatic field needed to steer the fibers.The estimated parameters were used to obtain stable solutions of the reduced-order approximate of a spring-mass-charged dumbbell model of the fiber.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Recovery from Schizophrenia: An Autoethnography

ABSTRACTMedication- and symptom-free recovery has been the author’s experience since March 2006. Details of 127 potentially therapeutic lifestyle activities were explored using a structured reflective analysis. These activities were divided into twelve communities: family, arts, romance, etc. Perceived therapeutic effects are noted. Also included is the author’s method for weaning from psychiatric medication very slowly, plus personal details of success.
Synthesis of High-Quality AgSbSe2 and AgBiSe2 Nanocrystals with Antimony and Bismuth Silylamide Reagents

Silver dimetal chalcogenides (Ag–V–VI2) are ternary semiconductors that have potential alternative energy applications due to their optimal band gaps and large extinction coefficients. The synthesis of these materials is challenging due to the lack of effective pnictide precursors. We report the use of tris[N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)amido]antimony (Sb[N(SiMe3)2]3) and tris[N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)amido]bismuth (Bi[(N(SiMe3)2]3) to synthesize nanocrystalline AgSbSe2 and AgBiSe2 quantum dots. The use of these reagents results in the creation of high quality nanomaterials with good crystallinity and narrow size distributions. Furthermore, electrical measurements on monolithic pellets of processed AgSbSe2 and AgBiSe2 nanomaterials demonstrate linear current–voltage behavior at room temperature, which indicates potential for use in electrical applications.
The Effect of Oil Price Changes on Stock Price Momentum

We document a novel stock price momentum effect related to oil. A portfolio that buys low-oil-beta stocks and sells high-oil-beta stocks earns abnormal returns of -1.08% per month from 1986 to 2011, with majority of abnormal returns arising from 2002 to 2011, and 1.58% per month from 2012 to 2015. Our results are robust after controlling for size, value, asset growth, profitability, momentum, and total volatility in two-dimensional sorting, and after removing the oil price fluctuations that are driven by aggregate demand shocks. Oil beta is insignificant in forecasting future returns before 2002 in cross-sectional regressions and becomes significant since 2002. Our findings are consistent with the notion that investors underestimate the magnitude of the boom and bust of oil prices.
Symmetric Positive Semidefinite FDTD Subgridding Algorithms for Arbitrary Grid Ratios Without Compromising Accuracy

Instability has been a major problem in finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) subgridding methods. Reciprocity has been proposed to overcome the problem but with limited success in producing a symmetric positive semidefinite (SPD) system without compromising accuracy. In this paper, we algebraically derive both 2- and 3-D FDTD subgridding operators, which are SPD by construction, and independent of the grid ratio. Such operators have only nonnegative real eigenvalues, and hence the stability of the resulting explicit time marching is guaranteed. The 3-D operator, the algorithm of which is also applicable to 2-D analysis, further permits the use of a local time step, thus achieving a natural subgridding in both space and time. In addition, the interpretation of the proposed operators in the original FDTD formulation is also provided. Interestingly, not only interface unknowns but also subgrid unknowns are generated in a different way, as compared to the original FDTD, to simultaneously obtain an SPD system and to ensure accuracy. Extensive numerical simulations have demonstrated the accuracy, stability, and efficiency of the proposed new subgridding algorithms.
General, Mild, and Selective Method for Desaturation of Aliphatic Amines

A novel method for desaturation of aliphatic amines into enamines as well as allylic and homoallylic amines has been developed. This general protocol operates via putative aryl hybrid Pd-radical intermediates, which combine the signature features of radical chemistry, a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process, and transition metal chemistry, a selective β-hydride elimination step, to achieve efficient and selective desaturation of amines. These hybrid Pd-radical intermediates are efficiently generated under mild photoinduced conditions and are capable of a 1,n-HAT (n = 5–7) event at C(sp3)–H sites. The selectivity of HAT is tunable by varying different auxiliaries, which highlight the generality of this method. Remarkably, this desaturation method, which operates under mild conditions and does not require employment of exogenous photosensitizers or oxidants, can be performed in a practical scalable fashion from simple amines.
A Facile Method for Producing Selenocysteine-Containing Proteins.

Selenocysteine (Sec, U) confers new chemical properties on proteins. Improved tools are thus required that enable Sec insertion into any desired position of a protein. We report a facile method for synthesizing selenoproteins with multiple Sec residues by expanding the genetic code of Escherichia coli. We recently discovered allo-tRNAs, tRNA species with unusual structure, that are as efficient serine acceptors as E. coli tRNASer . Ser-allo-tRNA was converted into Sec-allo-tRNA by Aeromonas salmonicida selenocysteine synthase (SelA). Sec-allo-tRNA variants were able to read through five UAG codons in the fdhF mRNA coding for E. coli formate dehydrogenase H, and produced active FDHH with five Sec residues in E. coli. Engineering of the E. coli selenium metabolism along with mutational changes in allo-tRNA and SelA improved the yield and purity of recombinant human glutathione peroxidase 1 (to over 80 %). Thus, our allo-tRNAUTu system offers a new selenoprotein engineering platform.
18 F-fluoromisonidazole predicts evofosfamide uptake in pancreatic tumor model.

Quantitative imaging can facilitate patient stratification in clinical trials. The hypoxia-activated prodrug evofosfamide recently failed a phase III trial in pancreatic cancer. However, the study did not attempt to select for patients with hypoxic tumors. We tested the ability of 18F-fluoromisonidazole to predict evofosfamide uptake in an orthotopic xenograft model (BxPC3). Two forms of evofosfamide were used: (1) labeled on the active moiety (3H) and (2) on the hypoxia targeting nitroimidazole group (14C). Tumor uptake of evofosfamide and 18F-fluoromisonidazole was counted ex vivo. Autoradiography of 14C and 18F coupled with pimonidazole immunohistochemistry revealed the spatial distributions of prodrug, radiotracer, and hypoxia. There was significant individual variation in 18F-fluoromisonidazole uptake, and a significant correlation between normalized 18F-fluoromisonidazole and both 3H-labeled and 14C-labeled evofosfamide. 18F-fluoromisonidazole and 14C-evofosfamide both localized in hypoxic regions as identified by pimonidazole. 18F-fluoromisonidazole predicts evofosfamide uptake in a preclinical pancreatic tumor model.
Intravenous Amphetamine Abuse, Primary Cerebral Mucormycosis, and Acquired Immunodeficiency

Two intravenous amphetamine abusers had fatal, rapidly progressive cerebral mucormycosis with abscess formation in the presence of absolute lymphopenia. Postmortem examination confirmed the primary nature of the fungal cerebritis, documented by postmortem culture and histology. The clinical and pathologic features of these cases are compared to previously reported occurrences of primary fungal cerebritis (and abscess) among intravenous drug abusers, including cocaine users. Primary fungal cerebritis associated with intravenous abuse of stimulant drugs is discussed as a possible variant of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
Crime and justice in the context of resource scarcity

This concept paper presents a theory of environmental scarcity developed byHomer-Dixon. Homer-Dixon developed a model to describe the consequences of scarcity for sub-national violence in third world countries. This paper hasfour interrelated purposes. First, it presents the model of scarcity developedby Thomas Homer-Dixon in 1999. Second, it assesses the way in which the scarcity model contextualizes criminal justice and criminology research, andby extension, how research in crime and justice processes can broaden the scarcity model. Third, it applies elements of the model to the United States,a goal that represents a generalization of the model from third-world to first-world settings. Fourth, it presents a particular case, the migrationof African-Americans from the rural South to urban centers in the 1950s and1960s and consequent inner-city violence in the 1960s, that displays manyelements of the environmental scarcity model.
Knowledge-Based Constraint Satisfaction for Spatial Reasoning.

This linguistically motivated work addresses issues in reasoning intelligently over spatial descriptions of simple, static scenes to produce plausible graphical interpretations. It uses a combined representation that couples a semantic network for explicit knowledge with a knowledge base of frames for implicit knowledge. The knowledge base contains generalized rules for interpreting what objects are and how they should and should not be interpreted alone and in spatial interrelationships. The linguistic emphasis is on the semantics and pragmatics of underspecification, vagueness, uncertainty, and context in reasoning over spatial language and knowledge.
Active task selection for lifelong machine learning

In a lifelong learning framework, an agent acquires knowledge incrementally over consecutive learning tasks, continually building upon its experience. Recent lifelong learning algorithms have achieved nearly identical performance to batch multi-task learning methods while reducing learning time by three orders of magnitude. In this paper, we further improve the scalability of lifelong learning by developing curriculum selection methods that enable an agent to actively select the next task to learn in order to maximize performance on future learning tasks. We demonstrate that active task selection is highly reliable and effective, allowing an agent to learn high performance models using up to 50% fewer tasks than when the agent has no control over the task order. We also explore a variant of transfer learning in the lifelong learning setting in which the agent can focus knowledge acquisition toward a particular target task.
Tailored photon-pair generation in optical fiber through dual-pump spontaneous four-wave mixing

We experimentally tailor the joint spectra of photon pairs produced via dual-pump spontaneous four-wave mixing, achieving a joint spectral intensity without side-lobes. This work presents a new route towards generating spectrally uncorrelated photon pairs.
Chapter 9 – Effort Estimation

In this part of the book Data Science for Software Engineering: Sharing Data and Models, we offer some tutorial notes on commonly used software engineering applications of data mining, along with some tutorial material on data mining algorithms. Covered topics of SE problems include effort estimation and defect prediction. Covered aspects of data mining include discretization, column pruning (also known as feature selection), row pruning, clustering, contrast set learning, decision learning, and learning for continuous classes.
An Integrated Model of Magnetic Hysteresis, the Magnetomechanical Effect, and the Barkhausen Effect

This article reviews the ferromagnetic hysteresis, magnetomechanical, and Barkhausen properties of magnetic materials and presents an integrated model to describe these effects and the underlying mechanisms that cause these effects. Hysteretic properties of ferromagnets, such as permeability, coercivity, remanence, and hysteresis loss are known to be sensitive to external factors including applied stress, temperature, and heat treatment, and internal factors like residual strain, microstructure, grain size, and anisotropy and the presence of precipitates of a second phase, such as iron carbide in steels. It thus becomes imperative to characterize the effect of these factors on the hysteresis parameters. Currently, several models such as Preisach, Stoner–Wohlfarth, and Jiles–Atherton are used to describe the magnetic hysteresis of ferromagnetic materials. We review here the quasistatic Jiles–Atherton hysteresis model which describes hysteresis in terms of domain wall motion enabling a connection to be made to the physical response of the magnetic material. This model has been extended to include the magnetomechanical effect and the Barkhausen effect in ferromagnetic materials. Theoretical work presented here provides a conceptual framework linking together these magnetic property measurements with model parameters and to the structure of the material.
Comparison of Twin Row and 30-in. Row Corn

Introduction Producers continue to plant corn at higher plant populations each year with the introduction of more stress-tolerant hybrids. As row width stays the same, plants are growing closer together, which leads to more competition among plants. Planting corn in narrower rows allows more equidistant spacing of plants and less competition. Switching to narrow rows (15 or 20 in. rows) requires additional equipment to spray and harvest. Planting corn in twin rows that are spaced eight inches apart and centered on 30-in. rows is one system that allows more equidistant spacing and would not require changes in spraying or harvesting equipment. A study comparing twin rows to single 30-in. rows at various populations was conducted in 2010 at the Northwest Research Farm.
Frailty is Associated with Subsequent Development of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction Following Lung Transplantation

Purpose Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) is a commonly recognized cause of death after lung transplantation. Frailty is a state of low physiologic reserve that frequently develops after lung transplantation, independent of allograft function. It is associated with increased risks of post-transplant readmission and mortality. Systemic inflammation is thought to be a potential cause of frailty and may contribute to development of CLAD. In this analysis, we hypothesized that the development of frailty after transplant may be associated with later development of CLAD. Methods In 259 lung transplant recipients, we measured frailty using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months after lung transplantation. Frailty was evaluated as a binary (SPPB ≤ 9) and continuous (1-point incremental worsening in SPPB) predictor (minimal clinically important difference = 1 point). The date of CLAD Grade 1 development was abstracted from our research database. Cox proportional hazards models were used to test the association between post-transplant frailty as a time-varying predictor and development of CLAD. Analyses were adjusted for pre-operative age, sex, race, diagnosis, and body mass index (BMI) measured at each visit. Results In post-transplant follow-up, 115 patients (44%) were frail (SPPB ≤ 9); 129 patients (49%) ever demonstrated at least a 1-point worsening in SPPB. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, frailty was associated with an increased risk of later developing CLAD. Frailty (SPPB ≤ 9) was associated with a 1.65-fold adjusted increased risk of CLAD. Further, one-point worsening in SPPB score was associated with a 1.08-fold increased risk of CLAD (Table). Conclusion Frailty is associated with increased subsequent risk of developing chronic lung allograft dysfunction following lung transplantation. Future studies should investigate mechanistic links between development of frailty post-transplant and subsequent risk of CLAD.
Availability of Specific Direct Oral Anticoagulant Reversal Agents in US Hospitals.

This cross-sectional study assesses the availability of the direct oral anticoagulant reversal agents idarucizumab and andexanet alfa in US hospitals.
Performance Evaluation of a Novel High Voltage Monolithically Integrated SiC MOSFET-DIODE for Solar String Inverters

There has been an increase in large-scale solar power plants around the world. Most large-scale solar power plants operate at a DC bus voltage of 1000Vor less. It has been shown in current literature that an increase in DC bus voltage enhances the performance of the solar string inverters. The commercially available Si-based string inverters use complex multi-level inverter topologies to reduce the filtering requirements, eliminating the high-frequency operation of SiC MOSFETs. But SiC MOSFETs are associated with reverse recovery losses owed to its body diode. A novel device namely, Integrated MOSFET-DIODE was developed to eliminate this loss, where the reverse conduction is through a SiC diode rather than the MOSFET’s body diode. This paper demonstrates the advantages of a novel Integrated MOSFET-DIODE over Si devices and SiC MOSFETs in applying solar string inverters.
The Irrationality of Greed

In this paper, I argue that greed is distinguished from self-interest by its irrationality. According to the psychological literature, greed is best understood as a desire for more and more of some resource, coupled with constant dissatisfaction resulting from the feeling of never having enough of that resource. From this, we get greed’s deep irrationality; the greedy person has a desire that can never be satisfied, and in acting greedily they repeatedly set out to do the impossible. On the other hand, we take rationality to be a constitutive part of truly self-interested behavior. Thus, arguments forwarding the idea that “greed is good” either equivocate between greed and self-interest or make untenable claims about greed. So, this paper has two main upshots: we now have a morally-neutral distinction between greed and self-interest, and a reason to reject pro-greed arguments.
BURKITT LYMPHOMA PRESENTING WITH EYE AND KIDNEY INVOLVEMENT: CASE REPORT

Case report Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive form of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It may present with a variety of symptoms leading to possible misdiagnosis and delay in treatment. BL is fatal if left untreated, and early diagnosis and treatment can improve prognosis. In this case report, a 3.5-year-old male patient with no known disease had left eyelid swelling and hematuria, and orbital magnetic resonance imaging performed after his admission showed contrast enhancement in the bulbus oculi, and increased uptake in both kidneys (suvmax:9.5) in positron emission tomography. The patient's bone marrow aspiration was normal. There was no involvement in the evaluation of the central nervous system. As a result of kidney biopsy, he was diagnosed with high-grade B-cell lymphoproliferative disease (Ki-67 95-100%, diffuse positivity with CD79a and EBV). Burkitt lymphoma. The treatment of the patient was started in the NHL-BFM 2012 R4 arm. At the end of the treatment, the ocular findings regressed. Burkitt lymphoma may present with different clinical presentations. If appropriate and rapid imaging techniques are used, positive results on survival can be obtained. Our patient is being followed up alive and well.
Overall Regulation of Calcium Transport in Muscle

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses calcium transport systems and associated regulatory systems in cardiac muscle cells and the smooth muscle cell. It also illustrates the overall system by schematic and generalized figures. The skeletal muscle cell provides an excellent system for the study of the basal level of Ca 2+ transport systems with few specific regulatory mechanisms. The regulation of calcium occurs at two membranous sites––the sarcolemma and the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and, to a lesser extent, at the mitochondrial inner membrane level. The chapter also discusses two hypotheses of the mechanism of calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum: the calcium-induced calcium release and the depolarization-induced calcium release. In pathological states, such as ischemia and anoxia, there are increased cytosolic calcium levels. The increased cytosolic calcium leads to several modifications of cell function, such as shape changes, activation of lipases and proteases, and formation of various deleterious metabolites, such as fatty acids and lysophosphatides; however, which mechanism causes the cell injury and when cell injury becomes irreversible are still to be answered. Thus, the understanding of the basic and molecular interactions and mechanisms involved in the calcium transport in the skeletal muscle serves as the basis for studying the regulation of calcium transport in the cardiac and smooth muscle cells.
A poker-game-based feedback suppression algorithm for satellite reliable multicast

As in terrestrial reliable multicasting, feedback implosion is a major problem in satellite multicast. The feedback implosion occurs when a large number of receivers sends their feedback to the satellite. A poker-game-based feedback suppression (PFS) algorithm is proposed for scalable satellite reliable multicast protocols. An analytical model is provided for the feedback suppression performance of the PFS scheme. This model is validated by simulation results. Numerical examples show that feedback can be effectively suppressed by introducing the PFS algorithm.
Introduction to Chemical Transport in the Environment

Prologue 1. The global perspective on environmental transport and fate 2. The diffusion equation 3. Diffusion coefficients 4. Mass, heat, and momentum transport analogies 5. Turbulent diffusion 6. Reactor mixing assumptions 7. Computational mass transport 8. Interfacial mass transfer 9. Air-water mass transfer in the field Appendices References.
Determining Lectin Specificity from Glycan Array Data Using Motif Segregation and GlycoSearch Software

The glycan array is a powerful tool for investigating the specificities of glycan-binding proteins. By incubating a glycan-binding protein on a glycan array, the relative binding to hundreds of different oligosaccharides can be quantified in parallel. Based on these data, much information can be obtained about the preference of a glycan-binding protein for specific subcomponents of oligosaccharides, or motifs. In many cases the analysis and interpretation of glycan array data can be time consuming and imprecise if done manually. Recently we developed software, called GlycoSearch, to facilitate the analysis and interpretation of glycan array data based on previously developed methods called Motif Segregation and Outlier Motif Analysis. Here we describe the principles behind the method and the use of this new tool for mining glycan array data. The automated, objective, and precise analysis of glycan array data should enhance the value of the data for a broad range of research applications.
Nondestructive characterization of lattice block material

Lattice Block Material™ (LBM™) is the name given to a new class of materials that makes use of the well-understood principles of trusses and space frames to create a variety of components having high strength to weight ratios. Differences in product design, materials selection, and manufacturing process, however, can lead to uncertainty as to the overall performance of a given end product. For this reason, a variety of nondestructive methods were utilized to characterize LBM™ for potential Navy applications, including, visual inspection, x-ray radiography, x-ray computed tomography, and infrared thermography.
Immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic disease presenting as uveitis

This report documents a 47-year-old man who presented with back pain, uveitis and an elevated Westergren sedimentation rate. On biopsy, a paraspinal lesion showed a nonspecific chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate. The eye symptoms, after initially responding to immunosuppressive therapy, worsened and progressed to pain, resulting in an extirpation of the right eye. The histopathology of the excised eye showed an inflammatory pseudotumor marked by a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, areas of fibrosis, rare evidence of obliterative phlebitis and, focally, over 20 Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-positive staining cells per high power microscopic field. IgG4-related ophthalmic disease is a relatively rare inflammatory lesion involving the eye and periorbital region. It is defined by a marked lymphoplasmacytic cell infiltrate, fibrosis obliterative phlebitis and increased IgG4 immunostaining (at least 10 cells per high power microscopic field in excised tissue). The entity is not unique to the eye, and has been described in other organs including the brain, endocrine organs, liver and kidney. The clinical presentation is often related to the location of the inflammatory infiltrates, and treatment involves the use of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents. It is important to recognize IgG4-related ophthalmic disease because the condition appears to put patients at increased risk of developing lymphoma.
Identification and developmental expression of Xenopus laevis SUMO proteases.

SUMO proteins are small ubiquitin-related modifiers. All SUMOs are synthesized as propeptides that are post-translationally cleaved prior to conjugation. After processing, SUMOs become covalently conjugated to cellular targets through a pathway that is similar to ubiquitination. Ubiquitin like protein proteases/Sentrin specific proteases (Ulp/SENPs) mediate both processing and deconjugation of SUMOs. The action of Ulp/SENPs makes SUMOylation a highly dynamic post-translational modification. To investigate how Ulp/SENPs are regulated in a developmental context, we isolated and characterized all Ulp/SENPs in Xenopus laevis. Xenopus possess homologues of mammalian SENP3, 5, 6 and 7. All of these enzymes reacted with HA-tagged vinyl sulfone derivatives of SUMO-2 (HA-SU2-VS) but not SUMO-1 (HA-SU1-VS), suggesting that they act primarily on SUMO-2 and -3. In contrast, Xenopus possess a single member of the SENP1/SENP2 subfamily of Ulp/SENPs, most closely related to mammalian SENP1. Xenopus SENP1 reacted with HA-SU1-VS and HA-SU2-VS, suggesting that it acts on all SUMO paralogues. We analyzed the mRNA and protein levels for each of the Ulp/SENPs through development; we found that they show distinct patterns of expression that may involve both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. Finally, we have characterized the developmental function of the most abundant Ulp/SENP found within Xenopus eggs, SENP3. Depletion of SENP3 using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides (morpholinos) caused accumulation of high molecular weight SUMO-2/3 conjugated species, defects in developing embryos and changes in the expression of some genes regulated by the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathway. These findings collectively indicate that SUMO proteases are both highly regulated and essential for normal development.