cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient range query processing on uncertain data

Uncertain data has emerged as a key data type in many applications. New and efficient query processing techniques need to be developed due to the inherent complexity of this new type of data. In this paper, we investigate a special type of query, range queries, on uncertain data. We propose a threshold interval indexing structure that aims to balance different time consuming factors to achieve an optimal overall query performance. Experimental results are presented to justify the efficiency of the proposed query processing technique.
The presence of discrete receptors for prostaglandin F2α in the cell membranes of bovine corpora lutea

Abstract The cell membranes isolated from bovine corpora lutea bound 3H-prostaglandin (PG) F2α with high affinity and specificity. The specific binding of 3H-PGF2α was detectable at 10−10M added 3H-PGF2α and reached saturation at 10−7M to 10−6M. Unlabeled PGF2α, as low as 10−9M, inhibited the binding of 3H-PGF2α with complete inhibition occurring at 10−6M. The Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding data revealed that the PGF2α receptors are heterogeneous: Kd1−5.1 × 10−9M, n−289 fmoles/mg protein; Kd2−1.8 × 10−8M, n−780 fmoles/mg protein. The relative affinities of various other PGs for binding to PGF2α receptors were (PGF2α−100%): PGF1α−17.5; PGE1−0.8; PGE2−22.4; PGA1−0.007; PGB1−0.01. The specificity and affinity of 3H-PGF2α binding is consistent with the possibility that this receptor interaction may reflect an initial event in the action of PGF2α as a luteolytic agent.
User investment and behavior policing on 4chan

In this paper I explore the posting habits of anonymous users of the “Sports” (/sp/) board of the infamous American imageboard 4chan. Through qualitative analysis of the content of various posts, I argue that, contrary to the purported ideology and discourse of anonymity associated with controversial, anonymous online spaces like 4chan, users of the site are in fact highly invested in delimiting and policing the borders of what counts as “acceptable” posting behavior within the community, and are also eager to defend themselves from accusations of unfamiliarity with the mores of the community’s subcultural practices. These findings are remarkable given that anonymous users gain no consistent reputation among their fellow users by taking part in these practices and have nothing to risk in terms of community prestige. I conclude that member registration and expression of a virtual embodied identity are not required for inspiring investment of user energy in preserving and enforcing the boundaries and culture of a virtual community, and that anonymous spaces like 4chan actually have more in common with communities that depend on persistent user identity than they care to admit.
Taxi data in New York city: A network perspective

We work with the "NYC Taxi Data Set," a historical repository of 750 million rides of taxi medallions over a period of four years (2010–2013). This data set provides rich (batch) information on the movements in an urban network as its citizens go about their daily life. We present a spectral analysis of taxi movement based on the graph Fourier transform, which necessitates the spectral decomposition of a large directed, sparse matrix. Important considerations toward handling this matrix are discussed. Preliminary results show that our method allows us to pinpoint locations of co-behavior for traffic in the Manhattan road network.
Experience Affects Oviposition in Goniozus nigrifemur (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae)

Ovipositional responses of Goniozus nigrifemur Ashmead to different sizes of larvae of Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) were investigated. These studies showed that parasitoids exhibit a 5.5-d preoviposition period and adjust the number of eggs they oviposit on a host in response to host size. Female parasitoids previously presented with hosts oviposit sooner on their new hosts than females of the same age that have not been previously presented with hosts. Females that have been previously exposed to hosts also oviposit more eggs on their new hosts than females not previously exposed to hosts. Female parasitoids previously exposed to large hosts require less time to oviposit on their new hosts compared with females exposed to small hosts previously. Dissections of the ovaries of parasitoids suggest that oogenesis is influenced by a female’s previous host encounter. Neonate females possess no eggs within their ovarioles.
Mating and Fecundity in Malathion-Resistant and Susceptible Strains of the Indian Meal Moth, Plodia interpunctella

Crosses within and between malathion-resistant and susceptible strains of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), were compared for copulation time and fecundity. Among interstrain pairs with females of a smaller nonresistant strain, resistant males mated more rapidly than a strain of nonresistant males. Resistant males apparently stimulated greater fecundity of nonresistant females. Greater fecundity of resistant females may have resulted from larger size and less inbreeding effect compared with nonresistant females. Mean fecundity from interstrain crosses exceeded values for parental strains, while variance in eggs per female was lowest in later intra-F1 and inter-F1 crosses. Since reproductive parameters may be influenced either negatively or positively by pesticide stress, biological correlates of resistance should be evaluated for strains to be used in strategies of genetic control.
Onset of Misfit Dislocation Generation in As-Grown and Annealed Sil-XGex/Si Films

X-ray topography and transmission electron microscopy were used to quantify misfit-dislocation spacings in as-grown Si1-xGex films formed by Limited Reaction Processing (LRP), which is a chemical vapor deposition technique. These analysis techniques were also used to study dislocation formation during annealing of material grown by both LRP and by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The thickness at which misfit dislocations first appear in as-grown material was similar for both growth techniques. The thermal stability of capped and uncapped films was also investigated after rapid thermal annealing in the range of 625 to 1000°C. Significantly fewer misfit dislocations were observed in samples containing an epitaxial silicon cap. Some differences in the number of misfit dislocation generated in CVD and MBE films were observed after annealing uncapped layers at temperatures between 625 and 825°C.
Alzheimer’s disease: current and future therapy

This special focus issue is guest-edited by Diane Stephenson who is the Executive Director of the Coalition Against Major Diseases at the Critical Path Institute, Arizona, USA. Diane is a neuroscie...
Resistance stability and coadaptation in diazinon-resistant house flies (Diptera: Muscidae).

The mean frequency (±SD) of the diazinon resistance allele in Musca domestica L. recently collected from the field in Mississippi was 0.265 ± 0.051. Estimates of reproductive potential (fecundity and developmental time) indicated no differences between resistant and susceptible strains of house flies isolated directly from the field. A backcrossing scheme was used to isolate the resistance allele in a susceptible genetic background. The RR genotype was not at a significant disadvantage compared to the SS genotype, even in the apparent absence of fitness modifiers. Therefore, coadaptation of resistance and fitness does not appear to be important in these populations.
Oscillations of a ferrofluid column undergoing rotation

The liquid column (liquid bridge) configuration has been employed in a number of studies pertaining to capillary fluids in a microgravity environment. Investigations have focused both on equilibrium shapes and liquid column static stability and on liquid bridge dynamics. Earlier work on finite length column oscillations had determined the frequencies in the case of the slender column limit. In none of these investigations was column rotation present. Ferrofluids were developed in the 1960s; such fluids consist of small magnetic particles dispersed throughout a carrier fluid (water or organic fluids). The particles are 10s to 100s of microns in size, and do not settle out of the fluid. Ferrofluids exhibit a (large) response to an imposed magnetic field, and have found use in various terrestrial applications such as seals and bearings. In the case of an isothermal fluid, the magnetic behavior enters via an influence at a free surface or interface. The introduction of ferrofiuids into microgravity applications would allow for greater manipulation and control of fluids in the space environment. The present work addresses the question of the oscillation frequencies of a rotating column of ferrofluid, where the undisturbed column is cylindrical in shape and infinite in length. (Author)
A phylogenetic analysis and classification of recent dabbling ducks (Tribe anatini) based on comparative morphology

ABSTP, Act.--Cladistic analysis of 157 characters of definitive plumages and soft parts, natal plumages, tracheae, and nontracheal skeletons of 59 Anatini (sensu Livezey 1986) provided a phylogenetic hypothesis of high consistency (C! = 0.71, excluding unique autapomorphies) and resolution (tree completely resolved except for two nested trichotomies, a trichotomy within the northern-hemisphere mallards, and the tentative placements of two poorly known species of Anas). Major phylogenetic inferences (lists of three or more taxa are in order of increasing relatedness) include the following: (1) monophyly of the tribe is weakly demonstrated; (2) the tribe comprises three subtribes--Cairineae (Cairina, Pteronetta, Aix), Nettapodeae (Chenonetta, Nettapus), and Anateae (all other genera); (3) subtribe Anateae comprises three "supergenera" (each comprising two genera)--Amazonetta (A. brasiliensis and Callonetta leucophrys), Lophonetta (L. specularioides and Speculanas specularis), and Anas (genera Mareca and Anas); (4) the genus Mareca or wigeons includes ix species--capensis, trepera, falcata, sibilatrix, penelope, and americana; nd (5) the large genus Anas comprises two weakly supported subgroups or cohorts, the first of which includes two subgenera (mallards [Anas] and blue-winged ducks [Spatula]) and the second includes four subgenera (Australasian teal [Nesonetta], pintails [Dafila], Holarctic teal [Querquedula], nd spotted teal [Punanetta]). Other findings include that a sister-relationship exists between Anas sparsa nd other mallards, that subgroups of the "true" mallards are largely congruent with biogeographic subdivisions (northern-hemispheric, African, and South Pacific), that the four species of shoveler are monophyletic, that a sister-relationship between the speckled teals (fiavirostris and andium) and brown pintails (georgica, acuta, and eatoni) exists, and that A. querquedula is the sister-group to the greenwinged teals (formosa, crecca, and carolinensis) and not closely related to the blue-winged ducks. Supplementary data and related theory indicated that (1) interspecific interfertility is a poor indicator of relationship, (2) the phylogenetic species concept provided the most practical definition of terminal taxa, (3) a majority of groups within the Anatini originated in the southern hemisphere, (4) body size, sexual size dimorphism, and egg size are strongly constrained phylogenetically, whereas sexual dichromatism and clutch size are less predictable, (5) biparental attendance of broods is primitive within Anatini, and (6) characters of definitive plumages, natal plumages, tracheae, and skeletons had similar consistencies but attained maximal utility at different levels within the phylogeny, which indicates different rates of character evolution within the tribe. Received 19 July 1990, accepted 4 December 1990.
Spatial-temporal evolution of fine particles concentration in Beijing City during 2007~2012

To reflect the spatial-temporal evolution of fine particles concentration in Beijing city in recent years,particulate matter of 0~0.3μm,0.3~0.5μm and 0.5~1.0μm in heating period and non-heating period during 2007~2012 were measured using MODEL 3886GEO-α Handy Laser Particle Counter,then geo-statistical analysis about them was conducted.And spatial analytical method was used to study their distribution pattern.The results showed that value of PM0.3 in heating period was greater than its concentration in non-heating period,while this law was not obvious for the values of PM0.3~0.5 and PM0.5~1.0 in these two different periods.In heating period,the concentration difference of fine particles on different underlyings was obvious,while underlying surface types had relatively weak impact on the concentration of fine particles in non-heating period.The highest concentration values of particulate during non-heating period existed in Fengtai District and Chaoyang District,which were respectively in the south and east of Beijing,followed by the city center.While the pollution in Shijingshan Dstrict in the west and Haidian District in the north was relatively lighter.In heating period,the air particulate pollution of Beijing city was mainly concentrated in the east and southeast of Chaoyang District,as well as the city center and its surrounding area.
Electrolytes, environment and blood pressure.

1. Studies to explain a significant socioeconomic and rural-urban blood pressure gradient found in central Mississippi are reported. 2. 24 h sodium excretion alone fails to explain the differences found, and fails to correlate with blood pressure. 3. A single 24 h determination of electrolyte excretion correlates modestly with the mean of 6 days9 collection. Three days9 collection and blood pressure determination is a reasonable compromise. 4. The urinary Na/Ca ratio is significantly higher in specimens from rural black girls compared with urban girls, and significantly higher in specimens from those with systolic pressure > 125 mmHg compared with those with 5. The urinary Na/K ratio of black girls was significantly higher than that of white girls of the same age, as was their blood pressure. 6. No correlation between blood pressure and urinary electrolytes could be found in black women aged between 35 and 45.
Renal failure owing to oxalate nephrosis after jejunoileal bypass.

AbstractOxalate nephrosis resulted in progressive renal failure in 4 patients after jejunoileal bypass for morbid obesity. In general, increased levels of oxalates in the blood and urine of such patients result from enhanced absorption of exogenous oxalates. Urinary calculous formation is determined further by concomitant deficiency of inhibitor substances, whereas oxalate nephrosis probably occurs as a result of oxalate deposition in renal interstitium via the blood stream. Clinical manifestations of oxalate nephrosis include pain, infection, hematuria and renal failure. Routine postoperative renal function studies and early renal biopsy in suspicious cases are urged to establish early diagnosis. Continued deterioration of renal function, despite therapy with oxalate restriction and oxalate binding agents, indicates a reversal of the bypass to preserve unaffected renal substance.
A second‐order ensemble method based on a blended backward differentiation formula timestepping scheme for time‐dependent Navier–Stokes equations

We present a second-order ensemble method based on a blended three-step backward differentiation formula (BDF) timestepping scheme to compute an ensemble of Navier–Stokes equations. Compared with the only existing second-order ensemble method that combines the two-step BDF timestepping scheme and a special explicit second-order Adams–Bashforth treatment of the advection term, this method is more accurate with nominal increase in computational cost. We give comprehensive stability and error analysis for the method. Numerical examples are also provided to verify theoretical results and demonstrate the improved accuracy of the method. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 34–61, 2017
Microfilariae of Brugia malayi Inhibit the mTOR Pathway and Induce Autophagy in Human Dendritic Cells

Immune modulation is a hallmark of patent filarial infection, including suppression of antigen-presenting cell function and downmodulation of filarial antigen-specific T cell responses. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway has been implicated in immune regulation, not only by suppressing T cell responses but also by regulating autophagy (through mTOR sensing amino acid availability). Global proteomic analysis (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) of microfilaria (mf)-exposed monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) indicated that multiple components of the mTOR signaling pathway, including mTOR, eIF4A, and eIF4E, are downregulated by mf, suggesting that mf target this pathway for immune modulation in DC. Utilizing Western blot analysis, we demonstrate that similar to rapamycin (a known mTOR inhibitor), mf downregulate the phosphorylation of mTOR and its regulatory proteins, p70S6K1 and 4E-BP1, a process essential for DC protein synthesis. As active mTOR signaling regulates autophagy, we examined whether mf exposure alters autophagy-associated processes. mf-induced autophagy was reflected in marked upregulation of phosphorylated Beclin 1, known to play an important role in both autophagosome formation and autolysosome fusion, in induction of LC3II, a marker of autophagosome formation, and in induced degradation of p62, a ubiquitin-binding protein that aggregates protein in autophagosomes and is degraded upon autophagy that was reduced significantly by mf exposure and by rapamycin. Together, these results suggest that Brugia malayi mf employ mechanisms of metabolic modulation in DC to influence the regulation of the host immune response by downregulating mTOR signaling, resulting in increased autophagy. Whether this is a result of the parasite-secreted rapamycin homolog is currently under study.
Enhanced surface hardness in nitrogen-implanted silicon carbide

Abstract Preliminary studies have been performed on the feasibility of carbon-silicon nitride formation (β-Si1.5C1.5N4, the homologue of equilibrium β-Si3N4 or hypothetical β-C3N4) by high dose N+-implantation into polycrystalline β-SiC (cubic). Thin films were formed using 100 keV implantations with varying ion doses in the range from 1.1 × 1017 to 27.1 × 1017 N/cm2, and target temperatures between −196°C and 980°C. X-ray diffraction with a position-sensitive detector and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy revealed that the as-implanted surfaces (up to 860°C) contained ∼0.1 μm thick buried amorphous layers. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy showed that the peak concentration of nitrogen saturated up to approximately 54 at.% with increasing doses, suggesting formation of a new phase. Implantation to doses of 1.1 × 1017 and 2.3 × 1017 N/cm2 at 980°C caused enhanced surface hardness compared to SiC.
The double-edged sword of diversity: Toward a dual pathway model

Williams and O'Reilly (1998) published a seminal review of diversity research that has become a classic resource for researchers and practitioners alike. In the current review, we update the theoretical record by discussing traditional views of, as well as recent developments to, the 3 prominent frameworks used to understand diversity: social categorization, similarity-attraction, and information and decision-making. Furthermore, we propose a dual pathway model of diversity's effects that integrates all 3 frameworks. In our model, both positive and detrimental effects of diversity stem from processes of social categorization. Whereas these processes disrupt group functioning when intergroup bias is activated, when bias is not activated, we propose that social categorization and reduced attraction to dissimilar others will allow individuals in diverse rather than homogeneous groups to focus more on the task, anticipate differences in task-relevant opinions and perspectives, and engage in more effortful information processing. Finding the balance is key.
Public relations and zones of engagement: Employees’ lived experiences and the fundamental nature of employee engagement

Abstract While employee engagement has been primarily explored within the business, human resources and management disciplines, public relations research has more recently taken an interest in furthering its understanding and acknowledging how public relations can serve an organization’s internal communication as a foundational component of the field. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how public relations can serve an organization’s internal communication by better understanding how employees perceive and experience engagement. Following a phenomenological methodology (n = 32), this study utilized zones of meaning as a conceptual foundation (not a literal interpretation) to examine the process related to the complex, shifting and shared meaning of zones of engagement and how zones of meaning are products as well as drivers of engagement, which offer a new way to conceptualize employee engagement in public relations, shifting to a deeper comprehension and understanding. The findings show that employee experiences align more to Kahn’s (1990) initial personal engagement model than other public relations models. The psychological conditions of meaningfulness and safety from the original employee engagement model emerged as important factors in defining the employees’ shared-meaning lived experiences. In addition, this study offers a new definition of disengagement, which is similar but unique to the scholarship on negative engagement. The findings provide a framework for public relations scholars who work to further refine the understanding of employee engagement and for practitioners who develop public relations strategies for internal audiences, and advances the conceptual foundation of zones of meaning in public relations scholarship.
Comparative transcriptomics and genomic patterns of discordance in Capsiceae (Solanaceae)

The integration of genomics and phylogenetics allows new insight into the structure of gene tree discordance, the relationships among gene position, gene history, and rate of evolution, as well as the correspondence of gene function, positive selection, and gene ontology enrichment across lineages. We explore these issues using the tribe Capsiceae (Solanaceae), which is comprised of the genera Lycianthes and Capsicum (peppers). In combining the annotated genomes of Capsicum with newly sequenced transcriptomes of four species of Lycianthes and Capsicum, we develop phylogenies for 6747 genes, and construct a backbone species tree using both concordance and explicit phylogenetic network approaches. We quantify phylogenetic discordance among individual gene trees, measure their rates of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution, and test whether they were positively selected along any branch of the phylogeny. We then map these genes onto the annotated Capsicum genome and test whether rates of evolution, gene history, and gene ontology vary significantly with gene position. We observed substantial discordance among gene trees. A bifurcating species tree placing Capsicum within a paraphyletic Lycianthes was supported over all phylogenetic networks. Rates of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution varied 41-fold and 130-fold among genes, respectively, and were significantly lower in pericentromeric regions. We found that results of concordance tree analyses vary depending on the subset of genes used, and that genes within the pericentromeric regions only capture a portion of the observed discordance. We identified 787 genes that have been positively selected throughout the diversification history of Capsiceae, and discuss the importance of these genes as targets for investigation of economically important traits in the domesticated peppers.
Effects of Risk-Based Firearm Seizure Laws in Connecticut and Indiana on Suicide Rates, 1981-2015.

Objective:This study evaluated whether risk-based firearm seizure laws in Connecticut and Indiana affect suicide rates.Methods:A quasi-experimental design using annual state-level panel data from t...
Detection of bacteria-microtubule interactions in a cell-free extract

Host cell microtubules, or its primary constituent tubulin, participate in the cell-to-cell spread of some pathogenic bacteria. A cell-free method was devised for study of the interaction between these invasive bacteria and microtubules. The basis of the assay is a cytosolic extract of KB oral epithelial cells lysed by osmotic swelling and mechanical shearing. This technique is used in immunofluorscence micrography for visualization and an ELISA ideal for the screening of mutants deficient in the interaction.
Friendship and transcendence

ships of virtue. Even a modicum of the virtue required for true friendship may be more than many are willing to pursue. Of course, people may say they want true friendship more than any other good, but what they apparently want are the useful things Bacon speaks of in his essay on friendship: the company, help, and sympathy of others; such is a far cry, however, from what Aristotle required of a friendship of virtue. Friendships of virtue are rare and difficult to establish, and thus in one sense of the term they necessarily 'transcend' the ordinary. Our most generic issue, then, is to what extent does transcendence affect friendship. In Greek antiquity the problem took the form of what I shall call the 'problem of self-sufficiency.' In later times, the two central components of classical friendship - equality and self-sufficiency - seem to be altered or undermined by new understandings of transcendence. We will consider classical, shall we say for convenience 'Aristotelian', friendships to be paradigmatic. We do so not simply from reasons of temporal priority but for other reasons as well. The most obvious of these reasons is that everyone else, in one way or another, is responding to Aristotle's work on this subject. More importantly, friendship, as understood by
Refined Wave Theories of Plates and Shells

The paper is devoted to construction of refined hyperbolic models of plates and shells predicting the wave propagation with the finite velocities unlike the classical Kirchhoff plate theory and Kirchhoff-Love shell theory and other known modifications of parabolic type. It is shown that these refined models can be obtained as mathematical approximations of the original hyperbolic model of elastodynamics without introducing some additional corrections of physical kind unlike widely used refined phenomenological theories of Timoshenko-Mindlin plates (1951), Herrmann-Mirsky, Lin-Morgan, Naghdi-Cooper shells (1956) and others. From the point of view of the spectral theory, any theories of plates and shells are of approximate kind and, as a result, deal with a finite number of eigenvalues and wave modes instead of infinite numbers of eigenvalues corresponding to exact elastodynamic problem.
Young's modulus and vibrational damping of sintered silicon carbide ceramics at high temperatures

Silicon carbide-based advanced ceramics have good strength, high thermal conductivity, and good creep and environmental resistance at high temperatures [1]. These attractive thermomechanical properties have made them widely used ceramic material for a number of applications in aeronautics, energy, electronics, nuclear, and transportation industries. In the aeronautical arena, these materials are being considered for applications in jet engine components. Applications in the energy industries include radiant heater tubes, heat exchangers, heat recuperators, and components for land based turbines for power generation. These materials are also being considered for use in the first wall and blanket components of fusion reactors, in furnace linings, and bricks, and in components for diffusion furniture (boats, tubes) in the microelectronics industry. There are a number of critical issues related to the use of these materials. For a number of engineering applications, high temperature elastic modulus and damping behavior becomes very important. In earlier publications, dynamic Young’s modulus and damping behavior of a wide variety of reaction bonded and reaction formed silicon carbide ceramics have been reported [2–6]. The aim of the present work is to characterize the elastic modulus and vibrational damping behavior of a sintered silicon carbide (Hexoloy-SA; Carborundum Co., Niagra Falls, NY) material. These materials were fabricated by the pressureless sintering of alpha SiC powders with boron carbide or aluminum carbide as sintering aids. For the modulus and damping measurements, bend bars were machined from the as-supplied plates. These bars had dimensions of 50 mm× 4 mm× 3 mm. The dynamic Young’s modulus and vibrational damping were measured as a function of temperature. The vibrational damping was measured as Q−1, where: Q−1= energy dissipated per cycle 2π∗(maximum energy stored per cycle)
Reconciling Laughter: Hegel on Comedy and Humor

Hegel’s philosophical system turns to a species of the laughable at three critical junctures of his dialectic: comedy appears both at the conclusion of classical art and of Hegel’s discussion of poetry, and romantic art ends with humor. But we misunderstand these transitional moments unless we recognize that Hegel did not use comedy and humor synonymously. Comedy refers to a dramatic genre with a 2000-year-old history; humor was a relatively recent aesthetic phenomenon that had become central to philosophizing about art in Hegel’s generation. Hegel also differentiated between subjective humor, which he associated with the novelist Jean Paul’s eccentric excesses, and objective humor. Focusing on the surprising examples Hegel offers of objective humor— from epigrams to Persian poetry to the obscure novels of T.G. von Hippel—I argue that we better understand Hegel’s “end of art” thesis by tracing ways both comedy and humor can end. By understanding those endings, we also come closer to imagining how art can continue.
Research of Influence of Garton Effect on the Measurement Values of Dielectric Loss of Capacitor Voltage Transformer

The influence of Garton effect on the measurement values of dielectric loss of capacitor voltage transformer (CVT) is lack of systematic research and understanding. The Garton effect in insulation theory was expounded. Using a CVT with Garton effect, the values of dielectric loss were measured before and after the lightning impulse test and the short-time running voltage test respectively. Through the analysis of the values, the law of the influence of Garton effect on the measurement values of dielectric loss of CVT is mastered. And the methods and treatment recommendations were put forward to judge if Garton effect occurs in field tests of CVT, which provides a reference for the accurate discrimination of CVT insulation condition.
Biochemical reconstitution of UV-induced mutational processes

We reconstituted two biochemical processes that may contribute to UV-induced mutagenesis in vitro and analysed the mutational profiles in the products. One process is translesion synthesis (TLS) by DNA polymerases (Pol) δ, η and ζ, which creates C>T transitions at pyrimidine dimers by incorporating two dAMPs opposite of the dimers. The other process involves spontaneous deamination of cytosine, producing uracil in pyrimidine dimers, followed by monomerization of the dimers by secondary UV irradiation, and DNA synthesis by Pol δ. The mutational spectrum resulting from deamination without translesion synthesis is similar to a mutational signature found in melanomas, suggesting that cytosine deamination encountered by the replicative polymerase has a prominent role in melanoma development. However, CC>TT dinucleotide substitution, which is also commonly observed in melanomas, was produced almost exclusively by TLS. We propose that both TLS-dependent and deamination-dependent mutational processes are likely involved in UV-induced melanoma development.
Peppermint Oil to Improve Visualization in Screening Colonoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background Screening colonoscopy has been associated with reduced mortality from colorectal cancer by means of early detection and timely treatment. However, visualization during colonoscopy is often impaired since the colon is naturally prone to peristalsis and spasm. There is evidence to suggest benefit of topical peppermint oil in causing smooth muscle relaxation, thereby decreasing peristalsis. The aim of our study was to determine if peppermint oil helps reduce colonic spasticity so as to allow for better visualization during screening colonoscopy. Methods We performed a randomized controlled, double-blinded, clinical trial where patients undergoing screening colonoscopy were assigned to receive either peppermint oil or placebo. Once cecum was reached, 50 mL of either solution was directly injected via the working channel of the colonoscope. Colonic peristalsis, spasticity and bowel visibility were documented. Bowel preparation quality, withdrawal time and adenoma detection rate (ADR) were also assessed. Continuous variables were analyzed using t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test while categorical variables were compared using the two-way Chi-square test. Results Forty-eight patients were included, of whom 24 patients received peppermint oil and 24 received placebo. Mean Boston bowel preparation score (BBPS) was excellent for both groups (8 points vs. 7.9 points; P = 0.98). Both mean total colonoscopy time (17.8 min vs. 21.9 min; P = 0.07) and mean cecal intubation time (7.2 min vs. 10.3 min; P = 0.04) were shorter with peppermint oil as compared to placebo. Complete absence of bowel spasticity was observed among 58.3% patients in the peppermint oil group as compared to 45.8% patients in the placebo group (P = 0.05). More than 75% of bowel was visualized in 83% of patients in both groups (P = 0.56). Mean ADR was higher in the peppermint group as compared to the placebo group (45.8% vs. 37.5%; P = 0.56). Conclusion Our study suggests that topical peppermint oil reduces bowel wall spasticity, which could lead to better visualization of the bowel during screening colonoscopy. Although use of peppermint oil was associated with better ADRs, these results did not achieve statistical significance. Larger sample size and use of alternative methods of peppermint oil administration allowing for more absorption time may establish stronger results.
Mindfulness-based resilience training for aggression, stress and health in law enforcement officers: study protocol for a multisite, randomized, single-blind clinical feasibility trial

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) are exposed to significant stressors, elevating their risk for aggression and excessive use of force, as well as mental health consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder, burnout, alcohol misuse, depression, and suicide. Mindfulness training is a promising approach with high-stress populations that has been shown effective for increasing resilience and improving negative mental health outcomes common among LEOs. Implemented at two sites, the proposed study is designed to establish optimal protocols and procedures for a future full-scale, multisite trial assessing effects of mindfulness-based resilience training versus an attention control (stress management education) and a no-intervention control on physiological, behavioral, and psychological outcomes. To prepare for this future clinical trial, the current study is designed to: enhance efficiency of recruitment, engagement, and retention; optimize laboratory, assessment, and data management procedures; optimize intervention training and ensure fidelity to intervention protocols; and assess participant experience and optimize outcome measures across two sites. Herein, we describe the protocol and methodology of this multisite, randomized, single-blind clinical feasibility trial. The long-term objective of this line of research is to develop an intervention that will reduce violence and increase resilience and mental health among LEOs, as well as yield significant benefits for the communities and residents they serve. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03784846. Registered on 24 December 2018.
Processing, mechanical characterization, and micrography of 3D-printed short carbon fiber reinforced polycarbonate polymer matrix composite material

The objective of this research is to perform the processing and mechanical characterization on 3D-printed high-temperature polymer (polycarbonate) reinforced with short carbon fiber (SCF) composite material fabricated with the help of fused filament fabrication process. For this study, different SCF volume fractions (3%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%) with varying printing speed (25, 50, 75 mm/s) are taken as the input variables. It was observed that tensile, flexural, compressive properties and micro-hardness were greatly affected by varying the input processing parameters. To find the orthotropic properties of 3D-printed specimens, tensile properties are analyzed on 0° in the X-Y plane, 90° in the X-Y plane, and 90° in Z-axis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is performed to study the effect of fiber breakage, fiber distribution, fiber accumulation, and fiber length on the mechanical performance of the final part. After performing mechanical testing, investigation of microstructural behavior of tensile, flexural, and compressive samples is accomplished using SEM. From the micrograph analysis and mechanical testing, it was noticed that fiber behavior inside the composite has created a great influence in deciding the mechanical performance of the final part. Micromechanics and classical lamination theory phenomena are followed to determine the effective young’s modulus of 3D-printed samples mathematically. Printing direction and reinforcement percentage are found out to be the most influential parameters in deciding the final properties of 3D-printed specimens by using the statistical tool ANOVA. Response surface methodology is used to determine the optimum parameters to get good-quality print with SCF-reinforced PC.
Scattering from ECRF waves

There has heen considerable progress made in the heating of tokamak and mirror plasmas in the electron cyclotron range of frequencies (ECRF) due to the recent availability of high power millimeter wave gyrotrons. Both O-mode and X-mode heating studies have been performed using, outside and inside wave launching structures.(1,2) In Doublet-III, electron temperatures have increased from ≃ 1 keV to > 2 keV using 750 kW of 60 GHz heating power. Furthermore, in PDX electron temperature increases from ≃ 1.5keV to ≃ 3keV have been observed in the central plasma region with ≃ 80kW input power at 60 GHz. In addition, several interesting observations have also been made. First, the 60 GHz radiation that was transmitted through the plasma into the low field region was spectrally resolved. Satellites separated by the lower hybrid frequency were observed indicative of parametric decay. Second, the heating power was deposited locally and was therefore large compared to the ohmic heating power in the central region. This therefore resulted in steep temperature gradients over distances of only ≃ 10–15cm which can strongly affect the low frequency microturbulence.
Development of a complementary-frequency strategy to improve microwave heating of gellan gel in a solid-state system

Abstract As a helpful step towards the future development of a solid-state microwave system that can dynamically control microwave source parameters to deliver better heating performance, a complementary-frequency heating strategy has been developed and will be discussed here. The proposed complementary-frequency heating strategy is based on potential microwave heating uniformity enhancement through microwave frequency shifting during heating has shown promise to improve the microwave heating performance. The average temperature and heating uniformity results of this strategy were compared to conventional heating strategies like Fixed-Frequency and Sweeping-Frequency strategies. Typically, the Complementary-Frequency strategy could selectively use specific frequencies in the microwave heating process. These frequencies could be identified based on their associated complementary temperature profile of the top surface of the food product collected by a thermal imaging camera and sequenced in a specific order dictated by a predefined algorithm. The results indicated that both the Sweeping-Frequency and the Complementary-Frequency strategies could uniformly heat food products more than the Fixed-Frequency strategy. Meanwhile, the Complementary-Frequency strategy can trade-off microwave power absorption efficiency and heating uniformity to deliver a higher heating rate than the Sweeping-Frequency strategy does.
Investigating freeway speed-flow relationships for traffic assignment applications

Developments in high resolution traffic sensors over the past decades are providing a wealth of empirical speed-flow data. Travel demand models use speed-flow relationships to assign traffic flows to network links. However, speed-flow relationships have not been revalidated against new detailed traffic sensor data. Therefore, it is necessary to revisit speed-flow relationships based on actual measured conditions on network links rather than assuming constant speed-flow relationships over entire highway network systems. Speed-flow relationships have been particularly difficult to calibrate and estimate when traffic volumes approach capacity, i.e. when the v/c ratio approaches one. This thesis empirically evaluates the speed-flow relationships for v/c 1) a theoretical approach is taken. A new methodology to determine the distribution of the activation of bottlenecks, bottleneck duration, and bottleneck deactivation is proposed. This thesis is a new contribution to understand the stochastic nature of freeway capacity as well as bottleneck duration, activation, and deactivation. Unlike previous research efforts, this thesis studies speed-flow relationships at the lane level and later presents a method to estimate speed-flow relationships at the link level.
How Goal Orientation Match Between Social Workers and Their Supervisors Impacts Social Workers' Job Satisfaction

Abstract Social workers' perceptions of their supervisors' dispositional goal orientations towards learning and performing act as powerful situational influences—in interaction with their own goal orientations— to affect social workers' job satisfaction. Social workers perceiving their supervisors' goal orientation to align with their own will experience greater job satisfaction. Supervisors cognizant of supervisees' goal orientations are more able to provide individually motivating tasks, support, and rewards. Such inquiry offers a promising direction for improving the work conditions of social workers. An increase in job satisfaction should be correlated with an increase in improved client outcomes and reduction in social worker turnover.
Pyruvic oxidase of pigeon breast muscle. I. Purification and properties of the enzyme.

Pyruvate oxidation in bacterial extracts has been studied by several authors (l-7). Flavin-adenine dinucleotide, cocarboxylase, phosphate, and Mg ++ are required for activity in preparations from Lactobacillus delbrueck ii (l-3) and from Escherichia coli (5). The nature of the primary intermediates in these oxidations is not fully understood. Less is known about pyruvate oxidation in animal tissues. Stumpf et al. (8) were able to obtain a particulate preparation from pigeon breast muscle which catalyzed the oxidation of pyruvate to acetate and carbon dioxide. In the present series of papers, the further purification of this enzyme, its physicochemical properties, and the factors implicated in its activity are discussed.
Lottery Incentives and Online Survey Response Rates

Our purpose in this study is rather focused. The literature on lotteries indicates that lotteries can enhance response rates. Once a lottery is adopted, the question becomes: Is it better to use multiple smaller rewards or a single larger reward? There is some literature on the topic of variable incentives for a lottery. Deutskens et al. (2004) noted as an additional finding that adults in the Netherlands responded more often (and with some indications of higher quality) with more, but smaller, lottery incentives. On the other hand, Goritz (2004, p. 343) notes “... raffling a few big cash prizes or a few big gifts instead of several smaller ones keeps transaction costs lower, as fewer people need to be contacted and sent their prizes.” Finally, Porter and Whitcomb (2003) report that the magnitude of a lottery reward has virtually no impact on response rate for a student survey. It would seem that there is a lack of consensus on the effect of size and/or number of the lottery incentives.
Does it Pay to Work in the United States

The paper by Jagadeesh Gokhale and Laurence Kotlikoff tackles the issue of the redistributive features of the US tax and benefit system. The analysis is based on a microsimulation model which simulates in great detail taxes and transfer payments respectively paid and received by a representative two-earner couple in a lifetime perspective. Lifetime average and marginal tax rates are calculated. Taxes are considered net of benefits. Average net tax rates for different levels of income show that the American system is quite progressive over the bottom half of the income distribution. Most of the progressivity is due to the transfer programmes. On the contrary, the tax system is not very progressive. This depends on the large share of the family tax burden which, especially for low income households, concerns payroll taxes (which are proportional) and consumption taxes (which tend to be regressive). The paper also shows that US workers face high lifetime marginal tax rates at every income level. These rates become very high for the lowest income earners. If low income households work at all, the tax-benefit system strongly encourages part time. Gokhale and Kotlikoff conclude that the generosity of the system toward the bottom of the income distribution results in an incentive structure that strongly discourages labour market participation especially for those with the lowest skills.
Notch modulates human NK cell differentiation through regulation of inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) expression and acquisition of effector function (TUM2P.890)

The Notch signaling pathway plays a substantial role on human NK cell development, however the role of Notch on KIR upregulation and acquisition of effector function has not been explored. To evaluate how Notch influences terminal differentiation, cord blood derived NK cells or sorted KIR- peripheral blood NK cells were cultured with IL-15 for 7 days in the presence or absence of gamma-secretase inhibitor, known to inhibit Notch signaling. Inhibition of Notch signaling significantly decreased KIR expression. Conversely, co-culturing the same cells with OP9 cells bearing Notch ligands enhanced KIR expression. Overexpression of the active portion of Notch on cord blood derived NK cells after 28 days of culture resulted in a 2-fold increase in KIR expression indicating that Notch signaling plays a direct, cell intrinsic, role in KIR regulation. By knocking down delta-like 1 (DLL1) on NK cells and co-culturing them with OP9 cells expressing Notch ligands we show that DLL1 mediated cis-inhibition controls KIR expression. Notch signaling also enhances CD16 upregulation that precedes KIR expression. More important than receptor expression is function. We found that Notch signaling induces increased cytolytic effector capacity and cytokine secretion, even on post-transplant samples where NK cell function is inherently defective. Given these attributes of Notch signaling, we propose Notch agonists can enhance NK cell maturation and tumor killing in a post-transplant setting.