cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Epic of Kelefa Saane as a Guide to the Nature of Precolonial Senegambian Society: and Vice Versa

What oral tradition tells us is in its way ethnography; ethnography allows an understanding of the implications of traditions…Probably the most popular and most frequently-recited oral tradition in all of Senegambia and somewhat beyond is the epic of Kelefa Saane. From southwestern Guine-Bissau to Bondu on the middle Senegal, griots regularly play the tune of “Kelefa” on their harp-lutes as they sing the familiar refrains:The war was a disaster.There was no one who could takeKelefa Saane's place.…Wounded menCrawled backTo Niumi. …Ah, the nobles are finishedWar has finished the nobles…Such epics have captured the attention of African historians since early in the years of professional interest in the continent. Over the last decade historians have made fresh examination of oral data and their use in reconstructing the African past. One volume of essays, The African Past Speaks, edited by Joseph C. Miller, assesses problems associated with analysis of these traditions. In his introductory essay Miller makes a point that most of the authors of subsequent chapters reinforce. It is that many forms of oral traditions are sociological models of the societies they come from. The structure and content of a narrative, Miller asserts, often provides insight into the nature of a particular society at some point in the precolonial past. Conversely, knowledge of the structure of the society in which traditionists tell the narrative helps one evaluate the narrative as a historical source.
On feedback in network source coding

We consider source coding over networks with unlimited feedback from the sinks to the sources. We first show examples of networks where the rate region with feedback is a strict superset of that without feedback. Next, we find an achievable region for multiterminal lossy source coding with feedback. Finally, we evaluate this region for the case when one of the sources is fully known at the decoder and use the result to show that this region is a strict superset of the best known achievable region for the problem without feedback.
Slavery and the Peculiar Solution: A History of the American Colonization Society – By Eric Burin

By the mid‐eighteenth century, blackness denoted slavery whereas whiteness defined freedom in Britain's North American colonies. Free blacks complicated and threatened such presumptions of servitud...
Tension-Free Vaginal Tape: A Prospective Subjective and Objective Outcome Analysis

The purpose of this prospective study was to describe the effects of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure on subjective and objective outcomes. Eighty-seven women (aged 31–95 years) underwent a TVT procedure and were followed for up to 24 months using the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), and a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. IIQ-7 scores improved from a mean 51.1 before surgery to 12.7 at 1 month (p<0.001) indicating reduced impact of incontinence on quality of life. UDI-6 scores declined from a mean 61.8 to 21.9 (p<0.001) indicating improvement in urinary symptoms. At 1 month, 91.2% of patients were satisfied. Improvements on all measures were maintained throughout follow-up. Urodynamic evaluation of 57 patients (mean: 15.0 months) showed that 91.2% had a negative stress test. Results indicate significant immediate and sustained improvement in incontinence impact and urinary symptoms, and a high rate of patient satisfaction and objective cure.
Visual Development Aids the Acquisition of Motion Velocity Sensitivities

We consider the hypothesis that systems learning aspects of visual perception may benefit from the use of suitably designed developmental progressions during training. Four models were trained to estimate motion velocities in sequences of visual images. Three of the models were developmental models in the sense that the nature of their visual input changed during the course of training. These models received a relatively impoverished visual input early in training, and the quality of this input improved as training progressed. One model used a coarse-to-multiscale developmental progression (it received coarse-scale motion features early in training and finer-scale features were added to its input as training progressed), another model used a fine-to-multiscale progression, and the third model used a random progression. The final model was nondevelopmental in the sense that the nature of its input remained the same throughout the training period. The simulation results show that the coarse-to-multiscale model performed best. Hypotheses are offered to account for this model's superior performance, and simulation results evaluating these hypotheses are reported. We conclude that suitably designed developmental sequences can be useful to systems learning to estimate motion velocities. The idea that visual development can aid visual learning is a viable hypothesis in need of further study.
The impacts of the integrated logistics systems on electronic commerce and enterprise resource planning systems

Abstract The growth of the supply chain concept has required logistics organizations to improve the flow of information both internally and externally. The increased information requirements have facilitated an integration of logistics information systems (LIS) and supply chain information systems in many companies. The increasing use of electronic commerce and enterprise resource planning and other LIS tools and techniques will shape the business process for the foreseeable future. Companies should understand their options and their impacts when making decisions to support their supply chain systems.
Suspension feeding in larval crabs (Carcinus maenas)

First-stage zoeal larvae of the green (shore) crab, Carcinus maenas (Crustacea: Brachyura: Portunidae), ingested three types of particles offered in sea-water suspensions. In experiments using two types of fluorescent particles (1–2 µm and 1–7 µm ) and living Dunaliella tertiolecta cells (5–7 µm), particles were ingested in at least 40% of the zoeae examined with brightfield, darkfield, and epifluorescence microscopy. These results suggest that green crab larvae may be capable of utilizing planktonic particles in the size range of bacteria, small algal cells, and organically-enriched detrital particles in their natural diet.
Radionuclide Imaging and Treatment of Thyroid Cancer in Children

Radioactive iodine (RAI) was first proposed as a specific treatment for thyroid cancer by Seidlin et al. in 1946 (1). Since then, RAI has been incorporated into treatment protocols for adults and children with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC; 2). Adjunctive RAI therapy improves diseasefree survival in young adults (including some adolescents) with disease similar in histology and extent to that commonly found in children (3). Until recently, however, studies specifically examining the benefits of RAI in children have been difficult to perform because the number of patients is small and the prognosis is favorable for almost all children, regardless of adjunctive therapy (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). The American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists have published practice guidelines for the management of thyroid cancer in adults, but the treatment of thyroid cancer in children remains controversial (2,16). A number of questions are left unresolved regarding the use of RAI in children. (1) Which children are most likely to benefit from RAI therapy? (2) What is the optimal dose of RAI for children?
"Noncontact" pumping of semiconductor nanocrystals via nonradiative energy transfer from a proximal quantum well

We demonstrate a novel, nanocrystal (NC)-based LED, in which the emission color is tuned by varying the NC size. The NCs are pumped "noncontactly" via nonradiative energy transfer from a proximal quantum well
Translating golden retriever muscular dystrophy microarray findings to novel biomarkers for cardiac/skeletal muscle function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Translating golden retriever muscular dystrophy microarray findings to novel biomarkers for cardiac/skeletal muscle function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Evaluation of Library Resources in the Field of Economics:: A Case Study

The study uses new tools to analyze a library collection in economics. The study may be used as a model for analyses of collections in other libraries and in other disciplines. The Vanderbilt library holds 69,000 titles in economics and adds 2,000 each year. The essay evaluates both the acquisition of books and journals. The rate of citation of papers published by Vanderbilt faculty provides criteria for rating the journals and price is considered. The essay reports statistical indicators of Type I selection errors, failing to buy books that might have been useful, and Type H selection errors, buying books that were not used. The essay concludes with a discussion of electronic resources of use to economists.
Retest imaging of nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors using a new PET radioligand [11C]NOP-1A in healthy human brain

417 Objectives Nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor, a new member of opioid receptors is successfully imaged and quantified for the first time in human brain (Lohith TG et al, J Nucl Med, 53: 385-92, 2012) using a new PET ligand (S)-3-(29-fluoro-69,79-dihydrospiro[piperidine-4,49-thieno[3,2-c]pyran]-1-yl)-2-(2-fluorobenzyl)-N-methylpropanamide ([11C]NOP-1A). This study aims to assess reproducibility and reliability of measuring [11C]NOP-1A binding in healthy human brain. Methods After bolus injection of 19 ± 3 mCi of [11C]NOP-1A, eleven healthy subjects (8 males, 3 females, 29 ± 7 yrs old) underwent test and retest PET scans, each of 2 hrs duration and had arterial blood sampling for metabolite corrected input function. Using brain and arterial plasma data, the retest variability and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of total distribution volume VT was determined as measures of reproducibility and reliability by both compartmental modeling on large regions and simpler regression methods (Logan and MA1) on voxel-data. Results [11C]NOP-1A uptake in brain was high with a peak radioactivity concentration of 4-7 SUV (standardized uptake value) in most areas. The retest variability of VT was moderately good across brain regions except cerebellum and similar across models, averaging 12% for large regions and 14% for voxel-based methods. The ICC of VT was also moderately good in most brain regions except thalamus and cerebellum, and similar across models, averaging 0.46 for large regions and 0.48 for voxel-based methods. Lowest retest variability and highest retest reliability of VT was achieved by compartmental modeling for large regions and by the parametric Logan method for voxel-data. Conclusions Moderately good reproducibility and reliability measures of VT for [11C]NOP-1A in voxels as well as large regions make it a useful PET ligand to compare NOP receptor binding between different subject groups or under different conditions in the same subject.
Epidemic Situation Analysis of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Chuxiong Prefecture of Yunnan Province from 2010 to 2012

Objective The purpose of this study was to understand the incidence trend of sexually transmitted disease(STD) in Chuxiong Prefecture from 2010 to 2012, find out the epidemic characteristics and influence factors,in order to provide a scientific basis for the government to formulate relevant policies. Methods Descriptive analysis method was used to analyze STD epidemic report data and population data from 2010 to 2012 in Chuxiong Prefecture. Res ults 2010-2012, 1268 cases of STD were reported in the state(not including HIV and AIDS), with the annual incidence of 15.6/100000 and the maximum number of reported cases in 2011(540 cases). Women cases reported in 2010-2012(653 cases) were higher than the man cases reported(615 cases). The onset age were mainly concentrated in the 20-29 and 30-39 age groups, the occupation fields mainly were in farmers, houseworker and unemployed people,and were distributed mainly in Lufeng city(224 cases),Dayao city(127 cases), chuxiong city(107 cases), and Yaoan city(103 cases). Conclus ion 2010-2012, cases of STD reported in chuxiong mainly focused on women,young adults,farmers,houseworker and unemployed people.It is suggested to strengthen STD prevention knowledge and health education management work for these people.
Experimental Methods for Control System Security Research

The need for experimental approaches is particularly acute with respect to ICS cyber security. The ability to assess cyber posture, effectiveness, and impact for predictive analysis is predicated on the assumption that operators, users, and others have prior and complete understanding of the effects and impacts caused by cyber adversaries. Obviously, this is often not the case. When compared to the physical world, cyber is quite different, in that it does not follow physical scientific laws; rather, cyber is unbounded because it is a human-made science. As a result, understanding and quantifying effects are still an immature science. Many systems do not lend themselves to closed form mathematical solutions. Thus experimentation becomes a key method of performing analysis of these systems. In order to develop a foundation for identifying and bounding the issues, one approach to this problem is empirically through experimentation, much like physical sciences such as chemistry and physics.
Tuning TMDs to “Fix” Floors in MDOF Shear Buildings

Many researchers have examined the optimal design of tuned mass dampers (TMDs) for vibration reduction in single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) and multiple-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) systems. This work focuses on the design of damped TMDs to “fix” selected floors of a harmonically base-excited building in shear such that the vibrational amplitudes of the selected floors are zero. This method does not require the fixed floors, referred to as “fixed nodes,” to coincide with the floors to which the TMDs are attached. This paper presents the proposed tuning method and addresses the feasible arrangements of the fixed and TMD floors. The proposed tuning method is demonstrated with a simulation of a 3-DOF shear building, along with a discussion on the effects of mistuning on the TMD performance.
Underwater UXO classification using Matched Subspace Classifier with synthetic sparse dictionaries

This paper is concerned with the development of a system for the classification of military munitions and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in shallow underwater environments. A Matched Subspace Classifier (MSC) is used in conjunction with Acoustic Color (AC) features generated from the raw sonar returns for munition characterization. Our classification hypothesis is that spectral content of the sonar backscatter display unique acoustic signatures providing good discrimination between different classes of detected contacts. The system is exclusively trained using synthetic sonar data and then tested using real data sets collected from a side-looking sonar system. These data sets were collected using underwater objects in relatively controlled and clutter-free environments. Classification results are presented using standard performance metrics such as probability of correct classification (P CC ), probability of false alarm (P FA ) in Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, and confusion matrices.
Markov State-Based Quantitative Kinetic Model of Sodium Release from the Dopamine Transporter

The dopamine transporter (DAT) belongs to the neurotransmitter/sodium symporter (NSS) family of membrane proteins that are responsible for reuptake of neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft to terminate a neuronal signal and enable subsequent neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic neuron. The release of one sodium ion from the crystallographically determined sodium binding site Na2 had been identified as an initial step in the transport cycle which prepares the transporter for substrate translocation by stabilizing an inward-open conformation. We have constructed Markov State Models (MSMs) from extensive molecular dynamics simulations of human DAT (hDAT) to explore the mechanism of this sodium release. Our results quantify the release process triggered by hydration of the Na2 site that occurs concomitantly with a conformational transition from an outward-facing to an inward-facing state of the transporter. The kinetics of the release process are computed from the MSM, and transition path theory is used to identify the most probable sodium release pathways. An intermediate state is discovered on the sodium release pathway, and the results reveal the importance of various modes of interaction of the N-terminus of hDAT in controlling the pathways of release.
Asymptotic theory for the Simex estimator in measurement error models

Carroll et al. (1996) make a conjecture about the asymptotic distribution of the SIMEX estimator [Cook and Stefanski (1994)], a promising method in the analysis of measurement error models. Here we prove their conjecture under a set of technical conditions.
Better Organization or a Source of Distraction?: Introducing Digital Peer Feedback to a Paper-Based Classroom

Peer feedback is a central activity for project-based design education. The prevalence of devices carried by students and the emergence of novel peer feedback systems enables the possibility of collecting and sharing feedback immediately between students during class. However, pen and paper is thought to be more familiar, less distracting for students, and easier for instructors to implement and manage. To evaluate the efficacy of in-class digital feedback systems, we conducted a within-subjects study with 73 students during two weeks of a game design course. After short student presentations, while instructors provided verbal feedback, peers provided feedback either on paper or through a device. The study found that both methods yielded comments of similar quality and quantity, but the digital approach provided additional ways for students to participate and required less effort from the instructors. While both methods produced similar behaviors, students held inaccurate perceptions about their behavior with each method. We discuss design implications for technologies to support in-class feedback exchange.
Characterizing biospheric carbon balance using CO 2 observations from the OCO-2 satellite

Abstract. NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2) satellite launched in summer of 2014. Its observations could allow scientists to constrain CO 2 fluxes across regions or continents that were previously difficult to monitor. This study explores an initial step toward that goal; we evaluate the extent to which current OCO-2 observations can detect patterns in biospheric CO 2 fluxes and constrain monthly CO 2 budgets. Our goal is to guide top-down, inverse modeling studies and identify areas for future improvement. We find that uncertainties and biases in the individual OCO-2 observations are comparable to the atmospheric signal from biospheric fluxes, particularly during Northern Hemisphere winter when biospheric fluxes are small. A series of top-down experiments indicate how these errors affect our ability to constrain monthly biospheric CO 2 budgets. We are able to constrain budgets for between two and four global regions using OCO-2 observations, depending on the month, and we can constrain CO 2 budgets at the regional level (i.e., smaller than seven global biomes) in only a handful of cases (16 % of all regions and months). The potential of the OCO-2 observations, however, is greater than these results might imply. A set of synthetic data experiments suggests that retrieval errors have a salient effect. Advances in retrieval algorithms and to a lesser extent atmospheric transport modeling will improve the results. In the interim, top-down studies that use current satellite observations are best-equipped to constrain the biospheric carbon balance across only continental or hemispheric regions.
Design and construction of a quadruple-resonance MAS NMR probe for investigation of extensively deuterated biomolecules.

Abstract Extensive deuteration is frequently used in solid-state NMR studies of biomolecules because it dramatically reduces both homonuclear (1H-1H) and heteronuclear (1H-13C and 1H-15N) dipolar interactions. This approach greatly improves resolution, enables low-power rf decoupling, and facilitates 1H-detected experiments even in rigid solids at moderate MAS rates. However, the resolution enhancement is obtained at some cost due the reduced abundance of protons available for polarization transfer. Although deuterium is a useful spin-1 NMR nucleus, in typical experiments the deuterons are not directly utilized because the available probes are usually triple-tuned to 1H,13C and 15N. Here we describe a 1H/13C/2H/15N MAS ssNMR probe designed for solid-state NMR of extensively deuterated biomolecules. The probe utilizes coaxial coils, with a modified Alderman-Grant resonator for the 1H channel, and a multiply resonant solenoid for 13C/2H/15N. A coaxial tuning-tube design is used for all four channels in order to efficiently utilize the constrained physical space available inside the magnet bore. Isolation among the channels is likewise achieved using short, adjustable transmission line elements. We present benchmarks illustrating the tuning of each channel and isolation among them and the magnetic field profiles at each frequency of interest. Finally, representative NMR data are shown demonstrating the performance of both the detection and decoupling circuits.
Economical thermal-RGB imaging system for monitoring agricultural crops

Developed was an imagery-based crop monitoring system integrating thermal and RGB imaging modules.Developed were custom image-processing algorithms to calculate canopy coverage and sunlit leaves surface temperature.Imagers were field tested successfully on modified pivot systems irrigating mint crop. In this study, a low-cost thermal-RGB imager was developed for use in agricultural crop monitoring applications. It is weatherproof, and has a geo-referencing capability along with a power management panel that allows unattended field deployment of the systems for crop monitoring over extended period of time. The imager is made up of single-board Linux-based computer integrated with RGB and thermal imaging modules. The imager can be configured as FTP server to allow data transfer to/from a client computer. Developed was also the custom image-processing algorithm which overlays, aligns thermal and RGB images, and mask for the thermal image to remove the soil background and shaded leaves. The algorithm outputs are the average temperature of sunlit leaves and canopy coverage. Prior to field validation, the performance of ten thermal modules and four fully assembled RGB-thermal imagers were assessed under laboratory conditions. In the spring of 2017, two imagers were mounted on a center pivot retrofitted with Medium Elevation Spray Application (MESA) and Low Elevation Spray Application (LESA) systems in a mint field near Toppenish, WA. The thermal modules showed an accuracy of 2.4C on average over a range of 050C of a blackbody target. Although accurate for larger canopies, the imperfect alignment of RGB and thermal images introduced significant errors in the calculations of sunlit leaves surface temperature in images with small canopy coverage. Further investigations revealed that the first peak of thermal image relative frequency histogram could be a more accurate representative of sunlit leaf surface temperature. Overall, the amended image-processing algorithm was able to successfully extract canopy surface temperature and percent canopy cover from a wide range of images captured during the crop growing season. The current design of imager allows for creating a network of imaging units in the field to obtain real-time surface temperature data from plant canopies. The system has the potential to be used for creating evapotranspiration and prescription maps in real-time, and irrigation scheduling.
Intersectional Analysis in Critical Mathematics Education Research: A Response to Figure Hiding.

In this chapter, I use figure hiding as a metaphor representing the processes of exclusion and suppression that critical mathematics education (CME) seeks to address. Figure hiding renders identiti...
Observation of Unbounded Novelty in Evolutionary Algorithms is Unknowable

Open ended evolution seeks computational structures whereby creation of unbounded diversity and novelty are possible. However, research has run into a problem known as the “novelty plateau” where further creation of novelty is not observed. Using standard algorithmic information theory and Chaitin’s Incompleteness Theorem, we prove no algorithm can detect unlimited novelty. Therefore observation of unbounded novelty in computer evolutionary programs is nonalgorithmic and, in this sense, unknowable.
Spatial Patterns of Gender Inequalities/Inequities Across the Global South

This chapter examines the spatial patterns of gender gaps in the Global South. Data on gender gaps and inequality from various sources have been analyzed to capture the magnitude and scope of gender-based disparities and tracking their evolution. The World Economic Forum and the United Nations Development Program developed economic, political, educational, and health criteria for measuring national gender gaps. Spatially, South Asia and Central and South Africa reveal the highest levels of gender disparity. More in-depth analysis reveals regions with relatively higher gender inequalities are also more vulnerable to impacts of climate change. Thus, as a result of cultural and social norms, women and girls, particularly in the Global South, will be more exposed to the negative impacts of climate change.
Isolated hepatic non-obstructive sinusoidal dilatation, 20-year single center experience.

AIM To characterize isolated non-obstructive sinusoidal dilatation (SD) by identifying associated conditions, laboratory findings, and histological patterns. METHODS Retrospectively reviewed 491 patients with SD between 1995 and 2015. Patients with obstruction at the level of the small/large hepatic veins, portal veins, or right-sided heart failure were excluded along with history of cirrhosis, hepatic malignancy, liver transplant, or absence of electrocardiogram/cardiac echocardiogram. Liver histology was reviewed for extent of SD, fibrosis, red blood cell extravasation, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, hepatic peliosis, and hepatocellular plate atrophy (HPA). RESULTS We identified 88 patients with non-obstructive SD. Inflammatory conditions (32%) were the most common cause. The most common pattern of liver abnormalities was cholestatic (76%). Majority (78%) had localized SD to Zone III. Medication-related SD had higher proportion of portal hypertension (53%), ascites (58%), and median AST (113 U/L) and ALT (90 U/L) levels. Nineteen patients in our study died within one-year after diagnosis of SD, majority from complications related to underlying diseases. CONCLUSION Significant proportion of SD and HPA exist without impaired hepatic venous outflow. Isolated SD on liver biopsy, in the absence of congestive hepatopathy, requires further evaluation and portal hypertension should be rule out.
Names and Expressions

Names and expressions of VAL closely follow those of VHDL. (Refer to Chapters 6 and 7 of the VHDL LRM [25].) VAL augments the expres­sions of VHDL with new features to describe timing behavior: Timed expressions —Expressions may be associated with time. Thus, expressions are evaluated with time-dependent values of subexpressions and objects such as ports and signals. Time qualified boolean expression —A boolean expression is qual­ified so that it is evaluated over a given time interval.
Karl Jasper’s Christology

The intention of this essay is to analyse the interpretation of Jesus offered by one of the leading Eurpean existential philosophers, Karl Jaspers. There are a variety of reasons for such an analysis and many perspectives within which his interpretation becomes both fruitful and of special interest.
Moisture Expansion and Thermal Expansion Coefficients of a Polymer-Matrix Composite Material

The influence of variations in fiber and matrix constituent material properties on the moisture and thermal expansion coefficients of a unidirectional composite is demonstrated, using a finite element, inelastic micromechanics analysis. Three of the commonly utilized graphite/epoxy material systems are selected for detailed analysis, using available experimental values of the constituent material properties wherever possible. The epoxy matrix is assumed to be Hercules 3501-6 in all cases, a polymer which is fully representative of the various structural epoxies in current use. The three graphite fibers are Celanese GY-70, Hercules HMS, and Hercules AS, representative of high, medium, and low modulus graphite fibers, respectively.
A majorization–minimization algorithm for split feasibility problems

The classical multi-set split feasibility problem seeks a point in the intersection of finitely many closed convex domain constraints, whose image under a linear mapping also lies in the intersection of finitely many closed convex range constraints. Split feasibility generalizes important inverse problems including convex feasibility, linear complementarity, and regression with constraint sets. When a feasible point does not exist, solution methods that proceed by minimizing a proximity function can be used to obtain optimal approximate solutions to the problem. We present an extension of the proximity function approach that generalizes the linear split feasibility problem to allow for non-linear mappings. Our algorithm is based on the principle of majorization–minimization, is amenable to quasi-Newton acceleration, and comes complete with convergence guarantees under mild assumptions. Furthermore, we show that the Euclidean norm appearing in the proximity function of the non-linear split feasibility problem can be replaced by arbitrary Bregman divergences. We explore several examples illustrating the merits of non-linear formulations over the linear case, with a focus on optimization for intensity-modulated radiation therapy.
Modular Software Architecture for Fully Coupled Spacecraft Simulations

Computer simulations of spacecraft dynamics are widely used in industry and academia to predict how spacecraft will behave during proposed mission concepts. Current technology and performance requi...
On Water Tariff Equalization Policies

From an economic point of view, the 1980's promise to be a period of difficulty and adjustment for the water supply industry. Increased demands for water, new regulations and standards, increased investment outlays, relatively high inflation and associated interest rates will all create problems. If water supply enterprises are to remain financially sound and independent, they will have to make certain adjustments.
US Military Service and Racial/Ethnic Differences in Cardiovascular Disease: An Analysis of the 2011-2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Objective: To determine: 1) rates of cardio­vascular disease (CVD) among individuals with and without prior US military service; and 2) variation in CVD outcomes by race/ ethnicity. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of the 2011-2016 Behavioral Risk Fac­tor Surveillance System during 2018-2019. Groups with (n=369,844) and without (n=2,491,784) prior service were compared overall, and by race/ethnicity. CVD odds were compared using logistic regression. Rate-difference decomposition was used to estimate relative contributions of covariates to differences in CVD prevalence. Results: CVD was associated with military service (OR=1.34; P<.001). Among non- Hispanic Blacks, prior service was associ­ated with a lower odds of CVD (OR=.69; P<.001), fully attenuating the net differ­ence in CVD between individuals with and without prior service. Non-Hispanic Whites who served had the highest odds of CVD, while Hispanics with prior service had the same odds of CVD as non-Hispanic Whites without prior service. After age, smoking and body mass index status were the largest contributors to CVD differences by race/ ethnicity. Conclusions: Results from this study sup­port an association between prior military service and CVD and highlight differences in this association by race/ethnicity. Knowledge of modifiable health behaviors that contrib­ute to differences in CVD outcomes could be used to guide prevention efforts. Ethn Dis. 2019;29(3):451-462; doi:10.18865/ ed.29.3.451
Job Perceptions of Community College and University Department Chairs.

ABSTRACTMuch has been written about the university department chair, but little is known about whether the community college chair position is different. The profile and job perceptions of communit...
Unconstrained Online Optimization: Dynamic Regret Analysis of Strongly Convex and Smooth Problems

The regret bound of dynamic online learning algorithms is often expressed in terms of the variation in the function sequence ($V_T$) and/or the path-length of the minimizer sequence after $T$ rounds. For strongly convex and smooth functions, , Zhang et al. establish the squared path-length of the minimizer sequence ($C^*_{2,T}$) as a lower bound on regret. They also show that online gradient descent (OGD) achieves this lower bound using multiple gradient queries per round. In this paper, we focus on unconstrained online optimization. We first show that a preconditioned variant of OGD achieves $O(C^*_{2,T})$ with one gradient query per round. We then propose online optimistic Newton (OON) method for the case when the first and second order information of the function sequence is predictable. The regret bound of OON is captured via the quartic path-length of the minimizer sequence ($C^*_{4,T}$), which can be much smaller than $C^*_{2,T}$. We finally show that by using multiple gradients for OGD, we can achieve an upper bound of $O(\min\{C^*_{2,T},V_T\})$ on regret.
Branching microtubule nucleation is controlled by importin-mediated inhibition of TPX2 phase separation

The microtubule-based mitotic spindle is responsible for equally partitioning the genome during each cell division, and its assembly is executed by several microtubule nucleation pathways. In the spindle center, Targeting Protein for XKlp2 (TPX2) promotes branching microtubule nucleation, where new microtubules are nucleated from pre-existing ones. Until the onset of spindle assembly, TPX2 is sequestered by importins-/{beta}, yet the molecular nature of this regulation remains unclear, particularly since TPX2 was recently found to undergo a liquid-liquid phase separation to execute its function. Here we demonstrate that TPX2 interacts with importins-/{beta} with nanomolar affinity as a 1:1:1 mono-dispersed trimer. We identify a new nuclear localization sequence (NLS) on TPX2, which contributes to its high-affinity interaction with importin-. Interestingly, importin-{beta} alone can also associate with TPX2, and does so via dispersed, weak interactions. Interactions of both importin- and importin-{beta} with TPX2 each inhibit its propensity for phase separation, and consequently its ability to orchestrate branching microtubule nucleation. In sum, our study explains how TPX2 is regulated in order to facilitate spindle assembly, and provides novel insight into how a protein phase separation can be inhibited via weak biomolecular interactions. Significance StatementThe discovery that proteins can undergo phase separation is revolutionizing biology. Characterization of dozens of phase separating proteins in vitro over the past several years has mainly focused on how macromolecules undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). The next, and possibly bigger challenge is to investigate how LLPS is regulated in the cell, namely how it is inhibited to spatiotemporally control a certain cellular function. Here, we addressed this challenge by identifying how the spindle assembly factor TPX2 is inhibited by importins from undergoing LLPS and thereby turning on spindle assembly.
Acute beetroot juice supplementation attenuates morning-associated decrements in supramaximal exercise performance in trained sprinters.

Diurnal fluctuations in power output have been well established with power loss typically occurring in morning (AM) times. Beetroot juice (BRJ) is a source of dietary nitrate that possess ergogenic properties, but it is unknown if ingestion can mitigate performance decrements in the morning. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute BRJ supplementation on diurnal fluctuations in anaerobic performance in trained sprinters. Male Division 1 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sprinters (n = 10) participated. In a double-blinded crossover study design, participants completed three counterbalanced exercise trials under different conditions: Morning-placebo (8:00 HR, AM-PL), Morning-BRJ (8:00 HR, AM-BRJ), and Afternoon-no supplement (15:00 HR, PM). For each trial, participants completed 3 × 15 s Wingate anaerobic tests separated by 2 min of rest. Each trial was separated by a 72 h washout period. Mean power output (p = 0.043), anaerobic capacity (p = 0.023), and total work (p = 0.026) were significantly lower with the AM-PL condition compared to PM. However, BRJ supplementation prevented AM losses of mean power output (p = 0.994), anaerobic capacity (p = 0.941), and total work (p = 0.933) in the AM-BRJ compared to the PM condition. Rate of perceived exertion was not significantly different between any conditions (p = 0.516). Heart rate was significantly lower during the AM-BRJ condition compared to AM-PL (p = 0.030) and PM (p < 0.001). Findings suggest anaerobic capacity suffers during AM versus PM times in trained sprinters, but BRJ ingestion abolishes AM-associated decrements in performance.
Linear Representation Meta-Reinforcement Learning for Instant Adaptation

This paper introduces Fast Linearized Adaptive Policy (FLAP), a new meta-reinforcement learning (meta-RL) method that is able to extrapolate well to out-of-distribution tasks without the need to reuse data from training, and adapt almost instantaneously with the need of only a few samples during testing. FLAP builds upon the idea of learning a shared linear representation of the policy so that when adapting to a new task, it suffices to predict a set of linear weights. A separate adapter network is trained simultaneously with the policy such that during adaptation, we can directly use the adapter network to predict these linear weights instead of updating a meta-policy via gradient descent such as in prior Meta-RL algorithms like MAML to obtain the new policy. The application of the separate feed-forward network not only speeds up the adaptation run-time significantly, but also generalizes extremely well to very different tasks that prior Meta-RL methods fail to generalize to. Experiments on standard continuous-control meta-RL benchmarks show FLAP presenting significantly stronger performance on out-of-distribution tasks with up to double the average return and up to 8X faster adaptation run-time speeds when compared to prior methods.
Editorial Commentary: Proficiency-Based Progression Surgical Simulation Training Is an Efficient Adjunct to High-Volume Clinical Experience.

Abstract The optimal way to train a future surgeon has been debated for years, with strategies ranging from the well-known “see one, do one, teach one” approach to more novel approaches that rely on metrics and proficiency. Recent research shows that surgical training with a proficiency-based progression curriculum is an efficient strategy for teaching arthroscopy procedural skills, and, further, may improve patient safety by reducing the technical errors that might otherwise occur before proficiency is achieved. While every surgical specialty has its nuances that must be mastered to provide safe, effective, and efficient care, for a variety of reasons, the skills needed to perform arthroscopy are incredibly difficult to learn, let alone achieve proficiency or master. “On-the-job” training for orthopaedic residents has become more difficult in today’s fast-paced, work hour–limited, volume-rewarded society. Proficiency-based progression is a piece of the puzzle, but for now, it is not a complete substitute for high-volume, clinical experience and exposure to the countless variables that may affect a "real-life" surgical procedure.
Recommendations for Examining Police Deescalation and use of Force Training, Policies, and Outcomes

Demands for police reforms to address racial injustice and excessive force have increased since the release of a video showing George Floyd dying as a result of police brutality. A promising recommendation to reduce conflict and violent encounters between the police and the public that has the support of academics, expert panels on policing, and community leaders is police deescalation training. Currently, some law enforcement agencies require deescalation training for their offices and some do not. The training that is provided in deescalation varies in content, by style of instruction, and dosage. The lack of standardization is due, in part, to a lack published research on police deescalation. For this article, agency practices supportive of deescalation are reviewed. Communication techniques that officers use to defuse hostility, avoid physical aggression, and calm people in crisis to increase the likelihood of voluntary compliance are reviewed. Methods involving (a) agency surveys, (b) patrol officer surveys, (c) use of force and incident reports, (d) citizen complaints, (e) interviews, (f) focus groups, and (g) police ride alongs are examined for how they may be applied to the study of deescalation and use of force.
Acute effects of sublingual nitroglycerin on cardiovagal and sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity

The effects of nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate, GTN) on baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) are incompletely understood. Moreover, there are no reports evaluating the acute responses in both the sympat...
The Toxin‐Coregulated Pilus: Biogenesis and Function

The best characterized pilus of Vibrio cholerae is the toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) described by Taylor and coworkers. The pilus is designated TCP, for toxin-coregulated pilus, and the pilin subunit is designated TcpA. Fusions to genes tcpBCDEF show reduced levels of pilin and lack pili on the cell surface. Therefore, these genes probably encode assembly and transport proteins required for pilus biogenesis. Further analyses of TcpE, TcpF, and TcpC function are discussed. Amino acid sequencing of gel-purified TcpA reveals an amino-terminal region that bears striking homology to type IV pilins, formerly referred to as N-methylphenylalanine pilins because of the modification present on their amino-terminal residues. Secretion of bacterial cell surface proteins composing macromolecular complexes occurs by a mechanism only recently elucidated in comparison to the initial stages of general prokaryotic protein export. The pathway for TCP biogenesis provides a model system for investigating these novel secretion processes. A number of the phoA fusions initially isolated on the basis of loss of TCP expression still express the TcpA pilin but fail to assemble or secrete pili. Thus, these genes are postulated to encode proteins with biogenesis functions. The Neisseria gonorrhoeae proteins PilF, PilT, and PilD, presumed to play a role in pilus biogenesis, share substantial homology to pilus assembly proteins of the same name from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Recent data suggest that the TcpC protein may contain novel functions independent of its hypothesized role in pilus biogenesis.
Degrees of Models of True Arithmetic

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the degrees of models of true arithmetic. The chapter presents the proof of a particular theorem that describes a three-worker construction that produces a complete, consistent, Henkinized theory. The chapter introduces a countable model of Peano Arithmetic with binary functions. It discusses Knight's conjecture, analogue of the Jockusch–Soare theorem by using ideas from Harrington's [H] construction of a nonstandard formula. It is assumed via the recursion theorem that each worker knows the others' strategies—that is, a recursive function is actually described.
ROSTROS DE MIGRACIÓN EN THE NEW AMERICANS DE RUBÉN MARTÍNEZ

Los desplazamientos de poblacion de un pais a otro por causas economicas o sociales, sin duda, no son situaciones que se han venido presentando en anos recientes. Por otra parte, y especificamente en el caso de los Estados Unidos, las personas que optan por este cambio, no son solo provenientes de Mexico, como se suele creer. Existe una extensa variedad de nacionalidades que intentan llegar a este pais en busca del llamado sueno americano. Partiendo del libro de Ruben Martinez titula The New Americans, propongo un analisis de la situacion migratoria hacia este pais y como es que el autor humaniza y logra otorgarles un rostro a estas personas a cambio de que no continuen siendo una cifra o estadistica.
EUVE Observations of AR Lacertae: The Differential Emission Measure and Evidence for Extended Prominences

EUVE observed the eclipsing RS CVn system AR Lac in October 1993. The differential emission measure shows a double-peaked structure similar to the two-temperature distribution seen in X-rays. The best-fit Fe abundance is 0.4 solar. The DS light curve shows a deep primary eclipse. The slow egress from eclipse may be due the presence of spatially extended, optically-thick “prominences” in the equatorial plane of the K star.
Prognosis in infantile spasms.

A follow-up study has been conducted on 27 patients who had infantile spasms and normal electroencephalograms before the age of 1 year, and who did not have hypsarhythmia, the electroencephalographic abnormality which is usual in this condition. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the absence of electroencephalographic abnormality alters the prognosis. Less than half of the patients were found to be physically or mentally retarded and only one quarter still had seizures, which is somewhat better than was previously reported for cases with hypsarhythmia. However, the difference in prognosis is most evident as regards mental development: The present data indicate that there is a 55% chance that a child with infantile spasms and a normal electroencephalogram will develop normal mentality; the chance is only 15% with hypsarhythmia.
Glutamate toxicity in chronic neurodegenerative disease.

Publisher Summary Glutamate is involved in various physiological neuronal processes including execution of motor acts, nociception, learning, and memory. A substantial body of evidence has implicated excitotoxicity as a mechanism of cell death in acute neurologic diseases such as stroke, head trauma, and hypoglycemia. A possible role in neurodegenerative diseases has been supported by circumstantial evidence. Improved knowledge of the mechanisms of excitotoxicity may, therefore, lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for treatment of these illnesses. Experimental data suggest that blockade of excitotoxicity may prolong the life span of cells undergoing energy failure, which may occur in several neurodegenerative diseases. This can be achieved by decreasing presynaptic glutamate release with Na+ channel blockers. Unequivocal demonstration has been obtained of the involvement of excitatory amino acids (EAA) in the pathogenesis of ischemic and traumatic brain injury. It has been more difficult, however, to link neuronal degeneration that occurs in chronic neurodegenerative diseases to an excitotoxic mechanism. Studies in rodents and non-human primates using mitochondrial toxins have suggested that slow excitotoxicity may occur because of impaired energy metabolism. EAA antagonists, modulators of intracellular Ca2+ concentration, free radical scavengers, and nitric oxide synthase inhibitors showed efficacy in these experimental models.