cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minos: Architectural support for protecting control data

We present Minos, a microarchitecture that implements Biba's low water-mark integrity policy on individual words of data. Minos stops attacks that corrupt control data to hijack program control flow, but is orthogonal to the memory model. Control data is any data that is loaded into the program counter on control-flow transfer, or any data used to calculate such data. The key is that Minos tracks the integrity of all data, but protects control flow by checking this integrity when a program uses the data for control transfer. Existing policies, in contrast, need to differentiate between control and noncontrol data a priori, a task made impossible by coercions between pointers and other data types, such as integers in the C language. Our implementation of Minos for Red Hat Linux 6.2 on a Pentium-based emulator is a stable, usable Linux system on the network on which we are currently running a web server (http://minos.cs.ucdavis.edu). Our emulated Minos systems running Linux and Windows have stopped ten actual attacks. Extensive full-system testing and real-world attacks have given us a unique perspective on the policy tradeoffs that must be made in any system, such as Minos; this paper details and discusses these. We also present a microarchitectural implementation of Minos that achieves negligible impact on cycle time with a small investment in die area, as well as and minor changes to the Linux kernel to handle the tag bits and perform virtual memory swapping.
Immunocytochemical evidence that rod-connected horizontal cell axon terminals remodel in response to experimental retinal detachment in the cat.

Purpose Cats have two types of horizontal cell (HC); one is axon-bearing (B-type), the other is axonless (A-type). We have previously described neurite sprouting from HCs in response to experimental retinal detachment. Here we sought to determine whether one or both types elaborate these outgrowths. Methods Sections as well as wholemounts of retinas detached for 3, 7 and 28 days together with control retinas were double or triple labeled with antibodies to the calcium binding proteins calretinin and calbindin, to the synaptic vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2), and to the 70 and 200 kDa subunits of the neurofilament protein. Digital immunofluorescence images were collected by both confocal and two-photon microscopy. Results In control retina, both HC types label with antibodies to calretinin and calbindin D, but only the A-type also intensely labels with the neurofilament protein antibody. After 3, 7 and 28 days of detachment, these staining patterns persist, but there is a moderate upregulation of neurofilament protein in the B-type cell. In the detached retina, HC processes sprout neurites that appear most commonly as a loose array of fine beaded processes rising from the outer plexiform layer (OPL) into the outer nuclear layer (ONL), or, especially at 28 days, as stout unbranching processes that often cross the ONL en route to the subretinal space where some expand and arborize. Both types are strongly calretinin-positive while being somewhat less positive for antibodies to calbindin D and neurofilament protein. Moreover, they all arise from similarly labeled processes in the distal-most domain of the OPL where the narrowly stratified field of axon terminal boutons of the B-type HC normally innervates rod spherules, two to three thousand per cell. Our data indicate that the HC sprouts apparently arise specifically from the axon terminal of the B-type cell since outgrowths were never seen arising from either type of HC perikaryon or from processes identifiable as A-type dendrites. Conclusions The data described here point to the specific remodeling of the rod-connected axon terminals of the B-type cell through neurite outgrowth. Rods respond to detachment by withdrawing synaptic terminals from the OPL while cones do not. Those HC outgrowths that terminate within the ONL appear to retain their connection with the retracted terminals. Others apparently have lost their presynaptic targets and cross the ONL in association with hypertrophied Muller cell processes.
Agulhas ring injection into the South Atlantic during glacials and interglacials

Recent proxies suggest that, at the end of the last glacial, there was a significant increase in the injection of Agulhas rings into the South Atlantic (SA). This brought about a dramatic increase in the salt-influx (from the Indian Ocean) into the SA helping re-start the then-collapsed merid- ional overturning cell (MOC), leading to the termination of the Younger Dryas (YD). Here, we propose a mechanism through which large variations in ring production take place. Using nonlinear analytical solutions for eddy shedding, we show that there are restricted possibilities for ring de- tachment when the coast is oriented in the north-south di- rection. We define a critical coastline angle below which there is rings shedding and above which there is almost no shedding. In the case of the Agulhas region, the particular shape of the African continent implies that rings can be pro- duced only when the retroflection occurs beyond a specific latitude where the angle is critical. During glaciation, the wind stress curl (WSC) vanished at a latitude lower than that of the critical angle, which prohibited the retroflection from producing rings. When the latitude at which the WSC van- ishes migrated poleward towards its present day position, the corresponding coastline angle decreased below the critical angle and allowed for a vigorous production of rings. Simple process-oriented numerical simulations (using the Bleck and Boudra model) are in satisfactory agreement with our results and enable us to affirm that, during the glacials, the behavior of the Agulhas Current (AC) was similar to that of the modern East Australian Current (EAC), for which the coastline slant is supercritical.
The Endocannabinoid System: Role in Energy Regulation

Cannabis sativa has been used since antiquity to treat many ailments, including eating disorders. The primary psychoactive constituent of this plant, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is an FDA approved medication to treat nausea and emesis caused by cancer chemotherapeutic agents as well as to stimulate appetite in AIDS patients suffering from cachexia. The effects of THC are mediated through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which promotes a positive energy balance through stimulation of appetite as well as shifting homeostatic mechanisms toward energy storage. Here we discuss the physiological function of the ECS in energy balance and the therapeutic potential of targeting this system.
Utah ski patrol: assessing training types and resources.

Background Skiers and snowboarders incur a variety of injuries and medical emergencies each year at ski resorts. The ski patrol is primarily responsible for initial triage, assessment and stabilization of these problems. Objective The purpose of this study was to subjectively evaluate the type of training, resources, and equipment available to local ski patrols within Utah. Methods Ski patrol directors at ski resorts in Utah were asked to complete a voluntary computerized survey. Results Of the 14 ski areas in Utah, ski patrol directors representing 8 resorts responded. The majority of patrols in Utah use Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) as their primary education and certification source. Most programs also include site-specific training in addition to basic certification. All responding resorts had basic first responder equipment, including splinting devices, basic airway management, and hemorrhage control. Six of 8 responding resorts had affiliated clinics, and all had access to aeromedical transport. All of the responding ski patrol directors believed the current training level was adequate. Conclusions Utah area ski patrollers frequently see trauma-related injuries and have the resources to assess and provide initial immobilization techniques. Many resorts have affiliated clinics with advanced providers, and all have access to aeromedical support to rapidly transfer patients to trauma centers. Medical directors may be of use for training as well as developing extended scope of practice protocols for advanced airway use or medication administration. Patrols may benefit from additional resort-specific training that addresses other frequently seen injuries or illnesses.
Adjusting Survival Curves for Confounders: A Review and a New Method

When reporting results from survival analysis, investigators often present crude Kaplan-Meier survival curves and adjusted relative hazards from the Cox proportional hazards model. Occasionally, the investigators will also provide a graphical representation of adjusted survival curves based on regression estimates and the average covariate values in the study groups. In this paper, the authors review the limitations of this approach and examine alternative approaches to obtaining adjusted survival curves that have been proposed. Furthermore, a new method to obtain multivariate adjusted survival curves is described. This method is based on direct adjustment of the observed conditional probability of survival at the time of each event. When an unexposed group is used as a standard for adjusting an exposed group, the survival curve in the exposed group is adjusted to the covariate distribution among the unexposed at the time of the event. This method has the advantage over the average covariate method of allowing for the possibility that the adjusted survival curves differ in shape. The method can handle multiple fixed or time-dependent categorical covariates as well as left truncated data, and it allows for estimation of confidence intervals. The authors have written a macro in SAS language that produces the adjusted survival estimates and graphs. This macro is available on request and can be downloaded through the World Wide Web.
Target Tracking by Particle Filtering in Binary Sensor Networks

We present particle filtering algorithms for tracking a single target using data from binary sensors. The sensors transmit signals that identify them to a central unit if the target is in their neighborhood; otherwise they do not transmit anything. The central unit uses a model for the target movement in the sensor field and estimates the target's trajectory, velocity, and power using the received data. We propose and implement the tracking by employing auxiliary particle filtering and cost-reference particle filtering. Unlike auxiliary particle filtering, cost-reference particle filtering does not rely on any probabilistic assumptions about the dynamic system. In the paper, we also extend the method to include estimation of constant parameters, and we derive the posterior Cramer-Rao bounds (PCRBs) for the states. We show the performances of the proposed methods by extensive computer simulations and compare them to the derived bounds.
Estimation of signal arrival times in the presence of delay noise

Delay due to capacitive coupling of interconnects has become an important reliability issue in the design of nanometer circuits. In this paper we present a probabilistic approach towards analyzing the impact of capacitive coupling noise on signal delay. The variation in the delay is due to the variation in the relative arrival times of the aggressors and the victim. We derive expressions for the moments of the victim voltage in the presence of noise. From these we compute estimates of the earliest and latest possible arrival times of the victim. We compare the analytical results with Monte Carlo simulations using SPICE. Even though the analytical calculations are 200 times faster than the Monte Carlo simulations, the differences in the estimates of the mean and standard deviation of the arrival time is no more than 2.8%. In addition, the width of the timing intervals using the proposed approach is reduced by as much as 48% with a confidence level of 0.984. That is 98.4% of the Monte Carlo simulations result in an arrival time that falls within the derived interval which is 48% shorter.
Stories of Three Editors: A Qualitative Study of Editing in the Workplace.

This study describes the roles and responsibilities of three editors employed in the publications unit of a large government agency. Along with the story of each editor, the article presents generalizations about the editing process in this particular organization. The description suggests that editing is a complex, meaning-making process. The three editors seem to make changes in the documents they edit based on their expert knowledge of writing, their empathy for readers, and their assumption of authority over a document. Although they all make rule-based changes that rely on external authorities, such as style manuals, they vary greatly in their readiness to use their personal authority in interpreting the needs of an audience. The editors gain the authority they need to make reader-based changes by assuming the role of language specialists and by enhancing the teaching role important in their organization.
Stability and thermodynamics of the PtCl2 type catalyst for activating methane to methanol: A computational study

Stimulated by the report of high-yield, low-temperature catalytic conversion of methane to methyl bisulfate (Periana et al., Science 1998, 280, 560), we studied the relative stability and reaction mechanism of the Pt(NH_3)_2Cl_2 and Pt(bpym)Cl_2 complexes in concentrated sulfuric acid. We find that the mechanism involves a series of steps beginning with C−H activation to form an intermediate ion-pair Pt(II)−CH_4 methane complex prior to forming a Pt(II)−CH_3 complex. Our calculated relative activation barriers for C−H activation are in good agreement with experimentally observed H/D ratios. Subsequent oxidation to a Pt(IV) complex can occur with reduction of SO_3. Release of methyl bisulfate regenerates the Pt(II) catalyst. Our calculations indicate that for the bipyrimidine system C−H activation prefers electrophilic substitution, whereas for the ammine system oxidation addition is more favorable. We find that the oxidation step (the rate-determining step) is more favorable for the ammine catalyst, suggesting higher activity than the bipyrimidine catalyst. However, we find that in sulfuric acid the ammine complex is unstable, while the bipyrimidine catalyst is stable. Bipyrimidine acts as a “proton sink”, allowing the protonated form of the ligand to remain bound to Pt in concentrated sulfuric acid. These results are consistent with the observed behavior of the catalysts, suggesting that computational approaches may be useful in seeking modified catalysts that would be more economically feasible.
The Story of General Utilities and its Repeal: Much Ado About Nothing?

General Utilities long provided shareholders with the ability to extract appreciated assets from taxable corporate solution at the cost of one level of tax instead of the usual two. In 1986, with the repeal of General Utilities, this ability was lost. Currently, if an appreciated asset finds itself inside taxable corporate solution, both the corporation and its shareholders will ultimately be taxed on such appreciation. Thus, General Utilities Repeal is sometimes viewed as the bulwark that preserves the integrity of the current double tax regime. But this it is most emphatically not. Professor Schlunk argues that modern financial know-how enables taxpayers to keep most asset appreciation entirely out of taxable corporate solution, and hence out of the reach of General Utilities Repeal. Indeed, the only assets that must appreciate (if at all) in taxable corporate solution are assets such as goodwill that are inherently incapable of being owned by taxpayers other than taxable corporations and hence are also out of the reach of General Utilities Repeal. Thus, perhaps not quite yet but then in the not too distant future, General Utilities Repeal will be a law that applies to nothing at all. This paper will be published as a chapter in a book entitled BUSINESS TAX STORIES, to be published by Foundation Press later this year (2005).
Quantitative Cephalin-Cholesterol Flocculation Test for Liver Function

The quantitative cephalin-cholesterol flocculation test of the author has been modified to give values in percentage of the absorption of the control tube with saline. This simple test which involves only a measurement of absorption in the centrifuged supernatant fluid may be used with any photoelectric colorimeter. Data are presented to show that in 29 of 35 serums giving values above 40 per cent the patients have other evidence of liver disease, while in only 5 out of 45 serums giving values below 40 per cent, the patients have possible liver damage. The same consistency in the results on 296 other patients is reported.
The spectrum of pulmonary infections in cancer patients.

The lung is a common site of infection in patients with cancer. The spectrum of pulmonary infection depends on the underlying immunologic deficit or deficits. In neutropenic patients, gram-negative bacterial infections predominate early, whereas fungal infections (Aspergillus, Zygomycetes, Fusarium
Mechanical Strength of Durable Press Finished Cotton Fabric. Part IV: Abrasion Resistance

Durable press (DP) finishing, a process widely used by the textile industry to produce wrinkle-resistant cotton fabrics, causes considerable loss of fabric abrasion resistance. N-methylol compounds such as dimethyloldihydroxylethyleneurea (DMDHEU) are traditional durable press finishing agents. In recent years, multifunctional carboxylic acids such as 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) have been used as nonformaldehyde alternatives. In this research, we investigate the loss in fabric abrasion resistance caused by degradation and crosslinking of cellulose. Treatment of cotton by a polycarboxylic acid or a catalyst for DMDHEU results in a significant loss of its abrasion resistance. The lost abrasion resistance of cotton treated with BTCA is attributed to irreversible acid-catalyzed depolymerization and reversible crosslinking of cellulose molecules. We have removed the crosslinking of BTCA-treated cotton fabric with alkaline hydrolysis, thus determining separately the magnitude of lost fabric abrasi...
A Review of “Interactive literacy education: facilitating literacy environments through technology”

Interactive literacy education is a guide to technology-based instruction for children's literacy development. For teachers who wish to integrate technology into their literacy instruction, it offe...
A comparison of long‐term changes in seismicity at The Geysers, Salton Sea, and Coso geothermal fields

Geothermal energy is an important source of renewable energy, yet its production is known to induce seismicity. Here we analyze seismicity at the three largest geothermal fields in California: The Geysers, Salton Sea, and Coso. We focus on resolving the temporal evolution of seismicity rates, which provides important observational constraints on how geothermal fields respond to natural and anthropogenic loading. We develop an iterative, regularized inversion procedure to partition the observed seismicity rate into two components: (1) the interaction rate due to earthquake-earthquake triggering and (2) the smoothly varying background rate controlled by other time-dependent stresses, including anthropogenic forcing. We apply our methodology to compare long-term changes in seismicity to monthly records of fluid injection and withdrawal. At The Geysers, we find that the background seismicity rate is highly correlated with fluid injection, with the mean rate increasing by approximately 50% and exhibiting strong seasonal fluctuations following construction of the Santa Rosa pipeline in 2003. In contrast, at both Salton Sea and Coso, the background seismicity rate has remained relatively stable since 1990, though both experience short-term rate fluctuations that are not obviously modulated by geothermal plant operation. We also observe significant temporal variations in Gutenberg-Richter b value, earthquake magnitude distribution, and earthquake depth distribution, providing further evidence for the dynamic evolution of stresses within these fields. The differing field-wide responses to fluid injection and withdrawal may reflect differences in in situ reservoir conditions and local tectonics, suggesting that a complex interplay of natural and anthropogenic stressing controls seismicity within California's geothermal fields.
Optimization Model for Distribution Equipment Maintenance Scheduling Based on Network Topology and Genetic Algorithm

According to the actual situation of equipment maintenance scheduling for distribution network, a mathematical model is established in which various constraints of maintenance schedule are considered. Taking the minimum electricity quantity caused by power supply interruption as objective function, the internal restraints of distribution network are implemented by network topology and by use of improved genetic algorithm the optimization problem is solved. Leading in network topology make the objective function among transmission lines clear, thus the maintenance scheduling can be sequenced according to orders of priority. The improvement of genetic algorithm can ensure its convergence and enhance its ability of optimization effectively. Results of calculation examples show that with the established method the optimal maintenance scheduling can be obtained and the outage loss can be reduced.
A New Dawn? Indigenous Movements and Ethnic Inclusion in Latin America

This article investigates how indigenous movements in Latin America promote the political inclusion of historically marginalized indigenous groups. I argue that the social pressure produced by a strong movement promotes the inclusion of indigenous representatives in formal leadership positions. However, this effect depends on both the movement’s internal unity and the general responsiveness of the political system. I examine my claims using a mixed-methods design. I draw on a new group-level data set on ethnic parties and ethnic civil society organizations in Latin America between 1946 and 2009. My statistical analysis finds that indigenous groups with well-organized movements are more likely to achieve inclusion in executive positions of state power. The level of democratic freedom in a country greatly conditions this effect, while movement-internal factionalism undermines the political effectiveness of indigenous mobilization. I illuminate the causal mechanisms underlying these results in a case study of the rise and decline of indigenous mobilization in Ecuador.
Scintigraphic evaluation in musculoskeletal sepsis

In this article, the mechanism of technetium, gallium, and indium-labeled white blood cell localization in septic processes is detailed, and the method of interpretation of these three isotopes with relationship to musculoskeletal infection is outlined. Specific clinical application of technetium, gallium, and indium-labeled white blood cell imaging for musculoskeletal sepsis is reviewed.
A 2 MHz 12–100 V 90% Efficiency Self-Balancing ZVS Reconfigurable Three-Level DC-DC Regulator With Constant-Frequency Adaptive-On-Time $V^{2}$ Control and Nanosecond-Scale ZVS Turn-On Delay

This paper presents a miniaturized wide-input-range integrated reconfigurable three-level dc-dc voltage regulator. A three-level buck converter topology with zero-voltage switching (ZVS) is adopted to remove the dominant switching power loss under high-input-voltage condition, thereby enabling the converter to achieve high power efficiency in the megahertz range and reduce the required values of power passives. A constant-frequency adaptive-on-time $V^{2}$ control is proposed to not only regulate the output voltage, but also offer the flying capacitor self-balancing in the megahertz range and over a wide input range for improving the converter reliability. A body diode-based floating ZVS detector is also developed to enable full-ZVS operation of power transistors in high-frequency low duty-ratio conditions with $\leq 5$ ns ZVS turn-on delay. Implemented in a 120 V 0.5 $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS process, the proposed voltage regulator uses four 50 V on-chip power nMOS to support an input voltage from 12 to 100 V and regulates the output voltage at 10 V with a maximum output power of 5 W. The proposed regulator achieves a maximum power efficiency of 90% under the nominal 48 V input and 2 MHz switching frequency. Compared with the state-of-the-art counterparts, the proposed regulator provides >66 times and >2.6 times reductions in the inductance and the total capacitance, respectively.
Analysis of the accelerated crucible rotation technique applied to the gradient freeze growth of cadmium zinc telluride

Abstract We employ finite-element modeling to assess the effects of the accelerated crucible rotation technique (ACRT) on cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) crystals grown from a gradient freeze system. Via consideration of tellurium segregation and transport, we show, for the first time, that steady growth from a tellurium-rich melt produces persistent undercooling in front of the growth interface, likely leading to morphological instability. The application of ACRT rearranges melt flows and tellurium transport but, in contrast to conventional wisdom, does not altogether eliminate undercooling of the melt. Rather, a much more complicated picture arises, where spatio-temporal realignment of undercooled melt may act to locally suppress instability. A better understanding of these mechanisms and quantification of their overall effects will allow for future growth optimization.
Detection and Resolution of Verb Phrase Ellipsis

Verb phrase (VP) ellipsis is the omission of a verb phrase whose meaning can be reconstructed from the linguistic or real-world context. It is licensed in English by auxiliary verbs, often modal auxiliaries: She can go to Hawaii but he can’t [e]. This paper describes a system called ViPER (VP Ellipsis Resolver) that detects and resolves VP ellipsis, relying on linguistic principles such as syntactic parallelism, modality correlations, and the delineation of core vs. peripheral sentence constituents. The key insight guiding the work is that not all cases of ellipsis are equally difficult: some can be detected and resolved with high confidence even before we are able to build systems with human-level semantic and pragmatic understanding of text.
Examining Habitability of Kepler Exoplanets

Since its launch in 2009, the Kepler spacecraft has confirmed the existence of 3,387 exoplanets with the goal of finding habitable environments beyond our own.Â The mechanism capable of stabilizing a planetâ€™s climate is the long-term carbon cycle driven by plate tectonics. We determined the likelihood of plate tectonics for Kepler exoplanets by comparing their interior structures to planets within our solar system.Â We used the mineral physics toolkit BurnMan to create three models with the same composition as Earth, Mars, and Mercury.Â We ran 19 exoplanets through the models and calculated their Mantle Radius Fraction (MRF).Â We found that four exoplanets may be Chthonian, four have Mercury-like MRF values, and two are Earth-like in their MRF values but did not lie within their habitable zone.Â In the future, as more exoplanet masses are obtained, it is likely that a greater number will appear dynamically similar to the Earth.
Phospholipase A2 in the venom of three cottonmouth snakes.

Two phospholipase A2s (PLA2s), Asp49 (D49) and Lys49 (K49), were purified by one-step reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) from the venom of each of the three subspecies of cottonmouth snake, Western cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma; Apl), Eastern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus; App) and Florida cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti; Apc). Venom protein profiles and PLA2s elution pattern of the three cottonmouth snakes were remarkably similar displaying four similar sharp and two wide peaks; in all cases K49 PLA2 eluted first followed by D49 PLA2. The yields of K49 and D49 PLA2s were, respectively, 13.2 and 17.5 mg/g venom from the Western cottonmouth, 16.8 and 19.2 mg/g from the Eastern cottonmouth, and 17.3 and 22.7 mg/g from the Florida cottonmouth. Biochemical and enzymatic techniques were used to characterize the purified PLA2. The amino acid sequences of all three K49PLA2s were identical; App-D49 and Apc-D49 were also identical but displayed a single amino acid difference with Apl-D49. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the amino acid sequence and molecular mass of Apc-D49 and Apc-K49 PLA2s from Florida cottonmouth venom. As expected, PLA2 enzymatic analysis revealed that D49 PLA2s from all three venoms hydrolyze phospholipids to a similar extent, whereas no phospholipid hydrolysis was detectable by any of the K49 PLA2s purified. Cottonmouth snake venoms contain abundant PLA2 isoforms, thus the identification of PLA2s in these venoms is of interest to facilitate the purification of specific PLA2 from rich sources of subspecies venom for future biological and biomedical research. Results of this study also contribute towards the understanding of venom protein profiles, variation, and evolution in subspecies of venomous snakes.
Religiosity and adolescent marijuana use

Among adolescents, religiosity has been associated with lower rates of marijuana use, though few studies have examined its impact on the perceived risk of use. There is strong support that perceive...
Coding the Coders: Creating a Qualitative Codebook for Students? Commenting Patterns (Abstract Only)

Learning to program is a complex task and is a documented persistent challenge. We are intermingling Writing-to-Learn (WTL) strategies in support of learning to program. Initial efforts examined existing writing in the form of guided source code comments. This poster displays the results for the following three research questions: RQ1) What do source code comments tell us about novice programmers' thinking processes while coding? RQ2) What do source code comments tell us about how students visually organize their source code? RQ3) What differences exists for students receiving traditional instruction versus WTL instruction? To answer these questions, we analyzed students' programming assignments from an introductory programming course with and without WTL instruction. The analysis generated a qualitative codebook that can be used to classify source code comments with respect to thinking processes and organizational patterns. The resultant qualitative codebook is displayed and audience members can use the codebook to classify comments. We are soliciting feedback regarding the reliability, validity, and completeness of the codebook, and future project plans. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DUE-1612132. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Ontogeny of behavioral traits in commercial sows

As the number of gestating sows reared in group housing increases, a better understanding of behavioral traits needed to negotiate these more complex social interactions promises to increase animal welfare and productivity. However, little is known about different behavioral strategies or coping styles in sows, and even less is understood about their ontogeny. To study the development of coping styles in adult gestating sows, 36 sows from the same sire line and same commercial maternal genetics were followed from birth through their second parity. Each animal was observed in a battery of stress-related behavioral tests at 5 weeks, and 3 months of age as well as 24 h postpartum as a parity 1 sow, and during introduction to subsequent gestation period in group housing. The tests at different ages included response to handling, open field exploration, human interaction, litter handling and social interactions with conspecifics. Many of the observed behaviors were correlated during the same period of the animal's life and provided the motivation for a principal component analysis by age. Using principal component analysis, multiple traits were determined at each age point; at 5 weeks old: active, non-exploratory and cautious explained 82.5% of the variance; at 3 months of age: active, non-exploratory and low fear of humans explained 87.7% of the variance; and as primiparous sows: active, aggressive/dominant and submissive explained 82.0% of the variance. Several individual juvenile behaviors were associated with adult behavioral traits. For instance, the response to handling at 5 weeks was significantly predictive (β=0.4; P<0.05) of the aggressive/dominant trait of parity 1 sows. Taken together results presented here suggest that early behavioral responses of prepuberal gilts during specific instances of elevated environmental or social stress can predict future behavioral response as gestating sows.
Residential Proximity to Agricultural Fumigant Use and Respiratory Health in 7-year Old Children

Abstract Objectives To examine the relationship between residential proximity to agricultural fumigant use and respiratory symptoms and lung function in 7-year old children. Methods Participants were 294 children living in the agricultural Salinas Valley, California and enrolled in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children Of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study. We obtained information on respiratory symptoms and asthma medication use from maternal questionnaires and children performed spirometry to determine the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory flow 25–75% (FEF25–75) at 7-years of age. We estimated agricultural fumigant use within 3, 5 and 8 km of residences during pregnancy and from birth to age 7 using California's Pesticide Use Report data. We evaluated the association between prenatal and postnatal residential proximity to agricultural use of methyl bromide, chloropicrin, metam sodium and 1,3-dichloropropene with respiratory symptoms and use of asthma medication with logistic regression models and continuous lung function measurements with linear regression models adjusted for confounders. Results There were no significant associations between residential proximity to use of fumigants and respiratory symptoms or use of asthma medication. We did not observe any adverse relationships between residential proximity to fumigant use and lung function measurements. Unexpectedly, we observed suggestive evidence of improved FEV1 and FEF25–75 with higher use of methyl bromide and chloropicrin during the prenatal period. For example, for each 10-fold increase in methyl bromide use during the prenatal development period we observed higher FEV1 (β = 0.06 L/s; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.12) and higher FEF25–75 (β = 0.15 L/s; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.27). Maternal report of child allergies (runny nose without a cold during the previous year) modified the relationship between FEV1 and prenatal proximity to methyl bromide use (p = .07) and we only observed higher FEV1 among children without allergies (β = 0.08 L/s; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.14 for a 10-fold increase in methyl bromide use during the prenatal period). Conclusions Residential proximity to agricultural fumigant use during pregnancy and childhood did not adversely affect respiratory health in the children through 7 years of age. These findings should be explored in larger studies.
Training machines in Earthly ways

Geoscientists are training computers to learn from a wide range of geologic data and, in the process, the machines are teaching geoscientists about the workings of Earth.
A working equation for oxygen sensing disk electrodes.

For more than 35 years, noble metal electrodes have been employed to measure oxygen partial pressure in biological fluids and other media. Anyone who has attempted to use these types of electrodes is well aware of the instability and drift attendant to them. While a great deal of material can be found in the electrochemical and analytical chemical literature regarding the catalytic interaction of noble metal surfaces with oxygen, this literature usually pertains to large surfaces, non isotonic media and/or rotating ring-disc systems. Comparatively little has been published concerning the interaction between oxygen and noble metal surfaces for electrode sizes employed in biological applications.
Preliminary Studies on Immune Response and Viral Pathogenesis of Zika Virus in Rhesus Macaques.

Zika Virus (ZIKV) is primarily transmitted through mosquito bites. It can also be transmitted during sexual intercourse and in utero from mother to fetus. To gain preliminary insight into ZIKV pathology and immune responses on route of transmission, rhesus macaques (RMs) were inoculated with ZIKV (PRVABC59) via intravaginal (IVAG) (n = 3) or subcutaneous (sub Q) (n = 2) routes. Systemic ZIKV infection was observed in all RMs, regardless of the route of inoculation. After 9 days postinfection (dpi), ZIKV was not detected in the plasma of IVAG- and sub-Q-inoculated RMs. Importantly, RMs harbored ZIKV up to 60 dpi in various anatomical locations. Of note, ZIKV was also present in several regions of the brain, including the caudate nucleus, parietal lobe, cortex, and amygdala. These observations appear to indicate that ZIKV infection may be systemic and persistent regardless of route of inoculation. In addition, we observed changes in key immune cell populations in response to ZIKV infection. Importantly, IVAG ZIKV infection of RMs is associated with increased depletion of CD11C hi myeloid cells, reduced PD-1 expression in NK cells, and elevated frequencies of Ki67+ CD8+ central memory cells as compared to sub Q ZIKV-infected RMs. These results need to interpreted with caution due to the small number of animals utilized in this study. Future studies involving large groups of animals that have been inoculated through both routes of transmission are needed to confirm our findings.
Bovine Tuberculosis Management in Northwest Minnesota and Implications of the Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) Model for Wildlife Disease Management.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an infectious, zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis that can spread between domestic and wild animals, as well as to humans. The disease is characterized by the progressive development of lesions that compromise the victim’s lungs and lymph system. The disease was first identified in northwest Minnesota in both cattle and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in 2005. Due to its risks to human and animal health, bTB has numerous implications related to population management, policy outcomes, stakeholder relations, and economic impacts. When dealing with complicated risks, like bTB, individuals often seek out and process information as a method to learn about, and cope, with the risk. We developed a questionnaire that adapted components of the Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) model and surveyed northwest Minnesota deer hunters. Our objectives were to better understand how stakeholders perceive and act on information regarding disease management in wildlife and to understand the utility of the RISP model for such management contexts. We drew a random proportional sample of licensed deer hunters (n = 2100) from the area affected by bTB and conducted a multi-contact mail survey. We found that 43% of the variability in the information-seeking behaviors of respondents was explained by demographics, hunting importance, personal risk perceptions, attitudes, and subjective norms. However, these results are largely attributable to the factors in the RISP model encompassed by components of the Theory of Planned Behavior (i.e., attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions). This information can help managers contextualize individuals’ perceived risks to better frame communication efforts to address stakeholder concerns and develop best practices for disease communication. While the state of Minnesota is currently considered free of bTB, future outbreaks remain possible in Minnesota and elsewhere. Understanding the key factors in the processes through which deer hunters seek out information pertaining to the disease can help managers collect the data necessary to aid decisions about desired future management outcomes. In addition, testing RISP model performance in applied research improves its future use across a broad spectrum of topics throughout veterinary disease management.
Molecular Determinants and the Regulation of Human Cytomegalovirus Latency and Reactivation

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a beta herpesvirus that establishes a life-long persistence in the host, like all herpesviruses, by way of a latent infection. During latency, viral genomes are maintained in a quieted state. Virus replication can be reactivated from latency in response to changes in cellular signaling caused by stress or differentiation. The past decade has brought great insights into the molecular basis of HCMV latency. Here, we review the complex persistence of HCMV with consideration of latent reservoirs, viral determinants and their host interactions, and host signaling and the control of cellular and viral gene expression that contributes to the establishment of and reactivation from latency.
Onboard Image Processing for Small Satellites

In general, the computational ability of spacecraft and satellites has lagged behind terrestrial computers by several generations. Moore’s Law turns the supercomputers of yesterday into the laptops of today, but space computing remains relatively underpowered due to the harsh radiation environment and low risk-tolerance of most space missions. Space missions are generally low risk because of the high cost of components and launch. However, launch costs are drastically decreasing and innovations such as CubeSats are changing the risk equation. By accepting more risk and utilizing commercial of the shelf (COTS) parts, it is possible to cheaply build and launch extremely capable computing platforms into space. High performance satellites will be required for advanced interplanetary exploration due to latency challenges. The long transmission times between planets means satellites or robotic explorers need onboard processing to perform tasks in real-time. This paper explores one possible application that could be hosted onboard the next generation of high performance satellites, performing object classification on satellite imagery. Automation of satellite imagery processing is currently performed by servers or workstations on Earth, but this paper will show that those algorithms can be moved onboard satellites by using COTS components. First traditional computer vision techniques such as edge detection and sliding windows are used to detect possible objects on the open ocean. Then a modern neural network architecture is used to classify the object as a ship or not. This application is implemented on a Nvidia Jetson TX2 and measurements of the application’s power use confirm that it fits within the Size Weight and Power (SWAP) requirements of SmallSats and possibly even CubeSats.
Luneburg Lens for Wide-Angle Chip-Scale Optical Beam Steering

We present a design for a planar generalized Luneburg lens for use in a chip-scale optical beam steering device. The device has a theoretical in-plane field of view of 160° with no off-axis aberrations. © 2019 The Author(s)
Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Association With Increased Risk of Falls and Injuries

Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating and degenerative side effect of many commonly used chemotherapy agents. Symptoms manifest as sensory and motor neuropathies. CIPN may necessitate chemotherapy dose reduction or discontinuation. Objectives This review intends to summarize literature linking CIPN to an increased risk of falls and injuries and provides recommendations to help maintain patient safety and maximize physical function. Methods A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE®, PubMed®, and ScienceDirect. Findings Assessment of CIPN and CIPN-related falls and injuries is vital in preventing related complications, and proper education of oncology nursing staff on CIPN assessment and management is necessary.
Vacuum Insulator Flashover of Ultra High Vacuum Compatible Insulators

High voltage vacuum systems with stringent vacuum requirements are often designed with ceramic insulators which have low flashover strength. In this paper, we report on experimental results comparing pulsed high voltage flashover of Rexolite®(cross-linked polystyrene), a pulsed power industry standard vacuum insulator, to Kel-F® (polyclorotrifluoroethylene), a plastic with significantly lower vacuum outgassing. Our results show similar surface flashover results with the two materials, with both exhibiting large spread in flashover electric field. The average electric field for flashover of each material agree well with predictions based on previously published results.
CHAPTER 13 – Cryptography

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the theory of cryptography. Cryptography is about communication in the presence of adversaries. Cryptology provides methods that enable a communicating party to develop trust that his communications have the desired properties, despite of the best efforts of an untrusted party. The desired properties might include: (1) privacy: an adversary learns nothing useful about the message sent; (2) authentication: the recipient of a message can convince himself that the message as received originated with the alleged sender; (3) signatures: the recipient of a message can convince a third party that the message as received originated with the alleged signer; (4) minimality: nothing is communicated to other parties except that which is specifically desired to be communicated; (5) simultaneous exchange: something of value is not released until something else of value is received; and (6) coordination: in a multi-party communication, the parties are able to coordinate their activities toward a common goal even in the presence of adversaries.
An Efficient Sinusoid-Like Pseudo Random Sequence Modulator/Demodulator System With Reduced Adjacent Channel Leakage and High Rejection to Random and Systematic Interference

Emerging wireless communication services require the efficient use of available spectrum and improved co-existence of different standards placed in adjacent frequency bands. Co-existence with leakage from primary users in adjacent channels, which falls in the band of interest, is a primary concern for existing and emerging technologies. In this paper, a mixed signal IC technique based on direct sequence spread spectrum is proposed to improve co-existence of radar systems with commercial wireless communication systems. A sinusoid-like pseudo-random sequence is introduced to reduce leakage from radar systems into adjacent channels. The proposed approach reduces the radar signal leakage on adjacent channels by about 22dB when compared with the conventional binary pseudo-random sequence. The proposed technique randomizes narrow and wideband systematic in-band interference, after which interference power can be effectively attenuated through averaging techniques. Experimental results from a 40nm CMOS technology modulator/demodulator prototype demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed architecture. The modulator and demodulator system requires a silicon area of 0.0459mm2 and consumes 4.33mW in total.
Rushing to maintain plasma membrane phosphoinositide levels

New findings by Myeong et al. provide further details on how cells maintain their plasma membrane PI(4,5)P2 levels when stimulated via M1 muscarinic receptors
Research Progress on Rapeseed Crop Model

Crop model is an important content in agricultural model,which is mainly divided into crop growth model and crop morphological structure model. This paper reviewed the internal and external research progress on these two rapeseed models,including rapeseed development,growth( photosynthesis,respiration,and distribution),water balance,nitrogen balance,organ formation,and management,etc. The paper analyzed the research status and existing problems and also prospected of the future development of rapeseed crop models.