cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discovering Rhetoric Agreement between a Request and Response

To support a natural flow of a conversation between humans and automated agents, rhetoric structures of each message has to be analyzed. We classify a pair of paragraphs of text as appropriate for one to follow another, or inappropriate, based on both topic and communicative discourse considerations. To represent a multi-sentence message with respect to how it should follow a previous message in a conversation or dialogue, we build an extension of a discourse tree for it. Extended discourse tree is based on a discourse tree for RST relations with labels for communicative actions, and also additional arcs for anaphora and ontology-based relations for entities. We refer to such trees as Communicative Discourse Trees (CDTs). We explore syntactic and discourse features that are indicative of correct vs incorrect request-response or question-answer pairs. Two learning frameworks are used to recognize such correct pairs: deterministic, nearest-neighbor learning of CDTs as graphs, and a tree kernel learning of CDTs, where a feature space of all CDT sub-trees is subject to SVM learning. We form the positive training set from the correct pairs obtained from Yahoo Answers, social network, corporate conversations including Enron emails, customer complaints and interviews by journalists. The corresponding negative training set is artificially created by attaching responses for different, inappropriate requests that include relevant keywords. The evaluation showed that it is possible to recognize valid pairs in 70% of cases in the domains of weak request-response agreement and 80% of cases in the domains of strong agreement, which is essential to support automated conversations. These accuracies are comparable with the benchmark task of classification of discourse trees themselves as valid or invalid, and also with classification of multi-sentence answers in factoid question-answering systems. The applicability of proposed machinery to the problem of chatbots, social chats and programming via NL is demonstrated. We conclude that learning rhetoric structures in the form of CDTs is the key source of data to support answering complex questions, chatbots and dialogue management.
Application of Unidirectional Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced-Polymer Laminas in Circuit-Analog Absorbers

This paper explores the characteristics of unidirectional carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymer (CFRP) laminas and their use in electromagnetic absorber design. Unidirectional CFRP composites have been used for decades in structural applications. The electromagnetic properties of unidirectional CFRP composites have been well documented in the open literature. Since many structural applications may also have specific electromagnetic compatibility requirements, it is logical to exploit the useful electromagnetic properties of unidirectional CFRP. Specifically, this paper investigates circuit-analog absorbers (CAAs) made from a unidirectional CFRP lamina, foam spacer, and a ground plane. The unique properties of the unidirectional CFRP sheet provide the necessary resistive and reactive properties for the development of a CAA. To investigate such a CAA, the electromagnetic properties of several off-the-shelf unidirectional CFRP laminas were measured from 4 to 18 GHz using a free-space measurement system. A surface-impedance representation of the unidirectional CFRP lamina was used to build rigorous transmission-line models that provide insights about the properties of the absorbing structure. Transmission line as well as full-wave models were compared to measured absorption performance of fabricated prototypes. Maximum absorption configurations were found to be highly dependent on incident polarization relative to fiber orientation.
HIV Neuroinvasion: Early Events, Late Manifestations

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection affects more that 32 million people worldwide (2007) and is associated with central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction in at least 30% of infected individuals, despite treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The spectrum of cognitive disorders ranges from mild impairment of higher cortical functions to dementia (HIV associated dementia, HAD) and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). The use of HAART has lessened the severity but not the prevalence of HAND, and improving neurological outcomes will require more effective antiviral drug effects in the CNS and adjunctive therapies directed toward mechanisms and pathways of HIV-induced neurodegeneration. Identifying such targets requires understanding the events preceding irreversible neuronal damage in the CNS: HIV entry, replication in cellular reservoirs, neuroimmune activation, production of neurotoxins (HIV proteins and cellular factors), and neuronal repair responses. Studies of HIV infected individuals and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)–infected macaques, and numerous in vitro model systems of HIV neurodegeneration have suggested a central role for chemokines and their receptors in modulating these pathogenic processes during the course of CNS infection. This chapter addresses selected aspects of our current understanding of HIV neuropathogenesis, based on in vivo and in vitro studies, which are modulated directly and indirectly through chemokine/chemokine receptor interactions. Some of these associations are firmly established through published studies, and others are more speculative. Without doubt, many of the steps in HIV neuropathogenesis apply to other neurodegenerative diseases, and common approaches for neuroprotection will most likely emerge.
The Riemann-Stieltjes Integral

We give here a brief summary of some of the basic facts about the Riemann-Stieltjes integral. Those unfamiliar with the subject are urged to read Chapter 9 of Mathematical Analysis by Apostol [1].
Complexity of Sufficient-Completeness

The sufficient-completeness property of equational specifications has been found useful in providing guidelines for abstract data type specifications as well as in proving inductive properties using the inductionless-induction method. The sufficient-completeness property is known to be undecidable in general. In an earlier paper, it was shown to be decidable for constructor-preserving, complete (canonical) term rewriting systems, even when there are relations between constructors. The complexity of the sufficient-completeness property under certain conditions is discussed. It is shown that the sufficient-completeness problem for term rewriting systems without any relations on constructors is co-NP-complete. However, the problem is PSPACE-hard even for linear constructor-preserving term rewriting systems when relations on constructors are allowed.
Community Development's Role in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Projects for African Americans

The study investigates the use of community development strategies to address the problem of high morbidity and mortality rates among African Americans in eight Michigan communities. The findings indicate a shift from a traditional medical paradigm, one-to-one doctor–patient approach, to a social behavioral paradigm that incorporates community development approaches, such as technical assistance and self help approaches. This fosters lifestyle changes that are needed to impact the cardiovascular disease-related morbidity and mortality statistics. In addition, the research links the findings of the use of community development approaches to community capacity building. This study concludes that applying community development approaches can serve as the catalyst to planned change as it relates to health empowerment, which in turn will help disenfranchised groups of people to become more empowered in making other significant changes in their communities.
Consuming 100 g/week or less of alcohol was associated with the lowest risk of all-cause mortality.

Commentary on: Wood AM, et al . Risk thresholds for alcohol consumption: combined analysis of individual-participant data for 599 912 current drinkers in 83 prospective studies. Lancet . 2018; 391:1513–1523. Alcohol use is linked to injuries and poor health through complex mechanisms in various stages of life. Therefore, from national laws on the minimum age of use to recommended limits of use among adult population, countries rely on drinking guidelines that define safe drinking threshold in order to minimise alcohol-related harms. There is substantial between-country heterogeneity of safe alcohol use guidelines. Such variation reflects largely the lack of clarity about the ‘J-shape’ curve with respect to cardiovascular health, particularly among subtypes of cardiovascular disease. And there is ongoing debate on the consumption threshold associated with the lowest risk of all-cause mortality. Wood and colleagues pooled individual-participant data of 83 prospective cohort studies in 19 countries from three large-scale data consortia.1 These studies were …
Non-transferred Arc Torch Simulation by a Non-equilibrium Plasma Laminar-to-Turbulent Flow Model

Non-transferred arc torches are at the core of diverse industrial applications, particularly plasma spray. The flow in these torches transitions from laminar inside the torch to turbulent in the emerging jet. The interaction of the plasma with the processing gas leads to significant deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) far from the arc core. The flow from a non-transferred arc plasma spray torch is simulated using a non-LTE (NLTE) plasma flow model solved by variational multiscale (VMS) and nonlinear VMS (VMSn) methods, which are suitable for unified laminar and turbulent flow simulations. Non-plasma turbulent jet simulations indicate that the VMSn method produces results comparable to those by the dynamic Smagorinsky method, often considered the workhorse for turbulent incompressible flow simulations. VMS and VMSn approaches are applied to the simulation of incompressible, compressible, and NLTE plasma flows in non-transferred arc torch operating at representative conditions found in plasma spray processes. The NLTE plasma flow simulations reproduce the dynamics of the arc inside the torch together with the evolution of turbulence in the produced plasma jet in a cohesive manner. However, the similarity of results by both methods indicates the need for numerical resolution significantly higher than what is commonly afforded in arc torch simulations.
Coevolving residues inform protein dynamics profiles and disease susceptibility of nSNVs

The conformational dynamics of proteins is rarely used in methodologies used to predict the impact of genetic mutations due to the paucity of three-dimensional protein structures as compared to the vast number of available sequences. Until now a three-dimensional (3D) structure has been required to predict the conformational dynamics of a protein. We introduce an approach that estimates the conformational dynamics of a protein, without relying on structural information. This de novo approach utilizes coevolving residues identified from a multiple sequence alignment (MSA) using Potts models. These coevolving residues are used as contacts in a Gaussian network model (GNM) to obtain protein dynamics. B-factors calculated using sequence-based GNM (Seq-GNM) are in agreement with crystallographic B-factors as well as theoretical B-factors from the original GNM that utilizes the 3D structure. Moreover, we demonstrate the ability of the calculated B-factors from the Seq-GNM approach to discriminate genomic variants according to their phenotypes for a wide range of proteins. These results suggest that protein dynamics can be approximated based on sequence information alone, making it possible to assess the phenotypes of nSNVs in cases where a 3D structure is unknown. We hope this work will promote the use of dynamics information in genetic disease prediction at scale by circumventing the need for 3D structures.
Feasibility of App-Based Postsurgical Assessment of Pain, Pain Impact, and Regional Anesthesia Effects: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective Postsurgical follow-up calls enable nurses to assess a patient's condition, provide tailored education, and improve the patient's experience. Despite the benefits, barriers to phone-based assessments may include patient nonresponse and lack of time due to demanding clinical schedules. The purpose of this trial was to examine the feasibility and utility of a smartphone app, mCare, for assessing pain, pain impact, and peripheral nerve block effects in patients. Design Pilot randomized control trial. Setting and patients Eligible patients at a military treatment facility undergoing same-day surgery were randomized to the mCare group (N = 24) or the standard-of-care telephone (N = 26) group. Results Outcomes included initial response (assessment completion) rates and participant and nurse satisfaction. There were no differences in the response rates upon initial contact attempt, and patients in both groups reported similar levels of satisfaction and convenience. Nurses reported greater satisfaction with the app compared with standard-of-care telephone calls. Conclusions Before wider implementation, further considerations of app-based assessment need to be fully explored.
Methodology for the establishment of primary porcine vocal fold epithelial cell cultures.

Objective A current lack of methods for epithelial cell culture significantly hinders our understanding of the role of the epithelial and mucus barriers in vocal fold health and disease. Our first objective was to establish reproducible techniques for the isolation and culture of primary porcine vocal fold epithelial cells. Our second objective was to evaluate the functional significance of cell cultures using an in vitro exposure to an inflammatory cytokine. Methods Epithelial cells were isolated from porcine vocal folds and expanded in culture. Characterization of cultures was completed by immunostaining with markers for pan-cytokeratin (epithelial cells), vimentin (stromal cells), von Willebrand factor (endothelial cell), and MUC1 and MUC4 (mucin) glycoproteins. Established epithelial cell cultures were then exposed to the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) for 24-hours, and transcript expression of MUC1 and MUC4 was evaluated. Results Reproducible, porcine vocal fold epithelial cell cultures, demonstrating cobblestone appearance characteristic of the typical morphology of epithelial cell cultures were created. Cells showed positive staining for pan-cytokeratin with limited expression of vimentin and von Willebrand factor. Epithelial cells also expressed MUC1 and MUC4. TNF-α significantly increased transcript expression of MUC4. Conclusion Here, we present the first report of successful culture of primary porcine vocal fold epithelial cells. Cultures will provide researchers with a valuable new in vitro tool to investigate vocal fold epithelium and mucus as well as the effects of common challenges, including inflammatory cytokines, on these barriers. Level of evidence NA Laryngoscope, 129:E355-E364, 2019.
Better Defining the Role of Total Neoadjuvant Radiation: Changing Paradigms in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.

This study was designed to better define the role of radiation (Neo-Rad) in addition to neoadjuvant multiagent chemotherapy (NAT) for the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Retrospective cohort study using the NCDB. Individuals with AJCC clinical T3/T4 pancreatic carcinoma who underwent resection and multiagent chemotherapy were included. Kaplan–Meier, logistic-regression, and Cox proportional-hazard models were used for analysis. A total of 2703 patients were included; 2039 had T3 and 664 had T4 tumors, and 1092 (40.4%) received Neo-Rad. Median follow-up was 22.5 months. During the study period, there was increased use of NAT and a decline in the use of Neo-Rad. Addition of Neo-Rad did not affect 30-day (2.51% vs. 3.24%, p = 0.272) or 90-day mortality (5.23% vs. 6.38%, p = 0.216). Neo-Rad was not associated with improved overall survival on univariable (25.95 vs. 24.7 months, p = 0.202), or multivariable analyses (hazard ratio [HR] 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.85–1.05). Time from diagnosis to definitive surgery was increased by Neo-Rad (204 vs. 115 days, p < 0.001). Neo-Rad was associated with increased pathologic downstaging in T3 (32.8% vs. 14.4%) (odds ratio [OR] 2.90; 95% CI 2.30–3.66) and T4 tumors (88.9% vs. 77.8%) (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.44–3.67); complete pathologic response (5.3% vs. 1.6%) (OR 2.89; 95% CI 1.73–4.83), and increased R0 resection rates (85.7% vs. 76.8%) (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.44–2.23). The use of neoadjuvant therapy is increasing for the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The addition of radiation to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with improved antineoplastic effectiveness (downstaging, complete pathologic response), surgical resection (R0 rates), but has no effect on overall survival.
Histologic Evaluation of Malignant Polyps and Low-Stage Colorectal Carcinoma.

Context.— With widespread screening for colorectal cancer, the number of early-stage colorectal cancers is increasing. Local excision of pT1 tumors is associated with considerably less morbidity an...
Diabetes in Normal-Weight Individuals: High Susceptibility in Nonwhite Populations

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases of our time. There are an estimated 425 million people with diabetes worldwide, and 625 million people are projected to have the disease by 2045 (1). Over the next three decades, the largest increases in diabetes prevalence and overall numbers of people with the disease are expected to occur in low- and middle-income countries and among nonwhite ethnic minorities living in high-income nations (1). Overweight and obesity are well-established risk factors for diabetes; however, evidence suggests that the relationship between body weight and diabetes risk may differ by race/ethnicity (2–4), which has implications for the prevention, screening, and treatment of individuals who develop diabetes with a BMI below the overweight or obesity range. In their article in this issue of Diabetes Care , Zhu et al. (5) examined racial/ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diabetes by BMI category in a large, racially/ethnically and geographically diverse cohort of 4.9 million adults. Individuals enrolled in the cohort were members of three integrated health care systems in the U.S. in the years 2012–2013 and were from six racial/ethnic groups including white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaskan Native. They found that the age-standardized prevalence of diabetes increased across BMI categories among all racial/ethnic groups. However, compared with whites, all other racial/ethnic groups had a higher prevalence of diabetes at any given BMI, and these differences were more pronounced in lower BMI categories. Strikingly, in those with a normal weight, the prevalence of diabetes was 5.0% in whites, 10.1% in Asians and American Indians/Alaskan Natives, 13.0% in …
Exogenous and endogenous microbiomes of wild-caught Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) flies from a suburban farm by 16S rRNA gene sequencing

The black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is one of the most abundant carrion flies in North America. Calliphorids are important in agriculture and animal production, veterinary sciences, forensics and medical entomology. While the role of flies in the epidemiology of human and animal diseases is an active area of research, little is known about the microorganisms associated with these insects. We examined the diversity of wild-caught black blow fly endogenous (internal body) and exogenous (external body) microbial communities using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Overall, 27 phyla, 171 families and 533 genera were detected, and diversity was significantly higher (P < 0.05) on external body surfaces. At the genus level, Dysgonomonas, Ignatzschineria, Acinetobacter, Vagococcus, Myroides, and Wohlfahrtiimonas were predominant. Cloning and sequencing of nearly full-length fragments of the 16S rRNA gene showed that some of the species identified are known to be pathogenic to humans, animals, and plants. Myroides odoratimimus and Acinetobacter radioresistens are well-known, multi-drug resistant bacteria. These results provide a snapshot of the microbial communities harbored by adult black blow flies and call for more comprehensive studies to better characterize the role these flies may play in the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms.
Dynamic Graph Embedding

In Chap. 9, we presented a structural graph convolutional neural network which is capable of performing supervising learning to estimate a function between non-euclidean data and categorical data. In this chapter, we focus on non-euclidean data which are evolving over time. In the cyber-physical system, most of the non-euclidean data (such as engineering data, energy, and signal flow graph, call graph of the firmware, etc.) are always evolving. Hence, it is necessary to utilize algorithms that are capable of handling such temporally evolving non-euclidean data. In this chapter, we present a novel dynamic graph embedding algorithm to handle this issue. In the rest of the chapter, we consider temporally evolving graphs as the non-euclidean data and present an algorithm capable of capturing the pattern of time-varying links.
High Speed Mach Zehnder Modulator with Low Series Resistance Phase Shifter Loaded in Traveling Wave Electrode

This research presents the design and characterization of the traveling wave Mach Zehnder modulator loaded L-shaped PN junction phase shifter at 72.8 Gbps data-rate. We propose a new structure of phase shifter with low series resistance meanwhile maintaining the FOM with low V π L (0.9 V-cm) and optical absorption.
'The Video Is an Upgrade from Them All': How Incarcerated Fathers View the Affordances of Video in a Family Literacy Programme.

In response to rising parental incarceration rates, some correctional facilities now offer family literacy and read-aloud programmes to strengthen parent–child bonds. However, the technologies used...
Diversity, intersectionality, transnationality, and pedagogy: Editors’ introduction

The discourse of cultural diversity has emerged as a vital component of communication pedagogy. However, current political events and social contexts that surround us—such as the Black Lives Matter...
Delay-aware Cellular Traffic Scheduling with Deep Reinforcement Learning

Radio access network (RAN) in 5G is expected to satisfy the stringent delay requirements of a variety of applications. The packet scheduler plays an important role by allocating spectrum resources to user equipments (UEs) at each transmit time interval (TTI). In this paper, we show that optimal scheduling is a challenging combinatorial optimization problem, which is hard to solve within the channel coherence time with conventional optimization methods. Rule-based scheduling methods, on the other hand, are hard to adapt to the time-varying wireless channel conditions and various data request patterns of UEs. Recently, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into wireless networks has drawn great interest from both academia and industry. In this paper, we incorporate deep reinforcement learning (DRL) into the design of cellular packet scheduling. A delay-aware cell traffic scheduling algorithm is developed to map the observed system state to scheduling decision. Due to the huge state space, a recurrent neural network (RNN) is utilized to approximate the optimal action-policy function. Different from conventional rule-based scheduling methods, the proposed scheme can learn from the interactions with the environment and adaptively choosing the best scheduling decision at each TTI. Simulation results show that the DRL-based packet scheduling can achieve the lowest average delay compared with several conventional approaches. Meanwhile, the UEs’ average queue lengths can also be significantly reduced. The developed method also exhibits great potential in real-time scheduling in delay-sensitive scenarios.
Estimating the Macroeconomic Effects of Each Totalization Agreement

Totalization agreements coordinate the United States Social Security program with other countries’ comparable programs. We estimate each totalization agreement’s impact on a variety of bilateral trade outcomes. We find the impact is quite heterogeneous, both across agreements/countries and across sectors within a country. Moreover, we find agreements that entered into force more recently tend to increase total imports and decrease total exports by more than earlier agreements. We find no significant relationship between totalization agreements’ estimated impacts and economic indicators such as the trade complementarity index between the U.S. and the agreement countries. Finally, we find sectors where the U.S. has a larger revealed comparative advantage relative to the agreement country tend to experience a larger increase in exports following the totalization agreement. However, there is no significant relationship between revealed comparative advantage and the estimated impact on imports across sectors. In future work, we will investigate in more detail both the correlation between the heterogeneity across sectors within a country and the heterogeneity across countries, as well as the correlation between totalization agreements and the declining U.S. trade balance in the past few decades.
Active impulsive disturbance rejection and oscillation control of robot manipulator, using nonclassical rod models and proportional integral derivative controller:

Micro-electro-mechanical-systems scale robots are prone to impulsive disturbances during operation. Such disturbance leads to adverse oscillations of the robot manipulator. So, it is essential to m...
Practical strategies for qualitative inquiry in a virtual world.

Aim The aim of this article is to provide practical strategies for maintaining methodological rigour in executing a virtual qualitative study. Strategies are based on evidence from existing research about virtual qualitative methods and on the strategies used by the authors to convert a planned in-person qualitative, grounded theory study to an entirely virtual grounded theory study during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study began in-person in September 2019 and was converted to virtual in March 2020. Virtual data collection was completed in September 2020. Design This article provides a case exemplar of virtual adaptations made to a study underway when the pandemic rendered all in-person research impractical and potentially dangerous. Data sources The strategies discussed are based on our own experiences and the supporting theoretical assumptions of qualitative research, specifically grounded theory methods. Implications for nursing Nursing scholars conducting qualitative inquiry may find these strategies helpful in continuing research activities during periods of limited access to the phenomena or persons of interest. Furthermore, these strategies allow nursing scholars to conduct rigorous, in-depth research without geographical limitations, providing greater possibilities for international collaborations and cross-institution research. Conclusion Despite novel challenges, methodological adaptations that are carefully planned and purposeful allow qualitative and non-qualitative scholars to continue research activities in a fully virtual manner. Impact This case exemplar and discussion provide practical strategies for qualitative scholars to consider while planning new studies or converting an in-person study to a virtual one. Despite the in-person nature of in-depth qualitative inquiry, a historic pandemic and a changing research environment require qualitative researchers to adapt to virtual methods while still conducting high quality, methodologically rigorous research. Qualitative scholars can use the strategies presented here to continue rigorous qualitative inquiry despite limited access to phenomena or persons.
Spectrally-Encoded THz Reflection Imaging Through Turbid Media Using Wavelet Multiresolution Analysis

We demonstrate spectroscopic THz reflection imaging through turbid media. We show that the detection of resonant features in the extinction spectrum can be made possible using multiresolution analysis based on wavelet transforms. We determine that the spatial resolution of this imaging technique is only diffraction limited.
Pleiadene systems—III : Acepleiadene

Abstract The unstable hydrocarbon acepleiadene has been generated as a transient intermediate from 5,10-dihydroacepleiadene-5,10-sulphone. Acepleiadene, which is much less stable than the closely related acepleiadylen, was characterized both as its dimer and as its N-phenylmaleimide adduct. A new sulphide synthesis and the first example of the photolytic decomposition of a sulphone were encountered in the course of this work. In addition, a considerable amount of steric hindrance was found to exist in 5,10-dihydroacepleiadene-5,10-dione and its monoethylene ketal.
Collaborative Learning Using VoiceThread in an Online Graduate Course

Collaborative learning enables participants in a learning community to externalize and share knowledge, experiences, and practice. However, collaborative learning in an online environment can be challenging due to the lack of face-to face interaction. This current study examined twenty graduate students’ experiences of using VoiceThread for a collaborative activity in an entirely online course to explore students’ perceptions of using multi-modal communication for collaboration and knowledge sharing. The results of this study revealed that graduate students had very positive experiences toward using VoiceThread for collaborative learning. The participants found VoiceThread easy to learn and use, and reported that audio and video interaction on VoiceThread helped connect them with their peers. More than half of the participants interacted with peers using audio, followed by text and then by video. Half of the students felt they were more connected to peers; however, feeling more connected did not result in more participation as most of the students only participated at the level that met the course requirement. Participants identified benefits and drawbacks of using VoiceThread for collaboration as compared to using text-based discussion forums. The most frequently mentioned benefit of using VoiceThread for collaboration exemplifies its multi-modal affordance that enables learners to communicate emotion, personality, and other non-verbal cues conducive to better understanding and interpretation of meanings. About half of the participants indicated that they preferred VoiceThread to text-based discussion forums for collaborative learning activity. Challenges and implications for future research are also discussed. https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel.2013.05.021
/spl mu/-kernels must and can be small

For general acceptance, /spl mu/-kernels must be fast and not burden applications. For fulfilling these conditions, cache architectures require /spl mu/-kernels to be small. The L4 /spl mu/-kernel shows that smallness can be achieved.
Receptors for hyaluronate on the surface of parent and virus-transformed cell lines: binding and aggregation studies.

Two sets of parent and virus-transformed cell lines (3T3 vs SV-3T3; BHK vs PY-BHK) were compared with respect to the extent of divalentcation independent aggregation which previously has been shown to depend upon the interaction of endogenous hyaluronate with specific receptors on the cell surface. When measured under conditions of physiological ionic strength, a significant amount of hyaluronidase-inhibitable aggregation was found in the virus-transformed cell lines (SV-3T3 and PY-BHK) but not in their parent counterparts (3T3 and BHK). However, when the same experiment was performed in a high ionic strength solution (0.5 M NaCl), the hyaluronidase inhibitable aggregation was detected in all of the cell lines. The differences in the aggregation between the various cell lines was also reflected in the binding of [3H]hyaluronate. In physiological saline, the virus-transformed cells bound greater amounts of hyaluronate (higher Bmax) with a greater affinity (lower kd) than did their untransformed counterparts. Increasing the ionic strength to 0.5 M NaCl increased the binding of [3H]hyaluronate by each cell line; however, the relative differences between the cell lines remained. These results indicate that variations in the ability of the cells to bind hyaluronate can partially account for the differences between the parent and the virus-transformed cells with respect to their ability to aggregate.
Rethinking and Reinventing Artificial Intelligence from the Perspective of Human-Centered Computational Artifacts

Many research efforts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have focused on replacing rather than augmenting and empowering human beings. We have developed human-computer collaboration environments to demonstrate the power and the possibilities of Intelligence Augmentation (IA) with human-centered computational artifacts.
An integrated approach to signaling, transmission, and traffic monitoring for dynamic capacity allocation in mobile ATM networks

Proposes and evaluates a signaling and transmission algorithmic system for a wireless digital network, in conjunction with a traffic monitoring algorithm (TMA) for dynamic capacity allocation in multimedia ATM environments. The deployed signaling protocol is stable, and two transmission techniques are compared: a framed time-domain based (FTDB) technique and a framed CDMA (FCDMA) technique. The overall signaling/transmission/traffic monitoring proposed system has powerful performance characteristics, where the TMA-FTDB combination is superior to the TMA-FCDMA combination in environments where message lengths are relatively short and the speed of the transmission lines is relatively low.
Epoxy-resin injection of the cerebral arterial microvasculature: An evaluation of the limits of spatial resolution in 8 Tesla MRI†

The purpose of this study was to quantify the spatial resolution of microscopic arteries on magnetic resonance images acquired at 8 Tesla (T). Techniques similar to those used for standard MRI of the human brain in vivo at 8 T were utilized to generate high-resolution gradient echo (GE) images of a whole postmortem human brain whose common carotid arterial system had been injected with an epoxy-resin. Single slice images, along with summed images of up to 5 contiguous slices, were then compared to color digital photographs detailing the distribution of the arterial system on the surface of the same injected brain. There was excellent MR visualization of the microscopic cerebral arteries down to a spatial resolution of 200 μm. Through the use of an 8 T whole-body MRI scanner and standard GE imaging sequences, microscopic arterial structures can be clearly resolved down to a dimension of 200 μm. Clin. Anat. 18:164–170, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Comparative Study of Bayes Estimators of Closed Population Size from Capture-Recapture Data

Abstract Capture-Recapture models estimate the unknown sizes of animal populations. For closed populations, with constant size N during the study, eight standard models exist for estimating N. These models allow for variation in animal capture probabilities due to time effects, heterogeneity among animals, and behavioral effects after the first capture. We present Bayesian versions of these eight models. Through simulation, we compare performance of estimation of N under each model. Each model is fit to data sets generated under each of the eight model assumptions, allowing assessment of model robustness. In our simulation conditions, the most robust model in estimating N is found to be the model with behavioral and time effects. Finally, we illustrate our methods by applying them to a population of cottontail rabbits.
On the Existence of Nash Equilibrium for a Two-player Pursuit-Evasion Game with Visibility Constraints

In this paper, we present a game-theoretic analysis of a visibility-based pursuit-evasion game in a planar environment containing obstacles. The pursuer and the evader are holonomic having bounded speeds. Both players have a complete map of the environment. Both players have omnidirectional vision and have knowledge about each other's current position as long as they are visible to each other. The pursuer wants to maintain visibility of the evader for the maximum possible time and the evader wants to escape the pursuer's sight as soon as possible. Under this information structure, we present necessary and sufficient conditions for surveillance and escape. We present strategies for the players that are in Nash equilibrium. The strategies are a function of the value of the game. Using these strategies, we construct a value function by integrating the adjoint equations backward in time from the termination situations provided by the corners in the environment. From these value functions we recompute the control strategies for the players to obtain optimal trajectories for the players near the termination situation. This is the first work that presents the necessary and sufficient conditions for tracking for a visibility based pursuit-evasion game and presents the equilibrium strategies for the players.
Science and Technology in the Submillimeter with High Resolution Techniques

With emphasis on high-resolution systems, the interaction of the physics of the spectral region with the physics of applications will be discussed. It will be shown how this leads to optimal choices for system strategies.
Child and Adolescent Drug Use: A Judgment and Information Processing Perspective to Health-Behavior Interventions

Information-based interventions to health behavior enjoy considerable popularity and are frequently used. This is so despite the fact that they often fail to successfully change health behavior. This article develops a transactional process model of human judgment and information processing that directs attention away from the mere accumulation of information to the needs, motives, and abilities of the information user. It is argued that the model can be used to improve the effectiveness of information-based interventions. Two structural aspects of drug use images are discussed in detail: personal mental images related to drug use/abstinence and the selection of images pertinent to drug use. The developed model suggests what specific judgment and information-processing changes should occur as the result of successful information-based intervention.
Structural changes accompanying densification of random hard-sphere packings

Local icosahedral order is found to increase as random hard-sphere packings (one- and two-component) generated on the computer are densified from the (recently established) ``loose random-packing'' limit to the ``dense random-packing'' limit. While icosahedral ordering in ``atomic'' systems is frequently ascribed to the energetic stability of icosahedral clusters, the present results show that icosahedral ordering can arise from packing constraints alone. However, the icosahedra are often distorted, partly due to the lack of preferred distance between hard spheres. At high density one-third to one-half of the pairs in the first peak of the radial distribution function (RDF) are icosahedral fragments. The splitting of the second peak, which is characteristic of packings of spherical particles, was studied by decomposing the RDF into components according to the local environment of the pairs. Linear trimers of spheres are responsible for the second subpeak while the first subpeak arises roughly equally from tetrahedra sharing a face and triangles with adjacent sides. The hard-sphere packings were compared with packings of soft, attracting spheres by relaxing the configurations under a Lennard-Jones potential. The fraction of pairs characteristic of local crystalline order in the first peak of the RDF was found to increase. The reversal of the relative height of the two parts of the split second peak results from a broadening of the distribution of distances within the linear trimers, while the distribution sharpens for the face sharing tetrahedra and adjacent triangles.
Knowledge of and perceived need for evidence-based education about antipsychotic medications among nursing home leadership and staff.

Abstract Background/Objectives Antipsychotic use is common in US nursing homes, despite evidence of increased risk of morbidity and mortality, and limited efficacy in older adults with dementia. Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding antipsychotic use among nursing home staff are unclear. The study aim was to describe nursing home leadership and direct care staff members’ knowledge of antipsychotic risks, beliefs and attitudes about the effectiveness of antipsychotics and nonpharmacologic management of dementia-related behaviors, and perceived need for evidence-based training about antipsychotic medication safety. Design, Setting, Participants, and Measurements Survey of leadership and direct care staff of nursing homes in Connecticut was conducted in June 2011. Questionnaire domains included knowledge of antipsychotic risks, attitudes about caring for residents with dementia, satisfaction with current behavior management training, beliefs about antipsychotic effectiveness, and need for staff training about antipsychotics and behavior management. Results A total of 138 nursing home leaders and 779 direct care staff provided useable questionnaires. Only 24% of nursing home leaders identified at least 1 severe adverse effect of antipsychotics; 13% of LPNs and 12% of RNs listed at least 1 severe adverse effect. Fifty-six percent of direct care staff believed that medications worked well to manage resident behavior. Leaders were satisfied with the training that staff received to manage residents with challenging behaviors (62%). Fifty-five percent of direct care staff felt that they had enough training on how to handle difficult residents; only 37% felt they could do so without using medications. Conclusions Findings suggest that a comprehensive multifaceted intervention designed for nursing homes should aim to improve knowledge of antipsychotic medication risks, change beliefs about appropriateness and effectiveness of antipsychotics for behavior management, and impart strategies and approaches for nonpharmacologic behavior management.
Denaturants or cosolvents improve the specificity of PCR amplification of a G + C-rich DNA using genetically engineered DNA polymerases

We describe conditions that improve the specificity of amplification of a G + C-rich (57% G + C) DNA by PCR. Under standard conditions a 368-bp segment of the approx. 2.1-kb repeat unit of a satellite DNA that accounts for approx. 3% of the genome of the Bermuda land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis, was not amplified specifically. To establish optimal conditions for amplification of the segment of the G + C-rich satellite, we used two genetically engineered enzymes, AmpliTaq DNA polymerase and AmpliTaq DNA polymerase, Stoffel fragment (SF), and a number of denaturants or co-solvents. In the absence of denaturants or co-solvents, amplified products of both enzymes contained non-specific bands upon gel electrophoresis. Addition of certain denaturants or co-solvents to PCR mixtures resulted in the production of the single specific band of the expected size. Reagents that improved specificity of the amplified product were formamide, glycerol, DMSO, Tween-20 and NP-40; on the other hand, urea, ethanol and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) inhibited amplification. Of the two enzymes, SF was more specific and efficient. The products of AmpliTaq DNA polymerase included one or more extra bands, even in the presence of denaturants or co-solvents, except for glycerol or DMSO.
Solution Electrospinning of Nylon/Ferrite Nanofibers

With an average diameter of 80–200 nm, nylon fibers embedded with ferrite nanoparticles were electrospun using a point to plate geometry. The nickel-ferrite particles with a diameter range of 20–30 nm were used to prepare the composite electrospun nanofibers. The ferrite nanoparticles were dispersed in the polymer solution using a surfactant dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA). Ultrasonication was used to dissolve nylon-6 into the formic acid/particle dispersion. Electrospinning of virgin polymer solution and particle filled polymer system was carried out with polymer concentration of 15% w/v. The particle loading was 3%w/w. SEM of the particle filled fibers show some bead formations and a diameter distribution of about 80–200 nm. The DSC analyses of the neat nylon polymer fibers and ferrite filled nanofibers show an increase in glass transition temperature from 55°C to 72°C. The melting temperature showed a decrease from 226°C to 201°C. The TEM images show the presence and some alignment of particles in the polymer. The electron diffraction pattern of ferrite nanoparticles confirms its crystalline nature.
Comparison of strain recovery techniques for the mixed iterative method

Three strain recovery techniques are investigated in the framework of the mixed iterative method. The need for appropriate strain recovery for low-order elements is shown. The three techniques compared are: C-lumping, strain-smoothing and a new technique called C-splitting. It is shown that the use of C-lumping has negative effects on the convergence of the mixed iterative method. Both strain-smoothing and C-splitting deliver convergent results, but the new technique converges faster.
Polymer-cyclodextrin inclusion compounds : Toward new aspects of their inclusion mechanism

α-Cyclodextrin inclusion compounds were prepared in the presence of a polymer and a small molecule model for the polymer repeat unit. By means of this technique, we are able to demonstrate that α-cyclodextrin prefers the inclusion of the longer molecular chain guest. Comparison of the cyclodextrin inclusion compounds formed with poly(e-caprolactone) and hexanoic acid, separately and from solution containing both poly(e-caprolactone) and hexanoic acid in varying amounts, enables us to draw certain conclusions concerning both the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of poly(e-caprolactone)−α-cyclodextrin inclusion compound formation. Differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction have been used to verify the formation and successfully characterize all inclusion compounds.
Translation activates the paused transcription complex and restores transcription of the trp operon leader region

It has been proposed that RNA polymerase pausing in the leader region of the tryptophan (trp) operon of Escherichia coli is responsible for the synchronization of transcription and translation essential to attenuation control. In this report we use an in vitro coupled transcription/translation system to study the effect of trp leader peptide synthesis on RNA polymerase pausing in the trp leader region. Wild-type and translation-defective trp leader templates of E. coli and Serratia marcescens were employed, and pause RNA synthesis and paused complex release (activation) were quantified relative to synthesis of the terminated leader transcript. It was observed that pausing in the trp leader region was prolonged when translation of the leader transcript was reduced by mutations in the leader region or by addition of the translation inhibitor kasugamycin or chloramphenicol. Experiments with S-30 extracts from a mutant strain that is inefficient in translating the tryptophan codons in the leader transcript indicated that ribosome movement to these codons also releases the paused transcription complex. These findings indicate that the paused trp leader transcription complex resumes transcription when released by ribosome movement over the leader peptide coding region. This release would facilitate the coupling of transcription and translation essential to attenuation control.