cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designing the activity/selectivity of surface acidic, basic and redox active sites in the supported K2O–V2O5/Al2O3 catalytic system

Abstract The supported K 2 O–V 2 O 5 /Al 2 O 3 catalytic system was designed to create surfaces that were 100% acidic, 100% basic, 100% redox, mixed redox-acidic and mixed redox-basic. The resulting nature of the surface sites was controlled by the impregnation of the specific additives (K-basic or V-redox/acidic), their order of impregnation and their surface coverage. The exact locations of the surface methoxy intermediates (Al OCH 3 , K OCH 3 or V OCH 3 ) on the mixed oxide catalyst surfaces during methanol oxidation were determined with in situ Raman spectroscopy. The surface chemistry of the various surface sites and their surface reaction intermediates were chemically probed by CH 3 OH oxidation steady-state and temperature programmed surface reaction (TPSR) spectroscopy studies. The specific reactivity order and the product selectivity of the various surface sites were found to be: V OCH 3 (HCHO) ∼ Al OCH 3 (CH 3 OCH 3 ) ≫ K OCH 3 (primarily CO 2 and minor amounts of HCHO). Formation of dimethoxy methane, (CH 3 O) 2 CH 2 , required the presence of dual surface redox-acidic sites surface redox sites to yield H 2 CO and surface acidic sites to insert the surface methoxy into H 2 CO to form dimethoxy methane, (CH 3 O) 2 CH 2 . The addition of basic surface potassium oxide to Al 2 O 3 possessing surface acid sites completely suppressed reactions from the surface acidic sites and formed a surface with only basic characteristics. The addition of redox surface vanadia to the supported K 2 O/Al 2 O 3 catalyst was able to completely suppress reactions from surface basic sites and formed a surface with only redox characteristics. These studies demonstrate that it is possible to determine the specific surface site requirements for each reaction pathway for methanol oxidation to products, and that this informative approach should also be applicable to other reactant molecules.
A Graph-Based Type Representation for Objects

Subtyping and inheritance are two major issues in the research and development of object-oriented languages, which have been traditionally studied along the lines of typed calculi where types are represented as a combination texts and symbols. wo aspects that are closely related to subtyping and inheritance -- method interdependency, and self type and recursive object type -- have either been overlooked or not received sufficient/satisfactory treatments. In this paper, we propose a graph-based notation for object types and investigate the subtyping and inheritance issues under this new framework. Specifically, we (1) identity the problems that have motivated this paper; (2) propose an extension to Abadi-Cardelli's object-calculus towards fixing the problems; (3) present definitions of object type graphs followed by examples; (4) define subtyping and inheritance using object type graphs; (5) show how the problems can be easily resolved under object type graphs; and (6) summarize the contributions of this paper.
A friendly merger of conceptual expectations and linguistic analysis in a text processing system

The SCISOR system is a computer program designed to scan naturally occurring texts in constrained domains, extract information, and answer questions about that information. The system currently reads newspaper stories in the domain of corporate mergers and acquisitions. The language analysis strategy used by SCISOR combines full syntactic (bottom-up) parsing and conceptual expectation-driven (top-down) parsing. Four knowledge sources, including syntactic and semantic information and domain knowledge, interact in a flexible manner. This integration produces a more robust semantic analyzer designed to deal gracefully with gaps in lexical and syntactic knowledge, transports easily to domains, and facilitates the extraction of information from texts. >
Dryland soil carbon dynamics under alfalfa and durum-forage cropping sequences

Forages grown in rotation with or without cereals to sustain dryland soil water content and crop production may influence C dynamics. We evaluated the effect of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and durum (Triticum turgidum L.)-annual forage cropping sequences on above- (stems + leaves) and belowground (roots) biomass C inputs and dryland soil organic C (SOC), particulate total C (PTC), microbial biomass C (MBC), and potential C mineralization (PCM) at the 0–120 cm depth. Cropping sequences were continuous alfalfa (CA), durum-barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) hay (D-B), durum-foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) hay (D-M), durum-Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum L.)/barley mixture hay (D-P/B), and durum-fallow (D-F). The experiment was conducted in a Williams loam (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, Typic Argiustoll) from 2002 to 2005 in eastern Montana, USA. Except in 2003, aboveground biomass yield and C content were lower in CA than in other treatments from 2002 to 2005. Similarly, belowground biomass yield and C content were lower in D-F than in other treatments from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, soil surface residue amount and C content were greater in D-F than in other treatments. The SOC at 0–15 cm was greater in CA than in D-B and D-M. The PTC at 0–15 cm was greater in CA than in other treatments, but varied with treatments at other depths. The PCM at 0–120 cm was greater in CA than in other treatments. The MBC at 30–120 cm was greater in CA and D-P/B than in D-B. The proportion of SOC in PTC, PCM, and MBC at 0–120 cm was greater in CA or D-P/B than in D-B and D-F. Although aboveground biomass C input was lower, greater belowground biomass C and a relatively undisturbed soil condition probably increased C storage at the surface layer and microbial biomass and activity at the surface and subsurface layers under alfalfa than under annual durum-forage sequences. Greater aboveground biomass C and fresh residue accumulation during durum phase, however, increased C storage in the surface residue under durum-fallow than under other cropping sequences. Perennial forages, such as alfalfa, can increase dryland soil C sequestration and biological soil quality by increasing microbial biomass and activity compared with annual cropping systems due to greater belowground biomass C input and continuous root growth.
A global satellite view of aerosol cloud interactions

Abstract. Long-term and large-scale correlations between Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) aerosol optical depth and International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) monthly cloud amount data show significant regional scale relationships between cloud amount and aerosols, consistent with aerosol-cloud interactions. Positive correlations between aerosols and cloud amount are associated with North American and Asian aerosols in the North Atlantic and Pacific storm tracks, and mineral aerosols in the tropical North Atlantic. Negative correlations are seen near biomass burning regions of North Africa and Indonesia, as well as south of the main mineral aerosol source of North Africa. These results suggest that there are relationships between aerosols and clouds in the observations that can be used by general circulation models to verify the correct forcing mechanisms for both direct and indirect radiative forcing by clouds.
Learning Logs: Incorporating Writing-to-Learn Assignments into Accounting Courses

ABSTRACT: The writing across the curriculum movement advocates using Writing-to-Learn (WTL) assignments to facilitate learning. The basic premise of WTL assignments is that students learn concepts better when they write about them. This article discusses the pedagogical theories relating to WTL that were used to design and implement learning logs in an introductory financial accounting course. Learning logs are two-page papers requiring students to interpret and apply accounting concepts. One learning log assignment requires students to prepare a whistleblower letter reporting a fraud that they have observed. Other learning log assignments are based on current events such as a dividend announcement by Apple and a stock split proposal by Google. This paper describes student learning goals, presents learning log assignments, provides sample student responses, and includes a discussion of classroom experience. Student survey responses indicate that students perceived the learning logs as useful for promotin...
Rules for the Presentation of Peptides by Class II Molecules of the Major Histocompatibility Complex

As virtually all adaptive immune responses involve the activation of CD4 T cells by specific antigen, a central question in immunology is the nature of the ligands recognized by these cells. It is now well established that CD4 T cells respond to peptide fragments of foreign proteins bound to a single peptide binding site of a class II molecule encoded in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Thus, determining the nature of peptides bound by MHC class II molecules is essential for an understanding of adaptive immunity. Moreover, as tolerance of CD4 T cells is crucial for maintaining self tolerance of B cells (Lin et al, 1991), CD8 cytolytic T cells (Guerder and Matzinger, 1992), and the CD4 T cells themselves, understanding the nature and distribution of self peptides bound to MHC class II molecules is also critical to understanding self tolerance. Finally, self peptides have been implicated in positive selection of T cells in the thymus for self MHC recognition capability. For all these reasons, we have sought to characterize self peptides bound to MHC class II molecules, their generation and distribution in various tissues, and T cell responses to these self peptides. In this paper, we summarize our findings and speculate about their implications for self tolerance and self MHC recognition.
Practice-Based Research: Meeting the Demands of Program Evaluation through the Single-Case Design

The counseling profession is moving toward a foundation in outcome research to enhance the validity and efficacy of clinical mental health counselors. A disparity between the roles of researcher and counselor has resulted in counselors relying on other professions to validate their work. To remedy this gap, practice-based research using the single-case design is promoted as a suitable method for counselors. Current research is explored to highlight the value of the single-case design in clinical practice and program evaluation. How the Accountability Bridge Counseling Program Evaluation Model (Astramovich & Coker, 2007) can be applied to single-case design is described. The use of feedback-informed treatment systems is shown to be a feasible measurement system for this method and for counseling practice. Suggestions are made for future research.
Sampling the Moon's atmosphere

In H. G. Wells' 1901 science fiction classic The First Men in the Moon , two protagonists, English businessman Mr. Bedford and the eccentric physicist Dr. Cavor, knock back a special enervating concoction designed to expand their lungs, followed by the requisite fortifying brandy, before venturing onto the Moon's surface to breathe the rarefied lunar atmosphere. Even more tenuous than Wells' imagined environment, the lunar exosphere is an atmosphere so thin that atoms never collide, bounded on one side by the lunar surface and extending thousands of kilometers out into space. This low-density envelope results from a balance among the influx of material from the Sun, outgassing from the Moon's interior, delivery from meteoritic bombardment, and the loss of material to space as well as recycling in the lunar surface (see the figure). The precise formula for the formation of the lunar exosphere is unknown, but recent data from orbital spacecraft are being used to delineate the relative contributions from different processes. On page 249 of this issue, Colaprete et al. ( 1 ) report measurements of sodium and potassium (Na and K) in the lunar exosphere based on observations from the Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrometer (UVS) aboard NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE), which acquired continuous dayside and nightside measurements of exospheric Na and K over multiple lunar orbits.
Marriage, Cruising, and Live in Between: Clarifying Organizational Positionalities in Pursuit of Polyvocal Gay-Based Advocacy

This Article explicates a model of LGBT rights advocacy that focuses on pluralism and representation across a broad range of constituents. Drawing on cause lawyering work on the interactions among donor, client, and lawyer goals, I propose a model of representation that values intra-group debate, representation of constituents across the LGBT population, and the maintenance of multiple organizations equipped with divergent political and theoretical postures. With this model in mind, I analyze four LGBT rights organizations to explore the extent to which they embrace and facilitate a pluralistic model of representation. More specifically, I use the issue of marriage for same-sex couples as a way to understand each organization’s position and its relationship to a range of LGBT issue areas. If a goal of LGBT rights advocacy is to encourage competing discourses and representational moves, the ideal organization is neither one that advances normalization (through marriage) in a wholesale fashion nor one that rejects marriage as anti-progressive and limiting. Instead, the ideal organization, or combination of organizations, occupies both ends of the internal marriage debate and provides representation for constituents along a broad spectrum of LGBT life.
High Strength Ductile Iron Produced by Engineered Cooling: Process Concept

Traditionally, high strength ductile irons are produced by a combination of alloying and heat treatment, both operations substantially increase the cost and carbon footprint of casting production. In this study, the concept of a process for the production of high strength ductile iron using engineered cooling is discussed. The process includes early shakeout of the casting from the mold and application of a specially designed cooling schedule (engineered cooling) to develop the desired structure. The high extraction rate of internal heat is achieved by controlling the thermal gradient in the casting wall and the surface temperature. Experimental “Thermal Simulator” techniques and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations were used to design the cooling parameters. The concept was experimentally verified by pouring plate castings with 1” wall thickness and applying the engineered cooling techniques. The tensile strengths of ductile iron increased from 550–600 MPa for castings solidified in the mold to 1000–1050 MPa after engineered cooling.
Growth of the Bollworm on Glanded and Glandless Cottons

Two strains of larval Heliothis zea (Boddie) were reared on diets prepared from lyophilized squares of 14 glanded and glandless pairs of cotton lines. One strain was reared also on squares on green plants of these lines. In general, there was no difference in the growth of the 2 strains, and all larvae were larger when they were fed on glandless diets and plants. Ascorbic acid was necessary in the artificial diets for normal growth of larvae.
Mechanics and Energetics of DNA Hybridization on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Explored Using Adaptive Biasing Force Calculations

Hybrid nanostructures consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes (swCNs) coated with single stranded DNA (ssDNA) are of great interest due to their numerous potential applications in nanotechnology, medicine, and homeland security. Recent experiments have demonstrated that DNA-CN hybrids can detect the hybridization of complementary DNA strands, paving the way for applications in DNA sequencing and genetic testing. However, the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Previous molecular dynamics (MD) simulations studying DNA-CN self-assembly have found that adsorbed DNA bases are poorly positioned to hybridize with complementary DNA strands. Here, we apply the adaptive biasing force (ABF) method to all-atom MD models, and find that DNA bases must desorb from the swCN sidewall and suffer significant energy penalties to hybridize with complementary DNA. This agrees with the extremely slow hybridization time scales in fluorescence experiments, as well as observations made using DNA-CN transistor devi...
Variability in Apgar Score Assignment among Clinicians: Role of a Simple Clarification.

Objective We aimed to evaluate variability in Apgar score (AS) assignment among health care providers (HCPs) and to evaluate whether a simple clarification improves accuracy and consistency of AS assignment. Study Design An electronic questionnaire survey was provided to pediatric residents, nurse practitioners, neonatal fellows, and faculty in level III neonatal intensive care unit and major academic centers in the United State to assign AS for three clinical scenarios. Next, we provided a simple clarification on various components of AS. After review of clarification, responders were asked to provide AS for the same scenarios. We also sought the opinion of responders on the subjectivity of five components of AS. Results A total of 107 responses were collected. Correct assignment before and after clarification improved significantly: heart rate (78 vs. 90%, p = 0.02), reflex (63 vs.75%, p = 0.06), and breathing (82 vs. 96%, p = 0.003). Correct scoring for color and tone were 86 and 67%, respectively. Interobserver agreement improved significantly after clarification. Conclusion There was variability among HCPs for AS assignment, with improvement in correct response as well as consistency after a simple clarification. Availability of this clarification, along with the AS table in delivery room, will improve the correct assignment and consistency of AS for high-risk infants.
A new mouse model for embryos with a hatching deficiency and its use to elucidate the mechanism of blastocyst hatching.

Objective To develop an experimental model for embryos with a defect specific to hatching, with the purpose of clarifying the mammalian embryo hatching mechanism. Design A microneedle was inserted under the zona pellucida (ZP) of mouse embryos, and either 1 2 or 1 4 of the blastomeres were mechanically destroyed. The remainder of embryos that developed into blastocysts were compared for hatching to controls wherein a microneedle was inserted and withdrawn without harming the embryo. Experiments were done to increase pressure within the perivitelline space to decrease the amount of ZP material to study the hatching mechanism. Setting University-based basic research laboratory. Results When 1 2 or 1 4 of the embryo was destroyed and the remaining cells developed into healthy blastocysts within the intact zona, hatching was significantly impaired, and zona thickness was markedly increased relative to controls. When a mineral oil droplet was inserted under the zona to enhance a possible mechanical component of hatching, manipulated embryos were not restored to normal hatching, and hatching of unmanipulated blastocysts was not improved. However, when the zona was circumferentially thinned by application of acid Tyrode's solution, the hatching defect in manipulated " 3 4 embryos" was corrected. Conclusion Because it is known that embryos with cells reduced by 1 2 or 1 4 have normal developmental potential, we conclude that the inability of such embryos to hatch from an intact zona constitutes a mouse model for a defect specific to hatching. Moreover, results from mineral oil droplet insertion and circumferential thinning of the zona indicate that normal hatching is accomplished predominantly, if not entirely, by zona lysis, not by pressure exerted against the zona by the expanding blastocyst.
Medical students' attitudes toward abortion and other reproductive health services.

Background and Objectives: The continued availability of legal abortions in the United States depends on the willingness of future physicians to provide this procedure. This paper explores the attitudes toward abortion issues of first- and second-year medical students at a large regional primary care-oriented medical school. Methods: We anonymously surveyed 286 first- and second-year medical students at the University of Washington. Results: The response rate to the written survey was 76.6%. Women were slightly overrepresented among the respondents. The majority of students supported the broad provision of reproductive health services; 58.1% felt that first-trimester abortions should be available to patients under most circumstances. Of the 43.4% of students who anticipated a career in family practice, most expected to provide abortions in their future practices. Older students and women were more likely to support the provision of abortion services. Conclusions: Despite continuing pressure on abortion providers, most first- and second-year medical students at a fairly typical statesupported medical school intend to incorporate this procedure into their future practices.
Effects of Increased Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure on CM Response

Cerebrospinal fluid pressure and consequently perilymphatic fluid pressure was increased 5, 10, and 15 cm Hg above normal in 13 cats. With increasing pressure the CM pseudo-threshold showed a progr...
Program for obstetric care supporting underserved areas in Korea: outcome and evaluation standards

In 2011, the government of South Korea established a support program for obstetric care for underserved geographical areas to address the serious problem of the low birth rate. The birth rate of some underserved areas has since been increasing, and several indexes of mother and child health have since improved. However, various problems have also been noted in the evaluation of the policy for this support program. The birth rate of some rural areas remains low, and the inadequacy of professional health care providers has not been resolved. The medical fee for delivery should be rationalized, and countermeasures for medical litigation should be established. Furthermore, better communication between local residents and healthcare providers are necessary to improve maternal and child health. For effective long-term provision of obstetric care through this support program for underserved areas, new outcome and evaluation standards are necessary. Critical requirements for launching an initial support program and outcomes including the birth rate and indices of maternal and child health should be itemized and assessed. Support for health care providers requires expansion including support personnel, the establishment of a transfer system, and measures to address legal problems. A multifaceted approach including regular maternal education and an information network system for local residents is necessary. Future support programs should include total care for maternal and child health, so cooperation of the government offices and health care centers is essential. At the same time, new standards of evaluation of obstetric care support programs for underserved areas need to be established for appropriate evaluation of comprehensive family health.
Framing a Fair Trade Life: Tensions in the Fair Trade Marketplace

In October of 2005, over 750 consumers, store owners, and activists attended the first national FT conference, entitled ‘Living a Fair Trade Life’, in Chicago, IL. Pauline Tiffen, author, activist, and founding member of the North American Fair Trade Alliance, gave the keynote address and explained how ‘the market’ should be reframed as a place where people come to interact and actively make decisions: Conventional wisdom now suggests that ‘the market’ is a neutral, uncontrollable force, immune to morality or persuasion, and not to be blamed for the harmful impact of certain trade practices. I suggest we all view ‘the market’ as ‘the marketplace’ where people come to buy and sell their goods, and where people — not some invisible, unaccountable force — decide what is acceptable and saleable.
Cdkn2a suppresses metastasis in squamous cell carcinomas induced by the gain-of-function mutant p53R172H

p53 (TP53) is the most frequently mutated gene in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the skin and head and neck. Certain p53 mutations are oncogenic and promote invasion and metastasis in SCCs. However, it is unclear how the oncogenic function of mutant p53 is modulated by other molecular alterations that co-exist in SCCs. Here, we show that deletion of the p53 gene and activation of an endogenous p53(R172H) gain-of-function mutation in the skin induce carcinomas with similar kinetics and penetrance. Deletion of p53 induced primarily well-differentiated SCCs. However, most of the tumours induced by p53(R172H) were poorly differentiated SCCs, the only metastatic tumours in this model. These tumours expressed higher levels of cyclin D1 than the well-differentiated SCCs and spindle carcinomas that developed in these mice. Unexpectedly, metastasis was not observed in mice that developed spindle carcinomas, which expressed high levels of the tumour suppressors p16(Ink4a) and p19(Arf) , encoded by Cdkn2a, a gene frequently deleted in human SCCs. Remarkably, deletion of the Cdkn2a gene in p53(R172H) -induced SCCs promoted a dramatic increase in metastasis rates and a shorter survival in mice that developed these tumours, compared with those observed in mice with tumours in which Cdkn2a was deleted in the presence of a p53 loss-of-function mutation or wild-type p53. Accordingly, the survival of patients with head and neck SCCs bearing co-occurring high-risk p53 mutations and CDKN2A homozygous deletions was much shorter than that of patients with tumours in which high-risk p53 mutations did not contain CDKN2A homozygous deletions, or that of patients with tumours in which homozygous CDKN2A deletions co-existed with either low-risk p53 mutations or potential loss-of-function mutations in p53. These findings genetically identify a population of SCC patients with worst outcomes and will help to predict outcomes according to the p53 status and alterations in CDKN2A. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Three-Year Survival in Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): The Importance of Metastatic Distribution

Introduction: Long-term survival (LTS) is an important goal of lung cancer treatment. Patients with metastatic disease at presentation have a median survival of 8 - 10 months. We sought to elucidate variables affecting 3-year survival of these patients. Methods: We analyzed 526 newly diagnosed, untreated patients with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), who received initial treatment at our institution from 2004 to 2008 according to performance status (PS), smoking history, number and sites of disease to assess which factors were associated with 36-month survival. Results: Overall, 62 of 526 patients (11.8%) survived 36 months or more. 462 patients (87.8%) died within 36 months. The remaining 2 patients were lost to follow-up and subsequently removed from further analysis. Of the 62 patients with LTS, 43 (69.4%) had 1 metastatic site, 11 (17.7%) had 2 sites and 8 (12.9%) had 3 or more sites (P 0.001). Twenty-four patients with LTS (38.7%) had lung to lung spread and only 1 patient (1.6%) had liver metastasis (P = 0.014). At initial evaluation, 21 patients had PS = 0, 32 had PS = 1, 6 had PS = 2, 2 had PS = 3, and the PS of one patient was unknown. Only 7 of 62 (11.3%) were current smokers and 23 (37.1%) were never-smokers. Thirty-eight patients with LTS (61.3%) had adenocarcinoma histology. Conclusions: Number of metastatic sites and presence of liver metastases appear to be independent, negative prognostic factors and important stratification variables for comparing groups of advanced lung cancer patients for randomizing clinical trials.
Incidence and survival for young women with operable breast cancer: SEER 1992-2011.

536 Background: Recent work has shown an increasing incidence of Stage IV breast cancer (bc) in young women (wm). We examined the incidence and survival of young wm with operable bc. Methods: Wm ages 20-39 diagnosed with stages 1-3 bc from 1992-2011 were identified from SEER data and categorized by hormone receptor (HR) status and grade (low = well/moderately differentiated, high = poor/undifferentiated). Those with missing information were excluded. Annual percent change (APC) in age-adjusted incidence rates for the SEER 13 registries were calculated. Kaplan Meier survival curves were estimated by HR and grade. Results: We identified 3,566 wm aged 20-29 and 34,508 wm 30-39. For wm 20-29, stages 1, 2, 3 comprised 25.2, 50.5, and 24.3% of the sample versus 30.6, 47.1, and 22.3% for wm 30-39 (all p < 0.001). HR status and grade also differed significantly by age. Wm 20-29 were more likely to have HR- disease (40.4 v 34.2%), less likely to have HR+ low grade disease (25.7 v 35.6%) and more likely to have HR+...
Demographic Techniques: Family Reconstitution

Family reconstitution is the technique of linking records of demographic events, usually of an ecclesiastical nature (baptisms, marriages, burials), within and between individual lives to recreate individual life histories and the histories of families. It links by names of persons the parish records of baptisms, burials, and marriages (nominal data linkage) of individuals. It revolutionized the study of population processes in the past, allowing estimation of demographic rates that were virtually impossible by other means. Similar sources and extensions of the technique include genealogies, Ortssippenbucher, Qing dynasty genealogies, civil vital event registers, civil population registers, and libri status animarum. Methods of family reconstitution include purely manual linkage, computer-assisted manual linkage, and linkage solely by computer. Some limitations of the technique include data quality, coverage, and representativeness, statistical issues, selection by quality of data, selection by migration, truncation and censoring, and bias from delays in recording. Despite difficulties in quality and coverage of the data and the possibility of biased inference, family reconstitution has given scholarship a remarkable window on the demographic past. In so doing it provides information for much longer spans of time than contemporary data and often for periods before any effects of industrialization or modernization.
Transit user perceptions of driverless buses

This paper reports the results of a stated preference survey of regular transit users’ willingness to ride and concerns about driverless buses in the Philadelphia region. As automated technologies advance, driverless buses may offer significant efficiency, safety, and operational improvements over traditional bus services. However, unfamiliarity with automated vehicle technology may challenge its acceptance among the general public and slow the adoption of new technologies. Using a mixed logit modeling framework, this research examines which types of transit users are most willing to ride in driverless buses and whether having a transit employee on board to monitor the vehicle operations and/or provide customer service matters. Of the 891 surveyed members of University of Pennsylvania’s transit pass benefit program, two-thirds express a willingness to ride in a driverless bus when a transit employee is on board to monitor vehicle operations and provide customer service. By contrast, only 13% would agree to ride a bus without an employee on board. Males and those in younger age groups (18–34) are more willing to ride in driverless buses than females and those in older age groups. Findings suggest that, so long as a transit employee is onboard, many transit passengers will willingly board early generation automated buses. An abrupt shift to buses without employees on board, by contrast, will likely alienate many transit users.
Review: Building Zion: The Material World of Mormon Settlement, by Thomas Carter

Thomas Carter. Building Zion: The Material World of Mormon Settlement Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2015, 358 pp., 2 tables, 215 b/w illus. $112.50 (cloth), ISBN 9780816689569; $37.50 (paper), ISBN 9780816689576 The academic study of vernacular landscapes has matured over the past two generations in parallel with the increasingly sophisticated study of Mormonism. This confluence of subject and method reach peak scholarly expression with the publication of Thomas Carter's Building Zion . The summation of a career's worth of work on Utah's built environment, the book exemplifies what happens when the right author with the right project reaches the right publisher at the right time. Carter, a longtime faculty member in the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Utah, has provided a definitive treatment of the character of the Latter-day Saints’ western settlements. Production by the University of Minnesota Press has enabled him to interweave his analysis with more than two hundred useful photographs, maps, and original measured drawings of individual buildings and towns, allowing his architectural evidence full expression. This evidence is further bolstered by impressive archival research. The result points to some surprising conclusions. Despite the many controversies accompanying the foundational decades of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Carter concludes that much about early Mormon material life could be rather ordinary. His study spans the years from the founding of the church in 1830 to its newfound stability by the end of the nineteenth century. He takes as his particular field of focus the settlements of east-central Utah's Sanpete Valley, with the city of Manti (founded in 1849) serving as the study's center of gravity. But Carter's study frequently …
Search for new thermoelectric materials with low Lorenz number

To date, efforts to reduce thermal conductivity in thermoelectric materials have largely focused on reducing the vibrational component. However, in an optimized thermoelectric material, the electronic component can often contribute an equivalent amount to the total thermal conduction. In principle, the Lorenz number of a bulk semiconductor can be reduced to a small fraction of the Sommerfeld value through the use of a band-pass energy filter in the transport distribution function. One strategy to achieve this band-pass filter is through multiple bands that are offset in energy. Despite a reduction in power factor, we show that a lower Lorenz number can lead to zT enhancement of nearly 40% over the single parabolic band value for materials with electronic properties similar to PbTe. One signature for this behavior is a density of states that rapidly increases deeper into the band. Guided by this insight, we conducted a high-throughput computational search for materials with exceptionally low Lorenz number and high thermoelectric quality factor. From this search, we identify materials that are predicted to have both high quality factor and low Lorenz number. Intriguingly, we find that the vast majority of known thermoelectric materials exhibit these traits; further, new materials have emerged that warrant further investigation.
A κITE in the wind: Smooth trajectory optimization in a moving reference frame

A significant challenge for unmanned aerial vehicles capable of flying long distances is planning in a wind field. Although there has been a plethora of work on the individual topics of planning long routes, smooth trajectory optimization and planning in a wind field, it is difficult for these methods to scale to solve the combined problem. In this paper, we address the problem of planning long, dynamically feasible, time-optimal trajectories in the presence of wind (which creates a moving reference frame). We present an algorithm, κITE, that elegantly decouples the joint trajectory optimization problem into individual path optimization in a fixed ground frame and a velocity profile optimization in a moving reference frame. The key idea is to derive a decoupling framework that guarantees feasibility of the final fused trajectory. Our results show that κITE is able to produce high-quality solutions for planning with a helicopter flying at speeds of 50 m/s, handling winds up to 20 m/s and missions over 200 km. We validate our approach with real-world experiments on a full-scale helicopter with a pilot in the loop. Our approach paves the way forward for autonomous systems to exhibit pilot-like behavior when flying missions in winds aloft.
Disability, Health and Human Development

This open access book introduces the human development model to define disability and map its links with health and wellbeing, based on Sen’s capability approach. The author uses panel survey data with internationally comparable questions on disability for Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. It presents evidence on the prevalence of disability and its strong and consistent association with multidimensional poverty, mortality, economic insecurity and deprivations in education, morbidity and employment. It shows that disability needs to be considered from multiple angles including aging, gender, health and poverty. Ultimately, this study makes a call for inclusion and prevention interventions as solutions to the deprivations associated with impairments and health conditions.
Reliable Pan-Cancer Microsatellite Instability Assessment by Using Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Data.

PurposeMicrosatellite instability (MSI)/mismatch repair (MMR) status is increasingly important in the management of patients with cancer to predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. We determined MSI status from large-panel clinical targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) data across various solid cancer types.MethodsThe MSI statuses of 12,288 advanced solid cancers consecutively sequenced with Memorial Sloan Kettering-Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets clinical NGS assay were inferred by using MSIsensor, a program that reports the percentage of unstable microsatellites as a score. Cutoff score determination and sensitivity/specificity were based on MSI polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and MMR immunohistochemistry.ResultsBy using an MSIsensor score ≥ 10 to define MSI high (MSI-H), 83 (8%) of 996 colorectal cancers (CRCs) and 42 (16%) of 260 uterine endometrioid cancers (UECs) were MSI-H. Validation against MSI PCR and/or MMR immunohistochemistry performed for 138 (24 MSI-H...
Species’ traits do not converge on optimum values in preferred habitats

Plant trait expression is shaped by filters, which can alter trait means and variances, theoretically driving species toward an "optimum" trait value for a set of environmental conditions. Recent research has highlighted the ubiquity of intraspecific variation in functional traits, which can cause plants to diverge from a hypothesized "optimum". We examined whether species occurring in "core" habitats (where they occur frequently, abundantly, and consistently) express traits that are nearer to "optimum", as captured by the community-weighted mean (CWM). We also asked whether trait variance showed signs of environmental filtering. We used cluster analysis to group plots based on environmental factors along a wet-to-dry ecotone. We used indicator species analysis to identify species with strong associations within each cluster. Trait means and variances were compared, and evidence of variance filtering was tested using a null-model approach. Trait means and trait variances respond to local-scale environmental filtering and species in core habitats were not necessarily nearer to the CWM than in other habitats. Intraspecific trait variability shows a strong signal of filtering, as variability was reduced for nearly all species and all traits compared to estimates of variability generated in the absence of environmental filtering. Our results provide strong evidence that species traits are not necessarily near "optimum" trait values in core habitats, and that trait distributions within species are strongly shaped by the environment. Future analyses should account for this divergence when calculating metrics of functional diversity, and extrapolating to ecosystem function.
Contributions of Similarity and Interaction Frequency with Supervisors on Work Engagement

This study extends engagement research by examining the contribution of deep- level similarity with supervisor and perceived supervisor support. We examined whether perceived supervisor support mediated the relationship between deep- level similarity and engagement. We also investigated how interaction frequency might moderate this mediational effect. Data from 2 separate organizations indicate that perceived supervisor support mediates the relationship between deep-level similarity and engagement. In addition, interaction frequency moderates the relationship between deep-level similarity and perceived supervisor support but not the perceived supervisor support and engagement relationship. The findings suggest that deep-level similarity linked to perceived supervisor support, and high informal interaction with supervisor can complement the lack of similarity in stimulating support perception.
Wide Band Gap CuGa(S,Se)2 Thin Films on Transparent Conductive Fluorinated Tin Oxide Substrates as Photocathode Candidates for Tandem Water Splitting Devices

The purpose of this work was to explore the potential of CuGa(S,Se)2 thin films as wide-EG top cell absorbers for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. A synthesis was developed on fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) photocathodes by converting copper-rich co-evaporated CuGaSe2 into CuGa(S,Se)2 via a post-deposition annealing. We found it necessary to first anneal CuGaSe2 at low-temperature in sulfur then at high-temperature in nitrogen to preserve the transparency and conductivity of the FTO. Using this two-step synthesis, we fabricated a 1.72 eV CuGa(S,Se)2 photocathode with a saturation current density and photocurrent onset potential of 10 mA/cm2 and −0.20 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, respectively. However we found that the PEC performance and sub-EG transmittance, worsened with increasing copper content. Using flatband potential measurements and the Gerischer model, we show that divergences in PEC performance of CuGa(S,Se)2 photocathodes can be explained by differences in conduction band min...
Enhancement of muscarinic receptor-coupled phosphatidyl inositol hydrolysis in diabetic bladder.

We previously have shown an increase in muscarinic receptor density in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic and sucrosefed diuretic rat detrusor that correlates with an increase in the contractile response to muscarinic agonist (J Pharmacol Exp Ther 248: 81, 1989; Diabetes 40: 265, 1991). To investigate the signal transduction pathway involved in this altered functional response, we examined muscarinic receptor-coupled phosphatidylinositol metabolism in STZ-diabetic, sucrose-fed diuretic and age-matched control rat bladders. [3H]myo-inositol uptake was similar in all groups, but incorporation of myo-inositol into phosphatidylinositol (PI) was significantly increased in the diabetic bladder compared to the sucrose-fed and control rat bladders. Carbachol-induced increase in inositol phosphate (IPs) production was higher in the diabetic bladder than in bladders from control and sucrose-fed animals although the EC50 values were similar for all groups. Enhanced inositol phosphate production after muscarinic agonist stimulation may be due not only to the upregulation of muscarinic receptors but also to the increased incorporation of myo-inositol into PI in the STZ-induced diabetic bladder.
Lightweight Augmented Reality Tools for Lean Procedures in Future Factories

The aim of this paper is to introduce the main outcomes of the application of Augmented Reality (AR) features to manufacturing and industrial scenarios under a new perspective. While the request of industrial mixed reality technologies is continuously growing, the research community is still facing the crucial challenge to give a convenient answer to such needs. The problem of the development of adaptable and inexpensive AR solutions is herein addressed by proposing a new approach for the application of AR technology to lean-based visual communication transfer and exchange. This work starts from the concept of virtual factory, a place where the real production of future factories becomes fully merged with virtual reality features and utilities. AR applications may then be reinterpreted as lightweight tools that continuously interact with the virtual factory to support manufacturing and management tasks, providing just-in-time and adaptive augmented information to users. As a case study, several AR tools designed following these principles to support a real production process are presented.
Studies of amino acid administration: II. Clinical uses of an enzymatic digest of casein

I N A previous report v it was shown that children fed a solution cont i i ~ " " " " ~" " "o " a n n all of the essential amino acids ( Amlgen t), prepared by the digestion of casein with pork pancreas, can achieve a positive nitrogen balance. Our clinical experience with this solution now extends over a period of three years and includes its administration to more than 300 patients; it is now routinely used in this hospital as an adjunct to medical and surgical therapy as a means of preventing protein depletion. The present paper is devoted to description of some of the clinical uses of the preparation, together with discussions of its limitations, and the precautions that will avoid untoward reactions.
Generative Phonology and Phonological Identification.

Abstract It is shown that generative phonology in its present form cannot predict phonological identifications, thus preventing it from achieving descriptive adequacy, and limiting its usefulness in the study of speech perception. It is concluded that the main assumption of generative phonology—that the unity of the morpheme must be expressed phonologically—must be rejected and that a new main assumption must be sought.
Reconfigurable metasurfaces for dynamical control of the properties of radiation (Conference Presentation)

Research in nanophotonic materials and design is yielding advances that are opening conceptually new paths to the realization of metasurfaces consisting of tunable nanoantenna arrays. These tunable metasurfaces can enable dynamic, active control of all of the key constitutive properties of light – amplitude, phase, wavevector and polarization – opening new applications such as phased-array optical beam steering, reconfigurable flat optics, visible light modulation for communication and thermal radiation management.