cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differences in Body Shape Representations among Young Adults from a Biracial (Black-White), Semirural Community The Bogalusa Heart Study

In this study, the authors examined body image perception and body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m) 2 ) among race-gender groups in a biracial (Black-White) population of young adults in Bogalusa, Louisiana. A mail-out survey was completed in 1994 by 3,698 (65%) participants aged 18.5-35 years in the Bogalusa Heart Study (mean age = 27.6 years). As part of the survey, body image perception was determined in terms of body shape representations from a figure rating scale. A body image discrepancy score was calculated from the difference between z-standardized values of body image perception and body mass index. A stepwise proportional odds model including the covariates income, employment, education, and physical activity was used to identify factors influencing lower perception of body shape. Mean body mass index was highest among Black females (p 0.05). The authors conclude that significant differences exist within racial groups concerning body image perception in relation to overweight status among young adults. This has implications for prevention and education programs.
Research on Molten Iron Vertical Flow Rate and Level Based on Dynamic Infrared Radiation and Time Intervals

In the foundry, it's difficult to measure the level of molten iron in pouring package and the flow of molten iron each pouring during casting control process, which will result in the control problem of over-pouring and under-pouring.So,a new measurement method about molten iron level and dynamic detection of vertical flow rate has been developed in this paper.The method is based on infrared radiation and time intervals under the state of vertical flow rate of molten iron. By analysing the flow rate of molten iron in the casting ladle taphole theoretically, building field experimental device and analysing experimental results, it shows that the proposed iron level measurement and dynamic detection of vertical flow rate based on infrared radiation and time intervals are feasible. And then it lays a foundation for controlling the flow of molten iron.
A quantum ring detector for the 1–3 terahertz range with very high responsivity and specific detectivity

The detection of long wavelength and terahertz (THz) radiation is important for a number of applications including molecular spectroscopy, medical diagnostics, security and surveillance, quality control, and astronomy. Semiconductor based quantum dot (QD) and quantum ring (QR) detectors [1, 2] have been used for the detection of long wavelength radiation. While high temperature operation of the devices is desired for some applications, THz detectors operating at low temperatures are also in demand, particularly for astronomy and space applications. Another challenge for semiconductor-based detectors is operation in the 1–3 THz range. We report here a InAs/GaAs quantum ring intersublevel detector (QRID) with spectral response peaking at 1.82 THz (165 µm) and having a peak responsivity R p of 25 A/W and specific detectivity D* of 1×1016 Jones for 1 V bias at 5.2 K. At 10 K, the spectral response peaks at 2.4 THz (125 µm) with R p = 3 A/W and D* = 3×1015 Jones. These characteristics compare very favorably with those of bolometers that are currently used.
Identification of microsatellite loci in lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, and their variability in green sturgeon, A. medirostris

From (CATC) n , (GATA) n , (AAAC) n , and (CA) n —enriched libraries for the lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens , 254 primer pairs were developed. These primer pairs resulted in the identification of 128 microsatellite loci in either A. fulvescens or A. medirostris . Polymorphic loci were identified in both sturgeon species for 48 of the primer pairs and 14 of the primer pairs amplified polymorphic loci only in A. medirostris . Most of the identified loci appear to be tetrasomic (79.1% in A. fulvescens and 64.5% in A. medirostris ). These results offer estimates of the degree of diploidization in each of these species.
On the complexity of ID/LP parsing 1

Modern linguistic theory attributes surface complexity to interacting subsystems of constraints. For instance, the ID/LP grammar formalism separates constraints on immediate dominance from those on linear order. An ID/LP parsing algorithm by Shieber shows how to use ID and LP constraints directly in language processing, without expanding them into an intermediate context-free "object grammar". However, Shieber's purported runtime bound underestimates the difficulty of ID/LP parsing. ID/LP parsing is actually NP-complete, and the worst-case runtime of Shieber's algorithm is actually exponential in grammar size. The growth of parser data structures causes the difficulty. Some computational and linguistic implications follow; in particular, it is important to note that, despite its potential for combinatorial explosion, Shieber's algorithm remains better than the alternative of parsing an expanded object grammar.
Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin: validity of a new alcohol biomarker in a sample of patients with diabetes and hypertension.

Objective: To test the reliability and validity of a new alcohol biomarker. Design: Cross-sectional with matched control. Alcohol use, symptoms of alcohol dependence, health status, current medications, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) levels, and γ-glutamyl transferase levels were assessed. Validity of the %CDT test was estimated using a drinking cutoff of 90 or more drinks in the previous 30 days. Participants: Sample (n = 799) included 89 patients with type 2 diabetes, 299 patients with hypertension, 209 patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes, and 202 matched control subjects with neither diabetes nor hypertension. Results: Three hundred ninety-six women and 403 men ages 30 to 60 participated in the study. Six percent (45 of 799) reported drinking more than 14 drinks per week, 2% (n = 17) met criteria for alcohol abuse, and 3% (n = 23) met DSM-IV criteria for dependence. The overall sensitivity of the %CDT test was 61% with a specificity of 85%. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine that the best fit was for persons who reported >90 drinks per month and a CDT level >2.5% with an area under the curve of 0.83. Test-retest reliability (R) was 0.94. Conclusions: %CDT levels are useful in detecting and/or confirming high-risk drinking in patients being treated for type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) production in a novel hollow fiber fermentor–extractor

Acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) production by immobilized C. acetobutylicum cells is studied in a novel microporous hollow fiber based tubular fermentor-extractor. The solvent 2-ethyl-l-hexanol is used for in situ dispersion-free extraction of products. A mathematical model for simultaneous fermentation and extraction of the products has been investigated. The predicted as well as experimental data follow the same trend. The experimentally observed value of total solvent productivity increased by more than 40% as a result of in situ solvent extraction.
A meta-analysis of home visiting programs: Moderators of improvements in maternal behavior

A meta-analysis of home visiting programs for at-risk families (K = 35, N = 6,453) examined differences in the effects of programs on maternal behavior. On average, programs with more frequent visitation had higher success rates. The frequency of home visits explained significant variance of effect sizes among studies in the United States, with two visits per month predicting a small, substantive effect. Intensive programs or programs with at least three visits per month were more than twice as effective as were less intensive programs. Home visiting programs using nurses or mental health professionals as providers were not significantly more effective than were programs using paraprofessionals. In general, programs showed a positive effect on maternal behavior, but programs with frequent home visits were more successful.
Exploration of the structural environment of the iron-sulfur cluster in putidaredoxin by nitrogen-15 NMR spectroscopy of selectively labeled cysteine residues.

Abstract Putidaredoxin is a di-iron protein whose paramagnetic region is not well characterized by 1 H detected NMR. We have studied the structure of this region in greater detail by directly observed 15 N NMR of oxidized and reduced putidaredoxin preparations in which the six cysteine residues are selectively labeled with 15 N. A new method for preparation of a stable form of reduced putidaredoxin has been developed for use in NMR. The 15 N NMR spectra of the oxidized and reduced forms are characteristically different, and we have measured and compared 15 N chemical shifts, spin-lattice relaxation times ( T 1 ), and chemical shift/temperature dependences for both forms. Evidence for localized valencies of the iron atoms in the reduced form is presented. From the 15 N T 1 values of the oxidized form, reduced distances of the cysteine backbone 15 N nuclei from the center of the Fe 2 S 2 cluster have been calculated. These distances are consistent with those calculated from X-ray crystal structure data for five ferredoxins, and confirm the structural similarity of the Fe 2 S 2 clusters in putidaredoxin and in these ferredoxins in the oxidized state.
Alcohol consumption and negative sex-related consequences among college women: the moderating role of alcohol protective behavioral strategies.

Alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) limit overall negative consequences; however, less is known about the relationship between PBS and negative sex-related consequences. The purpose of the current study was to examine the moderating effects of 2 distinct types of PBS-controlled consumption strategies and serious harm reduction strategies-on the relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol-related risky sexual behavior and sexual victimization. Participants were 459 undergraduate women (ages 18-25) who had consumed alcohol within the past 30 days. Both types of PBS significantly qualified the alcohol-sexual victimization link, but neither type of PBS qualified the alcohol-risky sexual behavior link. Language: en
Switched-mode high-efficiency microwave power amplifiers in a free-space power-combiner array

A design-oriented analysis of the microwave transmission-line class-E amplifier is presented. Experiments and harmonic-balance circuit simulations verify the theoretical equations which predict class-E-amplifier output power, maximum frequency of operation, and dc-RF conversion efficiency. Experimental results at 0.5, 1,2, and 5 GHz are presented. At 0.5 GHz, 83% drain efficiency and 80% power-added efficiency (PAE) are measured, with an output power of 0.55 W, using the Siemens CLY5 MESFET. These results are compared to a class-A and class-F power amplifier using the same device. At 5 GHz, 81% drain efficiency and 72% PAE are measured, with an output power of 0.61 W, using the Fujitsu FLK052WG MESFET. Finally, the 5-GHz class-E power amplifier is successfully integrated into an active-antenna array, demonstrating power combining of four elements with an 85% power-combining efficiency. At 5.05 GHz, the class-E power-amplifier antenna array delivers a total of 2.4 W of output power, with a dc-RF conversion efficiency of 74% and a PAE of 64%.
Antecedents to engrossment in Noddings’ theory of care

Antecedents to engrossment in Noddings’ theory of care Background. Nel Noddings theorized caring as a universal social process comprised of three phases: engrossment or mental attentiveness, affective engagement or empathy and a mental imperative to act on behalf of another. If Noddings’ theory is correct, caring is a learned process. Aim. The goal of this research was to understand the process, particularly engrossment, and to facilitate students’ development of caring relationships. Design. This qualitative study of 13 baccalaureate nursing students uncovered six antecedents that facilitated student’s engrossment and extends Noddings’ theory. Conclusion. Further research, to deepen and synthesize understanding of antecedents and their influence on facilitating or inhibiting the caring process, is advocated.
Oncogenic truncation of the first repeat of c-Myb decreases DNA binding in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract Oncogenic activation of c-Myb in both avian and murine systems often involves N-terminal truncation. In particular, the first of three DNA-binding repeats in c-Myb has been largely deleted during the genesis of the v-myb oncogenes of avian myeloblastosis virus and E26 avian leukemia virus. This finding suggests that the first DNA-binding repeat may have an important role in cell growth control. We demonstrate that truncation of the first DNA-binding repeat of c-Myb is sufficient for myeloid transformation in culture, but deletion of the N-terminal phosphorylation site and adjacent acidic region is not. Truncation of the first repeat decreases the ability of a Myb-VP16 fusion protein to trans activate the promoter of a Myb-inducible gene (mim-1) involved in differentiation. Moreover, truncation of the first repeat decreases the ability of the Myb protein to bind DNA both in vivo and in vitro. These results suggest that N-terminal mutants of c-Myb may transform by regulating only a subset of those genes normally regulated by c-Myb.
Pain catastrophizing and employment histories

hood, pain catastrophizing was statistically significantly associated with ever having been paid ‘under the table’ [F(1,236) = 27.89, P < 0.001] and ever having been fired from a job [F(1,237) = 50.78, P < 0.001], as well as with not getting along with fellow employees [F(1,60) = 7.48, P < 0.01]. Conclusions In this clinical sample, pain catastrophizing demonstrated varying relationships with different aspects of lifetime employment, rather than exerting an overall global effect on employment.
Speech pattern generation and recognition using a personal computer

A personal-computer-based system to generate and recognize speech patterns of discrete utterances from a limited vocabulary is described. The system implements a time-domain approach based on successive amplitude samples to develop a nonparametric characterization of utterances. Unknown words are recognized using a multiprototype minimum-distance classifier. The method is computationally simple and fast, and yields better word-recognition results than previously reported. >
Panoramic optical mapping shows wavebreak at a consistent anatomical site at the onset of ventricular fibrillation

Aims The first seconds of ventricular fibrillation (VF) are well organized and can consist of just one to two rotating waves (rotors). New rotors are spawned when local propagation block causes wave fragmentation. We hypothesized that this process, which leads to fully developed VF, begins at a consistent anatomic site. Methods and results We initiated VF with a stimulus timed to the local T-wave in 10 isolated pig hearts. Hearts were stained with a voltage-sensitive dye and four video cameras recorded electrical propagation panoramically across the epicardium. In each VF episode, we identified the position of the first wavebreak event that produced new rotor(s) that persisted for at least one cycle. The first such wavebreak occurred along the anterior right ventricular insertion (ARVI) in 26 of 32 VF episodes. In these episodes, wavebreak sites were 6 ± 4 mm from the midline of the ARVI. In the remaining 6 episodes, wavebreak sites were 24 ± 5 mm from the midline on either the LV or RV. During rapid pacing, conduction speed was locally depressed at the ARVI when waves crossed parallel to the midline. Action potential duration (APD) was slightly longer (2.2 ± 2.1 ms) at the ARVI compared with other sites ( P < 0.01). Temporal APD alternans were small and not unique to the break site, suggesting that dynamic APD properties were not the cause of wavebreak. Conclusion The ARVI is the dominant site for wavebreak at the onset of VF in normal myocardium. This may be due to the anatomic complexity of the region.
Query likelihood with negative query generation

The query likelihood retrieval function has proven to be empirically effective for many retrieval tasks. From theoretical perspective, however, the justification of the standard query likelihood retrieval function requires an unrealistic assumption that ignores the generation of a "negative query" from a document. This suggests that it is a potentially non-optimal retrieval function. In this paper, we attempt to improve the query likelihood function by bringing back the negative query generation. We propose an effective approach to estimate the probabilities of negative query generation based on the principle of maximum entropy, and derive a more complete query likelihood retrieval function that also contains the negative query generation component. The proposed approach not only bridges the theoretical gap in the existing query likelihood retrieval function, but also improves retrieval effectiveness significantly with no additional computational cost.
Embodied Consciousness and the Poetic Sense of the World

"We must," writes Merleau-Ponty in the Phenomenology of Perception, "recognize the indeterminate as a positive phenomenon" (6). With this declaration, he begins his attempt to overcome a philosophical habit of opposing self and world, of perpetuating dualisms in which the ultimate foundation of "truth" invariably resides in whichever term of the duality a given thinker deems more fundamental than the other. Behind this restless foundationalism is a particular desire that sets it in play-the desire for an initial set of principles which, however few and narrow in scope, can at the very least be taken as certain. To this desire for certainty Merleau-Ponty will oppose the fact of ambiguity, since "ambiguity is of the essence of human existence,"' since "existence is indeterminate in itself, by reason of its fundamental structure" (169). This structure is that of consciousness itself, or more precisely, that of embodied consciousness, since for Merleau-Ponty consciousness, in its original, pre-reflective capacity, "is being-toward-thething through the intermediary of the body" (138-39). And while this somatic intentionality depends on a certain "transcendence" (169), without which consciousness would neverfind itself within a given situation, we must resist the temptation to conceive of this transcendence as in any way "transcendent"-i.e., as an elevation of the subject to a vantage point above, beyond, or prior to the relation between body and world, or as the "transcendental" activity of a cogito that founds this relation and to which embodiment appears as an afterthought or, worse still, an impediment. What embodiment calls for is an understanding of the subject not as constitutive of, but as constituted along with experience-a move of particular importance not only in aesthetics (in its broadest sense), but also in cognitive science, as
Circadian Organization and Female Reproductive Cyclicity

One of the most challenging problems facing reproductive physiologists is the determination of the mechanisms regulating cyclic reproductive events. This is made especially obvious when we consider the types and numbers of reproductive cycles demonstrable in a single species. For example, in reproductively mature hamsters ovulation occurs with unerring precision every four days. This four-day, or quadradian, estrous cycle is superimposed on an annual rhythm of reproductive readiness. Thus, in a hamster exposed to natural environmental photoperiod, reproduction is confined to the months of spring and summer during which approximately 10-12 ova are ovulated every four days. This cycle continues unless interrupted by pregnancy, pseudo-pregnancy or by the decreasing day-lengths of late summer and autumn. For the hamster, therefore, reproduction can be viewed as a series of cyclic events the periodicity of which varies from months to hours. Central to all of these must be one or more timers, or oscillators, whose function(s) it is to synchronize these cycles within each organism and among organisms of the population, guaranteeing for the population that reproductive efforts will be successful.
Hypothermia in organ donation: a friend or foe?

BACKGROUND Hypothermia is a known predictor of mortality in trauma patients; however, its impact on organ procurement has not been defined. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of hypothermia on organ procurement. We hypothesized that admission hypothermia impedes successful organ procurement. METHODS We performed a 5-year retrospective analysis of all trauma patients approached for organ donation. Hypothermia was defined as a core body temperature 36°C/97°F or less. The two groups (hypothermic [HT] vs. nonhypothermic [non-HT]) were matched in a 1:1 ratio using propensity score matching for age, sex, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, systolic blood pressure, international normalized ratio, and Injury Severity Score (ISS). Primary outcome measures were eligibility for organ donation and solid organ procurement. Secondary outcome measures were blood product and vasopressor requirements. RESULTS This study was composed of 537 brain-dead patients, of whom 416 (HT, 208; non-HT, 208) were included in the analysis. The mean (SD) age was 40.5 (23.7) years, 75% were male, mean (SD) temperature was 36.6°C (1.7°C), and mean (SD) systolic blood pressure was 75.35 (68.7) mm Hg. Patients who were hypothermic on presentation were less likely to be eligible for organ donation (44.7% vs. 96%, p ≤ 0.001), and they donated fewer organs per donor (p = 0.04). HT patients required more units of fresh frozen plasma (p = 0.04) and greater mean dose of dopamine (p = 0.03) and vasopressin (p = 0.03) compared with the non-HT patients. CONCLUSION Admission hypothermia is associated with decreased organ donation in potential organ donors independent of admission coagulopathy, hypotension, and injury severity. Early correction of hypothermia may improve organ donation in trauma patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III.
Perodicticus potto (Potto)

These preparations from lymphocyte cultures were donated by Dr. L.E.M. de Boer (Rotterdam). Enumeration of metacentrics etc. is arbitrary as many chromosomes in the second row possess variable short arms and are here counted as acrocentric. An idiogram and measurements are given by de Boer (1973).
A prototype device for nonimmersion shock wave lithotripsy using ultrasonography for calculus localization

AbstractExtracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has revolutionized the clinical treatment of renal calculi. A device was constructed with a spark gap for shock wave generation and a water-filled ellipsoidal reflector to focus the shock wave energy. A membrane coupled the device to the pig and an ultrasonic transducer was used for stone visualization. Initial in vitro experiments and in vivo studies using dwarf pigs demonstrated fragmentation of calculi.
2.06 – The Evolution of Mammalian Sleep

Mammalian brains and bodies tend to increase in size in evolution, requiring increasing hours of feeding per day—which is only feasible when daily sleep requirement is low. Mammalian species can sleep as little as 3 h day −1 and as much as 19 or 20 h day −1 , and typically, small species sleep longer hours than large species. Given that early mammals were very small, it can be expected that larger mammals appeared as sleep requirement evolved, decreasing with increasing body and brain mass. However, the correlation between brain (or body) mass and total daily sleep duration is not straightforward, with many examples of large mammals that sleep many hours per day, such as carnivorans. Besides, how could body mass possibly be related to brain mechanisms that control sleep duration? This chapter reviews the recent finding that daily sleep duration scales universally with the ratio between the density of neurons in the cerebral cortex and the total surface area of the cortex (D/A), which is presumed to determine the rate with which sleep-inducing metabolites accumulate in the cortical parenchyma during waking, both across adult species and in rat development. Because D/A decreases with increasing numbers of neurons, I propose that increasing numbers of cortical neurons in early mammalian evolution led to a decreased sleep requirement that allowed for more hours of feeding and increased body mass, which would then facilitate further increases in numbers of cortical neurons through a larger caloric input. Such coupling of increasing numbers of neurons to a decreased sleep requirement may thus have not only allowed but also driven the trend for increasing brain and body mass in mammalian evolution.
Targeting Mig-7 inhibits carcinoma cell invasion, primary tumor growth, and stimulates killing of breast carcinoma cells.

B211 Novel Migration induction gene-7 (Mig-7) is expressed by cancer cells of primary and metastatic tumor sites, those circulating in blood, as well as by occult tumor cells that mimic endothelial cells. Multiple tumor microenvironment growth factors induce Mig-7 expression. Gain or loss of Mig-7 functional studies show that its expression is required for aggressive tumor cell behaviors. Because normal adult cells apparently lack Mig-7 expression, we hypothesized that Mig-7 is a target to specifically inhibit the spread of cancer while preventing damage to normal cells. We first tested this hypothesis using an in vitro modified Boyden chamber chemoinvasion assay of tumor cells treated with Mig-7 or control antibodies. Our results show that Mig-7 antibody caused a >60% reduction in tumor cell invasion. We further tested our hypothesis using an in vitro analysis of peptide-stimulated human peripheral blood monocyte cells (MC) and their killing of MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells. Mig-7 peptide treatment increased MC killing of MCF-7 cells >2-fold over control peptide treatments. Furthermore, our in vivo studies show that tumor cells stably expressing Mig-7-specific short interferring RNA (siRNA) resulted in a ~70% reduction in primary tumor size in a xenograft nude mouse model. Based on these collective data, we conclude that Mig-7 is a potential candidate for targeted cancer therapy.
Sensitivity analysis for stochastic and deterministic models of nascent focal adhesion dynamics

Sensitivity analysis (SA) is a critical part of modeling any biological system due to the inherent uncertainty in model output, as introduced by parameter values that have not been experimentally determined. SA therefore provides deeper understanding of the system by painting a picture of the extent to which certain model outputs vary in relationship to changes in model parameters. Here we explore two types of global SA for recently developed models of nascent focal adhesion formation, a key step in cellular movement. While many SA methods have been used for deterministic methods, we utilize methods for both stochastic and deterministic models, providing a more complete description of the parameters to which the focal adhesion model is most sensitive. Specific recommendations for further experimentation in the process of cellular motility are proposed in response to the SA.
More on Variability as a Behavioral Concept

It was proposed earlier (Crow, 1977) that variability may be a unifying behavioral concept. The present paper is an update on one aspect of that earlier proposal, response variability, including recent evidence bearing on the issue. In addition, a neural model of behavioral variability is presented to account for the findings and to suggest further avenues of research.
Elemental characterization of the exoskeleton in the whipscorpions Mastigoproctus giganteus and Typopeltis dalyi (Arachnida: Thelyphonida)

The arthropod cuticle is a structurally diverse secretion that is largely composed of lipids, proteins, and α-chitin that function together in protection, prey capture, and as a skeletal framework for efficient and diverse means of locomotion. Aquatic, aerial, and terrestrial arthropods are well known to enrich their cuticles with trace elements that are proposed to strengthen or otherwise enhance specific regions of the exoskeleton. In this study, we provide evidence that whipscorpions (vinegaroons) enrich their exoskeleton with up to 14 trace elements. We use energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to provide the first comparisons of trace element composition in two species of Thelyphonida: Mastigoproctus giganteus (female) and Typopeltis dalyi (female and male). We analyzed the chemical composition of eight regions that have sensory, locomotory, taxonomic, protective, and/or predatory significance: the flagellum, prosoma, tarsal claws of the walking legs, tarsi of the antenniform legs, chelicerae, and the terminal three segments of the pedipalps. Our results reveal the presence of 14 trace elements across both species (12 elements in T. dalyi, 10 elements in M. giganteus), and only four elements are present at significant levels (≥1% weight): Si, Cl, Ca, and Zn. The flagellum, antenniform leg tarsi, and prosoma keel lack these elements in both species, while the chelicerae of all species are enriched with Ca, Zn, and Cl, and the tarsal claws are enriched with Zn. Significantly, we note the presence of Si in the prosomal carapace (but not the keel) of males and females of Typopeltis only, which appears to be the first evidence of this transition metal in the arthropod exoskeleton. We discuss the significance of these chemical enrichments in whipscorpions and provide hypotheses about their functional significance.
Fast spectrum reactor fuel assembly sensitivity analysis

Abstract The Experimental Breeder Reactor-II was a sodium-cooled, metal-uranium-fueled fast-neutron reactor designed and built by Argonne National Laboratory. The reactor achieved initial criticality September 30, 1961, and continued operation until 1994. The reactor thermal power limit was 62.5 MW with a corresponding electrical output of 19 MW. To preserve important EBR-II reactor physics information, a benchmark evaluation is underway for proposed inclusion in the International Handbook of Evaluated Reactor Physics Benchmark Experiments. Coupled with development of the reactor physics benchmark evaluation, sensitivity analysis has been performed. Individual nuclide cross-section sensitivities for heterogeneous and homogeneous fuel assembly models were calculated using the multi-group adjoint method, the iterated fission probability (IFP) method, and the Contribution-Linked eigenvalue sensitivity/Uncertainty estimation via Track length importance Characterization (CLUTCH) method. Good agreement between the three methods was observed except for the sodium total and elastic cross-section and the uranium-235 total cross-section sensitivity coefficients where the multi-group adjoint method produced results approximately 14% and 7% lower than the IFP and CLUTCH methods, respectively.
Design of a high perveance, field-immersed magnicon

The magnicon is a new scanning beam (deflection-modulated) microwave amplifier related to the gyrocon. We discuss the design of a high perveance, magnetic-field-immersed frequency-doubling magnicon amplifier at 11.4 GHz. This magnicon will operate with a field-emission diode, but is intended to be a prototype for future thermionic devices with potential application to advanced linear accelerators and to space power beaming.
The Growth of Fractal Aggregates

A large variety of structures with more or less well defined fractal geometries have now been recognized.1 Many of these structures have come about as a result of nonequilibrium growth or aggregation processes. At present much of what we know about these growth and aggregation processes has come from computer simulations. Almost 20 years ago a simple ballistic aggregation model in which clusters combined with other clusters to generate successively larger and larger clusters was developed by Sutherland.2,3 This model led to the formation of tenuous structures which exhibited mass-length scaling relationships which would now be recognized as being characteristic of fractal geometry. The mass-length scaling exponents obtained from three dimensional simulations correspond to a fractal dimensionality (D) of about 1.85. More regent larger scale simulations led to values in the range 1.90 to 1.95.4,5
Incorporating Ethics into Artificial Intelligence (with Oren Etzioni)

This chapter reviews the reasons scholars hold that driverless cars and many other AI-equipped machines must be able to make ethical decisions, and the difficulties this approach faces. It then shows that cars have no moral agency, and that the term “autonomous,” commonly applied to these machines, is misleading, and leads to invalid conclusions about the ways these machines can be kept ethical. The chapter’s most important claim is that a significant part of the challenge posed by AI-equipped machines can be addressed by the kind of ethical choices human beings have made for millennia. In other words, there is little need to teach machines ethics even if this could be done in the first place. The chapter concludes with a general assertion for future discussions of ethics and AI: that one makes a grievous error by drawing on extreme outlier scenarios—such as the famous Trolley narratives—as a basis for conceptualizing the ethical issues at hand.
Current State of Left Atrial Appendage Closure

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained arrhythmia, is a major cause of stroke and systemic embolism, and is increasing in prevalence. Device closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) represents a non-pharmacologic approach to stroke prevention in AF patients. This review presents the rationale for LAA closure (LAAC), describes current transcatheter approaches to LAAC, and summarizes the current evidence for LAAC for stroke prevention, highlighting the main randomized trials and the most recent data available. Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials demonstrates similar rates of all-cause stroke with transcatheter LAAC compared with vitamin K antagonist therapy and significantly less bleeding with LAAC after cessation of mandated post-procedure pharmacology. Recent prospective observational studies, including those evaluating outcomes after commercial approval in the USA, show significantly improved procedure safety compared with earlier experiences. LAAC appears to be an attractive alternative strategy for stroke prevention in AF patients, particularly in those who can take short-term oral anticoagulation (OAC), but are not optimal candidates for long-term OAC. Recent data suggests the procedure can be safely performed in patients with contraindications to OAC. Further, robust studies are needed to evaluate safety and efficacy in OAC-contraindicated patients, to compare outcomes with non-vitamin K antagonist OACs, and to explore the relative safety and efficacy of different LAAC devices.
Towers of fibrations

In this chapter we generalize two well-known results about towers of fibrations: (i) We will show that, for a (pointed) tower of fibrations {Xn}, the short exact sequence $$* \to {\mathop {\lim }\limits_ \leftarrow ^1}{\pi _{i + 1}}{X_n} \to {\pi _i}\mathop {\lim }\limits_ \leftarrow {X_n} \to \mathop {\lim }\limits_ \leftarrow {\pi _i}{X_n} \to *$$ which is “well known” for i ≥ 1, also exists for i = 0, if one uses a suitable notion of \({\mathop {\lim }\limits_ \leftarrow ^1}\) for not necessarily abelian groups. (ii) We will generalize the usual homotopy spectral sequence of a (pointed) tower of fibrations, to an “extended” homotopy spectral sequence, which in dimension 1 consists of (possibly non-abelian) groups, and in dimension 0 of pointed sets, acted on by the groups is dimension 1.
Connecting resources in online learning environments

This article highlights considerations for connecting resources in Online Learning Environments (OLEs). Extensive human, information, learning, and technical resources are needed to produce and manage comprehensive OLEs. The requirements and considerations for each of these resources are unique, but they should be viewed mainly as interrelated and connected to each other. Basic considerations for resources-based OLEs are discussed in this article, however future research is needed to explore the complexity of these resources and how they can be optimized for the effective delivery and management of online learning environments.
Mechanistic Role of Two-State Reactivity in a Molecular MoS2 Edge-Site Analogue for Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysis.

We report a first-principles quantum chemical study of the mechanistic pathways for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by the molecular electrocatalyst [(PY5Me2)Mo(S2)]2+. By determining the relative thermodynamics of many possible species, we propose a mechanism fully consistent with all experimental observations. We also show the presence of two close-lying spin surfaces with the high spin state having a slightly less favorable reactivity profile than the low spin state. The energy of the high spin state is related to the ease of reduction of the S2 moiety and can be disrupted by interaction between S2 and a Lewis base. From this understanding, an explanation for the nearly 400 000-fold increase in turnover frequency on Hg drop electrode compared to glassy carbon is demonstrated. A next-generation catalyst based on the same motif has been designed to stabilize the more reactive low spin state and improve catalytic function without the need of Hg. Calculations indicate that this new species would have...
A Neural Model of Schemas and Memory Consolidation

The ability to behave differently according to the situation is essential for survival in a dynamic environment. This requires past experiences to be encoded and retrieved alongside the contextual schemas in which they occurred. The complementary learning systems theory suggests that these schemas are acquired through gradual learning via the neocortex and rapid learning via the hippocampus. However, it has also been shown that new information matching a preexisting schema can bypass the gradual learning process and be acquired rapidly, suggesting that the separation of memories into schemas is useful for flexible learning. While there are theories of the role of schemas in memory consolidation, we lack a full understanding of the mechanisms underlying this function. For this reason, we created a biologically plausible neural network model of schema consolidation that studies several brain areas and their interactions. The model uses a rate-coded multilayer neural network with contrastive Hebbian learning to learn context-specific tasks. Our model suggests that the medial prefrontal cortex supports context-dependent behaviors by learning representations of schemas. Additionally, sparse random connections in the model from the ventral hippocampus to the hidden layers of the network gate neuronal activity depending on their involvement within the current schema, thus separating the representations of new and prior schemas. Contrastive Hebbian learning may function similarly to oscillations in the hippocampus, alternating between clamping and unclamping the output layer of the network to drive learning. Lastly, the model shows the vital role of neuromodulation, as a neuromodulatory area detects the certainty of whether new information is consistent with prior schemas and modulates the speed of memory encoding accordingly. Along with the insights that this model brings to the neurobiology of memory, it further provides a basis for creating context-dependent memories while preventing catastrophic forgetting in artificial neural networks.
The Changing Nature of Employee and Labor-Management Relationships

This article reviews work and employment research, paying particular attention to theory and applications by scholars in organizational psychology and organizational behavior (OP/OB) and employment...
Delivery technologies for cancer immunotherapy

Immunotherapy has become a powerful clinical strategy for treating cancer. The number of immunotherapy drug approvals has been increasing, with numerous treatments in clinical and preclinical development. However, a key challenge in the broad implementation of immunotherapies for cancer remains the controlled modulation of the immune system, as these therapeutics have serious adverse effects including autoimmunity and nonspecific inflammation. Understanding how to increase the response rates to various classes of immunotherapy is key to improving efficacy and controlling these adverse effects. Advanced biomaterials and drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticles and the use of T cells to deliver therapies, could effectively harness immunotherapies and improve their potency while reducing toxic side effects. Here, we discuss these research advances, as well as the opportunities and challenges for integrating delivery technologies into cancer immunotherapy, and we critically analyse the outlook for these emerging areas.
What do we really know about mindfulness and sleep health

Over the past decade, the emergence of mindfulness meditation as a self-regulation practice has led to a substantial body of evidence on the use of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for insomnia and sleep disturbances. This literature has matured with several randomized controlled trials now published and a number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses are recently available. Collectively, there is a general support for the effectiveness of MBIs on self-reported patient outcomes although the quality of studies varies and the findings on objective measures are equivocal. Building upon this literature, further research is needed to examine biological correlates associated with mindfulness practice, whether the timing of meditation practice is related to sleep outcomes, who is likely to succeed with MBI, and the use of technology in the delivery of MBIs.
Heterogeneous motivation and cognitive ability in the lab

Abstract I test whether economics experiments that estimate the relationships between cognitive ability and economic behavior are biased because they fail to account for differences in motivation among subjects when they measure cognitive ability without compensating them for performance. I find that monetary incentives do not significantly improve average performance on cognitive reflection test (CRT) questions, but subjects classified as low ability based on unpaid scores tend to improve their performance when they are paid for performance relative to high ability subjects. This heterogeneous response to monetary incentives appears to bias estimates of the relationships between cognitive ability and trust and risk aversion downward, but does not have the same systematic effect for strategic reasoning.
Simulations of nw measurement using multiple detection electrodes in FTICR mass spectrometry

Abstract Using multiple detection electrodes to acquire a signal with a frequency that is a multiple of the cyclotron frequency offers the ability to decrease the analysis time of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry while maintaining high resolving power by measuring the ion cloud-induced image current several times per cyclotron orbit. However, there are inherent difficulties associated with this method, including generation of unwanted spectral peaks and loss of sensitivity. Simulations of the image-charge produced by a population of ions, with multiple-frequency detection, provide insight into the origin of these problems, from which methods for their mitigation can be deduced. A particle-in-cell simulation with an image-charge calculator is used to examine the effect of magnetron offset and excitation radius on the measured signals for Nω detection. Simulated transients of an IgG-sized protein (150 kDa) at 1ω and 10ω detection are compared and beat patterns for Nω detection are examined. The amplitude of subharmonic peaks is found to increase significantly with the radius of the magnetron component of the ions’ orbit.
Low Genetic Variability in Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 Populations within Farmscapes of Georgia, USA

Bemisia tabaci is a whitefly species complex comprising important phloem feeding insect pests and plant virus vectors of many agricultural crops. Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED) are the two most invasive members of the B. tabaci species complex worldwide. The diversity of agroecosystems invaded by B. tabaci could potentially influence their population structure, but this has not been assessed at a farmscape level. A farmscape in this study is defined as heterogenous habitat with crop and non-crop areas spanning ~8 square kilometers. In this study, mitochondrial COI gene (mtCOI) sequences and six microsatellite markers were used to examine the population structure of B. tabaci MEAM1 colonizing different plant species at a farmscape level in Georgia, United States. Thirty-five populations of adult whiteflies on row and vegetable crops and weeds across major agricultural regions of Georgia were collected from fifteen farmscapes. Based on morphological features and mtCOI sequences, five species/cryptic species of whiteflies (B. tabaci MEAM1, B. tabaci MED, Dialeurodes citri, Trialeurodes abutiloneus, T. vaporariorum) were found. Analysis of 102 mtCOI sequences revealed the presence of a single B. tabaci MEAM1 haplotype across farmscapes in Georgia. Population genetics analyses (AMOVA, PCA and STRUCTURE) of B. tabaci MEAM1 (microsatellite data) revealed only minimal genetic differences among collected populations within and among farmscapes. Overall, our results suggest that there is a high level of gene flow among B. tabaci MEAM1 populations among farmscapes in Georgia. Frequent whitefly population explosions driven by a single or a few major whitefly-suitable hosts planted on a wide spatial scale may be the key factor behind the persistence of a single panmictic population over Georgia's farmscapes. These population structuring effects are useful for delineating the spatial scale at which whiteflies must be managed and predicting the speed at which alleles associated with insecticide resistance might spread.
Sex-specific patterns of white matter microstructure are associated with emerging depression during adolescence.

Abstract Prior research has demonstrated associations between adolescent depression and alterations in the white matter microstructure of fiber tracts implicated in emotion regulation. Using diffusion tensor imaging, this study explored premorbid, sex-specific white matter microstructural features that related to future emergence of major depressive disorder (MDD) during adolescence and young adulthood. Adolescents from the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence study, who were 12–21 years old at study entry and had not experienced major depression as of the baseline assessment, were selected for inclusion (N = 462, n = 223 female adolescents). Over five years of annual follow-up, 63 participants developed a diagnosis of MDD, as determined by the Computerized Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (n = 39 female adolescents). A whole-brain multivariate modeling approach was used to examine the relationship between fractional anisotropy (FA) at baseline and emergence into MDD, as a function of sex, controlling for age at baseline. Among female adolescents, those who developed MDD had significantly lower baseline FA in a portion of left precentral gyrus white matter, while male adolescents exhibited the opposite pattern. These results may serve as indirect microstructural markers of risk and targets for the prevention of depression during adolescence.