cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Competitive Inhibition and Top-Down Feedback in Binding during Object Recognition.

How does the brain bind together visual features that are processed concurrently by different neurons into a unified percept suitable for processes such as object recognition? Here, we describe how simple, commonly accepted principles of neural processing can interact over time to solve the brain's binding problem. We focus on mechanisms of neural inhibition and top-down feedback. Specifically, we describe how inhibition creates competition among neural populations that code different features, effectively suppressing irrelevant information, and thus minimizing illusory conjunctions. Top-down feedback contributes to binding in a similar manner, but by reinforcing relevant features. Together, inhibition and top-down feedback contribute to a competitive environment that ensures only the most appropriate features are bound together. We demonstrate this overall proposal using a biologically realistic neural model of vision that processes features across a hierarchy of interconnected brain areas. Finally, we argue that temporal synchrony plays only a limited role in binding -- it does not simultaneously bind multiple objects, but does aid in creating additional contrast between relevant and irrelevant features. Thus, our overall theory constitutes a solution to the binding problem that relies only on simple neural principles without any binding-specific processes.
Dangerous Distractions: Imaginary Threats Impede Preparedness for Real Public Health Concerns

It is easy to think that the most significant public health concerns in the U.S. today are the current outbreak of Ebola in West African and children migrating from Central America. However, as outlined below, these situations may not pose as great a threat as often imagined. Unfortunately, these issues have so dominated the public health agenda in the U.S. that they are actually diverting attention away from genuine public health concerns. For example, the effects of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are being felt in Texas and throughout the Gulf Coast states, and yet these conditions are disproportionately ignored and overshadowed.
The Minimum Border Length Hypothesis Does Not Explain the Shape of Black Ghettos

Let a circular city of fixed radius be given. Suppose a given populution of blacks and whites is to be spread with uniform density over the city, but in such a way that complete segregation obtains. What spatial configuration of the black neighborhood(s) will accommodate the black population while providing a border with the white population of minimal length? It is the purpose of this note to show the above query to be one of dubious scientific value. We will investigate its implications and find them at variance with observation. Most areas of black residential concentration are, at least in part, located near the central business district. While some “ghettos” are wholly contained enclaves, others extend all the way to the edge of the city. In a recent paper [5] Yinger studies a somewhat less general version of the question stated above, in an attempt to determine which of these two shapes emerge in a given city. Specifically, he studies the conditions under which locating blacks in a wedge shaped area gives a common border of length less than that arising from locating blacks in a circular area in the city’s center. He finds in the case of uniformly distributed population that when the fraction of
VEGETATION-MEDIATED CHANGES IN MICROCLIMATE REDUCE SOIL RESPIRATION AS WOODLANDS EXPAND INTO GRASSLANDS

This study compared annual and growing-season in situ soil respiration and soil C cycling in paired juniper woodland and C4-dominated grassland sites in eastern Kansas (USA) to determine if, under similar edaphic and regional climate conditions, vegetation change alters soil CO2 dynamics. We found marked differences in soil respiration related to vegetation: Growing season mean woodland soil respiration rates (4.6 mmoles· m 22 ·s 21 ) averaged 38% less than paired grassland sites. Soil moisture did not explain the difference in soil respiration between woodlands and grasslands. Soil temperatures at the 10-cm depth were 58C cooler in woodlands during the growing season and significantly different between woodlands and grasslands throughout the year, explaining most of the low soil respiration in woodlands. However, there were subtle intrinsic differences in the response of soil respiration to temperature between woodlands and grasslands: Woodland and grassland respiration response was significantly different at the P 5 0.05 level, also indicated by a grassland Q10 of 2.4 compared to 2.2 in woodlands. We found no significant differences between woodlands and grasslands in long-term (82-week) laboratory incu- bations of potentially mineralizable soil C and short-term incubations for microbial biomass C. Similarly, root biomass did not differ between woodlands and grasslands and could not explain the lower in situ woodland soil respiration. Thus, vegetation-mediated reduction in soil temperature under the canopy explained much of the lower in situ woodland soil respiration. Lower soil respiration in the woodland resulted in an annual flux of 533.6 (621.7) compared to 858.4 (614.5) g C·m 22 ·yr 21 in grasslands, nearly 38% lower in the woodland (means 6 1 SE). Assuming root respiration is 50% of soil respiration, we estimate that the turnover of woodland soil C stocks may be slowed by 15 years relative to grassland. This suggests that, if juniper expansion (now occurring across nearly 5 million hectares in the Great Plains) proceeds to canopy closure, annual soil C flux may be potentially reduced by as much as 19 3 10 6 Mg of C below C flux rates that occurred historically from tallgrass
FS08.2 Gender, race, age & occupation effect quality of life (QoL) in ACD

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between QoL scores for patients with ACD and confounders, such as gender, race, age, and occupation. Methods: A total of 428 subjects with ACD were, at varying times after diagnosis, mailed a QoL questionnaire modified from Skindex-16 to include an additional 5 items pertaining to occupational impact. The QoL scores were analyzed by gender, race, age, and occupation to ascertain factors that impact QoL in subjects with ACD. Results: Three of the four confounders examined have a significant connection with QoL in patients with ACD. Non-Caucasians had significantly worse QoL scores than Caucasians within the functioning scale, and had more emotional distress secondary to their disease. There were no statistically significant gender-related differences in QoL scores, although females felt a higher degree of embarrassment and depression. Age significantly impacted items within the functioning and occupational scales, with subjects nearing retirement age and older reporting better QoL. In contrast, younger subjects, especially those in the 5th decade, were more likely to have difficulty pursuing daily activities, have more fear that they might need to leave their jobs, and have more concern for their financial futures. Office workers, students, and homemakers were primarily diagnosed with non-occupational ACD, while more industrial, health care and other wet workers suffered from occupationally related ACD. In the analyses of QoL by occupation, industrial workers reported significantly more impaired QoL than subjects in other professions.
Channels of Change: Contrasting Network Mechanisms in the Use of Interventions

This study informs community science, and seeks to narrow the research-to-practice gap, by examining how the interpersonal networks within a setting influence individuals’ use of interventions. More specifically, it explores the role of two network mechanisms—cohesion and structural similarity—in urban elementary school teachers’ use of interventions designed to improve academic and behavioral outcomes for students. Lagged regression models examine how position in advice giving networks influenced weekly use of the daily report card and peer assisted learning by kindergarten through fourth grade teachers in three schools. Results indicate that intervention use spreads among teachers with similar patterns of advice-giving relationships (i.e., via structural similarity), rather than from teachers who are sources of advice (i.e., via cohesion). These results are consistent with findings in other settings, and suggest that researchers wishing to increase the use of an intervention should select change agents based on their patterns of their relationships, rather than on their direct connections.
Potential Economic Damage from Introduction of Brown Tree Snakes, Boiga irregularis (Reptilia: Colubridae), to the Islands of Hawai'i

Abstract: The Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis) has caused ecological and economic damage to Guam, and the snake has the potential to colonize other islands in the Pacific Ocean. This study quantifies the potential economic damage if the snake were translocated, established in the state of Hawai'i, and causing damage at levels similar to those on Guam. Damages modeled included costs of medical treatments due to snakebites, snake-caused power outages, and decreased tourism resulting from effects of the snake. Damage caused by presence of the Brown Tree Snake on Guam was used as a guide to estimate potential economic damage to Hawai'i from both medical- and power outage—related damage. To predict tourism impact, a survey was administered to Hawaiian tourists that identified tourist responses to potential effects of the Brown Tree Snake. These results were then used in an input-output model to predict damage to the state economy. Summing these damages resulted in an estimated total potential annual damage...
Comparative evaluation of multi-core cache occupancy strategies

Intelligent sharing cache space among multiple cores on a Chip Multiprocessor (CMP) has become an important research topic. There are many design options to trade off and many possible performance metrics to evaluate. It generally requires costly simulations to gain insights over a wide-spectrum of cache sharing and partitioning methods. In this paper, we use an efficient single-pass stack simulation method to understand the effectiveness of cache sharing through natural competition (i. e. shared cache) and through static or dynamic cache partitioning, such as equal partition, utility-based partition, etc. The results demonstrate that cache occupancy through natural competition favors the core with more frequently misses. It may take away the needed space for other cores and increase the overall miss ratio. Furthermore, we find that the existing cache partitioning schemes based on fixed-length portioning phases may not be optimal compared with the scheme that allows variable phase lengths.
In search of end-users

Learning from end-users is essential to participatory design, but before we can learn from them we must first find them. This search can be the hardest part of a project, however. What pro-active steps can be taken? In this paper we describe our search for end-users to work with on one particular design project. We reflect on why we were often unsuccessful, and how in the end we found end-users who were eager to collaborate with us to design a Risk and Compliance visualization.
Supporting Latino Communities’ Natural Helpers: A Case Study of Promotoras in a Research Capacity Building Course

Promotores have unique access to underserved and hard-to-reach Latino communities facing health disparities. Although promotores are involved in community change, they rarely receive training that gives them the skills to be partners in research. We present a case study of promotoras who participated in a research capacity building course focused on assessing community health needs. Data comes from course application surveys, follow-up notes, and narratives from qualitative phone interviews of eight promotoras. Content analysis drawing from grounded theory was conducted to identify and describe emerging themes. Four themes emerged as promotoras discussed their experience learning basic research skills and teaching others: (1) challenges, (2) support, (3) building capacity, and (4) using research. Promotores play an important role in the health of Latino communities and are increasingly asked to participate in research processes; however they have few opportunities for training and professional development in this area. Capacity building opportunities for promotores need to be tailored to their needs and provide them with support. Fostering collaboration between promotores and partnering with local community-based organizations can help facilitate needed research skill-building among promotores.
Effects of steroid treatment on growth, nutrient partitioning, and expression of genes related to growth and nutrient metabolism in adult triploid rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The contribution of sex steroids to nutrient partitioning and energy balance during gonad development was studied in rainbow trout. Specifically, 19-mo old triploid (3N) female rainbow trout were fed treatment diets supplemented with estradiol-17β (E2), testosterone (T), or dihydrotestosterone at 30-mg steroid/kg diet for a 1-mo period. Growth performance, nutrient partitioning, and expression of genes central to growth and nutrient metabolism were compared with 3N and age-matched diploid (2N) female fish consuming a control diet not supplemented with steroids. Only 2 N fish exhibited active gonad development, with gonad weights increasing from 3.7% to 5.5% of body weight throughout the study, whereas gonad weights in 3N fish remained at 0.03%. Triploid fish consuming dihydrotestosterone exhibited faster specific growth rates than 3N-controls (P 0.05). Gene transcripts associated with physiological pathways were identified in maturing 2N and E2-treated 3N fish that differed in abundance from 3N-control fish (P < 0.05). In liver these mechanisms included the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis (igf1, igf2), IGF binding proteins (igfbp1b1, igfbp2b1, igfbp5b1, igfbp6b1), and genes associated with lipid binding and transport (fabp3, fabp4, lpl, cd36), fatty acid oxidation (cpt1a), and the pparg transcription factor. In muscle, these mechanisms included reductions in myogenic gene expression (fst, myog) and the proteolysis-related gene, cathepsin-L, suggesting an E2-induced reduction in the capacity for muscle growth. These findings suggest that increased E2 signaling in the sexually maturing female rainbow trout alters physiological pathways in liver, particularly those related to IGF signaling and lipid metabolism, to partition nutrients away from muscle growth toward support of maturation-related processes. In contrast, the mobilization of viscera lipid stores appear to be mediated less by E2 and more by energy demands associated with gonad development. These findings improve the understanding of how steroids regulate nutrient metabolism to meet the high energy demands associated with gonad development during sexual maturation.
Quantum observable

Over the last decade, many researchers have studied the implementation of quantum systems and the states of the quantum systems. Most of the focus has been on the quantum states strategy. Researchers have found it to be more advanced than classical strategies. Complementary quantum Observables interaction and information are the most important features that are refereed by Observables. This shows us how uniquely these features can define a packet of information in mathematical terms as a state. Also, it provides technological information that indeed captures the properties of quantum systems. In this paper, we demonstrate how to implement certain logical methods in quantum computing to obtain more accurate information than classical computing systems provide. This new methodology can make the computation more efficient. First, we examine the photons and consider the various spin states, and then we consider the direction of the spinning photons to handle more information. Next, we use the unique property of photons to behave both as a wave and a particle and exploit it by passing the photon through mirrors and beam splitters to demonstrate and achieve results that are not possible in the classical world.
The relationship of intralaboratory bias and imprecision on laboratories' ability to meet medical usefulness limits.

The previously described computer modeling technic empirically develops quantitative relationships between intralaboratory performance, as characterized by individual laboratories’ coefficients of variation (CVs) and biases, and clinical “medical usefulness limits.” These limits determine the magnitude of total analytic error, the combined effects of CV and bias that can be tolerated by the clinician. The computer model delineates all combinations of CV and bias compatible with specified medical usefulness limits. Both CV and bias are critical in determining a laboratory’s ability to meet medical usefulness limits. For example, a laboratory with a 6% CV and zero bias will meet the ±10% or less total analytic error (medical usefulness limit) 90% of the time. If the medical usefulness limit is expanded to ±15%, a laboratory with a 6% CV can tolerate coexisting relative biases of up to 4% and still meet this limit 95% of the time. Plots of the limiting values for combinations of intralaboratory CV and bias are given that allow the laboratory’s results to fall within medical usefulness limits of 2,5,10, 15, and 20%.
Analysis of Immune Function in Patients with Respiratory Disease

Objective To investigate the index changes of the immune function of children respiratory tract infection. Methods The respiratory diseases children who hospitalized in Dalian Children's Hospital were divided into bronchitis group,pharyngitis group and pneumonia group. 40 normal children were choosed as control group. The three whole blood T lymphocyte differentiation antigen CD3,CD4,CD8 and ratio of CD4 /CD8 were detected by using flow cytometry,and immunoglobulin( IgG,IgM,IgA),complement( C3,C4) in serum were detected by using nephelometry endpoint. Results The CD3,CD4,CD4 /CD8 in bronchitis group,pharyngitis group and pneumonia group were lower than that of control group,while CD8 was higher than controls. The serum immunoglobulin and C3 level in three groups were lower than that of control group(P 0.05),but the C4 levels were basically the same compared with the control group without statistically significant. The cellular immune function and humoral immune function in children with ages 0-3 and 4-6 were lower than the control group,but without significant difference in 7-12 year old Children. There was no significant difference on respiratory tract infections with gender of children. Conclusion Respiratory diseases in children are immune dysfunction and disorder. The lower children ages are with the lower immune function and easier to cause respiratory diseases. Respiratory diseases in children are mainly under 6 years old and unrelated to gender.
Carotid Endarterectomy and Stroke Prevention

In patients like the one presented, in whom classic symptoms of transient cerebral ischemia could be traced to angiographically proved reduction in carotid artery blood flow, endarterectomy offers relatively uncomplicated prophylaxis against major stroke. The procedure should be considered early since the results in patients with progressing or completed stroke are poor. Criteria for patient selection are detailed.
Soccer as un-American activity: a thematic analysis of online US media and flopping in the world’s game

Disapproving of the soccer strategy known as flopping — falling down on purpose and faking an injury — American journalist Rick Telander wrote that flopping is “a European or South American or Asian or African affectation. And it’s pitiful”. Through thematic analysis of American online journalism, this description and others illustrate how sports media advance American exceptionalism and disparage foreign athletes by locating flopping beneath American moral and ethical standards. Further, American journalists position the United States as superior to other countries because of its decision to lose rather than “cheat”. This study creates a new sector of research on online journalism and American exceptionalism by interrogating how American media portray international soccer.
Adipocyte nuclei captured from VAT and SAT

Obesity-related comorbidities are thought to result from the reprogramming of the epigenome in numerous tissues and cell types, and in particular, mature adipocytes within visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, VAT and SAT. The cell-type specific chromatin remodeling of mature adipocytes within VAT and SAT is poorly understood, in part, because of the difficulties of isolating and manipulating large fragile mature adipocyte cells from adipose tissues. We constructed MA-INTACT (Mature Adipocyte-Isolation of Nuclei TAgged in specific Cell Types) mice using the adiponectin (ADIPOQ) promoter (ADNp) to tag the surface of mature adipocyte nuclei with a reporter protein. The SUN1mRFP1Flag reporter is comprised of a fragment of the nuclear transmembrane protein SUN1, the fluorescent protein mRFP1, and three copies of the Flag epitope tag. Mature adipocyte nuclei were rapidly and efficiently immuno-captured from VAT and SAT (MVA and MSA nuclei, respectively), of MA-INTACT mice. MVA and MSA nuclei contained 1,000 to 10,000-fold higher levels of adipocyte-specific transcripts, ADIPOQ, PPARg2, EDNRB, and LEP, relative to uncaptured nuclei, while the latter expressed higher levels of leukocyte and endothelial cell markers IKZF1, RETN, SERPINF1, SERPINE1, ILF3, and TNFA. MVA and MSA nuclei differentially expressed several factors linked to adipogenesis or obesity-related health risks including CEBPA, KLF2, RETN, SERPINE1, and TNFA. The various nuclear populations dramatically differentially expressed transcripts encoding chromatin remodeler proteins regulating DNA cytosine methylation and hydroxymethylation (TETs, DNMTs, TDG, GADD45s) and nucleosomal histone modification (ARID1A, KAT2B, KDM4A, PRMT1, PRMT5, PAXIP1). Remarkably, MSA and MVA nuclei expressed 200 to 1000-fold higher levels of thermogenic marker transcripts PRDM16 and UCP1. The MA-INTACT mouse enables a simple way to perform cell-type specific analysis of highly purified mature adipocyte nuclei from VAT and SAT and increases the statistical significance of data collected on adipocytes. Isolated VAT and SAT adipocyte nuclei expressed distinct patterns of transcripts encoding chromatin remodeling factors and proteins relevant to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and thermogenesis. The MA-INTACT mouse is an useful model to test the impact of caloric intake, dietary nutrients, exercise, and pharmaceuticals on the epigenome-induced health risks of obesity.
Fording differences? Conditions mitigating water insecurity in the Niger River Basin

Abstract River basins are an extremely important source of freshwater for Africa and the impact of climate change on these communities constitutes an important question worth studying. Among these basins, the Niger River Basin is an ideal candidate for meso-level theory testing of climate change-induced political violence because of its importance as one of the largest sources of freshwater in Africa, its high vulnerability to climate change, and its location in a politically unstable region. This paper utilizes the benefits of GIS to test whether effects of water insecurity on the various incidences of political violence are conditional on economic, geographic, and social means of connectivity. Our analysis uses the density of secondary road networks, the geographic distance to the Niger River, and a shared co-ethnicity with one's head-of-state to evaluate the impact of hydrological stress and its subsequent risk for political violence across nine West African countries from 1997 to 2012. Using climatological data and an econometric de-trending method, we measure the separate, substantive impact that individualized changes in precipitation trend and precipitation variability have for the incidence of ACLED's political violence events, conditional on local economic, geographic, and social factors. Our results reveal a complicated web of circumstances under which certain forms of political violence are more/less likely to be observed. The implications of this analysis serve as a call for a closer inspection of the micro-channels by which climate stress impacts heterogeneous communities in the developing world.
“Tetramethylsilanoviologen”: Synthesis, characterization, and hydrolysis of a Silolodipyridinium ion

Abstract A silicon-bridged viologen has been synthesized by methylation of 4,4′-dipyridinodimethylsilole, and represents a new addition to the growing family of heteroatom bridged viologens. The dicationic species emits at 360 nm and exhibits two chemically reversible one electron reduction waves in acetonitrile at E1/2​(2+/1+) = −0.829 V and E1/2​(1+/0) = −1.307 V (versus Fc/Fc+). The UV–Vis spectrum for each of the three charge states is similar to the corresponding unbridged methyl viologen species. The silanoviologen is susceptible to ring-opening hydrolysis.
Psychotherapy and Social Context

Is personality a relatively stable structure within the person? Or is it a process that occurs between two or more people? If the latter, is that process actually between people or is it the person’s perception of interpersonal interactions? Robert Carson’s definition of personality, based on Harry Stack Sullivan’s ideas, reflects the interpersonal pole of this dialectic. It proposes that personality only exists in relation to others in contrast to traditional concepts of personality as the structural basis of consistency in an individual’s behavior. In part, the question is whether “personality” is relatively stable or is continuously influenced by others’ actions.
A First-Order Estimate of Automated Mobility District Fuel Consumption and GHG Emission Impacts

A first of its kind, this study develops a framework to quantify the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emission impacts of an Automated Small Vehicle Transit system on a campus area. The results show that the automated mobility district system has the potential to reduce transportation system fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, but the benefits are largely dependent on the operation and ridership of the personal rapid transit system. Our study calls for more research to understand the energy and environmental benefits of such a system.
Social Anxiety Disorder as a Densely Interconnected Network of Fear and Avoidance for Social Situations

The hallmark symptoms of social anxiety disorder (SAD) are fear and avoidance of social evaluative situations. Yet, even people without SAD sometimes fear and avoid certain social situations without ever developing the disorder. Apart from differences in number and severity, uncertainty abounds about how fear and avoidance of distinct interpersonal and social evaluative situations organize differently in people with and without SAD. Inspired by novel network approaches to psychopathology, we sought to characterize the network structure of fear and avoidance of distinct social evaluative situations among individuals with (n = 238) and without SAD (n = 232). Although the network structure and node centrality metrics did not differ between the groups, the network for those with SAD was more strongly interconnected than that of people free of the diagnosis. This study is the first to provide evidence that SAD can be conceptualized as a densely interconnected network of fear and avoidance of social situations. Our results are consistent with the network theory of mental disorders that regards networks with strong between-symptom connections as more pathogenic than similar networks with weaker connections. As prior studies indicated that overall network connectivity can predict the course of mental disorders, our findings set the scene for novel indicators of SAD prognosis.
Polymorphic variation in the SLC5A7 gene influences infant autonomic reactivity and self-regulation: A neurobiological model for ANS stress responsivity and infant temperament.

Abstract Objective To examine the impact of polymorphic variation in the solute carrier family 5 member 7 (SLC5A7) gene on autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and heart rate (HR) in infants during a dyadic stressor, as well as maternal report of infant self-regulation. Given evidence of race differences in older individuals, race was specifically examined. Methods RSA and HR were collected from 111 infants during the still-face paradigm (SFP). Mothers completed the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised short-form. Multi-level mixed effects models examined the impact of SLC5A7 genotype on RSA and HR across the SFP. Linear models tested the influence of genotype on the relation between RSA, HR, and maternal report of infant self-regulation. Results SLC5A7 genotype significantly predicted RSA stress responsivity (β = −0.023; p = 0.028) and HR stress responsivity (β = 0.004; p = 0.002). T-allele carriers exhibited RSA suppression and HR acceleration in response to stress while G/G homozygotes did not suppress RSA and exhibited less HR acceleration. All infants exhibited modest RSA augmentation and HR deceleration during recovery. Race-stratified analyses revealed that White T-allele carriers drove the overall results for both RSA (β = −0.044; p = 0.007) and HR (β = 0.006; p = 0.008) with no relation between SLC5A7 genotype and RSA or HR in Black infants. Maternal report of infant orienting/regulation was predicted by the interaction of SLC5A7 genotype and both RSA recovery (β = 0.359; p = 0.001) and HR recovery (β = −1.659; p = 0.020). RSA augmentation and HR deceleration during recovery were associated with higher maternal reports of self-regulation among T-allele carriers, a finding again primarily driven by White infants. Conclusions Early in development, genetic contributions to ANS are evident and predict maternal report of infant self-regulation within White infants, consistent with prior literature. The lack of associations in Black infants suggest that race differences in physiological reactivity and self-regulation are emerging during the first year of life potentially providing early evidence of disparities in health risk trajectories.
Q: a DAI-based multimodal, agent-based, information retrieval system: a Jim implementation

In this paper, we share our vision of a centralized personal computer help system that can dynamically react to fluctuations in local and shared resources. Further, it is able to adapt to the needs of the user as expressed through system preferences. We present the architecture, design, and implementation of such a system. In the system, the quality of the user's experience is constantly attended to by a set of software agents operating in the information retrieval (IR) domain. The lifecycles of the domain agents are under the control of a set of service agents which communicate with the underlying system. The goal of the service agents is to keep the best set of domain agents operating and to terminate agents that are no longer appropriate. This goal is achieved using a shared agent implementation repository that facilitates the selection of the most appropriate agents.
Faster Customization of Road Networks

A wide variety of algorithms can answer exact shortest-path queries in real time on continental road networks, but they typically require significant preprocessing effort. Recently, the customizable route planning (CRP) approach has reduced the time to process a new cost function to a fraction of a minute. We reduce customization time even further, by an order of magnitude. This makes it worthwhile even when a single query is to be run, enabling a host of new applications.
On the expressibility of piecewise-linear continuous functions as the difference of two piecewise-linear convex functions

The differential calculus for convex, compact-valued multifunctions developed by Tyurin, Banks and Jacobs is used to give an equivalent description in terms of multifunctions of the class of functions which can be represented as the difference of two globally Lipschitzian convex functions. This approach is also used to develop a means of representing piecewise-linear continuous functions as the difference of two piecewise-linear convex functions in finite dimensions. This leads directly to a Minkowski duality theorem for piecewise-linear positively homogeneous continuous functions and equivalence classes of convex compact sets produced by convex compact polyhedrons: every piecewise-linear positively homogeneous continuous function may be uniquely characterized by its quasidifferential (as defined by Demyanov and Rubinov) at zero.
The Effect of Gait Parameters on the Perception of Animated Agents’ Personality

The esthetics and personality of animated agents play an important role in enhancing the experience of human-computer interactions. In the context of online learning and instruction, research shows that the personality of pedagogical agents can have a significant impact on students’ learning. The study reported in the paper focused on the expression of agents’ personality through non-verbal cues. In particular, it investigated whether certain gait parameters affect how the audience perceives the personality of a stylized animated pedagogical agent walking in a virtual classroom. While evidence exists that the way a character walks can affect the viewer’s perception of his/her personality, it is not clear yet which specific gait attributes contribute the most to identifying the personality of the character. In this study, six different parameters of gait were examined to see how slight changes in their values could help the audience perceive the agent as an extrovert. The study included 18 video stimuli and data was collected from 79 participants. Findings confirmed the effect gait can have on the perception of personality. They further suggest that stride length, beat of the walk (e.g. walking speed) beltline tilt, and upper body twist contribute the most towards this end.
Anisotropic multiaxial plasticity model for laser powder bed fusion additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V

Abstract The multiaxial yield and plastic flow behavior of Ti-6Al-4V manufactured in two orientations via laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing was investigated. The mechanical properties of L-PBF Ti-6Al-4V were evaluated under uniaxial tension, plane strain tension, pure shear, and combined tension/shear loading. The mechanical behavior was found to be stress state dependent and slightly anisotropic. A plasticity model, consisting of a Hill 1948 anisotropic yield criterion, associated flow rule, and an isotropic hardening law was calibrated and used to describe the yield and plasticity behavior of this material. Validation of the plasticity model under multiaxial stress states demonstrated that the model was able to predict the stress state dependent anisotropic plasticity behavior of this material.
Quantifying Process Variations and Its Impacts on Smartphones

Process variation can cause the performance and energy consumption of smartphones of the same model to vary significantly. While process variation has been studied in detail, the effects on smartphone performance have not been quantified and evaluated. In this work we study the performance and energy differences of 5 recent SoC generations caused by underlying process variation. We make two important contributions. First, we present a methodology to construct a temperature-stabilized environment to perform repeatable power and performance measurements. Studying power-performance characteristics of smartphones is difficult. Running a benchmark back-to-back often produces significantly different results due to heat. Temperature, both device and ambient, play a significant role in determining performance and energy. Our methodology allows us to control for various factors and isolate the effects of the underlying process variation. We then apply our methodology to investigate performance and energy characteristics of several recent generations of smart-phone CPUs that result from process variation. Our results show that devices of the same model may exhibit differences of 10% and 12% difference in performance and energy over a fixed-duration workload.
ON THE ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF A15 COMPOUNDS

Publisher Summary The crystal structure of an A15 compound A3B is cubic. However, the site symmetry of the A atoms is much lower than cubic, an unusual occurrence in cubic binary compounds. In this chapter, results of self-consistent pseudopotential band structure calculations are used to assess some important aspects of the unique and unusual behavior in A15 compounds. The role of the B atom in determining the overall electronic structure is an important one. The effect of the low site symmetry of the A atom on the charge density and potential is assessed. The density of states (DOS) of a single transition metal chain is well known. In the structural transformation of A15 compounds, symmetry requires the tetragonal strain to be accompanied by a frozen optical phonon. There have been two prominent models invoking electronic driving mechanisms: the Labbe-Friedel model, which invokes coupling to the tetragonal strain, and the Gor'kov model, which assumes coupling to the sublattice distortion to be dominant.
Non-Destructive Evaluation of Additively Manufactured Metallic Parts: In-Situ and Post Deposition

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) is a technique for prototype and component production that produces parts by joining a material layer upon layer, as opposed to a subtractive process with the removal of material. The adequate inspection and qualification of AM components is vital for increasing use of the technology, particularly in critical or fatigue sensitive applications. Post-production inspection can be difficult due to complex internal and external features, surface condition, and microstructural complexity, so attention is turning to in process metrology to bypass these issues encountered when inspecting completed components. This article reviews the state of the art in nondestructive evaluation and standardization techniques with a focus on metals produced from powder feedstock. In situ inspection and characterization methods are reviewed in depth due to the potential transformational impact of successful application of such inspection methods.
Curious Case of BiEDOT: MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Reveals Unbalanced Monomer Incorporation with Direct (Hetero)arylation Polymerization

Homocoupling defects in conjugated polymers often go undetected but may cause significant batch-to-batch variations that ultimately give seemingly identical polymers different material properties. ...
The Lake Urmia vignette: a tool to assess understanding of complexity in socio‐environmental systems

We introduce the Lake Urmia Vignette (LUV) as a tool to assess individuals' understanding of complexity in socio‐environmental systems. LUV is based on a real‐world case and includes a short vignette describing an environmental catastrophe involving a lake. Over a few decades, significant issues have manifested themselves at the lake because of various social, political, economic, and environmental factors. We design a rubric for assessing responses to a prompt. A pilot test with a sample of 30 engineering graduate students is conducted. We compare responses to LUV with other measures. Our findings suggest that students' understanding of complexity is positively associated with their understanding of systems concepts such as feedback loops but not with other possible variables such as self‐reported systems thinking skills or systems‐related coursework. Based on the provided instructions, researchers can use LUV as a novel assessment tool to examine understanding of complexity in socio‐environmental systems. © 2020 System Dynamics Society
On the estimation of boundary layer heights: a machine learning approach

Abstract. The planetary boundary layer height ( zi ) is a key parameter used in atmospheric models for estimating the exchange of heat, momentum, and moisture between the surface and the free troposphere. Near-surface atmospheric and subsurface properties (such as soil temperature, relative humidity, etc.) are known to have an impact on zi . Nevertheless, precise relationships between these surface properties and zi are less well known and not easily discernible from the multi-year dataset. Machine learning approaches, such as random forest (RF), which use a multi-regression framework, help to decipher some of the physical processes linking surface-based characteristics to zi . In this study, a 4-year dataset from 2016 to 2019 at the Southern Great Plains site is used to develop and test a machine learning framework for estimating zi . Parameters derived from Doppler lidars are used in combination with over 20 different surface meteorological measurements as inputs to a RF model. The model is trained using radiosonde-derived zi values spanning the period from 2016 through 2018 and then evaluated using data from 2019. Results from 2019 showed significantly better agreement with the radiosonde compared to estimates derived from a thresholding technique using Doppler lidars only. Noteworthy improvements in daytime zi estimates were observed using the RF model, with a 50 % improvement in mean absolute error and an R2 of greater than 85 % compared to the Tucker method zi . We also explore the effect of zi uncertainty on convective velocity scaling and present preliminary comparisons between the RF model and zi estimates derived from atmospheric models.
Bringing function to structure: Root–soil interactions shaping phosphatase activity throughout a soil profile in Puerto Rico

Large areas of highly productive tropical forests occur on weathered soils with low concentrations of available phosphorus (P). In such forests, root and microbial production of acid phosphatase enzymes capable of mineralizing organic phosphorus is considered vital to increasing available P for plant uptake.We measured both root and soil phosphatase throughout depth and alongside a variety of root and soil factors to better understand the potential of roots and soil biota to increase P availability and to constrain estimates of the biochemical mineralization within ecosystem models.We measured soil phosphatase down to 1 m, root phosphatase to 30 cm, and collected data on fine-root mass density, specific root length, soil P, bulk density, and soil texture using soil cores in four tropical forests within the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico.We found that soil phosphatase decreased with soil depth, but not root phosphatase. Furthermore, when both soil and root phosphatase were expressed per soil volume, soil phosphatase was 100-fold higher that root phosphatase.Both root and soil factors influenced soil and root phosphatase. Soil phosphatase increased with fine-root mass density and organic P, which together explained over 50% of the variation in soil phosphatase. Over 80% of the variation in root phosphatase per unit root mass was attributed to specific root length (positive correlation) and available (resin) P (negative correlation). Synthesis: Fine-root traits and soil P data are necessary to understand and represent soil and root phosphatase activity throughout the soil column and across sites with different soil conditions and tree species. These findings can be used to parameterize or benchmark estimates of biochemical mineralization in ecosystem models that contain fine-root biomass and soil P distributions throughout depth.
Adaptations of Breast Imaging Centers to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of California and Texas

Objectives To determine the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast imaging centers in California and Texas and compare regional differences Methods An 11-item survey was emailed to American College of Radiology accredited breast imaging facilities in California and Texas in August 2020 A question subset addressed March-April government restrictions on elective services (“during the shutdown” and “after reopening”) Comparisons were made between states with chi-square and Fisher’s tests, and time frames with McNemar’s and paired t-tests Results There were 54 respondents (54/240, 23%, 26 California, 28 Texas) Imaging volumes fell during the shutdown and remained below pre-pandemic levels after reopening, with reduction in screening greatest (ultrasound 12% of baseline, mammography 13%, MRI 23%), followed by diagnostic MRI (43%), procedures (44%), and diagnostics (45%) California reported higher volumes during the shutdown (procedures, MRI) and after reopening (diagnostics, procedures, MRI) versus Texas (P = 0 001 - 0 02) Most screened patients (52/54, 96% symptoms and 42/54, 78% temperatures), and 100% (53/53) modified check-in and check-out Reading rooms or physician work were altered for social distancing (31/54, 57%) Physician mask (45/48, 94%), gown (15/48, 31%), eye wear (22/48, 46%), and face shield (22/48, 46%) use during procedures increased after reopening versus pre-pandemic (P < 0 001 - 0 03) Physician (47/54, 87%) and staff (45/53, 85%) financial impacts were common, but none reported terminations Conclusion Breast imaging volumes during the early pandemic fell more severely in Texas than in California Safety measures and financial impacts on physicians and staff were similar in both states
A Tool for Narrowing the Second Chance Gap

The United States has the largest prison population in the world with more than 650,000 ex-offenders released from prison every year, according to the United States Department of Justice. But even after time has been served, criminal records persist, limiting their bearer’s ability to qualify for job, rental, loan, volunteering, and other opportunities available to citizens. It is thus not surprising that the US Department of Justice also reports that approximately two-thirds of those released are rearrested within three years of release. In recent years, many laws have been passed to shield past criminal records from future background checks. The Second Chance Gap Initiative at the Santa Clara University’s Law School (paperprisons.org) uses empirical research and analysis to draw attention to the millions of Americans that remain stuck in “the second chance gap” of being eligible for but not receiving their second chance in the realms of expungement, reinfranchisement, and resentencing. In the case of criminal records, it finds that tens of millions of people that have completed their formal sentences are stuck in a “paper prison,”s held back, not by steel bars but bureaucratic and related hurdles that prevent them from assessing a cleaned record. In support of this initiative, the SCU Ethical, Pragmatic, and Intelligent Computing (EPIC) laboratory has developed a flexible tool for ascertaining expungement eligibility. The project hopes to assist those seeking to determine if they qualify via a user-friendly web application containing a rule engine for expungement qualification determination.
Respecting, Embracing, and Honoring Cultural Practices through Collective Storytelling

This article discusses a final writing assignment for â€œCulturally Responsive Service Learning,â€ a course taught during a four-week experiential education program in rural Fiji. This elective course was situated in an undergraduate teacher preparation program but included students from a wide variety of disciplines and majors. This article discusses the theoretical and cultural framework for the assignment, the pedagogical decisions that led to the final paper, the process of sharing the assignment with the community through a public event, the limitations of using a storytelling framework from another culture, and suggestions for future adaptations. In alignment with the topic, the author uses two different voices to interweave personal storytelling with academic research. The article opens and closes with vignettes that demonstrate how the class arrived at new levels of critical consciousness through engagement with the readings and learning from Indigenous community partners. The body of this article is written in a traditional academic format. Storied vignettes are italicized for clarity.