cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Techniques for Detecting and Recording Transients

A totally automated transient detection and data reduction capability has been developed. The principal element in this data collection system is a Transient Analyzer which operates with analog-digital techniques. Combining this analyzer with a computer and software program enables 44 parameters to be monitored/reviewed in real time at a sample rate of 22 times per second. This detection system thus introduces a simple, yet effective, means of assisting the EMC engineer in correlating inadvertent circuit transients with system operational events.
Current and Future Trends in Social Media

Social networking has been the biggest cultural shift since the industrial revolution, attracting millions of people, creating an ever-expanding social web, and revolutionizing the way we communicate. Although many changes have occurred since the fledgling steps of social networking and what it has evolved into today, improvement is a never-ending cycle. Thus, in this paper, additional methods will be explored to advance social networking overall.
Duality of the Profit Maximum

The basic question of duality in economic models is introduced. This question asks whether the fundamental properties of an optimal value function or optimal choice correspondence are sufficient as well as necessary for the postulated behavior. Beginning with a homogeneous of degree one and convex real-valued function defined on an open convex cone in the price space, the central duality theorem shows that such a function is the profit function for a price-taking firm that maximizes profit over an implied “profit-relevant” production set. The profit-relevant production set is nonempty, closed, convex, and has free disposal. Techniques are presented to derive this set and it is compared to possible “original” production sets. A second duality theorem establishes sufficiency of the fundamental properties of a supply/demand function. A homogeneous of degree zero vector-valued function defined on an open convex cone in the price space, with a symmetric positive semidefinite Jacobian, is a supply/demand function for a price-taking firm that maximizes profit over the implied profit-relevant production set. These two theorems are “central” in that they are used in subsequent chapters to show duality of cost/expenditure functions, and ultimately indirect utility functions, as well as the demands resulting from those behavioral postulates.
Ground rules of the pluripotency gene regulatory network

Pluripotency is a state that exists transiently in the early embryo and, remarkably, can be recapitulated in vitro by deriving embryonic stem cells or by reprogramming somatic cells to become induced pluripotent stem cells. The state of pluripotency, which is stabilized by an interconnected network of pluripotency-associated genes, integrates external signals and exerts control over the decision between self-renewal and differentiation at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and epigenetic levels. Recent evidence of alternative pluripotency states indicates the regulatory flexibility of this network. Insights into the underlying principles of the pluripotency network may provide unprecedented opportunities for studying development and for regenerative medicine.
Dissimilarity Maps on Trees and the Representation Theory of $GL_n(\mathbb{C})$

We revisit representation theory in type $A,$ used previously to establish that the dissimilarity vectors of phylogenetic trees are points on the tropical Grassmannian variety. We use a different version of this construction to show that the space of phylogenetic trees $K_n$ maps to the tropical varieties of every flag variety of $GL_n(\mathbb{C}).$ Using this map, we find a tropical function on the space of phylogenetic trees for each semistandard tableaux, and we show that the functions satisfy the tropicalized equations which cut out $GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ flag varieties.
In-depth observations of fermentative hydrogen production from liquid swine manure using an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor

Abstract In this study, experiments were designed to reveal in-depth information of the effect of pH and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on biohydrogen fermentation from liquid swine manure supplemented with glucose using an Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor (ASBR) System. Five values of HRT (8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 h) were first tested and the best HRT determined was further studied at five pH levels (4.4, 4.7, 5.0, 5.3, and 5.6). The results showed that for HRT 24 h, there was a dividing H 2 content (around 37%) related to the total biogas production rate for the ASBR System running at pH 5.0. When the H 2 content went beyond 37%, an appreciable decline in biogas production rate was observed, implying that there might exist an H 2 content limit in the biogas. For other HRTs (8 through 20 h), an average H 2 content of 42% could be achieved. In the second experiment (HRT 12 h), the highest H 2 content (35%) in the biogas was found to be associated with pH 5.0. The upswing of pH from 5.0 to 5.6 had a significantly more impact on biogas H 2 content than the downswing of pH from 5.0 to 4.3. The results also indicated good linear relationships of biogas and H 2 production rates with HRT ( r =0.9971 and 0.9967, respectively). Since the optimal ASBR operating conditions were different for the biogas/H 2 production rates and the H 2 yield, a compromised combination of the running parameters was determined to be HRT 12 h and pH 5.0 in order to achieve good biogas/H 2 productions.
Development of a light field laparoscope for depth reconstruction

Stereoscopy addresses depth perception loss in laparoscopy but encounters multiple design inefficiencies. A light field laparoscope is proposed to more effectively capture depth information. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of this technique.
A Submodular Approach to Create Individualized Parcellations of the Human Brain

Recent studies on functional neuroimaging (e.g. fMRI) attempt to model the brain as a network. A conventional functional connectivity approach for defining nodes in the network is grouping similar voxels together, a method known as functional parcellation. The majority of previous work on human brain parcellation employs a group-level analysis by collapsing data from the entire population. However, these methods ignore the large amount of inter-individual variability and uniqueness in connectivity. This is particularly relevant for patient studies or even developmental studies where a single functional atlas may not be appropriate for all individuals or conditions. To account for the individual differences, we developed an approach to individualized parcellation. The algorithm starts with an initial group-level parcellation and forms the individualized ones using a local exemplar-based submodular clustering method. The utility of individualized parcellations is further demonstrated through improvement in the accuracy of a predictive model that predicts IQ using functional connectome.
Cold Temperatures Fire up Circadian Neurons

Circadian clocks monitor both light and temperature cycles to entrain behavior and physiology to the environment. Recently in Nature, Yadlapalli et al. (2018) identified a subgroup of Drosophila clock neurons that responds to temperature input with changes in intracellular calcium and mediates effects of temperature on circadian entrainment and sleep.
Following the Followers: Mutual Fund Performance When Managers Follow Analyst Coverage

Mutual fund managers who adjust portfolio holdings based on analyst coverage and consensus recommendations achieve signi?cantly lower risk-adjusted returns, but perform better than when consensus recommendations are considered alone. In a rational expectations equilibrium setup, an unskilled investor places greater weight on a risky asset’s public signal, given an increase in the asset’s analyst coverage. A new measure of managerial skill based on analyst coverage is formulated and shown to be decreasing in mutual fund alphas.
Purification and properties of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from Pseudomonas fluorescens.

The inducible p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase of Pseudomonas fluorescens which catalyzes the conversion of p-hydroxybenzoate to protocatechuate has been obtained in crystalline form as an electrophoretically homogenous protein which is very stable in the absence of added cofactors. The molecular weight is estimated to be 65,000. The enzyme contains 1 mole of flavin adenine dinucleotide per mole of protein. In the presence of p-hydroxybenzoate the enzyme-bound flavin is rapidly reduced by TPNH, but not by DPNH or reduced acetyl pyridine nucleotide. Under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions the enzyme can catalyze the rapid reduction of ferricyanide by TPNH. This rapid reaction requires the presence of the aromatic substrate. The absorption spectrum of the enzyme in the visible region is perturbed and the fluorescence of the enzymebound flavin is quenched in the presence of p-hydroxybenzoate. The binding of p-hydroxybenzoate to p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase follows 1:1 binding at concentrations of p-hydroxybenzoate less than 3 x 10-4 m . At higher concentrations, deviations from 1:1 binding are observed which correspond to the excess substrate inhibition observed in steady state kinetic analysis. A substrate analogue, 6-hydroxynicotinate, activates the enzyme with respect to reduction of the enzyme-bound flavin by TPNH, but is not hydroxylated during the subsequent reoxidation by molecular oxygen. During anaerobic reduction of the enzyme in the presence of p-hydroxybenzoate, two transient spectral intermediates are observable. These intermediates also occur during catalytic turnover. The intermediates are generated in sequential fashion. No electron paramagnetic resonance signals are associated with the transient spectral intermediates. The affinity of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase for TPNH is enhanced at least 9-fold by p-hydroxybenzoate. The first order rate constant for the reduction of the enzyme-bound flavin by bound TPNH (i.e. kred) is increased 40,000-fold by p-hydroxybenzoate.
Culturing Epithelial Hydra

To culture and care for epithelial hydra i.e., animals that cannot capture or ingest prey independently and cannot digest or eliminat particulate waste normally.
Predictors and Barriers to Timely Medical Follow-Up after Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Screening According to Race/Ethnicity

Background The purpose of this study was to assess follow-up practices among individuals found to have elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a screening and educational outreach. Methods Participants in the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Family Intervention Trial for Heart Health (FIT Heart) who were found to have hypertension, prehypertension, sub-optimal lipids and/or abnormal blood glucose were included in this study (N=214, mean age 49 ± 13, 64% female, 33% non-white). Contact was made at two weeks, six weeks and three months to determine if medical follow-up was initiated. Barriers to nonadherence were assessed. Results After two weeks, significantly more whites had medical follow up compared to nonwhites (34% vs. 20%, p=0.04). Racial/ethnic minorities were more likely to report that not having a doctor was a barrier (30% vs. 11%, p=0.02). Non-whites were more likely to return to the study staff for follow-up rather than an outside physician (32% vs. 15%, p=0.001). Conclusion Racial/ethnic minorities with elevated CVD risk factors may have delayed medical follow-up compared to whites, and this may be attributable to lack of access to a doctor. These data suggest that improving access to care may reduce racial/ethnic disparities in risk factor management and CVD outcomes.
Design and Implementation of Reference-Free Drift-Cancelling CMOS Magnetic Sensors for Biosensing Applications

Magnetic imagers, which utilize magnetic nanoparticles as labels to realize biodetection assays, hold significant promise for deployment at the point-of-use. Resonance-shift-based sensors can be realized in standard CMOS processes without post-process modifications and offer great sensitivity at low price tags. Unfortunately, CMOS resonant-shift magnetic sensors suffer significant degradation in SNR and long-term stability due to low on-chip inductor quality factors and significant noise introduced from active devices and thermal variations. This makes standard resonant-shift-based imagers undesirable for use in low-signal biodetection assays. Furthermore, and most importantly, the significant long-term drift due to slow-varying noise sources and temperature changes makes these sensors inadequate for bioexperiments which may take timescales on the order of hours to reach completion. In this paper, we propose a transformer-based approach which enables sub-parts-per-million (PPM) signal detection without the need for any thermal compensation. The approach is self-referencing, leading to significant savings in chip area by removing the need for replica reference cells. We analyze the performance of the transformer-based circuit compared to the original second-order system and demonstrate its superiority for rejecting system noise. A proof-of-concept design of a fully integrated $2 \times 2$ CMOS transformer-based magnetic sensor array is presented which achieves reference-free, sub-PPM detection of magnetic signals. The system can be powered and operated completely from a laptop USB interface and each sensing cell can consume less than 3 mW of DC power. Finally, we show the results of an initial DNA biodetection experiment which confirms the capability of the sensor to be used for realistic bioassays.
ASFS presidential address 2018: Towards an epistemology of pleasure and a post-liberal politics of joy

ABSTRACTAt this moment of great peril for democracies across the world, scholars must not only be critical but develop affective investment in common people’s lives so as to be able to engage in the democratic process more successfully. That entails paying attention to common joys and pleasures as much as to suffering.
Craving and substance use: Examining psychophysiological and behavioral moderators.

Abstract Theories of substance use have emphasized the role of craving and inhibitory control in continued use, yet few studies have examined the interplay between momentary craving and inhibitory control in predicting illicit drug use in everyday life. The primary goal of this study was to examine whether individual differences in inhibitory control, indexed by laboratory-assessed electrophysiology and behavior, moderate the relation between momentary craving and alcohol and drug use assessed outside the lab using a smartphone. A secondary goal was to examine the extent of coherence in the results across different ERP components (e.g., no-go P3, ERN) purported to assess inhibitory control. Participants were current illicit drug users, who completed a flanker task that also contained go/no-go trials, and participated in two weeks of ambulatory assessments of their drug and alcohol craving and use. The results showed that craving a few hours before was related to subsequent drug and alcohol use; however, traditional measures of inhibitory control (e.g., go/no-go P3) did not moderate these effects as expected for illicit drug use. For alcohol use, individuals with less post-error slowing had a stronger relation between craving and alcohol use than those higher in post-error slowing. These results highlight that different cognitive processes are assessed by electrophysiological and behavioral measures of inhibitory control and may play different roles in drug and alcohol use and craving.
Examining Evidence-Based Practice Beliefs in Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Pilot Study

Abstract This study examined how a new course affected evidence-based practice (EBP) beliefs in junior nursing students (N = 18) compared with senior nursing students (N = 18). These students completed the EBP Belief Scale. An independent t test revealed no significant difference in scores. There were statistically significant differences on 2 items (p
HYPNOSIS, HYPNOTIC PHENOMENA, AND HYPNOTIC RESPONSIVENESS: Clinical and Research Foundations-A 40-Year Perspective.

AbstractThe authors summarize research findings, their clinical implications, and directions for future research derived from 40 years of study of hypnosis, hypnotic phenomena, and hypnotic respons...
Practical software reliability engineering with the Software Failure and Reliability Assessment Tool (SFRAT)

Abstract Many large software projects struggle to achieve their reliability targets. Software reliability growth models quantify reliability from failure data collected during software testing. This paper presents the Software Failure and Reliability Assessment Tool (SFRAT), which implements several software reliability growth models as a free and open source application. The open source nature of the tool enables users to integrate the methods into their organization’s workflow and researchers to contribute additional statistical methods. The tool is presented in the context of a NASA project.
Molecular beam epitaxy of Zn-polar ZnO/BeMgZnO heterostructure field effect transistors on GaN and c-sapphire: a comparative study

Previously we have conducted researches on the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of Zn-polar BeMgZnO/ZnO heterostructure field effect transistor (HFET) structures on GaN templates, which exhibit both high two-dimensional gas (2DEG) density and high electron mobility with relatively low Mg contents via the strain modulation of Be and Mg co-incorporation. In this contribution, we report on the growth of the HFET structures directly on sapphire substrate by employing a buffer consisting of a rock-salt structure MgO layer, a low-temperature (LT) ZnO layer and a high-temperature (HT) ZnO layer. Compared with growth of O-polar on sapphire, in which a thin and wurtzite MgO buffer is deposited at high temperatures above 700 °C, the MgO buffer for Zn-polar growth has to be reduced to 450 °C, in order to obtain smooth interface and surface for the BeMgZnO/ZnO HFETs. The residual electron sheet concentration in Zn-polar ZnO layers is ~2×1012 cm-2 on GaN while semi-insulating Zn-polar ZnO layers on sapphire have been obtained via controlling the buffer growth conditions, which is vital to the realization of HFET device structures.
Interobserver variability between cytopathologists and cytotechnologists upon application and characterization of the indeterminate category in the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology.

BACKGROUND The indeterminate categories in the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRSGC) are diagnostically challenging because of inherent heterogeneity and complexity, with wide interobserver variability (IOV). Herein, the authors explore the concordance rate (CR) between cytopathologists (CPs) and cytotechnologists (CTs) in interpreting indeterminate salivary gland lesions using the MSRSGC. METHODS Between 2011 and 2016, 86 indeterminate fine-needle aspirations had slides available for review, of which 48 had follow-up. Four CPs and 2 CTs performed an independent, blinded review of these slides and categorized them according to the MSRSGC. The CRs between CTs and CPs with the final sign-out cytopathologist (FCP) were assessed, and interobserver agreement was categorized into uniform, majority, divided, minimal, or no agreement. RESULTS The overall CR with the FCP ranged from 48.8% to 60.5% for CPs and from 22.1% to 36% for CTs. IOV κ scores for the entire group were 0.314 and, with the FCP as the reference, ranged from 0.403 to 0.539 for CPs and from 0.091 to 0.254 for CTs. Uniform, majority, divided, minimal, and no agreement was noted in 12.8%, 31.4%, 38.4%, 10.5%, and 6.9%, respectively, of all cases and in 16.7%, 35.4%, 31.3%, 8.3%, and 6.3%, respectively, of the cases with follow-up. Diagnostic challenges included distinguishing lymphoma from a reactive process and distinguishing mucin from mucin-like material. CONCLUSIONS CPs had modestly higher CRs compared with CTs; and, although the variable CRs highlight indeterminate IOV, the MSRSGC enables reproducibility. Characterizing larger cohorts in the indeterminate categories will further improve MSRSGC criteria. Moreover, education on the MSRSGC should include CTs and CPs to improve overall diagnostic accuracy.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis evasion of Guanylate Binding Protein-mediated host defense in mice requires the ESX1 secretion system [preprint]

Abstract Cell-intrinsic immune mechanisms control intracellular pathogens that infect eukaryotes. The intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) evolved to withstand cell-autonomous immunity to cause persistent infections and disease. A potent inducer of cell-autonomous immunity is the lymphocyte-derived cytokine IFNγ. While the production of IFNγ by T cells is essential to protect against Mtb, it is not capable of fully eradicating Mtb infection. This suggests that Mtb evades a subset of IFNγ-mediated antimicrobial responses, yet what mechanisms Mtb resists remains unclear. The IFNγ-inducible Guanylate binding proteins (GBPs) are key host defense proteins able to control infections with intracellular pathogens. GBPs were previously shown to directly restrict Mycobacterium bovis BCG yet their role during Mtb infection has remained unknown. Here, we examine the importance of a cluster of five GBPs on mouse chromosome 3 in controlling Mycobacterial infection. While M. bovis BCG is directly restricted by GBPs, we find that the GBPs on chromosome 3 do not contribute to the control of Mtb replication or the associated host response to infection. The differential effects of GBPs during Mtb versus M. bovis BCG infection is at least partially explained by the absence of the ESX1 secretion system from M. bovis BCG, since Mtb mutants lacking the ESX1 secretion system become similarly susceptible to GBP-mediated immune defense. Therefore, this specific genetic interaction between the murine host and Mycobacteria reveals a novel function for the ESX1 virulence system in the evasion of GBP-mediated immunity.
Training Medical Students to Create and Collaboratively Review Multiple-Choice Questions: A Comprehensive Workshop

Introduction Multiple-choice question (MCQ) creation is an infrequently used active-learning strategy. Previous studies demonstrated that medical students find value in the process, but have minima...
Applications of nuclear-based imaging in gene and cell therapy: probe considerations.

Several types of gene- and cell-based therapeutics are now emerging in the cancer immunotherapy, transplantation, and regenerative medicine landscapes. Radionuclear-based imaging can be used as a molecular imaging tool for repetitive and non-invasive visualization as well as in vivo monitoring of therapy success. In this review, we discuss the principles of nuclear-based imaging and provide a comprehensive overview of its application in gene and cell therapy. This review aims to inform investigators in the biomedical field as well as clinicians on the state of the art of nuclear imaging, from probe design to available radiopharmaceuticals and advances of direct (probe-based) and indirect (transgene-based) strategies in both preclinical and clinical settings. Notably, as the nuclear-based imaging toolbox is continuously expanding, it will be increasingly incorporated into the clinical setting where the distribution, targeting, and persistence of a new generation of therapeutics can be imaged and ultimately guide therapeutic decisions.
Baryogenesis via leptogenesis: Spontaneous B and L violation

In order to address the baryon asymmetry in the Universe one needs to understand the origin of baryon and lepton number violation. In this article, we discuss the mechanism of baryogenesis via leptogenesis to explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry in theories with spontaneous breaking of baryon and lepton number. In this context, a lepton asymmetry is generated through the out-of-equilibrium decays of right-handed neutrinos at the high-scale, while local baryon number must be broken below the multi-TeV scale to satisfy the cosmological bounds on the dark matter relic density. We demonstrate how the lepton asymmetry generated via leptogenesis can be converted in two different ways: (a) in the theory predicting Majorana dark matter the lepton asymmetry is converted into a baryon asymmetry, and (b) in the theory with Dirac dark matter the decays of right-handed neutrinos can generate lepton and dark matter asymmetries that are then partially converted into a baryon asymmetry. Consequently, we show how to explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry, the dark matter relic density and neutrino masses in theories for local baryon and lepton number.
Complexing hemp seed protein with pectin for improved emulsion stability.

Hemp seed protein has the potential to be used in food systems as an emulsifying agent; however, there are still some shortcomings associated with hemp seed protein, such as poor solubility and tendency to aggregate. This study aims to improve the dispersibility of hemp seed protein as an emulsifier by complexing with pectin, driven by electrostatic force. Three protein to pectin ratios were used for complexation, from 1:1, 2:1 to 4:1. The complexation improved the polydispersity of hemp seed protein when dispersed in the aqueous phase. The hemp seed protein displayed multimodal size distribution in water at pH = 3.0 due to aggregation, while the incorporation of pectin helped to diminish those aggregated proteins. When the hemp seed protein was used to stabilize the oil-in-water emulsion, its stabilized emulsion showed promising homogenous droplet size distribution after emulsification. However, during the accelerated storage conditions (55°C), the emulsion stabilized solely by hemp seed protein was subjected to extensive coalescence. From day 0 to 9, the droplet size (d4,3 ) increased by 50 folds from 3.215 to 161.6 µm. In contrast, the hemp seed protein-pectin complex exhibited extraordinary stability during the storage test, where size evolution in all three samples was negligible compared to the emulsion stabilized by hemp seed protein. Rheological characterization suggests that pectin provided physical strength, which may help the emulsion droplets to maintain structural integrity under environmental stress. The underlying mechanism could be associated with the formation of a three-dimensional structure by pectin through bridging adjacent emulsion droplets. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Hemp seed protein is gaining more and more attention as an emerging plant protein. Recently, hemp seed protein has been explored as an emulsifier, but its stabilized emulsion encounters instability issues during storage. Our study suggests pectin could be used as a co-stabilizer for hemp seed protein emulsions.
From Civic Engagement to Circles of Grace: Mid‐Range Reflection on Teaching for Global Citizenship

The course “Empowering Youth for Global Citizenship” seeks to equip students to teach global citizenship by engaging them in practices of ascetic withdrawal from consumer habits and active engagement in the public sphere. These goals underlie the design of the assignments, but should have also shaped the relationship between the assignments themselves. This article addresses the issue of course design in the service of empowering students for engagement in the public sphere by reflecting upon the course assignments, with emphasis on a project that worked well, and the implications this has for its relationship to the other course assignments, including one that missed the mark. The exploration of this misalignment between the learning goals and actual outcomes of the different assignments brings to light the unique role of learning communities of accountability and acceptance in deepening the impact of assignments aimed at personal transformation, as well as the rich dynamic that can come from coordinating course assignments to bring “head, heart, and hands” together.
Interaction of Ribosomes and the Cell Envelope of Escherichia coli Mediated by Lysozyme

Evidence is presented suggesting the existence of a natural ribosome-membrane complex. A reconstruction system is described wherein free ribosomes form a complex which appears to involve cell fragments. The reconstructed complex is similar in stability to the inferred natural complex. The reconstructed complex is generated by lysozyme, and it is concluded that at least part of the inferred natural complex is also generated by lysozyme. These results are discussed with reference to existing data concerning certain membrane-associated systems in bacteria.
Coal flash pyrolysis: 1. An indication of the olefin precursors in coal by CP/MAS 13C n.m.r. spectroscopy

Abstract The results reported indicate that the low molecular weight olefins (ethylene, propylene and butadiene) which are major gaseous hydrocarbon products of flash pyrolysis of coal derive from the same precursors in coal, whereas methane, benzene and other pyrolysis products are mainly formed from different components in the coal. CP/MAS 13 C n.m.r. spectra suggest that the olefin precursors are long-chain polymethylene structures (chemical shift 31 ppm), either chemically bound or mechanically trapped in the coal and thus not solvent-extractable.
Non-cyanobacterial nifH phylotypes in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre detected by flow-cytometry cell sorting.

In contrast to cyanobacteria, the significance of bacteria and archaea in oceanic N2 fixation remains unknown, apart from the knowledge that their nitrogenase (nifH) genes are diverse, present in all oceans and at least occasionally expressed. Non-cyanobacterial nifH sequences often occur as contamination from reagents and other sources, complicating the detection and interpretation of environmental phylotypes. We amplified and sequenced partial nifH gene fragments directly from cell populations sorted by fluorescence activated cell sorting from water collected in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG). Sequences recovered (195 total) included presumed heterotrophic or photoheterotrophic non-cyanobacterial nifH phylotypes previously unreported in the NPSG. A nifH sequence previously found in the South Pacific Gyre (HM210397) was exclusively recovered from sorted picoeukaryote populations, and was detected in water column samples using quantitative PCR (qPCR), with 60% of samples detected in the > 10 μm size fraction in addition to the 0.2–10 μm size fraction. A novel cluster 3-like nifH sequence was also recovered from discrete cell sorts and detected by qPCR in environmental samples. This approach enables the detection of rare nifH phylotypes, identifies possible associations with larger cells or particles and offers a possible solution for distinguishing reagent contaminants from real microbial community components.
Price forecast valuation for the NYISO electricity market

Purpose – Following the deregulation of electricity markets in the USA, independent power producers operate as for-profit entities. Their profit depends on the price of electricity and an accurate forecast is critical in making bidding decisions on the electricity and reserve markets or engaging in bilateral contracts. Competing price forecasts have their accuracy expressed in statistical terms but producers need to determine the long-term value of using a given forecast. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue by presenting a method of electricity price forecast valuation which compares forecast models using financial rather than statistical measures. Design/methodology/approach – The objectives of this paper are achieved by mathematical modeling of thermal power plants and price forecast information available to market participants and simulating the operation of a thermal power plant using various price forecasts and perfect information (as a baseline). The operating profit calculated over a...
“Who are these people?” Evaluating the demographic characteristics and political preferences of MTurk survey respondents:

As Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) has surged in popularity throughout political science, scholars have increasingly challenged the external validity of inferences made drawing upon MTurk samples....
Effects of anxiety sensitivity on emotional response to a stress task

The purpose of this investigation was to further define the role of anxiety sensitivity, in relation to physiological arousal and the cognitive perception of anxiousness, as a determinant of anxiety. One hundred and thirty-two undergraduates at an urban university served as subjects. Two physiological measures of arousal and two cognitive measures of anxiety were used following an anxiety inducing task (mental arithmetic). The general expectation, which was supported, was that individual differences in anxiety sensitivity levels are more closely related to subjects' reported anxiousness in stressful conditions than are the actual physiological changes. Additionally, anxiety sensitivity was related to poststress levels of anxiety whereas trait anxiety was only related to pre- and postrelaxation levels of anxiety. Implications of the findings are addressed.
The Dynamics of Motivations to Volunteer as Campus Tour Guides

Abstract This study investigated the dynamics of university students’ motivations to volunteer as campus tour guides in their leisure time. Understanding the dynamics of motivations is important, since it helps recruit and retain volunteer campus tour guides, who contribute to both application and admission processes. Using a qualitative methodology, we interviewed 16 campus tour guides and asked their motivations to start and to continue volunteering. Five types of motivations emerged, including altruistic, psychological, behavioral, social, and instrumental. We found that respondents’ motivations are dynamic. Helping university applicants, enjoying giving tours, and making friends became more prevalent during the volunteering process, contributing to the university and helping one's future disappeared after volunteering started, and personal satisfaction emerged to retain volunteers. The university administration is suggested to pique students’ interests in contributing to the university, making friends...
Two-dimensional Rayleigh scattering in a semi-infinite cylindrical medium exposed to a laser beam.

Abstract A modification of Ambarzumian's method is used to develop the integro-differential equations for the source function, flux, and intensity at the boundary of a two-dimensional, semi-infinite cylindrical medium with second order Legendre phase function scattering. The incident radiation is collimated, normal to the top surface, and is dependent only on the radial coordinate. Boundary conditions which vary as a Bessel function and as a Gaussian distribution are investigated. The Gaussian distribution approximates a laser beam. Numerical results are presented in graphical and tabular forms for a Rayleigh scattering medium. The results are compared with those of isotropic scattering.
Ah Q genealogy: Ah Q, Miss Ah Q, national character and the construction of the Ah Q discourse

The word “Ah Q” never used to exist in the Chinese language. It was the pure invention of Lu Xun. However, once the idea escaped from under the pen of its creator, it took on a life of its own and ...
An FPGA-based network intrusion detection system with on-chip network interfaces

Network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) are critical network security tools that help protect computer installations from malicious users. Traditional software-based NIDS architectures are becoming strained as network data rates increase and attacks intensify in volume and complexity. In recent years, researchers have proposed using FPGAs to perform the computationally-intensive components of intrusion detection analysis. In this work, we present a new NIDS architecture that integrates the network interface hardware and packet analysis hardware into a single FPGA chip. This integration enables a higher performance and more flexible NIDS platform. To demonstrate the benefits of this technique, we have implemented a complete and functional NIDS in a Xilinx Virtex II Pro FPGA that performs in-line packet analysis and filtering on multiple Gigabit Ethernet links using rules from the open-source Snort attack database.
Information Modeling for Fixture Design

To investigate better employment of variant approach in design of fixtures, a systematic method for representation of parts with the associated manufacturing conditions and available fixtures is required. This representation also provides the necessary backbone for integrating various methods used in different phases of fixture design, thus, allows better collaboration between different researchers focusing on these phases. This paper identifies the information scope required for such representation with respect to design and manufacturing. Two example case studies are presented in detail to demonstrate the value of this information in fixture design. The method developed has the advantage of giving a flexible range of solutions instead of specifications applicable to a single fixture.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
A random coding approach to Gaussian multiple access channels with finite blocklength

Contrary to the common use of random coding and typicality decoding for the achievability proofs in information theory, the tightest achievable rates for point-to-point Gaussian channels build either on geometric arguments or composite hypothesis testing, for which direct generalization to multi-user settings appears challenging. In this paper, we provide a new perspective on the procedure of handling input cost constraints for tight achievability results. In particular, we show with a proper choice of input distribution and using a change of measure technique, tight bounds can be achieved via the common random coding argument and a modified typicality decoding. It is observed that a codebook generated randomly according to a uniform distribution on the “power shell” is optimal, at least up to the second order. Such insights are then extended to a Gaussian multiple access channel, for which independent uniform distributions on power shells are shown to be very close to optimal, at least up to second order.
Computers: The computer speaks: Rapid speech synthesis from printed text input could accommodate an unlimited vocabulary

Reviews the techniques for producing synthetic speech from a computer. The author expects such methods to be available to the business world before too long including rapid speech synthesis from printed test inputs able to accommodate an unlimited vocabulary. Topics include: analogue recording; human speech; compressed digital speech; speech synthesis from text; software; conversion to sound; synthetic speech for business.
A method for measuring microstructural-scale strains using a scanning electron microscope: Applications to γ-titanium aluminides

This article introduces a new technique for measuring strains on the scale of the microstructure using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an in-situ tensile stage. A grid of markers is deposited on the polished surface of a tensile sample. The method then compares a reference image of the undistorted material with an image taken after deformation. A convolution operation determines the location of each of the markers in both images, from which the marker displacements and surface strains follow. Displacement accuracies of 0.01 image pixels are attainable. We have applied this method to cast γ-TiAl-based alloys. The properties of these alloys depend sensitively on the microstructure, which can vary widely in morphology and scale. The surface-displacement mapping technique is effective for identification of microstructural features that affect the local straining and resulting properties in this class of intermetallics.
HVAC simulation model for advanced diagnostics

This article presents an HVAC simulator designed for validation of advanced methods for diagnostics and predictive maintenance of building automation systems. A formal framework for the diagnostics and maintenance methods is briefly introduced. The design and implementation of the simulator are described in more detail and concluded with a typical example.
Joint rate control and scheduling for wireless uplink video streaming

We solve the problem of uplink video streaming in CDMA cellular networks by jointly designing the rate control and scheduling algorithms. In the pricing-based distributed rate control algorithm, the base station announces a price for the per unit average rate it can support, and the mobile devices choose their desired average transmission rates by balancing their video quality and cost of transmission. Each mobile device then determines the specific video frames to transmit by a video summarization process. In the time-division-multiplexing (TDM) scheduling algorithm, the base station collects the information on frames to be transmitted from all devices within the current time window, sorts them in increasing order of deadlines, and schedules the transmissions in a TDM fashion. This joint algorithm takes advantage of the multi-user content diversity, and maximizes the network total utility (i.e., minimize the network total distortion), while satisfying the delivery deadline constraints. Simulations showed that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms the constant rate provision algorithm.
C pk and P pk : One Capability Index Is Not Enough to Measure Photomask CD Performance

Many photomask customers require process capability reporting on a regular basis. One of their main purposes is to evaluate product quality based on process variability from period to period. The problem occurs when process improvement is based on a single reported index. There are a variety of methods used today to calculate process capability, and any one method has proven insufficient (see figure below). Process 'A' looks good with respect to the average-range divided by a constant (R-bar/d 2 ), but the standard deviation looks too wide. Conversely, Process 'B' looks good with respect to standard deviation, but its R-bar/d 2 is skewed too far. An explanation for this phenomenon is that the use of the standard deviation method to calculate capability (actually the performance index) ignores within-sample variation, and using the R-bar/d 2 method omits sample-to-sample variation. Therefore, both methods should be employed to better evaluate process performance and capability. This paper presents a means by which to employ the merits of both sigma estimators to achieve a better representation of continual improvement. Utilizing a method of pooling within and between-sample variation (Cvk) indicates that the two processes below actually exhibit almost identical capability.
In response to Gans: the culture–structure binary

Gans (2012; Against culture versus structure. Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power, 19 (2), 125–134) makes four assertions in his claim that ‘Contemporary sociology is saddled with a culture–structure binary but the fault for its existence lies mostly with cultural sociology … and the culture–structure binary should be abandoned’. I argue that (1) defining culture, while problematic, is insufficient reason for abandoning the concept. (2) Marx, among others, proffered a dialectical view of culture that is not structural only or interpretive only. (3) Gans ignores the social and political impact of cultural studies, specifically the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies. And (4) culturally oriented research has been used extensively to shape and analyse the varying approaches by public policy-makers to critical social issues.
The A′2Δ state of ScO: Analysis of the A′2Δ (v = 3) ∼ A2Π (v = 1) perturbation

Abstract Detailed information about the ScO A ′ 2 Δ state is obtained from analysis of the A 2 Π ( v = 1) ∼ A ′ 2 Δ ( v = 3) perturbation. The deperturbation analysis is based on 774 and 51 lines in the A 2 Π- X 2 Σ + (1-0) and (1-1) bands, measured respectively to 0.006 and 0.010 cm −1 accuracy in fluorescence excitation spectra recorded with a single mode, continuous wave (cw) dye laser. One hundred and one “extra,” nominally A ′ 2 Δ, rotational levels are observed: 6.5 ≤ J ≤ 36.5 in 2 Δ 3 2 (the 2 Δ 3 2 ∼ 2 Π 3 2 crossing occurs near J = 31.5) and J = 64.5 in 2 Δ 5 2 ( 2 Δ 5 2 crosses 2 Π 3 2 near J = 64.5). The observed lines were assigned, fitted, and deperturbed by an iterative procedure utilizing a nonlinear least-squares fittoa 2 Π ∼ 2 Δ effective Hamiltonian matrix model. Deperturbed molecular constants and perturbation parameters are obtained for A 2 Π ( v = 1) and A ′ 2 Δ ( v = 3). Values obtained for previously unknown molecular constants include B e ( A ′ 2 Δ) = 0.4815 cm −1 ( r e = 1.723 A ) and A v =3 ( A ′ 2 Δ) = 47.1 ± 0.3 cm −1 . The fitted values for the spin-orbit and orbit-rotation perturbation parameters are used to estimate the 4 p , 3 d composition of the A 2 Π state within the context of a one-electron Sc 2+ O 2− electronic structure model. The molecular constants and orbital character are compared against ab initio calculations.
Bulging fontanel: a complication of tetracycline therapy in infants.

Summary Tetracycline compounds can be a causeof increased intracranial pressure as manifested by bulging of the fontanel. This benign but alarming reaction disappears on withdrawal of the drug.
Improving top-n recommendation techniques using rating variance

One of the goals in recommender systems is to recommend those items to each user that maximize the user's utility. In this study, we propose new approaches which, in conjunction with any existing recommendation technique, can improve the top-N item selection by taking into account rating variance. We empirically demonstrate how these approaches work with several recommendation techniques, increasing the accuracy of recommendations. We also show how these approaches can generate more personalized recommendations, as measured by the diversity metric. As a result, users can be given a better control to choose whether to receive recommendations with higher accuracy or higher diversity.
Formation of ozone and growth of aerosols in young smoke plumes from biomass burning: 1. Lagrangian parcel studies

[1] We have developed a new model of the gas- and aerosol-phase chemistry of biomass burning smoke plumes called Aerosol Simulation Program (ASP). Here we use ASP combined with a Lagrangian parcel model to simulate the chemistry in smoke plumes from three fires: the Otavi savannah fire in Namibia, an Alaska boreal forest fire, and the Timbavati savannah fire. Our model explained the observations of ozone in the Otavi and Alaska plumes fairly well, but our initial model simulation of the Timbavati plume underestimated the concentrations of ozone, OH, and secondary aerosol matter. The Timbavati simulation agrees with observations if we increase OH to equal its observed levels. Heterogeneous reactions of NO2 and SO2 could explain the needed higher concentrations of OH and the rapid formation of ozone, nitrate, and sulfate in the smoke plume if the uptake coefficients on smoke aerosols are large (O(10−3) and O(10−4), respectively). Uncharacterized organic species in the smoke plume were likely responsible for the rapid formation of aerosol organic carbon. The changes in the aerosol size distribution were dominated by plume dilution and condensational growth. The single scattering albedo of the modeled smoke increases from 0.866 to 0.902 over 1 h of aging. The change in aerosol scattering with relative humidity for the modeled fresh smoke matches observations up to 66% RH, but the model greatly overestimates the humidification factor at 80% RH (2.88 versus an observed value of 1.70–1.79). For the aged smoke, the modeled humidification factor is 1.22, slightly below the observed value of 1.40.