cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Linear and Angular Impulse during the Golf Swing with Modified Address Positions.

Golf shots off uneven terrain often require modifications in address position to complete the swing successfully. This study aimed to determine how golf players coordinate the legs to regulate line...
Personal Universes: A Solution to the Multi-Agent Value Alignment Problem

AI Safety researchers attempting to align values of highly capable intelligent systems with those of humanity face a number of challenges including personal value extraction, multi-agent value merger and finally in-silico encoding. State-of-the-art research in value alignment shows difficulties in every stage in this process, but merger of incompatible preferences is a particularly difficult challenge to overcome. In this paper we assume that the value extraction problem will be solved and propose a possible way to implement an AI solution which optimally aligns with individual preferences of each user. We conclude by analyzing benefits and limitations of the proposed approach.
Capacity of Deliberate Side-Channels Created by Software Activities

It has been shown that electromagnetic (EM) emanations that are result of instruction executions in a computer system can create a wireless side-channel which attackers can use to extract sensitive information such as a cryptography key. When an attacker modifies the software application to exfiltrate sensitive information through a channel, this channel is called a deliberate side-channel or a covert channel. Because deliberate side-channels are not created for a conventional wireless communication to transmit information, these channels are exposed not only to the errors created by the wireless transmission (the transmitted signal propagates through a channel hindered by metal and plastic), but also by varying execution time of computer activities, and by insertions from other computer activities such as interrupts. Combining all of these effects, we propose to model deliberate side-channels as an insertion channel where the transmitted sequence is a pulse amplitude modulated signal with varying pulse width. Utilizing this model, we derive upper and lower bounds for the channel capacity of the deliberate side-channels. The bounds demonstrate the severity of data leakage through deliberate side channels by revealing the potential to transmit high data rates. Moreover, the proposed bounds for the channel capacity can be employed by any noisy insertion channel and provides more confidential results.
Liposomes Enhance Dye Localization within the Mammary Ducts of Porcine Nipples.

Transductal and transepidermal diffusion are two distinct penetration routes of molecules administered via the nipple. To improve the therapeutic potential of this drug administration technique, drug penetration into the mammary ducts should be maximized, which may be accomplished through design optimization of drug delivery vehicles. In this study, we evaluated liposomes, ranging in size from 100 to 3000 nm, to improve ductal penetration of model fluorescent dyes using fluorescence microscopy and image analysis. Liposomes encapsulating a model fluorescent lipophilic dye, nile red, or hydrophilic dye, sulforhodamine B, were applied topically on porcine nipples for 6 h in vitro. Liposome encapsulation of sulforhodamine B significantly reduced the total amount of dye penetrating the nipple, while penetration of liposome-encapsulated nile red varied depending on vesicle size, as compared to their solution controls. However, the fluorescence intensity localized at the ductal epithelium was higher at extended ...
Information Measurement in Natural and Artificial Systems

In the continuing quest for operational definitions of information, this paper analyzes samples of data and information measurements used in biological systems at the genetic, cellular, and organ levels. The transduction of energy into information in biological systems yields information in the form of genetic code words (condons), bit sequences, analog codes, and paired chemical markers. Pragmatic information measures applicable to many artificial systems (robots, energy information systems, realtime systems) can be expressed in terms of international system (SI) metric units or the economic productivity units of time or money. Natural and artificial systems have in common identifiable sets of subsystems which are dedicated to processing information: input transducers, internal transducers, channels and nets, decoders, associators, memory, deciders, encoders, and output transducers. Transducers convert energy into information, or conversely. Intelligent systems can substitute informationintensive behavior for energy-intensive behavior, or for capital- or time-intensive behavior. Ratios of energy used by systems to process information tend to be very small fractions of the total energy used by these systems. However, controversy exists between proponents of the information-communications paradigm and those who regard information as a highly refined form of system control energy. Fresh approaches to information measurement are needed. New generations of real-time systems should provide opportunities to measure relationships between real-time information flows and energy flows in object systems or processes.
Is enrollment in a Medicaid health maintenance organization associated with less preventable hospitalizations

Abstract Introduction The objective of this study is to compare the performance of Medicaid health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and fee-for-service (FFS) Medicaid regarding the prevalence of potentially preventable hospitalizations, a recognized measure of outpatient care quality. Methods This study used nationally representative data on non-institutionalized Medicaid recipients, ages 18–64, from the 2003–2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Separate analyses are conducted for recipients insured through both Medicaid and Medicare (“dual eligibles”) and recipients whose only health insurance is Medicaid (“non-duals”). In each group the occurrence of potentially preventable hospitalizations is measured, and then survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression models are fit to quantify the relationship between Medicaid HMO status and the occurrence of such stays. The possibility of selection bias into HMOs is considered and explicitly addressed in model estimation using propensity score methods. Results Adjusting for covariates and confounders dual eligible enrolled in Medicaid managed care are more likely to have a potentially preventable hospitalization relative to those covered under FFS Medicaid (survey weighted logit model OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 0.98–3.03; propensity score weighted logit model OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.06–3.28). In contrast, the odds ratios did not differ among non-duals in Medicaid HMOs versus FFS Medicaid. Conclusion These findings suggest that, at least for dual eligibles, the quality of outpatient care in Medicaid HMOs may be worse than under FFS Medicaid. Better and more streamlined clinical preventive approaches for this high risk and vulnerable population might be required in Medicaid HMOs.
Multiscale micromechanical modeling of the elastic properties of dentin

The paper focuses on multiscale modeling of the elastic properties of dentin. It is modeled as a hierarchical structure consisting of collagen fibers and hydroxyapatite particles at the lower level. Different concentrations of hydroxyapatite in this tissue correspond to peritubular and intertubular dentins. Then, the overall material is modeled as intertubular dentin matrix containing parallel cylindrical holes (the tubules) surrounded by layers of peritubular dentin. At each microstructural level, the model accounts for anisotropy of the constituents. The model predictions are compared with experimental data available in literature.
A CORC ® cable insert solenoid: the first high-temperature superconducting insert magnet tested at currents exceeding 4 kA in 14 T background magnetic field

The results presented in this Letter describe the successful test of the first high-temperature superconducting multi-tesla insert solenoid tested at currents exceeding 4 kA while operating in a background magnetic field of a low-temperature superconducting outsert magnet. A 45-turn insert solenoid, wound from 19 meters of CORC® cable, was designed to operate at high current, high current density, and high hoop stress in high magnetic background field; a combination that is essential in the development of low-inductance, high-field magnets. The CORC® cable insert solenoid was successfully tested in liquid helium in background magnetic fields of up to 14 T, resulting in a combined central magnetic field of 15.86 T and a peak magnetic field on the conductor of 16.77 T at a critical current of 4,404 A, a winding current density of 169 A/mm2, an engineering current density of 282 A/mm2, and a JBr source stress of 275 MPa. Stable operation of the CORC® cable insert magnet in its superconducting transition was demonstrated, during charging at rates of 20 – 50 A/s, without inducing a quench. The results are a clear demonstration of the major benefits of this multi-tape CORC® magnet conductor in which current sharing between tapes is possible, thereby removing some of the stringent conductor requirements of single-tape magnets. The CORC® cable insert solenoid demonstrated operation at about 86 % of the expected CORC® cable performance and showed no significant degradation after 16 high-current test cycles in background fields ranging from 10 to 14 T. CORC® cables have matured into practical and reliable high-field magnet conductors, achieving important high current, high current density, stress tolerance, and quench protection milestones for high field magnet technology. They have established a straightforward path towards low-inductance magnets that operate at magnetic fields exceeding 20 T.
Animism as an Approach to Arda

Here we examine qualities of what would be thought of as inanimate beings that lend evidence to the position that J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional universe1 is animistic. Arda is full of life, and natural things in it, such as mountains and rivers, are often alive or conscious. A close look at the qualities of the stars in particular yields further evidence in favor of animism as a foundational ontology of Arda.
Ultralow thermal conductivity in diamondoid lattices: high thermoelectric performance in chalcopyrite Cu0.8+yAg0.2In1−yTe2

Because of its unique transport properties, CuInTe2 has been considered as a promising p-type material for thermoelectric applications. However, its diamondoid structure gives it a high intrinsic lattice thermal conductivity that greatly limits its thermoelectric performance. In this study, we demonstrate that Ag alloying gives rise to an extremely low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.47 W m−1 K−1 for Cu0.8Ag0.2InTe2 at 850 K. Moreover, we found Cu doping significantly improves the carrier mobility while simultaneously increasing the carrier concentration. As a result, the power factor of Cu0.8Ag0.2InTe2 increases and a maximum ZT of ∼1.6 is achieved at 850 K. Both DFT calculations and low temperature heat capacity measurements suggest a strong interaction between low frequency optical phonons and heat carrying acoustic phonons, which is derived from the weak Ag–Te bonding. This strong phonon coupling decreases the Debye temperature and induces a low sound velocity.
CNN, Segmentation or Semantic Embeddings: Evaluating Scene Context for Trajectory Prediction

For autonomous vehicles (AV) and social robot’s navigation, it is important for them to completely understand their surroundings for natural and safe interactions. While it is often recognized that scene context is important for understanding pedestrian behavior, it has received less attention than modeling social-context – influence from interactions between pedestrians. In this paper, we evaluate the effectiveness of various scene representations for deep trajectory prediction. Our work focuses on characterizing the impact of scene representations (sematic images vs. semantic embeddings) and scene quality (competing semantic segmentation networks). We leverage a hierarchical RNN autoencoder to encode historical pedestrian motion, their social interaction and scene semantics into a low dimensional subspace and then decode to generate future motion prediction. Experimental evaluation on the ETH and UCY datasets show that using full scene semantics, specifically segmented images, can improve trajectory prediction over using just embeddings.
Chromatin accessibility in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Abstract Epigenetic mechanisms have recently emerged as critical regulators of brain function in health and disease. By controlling the accessibility and the expression of specific genes, these pathways can mediate transient and long-lasting changes in neuronal function in both physiological and pathological contexts. Due to the extreme complexity of the epigenetic regulatory landscape, emerging methods that directly assay chromatin accessibility are of particular interest. Here, I review recent insights gained on open and closed chromatin states in the brain, with emphasis on neuropsychiatric disorders. These advances generated an invaluable wealth of information that can help us better understand gene regulation in the brain and its impairments that contribute to the development of disease.
A High-Strain-Rate Superplasticity of the Al-Mg-Si-Zr-Sc Alloy with Ni Addition.

The current study analyzed the effect of Ni content on the microstructure and superplastic deformation behavior of the Al-Mg-Si-Cu-based alloy doped with small additions of Sc and Zr. The superplasticity was observed in the studied alloys due to a bimodal particle size distribution. The coarse particles of eutectic origin Al3Ni and Mg2Si phases with a total volume fraction of 4.0–8.0% and a mean size of 1.4–1.6 µm provided the particles with a stimulated nucleation effect. The L12– structured nanoscale dispersoids of Sc- and Zr-bearing phase inhibited recrystallization and grain growth due to a strong Zener pinning effect. The positive effect of Ni on the superplasticity was revealed and confirmed by a high-temperature tensile test in a wide strain rate and temperature limits. In the alloy with 4 wt.% Ni, the elongation-to-failure of 350–520% was observed at 460 °C, in a strain rate range of 2 × 10−3–5 × 10−2 s−1.
Copy number variation detection using single cell sequencing data

Single-cell sequencing (SCS) has emerged as a critical means of discovering important biological knowledge. Data analysis plays an essential role in extracting accurate and meaningful information from SCS data. However, compared to bulk sequencing, SCS introduces new challenges in data analysis. In this paper, we present a novel CNV detection algorithm for SCS data. The proposed method, first, finds the optimal window size for generating read count signal using the AIC approach and removes outliers from the read count signal. Then, using a novel segmentation method based on the Total Variation approach, the method identifies significant change points and detects CNV segments. Finally, it uses the hierarchical clustering of cells based on their CNV patterns and employs Z-score to improve CNV detection across the cells. We used real and simulated data to evaluate the performance of the proposed method and compared its performance with those of other commonly used CNV detection methods. We show that the proposed method outperforms the existing CNV detection methods in terms of sensitivity and false discovery rate.
Maximizing VA Remote Patient Monitoring During the COVID-19 Response

Objective: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has one of the largest remote patient monitoring programs in the United States and is supported by an enterprise-wide infrastructure for providers, clinicians, staff, Veterans, and caregivers. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, however, presented new challenges: a sudden need to provide large-scale remote monitoring for a new disease that did not yet have a disease management protocol (DMP). Veterans Health Administration (VHA) needed to be ready within weeks to provide this daily monitoring for hundreds – even thousands – of Veterans. Methods: The US Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Connected Care already had a comprehensive infrastructure in place for its remote patient monitoring – Home Telehealth (RPM – HT) program. Connected Care activated and built on this infrastructure to support providers, clinicians, and staff in their efforts to rapidly bring RPM – HT to Veterans across the nation when they had COVID-19 symptoms or exposure. To do this, Connected Care activated an emergency management plan, rapidly developed a new COVID-19-specific DMP, added weekend monitoring, and procured critically needed monitoring supplies, such as thermometers and pulse oximeters. The strong foundation for Connected Care allowed for innovation and flexibility, such as the training of non-RPM – HT staff in RPM – HT processes, RPM – HT enrollment within acute care settings, and new strategic partnerships. Outcomes: More than 23,500 Veterans were enrolled for COVID-19-related monitoring from March 2020 to May 2021. During December 2020 and January 2021, the number of Veterans being monitored in a single day topped 2,000. Even with this rapid buildup, patient satisfaction levels remained at about 90% in numerous categories. In addition, the percentage of Veterans admitted to Veterans Administration (VA) facilities while on COVID-19-related home monitoring has been extremely low, at 4%, the monitoring system has been a potential indicator in enabling Veterans who did have the virus to convalesce at home. Further study is needed to determine the impact RPM – HT enrollment for COVID-19 care had on the need for inpatient care. Conclusion: The Office of Connected Care’s established, enterprise-wide RPM – HT business, clinical, and technical infrastructure enabled VHA to enter the COVID-19 public health emergency well-positioned for the rapid deployment and growth of at-home and mobile monitoring. As the COVID-19 emergency made at-home management of Veterans increasingly important, the national RPM – HT program successfully adapted its practices to meet the needs of Veterans, caregivers, and staff.
The Role of Market Efficiency Intuitions in Consumer Choice: A Case of Compensatory Inferences

Abstract The authors examine consumer inferences about product attributes that are unobservable at the time of the decision. Extant research predicts that in the absence of an explicit correlation between product attributes, consumers will infer that the brand that is superior on the observable attributes is also superior on the unobservable attributes. The authors propose an alternative inference strategy that makes the counterintuitive prediction that the apparently superior brand is inferior on the unobservable attributes. The authors refer to these inferences as “compensatory inferences” and assert that they are associated with consumers’ intuitive theories about the competitive nature of a market. In a series of four experiments, the authors examine the occurrence of compensatory inferences and compare them with other inference strategies.
The promise and perils of immunotherapy.

Abstract Advances in understanding the ways in which the immune system fails to control tumor growth or prevent autoimmunity have led to the development of powerful therapeutic strategies to treat these diseases. In contrast to conventional therapies that have a broadly suppressive effect, immunotherapies are more akin to targeted therapies because they are mechanistically driven and are typically developed with the goal of “drugging” a specific underlying pathway or phenotype. This means that their effects and toxicities are, at least in theory, more straightforward to anticipate. The development of functionalized antibodies, genetically engineered T cells, and immune checkpoint inhibitors continues to accelerate, illuminating new biology and bringing new treatment to patients. In the following sections, we provide an overview of immunotherapeutic concepts, highlight recent advances in the field of immunotherapies, and discuss controversies and future directions, particularly as these pertain to hematologic oncology or blood-related diseases. We conclude by illustrating how original research published in this journal fits into and contributes to the overall framework of advances in immunotherapy.
Neuronal activity reorganization in motor cortex for successful locomotion after a lesion in the ventrolateral thalamus.

Thalamic stroke leads to ataxia if the cerebellum-receiving ventrolateral thalamus (VL) is affected. The compensation mechanisms for this deficit are not well understood, particularly the roles that single neurons and specific neuronal subpopulations outside the thalamus play in recovery. The goal of this study was to clarify neuronal mechanisms of the motor cortex involved in mitigation of ataxia during locomotion when part of the VL is inactivated or lesioned. In freely ambulating cats, we recorded the activity of neurons in layer V of the motor cortex as the cats walked on a flat surface and horizontally placed ladder. We first reversibly inactivated approximately 10% of the VL unilaterally using glutamatergic transmission antagonist CNQX and analyzed how the activity of motor cortex reorganized to support successful locomotion. We next lesioned 50-75% of the VL bilaterally using kainic acid and analyzed how the activity of motor cortex reorganized when locomotion recovered. When a small part of the VL was inactivated, the discharge rates of motor cortex neurons decreased, but otherwise the activity was near normal, and the cats walked fairly well. Individual neurons retained their ability to respond to the demand for accuracy during ladder locomotion; however, most changed their response. When the VL was lesioned, the cat walked normally on the flat surface but was ataxic on the ladder for several days post-lesion. When ladder locomotion normalized, neuronal discharge rates on the ladder were normal, and the shoulder-related group was preferentially active during the stride's swing phase.
Preactivation-Discovery and Biological Effects of Novel Chemotherapeutic Agents

As an immunologist, my research interests had been focused on immunotherapy of cancer involving monoclonal antibodies as a mode of drug delivery and cytokines as therapeutic agents. I had no real interest or in-depth understanding of photobiology until September 1986, when I joined the Baylor Research Foundation (now Baylor Research Institute) where several photobiology related projects were already in progress. In one of these projects lead by Dr. Lester Matthews, it was demonstrated that in vivo chloroquine resistant parasitemia caused by P. berghei (resistant to at least three daily doses of 0.4 mg/kg of chloroquine) could be significantly reduced when treated with hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) prior to chloroquine injection.1 Therefore, the following question was asked; if HPD plus chloroquine = death of the parasite, then what other compound (say X) plus HPD will induce death in tumor cells? Finding the answer to this question was one of my research projects, and it involved the determination of the dark toxicity of HPD in the presence of compound X against cultured tumor cells. This was the beginning of my inculcation into the field of photo-dynamic therapy.
Applications of Coherent Raman Scattering

Recent explorations based on the concept of molecular coherence have lead to exciting developments, extending the ideas of coherence from atomic physics to more complex, molecular systems. Atomic coherence lies at the core of such fascinating phenomena as electromagnetically induced transparency, ultra- slow light propagation, and lasing without inversion, which all have been subjects of research and debate over decades. In turn, macroscopic molecular coherence allows broadband collinear generation of Raman sidebands, opening possibilities for compression of optical sub-cycle pulses, and for non-sinusoidal field synthesis; increased coherence also enables improvements in optical detection and sensing applications.
Memory-Based Rehearsal

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses memory-based rehearsal. The heightened interest in rehearsal perhaps stems from increased awareness that a complete account of the learning process requires knowledge of learners' cognitions during learning and recall. Concomitantly, the invocation of rehearsal explanations probably has been provoked by the intuitive validity of such notions, the tempting ambiguity of the explanatory construct, and the lack of knowledge regarding the conditions under which rehearsal influences performance. Various conceptual and methodological issues are examined. In an examination of the comparability of outcomes across rehearsal experiments, assessments are made of the influence of three temporal variables on the effectiveness of rehearsal. Attention is then focused on the possible functions served by rehearsal. Evidence is also sought on processes that differentiate rehearsal from other activities.
Using recursive agent models effectively

We present an algorithm that an agent can use for determining which of its nested, recursive models of other agents are important to consider when choosing an action. Pruning away less important models allows an agent to take its "best" action in a timely manner, given its knowledge, computational capabilities, and time constraints. We describe a theoretical framework, based on situations, for talking about recursive agent models and the strategies and expected strategies associated with them. This framework allows us to rigorously define the gain of continuing deliberation versus taking action. The expected gain of computational actions is used to guide the pruning of the nested model structure. We have implemented our approach on a canonical multi-agent problem, the pursuit task, to illustrate how real-time, multi-agent decision-making can be based on a principled, combinatorial model. Test results show a marked decrease in deliberation time while maintaining a good performance level.
Challenges to Civilian Control of the Military: A Rational Choice Approach to the War on Terror

An overlooked gap in the legal study of national security decisionmaking is civil-military relations. Civilian control of the military remains one of the fundamental norms of our constitutional system, and it appears regularly in the day-to-day functioning of our national security institutions. The War on Terror has exacerbated growing tensions between the civilian leadership and the American military, particularly with the Judge Advocate General's Corps. We propose a rational choice framework to understand and better address challenges to civilian-military relations.
Scaffolding for interactively evolving novel drum tracks for existing songs

A major challenge in computer-generated music is to produce music that sounds natural. This paper introduces NEAT Drummer, which takes steps toward natural creativity. NEAT Drummer evolves a kind of artificial neural network called a Compositional Pattern Producing Network (CPPN) with the NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (NEAT) method to produce drum patterns. An important motivation for this work is that instrument tracks can be generated as a function of other song parts, which, if written by humans, thereby provide a scaffold for the remaining auto-generated parts. Thus, NEAT Drummer is initialized with inputs from an existing MIDI song and through interactive evolution allows the user to evolve increasingly appealing rhythms for that song. This paper explains how NEAT Drummer processes MIDI inputs and outputs drum patterns. The net effect is that a compelling drum track can be automatically generated and evolved for any song.
Message Services in Computer Networks

In this paper we discuss the key issues in the generation and distribution of messages in a computer network. The principal issues are: user support, privacy and security, addressing, and standards and regulations. Examples of current message systems on the ARPANET are discussed.
Sub-Kelvin magnetic and electrical measurements in a diamond anvil cell with in situ tunability

We discuss techniques for performing continuous measurements across a wide range of pressure–field–temperature phase space, combining the milli-Kelvin temperatures of a helium dilution refrigerator with the giga-Pascal pressures of a diamond anvil cell and the Tesla magnetic fields of a superconducting magnet. With a view towards minimizing remnant magnetic fields and background magnetic susceptibility, we characterize high-strength superalloy materials for the pressure cell assembly, which allows high fidelity measurements of low-field phenomena such as superconductivity below 100 mK at pressures above 10 GPa. In situ tunability and measurement of the pressure permit experiments over a wide range of pressure, while at the same time making possible precise steps across abrupt phase transitions such as those from insulator to metal.
Challenges of and resources for reform-based science teacher learning: a case study of a preservice science teacher

This case study examines the challenges faced and resources employed by a preservice science teacher throughout his teacher preparation program. Challenges included an absence of supported space in field experiences, intense emotions associated with learning, and establishing "effective" relationships with students. Supports included affordances offered by program sequence, program coherence, and a personal, professional blog.
Pyoderma Pathophysiology and Management

Cutaneous infections with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are major complications of epidermolysis bullosa. Application of impermeable occlusive dressings over denuded skin colonized with these bacteria results in rapid multiplication and the hazard of severe pyoderma. Approaches to the prophylactic treatment of these infections during the long-term management of epidermolysis bullosa are considered.
Cardiovascular responses to blockade of GABA synthesis in the hypothalamus of the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Abstract Previous studies have suggested that a decreased inhibitory input onto neurons within the posterior hypothalamus (PH), a known pressor area, may contribute to hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Recent experiments from this laboratory have shown that neurons in the PH of the SHR have an altered and elevated discharge frequency compared to those in the normotensive rat. In addition, biochemical studies have reported that there is a decreased concentration of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, in the hypothalamus of the SHR. The objective of the present study was to assess any variations in GABAergic modulation of cardiovascular activity in SHRs compared to normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Arterial pressure and heart rate responses to microinjections of the GABA synthesis inhibitor 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MP) into the posterior hypothalamic area of anesthetized young (6–8 weeks) and mature (11–16 weeks) hypertensive and normotensive rats were recorded. Microinjection of 3-MP elicited increases in arterial pressure of 17.4 ± 3.9 mmHg, 18.1 ± 7.8 mmHg, 16.9 ± 6.4 mmHg, and 10.4 ± 3.5 mmHg in the mature WKY, mature SD, young WKY, and young SHR, respectively. In addition, heart rate was elevated by 33.2 ± 21.9 beats/min, 70.0 ± 25.3 beats/min, 56.3 ± 15.0 beats/min and, 45.9 ± 10 beats/min in the mature WKY, adult SD, young WKY, and young SHR groups, respectively. In contrast, microinjection of 3-MP into the posterior hypothalamus of adult SHRs produced no significant change in arterial pressure (−5.0 ± 1.8 mmHg) or heart rate (+5.3 ± 6.1 beats/min). In three of the adult SHRs, cardiovascular responses to electrical stimulation in the PH were compared to responses elicited by microinjection of 3-MP into the same PH site. Electrical stimulation produced large increases in both arterial pressure and heart rate; however, microinjection of 3-MP produced no significant changes in cardiovascular activity. These results indicate that spontaneously hypertensive rats have a deficiency in the tonic GABAergic input onto posterior hypothalamic neurons. This alteration may contribute to the maintenance of the elevated blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Automated management of virtualized data centers

Virtualized data centers enable sharing of resources among hosted applications. However, it is difficult to manage these data centers because of ever-changing application requirements. This thesis presents a collection of tools called AutoControl and LiteGreen, that automatically adapt to dynamic changes to achieve various SLOs (service level objectives) while maintaining high resource utilization, high application performance and low power consumption. AutoControl resource manager is based on control theory and optimization techniques. The resource manager is a combination of an online model estimator and a novel multi-input, multi-output (MEMO) resource controller. The model estimator captures the complex relationship between application performance and resource allocations, while the MIMO controller allocates the right amount of resources to achieve application SLOs. We also developed a power manager called LiteGreen to save desktop energy by virtualizing the users desktop computing environment as a virtual machine (VM) and then migrating it between the users physical desktop machine and a VM server, depending on whether the desktop computing environment is being actively used or is idle. AutoControl and LiteGreen are built using Xen and Hyper-V virtualization technologies and various experimental testbeds including a testbed on Emulab are built to evaluate different aspects of AutoControl and LiteGreen.
Strictly positive definite functions on the unit circle

We study strictly positive definite functions on the unit circle in the Euclidean space of dimension two. We develop several conditions pertaining to the determination of such functions. The major result is obtained by considering the set of real numbers as a vector space over the field of rational numbers and then applying the Kronecker approximation theorem and Weyl's criterion on equidistributions.
Effect of Machining Conditions on the Strength Distributions of Ground Ceramics

The relationship between strength distribution or ground ceramics and machining condition was examined. The strength of ground silicon carbide ceramics at the failure probability of 1 percent, which is termed 1 % strength, was estimated as a function of the maximum grain depth of cut g, which is used as an index of grinding conditions. It is assumed that the fracture is governed by the competing failure mechanism between pre-existing flaws and machining cracks and that the Weibull modulus of machining cracks was independent of grinding condition. The deviation from estimated value is noticeable in small g region although experimental data of the 1% strength of ground specimen approaches that of polished ones with diminishing g. The observed discrepancy is inferred to be attributed to an increase in stress intensity factor by the interaction between a pre-existing flaw and its adjacent machining crack.Copyright © 1997 by ASME
Coping, confidence, and change within the academy: a longitudinal look at police recruits

This study is based on surveys of police recruits representing four agencies across the United States. The recruits were surveyed at the beginning and end of their academy training and asked about coping strategies and the confidence they had in performing their jobs. Coping shifted significantly over time, with recruits utilizing task-oriented and outreach strategies less frequently at the end of the academy than at the beginning. Avoidance coping strategies were used more frequently by recruits at the end of the academy than at the beginning. Slight changes were also found in the influence of these strategies on job confidence over time, with avoidance coping having a stronger influence in the beginning of the academy than at the end. The role of demographic factors on coping was largely invariant over time, with only slight differences detected. Implications for policy and research are also discussed.
Let's stop trusting software with our sensitive data

The paper states that people are trusting the cloud more and more to perform sensitive operations. Demanding more trust in software systems is a recipe for disaster. Suppose the people only trust hardware manufacturers and cryptographers, and not system software developers, application programmers, or other software vendors. It will be the hardware manufacturer's job to produce a piece of hardware that provides some security properties. These properties will correspond to cryptographic operations being implemented correctly in the hardware and adding a modicum of physical security. The beauty of hardware is that its functionality is fixed. If we design our systems to only depend on hardware properties, then we need not worry about software changes or patches introducing new security holes-inevitable in current systems. How can it ensure privacy of data despite the practically infinite number of malicious programs out there? The Ascend processor attempts to achieve these goals; the only entity that the client has to trust is the processor itself.
Effects of thyroxine level and temperature manipulations upon the hatching of chick embryos (gallus domesticus)

Thyroxine levels within chick embryos (Gallus domesticus) and incubation temperature were manipulated late in development in order to determine those events most proximal to the time of hatching that are both necessary and sufficient for the appearance of the hatched state. Events recorded include the time of breathing initiation, changes in breathing rate, time of puncture of the chorioallantoic membrane and changes in rate of loss of yolk sac material. It was found that a certain level of thyroxine is necessary for an animal to hatch, that breathing and puncture of the chorioallantoic membrane are necessary but not sufficient to predict the occurrence of hatching, and that a change in rate of loss of yolk sac material during the last 18 hr prior to hatching is sufficient to predict the occurrence of hatching. The explanatory hypothesis offered is that the endogenous increase in thyroxine levels acting via increased metabolic rates is necessary and sufficient for the animals to hatch.
Conventional versus Alternative Agriculture: The Paradigmatic Roots of the Debate*

Abstract Analysts have described conflict between the economically dominant industrial sector of society and the environmental movement as representing competition between two opposing worldviews or social paradigms. There appears to be a similar schism developing in agriculture. The conventional paradigm of large-scale, highly industrialized agriculture is being challenged by an increasingly vocal alternative agriculture movement which advocates major shifts toward a more “ecologically sustainable agriculture.” Some have suggested that alternative agriculture represents a fundamentally new paradigm for agriculture. This paper seeks to clarify and synthesize the core beliefs and values underlying these two approaches to agriculture into a “conventional agriculture paradigm” and an “alternative agriculture paradigm.” The writings of six major proponents of alternative agriculture are compared with those of six leading proponents of conventional agriculture to document the major components of the two agricultural paradigms. The two sets of writings reveal dramatically divergent perspectives on a wide range of agricultural issues. The competing paradigms can be synthesized into six major dimensions: 1) centralization vs. decentralization, 2) dependence vs. independence, 3) competition vs. community, 4) domination of nature vs. harmony with nature, 5) specialization vs. diversity, and 6) exploitation vs. restraint. The emerging controversy over “low-input, sustainable agriculture” (LISA) illustrates the paradigmatic gulf between alternative and conventional agriculture, as well as the pitfalls facing alternative agriculturalists as they attempt to replace conventional agriculture as the dominant paradigm.
Triaxial Testing of Frozen Sand: Equipment and Example Results

This paper describes a high-pressure, low-temperature triaxial testing system that has been specifically designed and built at the Massachusettes Institute of Technology in order to study the physical mechanisms controlling the strength-deformation behavior of frozen sands. The computer controlled system is capable of performing high-stress monotonic triaxial compression tests on specimens measuring D = 3.6 cm×H = 7.6 cm and incorporates advanced technology for temperature, strain rate, and loading control. One of the most important and unique features of the system is the technology used for the measurement of small axial strains that makes use of two miniature submersible linear variable differential transformers mounted on a pair of yokes that clamp to the specimen. A description of the specimen preparation equipment and triaxial testing techniques is presented to aid in developing standardized testing approaches, which are currently lacking in the literature. Representative test results on frozen Manchester fine sand are presented to demonstrate the capability of this system to accurately characterize the entire stress-strain and volumetric strain behavior in triaxial compression. Results are provided to illustrate the influence of relative density, confining pressure, strain rate, and temperature.
The use of a modified semantic features analysis approach in aphasia.

Abstract Several studies have reported improved naming using the semantic feature analysis (SFA) approach in individuals with aphasia. Whether the SFA can be modified and still produce naming improvements in aphasia is unknown. The present study was designed to address this question by using a modified version of the SFA approach. Three, rather than the typical six, features were used, and written along with verbal responses were allowed in an individual with both aphasia and apraxia of speech. A single-subject multiple-baseline design across behaviors was used to treat naming of single objects across three different semantic categories in a 72-year-old individual with aphasia and apraxia of speech. Stimulus generalization of training was measured by using photographs of trained items presented in natural contexts. Training of the three different categories resulted in improved naming. At a 6-week follow-up session, naming remained above pre-treatment levels but declines were noted compared to treatment levels. Generalization to the same trained items presented in different contexts was also demonstrated although declines in performance were also noted over time. Results of the study provide qualified support for the use of three features in promoting long-term improvement of naming in an individual with both aphasia and apraxia of speech. Future SFA studies should focus on whether it is the number or types of features used, aphasia severity, or length of treatment that are critical factors in rehabilitating naming deficits in aphasia. Learning outcomes: The reader will be able to (1) Increase understanding of the SFA approach. (2) Increase understanding of strengths and weaknesses of this approach. (3) Determine how the SFA can be modified for use in clinical settings.
Constructing an Energy Landscape for the Hybridization of Short Oligonucleotides

The hybridization of short oligonucleotides plays a critical role in many biological systems, from DNA replication to gene silencing. Despite extensive studies, details on the mechanism of this process on the shortest length scale (∼10 bp) remain poorly understood. We use high-resolution optical tweezers with simultaneous fluorescence microscopy to investigate the hybridization of single oligonucleotides under tension1. We measure the change in end-to-end extension upon annealing and melting as well as the unbinding kinetics of short (7-12 bp), fluorescently labeled oligonucleotides hybridizing to a complementary DNA sequence tethered between trapped beads. Our results allow us to construct an energy landscape of oligonucleotide hybridization along well-defined reaction coordinates. Interestingly, our measurement of the distance to the transition state for DNA melting as a function of oligonucleotide length suggests that the extension of the transition state matches that of a state with 6 bp hybridized. Lastly, we find that the change in extension upon hybridization deviates from extensible-wormlike-chain behavior at forces >10 pN. We discuss possible models to explain these results.1. M. J. Comstock, Taekjip Ha, and Y. R. Chemla, Nat. Meth. 8, 4 (2011).
Improved implicit optimal modeling of the labor shift scheduling problem

This paper presents an integer programming model for developing optimal shift schedules while allowing extensive flexibility in terms of alternative shift starting times, shift lengths, and break placement. The model combines the work of Moondra Moondra, S. L. 1976. An L. P. model for work force scheduling for banks. J. Bank Res.74 299-301. and Bechtold and Jacobs Bechtold, S. E., L. W. Jacobs. 1990. Implicit optimal modeling of flexible break assignments in labor staffing decisions for service operations. Management Sci.3611 1339-1351. by implicitly matching meal breaks to implicitly represented shifts. Moreover, the new model extends the work of these authors to enable the scheduling of overtime and the scheduling of rest breaks. We compare the new model to Bechtold and Jacobs' model over a diverse set of 588 test problems. The new model generates optimal solutions more rapidly, solves problems with more shift alternatives, and does not generate schedules violating the operative restrictions on break timing.
Fetal nutrition in lecithotrophic squamate reptiles: Toward a comprehensive model for evolution of viviparity and placentation

The primary pattern of embryonic nutrition for squamate reptiles is lecithotrophy; with few exceptions, all squamate embryos mobilize nutrients from yolk. The evolution of viviparity presents an opportunity for an additional source of embryonic nutrition through delivery of uterine secretions, or placentotrophy. This pattern of embryonic nutrition is thought to evolve through placental supplementation of lecithotrophy, followed by increasing dependence on placentotrophy. This review analyzes the relationship between reproductive mode and pattern of embryonic nutrition in three lecithotrophic viviparous species, and oviparous counterparts, for concordance with a current model for the evolution of viviparity and placentation. The assumptions of the model, that nutrients for oviparous embryos are mobilized from yolk, and that this source is not disrupted in the transition to viviparity, are supported for most nutrients. In contrast, calcium, an essential nutrient for embryonic development, is mobilized from both yolk and eggshell by oviparous embryos and reduction of eggshell calcium is correlated with viviparity. If embryonic fitness is compromised by disruption of a primary source of calcium, selection may not favor evolution of viviparity, yet viviparity has arisen independently in numerous squamate lineages. Studies of fetal nutrition in reproductively bimodal species suggest a resolution to this paradox. If uterine calcium secretion occurs during prolonged intrauterine egg retention, calcium placentotrophy evolves prior to viviparity as a replacement for eggshell calcium and embryonic nutrition will not be compromised. This hypothesis is integrated into the current model for evolution of viviparity and placentation to address the unique attributes of calcium nutrition. The sequence of events requires a shift in timing of uterine calcium secretion and the embryonic mechanism of calcium retrieval to be responsive to calcium availability. Regulation of uterine calcium secretion and the mechanism of embryonic uptake of calcium are important elements to understanding evolution of viviparity and placentation.