cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
One‐Pot Synthesis of Au25(SG)18 2‐ and 4‐nm Gold Nanoparticles and Comparison of Their Size‐Dependent Properties

A one-pot synthesis of glutathione (denoted as -SG) capped gold nanoparticles, including Au25(SG)18 (ca. 1 nm in diameter) 2- and 4-nm particles is reported. These nanoparticles are isolated by methanol-induced precipitation with a controlled amount of added methanol. Except for their particle size, these nanoparticles have an identical chemical composition (i.e., gold and -SG content), synthetic history, and surface conditions, which allows for precise comparison of their size-dependent properties, in particular the magnetic property as this could be attributed to contamination by trace iron impurities. Specifically, the structure, optical, and magnetic properties of these gold nanoparticles are compared. A trend from non-fcc (fcc = face centered cubic) Au25(SG)18 nanoclusters (ca. 1 nm) to 2- and 4-nm fcc-crystalline Au nanocrystals is revealed. The Au25(SG)18 nanoparticles resemble molecules and exhibit multiple optical absorption peaks ascribed to one-electron transitions, whereas the 4-nm nanoparticles exhibit surface plasmon resonance at around 520 nm related to the collective excitation of conduction electrons upon optical excitation. The transition from the non-fcc cluster state to the fcc crystalline state occurs at around 2 nm. Interestingly, both 2- and 4-nm particles exhibit paramagnetism, whereas the Au25(SG)18 (anionic) clusters are diamagnetic. The information attained on the evolution of the properties of nanoparticles from nanoclusters to fcc-structured nanocrystals is of major importance and provides insight into structure—property relationships.
The Relationship Between Suicide Ideation, Behavioral Health, and College Academic Performance

The impact of suicidal ideation on college students' academic performance has yet to be examined, yet mental health is often linked with academic performance. Underclassmen and upperclassmen were compared on behavioral health outcomes related to academic success (N = 26,457). Ideation (b = -0.05, p < .05), increased mental health (b = -0.03, p < .01) or substance use severity (b = -0.02, p < .01) was associated with lower GPAs. Underclassmen's behavioral health severity was related to lower GPA. Students reported higher GPAs when participating in extracurricular activities during the past year. Ideation, beyond mental health, is an important when assessing academic performance. Increasing students' connections benefits students experiencing behavioral concerns but also aids in suicide prevention initiatives and improves academic outcomes. Creating integrated health care systems on campus where physical, mental health and academic support services is crucial to offer solutions for students with severe or co-morbid mental health histories.
From the Cayman Islands to Washington: Development in Academic Libraries

Library development is, in the narrowest sense, fundraising, and in the broadest sense, proclaiming the library's mission, goals, and accomplishments in such a way that individuals and groups are eager to have a part in its success.
Evaluation of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a measure of distress in rats

The ability to evaluate distress in laboratory animals is needed in order to ensure that husbandry and experimental procedures do not negatively impact animal welfare. Accurate measurement of acute stress and chronic stress, and distinguishing between stress that is harmful (distress) and stress that does no harm (eustress), can be challenging. Whereas corticosterone concentrations are commonly used to measure stress in laboratory animals, the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio has been proposed as a potentially better indicator of chronic stress. Furthermore, an association between such measures of stress and concurrent behavioral indicators of negative welfare is required to determine their accuracy in evaluating distress. The authors compared serum corticosterone concentrations and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios to assess acute or chronic stress in male Sprague Dawley rats. Elevated serum corticosterone concentrations, but not neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios, were associated with acute stress exposure, whereas elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios, but not serum corticosterone concentrations, were associated with chronic stress exposure. Because the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio differences corresponded with a behavioral indicator of distress in chronically stressed rats, it may serve as a valuable tool for the physiological assessment of distress in rats.
Radiologic measurement of submandibular gland ptosis.

OBJECTIVE Ptosis of the submandibular glands is a well-recognized yet poorly quantified element of the aging face and neck. The goal of this study is to describe and quantify the rate and extent of age-related submandibular gland ptosis. A novel grading system is proposed to quantify the degree of descent of the submandibular gland in relation to the inferior border of the mandible. Implications for facial rejuvenation surgery are discussed. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review. METHODS Consecutive computed tomography (CT) imaging studies performed at a university-affiliated hospital were selected for review. Using cross-referenced images in the coronal and axial planes, distance measurements were obtained from the bottom of the submandibular gland to the plane of the inferior border of the mandible. These data points were plotted against subject age for statistical analysis. The position of the submandibular gland was then categorized as grade I when distance below the mandible was 30 mm. Volumetric analysis was performed in a subset of subjects to assess for the possibility of age-related submandibular gland volume changes as a potential confounding factor in distance measurements. RESULTS One hundred consecutive CT imaging studies were selected for review (50 men, 50 women). A statistically significant linear relationship was identified between subject age and ptosis of the submandibular gland (r = 0.52, p < 0.001), as measured by the distance from the bottom of the submandibular gland from the plane of the inferior border of the mandible. The average rate of descent was 0.17 mm per year. Overall, the position of the submandibular gland was categorized as grade I in 18% of patients, grade II in 27% of patients, grade III in 32% of patients, and grade IV in 23% of patients. No statistically significant gender differences were identified in any of the data points. Volumetric analysis did not demonstrate any age-related changes in submandibular gland volume, and as such, this was excluded as a potential confounding factor in distance measurements. CONCLUSION A linear relationship exists between patient age and submandibular gland ptosis, as measured by the distance of the gland from the inferior border of the mandible. To our knowledge, this is the first quantification of the rate and extent of submandibular gland ptosis. A novel grading system for submandibular gland ptosis has been proposed.
Halley comet rendezvous with a SEPS vehicle

An analysis of the performance of a Solar Electric Propulsion System (SEPS) vehicle rendezvousing with Halley's comet just prior to its Frebruary 1986 perihelion is described. A calculus of variations mathematical formulation is used to maximize Halley arrival mass while giving effect to the influence of solar array size, launch date, arrival date, and insertion hyperbolic excess velocity. Numerical sensitivity relief, thrust system modeling, trajectory characteristics and ion engine operating conditions are discussed and illustrated. Results indicate a rendezvous is feasible with a minimal advance in solar cell and ion engine technology.
Responses of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to compounds from microbial decomposition of larval resources

Decomposition of vertebrate carrion is partially due to microbes, which release a series of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at various concentrations. These VOCs are part of ecologically relevant public information that serve as cues attracting blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae), such as Lucilia sericata, to remains as a resource both for themselves and for their offspring. However, these responses are partially governed by sex and physiological state (e.g. gravid and nongravid) of the fly and concentration of the VOCs. We examined the responses of 7–9-day-old L. sericata adults to dimethyldisulphide, indole, isobutylamine and phenylacetic acid in a Y-tube olfactometer. These VOCs are associated with vertebrate decomposition, carrion-mimicking flowers as well as fly-attracting bacteria. Our results demonstrate a relationship between sex and physiological state with regard to dose-dependent attraction to VOCs that occur during decomposition, suggesting that specific decomposition molecules provide distinct types of information to the flies with differing foraging interests. Understanding this dynamic relationship provides insight into the mechanisms regulating arthropod colonization, competition and resulting succession in association with such ephemeral resources.
Influence of Promoters on Catalytic Oxidation of n-Butane to Malefic Anhydride over VPO Catalysts

The precursors of VPO catalyst are prepared in organic phase,and the promoters selected from compounds of Fe,Co,Cu elements which have the similar ion radius of V~(4+),are added.The experiments of activity evaluation are carried out with the fixed bed reactor.The effects of promoters on the performance of VPO catalysts,the effects of reaction conditions,and the active phase of the catalysts on the MA selectivity are discussed. The experimental results show that the mass yield of MA is increased and the activity of the catalyst is enhanced by adding promoters to some extent.The catalytic performance of the catalyst added multiple promoters is better than that of catalyst added single one.The optimum reaction conditions can increase the yield of MA. It is important for increasing MA selectivity that the appropriate disorder along (020) plane of the active phase (VO)_2P_2O_7.
Need to Increase Enrollment A Successful Academic Provisionary Program

This article contributes to the literature addressing the needs of increasing student enrollment and retention across university campuses by identifying programs where progress can be made to improve the student retention rate and increase university enrollment. This article derives from a provisional program that began in the fall of 2009 at a 4-year university with respect to a community college partnership. In an effort to obtain information on provisional programs, this article examines the program using student data by researching the program transition rate and transfer rate into the 4-year university, the semester following program completion.
The Respiratory Protection Effectiveness Clinical Trial (ResPECT): a cluster-randomized comparison of respirator and medical mask effectiveness against respiratory infections in healthcare personnel

Although N95 filtering facepiece respirators and medical masks are commonly used for protection against respiratory infections in healthcare settings, more clinical evidence is needed to understand the optimal settings and exposure circumstances for healthcare personnel to use these devices. A lack of clinically germane research has led to equivocal, and occasionally conflicting, healthcare respiratory protection recommendations from public health organizations, professional societies, and experts. The Respiratory Protection Effectiveness Clinical Trial (ResPECT) is a prospective comparison of respiratory protective equipment to be conducted at multiple U.S. study sites. Healthcare personnel who work in outpatient settings will be cluster-randomized to wear N95 respirators or medical masks for protection against infections during respiratory virus season. Outcome measures will include laboratory-confirmed viral respiratory infections, acute respiratory illness, and influenza-like illness. Participant exposures to patients, coworkers, and others with symptoms and signs of respiratory infection, both within and beyond the workplace, will be recorded in daily diaries. Adherence to study protocols will be monitored by the study team. ResPECT is designed to better understand the extent to which N95s and MMs reduce clinical illness among healthcare personnel. A fully successful study would produce clinically relevant results that help clinician-leaders make reasoned decisions about protection of healthcare personnel against occupationally acquired respiratory infections and prevention of spread within healthcare systems. The trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT01249625 (11/29/2010).
Stigma among Individuals with Substance Use Disorders: Does it Predict Substance Use, and Does it Diminish with Treatment?

Stigma among Individuals with Substance Use Disorders: Does it Predict Substance Use, and Does it Diminish with Treatment? Aims: Drug and alcohol use-related stigma affects employment, physical and mental health, and has been shown to be a barrier to seeking treatment. Thus, the need to address stigma in substance use disorders treatment has been noted in the clinical literature. We aimed to examine whether stigma is related to alcohol/substance use as well as whether treatment as usual for substance use disorders affects stigma, depressive symptoms, and quality of life. Methods: Participants were individuals attending intensive outpatient treatment for substance use disorders. Baseline sample consisted of 17 Caucasian, predominantly male (i.e. 65%) participants, averaging 34.06 years of age. At post-treatment and one month follow-up assessments there were 12 and 7 participants respectively. Results: Higher post-treatment stigma was significantly related to a greater number of drug use days at follow-up. We did not find significant differences between baseline, post-treatment and followup assessment on self-stigma. However, participants reported a significant decrease in symptoms of depression from baseline to post-treatment and a significant increase in these symptoms between post-treatment and follow-up. Conclusions: Our results suggest that stigma may have a detrimental impact on substance use. Also, while depressive symptoms may improve as a result of treatment as usual for substance use disorders, symptoms of depression may worsen shortly after treatment. These results highlight the need for more work on these relationships due to the very preliminary nature of these findings.
Something from Nothing: the Writing Teacher’s Work

I want to talk to you about my work, a writing teacher’s work. But, for the time it takes to read this I want to close the door on curriculum, The common syllabus, Outcomes and assessment, Strategies for effective peer review, Grading policies, and the calendar, And evoke instead something else, The something and the nothing
NUMFabric: Fast and Flexible Bandwidth Allocation in Datacenters

We present xFabric, a novel datacenter transport design that provides flexible and fast bandwidth allocation control. xFabric is flexible: it enables operators to specify how bandwidth is allocated amongst contending flows to optimize for different service-level objectives such as minimizing flow completion times, weighted allocations, different notions of fairness, etc. xFabric is also very fast, it converges to the specified allocation one-to-two order of magnitudes faster than prior schemes. Underlying xFabric, is a novel distributed algorithm that uses in-network packet scheduling to rapidly solve general network utility maximization problems for bandwidth allocation. We evaluate xFabric using realistic datacenter topologies and highly dynamic workloads and show that it is able to provide flexibility and fast convergence in such stressful environments.
Towards automatic assessment of compulsive hoarding from images

Hoarding is a complex and impairing psychiatric disorder and a public health problem. Traditionally it is assessed through observation and interview, but recently a new method has been proposed where living quarters of an individual are visually compared with a set of template images ranked according to the “Clutter Image Rating” (CIR) scale from 1 to 9. However, such an assessment is time-consuming, subjective, and weak in repeatability. We propose an automatic method for classifying hoarding images according to the CIR scale. Since clutter in living quarters (e.g., piles of boxes, newspapers, clothing) corresponds to “busy” areas with lots of edges in captured images, we use the histogram-of-gradients (HOG) descriptor to characterize images and estimate the CIR value using two methods: regression and classification. In 4-fold cross-validation on 620 images that we harvested from the internet, both methods result in mean-absolute CIR error of about 1.2. Given the simplicity of our method, this is an encouraging result as it approximates ratings by trained professionals who admit assigning CIR values within ± 1 CIR point.
Evaluating the use of multiple imagery-derived spatial features to predict census demographic variables in Accra, Ghana

Timely and accurate demographic data is a key component for sustainable and equitable development, and the need for such data will increase as the trend towards globalization continues, particularly in the less developed world, where census data is expensive and often rendered impractical by rapid urbanization. Estimates derived from remotely sensed imagery have the potential to be an inexpensive and easily updateable source of demographic data to help inform decision-making for governments, aid agencies and NGOs. In this study we investigate the efficacy of using combinations of several spatial and spectral features within a multiple linear regression to estimate demographic variables at the neighborhood scale in Accra, Ghana. The results of this study indicate that strong relationships exist between such combinations and census derived demographic data, particularly population density and housing quality.
Black bear recolonization patterns in a human-dominated landscape vary based on housing: New insights from spatially explicit density models

Abstract Housing development is often intermixed within natural land cover, creating coupled human-natural systems that benefit some species, while eliminating critical habitat for others. As carnivore populations recover and expand in North America, understanding how populations may recolonize human-dominated landscapes is an important goal for conservation. We empirically test whether a population of American black bear ( Ursus americanus ) recolonizing a developed landscape is responding to land cover, housing density, or the amount of intermixture between forest and housing as quantified by the Wildland Urban Interface. Housing density was the most supported spatially explicit mark-recapture model and indicated that bear density was highest among exurban housing densities. Mean estimated bear density in exurban areas (6–49 houses/km 2 ) was 0.18 individuals/km 2 compared to 0.12 individuals/km 2 in rural areas ( 2 ). Bear densities also declined to zero as development approached 50 houses/km 2 . We also tested for differences in sex ratio between more and less intensely developed areas, using hybrid mixture models. Sex ratios were significantly more male-biased in areas of higher housing density. Elevated bear densities provide evidence that exurban land-use can facilitate recolonization of black bears, yet high housing density may also limit the recovery of bear populations. Explicit relationships between land-use and bear density will allow managers to anticipate future population distribution, and areas where bears and people may come into frequent contact.
Recognizing the Ordinary as Extraordinary: Insight Into the “Way We Work” to Improve Patient Safety Outcomes

The Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine) reports "To Err is Human" and "Crossing the Chasm" made explicit 3 previously unappreciated realities: (1) Medical errors are common and result in serious, preventable adverse events; (2) The majority of medical errors are the result of system versus human failures; and (3) It would be impossible for any system to prevent all errors. With these realities, the role of the nurse in the "near miss" process and as the final safety net for the patient is of paramount importance. The nurse's role in patient safety is described from both a systems perspective and a human factors perspective. Critical care nurses use specific strategies to identify, interrupt, and correct medical errors. Strategies to identify errors include knowing the patient, knowing the plan of care, double-checking, and surveillance. Nursing strategies to interrupt errors include offering assistance, clarifying, and verbally interrupting. Nurses correct errors by persevering, being physically present, reviewing/confirming the plan of care, or involving another nurse or physician. Each of these strategies has implications for education, practice, and research. Surveillance is a key nursing strategy for identifying medical errors and reducing adverse events. Eye-tracking technology is a novel approach for evaluating the surveillance process during common, high-risk processes such as blood transfusion and medication administration. Eye tracking has also been used to examine the impact of interruptions to care caused by bedside alarms as well as by other health care personnel. Findings from this safety-related eye-tracking research provide new insight into effective bedside surveillance and interruption management strategies.
Improving Postoperative Efficiency: An Algorithm for Expedited Void Trials After Urogynecologic Surgery.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the relation between voided volume and void trial "success" to create an algorithm that minimizes the need for postvoid residual volume (PVR) assessment in backfill-assisted void trials. METHODS This article is an ancillary analysis of deidentified data from a randomized trial evaluating prophylactic antibiotics after urogynecologic surgery. Void trials were routinely performed after surgery; voided volumes, PVR, and void trial outcomes were collected. The void trial regimen was as follows: the bladder was backfilled with 300 mL of normal saline or until the patient reported the urgency to void, the catheter was removed, and the participant was prompted to void immediately. PVR volume was measured either by sonographic bladder scan or catheterization. Voided volumes were categorized in 25-mL increments from 50 to 225 mL. For each voided volume range, the PVR and void trial outcome data were incorporated to calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) in terms of ability of voided volume alone to predict a passing void trial result. An algorithm was created using the voided volumes that optimize PPV and NPV. RESULTS The study population included 255 participants. Voided volumes <100 mL and ≥200 mL were identified as optimal thresholds to predict failure and passage of backfill-assisted void trials, respectively. When patients voided <100 mL, 3% passed their void trial (NPV odds ratio 96.7, 95% confidence interval 88.6-99.5). When patients voided ≥200 mL, 97% passed (PPV odds ratio 97.4, 95% confidence interval 93.5-99.3). CONCLUSIONS We propose an algorithm for void trials after urogynecologic surgery. After backfilling the bladder if voided volume is ≥200 mL, the void trial is successful and no PVR is needed; if voided volume is between 100 and 199 mL, the void trial is indeterminate and PVR is recommended; and if voided volume is <100 mL, the void trial is unsuccessful and catheterization is needed. Applying this algorithm to our study population would have eliminated the need for PVR in 85% of patients. Calculated PPVs and NPVs depend on the prevalence of voiding dysfunction in the population being studied, and therefore may be unique to our institution.
Myofilaments: Movers and Rulers of the Sarcomere

Striated cardiac and skeletal muscles play very different roles in the body, but they are similar at the molecular level. In particular, contraction, regardless of the type of muscle, is a precise and complex process involving the integral protein myofilaments and their associated regulatory components. The smallest functional unit of muscle contraction is the sarcomere. Within the sarcomere can be found a sophisticated ensemble of proteins associated with the thick filaments (myosin, myosin binding protein-C, titin, and obscurin) and thin myofilaments (actin, troponin, tropomyosin, nebulin, and nebulette). These parallel thick and thin filaments slide across one another, pulling the two ends of the sarcomere together to regulate contraction. More specifically, the regulation of both timing and force of contraction is accomplished through an intricate network of intra- and interfilament interactions belonging to each myofilament. This review introduces the sarcomere proteins involved in striated muscle contraction and places greater emphasis on the more recently identified and less well-characterized myofilaments: cardiac myosin binding protein-C, titin, nebulin, and obscurin. © 2017 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 7:675-692, 2017.
3-D Printed Structures by Microdispensing Materials Loaded With Dielectric and Magnetic Powders

In this paper, we develop processes for printing 3-D structures by microdispensing materials loaded with dielectric and magnetic powders. Manufacturing with these materials is demonstrated by 3-D printing simple tower and bridge structures. The dielectric and magnetic properties are adjusted by loading different amounts of powder into a host silicone material. The long-term goal of the research is to print larger and more complex structures while also realizing a range of electromagnetic properties for applications in 3-D printed electromagnetics.
Contesting Controlling Images: The Black Ballerina in Children's Picture Books.

Though critics have debated the gendered ideologies at work in the ballet book genre, discussion so far has overlooked how race shapes the meanings of such stories and the ways that stereotypes about black females have caused them to be excluded from representation in both the world of classical dance and ballet stories. This essay provides a close textual analysis of seven recent picture books about black ballerinas that counter this history and employ the figure of the ballerina in ways that challenge social constructions of black female embodiment. While stories about black ballerinas share with the larger ballet book genre a sometimes troubling construction of femininity, they simultaneously embody the affirmative tradition of African American literature by asserting the beauty and competency of black girls and challenging what Patricia Hill Collins calls “controlling images” of black femininity.
Nonspecialty Nurse Education: Evaluation of the Oncology Intensives Initiative, an Oncology Curriculum to Improve Patient Care

BACKGROUND A community hospital combined its medical and surgical patients with cancer on one unit, which resulted in nurses not trained in oncology caring for this patient population. OBJECTIVES The Oncology Intensives Initiative (ONCii) involved the (a) design and implementation of a daylong didactic boot camp class and a four-hour simulation session and (b) the examination of nurses' worries, attitudes, self-efficacy, and perception of interdisciplinary teamwork. METHODS A two-group, pre-/post-test design was implemented. Group 1 consisted of nurses who attended the didactic boot camp classes alone, whereas group 2 was comprised of nurses who attended the didactic boot camp classes and the simulation sessions. FINDINGS Results of data analysis showed a decrease in worries and an increase in positive attitudes toward chemotherapy administration in both groups, as well as an increase in self-efficacy among members of group 2.
Metabolism of arsenic and gene transcription regulation. Mechanism of AP-1 activation by methylated trivalent arsenicals.

Publisher Summary Most studies of the molecular mechanisms involved in arsenic (As) carcinogenesis have focused on iAs species, particularly iAs III , and little attention has been given to methylated arsenicals which are metabolites of iAs. In humans, iAs is enzymatically methylated to methylarsenic species (MAs) and dimethylarsenic species (DMAs). Chronic exposures to iAs are associated with increased prevalence of skin cancer and cancers of internal organs, including the lung, the liver, the kidney, and the urinary bladder. The mechanisms by which iAs induces cancers are not completely understood. In various cell types, iAs III modifies signal transduction pathways that regulate cell growth and proliferation. iAs III modulates the expression and/or DNA binding activities of several major transcription factors, including nuclear factor kappa B and activating protein-1.
Primary Systemic Amyloidosis (AL) in 1990.

Amyloidosis was described over 300 years ago, but it was not until 1856 that Wilks described a 51-year-old man with “lardaceous viscera” in whom the changes were unrelated to syphilis, osteomyelitis, other osseous disease, or tuberculosis. The patient had dropsy and albumin in his urine. At autopsy the heart was enlarged and the spleen was hard and lardaceous. Similar changes were found in the kidney. This patient probably had primary amyloidosis (AL).
Intersections of Gender and Sexuality in Police Abuses Against Transgender Sex Workers in Sri Lanka

The academic discourse focusing on intersections of sexual orientation and gender in the victimization experiences of transgender individuals is limited, particularly in the victimization directed toward transgender people by law enforcement. Through inductive analysis of 24 in-depth interviews and three focus groups with male-to-female transgender (“nachchi”) sex workers in Sri Lanka, police mistreatment was examined to show how police abuses reflected the intersectional nature of transgender victimization. Findings indicated that police simultaneously targeted the main components of nachchi identity—feminine gender expression and homosexuality—in their victimization of the nachchi. Police abuses directed toward the nachchi included verbal, physical, and sexual abuse as well as inequality in the police response to nachchi’s victimization and criminality.
Filaggrin Mutations and the Atopic March

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the first stage of the atopic march, which describes the phenomenon of increased rates of allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma observed in individuals with early AD. The skin barrier disruptions of AD are thought to provide a nidus for allergic sensitization to food and aeroallergens, which can then lead to increased allergic disease. Filaggrin is a key component of the epidermal differentiation complex of the stratum corneum in human skin. Loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene have commonly been described in patients with AD and are associated with an increased risk of atopic sensitization in these individuals leading to asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Control of inductive bias in supervised learning using evolutionary computation: a wrapper-based approach

In this chapter, I discuss the problem of feature subset selection for supervised inductive learning approaches to knowledge discovery in databases (KDD), and examine this and related problems in the context of controlling inductive bias. I survey several combinatorial search and optimization approaches to this problem, focusing on data-driven, validation-based techniques. In particular, I present a wrapper approach that uses genetic algorithms for the search component, using a validation criterion based upon model accuracy and problem complexity, as the fitness measure. Next, I focus on design and configuration of high-level optimization systems (wrappers) for relevance determination and constructive induction, and on integrating these wrappers with elicited knowledge on attribute relevance and synthesis. I then discuss the relationship between this model selection criterion and those from the minimum description length (MDL) family of learning criteria. I then present results on several synthetic problems on task-decomposable machine learning and on two large-scale commercial data-mining and decision-support projects: crop condition monitoring, and loss prediction for insurance pricing. Finally, I report experiments using the Machine Learning in Java (MLJ) and Data to Knowledge (D2K) Java-based visual programming systems for data mining and information visualization, and several commercial and research tools. Test set accuracy using a genetic wrapper is significantly higher than that of decision tree inducers alone and is comparable to that of the best extant search-space based wrappers.
Land Use Change and Food Security: Has Introduction of Rice Production in Cotton Zone in Benin Met Optimal Allocation of Resources by Households?

Land use is one of the major source of soil fertility decline and food insecurity. In Benin where cotton is the main cash crop, the potential of cultivating rice exists even in cotton cultivation zone. Rice is seen nowadays as a staple food and the national production is insufficient to meet national consumption. Change in land use becomes obvious and the farmers cultivate several crops during the agricultural campaign which enter in competition in terms of resources use. This study has investigated the allocation of resources to different crops in cotton zone using primary data collected from a sample of 71 farmers randomly selected in two villages in the Northern region of Benin (West Africa). The model built showed that rice is the most profitable crop while cotton gross margin is low. It reduces then the area of cotton for about 56 %. It allows the production of maize, sorghum, peanut and the soy bean for ensuring the food availability of the household whereas rice and the bean have an economic importance. It gives a possibility to farmers to cultivate the same amount of land with less amount of labour force and gain 18 % more income than previously. From these results the agricultural policy need to be orientated to the training of farmers on practices and on the best way to allocate resources in order to achieve a good production. The arrangement of inland valley needs to be done to allow farmers to have more areas of inland valley for rice cultivation.
Texts and Bodies

This chapter delivers on this book’s promise: it clarifies what the notoriously difficult seminal texts of French theory were saying and doing. Three claims anchor this account: first, these thinkers were abandoning the abstractions of structuralism and returning to performance (parole) and to history—but without allowing the subject to return to the stage. Second, they were preserving the appearance of an affiliation with Marx (or at least with his materialism) when in fact their vision of history was becoming more and more Nietzschean. And third, they were profoundly influenced by radical modernists in the arts—by the surrealists, most of all, but also Mallarme, Artaud, James Joyce, and other violators of literary convention. They were experimenting with academic discourses in analogous ways. The syntactic and lexical contortions for which the seminal texts of French theory are known were determined by these three conditions.
Fear the unseen: supernatural belief and agency detection in virtual reality

Belief in supernatural agents is ubiquitous, as evidenced by its prevalence in religion, folklore, and cultural practices. It is theorized that, given recurrent ancestral risks of predation and fre...
A Numerical Optimization Method for Transducer Transfer Functions by the Linearity of the Phase Spectrum

New ultrasound imaging and therapeutic modalities may require transducer designs that are not readily facilitated by conventional design guidelines and analytical expressions. This motivates the investigation of numerical methods for complex transducer structures. Based on a mathematical theorem, we propose a new numerical design and optimization method for ultrasound transducers by linearizing the phase spectrum of transducer transfer functions. A gradient-based algorithm obtains the optimal transducer by varying a selected set of transducer parameters. To demonstrate the linear phase method, a simulated air-backed 4-MHz single-element imaging transducer with two matching layers, bondlines, and electrodes is optimized by varying the impedances and thicknesses of the matching layers. The magnitude spectrum resembles that of a Gaussian and, compared to a conventional transducer, the time-sidelobe level is reduced by more than 15-dB. Moreover, we apply the linear phase method to analyze and compensate for bondlines that resonate within the passband. Finally, we address the challenge of obtaining materials for the matching layers with the optimized impedance values by calculating alternative material pairs.
GPU optimization of material point methods

The Material Point Method (MPM) has been shown to facilitate effective simulations of physically complex and topologically challenging materials, with a wealth of emerging applications in computational engineering and visual computing. Borne out of the extreme importance of regularity, MPM is given attractive parallelization opportunities on high-performance modern multiprocessors. Parallelization of MPM that fully leverages computing resources presents challenges that require exploring an extensive design-space for favorable data structures and algorithms. Unlike the conceptually simple CPU parallelization, where the coarse partition of tasks can be easily applied, it takes greater effort to reach the GPU hardware saturation due to its many-core SIMT architecture. In this paper we introduce methods for addressing the computational challenges of MPM and extending the capabilities of general simulation systems based on MPM, particularly concentrating on GPU optimization. In addition to our open-source high-performance framework, we also conduct performance analyses and benchmark experiments to compare against alternative design choices which may superficially appear to be reasonable, but can suffer from suboptimal performance in practice. Our explicit and fully implicit GPU MPM solvers are further equipped with a Moving Least Squares MPM heat solver and a novel sand constitutive model to enable fast simulations of a wide range of materials. We demonstrate that more than an order of magnitude performance improvement can be achieved with our GPU solvers. Practical high-resolution examples with up to ten million particles run in less than one minute per frame.
What factors influence ultra-processed food purchases and consumption in households with children? A comparison between participants and non-participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Ultra-processed foods are industrially formulated products that are convenient, highly-palatable, and contain few whole ingredients. While popular among US households regardless of SES, these foods constitute a relatively large proportion of grocery spending among low-income households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Little is understood about the perceived factors influencing selection and consumption of these foods, particularly among households with children participating in SNAP. We conducted 5 focus groups with 45 parents of children under 18 years of age living in a low-income area of a Northeastern state. We conducted inductive-deductive thematic analysis to identify emergent themes and to identify similarities and differences by self-reported SNAP participation. Six themes related to ultra-processed food decision-making emerged, which were grouped into primarily rational or primarily intuitive processes. Rational decisions included concerns about the product's healthfulness, environmental sustainability, and desirable traits, which were each weighed against product cost when deciding between similar products. Intuitive themes included retailer marketing, household norms, and individual affective biases. The family social and emotional context and parenting practices were identified as important influences on preparation and consumption of ultra-processed foods. Differences between SNAP participants and non-participants emerged. SNAP participants selected ultra-processed foods because of their familiarity and long shelf-life -- attributes that mitigated fear of wasting money on foods that may be rejected by children or spoil quickly. Some SNAP participants purchased ultra-processed foods at the beginning of the monthly benefit cycle and stored them in anticipation of food scarcity at the end of the month. These findings underscore the distinct role of ultra-processed foods in meal planning and budgeting and the importance of rational considerations that particularly affect food choices of households participating in SNAP.
The role of industrial ecology in food and agriculture's adaptation to climate change

The food and agriculture sectors contribute significantly to climate change, but are also particularly vulnerable to its effects. Industrial ecology has robustly addressed these sectors’ contributions to climate change, but not their vulnerability to climate change. Climate change vulnerability must be addressed through development of climate change adaptation and resiliency strategies. However, there is a fundamental tension between the primary objectives of industrial ecology (efficiency, cyclic flows, and pollution prevention) and what is needed for climate change adaptation and resiliency. We develop here two potential ways through which the field can overcome (or work within) this tension and combine the tools and methods of industrial ecology with the science and process of climate change adaptation. The first layers industrial ecology tools on top of climate change adaptation strategies, allowing one to, for example, compare the environmental impacts of different adaptation strategies. The other embeds climate change adaptation and resiliency within industrial ecology tools, for example, by redefining the functional unit in life cycle assessment (LCA) to include functions of resiliency. In both, industrial ecology plays a somewhat narrow role, informing climate change adaptation and resilience decision‐making by providing quantitative indicators of environmental performance. This role for industrial ecology is important given the significant contributions and potential for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from food and agriculture. However, it suggests that industrial ecology's role in climate adaptation will be as an evaluator of adaptation strategies, rather than an originator.
Climate's future written in rocks

This is far from the first time Earth has experienced a temperature spike, so what can deep history tell us about what happens next, asks Graham Lawton
Differentiating pediatric autoimmune liver diseases by quantitative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.

Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD), including primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), have overlapping clinical features but distinct management strategies and outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of quantitative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) parameters for distinguishing PSC/ASC from AIH in children and young adults. This IRB-approved, cross-sectional study included participants from an institutional AILD registry that underwent baseline serum liver biochemistry testing and 3D fast spin-echo MRCP. The biliary tree was extracted and modeled from MRCP images using novel proprietary software (MRCP+ ™; Perspectum Diagnostics; Oxford, United Kingdom), and quantitative parameters were generated (e.g., biliary tree volume; number and length of bile ducts, strictures, and dilations; bile duct median/maximum diameters). Mann–Whitney U tests were performed to compare laboratory values and MRCP metrics between patient cohorts (clinical diagnosis of PSC/ASC versus AIH). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess diagnostic performance of serum biochemistry values and MRCP parameters for discriminating PSC/ASC from AIH. Thirty percent (14/47) of MRCP exams failed post-processing due to motion artifact. The remaining 33 patients included 20 males and 13 females, with a mean age of 15.1 ± 3.9 years. Eighteen patients were assigned the clinical diagnosis of PSC or ASC and 15 of AIH. All but one quantitative MRCP parameter were significantly different between cohorts (p 0.05). The best multivariable model for distinguishing PSC/ASC from AIH included total length of dilated ducts (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% CI 1.02–1.14) and maximum left hepatic duct diameter (OR, 1.21; 95% CI 0.57–2.56) [AUC = 0.92]. Quantitative MRCP parameters provide good discrimination of PSC/ASC from AIH.
Population-based methods for estimating the number of men who have sex with men: a systematic review.

The objective of this systematic review was to summarise population-based methods (i.e. methods that used representative data from populations) for estimating the population size of men who have sex with men (MSM), a high-risk group for HIV and other sexually transmissible infections (STIs). Studies using population-based methods to estimate the number or percentage of MSM or gay men were included. Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies used surveillance data, 18 studies used survey data, and six studies used census data. Sixteen studies were conducted in the US, five were conducted in European countries, two were conducted in Canada, three were conducted in Australia, one was conducted in Israel, and one was conducted in Kenya. MSM accounted for 0.03–6.5% of men among all studies, and ranged from 3.8% to 6.4% in the US, from 7000 to 39 100 in Canada, from 0.03% to 6.5% in European countries, and from 127 947 to 182 624 in Australia. Studies using surveillance data obtained the highest estimates of the MSM population size, whereas those using survey data obtained the lowest estimates. Studies also estimated the MSM population size by dimensions of sexual orientation. In studies examining these dimensions, fewer people identified as MSM than reported experience with or attraction to other men. Selection bias, differences in recall periods and sampling, or stigma could affect the estimate. It is important to have an estimate of the number of MSM to calculate disease rates, plan HIV and STI prevention efforts, and to allocate resources for this group.
#Distractinglysexy: the “trouble with girls” in Men in White (1934) and the need for narrative possibility

At the 2015 World Conference of Science Journalists, Tim Hunt, Nobel Laureate and now-former honorary professor at University College London, made the following assessment of professional female sc...
Sex differences in T cell immune responses, gut permeability and outcome after ischemic stroke in aged mice.

Abstract Introduction Stroke is a disease that presents with well-known sex differences. While women account for more stroke deaths, recent data show that after adjusting for age and pre-stroke functional status, mortality is higher in men. Immune responses are key determinants of stroke outcome and may differ by sex. This study examined sex differences in central and peripheral T cell immune responses, systemic effects on gut permeability and microbiota diversity and behavioral outcomes after stroke in aged mice. We hypothesized that there are sex differences in the immune response to stroke in aged animals. Methods C57BL/6CR mice (20–22 months) were subjected to 60 min middle cerebral artery occlusion, or sham surgery. T cells were quantified in brain and blood at 3, 7 and 15 days (d) post-stroke by flow cytometry. Peripheral effects on gut permeability and microbiota diversity, as well as neurological function were assessed up to 14 d, and at 21 d (cognitive function) post-stroke. Brain glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression was evaluated at 42 d post-stroke. Results and discussion Mortality (50% vs 14%, p