cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A structural basis for the recognition of 2'-deoxyguanosine by the purine riboswitch.

Riboswitches are noncoding RNA elements that are commonly found in the 5′-untranslated region of bacterial mRNA. Binding of a small-molecule metabolite to the riboswitch aptamer domain guides the folding of the downstream sequence into one of two mutually exclusive secondary structures that directs gene expression. The purine riboswitch family, which regulates aspects of purine biosynthesis and transport, contains three distinct classes that specifically recognize guanine/hypoxanthine, adenine, or 2′-deoxyguanosine (dG). Structural analysis of the guanine and adenine classes revealed a binding pocket that almost completely buries the nucleobase within the core of the folded RNA. Thus, it is somewhat surprising that this family of RNA elements also recognizes dG. We have used a combination of structural and biochemical techniques to understand how the guanine riboswitch could be converted into a dG binder and the structural basis for dG recognition. These studies reveal that a limited number of sequence changes to a guanine-sensing RNA are required to cause a specificity switch from guanine to 2′-deoxyguanosine, and to impart an altered structure for accommodating the additional deoxyribose sugar moiety.
Welfare Criteria, Pricing and Decentralization of a Public Service

Introduction, 448. — I. Alternative pricing policies, 449. — II. Actual pricing practices and possibilities of introducing an efficient scheme, 453. — III. Requirement of financial feasibility and efficient pricing possibilities, 459. — IV. Conclusion, 462.
A Theoretical Analysis of Cumulative Sum Slope (CUSUM-Slope) Statisticfor Detecting Signal Onset (begin) and Offset (end) Trends from BackgroundNoise Level

A theoretical analysis of the cumulative sum (CUSUM) technique for detecting a series of time signals from noisy background is provided. The statistic using CUSUM-slope is introduced as a measure for capturing the average of signals within the time-window, in which the slope is computed. This provides a time-independent method for estimating the signal content within the time-window. The detection criterion is provided for different window-lengths. The results showed that this CUSUM-slope statistic is highly sensitive to the detection of subtle hidden trends in the data sequence with noise filtered even in very low signal-to-noise environment.
Poisoning effect of adsorbed CO during CO2 electroreduction on late transition metals

Copper cathodes, at sufficiently negative potentials, are selective for hydrocarbon production during the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. Other metals, such as Pt, Fe, Ni and Co, produce low to zero hydrocarbons. We employ density functional theory to examine the coverage of reaction intermediates under CO2 electroreduction conditions. A detailed thermodynamic analysis suggests that a high coverage of adsorbed CO at relevant reduction potentials blocks the metal surface sites for H adsorption, preventing C–H bond formation. The potential-dependent energetics of H adsorption and CO formation are highly sensitive to the surface coverage of the adsorbed species. The formation of surface carbon as a competing adsorption intermediate is also explored at relevant reduction potentials. CO2 electroreduction to hydrocarbons over metals active for the thermal reduction process (Fe, Ni, Co, Pt) would require a H supply for C–H bond formation that is competitive with CO* and C* at the surface.
Experience in the midst of variation: new horizons for development and psychopathology.

This essay explores implications of current trends in developmental science for understanding psychopathology at the dawn of the new millennium. Over the past half century, it has become clear that uniform and general principles of development (i.e., those that are applicable at all times, to all people, and in all places) will be of limited utility in understanding the processes of greatest interest in development and psychopathology. Instead, such processes are characterized by complexly organized individuals engaged in developmental transactions within multiple contexts (ranging from the biological environment of neurons to the cultural systems of meaning that shape people's lives). These transactions in turn often yield variable outcomes. In order to portray how we have come to this conclusion, we first provide a view of contemporary research in three areas of early development: the biology of the developing brain, the complexities of early emotional development, and the cultural contexts of child development. We then trace how an increasing appreciation of organized complexity, developmental transactions, and the meaning of context have played out in the emerging field of infant mental health before closing with our vision of new opportunities for the study of experience in the midst of variation.
PEAKS AND VALLEYS The Gendered Emotional Culture of Edgework

In this article, the author examines the gendered emotional culture of high-risk takers. Drawing on five and one-half years of ethnographic fieldwork with a volunteer search and rescue group, the author details the intense emotions rescuers experienced before, during, and after the most dangerous and upsetting rescues. Lyng's concept of “edgework” (voluntary risk taking) is used to analyze how male and female rescuers experienced, understood, and acted on their feelings. The data reveal several gendered patterns that characterized this emotional culture. The article concludes with a discussion of gender, edgework, and emotional culture, focusing on the theoretical implications of their confluence.
THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS IN LIFE‐THREATENING SITUATIONS*

Therapists who encounter life-threatening behavior in their clinical practice are at risk in providing interventions which do not take into account the systemic effects of their interventions. Specifically, therapists are likely to engage in “more of the same” behavior with clients who present with suicidal or homicidal threats. This paper presents two case studies that employed therapeutic methods derived from the systemic therapy of the Palo Alto group. In these case studies, the author illustrates the importance of the therapist's ability to speak the client's language in formulating an intervention that has the potential for reducing the likelihood of actual violence. The first case illustrates the use of the client's world view about her situation to assist her in dealing with domestic violence. The second case presented describes the use of systemic interventions in the case of a young woman known to have made homicidal threats. The author discusses the appropriateness, as well as the ethical issues, of the techniques described. Also offered, is a discussion clarifying the theoretical underpinnings of the clinical work presented and an amplification of some of the ideas originally presented by the Palo Alto group.
Comparison of three correlation coefficient estimators for gaussian stationary processes

Using independent samples from two stationary Gaussian processes, second-order statistics are examined for the following three correlation estimators: 1) the direct estimator, 2) a "hybrid-sign" estimator, and 3) the polarity coincidence estimator. In most cases, increasing the number of samples by a factor of two or three allows one to use the simple polarity coincidence estimator with the same accuracy as the other two estimators.
Online Dating in Middle and Later Life: Gendered Expectations and Experiences

Rising numbers of single middle-aged and older adults encouraged a proliferation of online dating websites targeting this population. However, few studies examine aging adults’ involvement in online dating. This study uses semistructured interviews with 18 online daters aged 53 to 74 and 2 romance coaches to examine how aspects of their online expectations and experiences are shaped by age and gender. Analyses reveal that men seek committed relationships, whereas women desire companionship without demanding caring roles. Different barriers to dating increase the appeal of online strategies: Men face narrow social networks, while women face competition from younger women and friendship norms limiting the pool of eligible partners. Both genders screen for youthful characteristics and attempt to convey youthful images of themselves. Men’s criteria center on physical attractiveness, whereas women’s focus is on abilities. In constructing profiles, women focus on their looks and sociability and men on their fin...
Competitive Value when Only Labor is Scarce

Even when only labor is scarce, the validity of a labor theory of value depends on reducing all labor to a homogeneous equivalent. The various implicit or explicit efforts of Smith, Ricardo, and Marx to do so are shown to fail on more counts than previously recognized. The labor theory is also shown to fail when laborers are not indifferent among alternative occupations.
A qualitative investigation of the factors influencing the implementation of reform efforts in science education

The purpose of this investigation is to provide insight into the obstacles to reform in science education. Through qualitative methods, this study analyzes the teacher/participants’ questions emerging daily during a summer professional development workshop designed to promote learner centered directions in science instruction. Results of the study reveal that teachers were less concerned with external pressures such as imposed accountability from community leaders, administrators, and parents, and more concerned with understanding what inquiry would look like in the classroom.
Characteristics of medial temporal lobe epilepsy: II. Interictal and ictal scalp electroencephalography, neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging, surgical results, and pathology

Sixty-seven patients with temporal lobe epilepsy without circumscribed, potentially epileptogenic lesions, who were studied with intracranial electrodes and who became seizure free following temporal lobectomy were retrospectively evaluated with regard to preoperative scalp electroencephalographic (EEG) findings, neuropsychological test results, neuroimaging findings, results of surgery, and pathology of resected tissue. Interictal scalp EEG showed paroxysmal abnormalities during prolonged monitoring in 64 patients (96%). These were localized in the anterior temporal region in 60 (94%) of these 64 patients. Bilateral independent paroxysmal activity occurred in 42% of the patients and was preponderant over the side of seizure origin in half. Ictal EEG changes were rarely detected at the time of clinical seizure onset, but lateralized buildup of rhythmic seizure activity during the seizure occurred in 80% of patients. In 13%, the scalp EEG seizure buildup was, however, contralateral to the side of seizure origin as subsequently determined by depth EEG and curative surgery. Lateralized postictal slowing, when present, was a very reliable lateralizing finding. Neuropsychological testing provided lateralizing findings concordant with the side of seizure origin in 73% of patients. When neuropsychological testing produced discordant results or nonlateralizing findings, those patients were usually found to have right temporal seizure origin. Intracarotid amobarbital (Amytal) testing demonstrated absent or marginal memory functions on the side of seizure onset in 63% of patients, but 26 patients (37%) had bilaterally intact memory. In those patients who had magnetic resonance imaging, it was very sensitive in detecting subtle medial temporal abnormalities. These abnormalities were present in 23 of 28 magnetic resonance images, and corresponded with mesial temporal sclerosis on pathological examination in all but 2 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Female reproductive tract immunity in bovine trichomoniasis.

Corbeil LB, Anderson ML, Corbeil RR, Eddow JM, BonDurant RH. Female reproductive tract immunity in bovine trichomoniasis. PROBLEM: Mechanisms of protective immunity in the female reproductive tract are poorly understood. For sexually transmitted diseases, bovine trichomoniasis is a useful model because it resembles human trichomoniasis to some extent, and antibodies play an important role in protection against these extracellular parasites. Protective efficacy was compared in animals with genital responses of predominantly immunoglobulin G (IgG) or predominantly IgA antibodies to a purified surface antigen of Tritrichomonas foetus. METHOD OF STUDY: Immunization of mice by various routes with immunoaffinity-purified T. foetus surface antigen (TF1.17) or killed cells was used to define the best routes and antigen combinations to give predominantly IgG or IgA antibodies to TF1.17 antigens in genital secretions. Cattle were then immunized either subcutaneously (SC) two times with TF1.17 antigen and once SC with killed T. foetus or twice SC with TF1.17 antigen and once intravaginally with killed T. foetus. All immunizations were in Quil A adjuvant. Controls were not immunized. Animals were challenged intravaginally with 10 6 T. foetus 3 weeks after the third immunization. Vaginal mucus was collected weekly for culture and antibody assays. Serum was collected weekly, and uterine secretions were collected at 10 weeks post-challenge. Tissues were fixed at 10 weeks also. RESULTS: Murine studies showed systemic priming with vaginal boosting gave the highest genital IgA responses. In cattle, systemic immunization (group S) induced high IgGI antibody levels in vaginal secretions. Systemic priming with vaginal boosting (group S/V) primed for an anamnestic vaginal IgA response after challenge with T. foetus. Cattle with predominantly IgG or predominantly IgA responses in vaginal secretions either did not become infected or cleared infection faster than controls. Uterine IgA responses at 10 weeks were highest in the vaginally boosted group, but other responses were not different from the controls at this time point. Microscopic examination of genital tissues showed subepithelial infiltration of mononuclear cells in all groups. Lymphoid aggregates or nodules were detected in vaginal sections in cattle of groups S/V and C as well as in uterine sections of all animals in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both IgG and IgA antibodies to T. foetus superficial antigen were associated with protection. The timing of the response was related to the time of clearance. Lymphoid organization in the vagina and uterine tissues suggested development of mucosal inductive sites.
Throughput analysis of type-I HARQ strategies in Two-Way Relay Channels

A Two-Way Relay Channels (TWRC) is studied over quasi-static fading channels by focusing on the throughput of Type-I HARQ strategies. An upper bound is evaluated, along with a number of achievable results obtained by proposing different protocols combining Type-I HARQ with standard amplify or decode-and-forward techniques or more sophisticated lattice code-based strategies. Performance comparison among the different protocols shows a trade-off between the achievable throughput and the system overhead required to obtain partial channel state information at the nodes.
Responding to Social Signals for Response Inhibition A Psychological Process Underlying Trait Anger

Angry facial expressions are thought to serve as signals of social correction, indicating that one person disapproves of another’s behavior and wants them to desist. If individuals respond to such signals by inhibiting disapproved-of behaviors, they should effectively reduce the prevalence of angry and aggressive encounters in their lives. Two studies tested this idea by incorporating angry and neutral expressions within a task which measures behavioral-inhibition processes. Consistent with predictions, trait anger was related to response-inhibition processes for angry but not neutral expressions; such that low trait anger individuals exhibited faster response-inhibition processes in the angry context. This effect occurred when participants were explicitly instructed to inhibit behavior in response to facial expressions (Study 1) and when expressions were presented incidentally (Study 2). The findings could not be explained in terms of more general tendencies toward aggression or impulsivity or through pe...
Dark Scalar Doublets and Neutrino Tribimaximal Mixing from A(4) Symmetry

Abstract In the context of A 4 symmetry, neutrino tribimaximal mixing is achieved through the breaking of A 4 to Z 3 ( Z 2 ) in the charged-lepton (neutrino) sector respectively. The implied vacuum misalignment of the ( 1 , 1 , 1 ) and ( 1 , 0 , 0 ) directions in A 4 space is a difficult technical problem, and cannot be treated without many auxiliary fields and symmetries (and perhaps extra dimensions). It is pointed out here that an alternative scenario exists with A 4 alone and no redundant fields, if neutrino masses are “scotogenic”, i.e. radiatively induced by dark scalar doublets as recently proposed.
Wideband and group index independent coupling to slow light slotted photonic crystal waveguides with adiabatic group index taper and mode matching

We experimentally demonstrate highly efficient coupling into a slotted-photonic crystal waveguide featuring a nearly flat transmission spectrum with lowest insertion loss ∼2.4dB.
Variation in Effects of Conophthorin on Catches of Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Ethanol-Baited Traps in the United States

In 2013, we examined the effects of conophthorin on flight responses of ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to multiple-funnel traps baited with ethanol in Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Adventive species (=exotic, nonnative, immigrant, introduced) accounted for 91.4% of total catches of ambrosia beetles. Conophthorin increased catches of Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) in Georgia, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Catches of Cyclorhipidion pelliculosum (Eichhoff) were increased by conophthorin in New Hampshire but not in Michigan. In Oregon, conophthorin decreased catches of Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) to ethanol-baited traps but not in Michigan and New Hampshire. In Georgia, conophthorin increased catches of Gnathotrichus materiarius (Fitch), Xyleborus spp., and Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) but decreased catches of Cnestus mutilatus (Blandford), Dryoxylon onoharaensum (Murayama), and Cyclorhipidion bodoanum (Reitter). Conophthorin had no effect on catches of Ambrosiophilus atratus (Eichhoff), Anisandrus dispar (F.), Anisandrus sayi (Hopkins), Gnathotrichus sulcatus (Leconte), Monarthrum fasciatum (Say), Monarthrum mali (Fitch), and Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff). Attraction of the bark beetle, Hypothenemus rotundicollis (Eichhoff), was interrupted by conophthorin in Georgia. Our results suggest that adding conophthorin lures to traps baited with ethanol may have utility in detection programs in North America and overseas. However, traps baited with ethanol alone should also be used due to interruption in attraction for some species of ambrosia beetles.
Pulse-to-Pulse Coherent Doppler Measurements of Waves and Turbulence

Abstract This paper presents laboratory and field testing of a pulse-to-pulse coherent acoustic Doppler profiler for the measurement of turbulence in the ocean. In the laboratory, velocities and wavenumber spectra collected from Doppler and digital particle image velocimeter measurements compare very well. Turbulent velocities are obtained by identifying and filtering out deep water gravity waves in Fourier space and inverting the result. Spectra of the velocity profiles then reveal the presence of an inertial subrange in the turbulence generated by unsteady breaking waves. In the field, comparison of the profiler velocity records with a single-point current measurement is satisfactory. Again wavenumber spectra are directly measured and exhibit an approximate −5/3 slope. It is concluded that the instrument is capable of directly resolving the wavenumber spectral levels in the inertial subrange under breaking waves, and therefore is capable of measuring dissipation and other turbulence parameters in the up...
Broadband Diffractive Optics for Efficient Light Management in Photovoltaics

A micro-structured broadband diffractive optic efficiently concentrated and separated sunlight into spectral bands that were incident upon laterally separated single-junction photovoltaic devices. An increase in electrical power output was demonstrated with Si/GaAs and CIGS devices.
Coherence of hemispheric function in developmental dyslexia

Left parieto-occipital EEG leads record a frequency spectrum in dyslexics that is consistently different from the spectrum obtained from normals. It is suggested that these effects represent significant differences in the functional organization of these areas. EEG coherence values indicate that normals have significantly greater sharing between hemispheres at symmetrical locations. Dyslexics demonstrate significantly greater sharing within hemisphere than do normals. The data supports developmental dyslexia being a functional hemispheric disconnection syndrome.
A systematic approach for correcting nonlinear instabilities

The Lax-Wendroff (L-W) difference scheme for a single conservation law has been shown to be nonlinearly unstable near stagnation points. In this paper a simple variant of L-W is devised which has all the usual properties-conservation form, three point scheme, second order accurate on smooth solutions, but which is shown rigorously to beL 2 stable for Burger's equation and which is believed to be stable in general. This variant is constructed by adding a simple nonlinear viscosity term to the usual L-W operator. The nature of the viscosity is deduced by first stabilizing, for general conservation laws, a model differential equation derived by analyzing the truncation error for L-W, keeping only terms of order (Δt)2. The same procedure is then carried out for an analogous semi-discrete model. Finally, the full L-W difference scheme is rigorously shown to be stable provided that the C.F.L. restriction ?|u j n |?0.24 is satisfied.
A Control Engineering Perspective of Calcium Homeostasis

Abstract Achieving calcium homeostasis in the human body, whereby extracellular fluid calcium is maintained within a narrow range (2.4 ± 0.25 mM) necessary for normal physiological function, is the task of a biological control system that is still not completely understood. Although general information is available on several of the component processes involved in calcium homeostasis, there is currently no mechanistic understanding of the emergent characteristics of the entire system. To this end, we present an engineering control framework for understanding calcium homeostasis, which is predicated on a configuration of the physiological system in terms of appropriately connected control system components (sensor, controller and actuator). Using information from the literature, we develop mathematical models for each component and integrate them into a holistic, comprehensive dynamic model of the complete system. The framework enables a more systematic study of observable physiological responses such as hypo- and hypercalcemia; it also allows us to interpret pathologies in terms of control system component defects.
The Task of Contemporary Wage Theory

The high purpose of these sessions is symbolized by a passage from Michael Polanyi: Science is not conducted by isolated efforts like those of the chess players or shellers of peas and could make no progress that way. If one day all communications were cut between scientists, that day science would practically come to a standstill. … The co-ordinative principle of science … consists in the adjustment of each scientist’s activities to the results hitherto achieved by others. In adjusting himself to the others each scientist acts independently, yet by virtue of these several adjustments scientists keep extending together with a maximum efficiency the achievements of science as a whole.1
Directing Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Toward Retinal Pigment Epithelium Lineage

Development of efficient and reproducible conditions for directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into specific cell types is important not only to understand early human development but also to enable more practical applications, such as in vitro disease modeling, drug discovery, and cell therapies. The differentiation of stem cells to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in particular holds promise as a source of cells for therapeutic replacement in age-related macular degeneration. Here we show development of an efficient method for deriving homogeneous RPE populations in a period of 45 days using an adherent, monolayer system and defined xeno-free media and matrices. The method utilizes sequential inhibition and activation of the Activin and bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways and can be applied to both human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells as the starting population. In addition, we use whole genome transcript analysis to characterize cells at different stages of differentiation that provides further understanding of the developmental dynamics and fate specification of RPE. We show that with the described method, RPE develop through stages consistent with their formation during embryonic development. This characterization- together with the absence of steps involving embryoid bodies, three-dimensional culture, or manual dissections, which are common features of other protocols-makes this process very attractive for use in research as well as for clinical applications. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:490-501.
Das normale Denken des richtigen Menschen: Wie ein PC

Die linke Gehirnhalfte ist der Sitz des logischen, sequentiellen, rationalen, analytischen Denkens, das den Blick objektiv auf alle Einzelheiten richtet.
Male Allies: Motivations and Barriers for Participating in Diversity Initiatives in the Technology Workplace

In the last decade, much funding and research has focused on increasing diversity in the technology workplace; however, for the most part, these efforts have overlooked the role that men and masculinities have to play in creating inclusive work environments. In this study, we draw from interviews with 47 corporate employees who identified as men to examine how they think, talk about, and enact diversity reform in the technology workplace. Our study found support for some potential motivators for men advocating for gender equality that were also identified in prior research, including: 1) personal experiences; 2) the greater economic good; and 3) an ethical commitment to equity. In addition, we found that many of the barriers identified in the literature were also supported, especially the difficulties inherent in: 1) negotiating power and gender dynamics; 2) uncertainty as to how best to be an ally; 3) sustaining ally and advocacy work long-term; and 4) establishing legitimacy as a male advocate. We identify a continuum of factors inhibiting male-ally participation and suggest concrete measures that advocates can take to overcome these challenges and build constituency among men in the workplace.
Cognitive Computing: Where Big Data Is Driving Us.

In this chapter we will discuss the concepts and challenges to design Cognitive Systems. Cognitive Computing is the use of computational learning systems to augment cognitive capabilities in solving real world problems. Cognitive systems are designed to draw inferences from data and pursue the objectives they were given. The era of big data is the basis for innovative cognitive solutions that cannot rely on traditional systems. While traditional computers must be programmed by humans to perform specific tasks, cognitive systems will learn from their interactions with data and humans. Not only is Cognitive Computing a fundamentally new computing paradigm for tackling real world problems, exploiting enormous amounts of data using massively parallel machines, but also it engenders a new form of interaction between humans and computers. As machines start to enhance human cognition and help people make better decisions, new issues arise for research. We will address these questions for Cognitive Systems: What are the needs? Where to apply? Which are the sources of information to relying on?
Utility of a time frame in assessing psychological pain and suicide ideation

Background Assessing psychological pain has been recommended as an integral part of a comprehensive suicide risk assessment. The Psychache Scale, an established measure of psychological pain, does not specify a time frame for when pain is experienced, which may inadvertently increase the likelihood of identifying individuals as being at elevated suicide risk when they complete the Psychache Scale based on psychological pain experienced at some undefined time in the past. Methods We conducted a national general population survey among United States adults to determine whether addition of a time frame to the instructions of the Psychache Scale would more accurately reflect current psychological pain and more effectively identify people with current suicide ideation. A between-subjects design was used where respondents were randomized to complete the original Psychache scale or a modified scale with time frame. Data were collected online from September 2015 to June 2016. A total of 242 respondents had complete psychological pain data: 133 completed the original Psychache Scale and 109 completed the Psychache Scale with time frame. Results Addition of a time frame did not result in differences in psychological pain scores. However, when screening for participants with current suicide ideation, 13% fewer false positives were observed with the modified scale at higher cut-off values than previously reported (38 vs. 24). The substantial increase in positive predictive value suggests that a time frame is a worthwhile addition to the Psychache Scale. Discussion We recommend using the Psychache Scale with a time frame and testing the cut-off score for suicide ideation in population samples that reflect the general population more accurately. Psychological pain cut-off scores in clinical samples have yet to be established.
Conclusive Remarks and Comments

The reliability theory, despite the enormous amount of work done, has not yet reached the status of science. It likens a basket of useful tools and effective mathematical outcomes, which however do not find order inside a Cartesian frame.
On packet loss rates in modern 802.11 networks

The knowledge of link packet loss rates (PLRs) at different PHY layer configurations is vital for a number of wireless network optimization schemes. However, the very large number of PHY layer configurations offered by modern 802.11 n/ac networks has made probing-based PLR estimation at each available configuration extremely challenging. In this paper, we seek to answer the question “How to estimate the PLRs at each available PHY layer configuration with minimal overhead?” Our analysis of the PLR datasets collected from three 802.11 n/ac testbeds reveals that, for any given link, there are several configurations with similar PLR. However, capturing this similarity using well-known link quality indicators like RSSI, or PHY layer features such as MCS or number of MIMO streams is hard. Consequently, we explore the approach of clustering the available PHY layer configurations into a small number of clusters with similar PLR, independent of any other parameter, and only probe one representative configuration in each cluster. Using two real-world case studies — rate adaptation and multihop routing, we show that the proposed clustering-based PLR estimation helps network optimization schemes to reach optimal configurations faster leading to significant performance improvements.
Latent Classes of Substance Use Among American Indian and White Students Living on or Near Reservations, 2009-2013.

Objectives:American Indian adolescents who reside on or near reservations report higher levels of substance use than adolescents in other racial/ethnic groups. Little research has addressed patterns of use, which have important implications for prevention and treatment planning. The objective of our study was to describe substance use among a large, population-based sample of American Indian and white students who lived on or near reservations.Methods:We obtained data from 4964 students in grades 7-12 attending 46 schools on or near reservations throughout the United States during 4 academic years (2009-2013). Measures assessed current substance use for alcohol, heavy drinking, marijuana, cigarettes, inhalants, and other drugs. We used latent class analysis to identify patterns of substance use by grade group (grades 7-8 and grades 9-12) and race (American Indian or white).Results:For American Indians in both grade groups, we found 4 classes of substance use (in order of size): (1) nonusers; (2) marijuana...
Keep it local? Preferences for federal, state, or local unconventional oil and gas regulations

Abstract In the U.S., governance for oil and gas development has been increasingly devolved from centralized, relatively powerful governments to lower levels of government. At the same time, state governments increasingly preempt local authority, resulting in significant state-local contestation over oil and gas governance. The purpose of this analysis is to understand what level of government (i.e. local, state or federal) Colorado residents believe should regulate the oil and gas industry (referred to as governance scale preferences) in this era of neoliberalism, devolution, and state preemption. Colorado has been an epicenter of unconventional oil and gas production for years and is one of the most heavily-drilled states in the U.S. The state also lauds itself as being at the forefront of state-level regulation of the industry, key to our concerns here Descriptive results indicated that few support federal exemptions while many respondents endorse local regulation. Further, few variables have consistent results in the binary logistic regression models. Broadly, our analysis suggests that the public seems to endorse a complex, multi-layered system of governance for oil and gas development, suggesting that current efforts to concentrate regulatory power in state governments is at odds with public preferences.
Unresolved Segregation Effects in Solid Solution Strengthening of Metals

The evidence for grain boundary and free surface segregation of solutes is reviewed. The effects on macroscopic mechanical properties of grain boundary segregation of solutes in metals have been established in only a few Cu-base, Ni-base and Fe-base systems.
A descriptive analysis of asthma in the U.S. Navy Submarine Force.

Background: The U.S. Navy Submarine Force offers a unique opportunity to study asthma because of the relative socioeconomic and physical homogeneity of the population and the closed environment occupational exposure. Currently, asthma is disqualifying from submarine service, which results in a significant loss of experienced personnel. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 119 U.S. Navy submariner disqualification packages for asthma between 1989-1993. Results: We found a 0.16% annual period prevalence of asthma in the active duty enlisted Atlantic Fleet Submarine Force. Two groups of asthma disqualifications were identified with a significant increase above their proportional representation in the fleet: enlisted personnel (p < 0.01) and submarine recruits (p < 0.0001). The proportion of African-American personnel also had a tendency toward increased asthma disqualification (p < 0.08). There were no differences in prevalence of asthma between crews of ballistic missile submarines or fast attack submarines. Asthma risk factors reported in the civilian literature (childhood history of asthma, family history of asthma and non-drug allergies) were highly represented in our study (41%, 46% and 68% of submariners, respectively). Most disqualified submariners had mild asthma based on the diagnostic work-up. The methacholine challenge test appeared to carry a disproportionate diagnostic weight despite its low specificity. Conclusion: Although the period prevalence of asthma is low in the U.S. Navy Submarine Force, submariners disqualified for asthma have similar historical and ethnic risk factors as the civilian population.
Potential New Sites for Fungicides

One method of combating pesticide resistant fungi is to develop areas of chemistry active at a novel site in the pathogen. This can be accomplished in two ways: 1) large-scale screening of a wide variety of different structural classes of chemistry, identification of a class of chemistry active on a specific pathogen and optimization of that activity by an analoging program; or 2) selection of a specific process believed to be essential to the pathogen, and through biochemical knowledge at the molecular, enzyme, cellular and plant level develop active areas of chemistry to inhibit that process. In reality, the discovery process may incorporate both mechanisms to varying degrees. Due to the somewhat serendipitous aspect of the first method of discovery, this presentation will focus on the latter. Specific topics will deal with target site selection and verification, establishment of an appropriate assay, synthesis concerns and correlation of assay/greenhouse results. In addition to the general process, specific examples will be presented from our group's work on the sterol biosynthesis pathway.
Radon in Air Calibration Procedure: A Primary Method

A procedure has been developed for preparing 3- to 9-iota volumes of air under natural conditions with a known concentration of /sup 222/Rn to be used for calibrating radon systems. Air is passed into a plastic bag through a standard /sup 226/Ra solution (prepared by the U.S. National Bureau of Standards) contained in an emanation flask. This plastic bag retains /sup 222/Rn with little loss into or through the bag walls. The mean ratios of the /sup 222/Rn in the air at 2 and 7 days after filling to that immediately after filling were -.992 +- 0.006 and 0.969 +- 0.008, which suggests a rate of radon loss into the bag of 0.4 +- 0.1%/day.
Microstructural Modeling of the Mechanical Behavior of Face-Centered Cubic Nanocrystalline-Twinned Systems

Nanocrystalline-twinned materials exhibit significantly higher strength and ductility than nanocrystalline face-centered cubic (f.c.c.) materials without twins. In this investigation, a dislocation-density-based multiple-slip crystalline constitutive and a nonlinear finite element formulation have been used to understand how twin volume fractions, grain and twin orientations and texture, dislocation-density accumulation, and large inelastic strains affect the competing effects of strengthening and toughening mechanisms in nanotwinned materials. The predictions have indicated that grain and twin orientations with respect to different loading axes significantly affect how dislocation densities evolve, and that this has a dominant effect on both ductility and strength. The predictions were validated with experiments pertaining to nanotwinned f.c.c. copper aggregates. The validated predictions can potentially be used as design guidelines for optimizing the mechanical behavior of nanotwinned crystalline materials, such that behavior can be mitigated and controlled at the nanocrystalline scale.
Gastroparesis syndromes: Response to electrical stimulation.

Background and aims Factors underlying gastroparesis are not well defined, nor is the mechanism of action of gastric electrical stimulation (GES). We hypothesized that GES acts via several mechanisms related to underlying disordered pathophysiology. Methods We studied 43 consecutive eligible patients with gastroparetic symptoms, previously evaluated by two methods in each of five core areas: inflammatory, autonomic, enteric, electrophysiologic, and hormonal; and also categorized by GI symptoms, metabolic status, illness quantification, and gastric physiology. We then studied 41 patients who underwent temporary GES for 5-7 days. Thirty-six of those patients were implanted and 30 were followed up at 6 months after permanent GES. Results In previous but separately reported work, patients had similar GI symptoms regardless of baseline gastric emptying or diabetic/idiopathic status and all patients demonstrated abnormalities in each of the five areas studied. After GES, patients showed early and late effects of electrical stimulation with changes noted in multiple areas, categorized by improvement status. Conclusion Patients with symptoms of gastroparesis have multiple abnormalities, including systemic inflammation and disordered hormonal status. GES affects many of these abnormalities. We conclude electrical stimulation improves symptoms and physiology with (a) an early and sustained anti-emetic effect; (b) an early and durable gastric prokinetic effect in delayed emptying patients; (c) an early anti-arrhythmic effect that continues over time; (d) a late autonomic effect; (e) a late hormonal effect; (f) an early anti-inflammatory effect that persists; and (g) an early and sustained improvement in health-related quality of life. This study is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov under study # NCT03178370 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03178370).
Human Interaction with the Output of Information Extraction Systems

Information Extraction (IE) research has made remarkable progress in Natural Language Processing using intrinsic measures, but little attention has been paid to human analysts as downstream processors. In one experiment, when participants were presented text with or without markup from an IE pipeline, they showed better text comprehension without markup. In a second experiment, the markup was hand-generated to be as relevant and accurate as possible to find conditions under which markup improves performance. This experiment showed no significant difference between performance with and without markup, but a significant majority of participants preferred working with markup to without. Further, preference for markup showed a fairly strong correlation with participants’ ratings of their own trust in automation. These results emphasize the importance of testing IE systems with actual users and the importance of trust in automation.
Insulin-Like Growth Factors as Regulatory Peptides in the Adult Rat Brain

Much of the present understanding of the actions of IGF-1 and IGF-2 in nervous tissue has come from in vitro studies using either primary brain cultures derived from fetal or neonatal material, or derived CNS cell lines such as neuroblastomas or gliomas. This line of research has established a potential role for the IGFs as growth factors in the developing nervous system, where it has been proposed that they stimulate neuronal sprouting and synaptogenesis (1–4), and induce glial proliferation (5).
Fractional CO2 laser therapy for genitourinary syndrome of menopause for breast cancer survivors

Fractional CO2 laser therapy is an emerging treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of fractional CO2 laser therapy in breast cancer survivors. This was a single arm feasibility study of breast cancer survivors with dyspareunia and/or vaginal dryness. Participants received three treatments of fractional CO2 laser therapy at 30-day intervals and returned for a 1-month follow-up. Feasibility was defined as treatment completion without serious adverse events (SAE) in 80% of patients. We collected data on the Vaginal Assessment Scale (VAS), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Urinary Distress Index (UDI), and SAE. A total of 64 patients participated in the study. The majority of women had Estrogen receptor/Progesterone receptor (ER/PR) positive/Her2neu negative (n = 37; 63%), stage I (n = 32, 54%) or II (n = 19, 32%) breast cancer. Most were receiving endocrine therapy (n = 54, 92%), most commonly aromatase inhibitors (AI; n = 40, 68%). Fifty-nine (88.1%) of those enrolled completed all treatments according to protocol with no reported SAE. No patient withdrew due to SAE. The scores of the VAS (mean Δ − 0.99; 95% CI [− 1.19, − 0.79], p < 0.001)), FSFI (mean Δ 9.67; 95% CI [7.27, 12.1], p < 0.001), and UDI (mean Δ − 8.85; 95% CI [− 12.75, − 4.75], p < 0.001)) improved from baseline to follow-up. Fractional CO2 laser treatment for breast cancer survivors is feasible and appears to reduce GSM symptoms across treatment and follow-up.
Methods for object tracking and shadowing in a top-down view virtual reality scattered radiation display system (SDS) for fluoroscopically-guided procedures

We have developed a prototype scatter-display system (SDS) which includes a top-down view, virtual reality (VR) representation of an interventional room containing a color-coded scatter dose rate distribution in real-time. To represent various attenuating objects of interest in the room, such as the C-Arm gantry and ceiling mounted shield, the STL toolbox in Matlab was implemented to produce a 3D VR description of the objects. Attenuation by objects in the room will alter the dose distribution and may lead to shielding of individual staff members, and thus representation of those objects in the software is needed for precise dose rate estimations. Determination of the spatial regions of attenuation requires accurate specification of object position. To retain identification of a ceiling mounted shield, we implemented an open-source package which maintains object recognition using the depth camera feed of a Microsoft Kinect V2 and the features-from-accelerated-segment- test (FAST) algorithm in OpenCV for a dense sampling of salient features. The depth information from the identified object is transferred to an open-source robot operating system (ROS) wrapper for specification of the 3D position to be fed into the SDS. To compute the C-Arm gantry position, we take advantage of a controller area network (CAN) bus interfaced with the angiography system’s application programming interface (API). Methods for computing gantry and ceiling mounted shield shadow regions are discussed and demonstrated. FAST was applied to the ceiling-shield assembly’s flange with reliable recognition. Including object attenuation of room scatter in the SDS will facilitate accurate dose rate computation.
Insights found in century-old writings on animal behaviour and some cautions for today

An appreciation of the diverse roots of animal behaviour study is essential for informed teaching and stimulating current research and scholarship. Insights by early seminal authors are often ignored, insights that may have avoided subsequent controversies or spawned productive research. Even with internet access now available for much early work, historical perspectives are increasingly being lost. Animal behaviour textbooks are often misleading and simplistic on historical matters. In this paper, I document how four authors writing 100 or more years ago greatly influenced my research on nonavian reptile behaviour. These four authors, which merit serious re-reading by students of virtually any taxa and topic, are Jakob von Uexkull, Margaret Floy Washburn, James Mark Baldwin and Wallace Craig. There are also current and upcoming challenges and risks impacting animal behaviour research that may affect how today's research will be viewed in historical perspectives 50, 100 or more years from now.
A Solution of Rigid–Perfectly Plastic Deep Spherical Indentation Based on Slip-Line Theory

During indentation, it is often important to determine the relationship between the average pressure and the yield strength. This work uses slip-line theory to determine this relationship for the case of a rigid sphere indenting a frictionless perfectly plastic half-space (i.e., no hardening). The results show that the ratio between the average contact pressure and the yield strength decreases as the depth of indentation is increased. Note that the slip-line analysis does not include the effects of pileup or sink-in deformations. However, the slip-line theory has also been compared to data generated using the finite element method (FEM). The theory and the FEM results appear to agree well.