cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Switch MSHR: a technique to reduce remote read memory access time in CC-NUMA multiprocessors

A remote memory access poses a severe problem for the design of CC-NUMA multiprocessors because it takes an order of magnitude longer than the local memory access. The large latency arises partly due to the increased distance between the processor and remote memory over the interconnection network. In this paper, we develop a new switch architecture, called Switch MSHR (SMSHR), which provides the cache block to the requesting processors without those requests having to go to the home memory. The SMSHR idea is based on providing a few miss status holding registers (MSHRs) in each switch that keep track of read requests to the memory. The SMSHR blocks secondary requests to the same memory block and provides them with a copy of the block when the primary reply returns. The SMSHR design is then extended to include a switch cache, which can temporarily save a copy of the data block for later use. We provide basic block designs for the SMSHR and SIVISHR+cache architectures in this paper. We explore the design space by modeling the new switch architectures in a detailed execution-driven simulator and analyze the performance benefits. Our Simulation results show that applications with a high degree of data sharing benefit tremendously from the SMSHR and SMSHR+cache techniques.
The Effect of Light Intensity on the Growth Performance of Male Turkeys

The growth performance of tom turkeys maintained in closed and open confinement housing was examined. Treatments were initiated on the day of hatching and consisted of constant light intensity of 1, 11, 110, or 220 lx in an enclosed house or sunlight supplemented with 11 or 220 lx at night in an open-sided house; all treatments received a total of 23 hr of light each day (23L:1D). Body weight, feed conversion, mortality, leg abnormalities, and final testes weight were recorded. Growth performance at marker age was not significantly different among treatments except for a heavier 18-week body weight in the open-confinement group given sunlight only (DL) and, in the closed confinement, a better feed conversion in the 11 lx treatment (C11) than the 1 lx treatment (C1) at 22 weeks of age. There was no apparent relationship between light intensity level and leg abnormalities but 22-week testes weight increased as light intensity increased. It was concluded that within closed confinement a constant light intensity of 1 lx resulted in an inferior growth performance, whereas 11 lx was sufficient to allow a growth performance similar to that obtained with 110 or 220 lx. In open confinement, supplemental artificial light at night of 11 or 220 lx did not result in an improved growth performance from birds on natural daylengths.
How to drastically reduce priming in word stem completion : and still present the words

This paper describes a series of experiments in which we demonstrated that “dysphonemic” word stems, which are likely not pronounced in isolation as they are within a word (e.g., MUS in MUSHROOM or LEG in LEGEND), showed less priming than did “phonemic stems” (e.g., MUS in MUSTARD or LEG in LEGACY). Furthermore, words with either dysphonemic or phonemic three-letter stems gave rise to equivalent levels of priming when test cues were four-letter stems (LEGE) or word fragments (L_G_ND). Moreover, the difference between phonemic and dysphonemic stems persisted when nonpresented completion rates were matched. A final cued-recall experiment revealed that performance was greater for phonemic stems than for dysphonemic stems and that this difference was greater for older participants than for younger ones. These results are not readily accounted for by extant theoretical approaches and point to important methodological issues regarding stem completion.
RuralCafe: web search in the rural developing world

The majority of people in rural developing regions do not have access to the World Wide Web. Traditional network connectivity technologies have proven to be prohibitively expensive in these areas. The emergence of new long-range wireless technologies provide hope for connecting these rural regions to the Internet. However, the network connectivity provided by these new solutions are by nature intermittent due to high network usage rates, frequent power-cuts and the use of delay tolerant links. Typical applications, especially interactive applications like web search, do not tolerate intermittent connectivity. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of RuralCafe, a system intended to support efficient web search over intermittent networks. RuralCafe enables users to perform web search asynchronously and find what they are looking for in one round of intermittency as opposed to multiple rounds of search/downloads. RuralCafe does this by providing an expanded search query interface which allows a user to specify additional query terms to maximize the utility of the results returned by a search query. Given knowledge of the limited available network resources, RuralCafe performs optimizations to prefetch pages to best satisfy a search query based on a user's search preferences. In addition, RuralCafe does not require modifications to the web browser, and can provide single round search results tailored to various types of networks and economic constraints. We have implemented and evaluated the effectiveness of RuralCafe using queries from logs made to a large search engine, queries made by users in an intermittent setting, and live queries from a small testbed deployment. We have also deployed a prototype of RuralCafe in Kerala, India.
Size Scaling of Tensile Failure Stress in a Float Soda–Lime–Silicate Glass

The (tensile) strength–size scaling of a float soda–lime–silicate glass was studied using biaxial flexure and Hertzian ring crack initiation testing. The examined Weibull effective areas spanned ∼0.4–48,000 mm2. Both the air and tin sides were tested. The air side was stronger than the tin side as others have observed; however, the differences in their characteristic strengths decreased with a decreasing effective area, and their strengths converged for effective areas smaller than ∼100 mm2. The failure stress at the smallest effective area examined for the tin side was ∼500% greater than that at the largest effective area, while that difference was ∼250% for the air side. A Weibull modulus change at ∼100 mm2 suggests different strength-limiting flaw types were dominant below and above this effective area. These results reinforce the importance of the interpretation and use of the tensile strength of glass in context to how much of its area is being subjected to tensile stress.
Positive inotropy induced by ouabain, by increased frequency, by X537A (RO2-2985), by calcium and by isoproterenol: The lack of correlation with phosphorylation of TnI

Isoproterenol (5×10−6 m ) was perfused into a cat heart Langendorff preparation until a maximum positive inotropic response was obtained. Ouabain (9.6×10−7 m ), increased frequency of stimulation, an ionophore RO2-2985 (X537A) and “high” calcium were used to obtain similar increases in force of contraction. TnI was rapidly purified and the phosphate to protein ratios were determined. While isoproterenol, ouabain, calcium, RO2-2985 (RO) and increased frequency produced positive inotropy, only isoproterenol and RO effected an increase in protein-bound phosphate associated with TnI. It was concluded that isoproterenol and RO, but not other perturbations, stimulate phosphorylation of TnI. It is clear from the data, therefore, that phosphorylation of TnI may not be an obligatory requirement for positive inotropy.
Don't ask an expert.

Often, when someone decides that there is an educational need in primary care, the person organising the session decides to ‘think big’. If there is an internationally-renowned professor of this field then they may be invited to impart wisdom and knowledge about this subject. I believe that this is the completely wrong person for the job. When experienced clinicians want to learn about a subject they want what is relevant to them not what is of interest to an expert. That means getting someone who faces the same clinical scenarios as them but with a greater frequency, and who can add another dimension to their knowledge. That could mean being the person on the receiving end of primary care referrals, or that they have some other reason for sub-specialist expertise. What is not helpful is someone who never faces the same clinical question in essentially the same way. Take the problem of the vomiting baby. Babies who vomit after feeds are unlikely to have a medical problem but some do, and deciding who need tests or treatment is one of the biggest challenges with this age group. If you ask a paediatrician, they will have lots of experience of vomiting babies but their …
A Defined Tuberculosis Vaccine Candidate Boosts BCG and Protects Against Multidrug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Despite the widespread use of the childhood vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the disease remains a serious global health problem. A successful vaccine against TB that replaces or boosts BCG would include antigens that induce or recall the appropriate T cell responses. Four Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens--including members of the virulence factor families PE/PPE and EsX or antigens associated with latency--were produced as a single recombinant fusion protein (ID93). When administered together with the adjuvant GLA-SE, a stable oil-in-water nanoemulsion, the fusion protein was immunogenic in mice, guinea pigs, and cynomolgus monkeys. In mice, this fusion protein-adjuvant combination induced polyfunctional CD4 T helper 1 cell responses characterized by antigen-specific interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-2, as well as a reduction in the number of bacteria in the lungs of animals after they were subsequently infected with virulent or multidrug-resistant Mtb strains. Furthermore, boosting BCG-vaccinated guinea pigs with fusion peptide-adjuvant resulted in reduced pathology and fewer bacilli, and prevented the death of animals challenged with virulent Mtb. Finally, the fusion protein elicited polyfunctional effector CD4 and CD8 T cell responses in BCG-vaccinated or Mtb-exposed human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. This study establishes that the protein subunit vaccine consisting of the fusion protein and adjuvant protects against TB and drug-resistant TB in animals and is a candidate for boosting the protective efficacy of the childhood BCG vaccine in humans.
Enzymatic transition states and inhibitor design from principles of classical and quantum chemistry

rn A procedure is described which leads to experimentally based models for the transitionstate structures of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Substrates for an enzymic reaction are synthesized with isotopically enriched atoms at every position in which bonding changes are anticipated at the enzyme-enforced transition state. Kinetic isotope effects are measured for each atomic substitution and corrected for diminution of the isotope effects from nonchemical steps of the enzymic mechanism. A truncated geometric model of the transition-state structure is fitted to the kinetic isotope effects using bond-energy bondorder vibrational analysis. Full molecularity is restored to the transition state while maintaining the geometry of the bonds which define the transition state. Electronic wave functions are calculated for the substrate and the transition-state molecules. The molecular electrostatic potential energies are defined for the van der Waal surfaces of substrate and transition state and displayed in numerical and color-coded constructs. The electronic differences between substrate and transition state reveal characteristics of the transition state which permits the extraordinary binding affinity of enzyme-transition state interactions. The information has been used to characterize several enzymatic transition states and to design powerfully inhibitory transition-state analogues. Enzymatic examples are provided for the reactions catalyzed by AMP deaminase, nucleoside hydrolase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, and for several bacterial toxins. The results demonstrate that the combination of experimental, classical, and quantum chemistry approaches is
Sequence-Based Discovery of Bradyrhizobium enterica in Cord Colitis Syndrome

Methods We performed shotgun DNA sequencing on four archived, paraffin-embedded endoscopic colon-biopsy specimens obtained from two patients with cord colitis. Computational subtraction of human and known microbial sequences and assembly of residual sequences into a bacterial draft genome were performed. We used polymerasechain-reaction (PCR) assays and fluorescence in situ hybridization to determine whether the corresponding bacterium was present in additional patients and controls. Results DNA sequencing of the biopsy specimens revealed more than 2.5 million sequencing reads that did not match known organisms. These sequences were computationally assembled into a 7.65-Mb draft genome showing a high degree of homology with genomes of bacteria in the bradyrhizobium genus. The corresponding newly discovered bacterium was provisionally named Bradyrhizobium enterica. PCR identified B. enterica nucleotide sequences in biopsy specimens from all three additional patients with cord colitis whose samples were tested, whereas B. enterica sequences were absent in samples obtained from healthy controls and patients with colon cancer or graftversus-host disease. Conclusions We assembled a novel bacterial draft genome from the direct sequencing of tissue specimens from patients with cord colitis. Association of these sequences with cord colitis suggests that B. enterica may be an opportunistic human pathogen. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute and others.)
The origin of ocean island basalt end-member compositions: trace element and isotopic constraints

Abstract Ocean island basalt (OIB) suites display a wide diversity of major element, trace element, and isotopic compositions. The incompatible trace element and isotopic ratios of OIB reflect considerable heterogeneity in the mantle source regions. In addition to the distinctive Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic signatures of the HIMU, EMI and EMII OIB end-members, differences in incompatible trace element ratios among these end-members are of great help in identifying the nature and origin of their sources. Examination of trace element and isotopic constraints for the three OIB end-members suggests a relatively simple model for their origin. The dominant component in all OIB is ancient recycled basaltic oceanic crust which has been processed through a subduction zone, and which carries the trace element and isotopic signature of a dehydration residue (enrichment in HFSE relative to LILE and LREE, low Rb/Sr, but high U/Pb and Th/Pb ratios leading to the development of radiogenic Pb isotope compositions). HIMU OIB are derived from such a source, with little contamination from other components. Both the EMI and EMII OIB end-members are also dominantly derived from this source, but they contain significant proportions (up to 5–10%) of sedimentary components derived from the continental crust. In the case of EMI OIB, ancient pelagic sediment with high LILE/HFSE, LREE/HFSE, Ba/Th and Ba/La ratios, and low U/Pb ratios, is the contaminant. EMII OIB are also contaminated by a sedimentary component, in the form of ancient terrigenous sediment with high LILE/HFSE and LREE/HFSE ratios, but lacking relative Ba enrichment, and with higher U/Pb and Rb/Sr ratios. A model whereby the source for all OIB is ancient (1–2 Ga old) subducted oceanic crust ± entrained sediment (pelagic and/or terrigenous) is therefore consistent with the trace element and isotopic data. Although subducted oceanic lithosphere will accumulate and be dominantly concentrated within the mesosphere boundary layer, forming the source for hot-spots, such material may also become convectively dispersed within the depleted upper mantle as blobs or streaks, giving rise to small-scale chemical heterogeneities in the upper mantle.
The impact of reputation capital on the career paths of departing employees

This paper examines the impact of corporate reputation capital on employees' career progression in the case of inter‐organizational transitions. A proprietary database that contains career history data on professionals, managers and executives in the financial services industry is used to test the hypotheses. The paper finds that reputation capital is most strongly determined by organization size, not operational efficiency. Reputation capital is an important predictor of the size of the promotions that employees receive as they change organizations, and may signal underlying individual capabilities and performance. Further, employees are willing to forgo a promotion in order to be able to join organizations with high reputation capital.
Aristotle and the Science of Nature: The unity, structure, and boundaries of Aristotle's science of nature

INTRODUCTION Asked to what end one should choose to live, Anaxagoras replied “ to study the heaven and the order of the whole cosmos ” (Aristotle, EE 1216 a 12–14 = DK 59 a 30). Aristotle is not merely concerned with solving a list of problems or discussing a certain number of topics. He is engaged in an ambitious project of investigation. This project consists in an attempt to establish the right sort of connections – explanatory connections – between the things of the world. If this investigation is successful, it not only provides us with knowledge, but it gives us understanding of the world. The investigation of the natural world is no exception to this rule. Aristotle has left a certain number of logoi , each of which is a relatively independent and sufficiently self-contained argument devoted to a particular topic or problem. But there is no doubt that these logoi are conceived as parts of a unitary project of investigation. There is also no doubt that Aristotle has a certain understanding of the relations between these parts. This understanding is strongly dependent upon a specific conception of the natural world and the substantial assumption that this particular department of reality is, at least to some extent, intelligible to us. More directly, Aristotle is persuaded that the natural condition for human beings is to know and understand the truth, and that we can know and understand a lot about the natural world if only our investigation is conducted in the appropriate way.
CTOL, STOVL, and VTOL FIGHTER DESIGN COMPARISONS

The purpose o f t h i s paper i s t o examine t h e r e l a t i v e advantages associated w i t h spec i f y ing CTOL (convent ional t a k e o f f and land ing) , VTOL ( v e r t i c a l t a k e o f f and landi n g ) , o r STOVL ( s h o r t t a k e o f f and v e r t i c a l land ing) c a p a b i l i t y o f f i g h t e r a i r c r a f t t o per form a se lected mission. Three a i r c r a f t designs were developed from a base l ine design. To i n d i c a t e the performance s e n s i t i v i t i e s o f each design, h igh th rus t to -we igh t engines (up t o 12) were used. By i n c l u d i n g advanced engine components, the s ize, weight and comp l e x i t y o f t h e engine was reduced, thereby reducing the gross weight o f the a i r c r a f t . Two concepts were then redesigned t o achieve t h e combat c a p a b i l i t i e s o f t h e h ighes t performance con f igu ra t i on . The miss ion chosen was the DLI (decklaunched i n t e r c e p t ) miss ion and a l l o f the designs had d e l t a wing planforms. The engine used i s a far-term, low bypass, mixed f l o w turbofan, w i t h mod i f i ca t i ons f o r the STOVL design necessary t o produce a p a r a l l e l f l o w mode as used i n the Rolls-Royce Hybr id Tandem Fan concept. The p a r a l l e l f l ow c r u i s e mode g ives the STOVL a i r c r a f t an advantage over the CTOL design du r ing t h e subsonic segment o f the mission, and the se r ies mode b e n e f i t s t h e supersonic legs .
Triglyceride alterations in normal and reticuloendothelial stimulated rats following carbon tetrachloride

The administration of a single dose of carbon tetrachloride to normal rats was associated with a significant increase in liver triglyceride concentration and a pronounced reduction in plasma triglycerides. The evaluation of hepatic activity indicated that the removal of bromsulphalein from plasma was significantly impaired while phagocytic function remained unaltered. Animals with pronounced hyperplasia and hyperfunction of the reticulo-endothelial system induced by zymosan were less susceptible to carbon tetrachloride, manifesting a smaller degree of liver triglyceride accumulation and maintenance of a normal plasma triglyceride level. The possible significance of these findings are discussed.
Poisson Ratio Effects on the Von Mises and Maximum Shear Stresses in Cylindrical Contacts

This work determines the location of the greatest elastic distress in cylindrical contacts based upon the distortion energy and the maximum shear stress theories. The ratios between the maximum pressure, the von Mises stress, and the maximum shear stress are determined and fitted by empirical formulations for a wide range of Poisson ratios, which represent material compressibility. Some similarities exist between cylindrical and spherical contacts, where for many metallic materials the maximum von Mises or shear stresses emerge beneath the surface. However, if any of the bodies in contact is excessively compressible the maximum von Mises stress appears at the surface. That transitional Poisson ratio is found. The critical force per unit length that causes yielding onset, along with its corresponding interference and half-width contact are derived.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Using the solid research base on pregaming to begin intervention development: an epilogue to the special issue on pregaming

The pregaming research to date, up to and including the innovative studies included in this special issue, has centered on defining the behavior, learning which students may be most at-risk for pregaming, exploring which contexts may be most risky for pregaming, and quantifying the function of pregaming so that individual-level programs can be developed to target the risky practice. Although there is room for continuing to expand and refine our understanding of pregaming, much of the formative work has been conducted-primarily by the researchers highlighted in this special issue. Now it is time to use the understanding we have of this risky behavior to develop and empirically test programs specifically directed toward reducing or eliminating the behavior, not just at the individual level, but by targeting the social, cultural, economic, environmental, and policy level factors that sustain the behavior in the population. This may include targeting the behavior directly through use of techniques that are shown to be effective for young adult behavior change, but this may also require broadening beyond the psychological literature and utilizing expertise from other domains to affect behavior change.
Thermodynamic properties of n -hexane

Specific volumes and isobaric heat capacity measurements are reported for n-hexane. The measurements were made in the liquid and vapor phases at temperatures from the triple point and also cover a wide region around the critical point. The thermal, caloric, and acoustic data from our own investigation as well as those of a number of other authors are fitted to a single equation of state with 32 constants. This equation yields to all thermodynamic properties of n-hexane in the temperature range 180 to 630 K and pressures up to 100 MPa. The data in the critical region have been analyzed in terms of a scaled equation of state.
Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of squalene-containing emulsion adjuvant following intramuscular injection of H5N1 influenza vaccine in mice

Abstract Squalene is a component of oil-in-water emulsion adjuvants developed for potential use in some influenza vaccines. The biodistribution of the squalene-containing emulsion adjuvant (AddaVax™) alone and as part of complete H5N1 vaccine was quantified in mechanistically and toxicologically relevant target tissues up to 336 h (14 days) following injection into quadriceps muscle. At 1 h, about 55% of the intramuscularly injected dose of squalene was detected in the local quadriceps muscles and this decreased to 26% at 48 h. Twenty-four hours after the injection, approximately 5%, 1%, and 0.6% of the injected dose was detected in inguinal fat, draining lymph nodes, and sciatic nerve, respectively. The peak concentration for kidney, brain, spinal cord, bone marrow, and spleen was each less than 1% of the injected dose, and H5N1 antigen did not significantly alter the biodistribution of squalene to these tissues. The area-under-blood-concentration curve (AUC) and peak blood concentration (Cmax) of squalene were slightly higher (20–25%) in the presence of H5N1 antigen. A population pharmacokinetic model-based statistical analysis identified body weight and H5N1 antigen as covariates influencing the clearance of squalene. The results contribute to the body of knowledge informing benefit-risk analyses of squalene-containing emulsion vaccine adjuvants.
Improved enteral tolerance following step procedure: systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Surgical management of children with short bowel syndrome (SBS) changed with the introduction of the serial transverse enteroplasty procedure (STEP). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using MEDLINE and SCOPUS to determine if children with SBS had improved enteral tolerance following STEP. Studies were included if information about a child’s pre- and post-STEP enteral tolerance was provided. A random effects meta-analysis provided a summary estimate of the proportion of children with enteral tolerance increase following STEP. From 766 abstracts, seven case series involving 86 children were included. Mean percent tolerance of enteral nutrition improved from 35.1 to 69.5. Sixteen children had no enteral improvement following STEP. A summary estimate showed that 87 % (95 % CI 77–95 %) of children who underwent STEP had an increase in enteral tolerance. Compilation of the literature supports the belief that SBS subjects’ enteral tolerance improves following STEP. Enteral nutritional tolerance is a measure of efficacy of STEP and should be presented as a primary or secondary outcome. By standardizing data collection on children undergoing STEP procedure, better determination of nutritional benefit from STEP can be ascertained.
Growth, Inflation and Unemployment in the United States

In this paper I will focus on the stagflation in the United States during the 1970s and the prospects for the 1980s. For the most part, my remarks summarise the principal findings from several studies which I have conducted jointly with Robert M. Coen concerning the macroeconomic impact of the energy shocks of the 1970s and the extent to which the tax incentives embodied in the Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA) of 1981 may be expected to stimulate US growth in the 1980s.
An Introduction to Behavioral Addictions

Abstract This chapter introduces the concept of behavioral addiction in order to provide history, general criteria, as well as theoretical underpinnings, evidence, and treatment guidance for the set of disorders to provide context for the remainder of the book. A general history of the evolution of the understanding of behavioral addictions is provided. Broad criteria and definitions are presented to provide context for the reader in understanding this category of disorders. Evidence and theoretical underpinnings, including neuropsychology, psychological factors, and social issues are summarized. An overarching treatment model is described.
Some guidelines for management of the black-footed ferret

Management guidelines are specified for monitoring and protecting the Meeteetse black-footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes ) population and habitat and for dealing with a series of special management considerations. The Meeteetse ferret population and habitat status are summarized as background. An annual management schedule is outlined including methods and sources of existing baseline data with which to compare future results. The public support and organizational arrangements needed for successful overall management and recovery of the species are briefly discussed.
Risk Factors for Return to the Operating Room after Resident-Performed Cataract Surgery.

ABSTRACTObjective: Investigate risk factors for unplanned return to the operating room after resident-performed cataract surgery. Design: Retrospective case-control study. Setting: Institutional. Methods: Study population: All patients with reoperation within 90 days of resident-performed phacoemulsification were matched to four control eyes which had surgery within 30 days of the reoperation at the same institution. Observation Procedure: Billing codes were used to identify all patients who underwent resident-performed intended phacoemulsification with intraocular lens placement from January 2005 to December 2010. Main Outcome Measures: Investigated risk factors for reoperation included cataract characteristics and preexisting ocular co-morbidities, including diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment history, glaucoma, corneal pathology, and uveitis. Additional preoperative risk factors studied included resident training year, history of tamsulosin use, phacodonesis, pupillary dilation, presence of pseudo...
Patterns of canopy and surface layer consumption in a boreal forest fire from repeat airborne lidar

Fire in the boreal region is the dominant agent of forest disturbance with direct impacts on ecosystem structure, carbon cycling, and global climate. Global and biome-scale impacts are mediated by burn severity, measured as loss of forest canopy and consumption of the soil organic layer. To date, knowledge of the spatial variability in burn severity has been limited by sparse field sampling and moderate resolution satellite data. Here, we used pre- and post-fire airborne lidar data to directly estimate changes in canopy vertical structure and surface elevation for a 2005 boreal forest fire on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. We found that both canopy and surface losses were strongly linked to pre-fire species composition and exhibited important fine-scale spatial variability at sub-30 m resolution. The fractional reduction in canopy volume ranged from 0.61 in lowland black spruce stands to 0.27 in mixed white spruce and broadleaf forest. Residual structure largely reflects standing dead trees, highlighting the influence of pre-fire forest structure on delayed carbon losses from aboveground biomass, post-fire albedo, and variability in understory light environments. Median loss of surface elevation was highest in lowland black spruce stands (0.18 m) but much lower in mixed stands (0.02 m), consistent with differences in pre-fire organic layer accumulation. Spatially continuous depth-of-burn estimates from repeat lidar measurements provide novel information to constrain carbon emissions from the surface organic layer and may inform related research on post-fire successional trajectories. Spectral measures of burn severity from Landsat were correlated with canopy (r = 0.76) and surface (r = −0.71) removal in black spruce stands but captured less of the spatial variability in fire effects for mixed stands (canopy r = 0.56, surface r = −0.26), underscoring the difficulty in capturing fire effects in heterogeneous boreal forest landscapes using proxy measures of burn severity from Landsat.
The Impact of Diet Protein and Carbohydrate on Select Life-History Traits of The Black Soldier Fly Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

This study examined the impact of diet protein and carbohydrate percentages as well as moisture on the immature development, survivorship, and resulting adult longevity and egg production of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Moisture impacted development and corresponding life-history traits more than protein:carbohydrate content; larvae were unable to develop on diets at 40% moisture. Larvae fed diets at 70% moisture developed faster, grew larger, and required less food than those reared on diets at 55% moisture. Larvae reared on the balanced diet (21% protein:21% carbohydrate) at 70% moisture developed the fastest on the least amount of food and had the greatest survivorship to the prepupal stage. Adult emergence and longevity were similar across treatments, indicating immature life-history traits were impacted the most. The control (Gainesville house fly) diet was superior to the artificial diets for all parameters tested. These differences could indicate that other constituents (e.g., associated microbes) serve a role in black soldier fly development. These data are valuable for industrialization of this insect as a “green” technology for recycling organic waste, which can be highly variable, to produce protein for use as feed in the livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries, as well as for bioenergy production.
A Note on Altruism in Asymmetric Games: An Indirect Evolutionary Approach

This article studies the evolution of altruism. We consider a model in which a population of agents are assortatively matched to play some asymmetric two-player game, and evolution operates at the level of behavior rules. We find that the relationship between the evolutionarily stable level of altruism and the index of assortativity of matching is determined by two novel features: (1) whether the total payoff function of the game exhibits complementarity or substitutability; (2) whether the two players’ strategies affect each other’s fitness in the same direction or the opposite. These two features combined generalize the stability conditions related to Hamilton’s rule to a class of asymmetric games.
Computational Decoys for Cloud Security

Cloud-based applications benefit from the scalability and efficiency offered by server consolidation and shared facilities. However, the shared nature of cloud infrastructures may introduce threats stemming from the co-location and combination of untrusted components, in addition to typical risks due to the inevitable presence of weaknesses in the infrastructure itself. As a result, adversaries may be able to place themselves in monitoring proximity to high-value targets and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. In this paper we present DIGIT, a system that employs decoy computation to impede the ability of adversaries to take advantage of unauthorized access to sensitive information. DIGIT introduces uncertainly as to which data and computation is legitimate by generating a mix of real and decoy activity within a cloud application. Although DIGIT may not impede intruders indefinitely, it prevents them from determining whether a captured system is handling actual or bogus processing within a reasonable amount of time. As adversaries cannot easily distinguish between real and decoy activity, they have to either risk triggering beacon-bearing data that can be traced back to them, or expend significant effort to pinpoint any actual data of interest, forcing them to reveal their presence.
Activation Function Architectures for FPGAs

Machine Learning is now one of the most active application areas for FPGAs. The more complex recurrent neural network (RNN) topologies require multiple non-linear activation functions, mainly tanh and sigmoid, per iteration. In this paper we will examine the impact of activation function quality - in both area and (especially) latency - on RNN performance. We present a number of architectures for these functions, for both half precision (IEEE754-2008 FP16) and single precision (IEEE754 FP32) floating-point representations. We describe how the IEEE754 single precision hard floating point (HFP) blocks available in current FPGAs ease the implementation of these functions, and we also give an alternate method the tanh function based on integer arithmetic. With the combination of exceptional internal memory bandwidth, direct support of high performance floating point dot products, and the new activation functions, we show that FPGAs can be a highly effective vehicle for these type of neural networks.
Reality Check! Perceptions of MTV's Jersey Shore and 16 and Pregnant/Teen Mom and Dating Violence Attitudes and Experiences

We examined college women’s (N = 354) perceptions of Jersey Shore and 16 and Pregnant/Teen Mom and how these perceptions are related to dating violence (DV) attitudes and behaviors. Although most D...
Economics, Equilibrium Methods, and Multi-Scale Modeling

In this paper, I draw a parallel between the stability of physical systems and that of economic ones, such as the US financial system. I argue that the use of equilibrium assumptions is central to the analysis of dynamic behavior for both kinds of systems, and that we ought to interpret such idealizing strategies as footholds for causal exploration and explanation. Our considerations suggest multi-scale modeling as a natural home for such reasoning strategies, which can provide a backdrop for the assessment and (hopefully) prevention of financial crises. Equilibrium assumptions are critical elements of the epistemic scaffolding that make up multi-scale models, which we should understand as a means of constructing explanations of dynamic behavior.
Comparative Canopy Growth Dynamics in Four Row Crops and Their Relationships with Allometric and Environmental Determinants

Quantitative estimates of crop growth for regionally dominant cropping systems are imperative for various agricultural applications. Here, we studied growth patterns for maize, soybean, sorghum, and winter wheat grown under optimal growing conditions in South-Central Nebraska during two growing seasons (2016–2017). The objectives were to measure and compare crop-specific growth indicators such as canopy height (CH), leaf area index (LAI) and aboveground biomass (AGB), crop growth rate (GR), relative growth rate (RGR) and their normalized (LAI per plant[LAIpP], LAI per canopy height[LAIpCH], AGB per plant [AGBpP], and AGB per canopy height [AGBpCH]), and integrative forms (net assimilation rate [NAR] and leaf area ratio [LAR]). Crop-specific sub-seasonal magnitudes and patterns were found, which were uniform across years. Crop growth indices were empirically modeled using heat accumulation (NCTU), owing to strong correlation (mostly R² > 0.80) and transferability. Sensitivity of biomass production between sampling events to heat accumulated between these events was quantified, which was higher for C4 crops (2.9–3.3 g m–² °C–¹) than C3 crops (0.64–1.01 g m–² °C–¹). Empirical models for estimating relatively complex growth indices were presented using indices such as CH and LAI. Moreover, LAR and RGR were highly correlated (R = 0.86) across all crops, while NAR and RGR were moderately correlated (R = 0.43), although substantial crop-specific variability existed among these indices. The data, comparisons and models presented are the first investigated values for these crops in Midwest under uniform conditions, and are valuable for applications in remote estimation of crop growth, crop models, crop resource use, and other related applications.
A theory of optimum cryptocurrency scope

Robert Mundell (1961. “A Theory of Optimum Currency Areas.” The American Economic Review 51 (4): 657–665) framed the fixed-versus-flexible exchange rate controversy in a novel way when he focused a...
Automated fixation of dry carbon fibre fabrics with RTM6 for autonomous draping and sensor-aided preforming

Abstract Manual preforming of dry CF-layers is still one of the biggest cost factors for infusion process. Compare to the manual preform process, the difficulty for the automated process lies in pick-and-place system, in gripper deformation depending on components curvature and in fixation of all the individual CF-layers. DLR has developed gripper for fully automated pick-and-place system, which can manage challenges caused by material properties such as low material rigidity and draping for complex geometry. Until now, thermoplastic binding material or double- sided adhesive tape was used for fixing the CF-layers. The main focus of this work is the combination of the newly developed fixation method with RTM6 resin and gripper system. Due to subsequent infiltration with the same resin additional binding material can be avoided. For new automated preform process fixing end-effector sprays automatically a thin layer of RTM6 (0,094 g/m) on the surface before placing the fabric. The resin quantity and spray position depends on CF-layer size and deformation of gripper. The resin can also be applied during the lay-up process. Thereafter adhesive bonding between two CF-layers or between CF-layer and mold is generated by applying a minimum pressure with the gripper. As the gripper is developed for best draping process the fixation area, where pressure must be applied, has been simulated. Only on these simulated position RTM6 has been sprayed automatically with robot. Afterwards the additional press-on movement for robot was realized with automatic pick-and-place system. This complete automated preform process has been validated on 4 m diameter Pressure-Bulkhead.
Attention Wave-U-Net for Speech Enhancement

We propose a novel application of an attention mechanism in neural speech enhancement, by presenting a U-Net architecture with attention mechanism, which processes the raw waveform directly, and is trained end-to-end. We find that the inclusion of the attention mechanism significantly improves the performance of the model in terms of the objective speech quality metrics, and outperforms all other published speech enhancement approaches on the Voice Bank Corpus (VCTK) dataset. We observe that the final layer attention mask has an interpretation as a soft Voice Activity Detector (VAD). We also present some initial results to show the efficacy of the proposed system as a pre-processing step to speech recognition systems.
Review: Mountain Temples and Temple Mountains: Architecture, Religion, and Nature in the Central Himalayas, by Nachiket Chanchani

Nachiket Chanchani Mountain Temples and Temple Mountains: Architecture, Religion, and Nature in the Central Himalayas Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2019, 288 pp., 5 maps, 80 color and 26 b/w illus. $70 (cloth), ISBN 9780295744513 When scholars think of architecture in the Himalayas, what most readily come to mind are the Buddhist monasteries or wooden “pagoda-like” shrines of Tibet, Nepal, and the western Himalayas. Older stone temples are rarely considered, and the central Himalayas are often completely ignored. Unlike the adjacent kingdoms of Kashmir and Chamba or the Kathmandu Valley, the central Himalayas suffer from poor infrastructure that restricts travel, as well as a paucity of textual sources that could contextualize material culture. This is in contrast to the region's vast traditions of pilgrimage, which have been of great interest to anthropologists and scholars of religion. What makes Nachiket Chanchani's new book Mountain Temples and Temple Mountains such a monumental achievement, however, is not merely the fact that it brings to light a remarkable range of unknown monuments but also that it so convincingly asserts their centrality within the broader history of temple architecture on the Indian subcontinent. At the heart of Chanchani's book is the argument that the emergence of the central Himalayas as a crucial sacred landscape and “enduring abode of the gods” (173) was the result of dynamic interactions between the mountains and the plains of northern and central India. Using lively and often poetic prose, Chanchani demonstrates how the grand yet challenging topography did not segregate the region but rather fostered the formation of new settlements, encouraged travel, and reinforced an enduring sense of sacrality. Patrons and religious communities capitalized on both the transregional idealization of the Himalayas and the specificities of local landscapes in order to transform the region systematically into a pan-Indic pilgrimage zone. Throughout the book, Chanchani combines rigorous fieldwork and close visual analysis with theoretical sophistication. He draws upon phenomenological approaches to landscape and poststructuralist approaches to premodern material, as represented in publications by Robert Harrist and …
Biomedical Data Science and Informatics Challenges to Implementing Pharmacogenomics with Electronic Health Records

Pharmacogenomic information must be incorporated into electronic health records (EHRs) with clinical decision support in order to fully realize its potential to improve drug therapy. Supported by v...
Filgrastim-Associated Pneumonitis in Cancer Patient Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) Mobilization for Autologous-HSC Transplantation.

Filgrastim is a granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) used for multiple indications in cancer patients. We present a case of a 65-year-old man with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who was undergoing mobilization of hemopoietic stem cells for autologous-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) with filgrastim who developed dyspnea and non-productive cough. Chest imaging showed left lower lobe consolidation, new ground-glass opacities and small right-sided pleural effusion. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and infectious evaluation were completely negative. He was admitted for further evaluation and management. Antibiotics weren't started immediately given the clinical stability, multiple probable causes of fever and the intent of not confounding future thoracentesis results with antibiotic use. Thoracentesis occurred draining serous exudative pleural fluid; with follow-up chest imaging demonstrating no re-accumulation. His symptoms resolved and he was discharged in stable condition. The symptoms were hypothesized to be the probable adverse effects of filgrastim. We suggest close monitoring of pulmonary toxicities while administering this drug to patients to minimize such complications.
SIRTF - Space Infrared Telescope Facility

SIRTF will be a one metre class, cryogenically cooled observatory for infrared astronomy. It will achieve a 100- to 10,000-fold increase in sensitivity relative to previous facilities for observations between 3 and 700 microns. Three focal-plane instruments will provide photometric, imaging, and spectroscopic capabilities using large-format detector arrays. A five year lifetime in a 100,000 km orbit is planned. On-target efficiency should approach 85%, and roughly 85% of the time will be devoted to General Observer use. SIRTF will build on the successes of IRAS and COBE and on those to be obtained with ISO. SIRTF will complete NASA’s planned family of Great Observatories. Table I compares anticipated capabilities of SIRTF with those of IRAS.
CCUS in a net-zero U.S. power sector: Policy design, rates, and project finance

Abstract Carbon capture utilization and storage is an important technology option to rapidly and profoundly decarbonize the power sector, but will not deploy without substantial incentives or regulation. Assessment of U.S. policy options reveals that current incentives only partially close the finance gap and are most sensitive to fuel type and ownership structure. Recent proposed legislation would in some designs attract private investment for many projects, leading to widespread deployment of CCUS in the power sector. Additional constraints and concerns (including technology options and presence of CO2 infrastructure) could play an important secondary role. This study discusses the specific US incentive policies that can provide investors and lenders with net cash flows that are adequate to attract private capital to CCUS power projects in the US.