cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resource Scheduling with Permutation Based Representations: Three Applications

Resource based scheduling using permutation based representations is reviewed. Permutation based representations are used in conjunction with genetic algo- rithms and local search algorithms for solving three very different scheduling problems. First, the Coors warehouse scheduling problem involves finding a per- mutation of customer orders that minimizes the average time that customers' orders spend at the loading docks while at the same time minimizing the running average inventory. Second, scheduling the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) involves scheduling customer requests for contact time with a satellite via a ground station, where slot times on a ground station is the limited resource. The third application is scheduling the tracking of objects in space using ground based radar systems. Both satellites and debris in space must be tracked on reg- ular basis to maintain knowledge about the location and orbit of the object. The ground based radar system is the limited resource, but unlike AFSCN scheduling, this application involves significant uncertainty.
Characteristic Phenomena and Model Problems in Nonlinear Control

Abstract In this expository paper we discuss some of the main ideas in nonlinear ccntrol that have emerged over the past several decades. Through the use of model problems, we attempt to bring out certain characteristic phenomena that distinguish the operation of strongly nonlinear systems from linear ones. Topics discussed include controllability as related to Lie brackets, linearization Via nonlinear feedback, exact and approximate inversion of nonlinear systems and feedback stabilization. A novel aspect of the paper is the use of the idea of pattern generation as a unifying theme in the control of nonlinear systems. We show that with the help of pattern generation it is possible to associate an inverse system with nonlinear control systems and that the systematic use of this idea gives considerable insight into control phenomena.
Enhancing Educator Engagement in School Mental Health Care Through Digital Simulation Professional Development

BACKGROUND Despite the critical role of educators as gatekeepers for school mental health services, they receive limited training to support student mental health. We report findings from a trial of an online mental health role-play simulation for elementary school teachers on changes in attitudes and self-reported helping behaviors for students experiencing psychological distress. METHODS We randomly assigned 18,896 elementary school teachers to wait-list control or intervention conditions in which they received the 45- to 90-minute online role-play simulation. We administered a version of the validated Gatekeeper Behavior Scale at baseline and postintervention, which measures attitudinal dimensions shown to predict teacher helping behavior change. Self-reported helping behaviors were collected at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Outcomes were compared between the intervention follow-up and control group baseline measures. RESULTS The intervention group posttraining scores were significantly higher (p < .001) than the control group for all the preparedness, likelihood, and self-efficacy Gatekeeper Behavior subscales. All 5 helping behaviors were significantly higher among the intervention group at follow-up compared to the control group at baseline. CONCLUSIONS We found that a brief online role-play simulation was an effective strategy for improving teacher attitudes and behaviors needed to perform a positive mental health gatekeeper role in schools.
Nano-electromechanical Drumhead Resonators from Two-Dimensional Material Bimorphs

Atomic membranes of monolayer 2D materials represent the ultimate limit in the size of nano-electromechanical systems. However, new properties and new functionalities emerge by looking at the interface between layers in heterostructures of 2D materials. Here, we demonstrate the integration of 2D heterostructures as tunable nano-electromechanical systems, exploring the competition between the mechanics of the ultrathin membrane and the incommensurate van der Waals interface. We fabricate electrically contacted 5 or 6 μm circular drumheads of suspended heterostructure membranes of monolayer graphene on monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), which we call a 2D bimorph. We characterize the mechanical resonance through electrostatic actuation and laser interferometry detection. The 2D bimorphs have resonance frequencies of 5–20 MHz and quality factors of 50–700, comparable to resonators from monolayer or few-layer 2D materials. The frequencies and eigenmode shapes of the higher harmonics display split degenera...
An Empirical Examination of Network Ambidexterity in the Contemporary Motion Picture Industry

Our study addresses organization ambidexterity at the network level. While most organizational ambidexterity literature is at the intra-organizational level, little research has demonstrated unequi...
Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD)/Hyperimmunoglobulin D Syndrome (HIDS)

Mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD) and its milder spectrum hyper IgD syndrome (HIDS) is a rare monogenic disease with multiple organ manifestations. HIDS patients most commonly present with recurrent febrile attacks, gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting), inflammatory arthritis, and arthralgia as well as mucocutaneous manifestations. Disease usually manifests in childhood, although adult cases of HIDS have been described in literature.
Environmental heterogeneity affects seasonal variation in thyroid hormone physiology of free-living arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryii)

Thyroid hormones (TH) are key regulators of metabolism that could play an important role in altering physiology and energy allocation across life-history stages. Here, we examine seasonal TH dynami...
Acid sphingomyelinase plays a critical role in LPS- and cytokine-induced tissue factor procoagulant activity

Tissue factor (TF) is a cofactor for factor VIIa and the primary cellular initiator of coagulation. Typically, most TF on cell surfaces exists in a cryptic coagulant-inactive state but are transformed to a procoagulant form (decryption) following cell activation. Our recent studies in cell model systems showed that sphingomyelin (SM) in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane is responsible for maintaining TF in an encrypted state in resting cells, and the hydrolysis of SM leads to decryption of TF. The present study was carried out to investigate the relevance of this novel mechanism in the regulation of TF procoagulant activity in pathophysiology. As observed in cell systems, administration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to mice enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TF procoagulant activity in monocytes. Treatment of mice with pharmacological inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase), desipramine and imipramine, attenuated ATP-induced TF decryption. Interestingly, ASMase inhibitors also blocked LPS-induced TF procoagulant activity without affecting the LPS-induced de novo synthesis of TF protein. Additional studies showed that LPS induced translocation of ASMase to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane and reduced SM levels in monocytes. Studies using human monocyte-derived macrophages and endothelial cells further confirmed the role of ASMase in LPS- and cytokine-induced TF procoagulant activity. Overall, our data indicate that LPS- or cytokine-induced TF procoagulant activity requires the decryption of newly synthesized TF protein by ASMase-mediated hydrolysis of SM. The observation that ASMase inhibitors attenuate TF-induced coagulation raises the possibility of their therapeutic use in treating thrombotic disorders associated with aberrant expression of TF.
Abstract 936: Entropyx of Cardiac Rhythm Uniquely Predicts Mortality in a Multi-site Polysomnography (psg) Study of Ambulatory Asymptomatic Community Adults With Heart Failure

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is associated with high rates of mortality and hospital readmission. Current strategies for risk stratification are limited. Recently, we introduced EntropyX, a nov...
Higher Depressive Symptoms Predict Lower Social Adaptive Functioning in Children and Adolescents with ASD.

Objective: Despite the frequent occurrence of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), few studies have investigated the relationship between depressive ...
Partially PT symmetric optical potentials with all-real spectra and soliton families in multidimensions

Multidimensional complex optical potentials with partial parity-time (PT) symmetry are proposed. The usual PT symmetry requires that the potential is invariant under complex conjugation and simultaneous reflection in all spatial directions. However, we show that if the potential is only partially PT symmetric, i.e., it is invariant under complex conjugation and reflection in a single spatial direction, then it can also possess all-real spectra and continuous families of solitons. These results are established analytically and corroborated numerically.
Oral Manifestations of Commonly Prescribed Drugs

Drugs are being prescribed with more frequency and in higher quantities. A serious adverse drug event from prescribed medications constitutes 2.4% to 16.2% of all hospital admissions. Many of the adverse drug events present intraorally or periorally in isolation or as a clinical symptom of a systemic effect. Clinical recognition and treatment of adverse drug events are important to increase patient adherence, manage drug therapy, or detect early signs of potentially serious outcomes. Oral manifestations of commonly prescribed medications include gingival enlargement, oral hyperpigmentation, oral hypersensitivity reaction, medication-related osteonecrosis, xerostomia, and other oral or perioral conditions. To prevent dose-dependent adverse drug reactions, physicians should prescribe medications judiciously using the lowest effective dose with minimal duration. Alternatively, for oral hypersensitivity reactions that are not dose dependent, quick recognition of clinical symptoms associated with time-dependent drug onset can allow for immediate discontinuation of the medication without discontinuation of other medications. Physicians can manage oral adverse drug events in the office through oral hygiene instructions for gingival enlargement, medication discontinuation for oral pigmentation, and prescription of higher fluoride toothpastes for xerostomia.
The Reflection on the Management of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in the Community Setting: An Internist's Perspective.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a dermatological emergency that is often associated with high mortality. It is differentiated from Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) based on the percentage of the total body surface area affected. There has been an established correlation with certain medications that could trigger the development of such a devastating disease. Despite numerous research studies conducted on aspects of this disease entity, TEN remains foreign to many general Internists situated in a community setting due to the extremely low disease prevalence that leads to a lack of overall experience and medical resources in dealing with this medical condition. Thus, we outlined several important management aspects of TEN/SJS that an Internist should be aware of in order to assist in prompt clinical decision making and prognosis forecasting as well as deliver effective family communication.
Voto e identificação partidária em 2018: ordenação social na política brasileira

Resumo A teoria da ordenacao social explica o comportamento do eleitorado brasileiro na disputa presidencial de 2018? A literatura americanista demonstra que o alinhamento de identidades sociais gera e reforca o partidarismo como uma identidade principalmente no campo da direita. Tendo em vista a relevância de tematicas de crenca religiosa, raca e genero nas eleicoes de 2018, cabe compreender se o mesmo fenomeno tambem se verifica no Brasil. Essa pergunta e respondida com testes econometricos baseados em dados de um survey nacionalmente representativo conduzido com 1.498 eleitores no primeiro semestre de 2019. As regressoes logisticas binomiais e multinomiais demonstram que protestantes, brancos e homens tem preferencia substantivamente superior pelo PSL em comparacao aos demais partidos, tanto em termos de definicao de voto como de identificacao partidaria.
Characteristics and outcomes of surgically ineligible patients with multivessel disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives In this study we evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of surgically ineligible patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background Patients with multivessel CAD who are surgically ineligible and undergo PCI are not well represented in large trials. Methods Out of 1,061 consecutive patients who underwent a non-emergent PCI for unprotected left main or multivessel CAD at the University of Virginia Medical Center, 137 patients were determined to be surgically ineligible for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery by a heart team. The clinical characteristics and reasons for surgical ineligibility were collected. The coronary angiograms were reviewed and the SYNTAX score calculated. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score was calculated. Outcomes were determined at 30 days and 1-year. Results The mean age of the cohort was 71 and 59% were women. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, tobacco abuse, and diabetes were common comorbidities. The average SYNTAX score was 22. The most commonly cited reasons for surgical ineligibility were advanced age, frailty, severe lung disease, ejection fraction ≤ 30% and STS score ≥ 8%. Outcomes at 30 days were excellent and better than those predicted by STS for surgery. Frailty and STS score predicted one-year outcomes. Conclusions Patients undergoing PCI for multivessel disease who are surgically ineligible have multiple risk factors and comorbidities. Frailty, lung disease, poor left ventricular function, and high STS score represent common reasons for surgical ineligibility. Frailty and the STS score better predict one-year outcomes after PCI compared to the SYNTAX score.
Kruppel-Like Factors in Monocyte–Macrophage Biology

Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) are a subfamily of the zinc-finger class of DNA-binding transcriptional regulators that bear homology to the Drosophilia melanogaster Kruppel protein. These transcription factors regulate various aspects of cellular development, proliferation, differentiation, and activation. The first mammalian KLF (erythroid KLF or EKLF or KLF1) was discovered in 1993 as an essential regulator of globin gene synthesis in erythrocytes. To date, a total of 17 mammalian KLFs have been identified (designated KLF1 through KLF17, numbered in the chronological order of identification). Within the hematopoietic system, and in addition to the aforementioned role in erythrocytes, KLFs have been shown to serve as essential determinants of lymphoid and myeloid biology. With respect to the latter, studies over the past decade have implicated four members of this gene family—KLF1, KLF2, KLF3, and KLF4—in the context of monocyte/macrophage biology. Here, we review these findings and their implications with regard to myeloid biology.
Markov Property of Measure-indexed Gaussian Random Fields

We give analytic characterizations of the RKHS of measure-indexed Gaussian random fields having Markov properties.
Computational approach to artificial vision

The effort to model the intelligent behavior of humans with mathematical formulae and computer algorithms is as old as computer science itself. Ever since Alan Turing tried to define artificial intelligence in the 1950s (Hodges, 1983), researchers have sought to create it. Early in these efforts it became obvious that the processing of sensory inputs was a primary source of human intelligence, and that contemporary computers were ill-suited to the task of processing the huge amounts of sensory information available to the human brain. The human visual system is a prime example of an instance of this problem. Even though the practical implementation of artificial vision systems was far off, however, researchers worked diligently to develop the theories, equations and algorithms that would imitate and/or explain the behavior of the human vision system. Steady increases in computer power have made these efforts more realistic, and have spawned a corresponding increase of activity in this area. The result of all of this activity has been the development of several computational models of human vision.
Contraceptive practive among New York abortion patients

Abstract Data are presented describing contraception among 1,022 women during the 12 months preceding induced abortion. Contraception was practiced by 45.5 per cent of the sample, was technically inadequate, was frequently changed for other ineffective methods, and was often discontinued. At conception, 18.8 per cent of patients were practicing contraception. Several variables indicated higher probabilities of contraception: older age, multiparity, previous stillbirths, spontaneous or induced abortions, being white, and no religious preference. Identical variables characterized women continuing contraception who, in addition, were probably married, had experienced fewer changes in their relationships, had told partners about their contraceptive practices, had frequent coitus, and used technically reliable methods. Implications for future research are discussed.
Directed seed dispersal and metapopulation response to habitat loss and disturbance: application to Eichhornia paniculata

Summary 1 Seed dispersal is often directed towards locations with particular characteristics, particularly where seeds are dispersed by animals. The potential importance of directed seed dispersal for the response of plant metapopulations to habitat loss and changes in disturbance rate is assessed, and illustrated with a case study of a metapopulation of an aquatic plant. 2 The Levins model is extended to include preferential dispersal towards suitable habitat and towards unoccupied patches. Both increase patch occupancy, decrease the minimum habitat cover required for persistence and increase the maximum allowable disturbance rate, while preferential dispersal towards unoccupied patches also makes reductions in abundance due to increased disturbance rates more threshold-like. 3 Applying classical metapopulation approaches, which assume random dispersal, to a species that features directed dispersal, is expected to give systematic errors in prediction. For example, where dispersal is directed towards suitable habitat regardless of occupancy, the Levins model will tend to overestimate the response to habitat loss, and where dispersal is directed towards unoccupied patches, the Levins model will tend to underestimate the response to changes in disturbance rate. 4 Eichhornia paniculata is an aquatic plant restricted to ephemeral pools. Seed dispersal is by waterfowl, and so is directed towards suitable habitat. Data on habitat cover and patch occupancy from Husband and Barrett in 1998 fit well with our model but deviate significantly from the predictions of the Levins model. The parameter estimates imply dispersal very strongly directed towards suitable habitat, and that without this the minimum density of pools required for persistence would be at least 10 times greater than the highest densities observed, implying that the species would go locally extinct. 5 To our knowledge, this is the first quantitative demonstration that the nature and strength of directed dispersal affects the robustness of fragmented plant populations to anthropogenic disturbance. This calls for increased attention to be paid to the behaviour of seed-dispersing animals, and how this behaviour varies between different plant communities.
Commentary on McCarthy et al. (2015): Ecological momentary assessment ‐ Reactivity? Intervention?

Keywords: Craving; ecological momentary assessment; reactivity; recall bias; self-monitoring; smoking cessation
The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of (1R, cis)- and (1R, trans)-tetramethrin in rats.

1. The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of (1R, cis)- and (1R, trans)-isomers of tetramethrin (i.v. 0·25 mg/kg) were studied in rats.2. The experimental data for the time course of the concentration of tetramethrin isomers in plasma fit a pharmacokinetic two-compartmental open model. Plasma levels of both isomers were similar. The terminal half-life of the trans-isomer in plasma was greater (125 min) than the cis-isomer (72 min).3. The concentrations of the two metabolites, 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide (TPI) and N-(hydroxymethyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide (MTI), were consistently higher in the plasma of rats treated with the trans-isomer than in those treated with the cis-isomer.4. In rats treated with the trans-isomer, the majority of radioactivity excreted after 96 h was found in urine. The faeces was the major excretory route for rats treated with the cis-isomer (26% urine, 69% faeces with cis-isomer; 64% urine, 29% faeces with trans-isomer).5. Metabolism of each isomer was rapid and complete. Pare...
Aqueous humor-stimulated protein biosynthesis in ocular tissue fibroblast culture.

Dilute concentrations of aqueous humor stimulate DNA synthesis and cell division in monolayer fibroblast culture of rabbit skin and human and rabbit Tenon's capsule. We used [35S]-methionine to study 20% aqueous humor's effect on protein biosynthesis. A non-specific stimulator, 10% fetal bovine serum, was also used for comparison. Incorporation of radioactivity into acid-precipitable material was measured in both the fibroblasts and the media containing extracellular labeled proteins. The extracellular and intracellular labeled proteins were resolved by gel electrophoresis. Both 20% aqueous homor and 10% fetal bovine serum stimulated increased incorporation of [35S]-methionine into intracellular proteins relative to control values (from fibroblasts maintained in 0·5% fetal bovine serum-supplemented medium). However, 20% aqueous humor caused only a slight increase in labeling of proteins exported into the medium, whereas 10% fetal bovine serum stimulated a several-fold increase in extracellular labeled proteins relative to control values. Gel electrophoresis of labeled proteins showed that the quantitative distribution of extracellular proteins varied depending on the growth stimulator present. We conclude that the protein biosynthesis modulation by aqueous humor differs from that by fetal bovine serum. Aqueous humor may selectively stimulate the synthesis of discrete proteins while a general stimulation occurs with fetal bovine serum.
Rapid prototyping of a micro pump with laser micromachining

A micro electrohydrodynamic (EHD) injection pump has been developed using laser micromaching technology. Two designs have been fabricated, tested, and evaluated. The first design has two silicon pieces with KOH-etched wells which are stacked on the top of each other. The wells am etched on one side of the wafer and gold is deposited on the other side to serve as the pump electrodes. A ND:YAG laser is used to drill an array holes in the well region of both silicon die. This creates a grid distribution with a rectangular pattern. Next the well regions of the die are aligned, and the parts are bonded together using a Staystik thermoplastic. The pump unit is then mounted into a ceramic package over the hole drilled to permit fluid flow. Aluminum ribbon wire bonds are used to connect the pump electrodes to the package leads. Isolation of metallization and wires is achieved by filling the package well and coating the wires with polyimide.When a voltage is applied at the electrodes, ions are injected into the working fluid, such as an organic solvent, thus inducing flow. The second design has the die oriented ``back-to-back`` and bonded together with stayform. A ``back-to-back`` design will decrease the grid distance so that a smaller voltage is required for pumping. Preliminary results have demonstrated that this micro pump can achieved a pressure head of about 287 Pa with an applied voltage of 120 volts.
Computational and experimental studies of laser-induced thermal ignition in premixed ethylene-oxidizer mixtures

Abstract A one-dimensional, transient model is developed for solving the system of coupled, nonlinear, partial differential equations governing the fields in our experimental investigations of laser-induced heating and subsequent thermal ignition in an open, premixed ethylene-oxidizer system. The model includes complex chemistry and transport processes, and features a realistic and experimentally consistent laser/absorption submodel for the ignition source. The model is used to explain the character of the temperature-time history prior to ignition, above and beyond traditional heat transfer theories, and shows that perturbations in the laser's output characteristics can explain the range of delay times observed experimentally. Furthermore, the laser/absorption/ignition model is used to explain the experimentally observed phenomenon of ignition occurring beyond the focus of the laser. Ignition chemistry is shown to be dominated by the same reactions, in terms of rates of progress and rate coefficient sensitivity analysis, in spatially dependent ignition events as in purely kinetic studies, with sensitivity of ignition delay virtually the same. Lastly, a theory is developed and used to quantify the effect that species diffusion has on retarding ignition in a spatially dependent system. This retarding effect may contribute more or less than kinetic processes to the ignition delay period. This retarding effect is shown to be not only due to suppressed radical concentrations, but also to diffusion of fuel back towards the ignition source.
The evolution of minimally invasive bariatric surgery.

The number of bariatric operations performed annually in the U.S. for the treatment of severe obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m2] has increased tenfold since the mid 1990s, with approximately 220,000 operations performed in 2009. This article reviews the evolution of laparoscopic bariatric surgery over the last 20 years. The results of the most common procedures are analyzed and current and future trends described.
Characteristics that help mothers maintain their infants' focus of attention

Disadvantaged mothers' use of interactive strategies which maintained their infants' focus of attention were examined at 6, 12, and 24 months to evaluate for patterns in this interactive strategy and determine if patterns could be predicted from early infant and maternal characteristics. Four distinct clusters were identified with mothers in each cluster increasing in their use of maintaining over time but differing in the age at which the increase occurred. While infants' biologic risk was unrelated to cluster membership, more positive scores on mothers' perceptions of child rearing history, child rearing attitudes, self-esteem, and social support when the infants were 6 months old were reported by mothers who displayed a pattern of high levels and steady increase in maintaining. More negative scores on these characteristics were reported by mothers who displayed low levels of maintaining and delays in increasing this interactive strategy. Results are discussed in light of disadvantaged mothers' ability to adapt to their infants' changing needs and early identification of mothers' who may have greater difficulty in the adaptational process.
Allocation to reproduction in the chaparral shrub, Diplacus aurantiacus

The semi-drought-deciduous shrub, Diplacus aurantiacus, allocates a large, relatively constant proportion of carbon and nitrogen to sexual reproduction. Experimental manipulation at a site in the chaparral of coastal central California showed that both reproduction and vegetative growth were strongly limited by water and little affected by shade or by addition of nutrients unless accompanied by water. Potential competition for carbon between growth and reproduction is reduced by photosynthesis within reproductive structures; competition is also constrained by localization of translocation. Results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that allocation to reproduction in Diplacus has been selected to maximize reproductive success.
Computer Controlled Chemical Field Applicator for Research

An automated, computer controlled sprayer was developed that interfaces experiment management with chemical application. Treatment combinations of a randomly assigned experiment can be assigned sprayer boom numbers using an IBM-XT (compatible) computer. The sprayer boom number associated with each experimental unit is transferred to a portable computer and used as a template for sprayer control. Subsets of the information can be arranged in any order desired. As the sprayer moves across the experimental plots the computer activates the appropriate boom associated with the treatment combination assigned to each plot (...)
Grouping and Leading as Citizen Action

A theory of grouping and of leading can help us understand the nature of group direction and of individual effectiveness as a direction giver. I use "group" as a generic term that includes small groups, networks, organizations--any system with a sense of self. The paper is divided into three parts: a description of the nature of grouping and of group direction; an explanation of the three most common forms of direction giving--guiding, managing, and leading; and, a concluding discussion regarding an orientation to leadership education that is based in studying, and providing the impetus for, ethical action.
Query-based sampling of text databases

The proliferation of searchable text databases on corporate networks and the Internet causes a database selection problem for many people. Algorithms such as gGLOSS and CORI can automatically select which text databases to search for a given information need, but only if given a set of resource descriptions that accurately represent the contents of each database. The existing techniques for a acquiring resource descriptions have significant limitations when used in wide-area networks controlled by many parties. This paper presents query-based sampling, a new technicque for acquiring accurate resource descriptions. Query-based sampling does not require the cooperation of resource providers, nor does it require that resource providers use a particular search engine or representation technique. An extensive set of experimental results demonstrates that accurate resource descriptions are crated, that computation and communication costs are reasonable, and that the resource descriptions do in fact enable accurate automatic dtabase selection.
Pilot error in air carrier mishaps: longitudinal trends among 558 reports, 1983-2002

BACKGROUND: Many interventions have been implemented in recent decades to reduce pilot error in flight operations. This study aims to identify longitudinal trends in the prevalence and patterns of pilot error and other factors in U.S. air carrier mishaps. METHOD: National Transportation Safety Board investigation reports were examined for 558 air carrier mishaps during 1983-2002. Pilot errors and circumstances of mishaps were described and categorized. Rates were calculated per 10 million flights. RESULTS: The overall mishap rate remained fairly stable, but the proportion of mishaps involving pilot error decreased from 42% in 1983-87 to 25% in 1998-2002, a 40% reduction. The rate of mishaps related to poor decisions declined from 6.2 to 1.8 per 10 million flights, a 71% reduction; much of this decrease was due to a 76% reduction in poor decisions related to weather. Mishandling wind or runway conditions declined by 78%. The rate of mishaps involving poor crew interaction declined by 68%. Mishaps during takeoff declined by 70%, from 5.3 to 1.6 per 10 million flights. The latter reduction was offset by an increase in mishaps while the aircraft was standing, from 2.5 to 6.0 per 10 million flights, and during pushback, which increased from 0 to 3.1 per 10 million flights. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions in pilot errors involving decision making and crew coordination are important trends that may reflect improvements in training and technological advances that facilitate good decisions. Mishaps while aircraft are standing and during pushback have increased and deserve special attention. Language: en
I Hope That We Are Not Living in a Post-Fact World

I certainly would not have written this commentary based on the conclusions of Harris Wiseman's (2014) “SSRIs as Moral Enhancement Interventions: A Practical Dead End.” Single dose laboratory exper...
Near-Eddington Luminosity Flares from Quiescent Supermassive Black Holes

A dormant supermassive black hole lurking in the center of a galaxy will be revealed when a star passes within its tidal disruption radius, is disrupted, and a flare of electromagnetic radiation is emitted when the bound stellar debris is accreted. Although the tidal disruption of a star is a rare event in a galaxy, ~ 10−4 yr−1, observational candidates have emerged in all-sky X-ray and deep UV surveys in the form of luminous UV/X-ray flares from otherwise quiescent galaxies. We present the light curves and broadband properties of three tidal disruption candidates discovered in the UV by GALEX, and find that (1) the light curves are well-fitted by the power-law decline expected for the fallback of debris from a tidally disrupted solar-type star, and (2) the UV/optical spectral energy distributions can be attributed to thermal emission from an envelope of debris located at ten times the tidal disruption radius of the central black hole. We use the observed peak absolute optical magnitudes of the flares to predict the detection capabilities of the next generation of wide-field optical synoptic surveys.
Family Correlates of Comorbid Anxiety Disorders in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

This study evaluated parental anxiety and parenting practices associated with comorbid Anxiety Disorders among children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Clinic-referred families (n=143) were diagnosed using DSM criteria. Parents and children completed measures of parenting practices. Comorbid anxiety in children was significantly associated with maternal anxiety, overprotectiveness, and a lack of positive parenting. The relative odds of comorbid anxiety appeared to be especially high when all three factors were present. These findings are consistent with theory linking those three family factors to the development of anxiety in all children. Implications for adjunctive treatment of anxiety that is comorbid with ADHD are discussed.
The relation of conductivity to the binding of thrombin to human platelets

Abstract The binding of thrombin to human platelets is markedly affected by buffer conductivity. As conductivity is decreased from 13.5 mS to 3 mS using buffers containing monovalent anions, thrombin binding increases; below this value, thrombin binding decreases. For the multivalent anion containing solutions studied, including EDTA, phosphate, and citrate buffers, as conductivity falls thrombin binding increases to a maximum level at 1.5 mS and thereafter declines. Addition of thrombin to anti-coagulated blood does not result in significant binding to platelets due to the high non-optimal conductivity of plasma, the anticoagulant solution, and various plasma inhibitors.
Cloud-Based Grasp Analysis and Planning for Toleranced Parts Using Parallelized Monte Carlo Sampling

This paper considers grasp planning in the presence of shape uncertainty and explores how cloud computing can facilitate parallel Monte Carlo sampling of combination actions and shape perturbations to estimate a lower bound on the probability of achieving force closure. We focus on parallel-jaw push grasping for the class of parts that can be modeled as extruded 2-D polygons with statistical tolerancing. We describe an extension to model part slip and experimental results with an adaptive sampling algorithm that can reduce sample size by 90%. We show how the algorithm can also bound part tolerance for a given grasp quality level and report a sensitivity analysis on algorithm parameters. We test a cloud-based implementation with varying numbers of nodes, obtaining a 515 $\times$ speedup with 500 nodes in one case, suggesting the algorithm can scale linearly when all nodes are reliable. Code and data are available at: http://automation.berkeley.edu/cloud-based-grasping .
‘Fishing’ for Alternatives to Mountaintop Mining in Southern West Virginia

Mountaintop removal mining (MTR) is a major industry in southern West Virginia with many detrimental effects for small to mid-sized streams, and interest in alternative, sustainable industries is on the rise. As a first step in a larger effort to assess the value of sport fisheries in southern West Virginia, we estimate the potential abundances of two popular sport fishes—smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)—in the Coal River Basin (CRB). A self-thinning model that incorporates net primary production and terrestrial insect subsidies is first used to predict potential densities of adult (age 1+) smallmouth bass and brook trout. Predicted densities (fish ha−1) are then multiplied by the surface area of the CRB stream network (ha) to estimate regional abundance. Median predicted abundances of bass and trout are 38 806 and 118 094 fish (total abundances with the CRB), respectively. However, when streams that intersect permitted MTR areas in the CRB are removed from the dataset, predicted abundances of bass and trout decrease by ~12–14 %. We conclude that significant potential exists in the CRB to capitalize on sport fisheries, but MTR may be undermining this potential.
Endovascular Stent Graft Treatment of Acute Thoracic Aortic Transections Due to Blunt Force Trauma

Endovascular stent graft treatment of acute thoracic aortic transections is an encouraging minimally invasive alternative to open surgical repair. Between 2006 and 2008, 16 patients with acute thoracic aortic transections underwent evaluation at our institution. Seven patients who were treated with an endovascular stent graft were reviewed. The mean Glasgow Coma Score was 13.0, probability of survival was .89, and median injury severity score was 32. The mean number of intensive care unit days was 7.7, mean number of ventilator support days was 5.4, and hospital length of stay was 10 days. Mean blood loss was 285 mL, and operative time was 143 minutes. Overall mortality was 14%. Procedure complications were a bleeding arteriotomy site and an endoleak. Endovascular treatment of traumatic thoracic aortic transections appears to demonstrate superior results with respect to mortality, blood loss, operative time, paraplegia, and procedure-related complications when compared with open surgical repair literature.
Arginase blockade protects against hepatic damage in warm ischemia-reperfusion.

Background Liver ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is associated with profound arginine depletion due to arginase release from injured hepatocytes. Nitric oxide (NO), shown to have protective effects in I/R, is produced by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) from the substrate arginine. The purpose of this study was to determine if nor-NOHA, a novel arginase inhibitor, would be able to increase circulating arginine levels and decrease hepatic damage following warm I/R.
Capacity Management in Rental Businesses with Two Customer Bases

We consider the allocation of capacity in a system in which rental equipment is accessed by two classes of customers. We formulate the problem as a continuous-time analogue of the one-shot allocation problems found in the more traditional literature on revenue management, and we analyze a queueing control model that approximates its dynamics. Our investigation yields three sets of results. First, we use dynamic programming to characterize properties of optimal capacity allocation policies. We identify conditions under which "complete sharing"-in which both classes of customers have unlimited access to the rental fleet-is optimal. Next, we develop a computationally efficient "aggregate threshold" heuristic that is based on a fluid approximation of the original stochastic model. We obtain closed-form expressions for the heuristic's control parameters and show that the heuristic performs well in numerical experiments. The closed-form expressions also show that, in the context of the fluid approximation, revenues are concave and increasing in the fleet size. Finally, we consider the effect of the ability to allocate capacity on optimal fleet size. We show that the optimal fleet size under allocation policies may be lower, the same as, or higher than that under complete sharing. As capacity costs increase, allocation policies allow for larger relative fleet sizes. Numerical results show that, even in cases in which dollar profits under complete sharing may be close to those under allocation policies, the capacity reductions enabled by allocation schemes can help to lift profit margins significantly.
Correlation of QSO absorption lines in universes dominated by cold dark matter

Theoretical predictions for the redshift correlations between QSO absorption-line systems are investigated in the context of 'cold dark matter' cosmological models. Particles in 'particle-mesh' N-body simulations are interpreted as absorbing clouds at epochs corresponding to mean redshifts, z, of 0.0, 1.25, and 3.0. The velocity correlation function for absorbing clouds is found by passing lines-of-sight through the systems and computing velocity differences for those particles which lie close to the lines. It depends strongly on z and Omega but only weakly, if at all, on the number density, diameter or mass of the clouds. Two interpretations are possible: (1) the heavy element absorption systems are associated with galaxies which are an unbiased sample of the mass distribution in an Omega(0) = 0.2 universe or (2) the Lyman-alpha absorbers are an unbiased sample of the mass in an Omega(0) = 1 universe and the heavy-element absorption systems, like galaxies, are more strongly clustered than the mass.
Invariance Principles for Sums of Banach Space Valued Random Elements and Empirical Processes

Almost sure and probability invariance principles are established for sums of independent not necessarily measurable random elements with values in a not necessarily separable Banach space. It is then shown that empirical processes readily fit into this general framework. Thus we bypass the problems of measurability and topology characteristic for the previous theory of weak convergence of empirical processes.
The sexual abuse of children: A comparison of male and female victims

Although estimates of the incidence of reported child sexual maltreatment vary greatly, most authors agree there is a predominance of female to male victims. Yet studies of sexual offenders suggest afar greater proportion of male victims than is reported. This study compared circumstances surrounding the abuse for boy and girl victims. A total of 81 reported cases of male sexual abuse over a 3 year period were matched to 81 females sexually abused during the same period. Although it was hypothesized that there would be significant differences between boy and girl victims of sexual abuse, this study revealed surprisingly few differences between factors associated with the abuse. The sex of the victim was not related to the relationship of the abuser, who referred the child, the number of abusers, the incidence of sexual abuse of other children or siblings, chronicity of abuse, the use of bribes or threats, or concurrent physical abuse. There was a greater incidence of physical evidence of sexual abuse amon...
Shape recognition with the flow integration transform

Abstract We present the Flow Integration Transform (FIT), a method for determining the presence of a preconceived shape in a gray-scale image. The expected shape serves as a filter for detecting potential targets. The FIT performs a line integral of the dot product of two vectors: (1) the “flow”, a vector equal to the gradient of the image's intensity but rotated counterclockwise by 90°, and (2) the local tangent to the path of integration. The path of integration follows the contour of the expected target. The integration is performed starting at each point in the image, producing a two-dimensional transform whose pixel value corresponds to the relative presence of the expected shape at each location in the input image. The transform exhibits the appealing feature that information widely dispersed in the image becomes concentrated in a local area of the transform. Compared to traditional template matching using two-dimensional convulution, the correlation in the FIT is inherently one-dimensional, resulting in less computation. Furthermore, by constraining operations to addition, subtraction, and shift-by-one-pixel, implementation in high-speed hardware is greatly facilitated, with total computation times in the microsecond range achievable with present hardware technology.
Lentivirus envelope sequences and pro viral genomes are stabilized in Escherichia coli when cloned in low-copy-number plasmid vectors

A promoter-selection vector (pKK232-8) was used to identify sequences with strong Escherichia coli promoter activity positioned near the start of the envelope-encoding genes (env) of two lentiviruses, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). For EIAV, cloning the cryptic promoter sequences together with downstream sequences encoding the envelope glycoprotein (gp90) in moderate- to high-copy-number (hcn) plasmid vectors, such as pBR322 or pUC, resulted in rearrangements and point mutations in env when propagated in E. coli. To alleviate this problem, low-copy-number (lcn) cloning vectors, pLG338-30 and pLG339-SPORT, were constructed. The plasmids carry resistance markers for ampicillin (ApR) or kanamycin (KmR), the pSC101 origin of replication (ori) from plasmid pLG338 [Stoker et al., Gene 18 (1982) 335-341], and a multiple cloning site (MCS) from plasmids pIBI30 or pSPORT. Full-length env and genomic proviral sequences of EIAV were genetically stable when subcloned into these lcn vectors. Proviral sequences of an SIV clone (pBK28-SIV) that are genetically unstable in the hcn vector pUC18 were also stabilized and remained fully infectious when subcloned into the lcn vector pLG339-SPORT. These lcn vectors appear to be generally useful in stabilizing lentivirus genomic sequences for subcloning, propagation, and manipulation in E. coli, possibly as a result of reducing the level of toxic gene expression from cryptic promoter sequences.
Top-N Recommendation with Missing Implicit Feedback

In implicit feedback datasets, non-interaction of a user with an item does not necessarily indicate that an item is irrelevant for the user. Thus, evaluation measures computed on the observed feedback may not accurately reflect performance on the complete data. In this paper, we discuss a missing data model for implicit feedback and propose a novel evaluation measure oriented towards Top-N recommendation. Our evaluation measure admits unbiased estimation under our missing data model, unlike the popular Normalized Discounted Cumulative Gain (NDCG) measure. We also derive an efficient algorithm to optimize the measure on the training data. We run several experiments which demonstrate the utility of our proposed measure.