cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining the Impact of Customer Relationship Management on Deconstructed Measures of Firm Performance

The aggregate measures frequently used to evaluate customer relationship management (CRM) performance may mask the true impact of CRM activities and make it difficult to tease out which activities might be helping (or hurting) the relationship capabilities of the firm. We posit that examining the impact of CRM on individual firm performance indicators provides better diagnostic value for managers. To test our hypothesis, we examine the impact of 6 CRM activities on 4 dimensions of firm performance and compare the results with the impact of the same activities on a composite score of the 4 dimensions. As expected, the pattern of regression coefficients is different between the equation with composite performance as the dependent variable and each of the remaining 4 equations. Managerially speaking, our results provide direction for marketing and customer managers in decision making related to prioritizing CRM activities. Theoretically speaking, they imply that researchers should consider examining the impa...
Optimization and equilibrium problems with equilibrium constraints in infinite-dimensional spaces

The article is devoted to applications of modern variational analysis to the study of constrained optimization and equilibrium problems in infinite-dimensional spaces. We pay a particular attention to the remarkable classes of optimization and equilibrium problems identified as mathematical programs with equilibrium constraints (MPECs) and equilibrium problems with equilibrium constraints (EPECs) treated from the viewpoint of multiobjective optimization. Their underlying feature is that the major constraints are governed by parametric generalized equations/variational conditions in the sense of Robinson. Such problems are intrinsically non-smooth and can be handled by using an appropriate machinery of generalized differentiation exhibiting a rich/full calculus. The case of infinite-dimensional spaces is significantly more involved in comparison with finite dimensions, requiring in addition a certain sufficient amount of compactness and an efficient calculus of the corresponding ‘sequential normal compactn...
Jumping-ship can have its costs: implications of predation and host plant species for the maintenance of pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) colour polymorphism.

The interplay between the host plant of an insect herbivore and an insect predator (here two-spot ladybird beetles; Adalia bipunctata (L).; Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), feeding upon such a herbivore was examined in the laboratory as factors possibly determining the differential abundance and success of green and red host races of pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris. The experiment comprised three treatments: two host plants (bean and clover), two treatment levels (control and predation) and three colour morph levels (green alone, red alone and green and red in mixture). Green morphs had higher fitness on the general host plant, bean Vicia faba, than on the derived host, clover (Trifolium pratense), in the absence of predation. Although green morph fitness was reduced by predation when infesting bean together with reds, there was no observable net fitness loss due to predation on clover in mixed colonies with red morphs. Red morphs exhibited fitness loss alone on both bean and clover, while clover plants seemingly prevented fitness loss in the presence of predation when red morphs were mixed with green ones. According to this scenario, when colour morphs existed as a mixed colony, the net fitness of either pea aphid morph was not influenced by predation on clover. Predators had significant effects only on red morphs on broad bean either when alone or were mixed together with green morphs. Thus, only red morphs experienced the benefits of switching from the general to the derived host red clover in the presence of predation. For green morphs, there was no apparent cost of switching host plants when they faced predation. Hence, the co-existence of green-red colour polymorphism of pea aphids on single host plants appears to be maintained by the morph gaining fitness on the derived host due to a host plant– and predation–reduction effect. These findings have important implications for understanding the ecology and evolution of host switching by different colour-plant host adapted races of pea aphids.
Gauss–Man i n Conne ction s for Arrangements, I E igenvalues

We construct a formal connection on the Aomoto complex of an arrangement of hyperplanes, and use it to study the Gauss–Manin connection for the moduli space of the arrangement in the cohomology of a complex rank one local system. We prove that the eigenvalues of the Gauss–Manin connection are integral linear combinations of the weights which define the local system.
Nonspecific warm hemolysins of papain-treated cells: serologic characterization and transfusion risk.

Over a 13-year period, 130,000 sera were screened for atypical antibodies with untreated and papain-treated cells. A warm hemolysin of the papain treated screening cells was found in 130 (0.1%) sera. The hemolysin was characterized serologically and its clinical significance evaluated. The hemolysin could be misinterpreted as anti-H or anti-HI if preferential lysis of stored red cells was not noted. The hemolysins reacted most strongly with papainized cells, variably with trypsinized cells, and did not lyse red blood cells treated with bromelin or neuraminidase. The hemolysin appeared in a wide variety of clinical conditions and included normal individuals with no correlation to any specific disease process. Transfusions of stored rather than fresh blood were given to 23 patients with no untoward reaction. The phenomenon is concluded to be an in vitro effect creating technical difficulties, but of no clinical significance.
Weak action potential backpropagation is associated with high‐frequency axonal firing capability in principal neurons of the gerbil medial superior olive

Principal neurons of the medial superior olive (MSO) convey azimuthal sound localization cues through modulation of their rate of action potential firing. Previous intracellular studies in vitro have shown that action potentials appear highly attenuated at the soma of MSO neurons, potentially reflecting specialized action potential initiation and/or a physically distant site of generation. To examine this more directly, we made dual patch-clamp recordings from MSO principal neurons in gerbil brainstem slices. Using somatic and dendritic whole-cell recordings, we show that graded action potentials at the soma are highly sensitive to the rate of rise of excitation and undergo strong attenuation in their backpropagation into the dendrites (length constant, 76 μm), particularly during strong dendritic excitation. Using paired somatic whole-cell and axonal loose-patch recordings, we show that action potentials recorded in the axon at distances > 25 μm are all-or-none, and uniform in amplitude even when action potentials appear graded at the soma. This proximal zone corresponded to the start of myelination in the axon, as assessed with immunocytochemical staining for myelin basic protein in single-labelled neurons. Finally, the axon was capable of sustaining remarkably high firing rates, with perfect entrainment occurring at frequencies of up to 1 kHz. Together, our findings show that action potential signalling in MSO principal neurons is highly secure, but shows a restricted invasion of the somatodendritic compartment of the cell. This restriction may be important for minimizing distortions in synaptic integration during the high frequencies of synaptic input encountered in the MSO.
Sensitivity of the global distribution of cirrus ice crystal concentration to heterogeneous freezing

[1] This study presents the sensitivity of global ice crystal number concentration, Nc, to the parameterization of heterogeneous ice nuclei (IN). Simulations are carried out with the NASA Global Modeling Initiative chemical and transport model coupled to an analytical ice microphysics parameterization. Heterogeneous freezing is described using nucleation spectra derived from theoretical considerations and empirical data for dust, black carbon, ammonium sulfate, and glassy aerosol as IN precursors. When competition between homogeneous and heterogeneous freezing is considered, global mean Nc vary by up to a factor of twenty depending on the heterogeneous freezing spectrum used. IN effects on Nc strongly depend on dust and black carbon concentrations and are strongest under conditions of weak updraft and high temperature. Regardless of the heterogeneous spectrum used, dust is an important contributor of IN over large regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Black carbon however exhibits appreciable effects on Nc when the freezing fraction is greater than 1%. Compared to in situ observations, Nc is overpredicted at temperatures below 205 K, even if a fraction of liquid aerosol is allowed to act as glassy IN. Assuming that cirrus formation is forced by weak updraft addressed this overprediction but promoted heterogeneous freezing effects to the point where homogeneous freezing is inhibited for IN concentrations as low as 1 L−1. Chemistry and dynamics must be considered to explain cirrus characteristics at low temperature. Only cloud formation scenarios where competition between homogeneous and heterogeneous freezing is the dominant feature would result in maximum supersaturation levels consistent with observations.
Karyological study of North American Pogonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Karyotypes of 16 taxa of the New World harvester ant genusPogonomyrmex are presented. Species representing both North American subgenera are examined, including members of all four complexes of the nominate subgenus. The nominate subgenus is characterized by a diploid number of 32, whereasEphebomyrmex species have 2n=36 (P. (E.) huachucanus) and 2n=58−62 (P. (E.) imberbiculus). Chromosome polymorphism was identified only in the latter species.
Solid-state cameras in security applications

A series of tests was begun in June 1985 to determine the performance characteristics of solid-state cameras. The purpose was to uncover the strengths and weaknesses of these cameras and help to determine their suitability for various security applications. The tests focused on those characteristics that are most desirable for the more demanding exterior applications: resolution, sensitivity, contrast, and low smear. Other observations included noise level, conformity to standards, and environmental tolerances. The results of these tests, as well as a description of the test equipment and procedures, are presented. >
Climate Change Oppression: Media Production as the Practice of Freedom

Communities most vulnerable to climate change must educate themselves on how to adapt to the new challenges they face. The use of participatory media, especially video, can be an effective tool for doing so, allowing users to incorporate indigenous knowledge and create an alternative to the dominant, objectifying narratives of conservation and development. Following the methodology of educator and philosopher Paulo Freire, a program in community-based media, with an emphasis on social and environmental action, has the potential to empower the world’s oppressed against the challenges of the coming decades. Author’s Note Grady Walker grew up in Kathmandu, Nepal. He received his MA in Environmental Conservation Education from New York University, and has recently made films for the Red Cross in Africa. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Queensland’s Centre for Communication and Social Change.
Processes, people and climate in the control time phase-meeting the challenges [electric utilities]

This paper is a discussion on the changes that the UK National Grid Company plc (NGC) has faced since its privatisation in 1990, specifically from a system control perspective. It explains the task faced by management as tighter regulatory controls were placed on its business, and how these new challenges were met by innovative and far-sighted plans. It also includes a frank account of the managerial lessons learnt to date.
The help-seeking orientations of Latino and non-Latino urban high school students: a critical-sociological investigation

This study focuses on the help-seeking orientations of low-status Latino adolescents. Help-seeking orientation is defined as a person's proclivity to resolve personal and academic problems through the seeking of social support (i.e., coping by seeking help). This article presents a selected review of the literature on key social antecedents of people's help-seeking orientation. It also presents an emerging sociological framework for recasting this social psychological phenomenon as an important mediating link between the systematic forces of class, race, and gender and the life chances of low-status youth. The authors report on a cross-sectional study of three measures of adolescent help-seeking orientation, based on a questionnaire survey of one urban high school in the southwestern United States. Measures of social class, gender, age, English-language proficiency, and academic performance were examined for their independent predictive value. The authors also tested for differential effects across three student groups: Spanish-dominant Latinos, English-proficient Latinos, and non-Latinos. Gender and academic performance emerged as the most salient predictors, suggesting that low-achieving males are particularly prone to withdraw from vital sources of support. Latino immigrants with little English proficiency also revealed signs of a negative or conflictive orientation toward help seeking, reporting low degrees of interpersonal openness and a low desire for academic support.
Invasive Aspergillosis: Current Strategies for Diagnosis and Management

Aspergillosis remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised population. The spectrum of disease is broad, ranging from severe and rapidly fatal infection to noninvasive disease. The diversity of patients and risk factors complicates diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making. Invasive procedures are often precluded by host status; noninvasive diagnostic tests vary in their sensitivity and specificity. Advancements in understanding the pathophysiology of invasive aspergillosis and host genetics in differential risk have also occurred. Future work may assist in therapeutic decision-making and patient prognosis. Voriconazole remains the preferred agent for treatment. Additional alternatives have emerged.
How can performance standards strengthen accountability for public health

Performance standards with both process and outcome measures can lead to greatly increased accountability for public health and a major leadership position in U.S. health care. Accreditation of health departments should become part of the accountability process.
Instrumental Acquisition in Rats After Twelve Exposures to Deep Hypothermia.

SummaryHypothermic rats acquire a simple technique for obtaining external heat more quickly at a body temperature of 29-30°C than at other decreased body temperatures. When the body temperature is decreased below 25°C the latency period for acquisition of the new behavior is much extended and the performance is rarely observed during a period of 180 minutes. However, when rats are exposed to hypothermia several times prior to the response acquisition experiment they are able to respond steadily not only at a body temperature of 25°C but even at temperatures between 22° and 25°C. While all hypothermia-adapted animals thus responded at these body temperatures (22.2-24.7°C), 5 out of 7 non-adapted animals failed to do so. The performance latency time of the 2 non-adapted rats which eventually performed was longer than that of any hypothermia-adapted rat. It is concluded that previous exposure to hypothermia (“adaptation to hypothermia”) enhances the response acquisition ability of rats at low body temperatures.
Declarative and Procedural Knowledge in Skill Acquisition: An Aptitude — Treatment Interaction Framework for Training:

This paper focuses on the interactions among four constructs during skill acquisition: (1) the dynamic changes in attentional demands of the task to be acquired, (2) individual differences in cognitive and intellectual abilities, (3) conative (motivational), metacognitive processes involved in changes of attentional focus, and (4) knowledge structures acquired through part-task training. An attentional model is reviewed that describes how these variables interact during three phases of skill acquisition (i.e., during declarative knowledge, knowledge compilation, and at the level of proceduralized knowledge). Empirical demonstration of the framework is provided in the context of complex skill acquisition. Supportive results from a series of empirical studies are reviewed.
The Burden of Defence in Developing Countries

This paper will deal with two themes that have been largely neglected in the literature on defence economics in developing countries. The first is the extent to which developing countries actually pay for their own defence. The second is the role of defence and the preoccupation with it in the economic decision making process.
A Marketplace of Networks: Power and Counter-Power in the Domain Name System

This paper draws on early findings from a multiple-case study analysis to consider the ways in which country code top-level domain names (ccTLDs) are embedded with specific political, economic and cultural values and the extent to which these techno-social objects go on to mediate geopolitical and economic conflicts, including political censorship, intellectual property rights enforcement and cybercrime. It suggests that a focus on power and the sociopolitical and cultural relations that both shape and are shaped by these technological objects is crucial to understanding the role of ccTLDs in the networked public sphere. To this end, the following overarching research questions inform the overall direction of this project: (1) to what extent, if any, do ccTLDs mediate geopolitical, social, and economic conflict, and in what ways? And (2) to what extent, if any, are ccTLDs mediated by geopolitical, social, and economic conflicts, and in what ways? To answer these questions the project draws on a multiple-case study design focusing on three cases, which I suggest are emblematic of the extent to which ccTLDs serve as boundary objects, mediating power and counter-power in the networked information economy. Before delving into the cases, the project begins with a historical analysis of the origins of ccTLDs and their role in early debates over Internet governance. Drawing on publicly available texts and archival materials from relevant stakeholders, this analysis seeks to provide much-needed historical context to contemporary debates over ccTLD policy and Internet governance more broadly. This is followed by early findings from a case study of Switzerland’s “ch” ccTLD and its role as the “domain of last resort” for Wikileaks. Filling a gap in the literature on the role of ccTLDs in global Internet governance debates past and present, this study suggests that notions of territorial sovereignty and local authority, often associated with ccTLDs, belie a much more complicated reality in which geographically agnostic relations are constructed along political, economic and cultural lines. To this end, the paper concludes by situating ccTLDs in the larger context of Internet governance and the politics of Internet architecture.
Creating Noise-Corrupted Flaw Signals for Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation

Noise-corrupted flaw signals with known contributions due to flaw scattering are needed to study flaw detection and characterization approaches. The inability to create these “known flaw” signals which are corrupted with acoustic noise (e.g., grain scattering noise) has presented a problem to the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) community for years. An approach is needed for creating noise-corrupted flaw signals which can be used as a basis for studying the impact of different flaw types, measurement system configurations, signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), acoustic noise types, etc. on digital signal processing algorithms which are being developed.
ISOLATED FUNCTIONAL TRICUSPID REGURGITATION: A POPULATION IN NEED OF TREATMENT

Background: There is a large population of patients with isolated functional tricuspid regurgitation (ITR) in whom no predisposing left heart disease (LHD) or pulmonary hypertension (PH) is identified. Understanding the natural history of ITR is critical to determining the role for invasive
Traveling-Wave Detection Technique Using Short-Time Matrix Pencil Method

This paper proposes a new technique for detection of traveling-wave arrival times in power systems. Precise estimation of wave arrival times improves most of the traveling-wave-based fault location methods. The proposed technique is based on the short-time matrix pencil method that decomposes the measurement samples in a sliding window into time-indexed complex frequencies. Traveling-wave arrival times are estimated based on the fact that the extracted damping factors (i.e., the real part of the complex frequencies) are zero when the arriving wave is located in the middle of the sliding window. The proposed technique is compared to the existing transient-detection techniques such as discrete wavelet transform with commonly used mother wavelets and Hilbert transform (HT), using MATLAB Wavelet Toolbox and MATLAB HT. The sensitivity analysis based on the simulation results demonstrates that the proposed technique is less affected by the measurement noise, sampling frequency, and fault parameters.
Decoding Kinematics Using Task-Independent Movement-Phase-Specific Encoding Models

Neural decoders of kinematic variables have largely relied on task-dependent (TD) encoding models of the neural activity. TD decoders, though, require prior knowledge of the tasks, which may be unavailable, lack scalability as the number of tasks grows, and require a large number of trials per task to reduce the effects of neuronal variability. The execution of movements involves a sequence of phases (e.g., idle, planning, and so on) whose progression contributes to the neuronal variability. We hypothesize that information about the movement phase facilitates the decoding of kinematics and compensates for the lack of prior knowledge about the task. We test this hypothesis by designing a task-independent movement-phase-specific (TI-MPS) decoding algorithm. The algorithm assumes that movements proceed through a consistent sequence of phases regardless of the specific task, and it builds one model per phase by combining data from different tasks. Phase transitions are detected online from neural data and, for each phase, a specific encoding model is used. The TI-MPS algorithm was tested on single-unit recordings from 437 neurons in the dorsal and ventral pre-motor cortices from two nonhuman primates performing 3-D multi-object reach-to-grasp tasks. The TI-MPS decoder accurately decoded kinematics from tasks it was not trained for and outperformed TD approaches (one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test and ${P}$ -value ${P}$ <0.05). Results indicate that a TI paradigm with MPS models may help decoding kinematics when prior information about the task is unavailable and pave the way toward clinically viable prosthetics.
Multiscale Model for Assessing Effect of Bacterial Growth on Intrinsic Permeability of Soil: Model Description

A multiscale model is proposed for assessing the impact of bacterial growth attached to soil particles on intrinsic permeability of soil. The model combines two modules. One of the modules solves the equations describing multiphase reaction–diffusion–transport model at the macroscopic [Representative Elementary Volume (REV)] scale, augmented with an equation for attached biomass growth. This module is used as an upscaling environment. The other module in the coupling set is a cellular automaton (CA) model for bacterial growth attached to soil particles. The coupling is achieved by having the CA module model bacterial growth at the pore level and integrating the result to provide information at the REV level. The details of the two modules, the links between them and an algorithm for simulation using the coupled model are described. The two modules are designed to work alternately till the end of a simulation period. The continuum module (reaction–diffusion–transport augmented with attached biomass growth equation) calculates the change in attached biomass. This is followed by the determination of a change in the states of cells in the CA module. Any change in the states necessitates a recalculation of permeability values to be used for the next time step of the continuum module. A companion paper gives results on using this coupled model to simulate a column experiment.
Technologie, technischer Fortschritt und Nachfrage

Das Ausenhandelsmodell, das in dieser Arbeit analysiert werden soll, sieht in den unterschiedlichen technologischen Niveaus der Handelspartner die zentrale Ursache fur internationalen Warenaustausch. Veranderungen dieser Technologieniveaus (bzw. des relativen Technologieniveaus), also technischer Fortschritt, sorgen fur eine Veranderung in der Ausenhandelsstruktur und der Wohlfahrt der handeltreibenden Lander.
Toward Large Field-of-View High-Resolution X-ray Imaging Spectrometers: Microwave Multiplexed Readout of 28 TES Microcalorimeters

We performed small-scale demonstrations at GSFC of high-resolution X-ray TES microcalorimeters read out using a microwave SQUID multiplexer. This work is part of our effort to develop detector and readout technologies for future space-based X-ray instruments such as the microcalorimeter spectrometer envisaged for Lynx, a large mission concept under development for the Astro 2020 Decadal Survey. In this paper we describe our experiment, including details of a recently designed, microwave-optimized low-temperature setup that is thermally anchored to the 55 mK stage of our laboratory ADR. Using a ROACH2 FPGA at room temperature, we read out pixels of a GSFC-built detector array via a NIST-built multiplexer chip with Nb coplanar waveguide resonators coupled to rf-SQUIDs. The resonators are spaced 6 MHz apart (at $$\sim $$ 5.9 GHz) and have quality factors of $$\sim $$ 15,000. In our initial demonstration, we used flux-ramp modulation frequencies of 125 kHz to read out 5 pixels simultaneously and achieved spectral resolutions of 2.8–3.1 eV FWHM at 5.9 keV. Our subsequent work is ongoing: to-date we have achieved a median spectral resolution of 3.4 eV FWHM at 5.9 keV while reading out 28 pixels simultaneously with flux-ramp frequencies of 160 kHz. We present the measured system-level noise and maximum slew rates and briefly describe our future development work.
Strategically Forming Groups in the El Farol Bar Problem

The El Farol bar problem sprung from one patron's wish to avoid the bar's busy nights in the 1990s. The problem became of interest to economists because of its potential application to other consumer choice behavior problems, e.g., route selection on a congested roadway. The El Farol bar problem involves multiple decision-making agents trying to outwit each other and only attend the bar when it is not overcrowded. Each agent makes their decision based on historical data and draws their attendance strategy from a limited pool. We adapt the model of the problem developed, by Rand and Wilensky, to include group decision-making behavior and strategic group formation. In our version, agents can use the best strategy from the whole group, not just their own set. However, the larger the group, the more it adds to the overcrowding issue. Thus, an agent must balance access to a large attendance strategy pool with group size. We had hypothesized that including strategic group formation will increase overall social welfare, but our analysis shows that allowing agent groups results in a undesirable scenario for all agents; this is due to the limited rationality of the agents.
Beyond Tax Smoothing

Analyses of optimal government capital structure generally follow Bohn (1990) and Barro (1995) in assuming risk neutrality or an exogenous risk premium. These analyses usually conclude that the optimal government capital structure stabilizes tax rates over time and states of nature to the greatest extent possible, something known as "tax smoothing." In this paper, we show that when an endogenous risk premium is introduced, the optimal government capital structure will no longer smooth tax rates. Under likely conditions, the optimal structure requires a larger short position in risky assets than that implied by tax smoothing.
The Hamilton-Jacobi Type Equations for Nonlinear Target Control and Their Approximation

Summary. This paper gives a comparison principle for first-order PDEs of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman type that arise in problems of nonlinear target control synthesis and reachability analysis under hard bounds on the controls. The emphasis is is on treating backward reachability sets for a system with moving target sets which may also turn to be forward reachability tubes of another system. The target sets are to be reached within preassigned intervals. The exact solutions to this problem, given in set-theoretic terms, are expressed as level sets to the solutions of some specific types of the HJB equation. But these solutions require fairly complicated calculation. The present paper presents an alternative approach that avoids exact solutions in favor of their upper and lower bounds, which in many cases may suffice for solving the required problems. For systems with linear structure ellipsoidal estimates are given, which ensure accurate approximations of nonconvex reachability sets through unions of ellipsoids.
Impacts of non-native species in a shallow lake: a simulation modeling approach for restoration and management

Continuous harvest over an annual period is a common assumption of continuous biomass dynamics models (CBDMs); however fish are frequently harvested in a pulsed manner. We developed semi-discrete biomass dynamics models (SDBDMs) that allow discrete harvest events and evaluated differences between CBDMs and SDBDMs using an equilibrium yield analysis with varying levels of fishing mortality (F). Equilibrium fishery yields for CBDMs and SDBDMS were similar at low fishing mortalities and diverged as F approached and exceeded maximum sustained yield (FMSY). Discrete harvest resulted in lower equilibrium yields at high levels of F relative to continuous harvest. The effect of applying harvest continuously when it was in fact discrete was evaluated by fitting CBDMs and SDBDMs to time series data generated from a hypothetical fish stock undergoing discrete harvest and evaluating parameter estimates bias. Violating the assumption of continuous harvest resulted in biased parameter estimates for CBDM while SDBDM parameter estimates were unbiased. Biased parameter estimates resulted in biased biological reference points derived from CBDMs. Semi-discrete BDMs outperformed CBDMs and should be used when harvest is discrete, when the time and magnitude of harvest are known, and when F is greater than FMSY.
Gold-Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Alkynes toward the Synthesis of Cyclic Conjugated Diynes

A gold-catalyzed oxidative coupling of alkynes was developed as an efficient approach for the synthesis of challenging cyclic conjugated diynes (CCD). Compared to the classical copper-promoted oxidative coupling reaction of alkynes, this gold-catalyzed process exhibits a faster reaction rate due to the rapid reductive elimination from the Au(III) intermediate. This unique reactivity thus allowed a challenging diyne macrocyclization to take place in high efficiency. Condition screening revealed a [(n-Bu)4N]+[Cl-Au-Cl]- salt as the optimal pre-catalyst. Macrocycles with ring size between 13 to 28 atoms were prepared in moderate to good yields, which highlighted the broad substrate scope of this new strategy. Furthermore, the synthetic utilities of the cyclic conjugated diynes for copper-free click chemistry have been demonstrated, which showcased the potential application of this strategy in biological systems.
Efficiency enhancements of a restricted stochastic search algorithm for locating local and global minima

Abstract Kick is a simple computational method that enables stochastic searches for stable structures of systems of up to ∼15 atoms. We propose two new filters to be applied with Kick to enforce minimum bond lengths between all pair of atoms and connectivity of all atoms in candidate structures. As this Restricted Kick method rejects a rapidly increasing number of structures with increasing system size, we furthermore devised the restricted Random Assembly Stochastic Search method, which randomly assembles structures that automatically satisfy these filters. Significant improvements in convergence rate over the original Kick method are obtained for several well-established examples.
Association Between Cigarette Smoking and Histotype-Specific Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Review of Epidemiologic Studies

Many studies have demonstrated that smoking can influence ovarian cancer risk and survival; however, the number of studies investigating this relationship according to histologic subtypes is limited. We conducted a review of epidemiologic research that assessed the role of smoking on ovarian cancer risk and survival after diagnosis, specifically capturing studies that discerned between various histologic subtypes of this disease. In the majority of studies, current smoking was associated with increased risk of mucinous cancer. There was also evidence of a decreased risk of clear cell and endometrioid histotypes. No significant association was observed between cigarette smoking and serous cancer. In the studies investigating the relationship between smoking and survival, all the studies reported an increased risk of mortality associated with smoking. Smoking appeared to be a risk factor for both ovarian cancer risk and mortality. Future studies need to investigate further a potential link between smoking and ovarian cancer by having a better assessment of exposure to smoking and having a larger number of participants with the ability to detect associations within rare histotypes.
Social Media: Changing the Human Experience

The advent of social media has dramatically changed human interaction. People can now connect with friends, family members, strangers, and even celebrities through any number of engaging platforms. With a simple post, like, or retweet, thoughts and opinions can be shared across the world in a matter of seconds. Social media has created opportunities that did not exist previously, including newfound “social media celebrities” who are famous merely because of what they post to their Instagram accounts. While many benefits exist with the ability to share information among millions of other people, there are pitfalls as well. This introductory chapter will discuss the rise of social media, the various platforms that can be used, and opportunities and challenges we all face as we learn how to navigate this evolving frontier.
Teacher Evaluation Feedback and Instructional Practice Self-Efficacy in Secondary School Teachers:

Purpose: This study, which investigated the relationship between veteran secondary school teacher perceptions of evaluation feedback and self-efficacy of instructional practice, was driven by the r...
Seeing What’s Possible: Videos are more Effective than Written Portrayals for Enhancing the Relatability of Scientists and Promoting Black Female Students’ Interest in STEM

Although interactions with Black female scientists can alter beliefs about STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and encourage Black female students’ interest in these fields, this strategy may overburden the few Black women working in STEM. To address this issue, we explored whether a brief video presentation of a Black female computer scientist would be an effective intervention compared to an identical written transcript. We found that participants from the general U.S. population (Experiments 1, n = 201, and 2, n = 745) and Black women U.S. students (Experiment 3, n = 217) perceived the computer scientist as warmer and felt more virtual connection (i.e., sense of friendship, identification) with the scientist in video compared to written format. The video also was more effective for promoting feelings of friendship with the scientist relative to audio alone or a written transcript with pictures (Experiment 2). Most importantly, Black female students who watched the video of the computer scientist reported greater interest in computer science compared to those who read about the computer scientist and those in a no narrative control condition (Experiment 3). The current findings not only demonstrate that videos are useful tools for diversity practitioners but also highlight the importance of representation in popular movies and TV shows.
Learning Irreducible Representations of Noncommutative Lie Groups

Recent work has constructed neural networks that are equivariant to continuous symmetry groups such as 2D and 3D rotations. This is accomplished using explicit group representations to derive the equivariant kernels and nonlinearities. We present two contributions motivated by frontier applications of equivariance beyond rotations and translations. First, we relax the requirement for explicit Lie group representations, presenting a novel algorithm that finds irreducible representations of noncommutative Lie groups given only the structure constants of the associated Lie algebra. Second, we demonstrate that Lorentz-equivariance is a useful prior for object-tracking tasks and construct the first object-tracking model equivariant to the Poincare group.
Factors affecting peak impact force during soccer headers and implications for the mitigation of head injuries

It has been documented that up to 22% of all soccer injuries are concussions. This is in part due to players purposely using their head to direct the ball during play. To provide a more complete understanding of head trauma in soccer athletes, this study characterized the effects of four soccer ball characteristics (size, inflation pressure, mass, velocity) on the resulting peak impact force as it relates to the potential for incurring neurophysiological changes. A total of six hundred trials were performed on size 4 and 5 soccer balls as well as a novel lightweight soccer ball. Impact force was measured with a force plate and ball velocity was determined using motion capture. These data were used, in conjunction with dimensional analysis to relate impact force to ball size, mass, velocity, and pressure. Reasonable reductions in allowable ball parameters resulted in a 19.7% decrease in peak impact force. Adjustments to ball parameters could reduce a high cumulative peak translational acceleration soccer athlete down into a previously defined safer low loading range. In addition, it was noted that water absorption by soccer balls can result in masses that substantially increase impact force and quickly surpass the NCAA weight limit for game play. Additional research is required to determine whether varying soccer ball characteristics will enable soccer players to avoid persistent neurophysiological deficits or what additional interventions may be necessary and the legal implications of these data are discussed.
Functionally, structurally, and evolutionarily distinct set of genes linked to phenome wide variation in maize

In many eukaryotic species the organismal functions of only a small fraction of annotated genes are supported by individual genetic characterization. The organismal functions of a somewhat larger, but still strict minority, of gene models are supported by quantitative genetic analyses (e.g. GWAS). However the organismal functions of the vast majority of gene models are not supported by any direct evidence. Genes characterized by direct investigation exhibit a set of molecular, structural, population genetic, and evolutionary features which distinguish these genes from other gene models. Weaker versions of the same signatures are present among genes identified through conventional quantitative genetics approaches. A new multi-trait multi-SNP association test, the Genome-Phenome Wide Association Study (GPWAS) combines data from large sets of traits and dense resequencing data to identify that set of genes significantly associated with phenotypic variation \textit{per se}. Genes identified using GPWAS and data for 260 phenotypic traits scored across a maize (\textit{Zea mays}) exhibit many of the same molecular, structural, population genetic, and evolutionary signals indicative of genes with functions characterized by direct genetic investigation. The strength of these signals is significantly higher for genes identified using GPWAS than genes identified through conventional GWAS. These results were consistent with a large subset of annotated gene models in maize play little or no role in determining organismal phenotypes. GPWAS and future similar analytical approaches that leverage data from multiple correlated and uncorrelated traits across the same population may provide a method to prioritize those genes most involved in regulation phenotypic variation across diverse species.
Are estimates of 'potential gains in life expectancy' potentially unreliable?

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate whether estimates of ‘potential gains in life expectancy’ (PGLE) are potentially unreliable. Study design We compare the sum of the PGLEs from actual 1999-2017 reductions in U.S. mortality from all causes to the actual change in life expectancy of the entire population. Methods Multiple-decrement life table techniques are used to calculate the PGLEs from the actual reductions in age-specific rates of mortality from 113 causes. Then, the sum of the estimated PGLEs is compared to the actual change in life expectancy (LE) of the entire population. Results The sum of the estimated gains in LE at birth is 40% larger than the actual increase in LE at birth: 2.7 years vs 1.9 years. The sum of the estimated gains in LE at age 65 years is 40% smaller than the actual increase in LE at age 65 years: 1.0 years vs 1.7 years. Conclusions The fact that the sum of the estimated gains in LE from all diseases differs substantially (in both directions) from the actual increase in LE suggests that estimates of PGLE are potentially unreliable.
“Many of Us Have Been Previously Evicted”: Exploring the Relationship Between Homelessness and Evictions Among Families Participating in the Rapid Rehousing Program in Salt Lake County, Utah

This study is concerned with homeless families that returned to the shelter and qualified to participate in the Rapid Rehousing Program (RRHP) again. Because RRH is a short-term voucher where famil...
Benefits estimation of regenerative braking versus service braking.

A central question not yet examined in the literature is whether regenerative braking provides a kinematic deceleration safety advantage in time and distance over traditional service braking. This ...
Who's Influencing Who? Adolescent Symptomatology and Caregiver Mindful Parenting

Mindful parenting is linked to positive youth emotion regulation, mental health, and parent-child relationship quality. We examined bidirectional relations between adolescent mental health and mindful parenting among a diverse sample of 249 7th grade students and their female (N = 232) and male caregivers (N = 120). We conducted multiple-group cross-lagged models (grouped by adolescent sex). Female adolescents' externalizing symptoms predicted decreased female caregiver mindful parenting six months later, but male and female adolescent externalizing behaviors were negatively associated with male caregivers' mindful parenting one year later. Findings suggest mindful parenting capacities are vulnerable to disruption via adolescent problem behavior. Mindful parenting's potential benefits, caveats, and need to support parent efforts to sustain mindful parenting amidst adolescents' externalizing behaviors are discussed.
Uncertainty and probability

This paper examines the relationship between probability theory and reasoning in uncertainty, and argues that (contra opposing views) probability theory does have a place in reasoning in uncertainty, but that its place is more restricted than many of its advocates claim. Two major theses are argued for. (1) Reasoning from probabilities works well in domains which permit a clear analysis in terms of events over outcome spaces and for which either large bodies of evidence or long periods of "training" are available; but such domains are relatively rare, and even there, care must be taken in interpreting probability results. (2) Some generalizations with which AI applications must concern themselves are not statistical in nature, in the sense that statistical generalizations neither capture their meanings nor even preserve their truth values. For these contexts, different models will be needed.
Tillage, Cover Cropping, and Poultry Litter Effects on Cotton: II. Growth and Yield Parameters

The development of conservation tillage systems for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), capable of reducing soil erosion and improving soil quality while increasing yields and profits, remains a challenge in the southeastern USA. Poor emergence and growth, delayed maturity, and reduced yield are some of the problems that have been encountered in the use of conservation tillage on cotton. The objectives of this study was to evaluate the effects of tillage (no-till, mulch-till, conventional till), cropping system [cotton-winter fallow, cotton-winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop] and N source (poultry litter, ammonium nitrate) on growth and yield of cotton from 1996 to 1998 in northern Alabama. In 1997, cotton lint yield under no-till (NT) was 24 and 18% greater than that under conventional till (CT) and mulch-till (MT) systems, respectively. In 1998, cotton lint yield under the NT system was 7% greater than that under CT. Poultry litter (PL) at 100 kg N ha -1 gave similar lint yield to ammonium nitrate (AN), whereas at 200 kg N ha - 1 , lint yields were significantly greater. No-till, cotton-winter rye cropping, and surface application of 200 kg N ha -1 in form of PL conserved soil moisture in the top 7 cm of the soil. This resulted in early seedling emergence, high seedling vigor, good plant growth, and high lint yield of cotton. These treatments would be appropriate for use in the southeastern USA where soil erosion is a problem and plenty of PL is available each year from the poultry industry.