cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of local search heuristics for the traveling salesman problem

This paper experimentally investigates the dynamical behavior of a search process in a local heuristic search system for a combinatorial optimization problem. Or-opt heuristic algorithm is chosen as the study subject, and the well-known traveling salesman problem (TSP) serves as a problem testbed. This study constructs the search trajectory by using the time-delay method, evaluates the dynamics of the local search system by estimating the correlation dimension for the search trajectory, and illustrates the transition of the local search process from high-dimensional stochastic to low dimensional chaotic behavior.
A Comparison of Glandless and Regular Cottonseed Meals for Laying Hens

Abstract A comparison of glandless cottonseed meal (GCSM) with a regular meal (RCSM) was carried out in a 336-day laying hen study using 5, 10, and 15% of each in the diet. Egg production (hen-day) rates obtained with these meals at dietary levels up to 10% were comparable to those of birds fed the soybean meal basal diet. The GCSM caused a decrease in production rate when fed at 15%. Egg mass output (grams egg/bird/day) was not adversely affected by any of the dietary treatments employed. Apparent lysine availabilities, evaluated with laying hens, were 62.1% for GCSM and 49.7% for RCSM, and true availabilities were 81.9 and 71.7%, respectively. Metabolizable energy contents of the two meals were similar with true metabolizable energy values of 3.04 and 2.81 kcal/g, apparent metabolizable energy values of 2.02 and 2.04 kcal/g and free gossypol levels of .012 and .039% GCSM and RCSM, respectively. No yolk discolorations were found in stored eggs from GCSM-fed birds. The 15% RCSM caused yolk discoloration in 72.5% of the stored eggs. The low residual oil in GCSM (.9% as compared to 1.7% for RCSM) was not sufficient to cause significant changes in yolk fatty acids. Total yolk saturated fatty acids increased from 38.43% for the basal diet to 47.49% with the inclusion of 15% RCSM.
Underwater target detection from multi-platform sonar imagery using multi-channel coherence analysis

This paper introduces a new target detection method for multiple disparate sonar platforms. The detection method is based upon multi-channel coherence analysis (MCA) framework which allows one to optimally decompose the multichannel data to analyze their linear dependence or coherence. This decomposition then allows one to extract MCA features which can be used to discriminate between two hypotheses, one corresponding to the presence of a target and one without, through the use of the log-likelihood ratio. Test results of the proposed detection system were applied to a data set of underwater side-scan sonar imagery provided by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Panama City. This database contains data from 4 disparate sonar systems, namely one high frequency (HF) sonar and three broadband (BB) sonars coregistered over the same area on the sea floor. Test results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed multi-platform detection system in terms of probability of detection, false alarm rate, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.
Total dose effect on ferroelectric PZT capacitors used as non-volatile storage elements

The effects of ionizing radiation on the retained polarization of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films are examined. The retained polarization is the key parameter in measuring the radiation tolerance of the PZT storage element in a nonvolatile memory. Data from the retained polarization measurement show a larger radiation-induced degradation that has generally been reported using the traditional hysteresis loop method for measuring remanent polarization. It appears that the difference is due in part to a cycling-induced annealing effect during the hysteresis loop measurement. >
Effects of 2,2′,4,4′-Tetrachlorobiphenyl on Granulocytic HL-60 Cell Function and Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental contaminants that affect a number of cellular systems, including neutrophils. It has been demonstrated that noncoplanar PCBs (i.e., ortho- substituted PCBs) alter function of primary rat neutrophils. The objectives of these experiments were to determine if responses in a human, neutrophil-like cell line exposed to PCBs were similar to those reported for rat neutrophils and to explore further PCB-mediated alterations in neutrophil function. The human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60) was differentiated with DMSO to a neutrophil-like phenotype. Treatment of differentiated HL-60 cells with 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl, a noncoplanar, ortho-substituted PCB congener, caused an increase in f-Met-Leu-Phe-induced degranulation, as measured by release of myeloperoxidase (MPO). Treatment with the coplanar, non-ortho-substituted congener 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl had no effect on MPO release. 2,2',4,4'-Tetrachlorobiphenyl caused a time- and dose-dependent release of [3H]-arachidonic acid (3H-AA). A significant increase in 3H-AA release was observed after 60 min of exposure, and concentrations of 10 microM or larger increased 3H-AA release. In contrast, 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl had no effect on 3H-AA release. The effect of PCBs on mRNA levels for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was examined using semiquantitative RT-PCR. COX-2 mRNA was significantly elevated in response to 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl in a concentration-dependent manner. COX-2 expression was maximal by 30 min of exposure to 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl. COX-2 protein and activity were also increased after exposure to 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl; COX-1 protein and activity were unaffected. 3,3',4,4'-Tetrachlorobiphenyl did not increase COX-2 mRNA levels. These results demonstrate that a noncoplanar PCB alters the functional status of granulocytic HL-60 cells, causing enhanced degranulation and upregulation of COX-2, whereas a coplanar PCB lacks this activity. These data suggest that noncoplanar PCBs alter HL-60 cell function and COX-2 expression via an Ah-receptor-independent mechanism.
Abscisic Acid Regulates Root Elongation Through the Activities of Auxin and Ethylene in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates many aspects of plant growth and development, including inhibition of root elongation and seed germination. We performed an ABA resistance screen to identify factors required for ABA response in root elongation inhibition. We identified two classes of Arabidopsis thaliana AR mutants that displayed ABA-resistant root elongation: those that displayed resistance to ABA in both root elongation and seed germination and those that displayed resistance to ABA in root elongation but not in seed germination. We used PCR-based genotyping to identify a mutation in ABA INSENSITIVE2 (ABI2), positional information to identify mutations in AUXIN RESISTANT1 (AUX1) and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE2 (EIN2), and whole genome sequencing to identify mutations in AUX1, AUXIN RESISTANT4 (AXR4), and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE ROOT1/PIN-FORMED2 (EIR1/PIN2). Identification of auxin and ethylene response mutants among our isolates suggested that auxin and ethylene responsiveness were required for ABA inhibition of root elongation. To further our understanding of auxin/ethylene/ABA crosstalk, we examined ABA responsiveness of double mutants of ethylene overproducer1 (eto1) or ein2 combined with auxin-resistant mutants and found that auxin and ethylene likely operate in a linear pathway to affect ABA-responsive inhibition of root elongation, whereas these two hormones likely act independently to affect ABA-responsive inhibition of seed germination.
Stridor due to symptomatic Chiari II malformation: three cases of delayed diagnosis

Results Case #1 E.M. was born with MMC, closed the day of birth. Discharged home from the NICU at 13 days of life with stable mild ventriculomegaly. Parents reported intermittent stridor starting at about 2-1/2 months of age and increasing in frequency and severity. After about 6 weeks, was evaluated by ENT and found to have vocal cord paresis. Referred to neurosurgery and had VP shunt placement followed one week later by Chiari decompression.
How to hire employees effectively

Considers the consequence of hiring mistakes. Looks briefly at job and task analysis followed by recruitment and screening. Offers some tips for pre‐testing new employees before covering the interview and reference checks. Concludes that good planning and execution lead to a better quality intake and prevent future expense. Advocates the use of a second opinion.
Land-to-sea transition in early whales: evolution of Eocene Archaeoceti (Cetacea) in relation to skeletal proportions and locomotion of living semiaquatic mammals

Skeletal remains of Eocene Archaeoceti provide the only direct and unequivocal evidence of the evolutionary transition of whales from land to sea. Archaeocete skeletons complete enough to be informative about locomotion are rare (principally Rodhocetus and Dorudon), and these deserve to be studied in comparison to the full spectrum of semiaquatic mammals. A principal components analysis of 14 trunk and limb measurements for 50 species of living semiaquatic mammals reduces the observed variation to three informative axes. The first principal axis (PC-I) represents overall size (water mice and shrews have the lowest scores on this axis and the hippopotamus has the highest); the second axis (PC-II) represents a spectrum of aquatic adaptation (seals have the lowest scores and tapirs have the highest); and the third principal axis (PC-III) represents a spectrum ranging from hindlimb- to forelimb-dominated locomotion (sea otters have the lowest scores and the platypus the highest).Dorudon fits poorly into a morphospace defined solely by living semiaquatic mammals; thus a second 53-species set was analyzed, adding an anthracothere to represent an artiodactyl ancestral morphology and two species of archaeocetes to represent successive stages of early whale evolution. This addition has little effect on the first two principal axes but changes the third substantially. PC-III now represents a contrast of lumbus- (and presumably tail-) dominated versus hindlimb-dominated locomotion (Dorudon has the lowest score and Rodhocetus the highest, whereas the otter shrew has the lowest score among living mammals and the desman the highest). Mammals that are more aquatic have a shorter ilium and femur combined with longer manual and pedal phalanges, whereas the reverse is true for more terrestrial taxa. Lumbus- and tail-dominated swimmers tend to have a longer lumbus combined with shorter pedal elements, whereas the reverse is true for hindlimb-dominated swimmers. Trunk and limb proportions of early middle Eocene Rodhocetus are most similar to those of the living, highly aquatic, foot-powered desmans. Trunk and limb proportions of late middle Eocene Dorudon indicate that it was a lumbus-and-tail-powered swimmer specialized in the direction of modern whales. Thus it appears that the land-to-sea transition in whale evolution involved at least two distinct phases of locomotor specialization: (1) hindlimb domination for drag-based pelvic paddling in protocetids (Rodhocetus), with tail elongation for stability, followed by (2) lumbus domination for lift-based caudal undulation and oscillation in basilosaurids (Dorudon). Rates of evolution in both phases of this change of adaptive zone are about an order of magnitude higher than background rates for the timescale involved.
Nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics of a tallgrass prairie ecosystem exposed to elevated carbon dioxide

A tallgrass prairie ecosystem was exposed to ambient and twice-ambient COz concentrations in open-top chambers and compared to unchambered ambient CO* during the entire growing season from 1989 through 1991. Dominant species were Andropogon gerardii (Cd), A. scoparius (Cd), Sorghastrum nutans (CA) and Pea pratensis (CA). Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in A. gerardii, P. pratensis and dicotyledonous herbs above ground biomass were estimated by periodic sampling throughout the growing season in 1989 and 1990. In 1991, N and P concentrations in peak biomass were estimated by an early August harvest. N and P concentrations in root production as a function of treatment were estimated using root ingrowth bags that remained in place throughout the growing season. Total N and Pin above- and belowground biomass were calculated as products of concentration and peak biomass by species groups. N concentration in A. gerardii and dicotyledonous herb aboveground biomass was lower and total N higher in elevated CO2 plots than in ambient CO* plots. N concentration in P. pratensis aboveground biomass was lower in elevated CO2 plots than in ambient, but total N did not differ among treatments in 2 out of 3 years. In 1990, N concentration in root ingrowth bag biomass was lower and total N greater in elevated CO;? than in ambient CO* plots. Root ingrowth bag biomass N concentration did not differ among treatments in 1991, but total N was greater in elevated COz plots than in ambient CO2 plots. P concentration was lower under elevated CO2 compared to ambient in 1989, but did not differ substantially among treatments in 1990 or 1991. In all years, total P in aboveground A. gerardii and root ingrowth bag biomass was greater under elevated CO2 than ambient. P concentration and total P in P. pratensis was similar among treatments.
Labile compounds in plant litter reduce the sensitivity of decomposition to warming and altered precipitation.

Summary Together, climate and litter quality strongly regulate decomposition rates. Although these two factors and their interaction have been studied across species in continent-scale experiments, few researchers have studied how labile and recalcitrant compounds interact to influence decomposition, or the climate sensitivity of decomposition, within a litter type. Over a period of 3 yr, we studied the effects of warming and altered precipitation on mass loss and compound-specific decomposition using two litter types that possessed similar heteropolymer chemistry, but different proportions of labile and recalcitrant compounds. Climate treatments immediately affected the mass loss of the more recalcitrant litter, but affected the more labile litter only after 2 yr. After 3 yr, although both litter types had lost similar amounts of mass, warming (c. 4°C) and supplemental precipitation (150% of ambient) together accelerated the degradation of alkyl-carbon and lignin only in the more recalcitrant litter, highlighting the role of initial litter quality in determining whether the chemistry of litter residues converges or diverges under different climates. Our finding that labile compounds in litter reduce the climate sensitivity of mass loss and the decomposition of recalcitrant matrix is novel. Our results highlight the potential for litter quality to regulate the effect of climatic changes on the sequestration of litter-derived carbon.
Analyzing change in school psychology research

We look at three common research scenarios, one in the behavioral domain (i.e., disruptive behaviors) one in the cognitive domain (i.e., academic achievement), and one in the affective domain (i.e., anxiety and stress) for which school psychologists are asked to address important questions related to change. We list measurement and statistical considerations across these scenarios, including whether variables are manifest or latent, the scales of measurement, the dimensionality of measures, the units of analysis, the sample size, and the frequency or duration of time, given the primary nature of the variables under study. We suggest that researchers carefully consider whether assumptions can be met employing classical general linear models, or whether contemporary alternatives, such as hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), should be recommended for the more appropriate handling of data. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 535–542, 2007.
A fluorogenic assay for screening Sirt6 modulators

A fluorogenic high-throughput assay suitable for screening Sirt6 modulators is developed based on the recently discovered efficient activity of Sirt6 to hydrolyze myristoyl lysine. Sirt6 modulators will be useful in investigating the function of Sirt6 and protein lysine fatty acylation.
Intrinsic functional connectivity of the human medial temporal lobe suggests a distinction between adjacent MTL cortices and hippocampus

Functional connectivity analyses can offer insights into mechanisms of the brain that might not be revealed by traditional fMRI. These analyses compare seed voxels' activity over time to the activity of other voxels over time and identify correlations between regions. This study is the first to perform functional connectivity analyses in the human medial temporal lobe (MTL) at high enough resolution to resolve the hippocampal subfields. We calculated the average correlation coefficients between the MTL cortices, which include the entorhinal (ERC), perirhinal (PRC), and parahippocampal cortex (PHC), and the hippocampal subfields dentate gyrus/CA3, CA1, and subiculum. We found that the hippocampal subfields had relatively high correlations with each other both within and across hemispheres, but did not have exceptionally strong correlations with the MTL cortices. The opposite was also seen where there was a relatively high correlation coefficient between the ERC and PRC, but both regions had low correlation coefficients with the hippocampal subfields. We also found greater functional connectivity within a hemisphere than across hemispheres. These effects were replicated across multiple datasets which differed in task demands, participants' age, and scanner sequence/slice acquisition. Notably, all datasets were better correlated to these patterns of intrinsic functional connectivity than to a model based on anatomical constraints. This is consistent with evidence that functional connectivity is not a direct mapping of anatomical connectivity. These patterns of functional connectivity imply a distinction between the MTL cortices and the hippocampus and speak to our understanding of the organization of the MTL.
National Trends In Use Of Medications In Office-Based Practice, 1985–1999

Increases in physician office visits involving the use or prescribing of a drug were observed between 1985 and 1999 using data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. The prescription rate increased from 109 to 146 prescriptions per 100 visits. Growth in drug mention rates for specific therapeutic classes varied by patients’ age. The rate of multiple prescriptions per visit rose 39 percent. Similar-size increases were observed after differences in patients’ age, number of comorbidities, source of payment, and physician specialty were controlled for.
Dual and triple therapy regimens of antisecretory agents and antibiotics for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: an overview.

Background: Studies evaluating therapeutic regimens that combine antisecretory agents with antibiotics for the eradication of H. pylori have reported significant variations in efficacy.Methods: We reviewed the published literature to compare H. pylori eradication rates in patients treated with either omeprazole, ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC), or ranitidine plus metronidazole combined with either amoxicillin or clarithromycin.Results: Wide variations in H. pylori eradication rates have been reported with omeprazole plus either amoxicillin (0–100%) or clarithromycin (42–88%). Eradication rates ranging from 45% to 89% and from 74% to 94% have been reported with RBC plus either amoxicillin or clarithromycin, respectively. Eradication rates ranging from 48% to 90% have been reported with ranitidine plus metronidazole and amoxicillin and one study reported an eradication rate of 95% with ranitidine plus metronidazole and clarithromycin.Conclusions: Well-controlled trials with ranitidine bismuth citrate plus ...
TALKING TO, FOR AND ABOUT THE TV: AN ANALYSIS OF NFL FANS’ DISCOURSE

Underrepresented in sport discourse literature, the usually private interactions among television viewers provided the context for this research. The present study built directly on previous findings regarding TV viewer interaction, sport discourse, and speakers’ multiple identities by analyzing the linguistic features of interactions among four male family members while watching televised football in their home. Participants used prosodic features to frame utterances while taking on the voice of fan, coach, or commentator and talking to, for, or about the TV. In general, these viewers talked ‘to’ the TV as fans and coaches, ‘for’ the TV as commentators, and ‘about’ the TV in all three roles. The findings are of potential interest to researchers as well as marketing and advertising companies.
UV photobiology of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans: action spectra, absence of photoreactivation and effects of caffeine.

Action spectra for UV inactivation of reproduction in Caenorhabditis elegans have been obtained for strains N2 (wild-type) and rad-3 (radiation-sensitive). Use of a dye laser radiation source, providing high intensity in a narrow wavelength band, has permitted more detail (14 wavelengths between 260 and 320 nm) than available in the spectra for other multicellular organisms. Overall sensitivity of N2 is similar to that of wild-type Escherichia coli; that of rad-3 is 30-fold higher between 265 and 310 nm; relative sensitivity decreases above 310 nm but also seems to increase for irradiation below 265 nm. Tests for photoreactivation and for modification of survival by post-irradiation treatment with caffeine were negative.
Trajectory Scheduling for Timely Data Report in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper considers underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) for surveillance and monitoring. Sensors are distributed in several key sections along the seafloor to record the surrounding environment, for example, monitoring oil pipelines and submarine volcanoes. Due to the need for timely data reporting and the fact that underwater communications suffer from a significant signal attenuation, homogeneous autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are sent to retrieve information from the sensors, and periodically surface to report the collected data to the sink. In this paper, considering the huge energy consumption of surfacing and diving, our objective is to determine a trajectory schedule for the AUVs so that the total amount of surfacing for all the AUVs are minimized, and the data is reported to sink within the deadline. We first investigate the influence of different movement directions of AUVs, and provide the optimal solution to minimize the amount of surfacing for multiple AUVs within the same sensor section. Then, we propose a greedy detouring scheme to collaboratively schedule the AUVs in adjacent sensor sections. Extensive experiments show that our trajectory scheduling improves performance significantly.
Hiding violence to deal with the state Criminal pacts in El Salvador and Medellin

In 2012, the two major street gangs in El Salvador, Mara Salvatrucha 13 and Barrio 18, struck a truce credited with reducing homicide rates by more than 50% in one year. Although the gang truce hel...
Tissue Affinity of Shope Papilloma Virus

SummaryIt is plain that the Shope papilloma virus is remarkably specific in its action, affecting only the epidermis of rabbits and hares and failing to influence embryonic epidermis or other kinds of epithelium, even when this is keratinizing as the result of avitaminosis A, or proliferating in consequence of Scharlach R stimulation.
Interfacing multistage mass spectrometry with liquid chromatography or ion mobility separation for synthetic polymer analysis.

Synthetic polymers are naturally mixtures of homologs, even in pure form. More complexity is introduced by the presence of different comonomers, end groups and/or macromolecular architectures. The ...
Study of HIV/ syphilis infection and influencing factors of the MSM having group sex behavior in Mianyang,Sichuan

Objective To understand group sex behavior and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)/ syphilis infection of men who have sex with men(MSM)and analysis influence factors. Methods Combined with the snowball sampling method to recruit subjects,related behavior anonymous survey and serological detection is conducted among. Results Totally 367 people are visited,3.5% in nearly six months have group sex behavior. The HIV infection rate was7.7%/4.5%among men having group sex or men not having group sex respectively,syphilis infection rate was 23.1%/21.2%,current infection rate of 15.4%/9.0%(χ2=0.286、0.027、0.083,P0.05).By the single factor analysis The sex behavior and age,occupation,acceptance of peer education, looking for partners place,age of first sexual behavior,the number of male anal sex over the past 6 months,minimum age nearly six months,partners during the regular sexual partner,the cumulative number of casual sexual partners,watching gay culture film regularly,effect of culture of the movie on the behavior of comrade were related with the group sexual behaviors(χ2=5.416、6.261、5.821、11.487、3.876、5.672、22.117、4.316、21.064、4.835、5.018,P0.05). By the multivariate analysis,independent risk factors of MSM having group sex behavior were age(OR=11.129),commercial sexual behavior nearly six months(OR=295.842),unprotected anal intercourse nearly six months(OR=9.091),effect of culture of the movie on the behavior of comrade(OR=32.810),These men ranged from 33 to 41 years old,having commercial sexual behavior nearly six months or unprotected anal intercourse,and whose behavior of comrade were affected by the movie on gay sexual culture have higher proportion of group sex behavior. Conclusions MSM having group sex behaviors are affected by demographic characteristics,sexual behavior and gay culture film effect,as high risk behaviors among them are common,and the bridge role of HIV infection and transmission are also obvious. Thus behavior intervention should be carried out.
The Proprsal on Setting Bioinformatics Course in Medical Education

It is necessary to hold basic knowledge and skill and to possess primary ability for medical student in nowadays century that how to acquire and use the huge information provided by genomics and post-genomics and how to possess a primary ability to regale on the public sources for the whole humanity, and it is still the urgent affairs to be done in the course system innovation that "orients the medical education to modernization and futurity". It is a resolution program that is to throw off some banal course setting and to set "bioinformation" course in medical undergraduate education (five or eight year system), those major goal is to get an ability to acquire and use genomic information.
Modeling of Trajectory of Surface to Air Missile with Hybrid Rocket Ramjet

The new problems of the trajectory design of SA M with hybrid rocket ramjet are discussed in this paper To solve the problems, a method which has been testified with trajectory simulation is given \;
Emergency Analgesia and Chemical Restraint in the Horse

Clinical examination of the equine patient with acute abdominal pain should identify the affected body system and yield a provisional diagnosis. Determination of signalment, history, physical examination, and basic laboratory tests should assist in classification of the gastrointestinal disorder and direct the therapeutic plan. Determination of the definitive diagnosis of abdominal pain based on clinical examination is not crucial. For a successful outcome, efforts should be directed toward early recognition of the need for surgery and treatment of cardiovascular compromise in horses with severe gastrointestinal disease.
Characterization of Ultra-Shallow P+/N Diodes Fabricated using Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation*

Plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) is used to fabricate P + /N junctions with junction depth less than 100 nm. SiF 4 is implanted at 4 to 6 keV to form an amorphous layer, and BF3 is implanted at 2 keV. Damage is annealed at 1060°C for 10 s. Electrical characterization of diodes yields an ideality factor of 1.05 to 1.06 and total leakage current density of 3.2 nA cm −2 with a 5 V reverse bias. Bulk leakage current density is only 2 nA cm −2 .
Predictability and Dynamics of Warm-Core Mesoscale Vortex Formation with the 8 May 2009 “Super Derecho” Event

AbstractThe predictability and dynamics of the warm-core mesovortex associated with the northern flank of the 8 May 2009 “super derecho” event are examined by coupling the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting Model with the ensemble adjustment Kalman filter implementation within the Data Assimilation Research Testbed facility. Cycled analysis started at 1200 UTC 2 May 2009, with observations assimilated every 6 h until 1200 UTC 7 May 2009, at which time a 50-member ensemble of 36-h convection-allowing ensemble forecasts were launched. The ensemble forecasts all simulated a mesoscale convective system, but only 7 out of 50 members produced a warm-core mesovortex-like feature similar in intensity to the observed mesovortex.Ensemble sensitivity and composite analyses were conducted to analyze the environmental differences between ensemble members. A more amplified upstream upper-level trough near the time of observed convection initiation is associated with a stronger simulated mesovortex. The ...
A preliminary analysis of feminist views on the crime of rape

Although rape has been considered a serious social problem for centuries, the rise of the Feminist Movement in North America in the 1970’s has served to bring the problem into the public eye. Leading Feminists, among them Camille LeGrand and Susan Brownmiller, have proposed new hypotheses both on rape and the rapist which differ significantly from traditional theories on the crime. Some of the Feminists’ hypotheses, particularly those which presuppose very high levels of rape and assume massive underreporting of the crime by its victims, do not receive much support in empirical surveys. But one aspect of the Feminists’ perspective on rape—that rape is an act against both person and property—is substantiated by empirical analysis of UCR data. The data suggest that the crime of rape shares significant commonalities with the crimes of property, as well as crimes of violence, and rape statistics act to hold together these two, otherwise different, categories of crime.
Applying Mechanistic Dam Breach Models to Historic Levee Breaches

Hurricane Katrina elevated levee risk in the US national consciousness, motivating agencies to assess and improve their levee risk assessment methodology. Accurate computation of the flood flow magnitude and timing associated with a levee breach remains one of the most difficult and uncertain components of levee risk analysis. Contemporary methods are largely empirical and approximate, introducing substantial uncertainty to the damage and life loss models. Levee breach progressions are often extrapolated to the final width and breach formation time based on limited experience with past breaches or using regression equations developed from a limited data base of dam failures. Physically based embankment erosion models could improve levee breach modeling. However, while several mechanistic embankment breach models are available, they were developed for dams. Several aspects of the levee breach problem are distinct, departing from dam breach assumptions. This study applies three embankments models developed for dam breach analysis (DL Breach, HR BREACH, and WinDAM C) to historic levee breaches with observed (or inferred) breach rates, assessing the limitations, and applicability of each model to the levee breach problem.
Investigating the effects of energy resolution in dedicated emission mammotomography

This study probes the recent debate over the necessity for good energy resolution for uncompressed breast, 3D lesion imaging with dedicated single photon emission mammotomography. Here, the imaging system consists of a commercial, discretized CZT gamma camera having ~6% FWHM intrinsic energy resolution (at 140 keV) and intrinsic spatial resolution corresponding to the 2.5 mm square pixilation, and is used on a fully-3D positioning gantry. Wider energy windows are used on list mode acquired data as a surrogate for having otherwise identical detection systems with poorer energy resolution characteristics. Scans using simple circular trajectories are first obtained of an aqueous Tc-99m filled mini resolution cold-rod phantom at various radii-of-rotation, and also immersed in a larger uniform water bath. Multiple 3D orbits about Tc-99m filled anthropomorphic breast and torso phantoms are acquired, with the breast containing two large lesions. The list mode data files were multiply processed to obtain images of varying energy window widths (from symmetric 6% to an asymmetric 18% (-12+6)) but with the same projection image count density. Counts were randomly subsampled from the entire list mode data set in order to maintain equivalent levels of count density for several bootstrap realizations. All data was then reconstructed using OSEM for various iterations. Profiles were obtained from the cold rod images, and regions of interest were drawn in and about the spherical lesions to determine signal-to-noise ratios and contrasts for each iteration. Results clearly illustrate both visual and quantitative differences between the various energy windows, with smaller energy windows (corresponding to better energy resolution) having better image quality
Coordination and transfer

We study the ability of subjects to transfer principles between related coordination games. Subjects play a class of order statistic coordination games closely related to the well-known minimum (or weak-link) and median games (Van Huyck et al. in Am Econ Rev 80:234–248, 1990, Q J Econ 106(3):885–910, 1991). When subjects play a random sequence of games with differing order statistics, play is less sensitive to the order statistic than when a fixed order statistic is used throughout. This is consistent with the prediction of a simple learning model with transfer. If subjects play a series of similar stag hunt games, play converges to the payoff dominant equilibrium when a convention emerges, replicating the main result of Rankin et al. (Games Econ Behav 32:315–337, 2000). When these subjects subsequently play a random sequence of order statistic games, play is shifted towards the payoff dominant equilibrium relative to subjects without previous experience. The data is consistent with subjects absorbing a general principle, play of the payoff dominant equilibrium, and applying it in a new related setting.
A multi-agent system environment for modelling cell and tissue biology

Tissue simulation at the cellular level is very important to medical research, especially in understanding tumor cell evolution. Although many approaches have been proposed for tissue simulation, they are overly simplistic or too specialized. In this paper, we formulate the first comprehensive design of a multiagent system for modelling tissue systems at the cellular level. We present our design concerns and our analyses of system features in detail. We believe our system provides a software model and foundation for the study of tissue biology.
Efficient Kriging surrogate modeling approach for system reliability analysis

Current limit state surrogate modeling methods for system reliability analysis usually build surrogate models for failure modes individually or build composite limit states. In practical engineering applications, multiple system responses may be obtained from a single setting of inputs. In such cases, building surrogate models individually will ignore the correlation between different system responses and building composite limit states may be computationally expensive because the nonlinearity of composite limit state is usually higher than individual limit states. This paper proposes a new efficient Kriging surrogate modeling approach for system reliability analysis by constructing composite Kriging surrogates through selection of Kriging surrogates constructed individually and Kriging surrogates built based on singular value decomposition. The resulting composite surrogate model will combine the advantages of both types of Kriging surrogate models and thus reduce the number of required training points. A new stopping criterion and a new surrogate model refinement strategy are proposed to further improve the efficiency of this approach. The surrogate models are refined adaptively with high accuracy near the active failure boundary until the proposed new stopping criterion is satisfied. Three numerical examples including a series, a parallel, and a combined system are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Translation—The Synthesis of Protein

In protein biosynthesis, or translation, a sequence of mRNA codons directs the polymerization of amino acids into a polypeptide chain. The process is appropriately called translation, since it involves a transfer of genetic information by means of two different “languages” using nucleotides and amino acids.
The direct economic impact of the Flint, Michigan, farmers’ market relocation

This study considers the effects of location on farmers’ market success using the relocation of the farmers’ market in Flint, Michigan, as a case study. It examines whether relocating the market be...
Infrared Spectra and Structure of CVD B2O3-SiO2 Glasses

Glassy solids are commonly formed by continuous cooling from the liquid state. The procedure consists of quenching a normal liquid into the supercooled liquid range at such a rate so as to bypass its equilibrium crystallization point. Finally, at Tg, the glass transition temperature, the system falls out of its internal equilibrium. The supercooled liquid now transforms to a glass, carrying with it the structural configuration at Tg. However, the essential requirement for glass formation is that the thermal energy of an ensemble of particles, whether molecules, ions, atoms, etc. can be removed at a rate which for kinetic reasons, precludes the organization of these particles into a crystal lattice. For this purpose an initially liquid state of the glassy system is by no means necessary. In fact a more efficient procedure for removing the molecular thermal energy is to deposit the molecules sequentially from a vapor onto a cold substrate (cold with respect to Tg of the deposited material).
Seasonal trophic variation of yellow perch exceeds spatial variation in a large lake basin

Abstract Trophic structuring of complex food webs may vary at multiple spatial and temporal scales, both in terms of direct trophic connections and underlying energy pathways that support production. In large freshwater systems, the prey and primary producers that support individual higher-order consumers may vary across seasons and habitats due to differences in food availability, predator consumption patterns, seasonal succession of organisms at lower trophic levels, and heterogeneous nutrient inputs. We examined spatial and temporal variation in stomach contents, fatty acids, and stable isotopes of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) across seasons and across sites spanning approximately 200 km in Lake Erie's Central Basin (LECB). Stomach contents provided a short-term index of trophic patterns, while biochemical markers (fatty acids and stable isotopes) provided a more temporally integrated description of underlying energy pathways and trophic links. We found limited spatial variation of biochemical indicators and documented seasonal variation for all three trophic indicators, especially fatty acid profiles. Differences in stomach contents were driven by relative chironomid consumption, the most abundant prey resource, while fatty acid profiles were predominantly influenced by seasonal fluctuations in C22:6n-3 (DHA). Seasonal trends were evident in δ13C and δ15N; however, they varied within a narrow range of values. Our findings suggest that adult yellow perch in LECB showed little differentiation in resource use across space in 2014, but their diets and biochemical compositions varied seasonally.
Beating Heterogeneity of Single-Site Catalysts: MgO-Supported Iridium Complexes

Catalysts consisting of isolated metal atoms on oxide supports have attracted wide attention because they offer unique catalytic properties, but their structures remain largely unknown because the metals are bonded at various, heterogeneous surface sites. Now, by using highly crystalline MgO as a support for metal sites made from a mononuclear organoiridium precursor and investigating the surface species with X-ray absorption spectroscopy, atomic resolution electron microscopy, and electronic structure theory, we have differentiated among the MgO surface sites for iridium bonding. The results demonstrate the contrasting structures and catalytic properties of samples, even including those incorporating iridium at loadings as low as 0.01 wt % and showing that the latter are nearly ideal in the sense of having almost all the Ir atoms at equivalent surface sites, with each Ir atom bonded to three oxygen atoms of the MgO surface. These supported molecular catalysts are modeled accurately with density functiona...
Liquid Scintillator Response to Proton Recoils in the 10-100 keV Range

We study the response of EJ-301 liquid scintillator to monochromatic 244.6 $\pm$ 8.4 keV neutrons, targeting the 10-100 keV proton recoil energy interval. Limited experimental information exists for proton light yield in this range, for this or any other organic scintillator. Our results confirm the adequacy of a modified Birks' model, common to all organic scintillator formulations, predicting a marked increase in quenching factor as proton energy approaches the few keV regime. The relevance of this behavior within the context of searches for low-mass particle dark matter is mentioned.
Illegal Beings: Human Clones and the Law

Introduction Part I. Five Common Objections to Human Reproductive Cloning Reflect, Reinforce, and Inspire Stereotypes about Human Clones: 1. Does human reproductive cloning offend God and nature? 2. Should children be begotten and not made? 3. Do human clones lack individuality? 4. Could human clones destroy humanity? 5. Does human reproductive cloning harm participants and produce children with birth defects? Part II. Anti-Cloning Laws Are Bad Public Policy: 6. What anti-cloning laws say and do 7. The five objections have inspired anti-cloning laws 8. Anti-cloning laws reflect a policy of existential segregation 9. The costs of anti-cloning laws outweigh their benefits Part III. Anti-Cloning Laws Violate the Equal Protection Guarantee and Are Unconstitutional: 10. Anti-cloning laws classify human clones and are subject to strict scrutiny 11. Anti-cloning laws inflict judicially cognizable injuries that confer standing 12. Anti-cloning laws violate the equal protection guarantee Conclusion.
The demographic profiles of the world's largest cities: a baseline analysis and policy implications.

"This paper examines the demographic profiles of 74 of the world's largest cities through cluster analysis, which classifies the cities into distinctive groups based on population size, net population change, rate of natural increase, sex ratio, age composition, and dependency ratios. Discussions of the results focus on: the strikingly different demographic profiles of the large cities in more developed countries (MDCs) and less developed countries (LDCs); the simultaneous similarities and differences among MDC cities and socialist and former socialist cities; and the particular demographic characteristics of certain MDC and LDC cities. The paper also draws research implications for the data and method used and urban policy implications for the demographic and socioeconomic conditions in very large MDC and LDC cities."
Determining the Academic and Well-Being Needs of Students in Urban School Environments: A Delphi Study:

Research indicates that there is a discrepancy in academic outcomes between students attending school in urban environments and those attending school in suburban environments. While educational re...
Task Agnostic Meta-Learning for Few-Shot Learning

Meta-learning approaches have been proposed to tackle the few-shot learning problem. Typically, a meta-learner is trained on a variety of tasks in the hopes of being generalizable to new tasks. However, the generalizability on new tasks of a meta-learner could be fragile when it is over-trained on existing tasks during meta-training phase. In other words, the initial model of a meta-learner could be too biased towards existing tasks to adapt to new tasks, especially when only very few examples are available to update the model. To avoid a biased meta-learner and improve its generalizability, we propose a novel paradigm of Task-Agnostic Meta-Learning (TAML) algorithms. Specifically, we present an entropy-based approach that meta-learns an unbiased initial model with the largest uncertainty over the output labels by preventing it from over-performing in classification tasks. Alternatively, a more general inequality-minimization TAML is presented for more ubiquitous scenarios by directly minimizing the inequality of initial losses beyond the classification tasks wherever a suitable loss can be defined. Experiments on benchmarked datasets demonstrate that the proposed approaches outperform compared meta-learning algorithms in both few-shot classification and reinforcement learning tasks.
Scoring functions for protein-RNA complex structure prediction: advances, applications, and future directions

Protein-RNA interaction is among the most essential of biological events in living cells, being involved in protein synthesizing, RNA processing and transport, DNA transcription, and regulation of gene expression, and many other critical bio-molecular activities. A thorough understanding of this interaction is of paramount importance in fundamental study of a variety of vital cellular processes and therapeutic application for remedy of a broad range of diseases. Experimental high-resolution 3D structure determination is the primary source of knowledge for protein-RNA complexes. However, due to technical limitations, the existing techniques for experimental structure determination couldn’t match the demand from fast growing interest in academia and industry. This problem necessitates the alternative high-throughput computational method for protein-RNA complex structure prediction. Similar to the in silico methods used for protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions, a reliable prediction of protein-RNA complex structure requires a scoring function with commensurate discriminatory power. Derived from determined structures and purposed to predict the to-be-determined structures, the scoring function is not only a predictive tool but also a gauge of our knowledge of protein-RNA interaction. In this review, we present an overview of the status of existing scoring functions and the scientific principle behind their constructions as well as their strengths and limitations. Finally, we will discuss about future directions of the scoring function development for protein-RNA structure prediction.