cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ON-LINE CONTROL ARCHITECTURE FOR ENABLING REAL-TIME TRAFFIC SYSTEM OPERATIONS

: Advances in information technology and inexpensive high-end computational power are motivating a new generation of methodological paradigms for the efficient information-based real-time operation of large-scale traffic systems equipped with sensor technologies. Critical to their effectiveness are the control architectures that provide a blueprint for the efficient transmission and processing of large amounts of real-time data, and consistency-checking and fault tolerance mechanisms to ensure seamless automated functioning. However, the lack of low-cost, high-performance, and easy-to-build computing environments are key impediments to the widespread deployment of such architectures in the real-time traffic operations domain. This article proposes an Internet-based on-line control architecture that uses a Beowulf cluster as its computational backbone and provides an automated mechanism for real-time route guidance to drivers. To investigate this concept, the computationally intensive optimization modules are implemented on a low-cost 16-processor Beowulf cluster and a commercially available supercomputer, and the performance of these systems on representative computations is measured. The results highlight the effectiveness of the cluster in generating substantial computational performance scalability, and suggest that its performance is comparable to that of the more expensive supercomputer.
Leading Techies: Assessing Project Leadership Styles Most Significantly Related to Software Developer Job Satisfaction

The leadership behavior of the immediate supervisor is found to contribute to subordinate job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The purpose of this study is to assess leadership styles that are significantly correlated with software developer job satisfaction. The participants were software developers from 24 organizations in higher education, consulting, defense contracting, and local government. Correlations were assessed through multiple linear regressions. The results indicate a significant predicting relationship between project manager leadership styles and software developer job satisfaction. Contingent-reward, active management-by-exception, and laissez-faire leadership styles are found to be significantly related to overall job satisfaction when controlling the effects of the other independent variables. Implications of these findings are discussed along with recommendations for IT professionals and researchers.
In-situ visualization of exhaust soot particle deposition and removal in channel flows

Abstract Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) coolers are used in diesel engines to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides. Thermophoretic particle deposition occurring in EGR coolers causes a significant degradation in the cooler effectiveness generally followed by the stabilization of cooler effectiveness after long exposure times. Mechanisms responsible for this stabilization are not clearly understood. To investigate the stabilization trend, a visualization test rig was developed to track the dynamics of diesel exhaust soot particulate deposition and removal in-situ. A digital microscope records surface characteristics. A medium duty engine is used to generate the exhaust stream. A steady state condition was selected to run the engine for the deposition tests. In contrast to conventional understanding, large particles (tens of microns) were observed in diesel exhaust. Interesting results are observed for flaking/removal of the deposit layer during designed removal experiments. Water condensation at a low coolant temperature and bombardment of large particles resulted in a significant removal of deposit in the form of flakes while thermal expansion or shear force (low velocities) alone did not remove the deposit layer.
RecQ helicases in DNA double strand break repair and telomere maintenance

Organisms are constantly exposed to various environmental insults which could adversely affect the stability of their genome. To protect their genomes against the harmful effect of these environmental insults, organisms have evolved highly diverse and efficient repair mechanisms. Defective DNA repair processes can lead to various kinds of chromosomal and developmental abnormalities. RecQ helicases are a family of evolutionarily conserved, DNA unwinding proteins which are actively engaged in various DNA metabolic processes, telomere maintenance and genome stability. Bacteria and lower eukaryotes, like yeast, have only one RecQ homolog, whereas higher eukaryotes including humans possess multiple RecQ helicases. These multiple RecQ helicases have redundant and/or non-redundant functions depending on the types of DNA damage and DNA repair pathways. Humans have five different RecQ helicases and defects in three of them cause autosomal recessive diseases leading to various kinds of cancer predisposition and/or aging phenotypes. Emerging evidence also suggests that the RecQ helicases have important roles in telomere maintenance. This review mainly focuses on recent knowledge about the roles of RecQ helicases in DNA double strand break repair and telomere maintenance which are important in preserving genome integrity.
Analyzing the impact of social media on social movements: a computational study on Twitter and the occupy wall street movement

The extensive use of digital social media by social movement actors is an emerging trend that restructures the communication dynamics of social protest, and it is widely credited with contributing to the successful mobilizations of recent movements (e.g., Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street). Yet, our understanding of both the roles played by social movement's use of social media and the extent of its impact is largely derived from anecdotal evidence, news reports, and a thin body of scholarly research on web-based technologies. In this research we explore several computational methods for measuring the impact of social media on a social movement. Inspired by methodologies originally developed for analyzing computer networks and other dynamic systems, these methods measure various static and dynamic aspects of social networks, and their relations to an underlying social movement. We demonstrated the feasibility and benefits of these measurement methods in the context of Twitter and the Occupying Wall Street movement (OWS). By analyzing tweets related to OWS, we demonstrated the link between the vitality of the movement and the volume of the related tweets over time. We show that there is a positive correlation between the dynamic of tweets and the short-term trend of OWS. The correlation makes it possible to forecast the short-term trend of a social movement using social media data. By ranking users based on the number of their OWS-related tweets and the durations of their tweeting, we are able to identify "buzz makers". Using a strategy similar to the page-rank algorithm, we define the influence of a user by the number of re-tweets that his/her original tweets incite. By tracing where OWS-related tweets are generated, we measure the geographic diffusion of OWS. By analyzing the percentage of OWS tweets generated from different sources, we show that smart phones and applications such as tweet deck had been used extensively for tweeting in the OWS movement. This indicates the involvement of a younger and more technology-inclined generation in OWS.
New enzyme-linked immunosorbent digoxin assay on the ADVIA IMS 800i system is virtually free from interference of endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactive factors.

Abstract:Endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactive factors (DLIF) may crossreact with antidigoxin antibody and falsely elevate immunoassay results. Recently, a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent chemiluminescent assay for digoxin has been available for use on the ADVIA IMS (Integrated Modular System) 800i
Increasing Risk and Increasing Informativeness: Equivalence Theorems

When considering problems of sequential decision making under uncertainty, two of the most interesting questions are: How does the value of the optimal decision variable change with an increase in risk? How does the value of the optimal decision variable change with a more informative signal? In this paper, we show that if the payoff function is separable in the random variable, then one model can simultaneously answer both questions. This result holds for the reaction functions and equilibria of noncooperative games, as well as for single decision makers, with virtually no restrictions on the payoff functions. This is useful because otherwise it is very difficult to get at general results on the impact of learning. Furthermore, we clarify why the impacts of risk and a more informative signal are different when the payoff function is nonlinear in the random variable. It is because the directional impacts of informativeness are independent of risk attitude; the impacts of risk are not.
The psychological impact of arthritis: Prevalence of depression

Attempts to estimate the prevalence of depression in people with arthritis are complicated by conceptual, definitional, and measurement problems and inconsistencies. Following a description of these methodologic problems, recent studies of depressive disorders and depressive symptoms in clinical and community samples are reviewed. The review suggests that although most people with rheumatic diseases do not experience them, depressive disorders and symptoms are probably more prevalent among people with rheumatic diseases than among people with no chronic diseases. This somewhat increased prevalence is probably no greater than that found in other serious chronic diseases, however. Additional research is needed.
Differential post-transcriptional control of ornithine decarboxylase and spermidine-spermine N1-acetyltransferase by polyamines

Abstract Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and spermidine/spermine N 1 -acetyltransferase (SSAT) are short-lived polyamine enzymes with rate-limiting roles in controlling polyamine biosynthesis and catabolism, respectively. We have found that treatment of MALME-3M human melanoma cells for 6 h with 10 μg/ml cycloheximide (CHX) increases ODC and SSAT mRNA 6–9-fold. When cells containing CHX-induced SSAT mRNA were washed and post-incubated for an additional 6 h in drug free media, enzyme activity increased only 2-fold above that in untreated cells despite the > 6-fold increase in accumulated mRNA. Inclusion of 10 μM spermine or spermidine in the post-incubation medium increased SSAT activity ∼7-fold without further elevating SSAT mRNA levels. This indicates post-transcriptional regulation which, due to the similarity between polyamine-mediated increases in SSAT activity and available mRNA, probably occurs at the level of mRNA translation. In contrast to the SSAT response, polyamines markedly reduced ODC activity (but not mRNA) to one sixth that in cells not exposed to polyamines. The findings illustrate how via post-transcriptional mechanisms, shifts in intracellular polyamine pools can simultaneously and differentially regulate polyamine biosynthesis and catabolism. It is hypothesized that these post-transcriptional responses enable cells to rapidly and sensitively control intracellular spermidine and spermine pools.
Imagery as a relational organizer in associative learning

Mental imagery improves paired-associate (PA) learning relative to overt rehearsal. The effect might be due to increased reliability of stimulus encoding or to increased relational association produced by imagery. These hypotheses expect different outcomes when imagery and rote-rehearsal Ss are compared on memory tests of stimulus recognition and on recall of the response term conditional upon stimulus recognition. The Ss learned PAs using one of three methods--rote repetition, interactive imagery, or separation imagery. Associative recall was highest for interactive-imagery Ss and lower and equal for rote- and separationimagery Ss. No differences in stimulus recognition appeared. Such evidence supports the relational-organizing interpretation of the PA effect of imagery in opposition to the stimulus-distinctiveness or reliable-encoding explanations.
Educational Accommodations for Students With Behavioral Challenges: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Educational policies mandate the consideration of accommodations so that students with disabilities become proficient in the objectives outlined by state academic content standards and demonstrate proficiency on high-stakes assessments. However, neither policies nor empirical research provide sufficient guidance for educators to effectively select and implement accommodations. This study reviews the effectiveness of accommodations for students in the special education eligibility category of emotional disturbance and those with diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). First, we propose definitions that delineate accommodations from modifications and interventions. Next, we identify strategies that could serve as potential accommodations for this population. Next, we conduct a systematic literature review and calculate effect sizes to evaluate the effectiveness of the included strategies. Finally, we review the evidence to determine whether each included strategy meets the proposed def...
On the Use of Line Depth Ratios to Measure Starspot Properties on Magnetically Active Stars

Photometric and spectroscopic techniques have proven to be effective ways to measure the properties of dark, cool starspots on magnetically active stars. Recently, a technique was introduced using atomic line depth ratios (LDRs) to measure starspot properties. Carefully reproducing this technique using a new set of spectroscopic observations of active stars, we find that the LDR technique encounters difficulties, specifically by overestimating spot temperatures (because the atomic lines blend with titanium oxide absorption in cooler spots) and by not tightly constraining the filling factor of spots. While the use of LDRs for active star studies has great promise, we believe that these concerns need to be addressed before the technique is more widely applied.
First-Year Principal Encounters Homophobia

A 1st-year principal encounters homonegativity and an ethical dilemma when she attempts to terminate a teacher because of the teacher’s inadequate and ineffective teaching. The teacher responds by threatening to “out” Ms. L. to the parents.
Hang on a sec!: effects of proactive mediation of phone conversations while driving

Conversing on cell phones while driving is a risky, yet commonplace activity. State legislatures in the U.S. have enacted rules that limit hand-held phone conversations while driving but that allow for hands-free conversations. However, studies have demonstrated that the cognitive load of conversation is a significant source of distraction that increases the likelihood of accidents. We explore in a controlled study with a driving simulator the effectiveness of proactive alerting and mediation of communications during phone conversations while driving. We study the use of auditory messages indicating upcoming critical road conditions and placing calls on hold. We found that such actions reduce driving errors and that alerts sharing details about situations were more effective than general alerts. Drivers found such a system valuable in most situations for maintaining driving safety. These results provide evidence that context-sensitive mediation systems could play a valuable role in focusing drivers' attention on the road during phone conversations.
Introduction of professional software into the curriculum of an undergraduate power system analysis course

The author presents sophisticated professional software for power system analysis to be applied to the curriculum of an undergraduate program. As a consequence, an unfolding process takes place. The author defines unfolding as the learning process by which the students learn the principles of a subject with the perspective of developing their understanding through exposure to practical problems currently being investigated. Discovery in the learning process is based on interactive analysis. In this particular experiment, students were able to learn about energy losses on a distribution system while using recently developed techniques for minimizing losses. >
Reliability-based design in geotechnical engineering: computations and applications

Reliability-based design in geotechnical engineering: computations and applications, edited by Kok-Kwang Phoon, Taylor & Francis, 2008, 544 pp., US$170.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-415-39630-1 The fie...
Dissecting Protein Function Using Chemical Proteomic Methods

The completion of genome projects of multiple organisms has revealed an enormous number of unknown protein products. The field of proteomics has now become focused on finding ways to elucidate the cellular function of these proteins and their possible role in pathological processes. A relatively new approach to address global protein function has been termed activity-based proteomics or chemical proteomics. This method makes use of small molecules that can covalently attach to catalytic residues in an enzyme active site. The selectivity of the chemically reactive group allows specific proteins or protein subsets to be tagged, purified and analyzed, providing insight in their biochemical roles. As a result this technique has the potential to accelerate the process of identification of new drug targets.
Analyzing Negative Experiences Without Ruminating: The Role of Self-Distancing in Enabling Adaptive Self-Reflection

Both common intuition and findings from multiple areas of research suggest that when faced with distressing experiences, it is helpful to understand one’s feelings. However, a large body of research also indicates that people’s attempts to make sense of their feelings often backfire, leading them to ruminate and feel worse. In this article, we describe a program of research that focuses on disentangling these seemingly contradictory sets of findings. The research program we describe proposes that psychological distance from the self plays a key role in determining whether people’s attempts to understand their feelings lead to adaptive or maladaptive self-reflection. It suggests that people’s attempts to understand their feelings often fail because they analyze their feelings from a self-immersed perspective rather than a self-distanced perspective. Empirical evidence from multiple levels of analysis is presented to support this prediction. The basic science and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Mercury Toxicity and Contamination of Households from the Use of Skin Creams Adulterated with Mercurous Chloride (Calomel).

Inorganic mercury, in the form of mercurous chloride, or calomel, is intentionally added to some cosmetic products sold through informal channels in Mexico and the US for skin lightening and acne treatment. These products have led to multiple cases of mercury poisoning but few investigations have addressed the contamination of cream users’ homes. We report on several cases of mercury poisoning among three Mexican-American families in California from use of mercury-containing skin creams. Each case resulted in widespread household contamination and secondary contamination of family members. Urine mercury levels in cream users ranged from 37 to 482 µg/g creatinine and in non-users from non-detectable to 107 µg/g creatinine. Air concentrations of up to 8 µg/m3 of mercury within homes exceeded the USEPA/ATSDR health-based guidance and action level of <1.0 μg/m3. Mercury contamination of cream users’ homes presented a multi-pathway exposure environment to residents. Homes required extensive decontamination, including disposal of most household items, to achieve acceptable air levels. The acceptable air levels used were not designed to consider multi-pathway exposure scenarios. These findings support that the calomel is able to change valence form to elemental mercury and volatilize once exposed to the skin or surfaces in the indoor environment.
Estimating optical flow from clustered trajectories in velocity-time

Presents a new algorithm for the estimation of optical flow from a monocular sequence of images using clustered trajectories in velocity-time. In the new algorithm, the objects in the scene may exhibit rotation and translation in all three dimensions. In addition, interframe displacement may be large-of the order of many pixels. It is assumed that there is a known upper bound on the magnitudes of the x and y components of interframe displacement. The authors conducted tests to compare the performance of the algorithm with that of two prior algorithms for optical flow estimation. They present the results of these tests. The results suggest that the algorithm is an improvement over prior algorithms in its ability to compute the optical flow field accurately under several commonly encountered scene conditions that have posed problems to earlier algorithms for optical flow estimation. >
Allelic Variation in KIR2DL3 Generates a KIR2DL2-like Receptor with Increased Binding to its HLA-C Ligand

Although extensive homology exists between their extracellular domains, NK cell inhibitory receptors killer Ig-like receptor (KIR) 2DL2*001 and KIR2DL3*001 have previously been shown to differ substantially in their HLA-C binding avidity. To explore the largely uncharacterized impact of allelic diversity, the most common KIR2DL2/3 allelic products in European American and African American populations were evaluated for surface expression and binding affinity to their HLA-C group 1 and 2 ligands. Although no significant differences in the degree of cell membrane localization were detected in a transfected human NKL cell line by flow cytometry, surface plasmon resonance and KIR binding to a panel of HLA allotypes demonstrated that KIR2DL3*005 differed significantly from other KIR2DL3 allelic products in its ability to bind HLA-C. The increased affinity and avidity of KIR2DL3*005 for its ligand was also demonstrated to have a larger impact on the inhibition of IFN-γ production by the human KHYG-1 NK cell line compared with KIR2DL3*001, a low-affinity allelic product. Site-directed mutagenesis established that the combination of arginine at residue 11 and glutamic acid at residue 35 in KIR2DL3*005 were critical to the observed phenotype. Although these residues are distal to the KIR/HLA-C interface, molecular modeling suggests that alteration in the interdomain hinge angle of KIR2DL3*005 toward that found in KIR2DL2*001, another strong receptor of the KIR2DL2/3 family, may be the cause of this increased affinity. The regain of inhibitory capacity by KIR2DL3*005 suggests that the rapidly evolving KIR locus may be responding to relatively recent selective pressures placed upon certain human populations.
Preparation of α-Halovinyl Sulfides by Eliminative Deoxygenation of α-Halosulfoxides

Abstract Vinyl sulfides are useful synthetic intermediates1 which have received increasing attention recently both as masked carbonyl moieties2 and in carbon-carbon bond forming reactions.3 With regard to the latter, vinyl sulfide derivatives which are substituted in the α-position with halogen, tin, selenium, etc., are particularly useful due to the ready formation of anions upon treatment with a variety of organometallic reagents.3 d − 1 We report here that synthetically useful halovinyl sulfides can be produced in high yield by the eliminative deoxygenation of the corresponding α-halosulfoxides induced by electrophilic silicon reagents.
Nueva ruralidad como una realidad emergente y su aplicación a la región del Yopal

El objetivo del trabajo es construir un instrumento teorico-conceptual para lograr una nueva lectura del territorio, distinta a las formas tradicionales como se muestra en los planes de ordenamiento territorial, a partir de los conceptos de nueva ruralidad, paradigma emergente y sistema de juegos. El material utilizado esta relacionado con la informacion recolectada en los encuentros con lideres comunitarios, instituciones gubernamentales, cartografias y documentacion escrita. El metodo utilizado es el metametodo, el cual se construye con la participacion de diferentes actores que hacen parte de la investigacion. Uno de los resultados del trabajo es la construccion de categorias conjuntas para iniciar una nueva forma de abordar el territorio. Ademas, se llega a algunas conclusiones tales como la identificacion de una realidad compleja, la cual no puede ser analizada de manera fragmentaria, si queremos plantear un desarrollo regional sostenible.
Effect of Pore and Cage Size on the Formation of Aromatic Intermediates During the Methanol-to-Olefins Reaction

Six eight-membered-ring (8MR), microporous materials are synthesized and evaluated as catalysts for the methanol-to-olefins (MTO) reaction. The molecular sieves SSZ-13, SAPO-34, SAPO-39, MCM-35, ERS-7 and RUB-37 are investigated since they have 8MR access to the crystal interior but have differences in pore structure and cage size. The polymethylbenzene species that are the proposed reaction intermediates of the MTO reaction should only be able to form in materials with intra-molecular sieve void spaces of sufficient size to accommodate them. Thus, it is hypothesized that 8MR materials without adequately large pores or cages will be inactive for the MTO reaction. SSZ-13 and SAPO-34 (both with CHA framework topology) have interconnected 3-dimensional pore-and-cage systems sufficiently large for formation of the proposed reaction intermediates, while the other 8MR materials have intra-molecular sieve void spaces that are too small to allow formation of these species. The molecular sieves are tested as MTO catalysts at 400 °C, and only the molecular sieves with the CHA topology show MTO activity. Post-reaction analysis of the organic content of each solid material is accomplished by HF acid digestion with subsequent 1H NMR analysis of the extracted hydrocarbon products to confirm the presence of aromatics in the 8MR materials with sufficiently large cages (those with CHA topology), and absence with materials that have smaller void spaces. These data provide further support for the necessity of polymethylbenzene species in the hydrocarbon pool for MTO activity.
A multicompartment vascular model for inferring baseline and functional changes in cerebral oxygen metabolism and arterial dilation

Functional hemodynamic responses are the composite results of underlying variations in cerebral oxygen consumption and the dilation of arterial vessels after neuronal activity. The development of biophysically based models of the cerebral vasculature allows the separation of the neuro-metabolic and neuro-vascular influences on measurable hemodynamic signals such as functional magnetic resonance imaging or optical imaging. We describe a multicompartment model of the vascular and oxygen transport dynamics associated with stimulus-driven neuronal activation. Our model offers several unique features compared with previous formulations such as the ability to estimate baseline blood flow, volume, and oxygen consumption from functional data. In addition, we introduce a capillary compliance model, arterial and venous oxygen permeability, and model the dynamics of extravascular tissue oxygenation. We apply this model to multimodal optical spectroscopic and laser speckle imaging of the rat somato-sensory cortex during nine conditions of whisker stimulation. By fitting the model using a psuedo-Bayesian framework to incorporate multimodal observations, we estimate baseline blood flow to be 94 (+/-15) mL/100 g min and baseline oxygen consumption to be 6.7 (+/-1.3) mL O(2)/100 g min. We calculate parametric, linear increases in arterial dilation (R(2)=0.96) and CMRO(2) (R(2)=0.87) responses over the nine conditions. Other parameters estimated by the model include vascular transit time and volume reserve, oxygen content, saturation, diffusivity rate constants, and partial pressure of oxygen in the vascular compartments and in the extravascular tissue. Finally, we compare this model to earlier work and find that the multicompartment model more accurately describes the observed oxygenation changes when compared with a single compartment version.
The unified model of social influence and its application in influence maximization

The study of information dissemination on a social network has gained significant importance with the rise of social media. Since the true dynamics are hidden, various diffusion models have been exposed to explain the cascading behavior. Such models require extensive simulation for estimating the dissemination over time. In an earlier work, we proposed a unified model which provides an approximate analytical solution to the problem of predicting probability of infection of every node in the network over time. Our model generalizes a large class of diffusion process. We demonstrate through extensive empirical evaluation that the error of approximation is small. We build upon our unified model to develop an efficient method for influence maximization. Unlike most approaches, we assume that diffusion spreads not only via the edges of the underlying network, but also through temporal functions of external out-of-network processes. We empirically evaluate our approach and compare it against state-of-the-art approaches on real-world large-scale networks. The evaluation demonstrates that our method has significant performance gains over widely used seed-set selection algorithms.
Exploiting the Temporal Statistics of Atmospheric Tilt for Improved Short Exposure Imaging

A new model describing the temporal transitions of atmospheric tilt is described and utilized in a Bayesian tilt-estimation algorithm. Using this model, images are synthesized from short-exposure data demonstrating the tilt-estimation improvements.
Alcohol mixed with energy drink: Use may be a consequence of heavy drinking

Abstract Aims In recent years, studies have indicated that consumers of alcohol mixed with energy drink (AmED) are more likely to drink heavily and experience more negative consequences than consumers who avoid these beverages. Although researchers have identified a number of plausible hypotheses that explain how alcohol-energy drink co-ingestion could cause greater alcohol consumption, there has been no postulation about reverse causal relations. This paper identifies several plausible hypotheses for the observed associations between AmED consumption and greater alcohol consumption, and provides initial evidence for one such hypothesis suggesting that heavy drinking may be a determinant of AmED use. Method Data collected from 511 bar patrons were used to examine the plausibility of one of the proposed hypotheses, i.e., AmED is an artifact of heavy drinking. Associations between the consumption of an assortment of alcoholic beverage types and total alcohol consumption were examined at the event-level, to assess whether AmED is uniquely related with greater alcohol consumption. Results Increased alcohol consumption was associated with greater odds of consuming most alcoholic beverage types; this association was not unique to AmED. Conclusions Results support the overlooked hypothesis that AmED use is an artifact of heavy drinking. Thus, AmED consumption may be a consequence or marker of heavier drinking. Much of the existing research on alcoholic beverage types is limited in its ability to implicate any specific type of drink, including AmED, as a cause of increased alcohol consumption and related harm. More rigorous study designs are needed to examine causal relationships.
A Review of “Mastering Digital Librarianship: Strategy, Networking, and Discovery in Academic Libraries”

Differentiating itself from the countless other books available on digital librarianship, Mastering Digital Librarianship provides a thematically focused collection of research-based essays meant t...
Empirical Bayes approach to climate model calibration

Abstract. Climate data is highly correlated through the physics and dynamics of the atmosphere. Model evaluation often involves averages of various quantities over different regions and seasons making it difficult from a statistical perspective to quantify the significance of differences that arise between a model and observations. Here we present a strategy that makes use of a set of perfect modeling experiments to quantify the effects of these correlations on model evaluation metrics. This information is incorporated into Bayesian inference through a precision parameter with informative priors. These concepts are illustrated through an example of fitting a line through data that includes either uncorrelated or correlated noise as well as to the calibration of CAM3.1. The concept of a precision parameter may be applied as a strategy to weight different climate model evaluation metrics within a multivariate normal framework. From the example with CAM3.1, the precision parameter plays a central role in rescaling the estimated parametric uncertainties to better accommodate modeling structural errors.
A synthesis of unilateral approaches to mitigating emissions leakage under incomplete policies

This article addresses the question of what an individual jurisdiction (or a group of jurisdictions) could do to mitigate the leakage of GHG emissions that results from its (their) own regulation aimed at reducing such emissions. A novel aspect of this work is that it is focused on methods other than those involving the pursuit of environmental agreements with other jurisdictions to reduce leakage. In other words, the focus is on unilateral measures to reduce such leakage. A number of different approaches including the proper selection of the type of policy instrument and policy ramp up, improved targeting of polluting activities, targeting lifecycle emissions and adoption of additional leakage-specific policies that complement the main policy have been suggested in specific yet different policy arenas. There does not, however, appear to be an understanding of the common and distinct features of the different types of responses and the multiple approaches that might be appropriate in any specific policy c...
Infinite Loops in Computer Programs

SUMNUM 10 REM: THIS PROGRAM FINDS THE 20 REM: SUM OF THE FIRST 1000 30 REM: NATURAL NUMBERS. 40 LET S=N=0 50 LET N=N+1 60 IF N > 1000 THEN 90 70 LETS=S+N 80 GO TO 40 90 PRINT "THE SUM IS"; S 1 00 END PRIMES 10 REM: THIS PROGRAM FINDS THE 20 REM: PRIMES BETWEEN 4 AND 1 000. 30 FOR N=4 TO 1000 40 FOR I=2TON-1 50 REM: DOES I DIVIDE N? 60 IF N/I = INT(N/I) THEN 30 70 NEXT I 80 PRINT N 90 NEXT N 1 00 END
Patterns of Visible and Nonvisible Lattice Points

(1971). Patterns of Visible and Nonvisible Lattice Points. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 78, No. 5, pp. 487-496.
Multilayer Precursor Synthesis of New Copper-Tungsten Selenides

We have made new ternary compounds in the copper tungsten selenium system using multilayer thin films as reactants. The compounds appear to be unstable above temperatures near 1000oC with respect to binary compounds, which helps to explain the difficulty in making these compounds by conventional methods.
Masting and Pecan Interaction with Insectan Predehiscent Nut Feeders

Pecan, Carya illinoensis (Wang.) K. Koch, is a massing species that predominantly produces nut crops at 3- to 4-yr intervals. The pecan nut casebearer, Acrobasis nuxvorella Neunzig, removes nutlets in May in years of low production, thereby reducing the equilibrium level of the late season obligatory nut feeding pecan weevil, Curculio caryae (Horn). The pecan generally produces more viable nuts at dehiscence in mast years when pecan nut casebearer occurs with pecan weevil compared with when pecan weevil occurs alone. The pecan nut casebearer enhances massing by substantially reducing nuts in nonmast (low production) years without having much effect in mast (high production) years. This interaction benefits both the pecan and the pecan nut casebearer to the detriment of the pecan weevil.
An ecological analysis of the incidence of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix in Hispanic women in the United States.

Purpose : To evaluate the relationship between county-level characteristics and the incidence of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix among Hispanic women. Methods : The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program’s 18 registries from 2000–2009 were queried. Average annual age-adjusted incidence rates for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix among Hispanic women were calculated. Patients were then stratified by residence in a county with high vs low percent language isolation (LI), income, and education levels. Results : Among Hispanic women living in high LI, the highest incidence of cervical cancer was found among women residing in counties with low incomes and low education levels (11.3; CI: 10.8–11.8). Conclusions : County-level characteristics are associated with cervical cancer incidence in Hispanic women. A more precise understanding of contributing socioeconomic factors such as language may facilitate the design of targeted research studies and interventions, and community-level public policy interventions might be effective in reducing the unequal burden of cervical cancer in Hispanic women in the United States. ( Ethn Dis . 2014;24[2]:243–247)
A photochemical affinity-labelling reagent for the opiate receptor(s).

A radioactive analogue of levorphanol, [3H]N-β-(p-azidophenyl)ethylnorlevorphanol (compound 6), has been synthesized as a photochemical affinity label for the opiate receptor site(s). It has potent opiate-like pharmacological activity in whole mice and isolated intact guinea pig ileum Upon photolysis of the analogue in the presence of bovine serum albumin as a test protein, radioactivity is incorporated into the protein. Photolysis of the analogue in the presence of total particulate matter from whole mouse brain results in incorporation of radioactivity into a pellet insoluble in water and organic solvent. This incorporation is significantly but incompletely blocked by both levorphanol and dextrorphan. Incorporation into guinea pig ileum longitudinal muscle strips is also observed but is not significantly blocked by levorphanol or dextrorphan. The implications of the results are discussed.
A Utilization of the Kohler System of Illumination

The following system of microscope lighting is based on ideas gleaned from a number of sources, particularly Belling (1930) and Shillaber (1944). The principles are not new and this article is primarily concerned with an implementation of the well known Kohler method. The chief points to be emphasized are the use of a prism and a Polaroid variable density screen.
Supply chain finance for small and medium sized enterprises: the case of reverse factoring

Purpose – Faced with increasing pressure to meet short-term financing needs, companies are looking for ways to unlock potential funds from within the supply chain. Recently, reverse factoring (RF) has emerged as a financing solution that is initiated by the ordering parties to help their suppliers secure financing of receivables at favorable terms. The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of RF schemes on small and medium enterprises’ operational decisions and performance. Design/methodology/approach – The authors model a supplier’s inventory replenishment problem as a multi-stage dynamic program and derive the supplier’s optimal inventory policy for two cases: no access to external financing; access to external financing through RF or traditional factoring. A number of numerical experiments assesses the supplier’s operational performance. Findings – A working capital-dependent base-stock policy is optimal. The optimal policy specifies the sell-up-to-level of accounts receivable with regard to the...
Gender differences in cannabis use disorder treatment: Change readiness and taking steps predict worse cannabis outcomes for women.

Abstract Introduction Gender differences in cannabis use and cannabis use disorder have been established. Regarding treatment, some evidence suggests that women are less responsive, though the mechanisms are not well understood. Motivation to change and self-efficacy are associated with better outcomes overall, and may help explain gender differences in cannabis use outcomes. Methods A secondary data analysis of a double-blind placebo controlled trial of buspirone treatment for cannabis dependence ( N = 175) was conducted. Self-report assessments of motivation to change, self-efficacy, and other clinical correlates were completed at baseline, and cannabis use was measured throughout the study. Results There was a significant interaction between gender and taking steps on abstinence. Counter to hypothesis, higher taking steps reduced likelihood of achieving abstinence among women; there was no association among men. Subsequently, taking steps was associated with self-efficacy and quantity of use among men, and cannabis related problems among women. There was a significant interaction between gender and readiness to change on creatinine adjusted cannabinoid levels. Change readiness was positively associated with cannabinoid levels among women, but not men. Conclusions Motivation to change and initiation of change behavior predict worse cannabis outcomes in women. Men and women differ in what motivates change behavior. Social desirability, neurobiology, and treatment type may impact these effects. Gender differences in cannabis use and treatment responsiveness must be considered in future studies.
Treatment of obesity in adolescence.

Rapid weight gain is normal in adolescence. In an obese teen-ager, triceps skinfold measurements help in determining how much of this weight is excess fat. Conventional weight-control methods are notable for their lack of success in this age group. Severe caloric restriction, besides being inherently risky from a metabolic standpoint and inadvisable for psychologic reasons, is a wholly unworkable approach. Cutting food portions to prevent further fat gain is realistic.
Influenza A virus up-regulates neutrophil adhesion molecules and adhesion to biological surfaces.

Influenza A virus (IAV) binds to sialylated neutrophil surface components (e.g., CD43 and sialyl Lewisx antigen) and induces both activation and functional depression of neutrophils. We report that IAV enhanced neutrophil adhesion to surfaces coated with serum or serum components, but not to uncoated plastic. IAV up-regulated expression of integrins (CD11b and CD11c) and carcinoembryonic-related antigens on neutrophils, while reducing expression of CD43, L-selectin, and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL). Although treatment of neutrophils with elastase or Osialoglycoprotease decreased surface CD43 and PSGL, they did not reduce binding of IAV to neutrophils, implying that IAV can bind to alternate binding sites in the absence of CD43. Pretreatment of neutrophils with elastase also did not prevent IAV from increasing expression of integrins and enhancing adhesion. Up-regulation of adhesion molecules and adhesion are important, previously unrecognized, features of neutrophil activation by IAV. Further studies will be needed to clarify the mechanism of these effects.
Validation of equations used to estimate relative feed value of alfalfa hay

Twenty alfalfa hay sources, grown under irrigation in Wyoming, were fed to 24 fine-wool wether lambs (average weight = 44.9 kg) to determine dry matter intake (DMI), expressed as a percentage of body weight, and digestible dry matter (DDM). These data were used to evaluate equations utilized in predicting relative feed value (RFV) of forages. High and low values of the hays for NDF and ADF were 56.0 to 39.5 and 43.6 to 32.7, respectively. They were ground through a grinder-mixer equipped with a 5-cm screen prior to feeding. Lambs were housed in metabolism crates in a temperature-controlled room. Six lambs were fed each forage with four forages evaluated in each of five periods. Because intake was ad libitum, the percentage of NDF and ADF in the diet of each sheep was calculated by dividing the amount of NDF or ADF consumed by the amount of DM consumed. Mean values for each hay were used in data analysis. Equations evaluated were: DMI = 120/%NDF; DDM = 88.9-(0.779 × % ADF); and RFV = (% DDM × % DMI)/1.29. An estimated value was calculated for DMI, DDM, and RFV for each of the hays using these equations. Actual RFV of each hay was calculated using actual DMI and DDM. Regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between actual and the estimated values using actual values as the dependent variable. The model for DMI [actual DMI = 2.81 - (0.07 × estimated DMI)] accounted for less than 1% of the variation of intake (R2 = 0.01), whereas the bias was 20.7%. The equation for DDM [actual DDM = 43.8 + (0.25 × estimated DDM)] accounted for 20% of the variation in DM digestion and the bias was 2.4%. Because of the large amount of variation unaccounted for in DMI and DDM in the above equations, the model for actual RFV accounted for less than 1% of the variation in estimated RFV, and the bias was 21.9%. These data suggest that NDF or ADF may not be related to forage quality to the extent to allow ranking of similar forages.
Professionalism and Social Responsibility: Foundations of Public Relations Ethics

The primary foundations of public relations ethics literature focus on professionalism and social responsibility. This manuscript traces the roots of the two concepts. The discussion of professionalism includes its trait-related definitions as well as the emerging power-based approach to understanding professions. The roots of public relations’ emphasis on social responsibility can be traced through both journalism and business/organizational communication disciplines. In the last few decades, public relations has contributed its own concepts for socially responsible practices—issues management and values advocacy. Theoretical foundations of deontology and teleology contribute to the understanding of how professionalism and social responsibility contribute to ethical decision making among public relations practitioners. A combination of dutybased and utilitarian foci may help practitioners balance their multifaceted loyalties to their organizations, profession, society, and themselves.
Importance and Function of Foraging and Roost Habitat for Wintering American Oystercatchers

With changing climate and increased human populations, oyster reefs have been negatively affected by excessive wave action; contamination; overharvesting; decreased freshwater inputs; and shifts in oxygen, salinity, and turbidity regimes. In Florida’s Big Bend, intertidal reefs dominated by the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) have experienced a net decline in area of 66 % since the 1980s, a loss likely to have substantial impacts on reef-dependent wildlife. Our study examined the use of intertidal oyster reefs by wintering American oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) in this area. The minimum foraging time required to meet daily caloric needs was conservatively estimated at 37 min per adult oystercatcher, indicating that at present, foraging habitat is not a limiting factor within our study area. We found high-tide roosts to be away from all vegetation and limited in number. They were located in offshore oyster reef habitat, which has experienced an 88 % decline in area over the past 30 years. We suggest that offshore, high-tide roost habitat is a limiting factor and worthy of further attention.