cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Narcissus's Mirror: Manufacture and Modernism in the American Great Basin—The Case of Pottery

The commodification of pottery cannot be reduced to strict econo-technological terms. Commodification is a cultural process, enmeshed in local, regional, and international systems of meaning. As Victorian Modernism eroded, anti-modern movements commodified “traditional” culture. These philosophies, themselves commodities, had repercussions on the pottery industry throughout the world. In both America and Australia, these processes produced art and studio potteries. In the American Great Basin, these changes were experienced very differently by potters from different cultures. The commodification and industrialization of modern pottery factories predicated the reification of a pre-industrial artisanal past.
Abstract 2029: Notch signaling inhibitor increases E-selectin/ligand interactions and alters cell migration of mesenchymal-like breast cancer cells

Activation of Notch signaling has been shown to promote cell migration properties and hematogenous metastasis by inducing a dramatic phenotypic change in breast cancer cells via the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In response to these findings, Notch signaling inhibitors are being explored as therapeutics to prevent EMT in cancers. However, research examining the effects of Notch inhibitors on the activity of sialofucosylated ligands used by circulating tumor cells to adhere to vascular endothelial E-selectin during metastasis is lacking. To advance knowledge in this area, our study investigated the use of an indirect Notch signaling inhibitor (DAPT) on modifying E-selectin ligand activity of breast cancer cell lines by shear flow adhesion assays performed at physiological bone marrow shear stress. DAPT exposure to mesenchymal-like MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 (induced to the mesenchymal-like state by exogenous epidermal growth factor) breast cancer cells increased E-selectin ligand activity. Furthermore, mesenchymal-like MDA-MB-468 cells after DAPT exposure demonstrated E-selectin ligand activity similar to that of epithelial-like MDA-MB-468 cells. This supports the hypothesis by our group that epithelial-like and mesenchymal-like phenotypes determine activity of functional E-selectin ligands in breast cancer cells, as we have previously shown that epithelial cells display high E-selectin ligand activity while mesenchymal cells display little or no ligand activity. Cell migration ability was assessed using wound closure assays. Mesenchymal-like MDA-MB-468 cells exposed to DAPT exhibited decreased migration compared to mesenchymal-like MDA-MB-468 cells exposed to the DMSO diluent control, whereas mesenchymal-like MDA-MB-231 cells demonstrated no difference in migration compared to DMSO exposed cells. Altogether, our results suggest Notch inhibitors may both increase fluid-shear resistant adhesion and alter migration ability of mesenchymal-like breast cancer cells, and that factors present in the blood might impact the metastatic potential of cancer cells via regulating cellular phenotypes. Citation Format: Christian A. Showalter, Monica M. Burdick. Notch signaling inhibitor increases E-selectin/ligand interactions and alters cell migration of mesenchymal-like breast cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2029.
The Common Key to Class-Switch Recombination and Somatic Hypermutation: Discovery of AID and Its Role in Antibody Gene Diversification.

The mechanisms by which lymphocytes engineer their genomes, allowing the adaptive immune system to respond to an enormous spectrum of Ags, have been one of the most exciting topics in immunology. By the late 1990s, a detailed understanding of V(D)J recombination mechanisms, found to be controlled by
At the Interface of Grammar and the Body: Chais pas (“dunno”) as a Resource for Dealing with Lack of Recipient Response

ABSTRACTThis article examines speakers’ use of French chais pas (“dunno”) when they find that their sequence-initial turn has not been responded to by their recipient (roughly: Speaker A: Maybe the...
Tuning support vector machines regression models improves prediction accuracy of soil properties in MIR spectroscopy

Abstract Estimating soil properties in diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy in the mid-infrared region (mid-DRIFTS) uses statistical modeling (chemometrics) to predict soil properties from spectra. Modeling approaches can have major impacts on prediction accuracy. However, the impact of selecting best parameters for an algorithm (tuning), to optimize non-linear models for predicting soil properties, is relatively unexplored in the domain of soil sciences. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive performance of linear (partial least squares, PLS) and non-linear (support vector machines, SVM) multivariate regression models in estimating soil physical, chemical, and biological properties with mid-DRIFTS. We evaluated the impact of optimizing two hyperparameters (epsilon and cost) based on the noise tolerance in the e-insensitive loss function of SVM models using two contrasting and diverse sets of soils, one from northern Tanzania (n = 533) and another one from USA Midwest (n = 400). Regression models were trained on calibration sets (75%) and tested on independent validation sets (25%) separately for each dataset. Support vector machines outperformed PLS models for all tested soil properties (clay, sand, pH, total organic carbon, and permanganate oxidizable carbon) in both datasets. Tuning hyperparameters epsilon and cost maintained or improved prediction accuracy of SVM models based on root mean squared errors of independent validation sets. Support vector machines tuned hyperparameters differed among soil properties and also for the same soil property in distinct datasets, suggesting the need for parameterizing non-linear models for specific soil properties and datasets. Optimizing SVM regression models in mid-DRIFTS improves prediction accuracy of soil properties and therefore will likely enable obtaining more robust predictive outcomes even in datasets with diverse land uses, parent materials, and/or soil orders. We recommend that tuning should be included as a routine step when using SVM for estimating soil properties.
Optimizing the Lightning Warning Radii at Spaceport Florida

AbstractAir Force Manual 91–203 (AFMAN 91–203) directs that a lightning warning be issued when lightning is occurring within a 5 nautical mile (n mi; 1 n mi = 1.852 km) radius of a predetermined lo...
Drug-target interaction prediction using semi-bipartite graph model and deep learning

Identifying drug-target interaction is a key element in drug discovery. In silico prediction of drug-target interaction can speed up the process of identifying unknown interactions between drugs and target proteins. In recent studies, handcrafted features, similarity metrics and machine learning methods have been proposed for predicting drug-target interactions. However, these methods cannot fully learn the underlying relations between drugs and targets. In this paper, we propose anew framework for drug-target interaction prediction that learns latent features from drug-target interaction network. We present a framework to utilize the network topology and identify interacting and non-interacting drug-target pairs. We model the problem as a semi-bipartite graph in which we are able to use drug-drug and protein-protein similarity in a drug-protein network. We have then used a graph labeling method for vertex ordering in our graph embedding process. Finally, we employed deep neural network to learn the complex pattern of interacting pairs from embedded graphs. We show our approach is able to learn sophisticated drug-target topological features and outperforms other state-of-the-art approaches. The proposed learning model on semi-bipartite graph model, can integrate drug-drug and protein-protein similarities which are semantically different than drug-protein information in a drug-target interaction network. We show our model can determine interaction likelihood for each drug-target pair and outperform other heuristics.
Risk of shoreline hardening and associated beach loss peaks before mid-century: Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi

Shoreline hardening, which causes beach loss globally, will accelerate with sea level rise (SLR), causing more beach loss if management practices are not changed. To improve beach conservation efforts, current and future shoreline hardening patterns on sandy beaches need deeper analysis. A shoreline change model driven by incremental SLR (0.25, 0.46, 0.74 m) is used to simulate future changes in the position of an administrative hazard zone, as a proxy for risk of hardening at all sandy beaches on the island of O‘ahu, Hawai ‘i. In Hawai ‘i, hardening can be triggered when evidence of erosion is within 6.1 m (“20 ft”) of certain structures, allowing an applicant to request emergency protection. Results show an increase in shoreline vulnerability to hardening with SLR governed by backshore land use patterns. The largest increase (+ 7.6%) occurred between modern-day and 0.25 m of SLR (very likely by year 2050) with half of all beachfront shoreline at risk by 0.74 m of SLR. Maximum risk of shoreline hardening and beach loss is projected to occur from modern-day and near-term hardening because of the heavily developed aspect of some shoreline segments. Adaptation to SLR should be considered an immediate need—not solely a future issue.
K-mer Motif Multinomial Mixtures, a scalable framework for multiple motif discovery

1 Abstract Motivation The advent of inexpensive high-throughput sequencing (HTS) places new demands on motif discovery algorithms. To confront the challenges and embrace the opportunities presented by the growing wealth of information tied up in HTS datasets, we developed K-mer motif multinomial mixtures (KMMMs), a flexible class of Bayesian models for identifying multiple motifs in sequence sets using K-mer tables. Advantages of this framework are inference with time and space complexities that only scale with K, and the ability to be incorporated into larger Bayesian models. Results We derived a class of probabilistic models of K-mer tables generated from sequence containing multiple motifs. KMMMs model the K-mer table as a multinomial mixture, with motif and background components, which are distributions over K-mers overlapping with each of the latent motifs and over K-mers that do not overlap with any motif, respectively. The framework casts motif discovery as a posterior inference problem, and we present several approximate inference methods that provide accurate reconstructions of motifs in synthetic data. Finally we apply the method to discover motifs in DNAse hypersensitive sites and ChIP-seq peaks obtained from the ENCODE project.
Biomass: A Renewable Source of Fuels, Chemicals and Carbon Materials.

Fossil fuels have been long used as a source of carbon for synthetizing the fuels, chemicals, and carbon-based materials we use on a daily basis [...]
The Performance of Manual Versus Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation During a Simulated Rescue Boat Transport in Cardiac Arrest.

Abstract Objective Catalina Island's Casino Point is a popular scuba diving site and is located 11.6 nautical miles from the University of Southern California Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber. We sought to determine the best method of providing high-performance CPR during a dive emergency, comparing manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with 2 mechanical compression devices during a simulated boat transport. Methods This study was performed on a Los Angeles County Lifeguard rescue boat using 3 manikins and comparing 3 arms: 1) manual compressions with 2 rescuers, 2) mechanical CPR with the Autopulse (ZOLL, Chelmsford, MA), and 3) mechanical CPR with the LUCAS III (Stryker, Kalamazoo, WI). CPR data were collected using ZOLL Stat Padz with an accelerometer connected to ZOLL X Series monitor/defibrillators. The manikins were filmed using mounted cameras. Data were reviewed using ZOLL Case Review. Results In video footage, all 3 arms appeared to provide high-performance CPR during the 30-minute transport. The compression fractions for manual CPR, the Autopulse, and the LUCAS were 99.57%, 95.51%, and 98.4%, respectively. Engine noise (94.6-101.3 dB) prevented the manual arm from hearing their audio prompts, and motion caused significant artifact on the accelerometers. Conclusion: High-performance CPR can successfully be performed on a rescue boat by either manual or mechanical methods. Mechanical CPR offered many logistical advantages.
The Radical Uncertainty of Free Exercise Principles: A Comment on Fulton v. City of Philadelphia

This paper addresses the decision in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia (June 17, 2021), in which a unanimous Supreme Court upheld a claim under the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause by Catholic Social Services (CSS) against the City. CSS had objected on religious grounds to screening same-sex married couples as prospective foster parents, despite a provision in its contract with the City that prohibited such discrimination. Every Justice voted to uphold the Free Exercise Claim. Only three Justices, however, supported the overruling of the Court’s highly controversial decision in Employment Division v. Smith (1990), which insulated religion-neutral, generally applicable policies from free exercise exemption claims. Three Justices expressed reservations about that question, and three others remained entirely silent about it. Smith endures. Part I of the paper focuses on the veneer of unanimity in Fulton. Unlike in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. EEOC (2012), in which the Court’s unanimity reflected a commitment to deep and abiding church-state principles, the unanimity in Fulton is a pretext, and a product of radical uncertainty about the future of free exercise principles. Part II of the paper analyzes the thickness of the threads by which the Smith decision hangs. Part II.A. discusses the overwhelming hostility to Smith—not shared by us – among concerned citizens, elected officials, academics, and many judges over the past thirty years. Part II.B. criticizes Justice Alito’s lengthy opinion, calling for Smith to be overruled. He is wrong in his effort to make the law from 1963-1990 the centerpiece of Free Exercise jurisprudence. His view of the text and history of the Free Exercise Clause is also wrong, because he assumes that the constitutional concept of free exercise of religion covered all religiously motivated action. As his sources show, “free exercise of religion” in the relevant historical period encompassed only modes of worship and religious belief. Part II. C. analyzes the consequences of Alito’s overbroad conception of free exercise, and explains why these consequences drove the Smith decision, as well as the reluctance of Justices Barrett, Kavanaugh, and Breyer to overturn Smith. Part II.D. analyzes the Court’s recent attempts to narrow the concept of general applicability in the Covid-19 cases about restrictions on gathering for worship, and in Fulton itself. These moves, taken to their logical end, effectively undo Smith. The history of Free Exercise Clause adjudication, however, suggests that neither the Supreme Court nor the lower courts will take the Free Exercise Clause to the religion-favoring extremes that this trend invites. The authors are both affiliated with the George Washington University. Ira C. Lupu is the F. Elwood & Eleanor Davis Professor Emeritus of Law; Robert W. Tuttle is the David R. and Sherry Kirschner Berz Research Professor of Law and Religion.
The Impact of Median MELD at Transplant minus 3 national policy on waitlist outcomes in patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma

Due to ongoing regional disparities, UNOS implemented policy in May 2019 limiting exception points for waitlisted patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to median MELD at transplant in the area surrounding a transplant center minus three points (MMAT-3). The impact of this policy change remains unknown. We included adult HCC (n=4567) and non-HCC (n=19773) patients in the UNOS database listed before this policy change (5/7/2017-5/18/2019) and after (5/19/2019-3/7/2020). Cumulative incidence analysis estimated the probability of dropout within one year of listing decreased from 12.9% pre-policy to 11.1% post-policy in non-HCC candidates and from 14% to 10.7% in HCC candidates. Incidence rates of LT and waitlist dropout varied significantly pre-policy in both HCC and non-HCC patients but nearly equalized in the post-policy era. These effects were observed in both shorter and longer wait regions. With policy change being modeled as a time-dependent covariate, competing risks regression analyses estimated a decreased risk of dropout after policy change in the non-HCC group (cause-specific hazard ratio 0.91, p=0.02) after adjusting for demographic variables. Conclusions: These results suggests that the MMAT-3 policy has successfully reduced disparities in access to LT including across UNOS wait regions though certain HCC patients are now disadvantaged.
Comparative effects of GnRH agonist therapy. Review of clinical studies and their implications.

OBJECTIVE: To understand why differences in gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapeutic protocols may affect their efficacy and safety profiles, to understand the important study design facets regarding the literature on GnRH agonist treatment of endometriosis and to compare the efficacy and side effect profiles of FDA-approved GnRH agonist therapies used for the management of endometriosis and consider the implications. STUDY DESIGN: Review of the English-language literature regarding the use of GnRH agonistsfor the management of endometriosis. RESULTS: A limited number of studies are available that directly compare the effects of different GnRH ago nists. However, contrary to medical opinion, it appears that there are significant differences between GnRH ago nist therapies. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that it may be possible to reduce doses or alter regimens of GnRH agonists so as to reduce side effects while maintaining efficacy.
Fast image segmentation on mobile phone using multi-level graph cut

This paper presents a system for an efficient image segmentation on mobile phones using multi-level graph cut. As the computational capacity of mobile devices is often limited, a fluent and smooth image segmentation is a challenging task with existing segmentation algorithms, increased in difficulty by mobile phone cameras continually upgraded to take photos of higher resolution. Our solution is to carefully tweak the classic graph cut algorithm for an interactive image cutout, enhancing the performance without compromising the quality of the segmentation. This is achieved by down-sampling the original high-resolution image and selecting a rough cutout region on this low-resolution image with a superpixel based pre-segmentation. The segmented foreground is then mapped back to the full-size image and the image undergoes an adaptive boundary refinement. This second segmentation performs the optimization locally and can be accomplished within milliseconds. We test our system on an Apple iPhone 6 and our experiments show that a high quality segmentation can be achieved in a lag-free manner on the mobile phone even for multi-megapixel images.
Formal Languages and Formal Logic

Throughout this book we use sentences of formal logic to describe properties of words over a finite alphabet A. A sentence will thus define a language \(L \subseteq A^{*}\); L is the set of all words that have the property described by the sentence.
Principles of Crop and Food Preservation and Storage

The demand for food is continuous, but production is seasonal. Hence, preservation and storage of crops in such a way as to maintain maximum nutritive value is of utmost importance, especially in the underdeveloped countries in which, for example, a substantial amount of the food grains produced (from harvest to time of consumption) is lost due to the ravages of birds, rodents, insects, and microorganisms. These losses can be reduced if not avoided entirely by applying known successful methods of preservation and storage. The adoption of improved methods would help greatly to alleviate the food shortage in these countries.
Is Touch-Based Text Input Practical for a Smartwatch?

The use of smartwatches is increasing exponentially as is consumer interest. Currently, smartwatches offer the ability to read text messages, notifications, and email once they are synchronized with a smartphone. Text input, however, is limited to voice or predefined response phrases and no input keyboard is typically provided. A general consensus is that the interface of a smartwatch may be too small to implement a QWERTY keyboard. This study examined user performance and acceptance with two commercially available QWERTY keyboards, Swype and Fleksy, on a smartwatch. Contrary to the suspicion about the small screen of a smartwatch for text input, results indicate users can type accurately at speeds averaging 20–30 words per minute after brief practice, which is comparable to the typing speed of novice smartphone users.
Centrioles at the Checkpoint

Cell biologists have long debated whether the cellular organelle called the centriole can be dispensed with during cell division. In a lively Perspective, [Murray][1] discusses new findings ([ Piel et al .][2] and [ Hinchcliffe et al .][3]) suggesting that centrioles play a part in new checkpoints that control cell division and the ability of divided cells to replicate their DNA. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/291/5508/1499 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/291/5508/1550 [3]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/291/5508/1547
Narrative Cartography in Recuerdos salvadoreños, by José Antonio Cevallos

The first volume of Jose Antonio Cevallos’s Recuerdos salvadorenos was published in 1891, and coincides with the publication of a large number of works concerned with the topography, history, and culture of El Salvador. Cevallos’s work presents a shift from these works, by filtering history through two fictional characters who traverse the country, and in its emphasis on space as a means of understanding history. For Cevallos, Recuerdos salvadorenos was to serve as a foundational text in restoring the Republica Federal de Centro America, which had dissolved within two decades of Central American independence from Spain. This article argues that Cevallos uses these diverse modes of representation as a means of placing El Salvador on an equal footing with its neighbours, and to provide for civic instruction within the nation. The spatial abstraction of the nation, which is observed by understanding how the text is presented for Salvadoran citizens, emerges as a largely historical text, in contrast with its ...
Book Review, Stephen v. Monsma, Pluralism and Freedom: Faith-Based Organizations in a Democratic Society

This is a short review of Stephen Monsma's book, "Pluralism and Freedom: Faith-Based Organizations in a Democratic Society" (2012).
Deep structure of an island arc backstop, Lesser Antilles subduction zone

[1] We present the results from a coincident seismic reflection/refraction grid conducted at the Lesser Antilles subduction zone near 16°N. This paper focuses on the seismic refraction data and constraints these data place on the three-dimensional structure of the island arc backstop. We find that the backstop in this region contains considerable topography in both the strike and dip directions. Two ridges, each 25–35 km in length and ∼10 km in width, rise 1–6 km above the adjacent basement. The eastern edge of one of the ridges deepens by ∼4–6 km over a horizontal distance of 10 km and forms the eastern edge of the backstop. In contrast to the complex nature of the backstop, the adjacent accretionary wedge displays little lateral variability at large scales. This may be a consequence of the spatial scales involved: the backstop topography is ∼10–35 km in width, while the accretionary wedge extends ∼125 km from the deformation front to the backstop. The top of the subducting oceanic crust, as identified by an increase in velocities to 6–6.5 km/s, intersects the backstop at a depth of ∼14–15 km. The updip limit of plate boundary seismicity is located 75–100 km west and downdip of the backstop. However, two earthquake clusters are observed at the intersection of the subducted Barracuda Ridge and Tiburon Ridge with the backstop, suggesting active deformation associated with the backstop edge at these locations.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Provision of Health-related Programs among American Religious Congregations

Using national data from the Faith Communities Today 2000 survey, the current study builds upon Lincoln and Mamiya's (1990) argument of the civically active Black Church. Originally used to assess the relative activism of Black and White congregations, the current study suggests that Black congregations are more likely to provide health programs than are predominantly White, Hispanic and Asian congregations. The greater involvement of Black congregations in the provision of health programs likely has much to do with the historical and continued cultural, spiritual, and political role that churches play in Black communities.
Three new crystal structures in the Na-Pb system: Solving structures without additional experimental input

The structures of three Na–Pb compounds, γ, δ and δ′, have remained incompletely solved for nearly 60 years. The space group, lattice parameters and positions of the Pb atoms of these three structures have been determined, but the positions of the Na atoms are still unknown. In this work, the First-Principles Assisted Structure Solution (FPASS) method [Meredig & Wolverton (2013). Nat. Mater. 12, 123–127] has been used to complete the description of these three structures using only experimental information available from the literature as input. The paper also discusses the relative advantages of constrained crystal structure prediction tools, like FPASS, in comparison to conventional crystal structure prediction methods in reference to their abilities to complete the solution of other unsolved structures.
Identification of the ``a'' Genome of Finger Millet Using Chloroplast DNA

Finger millet (Eleusine corocana subsp. coracana), an important cereal in East Africa and India, is a tetraploid species with unknown genomic components. A recent cytogenetic study confirmed the direct origin of this millet from the tetraploid E. coracana subsp. africana but questioned Eleusine indica as a genomic donor. Chloroplast (ct) DNA sequence analysis using restriction fragment pattern was used to examine the phylogenetic relationships between E. coracana subsp. coracana (domesticated finger millet), E. coracana subspecies africana (wild finger millet), and E. indica. Eleusine tristachya was included since it is the only other annual diploid species in the genus with a basic chromosome number of x = 9 like finger millet. Eight of the ten restriction endonucleases used had 16 to over 30 restriction sites per genome and were informative. E. coracana subsp. coracana and subsp. africana and E. indica were identical in all the restriction sites surveyed, while the ct genome of E, tristachya differed consistently by at least one mutational event for each restriction enzyme surveyed. This random survey of the ct genomes of these species points out E. indica as one of the genome donors (maternal genome donor) of domesticated finger millet contrary to a previous cytogenetic study. The data also substantiate E. coracana subsp. africana as the progenitor of domesticated finger millet. The disparity between the cytogenetic and the molecular approaches is discussed in light of the problems associated with chromosome pairing and polyploidy.
In and Out of Rights: Security, Migration, and Human Rights Talk in Postwar Guatemala

Este articulo investiga las interconexiones entre la seguridad, la migracion y los derechos humanos en una comunidad de Mam Maya en Guatemala durante la posguerra. Explora los asi llamados "maras" (las pandillas, generalmente de jovenes emigrantes de sueldo-trabajo regresados de EEUU) y los comites de seguridad que se han formado para controlarlos. En el nexo resultante de relaciones y contradicciones poderosas, los individuos mueven en y fuera de los derechos reconocidostanto en Guatemala como en los Estados Unidos, produciendo un concepto flexible y liquido de derechos, de sus significados, y de los usos posibles de tales. Enfocandome en un caso especifico, muestro como nombrandoles "mara" a los jovenes rebeldes migratorios tiene la consecuencia de negar sus derechos y justifica formas de justicia, ni justa ni impuesto mayormente por el estado, sino por sus propias comunidades. Estos temas estan sumergidos en conflictos comunitarios entre las generaciones y en contextos historicos tanto locales como nacionales. Mas alla de cuestiones sobre la conmensurabilidad de derechos y preocupaciones sobre seguridad, esta problematica implica una crisis en la capacidad de imaginarse un futuro colectivo
PhotoArcs: a tool for creating and sharing photo-narratives

The PhotoArcs interface aims to enable easy and fun creation and manipulation of photo-narratives to encourage sharing and interaction. PhotoArcs leverages the benefits of existing sharing habits both online and face-to-face. We describe our design of the PhotoArcs interface, report on the results of an exploratory low-fidelity usability study with five participants, and outline future directions.
Nuclear Power Plant Control room Operators' Performance Research

A research program is being conducted to provide information on the performance of nuclear power plant control room operators when responding to abnormal/emergency events in the plants and in full-scope training simulators. The initial impetus for this program was the need for data to assess proposed design criteria for the choice of manual versus automatic action for accomplishing safety-related functions during design basis accidents. The program also included studies of training simulator capabilities, of procedures and data for specifying and verifying simulator performance, and of methods and applications of task analysis.
Discovering Patterns in Mathematics and Poetry, by Marcia Birken and Anne C. Coon

Discovering Patterns in Mathematics and Poetry, by Marcia Birken and Anne C. Coon, Kenilworth, NJ, Rodopi, 2008, 213 pp, US $65.00 (Softcover), ISBN-13: 978-9-0420-2370-3. There is a deep connectio...
Stress and airway resistance in children with asthma

Objective: The present study implements an experimental paradigm to examine airway reactivity to stress in children with asthma and controls. Method: 114 children with asthma and 30 controls (ages 9–15) participated. The protocol involved 5 min of baseline physiological measurements followed by a 5-min stressful task. Skin conductance (EDG), skin temperature, and heart rate were measured continuously. Airway resistance was measured at baseline and after the task. Results: 110 children (76% of the sample) were significantly “stressed” as shown by physiological changes. Asthmatics and controls differed on overall airway resistance, F(1,108)=12.3, P<.001. The entire sample demonstrated a trend toward increased airway resistance in response to stress, F(1,108)=3.1, P<.08. A portion of asthmatics (22%) had increases of greater than 20% of baseline airway resistance. Changes in airway resistance in response to stress were unrelated to asthma severity, F(2,78)=2.0, ns. Conclusion: Children with asthma and controls demonstrate variation in airway function in response to stress, although increases are likely more meaningful for children with asthma. Further research is needed to examine the mechanisms underlying this response.
A Quadrature-Based Sampling Technique for Robust Design With Computer Models

Several methods have been proposed for estimating transmitted variance to enable robust parameter design using computer models. This paper presents an alternative technique based on Gaussian quadrature which requires only 2n+1 or 4n+1 samples (depending on the accuracy desired) where n is the number of randomly varying inputs. The quadrature-based technique is assessed using a hierarchical probability model. The 4n+1 quadrature-based technique can estimate transmitted standard deviation within 5% in over 95% of systems which is much better than the accuracy of Hammersley Sequence Sampling, Latin Hypercube Sampling, and the Quadrature Factorial Method under similar resource constraints. If the most accurate existing method, Hammersley Sequence Sampling, is afforded ten times the number of samples, it provides approximately the same degree of accuracy as the quadrature-based method. Two case studies on robust design confirmed the main conclusions and also suggest the quadrature-based method becomes more accurate as robustness improvements are made.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Suppression of lymphocyte proliferation in vitro by macromolecules in the vesicle fluid and tissue extracts of hydatidiform mole

Abstract This study examines the effects of vesicle fluid and tissue extracts from hydatidiform mole trophoblast on lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. Samples were obtained by direct aspiration of vesicles (hydatidiform mole vesicle fluid (HMF)) or homogenization of molar tissues (hydatidiform mole extract (HME)) following therapeutic uterine evacuation of hydatidiform mole. Dialyzed and lyophylized HMF pooled from two patients exhibited a 30% suppression ( P P
Optical oscillator strengths for Be II and B III

A simple two-parameter analytic potential adjusted so as to produce the experimental energy levels is used to generate wave functions for the ground and excited states of the ions Be II and B III. Using these wave functions we calculate optical oscillator strengths for various excitations from the 1s 22s(2 S) ground state. The results are compared to experiment and other calculations.
The Oxygen Uptake-Oxygen Delivery Relationship During ICU Interventions

There is much interest in the relationship between oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption in the critically ill patient. This interest is occasioned by the observation that patients with sepsis and the adult respiratory distress syndrome have a linear or "supply-dependent" relationship instead of the normally observed biphasic or "supply-independent" relationship. These relationships are only valid when subjects are at rest, since during exercise, as VO2 increases, so do DO2 and the oxygen extraction ratio (ER, VO2/DO2). We examined the VO2-DO2 relationship in a group of 16 mechanically-ventilated surgical ICU patients while they were at rest and during activities that increase VO2. At low levels of activity, where mean VO2 increased from 207 +/- 38 (SD) ml/min at rest to 241 +/- 44 ml/min, there were significant increases in mean DO2 but not mean ER. With the greater (greater than 50 percent) increases in VO2 seen with chest physical therapy, there were increases in both DO2 and ER. When the VO2-DO2 relationship during low levels of exercise and rest are plotted, a linear pattern emerges that could be misinterpreted as a "supply dependent" pattern. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to the activity state of a patient when examining the VO2-DO2 relationship.
Stimulus probability and prediction outcome as determinants of choice reaction time: Some procedural considerations

Abstract Effects of stimulus probability and prediction outcome on two-choice reaction speed (CRS) were determined when a frequency imbalance was reversed half-way through 300 samples of a 70/30 stimulus distribution and when the same 70/30 distribution was sampled for 1200 trials. Prior to each presentation S s made a prediction; following each presentation S s identified the stimulus by pressing a right-hand or left-hand trigger. CRS was faster to correctly predicted stimuli, and faster to the more probable stimulus. S s who were informed of the frequency imbalance reacted significantly faster than S s who were not. Both practice and boredom effects were demonstrated by using the extended number of trials. CRS was faster during the second session of 300 trials than during the first; after two sessions, CRS was slower during the second half of two additional sessions.
Pigeons' short-term memories for surprising vs. expected reinforcement and nonreinforcement.

Pigeons performed a delayed matching-to-sample task in which they matched red and green disks as comparison stimuli to samples of food and no food. The birds were also taught a discrimination between two lines: vertical (S+) followed by food and horizontal (S−) followed by no food. The two kinds of trials were then chained in infrequent probes such that (a) S+ and S− preceded samples of food and no food, (b) a longer than usual delay occurred, and then, (c) the comparison stimuli were presented. Therefore, in probes when S+ preceded food and S− preceded no food, the samples were “expected. ” But in probes when S+ signaled no food and S− signaled food, the samples were “surprising. ” Matching to surprising samples was more accurate than matching to expected samples. This result completes a pattern of findings implying that surprising reinforcers enhance learning and also persist (are longer rehearsed) in short-term memory.
Detection of predator cues alters mating tactics in male wolf spiders

Males of the wolf spider, Rabidosa punctulata, exhibit condition-dependent alternative mating tactics, whereby small, poor condition males engage in multimodal courtship while large, good condition males adopt a direct mount tactic that forgoes courtship. This study explores the possibility that tactic-specific costs can help explain this unintuitive pattern of mating tactic expression. Specifically, we hypothesize that courtship signaling is costly with respect to eavesdropping by predators and that males can alter their tactic expression based upon the perceived environmental predation risk. We test this by first examining the risk of predation associated with different mating tactics. We use a co-occurring predatory heterospecific, R. rabida as our predator. We found support for the prediction that courting R. punctulata males tended to be attacked more often than non-courting males, and the likelihood of being attacked was best predicted by courtship activity. Given this documented cost, we hypothesized that R. punctulata males would adjust their mating tactic based upon perceived predation risk. In a second experiment, we manipulated perceived predation risk by providing R. punctulata males with different female silk cues (conspecific; predatory heterospecific; conspecific + predatory heterospecific) and examined mating tactic expression. In support of our hypothesis, males were more likely to adopt the direct mount tactic in the presence of predatory heterospecific or mixed silk cues and were more likely to court in the presence of conspecific cues. These results support the hypothesis that the cost of predation from eavesdroppers may influence the evolution and expression of male alternative mating tactics in R. punctulata.
G. Stanley Hall: Neither Psychology Alone Nor Basic Research is Sufficient

In his monumental work, Adolescence, G. Stanley Hall showed the value of interdisciplinary scholarship and respect for research, which had a policy orientation. Over the course of the 20th century these two characteristics faded in adolescent studies as psychology took dominance and basic research was given priority over policy considerations. An argument is made that there is value in revisiting Hall's approach as studies of adolescence can be enriched through interdisciplinary efforts and research which brings policy to the forefront.
A search for the solar roots of the most disturbed interplanetary field intervals of solar cycle 21

During the course of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter mission, fairly continuous interplanetary plasma and magnetic field data were obtained which span the interval from prior to the last solar maximum to the current solar minimum recovery. Within this nearly complete solar cycle interval, several periods of exceptional disturbance of the interplanetary field stand out. The available solar data have been examined to determine what features, if any, distinguish these periods. Neither flare nor coronal mass ejection reports show particularly unusual behavior. However, these periods appear to occur in conjunction with marked changes in the interplanetary sector structure. This suggests that heliospheric current sheet reconfiguration is an indicator of the level of interplanetary disturbance distinct from the more traditional solar activity data.
LIGAND GEOMETRY OF THE TERNARY COMPLEX OF 5-ENOLPYRUVYLSHIKIMATE-3-PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE FROM ROTATIONAL-ECHO DOUBLE-RESONANCE NMR

The 46-kDa enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase catalyzes the condensation of shikimate 3-phosphate (S3P) and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to form EPSP. The reaction is inhibited by N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (Glp), which, in the presence of S3P, binds to EPSP synthase to form a stable ternary complex. As part of a solid-state NMR characterization of this structure, we have used dipolar recovery at the magic angle (DRAMA) and rotational-echo double resonance (REDOR) to determine intra- and interligand internuclear distances. DRAMA was used to determine the single 31P-31P distance, while REDOR was used to determine one 31P-15N distance and five 31P-13C distances. These experimental distances were used as restraints in molecular dynamics simulations of an S3P-Glp complex to examine the geometry of the two ligands relative to one another in the ternary complex. The simulations were compared to unrestrained simulations of the EPSP synthase tetrahedral intermediate and its phosphonate analog. The results suggest that Glp is unlikely to bind in the same fashion as PEP, a conclusion that is consistent with recent studies that have questioned the role of Glp as a transition-state or intermediate analog.
Correlates of weight instability across the lifespan in a population-based sample.

Objective: Research from overweight/obese clinical samples links weight instability to poor health. This study investigated whether negative health outcomes were associated with weight instability in a population-based sample. Method: One thousand five hundred ten women and 1,111 men from the Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry completed questionnaires assessing demographics, body size in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, health satisfaction, and disordered eating. Noneating disorder psychiatric diagnoses were assessed via clinical interviews. Results: Weight instability was related to lower health satisfaction and self-esteem, and higher body dissatisfaction, dieting, and binge eating for both sexes. Weight unstable women were more likely to meet criteria for lifetime major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and eating disorders. Weight stable women were more likely to abuse alcohol; however, two of these associations [e.g. weight instability and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and weight stability and alcohol abuse] became nonsignificant once lifetime binge eating was accounted for, indicating that these forms of psychopathology are more strongly related to binge eating than weight instability itself. No associations between weight stability and psychiatric diagnoses were found in men. Discussion: Weight instability is related to mental and physical health concerns for both sexes. It was also specifically associated with depression and eating pathology in women. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2011)
New silicon containing positive resist and its applications for sub-half micron lithography

Abstract New silicon containing photosensitive polymers have been synthesized using poly(phydroxybenzylsilsesquioxane-co-p-methoxybenzylsilsesquioxane) resins as starting materials and partially replacing the available -OH groups with 2,1-diazonaphthoquinone sulfonyloxy moiety. Bilayer resist formulations derived from these polymers have higher sensitivity and contrast as compared to the resists based on silicon resins/PAC mixtures for sub-micron and sub-half micron I-line, DUV, and g-line lithography.
Combined mode I - mode III fracture toughness of a high carbon steel

Abstract 1. 1. Brittle materials exhibit minimum energy dissipation under pure mode I loading 2. 2. In these materials, the mode IIIcomponent essentially provides redundant plastic work and increases J totalc . 3. 3. This behavior contrasts with more ductile materials where combined mode I - mode III loading produces The minimum energy dissipation.
Admissibility and effects of videotapes of medical procedures in litigation.

(2001). ADMISSIBILITY AND EFFECTS OF VIDEOTAPES OF MEDICAL PROCEDURES IN LITIGATION. Journal of Legal Medicine: Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 401-429.
Developing a comprehensive system for content-based retrieval of image and text data from a national survey

The article describes the status of our ongoing RD flexibility to incorporate new research work; provides a means to control access to system components under development; and use of XML for structured reporting. The article details the design, features, and algorithms in this third revision of this prototype system, CBIR3.
NMR relaxation study of crosslinked cis-1,4-polybutadiene

Proton relaxation measurements have been used to investigate the effects of crosslinking on the segmental motion in cis-1,4-polybutadiene samples. The temperature dependence of proton spin-lattice relaxation time T/sub 1/ and spin-spin relaxation time T/sub 2/ at 60 and 24.3 MHz is reported in cis-1,4-polybutadiene (PB) samples with different crosslink density including uncrosslinked PB and samples with 140, 40, and 14 repeat units between crosslinks. In addition, spin-lattice relaxation times in rotating coordinate frame, T/sub 1p/, have also been determined. The relaxation data are interpreted in terms of the effects of crosslinks on segmental chain motions. Because of their sensitivity to low-frequency motion, T/sub 2/ data are of major interest. At temperatures well above the T/sub 1/ minimum the small T/sub 2/ temperature dependence resembles solidlike behavior reflecting the nonzero averaging of dipolar interactions due to anisotropic motion of the chain segments between crosslinks. The magnitude of T/sub 2/ at 60/sup 0/C is found to be proportional to the average mass between crosslinks.
Knowledge sharing between distributed knowledge based systems

A distributed knowledge-based system (KBS) designed to help computer network users and administrators use, manage, and maintain computer networks is described. The initial version of the system emphasizes the types of local area networks that are typically found in large industrial, governmental, or educational organizations. Knowledge used by the system is elicited from experts, generated from logical and physical network connectivity topology, and created by analyzing data gathered by simple network management protocol (SNMP) agents, system log agents, error message daemons, and interexpert system communication daemons. Knowledge is then shared by transferring chunks of knowledge between loosely coupled KBSs. Examples of knowledge sharing between KBSs are given. >