cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling of Traffic Excitation for System Identification of Bridge Structures

System input (traffic excitation) is difficult to measure, so system identification is often performed based only on the system output (bridge vibration responses) in long-term health monitoring of bridge structures. Traffic excitation is commonly modeled as spatially uncorrelated white noise to facilitate the identification of the bridge properties. A physical model of a stationary stream of vehicles (moving loads) arriving in accordance with a Poisson process, traversing an elastic beam, shows that the traffic excitation is spatially correlated. Employing the dynamic nodal loading approach, this spatial correlation results in a frequency-dependent excitation spectrum density matrix, and shifts the response spectra obtained from those excited by spatially uncorrelated white noise. It is shown that the application of system identification techniques based on the conventional excitation model may result in misleading structural properties. Hence, this study further proposes an output-only gray-box identification technique for bridge structures, in which knowledge about the nature of the traffic excitation, such as its spatial correlation, is implanted into an autoregressive-moving-average (ARMA) model. The identifiability of the ARMA model so constructed is assured and the feasibility of the proposed identification technique is demonstrated by a numerical example. With the proposed physics-based excitation model and the gray-box identification technique, information collected about traffic will directly contribute to improving the identification of structural structural properties.
Development of cell size in the medial interlaminar nucleus of normal and monocularly deprived kittens

Abstract Cross-sectional areas of somata in the medial interlaminar nucleus (MIN) and lamina A of the cat were measured at different ages to determine neuronal growth characteristics. Normal and monocularly lid-sutured kittens of ages 2 – 16 weeks plus several adults were studied. During development of normal kittens, we observed that MIN cells grew until about 8 weeks of age and were larger, on average, than cells in lamina A at all ages. The growth pattern was similar for cells in both MIN and lamina A. In monocularly deprived kittens, a deprived/nondeprived cell size difference began to appear between 3 and 5 weeks of age and continued to increase until about 8 weeks of age. We conclude that monocular lid-suturing affects the size of MIN neurons much as it does neurons in lamina A, and the effect is concurrent with the period of normal growth.
Predictors of mortality in patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease

Objective: We sought to identify factors associated with mortality in persons recently diagnosed with probable Alzheimer9s disease (AD). Background: Predicting mortality in AD is needed both in patient care and public health planning. Previous studies have identified several factors which contribute to mortality in AD, but few longitudinal studies of population-based cohorts exist. Methods: In a longitudinal follow-up study 327 patients with newly diagnosed probable AD (mean Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score of 20) from a large, stable health maintenance organization were identified. Demographic characteristics, dementia severity, and comorbid conditions were identified at enrollment. Patients were followed longitudinally (median 3.3 years, total 898 person-years). Baseline characteristics were used to predict survival in univariate and multivariate models. Results: Increased mortality was seen in patients with probable AD (9.0 deaths per 100 person-years) compared with the community population adjusted for age and gender (4.3 deaths per 100 person-years). On univariate analysis we found increased age, male gender, impairment on MMSE or Blessed dementia rating scale (DRS), rate of MMSE decline, wandering or agitation, vascular disease, and sensory impairment affecting the ability to read or hear to be moderately associated with decreased survival. After adjusting for age and gender in a multivariate model, Blessed DRS score and sensory impairment affecting the ability to read were independently associated with decreased survival. Conclusions: Short-term mortality is increased in patients newly diagnosed with probable AD. Measures of dementia severity, measures of general debility, and vascular disease are associated with increased mortality. Of these, general debility and sensory impairment were more strongly associated with shortened survival. NEUROLOGY 1996;47: 433-439
Optimal Energy and Delay Tradeoffs for Multiuser Wireless Downlinks

We consider the fundamental delay tradeoffs for minimizing energy expenditure in a multiuser wireless downlink with randomly varying channels. First, we extend the Berry-Gallager bound to a multiuser context, demonstrating that any algorithm that yields average power within O(1/V) of the minimum power required for network stability must also have an average queueing delay greater than or equal to Omega(radicV). We then develop a class of algorithms, parameterized by V, that come within a logarithmic factor of achieving this fundamental tradeoff. The algorithms overcome an exponential state-space explosion, and can be implemented in real time without a priori knowledge of traffic rates or channel statistics. Further, we discover a ldquosuperfastrdquo scheduling mode that beats the Berry-Gallager bound in the exceptional case when power functions are piecewise linear.
Regulation of the p85/p110 Phosphatidylinositol 3′-Kinase: Stabilization and Inhibition of the p110α Catalytic Subunit by the p85 Regulatory Subunit

We propose a novel model for the regulation of the p85/pl10alpha phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase. In insect cells, the p110alpha catalytic subunit is active as a monomer but its activity is decreased by coexpression with the p85 regulatory subunit. Similarly, the lipid kinase activity of recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GST)-p110alpha is reduced by 65 to 85% upon in vitro reconstitution with p85. Incubation of p110alpha/p85 dimers with phosphotyrosyl peptides restored activity, but only to the level of monomeric p110alpha. These data show that the binding of phosphoproteins to the SH2 domains of p85 activates the p85/p110alpha dimers by inducing a transition from an inhibited to a disinhibited state. In contrast, monomeric p110 had little activity in HEK 293T cells, and its activity was increased 15- to 20-fold by coexpression with p85. However, this apparent requirement for p85 was eliminated by the addition of a bulky tag to the N terminus of p110alpha or by the growth of the HEK 293T cells at 30 degrees C. These nonspecific interventions mimicked the effects of p85 on p110alpha, suggesting that the regulatory subunit acts by stabilizing the overall conformation of the catalytic subunit rather than by inducing a specific activated conformation. This stabilization was directly demonstrated in metabolically labeled HEK 293T cells, in which p85 increased the half-life of p110. Furthermore, p85 protected p110 from thermal inactivation in vitro. Importantly, when we examined the effect of p85 on GST-p110alpha in mammalian cells at 30 degrees C, culture conditions that stabilize the catalytic subunit and that are similar to the conditions used for insect cells, we found that p85 inhibited p110alpha. Thus, we have experimentally distinguished two effects of p85 on p110alpha: conformational stabilization of the catalytic subunit and inhibition of its lipid kinase activity. Our data reconcile the apparent conflict between previous studies of insect versus mammalian cells and show that p110alpha is both stabilized and inhibited by dimerization with p85.
Anomalous scattering study of the bi distribution in the 2212 superconductor: implications for cu valency.

The distribution of the bismuth atoms over the cation sites in the 2212 Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductor has been determined by anomalous scattering synchrotron crystallography. The analysis of reflection pairs measured at wavelengths of 0.9243 and 0.9600 angstrom shows a delocalization of the bismuth atoms over the calcium and strontium sites. The "mixed" plane between the CuO 2 layers contains 6.0(1.4) percent bismuth (where the number in brackets represents the statistical standard deviation derived from the least-squares refinement of the data), and a much smaller amount of strontium than often assumed. The strontium deficiency is charge-compensated by the creation of electron holes in the CuO 2 layer. The result supports the view that neither extra oxygen nor overlap of the bismuth 6 p and copper 3 d bands is needed to account for the holes, which are an essential feature of the superconductivity mechanism.
Distance-dependent performance of asexual progeny in Allium vineale (Liliaceae).

Local adaptation within and among populations may have an impact on processes ranging from speciation to the evolution of mixed breeding systems and dispersal strategies. It is also one potential factor that could favor the production of asexual over sexual propagules. This field experiment tested whether asexually produced bulbils of Allium vineale demonstrate local adaptation to the parental microsite at the scale of natural dispersal from the parent (5, 25, 50, 100, and 1000 cm). Both ‘‘home’’ and randomly chosen ‘‘away’’ genotypes were planted at each location to determine the relative performance of the ‘‘home’’ genotype. Overall, bulbil performance declined with distance from the parent. In particular, ‘‘home’’ bulbils outperformed ‘‘away’’ bulbils at a distance of 25 cm from the parent, indicating that local adaptation has occurred at the scale of natural dispersal in this species. The variance in propagule performance also increased at farther distances from the parent, indicating that the predictability of offspring performance decreases with distance. Fine-scale local adaptation within the range of seed dispersal in this population may be one factor favoring asexual reproduction in Allium vineale.
First-order secular perturbations of an artificial earth satellite due to the sun and moon.

Artificial earth satellite orbital elements first order secular perturbations due to sun and moon mass derived, using Lagrangian perturbation equations
Future Cascadia megathrust rupture delineated by episodic tremor and slip

[1] A suite of 15 episodic tremor and slip events imaged between 1997 and 2008 along the northern Cascadia subduction zone suggests future coseismic rupture will extend to 25 km depth, or ∼60 km inland of the Pacific coast, rather than stopping offshore at 15 km depth. An ETS-derived coupling profile accurately predicts GPS-measured interseismic deformation of the overlying North American plate, as measured by ∼50 continuous GPS stations across western Washington State. When extrapolated over the 550-year average recurrence interval of Cascadia megathrust events, the coupling model also replicates the pattern and amplitude of coseismic coastal subsidence inferred from previous megathrust earthquakes here. For only the Washington State segment of the Cascadia margin, this translates into an Mw = 8.9 earthquake, with significant moment release close to its metropolitan centers.
Thermal and Mechanical Characteristics of a Multifunctional Thermal Energy Storage Structure

Thermal energy storage (TES) sandwich-structures that combine the heat storage function with structural functionality are described. The structure consists of a thermal interface (TI) connected to a hollow plate lamination. Each laminate is a hollow aluminum plate having a series of mm-scale channels or compartments that are filled with phase change material (PCM). Heat storage is via the latent heat of the PCM. A generalized thermal response model that is applicable to a wide range of channel geometrical configurations is described. The model couples the thermal response of the TI to the hollow aluminum plate/PCM-volume. The temporal response of the system is easily obtained via numerical solution of two ordinary differential equations, which can be solved to give closed-form solutions subject to a simple assumption. Thermal analysis delineates geometrical configurations that have good thermal response characteristics. The mechanical properties of the laminated structure are determined experimentally. Four-point bending experiments are conducted using specimens made with three layers of hollow plates laminated using a structural adhesive. An energy method is developed to model both the deformation and strength of the laminated structure. The energy method is developed based on the assumption that plane cross sections of the structure remain plane under bending, a condition that is valid for both linear and nonlinear materials. The energy method can provide deformation of the aluminum laminates comparable with the experiments. Experiments and modeling indicate that these laminated structures have an excellent performance-to-weight ratio.
Enzyme-containing hydrogel micropatterns serving a dual purpose of cell sequestration and metabolite detection

The integration of sensing elements with small groups of cells is a critical step towards miniaturization of cell cultivation and analysis. This paper describes the development of an optical, enzyme-based biosensor for local detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) secreted by stimulated macrophages. Photolithographic patterning of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)—containing poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel microstructures was used to create sensing structures on the glass surface. Importantly, enzyme-entrapping hydrogel micropatterns did not support protein or cell deposition and allowed to guide attachment of macrophages next to the sensing elements. Amplex Red, an organic molecule that becomes fluorescent in the presence of H2O2 and HRP, was either immobilized inside hydrogel elements alongside enzyme molecules or added into the cell culture media during cell activation. The production of H2O2 after mitogenic stimulation of macrophages resulted in appearance of fluorescence in the HRP-containing hydrogel microstructures, with fluorescence intensity being a strong function of analyte concentration. The novel cell culture system with integrated sensing elements described here may be enhanced in the future by incorporating additional biorecognition elements to enable multi-metabolite detection at the site of a cell.
CELL WALL STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION AS TAXONOMIC CHARACTERS IN THE COCCOID CHLOROPHYCEAE1,2

Cell wall structure and composition of fifty-one algae in the Volvocales, Tetrasporales, Chlorococcales, and Chlorosarcinales were investigated to determine the feasibility of using the presence of cellulose, wall fibers, and wall periodicity as taxonomic characters. Although members of the Volvocales consistently lack cellulose, the diversity of wall characters in the other orders discourages the use of these characters as taxonomic or phylogenetic criteria.
College bowl sponsorship and the increased commercialization of amateur sports

This study critiques the increased economic centrality and symbolic visibility of corporate sponsors to college football bowl games, focusing especially on the 1996 “Tostitos”; Fiesta Bowl. The paper argues that sponsorship has three major effects on college football: embedding it in tele‐spectacle, subordinating it to the commercial function, and perpetuating elitism. The paper argues that corporate sponsorship further devalues the integrity and essence of amateur sports.
First-order equivalent current and corner diffraction scattering from flat plate structures

The equivalent current concept is used to compute the scattering patterns of flat plate structures. It is also used to obtain the broadside scattering lobe for any incidence plane. The essential feature introduced in this paper is that only the components of the equivalent current perpendicular to the incidence plane are used. No special treatment of the singularity in the plane wave diffraction coefficient (which is the basis of the equivalent current concept) is required. Instead, this choice of equivalent current components is such that the singularity at one edge segment is canceled by the singularity at the opposite edge segment. For modern day computers there is sufficient accuracy that the main scattering lobe can be obtained in the limit as one approaches broadside. The same results can be obtained for plate structures made of straight edges by using a new corner diffraction analysis. For certain cases where the observation angle is sufficiently removed from normal incidence to an edge, the corner diffraction analysis appears to yield more accurate results.
Imaging and Response in Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Conventional CT and MRI scans provide exquisite anatomic detail of soft tissue sarcomas but fall short of estimating the degree of tumor viability within a sarcomatous mass. Functional imaging methods that measure biologic properties within sarcomas may be better able to determine true tumor responses to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Many different approaches to measure biologic processes have been taken and are discussed, but positron emission tomography (PET) is currently the most quantitative and developed. A response in tumor glucose uptake, determined by PET, has been shown to correlate with improved clinical outcomes in high-grade extremity soft tissue sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Functional imaging of soft tissue sarcomas may prove to be useful clinically, therefore further investigation is warranted.
Uncommon high-risk lesions of the breast diagnosed at stereotactic core-needle biopsy: clinical importance.

PURPOSE: To assess the outcome of papillary lesions, radial scars, or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) diagnosed at stereotactic core-needle biopsy (SCNB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 1,236 lesions sampled with SCNB yielded 22 papillary lesions, nine radial scars, and five LCIS lesions. Diffuse lesions such as papillomatosis, papillary ductal hyperplasia, papillary ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and atypical lobular hyperplasia were not included. The mammographic findings, associated histologic features, and outcome were assessed for each case. RESULTS: Sixteen papillary lesions were diagnosed as benign at SCNB. Of these, five were benign at excision, and 10 were unremarkable at mammographic follow-up. At excision of an unusual lesion containing a microscopic papillary lesion, DCIS was found. Three of four papillary lesions suspicious at SCNB proved to be papillary carcinomas; the fourth had no residual carcinoma at excision. Eight of nine radial scars were excised, which revealed aty...
Desflurane Allows for a Faster Emergence When Compared to Sevoflurane without Affecting the Baseline Cognitive Recovery Time.

Aims, We compared the effect of desflurane and sevoflurane on anesthesia recovery time in patients undergoing urological cystoscopic surgery. The Short Orientation Memory Concentration Test (SOMCT) measured and compared cognitive impairment between groups and coughing was assessed throughout the anesthetic. Methods and Materials, This investigation included 75 ambulatory patients. Patients were randomized to receive either desflurane or sevoflurane. Inhalational anesthetics were discontinued after removal of the cystoscope and once repositioning of the patient was final. Coughing assessment and awakening time from anesthesia were assessed by a blinded observer. Statistical analysis used: Statistical analysis was performed by using t-test for parametric variables and Mann-Whitney U test for nonparametric variables. Results, The primary endpoint, mean time to eye-opening, was 5.0±2.5 minutes for desflurane, and 7.9±4.1 minutes for sevoflurane (p <0.001). There were no significant differences in time to SOMCT recovery (p=0.109), overall time spent in the post anesthesia care unit (p=0.924) or time to discharge (p=0.363). Median time until readiness for discharge was nine minutes in the desflurane group, while the sevoflurane group had a median time of 20 minutes (p=0.020). The overall incidence of coughing during the perioperative period was significantly higher in the desflurane (p=0.030). Conclusions, We re-confirmed that patients receiving desflurane had a faster emergence and met the criteria to be discharged from the post anesthesia care unit earlier. No difference was found in time to return to baseline cognition between desflurane and sevoflurane.
Rate and Amplitude Heterogeneity in the Solvation Response of an Ionic Liquid

In contrast with conventional liquids, ionic liquids have solvation dynamics with more rate dispersion and with average times that do not agree with dielectric measurements. A kinetic analog of multidimensional spectroscopy is introduced and used to look for heterogeneity in simulations of coumarin 153 in [Im12][BF4]. Strong heterogeneity is found in the diffusive solvation rate. An unanticipated heterogeneity in the amplitude of the inertial solvation is also seen. Both heterogeneities exchange at the same rate. This rate is similar to the mean diffusive solvation time, putting it in the intermediate-exchange region. Overall, there are multiple violations of the assumptions usually invoked in the theory of reaction dynamics.
Long-time behavior of the ω→α transition in shocked zirconium: Interplay of nucleation and plastic deformation

Abstract We study the thermally activated, slow conversion of the hysteretically retained ω phase into stable α phase in recovered samples of shocked zirconium. The ω-phase decays in time following an algebraic law, unlike the predictions of the nucleation-growth framework for first order transitions, and residual volume fractions of phases and dislocation densities are related by a power law. We propose an explanation for the annealing mechanism through coupled dynamics of dislocations and phase change. We find that the long-time behavior is controlled by the interplay of dislocations, shear fluctuations, and remnant volume fractions of phases, which lead to an algebraic decay in time. For late time, thermally activated quantities such as the dislocation mobility and nucleation rate set the timescale and control the algebraic behavior, respectively. At high enough temperatures this behavior is effectively indistinguishable from standard Avrami kinetics.
Accounting for Missing Data in Clinical Research--Reply.

In Reply Dr Stevens and colleagues highlight the KNN method and further the discussion about moving away from overly simplistic, biased methods for handling missing values. Our review of missing data methods was not exhaustive. For simplicity and clarity, we focused on methods that are more common in practice and readily available in statistical software packages. As a result, we omitted certain viable techniques for handling missing values (eg, KNN, hot-deck imputation, and maximum likelihood estimation).
Predicting Tour de France stage-winning times with continuous power and drag area models and high speeds in 2013:

We present comparisons between our predicted stage-winning times and actual stage-winning times for the 2012 and 2013 Tour de France races. The former race represented our last use of a decade-old ...
FROM FROND TO FAN: ARCHAEOPTERYX AND THE EVOLUTION OF SHORT-TAILED BIRDS.

Modern birds have extremely short tail skeletons relative to Archaeopteryx and nonavialian theropod dinosaurs. Long- and short-tailed birds also differ in the conformation of main tail feathers making up the flight surface: frond shaped in Archaeopteryx and fan shaped in extant fliers. Mechanisms of tail fanning were evaluated by electromyography in freely flying pigeons and turkeys and by electrical stimulation of caudal muscles in anesthetized birds. Results from these experiments reveal that the pygostyle, rectrices, rectricial bulbs, and bulbi rectricium musculature form a specialized fanning mechanism. Contrary to previous models, our data support the interpretation that the bulbi rectricium independently controls tail fanning; other muscles are neither capable of nor necessary for significant rectricial abduction. This bulb mechanism permits rapid changes in tail span, thereby allowing the exploitation of a wide range of lift forces. Isolation of the bulbs on the pygostyle effectively decouples tail fanning from fan movement, which is governed by the remaining caudal muscles. The tail of Archaeopteryx, however, differs from this arrangement in several important respects. Archaeopteryx probably had a limited range of lift forces and tight coupling between vertebral and rectricial movement. This would have made the tail of this primitive flier better suited to stabilization than maneuverability. The capacity to significantly alter lift and manipulate the flight surface without distortion may have been two factors favoring tail shortening and pygostyle development during avian evolution.
Enzyme-Catalyzed Polymerization of End-Functionalized Polymers in a Microreactor

An enzyme packed microreactor was compared with a batch reactor system to determine effects of reaction water content on immobilized Candida antarctica Lipase B (Novozyme 435, N435) reusability, efficiency of end-group functionalization, apparent monomer conversion rate constants (kapp), average molar mass (Mn), and leaching of Candida antarctica Lipase B (CALB) from Lewatit macroporous beads. Conversion of e-caprolactone to poly(e-caprolactone), PCL, using benzyl alcohol for end-functionalization, was the model system for studies conducted herein. The apparent rate constant in microreactor (kapp = 0.027 s–1) was 27 times larger than in batch reactor (kapp = 0.001 s–1). Furthermore, in microreactor, the Mn vs conversion plots for “dry” and “water saturated” conditions were similar. In contrast, under “water saturated” conditions in a batch reactor, Mn is much lower. Moreover, at both high and low water content, higher end-group functionalization was achieved for polymerizations in microreactor (0.75 to ≥0...
Modal Analysis of 1/3-Scale Yak-54 Aircraft Through Simulation and Flight Testing

This paper compares the accuracy of two low fidelity software packages at modeling a 1/3 scale Yak-54 RC aircraft. Two programs, Advanced Aircraft Analysis(AAA) and Athena Vortex Lattice(AVL) were used to develop a set of stability and control derivatives and subsequent state space models. Flight test data was analyzed using MathWorks System Identification Toolbox for MATLAB to perform modal analysis. Results of identification are compared against low fidelity predictions and conclusions are drawn about the strengths of each program. Based on the results of this analysis both software packages provide similar results, however, AVL is slightly more accurate in predicting longitudinal dynamics as the natural frequency and damping ratio estimates of the short period mode more closely match that seen in flight for all flight conditions. AVL also predicts the natural frequency of the Dutch Roll mode on average with only 5% error, while AAA more accurately predicts the damping ratio of the Dutch Roll mode. AAA is also slightly more accurate at estimating the time constant for the Roll mode.
Effect of activated charcoal administration on acetylcysteine serum levels in humans

The effect of orally administered activated charcoal on the absorption of acetylcysteine in three men was studied. Each of the three volunteers was given 140 mg/kg acetylcysteine as a single oral dose. Blood samples were taken at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after acetylcysteine ingestion. Following a one-week washout period, each subject was given orally 50 g of Activated Charcoal, USP, 15 minutes before a 140-mg/kg acetylcysteine oral dose. Blood samples were taken. Acetylcysteine content in the plasma was determined with a high-pressure ion-exchange chromatography system using a gold-mercury electrochemical cell. No statistically significant differences were found between total areas under the curves, peak concentrations, or time of peak concentrations of acetylcysteine given with or without charcoal. Although acetylcysteine absorption was delayed in two patients, the differences were not significant. These data suggest that acetylcysteine absorption is not impaired by activated charcoal administration. This conflicts with previously published in vitro data; therefore, it is recommended that activated charcoal should not be administered concomitantly with acetylcysteine as a usual procedure until more data are available.
Género y violencia política en América latina Conceptos, debates y soluciones*

Resumen: La violencia contra las mujeres en politica es cada vez mas reconocida alrededor del mundo, pero especialmente en America Latina, como una nueva tactica para impedir la participacion politica de las mujeres. En este articulo exploramos como este concepto ha sido definido por academicos y activistas en la region, a menudo en terminos de violencia fisica y psicologica, y usamos datos de globales, asi como estudios de varias disci plinas, para expandir este concepto e incluir dos formas adicionales de violencia: economica y simbolica. Proveemos ejemplos de los cuatro tipos de violencia en paises de America Latina. Posteriormente consideramos multiples soluciones que pueden aplicarse dada esta definicion ampliada. Enfatizamos que un abordaje mas amplio es la mejor manera de combatir la violencia en todas sus formas. Palabras clave: genero, violencia politica, America Latina.
Adolescents' daily worries and risky behaviors: the buffering role of support seeking

With worries and risky behaviors becoming more prominent in adolescence, this study investigated bidirectional temporal connections between these two important adolescent concerns, that is, whether change in one concern is linked to change in the other either within the same day or during the next day. We also tested whether the coping strategy of seeking support from family and friends moderated the link between worries and risky behaviors. For 10 days, an ethnically and racially diverse sample of adolescents (N = 103; M age = 18.0) reported on 26 common worries, 18 risky behaviors, and the impact of seeking support from others. Multilevel models showed that worries and risky behaviors covaried on the same day and that worries predicted next-day risky behavior for male but not female participants. In contrast, risky behaviors did not predict next-day worries. For adolescents reporting negative experiences of support seeking, worries led to next-day risky behaviors and risky behaviors led to next-day worr...
Density waves in a system of non-interacting particles

Abstract An ensemble of non-interacting bouncing balls being acted on by a constant gravitational force, starting at rest from a uniform density distribution, will develop a structure of sharply peaked density waves. We describe these waves by computing the density profile of such a system analytically, and we find that the analytical results are in good agreement with numerical findings. We suggest that in a real system, these density waves could be used to produce measurements of the strength of a gravitational field.
The Iron in the Posthole: Witchcraft, Women's Labor, and Spanish Folk Ritual at the Berry Site

Apotropaic devices—folk ritual objects and deposits intended to ward away witchcraft or ensorcellment—were often deliberately concealed near the vulnerable parts of a structure (doors, windows, hearths, and chimneys). Because such devices typically consisted of otherwise mundane materials, they can be difficult to identify in archaeological deposits. It is the unusual context of the deposit that alerts us to the potential of its apotropaic meaning and intent. Here, I discuss the social and spatial contexts of an iron jack plate fragment concealed near the doorway of a Spanish colonial kitchen at the Berry site. Berry, located in present-day western North Carolina, was the site of Fort San Juan de Joara (1566–1568), the first European settlement in the interior of what is now the United States. Recognizing the iron jack plate fragment as a potential apotropaic device opens a window onto Spanish male anxieties about women's labor, especially the domestic labor associated with food. Spaniards and other Europeans believed that “wild” women regularly used ensorcelled food to entrap or punish male victims. Nowhere were fears of ensorcelled food more pronounced than along the frontiers of colonial America, where indigenous women usually prepared meals for Spanish men as wives, servants, and concubines. [colonialism, witchcraft, gender, food, folk ritual, the Berry site, colonial America]
High-Speed Optoelectronic Track-and-Hold Circuits in Hybrid Signal Processors for Wideband Radar

A high-speed track-and-hold circuit based on picosecond InP optoelectronic switches has been developed with a 260-MHz analog bandwidth, 100-MHz sampling rate, and better than 0.2% accuracy. This circuit, a surface-acoustic-wave convolver, and a charge-coupled-device matrix-matrix-product chip are being incorporated in a hybrid radar signal processor for processing radar signals with bandwidths up to 200 MHz.
Doubly Penalized LASSO for Reconstruction of Biological Networks

Reconstruction of biological and biochemical networks is a crucial step in extracting knowledge and causal information from large biological data sets. This task is particularly challenging when dealing with time-series data from dynamic networks. We have developed a new method, called doubly penalized least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (DPLASSO), for the reconstruction of dynamic biological networks. Our method consists of two components: statistical significance testing of model coefficients and penalized/constrained optimization. A partial least squares (PLS) with statistical significance testing acts as a supervisory-level filter to extract the most informative components of the network from a data set. Then, LASSO with extra weights on the smaller parameters identified in the first layer is employed to retain the main predictors and to set the smallest coefficients to zero. We present two case studies to compare the relative performance of DPLASSO and LASSO in terms of several metrics, such as sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. The first case study employs a synthetic data set; it demonstrates that DPLASSO substantially improves network reconstruction in terms of accuracy and specificity. The second case study relies on simulated data sets for cell division cycle of fission yeast and shows that DPLASSO overall outperforms LASSO and PLS in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Combining PLS with statistical significance testing and LASSO provides good performance with respect to several metrics. DPLASSO is well suited for reconstruction of networks with low and moderate density. For high-density networks, high specificity is desired, making PLS a more suitable approach.
In-Flight Characterization of the Cassini Spacecraft Propellant Slosh Modes

Telemetry data from three 445 N engine burns of the Cassini spacecraft are used to characterize the high-g slosh characteristics of bipropellants in cylindrical tanks with spherical end domes. Comp...
MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION IN THE HORSESHOE CRAB LIMULUS POLYPHEMUS.

Limulus polyphemus (L.) is one of the four species of horseshoe crabs alive today. These animals are well-known for their marked resemblance to fossils from the Mesozoic, and L. polyphemus has frequently been cited as an organism which has evolved very slowly over the last 200 million years (Mayr, 1963, p. 304; Selander et al., 1970; Williams, 1975, p. 147; Sekiguchi and Sugita, 1980). Such cases of apparent stasis have led to questions about the relative levels of variability in lineages evolving at different rates (discussed by Selander et al., 1970). Data about levels of morphological variability in Limulus are rarely cited, although Schuster (1955, 1957) has documented interlocality size variation with some suggestion of shape differences as well. Selander et al. (1970) found that levels of polymorphism and heterozygosity for allozyme loci in Limulus were comparable to those found in more rapidly evolving organisms, but the relation between these electrophoretic characters and morphological data, such as can be evaluated from fossil specimens, is not clear (Wilson et al., 1973; Turner, 1974; Turner et al., 1979). Sekiguchi and Sugita (1980) have suggested that the slow rates of morphological change may be partly explained by the persistence of a conservative systemfor regulation of gene expression during development. This may imply that variability in such a regulatory system does not match that found at electrophoretic loci. The purpose of the present study is to report the results of an analysis of morphological variability within and among populations of Limulus polyphemus.
Two Sides of the Same Coin: Women Entrepreneurs in India by Choice or Necessity

This study seeks to obtain a better understanding of the success of women entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Specifically, we examine the role of personal traits of the women entrepreneurs and the ...
Kinesiology tape modestly increases skin blood flow regardless of tape application technique.

Kinesiology tape (KNT) is commonly used for injury prevention and as part of rehabilitation to treat muscle and joint pain. KNT is purported to increase local blood flow by lifting the skin and reducing local pressure. Whether or not skin blood flow is increased by KNT is not presently known. We carried out 2 experiments to elucidate the effects of KNT on skin blood flow. Protocol 1: KNT was applied to the skin at 0%, 25%, 50%, and 100% relative tension. Red cell flux, an index of skin blood flow, was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) at each site and at a no-tape control site. There was an overall effect of tape on cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC: LDF/MAP) (KNT: 0.12 (95% confidence interval: 0.10, 0.14), control 0.08 (0.07, 0.10) flux•mmHg-1; p 0.05). Subjects kept KNT on for 3 days then returned for follow-up testing. CVC was not changed after 3 days of KNT application (p=0.07). Protocol 2: KNT was applied to the skin with and without convolutions. There was an overall effect of tape on CVC (KNT: 0.30 (0.21, 0.39), control 0.15 (0.09, 0.21) flux•mmHg-1; p=0.03), but no difference between KNT applied with or without convolutions (all p>0.05). These data suggest that KNT modestly increases microvascular blood flow, regardless of tension or presence of convolutions.
Vasopressin Receptor Antagonists in Hyponatremia: Uses and Misuses.

Decreases in the concentration of sodium in plasma constitute hyponatremia, the commonest electrolyte disorder in clinical medicine. It is now well-established that its presence conveys an increased mortality risk even when the decrement is mild. In addition, recent evidence suggests that chronic and apparently asymptomatic hyponatremia is associated with increased morbidity including neurocognitive deficits and bone fractures. Furthermore, hyponatremia is associated with higher healthcare related expenses. Consequently, exploring new therapeutic strategies that increase plasma sodium in a safe and effective manner is of paramount importance. In this regard, there is scant data to support the use of traditional management strategies for hyponatremia (fluid restriction, salt tablets, loop diuretics, normal saline). Furthermore data from a large hyponatremia registry reveals the limited efficacy of these therapies. More recently vasopressin receptor antagonists provide a promising treatment for hyponatremia by targeting its most common mechanism namely increased vasopressin activity. However, uncertainty still lingers as to the optimal indications for the use of vasopressin receptor antagonists in hyponatremia and a few reports have described complications resulting from their misuse. This review summarizes the appropriate and inappropriate uses of vasopressin receptor antagonists in the treatment of hyponatremia.
Copy Number Variation Disorders

Copy number variation (CNV) disorders arise from the dosage imbalance of one or more gene(s), resulting from deletions, duplications, or other genomic rearrangements that lead to the loss or gain of genetic material. Several disorders, characterized by multiple birth defects and neurodevelopmental abnormalities, have been associated with relatively large (> 1 Mb) and often recurrent CNVs. CNVs have also been implicated in the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders including autism and schizophrenia as well as other common complex diseases. Thus, CNVs have a significant impact on human health and disease. The use of increasingly higher resolution, genome-wide analysis has greatly enhanced the detection of genetic variation, including CNVs. Furthermore, the availability of comprehensive genetic variation data from large cohorts of healthy controls has the potential to greatly improve the identification of disease-associated genetic variants in patient samples. This review discusses the current knowledge about CNV disorders, including the mechanisms underlying their formation and phenotypic outcomes, and the advantages and limitations of current methods of detection and disease association.
A highly isolated dual-polarized linear array antenna with very low cross-polarization

A linear array antenna with pability is introduced. It consists of cros high port-to-port isolation and low cross-p degree bent dipoles are utilized to achieve pattern. The antenna maintains an active at 2.7–3 GHz while scanning up to ±45° configuration of elements is employed in t reduces the cross-polarization in principal below the co-polarization peak while scann E-plane. To validate the simulation, a linea is fabricated and its measured results are.
A simple and flexible Bayesian method for inferring step changes in cognition

Human behavioral data often show patterns of sudden change over time. Sometimes the causes of these step changes are internal, such as learning curves changing abruptly when a learner implements a new rule. Sometimes the cause is external, such as people's opinions about a topic changing in response to a new relevant event. Detecting change points in sequences of binary data is a basic statistical problem with many existing solutions, but these solutions rarely seem to be used in psychological modeling. We develop a simple and flexible Bayesian approach to modeling step changes in cognition, implemented as a graphical model in JAGS. The model is able to infer how many change points are justified by the data, as well as the locations of the change points. The basic model is also easily extended to include latent-mixture and hierarchical structures, allowing it to be tailored to specific cognitive modeling problems. We demonstrate the adequacy of this basic model by applying it to the classic Lindisfarne scribes problem, and the flexibility of the modeling approach is demonstrated through two new applications. The first involves a latent-mixture model to determine whether individuals learn categories incrementally or in discrete stages. The second involves a hierarchical model of crowd-sourced predictions about the winner of the US National Football League's Most Valuable Player for the 2016-2017 season.
Communist study: education for the commons

Is communism dead? That’s what we’ve been told. But, as the ‘terror democracy’ gives way to the totalitarian nature of capitalism, we might rather say a ‘new communism’ is back on the agenda. What ...
CDC, NCCLS, and OSHA Guidelines for Universal Precautions: Who is right and are the Guidelines Practical?

Universal Precautions as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 1987 (1) and updated in 1988 (2) have been widely adopted and form an integral part of the regulatory activity of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and state regulatory agencies. Universal precautions as promulgated by the CDC imply the use of Blood and Body Fluid Isolation for all patients regardless of any lack of evidence of an infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or other blood-borne infection. The implementation of universal precautions has raised many issues which have not been officially addressed by the CDC or OSHA.
22 - Addictive States

This chapter reviews addictive substances and to delineate neurochemical changes in the brain of the addicted subject. Illicit drug abuse is a social and medical affliction that touches the core of human existence. Investigation of the pharmacology of drugs of abuse entails studies of both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Neuroimaging studies can be conducted in alert human subjects and the temporal relation between the effects of drugs and their uptake and clearance from the brain. Determination of a relationship between behavioral and regional brain effects both in neurotransmitters and in function as assessed with measures of glucose metabolism or cerebral blood flow. Studies can also be done to assess the relation between pharmacokinetics of a given drug and the time course of its pharmacological effects. Later, studies with abused drugs are discussed in this chapter. Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world. It is an antagonist of G protein-linked adenosine receptors and has been reported to modify behavioral responses to a variety of centrally acting agents, including cocaine, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, alcohol, and morphine. Studies done in cocaine abusers during exposure to cocaine-related cues or to recall of their cocaine experiences have been done to identify the brain regions that get activated during craving.
Abstract B09: TLR1/2 ligand promotes Fc gamma RIV mediated depletion of tumor-infiltrating treg by anti-CTLA-4 antibody and its anti-tumor efficacy

Many cancer patients either do not respond or become resistant to immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors. To determine whether activating both the innate and adaptive immune pathways improve the tumor reduction and survival outcomes achieved with immunotherapy, we treated a mouse model of melanoma with intratumoral injections of TLR1/2 ligand plus intraperitoneal injections of anti-CTLA-4 antibody. This combination treatment enhanced antitumor immune responses both qualitatively and quantitatively, and its efficacy depended on CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, Fc gamma receptor IV and macrophages. Interestingly, our results suggest a unique and novel mechanism by which TLR1/2 ligand enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of anti-CTLA-4 antibody by increasing Fc gamma receptor IV expression on macrophages and increasing the density of these macrophages in tumor, which in turn enhances the depletion of tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells. This mechanism could be harnessed to modulate the clinical outcome of other antibody-based immunotherapies. Citation Format: Naveen Sharma, James P. Allison. TLR1/2 ligand promotes Fc gamma RIV mediated depletion of tumor-infiltrating treg by anti-CTLA-4 antibody and its anti-tumor efficacy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2017 Oct 1-4; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2018;6(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B09.