cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detecting Sequence Structure

This chapter presents techniques for detecting important structural features of sequences. This includes an account of approaches to describing sequence structure (i.e., descriptive statistics, visual aids, and transition matrices) and techniques for measuring and assessing the statistical significance of key structural properties (e.g., Markov chains) based on probabilistic comparisons. Some key topics here include sequence length, frequencies of elements, and measures of sequential connection, sequence stationarity, and homogeneity of sequences across subjects. Some of these measures may be of intrinsic interest, especially in cases where little is known about a sequence's structure. In these cases, measures may be more useful for operationalizing structural concepts that can then be analyzed by other means, such as regression analysis. To keep this discussion focused on informative techniques that can be useful in applied research, I set aside some fundamental lessons concerning probability theory and statistical inference. For example, I do not discuss properties of the binomial distribution, which can be useful, for example, in calculating the likelihood of observing a given element in a given position. I also do not address Markov models in detail. A large number of other works authoritatively address the mathematics underlying influential forms of sequence analysis and some sequence measures (e.g., Bakeman and Gottman 1997; Brockwell and Davis 2009; Chatfield 2003; Fuller 2009; Gottman and Roy 1990; Meyn, Tweedie, and Glynn 2009; Shumway and Stoffer 2010). The remainder of this book describes techniques that build on this work, but with an eye toward practical applications. Descriptive Analysis Several elementary properties of sequences can convey a lot of information about sequence structure. This section covers the most commonly reported aspects of sequences. Many of the descriptive measures discussed in this section can be calculated easily using Stata's SQ sequence analysis package (Brzinsky-Fay, Kohler, and Luniak 2006) and R's TraMineR package (Gabadinho et al. 2009). 4.1.1 Sequence Length One of the most important features of a sequence is its length. Sequence length, which is captured in t , refers to the number of positions within the sequence in which elements (or gaps) may appear.
Integrated biological–behavioural surveillance in pandemic-threat warning systems

Economically and politically disruptive disease outbreaks are a hallmark of the 21st century. Although pandemics are driven by human behaviours, current surveillance systems for identifying pandemic threats are largely reliant on the monitoring of disease outcomes in clinical settings. Standardized integrated biological-behavioural surveillance could, and should, be used in community settings to complement such clinical monitoring. The usefulness of such an approach has already been demonstrated in studies on human immunodeficiency virus, where integrated surveillance contributed to a biologically based and quantifiable understanding of the behavioural risk factors associated with the transmission dynamics of the virus. When designed according to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology criteria, integrated surveillance requires that both behavioural risk factors - i.e. exposure variables - and disease-indicator outcome variables be measured in behavioural surveys. In the field of pandemic threats, biological outcome data could address the weaknesses of self-reported data collected in behavioural surveys. Data from serosurveys of viruses with pandemic potential, collected under non-outbreak conditions, indicate that serosurveillance could be used to predict future outbreaks. When conducted together, behavioural surveys and serosurveys could warn of future pandemics, potentially before the disease appears in clinical settings. Traditional disease-outcome surveillance must be frequent and ongoing to remain useful but behavioural surveillance remains informative even if conducted much less often, since behaviour change occurs slowly over time. Only through knowledge of specific behavioural risk factors can interventions and policies that can prevent the next pandemic be developed.
Synthesis and Properties of Conjugated Macrocycles Containing 2,7-Bis(2-thienyl)-9H-fluoren-9-one Units.

Synthetic pathways to conjugated macrocycles containing one, two, or three 2,7-bis(2-thienyl)-9H-fluoren-9-one (TFOT) units in the macrocyclic frameworks bearing 10, 16, or 24 aromatic units were developed. The Diels–Alder reaction between (E,E)-1-(5-bromo-2-thienyl)-4-(5-iodo-2-thienyl)-1,3-butadiene and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate produced the key Diels–Alder adduct for the subsequent macrocyclic ring formation. UV–vis and fluorescence spectra of the TFOT-containing molecules were recorded, and their electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. Solvatofluorochromic properties were observed for the TFOT-containing molecules.
Short photoperiod reverses obesity in Siberian hamsters via sympathetically induced lipolysis and Browning in adipose tissue

Changes in photoperiod length are transduced into neuroendocrine signals by melatonin (MEL) secreted by the pineal gland triggering seasonally adaptive responses in many animal species. Siberian hamsters, transferred from a long-day 'summer-like' photoperiod (LD) to a short-day 'winter-like' photoperiod (SD), exhibit a naturally-occurring reversal in obesity. Photoperiod-induced changes in adiposity are mediated by the duration of MEL secretion and can be mimicked by exogenously administered MEL into animals housed in LD. Evidence suggests that MEL increases the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) drive to white adipose tissue (WAT). Here, we investigated whether MEL-driven seasonally adaptive losses in body fat are associated with WAT lipolysis and browning. Hamsters were subcutaneously administered vehicle (LD+VEH) or 0.4mg/kg MEL (LD+MEL) daily for 10weeks while animals housed in SD served as a positive control. MEL and SD exposure significantly decreased the retroperitoneal (RWAT), inguinal (IWAT), epididymal (EWAT) WAT, food intake and caused testicular regression compared with the LD+VEH group. MEL/SD induced lipolysis in the IWAT and EWAT, browning of the RWAT, IWAT, and EWAT, and increased UCP1 expression in the IBAT. Additionally, MEL/SD significantly increased the number of shared MEL receptor 1a and dopamine beta-hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons in discrete brain sites, notably the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, arcuate nucleus, locus coeruleus and dorsal motor nucleus of vagus. Collectively, these findings support our hypothesis that SD-exposed Siberian hamsters undergo adaptive decreases in body adiposity due to SNS-stimulated lipid mobilization and generalized WAT browning.
CNB-MAC'17: The Fourth International Workshop on Computational Network Biology: Modeling, Analysis, and Control

The Fourth International Workshop on Computational Network Biology: Modeling, Analysis, and Control (CNB-MAC 2017) is held in Boston, MA, on August 20. As in previous years, the workshop is organized in conjunction with the 8th ACM Conference on Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Health Informatics (ACM-BCB 2017), the flagship conference of the ACM SIGBio. The primary goal of the workshop is to provide an international scientific forum for presenting recent advances in computational network biology that involve modeling, analysis, and control of biological systems and system-oriented analysis of large-scale OMICS data.
Human and animal spongiform encephalopathies are the result of chronic autoimmune attack in the CNS: a novel medical theory supported by overwhelming experimental evidence.

Summary. Spongiform encephalopathies, also called "prion diseases", are fatal degenerative diseases of the central nervous system which can occur in animals (such as the "mad cow disease" in cattle) and also in humans. This paper presents a novel medical theory concerning the pathogenic mechanisms for various human and animal spongiform encephalopathies. It is hypothesized that various forms of prion diseases are essentially autoimmune diseases, resulting from chronic autoimmune attack of the central nervous system. A key step in the pathogenic process leading towards the development of spongiform encephalopathies involves the production of specific autoimmune antibodies against the disease-causing prion protein (PrPsc) and possibly other immunogenic macromolecules present in the brain. As precisely explained in this paper, the autoimmune antibodies produced against PrPsc are responsible for the conversion of the normal cellular prion protein (PrPc) to PrPsc, for the accumulation of PrPsc in the brain and other peripheral tissues, and also for the initiation of an antibody-mediated chronic autoimmune attack of the central nervous system neurons, which would contribute to the development of characteristic pathological changes and clinical symptoms associated with spongiform encephalopathies. The validity and correctness of the proposed theory is supported by an overwhelming body of experimental observations that are scattered in the biomedical literature. In addition, the theory also offers practical new strategies for early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of various human and animal prion diseases.
Bisexual inclusive couples therapy: assessment and treatment with bisexuals in mixed orientation relationships

This paper aims to improve understanding of why mixed orientation couples may seek treatment, as well as to support sex and relationship therapists in providing affirmative and respectful services....
Comprehensive Income Disclosures and Analysts' Valuation Judgments

We investigate whether clear disclosure of comprehensive income (CI) facilitates detection of earnings management by buy-side financial analysts and predictably affects their security price judgments. Because analysts and investors often must sort through voluminous footnotes and non-financial information to locate CI components and other value-relevant items, the Association for Investment Management and Research has recommended changes in the reporting of these items. In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 130-Reporting Comprehensive Income in response to this demand. The efficient markets hypothesis suggests that this reformatting of the financial statements should not affect analysts' judgments. However, psychology research predicts that information will not be used unless it is both available and readily processable (i.e., clear). Therefore, we argue that analysts' valuation judgments will be affected by the clarity of CI disclosure. The results of an experiment, in which 96 analysts participated, suggest that clear income statement (IS) disclosure of CI-as originally proposed in the FASB's CI Exposure Draft-enhances the transparency of a company's earnings management activities and reduces analysts' valuation judgments to the same level observed for a firm that does not manage its earnings. In contrast, we find that disclosure of CI in the statement of changes shareholders' equity-as allowed by SFAS No. 130 and likely to be adopted by a majority of US companies-is not as effective as IS disclosure in revealing earnings management. We discuss the implications of this study for users of financial accounting information and for accounting standard setters.
Generalized Travel Cost Model

Using the conceptual framework and data described in the two previous chapters, this chapter develops the generalized travel cost model. Essentially, the model illustrates an indirect approach for valuing water quality changes. By observing individuals’ visits to recreation sites with different levels of water quality, it is possible to indirectly infer individuals’ value for water quality changes. As this chapter and the two previous ones indicate, indirect approaches can involve assembling substantial amounts of data from existing sources. Using existing data has both advantages and disadvantages. Avoiding the cost of collecting the data is the most obvious advantage. Most prominent among the disadvantages is the inability to specify exactly what data are needed and how they should be measured. In evaluating the performance of the generalized travel cost model, we find that the constraints created by the available data may well be the single most important limitation of indirect approaches.
Sonographic Differential Diagnoses of Pelvic Masses

With the enhanced soft tissue detail recently afforded by gray scale image processing, a variety of sonographic patterns have been observed arising from pelvic masses. In an attempt to assess the specificity of a sonographic pattern to the histological composition of the mass, the following study utilizing only surgically proven cases was undertaken. The diagnostic and clinical implications of the variations of sonographic features of pelvic masses is discussed with regard to their differential diagnosis by sonography.
BiFC for Protein–Protein Interactions and Protein Topology: Discussing an Integrative Approach for an Old Technique

BiFC (Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation) is one of the most widely used techniques to study protein-protein interactions as well as protein topology in living cells. This method allows the visualization of protein interactions or the analysis of their topology in the cell compartments where the proteins belong, without changing their chemical properties, as often occurs after mixing the content of different cellular compartments in cell extracts. Several laboratories use this method because it is relatively easy to perform; however, sometimes a positive protein-protein interaction BiFC signal (i.e., reconstitution of fluorescence of interacting protein pairs) does not necessarily mean that the tested proteins are actually interacting in vivo in a specific way. Here we describe the BiFC approach for assessing protein-protein interactions and for establishing protein topology and we discuss how to best perform this method to avoid false positive results when studying protein interactions in plant cells.
Notch signaling pathway is a potential therapeutic target for extracranial vascular malformations.

Notch expression has been shown to be aberrant in brain arteriovenous malformations (AVM), and targeting Notch has been suggested as an approach to their treatment. It is unclear whether extracranial vascular malformations follow the same patterning and Notch pathway defects. In this study, we examined human extracranial venous (VM) (n = 3), lymphatic (LM) (n = 10), and AV (n = 6) malformations, as well as sporadic brain AVMs (n = 3). In addition to showing that extracranial AVMs demonstrate interrupted elastin and that AVMs and LMs demonstrate abnormal α-smooth muscle actin just as brain AVMS do, our results demonstrate that NOTCH1, 2, 3 and 4 proteins are overexpressed to varying degrees in both the endothelial and mural lining of the malformed vessels in all types of malformations. We further show that two gamma secretase inhibitors (GSIs), DAPT (GSI-IX) and RO4929097, cause dose-dependent inhibition of Notch target gene expression (Hey1) and rate of migration of monolayer cultures of lymphatic endothelial cells (hLECs) and blood endothelial cells (HUVEC). GSIs also inhibit HUVEC network formation. hLECs are more sensitive to GSIs compared to HUVEC. GSIs have been found to be safe in clinical trials in patients with Alzheimer’s disease or cancer. Our results provide further rationale to support testing of Notch inhibitors in patients with extracranial vascular malformations.
Increasing spiritual diversity in social work discourse: a scientific avenue toward more effective mental health service provision

The costs associated with mental disorders are substantial, yet treatment efficacy is still in its infancy. Drawing from key concepts in the philosophy of science literature, this paper argues that...
Utilization of rehabilitation services in patients with head and neck cancer in the United States: A SEER-Medicare analysis.

Background Head and neck cancer (HNC) and its treatment lead to functional impairments. Rehabilitation by speech-language pathology (SLP) and occupational/physical therapy (OT/PT) can decrease morbidity. Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare data for patients with HNC diagnosed between 2002 and 2011 was utilized to evaluate posttreatment rehabilitation. Results In 16 194 patients, the overall utilization rate was 20.7% for SLP and 26.2% for OT/PT services. Treatment modality was significantly associated rehabilitation utilization. Compared to patients treated with primary surgery, those treated with primary radiotherapy had significantly lower odds of OT/PT utilization. Patients treated with surgery plus adjuvant treatment and primary concurrent chemoradiation had higher odds of SLP utilization compared to patients treated with surgery alone. Conclusions Rehabilitation services appeared to be underutilized by patients with HNC in the United States and vary with treatment modality. There is a need to improve integration of rehabilitation services into the HNC care continuum. Summary Rehabilitation services are underutilized by patients with HNC during posttreatment surveillance in the United States. Treatment modality significantly impacts rehabilitation utilization patterns.
Oleo, Whiskey, and Cigars: How William Henry Osborn Implemented the 1913 Federal Income Tax

ABSTRACT Many scholars have chronicled the long political and legal battle that led to ratification of the 16th Amendment on February 25, 1913. However, none have described how the Bureau of Intern...
Investigation on convenience in emergency rooms of 78 leading general public hospitals in China

Objective To investigate whether emergency rooms in major general public hospitals are reasonably designed and convenient for patients. Methods 78 major public hospitals were selected from all over China, except Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, for emergency room convenience analysis. The standards in use were the "Standards of Hospitals" of Joint commission International Accreditation. Results The investigation found in such hospitals the following: poor road conditions outside the clinic and insufficient guides in the clinic; long-than-expected distance (normally over 50 meters) from ER to imaging departments (such as X-ray and CT scan service); ERs in provincial capital cities are significantly more convenient than those in non-capital cities; distance from ERs to CT service is significantly shorter in hospitals in eastern China than those middle and western China. Conclusions Parameters on ER's service quality from "Standards of Hospitals" could serve as a guideline to emergency medicine in China. ERs in China need to improve with conspicuous ER signs, unblocked passageways, and convenient access to inspection departments. Key words: Emergency room; Convenience; Appraisal standards of hospitals; Investigation
Persons and Personal Distinction

This chapter examines the theology of divine persons. The first part treats the definition of a divine person in Augustine and Boethius before considering the reception of the Boethian definition in Thomas and Scotus. The second section looks at the distinction between divine attributes, personal properties, and trinitarian appropriations, with a focus on how these distinctions were worked out in the twelfth century. The third section turns to the notion of personal constitution and whether or not divine persons are “constituted.” Finally, the chapter concludes with a discussion of the four dominant models of personal distinction.
RESPONSE: Social Media in Cardiology: From Optional to Essential.

I have long held the view that social media (SoMe) is advantageous for cardiologists and have encouraged others to explore it, using a “try it, you’ll like it” approach. Initially, I believed that Twitter was a new, equitable, and innovative method to connect with a large cardiology community
All Talk, No Assembly: Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels Do Not Mediate Active Zone Formation.

How synapses assemble remains unknown. In this issue of Neuron, Held et al. (2020) demonstrate that Cav2-type voltage-gated calcium channels do not mediate presynaptic assembly. Moreover, the channel-associated protein α2δ localizes independently, suggesting additional functions for this auxiliary protein.
Risk of bevacizumab-associated gastrointestinal perforation in patients with colorectal cancer and noncolorectal cancer

9622 Background: Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor. It is a widely used angiogenesis inhibitor in the treatment of colorect...
Oxandrolone Use in Trans-Masculine Youth Appears to Increase Adult Height: Preliminary Evidence

Purpose: Early use of oxandrolone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs has been shown to increase adult height in patients at risk for short stature, but use in trans-masculine (TM) youth to ...
Understanding soil nitrogen processes in diversified vegetable systems through agroecosystem modelling

Vegetable production systems are typically tillage- and input-intensive, though they may vary widely in production practices utilized. Improved understanding of soil water and nitrogen (N) processes with the use of agroecosystem models may aid in the optimization of crop yields and reduction of N losses. The objectives of this study were to (1) apply the RZ-SHAW model to diversified vegetable systems of varying production intensity, and (2) to elucidate soil N processes key loss pathways to inform opportunities for improving N cycling and sustainable intensification in these systems. The systems included conventional (CONV), low input organic (LI), and organic high tunnel (HT) vegetable systems. Soil water content and temperature were simulated well (rRMSE < 0.30) in all systems. Simulated soil NO3¯-N content was closer to measured values in the CONV than other systems. On average, the soil NO3¯-N content was underpredicted by 8 kg N ha−1 in the 0–0.15 m, and 5 kg N ha−1 in the 0.30–0.50 m soil layer in the LI system. In all systems, simulated daily N2O flux followed the trends in the measured values, but model predicted greater peaks than measured. Nitrate leaching was the greatest N loss pathway in all systems, though timing and driving factors varied by system. Asynchrony between N mineralization and crop uptake was observed throughout the LI rotation, indicating opportunities for targeted N and irrigation inputs to increase crop yields. Simulation results indicate the need for additional study of soil microbial and N processes in HT systems.
On Technology Licensing in a Stackelberg Duopoly

This paper finds that in a linear Stackelberg duopoly model, the follower is more likely to license a cost-reducing innovation to the leader than the leader is to the follower, regardless of whether licensing is in the form of a fixed fee or royalty per unit of output. Under fixed-fee licensing, the follower gains more from small innovations while the leader gains more from large non-drastic innovations. Under royalty licensing, the follower always gains more than the leader from an innovation.
Functional and Neuropathological Evidence for a Role of the Brainstem in Autism

The brainstem includes many nuclei and fiber tracts that mediate a wide range of functions. Data from two parallel approaches to the study of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) implicate many brainstem structures. The first approach is to identify the functions affected in ASD and then trace the neural systems mediating those functions. While not included as core symptoms, three areas of function are frequently impaired in ASD: (1) Motor control both of the limbs and body and the control of eye movements; (2) Sensory information processing in vestibular and auditory systems; (3) Control of affect. There are critical brainstem nuclei mediating each of those functions. There are many nuclei critical for eye movement control including the superior colliculus. Vestibular information is first processed in the four nuclei of the vestibular nuclear complex. Auditory information is relayed to the dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei and subsequently processed in multiple other brainstem nuclei. Critical structures in affect regulation are the brainstem sources of serotonin and norepinephrine, the raphe nuclei and the locus ceruleus. The second approach is the analysis of abnormalities from direct study of ASD brains. The structure most commonly identified as abnormal in neuropathological studies is the cerebellum. It is classically a major component of the motor system, critical for coordination. It has also been implicated in cognitive and language functions, among the core symptoms of ASD. This structure works very closely with the cerebral cortex; the cortex and the cerebellum show parallel enlargement over evolution. The cerebellum receives input from cortex via relays in the pontine nuclei. In addition, climbing fiber input to cerebellum comes from the inferior olive of the medulla. Mossy fiber input comes from the arcuate nucleus of the medulla as well as the pontine nuclei. The cerebellum projects to several brainstem nuclei including the vestibular nuclear complex and the red nucleus. There are thus multiple brainstem nuclei distributed at all levels of the brainstem, medulla, pons, and midbrain, that participate in functions affected in ASD. There is direct evidence that the cerebellum may be abnormal in ASD. The evidence strongly indicates that analysis of these structures could add to our understanding of the neural basis of ASD.
Multifocal myoclonus as a presentation of levetiracetam toxicity

Abstract Background Levetiracetam (LEV) is widely used for treatment of focal and myoclonic seizures, but reports of LEV toxicity are scarce. Here, we report a rare case of multifocal myoclonus due to LEV toxicity in a patient with chronic renal insufficiency. Case presentation A 52-year-old woman with history of chronic kidney disease was admitted to the ICU for sedation and intubation after a cardiac arrest. She developed nonconvulsive status epilepticus that resolved after administration of propofol while receiving LEV 1500 mg twice a day. After holding the propofol infusion, the patient started having multifocal myoclonic jerks, documented on video-EEG recordings with a supratherapeutic level of LEV. After discontinuation of LEV, the myoclonus resolved. Conclusion This is a unique manifestation of LEV toxicity, which has been scarce in the literature. It suggests an inverted U-shaped dose-response of the antimyoclonic effect of LEV.
Dexmedetomidine prolongs the duration of action of mepivacaine on anesthesia of the palmar digital nerves of horses

OBJECTIVE To determine whether palmar digital nerve (PDN) blockade in horses with a combination of dexmedetomidine and mepivacaine would block the response to mechanical force applied to the digit longer than would anesthetizing these nerves with mepivacaine alone or dexmedetomidine alone. ANIMALS 8 mares with no signs of lameness. PROCEDURES In a randomized, crossover, blinded, experimental study, both PDNs of the same forelimb of each horse were anesthetized by perineural injection with either 30 mg mepivacaine alone, 250 µg of dexmedetomidine alone, or 30 mg mepivacaine combined with 250 µg of dexmedetomidine. Each horse received each treatment, and treatments were administered ≥ 2 weeks apart. The mechanical nociceptive threshold was measured at a region between the heel bulbs with the use of a digital force gauge before (baseline) and at 15-minute intervals after treatment. RESULTS The mean duration of sensory blockade of the digit was 2-fold longer when a combination of mepivacaine and dexmedetomidine was administered (371 minutes), compared with when mepivacaine alone was administered (186 minutes). Treatment with dexmedetomidine alone did not change the mechanical nociceptive threshold substantially from baseline and resulted in no clinical signs of sedation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that relief from digital pain provided by perineural treatment with mepivacaine for PDN blockade can be extended by adding dexmedetomidine to the injectate.
Syntheses and Investigations of Conformationally Restricted, Linker-Free α-Amino Acid–BODIPYs via Boron Functionalization

A series of α-amino acid-BODIPY derivatives were synthesized using commercially available N-Boc-l-amino acids, via boron functionalization under mild conditions. The mono-linear, mono-spiro, and di-amino acid-BODIPY derivatives were obtained using an excess of basic (histidine, lysine, and arginine), acidic (aspartic acid), polar (tyrosine, serine), and nonpolar (methionine) amino acid residues, in yields that ranged from 37 to 66%. The conformationally restricted mono-spiro- and di-amino acid-BODIPYs display strong absorptions in the visible spectral region with high molar extinction coefficients and significantly enhanced fluorescence quantum yields compared with the parent BF2-BODIPY. Cellular uptake and cytotoxicity studies using the human HEp2 cell line show that both the presence of an N,O-bidentate spiro-ring and basic amino acids (His and Arg) increase cytotoxicity and enhance cellular uptake. Among the series of BODIPYs tested, the spiro-Arg- and spiro-His-BODIPYs were found to be the most cytotoxic (IC50 ∼ 22 μM), while the spiro-His-BODIPY was the most efficiently internalized, localizing preferentially in the cell lysosomes, ER, and mitochondria.
Tote im Unterricht

Der Frage, wann eine Person aufhort zu lernen, ist betrachtliche Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet worden. Viele vertreten die Ansicht, das Menschen ihr Leben lang lernen, andere behaupten, das das Lernen schon in fruhem Alter abgeschlossen sei und das jegliches „Lernen“ nach diesem Zeitpunkt einfach in der Abwandlung bereits erworbenen Wissens fur neue Situationen bestunde. Viele College- Lehrer glauben, das das Lernen bei den meisten Menschen irgendwann vor dem Eintritt ins College aufhort, was die zweite Ansicht weiter erhartet.
Optimism-driven exploration for nonlinear systems

Tasks with unknown dynamics and costly system interaction time present a serious challenge for reinforcement learning. If a model of the dynamics can be learned quickly, interaction time can be reduced substantially. We show that combining an optimistic exploration strategy with model-predictive control can achieve very good sample complexity for a range of nonlinear systems. Our method learns a Dirichlet process mixture of linear models using an exploration strategy based on optimism in the face of uncertainty. Trajectory optimization is used to plan paths in the learned model that both minimize the cost and perform exploration. Experimental results show that our approach achieves some of the most sample-efficient learning rates on several benchmark problems, and is able to successfully learn to control a simulated helicopter during hover and autorotation with only seconds of interaction time. The computational requirements are substantial.
The Effect of Abrasion Surface Treatment on the Bonding Behavior of Various Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Composites

Abstract In this paper we show that current abrasion surface preparation practices do not perform equally on all composite surfaces. The effect of abrasion on the adhesive bond strength of various carbon fiber (CF) composites was investigated. Cyanate ester composites were fabricated using a low, a high and an ultra high modulus carbon fiber (T300, M55J, K13C2U). XPS and contact angle measurements showed that the surface energy of all three composites increased due to the removal of contaminants as well as increased in surface roughness. However, the lap shear strength degraded sharply for a number of cases, irrespective of roughness, depending on the fiber used. Composites utilizing lower modulus carbon fibers increased in adhesive bond strength following abrasion in comparison to composites with higher modulus fibers. As the modulus of the fiber and the abrasive grit size increased, the degree of degradation caused by abrasion was shown to increase significantly. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and p...
Experiments on photoreactivation of bacteriophages inactivated with ultraviolet radiation

Kelner (1949), working with conidia of Streptomyces griseus, discovered that light belonging to the visible range is capable of reactivating biological material that has been rendered inactive by ultraviolet radiation (UV). Shortly after Kelner's discovery was known, a similar phenomenon in bacteriophages (bacterial viruses) was observed by accident. Plates of nutrient agar containing UV-inactivated phage and sensitive bacteria had been left for several hours on a table illuminated by a fluorescent lamp. After incubation it was noticed that the number of plaques was higher on these plates than on similar plates incubated in darkness. A short report of this phenomenon of "photoreactivation" (PHTR) has already been published (Dulbecco, 1949). The present paper contains the results of a first group of experiments concerning PHTR of seven bacteriophages of the T group active on Escherichia coli, strain B.
3.1.3 Strategy For the Composition and Development of the Authoritative System Representation (ASR)

Engineering a system in this era of hyper-complexity and massive scale, necessitates modeling and simulation (M&S) application at nearly every step of the system's life-cycle. The sequential nature of the Systems Engineering (SE) process provides opportunities to apply M&S that is particularly suited to each phase of the SE process. The credibility of M&S is strongly tied to the degree of similarity or fidelity of the M&S tool and its appropriateness in addressing the immediate engineering issues within the current SE phase. Correspondingly, engineering and developing the M&S tool requires a degree of specification analogous to the specification of requirements associated with the system. This specification serves to define what the tool is to do. It also serves to benchmark how well it is to do it so that it will be clear if the M&S tool was built correctly (through Verification and Validation). But unlike the larger system to which the tool will be employed, a majority of the M&S tool specification is not of the tool, itself, but rather the portrayal of the object of its employment— the system/element under engineering or scrutiny. This is referred to as the system representation or simply, the representation. This paper focuses on the development of a formal representation product for M&S mandated in the Defense (more specifically, Army) Acquisition system entitled the Authoritative System Representation (ASR). The paper's perspective is strongly oriented on the M&S developer's challenge of providing, to the System Engineer, tools that fulfil engineering needs. Every attempt is made to correlate System Engineering practices with Software Development practices of sound M&S construction. The ASR is a critical, but previously unheralded, component of the Defense Acquisition concept of Simulation Based Acquisition. This paper strives to share insight into this M&S product which is deserving of understanding by System Engineers.
Open Sesame! Speech, Password or Key to Secure Your Door?

This paper reviews the state of the art in speaker recognition. It clarifies the different technical solutions that have been explored with some success as well as the challenges and limitations of current systems. It also describes the different functions and modalities involved in speaker recognition, where the terminology is still amazingly confused: specialist often uses the same terms for different conecpts. We review the classical techniques used in speaker recognition. Finally, we introduce the revolutionary concepts of speech biometrics. By discussing the impact of these new concepts, the maturity of speaker recognition is re-focussed.
Associations of grassland birds with vegetation structure in the Northern Campos of Uruguay

ABSTRACT Grassland birds are declining as a consequence of habitat modification, and these declines have generated efforts to determine how birds cope with changes in habitat features, especially in agricultural landscapes. The objective of our study was to examine the relationship between grassland birds and vegetation structure in the Northern Campos of Uruguay. Vegetation variables were sampled on 4 sites that differed in agricultural management: (1) “Crop” site, a combination of annual crops and seeded pastures; (2) “Pasture” site, seeded pastures only; (3) “Native 1” site, natural grasslands under sheep and cattle grazing; and (4) “Native 2” site, natural grasslands grazed by native Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) and cattle. We used multivariate analyses to examine the relationship between bird abundance and vegetation variables. Vegetation structure varied among sites, and most of these differences can be linked to specific management activities typical of each site. Mean vegetation height was...
LPS-induced anorexia in leptin-deficient (ob/ob) and leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mice

Administration of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) induces profound anorexia. Injection of leptin decreases food intake in mice. Recently, we reported that LPS and cytokines increase leptin levels in hamsters. To further investigate the role of leptin in the LPS-induced anorexia, we administered LPS to leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) and leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice. We found that LPS caused anorexia in both db/db and ob/ob mice. As might be predicted if leptin had a role in anorexia, the db/db mice were somewhat resistant to LPS-induced anorexia. However the ob/ob mice were more sensitive to LPS-induced anorexia. No differences between db/db and ob/ob mice and their respective littermate were observed in circulating tumor necrosis factor levels after LPS. These data suggest that leptin per se is not essential for LPS-induced anorexia.
A luteolytic action of prolactin in hypophysectomized rats.

Prolactin injections begun several weeks after hypophysectomy in adult female rats markedly hastened the morphological regression of corpora lutea and significantly reduced ovarian weights. This luteolysis was first observed in rats pretreated with FSH and LH in dosages which were later proven insufficient for inducing ovulation. Subsequent experiments clearly demonstrated that pretreatment with the gonadotrophins did not in any way potentiate the luteolysis induced by prolactin. The degree of induced luteolysis was dependent on the prolactin dosage both in animals pretreated with gonadotrophins and in those receiving no pretreatment. The minimal dosage of prolactin found to induce significant luteolysis was 0.25 IU/day administered for 13 days. Prolonged treatment with FSH or LH did not result in luteolysis. Histologically the prolactin-induced luteolysis was characterized by an invasion of connective tissue elements from the periphery of the corporalutea. The first observable effect in the most recent g...
Current Activities on High-Frequency Exposure Guidelines for Humans [Health Matters]

The health and safety of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic energy (or radiation) have been under investigation for more than 60 years. In addition, guidelines for limiting human exposure to RF energy have been promulgated for more than 40 years.
Barriers for individuals with spinal cord injury returning to the community: a preliminary classification.

Abstract Background With decreased length of stay for inpatient rehabilitation, individuals with newly acquired spinal cord injury (SCI) might be discharged back into the community without the level of knowledge and functional skills necessary to live successfully post injury. This research studied the course of recovery and outcomes after the delivery of a coordinated inpatient rehabilitation system of care for individuals with SCI. Objective Individuals with newly acquired SCI face numerous barriers during reintegration into the community. The purpose of this article is to identify and develop a preliminary classification of barriers to community reintegration that persons with SCI experience during the post-acute period. Methods This 1-year study is the qualitative arm of a randomized controlled pilot study. Twenty-six people with SCI participated (mean age 40.6 years, 81% male and 54% tetraplegic). Self-reported data were collected during the first year post discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Results The three most common categories of self-reported barriers were mobility and equipment issues (23%), lack of environmental, and home assistance (20%), and insurance issues (18%). The two most common specific barriers were lack of insurance coverage (6.5% of all reported barriers) and residing in a nursing home (5.4%). Conclusion Our findings provide a preliminary classification of the barriers newly injured persons with SCI encounter during the post-acute period.
Work Environment Reform and Industrial Democracy

This article suggests the importance of connecting work environment issues with concerns of worker control. In particular, some of the legislative reform efforts in Norway and Sweden are outlined with an analysis of current developments in the United States. Whereas there are limited advances in democratizing the workplace head-on, there are considerable achievements illustrated whereby laws and policies have advanced worker control over technology, production, and work processes through a work environment reform strategy.
Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Doxycycline Neoglycosides

A set of 37 doxycycline neoglycosides were prepared, mediated via a C-9 alkoxyamino-glycyl-based spacer reminiscent of that of tigecycline. Subsequent in vitro antibacterial assays against representative drug-resistant Gram negative and Gram positive strains revealed a sugar-dependent activity profile and one doxycycline neoglycoside, the 2'-amino-α-D-glucoside conjugate, to rival that of the parent pharmacophore. In contrast, the representative tetracycline-susceptible strain E. coli 25922 was found to be relatively responsive to a range of doxycycline neoglycosides. This study also extends the use of aminosugars in the context of neoglycosylation via a simple two-step strategy anticipated to be broadly applicable for neoglycorandomization.
Two recent radiation-related genetic false alarms: Leukemia in West Cumbria, England, and minisatellite mutations in Belarus

Within the past decade, two reports have appeared purporting to demonstrate much greater human sensi- tivities to the genetic effects of radiation than are consistent with the Japanese or mouse data that I summarized earlier in this program. This presentation will review these reports, both of which are badly flawed, and then proceed to a few poignant remarks concerning the responsibilities of scientists, scientific journals, and even the press, with respect to highly sensitive genetic topics. mSv equivalents (but there were no exposures exceed- ing approximately 200-mSv equivalents). The authors focused special attention on the village of Seascale, 3 km south of Sellafield, where a clustering of cases had been observed. Altogether seven cases had been diag- nosed in residents of the village less than 25 years of age in the 29 years 1955-1983, five of which were in children less than 10 years of age, when less than one case at these ages (actually, 0.5 cases) would have been expected at national rates. Four of the fathers of the affected children were employed in the Sellafield plant (expectation, 0.6; relative risk, 6.4), where they had received estimated total preconceptual (badge) doses of ionizing radiation ranging from 97 to 188 mSv equiva- lents over a period of 6-13 years. The authors con- cluded that: ''This result suggests an effect of ionizing radiation on fathers that may be leukaemogenic in their offspring, though other, less likely, explanations are possible.'' That they believe this effect was genetic is indicated by their comparison of their findings with other, avowedly genetic studies. The sensitivity of the human genome to the genetic effects of ionizing radia- tion implied by this interpretation is, of course, far, far
Fractionation of Skimmilk Proteins by Sephadex Gel Filtration

Summary Sephadex G-75 and G-100 gel filtration was employed to determine the protein particle size distribution in skimmilk and ultracentrifugal serum as affected by heat, dialysis, and oxalate-solubilization. Sephadex G-75 failed to fractionate skimmilk proteins satisfactorily, but yielded two partially separated protein components. Sephadex G-100 fractionated unheated skimmilk into four heterogeneous components with about 52, 11, 10, and 26% of the total elution pattern area in each of these components in the order of elution. Oxalate solubilization altered the gel filtration properties of the proteins to a much greater extent than dialysis against phosphate buffer alone. Heating skimmilk (74–90.5 C—10 min) caused two major alterations in the Sephadex patterns: (a) an increase in the largest-sized protein component at the expense of the serum proteins and (b) an increase in the nonprotein nitrogen component. Heating prevented the alteration of the proteins by oxalate-solubilization, as was achieved with the unheated systems.
Algorithm design for a class of base station location problems in sensor networks

Base station placement has significant impact on sensor network performance. Despite its significance, results on this problem remain limited, particularly theoretical results that can provide performance guarantee. This paper proposes a set of procedure to design (1 - ɛ) approximation algorithms for base station placement problems under any desired small error bound ɛ > 0. It offers a general framework to transform infinite search space to a finite-element search space with performance guarantee. We apply this procedure to solve two practical problems. In the first problem where the objective is to maximize network lifetime, an approximation algorithm designed through this procedure offers 1/ɛ2 complexity reduction when compared to a state-of-the-art algorithm. This represents the best known result to this problem. In the second problem, we apply the design procedure to address base station placement problem when the optimization objective is to maximize network capacity. Our (1 - ɛ) approximation algorithm is the first theoretical result on this problem.
Dimensions of Modern Warfare

A reanalysis, with exploratory factor analysis using a varimax rotation, of data from 326 land battles from 321 BC to 1905 AD (published in 1980 by D. K. Simonton) yielded five orthogonal factors
Convex sets in minimum-distance estimation

Let X be a normed vector space, let C be a subset of X and let P c(z) denote the set of projections of a point z∊X onto CAssume that C is proximinal, that is, for all z∊X P c(z) is nonempty. C will be called unified if z∊X , and μ∊C imply . In the context of estimation, μ is an unknown parameter assumed apriori to be in C. and z is an unconstrained data-based estimate of μ. If C is unified, then is closer to both μ∊C (assumption) and z (data) than μ and z are to themselves. If X is an inner product space, then C is unified if and only if it is proximinal and convex. This is not the case, how-ever, if the norm does not admit an inner product. In this paper we characterize those spaces in which proximinal and convex imply unified, and partially characterize spaces in which unified implies convex. In particular, if X is complete and has three or more dimensions, then proximinal and convex imply unified only if X has an inner product. An example involving M-estimation is discussed.