cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antenna Arrays in Multi-User Detection of Spread Spectrum Signals

In a code division multiple access (CDMA) spread spectrum system, each user is assigned a unique scrambling code. If these codes are not mutually orthogonal, the resulting multiple access interference (MAI) causes frame error rates to be unacceptably high. A number of multi-user detection algorithms have been suggested by various authors. Optimal receivers based upon maximum likelihood sequence decoding are quite complex, their complexity increasing exponentially with the number of users in the system. Sub-optimal receivers such as linear detectors or adaptive cancellers are not as complex, but the error rates increase with the number of users. In this paper, we suggest a new multi-user detection procedure using an antenna array at the receiver. First, we provide an upper bound on the minimum mean-squared error due to MAI, and show how the frame error rate increases with the number of users. The transmitted symbols are estimated by inverting the transfer function of the channel, multiplying it with the outputs of matched filters, and then passing the result through a maximum likelihood decoder. Our analysis indicates that if the channel impulse response is known with sufficient accuracy, this procedure leads to an optimal design. In those cases where the impulse response is only approximately known, we estimate the transmitted symbols and compute the resulting baseband SNR. If this SNR is above a threshold, the baseband signal is acceptable and ready for maximum likelihood sequence decoding. Otherwise, the impulse response is adjusted in small steps until the SNR is above that threshold.
Mesoporous Silica-Supported Amidozirconium-Catalyzed Carbonyl Hydroboration

The hydroboration of aldehydes and ketones using a silica-supported zirconium catalyst is reported. Reaction of Zr(NMe2)4 and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) provides the catalytic material Zr(NMe2)n@MSN. Exhaustive characterization of Zr(NMe2)n@MSN with solid-state (SS)NMR and infrared spectroscopy, as well as through reactivity studies, suggests its surface structure is primarily ≡SiOZr(NMe2)3. The presence of these nitrogen-containing zirconium sites is supported by 15N NMR spectroscopy, including natural abundance 15N NMR measurements using dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) SSNMR. The Zr(NMe2)n@MSN material reacts with pinacolborane (HBpin) to provide Me2NBpin and the material ZrH/Bpin@MSN that is composed of interacting surface-bonded zirconium hydride and surface-bonded borane ≡SiOBpin moieties in an approximately 1:1 ratio, as well as zirconium sites coordinated by dimethylamine. The ZrH/Bpin@MSN is characterized by 1H/2H and 11B SSNMR and infrared spectroscopy and through its reactivity wit...
Hormonal regulation of leptin expression in broiler chickens

Leptin, the polypeptide hormone encoded by the obese gene, is secreted by adipose tissue and has been shown to induce satiety and increase energy expenditure in mammals. In this study, we confirmed the presence of a leptin homolog in liver and adipose tissues of broiler chickens. Leptin expression was also detected in chicken embryonic liver and yolk sac. The effects of hormone treatment on leptin expression in chickens were also investigated. Leptin expression in the liver is increased by insulin and dexamethasone and decreased by glucagon and estrogen. There was no induction of leptin expression in adipose tissue by any treatment, whereas only estrogen decreased adipose expression. The differential effect on liver and adipose tissue suggests that adipocytes in chickens may be expressing leptin at a maximal rate or that its mechanism of expression regulation differs from liver. The localization of leptin expression and tissue-specific effects of hormone treatments on leptin expression observed in chickens may indicate a relationship between leptin and avian lipid metabolism.
Sociopolitical Developments and Methodological Issues at Copan, Honduras: A Conjunctive Perspective

Results of 16 years of archaeological research at Copan, Honduras, based on different methods and theoretical perspectives, can be used in combination to better understand the developmental trajectory of Classic period sociopolitical evolution in the Copan Valley. Although research continues, findings to date demonstrate the advantage of conjunctive research that applies archaeological, epigraphic, and iconographic data in a crosscutting, self-corrective strategy. While the use of any single data set may produce incomplete or inaccurate conclusions, as in the use of settlement data alone to reconstruct Middle Classic population size and assess the developmental status of the Copan polity, more complete conclusions can be reached by applying a fuller range of data from excavations in both the valley and Acropolis of Copan's urban core, along with epigraphic and iconographic evidence. These combined data show that from its beginning in the fifth century, the Classic Copan polity was ruled by powerful kings who controlled large populations and, quite likely, an extensive territory that may have included the site of Quirigua in the Motagua Valley to the north. At the other end of the developmental trajectory, the combination of research findings from the Acropolis and surrounding elite residential compounds and valley settlement data, has led to a redefinition of the Classic “collapse” at Copan, now seen as a long-enduring process involving the decentralization of political authority, the end of centralized dynastic rule, and gradual depopulation of the valley. This reconstruction, in combination with evidence for the end of the Classic period at other Lowland Maya sites, supports the long-standing conclusion that there was no single cause for the collapse, but rather that a complex and long-operating series of processes was responsible for the end of lowland Classic Maya civilization.
Jean-Baptiste De Beunie (1717–1793): Unsung Pioneer of the Study of Soils

AbstractRecent biographical sources suggest that an individual by the name of Jean-Baptiste De Beunie, a physician who lived more than two centuries ago in what is now northern Belgium, came up with the idea of a three-class granulometry for soils and the perspective that the clay fraction determine
Iodination of remote ortho-C-H bonds of arenes via directed S(E)Ar: a streamlined synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines.

A new strategy for the synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines (THQs) via the sequential functionalizations of remote C–H bonds is reported. This method uses a single picolinamide directing/protecting group to effect Pd-catalyzed γ-C(sp3)–H arylation, metal-free e-C(sp2)–H iodination, and Cu-catalyzed intramolecular C–N cross-coupling. The overall sequence is efficient and versatile, and offers a streamlined synthesis of THQs with complex substitution patterns from readily available aryl iodide and aliphatic amine precursors.
Reactivity and Mössbauer spectroscopic characterization of an Fe(IV) ketimide complex and reinvestigation of an Fe(IV) norbornyl complex.

Thermolysis of Fe(N═CtBu2)4 (1) for 8 h at 50 °C generates the mixed valent Fe(III)/Fe(II) bimetallic complex Fe2(N═CtBu2)5 (2) in moderate yield. Also formed in this reaction are tert-butyl cyanide, isobutane, and isobutylene, the products of ketimide oxidation by the Fe4+ center. Reaction of 1 with 1 equiv of acetylacetone affords the Fe(III) complex, Fe(N═CtBu2)2(acac) (3), concomitant with formation of bis(tert-butyl)ketimine, tert-butyl cyanide, isobutane, and isobutylene. In addition, the Mossbauer spectra of 1 and its lower-valent analogues [Li(12-crown-4)2][Fe(N═CtBu2)4] (5) and [Li(THF)]2[Fe(N═CtBu2)4] (6) were recorded. We also revisited the chemistry of Fe(1-norbornyl)4 (4) to elucidate its solid-state molecular structure and determine its Mossbauer spectrum, for comparison with that recorded for 1.
Synthesis of Glycerol Homologues

A series of monoprotected glycerol homologues and triols were prepared in high overall yields (>90%) via the hydroboration–oxidation of the corresponding dienols. Hydroboration with disiamylborane and concomitant alkaline oxidation (NaOH, H 2 O 2 ) was found to be a mild, high-yielding, and highly efficient method for the construction of a variety of glycerol homologues.
The Modified Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire is More Suitable for Chinese Adolescent Patients with Scoliosis

Objective:To evaluate the validity and reliability of the modified Scoliosis Research Society questionnaire and to make it serve Chinese Adolescent Patients with Scoliosis better.Methods:The simplified Chinese version of the Scoliosis Research Society-22(SRS-22) questionnaire was adapted to form the modified SRS questionnaire.The two questionnaires were mailed to 84 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.63 patients(75%) responded to the first set of questionnaire,among them 54 patients(86%) meanwhile returned their second survey as well.The reliability of the modified SRS questionnaire was determined by Cronbach's α value and the reproducibility was determined by intraclass correlation coefficient.The construct validity of the questionnaire was measured by factor analysis.Concurrent validity was measured by comparing with the SRS-22,and the measurement was made using the Pearson correlation coefficient(r).Results:As for the modified SRS questionnaire,the Cronbach's α values of five dimensions(functional activity,pain,self image,mental health,satisfaction degree) were greater than or equal to 0.8,and intraclass correlation coefficient of five dimensions were 0.95,0.90,0.85,0.75 and 0.84 respectively which showed better reproducibility.Factor analysis produced five common factors that were corresponding to five dimensions of source questionnaire.The five dimensions in the two questionnaires were relatively similar.Conclusion:The modified SRS questionnaire has the same validity and reliability as the SRS-22 questionnaire.Modification of the simplified Chinese version of the SRS-22 questionnaire according to Chinese national condition is more suitable to Asher's intention in constructing English version of the SRS-22 questionnaire.
Dreams About Creativity, Emotions, and Success

The word “dream” often refers to creative goals that individuals are eager to accomplish that require great efforts to be achieved. A dream is like the setting of a goal in the subconscious mind so that the conscious mind can accomplish it. The paper includes a model for dream materialization and dream construction, and identifies the three types of emotions involved in dreams.
A test for Gaussian critical current distributions in Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 and Nb-Ti superconducting wires

A model for the resistive transition in superconductors with a Gaussian critical current distribution is reviewed. It is applied to Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 and Nb-Ti wires with varying amounts of sausaging, and used to determine the coefficient of variation for their critical current distributions. These values from the model are compared to the coefficient of variation for their cross sectional areas measured directly on the same samples.
N-Queens solving algorithm by sets and backtracking

The N-Queens problem has been studied for over a century. The N-Queens problem may be solved using a variety of methods including backtracking algorithms and mathematical equations such as magic squares. We propose a more efficient approach to the most used technique, backtracking, by removing the threatened cells in order to decrease the number of trial and error steps.
Regulatory elements and genetic variations in periodontal diseases

Abstract Objective Current evidence suggests that many GWAS and IL1 SNPs are associated with periodontal diseases but their functional role remains ambiguous. Therefore, it is imperative to elucidate the molecular pathways through which these SNPs might act on the development of the disease. The purpose of this review was to highlight the regulatory elements of noncoding regions of the genome and provide insights on the functional role of periodontitis-associated GWAS and IL1 SNPs. Design A search was performed using ENCODE data available on different browsers. Results GWAS and IL1 SNPs overlap DNase I hypersensitivity sites, histone modifications and transcription binding sites. Some of these noncoding variants influenced the transcription activity of inflammatory genes. Conclusion SNPs associated with periodontal diseases may contribute to the development of the disorder through their functional roles. Unraveling the character of genetic components might explain the diversity of clinical phenotypes among population groups as well as disease susceptibility.
The Context and Process of Theory Development: The Story of Ambiguous Loss

This is the story of how the theory of ambiguous loss was born—the context of time and space in which it developed; the misunderstandings, clarifications, and corrections; and now, the theory's cultural updates. From an early interest in family stress theory, I coined the term ambiguous loss to name a previously unidentified stressor common to families everywhere. Discovering this phenomenon and developing the theory has been a lifelong process, but with a new generation of scholars, the theory continues to build and improve. This narrative is my tribute to a new generation of scholars, many of whom are testing the theory and broadening its application across cultures, disciplines, and types of ambiguous loss. May this account also stimulate the building of other useful theories of the middle range that include, without bias, the broad diversity of families today.
Subtle Motor Findings During Recovery from Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Preliminary Report

Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a heterogeneous condition, varying in both severity and sequelae. The long-term motor deficits following severe TBI requiring inpatient rehabilitation are better established than those following milder forms of TBI. The authors examined motor performance 2 and 12 months postinjury in children without overt motor impairment using standard measures of upper limb function and the Physical and Neurological Examination for Subtle Signs (PANESS). The PANESS was sensitive to differences between children with TBI and uninjured children as well as to changes in children with TBI over time. These data suggest that subtle motor deficits are present after milder forms of TBI and, particularly those related to balance and gait, may persist even 12 months postinjury.
First measurements of a 512 PSAPD prototype of a sub-mm resolution clinical PET camera

We present measurements from a first prototype of a 1 mm3 resolution clinical PET camera dedicated to breast imaging. This first prototype consists of two cartridges of 8 detector layers. Each detector layer comprises 16 dual LYSO-PSAPD modules arranged side by side. The LYSO scintillator is an 8×8 array of 0.9×0.9×1 mm3 crystal pixels. Each array is coupled to a PSAPD. The modules are oriented edge-on with respect to the incoming 511 keV photons. The two cartridges thus contain 256 PSAPDs and 16,284 crystals each. The entire camera will have 2 imaging heads of 9 cartridges each.
Designing electric distribution circuits for improved system reliability

The increased reliability requirements of the current and future electric distribution circuits has called for new approaches to distribution system planning. This paper presents a reliability-based approach to designing electric distribution circuits while using a minimum number of distribution lines or secondary branches. The designed circuit topology considers both network and customer reliability requirements. Network reliability indices quantify the service availability of the entire distribution circuit while customer reliability indices measure the reliability of the specific customer load. A graph theory based computationally efficient algorithm is proposed to solve the topology design problem. The proposed algorithm is applied to design circuit topologies for the zonal distribution system of a shipboard power system and for utility distribution networks. The analysis demonstrates that the proposed algorithm is efficient in designing reliable circuit topologies.
Dose Response for Adjuvant Chemotherapy of Breast Cancer: Experimental and Clinical Considerations

Preclinical experimental models of dose response in breast cancer will be presented. Dose response differs according to the agent. For example, for the alkylating agents drug resistance is generally difficult to produce experimentally, and a steep dose-response curve both in vitro and in vivo is maintained through multiple logs of cell kill (Frei et al. 1985, Frei et al., in press; Teicher et al. 1986). In contrast using nonalkylating agents, drug resistance of a high degree can be produced readily. Related to this is the fact that fractional cytoreduction is progressively compromised with increasing doses through a multilog cell kill model. In this regard, the alkylating agents more closely resemble radiotherapy. The lack of cross-resistance among the alkylating agents in both in vitro and in vivo models has important implications for clinical treatment strategies (Frei et al. 1985; Frei et al., in press; Teicher et al. 1986).
Epicurean vs. Stoic Debate and Lazarillo's Character

Fictional debates between Epicures and Stoics existed in classical antiquity and lived on in the neo-Latin literature of the Renaissance, as in Lorenzo Valla's De Voluptate and Erasmus's Epicureus. Specific parallels suggest that the creator of the picaresque genre knew this tradition. Fifteenth- and sixteenth-century humanists connected Epicureanism with the cult of Bacchus, and the Lazarillo contains several parallels to the Bacchean myth. In the first two books of his dialogue Valla creates an unrestrained Epicure that dwells on the foolishness of Stoics, who condemn their natural urges – though secretly following them – and blame them on Stepmother Nature's blinding influence. The self-serving narrator of the Lazarillo makes a similar claim, and in several ways lives out the recommendations of Valla's voluptuary. Similarly, Erasmus remarks on the etymology of the word 'Epicurean,' which suggests a guide who is a boy or son, and so the proto-picaro himself. After profiling the disastrous moral slide of the unrepentant who begin sinning in childhood, he praises an unblemished life, spent from youth in ever growing virtuous pleasures. Lazarillo's life and the concluding line of his account may echo that praise in ironic reversal.
PDGFRβ-P2A-CreER T2 mice: a genetic tool to target pericytes in angiogenesis

Pericytes are essential mural cells distinguished by their association with small caliber blood vessels and the presence of a basement membrane shared with endothelial cells. Pericyte interaction with the endothelium plays an important role in angiogenesis; however, very few tools are currently available that allow for the targeting of pericytes in mouse models, limiting our ability to understand their biology. We have generated a novel mouse line expressing tamoxifen-inducible Cre-recombinase under the control of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor β promoter: PDGFRβ-P2A-CreER T2 . We evaluated the expression of the PDGFRβ-P2A-CreER T2 line by crossing it with fluorescent reporter lines and analyzed reporter signal in the angiogenic retina and brain at different time points after tamoxifen administration. Reporter lines showed labeling of NG2+, desmin+, PDGFRβ+ perivascular cells in the retina and the brain, indicating successful targeting of pericytes; however, signal from reporter lines was also observed in a small subset of glial cells both in the retina and the brain. We also evaluated recombination in tumors and found efficient recombination in perivascular cells associated with tumor vasculature. As a proof of principle, we used our newly generated driver to delete Notch signaling in perivascular cells and observed a loss of smooth muscle cells in retinal arteries, consistent with previously published studies evaluating Notch3 null mice. We conclude that the PDGFRβ-P2A-CreER T2 line is a powerful new tool to target pericytes and will aid the field in gaining a deeper understanding of the role of these cells in physiological and pathological settings.
FUS Zigzags Its Way to Cross Beta

The low-complexity domain (LCD) of the FUS protein forms concentration-dependent assemblies, including liquid droplets and fibril-based hydrogels. The molecular structures of FUS within different assemblies and their functional relevance are subjects of intense debate. Murray et al. report an atomic-level structural model for FUS LCD fibrils that answers some questions and raises new ones.
Contrasting features of childhood and adolescent melanomas

Background/objectives Melanoma in children and adolescents is uncommon, and there are limited data on pediatric outcomes. Several studies have shown comparable survival rates in children and adults, but other research demonstrates that prepubescent children have more favorable outcomes. This study aims to compare childhood and adolescent melanoma. Methods Retrospective cohort study of children who received a melanoma diagnosis at the Massachusetts General Hospital between January 1, 1995, and December 21, 2016. Childhood melanoma is defined as disease occurring in patients younger than 11 years old, and adolescent melanoma is defined as disease occurring in patients 11 to 19 years old. Patients diagnosed with ocular melanoma and borderline tumors of uncertain malignant potential were excluded. This analysis compares clinical, histopathologic, and outcome characteristics of childhood and adolescent melanoma. Results Thirty-two children with melanoma were identified (12 children, 20 adolescents). The spitzoid melanoma subtype was significantly more common in children (6/12) than adolescents (2/20) (P = .01). Four adolescents and no children with melanoma died from melanoma, and survival was significantly different between the age groups (P = .04). Median follow-up time for survivors was 3.6 years. Conclusions These results suggest that children and adolescents present with different melanoma subtypes and that adolescents have a more aggressive disease course than children.
Characterization, growth, and scanning electron microscopy of mutants of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola which fail to elicit a hypersensitive response in host and non-host plants

Transposon mutants of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola which fail to elicit a hypersensitive response in the non-host plant tobacco were isolated and compared with the parent strain. The mutants also failed to elicit a race-specific hypersensitive response in resistant bean. In susceptible bean the mutants were reduced in virulence on both leaves and pods. Both mutants were reduced in growth in resistant and susceptible bean leaves. However, one of the mutants grew at a rate similar to the parent strain in tobacco; the growth of the other mutant was reduced. No differences were detected between the parent strain and the mutants grown in bacteriological medium in extra-cellular polysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, motility, or surface proteins. When the parent and the mutant bacteria were injected into tobacco or resistant bean leaves and examined in the scanning electron microscope, fibrils were seen surrounding the parent bacteria after 8 h. No such fibrils were observed surrounding one of the mutant bacteria. The number of fibrils surrounding the other mutant was reduced compared to the parent bacteria. No fibrils were produced when the parent or mutant bacteria were injected into susceptible bean leaves. These results suggest that the fibrils may play a role in the hypersensitive response, although it is unclear if the fibrils are required for the development, or are the result, of the hypersensitive response.
Double Regge Description of ω Production in K + p Interactions

We present results on the $\ensuremath{\omega}$ and $\ensuremath{\phi}$ production in ${K}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}\ensuremath{\omega}p$ and ${K}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}\ensuremath{\phi}p$ interactions at incident momenta of 4.6 and 9.0 $\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$. There is no statistically significant evidence for $K\ensuremath{\omega}$ or $K\ensuremath{\phi}$ resonance production. The 437 ${K}^{+}\ensuremath{\omega}p$ events at 9 $\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$ are analyzed in terms of a multiperipheral Regge model on the entire Dalitz plot. The events have been assigned to the various peripheral diagrams on the basis of criteria in the four-momentum transfers. A satisfactory description of the data has been obtained on the basis of diagrams involving Pomeranchuk and meson exchanges.
Estimating preconstruction services costs for highway projects

vii CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION 1 Background 1 Motivation 6 Problem Statement 9 Content Organization 10 CHAPTER 2—APPROACH TO RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND VALIDATION 12 Case Study Protocol 12 Case Study Process 14 Case Study Selection 14 Case Study Agency Synopsis 16 CHAPTER 3—FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPING A PRECONSTRUCTION SERVICES COST ESTIMATING MODEL FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS 25 Abstract 25 25 Introduction 25 Background 26 Methodology 29 Results 30 Conclusions 36 CHAPTER 4— A NEURAL NETWORK APPROACH TO ESTIMATING PRECONSTRUCTION SERVICES COST 38
Polyomavirus SV40: Model Infectious Agent of Cancer

Polyomavirus SV40 was discovered as an unrecognized contaminant of poliovaccines and has proven to be a premier model infectious agent of cancer. The virus usurps cellular processes to accomplish viral replication and can transform cells in culture and induce tumors in laboratory animals. Characterizations of viral functions and interactions with cellular targets have revealed fundamental insights into mammalian cell biology and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. This review focuses on basic properties of SV40, with an emphasis on large T-antigen, the viral oncoprotein, and on cellular proteins targeted by T-antigen. It describes small animal models and the insights provided into viral biology and cell transformation, and also summarizes the status of SV40 human infections and viral associations with human cancer.
A Characterization of Lazy and Eager Semantic Solutions to the Linda Predicates Ambiguity Problem.

The problems associated with Linda predicate operations inp() and rdp() are well known but not always well understood. One problem, from a purely academic standpoint, is that of semantic ambiguity in the case of failure. Despite this problem, commercial tuple space implementations all provide some version of the Linda predicate operations, and thus, problems concerning safety and liveness arise. Solutions to address these problems range from proposing extensions to an existing model of computation (CSP) to proposing alternative definitions for the Linda predicate operations themselves. While these solutions may at first appear unrelated, it is possible to relate these two disparate approaches in the context of lazy and eager semantics. The benefits of this characterization include a clearer understanding of the Linda predicates ambiguity problem, two respective solutions to this problem, and the importance of considering both lazy and eager semantic perspectives as techniques for problem solving in parallel and distributed systems.
Colorimetric Carbonyl Sulfide (COS)/Hydrogen Sulfide (H 2 S) Donation from γ‑Ketothiocarbamate Donor Motifs

Hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) is a biologically active molecule that exhibits protective effects in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Although several H2 S-related biological effects have been discovered by using H2 S donors, knowing how much H2 S has been released from donors under different conditions remains challenging. Now, a series of γ-ketothiocarbamate (γ-KetoTCM) compounds that provide the first examples of colorimetric H2 S donors and enable direct quantification of H2 S release, were reported. These compounds are activated through a pH-dependent deprotonation/β-elimination sequence to release carbonyl sulfide (COS), which is quickly converted into H2 S by carbonic anhydrase. The p-nitroaniline released upon donor activation provides an optical readout that correlates directly to COS/H2 S release, thus enabling colorimetric measurement of H2 S donation.
The Andhra Sahitya Parishat: Language, nation and empire in colonial South India (1911–15):

The Andhra Sahitya Parishat or the Telugu Academy as it was also known occupied a definitive role in the formation of a Telugu public and the development of Telugu literary activism in the early tw...
Silicon Nanophotonics Platform for Radiation Dosimetry

We have examined the impact of cobalt-60 γ-ray radiation up to 1 megagray absorbed dose on silicon photonic devices. We do not find any systematic impact of radiation, indicating the durability of silicon photonics devices under harsh conditions.
On Amelioration Of Human Cognitive Biases In Binary Decision Making

We study the behavior of cognitively biased humans in decision making under the binary hypothesis testing framework. Rationality of humans is modeled via prospect theory, which utilizes a value function and a weight function to characterize humans’ distorted perception of costs and probabilities. Following psychology studies which suggest that humans make decisions by choosing an alternative that yields the minimum expected costs based on received evidence, we show that a cognitively biased human employs an likelihood ratio test (LRT) in the prospect theoretic hypothesis testing framework. We further propose three approaches to ameliorate the side effects of cognitive biases and help humans make higher quality decisions. Simulations are presented to corroborate the theoretical results.
Elements of Success: Supporting at-risk student resilience through learning analytics

Abstract Strategies that incorporate learning analytics are continuing to advance as higher education institutions work to promote student success. Although many of the early learning analytics applications were intended to help teaching professionals to identify at-risk students, some learning analytics applications display information on course progress and performance directly to students. While positive associations between student use of learning analytics and achievement have been reported, some have expressed concern that for at-risk students, low estimated grades might induce negative emotions, which could lead to disengagement or even withdrawal. However, few studies have examined the effects of such applications on at-risk students. Elements of Success is a learning analytics platform that provides students with weekly performance feedback, including a current estimated grade. This study examined the relationship between student use of Elements of Success and academic performance among at-risk students in an introductory chemistry course. Specifically, we compared final grade outcomes and the risk of withdrawal among students who received a low estimated grade after the first midterm. Results indicated that viewing performance feedback, including a low estimated grade, was not associated with withdrawal from the course for at-risk students. Furthermore, at-risk students who used Elements of Success were found to be resilient. After controlling for prior learning outcomes, demographics, and self-reported study skills, it was found that they were more likely to earn a final passing grade (C- or above) than at-risk students who never used it. The results and limitations are further discussed.
Preserving auditory situation awareness in headphone-distracted persons

Auditory distraction due to portable audio devices poses a hazard for pedestrians and cyclists. To explore solutions, auditory situation awareness (SA) was assessed within a simulated auditory roadway environment rendered via speakers. Participants' ability to report the presence and current/future location of vehicles was measured. The key manipulation was whether concurrently-presented distracting music was spatialised. Also manipulated were two common safety measures that impact spatialisation quality: whether bone or air conduction headphones were used, and whether sounds were presented in one or both ears. Spatialisation of distractors improved vehicle localisation in some conditions, as did presenting to one ear and via bone conduction. In Experiment 2, distractors were spatialised adaptively, to be diametrically opposed to targets. This intervention improved localisation without increasing workload. Results suggest that static or adaptive spatialisation should be considered as a safety measure for sound presentation in computing systems used by cyclists or pedestrians.
Race, Class, and the Obama Tax Plan

This Essay examines three areas of federal tax policy: (i) the exclusion for employer provided pensions; (ii) the mortgage interest deduction; and (iii) the earned income tax credit for the working poor. Each of the three areas is addressed in The Obama Tax Plan. My previous research showed that in those three areas, low-income taxpayers were disadvantaged when compared with higher income taxpayers, and taxpayers of color were disadvantaged when compared with white taxpayers. This Essay shows that The Obama Tax Plan’s provisions would be good for low-income taxpayers and taxpayers of color. This Essay also briefly discusses political pitfalls inherent in enacting each of the Obama Tax Plan provisions discussed.
Erratum to: Removing contaminants from transferred CVD graphene

The NSF number in Acknowledgements in page 607 was unfortunately wrong, instead of The authors are grateful for the financial support from the National Science Foundation (No. CHE-1112436). It should read The authors are grateful for the financial support from the National Science Foundation (No. CHE-1808671).
Elucidating the framework for specification and determination of the embryonic retina.

Abstract How cell determination is regulated remains a major unsolved problem in developmental biology. The early embryonic rudiments of many tissues and organs are difficult or impossible to identify, isolate and study at the time when determination occurs. We have examined the commitment process leading to retina formation in Xenopus laevis, where presumptive eye tissue can be identified and studied to assay its biological properties during the events leading up to determination. We find that for the retina, specification, the point at which a tissue placed in neutral culture medium can first properly differentiate, occurs during mid-gastrulation. By late gastrulation, determination, the final, irreversible step in commitment, has occurred. At this stage, the presumptive retina will differentiate and cannot be reprogrammed even if exposed to other active inducers, e.g. when challenged by transplantation to ectopic sites in the embryo. Key eye regulatory genes are initially expressed in the retinal field during specification and/or determination (e.g. rax, pax6, lhx2, and fzd5) potentially linking them, or genes that regulate them, to these processes. This study provides essential groundwork for defining the mechanisms for how these important developmental transitions occur.
Metacognition About Practice Testing: a Review of Learners’ Beliefs, Monitoring, and Control of Test-Enhanced Learning

Over a century of research has established practice testing as a highly robust learning strategy that promotes long-term retention. However, learners do not always appreciate the benefits of testing for memory and do not use it as effectively as they could during their own self-regulated learning. The goal of this review is to identify common themes from research focused on learners’ metacognition about practice testing using the three components of metacognition (i.e., beliefs, monitoring, and control) as an organizational guide. To foreshadow the key findings from this research: (1) Without support, learners lack metacognitive awareness of testing as a tool to enhance memory but do recognize that testing can be used as a monitoring tool. (2) Learners can accurately monitor their learning while using practice testing when judgments are made in contexts that are representative of those encountered during a criterion test. (3) In educational contexts, learners report using less effective strategies equally or more often than practice testing. (4) Learners tend to test themselves only under conditions that encourage retrieval success, and rarely use a strategy involving repeated successful retrieval even when it would lead to improved retention. After reviewing research findings, I discuss various interventions that lead to learners using testing more often and more effectively in their own learning and offer recommendations for future research.
Meso- to micro-scale modeling of atmospheric stability effects on wind turbine wake behavior in complex terrain

Abstract. Most detailed modeling and simulation studies of wind turbine wakes have considered flat terrain scenarios. Wind turbines, however, are commonly sited in mountainous or hilly terrain to take advantage of accelerating flow over ridgelines. In addition to topographic acceleration, other turbulent flow phenomena commonly occur in complex terrain, and often depend upon the thermal stratification of the atmospheric boundary layer. Enhanced understanding of wind turbine wake interaction with these terrain-induced flow phenomena can significantly improve wind farm siting, optimization, and control. In this study, we simulate conditions observed during the Perdigao field campaign in 2017, consisting of flow over two parallel ridges with a wind turbine located on top of one of the ridges. We use the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) nested down to micro-scale large-eddy simulation (LES) at 10 m resolution, with a generalized actuator disk (GAD) wind turbine parameterization to simulate turbine wakes. Two case studies are selected, a stable case where a mountain wave occurs and a convective case where a recirculation zone forms in the lee of the ridge with the turbine. The WRF-LES-GAD model is validated against data from meteorological towers, soundings, and a tethered lifting system, showing good agreement for both cases. Comparisons with scanning Doppler lidar data for the stable case show that the overall characteristics of the mountain wave are well-captured, although the wind speed is underestimated. For the convective case, the size of the recirculation zone within the valley shows good agreement. The wind turbine wake behavior shows dependence on atmospheric stability, with different amounts of vertical deflection from the terrain and persistence downstream for the stable and convective conditions. For the stable case, the wake follows the terrain along with the mountain wave and deflects downwards by nearly 100 m below hub-height at four rotor diameters downstream. For the convective case, the wake deflects above the recirculation zone over 50 m above hub-height at the same downstream distance. This study demonstrates the ability of the WRF-LES-GAD model to capture the expected behavior of wind turbine wakes in regions of complex terrain, and thereby to potentially improve wind turbine siting and operation in hilly landscapes.
Plumbagin Induces Cytotoxicity via Loss of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Caspase Activation in Metastatic Retinoblastoma.

Background/aim We investigated the cytotoxic effects of plumbagin on metastatic retinoblastoma, using the highly metastatic cell line Y79. Materials and methods Effect of plumbagin on cell growth was assessed with water-soluble tetrazolium 1 (WST-1) cell proliferation assay and automated hemocytometry with trypan blue-exclusion assay. Cell death was studied with acridine orange/ethidium bromide live-dead assay and annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide microscopy. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was studied with JC-10 dye and caspase activation was investigated using CellEvent Caspase-3/7 Green detection reagent. Results Plumbagin highly significantly reduced the growth of Y79 cells treated for 24 h with 2.5 μM or more. Plumbagin also induced significantly high levels of cell death which was associated with loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase activation. Conclusion At very low concentration (2.5 μM), plumbagin potently induced cytotoxicity in metastatic retinoblastoma cells via loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase activation.
A Unifying Approach to Mind and Brain: Ten Year Perspective

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the mind-brain relationship. The approach to the mind-brain relation arose largely out of efforts to explain the seeming unity and/or duality of conscious experience in the bisected brain. The chapter focuses on the interpretation of consciousness as an emergent of brain activity. It interprets the emergent conscious properties in terms of conventional neural circuit theory. A further postulate is added to this discussion in which the subjective conscious effect of a brain process is viewed as a functional or operational derivative. In other words, subjective meaning is conceived to depend primarily on the way a given cerebral process works in the context of brain dynamics. The thing that counts in determining a conscious perceptual effect is the preparation to respond to a perceived outside stimulus in an adaptive, meaningful adjustment, rather than the way in which the brain's neural process happens to copy or correspond with the perceived stimulus with respect to shape, size, unity, texture, timing, etc. Conscious phenomena, thus, conceived as dynamic emergent properties of high order cerebral processes, are not merely products of neural complexity, but are also designed specifically to produce operational subjective effects.
Late graptoloid fauns and the problem of graptoloid extinction

Discoveries of Early Devonian graptoloids have been continued in the past ten years in ever increasing areas, but particularly in Asia. All continents, except South America arid Antarctica, have so far yielded Devonian graptoloids. Devonian graptoloid faunas appear to have a uniform composition all over the globe; there is no conclusive evidence for any biogeographic differentiation. The hitherto known morphological spectrum has broadened only insignificantly. About 25-30 Devonian graptoloid species and subspecies may be recognized at present, belonging to four genera: Monograptus (some 20 species), Linograptus (1), Abiesgraptus (3) and Climacograptus (1; represented by a sole specimen from the hercynicus Zone in the Carnic Alps). The Monograptus species are small to mediumsized, having 20-40, rarely over 60 thecae in a rhabdosome. They are robust and straight, except fora few moderately curved forms. The thecae vary from almost uniform to strikingly biform; typically they are of the type of M. uncinatus , at least proximally, becoming simpler towards the distal end. A minor distinctive feature of most Pragian species is the strong development of the dorsal sicular tongue. The giant Linograptus posthumus and Abiesgraptus, both of which may house up to several thousand zooids, are not found above the Lochkovian. The demonstrably highest occurrence, of Devonian graptoloids is in the uppermost Pragian, though some faunas may turn out to be somewhat younger, i.e. the latest graptoloids may straddle the Siegenian-Emsian boundary only slightly. The causes for graptoloid extinction remain obscure. Extindion was a slow, stepwise historical process which starting off at the end of the Wenlock-was marked by a number of rather sudden incisions that in summa resulted in a progressive reduction of faunal diversity. It would appear that graptoloid evolution was somehow, perhaps intimately, connected with the history of-euxinic or poorly aerated seas.
Racial disparities in cervical cancer survival over time.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study is to examine changes over time in survival for African American (AA) and white women diagnosed with cervical cancer (CC). METHODS Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program data from 1985 to 2009 were used for this analysis. Racial differences in survival were evaluated between African American (AA) and white women. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards survival methods were used to assess differences in survival by race at 5-year intervals. RESULTS The study sample included 23,368 women, including 3886 (16.6%) who were AA and 19,482 (83.4%) who were white. AA women were older (51.4 versus 48.9 years; P < .001) and had a higher rate of regional (38.3% versus 31.8%; P < .001) and distant metastasis (10.7% versus 8.7%; P < .001). AA less frequently received cancer-directed surgery (32.4% versus 46%; P < .001), and more frequently radiotherapy (36.3% versus 26.4%; P < .001). Overall, AA women had a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.41 (95% confidence interval = 1.32-1.51) of cervical cancer (CC) mortality compared with whites. Adjusting for SEER registry, marital status, stage, age, treatment, grade, and histology, AA women had an HR of 1.13 (95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.22) of CC-related mortality. After adjusting for the same variables, there was a significant difference in CC-specific mortality between 1985 to 1989 and 1990 to 1994, but not after 1995. CONCLUSIONS After adjusting for race, SEER registry, marital status, stage, age, treatment, grade, and histology, there was a significant difference in CC-specific mortality between 1985 to 1989 and 1990 to 1994, but not after 1995. Cancer 2013;119:3644–3652. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
300 mm SGOI/strain-Si for high-performance CMOS

In this article, a manufacturable material technology has been developed to produce highly uniform 300 mm SSOI substrates. The focus of this work has been on reducing defects in SGOI and strain Si layers, while maintaining high degree of relaxation/strain in these layers. Furthermore, physics of SGOI formation has been understood to the extent that key physical properties of the final SGOI layer can be accurately predicted based on the knowledge of the initial structure and subsequent processing.
The Employment Effects of Downsizing the U.S. Military

This study focuses on the employment effects of military spending versus channeling some significant part of the military budget into alternative purposes. We begin by introducing the basic input-output modeling technique for considering issues such as these in a systematic way. We then present some simple alternative spending scenarios, namely devoting $1 billion to the military versus the same amount of money spent for five alternatives: tax cuts which produce increased levels of personal consumption; health care; education; mass transit; and construction targeted at home weatherization and infrastructure repair. Our first conclusion in assessing such relative employment impacts is straightforward: $1 billion spent on personal consumption, health care, education, mass transit, and construction for home weatherization and infrastructure will all create more jobs within the U.S. economy than would the same $1 billion spent on the military. We then examine the pay level of jobs created through these alternative spending priorities and assess the overall welfare impacts of the alternative employment outcomes. We then consider what would be the impact on employment of transferring all $138 billion in funding that went to the Iraq war in 2007 into alternative peaceful purposes. As we show, a transfer of funds of this magnitude would enable the U.S. government to provide, for example, health insurance for the 45 million U.S. residents who are now uninsured, and still provide funds for significant investments in education and energy conservation. A transfer of the Iraq budget into these alternative purposes would also expand employment in the U.S. by between 600,000 – 1 million jobs, depending on how exactly the $138 billion were allocated.