cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hundreds of SNPs vs. dozens of SSRs: which dataset better characterizes natural clonal lineages in a self-fertilizing fish?

For more than two decades, mitochondrial DNA sequences and simple sequence repeats (SSRs, or microsatellite loci) have served as gold standards in population genetics. More recently, next generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled researchers to address biological questions that can benefit from hundreds or even thousands of nuclear single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated by restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq). Here we compare the performance of SSR and RAD-seq SNP methods to characterize clonal patterns in a self-fertilizing and highly inbred killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus (mangrove rivulus) in Florida. RAD-seq analyses conducted on 18 inbred lineages of mangrove rivulus obtained from western Florida and a distant location in eastern Florida unveiled 481 polymorphic RAD loci of which 129 were homozygous within individuals and 352 loci were heterozygous in at least one individual. An initial UPGMA phenogram was constructed, based on 32 microsatellite loci, and used as a benchmark for comparisons with SNP-based phenograms, using a number of different criteria for SNP selection. A phenogram produced by the homozygous SNPs was in excellent agreement with the one generated from 32 microsatellite loci. However, heterozygous SNP data and RAD loci with more than one polymorphic site contributed more noise than usable signal and were unable to resolve clades consistently. This is likely due to errors in identifying homologous loci in the absence of a reference genome. In summary, although the RAD data were powerful in distinguishing the clonal lineages identified by SSR analyses, they also carried considerable phylogenetic noise. Our results suggest that RAD-seq methods should be used with caution for inferring fine population structure, and that stringent quality controls are necessary to reduce false phylogenetic signals.
The Makings of Indonesian Islam: Orientalism and the Narration of a Sufi Past. By Michael Laffan. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2011. Pp. xx, 301. $39.50.)

Today, Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation. Despite its demographic significance, the sprawling Southeast Asian country, comprising much of the world's largest archipelago, has gar...
The Tyranny of Tacit Knowledge: What Artificial Intelligence Tells us About Knowledge Representation

Polanyi's tacit knowledge captures the idea "we can know more than we can tell." Many researchers in the knowledge management community have used the idea of tacit knowledge to draw a distinction between that which cannot be formally represented (tacit knowledge) and knowledge which can be so represented (explicit knowledge). I argue that the deference that knowledge management researchers give to tacit knowledge hinders potentially fruitful work for two important reasons. First, the inability to explicate knowledge does not imply that the knowledge cannot be formally represented. Second, assuming the inability to formalize tacit knowledge as it exists in the minds of people does not exclude the possibility that computer systems might perform the same tasks using alternative representations. By reviewing work from artificial intelligence, I will argue that a richer model of cognition and knowledge representation is needed to study and build knowledge management systems.
Transcriptome Changes in Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae during Infection

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae causes swine pneumonia and contributes significantly to the porcine respiratory disease complex. The mechanisms of pathogenesis are difficult to address, since there is a lack of genetic tools, but microarrays are available and can be used to study transcriptional changes that occur during disease as a way to identify important virulence-related genes. Mycoplasmas were collected from bronchial alveolar lavage samples and compared to broth-grown cells using microarrays. Bronchial alveolar lavage was performed on pigs 28 days postinfection, and mycoplasmas were isolated by differential centrifugation. Mycoplasma RNA-enriched preparations were then obtained from total RNA by subtracting eucaryotic ribosomal and messenger RNAs. Labeled cDNAs were generated with mycoplasma open reading frame-specific primers. Nine biological replicates were analyzed. During lung infection, our analysis indicated that 79 M. hyopneumoniae genes were differentially expressed (P < 0.01), at a false-discovery rate of <2.7%. Of the down-regulated genes, 28 of 46 (61%) lacked an assigned function, in comparison to 21 of 33 (63%) of up-regulated genes. Four down-regulated genes and two up-regulated genes encoded putative lipoproteins. secA (mhp295) (P = 0.003) and two glycerol transport permease genes (potA [mhp380; P = 0.006] and ugpA [mhp381; P = 0.003]) were up-regulated in vivo. Elongation factor EF-G (fusA [mhp083]) (P = 0.002), RNA polymerase beta chain (rpoC [mhp635]) (P = 0.003), adenylate kinase (adk [mhp208]) (P = 0.001), prolyl aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (proS [mhp397]) (P = 0.009), and cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (cysS [mhp661]) (P < 0.001) were down-regulated in vivo.
Veridical and false pictorial memory in individuals with and without mental retardation.

Abstract Veridical and false pictorial recognition were assessed in individuals with mental retardation; groups were matched for MA and CA. Pictures were viewed in either a generative or static format at acquisition. The individuals with mental retardation and those in the MA-matched group had higher rates of false memories for critical items and lower hit rates than did their CA-matched peers. The mental retardation group demonstrated an acquiescent response bias (i.e., high novel false-alarm rate). When data were corrected for this bias, those with mental retardation had significantly lower hit rates but equivalent false-alarm rates to the MA-matched participants. Results are discussed in terms of pictorial distinctiveness and within the frameworks of activation monitoring and fuzzy trace theory.
Hybrid Parallelism for CFD Simulations: Combining MPI with OpenMP

In this paper, performance of hybrid programming approach using MPI and OpenMP for a parallel CFD solver was studied in a single cluster of multi-core parallel system. Timing cost for computation and communication was compared for different scenarios. Tuning up the MPI based parallelizable sections of the solver with OpenMP functions and libraries were done. BigRed parallel system of Indiana University was used for parallel runs for 8, 16, 32, and 64 compute nodes with 4 processors (cores) per node. Four threads were used within the node, one for each core. It was observed that MPI performed better than the hybrid with OpenMP in overall elapsed time. However, the hybrid approach showed improved communication time for some cases. In terms of parallel speedup and efficiency, hybrid results were close to MPI, though they were higher for processor numbers less than 32. In general, MPI outperforms hybrid for our applications on this particular computing platform.
Two-dimensional diffraction by a wedge with impedance boundary conditions

The two dimensional problem of diffraction by a wedge with impedance boundary conditions on its faces is explicitly solved in a form that admits effective numerical simulation by simple perfectly scalable algorithms with unlimited capability for parallel processing. The solution is represented as a superposition of the geometric field that is completely determined by elementary ray analysis and of the waves diffracted by the tip of the wedge. The diffracted field is explicitly represented as a mathematical expectation of a specified functional on trajectories of a random motion determined by the configurations of the problem and by the boundary conditions. The numerical results confirm the efficiency of this approach.
The relative harms of marijuana and alcohol

The US is currently engaged in a vigorous debate over the legal status of cannabis (marijuana). One factor raised in this debate is the relative harm posed by cannabis use compared to use of other ...
Habitat Patch Size Affects Demographics of the Florida Scrub Lizard (Sceloporus woodi)

Habitat destruction and fragmentation are often cited as primary causes for declines in reptile and amphibian populations. Smaller habitat patches constrain population size resulting in increased ex- tinction risk caused by stochastic processes. However, patch size also may affect populations in a determin- istic manner. We used mark and recapture techniques to examine effects of patch size on demographics of the Florida Scrub Lizard (Sceloporus woodi). We examined populations in eight scrub habitat patches that differed in size but were similar with respect to other habitat characteristics. Abundance, survivorship, and recruitment were positively associated with patch size for both sexes. Individual growth rate increased with patch size for males but was negatively associated with patch size for females. Although our data indicate that patch size strongly affects demographics of scrub lizards, mechanisms responsible for these patterns are unknown. We discuss conservation implications of area-sensitive demography for local and regional populations. In particular, we suggest caution when constructing metapopulation models that assume ho- mogenous survival and fecundity rates for all patches regardless of patch size.
Evolution of Near-Inertial Waves during an Upwelling Event on the New Jersey Inner Shelf*

Abstract A 1996 field program provided a nearly three-dimensional view of the temporal evolution of near-inertial motion toward the end of an upwelling event on New Jersey’s inner shelf. The appearance of near-inertial motion is marked by a rapid rise in kinetic energy at the surface that is of the same magnitude and temporal structure of the work done by the wind, indicating that the inertial motions are forced by local winds. The incipient near-inertial motion is surface intensified and spatially coherent. It has a horizontal wavelength of 300 km and a mean kinetic energy of 0.04 m2 s−2, both of which decrease to less than 100 km and 0.01 m2 s−2 within two inertial periods. An energy budget suggests that the rapid decline in surface kinetic energy is primarily due to vertical propagation into the thermocline. Near-inertial motion in the thermocline is heterogeneous suggesting interaction between near-inertial motion and subinertial shears. The heterogeneous nature of near-inertial waves poses a practica...
Seed and Seedling Ecology of Acer saccharum and Acer platanoides: A Contrast Between Native and Exotic Congeners

Abstract The exotic tree, Acer platanoides, is increasing in forests of northeastern North America, largely within the range of its native congener, Acer saccharum. A combination of field and controlled experiments was used on seeds and seedlings of these congeners to determine species characteristics that may be contributing to these floristic changes. Acer platanoides experienced lower rates of seed predation than A. saccharum in field experiments. Differences in the dispersal and allocation characteristics of the two species were small and not likely to explain the relative success of A. platanoides. Greenhouse-grown seedlings of A. platanoides were much larger than those of A. saccharum because of differences in seed size, not differences in growth rate. These data suggest that preferential seed predation and initial seed size differences may explain greater relative success in Acer platanoides seedlings.
Optimizing yield distribution under biological and economic constraints: Florida strawberries as a model for perishable commodities

Abstract In this interdisciplinary study we propose a modeling framework for deriving the optimal yield curve for strawberry production in Florida that maximizes the profit of growers given competition from California and Mexico and sensitive price responses to market supply. The model integrates both biological and economic constraints. The biological constraints for Florida production are formulated assuming that potential improvement of yield has genetic and horticultural limits, while economic constraints account for price changes in response to supply. The optimal yield curves derived show clear differences from the historical yield patterns observed in Florida, indicating that yields during the first 6 to 8 weeks of the season should be maximized to realistic limits and that total season yields should be limited to 27,465 and 32,415 kg/ha under two different yield distribution scenarios assuming current acreage and market demand. Obtaining optimal yield distributions under the two scenarios could generate $7685 and $14,293 per ha more profit, whereas the historical yield pattern will result in significant losses under assumed acreage, raising concerns about the sustainability of the industry. The results of this study will be used to guide efforts in breeding and improvement of cultural practices and will assist growers in making informed decisions on cultivars and technologies/practices to adopt to maximize profit. The methodology proposed can be adapted to other regions or countries and used for other perishable crops with extended production seasons.
Further evidence of incomplete neural control of muscle properties in cat tibialis anterior motor units

To examine the influence of a motoneuron in maintaining the phenotype of the muscle fibers it innervates, myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, and cross-sect...
Identification of a Glucocorticoid Response Element in the Rat β2-Adrenergic Receptor Gene

Regulation of β 2 -adrenergic receptor (β 2 AR) levels by glucocorticoids is a physiologically important mechanism for altering β 2 AR responsiveness. Glucocorticoids increase β 2 AR density by increasing the rate of β 2 AR gene transcription, but the cis -elements involved have not been well characterized. We now show that one of six potential glucocorticoid response elements (GREs) in the 5′-flanking region of the rat β 2 AR gene is necessary for glucocorticoid-dependent stimulation of receptor gene expression. Using a nested set of deletion fragments of the rat β 2 AR gene 5′-flanking region fused to a luciferase reporter gene, glucocorticoid-dependent induction of reporter gene expression in HepG2 cells was localized to a region between positions −643 and −152, relative to the transcription initiation site. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays, a double-stranded oligonucleotide incorporating a near-consensus GRE from this region (positions −379 to −365) formed complexes with the human recombinant glucocorticoid receptor, as well as with nuclear protein from dexamethasone-treated HepG2 cells. Mutation of a single base within this GRE sequence greatly diminished interaction of the mutated oligonucleotide with the human recombinant glucocorticoid receptor. The functional activity of the GRE was characterized using a luciferase reporter construct driven by a minimal thymidine kinase promoter. In HepG2 cells transfected with constructs containing the GRE, dexamethasone increased reporter gene expression approximately 3-fold, whereas a dexamethasone effect was not observed with constructs lacking the GRE. Taken together, these findings show that a GRE located at positions −379 to −365 in the 5′-flanking region of the rat β 2 AR gene mediates glucocorticoid stimulation of β 2 AR gene transcription.
Review of the Literature and Discussion of Brain Stem Afferents to the Cerebellar Cortex from Particular Precerebellar Nuclei

The pontocerebellar projection has been extensively investigated by Brodal and Jansen (1946) using retrograde degeneration methods. Although the results of more recent studies using the HRP technique show that the pontocerebellar projection is slightly more complex than originally described, certain organizing principles emerge from these pioneering studies which still appear to hold true. First, fibers passing to the cerebellar cortex from the pontine nuclei arise bilaterally, although the contralateral projection predominates. This is well illustrated by the author’s own investigations (and practically all others) in cases in which the injection site is mostly restricted to the cerebellar cortex of one side (e.g., CHCB 7, Fig. 1; CHRCB 3, Fig.3; CHRCB 10, CHCB 28, and CHCB 6, Fig. 5). Second, although neurons in the pontine areas which project ipsilaterally or contralaterally are not segregated into clearly defined cytoarchitectural areas, regions which project ipsilaterally are somewhat distinct from those projecting contralaterally. The original evidence is derived from Brodal and Jansen’s findings in a case with a transection of most of the brachium pontis on one side; parts of the pontine gray which were heavily affected with retrograde changes on one side were less affected on the other. In the present series similar findings are obtained in cases with large injection sites involving most of the cerebellar cortex on one side: the locations of clusters of HRP-positive neurons on one side tend to correspond to the gaps in cell-labelling on the other side. Third, afferents to the vermal and hemispheral cerebellar cortex arise from largely complementary regions of the pontine gray.
Cocoon Orientation in a Megachilid Bee: Larval Response to Pollen Placement

Nest construction in hollowed-out plant stems or abandoned beetle burrows poses special problems for those solitary bee and wasp species involved. Typically they select a nest bore diameter only slightly greater than the body diameter (Krombein 1967, Michener 1970). and thus cannot turn around inside. Moreover, the cells of the nest are constructed in a linear series separated by partitions. so emergence of the next generation must proceed in an orderly progression. Correct orientation at pupation is vital for survival, because a misdirected cocoon not only causes the individual to become fatally trapped, but will often doom its siblings earlier in the cell series. We here report evidence that cocoon orientation by the solitary megachilid bee, Osmia lignaria Say, is primarily determined by reference to the placement of the pollen food store within the cell.
Childhood stress, life history, psychopathy, and sociosexuality

Abstract This paper explores how Early Life Stress (ELS) and Life History (LH) strategy impact personality and attitudes toward infidelity, mating effort, and casual sex. A sample of 300 participants reported biodemographic behavioral outcomes, such as their number of lifetime sex partners, which correlated with ELS, LH strategy, and unrestricted sociosexual attitudes (albeit not strongly). A structural equations model was specified and demonstrated that effects of ELS and LH on unrestricted sociosexual attitudes were partially mediated through psychopathy. ELS, LH, and an antagonistic social schema increased psychopathy, which then directly increased unrestricted sociosexual attitudes. These results support the theory that psychopathy is an adaptive trait meant to increase short-term mating opportunities.
Intensifying Management of Guards Hip Hospital

According to China-WHO cooperation program of influenza (2001~2004),our hospital is assigned as post-hospital of China flu-monitoring network by the health department of AnHui province and awarded as outstanding unit? Here we will discuss our experiences in the post-hospital management to direct further work of 2005~2009?
Role of lipid peroxidation in reperfusion injury in perfused rat liver

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible role of lipid peroxidation in reperfusion injury in a low-flow reflow model of liver perfusion. Liver was perfused at flow rates around 25% of normal for 90 min and then at normal flow rates (4 ml ·g-1·min-1) for 30 min. When flow was restored to normal, malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were released into the effluent perfusate. MDA production rapidly reached values of 295 nmol·g-1·h-1 whereas LDH released from basallevel of 2.0 to 10.5 μmol ·?s-1·L-1 upon reperfusion. Trypan blue was taken up exclusively in cells in pericentral (PC) regions of the liver lobules under these conditions. Xanthine and hypoxanthine in the effluent perfusate increased steadily during the low-flow period reaching values around 5.5 and 11.5 nmol·L-1, respectively. Perfusion with nitrogen-saturated buffer for 3 min upon restoration of normal flow rate or infusion of the radical scavenger catechin (400 μmol·L-1) reduced cell damage by 50%. Infusion of allopurinol (2-6 mmol·L-1), an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, prevented reperfusion injury in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these data indicate that a reperfusion injury occurs in liver upon reintroduction of oxygen which is initiated by oxidation of xanthine and hypoxanthine via xanthine oxidase and ultimately leads to production of lipid peroxides. Surprisingly, infusion of xanthine (0.4 mmol·L-1), the substrate of xanthine oxidase, reduced hepatocellular injury in reperfusion. LDH release was decreased from values around 11.5 to 3.3 μmol·s-1·L-1 and trypan blue uptake in PC regions was prevented totally by xanthine. Reperfusion injury and MDA production were also re-duced in a dose-dependent manner by uric acid, the product of xanthine metabolism via xanthine oxidase. Thus xanthine most likely reduces cell injury by producing the radical scavenger uric acid. Moreover low dose of allopurinol (up to 1 mmol·L-1) actually enhanced cell damage most likely by interfering with this mechanism. Whether or not reperfusion injury occurs in perfused liver may depend on the relative concentration of oxygen radicals to radical scavenger such as uric acid.
Modules and Vector Spaces

Modules are a generalization of the vector spaces of linear algebra in which the “scalars” are allowed to be from an arbitrary ring, rather than a field. This rather modest weakening of the axioms is quite far reaching, including, for example, the theory of rings and ideals and the theory of abelian groups as special cases.
Sensor selection for active information fusion

Active information fusion is to selectively choose the sensors so that the information gain can compensate the cost spent in information gathering. However, determining the most informative and cost-effective sensors requires an evaluation of all possible sensor combinations, which is computationally intractable, particularly, when information-theoretic criterion is used. This paper presents a methodology to actively select a sensor subset with the best tradeoff between information gain and sensor cost by exploiting the synergy among sensors. Our approach includes two aspects: a method for efficient mutual information computation and a graph-theoretic approach to reduce search space. The approach can reduce the time complexity significantly in searching for a near optimal sensor subset.
Universal Clinical Legal Education: Necessary and Feasible

Although bar officials and most legal educators agree that law students need to learn not just to “think like a lawyer” but also the professional skills needed to “do like a lawyer,” legal education lags far behind other professions in the clinical training it provides its graduates. The justification usually given for such lack of training is the claim that it is not financially feasible for law schools to ensure that every student graduate with a clinical experience. This Essay challenges this mistaken justification. It first summarizes the numerous reports and studies showing the need for clinical training for law students. It then demonstrates empirically that a mandated law clinic or externship experience for all J.D. graduates is both financially feasible and readily attainable by all schools. Reviewing data certified by law schools to the ABA as complete and accurate, analysis shows that schools providing such clinical experiences for all graduates do not charge more in tuition nor raise their tuition at rates higher than schools not providing these opportunities. The Essay also demonstrates that implementing a clinical experience requirement would be relatively easy for most school, as data show that over eighty percent could provide a clinical experience today for each of its graduates without adding any additional faculty or clinical course. It concludes that it is not costs, but the will of law school and bar officials, that is preventing students from graduating with clinical training and causing so many graduates to be ill-prepared for the practice of law.
Feeding Practices and Infant Growth: Quantifying the Effects of Breastfeeding Termination and Complementary Food Introduction on BMI z-Score Growth Velocity through Growth Curve Models.

Abstract Background: Infant feeding practices are a focus of early obesity prevention. We tested whether infant growth velocity increased after breastfeeding termination and complementary food introduction. Methods: Our secondary analysis included a sample of 547 mother-infant dyads from a longitudinal randomized controlled trial conducted in Michigan and Colorado. Infant anthropometrics at birth, baseline, and 6- and 12-month follow-up were standardized to BMI-for-age z-score (ZBMI) according to World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts. We used growth curve models with time-varying predictors to quantify effects of breastfeeding termination and timing of complementary food introduction on growth velocity. Results: Median breastfeeding duration was 2.0 months [confidence interval (CI) = 2.0–2.5]; median introduction of complementary foods occurred at 3.0 months (CI = 2.8–3.2). Breastfed infants not yet introduced to complementary foods had an average ZBMI growth velocity of 0.050 (CI = −0.013 to 0.11...
Investigation of Water Dissociation and Surface Hydroxyl Stability on Pure and Ni-Modified CoOOH by Ambient Pressure Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

Water adsorption and reaction on pure and Ni-modified CoOOH nanowires were investigated using ambient pressure photoemission spectroscopy (APPES). The unique capabilities of APPES enable us to observe water dissociation and monitor formation of surface species on pure and Ni-modified CoOOH under elevated pressures and temperatures for the first time. Over a large range of pressures (UHV to 1 Torr), water dissociates readily on the pure and Ni-modified CoOOH surfaces at 27 °C. With an increase in H2O pressure, a greater degree of surface hydroxylation was observed for all samples. At 1 Torr H2O, ratios of different oxygen species indicate a transformation of CoOOH to CoOxHy in pure and Ni-modified CoOOH. In temperature dependent studies, desorption of weakly bound water and surface dehydroxylation were observed with increasing temperature. Larger percentages of surface hydroxyl groups at higher temperatures were observed on Ni-modified CoOOH compared to pure CoOOH, which indicates an increased stability of...
A histopathological connection between a fatal endolymphatic sac tumour and von Hippel-Lindau disease from 1960.

Objective: To highlight a case from 1960 connecting endolymphatic sac tumour and von Hippel–Lindau disease. Case report: In 1960, a 24-year-old woman presented with unilateral hearing loss, pulsatile tinnitus and a mass visible on otoscopy. The patient underwent surgical biopsy, which was complicated by haemorrhage, and ultimately resulted in death. At autopsy, a destructive temporal bone neoplasm with cystic and papillary architecture was observed that had eroded into the otic capsule. Intra-abdominal lesions consistent with von Hippel–Lindau disease were also observed, and the surgeon postulated a connection between endolymphatic sac tumour and von Hippel–Lindau disease. Method: A review of the literature was carried out using PubMed. Conclusion: Endolymphatic sac tumours are rare neoplasms of the temporal bone that can occur sporadically or as part of von Hippel–Lindau disease. The connection between endolymphatic sac tumour and von Hippel–Lindau disease was first proposed in 1988 and formalised in 1997. We believe that this case represents the first documented connection between endolymphatic sac tumour and von Hippel–Lindau disease.
Using routinely collected regional forest inventory data to conclude that resting habitat for the fisher ( Pekania pennanti ) in California is stable over ~20?years

Abstract The conservation and management of species-at-risk requires periodically collecting information about their distributions and abundances. A comprehensive monitoring plan should, in addition to monitoring the population itself, also assess the status of habitat elements that are key factors in species survival. Places where animals seek safe and secure places to rest are such key habitat elements. We used previously published models to predict resting habitat for fishers (Pekania pennanti) throughout much of their range in California. Unique to this work is that the two models (northwestern California and southern Sierra Nevada) were developed using, as predictors, variables directly from a national plot-based forest inventory program called Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA). Using these models, relative resting habitat suitability can be estimated at each geographically relevant plot in the FIA system every time the plot is resampled. We applied these predictive models to data collected at 3 time periods over an approximately 20 year period to evaluate the trend in predicted fisher resting habitat. None of the 8 national forests, 4 in the northwestern California region and 4 in the southern Sierra Nevada region – nor either of these 2 regions as a whole – exhibited trends in predicted resting habitat suitability that were significantly increasing or decreasing. Predicted resting habitat suitability tended to be lower on private land than public land, in both regions. As expected, plots that were disturbed by fire exhibited a decrease in resting habitat suitability but, surprisingly, the few plots within harvest unit boundaries had indistinguishable values before and approximately 7 years after the harvest. Using FIA data for future assessments of habitat value will avoid the significant cost incurred when the data need to be collected repeatedly using different data and a field protocol that may vary. We anticipate that the FIA program will continue to be the preeminent plot-based vegetation survey in the United States, and the data to run the resting habitat models will be available every 10 years. Moreover, access to routinely updated plot-based data provides the only way we can envision sampling something as fine-scaled as resting habitat over thousands of square miles of potentially suitable habitat. We hope our example encourages others to parlay the FIA data into a predictive model of fine-scale habitat features that is relevant to other species. Demonstrating the utility of our models should also encourage managers to use the predictions to evaluate the status of fisher habitat in California.
Reinventing discovery learning: a field-wide research program

Whereas some educational designers believe that students should learn new concepts through explorative problem solving within dedicated environments that constrain key parameters of their search and then support their progressive appropriation of empowering disciplinary forms, others are critical of the ultimate efficacy of this discovery-based pedagogical philosophy, citing an inherent structural challenge of students constructing historically achieved conceptual structures from their ingenuous notions. This special issue presents six educational research projects that, while adhering to principles of discovery-based learning, are motivated by complementary philosophical stances and theoretical constructs. The editorial introduction frames the set of projects as collectively exemplifying the viability and breadth of discovery-based learning, even as these projects: (a) put to work a span of design heuristics, such as productive failure, surfacing implicit know-how, playing epistemic games, problem posing, or participatory simulation activities; (b) vary in their target content and skills, including building electric circuits, solving algebra problems, driving safely in traffic jams, and performing martial-arts maneuvers; and (c) employ different media, such as interactive computer-based modules for constructing models of scientific phenomena or mathematical problem situations, networked classroom collective “video games,” and intercorporeal master–student training practices. The authors of these papers consider the potential generativity of their design heuristics across domains and contexts.
Quantitative measures of EEG for prediction of outcome in cardiac arrest subjects treated with hypothermia: a literature review.

Cardiac arrest (CA) is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Early and accurate prediction of CA outcome can help clinicians and families to make a better-informed decision for the patient’s healthcare. Studies have shown that electroencephalography (EEG) may assist in early prognosis of CA outcome. However, visual EEG interpretation is subjective, labor-intensive, and requires interpretation by a medical expert, i.e., neurophysiologists. These limiting factors may hinder the applicability of such testing as the prognostic method in clinical settings. Automatic EEG pattern recognition using quantitative measures can make the EEG analysis more objective and less time consuming. It also allows to detect and display hidden patterns that may be useful for the prognosis over longer time periods of monitoring. Given these potential benefits, there have been an increasing interest over the last few years in the development and employment of EEG quantitative measures to predict CA outcome. This paper extensively reviews the definition and efficacy of various measures that have been employed for the prediction of outcome in CA subjects undergoing hypothermia (a neuroprotection method that has become a standard of care to improve the functional recovery of CA patients after resuscitation). The review details the State-of-the-Art and provides some perspectives on what seems to be promising for the early and accurate prognostication of CA outcome using the quantitative measures of EEG.
Cross-Stack Threat Sensing for Cyber Security and Resilience

We propose a novel cross-stack sensor framework for realizing lightweight, context-aware, high-interaction network and endpoint deceptions for attacker disinformation, misdirection, monitoring, and analysis. In contrast to perimeter-based honeypots, the proposed method arms production workloads with deceptive attack-response capabilities via injection of booby-traps at the network, endpoint, operating system, and application layers. This provides defenders with new, potent tools for more effectively harvesting rich cyber-threat data from the myriad of attacks launched by adversaries whose identities and methodologies can be better discerned through direct engagement rather than purely passive observations of probe attempts. Our research provides new tactical deception capabilities for cyber operations, including new visibility into both enterprise and national interest networks, while equipping applications and endpoints with attack awareness and active mitigation capabilities.
Environmental impact reduction as a new dimension for quality measurement of healthcare services: The case of magnetic resonance imaging

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed accounting of energy and materials consumed during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Design/methodology/approach The first and second stages of ISO standard (ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006) were followed to develop life cycle inventory (LCI). The LCI data collection took the form of observations, time studies, real-time metered power consumption, review of imaging department scheduling records and review of technical manuals and literature. Findings The carbon footprint of the entire MRI service on a per-patient basis was measured at 22.4 kg CO2eq. The in-hospital energy use (process energy) for performing MRI is 29 kWh per patient for the MRI machine, ancillary devices and light fixtures, while the out-of-hospital energy consumption is approximately 260 percent greater than the process energy, measured at 75 kWh per patient related to fuel for generation and transmission of electricity for the hospital, plus energy to manufacture disposable, consumable and reusable products. The actual MRI and standby energy that produces the MRI images is only about 38 percent of the total life cycle energy. Research limitations/implications The focus on methods and proof-of-concept meant that only one facility and one type of imaging device technology were used to reach the conclusions. Based on the similar studies related to other imaging devices, the provided transparent data can be generalized to other healthcare facilities with few adjustments to utilization ratios, the share of the exam types, and the standby power of the facilities’ imaging devices. Practical implications The transparent detailed life cycle approach allows the data from this study to be used by healthcare administrators to explore the hidden public health impact of the radiology department and to set goals for carbon footprint reductions of healthcare organizations by focusing on alternative imaging modalities. Moreover, the presented approach in quantifying healthcare services’ environmental impact can be replicated to provide measurable data on departmental quality improvement initiatives and to be used in hospitals’ quality management systems. Originality/value No other research has been published on the life cycle assessment of MRI. The share of outside hospital indirect environmental impact of MRI services is a previously undocumented impact of the physician’s order for an internal image.
Postprocessing Procedure for Reducing the Faulty Switching Activity of a Low-Power Test Set

Low-power test generation procedures reduce the switching activity during functional capture cycles of scan-based tests in order to avoid overtesting of delay faults. The switching activity that these procedures address is the one in the fault-free circuit. Recently it was shown that excessive switching activity in faulty circuits can potentially cause test escapes. To avoid such situations, this paper describes a postprocessing procedure that reduces the switching activity of a low-power test set in faulty circuits. The main challenge that this procedure needs to address is the large number of faulty circuits for which the switching activity may be excessive. This challenge is addressed in this paper by reducing the fault-free switching activity in order to create a safety margin for an increased faulty switching activity. The safety margin is computed for every test individually. Experimental results for benchmark circuits demonstrate the ability of the procedure to eliminate excessive faulty switching activity for low-power test sets.
Authentic Simulated Startups: Bringing the Real World into the Classroom.

AbstractIn this changing world, college graduates require new skills to be successful in jobs that may not yet exist. The authors describe an innovative instructional approach to teaching organizat...
Legal Calculators and the Tax System

When consumers have questions about companies’ services and products, whether medical insurance, airline tickets or home appliances, they almost always encounter automated agents and other forms of customer service technology. Increasingly, tax authorities have begun to offer online decision-making tools to provide guidance regarding the tax law to taxpayers. The IRS’s “Interactive Tax Assistant,” for instance, asks taxpayers personal questions and then delivers answers on topics such as whether gambling losses are deductible, self-employment tax is owed and exceptions to early IRA retirement account withdrawal penalties apply. These online tools can be described as “legal calculators”: they not only perform mathematical calculations, but they attempt to calculate taxpayers’ legal consequences as well. Legal calculators often embody a characteristic that can be termed “simplexity.” As we have theorized, simplexity occurs when the government presents clear and simple explanations of the law without highlighting its underlying complexity or reducing this complexity through formal legal changes. In earlier work, we argued that some elements of IRS publications (plain language summaries of the law for the general public), present contested tax law as clear tax rules, add administrative gloss to the tax law and fail to fully explain the tax law. In this Article, prepared for a symposium on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Tax Law and Policy, we show that simplexity also occurs when the government offers legal calculators to deliver guidance to taxpayers. We argue that legal calculators present the potential for even more pervasive and powerful forms of simplexity than static IRS publications. After highlighting existing and potential simplexity in the IRS’s legal calculators, we present an agenda of questions for future research.
Plasma Markers of Inflammation Linked to Clinical Progression and Decline During Preclinical AD

Objective: To examine the prospective association between blood biomarkers of immune functioning (i.e., innate immune activation, adaptive immunity, and inflammation) and subsequent cognitive decline and clinical progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in cognitively normal individuals. Methods: The BIOCARD study is an observational cohort study of N=191 initially cognitively healthy participants (mean age 65.2 years). Blood plasma samples were assayed for markers of chronic inflammation (TNFR1, IL-6), adaptive immunity (CD25), and innate immune activation (CD14 and CD163). Participants were followed annually for ongoing clinical assessment and cognitive testing for up to 7.3 years. Primary study outcomes were progression to MCI and cognitive change over time, as measured by a global factor score encompassing multiple cognitive domains. Results: Higher levels of plasma TNFR1 were associated with greater risk of progression from normal cognition to MCI (HR: 3.27; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.27, 8.40). Elevated levels of TNFR1 were also associated with steeper rate of cognitive decline on follow-up but not with baseline cognitive performance. Baseline IL-6 levels and markers of innate and adaptive immune activation showed no relationship with MCI risk or cognitive decline. Conclusions: Inflammation, mediated by TNF signaling, may play a selective role in the early phase of AD. Accordingly, plasma TNFR1 may facilitate improved prediction of disease progression for individuals in the preclinical stage of AD.
Doing vs. Being: A philosophy of design for artful VR

We present a practical philosophy for how to design artfully for virtual reality. Framing this design philosophy is the balance of doing vs. being as a central duality in all design for VR. The val...
Stress-induced cortisol reactivity as a predictor of success in treatment for affective dimensions.

Abstract Background Response rates to first-line treatments for depression and anxiety remain unsatisfactory. Identification of predictors or moderators that can optimize treatment matching is of scientific and clinical interest. This study examined the role of prolonged laboratory-induced stress cortisol reactivity as a predictor of outcome for a treatment of affective dimensions (TAD). Patients received 15-sessions of a treatment targeting reductions in negative affect or increases in positive affect ( Craske et al., 2019 ). A second aim was to examine whether treatment type would moderate the association between cortisol reactivity and treatment outcome. Methods Thirty-five participants underwent a 36-minute intermittent stress induction task composed of a mental arithmetic task and a fear-potentiated startle task one week before treatment initiation. Cortisol was collected at five-time points with reactivity being quantified as peak during the task minus basal level of cortisol the evening before the assessment. Using multilevel modeling, we examined the associations between cortisol reactivity and slopes of symptom improvement. Results Cortisol reactivity was related to treatment outcome, with average and higher levels of stress-induced cortisol response predicting greater decreases in symptoms throughout treatment and 6-month follow-up. Treatment condition differences (moderation) were not observed in the effect of cortisol reactivity on symptoms. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate the impact of greater cortisol stress reactivity on treatment outcome. Future studies should investigate how to enhance this therapeutic benefit through capitalizing on endogenous diurnal fluctuations or exogenous cortisol manipulation.
Treatment of unusually located traumatic intracranial aneurysms and severe vasospasm following a gunshot wound to the head: A case report.

Background Traumatic intracranial aneurysms (TICAs) represent up to 1% of all intracranial aneurysms. They can be the result of non-penetrating and penetrating brain injury (PBI). Approximately 20% of TICA are caused by PBI. Endovascular treatments as well as surgical clipping are reported in the literature. Other vascular complications of PBI include vasospasm although the literature is lacking on this topic. Case description The authors present a unique case of multiple TICAs after a PBI in a 15-year-old patient who sustained a gunshot wound to the head. The patient sustained injury through the middle cranial fossa and was taken emergently for a right-sided decompressive hemicraniectomy. Diagnostic cerebral angiogram (DCA) identified multiple TICAs along the right internal carotid artery (ICA) terminus and right middle cerebral artery as well as severe vasospasm. The patient was taken for clipping of those aneurysms and intraoperative treatment of vasospasm. Intraoperative blood flow measurements were taken before and after administration of intracisternal papaverine and arterial soft tissue dissection showing a significant increase in blood flow and improvement of vasospasm. Conclusion While the literature has shifted towards endovascular treatment for TICAs, surgery still offers a safe and efficacious treatment strategy especially when TICAs present at large vessel bifurcation points where parent vessel sacrifice and stent assisted coiling are less favorable strategies. Severe flow limiting vasospasm can be seen in post-traumatic setting specifically PBI. Vasospasm can be treated during open surgery with intracisternal papaverine and arterial soft dissection as confirmed in this case report with intraoperative micro-flow probe measurements.
TO EAT, DISCARD, OR VENERATE: FAUNAL REMAINS AS PROXY FOR HUMAN BEHAVIORS IN LOWLAND MAYA PERI-ABANDONMENT DEPOSITS

Interpreting middens, feasting events, ritual, or terminal deposits in the Maya world requires an evaluation of faunal remains. Maya archaeologists consistently evaluate other artifact classes, but often offer simply number of identified specimens values for skeletal elements recovered from these deposits. To further understand their archaeological significance, we analyzed faunal materials from deposits at the sites of Baking Pot and Xunantunich in the Upper Belize River Valley. We identified the species, bone elements, bone or shell artifacts, taphonomic signatures, and quantitative ratios recovered to test whether a deposit can be identified as a midden, part of a feasting ritual, terminal ritual, or other rituals significant to the Maya. Our analyses allow us to begin building a system for using faunal remains as a proxy for interpreting the significance of these deposits. In this paper, we present our results and hope to open the conversation for future evaluations of faunal remains in similar deposits.
Contributions from parallel strategies for spatial orientation in C. elegans

Understanding how brains and environments give rise to behavior is a subject of great multidisciplinary interest. C. elegans is well-suited for this work because of its relatively rich behavioral r...