cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MEMS: Detection and tracking of mobile events using mobile sensors

With the advances in sensing, communication, and computation, there is an increasing need to track mobile events such as air pollutant diffusion, toxic gas leakage, or wildfire spreading using mobile sensors such as robots. Lots of existing work use control theory to plan the path of mobile sensors by assuming that the event evolution is known in advance. This assumption has severely limited the applicability of existing approaches. In this work, we aim to design a detection and tracking approach that is capable of identifying multiple events with dynamic event signatures and providing event evolution history that may include event merge, split, create and destroy. Simulation results show that our approach can identify events with low event count difference, high event membership similarity, and accurate event evolution decisions, while using a reasonable number of tracking robots.
Distributivity and Processivity in Multisite Phosphorylation Can Be Distinguished through Steady-State Invariants

Multisite protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are key cellular regulatory mechanisms but their system properties have been difficult to study in vivo and in vitro. Here we show by mathematical analysis that steady-state invariants enable the mechanism of the kinase or the phosphatase to be determined from steady-state measurements. Invariants exist when both enzymes act distributively (i.e., nonprocessively), making at most one modification in each molecular encounter. For instance, in the sequential case, in any experiment involving the same ingredients, the quantity [Si−1][Si+1]/[Si]2 always has the same value, where [Si] denotes the steady-state concentration of the i-th phospho-form. For a two-site substrate, if either enzyme exhibits processivity, so that more than one modification can be made in each molecular encounter, the degree of processivity can be estimated from changes in this invariant. We discuss the experimental and theoretical challenges in extending these results.
Stress, Energy, and Immunity An Ecological View

A common perspective on stress-related changes in the human immune system is that such changes are potentially harmful, especially those occurring during chronic stress. In contrast, an ecological perspective views the immune system as an energetically costly system that may or may not have priority over other uses of that energy. From this perspective, the immune system may have energy made available for it via reduction of other activities, may change in energetically conservative ways when the protection it confers needs to be balanced with the energetic demands of other activities such as fight or flight, or may be suppressed when other activities are more important than immunity for total well-being. This last type of change can explain why aspects of psychosocial health such as optimism relate to worse immunity under some circumstances and suggests that both benefits and costs of immunosuppression during stress should be considered in research on human stress and immunity.
Diagnostic Measures of Influence for s2

We present three intuitive diagnostic measures for judging the influence that single or multiple observations exert on the estimate s2, the mean square error. The three measures are shown to be equivalent statistics. We discuss distributional properties of these measures and conclude with an example.
Documentation of Changes in Modal Properties of a Concrete Box-Girder Bridge Due to Environmental and Internal Conditions

This paper presents the results of 2 modal tests performed on a concrete box-girder bridge. The 2 modal tests were performed sequentially with a 9-month time interval between tests. This sequence of tests form the initial phase of a modal-based level IV nondestructive damage-evaluation process implemented to establish the rate of structural deterioration and remaining service life of the tested structure. A level IV process detects, locates, and sizes damage and determines the impact of the damage on the performance of the structure. A novel feature of the field testing is the execution of an incremental and minimally intrusive (to traffic flow) modal test procedure. The instrumentation, experimental test plan, and resulting modal analysis are discussed. The changes in the 2 modal data sets are also discussed.
A coherent optically controlled phased array antenna system

A true-time delay, optically controlled phased array antenna system whereby a large number (100-2500) of antenna elements can receive a series of microwave delays via use of a coherent optical carrier signal is described. Both transmit and receive antenna arrays are described, and the signal-to-noise ratio for a 128 channel system is calculated to be approximately 40 dB with an optical link loss of only approximately 3 dB for a 1 GHz instantaneous bandwidth at a wavelength of lambda 1.55 mu m. It is shown that the use of coherent optically controlled phased array antennas provides improved controllability and immunity from noise and system losses over other architectures currently being investigated. >
Diversify and Combine: Improving Word Alignment for Machine Translation on Low-Resource Languages

We present a novel method to improve word alignment quality and eventually the translation performance by producing and combining complementary word alignments for low-resource languages. Instead of focusing on the improvement of a single set of word alignments, we generate multiple sets of diversified alignments based on different motivations, such as linguistic knowledge, morphology and heuristics. We demonstrate this approach on an English-to-Pashto translation task by combining the alignments obtained from syntactic reordering, stemming, and partial words. The combined alignment outperforms the baseline alignment, with significantly higher F-scores and better translation performance.
DECAY OF VIBRATION PHENOMENA OF GLASS BARS

The purpose of this investigation was to correlate the decay of vibration of glass bars with their chemical composition. The moduli of decay of four commercial glasses were determined by a photographic method which employed an oscillograph to provide a graphic representation of the audible tone emitted by the bars when they were set in vibration. By using bars of identical cross section and different lengths, data were obtained showing the relation of length to modulus of decay. The effect of disannealing on the modulus of decay was also investigated.
Tumor type and single-cell/mesothelial-like cell pattern of breast carcinoma metastases in pleural and peritoneal effusions

Invasive ductal and lobular breast carcinomas often have different preferred metastasis sites and distinct histomorphologic characteristics. Their metastatic cytomorphologic cell features in body cavity fluids are generally readily recognized, but the single-cell/mesothelial-like pattern and its relationship to the primary tumor type have not been well studied, nor whether metastases have a propensity for certain body cavity sites on the basis of the primary tumor type. To further assess the tumor type and single-cell pattern of breast carcinoma metastases in pleural and peritoneal effusions, we retrospectively studied 853 pleural and peritoneal effusions and correlated the findings with the primary tumor type. When necessary, the single- cell/mesothelial-like pattern was documented immunohistochemically. Metastatic breast carcinomas represented 249 (50.8%) of 490 pleural and 51 (14.0%) of 363 peritoneal effusions. Most metastases in pleural and peritoneal effusions were ductal carcinomas (92.4% and 62.7%, respectively). Lobular carcinoma accounted for only 2 (0.8%) of 249 pleural and 11 (21.6%) of 51 peritoneal effusions. The single-cell/mesothelial-like cell pattern was found in all lobular carcinomas but also in 11 (6.0%) of 184 reviewed ductal carcinomas (nine pleural and two peritoneal). Awareness of these findings and the use of immunohistochemical analyses are necessary for accurately diagnosing metastatic breast carcinoma, especially lobular type.
The Effect of Prior Task Loading on Mental Workload: An Example of Hysteresis in Driving

Objective: This study examined how transitions in task demand during a driving and navigation task manifested themselves as delayed adaptation in driver mental workload. Background: A delayed reaction to changes in demand levels, termed hysteresis, has been identified in a number of settings. However, little research has specifically examined the driving task for hysteresis effects. Method: A total of 32 drivers completed drives while using a navigation system that would fail within the drive. Subjective mental workload was recorded prior to and following system failure as well as at the conclusion of the drive. Results: Results indicated that a gradual reduction in overall mental workload across trials and a lagged recovery to reduction in task demand was present within trials. Analysis of the mental workload subscales within trials indicated that this effect was produced by the mental effort component of workload. Conclusion: A moderate hysteresis effect is present in mental workload transitions within the driving task. Although subjective mental workload decreases across trials, the magnitude of the lagged recovery within trials remains unchanged. Application: Scaling of in-vehicle information is beneficial with respect to driver mental workload. Display and communication technologies designers should consider not only the immediate task demand but also the driver’s task demand history when determining what and how to provide information.
Transcriptional starts for cytadherence-related operons of Mycoplasma genitalium.

One mechanism of mycoplasma cytadherence possessed by several mycoplasmas, including Mycoplasma genitalium, necessitates coordination of multiple adhesins and adherence-associated proteins. The genes encoding these adherence-related proteins are located in three different regions of the M. genitalium genome and exhibit an operon-like organization with surrounding genes. To understand whether genes encoding adherence-related proteins in M. genitalium are regulated as operons, we performed transcriptional and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses on the loci mg191 (encoding major cytadhesin P140 localized at the specialized tip organelle) and mg218 (encoding high molecular mass cytadherence-related protein MG218 required for tip-mediated adherence). Primer extension suggested that transcription of mg191 was under the control of two transcriptional starts, one immediately upstream of mg191 (PrmMG191) and the other upstream of mg190 (PrmMG190). In contrast, mg218 appeared to be transcribed by a single transcriptional start, located upstream of mg217. RT-PCR indicated that transcription was continuous from mg190 to mg192 and mg217 to mg219, suggesting that these loci constitute true operons. Additional data revealed heretofore undetected similarities between adherence-related operons of M. genitalium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Sparse WiFi deployment for vehicular internet access with bounded interconnection gap

Vehicular Internet access via open WiFi access points (APs) has been demonstrated to be a feasible solution to provide opportunistic data service to moving vehicles. Using an in situ deployment, however, such a solution does not provide performance guarantees due to unpredictable intermittent connectivity. On the other hand, a solution that tries to cover every point in an entire road network with APs (a full coverage) is not very practical due to prohibitive deployment and operational costs. In this paper, we introduce a new notion of intermittent coverage for mobile users, called Alpha Coverage, which provides worst-case guarantees on the interconnection gap, i.e., the distance or expected delay between two consecutive mobile-AP contacts for a vehicle, while using significantly fewer APs than needed for full coverage. We propose efficient algorithms to verify whether a given deployment provides Alpha Coverage. The problem of finding an economic deployment that provides α -coverage turns out to be NP-hard. We hence provide both approximation algorithms that have provable guarantees on the performance as well as efficient heuristics that perform well in practice. The efficiency of our algorithms is demonstrated via simulations using data from real-world road networks.
A Comparison of Nutritional Indicators from Bambara and Fulani Girls Born in Paris, France and in the Segou Region of Mali

Growth data from Bambara and Fulani girls are compared from those born and raised in France and those born and raised in Mali. The data reveal that Bambara and Fulani girls born in France are taller and heavier than their female counterparts born and raised in Mali. No indicators of obesity are evident among this sample. The sample's heights and weights match the U.S. reference data such that mean height-for-age z-score is −.02 ± .84, and the mean WAZ is 03 ± .96. Based on the conceptual framework of the brocultural model of human adaptation, these findings have implications regarding the environmental impacts affecting the growth status of Malian adolescent girls. The data suggest that improved growth may be due to improved environmental and cultural factors including increased food availability, safe food and water, a reduction in manual labor, and access to affordable and reliable healthcare. While this sample is relatively small, it appears that U.S. reference data are appropriate for use in non-U.S. populations to determine over and undernutrition.
Synthesis of [14C]‐labelled pelrinone

[14C]Pelrinone (1,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-6[(3-pyridinylmethyl)-amino]-5-pyrimidine-[14C]-carbonitrile hydrochloride; AY-28,768 hydrochloride), a potent inotropic agent, was prepared by reacting chloroacetic acid with [14C]sodium cyanide to give the labelled cyanoacetic acid. The acid was esterified, converted to the bis-S-methyl compound, condensed with acetamidine hydrochloride, coupled with 3-aminomethylpyridine, and treated with methanolic hydrochloric acid. Two batches of [14C]pelrinone were produced, giving a combined overall yield of 15.6% from [14C]sodium cyanide (sp. act. 66.2 ± 1.5 and 64.2 ± 1.9 μCi/mg; 98.8 and 98.0% radiochemical purity, respectively).
Proportional Intensity Models Robustness with Overhaul Intervals

The class of semi-parametric proportional intensity (PI) models applies to recurrent failure event modeling for a repairable system with explanatory variables (covariates). Certain repairable systems (e.g. aircraft and electrical power generating plants) experience a substantial period of downtime due to performing maintenance (i.e. major overhaul) at scheduled intervals or following a major failure. Other systems (e.g. emergency power units) experience extended periods of non-operating dormancy. These discontinuities in observation time have potential effects on the accuracy of estimation for covariate effects, particularly where calendar time is the life metric. This paper examines the robustness of two PI methods (Prentice–Williams–Peterson gap time (PWP-GT) and Andersen–Gill (AG)) as a function of the overhaul or dormancy duration. The PWP-GT model proves to perform well for sample size of 60 (30 per level of a class covariate), constant or moderately decreasing/increasing rate of occurrence of failures, and relative overhaul (dormancy) durations less than half of the immediately preceding interval between failures. The AG model performs consistently well for a small sample size of 20 (10 per level of a class covariate) for homogeneous Poisson processes, regardless of the relative overhaul (dormancy) duration. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Molecular Genetics of Prey Choice

Abstract Zooarchaeologists interested in the complex relationships between prehistoric hunters and their chosen prey frequently infer detailed prey population histories. The chain of inference necessary to proceed from an observed faunal assemblage to an estimate of population history, however, is routinely affected by a suite of complicating variables common to archaeological research. Accordingly, the development of methods to produce such histories has proven to be challenging. Nonetheless, methods to infer temporal trends in prey population histories are increasingly in demand as evinced by continued interest in the effect of prehistoric hunting practices on prey population dynamics, recent debate among California archaeologists regarding the specific fitness-related goals of large game hunting, and emerging recognition of the potential for zooarchaeological data to inform issues in conservation biology. Fortunately, animals maintain a molecular record of their histories. Ancient DNA methods, coupled ...
Arthroscopic-assisted reduction with bilateral buttress plate fixation of complex tibial plateau fractures.

Abstract Purpose: Our aim was to determine the outcome of arthroscopic-assisted reduction with bilateral buttress plate fixation for the treatment of closed complex tibial plateau fractures. Type of Study: Case series. Methods: 18 consecutive patients (12 men, 6 women) with complex tibial plateau fractures were enrolled in this prospective study. All patients underwent arthroscopic-assisted bilateral buttress plate fixation of closed complex tibial plateau fractures. The average age at operation was 35 years (range, 23 to 45 years). The follow-up period ranged from 39 to 69 months, with an average of 48 months. Using the Schatzker classification, there were 11 type V and 7 type VI fractures. The clinical and radiological outcomes were determined according to Rasmussen's system. Results: All of the 18 fractures united. Overall, 4 (22%) patients were rated as excellent, 12 (67%) good, and 2 (11%) fair. Secondary osteoarthritis appeared in 3 injured knees (16.7%). One patient had a wound dehiscence (3 cm long) of the medial incision. Condylar joint surface depression was noted in 3 patients without functional instability. Two patients had valgus alignment between 10° and 15°. Two patients had the paresthesia over the lateral calf. There were no complications directly associated with arthroscopy in any of the 18 patients. No deep vein thrombosis, infection, or knee stiffness was found at final follow-up. Conclusions: Arthroscopic-assisted reduction with bilateral buttress plate fixation for complex tibial plateau fractures allows accurate fracture reduction, diagnosis, and treatment of associated intra-articular lesions, and less dissection than open reduction internal fixation.
Mothers' use of fantasy in speech to young children.

This study examined mothers' use of fantasy in speech to young children. Observations of mothers in free-play interactions with their 12-to 27-month-old children formed the basis for an analysis of the frequency and type of fantasy relationships encoded in maternal speech. Results suggested that fantasy speech to roughly year-old children was relatively infrequent and restricted to descriptions of the feelings, actions, and functions of animate and inanimate objects. Speech to 1½-year-olds encoded essentially the same fantasy characteristics, but mothers of children in this age group introduced more distinct instances in their fantasy talk. A more notable change occurred in the fantasy utterances directed to 2-year-olds. Mothers of these children talked about non-existent imaginary objects, and often asked the child to extend a play episode by providing a new fantasy element. These findings were discussed in terms of the nature and function of the dyadic interactions in which mothers' fantasy talk occurred.
Psychoanalysis and Domestic Violence: Exploring the Application of Object Relations Theory in Social Work Field Placement

Psychoanalytic theories are steadily falling out of favor within many American schools of social work. This lack of emphasis on psychodynamic perspectives deprives students of the rich developmental insight that can be of particular value in field placement settings like domestic violence shelters in which mother/child dyads are typically of clinical significance. However, existing examples object relations theory applied to contexts of domestic violence often fail to interrupt the replication of a hegemonic misogyny that has historically permeated domestic violence literature. In order to avoid unduly blaming women in contexts of domestic violence, clinical social work students interested in utilizing the theory of object relations in their work must employ an array of additional analyses that focus on issues such as race, financial status, and the psychological effects of trauma.
Response of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a significant human pathogen capable of replicating in mononuclear phagocytic cells. Exposure to reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates is likely to represent an important aspect of the life cycle of this organism. The response of M. tuberculosis to these agents may be of significance for its survival in the host Patterns of de novo proteins synthesized in M. tuberculosis H37Rv exposed to compounds that generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates were studied by metabolic labeling and two-dimensional electrophoresis Menadione, a redox cycling compound which increases intracellular superoxide levels, caused enhanced synthesis of seven polypeptides, six of which appeared to be heat shock proteins. Chemical release of nitric oxide induced eight polypeptides of which only one could be identified as a heat shock protein. Nitric oxide also exhibited a mild inhibitory action on general protein synthesis in the concentration range tested. Hydrogen peroxide did not cause differential gene expression and exerted a generalized inhibition in a dose-dependent manner. Cumene hydroperoxide caused mostly inhibition but induction of two heat shock proteins was detectable. The presented findings indicate major differences between M. tuberculosis and the paradigms of oxidative stress response in enteric bacteria, and are consistent with the multiple lesions found in oxyR of this organism. The effect of hydrogen peroxide, which in Escherichia coli induces eight polypeptides known to be controlled by the central regulator oxyR, appears to be absent in M. tuberculosis. Superoxide and nitric oxide responses, which in E. coli overlap and are controlled by the same regulatory system soxRS, represent discrete and independent phenomena in M. tuberculosis.
Functional Replacement of the Carboxy-Terminal Two-Thirds of the Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein with Short Heterologous Dimerization Domains

The NS1 protein of influenza A/WSN/33 virus is a 230-amino-acid-long protein which functions as an interferon alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta) antagonist by preventing the synthesis of IFN during viral infection. In tissue culture, the IFN inhibitory function of the NS1 protein has been mapped to the RNA binding domain, the first 73 amino acids. Nevertheless, influenza viruses expressing carboxy-terminally truncated NS1 proteins are attenuated in mice. Dimerization of the NS1 protein has previously been shown to be essential for its RNA binding activity. We have explored the ability of heterologous dimerization domains to functionally substitute in vivo for the carboxy-terminal domains of the NS1 protein. Recombinant influenza viruses were generated that expressed truncated NS1 proteins of 126 amino acids, fused to 28 or 24 amino acids derived from the dimerization domains of either the Saccharomyces cerevisiae PUT3 or the Drosophila melanogaster Ncd (DmNcd) proteins. These viruses regained virulence and lethality in mice. Moreover, a recombinant influenza virus expressing only the first 73 amino acids of the NS1 protein was able to replicate in mice lacking three IFN-regulated antiviral enzymes, PKR, RNaseL, and Mx, but not in wild-type (Mx-deficient) mice, suggesting that the attenuation was mainly due to an inability to inhibit the IFN system. Remarkably, a virus with an NS1 truncated at amino acid 73 but fused to the dimerization domain of DmNcd replicated and was also highly pathogenic in wild-type mice. These results suggest that the main biological function of the carboxy-terminal region of the NS1 protein of influenza A virus is the enhancement of its IFN antagonist properties by stabilizing the NS1 dimeric structure.
Thermal management of a C4/ceramic-ball-grid array: the Motorola PowerPC 603/sup TM/ and PowerPC 604/sup TM/ RISC microprocessors

This paper presents various thermal management options available for controlled-collapse-chip-connection (C4) die attached to a ceramic-ball-grid-array substrate (CBGA), as they apply to low-end/midrange computer products. Computational-fluid-dynamics (CFD) methods are used to solve the conjugate heat transfer problems. CFD modeling is used to predict die-junction temperatures for the PowerPC 603 and PowerPC 604 microprocessor in a single-chip C4/CBGA package. The focus is the die temperature rise for a limited range of boundary conditions, including: substrate conductivity, heat sinks and heat sink attach. For the PowerPC 604 microprocessor die-junction temperature rise is presented for convective air cooling (to 4 m/s) using several commercially-available heat sinks.
The role of leukotrienes in upper and lower airway inflammation and the implications for treatment.

Objective This article reviews the proinflammatory effects of the cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) in the upper and lower airways, along with evidence of their role in allergic rhinitis and chronic hyperplastic sinusitis with nasal polyposis (CHS/NP). After reading this article, readers should have a greater understanding of the effects of the CysLTs on both upper and lower airways and their implications for treatment. Data Sources Relevant and appropriately controlled studies on the inflammatory processes associated with leukotrienes (LTs) were reviewed. Only literature in the English language was reviewed. Study Selection Material was taken from peer-reviewed journals and data generated from the author's laboratory. Results The CysLTs possess proinflammatory effects that contribute to the increase of tissue eosinophilia. Emerging data support their importance in diseases of the upper airways, including allergic rhinitis and CHS/NP. The LT modifiers may be appropriate agents for treating inflammatory disorders of the upper airways because of their proven effectiveness in reducing inflammation in asthma. Results from studies in patients with allergic rhinitis demonstrated improved nasal rhinorrhea, sneezing, and congestion. LT modifiers have improved nasal congestion and restored the sense of smell in patients with CHS/NP. Conclusions The LT receptor antagonists have proven to be an effective anti-inflammatory treatment for asthma. Emerging data indicate that LTs play a pivotal role in inflammatory upper airway disease, providing a growing rationale for the use of LT receptor antagonists to treat allergic rhinitis and CHS/NP.
Participation of modified nucleosides in translation and transcription

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the modified nucleosides that generally can base-pair with the same specificity, as the comparable unmodified nucleosides. When normal base-pairing is prevented, by such modification, it is ascribed to the steric effects or to disturbed stacking interactions. Such inhibitory effects are greatly decreased, if the modified nucleoside is a minor component in a heteropolymer, as is likely in vivo . Another group of derivatives can also form hydrogen bonds with complementary nucleosides, but in these cases, the modification is such that Watson-Crick base-pairing, with either of the two nucleosides, can occur. Thus, in translation, ribosyl-2-aminopurine, nebularin, and 7-deazanebularin can all act as A or G. Changed base-pairing, resulting from modification, is found for inosine, xanthosine, and N 4 -hydroxy- or N 4 -methoxycytidine. These derivatives exemplify classical mutation, resulting from chemical modification. The last class of modified nucleosides includes derivatives that are modified on positions, normally involved in Watson-Crick base pairing, and they were long regarded as lethal modifications— that is, no base-pairing was assumed to take place even in a heteropolymer. Recent research has shown that modifications at the N-1 of purines, the N-3 of pyrimidines, and the oxygen of G, U, and C do allow transcription, but with little or no specificity, for the base introduced into a complementary polynucleotide.
Graded metascreens to enable a new degree of nanoscale light management

Optical metasurfaces, typically referred to as two-dimensional metamaterials, are arrays of engineered subwavelength inclusions suitably designed to tailor the light properties, including amplitude, phase and polarization state, over deeply subwavelength scales. By exploiting anomalous localized interactions of surface elements with optical waves, metasurfaces can go beyond the functionalities offered by conventional diffractive optical gratings. The innate simplicity of implementation and the distinct underlying physics of their wave–matter interaction distinguish metasurfaces from three-dimensional metamaterials and provide a valuable means of moulding optical waves in the desired manner. Here, we introduce a general approach based on the electromagnetic equivalence principle to develop and synthesize graded, non-periodic metasurfaces to generate arbitrarily prescribed distributions of electromagnetic waves. Graded metasurfaces are realized with a single layer of spatially modulated, electrically polarizable nanoparticles, tailoring the scattering response of the surface with nanoscale resolutions. We discuss promising applications based on the proposed local wave management technique, including the design of ultrathin optical carpet cloaks, alignment-free polarization beam splitters and a novel approach to enable broadband light absorption enhancement in thin-film solar cells. This concept opens up a practical route towards efficient planarized optical structures with potential impact on the integrated nanophotonic technology.
Strategies for Wheat Production in the Great Plains

of a single crop, which is wheat. Farmers in this region have only two economically relevant choices for land utilization in a given year-wheat and fallow. Range or other crops are not economically competitive with wheat for use of the land, and moisture limitations make periodic fallowing a common practice. An optimal frequency for fallowing in this region has been the subject of several studies [1, 2, 4, 7]; but that of Burt and Allison [1] was the only one which used a formal optimization model that took into consideration the entire planning horizon of the firm. It must be recognized that choice of a particular crop in a given year affects the optimal choice of crops in future years; in other words, we have a problem in economic dynamics, and a satisfactory solution cannot ignore interrelations in the time dimension. An additional complexity is the stochastic nature of climatic variables, which makes it necessary to view crop choice decisions in the context of a policy or strategy rather than to specify a sequence of crops for the entire planning horizon. Burt and Allison used a Markov chain model, with states determined by soil moisture at planting time, to derive conditional decision rules maximizing discounted expected net returns, where the choice for land utilization was fallow or wheat. A limitation of their work was the paucity of data for obtaining empirical estimates of parameters required for the model. Also, their analysis was limited to an expected-value criterion, with no consideration given to variability of income. The research presented here provides a model for which empirical data are more easily obtained and evaluates the problem by use of both expected value and variance of net returns. The general approach is to find a conditional decision rule or strategy that is optimal by some criterion, and the set of given information upon * Contribution from the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. Approved by the
Communication Control in Multiple UAV applications

In this paper, communication control algorithms are proposed for Unmanned air Vehicles (UAVs) operating in absence of central communication systems. Such situations arise in many scenarios. Operating over enem y territory or uneven terrain are a few examples. The communication network formed by these UAVs belongs to a larger class called ad-hoc networks. These networks are dynami c in nature and hence conventional algorithms of routing information cannot be applied. Most o f the algorithms used are heuristics based and in such algorithms, stability a nd convergence cannot be established. A Grossberg neural network (GNN) based approach is proposed to obtain routing of data packets. When there are many connections in a n etwork or all nodes are not equally capable, clustering of several nodes into one group is done. By clustering, number of connections and data loss can be reduced. GNN based algorithm s are implemented in a decentralized manner and have very low computation and storage re quirements. GNNs are dynamic in nature and hence are well suited for applications in ad-hoc networks. Any change in the ad-hoc network is absorbed by the GNN. The proposed algorithms are tested on a simple network simulator developed for this purpose. Satisfy ing results show the potential of the approach.
Multiscale Large Eddy Simulation of Turbulence Using High-Order Finite Element Methods

In this paper, multiscale large-eddy simulation (LES) is investigated using a high-order discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element method to study the instantaneous and statistical features of turbulent flows. In the present LES, large structures of the flow are directly resolved and simulated, while the effects arising from scales smaller than the grid size are accounted for by means of a wall-adapting local eddy-viscosity (WALE) model. This subgrid scale model is chosen for obtaining correct eddy-viscosity near-wall behavior and ease of implementation. To enhance the accuracy of LES solutions, the high-order DG method is used in conjuction with high-order implicit temporal schemes, varying from a second-order backward difference formula to a fourth-order implicit Runge-Kutta scheme. Curved surface representations are properly modeled through a computational analysis programming interface while the interior mesh is deformed subsequently via a linear elasticity solver for allowing valid anisotropic elements. Numerical results demonstrate the capabilities of the high-order LES-WALE algorithms for capturing both dynamic and statistical properties of turbulent flows. The employment of a higher-order discretization is also shown to be beneficial to resolving both mean flow and turbulence statistics, as well as improving the solution accuracy and computational efficiency. Furthermore, the order-of-accuracy property of the present high-order finite element method is assessed using the Method of Manufactured Solutions based on the compressible LES-WALE equations.
A translational bridge to cancer immunotherapy: exploiting costimulation and target antigens for active and passive T cell immunotherapy.

Building on significant advances in basic tumor immunology over the past decade, current translational efforts to develop novel antitumor T cell therapeutics continue to accelerate. Both passive T cell immunotherapy (e.g., adoptive T cell transfusions) and active immunotherapy (e.g., vaccination) may eventually become part of the arsenal to treat cancer. Successful approaches will need to repair host immunoincompetence in T cell function, circumvent immunosuppressive factors of the tumor microenvironment, and optimize target antigens with regard to clinical applicability, autoimmunity, and risk of antigen mutation. Here, we characterize two model systems for the ex vivo activation and expansion of human T lymphocytes and describe the potential for providing broadly applicable antitumor specificity by targeting universal tumor antigens. Polyclonal CD4+ T lymphocytes can be activated and expanded using anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies presented on magnetic beads, and CD8+T lymphocytes can be successfully expanded using a novel genetically engineered cell-based technology that presents anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 along with the costimulatory molecule CD137 (4-1BBL). As the prototypical and best-described universal tumor antigen, the human telomerase reverse transcriptase hTERT is vastly overexpressed in human tumors but absent in most normal tissues. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize peptides derived from hTERT and kill hTERT-positive tumor cells of multiple histologies. Phase I trials translating these discoveries to novel active and passive T cell therapies have been initiated, with an eye toward combining these strategies once safety is established.
The Kentucky Watershed Management Framework: Lessons Learned

Beginning in 1997, a consortium of agencies and organizations began implementing the Kentucky Watershed Management Framework, a form of the USEPA’s model for integrated management of water resources. The framework is intended to focus scarce human and financial resources on watersheds where they can be most effective, by means of a repeated five-year cycle of analysis, prioritization, and action. The Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute and the Kentucky River Authority coordinated the implementation of the Framework in its inaugural basin, the Kentucky River Basin. Now, seven years along in the process and halfway through the second five-year cycle, staff at the KWRRI continue to serve in the “basin coordinator” role. There have been many lessons learned along the way, most of which relate to the “implementation phase” of the cycle during which management activities are expected to occur within the prioritized watersheds. This paper provides an overview of the Kentucky Watershed Framework process as well as some general lessons that have been learned as a consequence of implementing the process in the Kentucky River Basin.
Biological Characteristics of Ovary-Stimulating Extracts Made from Blood of Pregnant Women

The demonstration that ovary-stimulating extracts prepared from human placenta (Collip et al.1), or from urine of pregnant women (Evans, Meyer, and Simpson2) differ from anterior pituitary gland implants in their influence on the weights of immature rat ovaries, is of considerable biological interest. It seemed of importance, therefore, to determine if extracts made from the blood of pregnant women were similar in this characteristic.A crude estrin-free extract was prepared from blood by a method developed with the assistance of Dr. M. L. Tainter of the Department of Pharmacology, based on that of Wallen-Lawrence and Van Dyke3 for the extraction of “hebin” from anterior pituitary glands. Forty to 50 cc., obtained by venapuncture, from each patient was placed in a receptacle containing a few crystals of sodium citrate, centrifuged, the red blood cells discarded, and the resultant clear blood plasma shaken up 5 times with ether. Ten volumes of 95% alcohol were then added to the blood plasma, the solution ce...
The Anatomy of Program-for-Results: An Approach to Results-Based Aid

The World Bank’s new Program for Results (PforR) instrument is only the third instrument approved by its Board and the first to directly link disbursements to results. Designed to support programs of service delivery, the program is still in its early stages. This paper provides an overview of the approach and some of the debates on the design of the instrument, including the approaches to safeguards and to “results”, which encompass the strengthening of systems of service delivery as well as the actual delivery of services. It develops a classification of Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs) that can be used to situate the results-based instruments in the context of investment loans (IL) and development policy loans (DPLs) and applies this to the first four PforR operations. Some are shown to approach other results-based formulations (for example COD Aid) while others have a larger overlap with DPLs. The paper notes a number of features of the operations, including the still-modest use of system performance indicators, as opposed to action-based indicators, to link disbursements to systems reform, and the implications for the PforR approach. While it is far too early to judge the success of PforR and its various design features, the paper considers some of the implications, including the meaning of “success” for a results-based operation.
Digital Gumshoes: Investigative journalists’ use of social media in television news reporting

Investigative reporting is valued by consumers and journalists and is vital to a healthy democracy. However, it is a resource- and time-intensive practice that is often seen as financially inefficient. With resources dwindling at local US television stations, investigative news may be suffering. This article analyzes empirically whether social media websites help investigative reporters to do their jobs more efficiently, as has been suggested by critics and researchers. A survey (N = 165) indicated that a large majority of local television investigative journalists use social media as part of their regular newsgathering routine. When this project’s results were compared to similar surveys, data revealed that a significantly greater proportion of television investigative reporters were using social media to interact with the public, to generate story ideas, and to help produce stories, compared to other types of reporters. Yet this high rate of usage did not translate into increased investigative productiv...
Non-Abelian Gauge Theories in “Intermediate” Volumes

Recent analytical and numerical studies give a consistent picture of non-Abelian gauge theory in medium-sized volumes. I give an overview of the results. In case of the SU(2) deconfining temperature analytical methods seem to allow an estimate that is relevant for the infinite volume limit.
Screening for Mental Health Problems: Addressing the Base Rate Fallacy for a Sustainable Screening Program in Integrated Primary Care

OBJECTIVE: The Affordable Care Act has stimulated interest in screening for psychological problems in primary care. Given the scale with which screening might occur, the implications of a problem known as the base rate fallacy need to be considered. METHODS: The concepts of sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and the base rate fallacy are discussed. The possibility that a screening program may not improve upon random selection is reviewed, as is the possibility that sequential screening might be useful. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Developing effective screening programs for pediatric mental health problems is highly desirable, and properly addressing the high rate of false positives may improve the likelihood that such programs can be sustained. Consideration needs to be given to the use of sequential screening, which has both advantages and disadvantages, depending upon the type of problem to be screened for and the availability of resources for follow-up evaluations.© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. Language: en
Cardiovascular effects of anesthesia and operation.

Anesthesia and surgery have a wide range of effects on the cardiovascular system. Even in healthy patients having minor operations, anesthetic agents can cause significant cardiac depression and hemodynamic instability. In the patient with pre-existing cardiac disease, these cardiovascular anesthetic effects become much more serious. These patients will not tolerate wide swings of hemodynamic variables, and the cardiodepressant effects of anesthetics are more pronounced in them. Surgery itself provides many insults to the cardiovascular system, and these may be additive with the effects of anesthesia.
Resorcinarene-Encapsulated Nanoparticles: Building Blocks for Self-Assembled Nanostructures

Calix[4]resorcinarene-derived surfactants are highly effectiveat stabilizing metal nanoparticles of different sizes, creating opportunities tofabricate well-defined nanostructures with size-tunable materials properties. Theresorcinarenes have a critical role in the dispersion of nanoparticles under varioussolvent conditions and in the robustness of the protective surfactant layer.Magnetic cobalt particles stabilized by resorcinarenes self-assemble intonanostructured ``bracelets'' in toluene. Resorcinarene surfactants can also promote theself-organization of gold nanoparticles as large as 170 nm into two-dimensional arrays. Thesenanostructured films possess novel optoelectronic properties such as surface-enhancedRaman scattering (SERS), and are expected to have useful applications for chemical sensing.
Phase I Clinical Trial Results of Auranofin, a Novel Antiparasitic Agent

Under an NIH priority to identify new drugs to treat class B parasitic agents, we performed high-throughput screens, which identified the activity of auranofin (Ridaura) against Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia intestinalis, major causes of water- and foodborne outbreaks. Auranofin, an orally administered, gold (Au)-containing compound that was approved by the FDA in 1985 for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, was effective in vitro and in vivo against E. histolytica and both metronidazole-sensitive and -resistant strains of Giardia We now report the results of an NIH-sponsored phase I trial to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of auranofin in healthy volunteers using modern techniques to measure gold levels. Subjects received orally 6 mg (p.o.) of auranofin daily, the recommended dose for rheumatoid arthritis, for 7 days and were followed for 126 days. Treatment-associated adverse events were reported by 47% of the subjects, but all were mild and resolved without treatment. The mean gold maximum concentration in plasma (Cmax) at day 7 was 0.312 μg/ml and the half-life (t1/2) 35 days, so steady-state blood levels would not be reached in short-term therapy. The highest concentration of gold, 13 μM (auranofin equivalent), or more than 25× the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) for E. histolytica and 4× that for Giardia, was in feces at 7 days. Modeling of higher doses (9 and 21 mg/day) was performed for systemic parasitic infections, and plasma gold levels of 0.4 to 1.0 μg/ml were reached after 14 days of treatment at 21 mg/day. This phase I trial supports the idea of the safety of auranofin and provides important PK data to support its potential use as a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT02089048.).
Trash travels: white cockroaches and decapitalization in circum-Atlantic literature

ABSTRACTThis essay examines a tradition in Caribbean literature where characters embrace their own decapitalization; it focuses on the circulation of decapitalized whiteness in Caribbean novels that present historical scenarios of cultural devaluation, such as Caryl Phillips’ Cambridge (1991) and Robert Antoni’s Blessed Is the Fruit (1997). I propose that Phillips’ Lady Cartwright and Antoni’s Lilla embody the historical emergence of a new character in the Caribbean novel, one in which a decapitalized white subject joins the poor “white trash” communities that had existed at the margins of circum-Atlantic societies. Those communities attest to a forgotten Caribbean past of white indentured labor. Closing with an examination of V.S. Naipaul’s non-fiction travelogue A Turn in the South (1989), the essay suggests how the writing of decapitalization extends from the Caribbean to the US South.