cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
WHEN DOES EVOLUTION BY NATURAL SELECTION PREVENT EXTINCTION

Understanding population responses to novel environments is a central concern of both evolutionary biology and ecology (Maynard Smith 1989; Bradshaw 1991; Hoffman and Parsons 1991; Peters and Lovejoy 1992; Kareiva et al. 1993). Populations subject to substantial environmental stress, such as occurs during colonization attempts, human-mediated introductions or reintroductions, or global climatic change, may face a risk of extinction. There are many examples of such extinctions, but many examples are known in which populations have evolved sufficiently to persist in changed environments, such as cases of evolved resistance to pesticides or heavy metal toxins (e.g., Bradshaw 1991). An important problem for evolutionary biologists is thus to characterize those combinations of genetic and demographic conditions likely to result in persistence versus those expected to lead to extinction in a changed environment. Theoretical work has characterized circumstances in which populations have sufficient genetic capacity to avoid extinction by adapting with sufficient speed to a continuously changing environment (Pease et al. 1989; Lynch et al. 1991; Lynch and Lande 1993; Burger and Lynch 1994). Here we use simple models to highlight an additional risk faced even by populations genetically capable of evolving sufficiently to persist in environments that remain constant following a single, initial abrupt change. Namely, as a population adapts to a novel environment, its de'nsity may fall below a critically low level for a period of time, during which the population is highly vulnerable to extinction by demographic stochasticity. If this occurs, the population is likely to vanish before it can be rescued by evolution. To examine this problem, we coupled models of population dynamics and of evolution by natural selection to identify conditions for which evolution succeeds-or fails-to rescue a closed population from extinction following abrupt environmental change. The models considered here cover extremes in both genetics (one-locus and polygenic models) and population growth (discrete and continuous-time models). These models lead to a similar conclusion: even populations with the genetic wherewithal to potentially persist in a novel environment may often fail to do so. Moreover, our analyses help to quantitatively characterize situations in which evolution by natural selection can effectively rescue a population from impending extinction. We suspect the qualitative properties of our results may be general features of evolutionary dynamics in novel environments.
Hume Versus Price on Miracles and Prior Probabilities: Testimony and the Bayesian Calculation

Hume's essay on miracles' is one of his most celebrated arguments. It is also, perhaps, the second most discussed and argued-over of his sceptical positions. Reading it in the light of a recent controversy over Bayesianism and the appropriateness of taking prior probabilities into account when judging the likelihood of an event's occurrence on the basis of reliable testimony2, I have been struck by the thought that Hume can best be seen as applying a proto-Bayesian argument to a celebrated eighteenth-century controversy. There is some evidence3 that it struck Hume's critics that way as well, yet none of the recent major commentators (e.g, Broad, Flew, Gaskin) mention Bayes4 or Hume's contemporary critic Richard Price, who most clearly discussed Hume's argument in this light. This is doubly unfortunate; not only does it make difficult a clear appreciation of what Hume was up to in the argument about miracles, but it also insulates the modem debate about prior probabilities from its history.5 In this paper I
A CLINICAL SCORE TO PREDICT INCIDENT STATIN INDUCED MYALGIA: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Compliance to Statins remain poor (< 30%) in spite of their proven efficacy for cardiovascular disease prevention. Statin induced myalgia (SIM) is an important factor associated with poor compliance. A clinically applicable score to predict SIM among statin users is lacking in the literature. Via
Problems for a Philosophy of Art Education

A number of dichotomies exist in the philosophy of art education: essential “versus” persuasive definitions of art; process-centered “versus” product-centered aesthetic learning; instrumental “vers...
CHARACTERISTICS OF SEA SURFACE HEIGHT IN SOUTH CHINA SEA BASED ON DATA FROM TOPEX/POSEIDON

Based on the data of the sea surface height derived from TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter through October 1992 to September 1997, the characteristics of the sea surface height anoma- lies over the South China Sea were analyzed using the method of empirical orthogonal function (EOF). The results showed the existence of two major SSHA spatial structures, explaining 27. 46% and 20. 37% of the variance, respectively. Mode 1 was associated with a basin-scale gyre resulting from the reversion of the monsoon, and Mode 2 with a northeast-southwest double gyres pattern. The leading 2 modes were corresponding to the reversal and the structure of the monsoon. The Fourier analysis was applied on the corresponding time coefficients. The study showed the existence of multi-time scale variability of the sea surface height anomalies o- ver the South China Sea.
Windmills and Holy Grails

Professor Richard Pierce suggests that skeptics of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) stop “tilting at windmills.” He creates the impression that there is a widespread consensus in support of CBA across all three branches of government that includes “all nine Justices of the Supreme Court” and even the most liberal members of Congress. This is a misleading picture, but to understand why, it is important to define key terms. CBA comes in many varieties, only the most formal of which typically draw criticism from skeptics. Additionally, consideration of costs can refer to a broad array of regulatory assessment methods that includes but is not limited to CBA. Thus, when all nine Justices equate reasonable regulation with consideration of costs — as they did last term in Michigan v. EPA — that’s a very different matter from the Supreme Court unanimously endorsing CBA — especially the formal variety that Professor Pierce defends. Indeed, the Court has expressed considerable skepticism about formal CBA in recent decisions — and for good reason. With information that is inevitably incomplete, formal CBA produces results that are misleading at best and hopelessly indeterminate at worst.
Evolution of a Modern Sports Scandal

This chapter traces the Ray Rice scandal through media coverage to understand the evolution of scandal in the modern media and how the focus of scandal can change over time. One thing that made the Ray Rice incident different from others involving athletes and domestic violence was that footage of it was captured by surveillance cameras and leaked to a website. The author demonstrates how the narrative of scandal shifted from Ray Rice to the NFL and its commissioner through the social construction of news and the study of journalist–source relationships. The chapter argues that the publication of the second surveillance video introduced a vein of institutional malfeasance of those in charge of the NFL.
Optimization Method for Weighting Explicit and Latent Concepts in Clinical Decision Support Queries

Accurately answering verbose queries that describe a clinical case and aim at finding articles in a collection of medical literature requires capturing many explicit and latent aspects of complex information needs underlying such queries. Proper representation of these aspects often requires query analysis to identify the most important query concepts as well as query transformation by adding new concepts to a query, which can be extracted from the top retrieved documents or medical knowledge bases. Traditionally, query analysis and expansion have been done separately. In this paper, we propose a method for representing verbose domain-specific queries based on weighted unigram, bigram, and multi-term concepts in the query itself, as well as extracted from the top retrieved documents and external knowledge bases. We also propose a graduated non-convexity optimization framework, which allows to unify query analysis and expansion by jointly determining the importance weights for the query and expansion concepts depending on their type and source. Experiments using a collection of PubMed articles and TREC Clinical Decision Support (CDS) track queries indicate that applying our proposed method results in significant improvement of retrieval accuracy over state-of-the-art methods for ad hoc and medical IR.
Two-dimensional topological nanomaterials and related Hall effects

As a geometric concept, “topology” is now used to describe the electronic properties of an insulator. Various topological materials have been predicted and observed, including topological insulators, Chern insulators, topological crystalline insulators, and Weyl semimetals. The first three of these materials can all be realized as two-dimensional nanomaterials. Due to their unique properties compared with normal insulators, these materials can exhibit quantum spin Hall effect and/or quantum anomalous Hall effect, protected by different symmetries. In this perspective, we review the current progress made in these topological nanomaterials, including their fundamental physical mechanisms and material realizations. We also discuss the possible material challenges and the issues that still need to be resolved in the future.
Nobrow Culture: The Maltese Falcon

Here we focus on negative and positive appraisals of popular culture and mass media and their impact on culture and society that have taken place in academic circles over the last sixty years. Some see the media as dehumanizing and alienating while others argue that the media bring culture to the masses. Virginia Woolf’s ideas on the relationship that exists between lowbrows and highbrows is discussed. The typology of highbrow, middlebrow, and lowbrow is explored. Finally, the impact of postmodernism, which minimizes the differences between elite and popular culture is considered.
Alzheimer disease: CSF biomarkers for Alzheimer disease - approaching consensus.

A European working group has provided a new set of recommendations for the use of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in the diagnostic evaluation of Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment. These recommendations represent an important step towards the implementation of CSF biomarker tests in the clinic, but several challenges remain.
A fuzzy-based machine learning model for robot prediction of link quality

With foresight into the state of the wireless channel, a robot can make various optimization decisions with regards to routing packets, planning mobility paths, or switching between diverse radios. However, the process of predicting link quality (LQ) is nontrivial due to the streaming and dynamic nature of radio wave propagation, which is complicated by robot mobility. Due to robot movement, the wireless propagation environment can change considerably in terms of distance, obstacles, noise, and interference. Therefore, LQ must be learned and regularly updated while the robot is online. However, the existing fuzzy-based models for assessing LQ are non-adaptable due to the absence of any learning mechanism. To address this issue, we introduce a fuzzy-based prediction model designed for the efficient online and incremental learning of LQ. The unique approach uses fuzzy logic to infer LQ based on the collective output from a series of offset classifiers and their posterior probabilities. In essence, the proposed model leverages machine learning for extracting the underlying functional relationship between the input and output variables, but deeper inferences are made from the output of the learning algorithms using fuzzy logic. Wireless link data from a real-world robot network was used to compare the model with the traditional linear regression approach. The results show statistically significant improvements in three out of the six real-world indoor and outdoor environments where the robot operated. Additionally, the novel approach offers a number of other benefits, including the flexibility to use fuzzy logic for model tuning, as well as the ability to make implementation efficiencies in terms of parallelization and the conservation of labeling resources.
Peripheral Neuropathy Following Hair Dye Exposure: A Case Report (P07.052)

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of lead toxicity causing a subacute and reversible peripheral neuropathy following the use of a hair dye to color his beard. BACKGROUND: Though lead intoxication has decreased in developed countries, a hidden source of lead is being increasingly reported in cosmetic products. DESIGN/METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 52-year-old gentleman presented with numbness and paresthesias in both hands and feet. His medical history is significant for a history of alcohol abuse though he stopped drinking more than six months prior to symptom onset. His examination revealed sensory loss in a stocking-glove distribution. Nerve-conduction-studies (NCS) and needle-electromyography (EMG) performed at the time of presentation revealed a symmetric, length-dependent and predominantly axonal polyneuropathy. Laboratory workup was unremarkable except for an elevated blood lead level of 17.3mcg/dL (normal 0.0-4.9mcg/dl). He admitted to using a hair dye containing lead acetate to color his beard and hair for at least 6 months before symptom onset. No other systemic manifestations of lead intoxication were present. After discontinuing the use of this dye, his lead levels trended down to 8.9mcg/dL after 3 months and normalized on his 6 month followup. He reported near complete resolution of the numbness and paresthesias which matched his exam findings. A follow up NCS/EMG was also normal. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic lead toxicity typically presents with a length-dependent, mainly sensory, axonal polyneuropathy. Our patient had short-term exposure, with lead levels much lower than what is usually considered toxic (less than 40mcg/dL) but still developed a sensory axonal polyneuropathy. We postulate that by dying the beard increases the risk of oral absorption of lead, which might contribute to the patient9s presentation. Lead is present in some cosmetic products. Our case indicates a possible relation between the route of exposure (oral absorption as dying the beard) and the clinical presentation even at levels considered to be 9safe9. Disclosure: Dr. Deeb has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cachia has nothing to disclose. Dr. Quinn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Salameh has nothing to disclose.
Disruption of Autolysis in Bacillus subtilis using TiO 2 Nanoparticles

In contrast to many nanotoxicity studies where nanoparticles (NPs) are observed to be toxic or reduce viable cells in a population of bacteria, we observed that increasing concentration of TiO2 NPs increased the cell survival of Bacillus subtilis in autolysis-inducing buffer by 0.5 to 5 orders of magnitude over an 8 hour exposure. Molecular investigations revealed that TiO2 NPs prevent or delay cell autolysis, an important survival and growth-regulating process in bacterial populations. Overall, the results suggest two potential mechanisms for the disruption of autolysis by TiO2 NPs in a concentration dependent manner: (i) directly, through TiO2 NP deposition on the cell wall, delaying the collapse of the protonmotive-force and preventing the onset of autolysis; and (ii) indirectly, through adsorption of autolysins on TiO2 NP, limiting the activity of released autolysins and preventing further lytic activity. Enhanced darkfield microscopy coupled to hyperspectral analysis was used to map TiO2 deposition on B. subtilis cell walls and released enzymes, supporting both mechanisms of autolysis interference. The disruption of autolysis in B. subtilis cultures by TiO2 NPs suggests the mechanisms and kinetics of cell death may be influenced by nano-scale metal oxide materials, which are abundant in natural systems.
Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in a Patient with Pernicious Anemia

Introduction. Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) has been associated with different autoimmune disorders. However, its association with pernicious anemia is rarely reported. Case Report. A 46-year-old male presented with blood in sputum and urine for one day. The vitals were stable. The physical examination was significant for icterus. Lab tests' results revealed leukocytosis, macrocytic anemia, severe thrombocytopenia, renal dysfunction, and unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. He had an elevated LDH, low haptoglobin levels with many schistocytes, nucleated RBCs, and reticulocytes on peripheral smear. Low ADAMTS13 activity (<10%) with elevated ADAMTS13 antibody clinched the diagnosis of severe acquired TTP, and plasmapheresis was started. There was an initial improvement in his hematological markers, which were however not sustained on discontinuation of plasmapheresis. For his refractory TTP, he was resumed on daily plasmapheresis and Rituximab was started. Furthermore, the initial serum Vitamin B12 and reticulocyte index were low in the presence of anti-intrinsic factor antibody. So with the concomitant diagnosis of pernicious anemia, Vitamin B12 was supplemented. The rest of the immunological workups were negative. Subsequently, his symptoms resolved and his hematological parameters improved. Discussion. While pernicious anemia can masquerade as TTP, an actual association between the two can also occur and needs further evaluation and characterization.
Three hulless oat varieties show economic potential as organic layer feed grain

Hulless oats are of interest as an alternative to corn and wheat in organic poultry diets because they offer potential to enhance agrobiodiversity and produce locally grown feeds both within and outside of corn-growing regions. Hulless oats are easily certified GM-free and have demonstrated nutritional value for poultry. A feeding study was carried out to examine: (i) the effects of substituting corn, wheat or a fraction of each with hulless oats in organic layer diets, and (ii) the importance of oat variety in feed performance. Productivity and economic implications in the context of current organic markets were explored. Experimental diets included an oat-free control, Oat + corn, Oat + wheat and Oat + corn + wheat, each of which was formulated with three hulless oat varieties, AC Gwen, Paul and Streaker. All but the control diet included oats at 200 g kg−1. Three hundred Hy-Line Brown hens were individually caged and allocated to diets in groups of 10 in a completely randomized design with three replicates per diet. Experimental diets were fed between 24 and 32 weeks of age during which time hen health, egg production and egg quality indicators were monitored. Results indicated that hulless oats had no negative effects on hen health and productivity. On the basis of current organic feed ingredient prices and an estimated cost of USD 533 mt−1 for production of oats in the study region, oat containing diets were more expensive than the oat-free control. In an evaluation of revenue based on current market prices for organic eggs, the additional cost was completely offset by larger egg sizes of hens on oat containing diets. There were no major differences associated with oat variety.
Toward energy-aware programming for unmanned aerial vehicles

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are an emerging platform with promising applications in merchandise delivery, geographical surveillance, disaster management, to name a few. Energy consumption is a first-class concern in UAV design, as the majority of today's lightweight UAVs are either battery-powered or solar-powered. In this talk, we describe a first step toward developing sustainable tasks and applications, through a sustainability-aware programming level to the domain of UAV software development.
The antifungal arsenal: alternative drugs and future targets

Clinically available antifungals for the treatment of invasive fungal infections primarily target either ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane or 1,3-β-D-glucan in the fungal cell wall. These classes include the polyene amphotericin B, the triazoles, and the echinocandins. Although newer antifungals and improved formulations of others have advanced our ability to treat patients with invasive mycoses, these drugs are often limited by toxicities, drug interactions, and the need for intravenous administration. Several investigational agents are currently under development. These include those that also target either ergosterol or 1,3-β-D-glucan, but have advantages over currently available drugs. Among these are the tetrazoles VT-1129, VT-1161, and VT-1598 that are more specific for fungal Cyp51 and less so for mammalian CYP 450 enzymes, the echinocandin CD101 that has an extended half-life, and the glucan synthase inhibitor SCY-078, which is being developed for oral administration. In addition, several agents with novel mechanisms of action are also under development. These include the inositol acyltransferase AX001, the dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitor F901318, and VL-2397, which is similar in structure to the siderophore ferrichrome. In addition to possibly overcoming the limitations of currently available antifungals, these newer agents may be less susceptible to mechanisms of resistance that may render antifungals ineffective. Each of these investigational agents has the potential to improve patient outcomes in the treatment of invasive mycoses.
Predicting Winter Wheat Yield Loss from Soil Compaction in the Central Great Plains of the United States

Adoption of methods to minimize the effects of soil compaction on crop production by farmers has been slow. Often farmers do not equate degradation of soil physical properties with reduction in crop yield. The objective of this study was to determine the potential yield loss caused by degradation of soil physical quality due to compaction. Soil conditions and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields were observed on the Alternative Crops Rotation study at Akron, Colorado in 1996 and 1997. Changes in soil physical properties were determined by observing changes in the soil Least Limiting Water Range (LLWR), which includes limitations of water holding capacity, soil strength and soil aeration, on crop production. Grain yield decreased approximately 1,000 kg ha–1 per 0.1 unit decrease in LLWR, showing that soil compaction can cause serious yield reductions if not managed properly. Soil compression curves were developed to help predict the amount of soil compaction, and subsequent yield loss, to be expected with wheel traffic at various tire pressures and soil moisture conditions. Methods such as controlled wheel traffic or the use of low-pressure tires should be used to reduce soil compaction and maintain soil productivity.
Clinical phenotype of ASD-associated DYRK1A haploinsufficiency.

DYRK1A is a gene recurrently disrupted in 0.1–0.5% of the ASD population. A growing number of case reports with DYRK1A haploinsufficiency exhibit common phenotypic features including microcephaly, intellectual disability, speech delay, and facial dysmorphisms. Phenotypic information from previously published DYRK1A cases (n = 51) and participants in an ongoing study at the University of Washington (UW, n = 10) were compiled. Frequencies of recurrent phenotypic features in this population were compared to features observed in a large sample with idiopathic ASD from the Simons Simplex Collection (n = 1981). UW DYRK1A cases were further characterized quantitatively and compared to a randomly subsampled set of idiopathic ASD cases matched on age and gender (n = 10) and to cases with an ASD-associated disruptive mutation to CHD8 (n = 12). Contribution of familial genetic background to clinical heterogeneity was assessed by comparing head circumference, IQ, and ASD-related symptoms of UW DYRK1A cases to their unaffected parents. DYRK1A haploinsufficiency results in a common phenotypic profile including intellectual disability, speech and motor difficulties, microcephaly, feeding difficulties, and vision abnormalities. Eighty-nine percent of DYRK1A cases ascertained for ASD presented with a constellation of five or more of these symptoms. When compared quantitatively, DYRK1A cases presented with significantly lower IQ and adaptive functioning compared to idiopathic cases and significantly smaller head size compared to both idiopathic and CHD8 cases. Phenotypic variability in parental head circumference, IQ, and ASD-related symptoms corresponded to observed variability in affected child phenotype. Results confirm a core clinical phenotype for DYRK1A disruptions, with a combination of features that is distinct from idiopathic ASD. Cases with DYRK1A mutations are also distinguishable from disruptive mutations to CHD8 by head size. Measurable, quantitative characterization of DYRK1A haploinsufficiency illuminates clinical variability, which may be, in part, due to familial genetic background.
A Mixed-Methods Study to Investigate Chinese Students’ Reading Motivation in Taiwan

The purpose of this study was to use a triangulated mixed-methods research design to investigate factors influencing Chinese middle school students’ motivation to read. A total of 88 ninth-grade students (47 boys and 41 girls) voluntarily participated by completing the Chinese Motivation for Reading Questionnaire (CMRQ). Twelve of the 88 students (six girls and six boys) were randomly selected to participate in semi-structured interviews, and three ninth-grade classes were observed over the course of one month. In addition, six teachers and five parents were selected to be interviewed. Four variables were investigated on a scale of 1 to 4. The mean score was highest for intrinsic motivation (2.84). The mean scores for the other three variables were as follows: self-efficacy, 2.73; extrinsic motivation, 2.53; and social motivation, 2.25. The qualitative findings showed evidence that personal interest and reading choice drove students’ intrinsic motivation to read and enhanced confidence in reading. Unlike schools in many Western countries, Chinese middle schools in Taiwan have a hierarchical testing system, and reading for social recognition and competition appear to play a primary role in Chinese students’ motivation to read. This study found that Chinese middle school students placed greater value on grades than other outcomes of academic performance.
An Analysis of Implant Retention and Antibiotic Suppression in Instrumented Spine Infections: A Preliminary Data Set of 67 Patients.

ABSTRACT Background: It is unclear whether patients can be taken off suppressive antibiotics with infected retained instrumentation. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the perioperative course and antibiotic regimen that led to the clinical intervention of patients with infected spinal instrumentation. Methods: Consecutive adult patients with spine instrumentation who suffered surgical site infections (SSI) requiring debridement were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were grouped into 4 cohorts based on their clinical intervention: removal of instrumentation, reinstrumentation, retention of instrumentation with continued antibiotic suppression, and retention of instrumentation with no antibiotic suppression. Patient factors, infection factors, debridement, and antibiosis were compared. Results: Of the 67 patients with SSI after spine surgery and instrumentation, 19 (28%) had their instrumentation removed, 6 (9%) had their instrumentation exchanged, 25 (37%) had their instrumentation retained and were on antibiotic suppression, and 17 (25%) had their instrumentation retained without any suppression. Those who had their instrumentation removed had a later presentation of their infection averaging 85 days (range 6–280 days) postoperatively. There was an earlier presentation for those who retained their implants, with suppression averaging 19 days (range 9–39) and no suppression averaging 29 days (range 6–90 days) post operatively (P Conclusions: None of the patients with retained instrumentation without suppression had recurrence of infections after long-term follow-up. Lifelong antibiotic suppression may not be required with SSI that present early after early aggressive debridement. Patients with infections detected later are difficult to treat without removal of their original instrumentation. Clinical Relevance: This study presents the outcomes of surgical and antibiotic factors in patients with infected spinal instrumentation.
Evaluation of Basal Insulin Dose Reductions in Hospitalized Patients With Diabetes While Unable to Eat.

Background: The American Diabetes Association guidelines recommend a basal plus correction or basal insulin regimen for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) receiving nothing by mouth (NPO; nil per os) in the non-intensive care unit setting. In the perioperative setting, 60% to 80% of long-acting insulin or half-dose morning insulin NPH is recommended. Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the impact of basal insulin dose reduction for hospitalized patients with insulin-dependent T2DM while NPO. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study evaluated patients admitted to the non-intensive care unit setting. Administration of >50% of home basal insulin was compared with administration of ≤50% of home basal insulin. The primary outcome was the difference in hypoglycemic events (blood glucose [BG] 180 mg/dL), and hospital length of stay (LOS). Results: Two hundred fifty-eight patient encounters were included, of which 85 and 173 patients received ≤50% and >50% of their home basal insulin dose, respectively. There were no significant differences in hypoglycemia (21.2% vs 21.4%; P = .97), severe hypoglycemia (1.2% vs 2.9%; P = .67), and hospital LOS (3 [IQR 2.13-6.74] days vs 4.66 [IQR 2.94-8.17] days; P = .74). Hyperglycemia occurred at a higher rate in patients receiving ≤50% of their home basal insulin dose (97.6% vs 89%; P = .02). Conclusions: No differences were observed in hypoglycemic events between those patients receiving ≤50% and >50% of their home basal insulin.
Power from the Margins: Grassroots Mobilization and Urban Expansions of Civil Legal Rights:

Many scholars paint a somber picture of the political status of racially and economically marginalized groups in the United States. In particular, seminal studies on cities—places where race and cl...
Human Factors in the Unified Architecture Framework Applied to Space Situational Awareness

Driven by the ever-increasing complexity of human endeavors, the field of systems engineering is in the midst of a revolution of its practices. One well-developed aspect of this revolution is the replacement of document-based systems engineering with transdisciplinary model-based systems engineering in which all technical aspects are brought into the model. Remaining work in this field is the inclusion of all aspects of the enterprise related to the system-of-interest within the model, hence architectural frameworks are expanding downward to include system aspects. The Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) is directly expressible in Systems Modeling Language (SysML), in contrast with its predecessors. The integration of enterprise architecture frameworks with system specific modeling resolves the perennial divide within systems engineering: how to represent humans (e.g. operators) in system engineering products. Whether or not humans are modeled within any system boundary becomes less crucial as engineering disciplines begin to understand that humans are clearly part of the enterprise. If the UAF did nothing but unify the systems engineering community in a common stance on human factors, its value would be hard to overstate.This report presents a case study exploring the design of a Collaborative Command System (CCS) for operators of a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system. The study utilized MagicDraw’s Cameo System Modeler, as well as its new UAF perspective plug-in. The study evaluated a baseline CCS against the criteria of requirement coverage, human interaction coverage, human capacity coverage, and human to end-user coverage as driven by the UAF. This evaluation revealed that the model met the criteria for requirement coverage as well as the human interaction coverage, but failed to meet both the human capacity coverage and human to end-user coverage in its current form. The UAF therefore offered significant benefit by illustrating insufficiencies in the design as well as suggesting what future design refinements and enhancements should be addressed.
Transcriptomic response to decreased pH in adult, larval and juvenile red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus, and interactive effects of pH and temperature on juveniles

Ocean warming and acidification are expected to influence the biology of the ecologically and economically important red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus. We investigated transcriptome responses of adult, larval and juvenile red king crab to assess sensitivity to reduced pH and elevated temperature. In adults, gill tissue (but not heart or cuticle) responded to reduced pH by differentially regulating many genes involved in metabolic, membrane and cuticular processes, but not ionic or acid/base regulation. In larval crabs, we found little evidence for a strong transcriptomic response to pH, but did observe large differences in the transcriptomes of newly hatched and one-week old larvae. In juvenile crabs, we found that there was a strong transcriptomic response to temperature across all pH conditions, but that only extreme low pH caused transcriptomic shifts. Most of the genes in juveniles that were differentially expressed were for cuticular and calcification processes. While inferences regarding the specific biological responses associated with changes in gene expression are likely to change as resources for red king crab genomics enabled studies continue to improve (i.e. better assemblies and annotation), our inferences about general sensitivities to temperature and pH across the life stages of red king crab are robust and unlikely to shift. Overall, our data suggest that red king crab are more sensitive to warming than acidification, and that responses to acidification at the transcriptomic level occur at different levels of pH across life stages, with juveniles being less pH sensitive than adults.
Demystifying Unconscionability: An Historical and Empirical Analysis

The doctrine of unconscionability is encrusted with myths. First year law students are taught that the doctrine was created in the twentieth century. Unconscionability is often presented as a novel one, born in the Uniform Commercial Code’s adoption of Section 2-302 in the mid-twentieth century. Even those scholars who are willing to look a bit further afield than the twentieth century for the origins of the unconscionability doctrine typically only reach the mid eighteenth century. In addition to myths surrounding its origin, the doctrine has been presented as a dangerously vague and imprecise concept. Commentators and scholars have likewise characterized the doctrine as a license for courts to refuse, unpredictably and arbitrarily, to enforce some contracts. Some claim its application has the potential to destroy all of contract law. Beyond the fear mongering myths, another standard myth taught to first year law students is that to succeed on a claim of unconscionability a party must offer at least some proof of both procedural and substantive unconscionability. This article will thus attempt to dispel the following three myths about unconscionability: • It is a new, modern doctrine of law. • Its application is unpredictable and arbitrary. • To prevail a party must prove both procedural and substantive unconscionability. The best way to dispel myths is through facts. This article attempts to clear the clouds of confusion and fear surrounding the doctrine by turning to historical and empirical fact. Part I of this article looks to the ancient past and finds that the idea that justice, and hence the law, should grant a remedy to at least some people who enter into inequitable bargains is as old as philosophizing about justice itself (and certainly older than the mid-eighteenth century). Rather than a dangerous modern innovation, this principle of justice has ancient philosophical roots in Aristotle and ancient legal roots in Roman law. Part II of the article summarizes prior attempts to assess the doctrine of unconscionability through empirical research by summarizing the results of prior work and identifies the limited scope of those projects. Part III contains the results of the comprehensive empirical analysis of what appears to be happening in cases involving claims of unconscionability in the period 2013-2017. A comprehensive coding process was undertaken for all reported federal and state cases decided over this five-year period. The results of the data analysis of 463 federal and state cases suggest that whatever the casebooks and law review articles claim about the doctrine, its application in real courts on the ground is very predictable and simpler than a two-part requirement suggests. The article concludes with a proposal to reformulate the doctrine to conform better to both its historical roots and its application by courts in real cases.
Environmental Population Genomics: Challenges and Opportunities

Genomic material originating from macroorganisms and collected in environmental samples has the potential to be used for population and community genomic analyses, yielding insights into metrics such as population diversity, functional connectivity, adaptive variation, and age structure. Fractionation studies indicate that the size of environmental DNA (eDNA) from fishes is large enough to contain nuclei or cell fragments and pilot work indicates that nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms can be amplified from eDNA samples, providing evidence that genomic analysis of eDNA samples is possible. Additionally, environmental RNA (eRNA) may be more persistent in environmental samples than previously thought. To use eDNA or eRNA for insights into population and community genomics or transcriptomics, collection methods can be designed to focus on the individual genotype or on collecting a representative sample of the population or community. In addition to the technical challenges of collecting, preserving, and analyzing these materials, differences in genomic production among individuals and validation of marker sets specific to the target species or community are required. In this chapter we focus on what genomic information may be able to be harvested from environmental samples and how this material may be distributed in the environment, as well as explore approaches for how sampling design could be used to gain insights into populations and communities.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor and Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker Use Among Outpatients Diagnosed With COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral pandemic precipitated by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Since previous reports suggested that viral entry into cells may involve angiotensin converting enzyme 2, there has been growing concern that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) use may exacerbate the disease severity. In this retrospective, single-center US study of adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19, we evaluated the association of ACEI/ARB use with hospital admission. Secondary outcomes included: ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, use of inotropes, and all-cause mortality. Propensity score matching was performed to account for potential confounders. Among 590 unmatched patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 78 patients were receiving ACEI/ARB (median age 63 years and 59.7% male) and 512 patients were non-users (median age 42 years and 47.1% male). In the propensity matched population, multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, gender and comorbidities demonstrated that ACEI/ARB use was not associated with hospital admission (OR 1.2, 95%CI 0.5 to 2.7, p = 0.652). CAD and CKD/end stage renal disease [ESRD] remained independently associated with admission to hospital. All-cause mortality, ICU stay, need for ventilation, and inotrope use was not significantly different between the 2 study groups. In conclusion, among patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19, ACEI/ARB use was not associated with increased risk of hospital admission.
The politics of male circumcision in the late Ottoman Empire

In modern Turkey, male circumcision is so inextricably linked with Muslim identity that one may assume it a practice universally performed by them for centuries. However, a significant number of Mu...
COVID-19 Severity and Outcomes in Patients With Cancer: A Matched Cohort Study.

PURPOSESARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is a systemic infection. Patients with cancer are immunocompromised and may be vulnerable to COVID-related morbidity and mortality. The objectives of this study were to...
\(\tau\rightarrow\omegA3\pi\nu\) decays

A theoretical study of the anomalous decay mode \(\tau\rightarrow\omega\pi\pi\pi\nu\) is presented. The theoretical value of the branching ratio of \(\tau^-\rightarrow\omega\pi^-\pi^0\pi^0\nu\) agrees well with the data. The branching ratio of \(\tau^{-}\rightarrow\omega\pi^+\pi^-\pi^-\nu_\tau\) is predicted. It is found that the vertices of \(a_{1}\rho\pi\) and \(\omega\rho\pi\) play a dominant role in these two decay modes. CVC is satisfied, and there is no adjustable parameter.
Solidaritas Sosial Kelompok Waria Paris Barantai Di Banjarmasin

Kelompok waria masih menjadi sorotan yang menarik untuk diteliti. Tulisan ini menguraikan tentang kelompok waria sebagai kelompok marginal, yang sulit untuk bertahan di tengah masyarakat dengan kesulitan dan tekanan yang mereka hadapi. Para waria tergabung dalam komunitas waria di kota Banjarmasin, berbeda dengan komunitas lain pada umumnya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui tindakan waria bergabung dalam komunitas waria Paris Barantai Banjarmasin dan bentuk solidaritasnya. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tindakan bergabung waria dalam komunitas Paris Barantai adalah tindakan rasionalitas instrumental, tindakan dilakukan dipertimbangkan dengan sadar untuk mencapai tujuan. Tujuan untuk menjadi waria yang baik dan dapat merubah citra waria. Waria memiliki motivasi dalam bertindak untuk memenuhi kebutuhan yang belum terpenuhi, yaitu rasa aman, cinta kasih, memiliki dan dimiliki, penghargaan, aktualisasi diri dan indentitas diri. Menjadi bagian komunitas waria mendapatkan manfaat yaitu mengembangkan diri, mendapat pengetahuan,merubah citra waria, menjadi waria berkualitas, mendapat lapangan pekerjaan, dan mendapatkan keluarga baru. Bentuk solidaritas komunitas waria yaitu solidaritas mekanik. Bentuk solidaritas mekanik dikomunitas ini karena kesadaran kolektif dan kesamaan. Kesamaan untuk menjadi waria yang lebih baik dan merubah citra waria, menginginkan kehidupan yang lebih baik dan normal, sama minat untuk mengekspresikan diri sebagai wanita, dan memiliki keadaan yang sulit, dan nasib yang tidak bebas untuk melakukan segala hal. Waria selalu memelihara solidaritas dengan kegiatan rutin dan tidak rutin yang mereka lakukan.
Waveguide-Fed Slot Arrays in Space Application: A Review

Waveguide-fed slot arrays are ideally suited for space applications because of their many desirable characteristics. They have very low cross polarization, high efficiency and excellent side lobe control. They can be made relatively thin compact rugged aluminum structure at reasonable cost. The all metal waveguides are best suited for intense radiation environment of deep space. Commercial electromagnetics codes such as ANSYS HFSS, CST Microwave Studio as well as in-house codes have enabled design, analysis, and optimization of these antennas for many demanding specifications. We list some examples of slot arrays in space applications in this abstract.
Informed cover measurement: Guidelines and error for point-intercept approaches

Premise The point-intercept method is one of the most commonly used approaches to measure species cover in ecosystems worldwide. In this approach, multiple points are sampled for presence/absence of a species, and the number of present points divided by the total number of sampled points provides an estimate of percent cover. Our purpose is to mathematically analyze the accuracy of the point-intercept approach and establish guidelines for its use. Methods We developed formulas that analyze the point-intercept method and confirmed their effectiveness using simulations. Results We find that a point-intercept spacing of at least 80% of the largest plant diameter provides the most reliable results. We present a user-friendly spreadsheet that calculates the number of intercepts needed for fieldwork, as well as the standard deviation, expected deviation, and confidence interval of the collected data. Discussion We provide a variety of guidelines for establishing field protocols based on our results, including dealing with rare species and combining results for multiple species. Quadrat characteristics (intercept spacing, number of point intercepts) can now be easily calculated to guide research design prior to fieldwork; after fieldwork is complete, the accuracy of this technique can (and should) be reported in all future ecological studies in which it is used.
Review of Linear and Nonlinear Controller Designs

This Chapter reviews several flight controller designs for unmanned rotorcraft. Flight control systems have been proposed and tested on a wide range of rotorcraft types and configurations. This review includes controller designs for several rotorcraft types such as full-scale, small-scale and experimental platforms (gimbaled on a vertical stand). Existing flight control systems use tools from all fields of control theory by incorporating into the controller design classical, modern and intelligent control techniques.
The Logistical Backbone: Scalable Infrastructure for Global Data Grids

Logistical Networking can be defined as the global optimisation and scheduling of data storage, data movement, and computation. It is a technology for shared network storage that allows an easy scaling in terms of the size of the user community, the aggregate quantity of storage that can be allocated, and the distribution breadth of service nodes across network borders.After describing the base concepts of Logistical Networking, we will introduce the Internet Backplane Protocol, a middleware for managing and using remote storage through allocation of primitive "byte arrays", showing a semantic in between buffer block and common files. As this characteristic can be too limiting for a large number of applications, we developed the exNode, that can be defined, in two words, as an inode for the for network distributed files. We will introduce then the Logistical Backbone, or L-Bone, is a distributed set of facilities that aim to provide high-performance, location- and application-independent access to storage for network and Grid applications of all kind.
Induction using Term Orderings

We present a procedure for proving inductive theorems which is based on explicit induction, yet supports mutual induction. Mutual induction allows the postulation of lemmas whose proofs use the theorems ex hypothesi while the theorems themselves use the lemmas. This feature has always been supported by induction procedures based on Knuth-Bendix completion, but these procedures are limited by the use of rewriting (or rewriting-like) inferences. Our procedure avoids this limitation by making explicit the implicit induction realized by these procedures. As a result, arbitrary deduction mechanisms can be used while still allowing mutual induction.