cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
20-GHz optical analog link using an external modulator

An optical analog link operating at 20 GHz with a 3-dB bandwidth of 5.2 GHz was demonstrated. This link has an intermodulation-free dynamic range of 108 dB-Hz/sup 2/3/ and a maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 155 dB-Hz. Previously reported direct modulation analog links have not been able to operate at 20 GHz and, even in the 10-GHz frequency range, have had 20-30-dB-poorer SNRs; externally modulated links are capable of high-frequency operation but have demonstrated 30-50-dB-poorer SNRs than the present link. The link consists of a CW laser, an integrated-optical intensity modulator, and a p-i-n diode detector connected by fibers; it contains no amplifiers. The link performance is evaluated at the RF ports, i.e. it is treated as a two-port RF device. It is noted that by simply using a detector with no rolloff and by reducing the modulator excess optical insertion loss to 3 dB, the RF insertion loss can be improved to -25 dB and the noise figure to 33 dB. >
Mercury and Selenium Concentrations in Biofilm, Macroinvertebrates, and Fish Collected in the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho, USA, and Their Potential Effects on Fish Health

The Yankee Fork is a large tributary of the Salmon River located in central Idaho, USA, with an extensive history of placer and dredge-mining activities. Concentrations of selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) in various aquatic trophic levels were measured in the Yankee Fork during 2001 and 2002. Various measurements of fish health were also performed. Sites included four on the mainstem of the Yankee Fork and two off-channel sites in partially reclaimed dredge pools used as rearing habitat for cultured salmonid eggs and fry. Hg concentrations in whole mountain whitefish and shorthead sculpin ranged from 0.28 to 0.56 μg/g dry weight (dw), concentrations that are generally less than those reported to have significant impacts on fish. Biofilm and invertebrates ranged from 0.05 to 0.43 μg Hg/g dw. Se concentrations measured in biota samples from the Yankee Fork were greater than many representative samples collected in the Snake and Columbia watersheds and often exceeded literature-based toxic thresholds. Biofilm and invertebrates ranged from 0.58 to 4.66 μg Se/g dw. Whole fish ranged from 3.92 to 7.10 μg Se/g dw, and gonads ranged from 6.91 to 31.84 μg Se/g dw. Whole-body Se concentrations exceeded reported toxicological thresholds at three of four sites and concentrations in liver samples were mostly greater than concentrations shown to have negative impacts on fish health. Histological examinations performed during this study noted liver abnormalities, especially in shorthead sculpin, a bottom-dwelling species.
Gender Labels and Gender Identity as Predictors of Drug Use among Ethnically Diverse Middle School Students

This article examines the intertwined roles of gender labels (male/female) and gender identity in predicting drug-use behaviors and experiences of middle school students in a large, ethnically diverse, southwestern city. Three dimensions of gender identity are derived through factor analysis, one relating to femininity and nurturance, another relating to masculinity and self-confidence, and a third relating to masculinity and dominance. In bivariate and multivariate tests the authors find that masculine dominance is associated with higher frequency of recent drug use, particularly for boys' use of marijuana and hard drugs, with more drug offers and a greater variety of drugs used over their lifetimes. Gender identity measures do not supersede gender labels in predicting drug outcomes, but they are shown to be more powerful predictors in combination than separately. Possible relationships between gender identity and early adolescents' relationships with their ethnic groups, families, peers, groups of refer...
''Let My Fingers Do the Talking'': Sexting and Infidelity in Cyberspace

This exploratory project investigated the behaviors of sexting and infi- delity on the internet. The researchers placed a survey on a web site designed for married people to find sexual partners outside their marriage. Using a sample of 5,187 respondents, the study explored how people use the internet to find partners. Using both descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis, the researchers found that the respondents use the internet to find real-life partners, both for dating and for sex hookups, but many are anxious about being caught. Females are more likely than males to engage in sexting behaviors, while females and males are equally as likely to cheat both online and in real life while in a serious real-life relationship. Older males, however, are more likely than younger males to cheat in real life. The results suggest that perhaps people who are using dating web sites do not conform to the ''official'' standards of dating culture, but that maybe the standards are changing.
Passive Protection of Mice Against Intraperitoneally Injected Vibrio cholerae by γG and γM Antibody

Fractions of rabbit anti-Vibrio cholerae serum containing γG antibodies were compared with fractions containing γM antibodies for their ability to protect mice against lethal infection resulting from the intraperitoneal injection of organisms suspended in mucin. About twice as much γG as γM (estimated by quantitative precipitation) was required to protect against approximately 1,000 50% lethal doses when the antibody was given intraperitoneally 4 hr before challenge. When protective serum fractions were given subcutaneously, however, the amount of γM required to protect was increased about 40-fold, whereas γG was about equally effective subcutaneously and intraperitoneally.
Micro-Doppler signature of human walking in forest environment

Detecting, tracking and monitoring human motions in dense environments, such as forests, play an important role in security and surveillance operations. Several different radio-frequency devices such as Doppler radars have been developed for this purpose. In particular, micro-Doppler radar systems are able to detect phase variations between the transmitted and received signals which correlate with the motion of body parts as the human moves.
Stereochemistry of the methylenecyclopropane rearrangement : Feist's ester

Abstract Establishment of the relative configuration of optically active dimethyl methylenecyclopropane- trans -2,3-dicarboxylate and its two products of thermal rearrangement, methyl syn - and anti -2-carbomethoxycyclopropylideneacetate, has allowed the exclusion of a planar transition state and the construction of a unique mechanism in which the substituents at a pivotal atom remain perpendicular to the plane of the system of four atoms that constitute the methylenecyclopropane of starting material and product.
Field Weakening Operation of High Torque Density Five-Phase Permanent Magnet Motor Drives

This paper investigates the field weakening operation of a five-phase permanent magnet motor. The proposed motor has concentrated windings such that the produced back-EMF is almost trapezoidal. The motor is supplied with the combined sinusoidal plus third harmonic of currents. This motor, while generating the same average torque as an equivalent permanent magnet brushless DC motor, overcomes its disadvantages. It is shown that torque producing and flux producing components of current for this motor can be decoupled by using multiple reference frame transformation. Therefore, vector control is easily applicable to the motor. Field weakening algorithm is derived and implemented. This motor benefits from high torque density of a BLDC motor below the rated speed and controllability of PMSM above the rated speed and during the field weakening region. Simulation and experimental results are provided to prove the validity of the superior performance of this drive
Functional polyesters derived from alternating copolymerization of norbornene anhydride and epoxides

Herein, we report the synthesis of polyesters via the alternating copolymerization of epoxides and cis-5-norbornene-endo-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride (NB). The polymers are demonstrated to be of perfectly alternating structure with monomodal peak distributions and low polydispersity indexes. We demonstrate that these polyesters can be functionalized using thiol–ene and tetrazine click chemistry to form polymers with alternating functionality. Furthermore, we show that these polymers can be made thermally responsive, and can even be crosslinked when mixed with Grubbs’ catalyst.
An Analysis of the International Maritime Organization–London Convention Annual Ocean Dumping Reports

Trends are analyzed for types and quantities of permitted wastes, primarily dredged material, sewage sludge, and industrial waste, to be dumped at sea by member countries to the London Convention (LC) from 1992 and 1995 through 1998. In 1972, the Inter-Governmental Conference on the Dumping of Wastes at Sea led to the creation of the London Dumping Convention (now called the London Convention) to help regulate the dumping of wastes at sea. The act of dumping, as defined by the LC, is international disposal at sea of any material and in any form, from vessels, aircraft, platforms, or other artificial structures. The first consultative meeting of the LC contracting parties was held in 1976 by the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization [now called the International Maritime Organization (IMO)]. During this meeting, the procedure for the reporting of permits issued, on an annual basis, for dumping at sea by contracting parties, was determined. The IMO-LC annual reports on permitted wastes list the number of permits issued by member countries, the types and quantities of wastes permitted for dumping at sea, and the location and designation of dump sites. Now with nearly 25 years of dumping records available, we are able to see trends in permitted dumping activity. In 1976, the first year of permitted dumping records, the combined amount of permitted wastes was nearly 150 million tons. In the last four years (1995 through 1998), where data are available, the total amount of wastes permitted to be dumped by the LC contracting parties as between 300 and 350 million tons. Currently, a majority of these wastes are being disposed of in the East Asian Seas and the North Sea and the largest quantity of waste being dumped is dredged material. Although the disposal of wastes at sea is considered to be a major issue, it is only responsible for about 10% of the total anthropogenic contaminants entering the ocean. Unfortunately, the long-term impacts of this dumping in the ocean are still largely unknown. Keywords: dredged material; east asian seas; gulf of mexico; IAEA (international atomic energy agency); incineration at sea; industrial wastes; international maritime organization; land disposal; london convention; london dumping convention (see london convention); north sea dumpsite; ocean disposal and dumping sites; pollutant sources in the ocean; radioactive waste disposal at sea; sewage sludge; u.s. ocean dumping
Reconstitution of sterol-regulated endoplasmic reticulum-to-golgi transport of SREBP-2 in insect cells by co-expression of mammalian SCAP and insigs

In mammalian cells, membrane-bound sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are transported from ER to Golgi where they are processed proteolytically to generate soluble transcription factors that activate lipid synthesis. ER-to-Golgi transport requires SCAP, a sterol-regulated escort protein. In sterol-treated cells, the SCAP/SREBP complex binds to Insig-1 or Insig-2, which retains the complex in the ER, blocking SREBP processing and decreasing lipid synthesis. In Drosophila cells, the endogenous SCAP/SREBP complex is transported to Golgi, but transport is blocked by phosphatidylethanolamine instead of sterols. Here, we show that mammalian SREBP-2 is not transported to Golgi when expressed in Drosophila cells. Transport requires co-expression of mammalian SCAP. Sterols block transport of the mammalian SCAP/SREBP-2 complex, but only when mammalian Insig-1 or -2 is co-expressed. These reconstitution studies define SCAP and Insig as the minimal requirements for sterol-regulated transport of SREBPs from ER to Golgi. They indicate that insect cells can respond to sterols when proper regulatory proteins are expressed.
Physical Health Problems After Single Trauma Exposure: When Stress Takes Root in the Body

Research has established that chronic stress, including traumatic events, leads to adverse health outcomes. The literature has primarily used two approaches: examining the effect of acute stress in a laboratory setting and examining the link between chronic stress and negative health outcomes. However, the potential health impact of a single or acute traumatic event is less clear. The goal of this literature review is to extend the literature linking both chronic trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder to adverse health outcomes by examining current literature suggesting that a single trauma may also have negative consequences for physical health. The authors review studies on health, including cardiovascular, immune, gastrointestinal, neurohormonal, and musculoskeletal outcomes; describe potential pathways through which single, acute trauma exposure could adversely affect health; and consider research and clinical implications.
Effect of temperature on threshold values for citric acid, malic acid and quinine sulphate--energy of activation and extreme-value determination

The thresholds for citric acid, malic acid and quinine sulphate were determined at three temperatures to ascertain the effect of temperature on taste sensitivity. Temperature had an effect, but judge-substance interactions were just as important. The energy of activation for taste response usually was in the range 5–20 kcal. The data suggest that extreme-value methods should be useful in predicting the percentage of individuals whose thresholds will be below some certain level.
Durable Hydrophobic Textile Fabric Finishing Using Silica Nanoparticles and Mixed Silanes

Cotton fabric surface was treated with combinations of silica nanoparticles, silane hydrophobes, and silane crosslinkers to obtain durable hydrophobicity. Performance analysis was done by measuring...
An Application of Hydrogen Bubble Method to Flow Networks

The flow at each intersection in a flow network is characterized by a collision of two flow streams, which results in complex flow patterns through the downstream holes. The hydrogen bubble method is employed to observe flow patterns and mixing behavior of water in the flow network. It is disclosed that (1) the entrance lengths of both the laminar and turbulent flows are much shorter than those predicted by conventional empirical formulas, (2) intermixing of the ramming flows in the intersection zone occurs in turbulent flow but not in laminar flow, (3) intermixing propagates upstream with an increase in the Reynolds number, (4) the streak lines downstream of the intersection are shifted toward the inner walls, forming long recirculation zones that stretch downstream until the exit with less flow through the other half of the channel, and (5) velocity profiles in stagnation-recirculation zones can be obtained through pulse hydrogen bubble technology.
The Drosophila ATM homologue Mei-41 has an essential checkpoint function at the midblastula transition.

Abstract Background: Drosophila embryogenesis is initiated by 13 rapid syncytial mitotic divisions that do not require zygotic gene activity. This maternally directed cleavage phase of development terminates at the midblastula transition (MBT), at which point the cell cycle slows dramatically, membranes surround the cortical nuclei to form a cellular blastoderm, and zygotic gene expression is first required. Results: We show that embryos lacking Mei-41, a Drosophila homologue of the ATM tumor suppressor, proceed through unusually short syncytial mitoses, fail to terminate syncytial division following mitosis 13, and degenerate without forming cells. A similar cleavage-stage arrest is produced by mutations in grapes, which encodes a homologue of the Checkpoint-1 kinase. We present biochemical, cytological and genetic data indicating that Mei-41 and Grapes are components of a conserved DNA-replication/damage checkpoint pathway that triggers inhibitory phosphorylation of the Cdc2 kinase and mediates resistance to replication inhibitors and DNA-damaging agents. This pathway is nonessential during postembryonic development, but it is required to terminate the cleavage stage at the MBT. Cyclins are required for Cdc2 kinase activity, and mutations in cyclin A and cyclin B bypass the requirement for mei-41 at the MBT. These mutations do not restore wild-type syncytial cell-cycle timing or the embryonic replication checkpoint, however, suggesting that Mei-41-mediated inhibition of Cdc2 has an additional essential function at the MBT. Conclusions: The Drosophila DNA-replication/damage checkpoint pathway can be activated by externally triggered DNA damage or replication defects throughout the life cycle, and under laboratory conditions this inducible function is nonessential. During early embryogenesis, however, this pathway is activated by developmental cues and is required for the transition from maternal to zygotic control of development at the MBT.
Design principles and implementation of acceleration feedback to improve performance of DC drives

An attempt is made to demonstrate the principles, design methodologies, and implementation of acceleration feedback to substantially improve the performance of DC servodrives. The impetus behind this work is the need to improve the stiffness of drives used in motion control applications where load fluctuations cause unacceptable motion errors. Such applications dominate the robotics field, as well as many manufacturing processes. To achieve lower amplitudes of load-induced motion errors implies achieving a basic improvement in stiffness. Rather then attempting to improve stiffness by the classical approach of using higher velocity and position state feedback gains, it is demonstrated that acceleration feedback allows substantially higher overall stiffness without requiring higher bandwidths of the velocity and position loops. It is also pointed out that acceleration feedback acts as an active inertia which produces the higher stiffness. The performance via both simulation and experiments on two DC drive test systems is demonstrated. >
Application configuration selection for energy-efficient execution on multicore systems

Modern computer systems are designed to balance performance and energy consumption. Several run-time factors, such as concurrency levels, thread mapping strategies, and dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) should be considered in order to achieve optimal energy efficiency for a workload. Selecting appropriate run-time factors, however, is one of the most challenging tasks because the run-time factors are architecture-specific and workload-specific.While most existing works concentrate on either static analysis of the workload or run-time prediction results, in this paper, we present a hybrid two-step method that utilizes concurrency levels and DVFS settings to achieve the energy efficiency configuration for a workload. The experimental results based on a Xeon E5620 server with NPB and PARSEC benchmark suites show that the model is able to predict the energy efficient configuration accurately. On average, an additional 10 % EDP (Energy Delay Product) saving is obtained by using run-time DVFS for the entire system. An off-line optimal solution is used to compare with the proposed scheme. The experimental results show that the average extra EDP saved by the optimal solution is within 5 % on selective parallel benchmarks. We present a hybrid method to achieve an energy efficiency configuration.Our method utilizes concurrency levels, thread allocation, and DVFS settings.We propose a model to capture the relationship between C , P , and T in detail.We apply an analytical speedup model to predict an optimal/nearoptimal configuration.
Dance and Literacy Hand in Hand: Using Uncommon Practices to Meet the Common Core

Since the implementation of Common Core, my dance classes have have become a lot noisier, and I am losing control. That is a good thing.As a dance teacher in public elementary schools for the last ...
Spectroscopic and computational studies of glutathionylcobalamin: nature of Co-S bonding and comparison to Co-C bonding in coenzyme B12.

Glutathionylcobalamin (GSCbl) is a unique, biologically relevant cobalamin featuring an axial Co–S bond that distinguishes it from the enzymatically active forms of vitamin B12, which possess axial Co–C bonds. GSCbl has been proposed to serve as an intermediate in cobalamin processing and, more recently, as a therapeutic for neurological disorders associated with oxidative stress. In this study, GSCbl and its close relative cysteinylcobalamin (CysCbl) were investigated using electronic absorption, circular dichroism, magnetic circular dichroism, and resonance Raman spectroscopies. The spectroscopic data were analyzed in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT computations to generate experimentally validated electronic structure descriptions. Although the change in the upper axial ligand from an alkyl to a thiol group represents a major perturbation in terms of the size, basicity, and polarizability of the coordinating atom, our spectroscopic and computational results revea...
Intraseasonal costs of reproduction in starlings

I examined intraseasonal reproductive trade-offs in European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) females breeding in central New Jersey in 1984-1988. Among females experimentally forced to rear enlarged broods, one of four treatments reduced the likelihood of initiating a second clutch, but there was no clear relationship between first brood size or reproductive success and likelihood of initiating a second clutch. Females that initiated second clutches laid smaller first clutches, but reared larger first broods relative to their original clutches, than did females that did not initiate second clutches. For females rearing unmanipulated first broods, first brood reproductive effort did not affect the likelihood of initiating a second clutch. Among both experimental and control females, only those individuals that initiated first clutches relatively early laid second clutches. Neither brood size in manipulated broods nor reproductive success in control nests affected second brood reproductive success, but those females that reared broods larger than their clutches laid smaller second clutches. Clutch size in second broods declined seasonally, but was a poor predictor of the number of second brood fledglings. Since some second broods were successful and intraseasonal costs did not affect second brood success, it is unclear why only 44% of females initiated second broods. Compared to artificially synchronized broods of the same size, asynchronous hatching increased neither the probability of initiating a second clutch nor the reproductive success of second broods. Thus asynchronous hatching in first broods was not a strategy to increase reproductive success in subsequent broods.
Physical Characteristics of Xenon Flashtubes

The physical characteristics of xenon flashtubes are reviewed. In particular, the spectral output of xenon lamps is discussed in terms of watts per unit wavelength for different wavelengths and current densities. Attention is given to the effects of varying the pressure, length and diameter of the flashtube on the total light output, and the conversion efficiency of electrical to optical power. Additionally, the influence of the exciting pulse shape on the conversion efficiency is described, along with some problems in impedance matching for the driving source.
Epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of hypertension among residents over 15 years old in Feixi county

Objective To understand the prevalence of hypertension in Feixi county,analyze its risk factors and provide the evidence for prevention and control of hypertension. Methods A cluster random sampling method was used to select7030 residents aged or over 15 years old in feixi county. Data of hypertension and related information was got by investigation and physical examination. SPSS 17. 0 was used for statistic analysis. Results The prevalence of hypertension was 22.0%. The rate of hypertension was higher significantly among males than females( P 0. 01). The rate of hypertension in the population decreased with increasing the grade of blood pressure levels. 96. 7% of hypertension patients were in grade 1 and grade 2 hypertension. The incidence of hypertension among the population had a positive relationship with age,and a negative relationship with the level of education attainment( P 0. 01). Smoking,high salt,poor quality of sleep,less physical,overweight and obesity were the risk factors for hypertension in feixi county. Conclusions The prevalence of hypertension among residents aged or over 15 years old in Feixi county was relatively high. Health education targeted at influencing factors plays an important role in the prevention of hypertension.
Effect of Qingre Jiedu Formula on T-Lymph Subsets of Children with Refractory Mycoplasma Pneumonia

Objective: to explore the effect of Qingre Jiedu formular( clearing heat antitoxicant) on T-lymph subsets of Children with Refractory Mycoplasma Pneumonia. Methods: 62 Children with refractory mycoplasma pneumonia were randomly divided into two groups. Control group of 31 cases were administered Azithromycin,Glucocorticoids or Immunoglobulin and alveolar wash with bronchofiberscope,while treatment group were given Qingre Jiedu formula in addition. Besides,20 healthy children at the same period were taken as health control group. Observe the changes of CD4,CD8,CD4 / CD8,IL- 4,IFN and IL- 4 / IFN in T- lymph subsets. Results: Before treatment,CD4,CD4 / CD8 and IL- 4 / IFN of treatment group and control group decreased compared to health group, CD8 and IFN increased,with significant difference( P 0. 05); IL- 4 had no significant changes( P 0. 05). After treatment, CD4 and CD4 / CD8 of treatment group increased,IL- 4 and IFN decreased with significant difference( P 0. 05); CD8 decreased, and IL- 4 / IFN change was of no significance( P 0. 05). Comparison between treatment group and control group after treatment showed that CD4 and CD4 / CD8 of treatment group increased,IFN and IL- 4 / IFN decreased,with significant difference( P 0. 05); CD8 decreased,and IL- 4 / IFN change was of no significance( P 0. 05). Conclusion: Regulating the immunologic balance of T-lymph subsets may be one of the main mechanisms of Qingre Jiedu formula in treatment of refractory mycoplasma pneumonia.
Induction of I-J Restrictions on Suppressor Cells

Most of the data on the induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restrictions are derived from studies of helper, proliferating, and cytolytic T cells. In this report we investigated the mechanisms responsible for the induction of I-J restrictions in suppressor T cells (Ts). Three distinct Ts subpopulations have been identified in the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl (NP) system (1–3). These were termed Ts1, Ts2 and Ts3 cells, respectively. Ts1 cells or their soluble factors do not display any H-2 restriction (4). In contrast, Ts2 and Ts3 cells and their factors are genetically restricted by genes in the I-J subregion (2). This report focuses on the induction of Ts3 cells. Ts3 cells are present in conventionally primed mice, but they only exert their suppressive activity following activation by Ts2 cells or factors derived from Ts2 cells (1, 3, 5).
Project Jacquard: Interactive Digital Textiles at Scale

Project Jacquard presents manufacturing technologies that enable deploying invisible ubiquitous interactivity at scale. We propose novel interactive textile materials that can be manufactured inexpensively using existing textile weaving technology and equipment. The development of touch-sensitive textiles begins with the design and engineering of a new highly conductive yarn. The yarns and textiles can be produced by standard textile manufacturing processes and can be dyed to any color, made with a number of materials, and designed to a variety of thicknesses and textures to be consistent with garment designers' needs. We describe the development of yarn, textiles, garments, and user interactivity; we present the opportunities and challenges of creating a manufacturable interactive textile for wearable computing.
From Clinical Practice to Nursing Education: Using Old Skills in a New Way

Transitioning from an expert clinical nurse to a novice nurse educator can be challenging. Skills used in both positions are not always apparent. Skills that were transferable were identified using Bennerâ€™s (1984) competency themes and seven domains of an expert clinical nurse. Identifying skills that the expert clinical nurse is already comfortable with assists in the ease of transitioning to the novice nursing educator role. Realizing that the skills that the expert nurse has been using and is confident with allows for the application of these skills to the new realm of teaching. This knowledge will foster confidence and lay the foundation for a successful transition into the novice educator role. Identifying ways to assist in this transition will promote retention of new educators as well as satisfaction with the role change. Finding ways to assist the expert clinical nurse will allow for a faster progression to expert nurse educator.
Implementation of a standardized postanesthesia care handoff increases information transfer without increasing handoff duration.

Article-at-a-Glance Background In the transition of a patient from the operating room (OR) to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), it was hypothesized that (1) standardizing the members of sending and receiving teams and (2) requiring a structured handoff process would increase the overall amount of patient information transferred in the OR-to-PACU handoff process. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted at a 311-bed freestanding academic pediatric hospital in Northern California. The intervention, which was conducted in February–March 2013, consisted of (1) requiring the sending team to include a surgeon, an anesthesiologist, and a circulating nurse, and the receiving team to include the PACU nurse; (2) standardizing the content of the handoff on the basis of literature-guided recommendations; and (3) presenting the handoff verbally in the I-PASS format. Data included amount of patient information transferred, duration of handoff, provider presence, and nurse satisfaction. Results Forty-one audits during the preimplementation phase and 45 audits during the postimplementation phase were analyzed. Overall information transfer scores increased significantly from a mean score of 49% to 83% (p Conclusion A standardized, team-based approach to OR-to-PACU handoffs increased the quantity of patient information transferred, increased PACU nurse satisfaction, and did not increase the handoff duration.
Pay-as-Bid: Selling Divisible Goods

Pay-as-bid auctions are frequently implemented when a single seller allocates multiple units of a homogeneous good, and are commonly used to sell treasury securities, allocate electricity generation, and distribute emissions credits. In this auction format, bidders submit demand curves to a seller who uses these stated demands to compute market-clearing quantities, then allocates each bidder her associated quantity while charging the entire area under her stated demand curve. Except in parameterized settings, little has been known about equilibrium strategies in pay-as-bid auctions. We model pay-as-bid auctions using random supply and a perfectly-divisible good. In a setting where bidders are perfectly symmetric, we prove the uniqueness of pure-strategy Bayesian-Nash equilibria and give a tight sufficient condition for the existence of this unique equilibrium. Equilibrium uniqueness does not depend on any restrictive assumptions on the form of bids: equilibrium bid functions are unique in the space of all bounded, decreasing functions on the domain of available quantities. We show that this equilibrium has a surprisingly convenient and tractable analytical form: the bid for any quantity is a weighted average of the marginal values for all larger quantities. Leveraging this representation of bids, we show that deterministic supply revenue-dominates all distributions of random supply; hence if the seller can affect the distribution of supply, it should sell the classical monopolist's quantity. We show that, with optimal supply, if the seller is also permitted to set a reserve price, the pay-as-bid auction and the uniform-price auction---the other common format for allocating multiple homogeneous units---are revenue-equivalent; without the ability to set a reserve price, the pay-as-bid auction weakly revenue-dominates all equilibria of the uniform-price auction. The equivalence of optimally-parameterized auctions may provide insight into the empirical ambiguity surrounding which mechanism generates better outcomes.
Effects of NextGen Concepts of Operation for Separation Assurance and Interval Management on Air Traffic Controller Situation Awareness, Workload, and Performance

ABSTRACTObjective: Determine how combinations of NextGen-automation concepts for separation assurance and spacing affect air traffic controller (ATCo) situation awareness, workload, and performance.Background: In previous research, situation awareness was not measured with valid and reliable instruments. Previous work also evaluated separation assurance and spacing concepts individually, and did not examine weather.Method: Retired ATCos worked en route and transitional sectors. Four operating concepts for separation assurance and spacing were tested based on whether automation or ATCo was responsible for each function. Standard methods for assessing workload and situation awareness were used; performance measures included safety and efficiency.Results: Workload was lowest when both functions were automated; however, situation awareness depended on operating concept and sector. In the en route sector, the highest levels of situation awareness were found for ATCo-managed separation assurance and automation-...
Pedestrians and their phones - detecting phone-based activities of pedestrians for autonomous vehicles

Over the last decade, there have been many studies that focus on modeling driver behavior, and in particular detecting and overcoming driver distraction in an effort to reduce accidents caused by driver negligence. Such studies assume that the entire onus of avoiding accidents are on the driver alone. In this study, we adopt a different stance and study the behavior of pedestrians instead. In particular, we focus on detecting pedestrians who are engaged in secondary activities involving their cellphones and similar hand-held multimedia devices from a purely vision-based standpoint. To achieve this objective, we propose a pipeline incorporating articulated human pose estimation, and the use gradient based image features to detect the presence/absence of a device in either hand of a pedestrian. Information from different streams and their dependencies on one another are encoded by a belief network. This network is then used to predict a probability score suggesting the involvement of a subject with his/her device.
Dynamic provisioning and execution of HPC workflows using Python

High-performance computing (HPC) workflows over the last several decades have proven to assist in the understanding of scientific phenomena and the production of better products, more quickly, and at reduced cost. However, HPC workflows are difficult to implement and use for a variety of reasons. In this paper, we describe the development of the Python-based cumulus, which addresses many of these barriers. cumulus is a platform for the dynamic provisioning and execution of HPC workflows. cumulus provides the infrastructure needed to build applications that leverage traditional or Cloud-based HPC resources in their workflows. Finally, we demonstrate the use of cumulus in both web and desktop simulation applications, as well as in an Apache Spark-based analysis application.
Positive behavioral interventions and supports in pictures: Using videos to support schoolwide implementation

ABSTRACTTeaching expectations is an essential component of schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS). Creating PBIS videos is a tool for teaching expectations and other targeted skills within a schoolwide PBIS framework. In this article, we offer the why, how, when, where, and what of producing/screening PBIS videos to effectively support schoolwide prevention efforts. Because effective videos (a) demonstrate the core PBIS principles and (b) meet technical video production standards, we offer a rubric for self-evaluating your own videos considering these two key elements. To support the use of PBIS videos, we also present a sample screening schedule and a tip sheet with questions to ask before, during, and after PBIS video production.
Community diversity and hazard events: understanding the evolution of local approaches to wildfire

Existing research indicates that distinct human populations may prepare for, experience, and recover from wildfires in different ways. However, research that helps explain differential adaptation actions surrounding wildfire events is rare. The research presented here applied an existing approach for characterizing the social diversity of communities at risk from wildfire to: (1) identify any unique populations (i.e., “communities”) affected by the same large wildfire event; and (2) help explain the evolution of their approaches to wildfire risk management. Researchers conducted interviews with 87 residents and professionals who experienced the 2014 Carlton Complex Wildfire in Washington State, USA, including 53 residents who experienced property damage or loss. Results revealed three different “communities” whose local social context influenced differential preparation for wildfire and helped explain decisions to evacuate or stay and defend their property during the fire event. Likewise, respondents explained how combinations of social context characteristics unique to each community helped explain post-fire reactions to the Carlton Complex Wildfire and the actions each is taking to address future events. We compare our findings about community-specific influences on wildfire-related action to existing insights from wildfire social science literature to illuminate how systematic characterization of community context and recognition of dynamic social change can help inform wildfire management. We also present a conceptual model explaining how existing social dynamics, history and interactions surrounding a given wildfire event contribute to the evolution of local approaches to wildfire risk. The manuscript concludes with practical recommendations for integrating the above lessons into wildfire management and policy.
Problem Behavior Theory and Contraceptive Use in Adolescence

This chapter explores the psychosocial and behavioral factors associated with variation in contraceptive use among adolescents. Because regular use of contraception may be seen both as a conventional behavior and as a health-protective behavior, analyses assess the association between psychosocial conventionality and positive health orientation, on the one hand, and variation in contraceptive use, on the other. Analyses are based on an urban sample of 971 white, African-American, and Hispanic male and female sexually-active high school students. Study participants filled out a 38-page questionnaire that included a wide range of measures derived from Problem Behavior Theory. Correlational and hierarchical regression analysis indicate that more regular contraceptive use is associated with greater psychosocial conventionality and also with greater positive orientation toward health for both male and female adolescents. These relationships hold when the socio-demographic characteristics of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, grade in school, family composition, and pregnancy experience are controlled. The linkages of psychosocial conventionality and positive health orientation to contraceptive behavior are stronger for African-American than for white and Hispanic adolescents. The findings establish a more comprehensive and more distal set of influences on regularity of contraceptive use. In its negative relationship to problem behavior and its positive linkage with health behavior, contraceptive behavior may be seen as part of a larger, organized behavior system in adolescence, i.e., part of a more conventional lifestyle.
Expression Profiling Coupled with In-silico Mapping Identifies Candidate Genes for Reducing Aflatoxin Accumulation in Maize

Aflatoxin, produced by Aspergillus flavus, is hazardous to health of humans and livestock. The lack of information about large effect QTL for resistance to aflatoxin accumulation is a major obstacle to employ marker-assisted selection for maize improvement. The understanding of resistance mechanisms of the host plant and the associated genes is necessary for improving resistance to A. flavus infection. A suppression subtraction hybridization (SSH) cDNA library was made using the developing kernels of Mp715 (resistant inbred) and B73 (susceptible inbred) and 480 randomly selected cDNA clones were sequenced to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to A. flavus infection and map these clones onto the corn genome by in-silico mapping. A total of 267 unigenes were identified and majority of genes were related to metabolism, stress response, and disease resistance. Based on the reverse northern hybridization experiment, 26 DEGs were selected for semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis in seven inbreds with variable resistance to aflatoxin accumulation at two time points after A. flavus inoculation. Most of these genes were highly expressed in resistant inbreds. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis validated upregulation of PR-4, DEAD-box RNA helicase, and leucine rich repeat family protein in resistant inbreds. Fifty-six unigenes, which were placed on linkage map through in-silico mapping, overlapped the QTL regions for resistance to aflatoxin accumulation identified in a mapping population derived from the cross between B73 and Mp715. Since majority of these mapped genes were related to disease resistance, stress response, and metabolism, these should be ideal candidates to investigate host pathogen interaction and to reduce aflatoxin accumulation in maize.
Monster Appetite: Effects of Subversive Framing on Nutritional Choices in a Digital Game Environment

Americans' health has reached a dangerous obesity epidemic from overconsumption and unhealthy food choices. In response, persuasive games for health encourage healthier lifestyles typically by providing positive reinforcement for the desired behaviors. However, positive reinforcement is only one of the many possibly effective approaches. We explore two types of message framing in a nutrition game, Monster Appetite (MA). In MA, players' choices of high or low calorie snacks impact visual appearance of their monster avatar. MA utilizes two types of health messages: subversive, which encourages players to make unhealthy choices and focuses on costs, and inoculation, which encourages players to eventually defend healthy choices and focuses on benefits. We test message framing's effect by tracking users' purchasing behavior in our online snack shop, Snackazon. The study showed that when positive messages were embedded in MA mixed with negative visuals through the monster avatars, participants exhibited better snack choices post-gameplay.
Reading two bases twice: mammalian antizyme frameshifting in yeast.

Abstract Programmed translational frameshifting is essential for the expression of mammalian ornithine decarboxylase antizyme, a protein involved in the regulation of intracellular polyamines. A cassette containing antizyme frameshift signals is found to direct high-level (16%) frameshifting in yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In contrast to +1 frameshifting in the mammalian system, in yeast the same frame is reached by -2 frameshifting. Two bases are read twice. The -2 frameshifting is likely to be mediated by slippage of mRNA and re-pairing with the tRNA in the P-site. The downstream pseudoknot stimulates frameshifting by 30-fold compared with 2.5-fold in reticulocyte lysates. When the length of the spacer between the shift site and the pseudoknot is extended by three nucleotides, +1 and -2 frameshifting become equal.
Lagrangian Observations of the Deep Western Boundary Current in the North Atlantic Ocean. Part I: Large-Scale Pathways and Spreading Rates*

Twenty-six RAFOS floats were deployed in the deep western boundary current (DWBC) of the North Atlantic Ocean between the Grand Banks and Cape Hatteras in 1994‐95 and tracked acoustically for up to two years. Half of the floats were launched in the upper chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) maximum associated with upper Labrador Sea Water (;800 m), and the other half near the deep CFC maximum that identifies the overflow water from the Nordic seas (;3000 m). The float observations reveal the large-scale pathways of these recently ventilated water masses in the subtropics. The shallow float tracks show directly that upper Labrador Sea Water is diverted away from the western boundary and into the interior at the location where the DWBC encounters the Gulf Stream near 368N (the ‘‘crossover region’’), consistent with previous hydrographic studies. East of the crossover region, only one upper Labrador Sea Water float out of seven ( ;15%) ‘‘permanently’’ crossed to the south side of the stream in two years, caught in a cold core ring formation event. The other shallow floats recirculated north of the Gulf Stream, apparently confined by the mean potential vorticity gradient aligned with the stream. The deep floats closely followed the topography to the crossover region, then revealed a bifurcation in fluid parcel pathways. One branch continues equatorward along the western boundary, and the other turns first eastward along the Gulf Stream path, then southward. The deep float pathways, including the bifurcation in the crossover region, can be explained in terms of the deep potential vorticity distribution. Comparison of the float results with results from recent modeling studies suggests that the deep flow is strongly influenced by both the depth of the main pycnocline and bottom depth. The effective spreading rates of upper Labrador Sea Water and overflow water estimated directly from the float data, southward at 0.6 6 0.2 cm s21 and 1.4 6 0.4 cm s21, respectively, agree well with tracer-derived spreading rates. Mean velocities in the DWBC, equatorward at 2‐4 cm s21 (upper Labrador Sea Water) and 4‐5 cm s21 (overflow water), are consistent with other in situ measurements. One deep float drifted almost 4000 km along the western boundary in two years, revealing a ‘‘fast track’’ for the spreading of overflow water in the DWBC. These observations emphasize the importance of the crossover region in the spreading and mixing of recently ventilated water masses, addressed in Part II of this study.