cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vaccinia Virus A19 Protein Participates in the Transformation of Spherical Immature Particles to Barrel-Shaped Infectious Virions

The A19L open reading frame of vaccinia virus encodes a 9-kDa protein that is conserved in all sequenced chordopoxviruses, yet until now it has not been specifically characterized in any species. We appended an epitope tag after the start codon of the A19L open reading frame without compromising infectivity. The protein was synthesized after viral DNA replication and was phosphorylated independently of the vaccinia virus F10 kinase. The A19 protein was present in purified virions and was largely resistant to nonionic detergent extraction, suggesting a location within the core. A conditional lethal mutant virus was constructed by placing the A19 open reading frame under the control of the Escherichia coli lac repressor system. A19 synthesis and infectious virus formation were dependent on inducer. In the absence of inducer, virion morphogenesis was interrupted, and spherical dense particles that had greatly reduced amounts of the D13 scaffold accumulated in place of barrel-shaped mature virions. The infectivity of purified A19-deficient particles was more than 2 log units less than that of A19-containing virions. Nevertheless, the A19-deficient particles contained DNA, and except for the absence of A19 and decreased core protein processing, they appeared to have a similar protein composition as A19-containing virions. Thus, the A19 protein participates in the maturation of immature vaccinia virus virions to infectious particles.
Agenda Setting, Issue Priorities and Organizational Maintenance: The U.S. Supreme Court, 1955 to 1994

In this study, we examine agenda setting by the U.S. Supreme Court, and ask the question of why the Court allocates more or less of its valuable agenda space to one policy issue over others. Our study environment is the policy issue composition of the Court's docket: the Court's attention to criminal justice policy issues relative to other issues. We model the Court's allocation of this agenda space as a function of internal organizational demands and external political signals. We find that this agenda responds to the issue priorities of the other branches of the federal government and the public. We also find that the Court's internal ideological balance influences issue prioritization. In contrast, organizational maintenance considerations have no impact on the Court's allocation of its agenda.
Comparing the low-temperature performance of megapixel NIR InGaAs and HgCdTe imager arrays

We compare a more complete characterization of the low temperature performance of a nominal 1.7um cut-off wavelength 1kx1k InGaAs (lattice-matched to an InP substrate) photodiode array against similar, 2kx2k HgCdTe imagers to assess the suitability of InGaAs FPA technology for scientific imaging applications. The data we present indicate that the low temperature performance of existing InGaAs detector technology is well behaved and comparable to those obtained for state-of-the-art HgCdTe imagers for many space astronomical applications. We also discuss key differences observed between imagers in the two material systems.
Evaluating group I intron catalytic efficiency in mammalian cells.

Recent reports have demonstrated that the group I ribozyme from Tetrahymena thermophila can perform trans-splicing reactions to repair mutant RNAs. For therapeutic use, such ribozymes must function efficiently when transcribed from genes delivered to human cells, yet it is unclear how group I splicing reactions are influenced by intracellular expression of the ribozyme. Here we evaluate the self-splicing efficiency of group I introns from transcripts expressed by RNA polymerase II in human cells to directly measure ribozyme catalysis in a therapeutically relevant setting. Intron-containing expression cassettes were transfected into a human cell line, and RNA transcripts were analyzed for intron removal. The percentage of transcripts that underwent self-splicing ranged from 0 to 50%, depending on the construct being tested. Thus, self-splicing activity is supported in the mammalian cellular environment. However, we find that the extent of self-splicing is greatly influenced by sequences flanking the intron and presumably reflects differences in the intron’s ability to fold into an active conformation inside the cell. In support of this hypothesis, we show that the ability of the intron to fold and self-splice from cellular transcripts in vitro correlates well with the catalytic efficiency observed from the same transcripts expressed inside cells. These results underscore the importance of evaluating the impact of sequence context on the activity of therapeutic group I ribozymes. The self-splicing system that we describe should facilitate these efforts as well as aid in efforts at enhancing in vivo ribozyme activity for various applications of RNA repair.
Efficient Case-Based Structure Generation for Design Support

This paper describes a general approach to support case-based structure generation named Conceptual Analogy (Borner 1997). The approach can be used to support design tasks in domains that do not allow the acquisition of a complete and consistent set of constraints or rules but that do provide a larger set of past experiences. The experiences – also called cases – may resemble for example CAD data of room layouts or pipe systems. Thus, cases represent solutions to particular problems without an explicit, a priori separation of problem and solution variables. The paper starts with a description and formalization of the case-based structure generation task and a discussion of why standard case-based reasoning and other approaches are not applicable. Then, the new approach of Conceptual Analogy (CA) is introduced. CA applies conceptual clustering to organize cases represented by graphs into hierarchical classes of structurally similar cases. These case classes are then represented by concepts. Given a problem, i.e., a partial solution, the hierarchy of concepts is searched for applicable concepts, i.e., concepts that allow the generation of at least one solution to the given problem. Applicable concepts are used to generate a set of solutions that can be ordered according to their quality. Properties of the approach as well as complexity results are presented. An architectural design domain and task where the approach has been applied successfully, is used for illustration and for practical evaluation. Finally, the approach and its implementation are compared to two systems that aim at the support of similar design tasks. The paper concludes with an assessment of the future direction of this research.
Policies to End the Gender Wage Gap in the United States

Women continue to earn less than men in the United States. This article surveys the debate about why this occurs and synthesizes the policy remedies. Unionizing women, comparable worth, pay secrecy...
Methadone Treatment During Pregnancy

Methadone maintenance has been used for decades to treat opioid-dependent pregnant women. The outcomes of pregnancies thus treated are vastly improved over the outcomes of pregnancies complicated by street drug use. Despite its long history of successful use during pregnancy, little is known about the long-term effects of methadone on the fetus and the newborn. Studies done in animals suggest there may be subtle effects on brain and behavior. Only recently have other treatments for opioid dependency during pregnancy been investigated. There is increasing evidence that altering the traditional methadone maintenance protocols may be beneficial, and that tapered withdrawal can be safely achieved under some circumstances.
Primary plasmacytoma of the testicle: a case report

Introduction Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a rare plasma cell neoplasm. Plasmacytomas are most commonly found in the head and neck region, but can occur in many other locations. They rarely occur in the testis, and are commonly associated with concurrent multiple myeloma at the time of diagnosis. Isolated plasmacytoma of the testis is exceedingly rare, with few cases reported in the literature.
HIDE: An Integrated System for Health Information DE-identification

While there is an increasing need to share medical information for public health research, such data sharing must preserve patient privacy without disclosing any identifiable information. A considerable amount of research in data privacy community has been devoted to formalizing the notion of identifiability and developing techniques for anonymization but are focused exclusively on structured data. On the other hand, efforts on de-identifying medical text documents in medical informatics community rely on simple identifier removal or grouping techniques without taking advantage of the research developments in the data privacy community. This paper attempts to fill the above gaps and presents a prototype system for de-identifying health information including both structured and unstructured data. It deploys a conditional random fields based technique for extracting identifying attributes from unstructured data and k-anonymization based technique for de-identifying the data while preserving maximum data utility. We present a set of preliminary evaluations showing the effectiveness of our approach.
Stanislav Sobolevsky-Research Scientist and Co-Lead of Network and Society Area at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Stanislav Sobolevsky Research Scientist and Co-Lead of Network And Society Area at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology SENSEable City Laboratory, PhD Dr. Stanislav Sobolevsky is a Research Scientist at the SENSEable City Lab at MIT, leading the Lab's Network and Society Area since 2012. Holds PhD (1999) and Doctor of Science (2009; habilitation degree) in Mathematics and applies his fundamental quantitative background to studying human behavior in urban context through it's digital traces- spatio-temporal big data created by various aspects of human activity, including bank card transactions, cell phone calls, vehicle GPS traces, social media records etc. His research interests cover network science, big data analytics, modeling of complex systems and the theory of differential equations. Authored a monograph, several textbooks and over 50 peer-reviewed papers in data analy - sis, network science, mathematics and mathematical modeling. Served as an organizer of recent and upcoming big data confer - ences and symposia, including IEEE Big Data Congress' 2015 in NY as well as an editor of several special issues on big data of the recognized IEEE, Elsevier's and Springer's journals. His former work experience includes research, professorship and administra - tive positions in Belarusian State University and National Academy of Science of Belarus.Chair person of INDCARE College of Law.No Abstract.
A Most Insulting Violation The Burning of the HMS Gaspee and the Delaying of the American Revolution

Abstract “A Most Insulting Violation,” argues that the successful resolution of the controversy surrounding the burning of the HMS Gaspee (1772) highlights how North American colonists’ decisions about violently resisting British imperial authority rested on a vernacular vision of empire that prioritized lived experience over Whig ideology and economic interest.
The Rising Tide of For-Profit Universities: Ebb and Flow Management for Academic Advisors

While public universities grapple with sharp budget cuts from state legislatures and private colleges face the ongoing challenges of competitive student recruitment and retention activities, for-profit universities have been growing rapidly. Much of the for-profit growth is attributed to a perspicacious student-as-customer approach, a well-defined target market, and significant legislative influence. Urban and metropolitan universities with significant numbers of nontraditional and minority students are most affected. As enrollment in for-profit universities continues to increase, attention to student advising and other forms of student support services could be a key comparative advantage for traditional postsecondary institutions.
3D tissue engineered micro-tumors for optical-based therapeutic screening platform

Melanoma is an underserved area of cancer research, with little focus on studying the effects of tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) properties on melanoma tumor progression, metastasis, and treatment efficacy. We’ve developed a Raman spectral mapping-based in-vitro screening platform that allows for nondestructive in-situ, multi-time point assessment of a novel potential nanotherapeutic adjuvant, nanoceria (cerium oxide nanoparticles), for treating melanoma. We’ve focused primarily on understanding melanoma tumor ECM composition and how it influences cell morphology and ICC markers. Furthermore, we aim to correlate this with studies on nanotherapeutic efficacy to coincide with the goal of predicting and preventing metastasis based on ECM composition. We’ve compiled a Raman spectral database for substrates containing varying compositions of fibronectin, elastin, laminin, and collagens type I and IV. Furthermore, we’ve developed a machine learning-based semi-quantitative analysis platform utilizing dimensionality reduction with subsequent pixel classification and semi-quantitation of ECM composition using Direct Classical Least Squares for classification and estimation of the reorganization of these components by taking 2D maps using Raman spectroscopy. Gaining an understanding of how tissue properties influence ECM organization has laid the foundation for future work utilizing Raman spectroscopy to assess therapeutic efficacy and matrix reorganization imparted by nanoceria. Specifically, this will allow us to better understand the role of HIF1a in matrix reorganization of the tumor microenvironment. By studying the relationship between substrate modulus and nanoceria’s ability to inhibit an ECM that is conducive to tumor formation, we endeavor to show that nanoceria may prevent or even revert tumor conducive microenvironments.
Appendix: commercially available corpora and analytical tools

This appendix lists resources that can be useful as you pursue your own corpus-based investigations. The appendix consists of three main sections: corpora, analytical tools, and on-line resources. The list of corpora is divided into categories (e.g., written, spoken, historical), with corpora arranged alphabetically within each category. This list also notes whether the corpus is composed of American English (AE) or British English (BE) texts, along with the approximate number of words. The list of tools is also arranged alphabetically, with a brief description of each tool. For both corpora and tools, addresses to contact are provided at the end of the entry. The World Wide Web is also becoming a productive source of corpora and tools, and several useful nodes on the Web are listed under “On-line sources.” New sources are constantly being added, so interested readers should periodically search the web for new sites.
Phase-retrieval uncertainty estimation and algorithm comparison for the JWST-ISIM test campaign

Phase retrieval, the process of determining the exit-pupil wavefront of an optical instrument from image-plane intensity measurements, is the baseline methodology for characterizing the wavefront for the suite of science instruments (SIs) in the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). JWST is a large, infrared space telescope with a 6.5-meter diameter primary mirror. JWST is currently NASA's flagship mission and will be the premier space observatory of the next decade. ISIM contains four optical benches with nine unique instruments, including redundancies. ISIM was characterized at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD in a series of cryogenic vacuum tests using a telescope simulator. During these tests, phase-retrieval algorithms were used to characterize the instruments. The objective of this paper is to describe the Monte-Carlo simulations that were used to establish uncertainties (i.e., error bars) for the wavefronts of the various instruments in ISIM. Multiple retrieval algorithms were used in the analysis of ISIM phase-retrieval focus-sweep data, including an iterative-transform algorithm and a nonlinear optimization algorithm. These algorithms emphasize the recovery of numerous optical parameters, including low-order wavefront composition described by Zernike polynomial terms and high-order wavefront described by a point-by-point map, location of instrument best focus, focal ratio, exit-pupil amplitude, the morphology of any extended object, and optical jitter. The secondary objective of this paper is to report on the relative accuracies of these algorithms for the ISIM instrument tests, and a comparison of their computational complexity and their performance on central and graphical processing unit clusters. From a phase-retrieval perspective, the ISIM test campaign includes a variety of source illumination bandwidths, various image-plane sampling criteria above and below the Nyquist-Shannon critical sampling value, various extended object sizes, and several other impactful effects.
Removal From Play After Concussion and Recovery Time

OBJECTIVE: Despite increases in education and awareness, many athletes continue to play with signs and symptoms of a sport-related concussion (SRC). The impact that continuing to play has on recovery is unknown. This study compared recovery time and related outcomes between athletes who were immediately removed from play and athletes who continued to play with an SRC. METHODS: A prospective, repeated measures design was used to compare neurocognitive performance, symptoms, and recovery time between 35 athletes (mean ± SD age, 15.61 ± 1.65 years) immediately removed after an SRC (REMOVED group) compared with 34 athletes (mean ± SD age, 15.35 ± 1.73 years) who continued to play (PLAYED group) with SRC. Neurocognitive and symptom data were obtained at baseline and at 1 to 7 days and 8 to 30 days after an SRC. RESULTS: The PLAYED group took longer to recover than the REMOVED group (44.4 ± 36.0 vs 22.0 ± 18.7 days; P = .003) and were 8.80 times more likely to demonstrate protracted recovery (≥21 days) ( P < .001). Removal from play status was associated with the greatest risk of protracted recovery (adjusted odds ratio, 14.27; P = .001) compared with other predictors (eg, sex). The PLAYED group exhibited significantly worse neurocognitive and greater symptoms than the REMOVED group. CONCLUSIONS: SRC recovery time may be reduced if athletes are removed from participation. Immediate removal from play is the first step in mitigating prolonged SRC recovery, and these data support current consensus statements and management guidelines.
Deadly competition and life-saving predation: the potential for alternative stable states in a stage-structured predator–prey system

Predators often undergo complete ontogenetic diet shifts, engaging in resource competition with species that become their prey during later developmental stages. Theory posits that this mix of stag...
Spin-state diversity in a series of Co(ii) PNP pincer bromide complexes.

We describe the structural and electronic impacts of modifying the bridging atom in a family of Co(II) pincer complexes with the formula Co(t-Bu)2PEPyEP(t-Bu)2Br2 (Py = pyridine, E = CH2, NH, and O for compounds 1–3, respectively). Structural characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction indicates that compounds 1 and 3 are 5-coordinate complexes with both bromides bound to the Co(II) ion, while compound 2 is square planar with one bromide in the outer coordination sphere. The reduction potentials of 1–3, characterized by cyclic voltammetry, are consistent with the increasing electron-withdrawing character of the pincer ligand as the linker (E) between the pyridine and phosphine arms becomes more electronegative. Magnetic property studies of compounds 1 and 2 confirm high- and low-spin behavior, respectively, through a broad temperature range. However, complex 3 features an unusual combination of high spin S = 3/2 Co(II) and temperature dependent spin-crossover between S = 3/2 and S = 1/2 states. The different magnetic behaviors observed among the three CoBr2 pincer complexes reflects the importance of small ligand perturbations on overall coordination geometry and resulting spin state properties.
A Synthetic Approach to Cross-Conjugated Organometallic Complexes Based on geminal-Diethynylethene and CoIII(cyclam)

A series of CoIII(cyclam) complexes ([1a,b]Cl, [2a–c]PF6, [3]Cl2, [4a](OTf)4, [4b](PF6)2, and [5]Cl2) (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacycloctetradecane) bearing a geminal-diethynylethene ligand (gem-DEE) is reported. Syntheses of these acyclic cross-conjugated complexes were accomplished in satisfactory yields, and structural characterizations established that the geometrical feature of gem-DEE is largely preserved upon metalation. Combined structural and electrochemical studies suggest that the gem-DEE ligand, as a σ-donor, is weaker than phenylethynyl but stronger than butadiynyl in CoIII(cyclam) complexes. Voltammetric analysis indicated a weak but discernible Co–Co coupling across the gem-DEE bridge in [3]Cl2 and [4a](OTf)4, while the addition of a second acetylide in the trans position diminished such coupling in [4b](PF6)2. DFT analysis revealed significant dπ–π mixing around the cobalt centers with extended π-overlap in the highest occupied orbitals and substantial σ-based mixing in the lowest unoccupie...
Adolescent binge alcohol exposure increases risk assessment behaviors in male Wistar rats after exposure to an acute psychological stressor in adulthood.

Abstract Teenage binge drinking is a common practice that has been shown to increase the risk for developing mood disorders in adulthood. The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is often dysfunctional in mood disorder patients, and animal models of adolescent binge alcohol exposure similarly show disordered HPA axis function, even after long periods of alcohol abstinence. Here, we sought to investigate the anxiety-like behavioral consequences of binge alcohol exposure in a Wistar rat model. Male rats were administered alcohol in a binge pattern during peri-puberty, and one month later, anxiety-like behaviors were measured using the elevated plus maze. A subset of the rats then underwent 30 min of restraint stress, and the anxiety-like behaviors were measured again. We observed an increase in risk assessment behaviors due to both adolescent binge alcohol exposure and restraint stress, but no differences in canonical anxiety-like behaviors. We also repeated the observation that adolescent binge alcohol induces long-term changes in HPA axis sensitivity. Therefore, we concluded that a history of peri-pubertal binge alcohol exposure subtly alters the behavioral response to subsequent acute psychological stress during adulthood, which may over time contribute to the development of mood disorders. This relatively pragmatic animal model represents a more clinically relevant tool in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the long-term effects of adolescent binge drinking.
Utilization of Team Process Framework to Improve Small-Group Learning in Medical Education

The setting for medical practitioners typically involves collaborative and interdisciplinary teams. Medical schools have embraced many teaching methods that use a group of learners to facilitate learning. However, the actual learning benefits of these methods require additional inquiry in the areas of team cognition and team processes. There is limited research that evaluates the value of the team process behaviors in medical education to improve collaborative learning outcomes. This conceptual article provides a framework for team learning processes based on the theoretical foundation of social learning and the development of group shared mental models during team interactions that impact a student’s performance.
Association of maternal and infant variants in PNOC and COMT genes with neonatal abstinence syndrome severity.

Background and Objectives There is significant variability in severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) due to in utero opioid exposure. Our previous study identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the prepronociceptin (PNOC) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes that were associated with differences in NAS outcomes. This study looks at the same SNPs in PNOC and COMT in an independent cohort in an attempt to replicate previous findings. Methods For the replication cohort, full-term opioid-exposed newborns and their mothers (n = 113 pairs) were studied. A DNA sample was obtained and genotyped for five SNPs in the PNOC and COMT genes. The association of each SNP with NAS outcomes (length of hospitalization, need for pharmacologic treatment, and total opioid days) was evaluated, with an experiment-wise significance level set at α < .003 and point-wise level of α < .05. SNP associations in a combined cohort of n = 199 pairs (replication cohort plus 86 pairs previously reported), were also examined. Results In the replication cohort, mothers with the COMT rs4680 G allele had infants with a reduced risk for treatment with two medications for NAS (adjusted OR = .5, p = .04), meeting point-wise significance. In the combined cohort, infants with the PNOC rs4732636 A allele had a reduced need for medication treatment (adjusted OR 2.0, p = .04); mothers with the PNOC rs351776 A allele had infants who were treated more often with two medications (adjusted OR 2.3, p = .004) with longer hospitalization by 3.3 days (p = .01). Mothers with the COMT rs740603 A allele had infants who were less often treated with any medication (adjusted OR .5, p = .02). Though all SNP associations all met point wise and clinical significance, they did not meet the experiment-wise significance threshold. Conclusions and Scientific Significance We found differences in NAS outcomes depending on PNOC and COMT SNP genotype. This has important implications for identifying infants at risk for severe NAS who could benefit from tailored treatment regimens. Further testing in a larger sample is warranted. This has important implications for prenatal prediction and personalized treatment regimens for infants with NAS. (Am J Addict 2017;26:42–49)
Applying Behavioral Genetics Research to Inform the Prevention of Developmental Psychopathology: Drawing from the Principles of Prevention Science

The surge in research studies examining gene–environment interplay during the past decade has recently been matched by a strong interest in the development of interventions that are tailored according to a person’s genetic makeup. This intervention approach, often referred to as “precision medicine,” has garnered the attention of politicians, researchers, and the media alike. While recent efforts to pursue a precision medicine initiative have been directed at physical health problems and the medical profession, the high rates of depression and mental illness worldwide suggest a parallel need for improved approaches to prevent developmental psychopathology. This chapter examines the role that findings from behavioral genetics research can play in facilitating a personalized medicine approach to the prevention of behavioral health problems. Ten core standards in prevention science are used as the framework for evaluating the readiness of the field to proceed with a personalized medicine approach to the prevention of psychopathology. It is concluded that the field of behavioral genetics can provide practical, translation-ready findings relevant to the prevention of psychopathology, but that care and attention are needed in regard to matching the body of evidence from behavioral genetics with the standards and goals of prevention science. Next steps in facilitating a behavioral genetics informed approach to the prevention of psychopathology are provided.
Kinetic Modeling of Spillover and Temperature-Programmed Oxidation of Oxy-Carbon Surface Species on Pt/Al2O3

During propane oxidation over Pt/Al2O3 in the 200–300 °C temperature range, many different oxygenated carbonaceous (oxy-carbon) surface species spillover from the platinum nanoparticles and grow on the Al2O3 support. The rate of oxy-carbon species growth on the Pt/Al2O3 surface is consistent with a diffusion-limited process where the rate of oxy-carbon species diffusion on the Al2O3 support is the rate-determining step. A model based on Fick’s second law for two-dimensional radial diffusion is used to analyze the kinetics of oxy-carbon species spillover on the Al2O3 support. An Arrhenius expression describing the rate of oxy-carbon species diffusion on the Al2O3 support, which has a pre-exponential factor of 7.9 × 10–14 cm2/s and an activation barrier of 24 kJ/mol, was extracted from the kinetic analysis. Following propane oxidation, the oxy-carbon surface species were completely oxidized to CO2 during temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO). During TPO of the oxy-carbon species, diffusion of the oxy-carbo...
The role of damage and recrystallization in the elastic properties of columnar ice

Effects of damage on elastic properties were studied in columnar-grained specimens of freshwater and saline ice, subjected, at −10°C, to varying levels of inelastic strain. The ice was compressed uniaxially at constant strain rates up to 0.20 strain, which caused localized recrystallization and imparted damage in the form of non-propagating cracks. Damage was quantified in terms of dimensionless crack density, which, along with recrystallized area fraction, was determined from thin sections. The change in porosity due to stress-induced cracks served as another indicator of damage. Elastic properties were derived using P-wave and S-wave ultrasonic transmission velocities measured in across-column directions through the damaged ice, either parallel (x 1) or perpendicular (x 2) to the initial loading direction. In general, as damage increased with greater strain, the ice became more compliant and (particularly freshwater ice) more anisotropic. Furthermore, with increasing strain rate, the magnitude of these effects and crack density tended to increase, in contrast to the recrystallized area fraction, which tended to decrease. We observed compliance to correspond closely with porosity and with dimensionless crack density, for strains up to 0.10. At greater levels of strain these correspondences became less clear due, in part, to the different character of the damage.
Heterochrony in the evolution of Trinidadian guppy offspring size: maturation along a uniform ontogenetic trajectory

The size and maturity of Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata) offspring vary among populations adapted to environments of differential predation. Guppy offspring born to low-predation, high-competition environments are larger and more mature than their high-predation ancestors. Here we ask: what specific changes in developmental or birth timing occur to produce the larger, more mature neonates? We collected specimens across the perinatal window of development from five populations and quantified musculoskeletal maturation. We found that all populations undergo similar ontogenetic trajectories in skeletal and muscle acquisition; the only difference among populations is when neonates emerge along the trajectory. The smallest neonates are born with 20% of their skeleton ossified, whereas the largest neonates are born with over 70% of their skeleton ossified. The area of the major jaw-closing muscle is relatively larger in larger offspring, scaling with length as L2.5 The size range over which offspring are birthed among populations sits along the steepest part of the size-maturity relationship, which provides a large marginal increase in fitness for the high-competition female. Because of the functional effects of producing more mature offspring at birth, offspring size may be the first and most critical life-history trait selected upon in highly competitive environments.
Prediction of a hotspot pattern in keyword search results

Abstract This paper identifies and models a phenomenon observed across low-resource languages in keyword search results from speech retrieval systems where the speech recognition has high error rate, due to very limited training data. High confidence correct detections ( hccd s) of keywords are rare, yet often succeed one another closely in time. We refer to these close sequences of hccd s as keyword hotspots . The ability to predict keyword hotspots could support speech retrieval, and provide new insights into the behavior of speech recognition systems. We treat hotspot prediction as a binary classification task on all word-sized time intervals in an audio file of a telephone conversation, using prosodic features as predictors. Rare events that follow this pattern are often modeled as a self-exciting point process ( sepp ), meaning the occurrence of a rare event excites a following one. To label successive points in time as occurring within a hotspot or not, we fit a sepp function to the distribution of hccd s in the keyword search output. Two major learning challenges are that the size of the positive class is very small, and the training and test data have dissimilar distributions. To address these challenges, we develop a novel data selection framework that chooses training data with good generalization properties. Results exhibit superior generalization performance.
Parameter estimation of stochastic models based on limited data

Progress in experimental techniques enables a more accurate quantification of genes, mRNA, and proteins at the single cell level. Provided with limited time series data from single-cell measurements, this note proposes a new quasi-Newton optimization algorithm (QNSTOP) for parameter estimation of stochastic models. To capture the stochasticity inside models and data, the random objective function is constructed based on the maximum log-likelihood of transition probabilities rather than summary statistics, which relies heavily on stochastic simulations. Simple to use and efficient, QNSTOP can find the "best" parameter vector from far away starting points in just a few iterations. Results on a bistable model match well the bistable dynamics that can only be obtained from stochastic models.
Doublethink and scale mismatch polarize policies for an invasive tree

Mismatches between invasive species management policies and ecological knowledge can lead to profound societal consequences. For this reason, natural resource agencies have adopted the scientifically-based density-impact invasive species curve to guide invasive species management. We use the density-impact model to evaluate how well management policies for a native invader (Juniperus virginiana) match scientific guidelines. Juniperus virginiana invasion is causing a sub-continental regime shift from grasslands to woodlands in central North America, and its impacts span collapses in endemic diversity, heightened wildfire risk, and crashes in grazing land profitability. We (1) use land cover data to identify the stage of Juniperus virginiana invasion for three ecoregions within Nebraska, USA, (2) determine the range of invasion stages at individual land parcel extents within each ecoregion based on the density-impact model, and (3) determine policy alignment and mismatches relative to the density-impact model in order to assess their potential to meet sustainability targets and avoid societal impacts as Juniperus virginiana abundance increases. We found that nearly all policies evidenced doublethink and policy-ecology mismatches, for instance, promoting spread of Juniperus virginiana regardless of invasion stage while simultaneously managing it as a native invader in the same ecoregion. Like other invasive species, theory and literature for this native invader indicate that the consequences of invasion are unlikely to be prevented if policies fail to prioritize management at incipient invasion stages. Theory suggests a more realistic approach would be to align policy with the stage of invasion at local and ecoregion management scales. There is a need for scientists, policy makers, and ecosystem managers to move past ideologies governing native versus non-native invader classification and toward a framework that accounts for the uniqueness of native species invasions, their anthropogenic drivers, and their impacts on ecosystem services.
Performance Evaluation of Energy Efficiency with Sleep Mode in Ultra Dense Networks

The Ultra Dense Network (UDN), as one of key techniques in 5G, is expected to support massive connections and offload the intense volume of data traffic. Nonetheless, the small cell BS density raises the issue of energy efficiency, especially when data transmission is not frequent in a certain time or location. One effective approach to reduce energy consumption is to leverage the BS sleep mode, which disables energy hungry functions and components. In this paper we examine existing energy efficiency schemes, and introduce schemes in the context of UDN. Furthermore, we implement and compare various representative schemes in the UDN scenario via simulation. Through extensive experimentation, we demonstrate the effectiveness and limitations of these schemes, comparing energy consumption and end-to-end delay performance.
Rurban Outfitters: Cinema and Rural Cultural Development in New Hampshire’s North Country, 1896–1917

This chapter examines the early history of cinema in relation to rural cultural development in upper Coos County, New Hampshire. Built on a remote landscape, the culture of Coos in the nineteenth century was one of stable property, settled community, and self-sufficiency. As the century turned, residents sought to sustain traditions while adapting to a modern regional economy that imported finished goods, while exporting staples, tourism, and, increasingly, youth. Cinema participated in these changes, producing new social and spatial networks that modernized cultural provisioning services to buffer population loss and stimulate fresh flows of people, ideas, and commerce. These networks mediated cinema’s relation to existing practices, regulating the timing, speed, and direction of cinema’s development as it was transformed around feature films and purpose-built movie venues.
Agricultural Economics as a Poster Child of Applied Economics: Big Data & Big Issues1

Agricultural economists have embodied the notions of applied economics for a long time. They have used economic principles to address real-world problems, integrating economics and scientific knowledge. Applied economics tends to be multidisciplinary and develop applied concepts, theories, and tools. Some, like human capital, diffusion of innovation, contingent valuation, and numerous numerical and econometric techniques have spread throughout economics. Agricultural economic research has been data intensive, and improved information technologies strengthen this tendency. Yet data without theory is of limited use and coevolution of theory and data are essential. Empirical analysis should incorporate quantitative information as well as narratives. We are challenged to understand the coevolution of business, supply chains, and technology, and how they are affected by policies and affect markets. Research should integrate agriculture, energy, and the environment and develop tools to analyze and regulate the emerging bio-economy integrating biotech and infotech.
Does a rising tide lift all boats? Liberalization and real incomes in advanced industrial societies.

Many scholars argue that liberalization increases both economic growth and income inequality in developed economies. However, there is limited research on how liberal economic policies shape the earnings of different income groups in the national economy. The current study thus attempts to fill this gap in the literature by examining a panel dataset of 15 advanced industrial societies during the years 1970-2010. According to the results, long-run measures of liberalization increase the incomes of the top 0.1%, but does not return significant results for the incomes of the top 1.0% and top 10%. Furthermore, no discernible effect of liberalization is observed for the incomes of the bottom 90%. When taken together, although most researchers focus on inter-group inequality by examining how liberalization augments the incomes of top earners vis-a-vis bottom earners, the evidence of this study indicates scholars should also focus on intra-group inequality among top earners, as liberalization seems to benefit only a very small segment of elite earners in the national economy.
Frequency of Bleeding Complications After Percutaneous Core Needle Biopsy and the Association With Aspirin Usage and Length of Aspirin Discontinuation.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to report the frequency of major bleeding after percutaneous image-guided core biopsy and its association with aspirin usage and duration of prebiopsy aspiri...
Safety Functionals for Time Delay Systems

This paper considers the stability and safety of nonlinear time delay systems. Utilizing a Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional we state and prove Lyapunov's theorem in its modern form and prove it with the help of the comparison lemma. Based on this we establish the notion of safety functional that allows us to ensure invariance of sets in the infinite-dimensional state space. The applicability of the results are also demonstrated using an illustrative example.
Constrained scales in ocean forecasting

Abstract Observation space-time resolution limits the scales at which ocean forecast systems provide skillful information. The ocean processes of concern are mesoscale instabilities for which an ocean forecast system requires regular corrections of initial conditions to maintain skillful forecasts, and the observations considered are the regular satellite and in situ. Predominantly, the satellite altimeter constellation is the main observing system for this problem. We define constrained scales as those in which the forecast system has skill. The constrained scales are determined by successively filtering small-scale variability from 1 km resolution assimilative model experiments to reach a minimum error relative to ground truth data. Independent observations are from the LAgrangian Submesoscale ExpeRiment (LASER) consisting of over 1000 surface drifters persisting for three months in the Gulf of Mexico. We also vary the decorrelation scale of the assimilation system to determine the decorrelation scale that produces the smallest forecast trajectory errors. In present ocean forecast systems using regular observations, the constrained scales are larger than defined by a Gaussian filter with e-folding scale of 58 km or ¼ power point of 220 km. The decorrelation scale of 36 km used in the assimilation second order auto-regressive correlation function provides lowest trajectory errors. Filtering unconstrained variability from the model solutions reduces trajectory errors by 20%.
Gaps and hotspots in the state of knowledge of pinyon-juniper communities

Abstract Pinyon-juniper (PJ) plant communities cover a large area across North America and provide critical habitat for wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystem functions, and rich cultural resources. These communities occur across a variety of environmental gradients, disturbance regimes, structural conditions and species compositions, including three species of juniper and two species of pinyon. PJ communities have experienced substantial changes in recent decades and identifying appropriate management strategies for these diverse communities is a growing challenge. Here, we surveyed the literature and compiled 441 studies to characterize patterns in research on PJ communities through time, across geographic space and climatic conditions, and among focal species. We evaluate the state of knowledge for three focal topics: 1) historical stand dynamics and responses to disturbance, 2) land management actions and their effects, and 3) potential future responses to changing climate. We identified large and potentially important gaps in our understanding of pinyon-juniper communities both geographically and topically. The effect of drought on Pinus edulis, the pinyon pine species in eastern PJ communities was frequently addressed, while few studies focused on drought effects on Pinus monophylla, which occurs in western PJ communities. The largest proportion of studies that examined land management actions only measured their effects for one year. Grazing was a common land-use across the geographic range of PJ communities yet was rarely studied. We found only 39 studies that had information on the impacts of anthropogenic climate change and most were concentrated on Pinus edulis. These results provide a synthetic perspective on PJ communities that can help natural resource managers identify relevant knowledge needed for decision-making and researchers design new studies to fill important knowledge gaps.
Workforce development: understanding task-level job demands-resources, burnout, and performance in unskilled construction workers

Abstract This study examines how task demands and personal resources affect unskilled construction worker productivity and safety performance. It extends the job demands-resources (JD-R) burnout model to show how job characteristics interact with burnout to influence performance. A modified model was designed to measure burnout, with exhaustion and disengagement among unskilled construction workers taken into consideration. An observational study was conducted in a laboratory environment to test the research hypotheses and assess the prediction accuracies of outcome constructs. Twenty-two subjects participated in multiple experiments designed to expose them to varying levels of task-demands and to record their personal resources as they performed common construction material-handling tasks. Specifically, both surveys and physiological measurements using wearable sensors were used to operationalize the model constructs. Moreover, partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied to analyze data collected at the task and individual levels. Exhaustion and disengagement exhibited different relationships with productivity and safety performance outcomes as measured by unit rate productivity and ergonomic behavior, respectively. Subjects with high burnout and high engagement showed high productivity but low safety performance. Thus, exhausted workers stand a greater chance of failing to comply with safety. As the sample and the task performed in the experiment do not cover the experience and trade of all construction workers, our findings are limited in their application to entry-level and unskilled workers, whose work is mainly manual material-handling tasks.
An interactive decision‐making tool for evaluating biological and statistical standards of migrating fish survival past hydroelectric dams

Quantifying the downstream survival of migrating fish past dams is critical for conservation efforts. Regulators require assessments of survival as a condition of operation. Failure to meet an established survival standard may result in required operational or costly structural changes at a facility. Establishing the survival standard, as well as the rules of assessment, is a point of contention between regulators and operators. Management goals are based on biological criteria, but there are inherent statistical and probabilistic trade‐offs when choosing a standard value and the method for assessment. We make a distinction between a “biological” goal (the conservation goal) and a “statistical” standard (a function of the biological goal, sample size, assessment method, and years of consecutive evaluation). An effective statistical standard maximizes true positives (passing the standard when the biological goal is being met) and true negatives (failing the standard when the goal is not being met), while minimizing false negatives and false positives. We explored the effects of sample size, true survival, and assessment methods on the probability of passing different statistical standards by simulating survival studies (simulating mark‐recapture experiments). We observed a strong influence of assessment methods on the probability of making the right decision (true positive or true negative), especially when sample size, and recapture probability was low. As a support tool, we developed an interactive user interface to explore specific scenarios, and to aid communication among decision‐makers.