cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Caterpillar Automatic Code Generation

Automatic code generation from models is actively used at Caterpillar for powertrain and machine control development. This technology was needed to satisfy the industry’s demands for both increased software feature content, and its added complexity, and a short turn-around time. A pilot development effort was employed initially to roll out this new technology and shape the deployment strategy. As a result of a series of successful projects involving rapid prototyping and production code generation, Caterpillar will deploy MathWorks modeling and code generation products as their department-wide production development capability. The data collected indicated a reduction of person hours by a factor of 2 to 4 depending on the project and a reduction of calendar time by a factor of greater than 2. This paper discusses the challenges, results, and lessons learned, during this pilot effort from the perspectives of both Caterpillar and The MathWorks.
Software Engineering for Science

AEIC Jeffrey C. Carver describes ways to improve software engineering for science, introduces the Software Engineering Track for CiSE magazine, and provides a link to a survey that can inform future progress.
Diversity of Neural Precursors in the Adult Mammalian Brain

Aided by advances in technology, recent studies of neural precursor identity and regulation have revealed various cell types as contributors to ongoing cell genesis in the adult mammalian brain. Here, we use stem-cell biology as a framework to highlight the diversity of adult neural precursor populations and emphasize their hierarchy, organization, and plasticity under physiological and pathological conditions.
Respiration of So-Called Filterable Viruses.

Some time ago one of us described a simple micro-respirometer which permits detection of very small amounts of CO2.1By the use of this method we were able to detect production of one cubic millimeter of CO2 by 15 million staphylococci in less than ten minutes. However, this is not the limit of the sensitiveness of this method, since the time during which measurable amounts of CO2 may be permitted to accumulate in the respirometer may be extended for days, so that the negative findings obtained by this method are significant.Having failed to detect by this method evidence of respiration in filtrates of so-called bacteriophage,1, 2 we thought it of interest to inquire into the question of respiration (CO2 production) by other so-called filterable viruses, particularly those of rabies and herpes. Since these viruses cannot be secured free from tissue cells, it was necessary, at the outset, to differentiate, on the one hand, between the oxygen uptake and the respiration proper with production of CO2, and, on ...
Reliability Estimation For Trials-to-Criterion Testing

Abstract Through computer simulation of data this study explored the effectiveness of various estimators of reliability in the context of trials-to-criterion testing. The estimation procedures employed were coefficient alpha, parallel forms, and an estimator, called UEV (unbiased error variance), based on estimates of error variance. Based on the results of the computer simulation, the UEV estimator was recommended as the procedure to employ when a single administration of a trials-to-criterion test is planned. However, if a second test administration is feasible the parallel forms estimator was recommended for estimating the reliability of a trials-to-criterion test.
A Holocaust Resource Center Becomes a Beehive: The Case of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

This contribution describes the beginning years of a Holocaust Resource Center and its collection development in a four-year public institution, the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. The auth...
UCR: An unclonable chipless RFID tag

While Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has become popular for commodity and asset tracking and management, the relatively higher price of RFID tags limits its application in the supply chain of low-cost commodities. Recently, cost-effective chipless RFID tags that do not contain a microchip in the transponder have been gaining more attention from industry, academia, and government. Existing chipless RFID tags require removing or shorting of some resonators (i.e., spirals or patch slots) on the substrate to encode data, but this incurs a waste of tag area and increases the manufacturing time/cost of chipless RFID tags. In addition, the identifiers (IDs) generated by existing chipless RFID tags are small, deterministic, and clonable. To mitigate these shortcomings, we propose a new unclonable chipless RFID (UCR) tag that intrinsically generates a unique ID from manufacturing variations. UCR tag consists of a certain number of concentric ring slot resonators, whose resonance frequencies depend on slot parameters and substrate dielectric constant that are sensitive to manufacturing variations. The area of UCR tag is as small as regular quick response (QR) code. Simulation results based on CST Microwave Studio 2015 have verified the effectiveness and reliability of UCR tags. The non-overlapping margin between intra-tag and inter-tag Euclidian distance distributions reaches approximately 50 MHz in the presence of random white Gaussian noise (WGN) with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 10 dB.
Inhibition of Salmonella enteritidis Cecal and Organ Colonization in Leghorn Chicks by a Defined Culture of Cecal Bacteria and Dietary Lactose

The effect of oral inoculation with a defined culture of cecal bacteria and provision of dietary lactose on colonization resistance to invasive Salmonella enteritidis was evaluated in leghorn chicks. A defined mixed culture composed of 11 indigenous cecal bacteria capable of utilizing lactose or lactose fermentation products as a primary carbon source was isolated and maintained in continuous-flow culture. Combined treatment with the defined culture and dietary lactose significantly decreased (P < 0.01) the number of Salmonella in the cecal contents and the number of Salmonella cecal-culture-positive chicks in four replicated trials. Additionally, Salmonella colonization of the spleen, liver, and cecal tonsils was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in each of the trials. The results indicate that the resistance of leghorn chicks to S. enteritidis cecal and organ colonization is effectively increased by inoculation with a defined culture of cecal bacteria and provision of lactose in the diet.
Bilateral Salmonella Septic Arthritis of the Hip in a Patient with Crohn Disease: A Case Report.

Case: A 27-year-old immunocompromised man with Crohn disease presented with bilateral septic hip arthritis due to Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. The diagnosis was confirmed by synovial membrane and effusion culture specimens that were obtained during arthroscopic debridement of both hips. Conclusion: Prolonged antimicrobial therapy, bilateral femoral head resection, and placement of cement spacers for 5 months, followed by bilateral total hip arthroplasty, was a radical and effective treatment for a patient with Crohn disease and bilateral Salmonella septic arthritis of the hip.
Analytical Methods | Microbiological

Microbiological analytical techniques are being increasingly used to ensure the quality and safety of milk and dairy products. In recent years, a great change has been observed in consumer perception and also in global trade requirements that has led to stringent food quality and safety standards. The evaluation of dairy products with reference to compliance with these regulatory standards has led to an increased testing of the products for specific microbiological parameters. Milk and dairy products are generally tested for several food borne pathogens, both established and emerging. In addition, there is always a requirement to evaluate the products for presence of different bacteria that can reduce the shelf life of products and also cause product spoilage. Culture techniques have traditionally been used to examine milk and dairy products. Microscopic techniques also play a major role in the rapid evaluation of products. Recent times have seen several modifications in the culture techniques. In addition, several rapid techniques that are based on immunologic and DNA-based methodologies have also been introduced recently, and many more are under different phases of testing. It is important to learn about different analytical methods that are available and to use the appropriate methods to achieve the desired results.
Media coverage and public awareness on bioethics perception of emerging biomedical therapies

Bioethics falls within the controversial ethical issues from the new advances and emerging technology in pre-clinical and clinical settings which inspired medical policy and practice. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of ethical issues in stem cell-based therapies and to provide substantial argument for the need of a Bioethics Research Consortium that will be tasked with convening a disciplined board of experts that will apply their principles to biomedical research, and emerging technology to further stipulate the socioeconomic influence of such entities and their therapeutic impact to society. Not too long ago, the successful therapeutic studies in Parkinson’s disease and stroke were the highlights of bioethical issues. The precedent for study selection was based on public feedback, government reception, and scientific analyses developed by these spearhead studies. From all the negative publicity that researchers have been getting before, the whiplash from decades of fear and misunderstanding has hindered the progress of scientific study. There is a huge figurative tug of war between what is making profit and what is needed to improve the health of afflicted patients worldwide. Poor management of education and funding may have actually hindered potential life changing cures and treatments from coming to fruition. We propose the creation of a Bioethics Research Consortium that would determine how ethical matters are handled with careful consideration to public need. The goal is to restructure drug development policy, and improve upon the ways in which research methods and funds are handled today.
Computer-assisted learning of communication (CALC): A case study of Japanese learning in a 3D virtual world

This study investigates an instantiation of a 3D virtual world–based Japanese learning curriculum within the context of a Japanese as a foreign language (JFL) classroom. Through a mixed-method case study approach, participants’ natural acquisition of Japanese in a 3D virtual environment was examined. In the present study, four sources of data from 11 university-level JFL students (n=11) were collected and analyzed to evaluate the learning outcomes from a new instructional approach called computer-assisted learning of communication (CALC). Based on both interpretative and statistical analyses of data, the major finding of the present study was that the participants, when immersed in the 3D virtual world of Tokyo, acquired contextualized communicative competence. More specifically, quantitative analyses revealed statistically significant improvement in the participants’ acquisition of incidentally encountered vocabulary, in particular, kanji pronunciation and vocabulary interpretation. Qualitative analyses revealed participants’ acquisition of various communicative competencies specific to the context, including persuasive talk, awareness of audience, and collaborative communication.
Interdisciplinary Seminar on Psychoanalysis and Literary Criticism

This group comprises psychoanalysts, professors of literature and philosophy, and a number of colleagues who combine disciplines. Each year we invite a guest leader who is a distinguished literary critic. We usually read a piece of fiction complemented by criticism written by our invited guest. Our meetings are extremely lively, fun, and satisfying. Our guest leaders have included: Stanley Fish, Patrick Mahony, Samuel Weber, Peter Brooks, Wayne Booth, Barbara Johnson, Joan Scott, Judith Butler, Terry Eagleton, Marjorie Garber, Meredith Skura, and Diane Middlebrook. Our aim is to learn more about critical reading of fiction and occasionally of history or biography.
Periphyton and Sediment Bioassessment in North Florida Bay

Periphyton colonization and sediment bioassessment were used ina survey to compare the relative environmental condition ofsampling sites located in Florida Bay and four peripheral sloughareas during the summer of 1995. Periphyton biomass, pigmentcontent, tissue quality and community composition weredetermined. In addition, benthic community composition and thetoxicities of whole sediments and associated pore waters weredetermined for two species of rooted macrophytes, an epibenthicinvertebrate and bioluminescent bacteria. Several locational differences were observed for the response parameters.Periphyton biomass was significantly greater in the Taylor Riverand the least in Shell Creek (P < 0.05). Most sediments were notacutely toxic to mysid shrimp nor phytotoxic. However, sedimentsfrom the Taylor River were more phytostimulatory than others (P< 0.05). Contaminant bioresidues were similar at most sites,however, mercury, chromium and nickel concentrations weregreater for periphyton colonized in the Taylor River and TroutCreek areas. Structural characteristics of the periphytic algalcommunity usually were statistically similar but a consistenttrend of lower density and diversity was evident for ShellCreek. The benthic community was the least diverse and dense inthe Canal C-111. The results of this study provide an initialindication of differences in the role of several slough areas aspossible sources of bioavailable contaminants to Florida Baywhich warrants additional investigation.
Gene expression signature after one dose of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab associated with tumor response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

6059Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been shown to induce durable tumor response in a subset of recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC. Higher expression of PD-L1, INF-γ, and composite sign...
Direct Visualization of Li Dendrite Effect on LiCoO 2 Cathode by In Situ TEM

Nonuniform and highly localized Li dendrites are known to cause deleterious and, in many cases, catastrophic effects on the performance of rechargeable Li batteries. However, the mechanisms of cathode failures upon contact with Li metal are far from clear. In this study, using in situ transmission electron microscopy, the interaction of Li metal with well-defined, epitaxial thin films of LiCoO2 , the most widely used cathode material, is directly visualized at an atomic scale. It is shown that a spontaneous and prompt chemical reaction is triggered once Li contact is made, leading to expansion and pulverization of LiCoO2 and ending with the final reaction products of Li2 O and Co metal. A topotactic phase transition is identified close to the reaction front, resulting in the formation of CoO as a metastable intermediate. Dynamic structural and chemical imaging, in combination with ab initio simulations, reveal that a high density of grain and antiphase boundaries is formed at the reaction front, which are critical for enabling the short-range topotactic reactions and long-range Li propagation. The fundamental insights are of general importance in mitigating Li dendrites related issues and guiding the design principle for more robust energy materials.
Thermodynamic Intelligence, a Heretical Theory

There is a significant amount of interest in the field of big data and machine learning right now. This has been driven by use of sophisticated learning algorithms along with large datasets and powerful computing hardware to achieve extraordinary success in narrow tasks. Such success has been classified as narrow artificial intelligence (AI), in order to distinguish it from general intelligence, which continues to be the holy grail of computing. If we are to progress from narrow to general AI, it is important to have a better understanding of what intelligence is and what it entails. As we seek to reboot computing across the stack, this is an important question to address, to help us identify the optimal devices, architectures and design techniques that will allow us to build the intelligent systems of the future. In this paper, I will review the fundamental ideas and assumptions that have allowed us to achieve computing in artificial systems over the years. Building off these ideas, I will discuss the important distinction between a good example of a system with general intelligence i.e. ourselves, and the intelligence achieved through our current computational approaches. Following this, I will use recent results to explore a new framework - a physically grounded theory of thermodynamic intelligence, and discuss the design paradigm that seeks to achieve such intelligence in systems.
Step-economy synthesis of β-steryl sialosides using a sialyl iodide donor

Steryl glycosides are prevalent in nature and have unique biological activities dictated by sterol structure, sugar composition, and the stereochemical attachment of the aglycone. A single configurational switch can have profound biological consequences meriting the systematic study of structure and function relationships. Steryl congeners of N-acetyl neuraminic acid (NANA) impact neurobiological processes and may also mediate host/microbe interactions. In order to study these processes, a platform for the synthesis of β-steryl sialosides has been established. Promoter-free glycosidations using a novel α-linked sialyl iodide donor efficiently provide unique amphiphilic sialoglycoconjugates for examining bioactivities in various systems.
Point-wise model validation over experimental regions using regression confidence and tolerance intervals with Bayesian relaxations:

As systems grow more complex, so does our propensity to use computers to emulate complex real-world systems. Often these real-world systems possess dynamic response behavior over the operational do...
Share repurchases and short sales under ambiguity

Abstract We examine corporate pay out policies in a setting with short sales where investors face ambiguity about firms’ cash flows. We show that firms use share repurchases and a combination of share repurchases and dividend payments to fight short sales.
Management of dysphagia in acquired and progressive neurologic conditions

As the act of deglutition involves much of the central and peripheral nervous systems, neurologic disease can affect swallowing behaviors ranging from mild to profound in severity. The key in working with neurogenic dysphagia is to have a solid foundation in normal swallowing processes, including neural control. Within this framework, then, understanding how the neurologic condition affects neural control will guide hypothesis-based assessment and evidence-based treatment. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of evaluation and treatment of neurogenic dysphagia in adult populations as well to propose assessment of co-occurring speech, language, and airway compromise. Furthermore, it is vital to be familiar with ethical decision making and end-of-life issues. Continuing education in the form of research articles, conferences, and professional discussion boards is useful in maintaining a high level of service delivery. Whenever possible, an inter- or transdisciplinary approach is recommended.
TEM Horn Inspired Wideband Antennas for Diverse Applications

Two implementations of transverse electromagnetic (TEM) horns are researched for wideband receiving (RX) and transmitting (TX) applications. Both configurations are flush-mountable and inspired by a combined TEM horn/loop design. For RX application, a 46:1 bandwidth antenna recessed in an absorptive cavity is developed having in mind requirements of an amplitude-only direction finding antenna subsystem. For TX operation, an integration approach is proposed to assimilate the antenna with a lossless cavity and eliminate excitation of cavity modes that may degrade its performance. This is enabled by the realization of a compact, high-power, and flush-mountable TEM horn array. Theory and experiments validate designs robustness and show good performance in both cases.
Comparing Tumor Characteristics and Rates of Breast Cancers Detected by Screening Digital Breast Tomosynthesis and Full-Field Digital Mammography

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare the cancer detection rates (CDRs), tumor types, and characteristics between screening digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and screening full-field digital mammography (FFDM) in a matched patient population in a large academic breast imaging practice with mixed DBT and FFDM technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In this retrospective study, we reviewed consecutive screening FFDM and DBT examinations performed between October 2012 and September 2014. To control for nonrandomized selection of FFDM versus DBT examinations, we applied propensity score matching on the basis of patient age, imaging site, and prior imaging findings. An institutional breast cancer registry identified cancer diagnoses. CDR and tumor type, grade, receptor, nodal status, and size were compared between matched FFDM and DBT groups. RESULTS. Sixty-one cancers were detected in the matched screening cohort of DBT (n = 9817) and FFDM (n = 14,180) examinations. CDR was higher with DBT than with FFDM for invasive cancers (2.8 vs 1.3, p = 0.01), minimal cancers (2.4 vs 1.2, p = 0.03), estrogen receptor-positive invasive cancers (2.6 vs 1.1, p = 0.01), and node-negative invasive cancers (2.3 vs 1.1, p = 0.02.), respectively. The ratio of screen-detected invasive cancers to ductal carcinoma in situ on DBT (3.0) was not significantly different from that on FFDM (2.6) (p = 0.79). CONCLUSION. DBT results in an overall increase in CDR irrespective of the tumor type, size, or grade of cancer.
Urinary tract infections: microbial pathogenesis, host–pathogen interactions and new treatment strategies

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, recurrent infections that can be mild to life-threatening. The continued emergence of antibiotic resistance, together with our increasing understanding of the detrimental effects conferred by broad-spectrum antibiotic use on the health of the beneficial microbiota of the host, has underscored the weaknesses in our current treatment paradigm for UTIs. In this Review, we discuss how recent microbiological, structural, genetic and immunological studies have expanded our understanding of host-pathogen interactions during UTI pathogenesis. These basic scientific findings have the potential to shift the strategy for UTI treatment away from broad-spectrum antibiotics targeting conserved aspects of bacterial replication towards pathogen-specific antibiotic-sparing therapeutics that target core determinants of bacterial virulence at the host-pathogen interface.
The Role of Knowledge for Policy Preferences: Evidence from Argentina

Author(s): Petrachkova, Alexandra | Advisor(s): Treisman, Daniel Simon | Abstract: In this dissertation, I study the role of knowledge in policy preferences. In democracies, voters are often criticized for not being sufficiently informed when making their political decisions. Political scientists disagree about how consequential this ignorance is for the quality of democratic government. One camp emphasizes that people are capable of learning new information and that knowledge makes them change their views. Following this line of reasoning, I suggest using fundamental knowledge relevant to a specific policy domain rather than measuring knowledge that is directly related to the political world.I focus on one policy domain – economic policies. I use the Global Financial Literacy test developed by Standard a Poor’s as a proxy for economic knowledge. I ask respondents to complete this test at the end of the three original surveys that I conducted in Argentina in 2017, 2018, and 2019. In total, 10,457 individuals participated in the surveys. I choose this country to study the effect of knowledge on policy preferences because of a drastic change in economic policies in 2015. I find that those who score higher on the test are more likely to support pro-market economic policies, such as elimination of trade barriers, elimination of subsidies, and integration into the world financial markets. My identification strategy includes using a measure of knowledge that is uncorrelated with the most important driver for policy preferences – partisan attachments- and conducting analysis in two different contexts – economic boom and recession. The latter helps address possible confoundedness between financial knowledge and other factors, such as social status, that are important both for knowledge and policy preferences. In addition to observational evidence, I provide randomly selected respondents in the 2018 and 2019 surveys with survey treatments – passages in which consequences of economic policies in Argentina and Venezuela are discussed. The results largely support the view that information helps shape policy positions. I receive stronger results in 2018 than in 2019. In 2018, I find that respondents who received the treatment are more likely to support the open economy and the debt repayment. In 2019, the coefficients for the treatment dummies do not reach a conventional level of significance, although their signs are consistent with the hypothesis. Overall, my findings suggest that fundamental non-partisan knowledge matters when it comes to policy preferences.
Shaman, Healer, Witch: Comparing Shamanism with Franconian Folk Magic.

Ideal-type shamanism is compared with Franconian folk magic. Franconia, a central province of Germany, experiences the end phase of a tradition of dualistic folk magic, including white and black witchcraft. While there are similarities between shamanism and Franconian magic - good or evil spirits amenable to magical manipulation, psychosomatic effects, "justice magic" -, differences prevail. The shaman's ecstasy, idiosyncrasy, public seance, and "possession" by supernatural entities contrast with the healer's or witch's mechanical magic, privacy and secrecy, and intermediariness between humans and supernatural powers. While shamanism is holistic and ambivalent, Franconian magic is dualistic and predictable; it is an extension of Catholicism rather than a form of shamanism.
Melatonin promotes sleep by activating the BK channel in C. elegans .

Melatonin (Mel) promotes sleep through G protein-coupled receptors. However, the downstream molecular target(s) is unknown. We identified the Caenorhabditis elegans BK channel SLO-1 as a molecular target of the Mel receptor PCDR-1-. Knockout of pcdr-1, slo-1, or homt-1 (a gene required for Mel synthesis) causes substantially increased neurotransmitter release and shortened sleep duration, and these effects are nonadditive in double knockouts. Exogenous Mel inhibits neurotransmitter release and promotes sleep in wild-type (WT) but not pcdr-1 and slo-1 mutants. In a heterologous expression system, Mel activates the human BK channel (hSlo1) in a membrane-delimited manner in the presence of the Mel receptor MT1 but not MT2. A peptide acting to release free Gβγ also activates hSlo1 in a MT1-dependent and membrane-delimited manner, whereas a Gβλ inhibitor abolishes the stimulating effect of Mel. Our results suggest that Mel promotes sleep by activating the BK channel through a specific Mel receptor and Gβλ.
Supported-BinaryNet: Bitcell Array-Based Weight Supports for Dynamic Accuracy-Energy Trade-Offs in SRAM-Based Binarized Neural Network

In this work, we introduce bitcell array-based support parameters to improve the prediction accuracy of SRAM-based binarized neural network (SRAM-BNN). Our approach enhances the training weight space of SRAM-BNN while requiring minimal overheads to a typical design. More flexibility of the weight space leads to higher prediction accuracy in our design. We adapt row digital-to-analog (DAC) converter, and computing flow in SRAM-BNN for bitcell array-based weight supports. Using the discussed interventions, our scheme also allows a dynamic trade-off of accuracy against energy to address dynamic energy constraints in typical real-time applications. Our approach reduces classification error in MNIST from 1.4% to 0.91%. To reduce the power overheads, we propose a dynamic drop out of support parameters, which also reduces the processing energy of the in-SRAM weight-input product Our architecture can dropout 52% of the bitcell array-based support parameters with only minimal accuracy degradation. We also characterize our design under varying degrees of process variability in the transistors.
Substrate oxygen sponge effect: A parameter for epitaxial manganite thin film growth

The emergent phenomena in complex oxide thin films are strongly tied to the oxygen content, which is often engineered by the oxygen partial pressure during growth. However, such oxygen control by the growth pressure is challenging to synthesize for some oxide films, which requires a subtle control of the oxygen content. A parameter of controlling the oxygen content independent of the growth pressure is desired. Here, we propose a method of controlling the oxygen content of films by engineering the substrate before the growth. The oxide substrate serves as an oxygen sponge, which provides a tunable oxygen environment ranging from oxygen-rich to oxygen-poor for the film growth, depending on the pre-substrate annealing (PSA) conditions. Using manganite as a model system, we demonstrate that this simple PSA method leads to remarkable changes in the structure and physical properties of the as-grown films. This substrate oxygen sponge effect, driven by the large oxygen concentration gradient at high temperatures, can be applied to explore not only emergent interfacial phenomena but also the growth of a variety of functional oxide thin films and nanocomposites.
Measuring perceptions of social environments for walking: A scoping review of walkability surveys.

Abstract The neighborhood pedestrian environment is an important determinant of physical activity and health. Despite widespread acknowledgment that neighborhoods' social and physical characteristics contribute to a walkable place, constructs and metrics remain focused primarily on the built environment. This scoping review documents the current state of the practice to measure perceived social elements of pedestrian environments in order to identify measurement strategies to understand and support walking, particularly in socially diverse neighborhoods. We identified 20 survey instruments focused on pedestrian environments, walkability, or physical activity at the local (neighborhood) scale and designed to capture residents' perceptions of outdoor walking environments. Across the 20 instruments, we identified and categorized 182 distinct items that measured social environments into four domains (social capital, personal safety, physical signifiers, and general neighborhood descriptors) and thirteen subdomains. Many items emphasized negative social elements, such as crime and disorder. Only a few items focused on community identity. Most instruments cover some aspects of the social environment well, but few provide a holistic inventory of the social environment across domains and subdomains. We also observe that the state of the practice seems frozen, with most instruments in use having originated in 2010 or earlier.
Reflectin needs its intensity amplifier: Realizing the potential of tunable structural biophotonics

Underwater camouflage and communication in a family of recently evolved squids are controlled, in part, by the reflectin proteins, which regulate dynamic changes in the color and intensity of light reflected from intracellular Bragg reflectors and Mie scatterers. The reflectins act as a signal transducer, precisely tuning the dimensions and refractive index of the membrane-bounded structural reflectors containing them to an extent exactly proportional to neuronal signaling. This calibration between the activating signal and the output color and intensity of reflectance is governed by the physics of the liquid state of reflectin assemblies, which osmotically fine-tune the dimensions and refractive index of the membrane-bounded structural reflectors containing them. While thin-film or genetically engineered assemblies of reflectin deliver changes in the colors of reflection approximating those of the biological system (as do other proteins and polymers), none has delivered the signal-activated increase in the intensity of reflectance characteristic of the native system. The membrane envelopes (Bragg reflector lamellae and Mie-scattering vesicles) containing the reflectins apparently serve as amplifiers, functionally “impedance matched” to the range of tunable sizes of the reflectin assemblies; reflectin films or assemblies lacking such an amplifier fail to deliver signal-activated increases in reflectance intensity.
Design of Planar Transformer for Dual Active Bridge for Renewable Energy Sources and Grid Integration Applications

The increasing integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) with smart sensing devices, advanced control, and integrated communication in smart grid has surged the motivation towards improving power density, efficiency, and reducing the size/weight of power converters. This has shifted the focus on planar magnetics as components such as inductor, transformer account for major share of losses and volume in a converter. Planar magnetics replace the traditional wire-wound structure with windings on Printed Circuit Board (PCB), or using thin copper sheets resulting in low profile and high power density. The design of a planar transformer for Dual Active Bridge (DAB) for RES and grid integration applications is discussed in this paper. Multi-objective optimization is conducted with objectives of reducing losses and overall volume of DAB with a planar transformer. A planar transformer hardware prototype for DAB was constructed and tested to demonstrate transformer performance and advantages of this design approach.
Model Theory and Set Theory

We chronicle here the divorce of first order model theory from set theory. Recalling Maddy's [Maddy 2007] injunction (page 13) to ‘adjudicate the methodological questions of mathematics – what makes for a good definition,’ we explain this major aspect of the paradigm shift as the decision to choose definitions of model theoretic concepts that reduce the set theoretic overhead. To explore this development we follow the prescription of Thesis 2: connect various local formalizations. That is, we look at formalized set theory ZFC and analyze its use in model theory. These investigations expand on recent work studying the entanglement of mathematics with set theory [Kennedy 2015, Kennedy 2013, Parsons 2013, Vaananen 2012]. These works, as on page 46, find that the amount of entanglement depends crucially on the logic chosen for formalizing mathematics. Paraphrasing Vaananen [Vaananen 2012], it is very difficult to tell the difference between the second order view (mathematics is the study of higher order properties of structures) and the set theory view (formalizing mathematics in set theory); see Chapters 7.3 and 11. The high entanglement of second order logic with set theory is expressed more precisely by it being symbiotic with the power set [Kennedy 2015]. Parsons’ general theme in [Parsons 2013] is closer to the approach in this chapter. He considers, a bit more generally, logic and mathematics, and argues that the ontological commitments of first order logic are relatively weak. But his argument is not a general metaphysical one. Similarly to Maddy's Second Philosopher he precisely analyzes the commitments within second order arithmetic for specific results in the basic model theory. For example, he points to the fact [Simpson 2009] that the completeness theorem is equivalent to weak Konig's lemma over RCA0. Analogously we investigate the necessity in contemporary first order and infinitary model theory of specific ZFC techniques or specific axioms. To what extent should, could, or must a model theorist go beyond ZFC? What are the specific commitments for doing model theory (as opposed to mathematics in general)? We consider six aspects of the interaction of set theory and model theory. In the first section, we describe an apparent close relation between model theory and set theory that was dissolved by the paradigm shift.
What about the babies? A critical review of infants’ and toddlers’ absence in homelessness scholarship

Abstract Rates of family homelessness continue to reach unprecedented levels. As many as two million young children experience family homelessness each year, with an estimated one in 10 younger than one year old. Yet, despite their high prevalence, a dearth of studies have specifically investigated infants’ and toddlers’ experiences of homelessness. Overall, the available literature suggests homeless infants and toddlers experience increased risk to physical health, development, and well-being at an individual- and family-level. This presents a severely limited understanding of homeless infants’ and toddlers’ experiences, with substantial gaps remaining. This review documents the scant existing literature on infant and toddler development within the context of homelessness at both the individual and family-system levels, and proposes next steps for research, practice, and policy.
Observed Engagement in Community Implemented Evidence-Based Practices for Children and Adolescents: Implications for Practice Delivery.

OBJECTIVE This observational study characterizes youth and caregiver behaviors that may pose challenges to engagement within a system-driven implementation of multiple evidence-based practices (EBPs). We examined links between Engagement Challenges and therapist EBP implementation outcomes. METHOD Community therapists (N = 102) provided audio recordings of EBP sessions (N = 666) for youth (N = 267; 71.54%, Latinx; 51.69%, female; Mage = 9.85, Range: 1-18). Observers rated the extent to which youth and/or caregivers engaged in the following behaviors: Caregiver and/or Youth Expressed Concerns about interventions, and Youth Disruptive Behaviors. Multilevel modeling was used to identify predictors of observable Engagement Challenges, and examine associations between Engagement Challenges, and therapist-reported ability to deliver planned activities, and observer-rated extensiveness of EBP strategy delivery. RESULTS At least one Engagement Challenge was observed in 43.99% of sessions. Youth Engagement Challenges were not associated with outcomes. Caregiver Expressed Concerns were negatively associated with therapist-reported ability to carry out planned session activities (B = -.21, 95% CI[-.39-(-.02)], p < .05). However, Caregiver Expressed Concerns were positively associated with extensiveness of EBP Content strategy delivery (B = .08, 95% CI[.01-.15], p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that Youth Engagement Challenges have little observed impact on EBP delivery. In contrast, although therapists perceive that Caregiver Expressed Concerns derail their planned activities, Caregiver Expressed Concerns are associated with more extensive delivery of content about therapeutic interventions. Community therapists' implementation of EBPs appear unaffected by common youth in-session behavioral challenges, but future research is needed to clarify whether caregivers' concerns about interventions prompt, or are prompted by, more intensive therapist EBP content instruction.
Working with Your Research Advisors

An essential starting point in planning any trip is for the travelers to arrive at a mutual understanding regarding the destination to which they intend to travel, as well as the route of travel that they will take.
A novel computational methodology for GWAS multi-locus analysis based on graph theory and machine learning

Background: Current form of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is inadequate to accurately explain the genetics of complex traits due to the lack of sufficient statistical power. It explores each variant individually, but current studies show that multiple variants with varying effect sizes actually act in a concerted way to develop a complex disease. To address this issue, we have developed an algorithmic framework that can effectively solve the multi-locus problem in GWAS with a very high level of confidence. Our methodology consists of three novel algorithms based on graph theory and machine learning. It identifies a set of highly discriminating variants that are stable and robust with little (if any) spuriousness. Consequently, likely these variants should be able to interpret missing heritability of a convoluted disease as an entity. Results: To demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed algorithms, we have considered astigmatism case-control GWAS dataset. Astigmatism is a common eye condition that causes blurred vision because of an error in the shape of the cornea. The cause of astigmatism is not entirely known but a sizable inheritability is assumed. Clinical studies show that developmental disorders (such as, autism) and astigmatism co-occur in a statistically significant number of individuals. By performing classical GWAS analysis, we didn9t find any genome-wide statistically significant variants. Conversely, we have identified a set of stable, robust, and highly predictive variants that can together explain the genetics of astigmatism. We have performed a set of biological enrichment analyses based on gene ontology (GO) terms, disease ontology (DO) terms, biological pathways, network of pathways, and so forth to manifest the accuracy and novelty of our findings. Conclusions: Rigorous experimental evaluations show that our proposed methodology can solve GWAS multi-locus problem effectively and efficiently. It can identify signals from the GWAS dataset having small number of samples with a high level of accuracy. We believe that the proposed methodology based on graph theory and machine learning is the most comprehensive one compared to any other machine learning based tools in this domain.
Feeding Behaviour and Nutrition in Grasshoppers and Locusts

Publisher Summary This chapter relates feeding behavior and nutrition to the other aspects of insect functioning that are sufficiently well surveyed and understood to provide the possibility of integration. The food preferences of some acridids are strictly limited and a degree of discrimination is usually to be discerned even in those of polyphagous propensities. Many of these latter require little pressure to feed outside their range of native preference and this may lead to their becoming pests. The indications are that for species of such catholic tastes nutritional factors enter into their choice of food. Nutrition in the strict chemical sense of certain locusts, their needs, while qualitatively similar to those of the generality of insects, is noteworthy for a few unusual features. These relate to the requirement for ascorbic acid, inositol, and unsaturated fatty acids and to the critical importance of large amounts of choline in larval growth. A need for the lipogenic factors, choline and inositol, and unsaturated fatty acids seems to characterize all those orthopteroid insects that have been studied in detail. The need for dietary carotene to ensure normal pigment metabolism in locusts may be a peculiarity of those particular species in which pigmentation is bound up with the special physiological phenomena of phase.
Measured Performance and Stability Analysis of Large-Scale Reinforced Model Embankments at Different Moisture Contents

This paper describes construction and instrumentation of two 1.65-m high reinforced embankment models that were tested at two different gravitational water contents (GWC) on the dry and wet sides of the optimum moisture content (OMC); i.e. OMC−2 % and OMC+2 %. The embankment models were constructed using a clayey sand that was reinforced with four layers of instrumented geotextile with a uniform vertical spacing of 300 mm. Each model embankment was subjected to a line surcharge load (strip footing) near its crest until failure. The magnitudes of GWC, earth pressure, geotextile strains, footing settlement and embankment deformations were measured using EC-5 sensors, earth pressure cells, wire potentiometers, linear variable deferential transformers and reference plates, respectively during the construction and loading phases of each test. The GWC values in each model embankment were measured using EC-5 sensors and the oven drying method to ensure that they were close to the target values. Slope stability analysis was carried out to study the equilibrium of embankment models and to validate the predicted bearing capacity and factor of safety results against the experimental data. Results of this study show that the embankment model constructed on the dry side of OMC (i.e. OMC−2 %) had a 10 % greater serviceability failure load than the model built at OMC+2 %. Meanwhile, stability analysis results indicate that the bearing capacity of an unreinforced model embankment at OMC−2 % would be 72 % lower than that of the corresponding reinforced model. It is also found that compaction-induced energy could increase the earth pressure within the embankment by up to 70 % of the vertical stress in the soil mass due to gravity.
From Dorms to Cubicles: How Recent Graduates Communicate

In a two-part field study, we studied the communication tool use of 29 college students and 20 recent college graduates. In comparing the two groups' communication choices, we explored how transitioning from attending college to working full time impacts communication. We discuss how communication changes for recent college graduates in terms of both the content of their conversations, as well as the communication methods they use. We found that convenience plays a major role in the adoption and usage of communication tools, with participants preferring methods that were easily accessible at work, at home and in transit. We identify life changes recent graduates experience as they transition into emerging adulthood: the effect of being on a computer at work all day, changing social circles and scenes, being geographically distant from friends and family, and the desire for a professional persona. We discuss the impact of these changes on communication.
Using S wave receiver functions to estimate crustal structure beneath ice sheets: An application to the Transantarctic Mountains and East Antarctic craton

[1] For seismic stations deployed on ice sheets, determining crustal structure using P wave receiver functions can be difficult since ice reverberations may mask P-to-S (Ps) conversions from the crust-mantle boundary (Moho). In this study, we assess the usefulness of S wave receiver functions (SRFs), which are not affected by ice multiples, for investigating crustal structure beneath ice sheets by analyzing broadband seismic data recorded across the Transantarctic Mountains (TAMs) and the East Antarctic (EA) craton. Clear S-to-P (Sp) conversions from the Moho are obtained using standard SRF processing methods and are easier to interpret than the corresponding Ps conversion on PRFs. When the Sp-S times are modeled together with 16–20 s Rayleigh wave group velocities, we obtain Moho depth estimates of ∼40–45 km for the EA craton, consistent with average Precambrian crustal thickness found globally but ∼9 km thicker than previously reported estimates. A somewhat thinner crust (∼35–40 km) is obtained beneath the TAMs, suggesting that crustal buoyancy is at most a minor contributor to the uplift of the mountain range in this region.