cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of Calcium and Calpain in the Downregulation of Voltage‐Gated Sodium Channel Expression by the Pyrethroid Pesticide Deltamethrin

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Na(v)) are essential for initiation and propagation of action potentials. Previous in vitro studies reported that exposure to the Na(v) toxins veratridine and α scorpion toxin cause persistent downregulation of Na(v) mRNA in vitro. However the mechanism of this downregulation is not well characterized. Here, we report that the type-II pyrethroid deltamethrin, which has a similar mechanism as these toxins, elicited an approximate 25% reduction in Na(v) 1.2 and Na(v) 1.3 mRNA in SK-N-AS cells. Deltamethrin-induced decreases of Na(v) mRNA were blocked with the Na(v) antagonist tetrodotoxin, demonstrating a primary role for interaction with Na(v). Pre-treatment with the intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA-AM and the calpain inhibitor PD-150606 also prevented these decreases, identifying a role for intracellular calcium and calpain activation. Because alterations in Na(v) expression and function can result in neurotoxicity, additional studies are warranted to determine whether or not such effects occur in vivo.
Blood flow of human soft tissue sarcomas measured by thallium-201 scanning : prediction of tumor response to radiation

Thallium-201 chloride (201T1) has been used to determine regional perfusion in the myocardium and in tumors. This study was done to determine the potential prognostic importance of lesion tracer uptake to regression, local control, and rate of distant metastasis in 14 patients with neoplasms of soft tissue. Most patients had planned resections following preoperative radiation therapy. Minimum follow-up was 4 years. The ratio of nuclide uptake in the tumor to surrounding normal tissue was used as an estimate of relative blood flow. Tumors with acute volume responses (greater than or equal to 50% at the completion of X irradiation) had lower 201T1 uptake indicating lower relative blood flow than tumors that failed to have a volume reduction [1.63 +/- 0.30 (n = 9) vs 3.49 +/- 0.41 (n = 5) 201T1]. All patients had local tumor control. Patients with high uptake tumors tended to develop metastases at a higher frequency, although this was not statistically significant (p = 0.10). We conclude that 201T1 scans are a safe, non-invasive method of estimating tumor perfusion which can be useful to predict acute response to radiation, and may help to identify patients who will ultimately develop distant metastases.
Farm-specific technical efficiency in the England and Wales dairy sector

This paper seeks to measure farm-specific technical efficiencies in the England and Wales dairy sector at discret e points in time. Stochastic production functions are estimated econo metrically using Milk Marketing Board data for three stratified rando m samples of dairy farms in 1976-77, 1980-81 and 1984-85. A measure o f relative technical efficiency is calculated for each farm in each y ear. The distribution of technical efficiencies for 1976-77 has the l owest mean and highest variance; that for 1984-85 has the highest mea n and lowest variance. The results indicate an increase in relative t echnical efficiency which the imposition of quotas has accelerated. Copyright 1987 by Oxford University Press.
“The 15-M movement: formed by and formative of counter-mapping and spatial activism” by Stephen Luis Vilaseca

While it may be too early to recast 15-M as heritage, the 2011 wave of indignados movements in Spain has undoubtedly set a trend: a methodic mass action in, and on, “lived space” (Henry Lefebvre's ...
Weighted Elastic Net Model for Mass Spectrometry Imaging Processing

In proteomics study, Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS) is an emerging and very promis- ing new technique for protein analysis from intact biological tissues. Though it has shown great potential and is very promising for rapid mapping of protein localization and the detection of size- able differences in protein expression, challenges remain in data processing due to the difficulty of high dimensionality and the fact that the number of input variables in prediction model is signifi- cantly larger than the number of observations. To obtain a complete overview of IMS data and find trace features based on both spectral and spatial patterns, one faces a global optimization problem. In this paper, we propose a weighted elastic net (WEN) model based on IMS data processing needs of using both the spectral and spatial information for biomarker selection and classification. Prop- erties including variable selection accuracy of the WEN model are discussed. Experimental IMS data analysis results show that such a model not only reduces the number of side features but also helps new biomarkers discovery.
Inflammatory Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) accounts for 5% to 10% of all cases of AAA and differs from typical atherosclerotic AAA in many important ways. Although both inflammatory and atherosclerotic AAA most commonly affect the infrarenal portion of the abdominal aorta, patients with the inflammatory variant are younger and usually symptomatic, chiefly from back or abdominal pain. Unlike patients with atherosclerotic AAA, most with the inflammatory variant have an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate or abnormalities of other serum inflammatory markers. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are both sensitive for demonstrating the cuff of soft tissue inflammation surrounding the aneurysm that is characteristic of inflammatory AAA. In contrast to atherosclerotic AAA, the inflammatory variant is characterized pathologically by marked thickening of the aneurysm wall, fibrosis of the adjacent retroperitoneum, and rigid adherence of the adjacent structures to the anterior aneurysm wall. An extraordinary expansion of the adventitia due to inflammation also distinguishes inflammatory from atherosclerotic AAA. Although the pathogenesis of inflammatory AAA appears to involve an immune response localized to the vessel wall, the etiology of the inflammatory reaction is unknown. Inflammatory AAA is almost never associated with inflammation of other arteries. Male sex and smoking, the main risk factors for atherosclerotic AAA, are even stronger risk factors for the inflammatory variant. Smoking cessation is the first step of medical therapy. Corticosteroids or immunosuppressive therapies may also have roles. Although inflammatory AAA appears less likely to rupture than atherosclerotic AAA, surgical intervention appears prudent once the diameter of the aneurysm exceeds 5.5 cm. Knowing the features of inflammatory AAA should allow physicians to distinguish it from atherosclerotic AAA or from systemic vasculitis and to treat it with the appropriate combination of medical and surgical therapies.
Curved shape reconstruction using multiple hypothesis tracking

Panoramic sweeps produced by a scanning range sensor often defy interpretation using conventional line-of-sight models, particularly when the environment contains curved, specularly reflective surfaces. Combining multiple scans from different vantage points provides geometric constraints necessary to solve this problem, but not without introducing new difficulties. Existing multiple scan implementations, for the most part, ignore the data correspondence issue. The multiple hypothesis tracking (MHT) algorithm explicitly deals with data correspondence. Given canonical observations extracted from raw scans, the MHT applies multiple behavior models to explain their evolution from one scan to the next. This technique identifies different topological features in the world to which it assigns the corresponding measurements. We apply the algorithm to real sonar scans generated specifically for this investigation. The experiments consist of interrogating a variety of two-dimensional prismatic objects, standing on end in a 1.2-m-deep freshwater tank, from multiple vantage points using a 1.25 MHz profiling sonar system. The results reflect the validity of the algorithm under the initial assumptions and its gradual performance degradation when these assumptions fail to characterize the environment adequately. We close with recommendations that detail extending the approach to handle more natural underwater settings.
Transmembrane Segments of Syntaxin Line the Fusion Pore of Ca2+-Triggered Exocytosis

The fusion pore of regulated exocytosis is a channel that connects and spans the vesicle and plasma membranes. The molecular composition of this important intermediate structure of exocytosis is unknown. Here, we found that mutations of some residues within the transmembrane segment of syntaxin (Syx), a plasma membrane protein essential for exocytosis, altered neurotransmitter flux through fusion pores and altered pore conductance. The residues that influenced fusion-pore flux lay along one face of an α-helical model. Thus, the fusion pore is formed at least in part by a circular arrangement of 5 to 8 Syx transmembrane segments in the plasma membrane.
Boosting Methods for Regression

In this paper we examine ensemble methods for regression that leverage or “boost” base regressors by iteratively calling them on modified samples. The most successful leveraging algorithm for classification is AdaBoost, an algorithm that requires only modest assumptions on the base learning method for its strong theoretical guarantees. We present several gradient descent leveraging algorithms for regression and prove AdaBoost-style bounds on their sample errors using intuitive assumptions on the base learners. We bound the complexity of the regression functions produced in order to derive PAC-style bounds on their generalization errors. Experiments validate our theoretical results.
Turbo-blast with semi-blind Co-channel interference cancellation in multicell MIMO systems

Multicell MIMO is typically interference- limited. Advanced signal-processing techniques like multiuser detection can be exploited to effectively combat co-channel interference and significantly improve system performance, provided perfect information for interferers is available. This consumes substantial amount of scarce system resource and may be difficult to obtain in practice. In this paper we first exploit the turbo principle to enhance an effective blind detection method based on multiuser kurtosis (MUK) maximization, thus coined as turbo-MUK. In turbo-MUK a few training symbols are needed to resolve the possible phase and ordering ambiguity, making it a semi-blind method. Then we propose a multi-cell MIMO receiver structure that employs turbo-BLAST to detect the desired signal and turbo-MUK to deal with interference, and iterates between the two in a group multistage detection fashion to further improve the performance. Simulation results indicate that our newly proposed technique achieves satisfactory performance, while significantly reduces the associated system overhead. Keywords-blind detection, multicell MIMO, turbo principle.
A Model for the Investigation of Psychiatric Disorders of Childhood Its Application in Genetic Studies of the Hyperkinetic Syndrome

Although child psychiatry has had officially approved subspecialty training programs in the United States for over 10 years, many leaders in the field have decried the nearly negligible amount of research training occurring in these programs (Finch, 1973) and have emphasized the need for active, ongoing research if child psychiatry is to develop the body of scientific theory necessary for it to remain a viable discipline (Anthony, 1969a, 1973; Fish, 1969). However, if more clinical investigation in child psychiatry is to occur in the future, more medical students must be recruited into the field, and those who are recruited must be encouraged to undertake investigative work while they are in training.
Game Changer? Citizens United, Judicial Elections, and Turnout in 2012

Over the last thirty five years, scholars have taken increasing interest in judicial elections, which have in recent decades become more “political,” costly, and competitive in nature. Some analysts welcome the development, believing it makes for more meaningful elections, while others fear for judicial impartiality. This debate was exacerbated by the 2010 Citizens United ruling, which removed independent spending bans on corporations and unions. I look to see whether independent spending has emerged as a significant factor in predicting turnout. I find that both campaign and independent spending are important, along with political interest and knowledge.
Characterization of quantitative trait loci for growth and meat quality in a cross between commercial breeds of swine

A three-generation resource family was created by crossing two Berkshire grandsires with nine Yorkshire granddams to identify QTL affecting growth, body composition, and meat quality. A total of 512 F2 offspring were evaluated for 11 traits related to growth and body composition and 28 traits related to meat quality. All animals were initially genotyped for 125 markers across the genome. The objectives of this advanced phase of the project were to further identify and characterize QTL after genotyping for another 33 markers in special regions of interest, and to develop and apply methods for detecting QTL with parent-of-origin effects. New marker linkage maps were derived and used in QTL analysis based on line-cross least squares regression-interval mapping. A decision tree for identifying QTL with parent-of-origin effects was developed based on tests against the Mendelian mode of expression. Empirical significance thresholds were derived at chromosomewise and genomewise levels using specialized permutation strategies to create data under the null hypothesis appropriate for each test. Significance thresholds derived by the permutation tests were validated based on simulation of a pedigree and data structure similar to the Berkshire-Yorkshire population. The addition of 33 markers resulted in the discovery of 29 new QTL at the 5% chromosomewise level using the Mendelian model of analysis. Thirteen of the original QTL were no longer significant at the 5% chromosomewise level. A total of 33 QTL with parent-of-origin effects were identified, including QTL with paternal expression for backfat and loin muscle area on chromosome 2, near IGF2, and QTL with maternal expression for drip loss and reflectance on chromosome 9. Tests for imprinting against Mendelian expression identified much fewer QTL with parent-of-origin effects than tests based on significance of paternal and maternal alleles, which have been used in other studies. The detected QTL and their identified mode of expression will allow further research in these QTL regions and their utilization in marker-assisted improvement of meat quality.
Munc18-1 and the Syntaxin-1 N Terminus Regulate Open-Closed States in a t-SNARE Complex

Neuronal exocytosis is mediated by SNARE proteins, which assemble into a highly stable four-helical bundle in a process that is not well understood. Here, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to examine how the t-SNAREs syntaxin and SNAP25 assemble in the presence and absence of the regulatory protein Munc18-1. Syntaxin and SNAP25 form a 2:1 complex, which is structurally heterogeneous and persists in the presence of excess SNAP25. Munc18-1 dissociates this 2:1 complex, but a 1:1 complex is retained where syntaxin is in a closed state. In the absence of an N-terminal fragment of syntaxin, Munc18-1 also stabilizes a 1:1 complex of sytaxin/SNAP25; however, syntaxin now samples an open state. These data demonstrate that the open-closed syntaxin equilibrium is shifted toward the open state when syntaxin and Munc18-1 are associated with SNAP25, and the results indicate that a syntaxin/SNAP25:Munc18-1 complex is a likely starting point for SNARE assembly.
Bladder Autoaugmentation: Partial Detrusor Excision to Augment the Bladder without Use of Bowel

AbstractA surgical technique of partial detrusorectomy (autoaugmentation) for creation of a diverticular bulge of the dog bladder is described. The method is designed to serve as a bladder augmentation without using bowel.We describe the technique, results with dogs and its clinical application. Partial detrusorectomy appears to function as an autoaugmentation that can be performed reliably in dogs, offers potential advantages over bowel segments, and is a potential alternative to enterocystoplasty in selected patients.
Compositional zoning and element partitioning in nickeloan tourmaline from a metamorphosed karstbauxite from Samos, Greece

Blue-green nickeloan tourmaline from a micaceous enclave of a marble from Samos, Greece, contains unusually high concentrations of Ni (up to 3.5 wt% NiO), Co (up to 1.3 wt% CoO), and Zn (up to 0.8 wt% ZnO). The polymetamorphic karstbauxite sample has an uncommon assemblage of nickeloan tourmaline, calcite, zincian staurolite, gahnite, zincohogbomite, diaspore, muscovite, paragonite, and rutile. The complex geologic history is reflected in multi-staged tourmaline growth, with cores that represent detrital fragments surrounded by two-staged metamorphic overgrowths. Zone-1 metamorphic overgrowths, which nucleated next to detrital cores, are highly asymmetric and exhibit compositional polarity such that narrow overgrowths of brown schorl developed at the (−) c-pole are enriched in Mg, Ti, and F, and depleted in Al, Fe, and X-site vacancies (X□) relative to wider, gray-blue schorl-to-foitite overgrowths developed at the (+) c-pole. Volumetrically dominant Zone-2 overgrowths are strongly zoned nickeloan dravites with a continuous increase in Mg, Co, Ca, and F at the expense of Fe, Zn, Cr, and V from the Zone-1 interface to the outermost rim. Within Zone 2, Ni reaches a maximum of 0.5 apfu before decreasing in the outer 20–40 μm. Zone-2 overgrowths also exhibit compositional polarity such that, at the (−) c-pole, overgrowths are enriched in Mg, F, Na, Ca, and Cr relative to overgrowths at the (+) c-pole that are, in turn, enriched in Al, Fe, Ni, Co, and X□. Element partitioning involving tourmaline rims and coexisting minerals indicates that relative partitioning of Ni is tourmaline >> staurolite > gahnite; Co is tourmaline > staurolite > gahnite; and Zn is gahnite > staurolite >> tourmaline.
Patterned Macrovoids for Dielectric Constant Control of High Frequency Circuit Substrates

Fugitive ink and tape technology permit the inclusion of flat voids at predetermined locations in ceramic microcircuit substrates. Calculations show that critical stray capacitances can be reduced by as much as 65% and the propagation delay of microstrip transmission lines by 30% and more. The selectivity of the void location permits the retention of the full thermal conductance of the substrate under heat dissipating elements.
Atomization, Spraying, and Nebulization

An overview and current state-of-the-art of new developments in atomization, spraying and nebulization for the production of particulate materials are presented. The fundamental mechanisms of atomization physics, Newtonian and non-Newtonian atomization, primary and secondary breakups and disintegration of liquid jets and liquid sheets are briefly introduced, based on the up-to-date literature. The atomizers based on the energy input used to cause atomization are explained with their widely used application areas and their limitations. Spraying processes have a wide variety of industrial applications (automotive, aerospace, combustion, power, agriculture, food, metallurgy, environmental, and others) but in this book we focused only on the explanation of the spraying processes such as spray drying, thermal spraying and nebulization used in the production of particulate materials. Finally we provided a summary of the spray measurement techniques for the spray characterization and visualization.
Postcoital testing in women during menotropin therapy

The authors were interested in determining the predictive value of postcoital testing in women who undergo human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) therapy for the induction of ovulation. Fifty consecutive patients were studied whose husbands had acceptable semen analyses; 24 of the patients conceived. Postcoital testing was done after hMG stimulation on the day human chorionic gonadotropins (hCG) were given or the day before. All but one patient had excellent cervical mucus quality. Sperm characteristics in cervical mucus were analyzed in regard to overall motility, number of active sperm per high-power field (HPF), and quality of movement. These data were correlated with outcome in terms of conception. A linear correlation could be shown between overall motility and pregnancy outcome once at least 40% motility was present; no pregnancy occurred in patients with 20% or less sperm motility. Once five or more active sperm/HPF were noted, the chance of pregnancy was about 60%; this chance was not increasd with higher density rates. In all but one patient who conceived, sperm with maximum quality (+3 motility) were noted. Data were compiled in a postcoital score (range 0 to 12). Patients with a high score had a pregnancy rate of 70%, patients with an intermediate score, 23%, and none of the seven women with low scores conceived. Because menotropin therapy is costly, demanding, and potentially risky, it is suggested that one utilize results of postcoital testing as a guide in decisions about the continuation of such therapy.
Reading Comprehension: Reading for Learning

Reading comprehension is the process of simultaneously constructing and extracting meaning through interaction and engagement with print. The success of a comprehension event depends on a good match of reader skills, text difficulty, and task definition. Reader skills of vocabulary and background knowledge are particularly important. Tasks are defined differently by the demands of different texts (e.g., fiction vs. nonfiction), by different cultures, and by different disciplines. Approaches to comprehension instruction cannot ignore basic word-reading skills for struggling readers, but can usefully promote active engagement with varied texts, in both oral and literate modes, in pursuit of authentic learning goals.
Behavior of Listeria monocytogenes at 7, 13, 21, and 35°C in Tryptose Broth Acidified with Acetic, Citric, or Lactic Acid

Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes CA and V7 by of acetic, citric, and lactic acids at 7, 13, 21, and 35°C was investigated. Statistical analysis showed interactive effects between temperature, types, and concentration of acids and strains of the pathogen. Presence of up to 0.1% of acetic, citric and lactic acids in the medium (tryptose broth) inhibited growth; the degree of inhibition increased as the temperature of incubation decreased (no growth occurred in the presence of 0.1% acetic acid at 7°C). L. monocytogenes was inactivated at all temperatures when acid concentrations in the medium were 0.3% or greater. Acetic acid was most detrimental to L. monocytogenes followed in order by lactic and citric acids. The antilisterial activity of these acids coincided with their degree of undissociation. Citric and lactic acids, with larger dissociation constants, were less detrimental to the pathogen than was acetic acid.
Philosophic Anthropology in the Discourse on Inequality

Rousseau’s Discourse on Inequality describes the primitive condition that he thinks was most durable and most conducive to human happiness. Elizabeth Marshall Thomas studied an indigenous African population that is probably descended from people who never left the area in which modern humans evolved, and had until recently undergone less cultural evolution than any other living people. Thomas’ study of these people supports Rousseau’s conjectures about the nature of early social life and enriches his account with a detailed analysis of the social practices that have made this way of life especially durable. The new evidence she supplies is consistent with Rousseau’s claim that human happiness does not require political government or what we call civilized life.
Steganography and Steganalysis: Current Status and Future Directions

Steganography is the art of hiding a secret object in a cover media, while Steganalysis is the art of discovering the secret object from the cover media. With the increased emphasis in security, both steganography and steganalysis have recently drawn great research attention. While it is relatively easy to embed a secret message in a media such as an image, audio or video, the detection of an embedded message i.e., steganalysis is challenging because of the many different methods used in steganography and the continuous evolution of new steganography algorithms. In this paper we discuss the different techniques of steganography and steganalysis used in popular cover types i.e., images and audio. We also present an overview of some of the state-of-the-art tools used in this field. Our goal is to provide this as a survey paper identifying the current state of research, and possible future directions in this field.
Elder mistreatment in underserved populations: opportunities and challenges to developing a contemporary program of research

This article provides an overview of the status of research on elder mistreatment among underserved populations in the United States, including gaps in our current knowledge base and scientific and structural barriers to growing research on the exploitation, neglect, and abuse of older people from diverse and disadvantaged ethnic/racial, geographic, sexual identity, and socioeconomic groups. High-priority areas in need of new elder mistreatment research with underserved populations are identified, and suggestions are given for how this research can be facilitated by researchers, university institutional review boards, and funding agencies.
Membraneless laminar flow cell for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction with liquid product separation

The production of liquid fuel products via electrochemical reduction of CO2 is a potential path to produce sustainable fuels. However, to be practical, a separation strategy is required to isolate the fuel-containing electrolyte produced at the cathode from the anode and also prevent the oxidation products (i.e. O2) from reaching the cathode. Ion-conducting membranes have been applied in CO2 reduction reactors to achieve this separation, but they represent an efficiency loss and can be permeable to some product species. An alternative membraneless approach is developed here to maintain product separation through the use of a laminar flow cell. Computational modelling shows that near-unity separation efficiencies are possible at current densities achievable now with metal cathodes via optimization of the spacing between the electrodes and the electrolyte flow rate. Laminar flow reactor prototypes were fabricated with a range of channel widths by 3D printing. CO2 reduction to formic acid on Sn electrodes was used as the liquid product forming reaction, and the separation efficiency for the dissolved product was evaluated with high performance liquid chromatography. Trends in product separation efficiency with channel width and flow rate were in qualitative agreement with the model, but the separation efficiency was lower, with a maximum value of 90% achieved.
Four Complete Paenibacillus larvae Genome Sequences.

ABSTRACT Four complete genome sequences of genetically distinct Paenibacillus larvae strains have been determined. Pacific BioSciences single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology was used as the sole method of sequence determination and assembly. The chromosomes exhibited a G+C content of 44.1 to 44.2% and a molecular size range of 4.29 to 4.67 Mbp.
An Example of Porting PETSc Applications to Heterogeneous Platforms with OpenACC

In this paper, we document the workflow of our practice to port a PETSc application with OpenACC to a supercomputer, Titan, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Our experience shows a few lines of code modifications with OpenACC directives can give us a speedup of 1.34x in a PETSc-based Poisson solver (conjugate gradient method with algebraic multigrid preconditioner). This demonstrates the feasibility of enabling GPU capability in PETSc with OpenACC. We hope our work can serve as a reference to those who are interested in porting their legacy PETSc applications to modern heterogeneous platforms.
Impact of IFNL4-∆G genotype on sustained virologic response in hepatitis C genotype 1 patients treated with direct-acting antivirals.

Abstract In direct acting antiviral (DAA)-treated HCV genotype 1, the sustained virologic response rate with the ∆G/∆G genotype of IFNL4 rs368234815 (86.8%) was significantly lower than with ∆G/TT (95.9%, P = 0.03) or TT/TT (98.6%, P = 0.01). The SVR odds ratio for ∆G/∆G compared to TT/TT was 0.10 (P = 0.03). IFNL4 genotype might predict DAA-response.
Membrane Lipid Structure and Plant Function: What are The Relationships?

Membranes are of central importance to all biology. Membranes not only define the limits of cells but also allow for the subcellular compartmentation of various biochemical functions. The ability to establish chemical potential gradients across membranes is essential to photosynthesis, the primary means of energy capture in the biosphere. Explaining membrane lipid diversity is a central problem of membrane biology. In plants, as well as in animals, membrane lipids are extremely heterogeneous in the molecular species present. However, our capacity to explain how the structure lipid molecules affects membrane function is very limited. In this paper we shall summarize recent information about polyunsaturated lipid synthesis and discuss two mutant lines of Arabidopsis that have expanded our understanding of the roles of lipids in plant biology.
Authoring Systems for Interactive Video Instruction

Abstract Describes and critiques the features of four authoring systems which can be used for instruction on developing computer aided interactive video courseware. These systems are: The Instructor, InfoWriter, IDeAS and ProCAL2. The description of each system includes information on hardware requirements, compatibility with video tape and/or videodisc, type of instructional options available, user data management capabilities, procedures for encoding control signals, and access for user modifications. The critiques include assessments of operational ease, documentation quality, and publisher support. Principal advantages and disadvantages of the systems are noted. Concludes that each system has its place in a systematic plan for instruction on C.A.I.V. courseware development.
Session details: Onward! workshop summaries

SPLASH and Onward! workshops are a great way to grow your knowledge and expand your professional network. They are highly interactive events that provide a creative and collaborative environment where attendees meet to discuss and solve challenging problems related to a variety of new emerging technologies and research areas.Over the past two decades, the OOPSLA workshops provided an incubator for exploring many of the ideas that went on to shape general software practice (for example, design patterns, UML, aspect-oriented programming, and agile methods). That tradition continues this year both within the new charter for SPLASH established last year, and incorporating the visionary focus of Onward!This year, SPLASH and Onward! offer twelve workshops that represent a diverse set of technology and research topics. Areas covered by the workshops include actors, agents, agile practices, cloud-based computing, decentralized control, embedded systems, evaluation and usability of programming languages and tools, foundations of object-oriented programming, free composition, legacy code, multicore programming, objectoriented and domain-specific modelling, programming languages and runtimes for internet clients, smartphone applications, and virtual machines. The summaries included in this companion provide an introduction to the goals and objectives of each workshop.We welcome you to these workshops with the hope that the discussions are productive and fruitful, and assist in fostering new collaborations that extend beyond the borders of the conference!
Sedentary time, physical activity, and adiposity in a longitudinal cohort of nonobese young adults.

Background Young adulthood is a critical period for excessive weight gain. The extent to which young adults' sedentary time (ST) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) relate to adiposity and weight gain remains unclear. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the relation of ST and MVPA with adiposity and change in adiposity in healthy, nonobese young adults over a 2-y period. Design Participants were 71 adults aged 20-35 y. Measurements included ST and MVPA by accelerometry and reported energy intake at baseline, and anthropometry (%FM) and fat mass (FM) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline, year 1, and year 2. Associations of baseline ST and MVPA with adiposity were examined with the use of repeated-measures linear regression models, controlling for age, sex, and reported energy intake. The Benjamini-Hochberg procedure was used to adjust for multiple comparisons. Results Participants [mean ± SD body mass index (BMI; kg/m2): 22.6 ± 2.4] engaged in 8.5 ± 1.5 h ST/d and 0.4 ± 0.3 h MVPA/d. At baseline, adults who engaged in ST for ≥8 h/d had higher FM, %FM, and lower MVPA, whereas those who engaged in MVPA for ≥30 min/d had lower FM and %FM. In fully adjusted models, ST was significantly associated with baseline body weight, hip circumference, BMI, FM, and %FM and with year-1 body weight, waist and hip circumference, FM, and %FM, but not with any year-2 adiposity indicators. MVPA was not significantly associated with any adiposity indicators at baseline, year 1, or year 2 in fully adjusted models. Over 2 y, participants significantly increased waist circumference, BMI, FM, and %FM (all P-values <0.05), but there were no associations among baseline ST and MVPA with change in adiposity. Conclusions Among nonobese young adults, high ST and low MVPA were related to elevated adiposity but did not predict change in adiposity over time. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00945633.
Analysis of localization methods in Ensemble Kalman Filter with SVD analytical solution

Abstract When localization methods used in reservoir history matching were introduced from outside the oil and gas industry, the differences between data assimilation for other industries and reservoir history matching were not considered. However, these differences can be extremely important when considering the validity of these methods. This problem is discussed within the context of the roles of covariance localization in detail in this paper. This paper starts with discussion of relations between two significant problems, ill-posedness and spurious correlations, and their solution methods. This analysis leads to a conclusion about two appropriate roles of the covariance localization method. This conclusion is used to validate the cross-covariance localization methods used in reservoir simulation. In addition, for the cross-covariance localization in reservoir history matching, there are many different processes, especially different correlation functions, proposed by different authors. This makes it difficult to choose a proper method when solving history matching or data assimilation problems. The performance of different cross-covariance localization correlation functions is also analyzed theoretically and experimentally in this paper.
Archaeological Curation and the Research Value of Archaeological Collections: A Case Study from California

In this paper, we examine the curatorial and collections management-related efforts undertaken to establish the research value of an “old” archaeological collection housed in a museum in California...
Mission-Responsive. On-Demand 3D Printed Blimps for Martian Missions

Rover-based exploration of Mars is inherently limited by the time-consuming process of surface movement. Even traveling constantly at maximum speed (which is logistically impossible), each rover is only be able to explore a small fraction of the planet. Orbital and aerial survey missions provide a partial solution to this, allowing larger areas to be assessed; however, a follow-up rover mission is then needed to collect samples, higher quality imagery and other data for interesting areas. To overcome this, this paper proposes to deploy autonomous blimps in the Martian atmosphere to provide a highly mobile aerial sensing platform. These blimps would also have onboard 3D printing units that are able to produce other smaller blimps for lower-altitude aerial data collection and landing to collect samples. In this paper, a high-level design for a blimp system with an aerial platform that can 3D print smaller blimps and its use to perform missions on Mars is presented and assessed. A framework for the blimp control decision-making system, including decision making about when a smaller blimp should be produced and its configuration, is proposed. Prospective missions for the system, such as surface observation or landing to take a soil sample, are discussed and used to evaluate the efficacy of the design and decision-making system. The paper concludes with a discussion of current technical limitations to the proposed drone system and mission and a discussion of the pathway to getting the technology ready for mission use.
A quantitative model of conserved macroscopic dynamics predicts future motor commands

In simple organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans, whole brain imaging has been performed. Here, we use such recordings to model the nervous system. Our model uses neuronal activity to predict expected time of future motor commands up to 30 s prior to the event. These motor commands control locomotion. Predictions are valid for individuals not used in model construction. The model predicts dwell time statistics, sequences of motor commands and individual neuron activation. To develop this model, we extracted loops spanned by neuronal activity in phase space using novel methodology. The model uses only two variables: the identity of the loop and the phase along it. Current values of these macroscopic variables predict future neuronal activity. Remarkably, our model based on macroscopic variables succeeds despite consistent inter-individual differences in neuronal activation. Thus, our analytical framework reconciles consistent individual differences in neuronal activation with macroscopic dynamics that operate universally across individuals.
Training Spiking Networks via Natural Evolution Strategies

Approaching the training of spiking neural networks as a black-box optimization problem, we compare the performance of two evolutionary methods which must train the weights of topologically-fixed spiking networks towards different tasks. One evolutionary method is a 'traditional' optimizer, and the other is a natural evolutionary strategy (NES) which attempts to estimate the fitness landscape to make a more direct ascent towards higher expected fitness values. We find that overall, the NES method can train networks faster than the traditional EO method for the given pole-balancing problem.
How To Do Things With Signs: Semiotics in Legal Theory, Practice, and Education

Discussing federal statutes, Justice Scalia tells us that “[t]he stark reality is that the only thing that one can say for sure was agreed to by both houses and the president (on signing the bill) is the text of the statute. The rest is legal fiction." How should we take this claim? If we take "text" to mean the printed text, that text without more is just a series of marks. If instead we take "text" (as we must) to refer to something off the page such as the "meaning" of the series of marks at issue, what is that meaning and how do we know that all the legislators "agreed" on that "meaning"? In seeking answers here, we necessarily delve into semiotics (i.e., the “general theory of signs”) by noting that meaningful ink marks ("signifiers) signify a meaning beyond themselves (the "signified.") Thus, understanding how signs function is integral to lawyers' textual and linguistic analysis. Additionally, as this article demonstrates, legal analysis and rhetoric are much impoverished if lawyers ignore nonverbal signs such as icons, indices, and nonverbal symbols. In providing a broad overview of semiotics for lawyers, this article thus (1) begins with a general definition of signs and the related notion of intentionality. It then turns to, among other things, (2) the structure and concomitants of signs in more detail (including the signifier and the signified), (3) the possible correlations of the signifier and the signified that generate signs of interest to lawyers such as the index, the icon, and the symbol; (5) the expansion of legal rhetoric through use of the index, the icon, and the non-verbal as well as the verbal symbol, (6) the nature of various semiotic acts in public and private law (including assertives, commissives, directives, and verdictives); (7) the interpretation and construction of semiotic acts (including contracts as commissives and legislation as directives); (8) the role of speaker or reader meaning in the interpretation and construction of semiotic acts; (9) the semiotics of meaning, time, and the fixation of meaning debate; (10) the impact of signifier drift; (11) the distinction between sense and understanding; and (12) some brief reflections on semiotics and the First Amendment. This article also provides an Appendix of further terms and concepts useful to lawyers in their explorations of semiotics.
A Structural Estimation Approach to Study Agent Attrition

Worker attrition is a costly and operationally disruptive challenge throughout the world. Although large bodies of research have documented drivers of attrition and the operational consequences of ...
Collaborative and Co-curricular: Programming and Academic Library Impact

This study investigates how co-curricular programming in universities can demonstrate and communicate impact in new ways. The Association of College and Research Libraries report Academic Library Impact: Improving Practice and Essential Areas to Research provides a framework to better understand how co-curricular programming facilitates the following: aligning assessment with an institution’s mission; enhancing teaching and learning; and communicating contributions. This article describes a model that other libraries may find useful as they plan and communicate their co-curricular programs to support the mission, vision, and strategic plan of their libraries and their institutions.
Low-Zone IL-2 Signaling: Fusion Proteins Containing Linked CD25 and IL-2 Domains Sustain Tolerogenic Vaccination in vivo and Promote Dominance of FOXP3+ Tregs in vitro.

Low-zone IL-2 signaling is key to understanding how CD4+ CD25high FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) exhibit dominance and overgrow conventional effector T cells (Tcons) that typically express lower levels of the IL-2 receptor alpha chain (i.e., CD25). Thus, modalities such as low-dose IL-2 or IL-2/anti-IL-2 antibody complexes have been advanced in the clinic to selectively expand Treg populations as a treatment for chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. However, more effective reagents that efficiently lock IL-2 signaling into a low signaling mode are needed to validate and exploit the low-zone IL-2 signaling niche of Tregs. This study focuses on CD25-IL2 and IL2-CD25 fusion proteins (FPs) that were approximately 32 and 320-fold less potent than IL-2. These FPs exhibited transient binding to transmembrane CD25 on human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells, had partially occluded IL-2 binding sites, and formed higher order multimeric conformers that limited the availability of bioactive IL-2. These FPs exhibited broad bell-shaped concentration ranges that favored dominant Treg outgrowth during continuous culture and were used to derive essentially pure long-term Treg monocultures (∼98% Treg purity). FP-induced Tregs had canonical Treg suppressive activity in that these Tregs suppressed antigen-specific proliferative responses of naive CD4+ T cells. The in vivo administration of CD25-IL2/Alum elicited robust increases in circulating Tregs and selectively augmented CD25 expression on Tregs but not on Tcons. A single injection of a Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG35-55)-specific tolerogenic vaccine elicited high levels of circulating MOG-specific Tregs in vivo that waned after 2-3 weeks, whereas boosting with CD25-IL2/Alum maintained MOG-specific CD25high Tregs throughout the 30-day observation period. However, these FPs did not antagonize free monomeric IL-2 and lacked therapeutic efficacy in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In conclusion, these data reveal that CD25-IL2 FPs can be used to select essentially pure long-term lines of FOXP3+ CD25high Tregs. This study also shows that CD25-IL2 FPs can be administered in vivo in synergy with tolerogenic vaccination to maintain high circulating levels of antigen-specific Tregs. Because tolerogenic vaccination and Treg-based adoptive immunotherapy are limited by gradual waning of Tregs, these FPs have potential utility in sustaining tolerogenic Treg responses in vivo.
LEVEL OF ACCESS TO FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN KENYA.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to highlight the level of access to financial products and services for small and medium enterprises in KenyaMethodology:The research design was descriptive survey study. The target population was 46 commercial banks .The sampling frame was the list of commercial banks given at the Central bank of Kenya Website. A sample of 17 banks was selected using random sampling. The second stage of sampling involved the selection of the respondents using a stratified sampling approach. The strata were the various departments that interact with SMEs in a bank. The respondents were the head of departments of the respective departments that form the strata. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected using a questionnaire that consisted of both open ended and close ended questions. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS.Results: The study objectives were to establish the level of access to financial products and services offered by the banks to SMEs. Results from the bank manager’s perspective indicated that the level of access to finance was high, but the bank clients indicated otherwise, that it was low. The other objective of the study was to determine the factors that hinder the SMEs from accessing the financial products offered by banks. Results indicated that several factors influence access of SMEs to finance. These factors include gender, level of education, size of the business, age of the entrepreneur, collateral, and level of income for the entrepreneurs. All the factors had a negative effect on the access of finances from the banks by SMEs and hence indicate SMEs low access to financial products. Results also indicated that there are tools and systems put in place by banks to improve accessibility to financial products offered to small and medium enterprises.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy:The study recommended that training be emphasized to SME entrepreneurs on financial matters, all gender to be treated equally, the banks to introduce financial education programs for SMEs to improve their access to credit, banks to further make use of a credit scoring system to assess the credit worthiness of small businesses and to introduce the use of new credit bureau regulations to increase SME finances.