cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control-Theoretic Approach to Communication With Feedback

Feedback communication is studied from a control-theoretic perspective, mapping the communication problem to a control problem in which the control signal is received through the same noisy channel as in the communication problem, and the (nonlinear and time-varying) dynamics of the system determine a subclass of encoders available at the transmitter. The MSE exponent is defined to be the exponential decay rate of the mean square decoding error and is used for analysis of the reliable rate of communication. A sufficient condition is provided under which the MMSE capacity, the supremum achievable MSE exponent, is equal to the information-theoretic capacity, the supremum achievable rate. For the special class of stationary Gaussian channels and linear time-invariant systems, a simple application of Bode's integral formula shows that the feedback capacity, recently characterized by Kim, is equal to the maximum instability that can be tolerated by any linear controller under a given power constraint. Finally, the control mapping is generalized to the N-sender AWGN multiple access channel. It is shown that Kramer's code for this channel, which is known to be sum rate optimal in the class of generalized linear feedback codes, can be obtained by solving a linear quadratic Gaussian control problem.
Immunoassay methods: Development and implementation programme at the USEPA

Several programme offices of the United States Envirnmental Protection Agency (USEPA) have been investigating the use of immunoassay methods for environmental applications for several years, but with limited success. Most of the problems concerned method ‘rugged‐ness’ (i.e. they worked well in clean, spiked matrices, but not well on actual samples). The situation has changed significantly since January 1992, when the Office of Solid Waste received its first rugged immunoassay method (for pentachlorophenol) that worked on field samples. In the past 30 months, several more have followed. This paper addresses several major topics including: an overview of the USEPA's major regulatory programmes; how analytical methods are used in regulatory programmes and a brief overview of the regulatory approval process; general guidelines for the development of screening methods; specific validation criteria for immunoassay methods; the current status of the USEPA immunoassay method development programme; current and pot...
Examining family meetings at end of life: The model of practice in a hospice inpatient unit.

Objective Our purpose was to rigorously examine the nature of family meetings as conducted in an inpatient hospice care unit in order to generate an inductive theoretical model. Method In this two-phase project, we first interviewed eight members of the interdisciplinary care team who participated in multiple family meetings each week. Interview questions explored why and how they conducted family meetings. Using an observation template created from these interview data, we subsequently conducted ethnographic observations during family meetings. Using the methods of grounded theory, our findings were synthesized into a theoretical model depicting the structure and process of formal family meetings within this setting. Results The core of the family meeting was characterized by cognitive and affective elements aimed at supporting the family and facilitating quality care by clarifying the past, easing the present, and protecting the future. This inductive model was subsequently found to be highly aligned with a sense of coherence, an important influence on coping, and adaptation to the stress of a life-limiting illness. Significance of results Provider communication with family members is particularly critical during advanced illness and end-of-life care. The National Consensus Project clinical practice guidelines for quality palliative care list regular family meetings among the recommended practices for excellent communication during end-of-life care, but do not provide specific guidance on how and when to provide such meetings. Our findings provide a theoretical model that can inform the design of a family meeting to address family members' needs for meaningful and contextualized information, validation of their important contributions to care, and preparation for the patient's death.
Learning Aspect Graph Representations from View Sequences

In our effort to develop a modular neural system for invariant learning and recognition of 3D objects, we introduce here a new module architecture called an aspect network constructed around adaptive axo-axo-dendritic synapses. This builds upon our existing system (Seibert & Waxman, 1989) which processes 20 shapes and classifies them into view categories (i.e., aspects) invariant to illumination, position, orientation, scale, and projective deformations. From a sequence of views, the aspect network learns the transitions between these aspects, crystallizing a graph-like structure from an initially amorphous network. Object recognition emerges by accumulating evidence over multiple views which activate competing object hypotheses.
A Zn-finger/FH2-domain containing protein, FOZI-1, acts redundantly with CeMyoD to specify striated body wall muscle fates in the Caenorhabditis elegans postembryonic mesoderm.

Striated muscle development in vertebrates requires the redundant functions of multiple members of the MyoD family. Invertebrates such as Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans contain only one MyoD homolog in each organism. Earlier observations suggest that factors outside of the MyoD family might function redundantly with MyoD in striated muscle fate specification in these organisms. However, the identity of these factors has remained elusive. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of FOZI-1, a putative transcription factor that functions redundantly with CeMyoD (HLH-1) in striated body wall muscle (BWM) fate specification in the C. elegans postembryonic mesoderm. fozi-1 encodes a novel nuclear-localized protein with motifs characteristic of both transcription factors and actin-binding proteins. We show that FOZI-1 shares the same expression pattern as CeMyoD in the postembryonic mesodermal lineage, the M lineage, and that fozi-1 -null mutants exhibit similar M lineage-null defects to those found in animals lacking CeMyoD in the M lineage (e.g. loss of a fraction of M lineage-derived BWMs). Interestingly, fozi-1 -null mutants with a reduced level of CeMyoD lack most, if not all, M lineage-derived BWMs. Our results indicate that FOZI-1 and the Hox factor MAB-5 function redundantly with CeMyoD in the specification of the striated BWM fate in the C. elegans postembryonic mesoderm, implicating a remarkable level of complexity for the production of a simple striated musculature in C. elegans .
Diagnosis of Chondroid Lipoma by Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy

Chondroid lipoma is a rare, recently described soft tissue tumor that mimics extraskeletal chondrosarcoma and myxoid liposarcoma. Reports regarding its cytologic and radiological features are sparse. In this report, we describe the cytologic features of this unusual tumor, which include mixed mature lipocytes and lipoblast-like cells embedded in chondromyxoid matrix. We also describe the "target sign appearance" of this tumor in magnetic resonance imaging studies, resembling a neurogenic tumor. More importantly, we demonstrate that a definitive diagnosis of this unusual tumor can be made by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The usefulness of cell block in fine-needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of soft tissue tumors is emphasized.
Analytical Model for Broadcast Packet Reception Rates in Two-Dimensional MANETs

In this paper, an analytic model is built to derive a closed form broadcast packet reception rates in IEEE 802.11 based two-dimensional (2-D) mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs), which is the extension of 1-D MANET analytical model in [4]. The analytic model takes two straight parallel line geometry, IEEE 802.11 backoff counter process, hidden terminal problem, message arrival interval, and fading transmission channel into account. The proposed analytic model can be applied to vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) built along a highway. From the obtained numerical results under various network parameters, the new model is validated and new observations are obtained.
Evidence-based systematic review: effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on swallowing and neural activation.

Purpose To systematically review the literature examining the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on swallowing and neural activation. The review was conducted as part of a serie...
Case 3: Abdominal pain and vomiting in a 4-year-old boy.

1. Chari D. Larsen, MD* 2. Marta A. King, MD, MEd† 1. *Pediatric Residency Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. 2. †Department of Pediatrics, St Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO. A previously healthy 4-year-old boy presents to his pediatrician’s office with acute onset of abdominal pain and vomiting. Pain began suddenly the night before presentation. The pain is intermittent and severe, lasts a few seconds at a time, and prevents the child from sleeping. Nonbloody, nonbilious vomiting started approximately 3 hours after the onset of the pain. He has had more than 20 episodes of emesis and is unable to keep down fluids. The family denies the patient had fevers, diarrhea, rashes, sick contacts, changes in diet, or recent travel. He has decreased urine output and decreased activity. The results of a review of systems are otherwise negative. The child has no significant medical or surgical history, has no known allergies, and takes no medications. The family history is unremarkable. Vital signs are significant for tachycardia (heart rate, 130 beats per minute). Physical examination reveals a tired and non–toxic-appearing boy, who is fussy but easily consoled by his parents. He has slightly dry mucous membranes and an erythematous oropharynx without exudates. The abdomen is mildly distended, soft, diffusely tender, and without guarding or rebound tenderness. There is no organomegaly and no masses can be felt. Bowel sounds are …
Prolonged vasoconstriction of resistance arteries involves vascular smooth muscle actin polymerization leading to inward remodelling

Aims Inward remodelling of the resistance vasculature is predictive of hypertension and life-threatening cardiovascular events. We hypothesize that the contractile mechanisms responsible for maintaining a reduced diameter over time in response to prolonged stimulation with vasoconstrictor agonists are in part responsible for the initial stages of the remodelling process. Here we investigated the role of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) actin polymerization on agonist-induced vasoconstriction and development of inward remodelling. Methods and results Experiments were conducted in Sprague–Dawley rat resistance vessels isolated from the cremaster and mesentery. Within blood vessels, actin dynamics of VSM were monitored by confocal microscopy after introduction of fluorescent actin monomers through electroporation and by differential centrifugation to probe globular (G) and filamentous (F) actin content. Results indicated that 4 h of agonist-dependent vasoconstriction induced inward remodelling and caused significant actin polymerization, elevating the F-/total-actin ratio. Inhibition of actin polymerization prevented vessels from maintaining prolonged vasoconstriction and developing inward remodelling. Activation of the small GTPases Rho/Rac/Cdc42 also increased the F-/total-actin ratio and induced inward remodelling, while inhibition of Rho kinase or Rac-1 prevented inward remodelling. Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton reversed the inward remodelling caused by prolonged vasoconstriction, but did not affect the passive diameter of freshly isolated vessels. Conclusion These results indicate that vasoconstriction-induced inward remodelling is in part caused by the polymerization of actin within VSM cells through activation of small GTPases.
Rational Suicide and AIDS Considerations for the Psychotherapist

One of the issues arising out of the increasing incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is whether or not suicide may be considered to be a rational choice for a person with AIDS. In an effort to address this dilemma, this article begins by reviewing the literature pertaining to suicide and persons with terminal illnesses. Then, after recounting the suicide rate for persons with AIDS, it explores some of the physical and psychosocial factors that may be a part of a decision by a person with AIDS to commit suicide. Siegel's criteria for a rational suicide are applied to the case of a person with AIDS. In addition, the role of the psychotherapist in the decision-making process is critically examined, as are some arguments against allowing suicide. Finally, suggestions for future directions by counseling psychologists are offered.
Moving in Parallel Toward a Modern Modeling Epistemology: Bayes Factors and Frequentist Modeling Methods

The Bayesian-frequentist debate typically portrays these statistical perspectives as opposing views. However, both Bayesian and frequentist statisticians have expanded their epistemological basis away from a singular focus on the null hypothesis, to a broader perspective involving the development and comparison of competing statistical/mathematical models. For frequentists, statistical developments such as structural equation modeling and multilevel modeling have facilitated this transition. For Bayesians, the Bayes factor has facilitated this transition. The Bayes factor is treated in articles within this issue of Multivariate Behavioral Research. The current presentation provides brief commentary on those articles and more extended discussion of the transition toward a modern modeling epistemology. In certain respects, Bayesians and frequentists share common goals.
Concerning Natural Hemolysins in Rabbit Serum

During the course of some work on the site of formation of immune hemolysins, the results of which will be published in a later communication, it was necessary to determine whether or not the serum of the animal about to be immunized contained any natural hemolytic amboceptors to the erythrocytes which were to be injected. Rabbits, immunized with sheep's corpuscles, were used. Before starting the injections, the sera of the rabbits were tested for natural anti-sheep hemolysins and in 16 of the 18 used, or 88 per cent, their presence was demonstrated. This result was unexpected, and accordingly we titrated an additional 32 normal rabbit sera to determine if such a large percentage were accidental. The result is shown in Table i. A fairly minute search of literature failed to give us any reference to observations along this line. Bordet' states that "it is a general rule, applicable to all sera, that the power to destroy red blood corpuscles disappears on heating to 550 C." Subsequently he says: "Guinea-pig serum and rabbit serum have both a very slight destructive effect on hen and human corpuscles. Rabbit serum, however, is much more active against guinea-pig corpuscles, but is almost entirely without effect on rat corpuscles ..... Normal rabbit serum contains a sensitizer for goat corpuscles." Ehrlich2 observes that rabbit serum is often hemolytic to goat red blood corpuscles and that it contains a very variable amount of hemolysin for guinea-pig blood. After observing the almost constant occurrence of natural antisheep hemolysin in rabbit serum, we decided it would be interesting to determine if it contained native hemolytic amboceptors for the
Demand–Withdrawal Sequences in Conflict

Demand/withdraw is a conflict pattern in which one person nags, criticizes, or complains while the target of such demands tries to avoid the issue. This pattern is related to several negative outcomes for relationships and individuals in those relationships. Demand/withdraw is typically studied via individuals self-reporting on conflict behaviors or outside observers rating these behaviors. Several distinct explanations for demand/withdraw have been proposed, and there is at least partial support for each, yet no single perspective explains the pattern fully. Keywords: conflict; conflict management; family communication; gender; interpersonal communication
PKC isoforms and other signaling proteins involved in surfactant secretion in developing rat type II cells

We previously reported that there is a developmental increase in surfactant secretion in response to P2Y2 purinoceptor agonists. UTP does not stimulate secretion in type II cells from 1- or 2-day-old rats; there is a small response to UTP in cells from 4-day-old animals, and the response increases with increasing age thereafter. Second messenger formation in response to P2Y2 agonists has a similar developmental pattern. We have investigated whether the failure to respond to P2Y2 agonists is due to a deficiency in the P2Y2 receptor or in downstream signaling factors. We compared type II cells from adult and 1- to 2-day-old rats with respect to expression of the P2Y2 receptor gene and the levels of phospholipase C-beta (PLC-beta) and protein kinase C (PKC) isomers and of the alpha-subunit of the GTP-binding protein Gq. We measured gene expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and protein levels by immunoblotting. We identified PKC-alpha, -betaI, -betaII, -delta, -eta, -zeta, -theta, and -mu, PLC-beta3, and Gqalpha in adult and newborn type II cells. PKC-epsilon, -gamma, and -lambda and PLC-beta1, -beta2, and -beta4 were not present in adult or newborn type II cells. Expression of the P2Y2 receptor gene was essentially the same in newborn and adult cells. However, the levels of PKC-alpha, -betaI, -betaII, and -zeta in newborn type II cells were only 43-57% those of adult cells. The level of PKC-theta also tended to be lower in the newborn cells. There was little difference between newborn and adult type II cells in the levels of PKC-delta, -eta, and -mu, PLC-beta3, and Gqalpha. These data suggest that the lack of response of early newborn type II cells to P2Y2 agonists is not due to a lack of expression of the receptor gene but possibly to insufficient amounts of one or more of the alpha, betaI, betaII, or zeta PKC isoforms.
Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance on the Static and Dynamic Domains of Huntingtin Exon-1 Fibrils

Amyloid-like fibrils formed by huntingtin exon-1 (htt_ex1) are a hallmark of Huntington’s disease (HD). The structure of these fibrils is unknown, and determining their structure is an important step toward understanding the misfolding processes that cause HD. In HD, a polyglutamine (polyQ) domain in htt_ex1 is expanded to a degree that it gains the ability to form aggregates comprising the core of the resulting fibrils. Despite the simplicity of this polyQ sequence, the structure of htt_ex1 fibrils has been difficult to determine. This study provides a detailed structural investigation of fibrils formed by htt_ex1 using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. We show that the polyQ domain of htt_ex1 forms the static amyloid core similar to polyQ model peptides. The Gln residues of this domain exist in two distinct conformations that are found in separate domains or monomers but are relatively close in space. The rest of htt_ex1 is relatively dynamic on an NMR time scale, especially the...
Atmospheric forcing of the upper ocean transport in the Gulf of Mexico: From seasonal to diurnal scales

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) was an environmental disaster, which highlighted the urgent need to predict the transport and dispersion of hydrocarbon. Although the variability of the atmospheric forcing plays a major role in the upper ocean circulation and transport of the pollutants, the air-sea interaction on various time scales is not well understood. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the atmospheric forcing and upper ocean response in the GoM from seasonal to diurnal time scales, using climatologies derived from long-term observations, in situ observations from two field campaigns, and a coupled model. The atmospheric forcing in the GoM is characterized by striking seasonality. In the summer, the time-average large-scale forcing is weak, despite occasional extreme winds associated with hurricanes. In the winter, the atmospheric forcing is much stronger, and dominated by synoptic variability on time scales of 3–7 days associated with winter storms and cold air outbreaks. The diurnal cycle is more pronounced during the summer, when sea breeze circulations affect the coastal regions and nighttime wind maxima occur over the offshore waters. Realtime predictions from a high-resolution atmosphere-wave-ocean coupled model were evaluated for both summer and winter conditions during the Grand LAgrangian Deployment (GLAD) in July–August 2012 and the Surfzone Coastal Oil Pathways Experiment (SCOPE) in November–December 2013. The model generally captured the variability of atmospheric forcing on all scales, but suffered from some systematic errors.
Hearing the Other Side: Encountering Mixed Political Company: With Whom and in What Context?

In a 2004 Miss Manners column, a reader wrote in with the following question: Dear Miss Manners: In this election year, I am struck by a barrier to participation in the world's most famous democracy – that being Americans' reluctance to consider political discourse to be polite conversation. In most parts of the world, it might be considered far more engaging dinner conversation to contrast the qualities of candidates for office than, say, to discuss the less savory sorts of reality television. I find the rigor with which reasoned political discourse – or even discussion of complex news topics – is quashed as if it's a threat to future generations' participation in our communities. I certainly grew up with animated (but cordial) political discussion in many formal and informal venues. Yet broach the subject of an election at most dinner tables or cocktail parties and it's as though you were discussing something shameful or utterly beyond proper behavior. My European friends are actually shocked at the lack of casual discourse on political matters here, and frankly so am I. Could you please elaborate as to the proper place of free speech in mixed company? Miss Manners responds: You mean people of mixed political opinions, who are going to feel free to say what they think about the morals and intelligence of people who disagree with them about politics (or sex or religion, which are also banned from the dinner table)? Miss Manners suggests you try bringing up a topic from each of these areas – for example, the death penalty, same-sex marriage, or abortion – and see how much polite, cordial and reasoned discourse you provoke.[…]
The Price of Paid Prioritization: The International and Domestic Consequences of the Failure to Protect Net Neutrality in the United States

This article examines the international trade and human rights obligations of the United States as they relate to net neutrality to determine the extent to which the approach adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2015 to promote an open Internet complies with those obligations. In March of that year, the FCC adopted new rules to promote and protect an open Internet that, inter alia, reclassified broadband providers as common carriers subject to nondiscrimination obligations and codified strong net neutrality protections. The authors argue that the 2015 FCC Order, contrary to its predecessors, largely meets the requirements of the international trade and human rights treaties to which the United States is a party. Even so, we conclude that gaps in the 2015 Rules mean that the United States may still be liable under international law for potential failures to ensure that net neutrality and nondiscrimination principles are adequately protected. In particular, the dual issues of zero-rating and interconnection remain as potential threats to strong net neutrality in this country. This is because, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a party to the ICCPR, the United States is bound to respect principles of nondiscrimination and free expression when regulating essential communications media like the Internet. Any FCC rule that does not meaningfully protect net neutrality at all levels of interconnectivity would run afoul of these international obligations and expose the United States to legal action by other governments and individuals prejudiced by its actions.
Belatacept As an Alternative to Calcineurin Inhibitors in Patients with Solid Organ Transplants

The goal of immunosuppression in transplantation has shifted to improving long term outcomes, reducing drug induced toxicities while preserving the already excellent short term outcomes. Long term gains in solid organ transplantation have been limited at least partly due to the nephrotoxicity and metabolic side effects of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). The alloimmune response requires activation of the costimulatory pathway for T cell proliferation and amplification. Belatacept is a molecule that selectively blocks T cell costimulation. In June 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it for maintenance immunosuppression in kidney transplantation based on two open-label, randomized, Phase III trials. Since its introduction, belatacept has shown promise in both short and long term renal transplant outcomes in several other trials. It exhibits a superior side effect profile compared to CNIs with a comparable efficacy. Across all solid organ transplants, the burden of chronic kidney disease, its associated cardiovascular morbidity, mortality, and inferior patient/allograft survival is a well-documented problem. In this review we aim to discuss the evidence behind the use of belatacept in solid organ transplants as an effective alternative to calcineurin inhibitors for renal rescue in patients with acute and/or chronic kidney injury.
Essential genome of Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter species are a leading cause of bacterial foodborne illness worldwide. Despite the global efforts to curb them, Campylobacter infections have increased continuously in both developed and developing countries. The development of effective strategies to control the infection by this pathogen is warranted. The essential genes of bacteria are the most prominent targets for this purpose. In this study, we used transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) of a genome-saturating library of Tn5 insertion mutants to define the essential genome of C. jejuni at a high resolution. We constructed a Tn5 mutant library of unprecedented complexity in C. jejuni NCTC 11168 with 95,929 unique insertions throughout the genome and used the genomic DNA of the library for the reconstruction of Tn5 libraries in the same (C. jejuni NCTC 11168) and different strain background (C. jejuni 81–176) through natural transformation. We identified 166 essential protein-coding genes and 20 essential transfer RNAs (tRNA) in C. jejuni NCTC 11168 which were intolerant to Tn5 insertions during in vitro growth. The reconstructed C. jejuni 81–176 library had 384 protein coding genes with no Tn5 insertions. Essential genes in both strain backgrounds were highly enriched in the cluster of orthologous group (COG) categories of ‘Translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis (J)’, ‘Energy production and conversion (C)’, and ‘Coenzyme transport and metabolism (H)’. Comparative analysis among this and previous studies identified 50 core essential genes of C. jejuni, which can be further investigated for the development of novel strategies to control the spread of this notorious foodborne bacterial pathogen.
ALE: automated label extraction from GEO metadata

NCBI’s Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) is a rich community resource containing millions of gene expression experiments from human, mouse, rat, and other model organisms. However, information about each experiment (metadata) is in the format of an open-ended, non-standardized textual description provided by the depositor. Thus, classification of experiments for meta-analysis by factors such as gender, age of the sample donor, and tissue of origin is not feasible without assigning labels to the experiments. Automated approaches are preferable for this, primarily because of the size and volume of the data to be processed, but also because it ensures standardization and consistency. While some of these labels can be extracted directly from the textual metadata, many of the data available do not contain explicit text informing the researcher about the age and gender of the subjects with the study. To bridge this gap, machine-learning methods can be trained to use the gene expression patterns associated with the text-derived labels to refine label-prediction confidence. Our analysis shows only 26% of metadata text contains information about gender and 21% about age. In order to ameliorate the lack of available labels for these data sets, we first extract labels from the textual metadata for each GEO RNA dataset and evaluate the performance against a gold standard of manually curated labels. We then use machine-learning methods to predict labels, based upon gene expression of the samples and compare this to the text-based method. Here we present an automated method to extract labels for age, gender, and tissue from textual metadata and GEO data using both a heuristic approach as well as machine learning. We show the two methods together improve accuracy of label assignment to GEO samples.
Performance Analysis of Distributed Radio Telescopes under Shared Spectrum Access Paradigm

For sustainable growth and coexistence of cellular wireless communications (CWC) and radio astronomy system (RAS), a coordinated shared spectrum access paradigm was recently introduced. Embracing such paradigm, this paper proposes a distributed radio telescope (DRT) system which can geographically and spectrally coexist with CWC while offering additional capability or performance enhancement to RAS. Theoretical performance analysis of the DRT system with different quantization resolutions is presented, and approximate closed-form expressions are obtained. Furthermore, an analytical expression for the DRT system parameters under the shared spectrum access paradigm to achieve the same performance as the existing single-dish RAS with a radio quiet zone is developed to provide guidance in the DRT system design. The numerical and simulation results illustrate feasibility and potentials of the proposed DRT system.
The Energy Covenant: Energy Dominance and the Rhetoric of the Aggrieved

The Trump Administration has adopted “energy dominance” as its guiding ideology for energy policy, marking a notable shift from decades of “energy security” rhetoric. This paper analyzes how Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke, one of the administration’s key spokespeople for energy dominance, uses “energy covenant renewal” to frame the importance of energy dominance for the conservative base. Covenant renewal is a modified form of the jeremiad; Zinke uses it to unite conservative identities around energy politics and policies. Energy dominance thus invites those who feel aggrieved under Obama administration regulatory policy and the multicultural identity politics of the left to renew their commitment to fossil fuels, American exceptionalism, and a restored social order and privilege.
Modulation of the honey bee queen microbiota: Effects of early social contact.

As the sole reproductive female in a honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony, the queen’s health is critical to colony productivity and longevity. Beekeeping operations typically rely on the commercial mass production of queens for colony multiplication, which involves manipulating and isolating the queens by confining them in cages during early development. Using common queen-rearing techniques, this study shows that segregating newly eclosed queens from their worker attendants for 72 hours using queen protector cages has a significant impact on the total amount of gut bacteria carried by those queens compared to queens that have unrestricted access to attendants upon eclosion. Isolated virgin queens sampled immediately after isolation at 4 days post eclosure had significantly more bacteria and a less consistent microbiota composition than their non-isolated peers. Furthermore, this effect lasted into the mating life of queens, since mated queens that had been isolated after emergence and then sampled at 14 days post eclosure also had significantly more microbiota compared to non-isolated mated queens of the same age. The causes and potential impacts of this alteration are not clear and deserve further investigation. This study also verifies earlier findings that honey bee queens lack the core microbiome found within honey bee workers.
Lethality of Civilian Active Shooter Incidents With and Without Semiautomatic Rifles in the United States.

This study compares injury and death rates during active shooter incidents with vs without semiautomatic rifles.
Effects of Juvenile Settling and Drift Rates on Freshwater Mussel Dispersal

Freshwater mussels play important roles in ecosystems and are globally imperiled. Adult mussels are sedentary and dispersal is as larvae attached to fish hosts and as juveniles in stream drift. Understanding juvenile dispersal is important for understanding the patchy distribution of adult mussels and for conservation. We propose the location in which a juvenile mussel ends up on the streambed is determined by a combination of the juvenile's settling velocity, current speed, and streambed topography. We conducted a laboratory experiment to quantify the settling velocities of juveniles of four mussel species and of polymer microparticles, later utilized as surrogates for juveniles. We performed a flume experiment where we measured drift distances of microparticles at three low flow velocities over gravel and over a simulated mussel bed (gravel combined with mussel shells). Lastly, we measured drift distances of microparticles at five sites in two small rivers under summer low flow conditions. There were no significant differences in settling velocities among the four mussel species, live juveniles sank at a significantly lower rate than dead juveniles, and there were no significant differences in settling velocities between live juveniles and microparticles. The distances microparticles drifted in the flume increased with flow velocity and were shorter over the simulated mussel bed than over gravel. In the field most microparticles were recaptured near their release locations. In this study, juvenile mussels had limited dispersal potential with most drifting < 10 m. This limited dispersal should result in many juveniles settling within mussel beds, areas where habitat conditions are favorable for survival and growth, and may contribute to the patchy spatial distribution of mussel beds in rivers.
Data for secondary electron production from ion precipitation at Jupiter II: Simultaneous and non-simultaneous target and projectile processes in collisions of Oq+ + H2 (q=0-8)

Abstract To improve the physical completeness of the data previously calculated (Schultz et al., 2017) to enable modeling of the effects of secondary electrons produced by energetic ion precipitation at Jupiter, we extend the treatment to include inelastic processes that occur simultaneously on the projectile (O q + , q = 0 – 8 )) and target (H 2 ). Here, processes considered in the previous work (single and double ionization, transfer ionization, double capture with subsequent autoionization, single and double stripping, single and double charge transfer, and target excitation) reflecting non-simultaneous projectile and target electron transitions, are replaced with processes that include both non-simultaneous and simultaneous electronic transitions on the target and projectile. These include, for example, single ionization, single ionization with simultaneous single projectile excitation, single ionization with double projectile excitation, single ionization with single projectile stripping, and single ionization with double projectile stripping. Using this expanded set of processes, we show, via Monte Carlo ion-transport simulation, that improved representation of the energy deposition, measured by the stopping power, is obtained as compared to accepted recommended values for intermediate energies (100–2000 keV/u) where the stopping power is largest, while maintaining the existing good agreement with these recommended values for low ( ∼ 10–100 keV/u) and high ( ≥ 2000 keV/u) energies. In addition, the ion-fraction distribution is altered by use of the improved data set. Both of these effects have implications for the energy deposition by oxygen ion precipitation in an H 2 atmosphere. Therefore, use of this expanded data set can provide a more physically realistic secondary-electron distribution, and consequently improved atmospheric reaction network, improved description of ion contribution to atmospheric currents, and therefore improved understanding of Jovian ionosphere–atmosphere coupling.
Adapting data management education to support clinical research projects in an academic medical center

Background: Librarians and researchers alike have long identified research data management (RDM) training as a need in biomedical research. Despite the wealth of libraries offering RDM education to their communities, clinical research is an area that has not been targeted. Clinical RDM (CRDM) is seen by its community as an essential part of the research process where established guidelines exist, yet educational initiatives in this area are unknown. Case Presentation: Leveraging the author’s academic library’s experience supporting CRDM through informationist grants and REDCap training in our medical center, we developed a 1.5 hour CRDM workshop. This workshop was designed to use established CRDM guidelines in clinical research and address common questions asked by our community through the library’s existing data support program. The workshop was offered to the entire medical center 4 times between November 2017 and July 2018. This case study describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of this workshop. Conclusions: The 4 workshops were well attended and well received by the medical center community, with 99% stating that they would recommend the class to others and 98% stating that they would use what they learned in their work. Attendees also articulated how they would implement the main competencies they learned from the workshop into their work. For the library, the effort to support CRDM has led to the coordination of a larger institutional collaborative training series to educate researchers on best practices with data, as well as the formation of institution-wide policy groups to address researcher challenges with CRDM, data transfer, and data sharing.
SURVEY PAPER: CRYOGENIC POWER TRANSMISSION

On a etudie de facon assez approfondie les systemes de transmission d'electricite par câbles souterrains cryogeniques en utilisant des conducteurs normaux dans l'azote et l'hydrogene liquides et des supraconducteurs dans l'helium liquide.
Comparative study of fitness function in genetic algorithm for optimal site allocation using Lidar

An autonomous genetic algorithm has been implemented that uses Geospatial data to locate the most feasible locations for setting up base camps in a disaster scenario such as a flood where evacuation and rescue efforts are of primary importance. Modern day geographical information system packages do not incorporate genetic algorithm capabilities for solving the location allocation problem. In this paper, a genetic algorithm was introduced that uses a domain specific objective function, combining spatial aspects of the data with an evaluation of the feasibility of locations of base camps. Lidar data has been used to exclude the selection of locations that are infeasible. Incorporating Lidar data with the genetic algorithm reduces search space and returns results that correspond to locations at ground level. The implemented genetic algorithm is tested using two different fitness functions. Experiments reveal that using sector selection as fitness function yields better results than maximizing distance. For sector selection as a fitness function, the coverage area increases by 23.5% and overlapping area decreases by 88%
Language Teacher Beliefs about Technology: Expanding the Ecology.

Much of the work done on language teacher beliefs about technology remains limited to the individual or institutional scales. This study responds to calls to reinsert language teaching and learning...
Synthesis of non-isocyanate polyurethanes and their application in radiation-curable aerospace coatings

Abstract Although the current polyurethane coatings used in the aerospace applications meet the stringent performance requirements, they don’t comply with the environmental demands, e.g., low VOC contents. Moreover, containing a significant amount of solvent, they usually need long drying times, which causes significant production burdens. Furthermore, many of these coatings contain isocyanates, which are hazardous and are likely to be regulated soon. In this study, a series of sustainable UV-curable non-isocyanate urethane acrylate (NIPU-AC) oligomers, with different structures and acrylate equivalent weights, were synthesized and used as a primary building block of UV-curable coatings for aerospace applications. Synthesis of the NIPU-AC oligomers was carried out in three steps: First, multi-functional cyclic carbonates (MFCC) were prepared by carbonation of aliphatic epoxy compounds under mild temperature and pressure conditions in the presence of a catalyst. In the next step, amine-terminated polyurethane oligomers (PUPAs) were synthesized by the reaction of MFCCs with a stoichiometric excess amount of aliphatic and cycloaliphatic amines. (meth)acrylate functionality was then introduced by direct reaction of amine groups at the chain ends of PUPAs with methacrylic anhydride (MAAH). The amine value titration and FTIR confirmed the successful synthesis of NIPU-AC oligomers with >95% yield. Finally, UV-curable NIPU coatings, as a new generation of sustainable coatings for aerospace applications, were developed and evaluated for aerospace-critical performance properties, such as low-temperature flexibility and resistance to specific chemicals/fluids. The results showed that flexibility at -54 ℃ (no cracks or delamination at 1/8”), and good chemical resistance (MEK double rubs > 90, and no significant change in the appearance regarding the fluids) could be reached through the proper design of NIPU-ACs, selection of appropriate reactive diluents, and UV-cure conditions. These fast-curable NIPU coatings, which contain low VOCs and HAPS and no isocyanates, could be sustainable alternatives for current aerospace polyurethane coatings.
The role of absolute monocyte counts in predicting severity of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an inflammatory bowel disease of preterm infants marked by an absolute monocyte count (AMC) drop in peripheral blood. Our objective was to determine whether the degree of AMC drop at illness onset correlates with eventual severity of disease. The percentage change in AMC was retrospectively calculated for each of 29 rule-out NEC and 76 NEC cases from baseline to illness onset, and then compared across stages. Median AMC changes of +0.5% (p = 0.56) were found in rule-out NEC, compared with −44.5% (p < 0.0001) in Stage 2 and −81.9% (p < 0.0001) in Stage 3. An AMC change cutoff of −75% distinguishes Stages 2 and 3. The severity of NEC correlated with the extent of AMC change in a dose-response fashion. Percent AMC change may be a useful marker for identifying NEC at onset and prognosticating disease severity.
Job Displacement Insurance

Earnings losses from permanent job separations are a serious threat to the financial security of long-tenured workers. Job displacement insurance is presumably designed to offset these losses, but evidence suggests that consumption smoothing among the long-tenured displaced workers is seriously incomplete, at least in lightly regulated labor markets. Unemployment and reemployment wage insurance could fully cover these losses, but are costly to provide. Severance pay has emerged as a supplemental, if much criticized, instrument. Moral hazard limitations on unemployment insurance (UI) generosity mean that severance pay functions as scheduled (partial) UI and scheduled wage insurance. Consumption smoothing over time through savings and borrowing is less efficient than ideal insurance, but may be preferred in second-best situations. Long-tenured separated workers are older on average, which introduces special problems, but also additional policy options, including early access to retirement accounts.
Cluster infections play important roles in the rapid evolution of COVID-19 transmission: A systematic review.

Abstract Objectives To summarise the major types of SARS-CoV-2 cluster infections worldwide through a comprehensive systematic review. Methods All studies published between 01 January–15 June 2020 on COVID-19 cluster infections in English electronic databases were searched, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Knowledge, and Scopus. All included studies were independently screened and evaluated by two authors, and information from each study was extracted using a standard form. Results Sixty-five studies were included, which involved 108 cluster infections from 13 countries, areas or territories. Seventy-two (66.7%) of the cluster infections were reported in China. The major types of cluster infections were families, community transmission, nosocomial infection, gatherings, transportation, shopping malls, conferences, tourists, religious organisations, workers, prisons, offices, and nursing homes. Conclusions The SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted in various circumstances, and cluster infections play an important role in the rapid evolution of COVID-19 transmission. Prevention and control measures such as social distancing must be strictly implemented to contain these cluster infections.
Michigan Local Leaders Want Their Citizens to Play a Larger Role in Policymaking, but Report Declining Engagement

This report presents Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of issues related to citizen engagement with their local governments and the role that citizens play in local policymaking. The findings in this report are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the Fall 2016 and Fall 2012 waves of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS).
Selected Recent Major Federal Environmental Decisions, 2018

This paper describes selected environmental decisions issued by U.S. Supreme Court and federal appellate courts during the the 2017-18 term, focusing on the Takings and Due Process Clauses, and the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act.