cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decentralized decision-making on robotic networks with hybrid performance metrics

The past decade has witnessed a rapidly growing interest in decentralized algorithms for collective decision-making in cyber-physical networks. For a large variety of settings, control strategies are now known that either minimize time complexity (i.e., convergence time) or optimize communication complexity (i.e., number and size of exchanged messages). Yet, little attention has beed paid to the problem of studying the inherent trade-off between time and communication complexity. Generally speaking, time-optimal algorithms are fast and robust, but require a large (and sometimes impractical) number of exchanged messages; in contrast, communication optimal algorithms minimize the amount of information routed through the network, but are slow and sensitive to link failures. In this paper we address this gap by focusing on a generalized version of the decentralized consensus problem (that includes voting and mediation) on undirected network topologies and in the presence of “infrequent” link failures. We present and rigorously analyze a tunable, semi-hierarchical algorithm, where the tuning parameter allows a graceful transition from time-optimal to communication-optimal performance (hence, allowing hybrid performance metrics), and determines the algorithm's robustness, measured as the time required to recover from a failure. An interesting feature of our algorithm is that it leads the decision-making agents to self-organize into a semi-hierarchical structure with variable-size clusters, among which information is flooded. Our results make use of a novel connection between the consensus problem and the theory of gamma synchronizers. Simulation experiments are presented and discussed.
Dynamic partial reconfigurable hardware architecture for principal component analysis on mobile and embedded devices

With the advancement of mobile and embedded devices, many applications such as data mining have found their way into these devices. These devices consist of various design constraints including stringent area and power limitations, high speed-performance, reduced cost, and time-to-market requirements. Also, applications running on mobile devices are becoming more complex requiring significant processing power. Our previous analysis illustrated that FPGA-based dynamic reconfigurable systems are currently the best avenue to overcome these challenges. In this research work, we introduce efficient reconfigurable hardware architecture for principal component analysis (PCA), a widely used dimensionality reduction technique in data mining. For mobile applications such as signature verification and handwritten analysis, PCA is applied initially to reduce the dimensionality of the data, followed by similarity measure. Experiments are performed, using a handwritten analysis application together with a benchmark dataset, to evaluate and illustrate the feasibility, efficiency, and flexibility of reconfigurable hardware for data mining applications. Our hardware designs are generic, parameterized, and scalable. Furthermore, our partial and dynamic reconfigurable hardware design achieved 79 times speedup compared to its software counterpart, and 71% space saving compared to its static reconfigurable hardware design.
Describing the Mountainsnails (Oreohelix Sp.) of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Invertebrates are receiving an increasing amount of conservation attention across North America. Currently, about 40% of the animals listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) are invertebrates (www.NatureServe.org). The National Park Service and other agencies require better information on invertebrate faunas in order to effectively conserve this important group of animals. One way to prioritize invertebrate groups for study is to assess the number of rare taxa within a given genus. In this context, Oreohelix (mountainsnails) are a top priority because the genus is assumed to support a very high percentage of rare and endemic taxa. Additionally, Oreohelix species in Wyoming and surrounding states have been petitioned for ESA listing in the recent past. The diversity of Oreohelix forms in Wyoming is not well-understood, and the current taxonomy may not reflect the true pattern of diversity within the state. Therefore, we are studying both the morphology and genetic structure of Oreohelix in Grand Teton National Park to begin to understand the diversity of mountainsnails in the state. We collected Oreohelix from 4 locations in Grand Teton National Park. Based on shell and internal characteristics, all individuals were identified as O. subrudis. We are currently preparing specimens for DNA sequencing.
Genetically Engineered Elastomeric Polymer Network through Protein Zipper Assembly

The rich palette of chemical and functional diversity found within peptides has driven the recent interest in bottom-up assembly of soft polypeptide-based materials. Herein, we describe the creation of a novel helix-elastin like polymer or HELP. HELP marries the specificity of coiled-coil interactions with the elasticity and stimuli-responsive behavior of elastin, a class of polymers with extraordinary elasticity. We used Rosetta to computationally design highly specific protein helical zippers to connect short elastin segments. The programmed pairing between the helical blocks of two individual chains produced a genetically encoded material that, when deposited on a substrate, formed a flexible and porous 2D planar network with controllable porosity that responds dynamically upon application of stimuli.
Deliberative object pose estimation in clutter

A fundamental robot perception task is that of identifying and estimating the poses of objects with known 3D models in RGB-D data. While feature-based and discriminative approaches have been traditionally used for this task, recent work on deliberative approaches such as PERCH and D2P have shown improved robustness in handling scenes with severe inter-object occlusions. These deliberative approaches work by treating multi-object pose estimation as a combinatorial search over the space of possible rendered scenes of the objects, thereby inherently being able to predict and account for occlusions. However, these methods have so far been restricted to scenes comprising only of known objects, and have been unable to handle extraneous clutter — a common occurrence in many real-world settings. This work significantly increases the practical relevance of deliberative perception methods by developing a formulation that: i) accounts for extraneous unmodeled clutter in scenes, and ii) provides object pose uncertainty estimates. Our algorithm is complete and provides bounded suboptimality guarantees for the cost function chosen to be optimized. Empirically, we demonstrate successful object recognition and uncertainty-aware localization in challenging scenes with unmodeled clutter, where previous deliberative methods perform unsatisfactorily. In addition, this work was used as part of the perception system by Carnegie Mellon University's Team HARP in the 2016 Amazon Picking Challenge.
Coding the News: The role of computer code in filtering and distributing news

This article examines the role of code in the process of news distribution and the degree to which code and algorithms can filter and prioritize news, much as an editor would. The discussion focuses specifically on the context of mobile news applications that filter news for consumers. Given concerns raised by the intersection of computer science and journalism, analysis moves away from the common notion that code is replacing humans as producers of news and shifts toward the role of code in helping journalists order and communicate the news. Thus, the focus of this research is on code as technological actants, filtering news based on decisions imbued into the code by human actors. This article reports the results of an investigation of code contained in 59 open source mobile news apps and an analysis of the content of that code. Findings highlight the journalistic decisions made in code and contribute to discussion surrounding the relationship between algorithmic and traditional news values.
An Inequality for the Perimeter of the Orthic Triangle

(1966). An Inequality for the Perimeter of the Orthic Triangle. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 39, No. 5, pp. 289-289.
Going general: Responding to yes–no questions in informational webinars for prospective grant applicants:

While research on question–answer sequences has yielded important insights into the structures of responses and the actions they implement, the advising literature has illuminated how advice-giving...
Coexistence Curve and Parametric Equation of State for 4He Near Its Critical Point

Recent advances in the theory of critical phenomena have emphasized the need for high-quality experimental data and, through the scaling law, have provided a means for analyzing the data in a simple fashion. Available data on the thermodynamic properties of 4He fall short of satisfying this need. Therefore we have measured the pressure coefficient (∂ P/ ∂ T) ρ along 29 isochores in the density range − 0.2 < Δρ < 0.2 and the temperature range − 0.02 < t < 0.032, where Δρ = (ρ - ρ c )/ρ c and t = (T - T c )/T c .
Computer simulation of neural networks for perceptual psychology

Computer simulations of neural network processes fill an important methodological niche, permitting the investigation of questions not resolvable by physiological, behavioral, or formal approaches alone. Two types of network simulations are considered: simulations of boundary completion and simulations of segmentation. Simulations that compare properties of published models with variations of these models are presented to illustrate how parametric computer simulations have guided the development of neural models of visual perception.
Biology and Evolution of Beneficial and Detrimental Viruses of Animals, Plants, and Fungi

Virtually every type of organism may serve as a host for viruses. In some hosts, virus presence may be considered beneficial to humans; in other hosts, viruses are considered detrimental. Examples of viruses that are considered beneficial to humans include those that are used for biological control of organisms that themselves are considered detrimental to humans, such as plant pathogenic fungi. Viruses are extremely variable in terms of morphology, structure, and genome organization. However, viruses that attack hosts from different kingdoms may be related, deriving from the same phylogeny. This paper summarizes some of the properties of three related families of viruses that attack hosts in different kingdoms: the animal-infecting Picornaviridae, the plant-infecting Potyviridae, and the fungus-infecting Hypoviridae. Properties of these viruses that set them apart from each other and factors that may affect their evolution are discussed.
Skin Friction Measurements in Complex Turbulent Flows Using Direct Methods

ABSTRACT Skin friction (or wall shear) measurement is an important topic for both scientific and practical reasons, so there is a long history of work in the area. There are two broad classes of methods – indirect and direct measurements. The direct methods employ a movable element of the surface surrounded by a very small gap and connected to some type of flexure. One then measures the displacement of the movable element or the strain in the flexure to obtain the skin friction force acting on the movable element directly. This is the preferred approach for complex flow situations, and such devices are the subject of this paper. First, an overview of prior instruments is presented to provide some of the history and characteristics of these units. This is followed by separate sections considering: 1) sensitivity and range, 2) calibration, 3) time response, 4) mitigation of vibration effects, 5) interfering inputs, and 6) uncertainty. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of recent developments and directions for future research.
Sexual orientation and sex-related substance use: The unexplored role of bisexuality.

Abstract Using alcohol and drugs in sexual contexts is associated with negative health consequences, including increased risk for HIV/STIs, sexual victimization, unplanned pregnancies, and overdose. Evidence suggests millions of adults regularly use alcohol in sexual contexts, thus increasing their risk for these consequences. However, no nationally representative estimates exist for rates of regular alcohol and/or drug use in sexual contexts. Additionally, previous studies suggest sexual minority individuals are more likely to use substances in sexual contexts than heterosexuals; however, none of these studies examined for multiple dimensions or subgroups of sexual orientation. Thus, using two distinct datasets—one large, nationally representative sample (N = 17,491) and an Internet-collected convenience sample (N = 1001)—we explored the associations between sexual orientation (dimensions and subgroups) and rates of regular sex-related alcohol and/or drug use in American adults. Results showed that sexual minority individuals were significantly more likely to report regularly using substances in sexual contexts compared to heterosexuals; however, results varied based on dimension of sexual orientation and by sex. Across both samples, bisexual individuals exhibited the highest rates of regular sex-related substance use. Findings suggest that sexual minorities, and bisexual individuals in particular, may be at increased risk for regular sex-related substance use and its associated negative health consequences. Future research should include nuanced and multidimensional assessments of sexual orientation to investigate sex-related alcohol and/or drug use and its associated risks, as well as examine the potential direct and indirect pathways by which these disparities may be conferred.
Evaluative Spillovers from Technological Change: The Effects of “DNA Envy” on Occupational Practices in Forensic Science:

Most studies of technologies’ impact on occupational change focus on occupational groups’ adoption and use of particular technologies in a field or workplace. Drawing on an 18-month ethnographic st...
Philosophy in America: Remarks on John McCumber's Time in the Ditch: American Philosophy and the McCarthy Era

John McCumber is right to think that analytic philosophy has had a particularly central and dominating position in American philosophy, and that philosophy is less significant in American public life than in the public life of many European countries. I believe he is wrong to think that American philosophers have turned to analytical work in order to escape being politically relevant, and that he is wrong to suppose that prominent academic philosophy is something to wish for.
Risk factors for lymphopenia in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis treated with dimethyl fumarate

To identify risk factors for DMF-induced lymphopenia and characterize its impact on T lymphocyte subsets in MS patients. We performed a retrospective analysis of 194 RRMS patients treated with DMF at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) over a median of 17 months. We reviewed demographics, ethnic background, prior medication history, complete blood counts and T lymphocyte subsets. Possible lymphopenia risk factors examined included age, prior natalizumab exposure, vitamin D levels, and concomitant exposure to carbamazepine, opiates, tobacco, or steroids. Lymphopenia was defined as grade 1: absolute lymphocytes count (ALC) 800–999/μl; grade 2: ALC 500–799/μl; grade 3: ALC 200–499/μl; and grade 4: ALC < 200/μl. Of 194 DMF-treated patients, 73 (38%) developed lymphopenia and reached an ALC nadir after a median of 504 days (range 82–932). Risk of developing DMF-induced lymphopenia increased with BMI 25–30, older age, white ethnicity, non-smoking status, and lowest quartile baseline ALC. Prior exposure to natalizumab or concomitant steroid, opiates or carbamazepine/oxcarbamazepine use was not associated with lymphopenia. Compared to baseline levels, CD8 T cells were significantly more reduced than CD4 cells. CD8 counts were more commonly reduced with age or white ethnicity. Subjects with BMI 25–30 was associated with a higher risk of abnormal CD4 cell count reductions. In contrast, non-smokers were more likely to experience reductions in both CD4 and CD8 counts while on DMF. Patients with low baseline lymphocyte counts, with intermediate BMI, with white ethnicity, with advanced age, or with no tobacco use, had a significantly higher incidence of lymphopenia on DMF. Intermediate BMI or lowest quartile baseline ALC predicted low CD4 levels, while advanced age or white ethnicity predicted low CD8 levels from DMF exposure.
Unmet Communication and Information Needs for Patients with IBD: Implications for Mobile Health Technology.

Aims In order to develop an application that addresses the most significant challenges facing IBD patients, this qualitative study explored the major hurdles of living with IBD, the information needs of IBD patients, and how application technology may be used to improve quality of life. Methods 15 IBD patients participated in two focus groups of 120 minutes each. Data collection was achieved by combining focus groups with surveys and direct observation of patients looking at a patient-engaged app (HealthPROMISE) screenshots. The survey elicited information on demographics, health literacy and quality of life through the Short IBD Questionnaire (SIBDQ). Results The needs of IBD patients center around communication as it relates to both patient information needs and navigating the social impacts of IBD on patients' lives: Communication Challenges regarding Information Needs: Patients cited a doctor-patient communication divide where there is a continued lack of goal setting when discussing treatments and a lack of objectivity in disease control. When objectively compared with the SIBDQ, nearly half of the patients in the focus groups wrongly estimated their IBD control.Communication Challenges regarding Social Impacts of IBD: Patients strongly felt that while IBD disrupts routines, adds significant stress, and contributes to a sense of isolation, the impact of these issues would be significantly alleviated through more conversation and better support.Implication for Mobile Health Solutions: Patients want a tool that improves tracking of symptoms, medication adherence and provides education. Physician feedback to patient input on an application is required for long-term sustainability. Conclusions IBD patients need mobile health technologies that evaluate disease control and the goals of care. Patients feel an objective assessment of their disease control, goal setting and physician feedback will greatly enhance utilization of all mobile health applications.
Abstract A19: The role of metaplastic tuft cell chemosensory signaling in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the third most common cause of cancer death in the US with a 9% 5-year survival rate. PDA is characterized by a robust stromal reaction, a large portion of which is composed of infiltrating immune cells and supported by fibroblasts. This fibroinflammatory response promotes both the initiation and progression of PDA. Key to this progression is the crosstalk between the tumor epithelium and immune compartment. Metaplastic tuft cells (MTCs) are a subset of the neoplastic epithelium derived by the transdifferentiation of acinar cells. Tuft cells have been characterized to have a “sense-and-respond” role in luminal surfaces throughout the body, using the taste chemosensory system to promote an inflammatory response in infected and damaged tissues. Among the pancreatic epithelium, MTCs uniquely express components of the gustation sensory system including taste receptors, TRPM5 and αGustducin, as well as an array of inflammatory cytokines, suggesting they are capable of promoting an immune response to extracellular challenges. To explore this hypothesis, we ablated αGustducin, a key protein in the chemosensory cascade, in a model of pancreatitis-associated tumorigenesis. We found that neoplasia in the GNAT3-/-; KrasG12D; PTF1aCreERT mice initiates and progresses more rapidly, a difference associated with alteration in immune cell subtypes. To further quantitate changes in the immune response, we performed mass cytometry (CyTOF), as a way to explore changes in cell number and type, and single-cell sequencing, to more deeply probe the unique gene signatures of cells within the tumor stroma. These large-scale analyses suggest substantial changes in the number of T-cell and myeloid cell populations, as well as alterations of fibroblasts and myeloid cell polarity. We conclude that MTCs use chemosensory signaling to promote the formation of a tumor-suppressive microenvironment. Citation Format: Megan T. Hoffman, Stephanie The, Daniel J. Salas-Escabillas, Kathleen E. DelGiorno, Filip Bednar, Robert F. Margolskee, Arvind Rao, Howard C. Crawford. The role of metaplastic tuft cell chemosensory signaling in pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Science and Clinical Care; 2019 Sept 6-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(24 Suppl):Abstract nr A19.
Regioselective synthesis of 4-fluoro-1,5-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles from synthetic surrogates of α-fluoroalkynes

α-Fluoroalkynes are elusive molecules due to their instability and inaccessibility. Here, we show that α-fluoronitroalkenes can serve as synthetic surrogates of α-fluoroalkynes in [3+2] cycloaddition reactions with organic azides facilitated by a catalytic amount of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). This work provides the first regioselective method to access 4-fluoro-1,5-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles.
Abstract 1517: The integration of bulk DNA sequencing and single-cell analysis reveals diverse clonal evolution in CLL patients treated with BTKi

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of adult leukemia and is considered incurable. Hyperactivity of B-cell receptor signaling is a central driver of CLL9s molecular pathogenesis. Targeting this pathway with Bruton9s tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) has improved clinical outcomes for CLL patients when compared to standard chemo-immunotherapies (Woyach, NEJM 2018; Shanafelt, NEJM 2019). To characterize cancer evolution in CLL patients who received BTKi treatment, we collected blood samples from 4 CLL patients at 3 timepoints: pre-treatment, 1 year, and 2 years after initiation of treatment. Sorted B and T cells (normal control) were subjected to 200X WES and 60X WGS. Using somatic mutations and their allele frequencies from WGS/WES data across the 3 timepoints, we reconstructed the subclonal evolution of the malignant B cell population using our subclone deconvolution algorithm SubcloneSeeker (Qiao, Genome Biol. 2014). Our analysis revealed diverse patterns of subclonal genomic evolution across patients in terms of (1) presence or absence of subclonal evolution between time points; (2) emergence of new subclones across time points; and (3) clonal replacement across time points.To elucidate subclone-specific phenotypic behavior in each patient, we collected single-cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNA-seq) and IgG VDJ sequencing (sc-VDJ-seq) from unsorted blood samples at the same time points at which we had the genomic data. Using our new scBayes algorithm (manuscript in preparation), we assigned individual cells in the scRNA-seq data to genomic subclones based on the presence or absence of subclone-defining DNA mutations. This allowed us to isolate and examine the expression phenotype corresponding to subclonal populations. We observed three patterns: 1) no/minimal genomic and transcriptomic evolution across time points; 2) no/minimal genomic subclonal evolution but transcriptomic shift of the same subclones across time points; 3) clonal/subclonal replacement with distinct transcriptomic and VDJ profiles. We found that the two patients in our study with no/minimal genomic and transcriptomic evolution had progressive disease. In contrast, the two other patients whose tumor showed transcriptomic shift and/or clonal replacement had clinically complete remission. Although larger sample sizes are needed to draw further biological conclusions, this study highlights the power of multi-omic, and especially single-cell transcriptional profiling of BTKi treatment impact on CLL patients. Citation Format: Xiaomeng Huang, Yi Qiao, Philip Moos, Szabolcs Tarapcsak, Jennifer A. Woyach, John C. Byrd, Deborah M. Stephens, Gabor T. Marth. The integration of bulk DNA sequencing and single-cell analysis reveals diverse clonal evolution in CLL patients treated with BTKi [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1517.
Optimal forage and supplement balance for organic dairy farms in the Southeastern United States

Abstract Context With prevailing economic concerns facing the conventional dairy industry, organic production is a potential alternative for dairy producers as evidenced by a substantial number of operations pursuing organic markets in an effort to improve profitability. However, economic research is limited and the long-term economic sustainability of the system has been questioned. Objective The objectives of this study were to determine the economically optimal mix of forage and supplemental feed to maximize net returns, identify opportunities and considerations regarding production and feed management, and determine the sensitivity of returns relative to changes in milk prices for an organic dairy operation. Methods A linear programming model was developed to represent a whole-farm organic dairy operation in the Southeastern United States. The representative farm modeled was based on actual organic dairy operations in Kentucky and Tennessee, partnering with University personnel on this project. The model was employed to explore and optimize enterprise and feed options for the operation. Results and conclusions Results demonstrated a degree of substitutability of ration components, including representative forage species mixes for grazing, as well as hay and purchased concentrates. Profit potential was found to exist at assumed organic milk price levels, although organic milk price trends and the cost of transitioning to organic production create significant challenges. While a considerable reliance on grazing was a cost-effective feeding decision for organic production (a minimum of 30% dry matter intake from grazing is required), increased milk volumes justified the production and purchasing of additional supplemental feeds. Thus, evidence of increased profit potential by targeting higher production levels was suggested under the scenarios examined. Results also indicated a relatively narrow range of break-even milk prices across varying production levels for organic dairies. Finally, a business life of twenty years was generally needed to justify the transitioning of an existing conventional dairy to an organic dairy operation. Significance This work has implications for existing dairy operations as findings suggest profit potential and some ability to withstand moderate erosion of milk price. The work also informs dairy producers interested in transitioning to organic production by quantifying the cost of this transition and the potential return on that investment over time.
Structures of dimeric human NPC1L1 provide insight into mechanisms for cholesterol absorption.

Polytopic Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) plays a major role in intestinal absorption of biliary cholesterol, vitamin E (VE), and vitamin K (VK). The drug ezetimibe inhibits NPC1L1-mediated absorption of cholesterol, lowering of circulating levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Here, we report cryo–electron microscopy structures of human NPC1L1 (hNPC1L1) bound to either cholesterol or a lipid resembling VE. These findings, together with functional assays, reveal that the same intramolecular channel in hNPC1L1 mediates transport of VE and cholesterol. hNPC1L1 exists primarily as a homodimer; dimerization is mediated by aromatic residues within a region of transmembrane helix 2 that exhibits a horizonal orientation in the membrane. Mutation of tryptophan-347 lies in this region disrupts dimerization and the resultant monomeric NPC1L1 exhibits reduced efficiency of cholesterol uptake. These findings identify the oligomeric state of hNPC1L1 as a target for therapies that inhibit uptake of dietary cholesterol and reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease.
The Fused Silica Glass Capillary Column For Gas Chromatography – The Anatomy Of A Revolution

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the fused silica glass capillary column for gas chromatography. Approximately five years after the announcement of the use of flexible fused silica glass tubing for capillary column gas chromatography, evidence developed from a group of laboratories in Europe and in the United States, now leads to believe that the fused silica glass surface can be expeditiously coated by an ever increasing variety of new, properly designed nonpolar and polar stationary phases. When these phases are readily cross linked and bonded to the surface of this unique glass, these columns exhibit outstanding chromatographic properties. When the quality of these capillary columns and the ease of their fabrication are taken into account, they have to be considered to represent the ideal capillary column for a long time to come.
The Effects of International Economic Trends on Gender Equity in Schooling

Educational conditions and opportunities for female pupils, in comparison with male pupils, vary considerably between countries. In the past researchers have tended to explain these conditions in terms of national and local factors. Recently, however, some researchers have begun to focus on the influence of global economic trends in this area. This article describes a survey of 120 countries, examining the influence of economic globalization on gender equity in secondary schools. The article concludes that this influence is significant and should be taken into account by policy- makers.
Saturated Reconstruction of a Volume of Neocortex

We describe automated technologies to probe the structure of neural tissue at nanometer resolution and use them to generate a saturated reconstruction of a sub-volume of mouse neocortex in which all cellular objects (axons, dendrites, and glia) and many sub-cellular components (synapses, synaptic vesicles, spines, spine apparati, postsynaptic densities, and mitochondria) are rendered and itemized in a database. We explore these data to study physical properties of brain tissue. For example, by tracing the trajectories of all excitatory axons and noting their juxtapositions, both synaptic and non-synaptic, with every dendritic spine we refute the idea that physical proximity is sufficient to predict synaptic connectivity (the so-called Peters' rule). This online minable database provides general access to the intrinsic complexity of the neocortex and enables further data-driven inquiries.
Non-stationary data domain description using weighted support vector novelty detector

Even though most of the classification methods deal with multiple classes, there is an objective need for classification methods that deal with a single class. This is particularly true when it is difficult or expensive to find examples for other classes. One-class classification (also called data domain description) is often used for outlier or novelty detection. These methods allow representation of the behavior of a system with few parameters compared to the number data points collected from the system. Methods with probability density assumptions have the weakness of applicability to real world applications. Very few one-class classification methods can handle non-stationary data. To the best of our knowledge, there exists no method that can handle non-stationary data without making stringent assumptions about the data distribution. This work proposes a data domain description method based on support vector machine principles for stationary as well as non-stationary data. Results from testing the proposed methods on several different datasets are very promising.
How Important Are Labor Markets to the Welfare of Indonesia's Poor?

Because poverty mainly afflicts agricultural and self-employed households in Indonesia, the most direct ways that policy can help to reduce poverty are through improving the operation of product, land, and capital markets, particularly where the regulatory environment now works to reduce farm profitability or inhibit entry to productive enterprises by the poor. Labor market policy can play an important role by facilitating, not impeding, labor mobility across sectors. The majority of the poor in Indonesia come from agricultural and self-employed households. About 70 percent of the remaining poor came from rural agricultural households in 1993, and more than 72 percent lived in households that derived the bulk of their income from self-employed enterprises. Moreover, the largest single contribution to poverty reduction between 1990 and 1993 came from within-sector welfare gains to self-employed farm households. Data show that the role of the labor market in reducing poverty has increased since the mid-1980s. Wage labor markets can be expected to play an increasingly important impact on the welfare of Indonesia's poor as the economy continues to undergo structural change, and as the workforce continues to move out of agriculture into manufacturing and services. Because poverty remains largely an agricultural and self-employed phenomenon, the most direct way for policy to contribute to reducing poverty is to focus on improving the operation of product, land, and capital markets - particularly where monopolies reduce farm profitability or viability (for example, cloves, oranges) or where excessive regulations raise costs or inhibit entry to productive enterprises by the poor. At the same time, labor market policy can play an important role in the Government of Indonesia's efforts to reduce poverty by helping to facilitate labor mobility across sectors - for example, from low productivity activities in agriculture to higher productivity activities in other sectors. But if they reduce labor mobility, labor market policies can be counterproductive to Indonesia's poverty reduction efforts. Recent empirical evidence suggests that increases in the minimum wage may have hurt employment growth, particularly among small firms. As such, using minimum wage policy to ensure high wages to a limited number of (mostly nonpoor) workers will almost certainly diminish the poverty reducing potential of the labor market. This paper - a joint product of the Poverty and Social Policy Department and the Country Operations Division, East Asia and Pacific, Country Department III - is part of a larger study of the labor market in Indonesia undertaken by East Asia and Pacific, Country Department III. It was presented at a joint Ministry of Manpower, Indonesia-World Bank workshop, Indonesian Workers in the 21st Century, Jakarta, April 2­4, 1996.
Dynamics of DNA methylation of human CYP3A gene promoters in pediatric liver (1141.4)

Members of the human CYP3A family of metabolizing enzymes exhibit developmental changes in expression in which CYP3A7 is expressed in fetal tissues followed by a transition to expression of CYP3A4 ...
The Chill of a Wintry Light: Borough of Duryea v. Guarnieri and the Right to Petition in Public Employment

This article analyzes the Supreme Court’s decision in Borough of Duryea v. Guarnieri holding that in order for a petition, grievance or litigation by a public employee to be protected against retaliation under the Petition Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution it must satisfy the public concern test applicable in retaliation cases alleging a violation of the Speech Clause. The decision was issued in the midst of a renewed contemporary debate over public sector collective bargaining and other statutory rights in public employment. The article analyzes the decision in the context of American public sector labor history, which includes a legacy of explicit prohibitions on public employees petitioning for improved working conditions and limitations on their right to freely associate for mutual aid and protection. In reaching its decision, the Court overlooked the centrality of petitioning in public sector labor relations. The article closely examines the factual and the state legal background of the case to highlight the importance of statutory and contractual protections in public employment, and the pitfalls when those protections are abandoned in favor of constitutional litigation. Finally, the article examines the overlooked question of what enforceable constitutional rights remain for public employees if or when statutory protections and rights are eliminated or substantially curtailed.
Progress on /spl mu//sup +//spl mu//sup -/ colliders

Advantages and disadvantages of muon colliders are discussed. Recent results of calculations of the radiation hazard from muon decay neutrinos are presented. This is a significant problem for machines with center of mass energy of 4 TeV, but of no consequence for lower energies. Plans are outlined for future theoretical and experimental studies. Besides continued work on the parameters of a 4 TeV collider, studies are now starting on a machine near 100 GeV that could be a factory for the s-channel production of Higgs particles. Proposals are also presented for a demonstration of ionization cooling and of the required targeting, pion capture, and phase rotation RF.
Quality of life in children treated for brain tumors. Intellectual, emotional, and academic function

Thirty children with primary brain tumors were evaluated for alterations in intellectual, emotional, and academic functions. Nine were studied following surgery (prior to irradiation) and 21 after postoperative irradiation. Twenty-four patients (80%) showed no serious disabilities on routine medical and neurological examinations. Nineteen patients (63%) had normal intelligence quotient (IQ) levels. Qualitative disabilities on routine examinations were observed in six children: two of nine tested postoperatively, one of six tested after posterior fossa irradiation, and three of 15 tested after cranial irradiation. Subnormal IQ levels were also noted in two of nine children tested prior to irradiation and one of six after posterior fossa irradiation. Of the 15 studied after cranial irradiation, eight had subnormal IQ scores. Serial postirradiation testing in 10 patients revealed improvement in two, stability in five, and further deterioration in three. Ten children were placed in learning disability settings due to achievement delays or problems with selective attending. Social-emotional evaluations detected excessive tendencies toward psychotic symptomatology. Potential etiological factors, including primary tumor site, extent of irradiation, age, and increased intracranial pressure, are discussed. Preliminary findings suggest a greater than normal risk for late neuropsychological alterations among children with supratentorial tumors and/or cranial irradiation.
Quasi-Steady Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Performance Database

The performanceof a coaxial, gas-fed, self-e eld, quasi-steady pulsed magnetoplasmadynamicthruster (MPDT) was measured using a swinging gate thrust stand equipped with a laser interferometer and an rf proximity transducer. Careful calibration of the thrust stand and other diagnostics ensured that the measurement errors, barring the effects of e uctuations in the discharge voltage, are well below 2%. The measurements were carried out for various mass e ow rates, ranging between 0.5 and 6 g/s and for four propellant gases: argon, xenon, hydrogen, and deuterium. The data set can be interpreted to describe both the performance of steady-state high-power (multimegawatt ) MPDTs and quasi-steady pulsed MPDTs that can operate at low spacecraft bus power. The results were curve e t and compiled into a performance database that is intended as a data source for system or mission analysis as well as for the validation of analytical and numerical models of the MPDT.
3D model-based face recognition in video

Face recognition in video has gained wide attention due to its role in designing surveillance systems. One of the main advantages of video over still frames is that evidence accumulation over multiple frames can provide better face recognition performance. However, surveillance videos are generally of low resolution containing faces mostly in non-frontal poses. Consequently, face recognition in video poses serious challenges to state-of-the-art face recognition systems. Use of 3D face models has been suggested as a way to compensate for low resolution, poor contrast and non-frontal pose. We propose to overcome the pose problem by automatically (i) reconstructing a 3D face model from multiple non-frontal frames in a video, (ii) generating a frontal view from the derived 3D model, and (iii) using a commercial 2D face recognition engine to recognize the synthesized frontal view. A factorization-based structure from motion algorithm is used for 3D face reconstruction. The proposed scheme has been tested on CMU's Face In Action (FIA) video database with 221 subjects. Experimental results show a 40% improvement in matching performance as a result of using the 3D models.
Could That Happen to Me?: Individual Differences in Perceptions of Threat and Intentions to Take Protective Action

Individual differences in threat in reactions to personal threat were examined using four health or theft threats. Probability and severity of the threats were manipulated. Participants (n = 94) completed measures of threat orientations, read each message, and rated perceived risk, concern, as well as current and intended protective behavior. As expected, consistency in reactions to threat was found across the four threats and in predicted patterns with dispositional threat orientations. Furthermore, threat orientations predicted perceived risk independent of probability and severity, and each threat orientation showed a different pattern of concern about the threats, based on current protection. Two ways to apply these findings to the communication of threat information are considered.
The Language of Mathematics: The Importance of Teaching and Learning Mathematical Vocabulary.

Vocabulary understanding is a major contributor to overall comprehension in many content areas, including mathematics. Effective methods for teaching vocabulary in all content areas are diverse and long standing. Teaching and learning the language of mathematics is vital for the development of mathematical proficiency. Students’ mathematical vocabulary learning is a very important part of their language development and ultimately mathematical proficiency. This article draws on current research-based evidence to (a) provide a rationale for teaching vocabulary, (b) offer a review of research that supports the importance of teaching mathematics vocabulary, and (c) describe specific strategies for teaching mathematics vocabulary. It also addresses implications and the need for future research.
Improving Quality in the Dissemination of Nursing Science

If society does not see a need for nursing, then nursing will not exist. Many surveys in the U.S. (Gallup, 2010) have shown nurses are currently well regarded as a profession and are trusted for honesty and ethics. However, to continue to have a societal mandate, nursing must provide important services to patients as they seek to improve their own health or the health of family members or while they strive to attain a peaceful death. These services must be based on nursing science.
Inhibition of De Novo Purine Biosynthesis and Interconversion by 6-Methylpurine in Escherichia coli

The inhibition of Escherichia coli strain B and strain W-11 by 6-methylpurine depended on the formation of 6-methylpurine ribonucleotide by the action of adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (AMP: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.7). 6-Methylpurine ribonucleotide inhibited the de novo synthesis of purines, presumably via pseudofeedback inhibition of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase (EC 2.4.2.14). The same mechanism accounted for its inhibition of adenylosuccinate synthetase [IMP: l-aspartate ligase (GDP), EC 6.3.4.4]. Adenine and 6-methylaminopurine prevented inhibition by competing for the action of adenine phosphoribosyltransferase. In addition, adenine reversed this inhibition by replenishing the AMP to bypass both sites of inhibition. Nonproliferating suspensions of strain B-94, which lacked adenylosuccinate lyase (EC 4.3.2.2), converted exogenous hypoxanthine and aspartate to succinoadenine derivatives which accumulated in the medium. Compounds which inhibited adenylosuccinate synthetase inhibited accumulation of the succinoadenine derivatives. A method was described for the isolation of mutants which potentially possessed an altered adenylosuccinate synthetase.
An anisotropic thermal phantom of perfused tissue

Initial development and test of instruments for measuring anisotropic conductivity in vivo is difficult to carry out in animal models and would benefit from trials in a nonbiological physical model, a phantom. Here, a phantom that conducts heat anisotropically is described. The phantom also mimics the small-scale temperature nonuniformities that may be found near individual blood vessels. Design criteria, along with modeled and experimental results, are presented. Based on the analysis and experimental results, the time-dependence of the conductivity observed in living tissue is explained. >
Reinvestigation of electric field-induced optical activity in α-quartz: application of a polarimeter with four photoelastic modulators.

Linear electrogyration (electric field-induced optical activity) and electro-optic effects in x-cut and z-cut right-handed (RH) α-quartz were measured using a complete Mueller matrix polarimeter. The polarimeter used in the analysis was equipped with four photoelastic modulators operating at different frequencies. This configuration is especially sensitive due to the fidelity of the modulators and the fact that all the Mueller matrix elements can be delivered without any moving optical elements. The linear electrogyration coefficient γ11 as a function of the wavelength of incident light was remeasured. The coefficient γ33, required by symmetry to be zero, was evaluated as a control. γ11 was much smaller than values obtained previously using devices dependent on mechanical light modulation. Electrogyration measurements have often been confounded by the much larger linear electro-optic effect. The Mueller calculus used herein is well suited to the separation of the competing changes to the polarization state of light. Quadratic electrogyration associated with elements β11 and β33 was not detectable. Chirality 26:430–433, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.