cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE APPLICATION OF QUEUING THEORY TO THE SPAN OF CONTROL

Abstract : The supervisor- orker relationship is considered to be a waiting-line situation where the supervisor is the service unit. Generation of the waiting line is a stochastic process. If there is too much demand on the supervisor, there is an excess of worker waiting time. With too little demand, there is too much idle servic time. Too many subordinates may mean loss ofADEQUATE C NTROL. Too many supervisors may be a costly extravagance and may also create too many organizational levels thereby increasing the difficulties of communication. The idea is to seek a trade-off between worker waiting time and supervisory costs. A cost model is presented which can be used to estimate the span of control for varying service times and cost inputs. Factors influencing the service time are taken into account. The model is predicated on finite queuing theory. (Author)
Synchrotron radiation based X-ray micro-diffraction study on reliability issues of solder joints in electronic packaging technology

Orientation distribution of Cu/sup 6/Sn/sup 5/ and its relationship with orientation of substrate Cu was studied with synchrotron based micro X-ray diffraction. We have obtained Laue spots both from Cu/sup 6/Sn/sup 5/ and Cu at the same time. From the Laue pattern, orientation distribution maps of Cu/sup 6/Sn/sup 5/ and Cu were obtained. Orientations Cu/sup 6/Sn/sup 5/ scallops had strong dependence to that of Cu. [001] direction of Cu/sup 6/Sn/sup 5/ was always parallel to [110] of Cu, to minimize misfit. It was also found that there are loses in its texture as reflow time increases.
Diagonal recurrent neural networks for nonlinear system control

The authors present an approach for control and system identification using diagonal recurrent neural networks (DRNNs). An unknown plant is identified by a system identifier, called a diagonal recurrent neuroidentifier (DRNI), and provides information on the plant to a controller, called a diagonal recurrent neurocontroller (DRNC). A generalized algorithm, called the dynamic backpropagation algorithm, is developed to train both the DRNC and the DRNI. The DRNN captures the dynamic nature of a system and, since it is not fully connected, training is much faster than with a fully connected recurrent neural network. >
Expectational Prediction of Individual Stocks

This study revisits the predictability of individual stock returns by focusing on the investors' expectations of future stock prices. It hypothesizes that expectations cause events, and thus provide predictive power to forecast stock returns. Based on this premise, a model that relies on the investors' information set at time t and formulates expectational positions on stock prices for the near- and medium-term future periods is designed and estimated. The methodology is structural time series analysis under a statespace (time-varying) estimation process. The estimated model is put further to test to predict the one-, five-, and ten-days step-ahead ex-ante forecasts of a test sample of individual stocks in the Russel-1000 portfolio. The results are encouraging, particularly in terms of the Rasps that are computed.
Foucault, the “Facts,” and the Fiction of Neutrality: Neutrality in Librarianship and Peer Review

This paper brings together two discourses in librarianship, that of neutrality in the context of library services, and that of peer review, which is of concern for librarianship as it moves more into the realm of scholarly communication. It points out the shortcomings of this ethical principle within the context of library services, using LIS literature on the opposition between neutrality and the commitment to social justice. It also uses Foucault’s theories on discipline, and knowledge and power, and Latour and Woolgar’s analysis of the construction of scientific facts, to critique the concept of neutrality. Then it asks how that critique applies to the practice of peer review, in which the expectation is that reviewers will be neutral or impartial judges of manuscripts. Findings suggest that the principle of neutrality, with a slightly different meaning in this context, does have useful applications to peer review, ensuring fairness. Although neutrality may never be possible completely, cross-disciplinary literature suggests ways to limit the effects of bias. Thus, librarians can better understand the different meanings of neutrality in these different contexts, including its usefulness and limitations.
A Bureaucratic Model of Judicial Success in the Office of the Solicitor General

The solicitor general of the United States occupies a unique position in the federal government, not only as the only member of the government legally required to be learned in the law, but also as the main legal representation of the United States. Beginning with Galanter (1974) and continuing with McGuire (1998), Songer, Sheehan, and Haire (1999), and most recently Bailey, Kamoie, and Maltzman (2005), researchers have showed that solely by the solicitor general's involvement in a case, either as amici or counsel, the federal courts are significantly more likely to decide in favor of the side the solicitor general favors. The Office of the Solicitor General however does not contain simply one individual. There are three ranks of attorneys within the office; the Solicitor General, deputies, and assistants. Following Lewis (2007), I argue that should be meaningful differences between these individuals based upon the hierarchy of their bureaucracy. These differences, I hypothesize, will lead to different determinants of success before the Supreme Court.
Abstract 120: Inhibitory Effects of Cholesterol on Lysophosphatidylcholine Metabolism in Human Monocytes

Background and aims: In hypercholesterolemic conditions blood cells are exposed to high concentrations of lipids, particularly cholesterol and lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PtdCho). While the metabolism of lyso-PtdCho by monocytes has been studied, the effects of high cholesterol, which complexes with lyso-PtdCho, are not well understood. In this study we used a novel assay developed in our laboratory, based on the ability of lyso-PtdCho to solubilize and deliver cholesterol into the cells, to study whether cholesterol affects the metabolism of lyso-PtdCho. Methods: In THP-1 monocytes 14C-lyso-PtdCho metabolism was analyzed by TLC and cytotoxicity by WST-1 assay. Results: Monocytes incubated with lyso-PtdCho alone metabolize the incorporated lyso-PtdCho by 4h mainly into phosphatidylcholine, with a small percentage into sphingomyelin and phosphocholine. The latter could represent PLase C reaction that would generate mono- and diacyl-glycerols, important signaling molecules. However in cells incubated with cholesterol or cholesteryl ester (CE)/lyso-PtdCho micelles, at 4h the radioactivity remained mainly in the lyso-PtdCho fraction (p<0.01 and p<0.001). Lyso-PtdCho decreased monocyte viability at concentrations over 30μM, but cholesterol and CE inhibited the lyso-PtdCho-induced cytotoxicity (p<0.001). Lyso-PtdCho and CE/lyso-PtdCho, but not cholesterol/lyso-PtdCho, increased the gene expression of the pro-inflammatory chemokine MCP-1 (p<0.05). Peripheral blood monocytes from LDL-R -/- mice on a high fat diet had higher levels of CE than monocytes from mice in a normal diet (n=10, p<0.05). Monocyte CE content in these mice positively correlated with plasma LDL/HDL ratio (p<0.05, R2=0.65). Conclusions: We show that cholesterol and CE inhibit the cytotoxic effects of lyso-PtdCho in monocytes, but only cholesterol counteracted the pro-inflammatory action of lyso-PtdCho. Since lyso-PtdCho concentrations in plasma are increased in hypercholesterolemic conditions, and its content is increased during the oxidation of LDL, the current studies might indicate that cholesterol and lyso-Ptdcho could influence each other’s metabolism. This is important as lyso-PtdCho has been suggested to influence plaque vulnerability.
Opinion: A new paradigm for regulating genetically engineered animals that are used as food.

Over the past 20 years, transgenic or genetically engineered (GE) plants have been routinely approved for human consumption, with close to 80 varieties successfully navigating the regulatory process. This is in stark contrast to GE animals, where only one has been approved for human consumption: the AquAdvantage salmon (1). The different regulatory trajectories for GE plants and GE animals for food raises the following questions: Why are the two regulatory tracts so different in outcome? Are the differences between GE plants and animals for use as food more significant than the similarities? We suggest that the two situations are more similar than different, that their regulatory paths should be harmonized, and that the regulations for genetically modified animals should be altered on multiple fronts.
A single-centre retrospective study of the safety and efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil in children and adolescents with nephrotic syndrome

Background The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy and side effect profile of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) therapy in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS). Methods A retrospective case note review was performed on all patients with NS who were commenced on MMF between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2009 and were followed up for a minimum of 1 year. Results The sample size was 73 patients. The duration of follow-up was for a median of 3.2 years, interquartile range (IQR) (1.7-4.7 years). The median age at diagnosis was 3.2 years, IQR (2.3-5.7 years). The median age of MMF commencement was 11 years, IQR (7.9-13.6 years). There were more boys (67%) than girls. The majority were Caucasian (77%), with 18% Asian 4%, Black Africans and 1% other ethnicities. At initial diagnosis, 61 (84%) were steroid sensitive, 9 (12%) steroid resistant, 3 (4%) steroid dependent (SD). Forty-five (74%) of the 61 steroid-sensitive patients became SD, 4 (7%) of them became steroid resistant, 1 (1%) remained steroid-sensitive and 11 (18%) became frequent relapsers. As to the previous use of second-line immunosuppressants, none were used in 5 (7%) patients, one agent in 17 (23%), two in 27 (37%) and three or more agents were used in 23 (32%) patients. MMF was effective in 45 (62%) patients. Of these, 38 (52%) of them were in remission for >2 years; and in 7 (10%) MMF worked for 1 to 2 years (MMF therapy electively stopped/ongoing). MMF therapy allowed 27 (37%) patients to wean steroids completely and 8 (11%) to achieve complete steroid and immunosuppressant withdrawal. A further 8 (11%) had steroids partially weaned. MMF failures were seen in 13 (18%) within the first year and 5 (7%) in the second year. MMF was stopped due to side effects in 4 (6%) and non-compliance in 4 (6%). The majority of patients had no side effects [51 (70%)]. Seven (9%) had gastrointestinal side effects (diarrhoea/abdominal pain); 5 (7%) had immunological side effects (leucopenia/infections); 3 (4%) had both immunological and gastrointestinal side effects; and 2 (3%) suffered arthralgia. Conclusions MMF is well tolerated and effective as a second-line agent in treating steroid-sensitive NS. The drug permitted prolonged remission and steroid weaning or other second-line agent withdrawal in a majority of cases.
Use of a physician order entry system to identify opportunities for intravenous to oral levofloxacin conversion

Experience with a program for identifying, through a physician order entry system, potentially inappropriate use of expensive intravenous (i.v.) drugs, including levofloxacin, is described. The program identifies patients who are receiving i.v. levofloxacin and simultaneously receiving oral medications or an oral diet. A computerized report of such patients is printed every morning at the hospital and distributed to pharmacists according to their nursing station assignments. The pharmacists document their daily interventions to encourage switching from i.v. to oral therapy, and data are compiled and posted at the end of each month. From January 1 through September 30, 1999, the first 10 months of the program, the cost per day of levofloxacin therapy per patient decreased substantially. The program helped the institution decrease the number of patients receiving i.v. levofloxacin.
Effects of fumonisin-contaminated corn screenings on growth and health of feeder calves

Fumonisins are myocotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme and F. proliferatum, common molds of corn in North America. The toxin is at especially high concentrations in corn screenings. Fumonisins are toxic to swine and horses, but effects of these toxins in cattle have not been evaluated. This experiment was conducted to determine the effects in cattle of feeding fumonisins at levels known to be toxic to swine and horses. A total of 18 crossbred feeder calves were fed diets containing fumonisins at 15, 31, or 148 micrograms/g for 31 d. Feed consumption, weight gain, complete blood count, serum clinical chemistries, and an immune function profile were done on d -3, 4, 10, 17 and 31 relative to the start of fumonisin feeding. There was no treatment-related effect on feed intake or weight gain, but feed containing 148 micrograms/g of fumonisins seemed to be less palatable than other feeds. Significant increases in serum aspartate amino transferase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin, and cholesterol occurred from d 10 through 31. Mild microscopic liver lesions were present in two calves fed at the highest fumonisin level. Lymphocyte blastogenesis was significantly impaired at the end of the feeding period in the group given the highest dose. Other measures of immune function were not affected significantly. Fumonisins are capable of causing changes in liver function and in some measures of immune function. However, cattle seem to be relatively less susceptible to fumonisins present naturally in grains than either swine or horses.
The challenges in the diagnosis of detrusor underactivity in clinical practice: A mini-review.

Objective To review the current definitions, terminology, epidemiology and aetiology of detrusor underactivity (DU), with specific attention to the diagnostic criteria in use. In addition, we address the relation and the overlap between DU and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). In this mini-review, we hope to help identify DU patients and facilitate structured clinical evaluation and research.
Sexuality-based stigma and depression among sexual minority individuals in rural United States

ABSTRACTSexuality-based stigma is associated with increased rates of depression for urban sexual minority persons. However, this relationship has not been explored specifically for rural sexual minority populations. This study examined the association between self-reported external and internal sexuality-based stigma and depression among an online sample of 771 rural sexual minority persons. Two regression outcomes were modeled, representing continuous depression scores and clinically significant depression. Anticipated, enacted, and internalized sexuality-based stigma were all significantly associated with increased depression scores and clinically significant depression. Interventions sensitive to the unique stigmas experienced by sexual minority populations in rural areas are needed.
Infrared thermography of human face for monitoring thermoregulation performance and estimating personal thermal comfort

Abstract The common practice of defining operational settings for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings is to use fixed set points, which assume occupants have same and static comfort requirements. However, thermal comfort varies from person to person and also changes due to climatic variations or acclimation, making it dynamic. In addition, thermal comfort in transient conditions are different from the steady state conditions, which makes the prediction of thermal comfort more difficult. Thus, thermal comfort has to be monitored over time. In this paper, we present a novel infrared thermography based technique to monitor an individual's thermoregulation performance and thermal comfort levels by measuring the skin temperature on several points on human face, which has a high density of blood vessels and is not usually covered by clothing. Unlike other methods, our method requires no continuous user input or interaction. Our results demonstrate that the monitored facial points behave differently under the heat and cold stresses and it can be explained based on the underlying vascular territories. We define two heuristics to describe the thermoneutral zone based on the observed behaviors and estimate thermal comfort for individuals with 95% confidence level. Considerable variations are observed in the thermoregulation performance and uncomfortably cool conditions metrics between the males and females. Females' thermoregulation system responses are less sensitive to the perception of warm conditions. However, similar behaviors are observed for uncomfortably cool conditions across genders.
Abstract 303: Differentiating Normal Coronary Arteries, Stable Atheromatous Lesions and Unstable Atheromatous Lesions: MAA-Protein Adducts and Anti-MAA Antibodies Isotypes in Patients with Atherosclerotic Disease and Acute Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: Oxidized proteins have been implicated in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Malondialdehyde (MDA)-acetaldehyde (AA) adduct (MAA), is produced and is the dominant epi...
Centromeres Drive a Hard Bargain

Centromeres are essential chromosomal structures that mediate the accurate distribution of genetic material during meiotic and mitotic cell divisions. In most organisms, centromeres are epigenetically specified and propagated by nucleosomes containing the centromere-specific H3 variant, centromere protein A (CENP-A). Although centromeres perform a critical and conserved function, CENP-A and the underlying centromeric DNA are rapidly evolving. This paradox has been explained by the centromere drive hypothesis, which proposes that CENP-A is undergoing an evolutionary tug-of-war with selfish centromeric DNA. Here, we review our current understanding of CENP-A evolution in relation to centromere drive and discuss classical and recent advances, including new evidence implicating CENP-A chaperones in this conflict.
Cross-polarisation suppression in cylindrical array antenna

The key goal in designing a dual polarisation antenna array is to achieve a low cross-polarisation level. The cross-polarisation suppression method in dual linear polarisation phased array antenna is illustrated by using a dual linear penalisation probe-fed patch element. The array consists of a number of identical 2 × 2 element sub-arrays in which the H-port and V-port locations on each element are changed. A 2 × 2 element sub-array has been fabricated and the measurements and simulation results are provided to show the accuracy of this cross-polarisation suppression method. In addition, the co- and cross-polarisation patterns of the cylindrical array are presented.
Topological approach to the design of terahertz circuits

In this contribution, we showed that cyclotron resonance of semiconductors can be utilized in Topological Insulator-based devices to break the time-reversal symmetry for one-way edge modes propagation in THz frequency range. To demonstrate the concept, we proposed a tunable power splitter based on Topological Insulator.
New estimates of the security costs of U.S. oil consumption

Abstract In recent years, the United States has become much more self-reliant in producing oil, and a newer economics literature suggests that oil demand may be more elastic and U.S. GDP may be less sensitive to world oil price shocks than was previously estimated. These developments suggest somewhat lower security costs may be associated with U.S. oil consumption. This analysis provides updated estimates of the security premiums for U.S. consumption of imported oil, U.S. consumption of domestically produced oil, and the substitution of imported oil for domestically produced oil. Estimates of the expected security costs of U.S. oil consumption are provided over the time horizon from 2015 to 2040, while taking into account projected world oil market conditions, the probabilities and sizes of world oil supply disruptions, the response of world oil prices to those supply disruptions, and the response of U.S. real GDP to those oil price shocks. The estimated oil security premiums suggest that U.S. oil security has become less of a policy concern.
Novel Radiographic Assessment of the Cribriform Plate.

BackgroundThe cribriform plate (CP) is a common site of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (SCSF) leaks. Radiographic assessment of the anterior and lateral skull base has shown thinner bone in patien...
Rewriting systems and geometric three-manifolds

The fundamental groups of most (conjecturally, all) closed three-manifolds with uniform geometries have finite complete rewriting systems. The fundamental groups of a large class of amalgams of circle bundles also have finite complete rewriting systems. The general case remains open.
Welcoming Address by George M. Goldstein

Mr. Chairman, honored guests, and workshop participants, as the representative of the U.S. EPA and one of the co-sponsors of this International Workshop, I would like to extend a welcome to all the participants, to what I believe to be a most important and timely topic of environmental research. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to Professor Stein, his staff, to Dr. Egan and to Professors Lewis and Nurnberg for the thorough planning that has gone into this workshop. Thanks are also extended to the other co-sponsors of this workshop as well as to our gracious hosts at the University of Saarland.
Atrophied Thymus, a Tumor Reservoir for Harboring Melanoma Cells

Tumor metastatic relapse is the primary cause for cancer-associated mortality. Metastatic relapse is believed to arise from quantities of tumor cells that are below detectable thresholds, which are able to resist radio/chemotherapy by obtaining a dormant state and hiding in certain organs, i.e., tumor reservoirs. The thymus, a central T-cell immune organ, has been suggested to be a premetastatic tumor reservoir for B-lymphoma cells. However, it remains unknown whether the thymus is able to harbor nonlymphoid solid tumor cells, and whether chemotherapy can thoroughly eliminate cancer cells in the thymus. If chemotherapy is not able to eliminate these cells in the thymus, then what processes allow for this? Melanoma cell-inoculated and genotoxic doxorubicin-treated mouse model systems were used to determine that the thymus, particularly the atrophied thymus, was able to harbor blood stream-circulating melanoma cells. In addition, a chemotherapy-induced DNA-damage response triggered p53 activation in nonmalignant thymic cells, which in turn resulted in thymocyte death and thymic epithelial cell senescence to develop an inflammatory thymic microenvironment. This inflammatory condition induced thymic-harbored minimal tumor cells to acquire a chemoresistant state.Implications: Here, the thymus serves as a premetastatic reservoir for nonlymphoid solid tumor cells during chemotherapy, which could be a novel target of minimal residual disease in antitumor therapy, thus preventing tumor metastatic relapse. Mol Cancer Res; 16(11); 1652-64. ©2018 AACR.
Neonatal Intestinal Anastomosis Using a 5 mm Laparoscopic Stapler.

Abstract Recently, a 5 mm laparoscopic stapler entered the market and is currently used for a wide variety of pediatric applications. The aim of this article is to be the first report of the use of...
Signaling Basis with High Inter-Symbol Interference Rejection Pilots in Doubly Dispersive Channels

In pilot aided transmissions over doubly dispersive channels, channel estimation is impaired due to contamination of pilot symbols by leakage from neighboring data symbols in rectangular window based block transmissions; no overlap in time between pulses corresponding to neighboring symbols. Block transmissions can be viewed as a basis consisting of time-frequency shifts of a prototype window shape, commonly known as Gabor bases, where the window shape controls the time-frequency confinement; better confinement is obtained when non-rectangular window shapes are used, however at the loss of orthogonality. In this work, a non-Gabor basis comprised of discrete prolate spheroidal sequences is considered for signaling due to the resilience of its high order sequences to time-frequency spread; beyond a certain sequence order, the higher the order the better the resilience. By using such high order sequences as pilots, the pilot energy relative to data symbol energy needed to overcome interference from data leakage can be lowered while maintaining good channel estimation accuracy.
Meta-Analysis of Heterogeneity in the Effects of Wildfire Smoke Exposure on Respiratory Health in North America

Epidemiological studies consistently show an association between wildfire-related smoke exposure and adverse respiratory health. We conducted a systematic review of evidence in published literature pertaining to heterogeneity of respiratory effects from this exposure in North America. We calculated the within-study ratio of relative risks (RRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to examine heterogeneity of effect by population subgroup, and then summarized the RRRs using meta-analysis. We found evidence of a greater effect of wildfire smoke on respiratory health among females relative to males for asthma (RRR: 1.035, 95% CI: 1.013, 1.057) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (RRR: 1.018, 95% CI: 1.003, 1.032). There was evidence of a lower relative risk for all respiratory outcomes among youth compared to adults (RRR: 0.976, 95% CI: 0.963, 0.989). We also found wildfire smoke effects stratified by income, race, education, health behaviors, access to care, housing occupancy, geographic region, and urban/rural status. However, data were insufficient to quantitatively evaluate effect modification by these characteristics. While we found evidence that certain demographic subgroups of the population are more susceptible to respiratory health outcomes from wildfire smoke, it is unclear whether this information can be used to inform policy aimed to reduce health impact of wildfires.
Behavioral versus Biological Definitions of Dementia Symptoms: Recognizing that Worthwhile Interventions already Exist.

Background: The 2018 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures special report includes two new guidelines for measuring dementia symptoms. The first requires that a biomarker (biological factor) be added to a doctor’s clinical judgment of the cause of symptoms when determining whether dementia is present. The second involves identifying four stages of dementia: normal cognition, preclinical, MCI and dementia. Now only those with defining brain pathologies will be judged to be persons with stage 4 dementia. This article examines the implications of adopting these two new guidelines. The implications are in terms of whether worthwhile dementia interventions can be said to exist, and the extent to which symptoms have to change for an intervention to be judged to have reduced the prevalence of dementia. Methods: A cost-benefit framework is used to examine the implications of the new guidelines. To undertake a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) a measure of dementia symptoms change is required for any intervention to be judged effective. A behavioral measure of dementia symptoms is thought more useful than a biological one. The instrument that is recommended and explained is the clinical dementia rating (CDR) scale, which is measured on a 0-to-18 interval. Using this instrument, three CBAs can be shown to exist, and from a contracted version of the CDR, estimates of the prevalence rates for the four stages of dementia are derived. The implications for future dementia research of using the full CDR instrument is presented in the discussion section. Results: The three CBAs that are reported and explained are years of education, Medicare eligibility and hearing aids. For each intervention, the analysis is in terms of demonstrating that it is effective, beneficial and socially worthwhile. Conclusions: By using a behavioral rather than a biological definition of dementia symptoms, we can show that worthwhile interventions already exist.
Gastric cryptosporidiosis of feeder cattle, beef cows, and dairy cows

Cryptosporidium infection in cattle is discussed, with emphasis on its diagnosis by acid-fast faecal smear.
Absolute Shapley Value.

Shapley value is a concept in cooperative game theory for measuring the contribution of each participant, which was named in honor of Lloyd Shapley. Shapley value has been recently applied in data marketplaces for compensation allocation based on their contribution to the models. Shapley value is the only value division scheme used for compensation allocation that meets three desirable criteria: group rationality, fairness, and additivity. In cooperative game theory, the marginal contribution of each contributor to each coalition is a nonnegative value. However, in machine learning model training, the marginal contribution of each contributor (data tuple) to each coalition (a set of data tuples) can be a negative value, i.e., the accuracy of the model trained by a dataset with an additional data tuple can be lower than the accuracy of the model trained by the dataset only. In this paper, we investigate the problem of how to handle the negative marginal contribution when computing Shapley value. We explore three philosophies: 1) taking the original value (Original Shapley Value); 2) taking the larger of the original value and zero (Zero Shapley Value); and 3) taking the absolute value of the original value (Absolute Shapley Value). Experiments on Iris dataset demonstrate that the definition of Absolute Shapley Value significantly outperforms the other two definitions in terms of evaluating data importance (the contribution of each data tuple to the trained model).
The Role of Floodplain Restoration in Mitigating Flood Risk, Lower Missouri River, USA

Recent extreme floods on the Lower Missouri River have reinvigorated public policy debate about the potential role of floodplain restoration in decreasing costs of floods and possibly increasing other ecosystem service benefits. The first step to addressing the benefits of floodplain restoration is to understand the interactions of flow, floodplain morphology, and land cover that together determine the biophysical capacity of the floodplain. In this article we address interactions between ecological restoration of floodplains and flood-risk reduction at 3 scales. At the scale of the Lower Missouri River corridor (1300 km) floodplain elevation datasets and flow models provide first-order calculations of the potential for Missouri River floodplains to store floods of varying magnitude and duration. At this same scale assessment of floodplain sand deposition from the 2011 Missouri River flood indicates the magnitude of flood damage that could potentially be limited by floodplain restoration. At the segment scale (85 km), 1-dimensional hydraulic modeling predicts substantial stage reductions with increasing area of floodplain restoration; mean stage reductions range from 0.12 to 0.66 m. This analysis also indicates that channel widening may contribute substantially to stage reductions as part of a comprehensive strategy to restore floodplain and channel habitats. Unsteady 1-dimensional flow modeling of restoration scenarios at this scale indicates that attenuation of peak discharges of an observed hydrograph from May 2007, of similar magnitude to a 10 % annual exceedance probability flood, would be minimal, ranging from 0.04 % (with 16 % floodplain restoration) to 0.13 % (with 100 % restoration). At the reach scale (15–20 km) 2-dimensional hydraulic models of alternative levee setbacks and floodplain roughness indicate complex processes and patterns of flooding including substantial variation in stage reductions across floodplains depending on topographic complexity and hydraulic roughness. Detailed flow patterns captured in the 2-dimensional model indicate that most floodplain storage occurs on the rising limb of the flood as water flows into floodplain bottoms from downstream; at a later time during the rising limb this pattern is reversed and the entire bottom conveys discharge down the valley. These results indicate that flood-risk reduction by attenuation is likely to be small on a large river like the Missouri and design strategies to optimize attenuation and ecological restoration should focus on frequent floods (20–50 % annual exceedance probability). Local stage reductions are a more certain benefit of floodplain restoration but local effects are highly dependent on magnitude of flood discharge and how floodplain vegetation communities contribute to hydraulic roughness. The most certain flood risk reduction benefit of floodplain restoration is avoidance of flood damages to crops and infrastructure.
Polymer Reference Interaction Site Model (PRISM) Theory and Molecular Simulation Studies of Polymer Nanocomposites

This chapter is focused on Polymer Reference Interaction Site Model (PRISM) theory and its use along with molecular simulation techniques for studying polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). In the first section of this chapter, we summarize key experimental and computational studies on PNCs from the literature to show the reader the types of fundamental questions that these studies have tackled. These are the types of questions that one could also use PRISM theory to answer. Then, we describe the basics of PRISM theory with relevant equations and show how PRISM theory is linked to molecular simulations to obtain meaningful results pertaining to PNC structure and thermodynamics. We also bring to the readers’ attention the open-source package, pyPRISM, developed for both expert and novice computational researchers to easily incorporate PRISM theory into their PNC studies. We then discuss briefly past, present, and potential new directions of PNC studies using PRISM theory and conclude the chapter highlighting some of the limitations of PRISM theory.
The Value of Public Information from Securities Company for Stock Returns: Empirical Evidence in Chinese Stock Market

Will investors earn expected stock returns when they completely rely on the public information released by companies (i.e., the company's annual report or the securities company's recommendation)? The statement may be valid under the effective market hypothesis (EMH) and benevolent companies. However, the two conditions do not match the reality due to information lags and conflict of interest between buyers and sellers. This paper designs two methods to test the effectiveness of recommendations from securities companies in the Chinese stock market. We collect all stocks' information on the broader market's price trend, individual stock price state, and volume to evaluate the value of public information from securities companies for stock returns. The results imply that the target securities company's recommendations are not effective.
Sync Programs and Ultrasound

Early identification of non-pregnant dairy cows and heifers post-breeding can improve reproductive efficiency and pregnancy rate by decreasing the interval between artificial insemination (AI) services and increasing AI service rate. Thus, new technologies to identify non-pregnant dairy cows and heifers early after AI may play a key role in management strategies to improve reproductive efficiency and profitability on commercial dairy farms. Transrectal palpation is the oldest and most widely used method for early pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cattle7 • However, a newer technology may someday replace transrectal palpation as the method of choice for pregnancy diagnosis in the dairy industry. Before this transition can occur, two events must transpire. First, a technology must be developed that exceeds transrectal palpation in one or more of the characteristics of the ideal early pregnancy test. Second and no less important, this new technology must be practically integrated into a systematic, on-farm reproductive management strategy and empirically demonstrated to exceed the status quo of the industry (i.e., transrectal palpation) in reproductive performance. Results from a recent study indicate that positive pregnancy outcomes diagnosed by transrectal ultrasonography conducted 26 days after timed AI (TAI) may be inflated due to pregnancy loss, compared to pregnancy outcomes conducted 33 days after TAI. Furthermore, fertility to TAI after re-sychronization of ovulation was greater when initiated 33 days after TAI compared to 26 days. These results suggest the counterintuitive notion that delaying pregnancy diagnosis from 26 to 33 days post-TAI may improve reproductive efficiency when using a hormonal protocol for timed AI to program non-pregnant cows for rebreeding. This is due to the high rate of pregnancy loss occurring in cows diagnosed pregnant at 26 versus 33 days post-TAI.
Carabid beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) richness, diversity, and community structure in the understory of temporarily flooded and non-flooded Amazonian forests of Ecuador.

Although tropical regions harbor the greatest arthropod diversity on Earth, the majority of species are taxonomically and scientifically unknown. Furthermore, how they are organized into functional communities and distributed among habitats is mostly unstudied. Here we examine species richness, diversity, and community composition of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and compare them between flooded (FP) and non-flooded terra firme (TF) forests in the Yasuni area of Ecuador. The forest understory was sampled using flight intercept traps (FITs) and systematic hand collections at night in June and July 2011 and 2012, and FITs in October and November 2011. A total of 1,255 Carabidae representing 20 tribes, 54 genera, and 143 morphospecies was collected. Mean number of individuals and mean species richness did not differ significantly between FP and TF; however, numbers of Cicindelini (tiger beetles) and Pentagonicini were higher in TF forest while numbers of Lachnophorini and Scaritini were higher in FP forest. Overall, FP had significantly higher rarefied richness but extrapolation of rarefaction curves using the Chao1 nonparametric diversity estimator show that this difference may decrease with additional sampling. The inverse Simpson index was significantly higher for FP than TF forest. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination and dissimilarity coefficient values show that FP and TF forests maintain unique assemblages with minimal overlap in community composition. Given ongoing anthropogenic pressures, particularly petroleum extraction, and those resulting from climate change, a greater understanding of the richness, diversity and community assemblages of Yasuni rainforest are needed to better conserve the fauna of this megadiverse area of Amazonia.
An ex vivo comparison of partial thromboplastin time and activated clotting time for heparin anticoagulation in an ovine model.

BACKGROUND Sheep are a primary model of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) with heparin anticoagulation therapy frequently being monitored by activated clotting time (ACT) due to ease and cost. In patients undergoing long-term heparin therapy, other anticoagulation monitoring strategies, such as activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), have proven to be more reliable indicators for the adequacy of anticoagulation, frequently determined by heparin concentration. As there is a paucity of similar studies in sheep, we sought to investigate the correlation between heparin concentration and ACT and aPTT using whole sheep blood in an ex vivo model. METHODS Fresh whole blood was serially drawn from an adult female Dorset-hybrid sheep and aliquots were placed into tubes containing heparin saline solutions with concentrations ranging from 0 to 7.81 U heparin per mL of whole blood. ACT and aPTT values were measured on each of the samples. The experiment was performed four times with the same animal. A simple linear regression was performed to determine correlation, and subgroup analysis was performed on low versus high heparin concentrations typically seen in human patients on long-term MCS, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), versus cardiopulmonary bypass, respectively. RESULTS aPTT measurements versus the heparin concentration had an R2 = 0.7295. ACT measurements versus the heparin concentration had a R2 = 0.4628. aPTT measurements versus the ACT measurements had a R2 = 0.2974. The strength of the correlation between aPTT and heparin concentration increased at low heparin concentrations (R2 = 0.8392). CONCLUSION aPTT had a more reliable correlation to heparin concentration and thus anticoagulation level than ACT. This was particularly true at lower heparin concentrations, similar to ranges seen for patients on ECMO. The correlation between aPTT and ACT values was poor. Further in vivo studies should be performed to confirm our results.
The translational neuroscience of sleep: A contextual framework.

Sleep is entwined across many physiologic processes in the brain and periphery, thereby exerting tremendous influence on our well-being. Yet sleep exists in a social-environmental context. Contextu...
Biophysical characterization data on Aβ soluble oligomers produced through a method enabling prolonged oligomer stability and biological buffer conditions

The data here consists of time-dependent experimental parameters from chemical and biophysical methods used to characterize Aβ monomeric reactants as well as soluble oligomer and amyloid fibril products from a slow (3–4 week) assembly reaction under biologically-relevant solvent conditions. The data of this reaction are both of a qualitative and quantitative nature, including gel images from chemical cross-linking and Western blots, fractional solubility, thioflavin T binding, size exclusion chromatograms, transmission electron microscopy images, circular dichroism spectra, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer efficiencies of donor–acceptor pair labels in the Aβ chain. This data enables future efforts to produce the initial monomer and eventual soluble oligomer and amyloid fibril states by providing reference benchmarks of these states pertaining to physical properties (solubility), ligand-binding (thioflavin T binding), mesoscopic structure (electron microscopy, size exclusion chromatography, cross-linking products, SDS and native gels) and molecular structure (circular dichroism, FRET donor-acceptor distance). Aβ1-40 soluble oligomers are produced that are suitable for biophysical studies requiring sufficient transient stability to exist in their “native” conformation in biological phosphate-saline buffers for extended periods of time. The production involves an initial preparation of highly monomeric Aβ in a phosphate saline buffer that transitions to fibrils and oligomers through time incubation alone, without added detergents or non-aqueous chemicals. This criteria ensures that the only difference between initial monomeric Aβ reactant and subsequent Aβ oligomer products is their degree of peptide assembly. A number of chemical and biophysical methods were used to characterize the monomeric reactants and soluble oligomer and amyloid fibril products, including chemical cross-linking, Western blots, fraction solubility, thioflvain T binding, size exclusion chromatography, transmission electron micrscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer.
Legal Responses to Religious Practices in the United States: Freedom of Religion or Freedom of the Church?

This essay argues that the well known problems in modern religion clause jurisprudence can be traced back to a common mistake: we have supposed that the clauses are about religion when in fact they are (or should be) about the church. Part 1 of the essay argues that the understanding which supposes that the Constitution requires special treatment of “religion,” or that it creates or accepts a special category of “religion” that involves distinctive benefits and burdens and disqualifications, rests on a false dichotomy, or a debilitating category mistake. Part 2 briefly recounts how, historically, a campaign for freedom of the church - a campaign devoted to maintaining the church as a jurisdiction independent of the state-developed into a commitment to freedom of conscience (conscience being the “inner church,” so to speak). The section then relates how this commitment to freedom of the church - both the institutional church and the inner church - came to be reconceived as a more generic commitment to freedom of religion, with the unfortunate consequences considered in Part 1.
Assessing hydrodynamic effects on jarosite dissolution rates, reaction products, and preservation on Mars

Jarosite flow-through dissolution experiments were conducted in ultrapure water (UPW), pH 2 sulfuric acid, and saturated NaCl and CaCl2 brines at 295–298 K to investigate how hydrologic variables may affect jarosite preservation and reaction products on Mars. K+-based dissolution rates in flowing UPW did not vary significantly with flow rate, indicating that mineral surface reactions control dissolution rates over the range of flow rates investigated. In all of the solutions tested, hydrologic variables do not significantly affect extent of jarosite alteration; therefore, jarosite is equally likely to be preserved in flowing or stagnant waters on Mars. However, increasing flow rate did affect the mineralogy and accumulation of secondary reaction products. Iron release rates in dilute solutions increased as the flow rate increased, likely due to nanoscale iron (hydr)oxide transport in flowing water. Anhydrite formed in CaCl2 brine flow-through experiments despite low temperatures, while metastable gypsum and bassanite were observed in batch experiments. Therefore, observations of the hydration state of calcium sulfate minerals on Mars may provide clues to unravel past salinity and hydrologic conditions as well as temperatures and vapor pressures.
Estimating the heavy tail index from scaling properties

This paper deals with the estimation of the tail index α for empirical heavy-tailed distributions, such as have been encountered in telecommunication systems. We present a method (called the “scaling estimator”) based on the scaling properties of sums of heavy-tailed random variables. It has the advantages of being nonparametric, of being easy to apply, of yielding a single value, and of being relatively accurate on synthetic datasets. Since the method relies on the scaling of sums, it measures a property that is often one of the most important effects of heavy-tailed behavior. Most importantly, we present evidence that the scaling estimator appears to increase in accuracy as the size of the dataset grows. It is thus particularly suited for large datasets, as are increasingly encountered in measurements of telecommunications and computing systems.