cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exact Max 2-Sat: Easier and Faster

Prior algorithms known for exactly solving Max 2-Sat improve upon the trivial upper bound only for very sparse instances. We present new algorithms for exactly solving (in fact, counting) weighted Max 2-Sat instances. One of them has a good performance if the underlying constraint graph has a small separator decomposition, another has a slightly improved worst case performance. For a 2 -Sat instance Fwith nvariables, the worst case running time is $\tilde{O}(2^{(1-1/(\tilde{d}(F)-1))n})$, where $\tilde{d}(F)$ is the average degree in the constraint graph defined by F. We use strict i¾?-gadgets introduced by Trevisan, Sorkin, Sudan, and Williamson to get the same upper bounds for problems like Max 3 -Sat and Max Cut . We also introduce a notion of strict (i¾?,β)-gadget to provide a framework that allows composition of gadgets. This framework allows us to obtain the same upper bounds for Max k -Sat and Max k -Lin- 2.
Using Mixtures of Biological Samples as Genome-Scale Process Controls

Genome-scale “-omics” measurements are challenging to benchmark due to the enormous variety of unique biological molecules involved. Mixtures of previously-characterized samples can be used to benchmark repeatability and reproducibility using component proportions as truth for the measurement. We describe and evaluate experiments characterizing the performance of RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) measurements. The parameters of a model fit to a measured -omic profile can be evaluated to assess bias and variability of the genome-scale measurement of a mixture. A linear model describes the behavior of expression measures of mixtures and provides a context for performance benchmarking. Residuals from fitting the model to experimental data can be used as a metric for evaluating the effect an individual step in an experimental process has on the linear response function and precision of the underlying measurement while identifying signals affected by interference from other sources. Effective benchmarking requires well-defined mixtures, which for RNA-Seq requires knowledge of the messenger RNA (mRNA) content of the individual components. We demonstrate and evaluate an experimental method suitable for use in genome-scale process control and lay out a method utilizing spike-in controls to determine mRNA content. Genome-scale process controls can be derived from mixtures. These controls relate prior knowledge of individual components to a complex mixture, allowing assessment of measurement performance. The mRNA fraction accounts for differential enrichment of mRNA from varying total RNA samples. Spike-in controls can be utilized to measure this relationship between mRNA content and input total RNA. Analysis of mixtures can also be employed to determine the composition and proportions of an unknown sample, even when component-specific markers are not previously known, so long as pure components can be measured alongside the mixture.
Human sinonasal epithelial cells direct dendritic function and T-cell T helper 1/T helper 2 skewing following Aspergillus exposure.

Background In lower airway disease such as asthma, epithelial cells have been shown to be potent regulators of dendritic cell (DC) functions. However, it is unclear how human sinonasal epithelial cells (HSNECs) from patients with sinusitis regulate DC functions. Therefore, in these studies we investigated the ability of Aspergillus fumigatus exposed HSNECs to regulate DC antigen uptake, maturation, and direction of T-cell T helper 1 (Th1)/Th2 skewing. Methods Primary HSNECs were cultured from control (n = 8), chronic sinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) (n = 9), and chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) (n = 7) patients and exposed to Aspergillus. Conditioned media was placed upon monocyte-derived DCs from healthy controls. DC antigen uptake was assessed by dextran–fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) uptake. DC differentiation and maturation was assessed by immunostaining for CD209, CD80, and CD86 followed by flow cytometric analysis. DC direction of T-cell Th1/Th2 skewing was evaluated by immunostaining followed by intracellular flow cytometric analysis for interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-5. Results Control and CRSsNP HSNECs have the capacity to stimulate DC antigen uptake, differentiation, and maturation following Aspergillus exposure. CRSwNP HSNECs stimulate DC activation independent of Aspergillus exposure. Furthermore, Aspergillus-exposed CRSwNP HSNECs skew T-cells toward a Th2 phenotype. Conclusion CRSwNP-derived HSNECs stimulate DC maturation and Th2 skewing independent of Aspergillus exposure. However, control and CRSsNP HSNECs induce DC maturation and Th2 skewing after Aspergillus exposure. These in vitro studies demonstrate that HSNECs are key regulators of DC functions in the sinus microenvironment. © 2011 ARS-AAOA, LLC.
Modeling individual differences in working memory performance: a source activation account

Working memory resources are needed for processing and maintenance of information during cognitive tasks. Many models have been developed to capture the effects of limited working memory resources on performance. However, most of these models do not account for the finding that different individuals show different sensitivities to working memory demands, and none of the models predicts individual subjects' patterns of performance. We propose a computational model that accounts for differences in working memory capacity in terms of a quantity called source activation, which is used to maintain goal-relevant information in an available state. We apply this model to capture the working memory effects of individual subjects at a fine level of detail across two experiments. This, we argue, strengthens the interpretation of source activation as working memory capacity.
Child Abuse and Neglect, Developmental Role Attainment, and Adult Arrests:

This study examines whether developmental role attainment in three areas (high school graduation, employment, and marriage) mediates the relationship between childhood abuse and neglect and adult arrest. Children with documented cases of physical and sexual abuse and neglect (before age 11) and a comparison group of nonabused or neglected children were matched on age, sex, race, and approximate socioeconomic status (N = 1,169) and followed-up and interviewed at approximate age 29. Arrest records were collected from law enforcement agencies. Childhood abuse and neglect predicted decreased likelihood of graduating from high school, current employment, and current marriage and greater likelihood of juvenile and adult arrest. Each of these developmental roles partially mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and neglect and adult arrest. The importance of these three developmental milestones and implications of the results for intervening with abused and neglected youth are discussed.
Interpretable Fuzzy Systems: Analysis of T-norm interpretability

The issues of Interpretable Fuzzy Systems (IFS) spin from the fundamental definitions of the concept of IFS to practical design of such systems. This paper addresses the current issues of formalization of the concept of interpretability, its dimensions, evaluations and design of interpretable Fuzzy Systems, including fuzzy control systems. T-norms and T-conorms are in the core of Fuzzy Systems, therefore we consider the following questions about them. Where is the adequate sphere for T-norms in IFS to be interpretable operations? How to modify the T-norms to satisfy the IFS requirements? What are the alternatives to T-norms and t-conorms in IFS? This analysis of T-norms is done in the context of their interpretation as measurements. We show that the approach used in the representative measurement theory is a source of the interpretability definition, which is in line with Tarsky's definition of interpretability. This approach is used to define a concept of the interpretable fuzzy operations. Next, it is shown that an adequate scope for scalar T-norms is to be compact approximations of 2-D lattice operations. Such lattice operations are an alternative to T-norms and T-conorms in IFS because they have better interpretability. It is shown that such popular T-norms as the minimum and the product operations are similar as approximations of the Pareto optimal set, but quite different in representation of the lattice structure, where the product is preferable because it distorts the lattice structure less.
Miscible porous media displacements in the quarter five-spot configuration. Part 3. Non-monotonic viscosity profiles

The influence of a non-monotonic viscosity{concentration relationship on miscible displacements in porous media is studied for radial source flows and the quarter vespot conguration. Based on linear stability results, a parametric study is presented that demonstrates the dependence of the dispersion relations on both the P eclet number and the parameters of the viscosity prole. The stability analysis suggests that any displacement can become unstable provided only that the P eclet number is suciently high. In contrast to rectilinear flows, for a given end-point viscosity ratio an increase of the maximum viscosity generally has a destabilizing eect on the flow. The physical mechanisms behind this behaviour are examined by inspecting the eigensolutions to the linear stability problem. Nonlinear simulations of quarter vespot displacements, which for small times correspond to radial source flows, conrm the linear stability results. Surprisingly, displacements characterized by the largest instability growth rates, and consequently by vigorous viscous ngering, lead to the highest breakthrough recoveries, which can even exceed that of a unit mobility ratio flow. It can be concluded that, for non-monotonic viscosity proles, the interaction of viscous ngers with the base-flow vorticity can result in improved recovery rates.
Reduced intensity haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation for treatment of non-malignant diseases in children

Summary Background Transplantation of allogeneic haemopoietic stem cells can cure several non-malignant disorders in children. Transplantation with reduced intensity preparation might achieve the same goals but with less toxicity. We undertook a pilot study to determine engraftment rates, kinetics of engraftment, toxicity, and acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) associated with a uniform reduced intensity haemopoietic stem-cell transplant (HSCT) regimen for children with non-malignant diseases. Methods We studied 13 paediatric patients with non-malignant disorders who underwent reduced intensity HSCT at Children's Memorial Hospital from January, 2000, to February, 2004. Stem-cell sources included unrelated donor, matched-sibling peripheral blood stem cells, and unrelated cord blood. A uniform preparative regimen was used, consisting of fludarabine, busulfan, and anti-thymocyte globulin. Major endpoints were engraftment, transplant-related mortality at day 100, short-term toxicities, and incidence of acute GVHD. Results 72% of evaluable patients achieved full donor engraftment. There was rapid reconstitution of platelets (median 13·5 days) and neutrophils (median 18 days). Short-term toxicities were minimal, as seen by a median length of hospital stay of 7 days (between days 0–100). Incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD was 8%. Two patients died before day 100 from underlying disease and viral infection, respectively (day 100 transplant-related mortality of 15%). The 1-year overall survival was 84% (95% CI 64–100). Most patients with immunodeficiencies and metabolic disorders had excellent donor engraftment and disease resolution or stabilisation, but most of those with haemoglobinopathies rejected their graft. Interpretation This reduced intensity regimen followed by HSCT provides a good alternative to myeloablative HSCT for children with non-malignant disorders, except for haemoglobinopathies, in which engraftment is poor. Even patients with unrelated donor haemopoietic stem-cell transplants had adequate engraftment with acceptable toxicities.
Phototransformation of protochlorophyll(ide) by a proplastid fraction from Euglena

The phototransformation of protochlorophyll(ide) (Pchl(ide)) to chlorophyll(ide) (Chl(ide)) can be demonstrated in a proplastid fraction from Euglena gracilis Klebs var. bacillaris Cori if appropriate conditions are employed. Pigments were measured fluorometrically in acetone extracts of cell or organelles. Pchl(ide) and the phototransformation to Chl(ide) are at their highest levels in cells grown in darkness on normal or low vitamin B12-containing medium (pH 3.5) to the late exponential phase (1.2–1.4 × 106 cells ml−1). Late exponential cells on low B12 medium yield a proplastid fraction that contains Pchl(ide) which is phototransformed to Chl(ide) when illuminated with red light (5.6 W m−2 for 4 min) in the presence of 10 mM Hepes, 20 mM TES, 0.5 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.4), 70 mM sorbitol, 5 mM DTT, 5 mM ATP, 5 mM fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate, 10 mM malate and 2 mM MgCl2; intact organelles appear to be involved since deletion of osmoticum gives a lower activity, and addition of NAD(P)H is without effect. Phototransformation of Pchl(ide) to Chl(ide) in red light shows Bunsen-Roscoe reciprocity between fluence rate and duration of illumination. Although mitochondria are present, they do not appear to be involved since inhibitors of respiration and uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation fail to block the phototransformation. The percentage phototransformation of Pchl(ide) to Chl(ide) in late exponential normal B12 cells is 61 ± 10, and is 52 ± 3 in low B12 cells. About 67% of the activity in low B12 cells is recovered in the proplastid fraction incubated with the complete incubation mixture in saturating light. In both types of cells and in the proplastid fraction, the stoichiometry of conversion of Pchl(ide) to Chl(ide) is about 1:1 (mol/mol).
Elastic cylinder with helicoidal orthotropy: Theory and applications

Abstract The elasticity equations are derived for a helicoidally symmetric cylinder. An isotropic cylinder in the center is wrapped by a thick layer of a material with helicoidal anisotropy formed by spiraling of fibers around the core. Such structures are seen in springs, armored cables, trusses, composites, and biostructures. Structure under axial loading and pure bending are considered. The analytical expressions for displacements are obtained from equations of three-dimensional elasticity. The results are verified numerically via the finite element method. The stiffness matrix for an equivalent simplified model that links the displacements of the ends with the applied force and momentum is formulated. A coupling effect is revealed: the bar twists and elongates when axially loaded. The developed technique is used to explain an evolution of structure in nature. A pine trunk with spiralling grain is investigated from an optimization of a mechanical construction viewpoint. We model the trunk as an anisotropic cylinder with helicoidal symmetry and compute the displacements and stresses using nonlinear finite element model. An optimized spiralling angle of the grains accounts for a composite failure, transverse deflection, and fluid transportation. We suggest a combined criterion that could explain this spiralling morphology.
Managing collaboration: adding communication and documentation environment (CDE) to a product development cycle

The purpose of this paper is to describe a repeatable process for managing communication and interaction patterns of multidisciplinary teams during the product development life cycle. We describe and illustrate a systemic communication and documentation model used to produce e-learning computer games with the challenges of a high turnover rate in participants. The model is being used with interdisciplinary college students as part of Illinois Institute of Technology's Interprofessional Program that brings together students from diverse disciplines to solve real-world challenges.
Carrion Seeking in Brown Tree Snakes: Importance of Olfactory and Visual Cues

We performed field experiments to examine brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) attraction to carrion. These snakes were attracted to carrion and entered traps baited with dead mice as readily as traps baited with live mice. Using the cues arising from both live and dead prey, we examined the relative importance of visual and chemical cues to brown tree snakes. With carrion lures, chemical cues alone were sufficient for attracting and capturing snakes, but with live prey lures visual cues were required to attract and capture brown tree snakes. Our study presents the first experimental field evidence showing carrion to be attractive to an ophidian predator and suggests that the relative importance of chemical and visual sensory stimuli to brown tree snakes is context-specific. J. Exp. Zool. 279:549n553, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
THE INFLUENCE OF ANTIBODIES ON IMMUNOLOGIC RESPONSES I. THE EFFECT ON THE RESPONSE TO PARTICULATE ANTIGEN IN THE RABBIT

The influence of antibody on antibody formation to particulate antigen was examined in the rabbit with special reference to the importance of immunoglobulin type, the amount and relative proportion of antigen and antibody involved, and the specificity of this influence. 19S as well as 7S antibody was shown to be an effective inhibitor of antibody formation, although there was some evidence that 7S antibody was the more efficient of the two in doing so. The inhibitory effect of antibody was found to be specific for homologous antigenic determinants. Both 19S and 7S antibody were also able to enhance antibody formation. In contrast to the suppressive phenomenon, however, enhancement appeared to be nonspecific since antibody reactive with homologous (sheep red blood cell) determinants could enhance the response not only to homologous determinants but to heterologous (dinitrobenzene) determinants conjugated to the red blood cells as well. Smaller amounts of antibody were needed to enhance than to suppress antibody formation, and suppression and enhancement depended to some extent on the amount of antigen as well as to the amount of antibody used. The enhancing and suppressing influence of antibody on antibody formation appeared to be exerted concomitantly, for the response to some antigenic determinants was sometimes suppressed at the same time that the response to others was enhanced. It is suggested that enhancement or suppression of immunologic responses by antibody represents a different balance of at least two competing factors operating together: specific neutralization of appropriate determinants thus decreasing the total effective concentration of these determinants available to stimulate the formation of antibodies, and a nonspecific increase in the availability of antigen to immunologically competent cells.
Surface Finishing of High Speed Print Bands II. An Electrochemical Process for Microfinishing of Hardened Fe‐13Cr Stainless Steel

An electrochemical process has been developed to obtain microfinishing of hardened Fe‐13Cr stainless steel. The electrolyte is a mixture of phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and glycerol. Optimum conditions have been determined that lead to mirror finishing of the work piece over a wide range of current density. The process operates at ambient temperature and is insensitive to slight variations in temperature of the electrolyte. The beneficial effects of glycerol is due to its influence on the transport properties of the electrolyte and the diffusing species. The process is suitable for surface finishing of high speed print bands.
Effect of fever on hospital presentation, diagnosis, and treatment in patients with H1N1/09 influenza

OBJECTIVE: Fever is typically considered part of the influenza-like illness in hemagglutinin type 1 and neuraminidase type 1 (H1N1/09) influenza. We assessed the proportion of patients that did not have fever as part of their illness prior to hospital presentation. We assessed the role of fever on the delay in hospital presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of these patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all hospitalized adult patients with laboratory-confirmed pandemic H1N1/09 at a tertiary care center in the United States from June 1 to December 31, 2009. RESULTS: Fifty-six of 135 study patients (42%) had no fever; 31 (23%) required intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and 9 (7%) died. Those without fever had higher Charlson index (P = 0.01), significantly longer time to hospital presentation (median 4 vs 2 days, P 2 days from the onset of illness) (P = 0.001) and also had increased likelihood of ICU stay (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Forty-two percent of patients with laboratory-confirmed H1N1/09 did not have fever as part of their illness prior to hospital presentation. Patients without fever had delayed presentation to the hospital and thus experienced delayed treatment. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013. © 2012 Society of Hospital Medicine
Interspecific hybridization of a multiploid mutant of durum wheat with rye and Triticum monococcum L. results in pentaploid hybrids

The multiploid mutant of durum wheat is a genotype that produces unreduced gametes. Our objective was to test the recovery of pentaploid hybrids in crosses of the mutant with rye and Triticum monococcum L. Compared with check crosses, the mutant had a two-third reduction in percent seed set for rye crosses, but had only a slight decrease in crossability with T. monococcum. Pentaploid hybrids were associated with plump seeds of the mutant/rye cross, and with shrivelled seeds of the mutant/T. monococcum cross. We suggest that the endosperm balance number hypothesis explains the association of pentaploid hybrids with endosperm type. This association made for easy recovery of pentaploid hybrids from crosses to both species. Mature, plump seeds from the mutant/rye cross were germinated and pentaploid hybrids were recovered. One pentaploid hybrid was recovered for every 50.5 and 15.1 florets pollinated with rye and T. monococcum, respectively. Unreduced gametes in the multiploid mutant will facilitate interspecific hybridization by reducing the time to produce pentaploid plants.
How to analyse seed germination data using statistical time-to-event analysis: non-parametric and semi-parametric methods

Seed germination experiments are conducted in a wide variety of biological disciplines. Numerous methods of analysing the resulting data have been proposed, most of which fall into three classes: intuition-based germination indexes, classical non-linear regression analysis and time-to-event analysis (also known as survival analysis, failure-time analysis and reliability analysis). This paper briefly reviews all three of these classes, and argues that time-to-event analysis has important advantages over the other methods but has been underutilized to date. It also reviews in detail the types of time-to-event analysis that are most useful in analysing seed germination data with standard statistical software. These include non-parametric methods (life-table and Kaplan–Meier estimators, and various methods for comparing two or more groups of seeds) and semi-parametric methods (Cox proportional hazards model, which permits inclusion of categorical and quantitative covariates, and fixed and random effects). Each method is illustrated by applying it to a set of real germination data. Sample code for conducting these analyses with two standard statistical programs is also provided in the supplementary material available online (at http://journals.cambridge.org/). The methods of time-to-event analysis reviewed here can be applied to many other types of biological data, such as seedling emergence times, flowering times, development times for eggs or embryos, and organism lifetimes.
Emotion: the Self-regulatory Sense

While emotion is a central component of human health and well-being, traditional approaches to understanding its biological function have been wanting. A dynamic systems model, however, broadly redefines and recasts emotion as a primary sensory system—perhaps the first sensory system to have emerged, serving the ancient autopoietic function of “self-regulation.” Drawing upon molecular biology and revelations from the field of epigenetics, the model suggests that human emotional perceptions provide an ongoing stream of “self-relevant” sensory information concerning optimally adaptive states between the organism and its immediate environment, along with coupled behavioral corrections that honor a universal self-regulatory logic, one still encoded within cellular signaling and immune functions. Exemplified by the fundamental molecular circuitry of sensorimotor control in the E coli bacterium, the model suggests that the hedonic (affective) categories emerge directly from positive and negative feedback proces...
Manifold preprocessing for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy under Mars conditions

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is currently being used onboard the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity to predict elemental abundances in dust, rocks, and soils using a partial least squares regression model developed by the ChemCam team. Accuracy of that model is constrained by the number of samples needed in the calibration, which grows exponentially with the dimensionality of the data, a phenomenon known as the curse of dimensionality. LIBS data are very high dimensional, and the number of ground-truth samples (i.e., standards) recorded with the ChemCam before departing for Mars was small compared with the dimensionality, so strategies to optimize prediction accuracy are needed. In this study, we first use an existing machine learning algorithm, locally linear embedding (LLE), to combat the curse of dimensionality by embedding the data into a low-dimensional manifold subspace before regressing. LLE constructs its embedding by maintaining local neighborhood distances and discarding large global geodesic distances between samples, in an attempt to preserve the underlying geometric structure of the data. We also introduce a novel supervised version, LLE for regression (LLER), which takes into account the known chemical composition of the training data when embedding. LLER is shown to outperform traditional LLE when predicting most major elements. We show the effectiveness of both algorithms using three different LIBS datasets recorded under Mars-like conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhancing patient advocacy and social ethics.

Clinical bioethics has focused largely on individual clinical case dilemmas. Less attention has been given to the everyday ethics of being good healthcare practitioners, physicians, nurses, social workers, respiratory therapists, and physical therapists. Rapid scientific and technical advances push for public and professional ethical concerns focused on science and technology. Consequently, scientific protocols and technologies receive more attention in ethical discourse than everyday ethical comportment and relationships between patients and healthcare providers. Yet, technical and scientific aspects of practice would be ineffective without good patient-healthcare provider relationships. Many ethicists are calling for broader concerns to be addressed in professional ethics. Meeting patients and their families and recognizing their concerns about healthcare comprise the everyday ethical comportment of the practitioner. Patients and families, while encouraged to become empowered and take more responsibility for their health, are often vulnerable due to lack of knowledge of healthcare or due to crisis and reduced capacities. Therefore, patients rely on healthcare workers to have a fiduciary relationship with them. 1,2 That is, ethically and legally, healthcare workers are expected to act in the best interests of patients. This requires that commercial or research interests, or any other sources of conflict of interest, not triumph over a patient’s best interests. Being faithful to a patient’s best interests also requires advocacy for patients and their families in complex healthcare settings. Bioethics needs to focus on more than clinical case dilemmas and ethical issues at the individual level. Advocacy for good everyday ethical comportment, and social ethics and public pol
The Hippocampus and the Sense of Smell

Brodal, in a 1947 review from which we boldly borrow the title of the present paper, outlined some of the critical evidence that ultimately led to the demise of the notion that the hippocampus was a part of the olfactory brain, or “rhinencephalon” as it was called according to the prevailing view of the time. Since then it has become abundantly clear that the hippocampus processes information from many input sources (cf. Deacon et al., 1983). Nevertheless, converging data from neuroanatomical, physiological, and behavioral studies indicate that the olfactory system projects heavily onto and has especially immediate access to the hippocampal system, suggesting that the olfactory-hippocampal pathway may be particularly useful for explorations of sensory-limbic interactions leading to the higher order coding of perceptual information. As will be described below, the intimate anatomical associations between the olfactory and hippocampal systems are paralleled by 1) the critical role played by the hippocampal system in odor-guided learning and memory, 2) the strong influence of olfactory processing over the physiological activity in the hippocampus both at the level of rhythmic EEG activity and at the level of neuronal firing patterns, and 3) the role these physiological processes may play in the induction of synaptic plasticity supporting memory formation. Thus, in the spirit of a “renaissance of the rhinencephalon” (Macrides, 1977), we will argue that olfaction is a particularly advantageous model system for studies of “sensory” processing by the hippocampus across behavioral, neuronal, and synaptic levels of analysis. Our data on studies at each of these levels of analysis will be discussed in turn (see also Otto and Eichenbaum, 1992b).
New Metrics for Validation of Data-Driven Random Process Models in Uncertainty Quantification

Data-driven random process models have become increasingly important for uncertainty quantification (UQ) in science and engineering applications, due to their merit of capturing both the marginal distributions and the correlations of high-dimensional responses. However, the choice of a random process model is neither unique nor straightforward. To quantitatively validate the accuracy of random process UQ models, new metrics are needed to measure their capability in capturing the statistical information of high-dimensional data collected from simulations or experimental tests. In this work, two goodness-of-fit (GOF) metrics, namely, a statistical moment-based metric (SMM) and an M-margin U-pooling metric (MUPM), are proposed for comparing different stochastic models, taking into account their capabilities of capturing the marginal distributions and the correlations in spatial/temporal domains. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of the two proposed metrics by comparing the accuracies of four random process models (Gaussian process (GP), Gaussian copula, Hermite polynomial chaos expansion (PCE), and Karhunen–Loeve (K–L) expansion) in multiple numerical examples and an engineering example of stochastic analysis of microstructural materials properties. In addition to the new metrics, this paper provides insights into the pros and cons of various data-driven random process models in UQ.
National priorities in the artificial kidney program.

(1974). National Priorities in the Artificial Kidney Program. Biomaterials, Medical Devices, and Artificial Organs: Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 311-319.
High-temperature annealing of proton irradiated beryllium – A dilatometry-based study☆

Abstract S 200 F grade beryllium has been irradiated with 160 MeV protons up to 1.2 10 20 cm −2 peak fluence and irradiation temperatures in the range of 100–200 °C. To address the effect of proton irradiation on dimensional stability, an important parameter in its consideration in fusion reactor applications, and to simulate high temperature irradiation conditions, multi-stage annealing using high precision dilatometry to temperatures up to 740 °C were conducted in air. X-ray diffraction studies were also performed to compliment the macroscopic thermal study and offer a microscopic view of the irradiation effects on the crystal lattice. The primary objective was to qualify the competing dimensional change processes occurring at elevated temperatures namely manufacturing defect annealing, lattice parameter recovery, transmutation 4 He and 3 H diffusion and swelling and oxidation kinetics. Further, quantification of the effect of irradiation dose and annealing temperature and duration on dimensional changes is sought. The study revealed the presence of manufacturing porosity in the beryllium grade, the oxidation acceleration effect of irradiation including the discontinuous character of oxidation advancement, the effect of annealing duration on the recovery of lattice parameters recovery and the triggering temperature for transmutation gas diffusion leading to swelling.
Stereoselective Lithiation and Carboxylation of Boc-Protected Bicyclopyrrolidine: Synthesis of a Key Building Block for HCV Protease Inhibitor Telaprevir

A stereoselective process for the manufacture of bicyclopyrrolidine 7 to 2 has been developed. The process utilizes a stereoselective lithiation/carboxylation sequence. The achiral diamine ligand DPBP induces excellent diastereocontrol, and resolution with (S)-THNA provides the corresponding salt of 8 in high er and dr. Subsequent processing of 8 gives 2 as the oxalate salt in an overall yield of 27% from 7 (based on total molar charge of 7). Compound 2 was obtained with high chemical and chiral purities. The process was successfully demonstrated on >100 kg scale.
Forensic analysis of cloud-native artifacts

Forensic analysis of cloud artifacts is still in its infancy; current approaches overwhelming follow the traditional method of collecting artifacts on a client device. In this work, we introduce the concept of analyzing cloud-native digital artifacts-data objects that maintain the persistent state of web/SaaS applications. Unlike traditional applications, in which the persistent state takes the form of files in the local file system, web apps download the necessary state on the fly and leave no trace in local storage.Using Google Docs as a case study, we demonstrate that such artifacts can have a completely different structure-their state is often maintained in the form of a complete (or partial) log of user editing actions. Thus, the traditional approach of obtaining a snapshot in time of the state of the artifacts is inherently forensically deficient in that it ignores potentially critical information on the evolution of a document over time. Further, cloud-native artifacts have no standardized external representation, which raises questions with respect to their long-term preservation and interpretation.
Pierre Nora, National Memory, and Democracy: A Review

The study of national memory emerged at a time when the coherence of what was generally known as national history was severely contested and disturbed. The opportunity to review an English-language edition of Pierre Nora's massive study of French national memory for an American history journal is a reminder not only that this disruption marked the histories of many nations but also that the fracturing of national histories involved a beginning-a political transformation-that has yet to be fully examined or conceptualized. Scholars such as Michael Kammen in the United States and Raphael Samuel in Britain have brilliantly established the outlines of this alteration in nations other than France. It is less certain, however, when and how this change began and what the political consequences were for the nations involved. The rise of modern nations was rooted in a crisis of authority. In the late eighteenth century democratic revolutionaries with visions of popular participation in government and greater personal freedom came forward to overturn autocratic regimes. Imbued with the faith of the Enlightenment in human reason and potential, these new states in places such as France and America took up the highly romantic project to make the future better than the past. This democratic upheaval did not eradicate conservative ideals less trusting of popular rule and personal independence. Indeed, a struggle between democratic and conservative dreams marked
Carcinoma of the sigmoid colon: an unusual cause of Fournier's gangrene.

Abstract We report a case of perforated adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon in an inguinal hernia presenting as Fournier’s gangrene. Bowel perforation has been known to cause this disease but, to our knowledge, perforation in an inguinal hernia due to benign or malignant disease has not been reported elsewhere. Gastrointestinal tract perforation should be sought as a potential etiology in patients with necrotizing fasciitis of the genitalia. When such a perforation exists occult malignancy should be ruled out.
Ensemble properties of network rigidity reveal allosteric mechanisms.

The distance constraint model (DCM) is a unique computational modeling paradigm that integrates mechanical and thermodynamic descriptions of macromolecular structure. That is, network rigidity calculations are used to account for nonadditivity within entropy components, thus restoring the utility of free energy decomposition. The DCM outputs a large number of structural characterizations that collectively allow for quantified stability/flexibility relationships (QSFR) to be identified. In this review, we describe the theoretical underpinnings of the DCM and introduce several common QSFR metrics. Application of the DCM across protein families highlights the sensitivity within the set of protein structure residue-to-residue couplings. Further, we have developed a perturbation method to identify putative allosteric sites, where large changes in QSFR upon rigidification (mimicking ligand-binding) detect sites likely to invoke allosteric changes.
Cross-Sectional Study of Polybrominated Flame Retardants and Self-Reported Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in US Youth Aged 12–15 (NHANES 2003-2004)

Background. Animal toxicity tests and epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to PBDEs can alter attention behavior, yet few studies have examined their association with diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents. Methods. Logistic regression was used to examine the cross-sectional association between ADHD and lipid and non-lipid adjusted blood serum concentrations of 2',4-tribromodiphenyl ether (BDE-28), 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenylether (BDE-47), 2,2',4,4',5-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99), 2,2',4,4',5,5'-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-100), 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-153), serum PBDEs, above/below the 75th percentile of serum PBDEs, and tertiles of serum PBDE in 12-15-year-olds (N = 292) using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004. Results. The ADHD weighted prevalence was 13.57%. The weighted adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) between ADHD diagnosis and lipid adjusted BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, serum total PBDE, serum PBDE concentrations above the 75th percentile, and serum PBDE concentrations in the second or third tertile were 1.16 (95% CI: 0.51, 2.67), 1.36 (95% CI: 0.72, 2.56), 1.51 (95% CI: 0.70, 3.25), 1.53 (95% CI: 0.73, 3.23), 1.43 (95% CI: 0.57, 3.56), 1.41 (0.71, 2.83), 0.59 (0.10, 3.56), 6.16 (1.19, 31.90), and 0.99 (0.23, 4.29). Conclusions. We observed no association between serum PBDE concentrations and ADHD in US youths.
Prevention of the postcoital luteinizing hormone surge by ultrashortloop feedback control

Studies were designed to determine whether the ultrashortloop feedback (USLF) system could prevent the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation and postcoital rise of luteinizing hormone (LH). Unanesthetized castrated female rabbits bearing chronically-implanted venous catheters were subjected to the following: (1) GnRH stimulation . Ten animals received intravenous (IV) bolus injections of 30 μ g GnRH. Two hours prior to GnRH, animals received either 2000IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or saline. A second group of ten animals received 20 μ g GnRH. One hour prior to GnRH, an infusion of human luteinizing hormone (hLH) at 2.75IU/min or of saline was started and continued over 4hours. (2) Coital stimulation. Ten rabbits were studied with the use of natural coital stimulus. They received either 2000 IU hCG 2hours before mating or saline as a control group. Both hLH infusion and hCG injection inhibited GnRH stimulation of LH secretion but did not modify the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) response. hCG inhibited the coitus-induced LH surge and did not modify coitus-induced FSH secretion. These studies demonstrate that USLF control of LH can modulate LH secretion under both pharmacologic and physiologic conditions.
Vlasov-Maxwell simulations of nonlinear plasma dynamics in the plasma wakefield accelerator

Simulations of the plasma wakefield accelerator are carried out by following the time evolution of the plasma distribution function in one dimension via the Vlasov-Maxwell equations. It is found that highly nonlinear wakes are obtainable in the vicinity of the driving beam, where the thermal velocity spread of the plasma is reduced. In this region, wake amplitudes can significantly exceed the expectations of relativistic warm plasma models and agree closely with cold fluid theory. >
Relations and Graphs

This chapter introduces the student to relations and graphs. We emphasize the similarities and differences between functions and relations and examine various representations of a relation by a map, and a Boolean matrix, as well as graphically by an arrow diagram, graph, digraph, or Hasse diagram when possible. One of our goals is to help the student to be able to go back and forth between the various representations.
Lead, Flint, and Grandfather

Blood lead levels of American children probably peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, thereafter declining sharply because of the mandated removal of lead from gasoline. Blood lead is associated with declining IQ, but puzzlingly, measured IQ of American children increased in the decades when lead was added to gas as well as in decades after it was removed. No level of blood lead is considered safe, but to put in perspective the alarming levels reported recently in Flint, MI, these are far lower than lead levels common in American children during the 1970s, and if there are consequent declines in IQ, they would be small. Flint, certainly not the worst lead contaminated area of the nation, was given inordinate attention by The New York Times beginning in January 2016, creating a national alarm as well as panic among Flint residents, already suffering the problems of a poor and degrading city. In early 2016, increasing news coverage “rode the waves” of the presidential primaries and the Black Lives Matter movement, then largely dropped from public attention by the summer, perhaps lessening the political pressure to relieve Flint.
The Social Safety Net After Welfare Reform: Recent Developments and Consequences for Household Dynamics

The remarkable transformation of the American social safety net that began in the early 1990s has led to seismic shifts in who benefits and how. More than two decades later, how should these changes be judged? Expanding and updating prior influential reviews, we evaluate how the transformation of the safety net—broadly defined—has shaped economic and family dynamics within low-income households. Collectively, social safety net policies have expanded support for working poor parents quite dramatically, while the cash safety net for the nonworking poor has all but collapsed. Working poor families have come out ahead economically, with mounting evidence of positive long-term benefits for child health and development. At the same time, a substantial number of poor families have fallen through the cracks, disconnected from stable, adequate wage income and cash aid. A growing number report income so low that it can be tracked with indicators used to measure poverty in the developing world. Meanwhile, contrary t...
Empirical evaluation of the heat-diffusion collection protocol for wireless sensor networks

Abstract Heat-Diffusion (HD) routing is our recently-developed queue-aware routing policy for multi-hop wireless networks inspired by Thermodynamics. In the prior theoretical studies, we have shown that HD routing guarantees throughput optimality, minimizes a quadratic routing cost, minimizes queue congestion on the network, and provides a trade-off between routing cost and queueing delay that is Pareto-Optimal. While striking, these guarantees are based on idealized assumptions (including global synchronization, centralized control, and infinite buffers) and heretofore have only been evaluated through simplified numerical simulations. We present here the first practical decentralized version of HD algorithm, which we refer to as Heat-Diffusion Collection Protocol (HDCP), for wireless sensor networks. We present a thorough evaluation of HDCP based on real testbed experiments, including a comparative analysis of its performance with respect to the state of the art Collection Tree Protocol (CTP) and Backpressure Collection Protocol (BCP) for wireless sensor networks. We find that HDCP has a significantly higher throughput region and greater resilience to interference compared to CTP. However, we also find that the best performance of HDCP is comparable to the best performance of BCP, due to the similarity in their neighbor rankings, which we verify through a Kendall’s-Tau test.
The Talent Search Model for Meeting the Academic Needs of Gifted and Talented Students

(2001). The Talent Search Model for Meeting the Academic Needs of Gifted and Talented Students. Gifted and Talented International: Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 99-102.
Molecular Allostery in Dengue NS3 Helicase along the ATP Hydrolysis Cycle

The flavivirus non-structural 3 (NS3) protein is a viral helicase that plays a pivotal role during the replication of the viral genome. Specifically, this enzyme uses energy released from ATP hydrolysis to translocate and cause the unwinding of a double-stranded RNA substrate, thereby preparing the RNA for the replication machinery. Microsecond molecular dynamic simulations of the dengue NS3 helicase are performed on seven structures, five of which represent important RNA-bound structures that model the ATP hydrolysis cycle (apo, pre-hydrolysis, post-hydrolysis, and product release states). These simulations demonstrate that the RNA binding cleft is affected by the different ATP substrates and suggest a hold-release mechanism for the translocation of the enzyme along the RNA substrate. Also, comparisons made between the five RNA-bound and remaining two RNA-unbound simulations indicate that the RNA substrate influences the water dynamics of the ATP binding pocket. These results provide molecular insights into the experimentally observed RNA-enhanced ATPase activity of dengue NS3 helicase. The allosteries observed between both the ATP and RNA binding sites will be discussed in relation to the ATP hydrolysis cycle.