cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrating text mining into high-throughput assay analysis

There are two basic paradigms of use cases for the output of text mining tools in the genomics subfield of biomedical natural language processing (BioNLP). In the most common one, the tool is designed to produce output that will be viewed by an individual researcher, most commonly a database curator or a bench scientist. This use case has been heavily studied, thanks in part to shared tasks like BioCreative and TREC Genomics. The other use case is the integration of text mining into high-throughput assay analysis. This includes tasks ranging from sequence alignment to the evaluation of gene expression array data. In the past, text mining has been applied to these areas either as a post-processing step, or as an integrated part of the analysis algorithm. More recently, our lab has developed Hanalyzer, a 3R tool—a tool for the knowledge-based analysis of high-throughput assays based on Reading, Reasoning, and Reporting about experimental results in the context of pre-existing knowledge, including knowledge from text mining. The tool is designed to facilitate exploration of experimental data, explanation of observed patterns in the light of what is already known about the entities involved, and the generation of novel hypotheses. Results from a study of craniofacial development demonstrate that the system can be used to explain patterns in gene expression and to generate a set of hypotheses about the roles of four genes previously not known to be involved in tongue development. These hypotheses were experimentally validated by in situ hybridization and may have clinical consequences related to cleft lip and palate.
Profilin is required for optimal actin-dependent transcription of respiratory syncytial virus genome RNA.

Transcription of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) genome RNA exhibited an obligatory need for the host cytoskeletal protein actin. Optimal transcription, however, required the participation of another cellular protein that was characterized as profilin by a number of criteria. The amino acid sequence of the protein, purified on the basis of its transcription-optimizing activity in vitro, exactly matched that of profilin. RSV transcription was inhibited 60 to 80% by antiprofilin antibody or poly-l-proline, molecules that specifically bind profilin. Native profilin, purified from extracts of lung epithelial cells by affinity binding to a poly-l-proline matrix, stimulated the actin-saturated RSV transcription by 2.5- to 3-fold. Recombinant profilin, expressed in bacteria, stimulated viral transcription as effectively as the native protein and was also inhibited by poly-l-proline. Profilin alone, in the absence of actin, did not activate viral transcription. It is estimated that at optimal levels of transcription, every molecule of viral genomic RNA associates with approximately the following number of protein molecules: 30 molecules of L, 120 molecules of phosphoprotein P, and 60 molecules each of actin and profilin. Together, these results demonstrated for the first time a cardinal role for profilin, an actin-modulatory protein, in the transcription of a paramyxovirus RNA genome.
Indirect Prediction of Herd Life in Guernsey Dairy Cattle

Production and type data were used to investigate the relationships of these traits with herd life data in US Guernsey cows that calved from 1985 through 1990. Two definitions of herd life were used: actual days from birth to disposal (true herd life) and herd life adjusted for milk production (functional herd life). Genetic parameters were calculated with data from cows that had an opportunity to reach 84 mo of age (n = 18,725). Linear type traits were preadjusted for stage of lactation and age at classification. True herd life was preadjusted for age at first calving and for functional herd life, within herd-year quartile ranking for milk yield. The (co)variance components for true and functional herd life, milk, fat, protein, and 15 linear type traits were estimated with multiple-trait REML in an animal model. Heritability estimates for true and functional herd life were 0.12 for both traits. Estimated genetic correlations of herd life with body size traits were from -0.14 to -0.29, with feet and leg traits were from -0.10 to 0.06, and with udder traits were from -0.09 to 0.24. These correlation parameters were used for indirect prediction of herd life from available production and type information in Guernseys.
The Council of Newton: A Pedagogical Exercise for Understanding Conceptual and Historical Difference with Respect to Intra-Religious Notions of Divinity.

In this essay, I examine the following pedagogical question: how can we unlock students' mistaken notions that religious “traditions” are monoliths, and instead help them to recognize, puzzle over, and appreciate the complex multiplicity and vibrant set of doctrinal and ritual conversations that characterize religious traditions? More specifically, how can we teach students to recognize these differences with respect to a religion's notions of god? And how can we do so even when students are particularly stuck on, invested in, or trained to see homogeneity? In answer to these questions, I present an exercise that I have used in my World Religions courses. This exercise – which I call the “Council of Newton” (named for the building in which I first taught it) – is particularly effective because it helps students uncover and wrestle with this diversity at two levels: conceptually and historically.
Where the Spirits Dwell: Possession, Christianization, and Saints' Shrines in Late Antiquity*

With its clear-glass, brightly-lit, whitewashed interior, Harvard Divinity School's Andover Chapel reflects all the values of elite Protestant culture in New England history: quiet prayer, thoughtful sermons, an approach to God through the heart rather than the senses, and a minimum of iconic reminders that the space is Christian. And it was here, in April 2007, that this author beheld the Voudoun spirits Danbala and Ogoun arrive through several experienced mediums. The ceremony had not really been intended to call down the spirits, only to praise them in a kind of broad sampling of Haitian Voudoun songs.1 But the altar was full of their treats, the room was full, the drummers were good, the singing was loud, and the mediums were expert. So the spirits arrived: various Danbalas slithering across the floor and a very martial Ogoun huffing and puffing around the altar to get his rum. And they were greeted, with awed interest by the Harvard students, familiarity by the Haitians, and annoyed tolerance by one Adventist woman.
Detecting Motion in the Environment with a Moving Quadruped Robot

For a robot in a dynamic environment, the ability to detect motion is crucial. Motion often indicates areas of the robot's surroundings that are changing, contain another agent, or are otherwise worthy of attention. Although legs are arguably the most versatile means of locomotion for a robot, and thus the best suited to an unknown or changing domain, existing methods for motion detection either require that the robot have wheels or that its walking be extremely slow and tightly constrained. This paper presents a method for detecting motion from a quadruped robot walking at its top speed. The method is based on a neural network that learns to predict optic flow caused by its walk, thus allowing environment motion to be detected as anomalies in the flow. The system is demonstrated to be capable of detecting motion in the robot's surroundings, forming a foundation for intelligently directed behavior in complex, changing environments.
A WAVE HEIGHT AND FREQUENCY METER

During World War II a group of Naval officers conducted visual measurements of ocean waves simultaneously with instrumental recordings. A comparison of the visual and instrumental values indicated ".... the natural tendency for the observer .... to record not the average wave height but a wave height based on some kind of average of the highest waves. The general experience is that an observer will give a value for the wave height which represents the average of the highest 20 to 40 per cent of the waves" (SIO, 1944). The average height of the highest one-third of the waves, H1/3, was therefore suggested as the characteristic (or significant) wave height. "Characteristic wave period" was given a corresponding definition as the average period of the highest one-third waves.
Autonomous takeoff & landing of small UAS from the USV

A successful combination of the Interoperable Heterogeneous Unmanned Autonmous Systems for future missions at sea is becoming a reality. An Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), as the central node and main transport mechanism, can be used to carry Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) to distances over several hundred miles. The system is designed to be modular and can easily be scaled up if needed. In this paper, the initial implementation of an advanced UAS takeoff/landing from/to a 16 foot catamaran USV (70×40 inch landing area) provides solutions that can enable the interoperability, coordination and cooperation of autonomous mobile marine robots in GPS-denied environment are presented. To enable such a heterogeneous network three main research areas have been blended: 1) image processing, 2) state estimation, and 3) cooperative control and autonomy. This paper focuses on the first two components and addresses the integration of the third one. Due to the challenges of the maritime environment, novel software and hardware have to be investigated to provide the level of flexibility and features that are required for efficient and robust landing. Robust and reliable communications have to be developed and implemented to enable an efficient sharing of data and control messages among heterogeneous surface and aerial platforms.
A Case Study in Using Explicit Instruction to Teach Young Children Counting Skills.

AbstractNumber sense is one’s ability to understand what numbers mean, perform mental mathematics, and look at the world and make comparisons. Researchers show instruction that teaches children how to classify numbers, put numbers in sequence, conserve numbers effectively, and count builds their number sense skills. Targeted instruction that teaches children to count in a flexible manner increases number knowledge, therefore improves number sense. A common manner of providing targeted instruction for children who have mathematics difficulties is called explicit instruction. Explicit instruction that utilizes objects and pictures teaches conceptual and procedural knowledge for specific mathematical skills. Researchers show explicit instruction improves mathematical skills which range from place value to algebra equations for students who have mathematic difficulties. The purpose of this case study was to explore and investigate if further research should be conducted on the use of explicit instruction to t...
Single Network Adaptive Critic (SNAC) Design for a Morphing Aircraft

The focus of this paper is the use of a Single Network Adaptive Critic (SNAC) Controller on a morphing aircraft modeled as a time-varying system. The time scale over which the aircraft morphs is of the same order of magnitude as the aircraft dynamics, due to which the influence of the time-varying effects are significant. In this study, the SNAC controller is implemented on the longitudinal dynamics of a single engine light airplane similar to the Cessna 182 Skylane, which is assumed to have the ability to perform a rapid change in wing sweep. The objective is to train the network to give optimal regulation over not just the aircraft flight envelope state space, but also the space of different morphing trajectories. This paper addresses the problem of regulation of the aircraft states evolving as a consequence of the different morphing trajectories.
Effect of Ion Irradiation on Dislocation Processes in Stainless Steel

The effects of ion irradiation damage on dislocation generation and propagation in austenitic stainless steels were studied by means of in situ transmission electron microscopy and electron tomography. Tensile samples were irradiated in situ to a dose on the order of 1017 ions/m2 with 1MeV Kr+ and strained at 300 K as well as 673 K. Dislocation motion through the irradiation-obstacle field was jerky and discontinuous, dislocation pile-ups formed in grain interiors and at boundaries, long straight dislocations were generated decorating the channel-matrix walls, and dislocation cross-slip within the channel created debris along the channel leading to channel widening. Electron tomography was applied for the first time to reveal new detail about the dislocation reactions in the channel wall.
Incidence of epidermal methylcholanthrene tumors in mice after administration of cortisone.

Summary1. Under the conditions of our experiments; the administration of cortisone to mice given external applications of methyl-cholanthrene in benzene or in carbowax 1500 was followed by some reduction of the early inflammatory response and by an increase in the incidence of epidermal tumor formation per number of animals, as compared with the results in the control experiments without cortisone injections. 2. Biopsy excisions performed in the methylcholanthrene-exposed skin areas appeared to increase still further the incidence of tumor formation in the mice treated with cortisone.
Light-Absorbing Oligomer Formation in Secondary Organic Aerosol from Reactive Uptake of Isoprene Epoxydiols

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) produced from reactive uptake and multiphase chemistry of isoprene epoxydiols (IEPOX) has been found to contribute substantially (upward of 33%) to the fine organic aerosol mass over the Southeastern U.S. Brown carbon (BrC) in rural areas of this region has been linked to secondary sources in the summer when the influence of biomass burning is low. We demonstrate the formation of light-absorbing (290 < λ < 700 nm) SOA constituents from reactive uptake of trans-β-IEPOX onto preexisting sulfate aerosols as a potential source of secondary BrC. IEPOX-derived BrC generated in controlled chamber experiments under dry, acidic conditions has an average mass absorption coefficient of ∼ 300 cm(2) g(-1). Chemical analyses of SOA constituents using UV-visible spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry indicate the presence of highly unsaturated oligomeric species with molecular weights separated by mass units of 100 (C5H8O2) and 82 (C5H6O) coincident with the observations of enhanced light absorption, suggesting such oligomers as chromophores, and potentially explaining one source of humic-like substances (HULIS) ubiquitously present in atmospheric aerosol. Similar light-absorbing oligomers were identified in fine aerosol collected in the rural Southeastern U.S., supporting their atmospheric relevance and revealing a previously unrecognized source of oligomers derived from isoprene that contributes to ambient fine aerosol mass.
Support for HPV vaccination mandates for both females and males.

OBJECTIVES To examine college students' support for HPV vaccination mandates for school-aged youth and examine perceptions and behavioral factors associated with vaccine mandate support for both boys and girls. METHODS Data were collected from 1322 college students by an Internet-delivered questionnaire. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression were performed. RESULTS Relative to those who did not support HPV vaccination mandates for school-aged boys and girls, females (p = .038), non-white participants (p = .001), those who generally supported HPV vaccination mandates (p < .01), and those who had had sexual intercourse (p = .005) were significantly more likely to support HPV mandates for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS Identifying those who support HPV vaccination mandates is important for increasing vaccine uptake and reducing HPV-related cancers.
KI-67 Labeling Index Is a More Reliable Measure of Solid Tumor Proliferative Activity than Tritiated Thymidine Labeling

The proliferative activity of tumors has been shown to have prognostic significance in a variety of solid tumors. The standard method for assessing the proliferating fraction has been the measurement of the tritiated thymidine labeling index (TLI). Ki-67 is a monoclonal antibody that labels proliferating cells. In this study, the authors compared the proliferative activity of seven solid tumor specimens, using both methods simultaneously, on comparable sections from the same specimen. As expected, in every case the Ki-67 labeling index (KiLI) was greater than the TLI. The mean TLI ranged from 4.4 ± 0.4% to 16.7 ± 10.2%. The KiLI from these same tumors ranged from 25.7 ± 8.6% to 41.2 ± 12.2%. The mean coefficient of variation for measurements from different sections within the same specimen was 28.8 for TLI and 16.4 for KiLI. Therefore, KiLI shows less variability within different sections of the same specimen and is, therefore, a more reliable marker for proliferative activity than is TLI.
Electrochemical Study of Functionalized Carbon Nano-Onions for High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes

Carbon nano-onions (NCNOs), concentrically multilayered fullerenes, are among the least studied carbon allotropes. NCNOs have high surface area, high mesoporosity, facile electrical conductivity, and electrochemical stability. NCNOs are chemically oxidized (ONCNOs) to introduce hydrophilic functional groups, improving their wettability for use in supercapacitor electrodes. RuO2·xH2O/ONCNOs composites are prepared by chemical precipitation of RuO2 on ONCNOs, optimized for homogeneous distribution and maximum utilization of the metal oxide nanoparticles. The materials are characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, N2 absorption–desorption isotherm, and thermogravimetric analysis. Electrochemical performance of the electrodes is studied by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and electrochemical impedance measurements in 1.0 M H2SO4. While ONCNOs have specific capacitance of 45 F·g–1, a composite with 67.5 wt.% RuO2 has specific capacitance of 334 F·g–1 at a potential s...
Experimental and Computational Assessment of Reactivity and Mechanism in C(sp3)–N Bond-Forming Reductive Elimination from Palladium(IV)

This report describes a combined experimental and computational investigation of the mechanism of C(sp3)–N bond-forming reductive elimination from sulfonamide-ligated PdIV complexes. After an initial experimental assessment of reactivity, we used ZStruct, a computational combinatorial reaction finding method, to analyze a large number of multistep mechanisms for this process. This study reveals two facile isomerization pathways connecting the experimentally observed PdIV isomers, along with two competing SN2 pathways for C(sp3)–N coupling. One of these pathways involves an unanticipated oxygen–nitrogen exchange of the sulfonamide ligand prior to an inner-sphere SN2-type reductive elimination. The calculated ΔG⧧ values for isomerization and reductive elimination with a series of sulfonamide derivatives are in good agreement with experimental data. Furthermore, the simulations predict relative reaction rates with different sulfonamides, which is successful only after considering competition between the prop...
The epidemiology and natural history of asthma.

SUMMARY 1. Medically and economically asthma is an extremely important disease that affects about 4 per cent of the United States population every year. Most cases require treatment and many individuals are forced to limit their activities. 2. Asthma is most prevalent in childhood and among older adults and the disease can begin or remit at any age. There is an unexplained predominance of boys among childhood asthmatics. 3. Studies involving skin tests, bronchial challenges, aerometric sampling, and clinical examination have established allergy as important in the etiology of both adult-onset and childhood-onset asthma. Allergen sensitivity is particularly important in childhood-onset disease. The efficacy of allergy immunotherapy in the treatment of asthma is not well established. 4. Seasonal excerbations of asthma suggest sensitivity to pollens, molds, or dusts but may also occur in individuals with nonallergic asthma and may be related to climatic conditions or outbreaks of respiratory infection. 5. Asthma patients often have a history of allergic rhinitis or eczema and these conditions are also frequent in the families of asthmatics. These atopic diseases usually occur at the same time and allergic rhinitis in children should not be considered a harbinger of asthma. 6. Asthmatic attacks are frequently initiated by viral infections, and asthmatic patients appear to have an increased susceptibility to viruses. Bacterial infections are not frequently associated with asthmatic attacks, and the routine use of antibiotics for such episodes is not warranted. 7. Breast-feeding of infants appears to reduce the incidence of atopic disease and infections. Infants from allergy-prone families should be breastfed for 6 weeks to 6 months, and highly allergic foods, such as eggs, soy, and cow’s milk, should probably be excluded from infant and maternal diets during this period. 8. Parental smoking is associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma. 9. Most childhood asthmatics will have complete remission of their disease but this is less likely if the asthma is very severe or accompanied by chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, or infantile eczema. Remission in childhood may be due to increasing airway caliber with growth or loss of allergen sensitivity. A significant number of adult asthmatics will also have spontaneous remission of their disease. The natural history of asthma should be considered when evaluating claims for therapeutic interventions.
Advanced electrolyte/additive for lithium-ion batteries with silicon anode

State-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are based on a lithium transition metal oxide cathode, a graphite anode and a nonaqueous carbonate electrolyte. To further increase the energy and power density of LIBs, silicon anodes have been intensively explored due to their high theoretical capacity, low operation potential, and low cost. However, the main challenges for Si anode are the large volume change during lithiation/delithiation process and the instability of the solid-electrolyte-interphase associated with this process. Recently, significant progress has been achieved via advanced material fabrication technologies and rational electrolyte design in terms of improving the Coulombic efficiency and capacity retention. In this paper, new developments in advanced electrolyte and additive for LIBs with Si anode were systematically reviewed, and perspectives over future research were suggested.
Behavior of a high-temperature superconducting conductor on a round core cable at current ramp rates as high as 67.8 kA s -1 in background fields of up to 19 T

High temperature superconducting (HTS) conductor-on-round-core (CORC®) cables have been developed for use in power transmission systems and large high-field magnets. The use of high-current conductors for large-scale magnets reduces system inductance and limits the peak voltage needed for ramped field operation. A CORC® cable contains a large number of RE-Ba2Cu3O7−δ (RE = rare earth) (REBCO) coated conductors, helically wound in multiple layers on a thin, round former. Large-scale applications, such as fusion and accelerator magnets, require current ramp rates of several kilo-Amperes per second during pulsed operation. This paper presents results that demonstrate the electromagnetic stability of a CORC® cable during transient conditions. Measurements were performed at 4.2 K using a 1.55 m long CORC® cable in background fields of up to 19 T. Repeated current pulses in a background field of 19 T at current ramp rates of up to 67.8 kA s−1 to approximately 90% of the cable's quench current at that field, did not show any sign of degradation in cable performance due to excessive ac loss or electromagnetic instability. The very high current ramp rates applied during these tests were used to compensate, to the extent possible, the limited cable length accommodated by the test facility, assuming that the measured results could be extrapolated to longer length cables operated at proportionally lower current ramp rates. No shift of the superconducting transition to lower current was measured when the current ramp rate was increased from 25 A s−1 to 67.8 kA s−1. These results demonstrate the viability of CORC® cables for use in low-inductance magnets that operate at moderate to high current ramp rates.
Generating a Model for Calmodulin Induced Folding in the Disordered Regulatory Domain of Calcineurin

Calcineurin (CaN) plays an important role in the T-cell activation, cardiac system development and nervous system function. Previous studies have suggested that the regulatory domain (RD) of CaN binds Calmodulin (CaM) towards the N-terminal end. Calcium-loaded CaM activates the serine/threonine phosphatase activity of CaN by binding to the regulatory domain, although the mechanistic details of this interaction remain unclear. It is thought that CaM binding at the RD displaces the auto inhibitory domain (AID) from the active site of CaN, activating phosphatase activity. In the absence of calcium-loaded CaM, the RD is at least partially disordered, and binding of CaM induces folding in the RD. Previous studies have shown that an α-helical structure forms in the N-terminal half of the RD, but organization may occur in the C-terminal half as well. Here, we are interested in the structural transition of the full length RD as it binds to CaM. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we have successfully assigned >85% of the 15N, 13Cα, 13Cβ and HN chemical shifts of the unbound, regulatory domain of CaN. While the protein is disordered, secondary chemical shifts indicate that some regions possess α-helical propensity, even in the unbound state. Our study of the CaM and CaN interaction supports the formation of a distal helix in the region between the AID and calmodulin-binding region. Heat capacity changes upon binding predict that 54 residues fold when CaM binds to CaN, consistent with the formation of this distal helix. Paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) studies of this interaction suggest a potential binding mode where the distal helix binds to CaM near residues I9-A15. Mutagenesis in the distal helix disrupts PREs, further supporting this hypothesis. Together, these data suggest that the interactions between CaM and the distal helix of CaN can be important in regulation of phosphatase activity.
SCEPTRE 1.4 Quick Start Guide

This report provides a summary of notes for building and running the Sandia Computational Engine for Particle Transport for Radiation Effects (SCEPTRE) code. SCEPTRE is a general purpose C++ code for solving the Boltzmann transport equation in serial or parallel using unstructured spatial finite elements, multigroup energy treatment, and a variety of angular treatments including discrete ordinates. Either the first-order form of the Boltzmann equation or one of the second-order forms may be solved. SCEPTRE requires a small number of open-source Third Party Libraries (TPL) to be available, and example scripts for building these TPL’s are provided. The TPL’s needed by SCEPTRE are Trilinos, boost, and netcdf. SCEPTRE uses an autoconf build system, and a sample configure script is provided. Running the SCEPTRE code requires that the user provide a spatial finite-elements mesh in Exodus format and a cross section library in a format that will be described. SCEPTRE uses an xml-based input, and several examples will be provided.
Caching to Reduce Mobile App Energy Consumption

Mobile applications consume device energy for their operations, and the fast rate of battery depletion on mobile devices poses a major usability hurdle. After the display, data communication is the second-biggest consumer of mobile device energy. At the same time, software applications that run on mobile devices represent a fast-growing product segment. Typically, these applications serve as front-end display mechanisms, which fetch data from remote servers and display the information to the user in an appropriate format—incurring significant data communication overheads in the process. In this work, we propose methods to reduce energy overheads in mobile devices due to data communication by leveraging data caching technology. A review of existing caching mechanisms revealed that they are primarily designed for optimizing response time performance and cannot be easily ported to mobile devices for energy savings. Further, architectural differences between traditional client-server and mobile communications infrastructures make the use of existing caching technologies unsuitable in mobile devices. In this article, we propose a set of two new caching approaches specifically designed with the constraints of mobile devices in mind: (a) a response caching approach and (b) an object caching approach. Our experiments show that, even for a small cache size of 250MB, object caching can reduce energy consumption on average by 45% compared to the no-cache case, and response caching can reduce energy consumption by 20% compared to the no-cache case. The benefits increase with larger cache sizes. These results demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed method and raise the possibility of significantly extending mobile device battery life.
SMART START: Designing impact-driven projects

The FIE conference has throughout its history emphasized work at the frontiers of education. This pre-conference workshop reflects a policy shift at the National Science Foundation, Department of Education, and Department of Defense, and others who have adopted the I-Corps™ model to extend the longevity and the value of initially funded projects. This cutting-edge workshop introduces the core features of the Lean Startup process; namely, (1) search for a sustainable and scalable model using the Business Model Canvas, (2) Customer discovery, and (3) Agile engineering (i.e., iterate and increment towards an appropriate product, program or service) — all of which have been identified as essential for maximizing the longevity and impact of research projects and products. SMART START resonates with the conference theme — Educating Our Future, Honoring Our History — honoring the tradition of excellence in engineering innovation while exploring a new paradigm that strives to build impact into earlier stages of research. The workshop will provide participants (a) a framework to think about how to discover customer requirements, (b) how to sustain and scale STEM education innovations, (c) exposure to the NSF I-Corps™ program, and (d) an opportunity to connect and engage with peers interested in the increasing the impact of their research.
Decline of bumble bees in northeastern North America, with special focus on Bombus terricola

Abstract Concerns about the rapid and severe declines of many bumble bee (Bombus spp.) species in Europe, and more recently North America, have spurred research into the extent and possible causes for these losses. Drawing conclusions has been difficult due to a lack of long-term data, especially for specific regions that may have different factors at play than the global trend. In this study, 150 years of Bombus records in the state of New Hampshire from the University of New Hampshire Insect Collection were examined. This allowed for changes in abundance and distribution to be tracked over time, with focus on species designated of greatest conservation need by NH Fish & Game Department. Floral records also provided insight into the diet breadth of these species, which may affect their vulnerability. Evidence of drastic decline was found in Bombus affinis, Bombus fervidus, and Bombus terricola, as well as significant decline in Bombus vagans with data suggesting it has been ecologically replaced by Bombus impatiens over time. We suggest Bombus vagans receive future conservation consideration. Our analyses found a severe constriction of the geographic range of Bombus terricola to high elevation regions in the latter half of the 20th century, and its role as pollinator of several alpine plants necessitates immediate conservation action.
New Biomaterials: The Preparation of Polyesters Derived from Hydroxy Amino Acids

In order to minimize the possible toxicity of degradable polymers, polymeric biomaterials were synthesized using exclusively natural amino acids as monomeric starting materials. Using new reaction schemes, the amino acids were linked by non-amide bonds, resulting in the formation of “pseudopoly(amino acids).” In particular, the preparation of poly(N-acyl-L-serine ester) from derivatives of N-acyl-L-serine was investigated in detail. N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-serine was selected as a model monomer since the benzyloxycarbonyl groups can be removed, possibly with little degradation of the polymer backbone. Best results were obtained by the ring opening polymerization of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-serine-slactone. Under optimized conditions, poly(N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-serine ester) with a molecular weight (MW) of about 40,000 (GPC, relative to polystyrene standards) was obtained. Such serine derived polyesters can be regarded as structural analogs of poly(lactic acid) and may find numerous applications as biomaterials.
Two-Compartment Analysis of $$\dot V_A /\dot Q$$ Inequality and Transient Blood-Gas Differences

Numerous\(\dot V_A /\dot Q\) models have been proposed and utilized to explain steady state gas exchange in mammalian lungs. These models vary in the number of conceptualized lung compartments, the experimental sophistication required to obtain the necessary input data, and the complexity of numerical solutions. We have incorporated classical gas exchange concepts and mathematical techniques from other recent models to obtain a simplified two-compartment model which requires only standard gas exchange measurements as input variables. The \(\dot V_A /\dot Q\) ratios and other relevant blood and gas values are then obtained for each compartment which are compatible with the input data (Loeppky et al., 1987).
Model-based diagnosis of planning failures

We propose that a planner should be provided with an explicit model of its own planning mechanism, and show that linking a planner's expectations about the performance of its plans to such a model, by means of explicit justification structures, enables the planner to determine which aspects of its planning are responsible for observed performance failures. We have implemented the ideas presented in this paper in a computer model. Applied to the game of chess, the model is capable of diagnosing planning failures due to incomplete knowledge of the rules, improper or overly optimistic focus of attention, faulty projection, and insufficient lead time for warning about threats, and is therefore able to learn such concepts as discovered attack and the fork.
Research on High-frequency Resonance Mechanism and Active Harmonic Suppression Strategy of Power Systems with Power Electronics

Only one of the three Guangxi-side transmission lines of Luxi back-to-back asynchronous interconnection HVDC project between Yunnan Power Grid and the main grid of China Southern Power Grid is at work because of early faults in April 2017. And then there are harmonic components with a frequency of 1270 Hz appearing in the Guangxi-side bus voltage and output current. Affected by this harmonic component, the VSC-HVDC converter transformer tap changer of Luxi back-to-back asynchronous interconnection HVDC project is out of order because of frequent operation and therefore the VSC-HVDC unit is shut down. Firstly, this paper introduces the Luxi back-to-back asynchronous interconnection HVDC high-frequency resonance event and explains the resonance mechanism between MMC-based (Modular Multilevel Converter) VSC-HVDC and AC system. Secondly the harmonic impedance of MMC is calculated and the impedance analysis method is proposed to improve the control structure of MMC. Finally, through the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation, the phenomenon of resonance events is reproduced. Based on this the validity of the proposed method is proved and the harmonic current components are completely suppressed.
Engaging Intergenerational Hispanics/Latinos to Examine Factors Influencing Childhood Obesity Using the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model.

Introduction Hispanics/Latinos are disproportionately affected by obesity in the U.S. Multiple factors place Hispanic/Latino children at risk for overweight, warranting guidance of a socio-ecologic approach to examine causes of obesity. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the factors that influence Hispanic/Latino childhood obesity through an intergenerational lens including children, parents/caregivers, and grandparents. Methods Eight focus groups were conducted with Hispanics/Latinos (N = 68 adults, N = 22 youth), using a semi-structured moderator’s guide. Audio-recordings were transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Findings were categorized within the PRECEDE–PROCEED planning model. Results Adult participants were middle-aged (M = 37.8 ± 9.8 years) and youth were between the ages of 10–17 (M = 14.0 ± 1.8 years). Six themes emerged: eating habits, cultural perceptions of weight, acculturation, childhood obesity perceptions, economic issues, and generational differences. The major parental influence was lack of time to provide healthy meals due to socio-economic factors: long work hours and availability of nearby fast food options. Youth shared that childhood obesity is due to sedentary behaviors, permissive parenting and lack of parental modeling (the latter two factors often exacerbated by extended work schedules). Discussion Discordant perceptions about unhealthy eating habits emerged. Adults expressed a lack of nutritional knowledge and skills to prepare healthy meals; while adolescents emphasized permissive parenting styles and lack of discipline lead to unhealthy lifestyles in Hispanic families. Findings emphasize involving parents/caregivers and youth to understand discordant perceptions that can inform the development of prevention programs.
50 Mbps cat’s eye modulating retro-reflectors for free-space optical communications

Modulating retro-reflectors couple passive optical retro-reflectors with electro-optic modulators to allow free-space optical communication with no pointing on one end of the link. We demonstrate a cat's eye multiple quantum well modulating retro-reflector with a 50 Mbps data rate.
Children's Perceptions of Moral Themes in Television Drama.

(1986). Children’s Perceptions of Moral Themes in Television Drama. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 9, Communication Yearbook 9, pp. 463-479.
Risk factors for multiple tobacco product use among high school youth.

Abstract Purpose To examine how youth multiple tobacco product (MTP) users differ relative to non-users and to single-product users on risk factors at multiple levels of influence. Methods We analyzed data on high school students from the North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey, 2015 (n = 2922). Single- and MTP use were defined as use of one, or two or more tobacco products in the past month, respectively. Multinomial regressions estimated the association between risk factors and MTP use compared to single-product use and non-use of tobacco. Risk factors included intra-personal (e.g., harm perceptions), and interpersonal (e.g., household, peer tobacco use, secondhand smoke or vapor, and advertising) factors. Results Of students, 12% and 13% were single product and MTP users, respectively. Many differences emerged between MTP users and non-tobacco users, with MTP users showing lower harm perceptions, higher perceived social benefits of smoking, significantly higher relative risk of having friends who use tobacco (RRR = 4.79, 95% CI 3.42, 6.70), of exposure to secondhand e-cigarette vapor (RRR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.23, 1.48), and of being receptive to tobacco marketing (RRR = 4.01, 95% CI 2.87, 5.61). Fewer differences emerged between MTP and single product users with MTP users having significantly higher relative risk of having friends who use tobacco (RRR = 2.31 95% CI 1.73, 3.07), of exposure to secondhand vapor (RRR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.02, 1.18), and of being receptive to tobacco marketing (RRR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.17, 2.50). Conclusions Efforts that target multiple tobacco product use should increase youth tobacco-related harm perceptions, and protect youth from social, peer, and industry influences.
A high-resolution 3D epigenomic map reveals insights into the creation of the prostate cancer transcriptome.

To better understand the impact of chromatin structure on regulation of the prostate cancer transcriptome, we develop high-resolution chromatin interaction maps in normal and prostate cancer cells using in situ Hi-C. By combining the in situ Hi-C data with active and repressive histone marks, CTCF binding sites, nucleosome-depleted regions, and transcriptome profiling, we identify topologically associating domains (TADs) that change in size and epigenetic states between normal and prostate cancer cells. Moreover, we identify normal and prostate cancer-specific enhancer-promoter loops and involved transcription factors. For example, we show that FOXA1 is enriched in prostate cancer-specific enhancer-promoter loop anchors. We also find that the chromatin structure surrounding the androgen receptor (AR) locus is altered in the prostate cancer cells with many cancer-specific enhancer-promoter loops. This creation of 3D epigenomic maps enables a better understanding of prostate cancer biology and mechanisms of gene regulation. In prostate cancer, chromatin structure can impact the transcriptome. Here, the authors develop high resolution chromatin interaction maps in prostate cancer cells using in situ Hi-C, revealing prostate cancer-specific TADs and enhancer-promoter loops surrounding the androgen receptor (AR) locus.
Towards understanding workplace incivility: gender, ethical leadership and personal control

Few public management studies have examined the prevalence of workplace incivility and ways to reduce uncivil behaviour towards women and minority groups. The present research examines the influenc...
Bio-DRN: Robust and Energy-Efficient Bio-Inspired Disaster Response Networks

In the aftermath of large-scale disasters, such as earthquakes or hurricanes, existing communication infrastructures are often critically impaired, preventing timely information exchange between the survivors, responders, and the coordination center. Smart devices, movable base stations, easily deployable WiFi routers, and unimpaired communication towers can be used to set up temporary networks, called disaster response networks (DRNs). However, such networks are challenged by rapid energy depletion of smart devices as well as component failures. To address these issues, in this paper we propose a novel energy-efficient yet robust DRN topology, termed Bio-DRN, that mimics the inherent robustness of a biological network of living organisms, called gene regulatory network (GRN). Specifically, the Bio-DRN is a subgraph of the DRN topology generated by one-to-one mapping between the structurally similar genes and DRN components, i.e., survivors, points of interest like shelter points, and the coordination center. We first formulate the construction of Bio-DRN topology as an integer linear programming optimization problem, and show that it is NP-hard. Then, we present a sub-optimal heuristic that constructs the Bio-DRN topology as a common subgraph of both GRN and DRN topologies. Our experimental study on a real disaster prone region in Bhaktapur, Nepal, shows that Bio-DRN preserves the topological properties of GRN, such as low graph density and motif abundance, and achieves both energy efficiency and network robustness, while ensuring timely message delivery.
Morality 2.0: A Model of Individual Moral Behavior Within Human-Machine Interactions

Drawing from theory and research in a several areas including anthropomorphism, social power, and behavioral ethics, we propose a model of human-machine interaction and moral behavior. In contrast ...
Progestin-Only Oral Contraceptives

Progestin-only pills (POPs) are often referred to as “mini-pills” as they contain about 25–75% of the progestin dose contained in combination oral contraceptives (COCs), depending on the type, and no estrogen. Their typical-use effectiveness has been shown to be slightly less than COCs, most likely due to a more limited duration of effect, inconsistent ovulation suppression, and difficulties with adherence. POPs are associated with more breakthrough bleeding than COCs but fewer serious adverse events. Although not as well studied, POPs are thought to have many of the same noncontraceptive health benefits as COCs.
Breaking the Silence: Applying and Extending the Theory of Situational Support to Understand Mental Health Services Use Among Chinese Immigrants in the United States

Statistics show that Chinese immigrants are less likely to use mental health services compared with other racial/ethnic groups. By conducting a nationwide survey ( N = 421), this study applies the theory of situational support to examine how the 2 primary barriers to mental health service use (i.e., social stigma and normative beliefs) affect Chinese immigrants’ psychosocial responses toward the problem, which may ultimately lead to their behavioral reactions. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Contextualizing "Practice": Helping Pre-Service Teachers Unpack the Ideological and Sociopolitical Dimensions of Required Practices for Licensure

The turn toward “practice” in teacher education, while controversial, has become a reality for many programs that prepare pre-service teachers for state licensure. This conceptual paper argues that while many people link teacher quality to educational equity, a focus on discrete teaching practices alone is insufficient to address inequitable outcomes in schooling. In addition to developing pre-service teachers to be critically conscious of the contexts in which their work is embedded, I contend that pre-service teachers may also benefit from contextualizing prescribed teaching practices themselves. Using examples from essential “elements” for teaching in the state of Massachusetts, I demonstrate two ways that required practices are themselves ideological and sociopolitical manifestations. By highlighting the ideological and sociopolitical discourse embedded within elements of effective teaching practice, teacher educators have the potential to prepare pre-service teachers to become critical consumers of practice.
Investigating the detection of underground nuclear explosions by radon displacement.

Abstract A novel approach is proposed to detect underground nuclear explosions (UNEs) through the displacement of natural radon isotopes (222Rn and 220Rn). Following an explosion, it is hypothesized that the disturbance and pressurization of the sub-surface would facilitate the movement of radon from the depth of the UNE towards the surface resulting in increased soil gas activity. The resulting signal may be magnified by a factor of 2.0–4.9 by the decay of radon to its short-lived progeny. Increases in background activity may be useful for identifying locations to perform additional measurements, or as a detectable signal at monitoring stations. To validate this hypothesis, radon detection instrumentation was deployed at the Dry Alluvium Geology (DAG) site of the Source Physics Experiment (SPE) at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). Natural fluctuations in the soil gas activity due to barometric pumping, and the lower yield of the chemical explosions (1–50 t) made it difficult to confirm a displacement of radon from the explosions, and further study to validate the proposed hypothesis is recommended.