Suffix Trees Considered Harmful

The implications of adaptive theory have been far-reaching and pervasive. In this paper, au- thors demonstrate the evaluation of journaling file systems, which embodies the intuitive principles of programming languages. We prove that despite the fact that Scheme and Markov models are often incompatible, 802.11 mesh networks and Web services can agree to answer this grand challenge

Using electronic surveys: advice from survey professionals

The study reports the perceptions and recommendations of sixty-two experienced survey researchers from the American Educational Research Association regarding the use of electronic surveys. The most positive aspects cited for the use of electronic surveys were reduction of costs (i.e., postage, phone charges), the use of electronic mail for pre-notification or follow-up purposes, and the compatibility of data with existing software programs. These professionals expressed limitations in using electronic surveys pertaining to the limited sampling frame as well as issues of confidentiality, privacy, and the credibility of the sample. They advised that electronic surveys designed with the varied technological background and capabilities of the respondent in mind, follow sound principles of survey construction, and be administered to pre-notified, targeted populations with published email addresses. Accessed 73,957 times on https://pareonline.net from January 02, 2002 to December 31, 2019. For downloads from January 1, 2020 forward, please click on the PlumX Metrics link to the right

Highly optimized tolerance and power laws in dense and sparse resource regimes

Power law cumulative frequency $(P)$ vs. event size $(l)$ distributions $P(\geq l)\sim l^{-\alpha}$ are frequently cited as evidence for complexity and serve as a starting point for linking theoretical models and mechanisms with observed data. Systems exhibiting this behavior present fundamental mathematical challenges in probability and statistics. The broad span of length and time scales associated with heavy tailed processes often require special sensitivity to distinctions between discrete and continuous phenomena. A discrete Highly Optimized Tolerance (HOT) model, referred to as the Probability, Loss, Resource (PLR) model, gives the exponent $\alpha=1/d$ as a function of the dimension $d$ of the underlying substrate in the sparse resource regime. This agrees well with data for wildfires, web file sizes, and electric power outages. However, another HOT model, based on a continuous (dense) distribution of resources, predicts $\alpha= 1+ 1/d$. In this paper we describe and analyze a third model, the cuts model, which exhibits both behaviors but in different regimes. We use the cuts model to show all three models agree in the dense resource limit. In the sparse resource regime, the continuum model breaks down, but in this case, the cuts and PLR models are described by the same exponent.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figure

The role of religiousness on substance-use disorder treatment outcomes: a comparison of black and white adolescents

This study compares 41 Black and 124 White adolescents at intake and discharge from a residential treatment program for substance-use disorders. Study data were obtained as part of a larger study (N = 195) that sought to assess the relationship of helping behavior and addiction recovery. This post-hoc analysis aims to identify cultural strengths that may be associated with recovery from substance-use disorders among Black adolescents. Using regression analyses and controlling for the severity of substance use and background variables that distinguish racial groups, religious practices and behaviors at intake were examined. Specifically, Black youth and White youth were compared on treatment outcomes, including alcohol or drug use during treatment, drug craving, 12-Step work, and 12-Step helping. The burden of health and socioeconomic disparities at intake did not disproportionately disfavor Black adolescents. Outcomes related to 12-Step measures were similar between Black and White youth. White adolescents reported higher craving scores at discharge, and Black adolescents were more likely to use drugs during treatment. High levels of religiousness at treatment intake were linked to greater 12-Step work and greater 12-Step helping at discharge. High levels of religiousness at intake were not related to drug use during treatment or to craving scores at discharge. The relationship between intake levels of religiousness and treatment-related outcomes did not differ by race.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3437261/Accepted manuscrip

Evaluation of Scents Attractants for Baiting Wild Pigs

Lethal removal by trapping is one of the most cost- and time-effective means for managing wild pigs (Sus scrofa). Scent attractants are frequently used to lure wild pigs to camera stations for scouting or monitoring wild pig populations or at trap sites to reduce the amount of time for pigs to locate the trap. However, the effectiveness of scents to attract and increase wild pig visitation to camera stations or traps is debatable. Therefore, our objective was to determine if wild pigs visited camera stations sooner and more frequently when scents were used in addition to whole kernel corn. We conducted our study on portions of the state-owned Lowndes County Wildlife Management Area (5,650 ha) and on privately owned property (1,820 ha) in Lowndes and Macon counties, AL, respectively, during 2014-2016. We selected portions within these study areas where active, premeditated wild pig removal (trapping, shooting) had not occurred for at least 1 year in order to minimize biases associated with trap shy pig behavior. We sectioned each study area into 1km2 grids and assigned a camera station to each grid cell overlapping the study area. Within each grid cell, the camera station was subjectively placed in forest cover near water. We then assigned randomly treatments of corn (11.3 kg), corn and a molasses-based attractant (0.23 L), or corn and a pig urine attractant (15 ml) to each of 66 camera stations. Corn and attractants were replenished after 7 days. We then used motion-sensitive game cameras to record the time (in min) from the initial placement of bait and scent at each station until the first wild pig was captured on camera images. Cameras remained active on each station for 14 days and were set to capture 3-picture bursts with a 10-second delay among pictures and 1-minute delay between bursts. Camera stations were distributed within each study area at a density of approximately one station per 100-250 ha. We recorded the time of first detection, frequency of visits, and identifying characteristics of pigs and sounders. We used a Χ2 test to determine if frequency of visits differed among treatments and an ANOVA to determine differences in time until first visit differed among treatments. Wild pigs visited 23 of 66 (35%) bait stations which did not differ among treatment sites (P=0.231). Of these 23 active camera stations, time until first visit did not differ among treatments (P=0.599). Mean time until first visit to a station was approximately 62.0 hours (about 2.6 days). Scent attractants did not have a noticeable effect on increasing wild pig visitation to baited camera stations suggesting managers 28 should focus on proper placement of bait stations or traps in areas frequented by wild pigs rather than relying on scents to lure pigs to desired locations

Arms positioning in post-mastectomy proton radiation:Feasibility and development of a new arms down contouring atlas

Background and purpose: Breast cancer patients receiving radiation are traditionally positioned with both arms up, but this may not be feasible or comfortable for all patients. We evaluated the treatment planning and positioning reproducibility differences between the arms up and arms down positions for patients receiving post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) using proton pencil beam scanning (PBS). Materials and methods: Ten PMRT patients who were scheduled to receive PBS underwent CT-based treatment planning in both an arms down and a standard arms up position. An arms down contouring atlas was developed for consistency in treatment planning. Treatment plans were performed on both scans. A Wilcoxon test was applied to compare arms up and arms down metrics across patients. Five patients received treatment in the arms-down position at our institution while others were treated with the arms up. Residual set-up errors were recorded for each patient's treatment fractions and compared between positions. Results: Target structure coverage remained consistent between the arms up and arms down positions. In regard to the OAR, the heart mean and maximum doses were statistically significantly lower in the arms up position versus the arms down position, however, the absolute differences were modest. Patients demonstrated similar setup errors, less than 0.5 mm differences, in all directions. Conclusions: PBS for PMRT in the arms down position appeared stable and reproducible compared to the traditional arms up positioning. The degree of OAR sparing in the arms down group was minimally less robust but still far superior to conventional photon therapy

An Examination of Crime Perception and Arkansas Fair Housing

This study examines the issue of fair housing from the standpoint of appraisal reports that determine the value of properties. Specifically, descriptors of crime within Arkansas appraisal reports are analyzed, along with completed interview questionnaires representing the mortgage lending, law enforcement, and home appraisal communities. This study provides pivotal findings with respect to appraisal reports in Arkansas and implications for public policy. Particularly, it finds that some of the most relevant stakeholders related to housing in Arkansas unfairly categorize certain geographic areas according to perceptions of crime, as indicated by a review of data found within appraisal reports. This study has implications for sales, rentals, and mortgage lending within the entire state of Arkansas; it also illustrates perpetuated stereotypes about specific groups of people. Finally, a significant policy recommendation is offered by this collaborative research

Questions, conjectures, and data about multiplicity lists for trees

We review and discuss a number of questions and conjectures about multiplicity lists occurring among real symmetric matrices whose graph is a tree. Our investigation is aided by a new electronic database containing all multiplicity lists for trees on fewer than 12 vertices. Some questions and conjectures are familiar and some are new, and new information is given about several. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Conceptual Framework for the National Pilot Project on Livestock and the Environment

Assessing the effects of alternative policies that regulate nonpoint pollution from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) requires insight into the interactions of livestock production practices, waste management technologies, and their impacts on the environment. CAFOs have been identified as a source of nutrient loadings that impair ground and surface water quality, and they can emit intense odor that impairs air quality. This report describes the conceptual framework and the integrated modeling system being developed to evaluate the economic and environmental impacts of alternative policies that abate pollution from CAFOs

Laser writing of individual atomic defects in a crystal with near-unity yield

Atomic defects in wide band gap materials show great promise for development of a new generation of quantum information technologies, but have been hampered by the inability to produce and engineer the defects in a controlled way. The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color center in diamond is one of the foremost candidates, with single defects allowing optical addressing of electron spin and nuclear spin degrees of freedom with potential for applications in advanced sensing and computing. Here we demonstrate a method for the deterministic writing of individual NV centers at selected locations with high positioning accuracy using laser processing with online fluorescence feedback. This method provides a new tool for the fabrication of engineered materials and devices for quantum technologies and offers insight into the diffusion dynamics of point defects in solids.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure