A Seeded Genetic Algorithm for RNA Secondary Structural Prediction with Pseudoknots

This work explores a new approach in using genetic algorithm to predict RNA secondary structures with pseudoknots. Since only a small portion of most RNA structures is comprised of pseudoknots, the majority of structural elements from an optimal pseudoknot-free structure are likely to be part of the true structure. Thus seeding the genetic algorithm with optimal pseudoknot-free structures will more likely lead it to the true structure than a randomly generated population. The genetic algorithm uses the known energy models with an additional augmentation to allow complex pseudoknots. The nearest-neighbor energy model is used in conjunction with Turner’s thermodynamic parameters for pseudoknot-free structures, and the H-type pseudoknot energy estimation for simple pseudoknots. Testing with known pseudoknot sequences from PseudoBase shows that it out performs some of the current popular algorithms

THE PROTECTIVE BENEFITS OF SEXUAL SURROGACY IN DISSATISFYING ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

The study tested whether the negative effects of dissatisfaction in romantic relationships can be mitigated by sexual surrogacy, an imagined sexual relationship with a celebrity or other socially distant target. I conducted a cross-sectional experimental study to examine my question. Participants were first randomly assigned to a relationship threat task asking them to reflect on insecurities in their romantic relationship or a friendship (control). Then were randomly assigned to reflect on either a celebrity crush or their desire to travel (control). Afterward participants were asked to complete measures of relationship satisfaction and well-being (happiness, loneliness, and affect). I predicted that sexual surrogates would offer a protective benefit to well-being (i.e., higher levels of happiness, lower levels of loneliness, and positive affect) when faced with a threat to their romantic relationship security compared to those that were not primed with their sexual surrogate. Sexual surrogacy had a very small effect on well-being. Interestingly, attachment styles were better predictors of well-being

The Effects of Sexual Surrogacy on Satisfaction, Happiness, and Well-Being

The study tested the effects of sexual surrogacy, which I define as the desire to fulfill sexual needs with a surrogate target (e.g., celebrity crushes), on sexual satisfaction, relationship, happiness, and well-being. To examine this topic, I conducted a cross-sectional experimental study. After being asked about sexual desire toward either their current partner or a celebrity crush with a sexual desire behavior inventory, participants were asked to answer questions about their sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, happiness, and well-being. I predicted that desire toward both surrogates and interpersonal targets will predict higher levels of sexual satisfaction, happiness, and well-being but that these associations would be weaker for the surrogate group. We found that sexual desire toward a parasocial target showed comparable associations with well-being compared to the partner group, but that some differences were observed in the effects of relationship satisfaction toward each target

Design of a Decision-Aiding Model Between Subtractive Manufacturing and 3D-Printing

3D-printing is becoming more and more widely used in industry. As this happens, manufacturers are becoming unsure of when to use this new technology and when to trudge on with subtractive (conventional) manufacturing processes. Subtractive manufacturing processes are well-established within many manufacturing companies due to its high efficiencies and low costs. However, 3D-printing offers a greater level of customization, can be automated, and can easily have designs transferred via computer files. Each method has its respective advantages, however, each one also has its downfalls. Subtractive manufacturing produces unnecessary waste, is limited from creating certain geometries, and requires a skilled laborer to run the machines. 3D-printing can present a safety hazard due to its introduction of particles into the air, being slower at producing parts, and the design of a part being easily contained and compromised within a computer file. Since there are so many different advantages and disadvantages to each method, it is very difficult for a business to decide which form of manufacturing to use for any part. To solve this problem, we developed a decision-aiding model that will ask key questions that will determine whether form of manufacturing to use, and to do an economic analysis comparing the two forms of manufacturing and the time to manufacture each

The Changing Landscape for the Public Sector: The challenges of building digital bridges

The University of Technology Sydney, Institute for Public Policy and Governance (UTS:IPPG) has undertaken research to investigate how public sector leaders are responding to digital transformation. This research has carried out on behalf of Civica, a leading provider of software and services to local government. The study builds on previous UTS:IPPG and Civica research, The Changing Landscape for Local Government: A vision for 2025 This report presents the headline findings from the latest research which seeks to understand: • Driving forces for new ways of working in a digital society • What (if anything) is holding back digital changes to public sector service delivery • Views on the opportunities and future for ‘digital first’ organisations • Leadership capacity and skills required to drive digital change • Ideas for building a digital first organisational culture and mindset Following initial desktop research, a survey of public sector professionals and 1:1 interviews with leaders from the local government sector, the research findings reveal a number of insights into the challenges, opportunities and changing landscape of digital cultures in the public sector. This report provides a scaffold to help public sector organisations better understand and prepare for a digital-first future

Quality Assurance of Service Learning Back School

Project Execution: Back School: During the 2019-20 academic year, two University of Nevada, Las Vegas Physical Therapy (UNLVPT) core faculty members, along with eight doctor of physical therapy students, provided three student-led, pro-bono back school classes at Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada (VMSN). Each back school class consisted of two, 2-hour sessions where participants were screened for red flags, educated on pain management strategies and common causes of back pain, and given an individual home exercise program. Quality Assurance Surveys: Patient’s and VMSN staff were all given questions in the form of Likert-scale and open-ended questions via printed handouts at the end of classes while a UNLVPT member completed a similar survey at the end of back school as a whole. As a group, we analyzed survey responses during several debriefing meetings throughout the year and generated ideas to enhance the quality of the back school. Service-Learning Reflection Map: As students, we used Eyler’s map for service learning to engage in meaningful reflections and to improve communication with the community partner, VMSN as well as to direct focus toward student, patient, and community partners goals. Project Outcomes: Surveys: Of 15 total participants of the back school, six participants completed surveys. Of those, 100% either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed that the program was relevant, that they would participate again, and that they would recommend the program. Approximately one-half of participants of the class stated that they do use less pain control methods (ex. Advil, ibuprofen, natural remedies, ect.) as a result of taking the class. Reflections: Two themes surfaced during group reflections and debriefings and centered on the need to improve recruiting and participation in the second session. Through these meetings, we implemented process improvements including posting additional advertising fliers, refining VMSN provider referral and tracking strategies, and using patient reminder calls. Discussion: Through the use of quality surveys and reflection mapping, the implementation of a service learning back school for the impoverished community can be accomplished with high quality and effectiveness in addressing chronic back pain. With the addition of supplemental advertising methods for the recruiting of appropriate back school candidates, a larger sample size for quality data collection was achievable and should remain a common component of similar quality assurance projects in the future

NRG1 functions downstream of EDS1 to regulate TIR-NLR-mediated plant immunity in Nicotiana benthamiana.

Effector-triggered immunity (ETI) in plants involves a large family of nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptors, including Toll/IL-1 receptor-NLRs (TNLs) and coiled-coil NLRs (CNLs). Although various NLR immune receptors are known, a mechanistic understanding of NLR function in ETI remains unclear. The TNL Recognition of XopQ 1 (Roq1) recognizes the effectors XopQ and HopQ1 from Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas, respectively, which activates resistance to Xanthomonas euvesicatoria and Xanthomonas gardneri in an Enhanced Disease Susceptibility 1 (EDS1)-dependent way in Nicotiana benthamiana In this study, we found that the N. benthamiana N requirement gene 1 (NRG1), a CNL protein required for the tobacco TNL protein N-mediated resistance to tobacco mosaic virus, is also essential for immune signaling [including hypersensitive response (HR)] triggered by the TNLs Roq1 and Recognition of Peronospora parasitica 1 (RPP1), but not by the CNLs Bs2 and Rps2, suggesting that NRG1 may be a conserved key component in TNL signaling pathways. Besides EDS1, Roq1 and NRG1 are necessary for resistance to Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas in N. benthamiana NRG1 functions downstream of Roq1 and EDS1 and physically associates with EDS1 in mediating XopQ-Roq1-triggered immunity. Moreover, RNA sequencing analysis showed that XopQ-triggered gene-expression profile changes in N. benthamiana were almost entirely mediated by Roq1 and EDS1 and were largely regulated by NRG1. Overall, our study demonstrates that NRG1 is a key component that acts downstream of EDS1 to mediate various TNL signaling pathways, including Roq1 and RPP1-mediated HR, resistance to Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas, and XopQ-regulated transcriptional changes in N. benthamiana

DeepAdjoint: An All-in-One Photonic Inverse Design Framework Integrating Data-Driven Machine Learning with Optimization Algorithms

In recent years, hybrid design strategies combining machine learning (ML) with electromagnetic optimization algorithms have emerged as a new paradigm for the inverse design of photonic structures and devices. While a trained, data-driven neural network can rapidly identify solutions near the global optimum with a given dataset's design space, an iterative optimization algorithm can further refine the solution and overcome dataset limitations. Furthermore, such hybrid ML-optimization methodologies can reduce computational costs and expedite the discovery of novel electromagnetic components. However, existing hybrid ML-optimization methods have yet to optimize across both materials and geometries in a single integrated and user-friendly environment. In addition, due to the challenge of acquiring large datasets for ML, as well as the exponential growth of isolated models being trained for photonics design, there is a need to standardize the ML-optimization workflow while making the pre-trained models easily accessible. Motivated by these challenges, here we introduce DeepAdjoint, a general-purpose, open-source, and multi-objective "all-in-one" global photonics inverse design application framework which integrates pre-trained deep generative networks with state-of-the-art electromagnetic optimization algorithms such as the adjoint variables method. DeepAdjoint allows a designer to specify an arbitrary optical design target, then obtain a photonic structure that is robust to fabrication tolerances and possesses the desired optical properties - all within a single user-guided application interface. Our framework thus paves a path towards the systematic unification of ML and optimization algorithms for photonic inverse design

The Program Evaluation Standards in Evaluation Scholarship and Practice

Background: The Program Evaluation Standards that were developed and approved by the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation have served as a resource to the broader evaluation field for over four decades. However, little evidence has been collected regarding the extent to which the standards have influenced the field through scholarship or professional practice. Purpose: This study seeks to estimate the prevalence of the Program Evaluation Standards in evaluation scholarship and professional practice. Setting: Not applicable. Intervention: Not applicable. Research Design: The study combines a systematic review of evaluation literature with a survey of American Evaluation Association (AEA) and Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) members. Data Collection and Analysis: A systematic review of articles published in 14 evaluation-specific journals from 2010 to 2020 was conducted to identify and typify articles citing the standards. Additionally, AEA and CES members were surveyed, with a focus on knowledge and use of the standards. Descriptive analyses are presented to quantify the prevalence of the standards in evaluation scholarship and practice, respectively. Findings: The systematic review revealed that 4.48% of the 4,460 articles published in 14 evaluation-specific journals from 2010 to 2020 contained some use of the standards. Survey results show that 53.14% of AEA members and 67.12% of CES members are familiar with the standards and that, among those with knowledge of the standards, most AEA (67.67%) and CES (71.74%) members use them at least “occasionally” in their professional work, education, and scholarship activities. Keywords: program evaluation standards; Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation; American Evaluation Association; Canadian Evaluation Society; systematic review; research on evaluatio