Oklahoma State University - Stillwater

Evolutionary computation-based neural architecture search (ENAS) is a popular technique for automating architecture design of deep neural networks. Despite its groundbreaking applications, there is no theoretical study for ENAS. The expected hitting time (EHT) is one of the most important theoretical issues, since it implies the average computational time complexity. This paper proposes a general method by integrating theory and experiment for estimating the EHT of ENAS algorithms, which includes common configuration, search space partition, transition probability estimation, population distribution fitting, and hitting time analysis. By exploiting the proposed method, we consider the ( $\lambda$ + $\lambda$ )-ENAS algorithms with different mutation operators and estimate the lower bounds of the EHT. Furthermore, we study the EHT on the NAS-Bench-101 problem, and the results demonstrate the validity of the proposed method. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first attempt to establish a theoretical foundation for ENAS algorithms.

Phytochemicals derived from the plant Cannabis sativa hold promise in terms of medicinal value. Cannabinoids such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN) are arguably the best characterized and known to possess wide-ranging therapeutic benefits. The mechanism of action for these therapeutic effects remains to be fully elucidated, however, the anti-inflammatory actions are of particular interest. Maximizing therapeutic effects while limiting adverse effects is crucial in pharmaceutical development. Fluorination of natural products often yields molecules with enhanced biological properties and provides opportunities for intellectual property protection not available to the natural product. Herein, we describe four novel cannabinoids (a deoxy trifluoroCBN analog (F3CBN), the racemic cis-deoxy-trifluoro-THC (F3THC), and truncated pyridine analogs of an intermediate in route to the THC and CBN, SG126 and SG154. Importantly, we provide the initial assessment of the biologic activity of these molecules, by investigating the in vitro effects on metabolic activity (via 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5,-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, MTT assay) and cytokine expression (via enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA) in human C20 microglial cells. The cannabinoids examined had minimal to no effect on metabolic activity up to 10 µM. Notably, F3CBN and F3THC potentiated interleukin-1 β (IL-1β)-induced expression of interferon-γ inducible protein 10 (CXCL10) and IL-6 expression whereas, SG126 and SG154 were inhibitory. These findings are foundational for new lines of investigation into the therapeutic potential of four novel fluorinated cannabinoids.

Ge[N(SiMe3)2] reacts with isocyanates but its reactivity with the related heavier congeners has not been explored. Its reaction with tertiary isothiocyanates results in the abstraction of the sulfur atom to...

OBJECTIVE The primary objective was to identify veterinary workforce characteristics and factors contributing to staying in or leaving a veterinary practice. A secondary objective was to compare workforce characteristics and factors related to retention between survey respondents working in rural versus nonrural areas. METHODS Veterinarians were surveyed via a questionnaire distributed with the use of a state veterinary medical association listserv or veterinary program alumni listserv from February 2022 to January 2023 and social media postings on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Facebook in April 2022. RESULTS There were 2,195 respondents. Most respondents were in small animal practice (78%) in a nonrural environment (76%). Overall, 78% of respondents indicated intent to stay in their current practice, with no difference between veterinarians in rural versus nonrural practices. There was the perception of need for veterinarians both short-term (1 year) and long-term (10 years). Practitioners were generally satisfied with and connected to their communities. Rural practitioners more frequently reported work weeks of > 40 hours per week and a greater amount of time spent on call (weekdays and weekends). Nonrural practitioners were generally more satisfied with their community amenities, whereas rural practitioners were more attached to their communities. CONCLUSIONS Veterinarians perceive the need for additional practitioners in the workforce both short-term and long-term in all environments. Despite longer work hours reported in rural environments, intent to stay in or leave a practice did not differ between rural and nonrural veterinarians. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Veterinarians perceive a need for practitioners across species and scope of practice. Community attachment may be an important factor to leverage when considering training veterinary students and recruiting veterinary graduates into rural practice.

The intracellular environment of skeletal muscle can develop pronounced hyperthermia and acidosis during strenuous exercise, and these alterations in the typical intracellular conditions have been shown to alter mitochondrial respiration. However, the impact of these conditions on ATP synthesis is poorly understood. We used Thoroughbred racehorses to test the hypothesis that both hyperthermia and acidosis decrease the rate of ATP synthesis, but that athletic conditioning mitigates this loss of phosphorylation capacity. Isolated mitochondria were harvested from skeletal muscle before and after a 9-week racetrack conditioning program that increased whole-body aerobic capacity by 19%, and oxidative phosphorylation capacity was tested ex vivo under normothermic and hyperthermic conditions, as well as normal pH and acidic pH created by the addition of lactic acid. In unfit horses, hyperthermia caused a 30-55% decrease in the rate of ATP synthesis and loss of phosphorylation efficiency (P/O ratio decreased from 4.2 to 1.7 during maximal oxidative phosphorylation). Aerobic conditioning resulted in increased phosphorylation efficiency under hyperthermic conditions. Lactic acidosis had a small negative effect on ATP synthesis in unfit horses, but aerobic conditioning increased the sensitivity of isolated mitochondria to the deleterious effects of lactic acidosis. These data support a prominent role of hyperthermia in skeletal muscle fatigue during exercise, particularly in unfit subjects. However, acidosis may be a more important cause of failure of ATP synthesis in fit subjects.

Marins, EF, de Araújo Rocha Junior, V, Castagna de Freitas, F, Rossy e Vasconcelos Júnior, J, Aparecido Minervi, N, Dawes, JJ, and Boscolo Del Vecchio, F. Unraveling the boundaries of police physical fitness: normative values of police physical fitness based on a representative sample of 8000 federal highway police officers aged 21-70 years from Brazil. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-To develop age-and sex-based normative tables related to physical fitness components (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, and power) from a representative sample of the Brazilian police population. This analysis included archived data from 8,628 police officers evaluated in 4 physical fitness tests (PFTs) conducted in 2020. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by a 12-minute run test, endurance by the 60-s sit-up and push-up tests, and lower-limb muscular power by standing broad jump test. Additive quantile regression was used to determine percentiles and estimate age-based charts for each test by sex. Reference values were described from these data. Significant differences between sexes for all measures of physical fitness (p , 0.01, d 5 0.14-1.68), except for upper-limb endurance, were observed (p. 0.05, d 5 0.05). There was a decline in performance in all measures of physical fitness among police officers of both sexes with advancing age categories, with younger groups performing better than older groups (p , 0.05, d 5 0.27-3.17). Age charts and curves were created using the output of quantile regression of reference values for cardiorespiratory fitness, abdominal and upper-limb endurance, and lower-limb power corresponding to the 10th, 20th, 40th, 60th, 80th, and 90th percentiles at all ages, for both sexes. Classificatory tables were presented by age and sex, with reference values for the tests using percentile values. Lower levels of physical fitness were observed with aging, and men exhibited higher overall values than women. The reference values presented can serve as a guide for interpreting the results of PFTs obtained by other police institutions and developing training programs to enhance health, fitness, and performance.

With the proliferation of financial technology (Fintech), financial services are becoming an integral part of our lives. We are gradually transitioning from a cash-based payment system to a digital payment system. However, this shift has been limited by people’s intentions. Drawing on the expectation confirmation model and the electronic service quality model, this paper investigates the continuance intention (CI) of mobile banking (MB) as a Fintech product. The study employed a cross-sectional survey research design and purposive sampling technique to collect data from 301 MB users. Data analysis was conducted using partial least square structural equation modeling and artificial neural network techniques. The results indicate that confirmation significantly influences perceived usefulness (PU) and satisfaction. Additionally, mobile banking service quality (MB-SQ) significantly impacts both confirmation and satisfaction, while PU and satisfaction significantly influence CI. Mediational analysis revealed that confirmation partially mediates the relationship between MB-SQ and satisfaction. These findings could encourage Fintech service providers and researchers to focus on MB-SQ as a critical variable for promoting continued usage. MB service providers could gain insights into designing strategies to enhance service quality and attract more customers. To the best of researchers’ knowledge, this paper is among the earliest to incorporate MB-SQ into the existing expectation confirmation model.

Background: Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption is excessive across the United States (US). Understanding perceptions of food based on processing is critical to elucidate reasons for UPF intake and inform tool development for measuring related cognition. Aim: Design and evaluate perceptions of UPF and non-UPF food among general US adults. Hypothesis: Significant differences exist in perceived healthfulness across similar UPF and non-UPF foods. Methods: Photographs of foods were taken to represent eight pairs of similar UPFs and non-UPFs and presented in a Qualtrics survey with questions to gauge healthfulness from 0 to 10 (0 = completely unhealthy, 10 = completely healthy). Paired-samples sign tests were used to detect differences in ratings within pairs. Results: Participants ( n = 100) rated stimuli within all pairs significantly differently ( P < 0.001), indicating different perceptions of UPF and non-UPF. Conclusion: Adults perceive similar UPF and non-UPF as having different levels of healthfulness. Reasons for these differences warrant investigation.

This study investigates the effects of issue framing on public support for programs encouraging farmer adoption of soil health practices. While extensive research exists on farmer adoption of best soil management practices, this study uniquely examines public willingness to support such initiatives. Using data from a survey of Oklahoma residents, we assess the public’s attitudes concerning hypothetical programs supporting farmer adoption of soil health practices to control soil erosion, sequester carbon, and retain moisture. Three implementation methods were considered and framed as voluntary adoption, subsidies, and mandatory. The results indicate a strong public preference for voluntary adoption over subsidized or mandated practices. Additionally, support varies with demographic factors; older individuals, those who perceive political consensus on climate change, and those with pro-environmental values are more likely to support soil health adoption by producers. These findings provide insights into aligning conservation policies with public preferences concerning producer uptake of soil health practices and promoting sustainable agricultural outcomes.

Wicked problems pose both immediate and existential threats. Within this article we explore the underlying nature of wicked problems, including the social traps embedded in them. We deconstruct the ecosystem surrounding single‐use plastics to make key points regarding controversies and conflicting interests surrounding wicked problems. We propose that wicked problems may be reframed by unpacking the relationships between individuals and collectives and how social traps are understood in terms of time horizon, ownership, responsibility, and involvement. We argue that resolutions to social traps are paramount to resolving wicked problems in the case of single‐use plastics and to wicked problems more generally. We draw from marketing, psychology, public policy, and consumer research literature to suggest specific ways marketing can mitigate or perhaps eliminate the insidious dynamic of social traps and wicked problems, and in turn affect positive outcomes to enhance the short‐term and long‐term well‐being for many consumers and stakeholders.

The germylamine Ph3GeN(SiMe3)2 was synthesized from Ph3GeCl and LiN(SiMe)2 and its X‐ray crystal structure was determined. This structure represents only the fourth crystallographically characterized germylamine that has been reported. The two sterically encumbering ‐SiMe3 groups completely encapsulate the germanium – nitrogen bond and the geometry at the nitrogen atoms is trigonal planar rather than pyramidal. The structure of Ph3GeN(SiMe3)2 was calculated using density functional theory and it was found that the HOMO of this molecule is stabilized relative to that of Ph3GeNMe2, which has been shown to be a highly effective reagent for the amidation of acid fluorides. The steric attributes Ph3GeN(SiMe3)2, coupled with its more stable HOMO relative to Ph3GeNMe2, prevent its functioning as an amidation reagent for acid fluorides except in the case of benzoyl fluoride.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials hold significant promise for reducing energy consumption in water desalination. This study investigates the influence of pore size and shape on the slip behavior of saline water at the interface of two promising 2D nanomaterials: hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). Slip length, a key parameter governing fluid flow at the nanoscale, is highly dependent on interfacial properties. Here, we explore how the pore characteristics in these 2D nanomaterials can impact slip length, aiming to gain a fundamental understanding of the role of pore size and shape in optimizing desalination efficiency. We performed quantum mechanical calculations to compute the partial atomic charges on atoms in hBN and MoS2 containing pores. Our DFT calculations reveal a spatially varying charge distribution on these 2D nanomaterials with pores, which we then incorporate into molecular dynamic simulations to elucidate their influence on the 2D nanomaterial–water interface. Our results reveal a significant impact of pore size on friction for nanomaterials containing hexagonal pores, while pore size had no effect on nanomaterials containing triangular pores. Moreover, friction increases with pores in both materials. This research contributes to the development of efficient and energy-saving desalination technologies through the manipulation of interfacial properties in 2D nanomaterials.

In wheat (Triticum aestivum), early maturity is desired to avoid the hot and dry summer season, especially in view of climate change. Here, we report that TaE3V1, a C3H2C3 RING-type E3 ligase that interacts with TaVRN1, is associated with early development. Aside from its RING domain, TaE3V1 does not harbor any domains that are conserved in other RING-type or other E3 ligase proteins. TaE3V-B1b, encoded by the functional TaE3V1 allele, interacts with and ubiquitinates TaVRN1. In contrast, TaE3V-B1a, encoded by a natural nonfunctional TaE3V1 allele, neither interacts with TaVRN1 nor has E3 ligase activity. TaE3V-B1b activity decreases with plant age under warmer temperatures, but not under the low temperatures required for vernalization. We employed a gene editing method to simultaneously inactivate the three homoeologous TaE3V1 genes to validate their functions. Overall, our results suggest that the naturally mutated and edited TaE3V1 alleles can accelerate wheat development and aid adaptation to warming climates.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine whether food insecurity increases risk for depressive symptoms among adults with diabetes. Food insecurity is associated with depression in the general population. However, minimal research has examined this relationship among persons with diabetes. Methods Adults with diabetes were identified from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Food insecurity status was measured with the USDA 10-item food insecurity scale. Participants were categorized as food secure, low food security, and very low food security. The association between food insecurity and depressive symptoms was examined using weighted logistic regression, adjusting for potentially influential covariates (age, sex, ethnicity, poverty to income ratio, education, diabetes type, body mass index, region, and general health). Results Among 2595 persons with diabetes, nearly one third (29.8%) reported symptoms of depression. Over one tenth (11.7%) had low or very low food security. Persons who had low or very low food security were more than twice as likely to report depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.15, 95% CI, 1.39-3.32; AOR = 3.84, 95% CI, 2.28-6.45, respectively). Persons who were older, had higher income, and better general health were less likely to report depressive symptoms. Conclusions Among adults with diabetes, low or very low food security was associated with increased risk for depressive symptoms. Further research is needed to evaluate the relationship between food insecurity and depressive symptoms among persons with diabetes.