cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Uncalculating cooperation is used to signal trustworthiness

Humans frequently cooperate without carefully weighing the costs and benefits. As a result, people may wind up cooperating when it is not worthwhile to do so. Why risk making costly mistakes? Here, we present experimental evidence that reputation concerns provide an answer: people cooperate in an uncalculating way to signal their trustworthiness to observers. We present two economic game experiments in which uncalculating versus calculating decision-making is operationalized by either a subject’s choice of whether to reveal the precise costs of cooperating (Exp. 1) or the time a subject spends considering these costs (Exp. 2). In both experiments, we find that participants are more likely to engage in uncalculating cooperation when their decision-making process is observable to others. Furthermore, we confirm that people who engage in uncalculating cooperation are perceived as, and actually are, more trustworthy than people who cooperate in a calculating way. Taken together, these data provide the first empirical evidence, to our knowledge, that uncalculating cooperation is used to signal trustworthiness, and is not merely an efficient decision-making strategy that reduces cognitive costs. Our results thus help to explain a range of puzzling behaviors, such as extreme altruism, the use of ethical principles, and romantic love.
Application of a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm to the spacecraft stationkeeping problem

Abstract Satellite operations are becoming an increasingly private industry, requiring increased profitability. Efficient and safe operation of satellites in orbit will ensure longer lasting and more profitable satellite services. This paper focuses on the use of a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm to schedule the maneuvers of a hypothetical satellite operating at geosynchronous altitude, by seeking to minimize the propellant consumed through the execution of stationkeeping maneuvers and the time the satellite is displaced from its desired orbital plane. Minimization of the time out of place increases the operational availability and minimizing the propellant usage which allows the spacecraft to operate longer. North–South stationkeeping was studied in this paper, through the use of a set of orbit inclination change maneuvers each year. Two cases for the maximum number of maneuvers to be executed were considered, with four and five maneuvers per year. The results delivered by the algorithm provide maneuver schedules which require 40–100 m/s of total Δv for two years of operation, with the satellite maintaining the satellite's orbital plane to within 0.1° between 84% and 96% of the two years being modeled.
Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma

JUVENILE nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is an uncommon tumor found in the nasopharynx of the adolescent male. It is a highly vascular, locally invasive, nonencapsulated lesion which begins in the pubescent period and causes varying symptoms during the adolescent years. After the attainment of sexual maturity—about 18 to 25 years of age—the tumor is said to undergo varying degrees of spontaneous regression. Some observers base their treatment on this tendency, while others categorically disagree with this belief. Figi and Davis 1 stated that "they have never observed the complete spontaneous disappearance of these fibromas." Pressman 2 stated that neither he nor those specialists in the field whom he contacted knew of a single case of angiofibroma, which produced serious hemorrhage and was left unremoved, that disappeared upon the patient's reaching adult life. Neither did the symptoms diminish so that treatment was unnecessary. This is a report of nine cases of angiofibroma of
Using Social Media to Promote STEM Education: Matching College Students with Role Models

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields have become increasingly central to U.S. economic competitiveness and growth. The shortage in the STEM workforce has brought promoting STEM education upfront. The rapid growth of social media usage provides a unique opportunity to predict users’ real-life identities and interests from online texts and photos. In this paper, we propose an innovative approach by leveraging social media to promote STEM education: matching Twitter college student users with diverse LinkedIn STEM professionals using a ranking algorithm based on the similarities of their demographics and interests. We share the belief that increasing STEM presence in the form of introducing career role models who share similar interests and demographics will inspire students to develop interests in STEM related fields and emulate their models. Our evaluation on 2,000 real college students demonstrated the accuracy of our ranking algorithm. We also design a novel implementation that recommends matched role models to the students.
Rotational shear effects on edge harmonic oscillations in DIII-D quiescent H-mode discharges

In the quiescent H-mode (QH-mode) regime, edge harmonic oscillations (EHOs) play an important role in avoiding transient edge localized mode (ELM) power fluxes by providing benign and continuous edge particle transport. A detailed theoretical, experimental and modeling comparison has been made of low-n (n ≤ 5) EHO in DIII-D QH-mode plasmas. The calculated linear eigenmode structure from the extended magentoohydrodynamics (MHD) code M3D-C1 matches closely the coherent EHO properties from external magnetics data and internal measurements using the ECE, BES, ECE-Imaging and microwave imaging reflectometer (MIR) diagnostics, as well as the kink/peeling mode properties found by the ideal MHD code ELITE. Numerical investigations indicate that the low-n EHO-like solutions from M3D-C1 are destabilized by rotation and/or rotational shear while high-n modes are stabilized. This effect is independent of the rotation direction, suggesting that EHOs can be destabilized in principle with rotation in either direction. The modeling results are consistent with observations of EHO, support the proposed theory of the EHO as a low-n kink/peeling mode destabilized by edge E × B rotational shear, and improve our understanding and confidence in creating and sustaining QH-mode in present and future devices.
On the learning and stability of mixed strategy Nash equilibria in games of strategic substitutes

Abstract This paper analyzes the learning and stability of mixed strategy Nash equilibria in games of strategic substitutes (GSS), complementing recent work done in the case of strategic complements (GSC). Mixed strategies in GSS are of particular interest because it is well known that such games need not exhibit pure strategy Nash equilibria. First, we establish bounds on the strategy space which indicate where randomizing behavior may occur in equilibrium. Second, we show that mixed strategy Nash equilibria are generally unstable under a wide variety of learning rules. Multiple examples are given.
A Randomized Concurrent Algorithm for Disjoint Set Union

Disjoint set union is a basic problem in data structures with a wide variety of applications. We extend a known efficient sequential algorithm for this problem to obtain a simple and efficient concurrent wait-free algorithm running on an asynchronous parallel random access machine (APRAM). Crucial to our result is the use of randomization. Under a certain independence assumption, for a problem instance in which there are n elements, m operations, and l processes, our algorithm does θ(m (α{n, m/nl) + log (nl/m + 1 ))) expected work, where the expectation is over the random choices made by the algorithm and α is a functional inverse of Ackermann's function. In addition, each operation takes O(log n) steps with high probability.We point out some gaps in the earlier work on this problem by Anderson and Woll [1]. More importantly, our algorithm is significantly simpler than theirs. Finally, under our independence assumption our algorithm achieves speedup close to linear for applications in which all or most of the processes can be kept busy, thereby partially answering an open problem posed by them.
The General Equilibrium Impacts of Unemployment Insurance: Evidence from a Large Online Job Board

Abstract During the Great Recession, U.S. unemployment benefits were extended by up to 73 weeks. Theory predicts that extensions increase unemployment by discouraging job search, a partial equilibrium effect. Using data from the large job board CareerBuilder.com , I find that a 10% increase in benefit duration decreased state-level job applications by 1%, but had no robust effect on job vacancies. Job seekers thus faced reduced competition for jobs, a general equilibrium effect. Calibration implies that the general equilibrium effect reduces the impact of unemployment insurance on unemployment by 39%.
Concatenated coding for binary partial-response channels

Concatenation of outer conventional rate-k/sub c//n/sub c/ binary convolutional coding with inner rate-k/sub t//n/sub t/ special trellis coding for the binary 1-D dicode partial-response channel is investigated. In the scheme considered, code sequences generated by the outer convolutional encoder are time-interleaved prior to trellis encoding. Decoding for the outer convolutional code takes into account the reliability of individual code symbols provided by the inner trellis-decoding stage. The construction of the inner trellis code is based on the partitioning of a set of sequences of noiseless channel-output signals into subsets which are assigned to the branches of a combined encoder and channel trellis. A class of trellis codes is obtained that guarantee a limited number of consecutive zeros at the channel output and allow for a computationally efficient estimation of the reliability of the decoded symbols. It is shown that substantial coding gains can be achieved by this method as compared to the maximum-likelihood sequence detection of uncoded dicode signals. >
How Does the Primary Market Value Innovations of Newly Public Firms

We investigate whether and how the primary market values the innovations of newly public firms at their initial public offerings (IPOs) by examining the link between the size (the number of patents...
On the Capacity Advantage of a Single Bit

In this work we study the capacity advantage achieved by adding a single bit of communication - not a link of capacity 1 but a single bit over all time - to a memoryless network. Specifically, we present a memoryless network in which adding a single bit of communication strictly increases the capacity region.
Parametric-rate inference for one-sided differentiable parameters.

Suppose one has a collection of parameters indexed by a (possibly infinite dimensional) set. Given data generated from some distribution, the objective is to estimate the maximal parameter in this ...
Bayesian inference for Matérn repulsive processes

Summary In many applications involving point pattern data, the Poisson process assumption is unrealistic, with the data exhibiting a more regular spread. Such repulsion between events is exhibited by trees for example, because of competition for light and nutrients. Other examples include the locations of biological cells and cities, and the times of neuronal spikes. Given the many applications of repulsive point processes, there is a surprisingly limited literature developing flexible, realistic and interpretable models, as well as efficient inferential methods. We address this gap by developing a modelling framework around the Matern type III repulsive process. We consider some extensions of the original Matern type III process for both the homogeneous and the inhomogeneous cases. We also derive the probability density of this generalized Matern process, allowing us to characterize the conditional distribution of the various latent variables, and leading to a novel and efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. We apply our ideas to data sets of spatial locations of trees, nerve fibre cells and Greyhound bus stations.
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and mechanical stimulation negatively regulate the transition of airway smooth muscle tissues to a synthetic phenotype

The effects of mechanical forces and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in regulating the inflammatory responses of airway smooth muscle (ASM) tissues to stimulation with interleukin (IL)-13 were investigated. Canine tracheal tissues were subjected to different mechanical loads in vitro, and the effects of mechanical load on eotaxin secretion and inflammatory signaling pathways in response to IL-13 were determined. Eotaxin secretion by tissues in response to IL-13 was significantly inhibited in muscles maintained at a higher (+) load compared with those at a lower (−) load as assessed by ELISA, and Akt activation was also reduced in the higher (+) loaded tissues. Conversely the (+) mechanical load increased activation of the focal adhesion proteins FAK and paxillin in the tissues. The role of FAK in regulating the mechanosensitive responses was assessed by overexpressing FAK-related nonkinase in the tissues, by expressing the FAK kinase-dead mutant FAK Y397F, or by treating tissues with the FAK inhibitor PF-573228. FAK inactivation potentiated Akt activity and increased eotaxin secretion in response to IL-13. FAK inhibition also suppressed the mechanosensitivity of Akt activation and eotaxin secretion. In addition, FAK inactivation suppressed smooth muscle myosin heavy chain expression induced by the higher (+) mechanical load. The results demonstrate that the imposition of a higher mechanical load on airway smooth muscle stimulates FAK activation, which promotes the expression of the differentiated contractile phenotype and suppresses the synthetic phenotype and the inflammatory responses of the muscle tissue.
Diagnosis and treatment of diabetic foot infections.

Prompt clinical diagnosis and timely treatment are the hallmarks of the proper care of diabetic patients with foot infections. The importance of careful clinical foot examination cannot be overemphasized. When infection is suspected, effort should be made to search for deeper infections, especially osteomyelitis. Numerous imaging techniques are available, but their cost-effectiveness has not been fully determined. Radiography of the foot is less sensitive but can provide useful information at a lower cost. Radio-isotope studies have not yielded consistent results, but the newer techniques deserve attention. Microbiological diagnosis should be attempted using only deep tissue culture, including bone biopsy. The primary aim of treatment of the infected foot is to restore ambulation. Timely surgical intervention and appropriate antimicrobial therapy can reduce the incidence of above-ankle amputation and reduce the length of hospital stay.
Hydrazone‐Initiated Reaction Cascades

In this Focus Review, recently reported cascade reactions that are initiated from hydrazones are described. These cascades are grouped based on the mechanistic characteristics of the reactions paired with the hydrazone-based transformations. Reactions in which the hydrazone simply acts as a surrogate for a diazo group are not discussed, but rather the focus is maintained on reactions with multiple mechanistically distinct steps. Sigmatropic, ene–yne metathesis, C−H bond insertion, ylide, and cross-coupling examples are given. The versatility of the hydrazone functional group allows for many transformations, and yet is also compatible with many other transformations. Finally, a discussion of potential future directions for hydrazone-initiated cascades is presented.
VHDL design for hardware assistance of fractal image compression

Fractal image compression has several useful properties, including resolution independence, high compression ratios, rapid decoding, and subjectively good image quality. Despite this, its adoption has been limited, largely because of the very high computational burden of compression. In this paper, an original ASIC design is described which performs the comparisons required for fractal image compression of grayscale images. The design is based around a pipeline of many individual block comparison units through which the set of domain blocks are propagated. Each unit performs the required comparisons between a single range block and the series of domain blocks, and stores the best possible match. The ASIC is designed using synthesizable VHDL, allowing it to be targeted to virtually any digital technology. The small portions of the design which are specific to a particular application or technology, such as the bus interfaces and memory blocks, have been kept separate from the application- independent portions of the design. Simulations of the design suggests that an actual hardware implementation would be about one thousand times faster than a general purpose microprocessor based on similar IC technology, reducing the time required to optimally compress a 256 X 256 image using 8 X 8 range blocks from a few minutes to a fraction of a second.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Optimally convergent HDG method for third-order Korteweg-de Vries type equations

We develop and analyze a new hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin method for solving third-order Korteweg–de Vries type equations. The approximate solutions are defined by a discrete version of a characterization of the exact solution in terms of the solutions to local problems on each element which are patched together through transmission conditions on element interfaces. We prove that the semi-discrete scheme is stable with proper choices of stabilization function in the numerical traces. For the linearized equation, we carry out error analysis and show that the approximations to the exact solution and its derivatives have optimal convergence rates. In numerical experiments, we use an implicit scheme for time discretization and the Newton–Raphson method for solving systems of nonlinear equations, and observe optimal convergence rates for both the linear and the nonlinear third-order equations.
The thermal structure of cratonic lithosphere from global Rayleigh wave attenuation

Abstract The resolution of and level of agreement between different attenuation models have historically been limited by complexities associated with extracting attenuation from seismic-wave amplitudes, which are also affected by the source, the receiver, and propagation through velocity heterogeneities. For intermediate- and long-period Rayleigh waves, removing the amplitude signal due to focusing and defocusing effects is the greatest challenge. In this paper, three independent data sets of fundamental-mode Rayleigh wave amplitude are analyzed to investigate how three factors contribute to discrepancies between the attenuation models: uncertainties in the amplitude measurements themselves, variable path coverage, and the treatment of focusing effects. Regionalized pure-path and fully two-dimensional attenuation models are derived and compared. The approach for determining attenuation models from real data is guided by an analysis of amplitudes measured from synthetic spectral-element waveforms, for which the input Earth model is perfectly known. The results show that differences in the amplitude measurements introduce only very minor differences between the attenuation models; path coverage and the removal of focusing effects are more important. The pure-path attenuation values exhibit a clear dependence on tectonic region at shorter periods that disappears at long periods, in agreement with pure-path phase-velocity results obtained by inverting Rayleigh wave phase delays. The 2-D attenuation maps are highly correlated with each other to spherical-harmonic degree 16 and can resolve smaller features than the previous generation of global attenuation models. Anomalously low attenuation is nearly perfectly associated with continental cratons. Variations in lithospheric thickness are determined by forward modeling the global attenuation variations as a thermal boundary layer of variable thickness. Temperature profiles that satisfy the attenuation values systematically overpredict and underpredict Rayleigh wave phase velocity in cratons at short and long periods, respectively. Introducing a low-velocity layer at depths 60–80 km and a high-velocity layer that begins at 200 km can resolve the discrepancy. The former is consistent with receiver-function detections of a mid-lithospheric discontinuity, and the latter may correspond to the Lehmann discontinuity.
Newforms with rational coefficients

We consider the set of classical newforms with rational coefficients and no complex multiplication. We study the distribution of quadratic twist-classes of these forms with respect to weight k and minimal level N. We conjecture that for each weight $$k \ge 6$$ , there are only finitely many classes. In large weights, we make this conjecture effective: in weights $$18 \le k \le 24$$ , all classes have $$N \le 30$$ ; in weights $$26 \le k \le 50$$ , all classes have $$N \in \{2,6\}$$ ; and in weights $$k \ge 52$$ , there are no classes at all. We study some of the newforms appearing on our conjecturally complete list in more detail, especially in the cases $$N=2$$ , 3, 4, 6, and 8, where formulas can be kept nearly as simple as those for the classical case $$N=1$$ .
Quantized electric multipole insulators

The Berry phase provides a modern formulation of electric polarization in crystals. We extend this concept to higher electric multipole moments and determine the necessary conditions and minimal models for which the quadrupole and octupole moments are topologically quantized electromagnetic observables. Such systems exhibit gapped boundaries that are themselves lower-dimensional topological phases. Furthermore, they host topologically protected corner states carrying fractional charge, exhibiting fractionalization at the boundary of the boundary. To characterize these insulating phases of matter, we introduce a paradigm in which “nested” Wilson loops give rise to topological invariants that have been overlooked. We propose three realistic experimental implementations of this topological behavior that can be immediately tested. Our work opens a venue for the expansion of the classification of topological phases of matter.
Fault-Tolerant FPGA with Column-Based Redundancy and Power Gating Using RRAM

This paper presents a silicon-proven fault tolerant FPGA architecture that can repair a wide range of hardware faults. The proposed architecture does not require fine-grained fault location, and the error map is stored in non-volatile resistive memory that is monolithically integrated on top of the CMOS circuit. Redundancy operations are fully self-contained and do not affect data streaming in and out of the FPGA. The power gating scheme is implemented to save idle leakage power and fix hardware faults in the power network. Significant yield enhancement is expected using this architecture. The architecture has been verified in a test chip fabricated in 28nm technology. Redundancy operation is solely controlled by on chip fault locators which are HfO2-based resistive memories monolithically integrated after CMOS process. The maximum shift in performance is about 2 percent when the redundancy is engaged, and the power footprint is unaffected.
Hydrogen axion star: metallic hydrogen bound to a QCD axion BEC

As a cold dark matter candidate, the QCD axion may form Bose-Einstein condensates, called axion stars, with masses around 10−11 M ⊙. In this paper, we point out that a brand new astrophysical object, a Hydrogen Axion Star (HAS), may well be formed by ordinary baryonic matter becoming gravitationally bound to an axion star. We study the properties of the HAS and find that the hydrogen cloud has a high pressure and temperature in the center and is likely in the liquid metallic hydrogen state. Because of the high particle number densities for both the axion star and the hydrogen cloud, the feeble interaction between axion and hydrogen can still generate enough internal power, around 1013 W × (m a /5 meV)4, to make these objects luminous point sources. High resolution ultraviolet, optical and infrared telescopes can discover HAS via black-body radiation.
Evidence for Bandgap Opening in Buckled Epitaxial Graphene from Ultrafast Time-Resolved Terahertz Spectroscopy

Using ultrafast time-resolved THz spectroscopy, we observe two-orders-of-magnitude increase in the relaxation rate in semiconducting epitaxial graphene relative to pristine epitaxial graphene, attributed to enhancement of the optical-phonon-mediated carrier cooling and recombination over a wide range of electron temperatures.
Autonomous weapon system: Law of armed conflict (LOAC) and other legal challenges

Abstract The legality of autonomous weapon systems (AWS) under international law is a swiftly growing issue of importance as technology advances and machines acquire the capacity to operate without human control. This paper argues that the existing laws are ineffective and that a different set of laws are needed. This paper examines several issues that are critical for the development and use of AWS in warfare. It argues that a preemptive ban on AWS is irrelevant at this point and urges the appropriate authorities to develop a modern legal framework that is tailored to embrace these state-of-the-art weapons as the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) develops. First, this paper explores the myriad of laws designed to govern the potential future development and deployment of artificial intelligence and AWS in the context of International Humanitarian Law or LAOC. Second, the paper argues that it will be challenging for AWS to fulfill the requirements laid out under the International Committee of the Red Cross and LOAC for the rules of humanity, military necessity, distinction, proportionality and precaution, especially as it is related to noncombatants. Third, the paper discusses command responsibility and argues that states should establish accountability for wrongful acts committed by the AWS. Finally, this paper contends that there is an urgent need for a new legal framework to regulate these AWS and presents different solutions for the legal framework of AWS.
The plough, gender roles, and corruption

Cross-country empirical studies of corruption using ordinary least squares commonly find that nations in which women play a greater role in economic and public life suffer less corruption. This has been a controversial finding since measures of women’s participation in the economy and politics are likely endogenous. This study uses an aspect of national ancestral geography as a novel instrumental variable in the estimation of the true causal effects of gender upon corruption. It thereby finds that ordinary least squares estimates of the effects of gender upon corruption are biased. This conclusion is upheld in time-series fixed-effects estimation.
The Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Alpha Agonist Fenofibrate Attenuates Alcohol Self-administration in Rats

Fibrates are a class of medications used to treat hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidemia that target nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Studies have shown the PPARα agonist fenofibrate decreases voluntary EtOH consumption however its impact on the reinforcing and motivational effects of EtOH is unknown. We evaluated the ability of fenofibrate (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg), to alter EtOH (10%, w/v) and sucrose (2%, w/v) operant self-administration in rats under a FR2 schedule of reinforcement over four days and under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule on day five of treatment. Results showed fenofibrate dose-dependently decreased EtOH self-administration under both schedules of reinforcement with the greatest effects seen after four to five days of treatment. Fenofibrate decreased responding for sucrose only under the PR schedule of reinforcement and this effect was not dose-dependent. These findings provide further evidence for fenofibrate as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder in humans.
Rare-earth-doped chalcogenide glasses for use in mid-IR sources

A bright, broad-band, optically-pumped fiber fluorescent source is described. Fluorescence data obtained from fiber and bulk samples of rare-earth doped chalcogenide glass are presented.
The deformographic storage display tube

Employing a novel electrostatic configuration, the Deformographic Storage Display Tube (DSDT) incorporates the fast point-by-point light-valve capability of the Eidorphor® technique and the two-sealed-chamber construction of the Electrostatic Storage Display Tube, an earlier IBM development. In the DSDT, a thin mica diaphragm stores the charges written by the electron gun, while the resultant electrostatic field deforms a transparent dielectric elastomer film cast on its other surface (in the second chamber). The optical phase-image thus created is converted by a separate light-source and schlieren optics into a large-screen projected image, which has high contrast, and brightness. The DSDT technique permits selective erasure and update, or erasure by flood-beam. Variable persistence provides image-storage from 20 hrs. or more down to an erase-time of 15 ms. The latter, in conjunction with 15 ms develop-time, is equivalent to TV frame-speed. Spot-size of 2.5 mils has been measured, with the expected limit around 1.5 mils. Sensitivity of <10-7coulombs/cm2for writing permits recording at TV scan-speed.
Cauchy’s Residue Sore Thumb

Cauchy's method from two centuries ago for computing integrals along the real axis by passing into the complex plane is not rigorous by present-day standards. Yet when properly formulated, his orig...
LIQUIDITY AND THE INTERNATIONAL ALLOCATION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

I present a model to study the linkages between the market for liquidity and the international allocation of economic activity. Private assets' liquidity properties affect interest rates, with consequences on entry, production, and market capitalization. In a closed economy, the liquidity market increases the size and productivity of the sector that generates liquid assets. In an open economy, cross‐country differences in financial development generate an allocation of economic activity favoring the country supplying the most liquid assets. Supporting the theory, I show that asset acceptability as collateral is negatively correlated with yields, and positively correlated with measures of economic activity.
Entanglement branes in a two-dimensional string theory

What is the meaning of entanglement in a theory of extended objects such as strings? To address this question we consider the spatial entanglement between two intervals in the Gross-Taylor model, the string theory dual to two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory at large N . The string diagrams that contribute to the entanglement entropy describe open strings with endpoints anchored to the entangling surface, as first argued by Susskind. We develop a canonical theory of these open strings, and describe how closed strings are divided into open strings at the level of the Hilbert space. We derive the modular Hamiltonian for the Hartle-Hawking state and show that the corresponding reduced density matrix describes a thermal ensemble of open strings ending on an object at the entangling surface that we call an entanglement brane, or E-brane.
A Multi-epoch Kinematic Study of the Remote Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy Leo II

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship [DGE 1256260]; NSF [AST1312997, AST1313045, AST1412999, AST1313006]
Impact of Surgeon Volume on Outcomes of Older Stage I Lung Cancer Patients Treated via Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Surgeon procedure volume influences outcomes of patients undergoing cancer operations. Limited data are available, however, on the volume-outcome relationship for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we used population-based data to evaluate the extent to which surgeon volume is associated with postoperative and long-term oncological outcomes following VATS resection for older patients with early-stage NSCLC. Stage I NSCLC patients >65 years treated with VATS wedge, segmentectomy, or lobectomy between 2000 and 2010 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry linked to Medicare. Surgeon volume was grouped into tertiles (low, intermediate, and high). Outcomes included perioperative complications, intensive care unit admission, extended length of stay, perioperative (30-day) mortality, and long-term overall and lung cancer-specific survival. We used propensity score methods to compare adjusted survival of patients by surgical volume group. A total of 2295 study patients were identified. Patients treated by high-volume surgeons had decreased intensive care unit admissions (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.41-0.51) and postoperative length of stay (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61-0.92). Adjusted analyses showed that overall (HR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.62-0.87) and lung cancer-specific (HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58-0.99) survival was better for patients treated by high-volume surgeons. Elderly stage I NSCLC patients undergoing VATS by high-volume surgeons have reduced postoperative complications and improved survival. Organization of care favoring referrals of VATS candidates to high-volume providers may help improve the outcomes of patients with early-stage lung cancer.
Energy diffusion and the butterfly effect in inhomogeneous Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev chains

We compute the energy diffusion constant $D$, Lyapunov time $\tau_{\text{L}}$ and butterfly velocity $v_{\text{B}}$ in an inhomogeneous chain of coupled Majorana Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) models in the large $N$ and strong coupling limit. We find $D\le v_{\text{B}}^2 \tau_{\text{L}}$ from a combination of analytical and numerical approaches. Our example necessitates the sharpening of postulated transport bounds based on quantum chaos.
Spore photoproduct within DNA is a surprisingly poor substrate for its designated repair enzyme-The spore photoproduct lyase.

Abstract DNA repair enzymes typically recognize their substrate lesions with high affinity to ensure efficient lesion repair. In UV irradiated endospores, a special thymine dimer, 5-thyminyl-5,6-dihydrothymine, termed the spore photoproduct (SP), is the dominant DNA photolesion, which is rapidly repaired during spore outgrowth mainly by spore photoproduct lyase (SPL) using an unprecedented protein-harbored radical transfer process. Surprisingly, our in vitro studies using SP-containing short oligonucleotides, pUC 18 plasmid DNA, and E. coli genomic DNA found that they are all poor substrates for SPL in general, exhibiting turnover numbers of 0.01–0.2 min−1. The faster turnover numbers are reached under single turnover conditions, and SPL activity is low with oligonucleotide substrates at higher concentrations. Moreover, SP-containing oligonucleotides do not go past one turnover. In contrast, the dinucleotide SP TpT exhibits a turnover number of 0.3–0.4 min−1, and the reaction may reach up to 10 turnovers. These observations distinguish SPL from other specialized DNA repair enzymes. To the best of our knowledge, SPL represents an unprecedented example of a major DNA repair enzyme that cannot effectively repair its substrate lesion within the normal DNA conformation adopted in growing cells. Factors such as other DNA binding proteins, helicases or an altered DNA conformation may cooperate with SPL to enable efficient SP repair in germinating spores. Therefore, both SP formation and SP repair are likely to be tightly controlled by the unique cellular environment in dormant and outgrowing spore-forming bacteria, and thus SP repair may be extremely slow in non-spore-forming organisms.
What'd you say again?: recurrence quantification analysis as a method for analyzing the dynamics of discourse in a reading strategy tutor

In this study, we investigated the degree to which the cognitive processes in which students engage during reading comprehension could be examined through dynamical analyses of their natural language responses to texts. High school students (n = 142) generated typed self-explanations while reading a science text. They then completed a comprehension test that measured their comprehension at both surface and deep levels. The recurrent patterns of the words in students' self-explanations were first visualized in recurrence plots. These visualizations allowed us to qualitatively analyze the different self-explanation processes of skilled and less skilled readers. These recurrence plots then allowed us to calculate recurrence indices, which represented the properties of these temporal word patterns. Results of correlation and regression analyses revealed that these recurrence indices were significantly related to the students' comprehension scores at both surface- and deep levels. Additionally, when combined with summative metrics of word use, these indices were able to account for 32% of the variance in students' overall text comprehension scores. Overall, our results suggest that recurrence quantification analysis can be utilized to guide both qualitative and quantitative assessments of students' comprehension.
A generalized Theta lifting, CAP representations, and Arthur parameters

We study a new lifting of automorphic representations using the theta representation $\Theta$ on the $4$-fold cover of the symplectic group, $\overline{\mathrm{Sp}}_{2r}(\mathbb{A})$. This lifting produces the first examples of CAP representations on higher-degree metaplectic covering groups. Central to our analysis is the identification of the maximal nilpotent orbit associated to $\Theta$. We conjecture a natural extension of Arthur's parameterization of the discrete spectrum to $\overline{\mathrm{Sp}}_{2r}(\mathbb{A})$. Assuming this, we compute the effect of our lift on Arthur parameters and show that the parameter of a representation in the image of the lift is non-tempered. We conclude by relating the lifting to the dimension equation of Ginzburg to predict the first non-trivial lift of a generic cuspidal representation of $\overline{\mathrm{Sp}}_{2r}(\mathbb{A})$.
Eye Absence Does Not Regulate Planarian Stem Cells during Eye Regeneration

Dividing cells called neoblasts contain pluripotent stem cells and drive planarian flatworm regeneration from diverse injuries. A long-standing question is whether neoblasts directly sense and respond to the identity of missing tissues during regeneration. We used the eye to investigate this question. Surprisingly, eye removal was neither sufficient nor necessary for neoblasts to increase eye progenitor production. Neoblasts normally increase eye progenitor production following decapitation, facilitating regeneration. Eye removal alone, however, did not induce this response. Eye regeneration following eye-specific resection resulted from homeostatic rates of eye progenitor production and less cell death in the regenerating eye. Conversely, large head injuries that left eyes intact increased eye progenitor production. Large injuries also non-specifically increased progenitor production for multiple uninjured tissues. We propose a model for eye regeneration in which eye tissue production by planarian stem cells is not directly regulated by the absence of the eye itself.
Underestimating the Real Growth of GDP, Personal Income and Productivity

Economists have long recognized that changes in the quality of existing goods and services, along with the introduction of new goods and services, can raise grave difficulties in measuring changes in the real output of the economy. But despite the attention to this subject in the professional literature, there remains insufficient understanding of just how imperfect the existing official estimates actually are. After studying the methods used by the US government statistical agencies as well as the extensive previous academic literature on this subject, I have concluded that, despite the various improvements to statistical methods that have been made through the years, the official data understate the changes of real output and productivity. The official measures provide at best a lower bound on the true real growth rate with no indication of the size of the underestimation. In this essay, I briefly review why national income should not be considered a measure of well-being; describe what government statisticians actually do in their attempt to measure improvements in the quality of goods and services; consider the problem of new products and the various attempts by economists to take new products into account in measuring overall price and output changes; and discuss how the mismeasurement of real output and of prices might be taken into account in considering various questions of economic policy.
The Demand for Teacher Characteristics in the Market for Child Care: Evidence from a Field Experiment

Abstract This paper sheds light on two key issues regarding the demand for teacher characteristics in the market for center-based child care. First, we study the extent to which teacher qualifications—often considered important inputs to classroom quality—are valued by providers during the hiring process. We then examine the impact of state regulations on hiring decisions. To do so, a resume audit study was administered in which job-seeker characteristics were randomly assigned to resumes that were submitted in response to real child care job postings in 14 U.S. cities. Our results indicate that center-based providers may not hire the most qualified applicants. For example, we find that although providers have a strong preference for individuals with previous work experience in early childhood education (ECE), those with more ECE experience are less likely to receive an interview than those with less experience. We also find that individuals with bachelor's degrees in ECE are no more likely to receive an interview than their counterparts at the associate's level. Our analysis of state regulations shows that they strongly influence teacher hiring decisions. We find that providers' advertised job requirements are largely in compliance with the state standards for teachers' experience and education. In addition, providers are substantially more likely to interview job-seekers who meet these requirements. Given that most providers voluntarily exceed the state regulations, a tentative conclusion is that such rules have a limited effect on child care supply and prices.
Fast, easy, and cheap job matching : social networks in Bangladesh

This paper uncovers the reason why social networks are used in a job market. The data are novel: a nationally representative matched employer-employee data set in Bangladesh with detailed information, including direct measures of the use of social networks. The empirical analysis shows that compared with those who used open channels to find jobs, the employees who used social networks found jobs more easily, have lower observable abilities, and achieved lower employment outcomes conditional on observable and unobservable abilities. These results are robust whether firm-occupation fixed effects are controlled for or not. By comparing these findings with theoretical predictions, the paper concludes that social networks play the role as fast and easy but narrow-spectrum matching. That is, social networks allow job seekers to find jobs quickly and easily and thereby reduce search costs, but the types of jobs available from social networks are narrower than those from open channels. As a consequence, those who choose to use social networks are more likely to end up having mismatched jobs, that is jobs in which they cannot take advantage of their specialties. In the context of developing countries, a considerable number of poor job seekers may use social networks out of necessity even if the returns to finding good-match jobs through open channels are sufficiently high.
Detecting value-based scalar dependence

Precise value-based data dependence analysis for scalars is useful for advanced compiler optimizations. The new method presented here for flow and output dependence uses Factored Use and Def chains (FUD chains), our interpretation and extension of Static Single Assignment. It is precise with respect to conditional control flow and dependence vectors. Our method detects dependences which are independent with respect to arbitrary loop nesting, as well as loop-carried dependences. A loop-carried dependence is further classified as being carried from the previous iteration, with distance 1, or from any previous iteration, with direction <. This precision cannot be achieved by traditional analysis, such as dominator information or reaching definitions. To compute anti- and input dependence, we use Factored Redef-Use chains, which are related to FUD chains. We are not aware of any prior work which explicitly deals with scalar data dependence utilizing a sparse graph representation.
Early Contact, Social Support, and Mother-Infant Bonding

A study was designed to explore further the hypothesis that a period of close contact between mother and infant immediately after birth facilitates the establishment ishment of a close bond. The study investigated whether the effects of extra contact interact with other variables present in the labor and delivery situation and with the extent of social support available to the mother. Two sets of procedures for the immediate postpartum period were established and mothers were randomly assigned to one of these conditions. Twenty-nine mothers experienced extracontact procedures in which the baby was placed on the mother9s abdomen for 1 hour. Thirty mothers received routine care procedures in which the baby was shown to the mother and then taken to the nursery. Observations of maternal behavior during a feeding were made two days after birth by an observer blind to the randomization status of the mother. The mothers who received extra contact exhibited significantly more affectionate behavior toward their infants than did the mothers who received routine care. The extracontact treatment produced more affectionate behaviors in the mothers who had less social support than in those who had more social support. The extra contact was equally effective for multiparous and primiparous mothers. Mothers of female infants exhibited more affectionate behavior to their infants regardless of which postpartum procedures the mothers had experienced.
Conversion of an Ileal Conduit Into a Neourethral Enteroplication for Urinary Continence: Tips and Proper Construction

Abstract This report describes the proper technique for conversion of an ileal conduit into a neourethral enteroplication.
Renal Lesions in Acute Rheumatic Fever

In the past 4 years, four patients with acute rheumatic fever and abnormalities of renal function, urinary sediment, or both have undergone percutaneous renal biopsy at this institution. Distinctly different renal lesions were found and included focal glomerulonephritis, classic acute exudative poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, and severe interstitial nephritis. In each case, the clinical abnormalities were transient. In this report we describe the clinical and pathologic findings in each of these patients to stress the variability of renal lesions that may accompany acute rheumatic fever.