cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Balanced multi-level multi-way partitioning of analog integrated circuits for hierarchical symbolic analysis

This paper considers the problem of partitioning analog integrated circuits for hierarchical symbolic analysis based on determinant decision diagrams (DDDs). The objective is to use DDDs with the minimum number of vertices to represent all the symbolic expressions. We show that the problem can be formulated as that of multi-level multi-way hyper graph partitioning with balance constraints, and be solved in two phases by connectivity-oriented initial clustering and iterative improvement. Our new contribution consists of a fast and effective heuristic for constructing a balanced initial partition, a potential gain formulae that can be computed efficiently, and a multiple-vertex moving strategy for relaxing and enforcing balance constraints. The proposed algorithm has been implemented and applied to symbolic analysis of several practical analog integrated circuits. Experimental results are described and compared to the contour tableau method of Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Chen and Chua, and the SCAPP algorithm of Hassoun and Lin. The resulting hierarchical symbolic analyzer outperforms SPICE in numerical evaluations for a number of large analog circuits.
The relationship of achievement motivation and risk-taking propensity to new venture performance: a test of the moderating effect of entrepreneurial munificence

New venture start-up is an interactive process between individuals and their environments. We thus propose and empirically test a model of the entrepreneurial process that examines the dynamic relationships between entrepreneurs' personality characteristics and environmental conditions. Findings reveal that entrepreneurs' achievement motivation significantly and positively relates to performance regardless of the munificence level in the environment. However, risk-taking propensity is only negatively associated with performance at low munificence level.
Reduced Pressure Boiling Heat Transfer in Rectangular Microchannels With Interconnected Reentrant Cavities

Boiling flow of deionized water through 227 μm hydraulic diameter microchannels with 7.5 μm wide interconnected reentrant cavities at 47 kPa exit pressure has been investigated. Average two-phase heat transfer coefficients have been obtained over effective heat fluxes ranging from 28 to 445 W/cm 2 and mass fluxes from 41 to 302 kg/m 2 s. A map is developed that divides the data into two regions where the heat transfer mechanisms are nucleation or convective boiling dominant. The map is compared to similar atmospheric exit pressure data developed in a previous study. A boiling mechanism transition criterion based on the Reynolds number and the Kandlikar k 1 number is proposed.
Pediatrician–Psychiatrist Collaboration to Care for Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression, and Anxiety

Objective: To describe pediatrician experiences collaborating with psychiatrists when caring for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and anxiety. Method: A random sample of Massachusetts primary care pediatricians completed a mailed self-report survey. Results: Response rate was 50% (100/198). Most pediatricians preferred psychiatrists to initiate medications for anxiety (87%) or depression (85%), but not ADHD (22%). Only 14% of respondents usually received information about a psychiatry consultation. For most (88%), the family was the primary conduit of information from psychiatrists, although few (14%) believed the family to be a dependable informant. Despite this lack of direct communication, most pediatricians reported refilling psychiatry-initiated prescriptions for ADHD (88%), depression (76%), and anxiety (72%). Conclusions: Pediatricians preferred closer collaboration with psychiatrists for managing children with anxiety and depression, but not ADHD. The comm...
Expert system perimeter block placement floorplanning

With the dramatic increase in the size and block count of systems on a chip (SOC) over their application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) counterparts, engineers now need assistance beyond the clerical optimization tasks of placement and routing, they need assistance in applying their own expert abilities to design planning. This paper presents an investigation in applying expert systems to the automated floorplanning of systems on a chip. The investigation presents some background on expert systems, and then the implementation and results of an expert system based edge placer for perimeter placement of floorplan hard blocks.
On the Impact of Bounded Rationality in Peer-to-Peer Networks

In this letter, we consider peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, where multiple peers are interested in sharing their content. In the considered P2P system, autonomous and self-interested peers use a Markov decision process (MDP) framework to determine their upload bandwidth allocations, which maximize their individual utilities. This framework enables the peers to make foresighted decisions on their bandwidth allocations, by considering the future impact of their decisions. In this letter, we focus on the impact of the peers' bounded rationality on their resource reciprocation strategies and ultimately, on their achievable utilities. Specifically, we consider peers who have only a limited ability to model the other peers' strategies for resource reciprocation, and study how this impacts their own decisions.
Lognormal Distribution ‐ Basic

This is the distribution of a positive-valued random variable, the natural logarithm of which follows a normal distribution with mean μ and variance σ2. A generalization to the three-parameter lognormal distribution arises if a location parameter is introduced, giving a nonzero lower bound for the variable. Properties, estimation procedures, and applications are described. Keywords: normal distribution; survival analysis; hazard; ecology; allometry
On power control and frequency reuse in the two user cognitive channel

This paper considers the generalized cognitive radio channel where the secondary user is allowed to reuse the frequency during both the idle and active periods of the primary user, as long as the primary rate remains the same. In this setting, the optimal power allocation policy with single-input single-output (SISO) primary and secondary channels is explored. Interestingly, the offered gain resulting from the frequency reuse during the active periods of the spectrum is shown to disappear in both the low and high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regimes. We then argue that this drawback in the high SNR region can be avoided by equipping both the primary and secondary transmitters with multiple antennas. Finally, the scenario consisting of SISO primary and multi-input multi-output (MIMO) secondary channels is investigated. Here, a simple zero-forcing approach is shown to significantly outperform the celebrated decoding- forwarding-dirty paper coding strategy (especially in the high SNR regime).
Cell phone microwaves and cognitive function in children

Are cell phones so harmful that a cautious approach of risk management especially in relation to children should be taken? Are the brains of children more susceptible to the radio frequency (RF) fields emitted by cell phones than those of adults? Some fear any disturbance to brain activity in children could lead to impaired learning ability or behavioral problems. Moreover, any lasting biochemical effects could have important consequences, especially in the young who still have years of development ahead of them. This paper report the results of test conducted to young users of cellular mobile telephones.
Prediction of extinction and reignition in nonpremixed turbulent flames using a flamelet/progress variable model. 2. Application in LES of Sandia flames D and E

An extension of the flamelet/progress variable (FPV) model for the prediction of extinction and reignition is applied in large-eddy simulation (LES) of flames D and E of the Sandia piloted turbulent jet flame series. This model employs a presumed probability density function (PDF), in which the marginal PDF of a reactive scalar is modeled by a statistically most likely distribution. This provides two advantages. First of all, the shape of the distribution depends on chemical and mixing time-scale information, and second, an arbitrary number of moments can be enforced. This model was analyzed in an a priori study in the first part of this work. In the present LES application, the first two moments of mixture fraction and reaction progress variable are used to constrain the shape of the presumed PDF. Transport equations for these quantities are solved, and models for the residual scalar dissipation rates, which appear as unclosed terms in the equations for the scalar variances, are provided. Statistical flow field quantities for axial velocity, mixture fraction, and temperature, obtained from the extended FPV model, are in good agreement with experimental data. Mixture-fraction-conditioned data, conditional PDFs, and burning indices are computed and compared with the delta-function flamelet closure model, which employs a Dirac distribution as a model for the marginal PDF of the reaction progress parameter. The latter model considerably underpredicts the amount of local extinction, which shows that the consideration of second-moment information in the presumed PDF of the reaction progress parameter is important for the accurate prediction of extinction and reignition. Mixture-fraction-conditioned results obtained from the extended FPV model are in good agreement with experimental data; however, the overprediction of the consumption of fuel and oxidizer on the fuel-rich side results in an overprediction of minor species. The predictions for the conditional PDFs and burning indices are in good agreement with measurements.
Threshold contribution to the Gerasimov–Drell–Hearn sum rule in 3He

Measurements of the cross section, vector and tensor analyzing powers, and gamma-ray polarization in the radiative capture reactions D(p,γ)3He and p(d,γ)3He at cm. energies in the range 0–53 keV allow the determination of the reduced matrix elements (RMEs) relevant for these transitions. The RMEs provide values of the doublet and quartet Ml cross sections, as well as the asymptotic D-to-S state ratio. These quantities are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. The RMEs can also be used to compute the value of the integral which determines the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn sum rule for 3He in the energy region of our experiment. The results are compared with the predictions of an ab initio microscopic three-body model calculation. The theoretical predictions for the value of this integral based on a ”nucleons-only” assumption are an order-of-magnitude smaller than experiment. The discrepancy is reduced to about a factor of two when meson-exchange currents are taken into account.
Differences by Gender, Ethnicity, and Acculturation in the Efficacy of the "keepin' it REAL" Model Prevention Program.

This study examined whether the efficacy of keepin’ it REAL, a model program for substance use prevention in schools, was moderated by gender, ethnicity, and acculturation. Gender differences in program efficacy may arise through boys’ higher risk of drug use, inadequate attention to girls’ developmental issues, or cultural factors like polarized gender expectations. Data came from a randomized trial in 35 Phoenix, Arizona, middle schools involving 4,622 mostly Latino 7th graders. Using multi-level mixed models and multiple imputation missing techniques, results for the total sample showed no gender differences in program effects on recent substance use, but the program was more effective in fostering boys’ than girls’ anti-drug norms. Subgroup analyses demonstrated several more beneficial program effects for boys than girls (less alcohol and cigarette use and stronger anti-drug norms), but only among less acculturated Latinos. There were no gender differences in program effects among more acculturated Latinos, nor among non-Latino whites.
Echelon-networking control

Distributed manufacturing control offers more functionality than centralised systems, but normally at the cost of coordination and 'intelligence'. Here, the author describes a unique solution from Palo Alto-based Echelon Corporation and its semiconductor partners, Motorola and Toshiba. Instead of simply defining a network protocol, Echelon has developed a sophisticated microcontroller (the Neuron) with networking and interfacing built in. Neuron networks can run on various media, including twisted pair, radio or power lines. The system uses an OSI seven-layer network protocol, involving three microprocessors in a classic multiprocessing environment, using shared memory as their communication link. Advanced manufacturing techniques have integrated the three processors with memory at a cost comparable with an off-the-shelf single-chip microcontroller.
Liquid CO2 Extraction and NMR Characterization of Anethole from Fennel Seed: A General Chemistry Laboratory

An established experiment of liquid CO2 extraction has been expanded to extraction of natural products from spices and adapted to incorporate NMR spectroscopy into the undergraduate general chemistry laboratory. The first week of this two-week experiment involves the extraction of anethole from fennel seeds using liquid CO2. The second week includes analysis of the fennel extract by 1H NMR spectroscopy and thin layer chromatography.
Relationship between degenerative joint disease and hip joint laxity by use of distraction index and Norberg angle measurement in a group of cats

OBJECTIVE To determine the relationship between degenerative joint disease (DJD) and passive laxity of the hip joint in a group of cats. DESIGN Prospective study. ANIMALS A select (nonrandomized) group of 78 cats. PROCEDURE Standard hip-extended radiographic views and compression and distraction views of the pelvis were obtained from cats during sedation. Radiographs were evaluated, using an Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)-like scoring system for dogs. Passive joint laxity was measured, using Norberg angle (NA) and distraction index (DI). Hip laxity in cats with DJD was compared with hip laxity in cats without DJD. RESULTS Hip dysplasia (HD) was subjectively diagnosed radiographically in 25 of 78 (32%) cats using the OFA-like scoring system. Nineteen cats had mild HD 4 had moderate HD, and 2 had severe HD. Fifteen of the 25 cats with HD had DJD. The NA ranged from 56 to 105. The mean NA in cats with DJD was (84 degrees) significantly lower than in cats without DJD (95 degrees). The DI ranged from 0.2 to 0.84. The mean DI for cats with DJD was (0.6) significantly higher than that for cats without DJD (0.49). Cats with a DI < 0.4 did not have DJD. Cats had an increased likelihood of having DJD with increased laxity in the coxofemoral joint, as measured by NA or DI. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The mean NA for radiographically normal cats (92.4 degrees) was lower than that in radiographically normal dogs (103 degrees). The overall mean DI for cats in this group (0.51) is similar to dogs of breeds with high joint laxity, such as the Labrador Retriever (0.5). As in dogs, there is a relationship between DJD and laxity in the hip joint of cats.
Welfare consequences of asymmetric growth

Abstract Standard models in macroeconomics and development economics imply that growth in the aggregate enhances welfare for everyone in the economy. I show that instead, if economic growth is biased toward the consumption bundle of the rich, the welfare of the poor may fall. I document the relevance of this mechanism during the latter part of the Twentieth Century by showing that new information technology disproportionately benefited sectors consumed by the rich.
The Presidents of Costa Rica

Writers have long claimed that Costa Rica has achieved standards of popular, constitutional government unusual for Latin America. A few recent commentators have attempted to modify the unstinted praise which others have been prone to lavish upon Costa Rican political institutions and processes. To evaluate properly the assumption that Costa Rica is somehow more “democratic” than her neighbors, there must be examination of a number of elements of Costa Rican political life—that is, press and public expression, individual rights, political parties, roles of judicial and legislative bodies, role of the military, and the like. Some studies have touched upon a few of these elements. Scholarship has yet to cover all of them. The present paper will confine itself to a further aspect of Costa Rican political life—that is, the presidential history of the country. By what means and under what circumstances have presidents secured and left office? How many have been long-term dictators? What have been the backgrounds and characteristics of leading Costa Rican presidents? How many have come from the military profession, and how many from civilian life?
Cortical Amyloid Burden Differences Across Empirically-Derived Mild Cognitive Impairment Subtypes and Interaction with APOE ɛ4 Genotype.

We examined cortical amyloid-β (Aβ) levels and interactions with apolipoprotein (APOE) e4 genotype status across empirically-derived mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subgroups and cognitively normal older adults. Participants were 583 ADNI participants (444 MCI, 139 normal controls [NC]) with baseline florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET) amyloid imaging and neuropsychological testing. Of those with ADNI-defined MCI, a previous cluster analysis [1] classified 51% (n = 227) of the current sample as amnestic MCI, 8% (n = 37) as dysexecutive/mixed MCI, and 41% (n = 180) as cluster-derived normal (cognitively normal). Results demonstrated that the dysexecutive/mixed and amnestic MCI groups showed significantly greater levels of amyloid relative to the cluster-derived normal and NC groups who did not differ from each other. Additionally, 78% of the dysexecutive/mixed, 63% of the amnestic MCI, 42% of the cluster-derived normal, and 34% of the NC group exceeded the amyloid positivity threshold. Finally, a group by APOE genotype interaction demonstrated that APOE e4 carriers within the amnestic MCI, cluster-derived normal, and NC groups showed significantly greater amyloid accumulation compared to non-carriers of their respective group. Such an interaction was not revealed within the dysexecutive/mixed MCI group which was characterized by both greater cognitive impairment and amyloid accumulation compared to the other participant groups. Our results from the ADNI cohort show considerable heterogeneity in Aβ across all groups studied, even within a group of robust NC participants. Findings suggest that conventional criteria for MCI may be susceptible to false positive diagnostic errors, and that onset of Aβ accumulation may occur earlier in APOE e4 carriers compared to non-carriers.
Selection of Rice Germplasm with High Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency and Its Analysis of the Related Characters

The relativity characters of the nitrogen absorption and utilization were analysed under two levels of N supply(0 and 180 kg/hm2) by using forty five rice germplasms,which were divided into four types based on grain yield under two N rates,such as efficient-efficient(EE),inefficient-efficient(IE),inefficient-inefficient(II) and efficient-inefficient(EI). Focus on the research of variance analysis and correlation among characters related to grain yield,the N accumulation(NA) and nitrogen-use efficiency(NUE) between different types. The results showed that the range of variance of grain yield per plant,straw yield per plant,the NA and physiological N use efficiency(PNUE) were 4. 50-29. 65 g,6. 35-18. 70 g,4. 80-21. 28 g /m2 and 19. 88- 62. 05 g/g,respectively. Grain yield was significantly positively associated with effect panicles per plant(EP),spikelets per panicle(SP),seed setting rate(SSR),the BA,the N accumulation in grain(NAG),the NA and PNUE and significantly negatively associated with the N concentration in grain(NCG) and N concentration in straw(NCS) whether in low-nitrogen or high-nitrogen conditions. There were significantly different between grain yield(GY) with BA,NA and PNUE for four types of rice. EE and IE were the most influence by nitrogen fertilizer,EI was the least. The research showed that Qing mazao,Lucaizao,Guangluai 4,Zao89-01 and Zao xian152 had been selected for tolerance-low nitrogen and high NUE type,among them,Qing ma zao and Lu cai zao is the typical high NUE type that showed higher,stable yield whether in low-nitrogen or high-nitrogen conditions; Guang lu ai 4 was the typical tolerance-low type that showed higher yield in low-nitrogen and suitable planted in poor soil,however,Zao89-01 and Zao xian152 were suitably planted in fertilize soil that showed higher yield in high-nitrogen conditions.
The Quantitative Evaluation of Photographic X-Ray Diffraction Patterns by Means of a Converter

AbstractThe paper discusses the quantitative evaluation of photographic X-ray diffraction patterns with steep density gradients by means of a converter coupled to a microdensitometer so as to yield tracings on which the ordinates are directly proportional to exposure or intensity values. Use is made of a standard transmission-exposure converter curve and the development of the method is particularly directed towards establishing a definite correlation between points of the converter curve and the corresponding transmission values on the photographic pattern
What are visitors up to?: helping museum facilitators know what visitors are doing

In this paper, we describe a tablet application designed around an interactive game-based science museum exhibit. It is aimed to help provide museum docents useful information about the visitors' actions, in a way that is actionable, and enables docents to provide assistance and prompts to visitors that are more meaningful, compared to what they are typically able to do without this interface augmentation.
Kinetic Model for Two-Step Nucleation of Peptide Assembly.

Intermediate dynamic assemblies are increasingly seen as necessary for the initial desolvation and organization of biomaterials to achieve their final crystalline order. Here we present a general peptide assembly model for two-step nucleation. The model predicts the phase transitions and equilibria between different phases by employing a combination of the Flory–Huggins parameter, the particle growth constant, and the binding energy to assemblies. Monte Carlo simulations are used to demonstrate how the system evolves from pure solution phases to the final thermodynamic assembly phase via an intermediate metastable particle phase. The final state of the system is determined by the solubility of the particle and assembly phases, where the phase with the lower solubility accumulates. A rare three-phase equilibrium exists when the solubilities of the particles and assemblies are similar. Experimental support for this model is achieved with assembly of the amyloid peptide Ac-KLVFFAE-NH2 (Aβ(16–22)) in mixed ac...
STRONGLY COUPLED QED ON A LATTICE

Abstract Strongly coupled QED on a lattice is briefly reviewed. New results for the special case of quenched QED in strong coupling are presented. The chiral condensate is evaluated for very small masses to minimize the error in the extrapolation to the chiral limit. The critical coupling is found and the critical exponent δ is measured. The physical interpretation of these results is discussed. It is argued that four-Fermi interactions that are (implicitly) present in lattice QED are responsible for the value of these exponents. Some results including dynamical fermions and for QED in 2+1 dimensions are also reported. This work has been done in collaboration with S. Hands, A. Kocic and J. Kogut.
The Last Mile for IoT Privacy

The last mile in Internet of Things (IoT) privacy is to give users a unified way to discover and be notified about the privacy properties of IoT services. A conceptual privacy stack that would build a communication bridge between IoT systems and end users is described.
Advances in the approach to the patient with food allergy

Advances in food allergy diagnosis, management, prevention, and therapeutic interventions have been significant over the past 2 decades. Evidence-based national and international guidelines have streamlined food allergy diagnosis and management, whereas paradigm-shifting work in primary prevention of peanut allergy has resulted in significant modifications in the approach to early food introduction in infants and toddlers. Innovative investigation of food allergy epidemiology, systems biology, effect, and management has provided important insights. Although active therapeutic approaches to food allergy remain experimental, progress toward licensed therapies has been substantial. Mechanistic understanding of the immunologic processes underlying food allergy and immunotherapy will inform the future design of therapeutic approaches targeting the food-induced allergic response. Global strategies to mitigate the substantial medical, economic, and psychosocial burden of food allergy in affected subjects and families will require engagement of stakeholders across multiple sectors in research, health care, public health, government, educational institutions, and industry. However, the relationship between the well-informed allergy care provider and the patient and family remains fundamental for optimizing the care of the patient with food allergy.
Dew deposition suppresses transpiration and carbon uptake in leaves

Abstract Dew deposition occurs in ecosystems worldwide, even in the driest deserts and in times of drought. Although some species absorb dew water directly via foliar uptake, a ubiquitous effect of dew on plant water balance is the interference of dew droplets with the leaf energy balance, which increases leaf albedo and emissivity and decreases leaf temperature through dew evaporation. Dew deposition frequency and amount are expected to be affected by changing environmental conditions, with unknown consequences for plant water stress and ecosystem carbon, water and energy fluxes. Here we present a simple leaf energy balance that characterizes the effect of deposition and the evaporation of dew on leaf energy balance, transpiration, and carbon uptake. The model is driven by five common meteorological variables and shows very good agreement with leaf wetness sensor data from the Blue Oak Ranch Reserve in California. We explore the tradeoffs between energy, water, and carbon balances for leaves of different sizes across a range of relative humidity, wind speed, and air temperature conditions. Our results show significant water savings from transpiration suppression up to 25% for leaf characteristic lengths of 50 cm. CO2 assimilation is decreased by up to 12% by the presence of dew, except for bigger leaves in windspeed conditions below 1 m s−1 when an increase in assimilation is expected.
Tetrahedral Mesh Visualization in a Game Engine

A tetrahedral mesh is used to perform finite element analysis (FEA) of surgical cuts in a medical simulator. Visualization of a tetrahedral mesh is an important challenge in the process of constructing a realistic simulator. As game engines become increasingly popular, many companies are beginning to develop their own engines, or using existing engines for software development. However, game engines such as Unity and Unreal do not accept volume mesh. What is more, during the cutting process, the topology of tetrahedral mesh will change, resulting in progressively difficult visualization. In this paper, we present a procedure to prepare a tetrahedral mesh for a surgery simulator. We will also show an example of cutting a sphere by deleting tetrahedral elements.
The value of a south-facing orientation: A hedonic pricing analysis of the Shanghai housing market

Abstract The relationship between the view orientation of an apartment and its property value is examined in the context of Shanghai housing market. Using a hedonic pricing model and a unique dataset, comprised of apartment attributes, ambient environmental indicators and urban spatial structure, this paper shows that a south-facing orientation is associated on average with a 14% premium in property value. Among possible view orientations, due south reflects the highest price. A view of one Shanghai's landmark increases property values by 6%, with this premium being boosted a further 4% by south-facing orientation. Dust pollution lowers prices and shrinks the value of a south-facing view, while PM2.5, which is not visible, has little influence on either. Preference for height in apartment buildings is strongly influenced by the presence of elevators. Internal apartment attributes have the expected signs, but magnitudes can be misleading unless the larger set of apartment attributes is controlled for.
Distributionally Robust Sampling-Based Motion Planning Under Uncertainty

We propose a distributionally robust incremental sampling-based method for kinodynamic motion planning under uncertainty, which we call distributionally robust RRT (DR-RRT). In contrast to many approaches that assume Gaussian distributions for uncertain parameters, here we consider moment-based ambiguity sets of distributions with given mean and covariance. Chance constraints for obstacle avoidance and internal state bounds are then enforced under the worst-case distribution in the ambiguity set, which gives a coherent assessment of constraint violation risks. The method generates risk-bounded trajectories and feedback control laws for robots operating in dynamic, cluttered, and uncertain environments, explicitly incorporating localization error, stochastic process disturbances, unpredictable obstacle motion, and uncertain obstacle location. We show that the algorithm is probabilistically complete under mild assumptions. Numerical experiments illustrate the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Survey of the Arizona Bench and Bar on the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure

This Report sets forth the results of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System’s Survey of the Arizona Bench and Bar on the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure. The Survey explored the views of members of the State Bar of Arizona concerning civil procedure in Arizona Superior Court, the state court of general jurisdiction. There are significant differences between the current Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure (ARCP) and those used prior to 1992, as well as differences between the current ARCP and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. This survey was developed to examine the practical impact of these rules variations. The global research questions included: - Do comprehensive pretrial conferences lead to more effective case management? - Does mandatory disclosure of all relevant information advance the goals of efficiency, affordability, and procedural fairness? - Do presumptive limits on discovery and expert witnesses advance the goals of efficiency and affordability, without sacrificing procedural fairness? - To what extent are the ARCP followed, respected, and enforced? - Does compulsory arbitration provide a satisfactory alternative to litigation? - How could Arizona’s system be further improved?
Negotiating Agreement and Disagreement in Japanese: Connective expressions and turn construction

On the basis of the meticulous transcription/observation process of ‘Conversation Analysis’, this book observes recurrent patterns in sequences where Japanese speakers negotiate agreement and disagreement. It contributes to the growing body of research on ‘interaction and grammar’ by examining how linguistic recourses are utilized for constructing turns and anticipating the upcoming course of interaction. More specifically, it focuses on the recurrent use of two structurally different types of connective expressions: clause-initial connectives and clause-final connective particles. The study examines the occurrences of these causal and contrastive markers with reference to their sequential environment and the resulting interaction. While the introductory chapters situate this approach in the current literature, the main analytical chapters investigate the ways in which ‘delivery of agreement’, ‘delivery of disagreement’, and ‘pursuit for agreement’ are performed with the use of the different types of connective expressions. As one of the earliest conversation analytic studies of Japanese, this book also addresses methodological issues concerning cross-linguistic, cross-cultural studies of human interaction.
Social status, forest disturbance, and Barred Owls shape long-term trends in breeding dispersal distance of Northern Spotted Owls

Dispersal among breeding sites in territorial animals (i.e. breeding dispersal) is driven by numerous selection pressures, including competition and spatiotemporal variation in habitat quality. The scale and trend of dispersal movements over time may signal changing conditions within the population or on the landscape. We examined 2,158 breeding dispersal events from 694 male and 608 female individually marked Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) monitored over 28 yr on 7 study areas to assess the relative importance of individual (sex, experience), reproductive (annual productivity, mate availability), and environmental (forest alteration, presence of competitor) sources of variation in breeding dispersal distance. Median breeding dispersal distance was 3.17 km, with 99% of all breeding dispersal events <37 km. Mean annual dispersal distances increased by 2.43 km in Oregon and 9.40 km in Washington between 1990 and 2017, which coincided with increases in annual detections of nonnative Barred Owl (S. varia). Frequency of breeding dispersal events, both among and within individuals, also increased over time. Female owls moved farther than males (median of 3.26 and 3.10 km, respectively), and birds with less experience (territory tenure) moved farther than those with more experience. Owls that were single in the year prior to dispersal moved 13–31% farther than those paired prior to dispersal. The greatest environmental change occurring over the course of our study was the expansion of Barred Owl populations. Breeding dispersal distance was positively related to Barred Owls in the study area and disturbance within the originating territory. While it appears that social factors continue to be important drivers of breeding dispersal distance in Spotted Owls, increased competition from Barred Owls and habitat alteration have a contributing effect. Increased breeding dispersal distances should be of concern for conservation efforts and considered in population monitoring because changing dispersal behavior may lead to higher rates of mortality and/or emigration from historical study areas.
Characteristics and outcomes of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices: A systematic review

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common adverse event after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation. We sought to evaluate patterns of GIB development and related outcomes in CF-LVAD recipients. An electronic search was performed to identify all articles related to GIB in the setting of CF-LVAD implantation. A total of 34 studies involving 1087 patients were pooled for analysis. Mean patient age was 60 years (95% CI 57-64) and 24% (95% CI 21-28%) were female. The mean time from CF-LVAD implantation to the first GIB was 54 days (95% CI 24-84) with 40% (95% CI 34-45%) of patients having multiple episodes of GIB. Anemia was present in 75% (95% CI 41-93%) and the most common etiology of bleeding was arteriovenous malformations (36% [95% CI 24-50%]). The mean duration of follow-up was 14.6 months (95% CI 6.9-22.3) during which the all-cause mortality rate was 21% (95% CI 12-36%) and the mortality rate from GIB was 4% (95% CI 2-9%). Thromboembolic events occurred in 32% (95% CI 22-44%) of patients with an ischemic stroke rate of 16% (95% CI 3-51%) and a pump thrombosis rate of 8% (95%CI 3-22%). Heart transplantation was performed in 31% (95% CI 18-47%) of patients, after which 0% (95% CI 0-10%) experienced recurrent GIB. GIB is a major source of morbidity among CF-LVAD recipients. While death due to GIB is rare, cessation of anticoagulation during treatment increases the risk of subsequent thrombotic events. Heart transplant in these patients appears to reliably resolve the risk of future GIB.
Studies of oogenesis in Urechis caupo: II. Accumulation during oogenesis of carbohydrate, RNA, microtubule protein, and soluble, mitochondrial, and lysosomal enzymes

Abstract In the echiuroid worm Urechis caupo , the oocytes develop independently as single cells in the coelomic fluid. The accumulation of oocyte constituents during oogenesis was determined in different size classes of coelomic oocytes, separated by fractionation on a Ficoll density gradient. Each size class was assayed for protein, carbohydrate, RNA, microtubule protein, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, and cytochrome c oxidase. All the constituents investigated accumulated continuously during oogenesis, and the rates of accumulation paralleled the volume increase of the oocytes. The electrophoretic pattern of soluble egg proteins supported this finding. These data suggest that the genes involved in the synthesis of all the oocyte constituents studied are activated early in oogenesis.
Kentucky’s Default Joint Custody and Equal Parenting Time: Special Interest Lobbying in Child Custody

Until recently, the universal standard for child custody determinations in the United States was the ‘best interests of the child’ standard. Kentucky recently became the first state to adopt a default standard that deviates from that standard by making joint custody and equal timeshare the statutory default. The statute was amended with almost no legislative discussion and sailed through passage and signing by the governor within three months at the urging of the National Parents Organization (NPO), formerly the Foundation for Fathers and Families. The statute’s proponents claim it equalizes parents under the law and removes biases in favor of mothers. The NPO has a nationwide agenda to pass this type of legislation in every state. However, this paper demonstrates that joint custody and equal timeshare is not appropriate for some types of families and a default standard could end up harming these children. As other states are under pressure from the NPO, this paper provides examples of states that have fought off or amended the statutory language to be more protective of families. The best interests of the child standard is far from perfect, but supplanting it with a default standard of joint custody and equal parenting time creates new and potentially dangerous issues for the children forced to endure it, not because of a thoughtful concerted effort to improve the child custody standards, but because of the NPO’s successful lobbying efforts.
A Novel Protection Method for Grounding Electrode Line of UHVDC Based on Injection Current

In view of the Ultra High Voltage Direct Current (UHVDC) grounding electrode line protection based on injection method, this paper analyses the performance deficiency of the conventional protection scheme due to dead zone, and puts forward a new protection scheme of grounding electrode line. The new uses the head-end high frequency measured impedance transverse difference ratio to create the protection criterion, which only depends on the unilateral electrical quantity rather than on the communication channel. The proposed scheme greatly shortens the protection dead zone. In this paper, a simulation model was established using PSCAD/EMTDC based on the example of a certain ±800kV UHVDC system to validate the proposed protection scheme. Simulation results showed that the proposed protection of the new protection scheme proposed in this paper could greatly reduce the dead zone protection compared with the conventional protection scheme.
Multimodal Automatic Coding of Client Behavior in Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is defined as a collaborative conversation style that evokes the client's own intrinsic reasons for behavioral change. In MI research, the clients' attitude (willingness or resistance) toward change as expressed through language, has been identified as an important indicator of their subsequent behavior change. Automated coding of these indicators provides systematic and efficient means for the analysis and assessment of MI therapy sessions. In this paper, we study and analyze behavioral cues in client language and speech that bear indications of the client's behavior toward change during a therapy session, using a database of dyadic motivational interviews between therapists and clients with alcohol-related problems. Deep language and voice encoders, \ie BERT and VGGish, trained on large amounts of data are used to extract features from each utterance. We develop a neural network to automatically detect the MI codes using both the clients' and therapists' language and clients' voice, and demonstrate the importance of semantic context in such detection. Additionally, we develop machine learning models for predicting alcohol-use behavioral outcomes of clients through language and voice analysis. Our analysis demonstrates that we are able to estimate MI codes using clients' textual utterances along with preceding textual context from both the therapist and client, reaching an F1-score of 0.72 for a speaker-independent three-class classification. We also report initial results for using the clients' data for predicting behavioral outcomes, which outlines the direction for future work.
The Investors Exchange’s (IEX) impact on investors

The Investors Exchange (IEX) claims that it improves investor transactions in the US Equity markets. The founders of IEX suggest that other equity exchanges cater more to traders such as high-frequency and algorithmic traders, thus giving them a distinct advantage over the typical investor. We examine the immediate impact IEX had on US equity markets when it became a national exchange in mid-2016. Initial analysis supports that the IEX shows signs of meeting their intent to provide a more investor friendly exchange for those who chose to trade on it.
FM radio and the Malayali diaspora in Qatar: at home overseas

Recent scholarship on trans-oceanic exchanges between the Persian Gulf and South Asia has delved into previously neglected minutiae of everyday migrant life beyond labour. Combining ethnographic re...
Prediction for the cosmological constant in resummed quantum gravity and constraints on susy GUTs

We use our resummed quantum gravity approach to Einstein's general theory of relativity in the context of the Planck scale cosmology formulation of Bonanno and Reuter to estimate the value of the cosmological constant such that ρΛ = (0.0024 eV)4. We argue that the closeness of this estimate to experiment constrains Supersymmetric Grand Unified Theory (susy GUT) models. We discuss in turn various theoretical issues that have been raised about the approach itself as well as about the application to estimate the cosmological constant. Given the closeness of the estimate to the currently observed value, we also discuss the theoretical uncertainty in the estimate-at this time, we argue it is still large.
Patients with Substance Abuse Problems: Effective Identification, Diagnosis, and Treatment: Edited by: Edgar P. Nace, Joyce A. Tinsley; W. W. Norton, 2007, 224 pages, ISBN 13: 978-0-393-70511-9, $22.95.

“If you want to learn how to help patients with substance abuse problems, this book is for you.” This opening salvo of Edgar Nace and Joyce Tinsley's Patients with Substance Abuse Problems sets the...
The Effect of Shareholder Taxes on Bank Risk-Taking: Evidence from S Corporation Banks

This study examines the effect of shareholder taxes on bank risk-taking. Economic theory predicts that personal tax rates affect individual risk-taking through risk-sharing with the government via full loss offsets. Using plausibly exogenous changes in personal state income tax rates and detailed ownership data for a sample of S corporation banks, I find that increases in shareholder tax rates are positively (negatively) associated with bank risk-taking when shareholders can (cannot) share in risk with the government through full loss offsets. These relations are driven by banks with few shareholder conflicts and less strict regulators. Overall, the results suggest that investor-level taxes play an important role in bank risk-taking.
The Effect of Bariatric Surgery Volume on General Surgery Outcomes for Morbidly Obese Patients.

Introduction Bariatric surgery performed at high volume centers decreases length of stay, cost, and morbidity and mortality. The effect of a high volume of bariatric surgery procedures on outcomes may extend not just to bariatric surgery but to any general surgical procedure in morbidly obese patients. We hypothesized that patients with morbid obesity (body mass index >40 kg/m2) undergoing common, nonbariatric general surgery would have decreased morbidity and mortality at centers performing high volumes of bariatric surgery. Methods The 2016 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to identify the number of laparoscopic gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy performed at each hospital. Hospitals were classified as high volume bariatric hospitals (HVBH) ≥10 reported cases (50 actual)/year or low volume bariatric hospitals (LVBH) Results The total number of general surgery patient cases analyzed was 14,028 from 2,482 hospitals, representing 70,140 admissions. The cohort of patients undergoing operations treated at HVBH were younger (p=0.03) with higher rates of COPD (p=0.04). Patients at LVBH had higher rates of nicotine dependence (p=0.0001) and obstructive sleep apnea (p Conclusion Patients with morbid obesity may have an advantage in having general surgery procedures at HVBH. HVBH may have a volume-outcomes relationship where the hospital and staff familiarity with the management principles required to minimize the postoperative risk associated with morbid obesity and improve patient outcomes.
Too small to count? The cumulative impacts and policy implications of small disasters in the Sahel

Abstract Despite extensive research on disasters induced by natural hazards and climate change, the cumulative effect of many smaller events remains relatively understudied. This is especially true in the Sahel, an increasingly important zone in terms of disaster risk reduction. To what extent do small disasters cumulatively impart substantial losses in the Sahel and how do public and nonprofit decisionmakers manage them? To answer these questions, we adopt a mixed methods approach. Analyzing state-level panel data on disasters losses in Senegal and Mali for the decade between 2005 and 2014, we find that small disasters impart as much if not more damage than big disasters and especially affect housing and agriculture. We find that large disasters are concentrated in Southern Mali, indicating other areas mainly experiencing small disasters may be overlooked by assistance classically triggered by many deaths from a big event. We distill policy insights from these quantitative findings with ten qualitative interviews, three focus groups, and document analysis. The qualitative findings highlight the challenges of small disasters and the consequences of conflict alongside small disasters. Together, the findings suggest that small disasters lead to significant disruption for vulnerable communities already shouldering burdens of conflict, food insecurity, and environmental degradation.