cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two algorithms for barrier synchronization

We describe two new algorithms for implementing barrier synchronization on a shared-memory multicomputer. Both algorithms are based on a method due to Brooks. We first improve Brooks' algorithm by introducing double buffering. Our dissemination algorithm replaces Brook's communication pattern with an information dissemination algorithm described by Han and Finkel. Our tournament algorithm uses a different communication pattern and generally requires fewer total instructions. The resulting algorithms improve Brook's original barrier by a factor of two when the number of processes is a power of two. When the number of processes is not a power of two, these algorithms improve even more upon Brooks' algorithm because absent processes need not be simulated. These algorithms share with Brooks' barrier the limitation that each of then processes meeting at the barrier must be assigned identifiersi such that 0≤i<n.
Synthesis and Structural and Magnetic Characterization of Ni(Core)/NiO(Shell) Nanoparticles

A size series of ligand-stabilized Ni nanoparticles (NPs) with diameters between 8−24 nm was prepared by solution chemistry, followed by solution-phase oxidation with atmospheric oxygen at 200 °C to form Ni(core)/NiO(shell) NPs with shell thicknesses of 2−3 nm. In comparison with the oxidation of Fe and Co NPs, Ni NPs require higher temperatures for significant conversion to NiO. Transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction show polycrystalline cores with predominantly amorphous shells. SQUID magnetometry measurements were performed to assess the effects of coupling between the ferromagnetic Ni cores and antiferromagnetic NiO shells. After intentional oxidation, the Ni(core)/NiO(shell) NPs have decreased superparamagnetic blocking temperatures (TB) and no exchange shift (HEB), but a small enhancement in the coercivity (HC) signifies weak exchange bias. These effects originate from the amorphous structure of the NiO shells and their thin layer thickness that renders the NiO moments incapable o...
Agricultural Options As A Management Tool

Agricultural markets for commodities have tended to be unstable with high variability in prices received by producers from year‐to‐year. These conditions have always made production planning very risky over time. For this reason and others, since 1933, the federal government has supported commodity prices in one fashion or another at or near break even. Support programs have put pressure on the annual federal deficits and subsequently have added to the national debt. This paper investigates the use of private agricultural options contracts as a price risk management tool. Use of put options was compared for four commodities to the use of forward pricing, the use of cash prices at harvest and the use of futures as commodity pricing strategies. Private put options were found to be a useful alternative to the use of government prices upports in some commodity situations. The paper suggests that the use of option contracts provides additional flexibility in price risk management and in dealing with uncertaint...
ATR-Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy for Determination of trans Fatty Acids in Ground Cereal Products without Oil Extraction

Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was investigated as a method of analysis for trans fatty acid content of cereal products without the need for prior oil extraction. Spectra were obtained, with an FT-IR spectrometer equipped with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) device, of ground samples pressed onto the diamond ATR surface, and trans fatty acids were measured by a modification of AOAC Method 996.01. Partial least-squares (PLS) models were developed for the prediction of trans fatty acids in ground samples using several wavenumber selections on the basis of bands related to lipids. The models (n = 79) predicted trans fatty acids in ground samples with standard error of cross-validation (SECV) of 1.10−1.25 (range 0−12.4) % and R2 of 0.85−0.88 and in validation samples (n = 26) with standard error of performance (SEP) of 0.96−1.12 (range 0−12.2) % and r2 of 0.89−0.92, indicating sufficient accuracy for screening. Sample trans fatty acid % was predicted as accurately with the fingerpri...
Structure and sexual dimorphism of the electrocommunication signals of the weakly electric fish, Adontosternarchus devenanzii

SUMMARY Electrocommunication signals of electric fish vary across species, sexes and individuals. The diversity of these signals and the relative simplicity of the neural circuits controlling them make them a model well-suited for studying the mechanisms, evolution and sexual differentiation of behavior. In most wave-type gymnotiform knifefishes, electric organ discharge (EOD) frequency and EOD modulations known as chirps are sexually dimorphic. In the most speciose gymnotiform family, the Apteronotidae, EOD frequency is higher in males than females in some species, but lower in males than females in others. Sex differences in EOD frequency and chirping, however, have been examined in only three apteronotid species in a single genus, Apteronotus . To understand the diversity of electrocommunication signals, we characterized these behaviors in another genus, Adontosternarchus . Electrocommunication signals of Adontosternarchus devenanzii differed from those of Apteronotus in several ways. Unlike in Apteronotus , EOD frequency was not sexually dimorphic in A. devenanzii . Furthermore, although A. devenanzii chirped in response to playbacks simulating conspecific EODs, the number of chirps did not vary with different stimulus frequencies. A. devenanzii chirps also differed in structure from Apteronotus chirps. Whereas Apteronotus species produce functionally distinct chirp types differing in frequency modulation (FM), A. devenanzii produced only high-frequency chirps that had either single or multiple frequency peaks. Males produced more multi-peaked chirps than females. Thus, the temporal structure of chirps, rather than the amount of FM, delineated chirp types in A. devenanzii . Our results demonstrate that the structure, function and sexual dimorphism of electrocommunication signals are evolutionary labile in apteronotids and may be useful for understanding the diversity of sexually dimorphic behavior.
NEUROPATHIES OF MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHIES OF UNDETERMINED SIGNIFICANCE

One of the major advances in the understanding of polyneuropathies during the past decade has been the realization that plasma cell dyscrasias (PCD) and their accompanying monoclonal proteins (M-protein) are frequently associated with neuromuscular diseases. These syndromes may be distinctive and, in several cases, appear to be caused by the direct effects of the serum immunoglobulins on peripheral nerves. Monoclonal proteins have been found, for instance, to react with a variety of neuronal antigens found in myelin sheaths and axonal membranes. Some forms of motor neuron disease may possibly be related to the effects of serum immunoglobulins. These syndromes are important for several reasons. First, several are potentially treatable by modern immunotherapy aimed at lowering the M-protein concentration in serum. Second, they offer a rare glimpse at the mechanism of autoimmune polyneuropathies. Because the immunoglobulin is recognizable, can be isolated, and its target antigen has been identified, the mechanism of nerve fiber damage can be studied more directly in many cases. This opportunity for study will undoubtedly lead to a better understanding of the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune neuropathies, including those in which the immune effectors are presently not known. This article reviews the rapidly developing field of the polyneuropathies associated with monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS). It offers a framework for an approach to these patients.
Peptide Syntheses Using N‐Ethyl‐5‐Phenylisoxazolium‐3′‐Sulfonate: Carbobenzoxy‐L‐Asparaginyl‐L‐Leucine Methyl Ester and N‐Carbobenzoxy‐3‐Hydroxy‐L‐Prolylglycylglycine Ethyl Ester

Peptide syntheses using N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium-3′-sulfonate: carbobenzoxy-l-asparaginyl-l-leucine methyl ester and N-carbobenzoxy-3-hydroxy-l-prolylglycylglycine ethyl ester reactant: 2.024 g. (0.00800 mole) of N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium-3′-sulfonate reactant: 810 mg. (0.00802 mole) of triethylamine reactant: 1.452 g. (0.00800 mole) of l-leucine methyl ester hydrochloride product: carbobenzyloxy-l-asparaginyl-l-leucine methyl ester reactant: 796 mg. (0.00300 mole) of N-carbobenzyloxy-3-hydroxy-l-proline reactant: 590 mg. (0.00300 mole) of glycylglycine ethyl ester hydrochloride product: N-carbobenzyloxy-3-hydroxy-l-prolylglycylglycine ethyl ester solvent: petroleum ether product: Z-(Ne-Z)-Lys·Gly-OEt[Glycine, N-[N2,N6-bis-[(phenylmethoxy)carbonyl]-l-lysyl]-, ethyl ester] product: Z-Phe·Gly-OEt[Glycine, N-[N-[(phenylmethoxy)-carbonyl]-l-phenylalanyl]-, ethyl ester] product: Z-Phe·Leu-OMe[l-Leucine, N-[N-[(phenylmethoxy)-carbonyl]-l-phenylalanyl]-, methyl ester] product: Z-Met·Gly·Gly-OEt[Glycine, N-[N-[N-(phenylmethoxy)carbonyl]-l-methionyl]glycyl-, ethyl ester] product: Phth-Gly·Gly-OEt[Glycine, N-[(1,3-dihydro-1,3-dioxo-2H-isoindol-2-yl)acetyl]-, ethyl ester] product: Z-Gly·Gly·Tyr-OMe[l-Tyrosine, N-[N-[N-[(phenylmethoxy)carbonyl]glycyl]glycyl]-, methyl ester] product: Z-Gly·DL-Phe·Gly-OEt[Glycine, N-[N-N-[(phenylmethoxy)carbonyl]glycyl-dl-phenelalanyl]-, ethyl ester] product: Z-Gly·Gly·Gly-OEt[Glycine, N-[N-[N-[(phenylmethoxy)carbonyl]glycyl]glycyl]-, ethyl ester] product: Z-Gly-NHBz[Carbamic acid, [2-oxo-2-[(phenylmethyl)amino]ethyl]-, phenylmethyl ester] product: Z-Asp·Gly-OEt [Glycine, N-[N2-[(phenylmethoxy)carbonyl]-l-asparaginyl]-, ethyl ester] product: Z-Gln·Val-OMe[l-Valine, N-[N2-[(phenylmethoxy)carbonyl]-lglutaminyl]-, methyl ester] product: Z-Gln·Tyr-OMe[l-Tyrosine, N-[N2-[(phenylmethoxy)carbonyl]-l-glutaminyl]-, methyl ester] Keywords: esterification, of substituted monobasic acids; carbobenzyloxy-l-asparagine; N-carbobenzyloxy-3-hydroxy-l-proline; N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium-4′-sulfonate (Woodward's reagent K); glycine, N-glycyl-, ethyl ester, monohydrochloride; l-leucine methyl ester hydrochloride; triethylamine; Woodward's reagent K
Eating Disorders Examination versus Eating Disorders Examination-Questionnaire in adolescents with full and partial-syndrome bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa

Objective The current study compared the Eating Disorders Examination (EDE) and the Eating Disorders Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) in adolescents with eating disorders. Method Adolescents (N = 70) with bulimia nervosa (BN; n = 21), partial-syndrome BN (PBN; n = 25), and anorexia nervosa (AN; n = 24) were assessed with the EDE and EDE-Q. Results Moderate to high correlations were found on all four subscales within and between diagnostic groups. The discrepancy between the EDE and EDE-Q was significantly greater in BN relative to PBN and AN for the Eating Concern subscale. Objective binge episode (OBE) frequency in BN and subjective binge episode (SBE) frequency in BN and PBN were higher with the EDE compared with the EDE-Q. Self-induced vomiting was highly correlated between the two measures. Discussion Adolescents with BN, PBN, and AN exhibited strong correspondence between the EDE interview and questionnaire formats. However, this consistency was not as pronounced for BN as it was for PBN and AN. The current study lends preliminary credibility to the use of the EDE-Q in adolescent eating disorder samples. © 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Olfactory Perception of Major Odorants Found in the Headspace of Aqueous Soy Protein Isolate Slurries

: Concentrations of hexanal, methanethiol, 2-pentyl furan and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) in the headspace above aqueous soy protein isolates (SPI) slurries were quantified through gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Simulation of the characteristic odor of SPI was attempted by combining these 4 odorants in water to recreate headspace concentrations found above the aqueous slurries of SPI. Sensory characteristics of the combined odorants were compared with each individual odorants. The mixture of combined odorants was perceived to possess more resemblance to the characteristic odor of SPI than any individual odorant and was rated a 5 on a 10-point scale. A 2nd sensory evaluation showed that 2-pentyl furan suppressed the perceived intensity of DMTS.
Single-cycle plain-woven objects

It has recently been shown that if we twist an arbitrary subset of edges of a mesh on an orientable surface, the resulting extended graph rotation system (EGRS) can be used to induce a cyclic weaving on the surface. In extended graph rotation systems, an edge is viewed as a paper strip that can be twisted. The sides of the paper strips provide ``two strands'' to construct weaving structures. Either these strands are ``parallel'' to the mesh edge for an ``untwisted edge'', or they both cross over the edge and over each other for a ``twisted edge''. If an arbitrary subset of edges of a mesh on an orientable surface is twisted in the same helical sense, then the EGRS induces a cyclic plain-weaving on the surface, which consists of cycles that cross other cycles (or themselves) by alternatingly going over and under. In this paper, we show that it is always possible to create a single-cycle plain-weaving starting from a mesh on an arbitrary surface, by selecting an appropriate subset of edges to be twisted. We also demonstrate how, starting from a mesh, to construct a large number of single-cycle plain-woven objects. Interestingly, the single-cycle solutions with a minimal number of edge twists correspond to plain-woven objects that are visually similar to Celtic knots. For converting plain-weaving cycles to 3D thread structures, we extend the original projection method, which previously worked only when all mesh edges are twisted. With the extension described here, our projection method can also be used to handle untwisted edges. We have developed a system that converts any manifold mesh into single-cycle plain-woven objects, by interactively controlling the proportion of edges that are twisted. The system also allows us to change the shapes of the threads with a set of parameters, interactively in real-time. We demonstrate here that by using this system, we can create a wide variety of single-cycle plain-woven objects
The utility of FDG-PET for assessing outcomes in oligometastatic cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy: a cohort study.

Background: Studies suggest that patients with metastases limited in number and destination organ benefit from metastasis-directed therapy. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is commonly used for metastasis directed therapy in this group. However, the characterization of PET response following SBRT is unknown in this population. We analyzed our cohort of patients to describe the PET response following SBRT. Methods: Patients enrolled on a prospective dose escalation trial of SBRT to all known sites of metastatic disease were reviewed to select patients with pre- and post-therapy PET scans. Response to SBRT was characterized on PET imaging based on standard PET response criteria and compared to CT based RECIST criteria for each treated lesion. Results: 31 patients had PET and CT data available before and after treatment for analysis in this study. In total, 58 lesions were treated (19 lung, 11 osseous, 11 nodal, 9 liver, 6 adrenal and 2 soft tissue metastases). Median follow-up was 14 months (range: 3–41). Median time to first post-therapy PET was 1.2 months (range; 0.5-4.1). On initial post-therapy PET evaluation, 96% (56/58) of treated metastases responded to therapy. 60% (35/58) had a complete response (CR) on PET and 36% (21/58) had a partial response (PR). Of 22 patients with stable disease (SD) on initial CT scan, 13 had CR on PET, 8 had PR, and one had SD. Of 21 metastases with PET PR, 38% became CR, 52% remained PR, and 10% had progressive disease on follow-up PET. 10/35 lesions (29%) with an initial PET CR progressed on follow-up PET scan with median time to progression of 4.11 months (range: 2.75-9.56). Higher radiation dose correlated with long-term PET response. Conclusions: PET response to SBRT enables characterization of metastatic response in tumors non-measurable by CT. Increasing radiation dose is associated with prolonged complete response on PET.
Personal reflections on RNA: an emphasis on trypanosomes.

I was drawn into the field of RNA biology as a graduate student interested in the regulation of cellular processes in pathogenic protozoa. I thought that the mechanisms that African Trypanosomes use to control the differential expression of their mitochondrial (mt) genes during their life cycle must be fundamentally important and critical to this lethal pathogen. This is because these pathogens generate energy generation by oxidative phosphorylation in the insect vector but by glycolysis in the mammalian host. My naive expectation was that this would entail conventional mechanisms such as regulation of transcription initiation to switch between the different modes of energy generation. I was surprised when it turned out to be the novel process of RNA editing, by which the coding sequences of primary mitochondrial transcripts are changed by the insertion and deletion of Us. When sequencing the unusual mt genome of T. brucei we found a frameshift in the COII gene, as did the Benne and Simpson groups in related protozoa. Benne showed that four U insertions in the mRNA eliminated the frameshift. Shortly thereafter we showed that numerous U insertions extended the N-terminal coding sequence of Cyb mRNA and created an initiation codon but this only occurred in the insect stage. Additional mRNA sequencing revealed extensive editing of COIII mRNA by the insertion and deletion, respectively, of hundreds and tens of Us. Extensive sequencing of mt mRNAs of T. brucei in my lab and of the related protozoa in other labs showed different edited mt mRNAs in these species, which is most extensive in T. brucei. Overall editing creates initiation and termination codons and creates or extends open reading frames in multiple mt mRNAs. We demonstrated translation products of the edited mRNAs by mass spectrometry showing that they are translated. Some edited mRNAs like Cyb are abundant in the insect stage, others in the mammalian stage and still others in both stages. This pattern of the differential mRNA editing matches the different energy generating processes between the life cycle stages. However, the regulatory mechanism that controls the differential editing is a mystery.
A causal theory of chance

An essay review of Richard Johns "A Theory of Physical Probability" (University of Toronto Press, 2002). Forthcoming in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science.
Bright Light City: Las Vegas in Popular Culture Larry Gragg. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2013.

Bright Light City: Las Vegas in Popular Culture Larry Gragg. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2013.Larry Gragg, author of Bright Light City: Las Vegas in Popular Culture, explores the popularity of Las Vegas. This straightforward book offers historical events as well as the effect that politics, government, celebrities, and the media have had in forming the perception the American public has of Las Vegas and how that image contributes to enticing visitors.Where other books have focused solely on the gaming or entertainment industries, the changing portrayal of Las Vegas in popular culture is the center of Gragg's book. Each chapter is an enjoyable stand-alone read and would be beneficial to individuals seeking specific information about Las Vegas culture. Similar to other urban histories, the book is organized by themes rather than chronologically. Gragg purposefully organizes the book as "an eclectic blend of stories, people, sights and sounds that together make up the extraordinary appeal of Las Vegas" while using films, TV shows, novels, articles, and music to illustrate the city's transforming depiction (5).The author begins by giving an historical account of the humble beginnings of Las Vegas. Then a small community, Las Vegas capitalized on Nevada's legalized gambling with the explosive growth brought on by workers hired for the construction of the nearby Boulder Dam. As "card clubrooms" became a booming business, grander casinos and resorts were soon built (7). The city expanded from Fremont Street into the area commonly known as the Strip. Reporters, writers and filmmakers all endeavored, most with great difficulty, to precisely describe and represent the extraordinary sights and sounds of Las Vegas.Starting in the 1920s, Las Vegas was frequently portrayed as the "last frontier town" which journalists delivered to the eager audiences of an American public entranced by the "Old West" mythology (19). Chap-ters 3 and 4 examine Las Vegas's ties with organized crime and, in particular, the role of mob member Bugsy Siegel in the founding of modern Las Vegas. Siegel is a public figure closely associated with Las Vegas, whose clandestine activities and ties to the mob drew great intrigue and fascination. Siegel entered Las Vegas society in a quest for becoming a legitimate businessman and is largely credited with helping create the modern idea of a hotel resort and casino due to his participation in one of the first hotel and casino resortsthe Flamingo. …
The Inframammary Approach to Breast Augmentation

The inframammary approach to breast augmentation is the standard to which all others must be compared. The critical part of the breast augmentation operation is the accuracy and symmetry of the pocket creation, and the anatomically most critical aspect of this dissection lies at the inframammary fold. The inframammary approach unquestionably offers the greatest visualization of this area and results in the least damage to normal tissue.
Control of the modulation of human photoreceptors

Four primaries are required to modulate indepen- dently the three types of cone and the rod photoreceptors. In order to work in a 4-primary colorimetric system, it is necessary to have accurate estimates of an individual ob- server's receptoral spectral sensitivities and prereceptoral filtering. A technique to evaluate whether an individual observer's receptoral sensitivities may be characterized as linear transforms of the Standard Observer's data for the colorimeter primaries is described. If the individual fulfills this prerequisite, the technique allows compensation for prereceptoral filtering differences between the individual and the Standard Observer. For two observers who fulfilled this requirement, temporal contrast sensitivity functions for the three cone types and the rods were measured at different luminance levels using the method of silent substitution. Temporal contrast sensitivity functions for cones increased with luminance level from 0.5-50 photopic td. Temporal contrast sensitivity functions for rods increased with lumi- nance level from 0.05 td (0.024 scotopic td) to 5 td (2.413 scotopic td), then decreased at 50 td (24.13 scotopic td).
Differentiation and Positioning are Really a Type of Segmentation

There are a number of different strategies which can be used in approaching the market place. The oldest of these seems to be product differentiation and market segmentation, the current one seems to be positioning. There have been many in between. The purpose in writing this paper is to put all of these strategies in proper perspective and describe an overall strategy.
Genetic variation in fertility of heat-stressed male mice.

The damaging effects of heat stress on male fertility are evident in developing spermatozoa expressed in ejaculates 18-28 days post-stress in mice. Our objectives were to: (1) assess genetic variation in fertility of heat-stressed male mice and (2) determine response to selection for fertility after heat stress in male mice. Mature male mice were exposed to heat stress (35 ± 1 °C; n = 50) or control (21 ± 1 °C; n = 10) conditions for 24 h (day 0) and then hemicastrated for tissue collection. Two periods of mating tests followed, period 1 (from days 3 to 11) when no reductions in fertility were anticipated, and period 2 (days 18-26) when variation in fertility was expected. Period 2 pregnant females were sacrificed in late gestation. Males were indexed by multiplying overall mean ovulation rate by pre-implantation survival and number of pregnant period 2 mates. The five highest and five lowest ranking males were identified as heat stress resistant and susceptible, respectively. Resistant males were 61.2 units superior in the index, 57.5% greater in pregnancy rate, and 57.6 total fetuses greater than susceptible males. Progeny of resistant sires were superior to progeny of susceptible sires in estimated breeding value by 4.5 units for the index, 4.1% for pregnancy rate, and 5.2 fetuses (P < 0.0001). Heritability estimates for the index, pregnancy rate, and number of fetuses ranged from 0.09 to 0.13, suggesting male fertility following heat stress is heritable and responds to selection.
Some conjectures and results concerning the homology of nilpotent Lie algebras

In this paper we consider the Lie algebra homology of for L a complex Lie algebra. Our goal is to express the homology of L, in terms of the homology of L. This problem comes up in previous work by the author on the Macdonald root system conjectures. We present a number of conjectures related to this problem. The simplest of these conjectures asserts that H(L,)=H(L)@“+l’ (*I
Protection against Autoimmunity in Nonlymphopenic Hosts by CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells Is Antigen-Specific and Requires IL-10 and TGF-β

CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (T(Reg)) play a critical role in the control of autoimmunity. However, little is known about how T(Reg) suppress self-reactive T cells in vivo, thus limiting the development of T(Reg)-based therapy for treating autoimmune diseases. This is in large part due to the dependency on a state of lymphopenia to demonstrate T(Reg)-mediated suppression in vivo and the unknown Ag specificity of T(Reg) in most experimental models. Using a nonlymphopenic model of autoimmune pneumonitis and T(Reg) with known Ag specificity, in this study we demonstrated that these T(Reg) can actively suppress activation of self-reactive T cells and protect mice from fatal autoimmune pneumonitis. The protection required T(Reg) with the same Ag specificity as the self-reactive T cells and depended on IL-10 and TGF-beta. These results suggest that suppression of autoimmunity by T(Reg) in vivo consists of multiple layers of regulation and advocate for a strategy involving Ag-specific T(Reg) for treating organ-specific autoimmunity, because they do not cause generalized immune suppression.
Do ISS Voting Recommendations Create Shareholder Value

Many institutional investors rely on a proxy advisory firm to assist them in voting the company proxy and fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility to vote in the interest of beneficial shareholders. The largest and most influential proxy advisory firm is Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS). The recommendations of ISS are not inconsequential. Academic and professional research suggests that a recommendation by ISS can change the outcome of a vote by 15 to 20 percent, depending on the matter of the proposal.At the same time, there is little evidence that proxy advisory recommendations are correct or that they improve corporate outcomes. In fact recent research suggests that they might actually decrease shareholder value.We examine these issues as they relate to ISS guidelines for exchange offers and option repricings: Do proxy advisors have appropriate incentive to verify that their recommendations are correct?Should board members require evidence that ISS guidelines are value increasing before they adjust their policies to gain a favorable recommendation?Proxy advisory firms enjoy significant barriers to entry and little competition. Is this desirable for shareholders?Related Research Paper on SSRN: The Role of Proxy Advisory Firms in Stock Option Exchanges; Authors: David F. Larcker , Allan L. McCall and Gaizka Ormazabal , Stanford Graduate School of Business: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1811130.Topics, Issues and Controversies in Corporate Governance and Leadership: The Closer Look series is a collection of short case studies through which we explore topics, issues, and controversies in corporate governance. In each study, we take a targeted look at a specific issue that is relevant to the current debate on governance and explain why it is so important. Larcker and Tayan are co-authors of the book Corporate Governance Matters, and A Real Look at Real World Corporate Governance.
Mechanical response of friction stir welded AA2024: experiment and modeling

Abstract The mechanical response of heterogeneous structures, such as weldments, is largely governed by the response of the local constituents. In the present paper, the global and local mechanical response of friction stir welded AA2024 is examined experimentally and numerically. Full field strain measurements are obtained on transversely loaded tensile specimens via the digital image correlation technique. Assuming an iso-stress configuration, local constitutive data were determined for the various weld regions and used as input for a 2-D finite element model. The simulation results were compared with the experimental results to assess the viability of the modeling approach and the validity of the iso-stress assumption
Emerging Penchant for Plagiarism Disconcerting

In your editorial in The American Biology Teacher of August 2002, you said what needs to be shouted from hilltops. I was a state biologist and just recently completed my teacher's certification. During my student teaching, I saw EXACTLY what you wrote about in your editorial. Grade inflation is out of control. The system is set up to pressure a new teacher into being dishonest. It certainly turns a conscientious person off to teaching. Thanks for helping to bring this terrible problem into the open.
Isolated atlantal stenosis in a patient with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency, and Klippel-Feil and Duane’s syndromes

Isolated atlantal stenosis is very rare with less than ten cases reported, mostly in adult Asians; however, this pathology should be recognized by the neurosurgeon. An unusual case of this rare clinical entity is reported in conjunction with multiple other anomalies. We report a Caucasian girl with symptomatic stenosis of the first cervical vertebrae who presented with episodes of loss of tone with subsequent falling, facial cyanosis, urinary incontinence, hand weakness, and difficulties with swallowing. This patient also had the diagnoses of Duane’s and Klippel-Feil syndromes, and idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. In addition, this patient was found to have retroflexion of the odontoid process, which further compromised the spinal canal. Flexion–extension radiographs failed to identify cervical spine instability. Following suboccipital craniectomy and the removal of the posterior arch of the atlas, the patient’s symptoms were resolved and her urinary incontinence improved. We theorize that our case represents a variant of Wildervanck syndrome. Further case reports are necessary to verify that isolated atlantal stenosis is a component of this constellation of findings. Furthermore, our case demonstrates that degenerative changes of the spine are not necessary for the production of symptoms in cases of isolated stenosis of the atlas.
An analysis of portable communications technical standards

This paper will discuss the proposed new EIA standard for portable communications equipment. It will review the various sections of the standard and discuss the new methods of measurement unique to portable and the limits proposed in the standard. It will compare the measurement techniques specified for portables to existing mobile standards and highlight the differences. It will delve into the philosophies developed in the various subcommittees which contributed to the standard. Those items that are unique to the portable standard as compared to existing mobile standards will be reviewed in depth. Such items are methods of measuring size, weight, battery life, battery test voltage, open field measurement on sensitivity and power output, drop test, and duty cycle. These items represent some new philosophies which are very interesting. Some typical examples of measurements made using the standard will be analyzed in measuring a new 450 MC Two Way Portable.
Phrenic nerve response to glutamate antagonist microinjection in the ventral medulla.

Effects of amino acid neurotransmitters on central respiratory drive roughly parallel their excitation or inhibition of neurons1. The major amino acid neurotransmitter glutamic acid is of particular interest because it stimulates ventilatory drive centrally at sites and via mechanisms within the surface of the ventral medulla (VM). Glutamate metabolism in the brain is directly related to CO2 metabolism and fixation in the brain. Decarboxylation of glutamate via the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) localized substantially in nerve endings, results in formation of the inhibitory amino acid and central respiratory depressant, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)4. Recent studies5,6 have shown that the classic biphasic ventilatory response to acute hypoxia has a glutamatergic component, namely, the initial hyperventilatory response is mediated in part by central glutamate. Topical application of glutamatergic receptor antagonists during normoxia to the surface of the VM diminishes central ventilatory drive via reduction in phrenic nerve output11. The present study was therefore undertaken with multiple microinjections of the selective noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801 to localize in the VM the effects of blocking glutamate receptor on phrenic nerve output and to quantitate the effects via a model of chemoreceptor-antagonist interaction.
Abstract 16236: Rescue of D2R Function in Mouse Kidney Using AAV9 Vector Abrogates the Renal Injury and High Blood Pressure Induced by D2R Silencing

The renal dopaminergic system plays a key role in salt homoeostasis and blood pressure regulation. Lack or down regulation of dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) function in mice increases the vulnerability to renal inflammation and high blood pressure. We hypothesized that rescuing renal D2R expression in mice in which D2R is silenced in the kidney will reduce renal inflammation, injury and normalize the blood pressure. Gene transfer studies showed that retrograde ureteral infusion of AAV9 vectors encoding firefly luciferase or eGFP provide heterologous gene expression in the collecting duct, distal convoluted tubule, and proximal tubule cells of the infused kidney. D2R expression was silenced by the renal sub-capsular infusion of D2R siRNA (D2RsiRNA) using osmotic mini pump (3 μg/day, n=6 per group). Mice treated with non-silencing siRNA (NS siRNA) served as controls. Fourteen days following the initiation of siRNA treatment, each group was treated with control AAV (CAAV) or AAV carrying wild-type D2R (D2RAAV) (n=3 per group, 1e+11 vgp/mouse). Fourteen days following AAV treatment, arterial blood pressure was measured and organs were collected. D2R expression was decreased in D2RsiRNA-treated kidneys compared with NS siRNA-treated kidneys (immunoblotting: 54 ± 0.8 vs 100± 22 %; P
Federal Adoption, Equitable Sharing and Federalism

Federal and state civil asset forfeiture laws permit law enforcement agencies to seize and forfeit property that is “guilty” of being used in the commission of a crime and remit the proceeds to their own budgets. To incentivize state and local police to enforce federal drug laws in accordance with congressional wishes, the Department of Justice has formulated a forfeiture disbursement scheme to local police departments involving so-called adoption and equitable sharing. Equitable sharing represents several threats to federalism and the abilities of state legislatures to direct and implement law enforcement policies. The end result is that state and local police departments may act against the interests of their state legislatures and become de facto federal agents in the war on drugs. This paper explores these threats to federalism posed by adoption and equitable sharing and explores some possible solutions.
ANALYSIS OF A CONCENTRIC COPLANAR CAPACITIVE SENSOR USING A SPECTRAL DOMAIN APPROACH

Previously, concentric coplanar capacitive sensors have been developed to quantitatively characterize the permittivity or thickness of one layer in multi‐layered dielectrics. Electrostatic Green’s functions due to a point source at the surface of one‐ to three‐layered test‐pieces were first derived in the spectral domain, under the Hankel transform. Green’s functions in the spatial domain were then obtained by using the appropriate inverse transform. Utilizing the spatial domain Green’s functions, the sensor surface charge density was calculated using the method of moments and the sensor capacitance was calculated from its surface charge. In the current work, the spectral domain Green’s functions are used to derive directly the integral equation for the sensor surface charge density in the spectral domain, using Parseval’s theorem. Then the integral equation is discretized to form matrix equations using the method of moments. It is shown that the spatial domain approach is more computationally efficient, whereas the Green’s function derivation and numerical implementation are easier for the spectral domain approach.
Multi-objective optimization of an actively shielded superconducting field winding: Pole count study

An important challenge in the design of air-core superconducting machines is the containment of the magnetic fields within the electric machine. Current solutions result in large reductions of the high power density achievable through the use of superconducting windings. To address this challenge, an actively shielded electromagnet design, an approach commonly used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) magnet designs, is considered. This topology utilizes a set of main coils to produce the armature flux density, while including another set of oppositely excited compensating coils to mitigate the fields radiating outside the machine. This approach eliminates or reduces the use of steel in a passive magnetic shield, allowing for very high power density machines. Furthermore, a multi-objective optimization scheme is introduced to minimize two competing objectives, superconducting coil usage and machine volume. Results show a 74% decrease in volume with a 104% increase in superconductor usage.
Geographies of Violence: A Spatial Analysis of Five Types of Homicide in Brazil's Municipalities

Objectives: Examine the spatial distribution of five types of homicide across Brazil’s 5,562 municipalities and test the effects of family disruption, marginalization, poverty-reduction programs, environmental degradation, and the geographic diffusion of violence.Methods: Cluster analysis and spatial error, spatial lag, and geographically-weighted regressions.Results: Maps visualize clusters of high and low rates of different types of homicide. Core results from spatial regressions show that some predictors have uniform or stationary effects across all units, while other predictors have uneven, non-stationary effects. Among stationary effects, family disruption has a harmful effect across all types of homicide except femicide, and environmental degradation has a harmful effect, increasing the rates of femicide, gun-related, youth, and nonwhite homicides. Among non-stationary effects, marginalization has a harmful effect across all measures of homicide but poses the greatest danger to nonwhite populations in the northern part of Brazil; the poverty-reduction program Bolsa Familia has a protective, negative effect for most types of homicides, especially for gun-related, youth, and nonwhite homicides. Lastly, homicide in nearby communities increases the likelihood of homicide in one’s home community, and this holds across all types of homicide. The diffusion effect also varies across geographic areas; the danger posed by nearby violence is strongest in the Amazon region and in a large section of the eastern coast.Conclusions: Findings help identify the content of violence-reduction policies, how to prioritize different components of these policies, and how to target these policies by type of homicide and geographic area for maximum effect.
Immunologic implications of vasectomy. II. Serum-mediated immunity.

30 male rats in groups of 10 underwent standard vasectomy with ligation of the vas deferens; vasectomy without ligation of the vas deferens (permitting intraperitoneal drainage of the open vas deferens); or sham vasectomy. Assays (in vivo and in vitro) for serum-mediated immunity to syngeneic spermatozoa were performed with each experimental group 90 days postvasectomy. The tests were the Arthus reaction by footpad swelling response 3 hours following footpad injection of syngeneic spermatozoa and the release of radioactivity from chromium labeled spermatozoa following incubation with experimental sera indicating cytotoxic antibodies to spermatozoa. The presence of serum-mediated immunity specific to spermatozoa could be demonstrated only in the group of rats which underwent conventional abdominal vasectomy with ligation of the vas deferens. This groups footpad swelling response (p<.01) and the chromium labeled results (p<.001) were statistically significant.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)
Silicon Microwire Arrays for Solar Energy-Conversion Applications

Highly structured silicon microwire (Si MW) arrays have been synthesized and characterized as absorbers for solar energy-conversion systems. These materials are of great interest for applications in solar energy conversion, including solar electricity and solar fuels production, due to their unique materials properties, form factors, ease of fabrication, and device-processing attributes. The Si MW array geometry allows for efficient collection of photogenerated carriers from impure materials that have short minority-carrier diffusion lengths while simultaneously allowing for high optical absorption and high external quantum yields for charge-carrier collection. In addition, Si MW arrays exhibit unique mesoscale optical behavior and can be removed from the growth substrate to provide flexible, processable arrays of Si microwires ordered in a variety of organic polymers and ionomers. The unique photon-management properties of Si MW arrays, combined with their high internal surface area and controlled morpho...
Relative Influence of Sire and Dam on Fertility in Turkeys

Abstract FERTILITY is a unique trait because it is not a characteristic of the zygote formed by the union of the sperm with an egg, but rather a characteristic of the specific mating between male and female. On the other hand, variation in fertility may be partitioned into components associated with the sire, dam and the interaction of sire by dam just as any other trait. Relatively little is known about the factors contributing to infertility in the turkey. Smyth and Leighton (1953) concluded that much infertility could be explaned on the basis of low mating frequency on the part of the females, or poor mating efficiency on the part of the males. An indication of the role that the female plays in fertility was noted by Milby and Thompson (1945) in hens which remained infertile even after male rotation in single male mating pens. With artificial insemination, mating inefficiencies, along …
Stackelberg-Game-Based Dynamic Spectrum Access in Heterogeneous Wireless Systems

In this paper, we investigate a two-stage Stackelberg game for dynamic spectrum access (DSA) in cognitive radio networks using a leader [spectrum provider (SP)] subgame and a follower [secondary user (SU)] subgame. Our research distinguishes itself in a number of ways. First, a two-stage Stackelberg game has been proposed to provide a unique optimal solution that facilitates a tradeoff between quality of service (QoS) of unlicensed SUs and revenue of SPs. Second, comprehensive budget and QoS constraints imposed by the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio are defined to fully take into account QoS requirements. Third, a necessary condition and closed form for the existence of the Stackelberg equilibrium are presented for multiradio multichannel DSA. Analytical and simulation studies are carried out to assess the performance of the proposed game, and the numerical results verify that the proposed approach reaches the unique Stackelberg equilibrium.
Importance of studying the contributions of early adverse experience to neurobiological findings in depression

Almost four decades of intensive research have sought to elucidate the neurobiological bases of depression. Epidemiological studies have revealed that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the risk for depression. Adverse early-life experiences influence neurobiological systems within genetic limits, leading to the neurobiological and behavioral manifestations of depression. We summarize the burgeoning evidence concerning a pre-eminent role of early adverse experience in the pathogenesis of depression. The available data suggest that (1) early adverse experience contributes to the pathophysiology of depression, (2) there are neurobiologically different subtypes of depression depending on the presence or absence of early adverse experience, likely having confounded previous research on the neurobiology of depression, and (3) early adverse experience likely influences treatment response in depression. Classification of depression based on developmental and neurobiological features will likely considerably improve future research in the field of depression, and might lead to optimized treatment strategies that directly target different neurobiological pathways to depression.
Broadening participation: add RESPECT to your summer plans

We invite you to join IEEE's Special Technical Community on Broadening Participation in Computing (stcbp.org) for the second annual conference on Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT) in Atlanta, GA, August 11--13, 2016 (http://respect2016.stcbp.org/). Submit research papers, experience reports (due April 17), posters and lightning talks (due June 3).