cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minimal Surfaces Extend Shortest Path Segmentation Methods to 3D

Shortest paths have been used to segment object boundaries with both continuous and discrete image models. Although these techniques are well defined in 2D, the character of the path as an object boundary is not preserved in 3D. An object boundary in three dimensions is a 2D surface. However, many different extensions of the shortest path techniques to 3D have been previously proposed in which the 3D object is segmented via a collection of shortest paths rather than a minimal surface, leading to a solution which bears an uncertain relationship to the true minimal surface. Specifically, there is no guarantee that a minimal path between points on two closed contours will lie on the minimal surface joining these contours. We observe that an elegant solution to the computation of a minimal surface on a cellular complex (e.g., a 3D lattice) was given by Sullivan. Sullivan showed that the discrete minimal surface connecting one or more closed contours may be found efficiently by solving a minimum-cost circulation network flow (MCNF) problem. In this work, we detail why a minimal surface properly extends a shortest path (in the context of a boundary) to three dimensions, present Sullivan's solution to this minimal surface problem via an MCNF calculation, and demonstrate the use of these minimal surfaces on the segmentation of image data.
Regulation of Hypothalamic Presympathetic Neurons and Sympathetic Outflow by Group II Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Increased glutamatergic input in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) plays an important role in the development of hypertension. Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors are expressed in the PVN, but their involvement in regulating synaptic transmission and sympathetic outflow in hypertension is unclear. Here, we show that the group II metabotropic glutamate receptors agonist (2S,2'R,3'R)-2-(2',3'-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine (DCG-IV) produced a significantly greater reduction in the frequency of spontaneous and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents and in the amplitude of electrically evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents in retrogradely labeled spinally projecting PVN neurons in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) than in normotensive control rats. DCG-IV similarly decreased the frequency of GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents of labeled PVN neurons in the 2 groups of rats. Strikingly, DCG-IV suppressed the firing of labeled PVN neurons only in SHRs. DCG-IV failed to inhibit the firing of PVN neurons of SHRs in the presence of ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists. Lowering blood pressure with celiac ganglionectomy in SHRs normalized the DCG-IV effect on excitatory postsynaptic currents to the same level seen in control rats. Furthermore, microinjection of DCG-IV into the PVN significantly reduced blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity in SHRs. Our findings provide new information that presynaptic group II metabotropic glutamate receptor activity at the glutamatergic terminals increases in the PVN in SHRs. Activation of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors in the PVN inhibits sympathetic vasomotor tone through attenuation of increased glutamatergic input and neuronal hyperactivity in SHRs.
Peptide-Based Drug Development

With the number of small molecule-based drug candidates in clinical trials and approved drugs for the market decreasing, scientists from the pharmaceutical industry and academia are giving more attention to peptides or other bioactive drugs. Peptide drugs, especially the short synthetic and long-acting ones, are quickly increasing in the global market while advances in such fields as chemical synthesis and peptide formulation having been made in recent decades.
The evolution of altruistic punishment

Both laboratory and field data suggest that people punish noncooperators even in one-shot interactions. Although such “altruistic punishment” may explain the high levels of cooperation in human societies, it creates an evolutionary puzzle: existing models suggest that altruistic cooperation among nonrelatives is evolutionarily stable only in small groups. Thus, applying such models to the evolution of altruistic punishment leads to the prediction that people will not incur costs to punish others to provide benefits to large groups of nonrelatives. However, here we show that an important asymmetry between altruistic cooperation and altruistic punishment allows altruistic punishment to evolve in populations engaged in one-time, anonymous interactions. This process allows both altruistic punishment and altruistic cooperation to be maintained even when groups are large and other parameter values approximate conditions that characterize cultural evolution in the small-scale societies in which humans lived for most of our prehistory.
Phase Equilibria in Rare‐Earth Chloride‐Fluoride and Rare–Earth Chloride–Magnesium Fluoride Systems

Equilibrium phase diagrams for the systems LaCl 3 -LaF 3 , CeCl 3 -CeF 3 , NdCl 3 -NdF 3 , LaCl 3 -MgF 2 , CeCl 2 -MgF 2 , and NdCl 3 -MgF 2 were determined by differential thermal analysis. A eutectic was observed at 654° ± 4°C and 31 mol% LaF 3 in the LaCl 3 -LaF 3 system, 620° ± 3°C and 31.5 mol% CeF 3 in the CeCl 3 -CeF 3 system, 615° ± 5°C and 29 mol% NdF 3 in the NdCl 3 -NdF 3 system, 723° ± 5°C and 30 mol% MgF 2 in the LaCl 3 -MgF 2 system, 690° ± 3°C and 26 mol% MgF 2 in the CeCl 3 -MgF 2 system, and 655° ± 3°C and 26.5 mol% MgF 2 in the NdCl 3 -MgF 2 system. A compound, NdCl 3 .NdF 3 , decomposing at 595° ± 5°C, also was observed in the NdCl 3 -NdF 3 system. On the basis of agreement between the activities calculated by the Temkin model and the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, the melts of the rare-earth (RE) chloride and fluoride consisted of RE 3+ , Cl - , and F - . The melts formed with a rare-earth chloride and magnesium fluoride consisted of RE 3+ , Mg 2+ , RECl 6 3- , and MgF 4 2- .
Effect of Ejaculation Frequency on Sperm Quality

Sixty-four normozoospermic and 19 oligozoospermic males underwent sperm analyses of two successive specimens obtained at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals. The first specimen was produced after 3 days of abstinence. Sperm volume of normozoospermic males declined from 2.3 +/- 1.0 to 1.6 +/- 1.0 ml, 2.6 +/- 1.0 to 2.0 +/- 0.9 ml, and 2.1 +/- 0.9 to 1.9 +/- 1.0 ml at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively. Similarly, oligozoospermic males showed declines from 2.3 +/- 1.2 to 1.7 +/- 1.5 and 2.3 +/- 1.1 to 1.8 +/- 1.2 and an increase from 1.2 +/- 1.2 to 1.5 +/- 0.7 ml, respectively. Sperm counts of normozoospermic males declined from 65 +/- 54 to 55 +/- 34, 83 +/- 57 to 69 +/- 47, and 97 +/- 51 to 81 +/- 46 million spermatozoa/ml at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively. Oligozoospermic males showed declines from 5.1 +/- 5.4 to 3.8 +/- 4.1 and 8.2 +/- 8.6 to 7.2 +/- 5.2 and an increase from 3.8 +/- 0.6 to 5.7 +/- 2.1 million spermatozoal/ml at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively. Sperm motility of normozoospermic males varied from 41 +/- 20 to 38 +/- 18, 55 +/- 14 to 56 1/3 pm 14, and 52 +/- 15 to 52 +/- 20% at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Basic Study of Continuous Ultrasonic Devulcanization of Unfilled Silicone Rubber

Abstract The present paper describes a basic study of the devulcanization of unfilled model silicone rubber vulcanizates using a continuous ultrasonic reactor. The devulcanization was conducted under several processing conditions. Cure behavior, rheological properties, structural characteristics of the devulcanized rubber, and mechanical properties of revulcanized rubbers were studied. Gel fraction and crosslink density measurement indicate that the rubber is partially devulcanized. The gel permeation chromatography (GPC) results imply that the creation of a branched structure in the network is a possibility after devulcanization. Under the optimal devulcanization condition, the mechanical properties of revulcanized rubber are better than those of the virgin rubber. Devulcanized silicone rubber was also blended with the virgin one. The blends show the same tensile strength and modulus as the virgin rubber but higher elongation.
Effect of Surgical Alteration of the Rat Gastrointestinal Tract On the Growth and Development of Hymenolepis Diminuta

Eight groups of rats were used to study the involvement of the enteric (ENS) and central (CNS) nervous systems in the development of Hymenolepis diminuta using surgical intestinal transection, or CNS denervation, or both procedures. The transection procedure was used to isolate the ENS of the small intestine from either orad and/or caudal portions of the alimentary system, while the CNS denervation was used to eliminate direct visceral efferent inputs from the CNS. Nine days after the surgical procedures, all rats were infected with 35 cysticercoids of H. diminuta. On 20 days postinfection, the infection intensity, tapeworm dry weight, tapeworm morphology, intestine length, and intestinal wet weight were recorded. Only the combination of the duodenal and ileal transections with a CNS denervation reduced infection intensity and prevented the increased intestinal length normally observed in infected rats. In contrast, none of the various intestinal transection procedures alone or CNS denervation alone had a...
Frequent Flyer Miles as Company Scrip: Implications on Taxation

Frequent flyer programs encourage airline brand loyalty by customers. These popular programs have been the subjects of much discussion on whether or not the frequent flyer miles received by customers are taxable. Although many scholars favor taxing the miles, we propose that there are considerable problems of timing and valuation. Therefore, the frequent flyer miles should not be taxed.
Utility of Direct Immunofluorescence Testing for IgA in Patients With High and Low Clinical Suspicion for Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of direct immunofluorescence (DIF) testing for the characteristic immunoglobulin A deposits of dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) in patients stratified into high and low clinical suspicion subgroups. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the results of H&E and DIF testing in 77 cases of suspected DH and separated them into high and low clinical suspicion subgroups based on clinical impression at the time of biopsy. Results The overall sensitivity and specificity of routine (H&E) histologic evaluation were 0.75 and 0.951, respectively. Although there were 13 cases of DH (of 36 total cases) in the high clinical suspicion subgroup, there were only three (of 41 total cases) in the low clinical suspicion subgroup. In the high clinical suspicion subgroup, the positive predictive value (PPV) was 0.9, and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 0.846. Alternatively, the PPV was 0.6 and the NPV was 1.0 for the low clinical suspicion subgroup. Histologic false negatives did occur, but all were in patients within the high clinical suspicion subgroup. Conclusions It is anticipated that the NPV and PPV will vary due to differing clinical practice characteristics; however, in patients with a low clinical suspicion for DH, these data argue that it may be reasonable to first perform a biopsy for routine histologic evaluation before requesting DIF analysis.
Cells lacking CIP1/WAF1 genes exhibit preferential sensitivity to cisplatin and nitrogen mustard

Cells lacking CIP1/WAF1 genes exhibit preferential sensitivity to cisplatin and nitrogen mustard
Simulation of a Doppler lidar system for autonomous navigation and hazard avoidance during planetary landing

The latest mission proposals for exploration of solar system bodies require accurate position and velocity data during the descent phase in order to ensure safe, soft landing at the pre-designated sites. During landing maneuvers, the accuracy of the on-board inertial measurement unit (IMU) may not be reliable due to drift over extended travel times to destinations. NASA has proposed an advanced Doppler lidar system with multiple beams that can be used to accurately determine attitude and position of the landing vehicle during descent, and to detect hazards that might exist in the landing area. In order to assess the effectiveness of such a Doppler lidar landing system, it is valuable to simulate the system with different beam numbers and configurations. In addition, the effectiveness of the system to detect and map potential landing hazards must be understood. This paper reports the simulated system performance for a proposed multi-beam Doppler lidar using the LadarSIM system simulation software. Details of the simulation methods are given, as well as lidar performance parameters such as range and velocity accuracy, detection and false alarm rates, and examples of the Doppler lidars ability to detect and characterize simulated hazards in the landing site. The simulation includes modulated pulse generation and coherent detection methods, beam footprint simulation, beam scanning, and interaction with terrain.
Chromosomal Expression of Foreign and Native Genes From Regulatable Promoters in Escherichia coli

A two-step cloning system for expression of foreign and native genes from heterologous promoters in single copy from the E. coli chromosome is described. The system is based on the conditional-replication integration and modular CRIM plasmid technology and new CRIM plasmids described herein. The gene of interest is first synthesized by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by using primers with specially designed SapI site extensions and cloned into the SapI CRIM cloning plasmid pKZ20. The gene is then subcloned with SapI into a CRIM expression plasmid, such as pKZ14, pLZ41, or pLZ42, which carry the regulatable promoter araBp8, rhaBp3, or lacUV5, respectively. The system is described for gfp, which encodes green fluorescence protein, as an example. The resulting CRIM expression plasmids are then integrated in single copy into a chromosomal phage attachment site by supplying integrase from a helper plasmid. Such integrants can be used for conditional expression of any target gene in single copy on the chromosome, especially in gene-structure-function studies where it is important to avoid copy-number artifacts.
Should Your Hospital Have a Hemodialysis Unit

In answering this question, the community hospital should take into account not only potential patient load and personnel needs but also potential major alterations in dialysis facility distribution envisioned in various federal programs. Above all, the important relationship between dialysis and renal transplantation should be a governing consideration in the decision.
Condyloma Acuminatum of the Bladder and Ureter: Case Report and Review of the Literature

AbstractWe report on a 56-year-old woman with extensive condyloma acuminatum of the external genitalia and vagina, with spread to and diffuse involvement of the urethra, bladder and distal ureters. A chronic course, failure to respond to conservative measures and evidence of malignant transformation led to radical surgical treatment.
Mechanism for Clastogenic Activity of Naphthalene. Quarterly Technical Progress Report

The project has two main goals: 1) Identify the types of adducts naphthalene (NA) forms with DNA and 2) determine whether adduct formation correlates with site selective tumor formation in defined subcompartments of the respiratory tract (respiratory and olfactory nasal epithelium and airways of mice, rats and rhesus monkeys). Five tasks are associated with the completion of the goals. Task 1: Contracting and Animal Use Approvals. IACUC and ACURO approvals are complete. The subcontract with UC Davis (UCD) was executed in December 2014. Task 2: Perform In Vitro Study for Goal 1. Rat and mouse samples exposures completed. Monkey samples need to be exposed in next quarter. Task 3: Perform In Vitro Study for Goal 2. Mouse and rat ex vivo exposures completed. Monkey samples need to be completed in the next quarter. Task 4: Sample Preparation and Analysis. Mouse and Rat Goal 2 samples completed. Monkey samples remain to be done for Goal 2. Rat samples completed for Goal 1. Mouse and Monkey samples for Goal 1 need to be completed. Task 5: Data Interpretation and Reporting. Poster will be presented at 2016 Society of Toxicology Meeting. Outline for paper on adduct formation complete and similar to poster formore » SOT meeting.« less
Muon Spin Relaxation Studies on High-Tc Superconductors

The AGS proton synchrotron at Brookhaven National Laboratory facilitates a medium-intensity polarized muon channel. Muon spin relaxation (μSR) experiments on single-phase specimens of (La1.85Sr0.15)CuO4 and YBa2Cu3O7 have been carried out at this facility field (500 – 1000 G) applied perpendicular to the initial muon spin direction, the magnetic-field penetration depth λ in the superconducting state has been determined.
A Congruence Model of Person-Environment Interaction and Consumption Decisions as we Age

Chronological age is often used as a proxy for defining the wants and needs of consumers. A more useful approach to defining the abilities, and resulting needs of the elderly consumer, is their competency in negotiating their physical, emotional, and informational environments. This paper will present a congruence model of person-environment interaction and discuss how it can aid in explaining the individual needs of aging consumers that need to be met to allow for successful aging. Outcomes for product design, service environments, and technological solutions will also be discussed.
Chapter 26: The Psychology of Speculation in the Financial Markets

This chapter discusses the role of speculation in the financial markets that influences individual and group behavior in the form of bubbles and crashes. The chapter highlights behavioral finance issues associated with bubbles, such as overconfidence, herding, group polarization, group-think effect, representativeness bias, familiarity issues, grandiosity, excitement, and the overreaction and under-reaction to prices. These issues are important for understanding past financial mistakes because history often repeat itself. The chapter also examines the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007–2008 on investor psychology, including the impact of a severe financial downturn, anchoring effect, recency bias, worry, loss averse behavior, status quo bias, and trust. The aftermath of the financial crisis might have negative long-term effects on investor psychology in which some investors remain overly risk averse, resulting in under-investment in stocks and over-investment in cash and bonds.
Improving Patient Safety Communication in Residency Programs by Incorporating Patient Safety Discussions Into Rounds.

Background: Engaging residents in patient safety and quality improvement initiatives is sometimes difficult. The primary goal of the current study was to develop a standardized learning experience designed to facilitate patient safety discussions during rounds. Methods: Residents who were on inpatient rotations during a 2-month period in 2014 were exposed to patient safety discussions on rounds. Residents who were not on inpatient rotations served as a control group. Faculty received weekly text reminders with 3 questions designed to engage residents in patient safety discussions. Before and after the intervention, residents were asked to complete a modified Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. Faculty members were asked to complete a brief survey designed by the study investigators. Results: Of the 160 residents who participated in the study, 49 responded to both the preintervention and postintervention surveys (31%). Residents who participated in patient ...
Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of Erithalis (Rubiaceae), an endemic of the Caribbean Basin

Erithalis consists of 8–10 species endemic to the Caribbean Basin. DNA sequences of chloroplast (trnF-trnL) and nuclear non-coding spacers (ITS and ETS) indicate that Erithalis is monophyletic. ETS was the most informative marker, resolving some interspecific relationships. Analyses of the combined data revealed two weakly supported clades: one composed of E. fruticosa and E. nk;harrisii, and a sister clade of the remaining species. Since fossil records indicate the presence of Erithalis-like pollen from the Eocene Gatuncillo Formation of Panama, it is possible that an initial colonization may have been from Central America. Through trans-oceanic dispersal, most likely by birds, Erithalis colonized the Caribbean islands. Some of the inter-island colonizations were accompanied by speciation and low molecular divergence, supporting a recent radiation across these islands.
La política del Estado mexicano para regular los contenidos de la televisión abierta

El 4 de noviembre de 2015 la Secretaria de Gobernacion publico en Mexico las nuevas reglas que deben observar todos los concesionarios que presten servicios de television abierta en la Republica. La transmision de la informacion audiovisual bajo los nuevos criterios gubernamentales causara graves consecuencias en la formacion psico-emocional de las nuevas generaciones. Por ello, es necesario analizar desde la perspectiva de la economia politica de la comunicacion las diversas repercusiones que ocasionaran sobre ninos y adolescentes del pais y las posibles alternativas de compensacion de las mismas.
Preclinical study of a Kv11.1 potassium channel activator as antineoplastic approach for breast cancer

Potassium ion (K+) channels have been recently found to play a critical role in cancer biology. Despite that pharmacologic manipulation of ion channels is recognized as an important therapeutic approach, very little is known about the effects of targeting of K+ channels in cancer. In this study, we demonstrate that use of the Kv11.1 K+ channel activator NS1643 inhibits tumor growth in an in vivo model of breast cancer. Tumors exposed to NS1643 had reduced levels of proliferation markers, high expression levels of senescence markers, increased production of ROS and DNA damage compared to tumors of untreated mice. Importantly, mice treated with NS1643 did not exhibit significant cardiac dysfunction. In conclusion, pharmacological stimulation of Kv11.1 activity produced arrested TNBC-derived tumor growth by generating DNA damage and senescence without significant side effects. We propose that use of Kv11.1 channels activators could be considered as a possible pharmacological strategy against breast tumors.
Centrifugation-free washing: A novel approach for removing immunoglobulin A from stored red blood cells.

Washed red blood cells (RBCs) are indicated for immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficient recipients. Centrifugation-based cell processors commonly used by hospital blood banks cannot consistently reduce IgA below the recommended levels, hence double washing is frequently required. Here, we describe a prototype of a simple, portable, disposable system capable of washing stored RBCs without centrifugation, while reducing IgA below 0.05 mg/dL in a single run. Samples from RBC units (n = 8, leukoreduced, 4-6 weeks storage duration) were diluted with normal saline to a hematocrit of 10%, and then washed using either the prototype washing system, or via conventional centrifugation. The efficiency of the two washing methods was quantified and compared by measuring several key in vitro quality metrics. The prototype of the washing system was able to process stored RBCs at a rate of 300 mL/hour, producing a suspension of washed RBCs with 43 ± 3% hematocrit and 86 ± 7% cell recovery. Overall, the two washing methods performed similarly for most measured parameters, lowering the concentration of free hemoglobin by >4-fold and total free protein by >10-fold. Importantly, the new washing system reduced the IgA level to 0.02 ± 0.01 mg/mL, a concentration 5-fold lower than that produced by conventional centrifugation. This proof-of-concept study showed that centrifugation may be unnecessary for washing stored RBCs. A simple, disposable, centrifugation-free washing system could be particularly useful in smaller medical facilities and resource limited settings that may lack access to centrifugation-based cell processors.
Africaresource.com: Bridging the Digital Divide

I began this essay after an energizing meeting with a bright young scholar on starting a new journal for africaresource.com. The journal, we agreed, would address the knowledge concerns of a politically conscious generation engaged in transformatory critical scholarship. Its distinguishing feature would be the New Afrikan perspective that would offer radical readings of texts and cultural phenomena. Just as our discussion drew to a close the critical question came: So what exactly does africaresource.com stand for? The question was clearly prompted by histories of subversions of progressive initiatives that have made members of marginal communities wary of ventures that seem to owe their existence to shadowy financiers. Misty Bastian gives legitimacy to the existence and power of these financial backers. She argues that as "marginalized communities come more firmly under the domination of the 'owners' of gigabits of memory, satellite telecommunications, and undersea fiber optic cables strung around whole continents,"2 access to the Internet will be determined by them. Given that marginalized communities are already under this domination, who really is the financial backer of africaresource.com? In a certain sense, africaresource.com is an experiment on how to avoid such control even as we strive to bridge the digital divide. Autonomy and organizational control are necessary in these matters if the founding vision and goals are to be realized. Goals can be achieved when the vision is clearly defined; forces will then realign to ensure its realization. These may be compromised if in the formative years providers of funding can dictate their wishes. Africaresource.com began three years ago in 1999 with no funding from any institution. During the boom years of the dot-com industry, both program officers of nonprofit agencies and fund managers of investment firms used a set of physiological traits to gauge the potential success of an Internet scheme. The traits are
CHALLENGES IN DELIVERING DISTANCE EDUCATION

Despite the challenges that exist with DE (Distance Education), university and faculty can provide a strong learning environment for their students if they understand and mitigate the challenges of the DE program. This paper describes a case study of a DE program that offers classroom instruction for multiple sites that are connected using a telecommunication medium. Additionally, the paper describes challenges that are encountered with DE classes and how faculty can improve theses classes by understanding and mitigating these challenges. These challenges include institutional support, student interaction, and quality of instructional information, content delivery, and technology. The paper concludes with a discussion of the case study and recommendations for improving DE.
Unc93b1 recruits Syntenin-1 to dampen TLR7 signaling and prevent autoimmunity

Recognition of nucleic acids enables detection of diverse pathogens by a limited number of innate immune receptors but also exposes the host to potential autoimmunity. At least two members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, TLR7 and TLR9, can recognize self RNA or DNA, respectively. Despite the structural and functional similarities between these receptors, their contribution to autoimmune diseases such as SLE can be quite different. However, mechanisms of negative regulation that differentiate between TLR7 and TLR9 have not been described. Here we report a new function for the TLR trafficking chaperone Unc93b1 that specifically limits TLR7 signaling and prevents TLR7-dependent autoimmunity. Unc93b1 is known to traffic TLRs from the endoplasmic reticulum to endosomes, but this new regulatory function does not affect TLR7 localization. Instead, Unc93b1 recruits Syntenin-1, which inhibits TLR7, but not TLR9, signaling. Syntenin-1 binding requires phosphorylation of two serine residues on Unc93b1, providing a mechanism for dynamic regulation of the activation threshold of TLR7. Disruption of the Unc93b1/Syntenin-1 interaction in mice results in TLR7-dependent autoimmunity. Thus, Unc93b1 not only enables proper trafficking of nucleic acid sensing TLRs but also sets the activation threshold of these potentially self-reactive receptors.
Dynamic double auctions: towards first best

We study the problem of designing dynamic double auctions for two-sided markets in which a platform intermediates the trade between one seller offering independent items to multiple buyers, repeatedly over a finite horizon, when agents have private values. Motivated by online advertising and ride-hailing markets, we seek to design mechanisms satisfying the following properties: no positive transfers, i.e., the platform never asks the seller to make payments nor buyers are ever paid and periodic individual rationality, i.e., every agent should derive a non-negative utility from every trade opportunity. We provide mechanisms satisfying these requirements that are asymptotically efficient and budget-balanced with high probability as the number of trading opportunities grows. Moreover, we show that the average expected profit obtained by the platform under these mechanisms asymptotically approaches first best (the maximum possible welfare generated by the market).
Efficient pattern matching for RNA secondary structures

We propose efficient methods to address key pattern matching problems in RNA secondary structures using the notion of structural strings. A structural string (s-string) is composed of constant symbols and parameter symbols from the alphabets Σ and ?, respectively. An individual symbol in the ? alphabet may be considered a complement of another unique symbol in ?. The notion of matching constants, parameters, and complements is referred to as the structural matching (s-match) problem, which is helpful in matching RNA and previously, was solved by the structural suffix tree (sST). Other approaches to RNA matching that do not openly consider the s-match include the use of affix data structures. In this paper, we provide new data structures and algorithms to address the s-match problem. Specifically, we introduce the structural suffix array and structural longest common prefix array and then identify how to s-match with these data structures. Our new s-matching solution is then used as the framework to answer various combinatorial queries encountered in matching RNA secondary structures.
Measuring Group Process in Nurse-Facilitated Support Groups for Psychosocial Club Members

AbstractNearly half of patients with serious mental illness (SMI) lack friends and social connectedness-building blocks of recovery. While support groups have been found to promote friendship-build...
Can We Quantify Ethical Consumption?: Reflections on a Decade-Long Exercise in Public Sociology:

In order to contribute to the ongoing discussion of the evolving nature of public sociology, this article reflects on a public sociology research project a decade after presenting it as part of the...
Some reflections on the IPA

This paper is a commentary on both the newly revised International Phonetic Alphabet, and on the 1989 Kiel Convention of the International Phonetic Association at which it was produced. The new IPA chart is examined, and the pragmatic but conservative attitudes of the Association are described. It is shown that the IPA has a phonological basis, and that IPA transcription has two parts: a text containing IPA symbols, and a set of conventions (rules) for interpreting the symbols. The paper concludes with a personal view of the problems of whether there is a finite set of speech sounds, and whether a sound in one language can be equated with one in another, suggesting that for the phonetician there is no universal truth independent of the observer.
The Joint Associations of Maternal BMI and Glycemia with Childhood Adiposity

Context An obesogenic perinatal environment contributes to adverse offspring metabolic health. Previous studies have been limited by lack of direct adiposity measurements and failure to account for potential confounders. Objective Examine the joint associations of maternal midpregnancy body mass index (BMI) and glycemia with direct adiposity measures in 10-14 year old offspring. Design and setting International, epidemiological study: Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) and HAPO Follow-up Study, conducted between 2000-2006 and 2013-2016, respectively. Participants and main outcome measures In 4832 children, adiposity measures for body mass index (BMI), body fat with air displacement plethysmography, skinfold thickness, and waist circumference were obtained at mean age 11.4 years. Results Maternal BMI and glucose, as continuous and categorical variables, were the primary predictors. In fully adjusted models controlling for child age, sex, field center, and maternal characteristics, maternal BMI had significant, positive associations with all childhood adiposity outcomes, while maternal glycemia had significant, positive associations with childhood adiposity outcomes except BMI. In joint analyses, and compared with a nonobese, nongestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) reference group, maternal obesity and GDM were associated with higher odds (maternal obesity odds ratio; OR [95% confidence interval; CI], GDM OR [95% CI]; combined OR [95% CI]) of childhood overweight/obese BMI (3.00 [2.42-3.74], 1.39 [1.14-1.71], 3.55 [2.49-5.05]), obese BMI (3.54 [2.70-4.64], 1.73 [1.29-2.30], 6.10 [4.14-8.99]), percent body fat >85th percentile (2.15 [1.68-2.75], 1.33 [1.03-1.72], 3.88 [2.72-5.55]), sum of skinfolds >85th percentile (2.35 [1.83-3.00], 1.75 [1.37-2.24], 3.66 [2.55-5.27]), and waist circumference >85th percentile (2.52 [1.99-3.21], 1.39 [1.07-1.80], 4.18 [2.93-5.96]). Conclusions Midpregnancy maternal BMI and glycemia are independently and additively associated with direct adiposity measures in 10-14 year old children. The combination of maternal obesity and GDM is associated with the highest odds of childhood adiposity.
Effects of Hormonal Contraception on Mood

This review will clarify the complex relationship of hormonal contraception and mood in women both with and without mood disorders, in adolescents, and in postpartum women. Though the overall effect of hormonal contraception on mood does not appear to have a significant clinical impact, several recent population-based studies suggest adolescents are potentially more vulnerable than adults. Strategic initiation of hormonal contraception may mitigate mood symptoms, with continuous regimens of hormonal therapy demonstrating some benefit over cyclic regimens. Additional rigorous studies are needed to measure the impact of hormonal contraception on mood relative to dose and formulation, particularly in those women with pre-existing mood disorders.
Electroencephalographic Investigation of the Effect of Skill Level and Social Inhibition on Simulated Handgun Shooting

We examined effects of Social Inhibition (SI), and Skill Level (SL) on simulated handgun shooting performance. Electroencephalogram (EEG) was also recorded in order to measure task-related changes in cortical activity. Participants consisted of Novice (NSL) and Experienced (ESL) shooters who were randomly assigned to shoot while in the presence of an audience (Hi SI) or alone (Low SI). The results revealed that NSL were less accurate than ESL in all conditions as was predicted. Shooting accuracy was predicted by alpha and beta amplitude, indicating different roles for attention and anxiety. Prefrontal alpha amplitude was significantly influenced by SL and SI, with a finding that ES showed RH deactivation while NS showed LH deactivation. Findings are discussed in terms of theories of motor control and SI.
A Data-Informed Approach for Analysis, Validation, and Identification of COVID-19 Models

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated an enormous amount of data, providing a unique opportunity for modeling and analysis. In this paper, we present a data-informed approach for building stochastic compartmental models that is grounded in the Markovian processes underlying these models. Our initial data analyses reveal that the SIRD model -- susceptiple (S), infected (I), recovered (R), and death (D) -- is not consistent with the data. In particular, the transition times expressed in the dataset do not obey exponential distributions, implying that there exist unmodeled (hidden) states. We make use of the available epidemiological data to inform the location of these hidden states, allowing us to develop an augmented compartmental model which includes states for hospitalization (H) and end of infectious viral shedding (V). Using the proposed model, we characterize delay distributions analytically and match model parameters to empirical quantities in the data to obtain a good model fit. Insights from an epidemiological perspective are presented, as well as their implications for mitigation and control strategies.
The US vice presidential debate: a Black woman’s resistance to white masculine dominance and white fragility to assert equal voice on public policy

The Vice Presidential debate on 7 October 2020 between Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence was historic. For the first time in U.S. history, the electorate heard a Black woman candi...
Counterfactual-based nudging and signaling promote more efficient coordination during group tasks

Groups of people often find it challenging to coordinate on a single choice or option. Even when coordination is achieved, it may be inefficient because better outcomes were possible. Numerous rese...
Volatility Risk Premiums Embedded in Individual Equity Options: Some New Insights

The research indicates that index option prices incorporate a negative volatility risk premium, thus providing a possible explanation of why Black-Scholes implied volatilities of index options on average exceed realized volatilities. This examination of the empirical implication of a market volatility risk premium on 25 individual equity options provides some new insights. While the Black-Scholes implied volatilities from individual equity options are also greater on average than historical return volatilities, the difference between them is much smaller than for the market index. Like index options, individual equity option prices embed a negative market volatility risk premium, although much smaller than for the index option - and idiosyncratic volatility does not appear to be priced. These empirical results provide a potential explanation of why buyers of individual equity options leave less money on the table than buyers of index options.
Assédio moral no trabalho e a responsabilidade civil do praticante / Moral harassment at work and the civil responsibility of the practitioner

O presente artigo versa a respeito da responsabilidade civil face ao assedio moral, o qual ocorre, infeliz e constantemente em seara trabalhista, incidindo responsabilidade civil ao praticante. Ademais, tal responsabilidade atinge toda a sociedade civil e nao pode apoiar nem deixar de denunciar tal comportamento autoritario e extremamente prejudicial ao andamento das instituicoes. Outrossim, o enfrentamento ao assedio moral no trabalho e basilar deste estudo. Assim, realizou um estudo bibliografico, os resultados apresentados com a pesquisa, fica evidente os esforcos no que tange ao processo legislativo, em protegerem o trabalhador de forma mais ampla possivel, ja que e esta a parte hipossuficiente, quem sustenta com peso a carga tributaria brasileira e ja sofre com os nocivos efeitos da nova reforma trabalhista.Por conseguinte, tratar-se-a a respeito desta responsabilidade civil e sua coesao com o crime de assedio moral.
Perceptions of Psychotherapy Waiting Rooms: Design Recommendations:

Objective:This study fills the gap in literature by examining the design elements preferred in psychotherapy waiting rooms.Background:Studies have examined waiting rooms in hospitals and doctors’ o...
Hualong-One, le réacteur chinois de troisième génération

Le Hualong-One est le reacteur developpe par les industriels chinois sur la base de transferts technologiques anterieurs. Avec ce reacteur, la Chine ambitionne de developper son parc nucleaire et de s’imposer a l’export. Le 30 janvier 2021, Fuqing-5 est le premier Hualong-One a entrer en operation commerciale et, le 18 mars 2021, le premier des deux reacteurs en construction au Pakistan a etre connecte au reseau.
Examination of race and gender differences in predictors of neuropsychological decline and development of Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE Black adults are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) at higher rates than White adults. Biopsychosocial risk factors that differentially affect individuals by race, including health, education, and APOE e4, may explain these findings. Some research suggests that the risk for AD associated with the APOE e4 allele may differ by race. Gender differences in AD have also been identified but remain understudied. We examined race, APOE status, vascular risk factors, education, and the interaction of APOE e4 status and race as predictors of cognitive decline and the development of Alzheimer's disease between genders in a large longitudinal sample of older adults. Methods: Participants (N = 4336) were selected from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center's Uniform Data Set who completed measures of verbal fluency, naming, and immediate/delayed story memory across 5 years. Analyses were stratified by gender. Follow up interactions examined statistical significance of differences. Results: APOE e4 by race interactions were largely non-significant and dropped from most models. When controlling for health, education, referral source, and Uniform Data Set form (when applicable), few racial differences in cognitive performance over time emerged. Black participants obtained lower scores than White participants on a majority of baseline measures. Race findings did not differ by gender. Hypertension was more strongly predictive of decline in delayed memory among women. Conclusions: Analyses did not support that APOE e4 differentially affects Black individuals. Hypertension may be a more relevant risk factor among women. Results raise questions regarding the accuracy of baseline scores in predicting decline for Black individuals.
Objectifying Intersubjectivity Through Inclusion for a Scientific [R]Evolution: Avoiding Polarization by Engaging Stakeholders for Saliency, Priority and Trust

This chapter addresses the challenge of actualizing a scientific revolution (paradigm shift), as defined by Thomas Kuhn in his seminal book “The structure of Scientific Revolutions”, for the domain of Intersubjectivity. This domain of science should be distinguished from the domain of objectivity, which is relevant and applicable to the First Phase Science. The unique advantage of objectivity is the universality of observations by diverse observers, i.e., the consensus among all observers regarding their observations. This property of universality is lacking in the intersubjectivity domain. It appears reasonable to identify three distinct and overlapping domains of observational complexity, namely objective, subjective, and inter-subjective. Indices for measuring situational complexity are presented and discussed. Measurements of the Situational Complexity Index (SCI) emerge from the engagement of stakeholders/observers in collectively discovering saliency, priority, and trust through inclusion. The SCI from a variety of applications of the methodology of Structured Dialogic Design (SDD) in co-laboratories of democracy demonstrates the effectiveness of the methodology in a number of system design arenas. As a result of the gradual elimination of the intersubjective complexity, stakeholders converge to the objective complexity of a situation. Legitimizing the necessity and the importance of intersubjectivity, as a scientific revolution is considered as critical for the sustainability and the future of the planet.
Gender and caste interscetionality in the Indian context

The polish version of this article was published on free CD added to the paper version HRM(ZZL) 2012 6(89) [look at: Zarządzanie Zasobami Ludzkimi 2013 6(95)]
Reputation in Financial Intermediation: Evidence from Venture Capital

Venture capital (VC) has emerged as one of the dominant forms of financing for technology intensive industries. Many start-ups have flourished tremendously after receiving VC funding and have gone on to become industry leaders. Prominent examples include Apple, Cisco, Intel, Genentech, and most recently Google. VCs are important financial intermediaries channeling capital from investors to risky, unproven start-ups that otherwise would face a much more uphill task trying to raise capital. What also sets them apart from other traditional financial intermediaries - banks, other institutional investors etc. - is their ability to provide expertise and other value-added services for start-ups’ development. In addition to providing expertise and value-added services that generate economic benefits, VC firms aspire to be active long-term players in the industry. These motivations critically influence and depend on VCs’ reputational capital, a precious resource in the competitive VC industry beset by considerable information asymmetries between VCs and their investors, as well as between VC firms and start-ups. That a firm’s reputation is a valuable asset which can generate future economic rents for the firm and provide its customers valuable information on products and services is well recognized (Shapiro, 1983; Wilson, 1985). This study surveys the literature on the important role of venture capitalists particularly focusing on their reputation capital and its implications for companies.
The acid hydrolysis of glycosides : III. Hydrolysis of O-methylated glucosides and disaccharides

Abstract Rate coefficients and kinetic parameters have been determined for the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-O-methyl derivatives of methyl β- D -glucopyranoside and of gentiobiose. All of the monomethyl ethers were hydrolyzed somewhat more slowly than the unsubstituted compounds, the rate decreasing for both series in the order 3-O-methyl > 2-O-methyl > 4-O-methyl > 6-O methyl. The results are in agreement with those to be expected if the unimolecular hydrolysis proceeds via a cyclic, carbonium ion; they thus offer additional evidence in favor of this mechanism.
Dan The Xenophobe Rides The A-Train, or The Modern, Unconscious Racist in "Enlightened America

Introduction 69 I. The Demise of Overt Racism/ Barbecue in Indian Wells 75 II. Unconscious Racism, Denial, & Rationalization/ After a Yankee’s Game, 1:30 a.m. 86 III. Overcoming Unconscious Racism / Riding the A Train to JFK, 3:30 a.m 101 Conclusion 110
Identification of a Domain within the Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 2 Envelope Required for Syncytium Induction and Replication

In vitro infection by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and HTLV-2) can result in syncytium formation, facilitating viral entry. Using cell lines that were susceptible to HTLV-2-mediated syncytium formation but were nonfusogenic with HTLV-1, we constructed chimeric envelopes between HTLV-1 and -2 and assayed for the ability to induce syncytia in BJAB cells and HeLa cells. We have identified a fusion domain composed of the first 64 amino acids at the amino terminus of the HTLV-2 transmembrane protein, p21, the retention of which was required for syncytium induction. Construction of replication-competent HTLV genomic clones allowed us to correlate the ability of HTLV-2 to induce syncytia with the ability to replicate in BJAB cells. Differences in the ability to induce syncytia were not due to differences in the levels of total or cell membrane-associated envelope or in the formation of multimers. Therefore, we have localized a fusion domain within the amino terminus of the transmembrane protein of HTLV-2 envelope that is necessary for syncytium induction and viral replication.