cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consumer Pseudo-Showrooming and Omni-Channel Product Placement Strategies

Recent advances in information technologies (IT) have powered the merger of online and offline retail channels into one single platform. Modern consumers frequently switch between online and offline channels when they navigate through various stages of their decision journey, motivating multi-channel sellers to develop omni-channel strategies that optimize their overall profit. This study examines consumers' cross-channel search behavior of "pseudo-showrooming," or the consumer behavior of inspecting one product at a seller's physical store before buying a related but different product at the same seller's online store, and investigates how such behavior allows a multi-channel seller to achieve better coordination between its online and offline channels through optimal product placement strategies. We develop a stylized model in which a multi-channel firm offers a product line consisting of two horizontally differentiated products. Consumers are uncertain about the true values of either product. A consumer's uncertainty regarding a particular product's value is fully resolved after inspecting that product in person, and can also be partially resolved after inspecting the other related product. By selling only one product through the dual channel and the other through the online channel exclusively, the firm induces consumer "pseudo-showrooming" for the online exclusive product. Our analysis shows that this product placement strategy generates a greater profit than selling both products through the dual channel, if the fit probability of individual products and consumers' cost for returning a misfit product are both in the intermediate range. Moreover, we find that over a large parameter region, consumers also enjoy a greater total surplus under the firm's product placement strategy that induces consumer pseudo-showrooming. Furthermore, we find that the firm garners the most benefit from inducing consumer pseudo-showrooming by selling the higher-quality product or the higher-demand product through the online channel exclusively. Collectively, our study offers a compelling demand-side justification of the commonly witnessed practice among multi-channel sellers to offer products online exclusively when offline selling is feasible.The online appendix to this paper may be found at http://ssrn.com/abstract=2811232.
Microfracture for Ulnar Impaction Syndrome: Surgical Technique and Outcomes with Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess functional and patient-reported outcomes after lunate microfracture for management of lunate chondral lesions in the setting of ulnar impaction syndrome. Methods This was a retrospective review of all patients undergoing wrist arthroscopy for triangular fibrocartilage complex pathology by one surgeon from 2007 until 2010. Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) scores were assessed preoperatively and at minimum 2-year follow-up. Patient-rated wrist evaluation and bilateral wrist range of motion, grip strength, and key pinch strength were assessed at final follow-up. Results A total of 22 patients underwent microfracture of the carpus during the study period, of which 7 met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Mean DASH scores improved significantly ( p p E = 15 degrees, standard deviation pronation: 3.25, supination: 3.49). Discussion This study suggests that lunate microfracture may be a useful technique for treating articular defects of the lunate in the setting of ulnar impaction syndrome. Type of Study/Level of Evidence Therapeutic, level IV.
Factors Related to Increased Ulnar Collateral Ligament Thickness on Stress Sonography of the Elbow in Asymptomatic Youth and Adolescent Baseball Pitchers.

Background:Stress ultrasound (SUS) of the elbow has demonstrated changes in the anterior band of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in professional and high school–aged pitchers. However, there have been no large reports correlating pitching history data with SUS changes in youth and adolescent baseball pitchers.Hypothesis:Changes of the UCL on SUS will correlate with pitching volume in youth and adolescent baseball pitchers.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:SUS of the elbow was performed in both elbows of 102 youth and adolescent baseball pitchers. UCL thickness and the width of the ulnohumeral joint, at rest and with 150 N of valgus stress, were measured using a standardized, instrumented device. Demographic data, arm measurements, and a pitching history questionnaire were recorded as well. The pitchers were separated into 2 groups based on age: group 1 (12-14 years) and group 2 (15-18 years). SUS findings of the dominant elbows were compared between the 2 groups. Correla...
The Marginal Social Security Tax on Labor

The effective marginal tax rate on labor income under the social security payroll tax can be less than the statutory rate because additional earnings are associated with higher future benefits. This article develops a theoretical analysis of the determinants of the effective marginal tax rate for an unfunded social security system and applies the analysis to the U.S. system. It concludes that the effective marginal tax rate is only slightly lower than the statutory rate for most workers, except for those who retire in the start-up phase of the system.
Detection Of Bursts Of Microneurographic Activity And Estimation Of Burst Parameters

Microneurograms are used to study the neural control of the autonomic nervous system. We developed a technique for automatically detecting the times of occurrence of bursts of microneurographic activity and their durations. It involves cross-correlating a rectified and smoothed microneurogram with a triangular shaped waveform as the signal template. Parameters of the derivative of this cross-correlation indicate the times of occurrence and the durations of the bursts of activity. The accuracy of the technique was assessed by comparing its results with those of four experienced investigators and showed significant agreement between the automated technique and the investigators. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
How information literate are you? A self-assessment by students enrolled in a competitive intelligence elective

ABSTRACTDuring the fall 2015 semester, 21 students registered for a Competitive Intelligence (CI) course at two universities completed pre-course and post-course surveys. This article compares how students assessed their own information literacy skills prior to taking the course and upon course completion. The analysis compares responses from each class to ascertain similarities and differences between undergraduates and graduate students. Self-assessments of the MBA-MSIS students from the fall 2015 semester are compared to those from prior semesters, 2010–2012 (N = 109). The results point to how information literacy training embedded in course work can influence information behaviors.
Extraprostatic Extension Is Extremely Rare for Contemporary Gleason Score 6 Prostate Cancer

Abstract Background A significant proportion of men with Gleason score 6 (GS6) prostate cancer undergo treatment with radiation or surgery. Objective To assess pathologic stage of pure GS6 at radical prostatectomy (RP). Design, setting, and participants In the period 2003–2014, 7817 patients underwent RP at two institutions. Of 2502 patients with GS6 at surgery, 60 were identified as stage pT3a–b on initial pathologic review, 55 with pT3a (extraprostatic extension, EPE), and five with pT3b (seminal vesicle invasion; SVI). All cases of GS6 with pT3 disease underwent contemporary pathologic evaluation for Gleason grade, stage, and extent of EPE. At one institution, all GS≥7 pT3b cases were re-reviewed for downgrading. The 2014 International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Gleason grading criteria and 2009 ISUP recommendations on pT3 staging were applied. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Calculated incidence (%) of pT3a, pT3b, pT4, and lymph node-positive disease. Results and limitations Of the 60 GS6 pT3a–b cases identified in the period 2003–2014, seven (0.28% of entire GS6 cohort) with GS6 and pT3a were identified after re-review, all focal EPE. Among the re-examined cohort, no cases of GS6 with pT3b were observed. None of the 132 GS≥7 pT3b cases were downgraded to GS6. Limitations include partial embedding of specimens and separate pathologic review at each institution. Conclusions In a large prostatectomy cohort, GS6 never had seminal vesicle invasion (0%) and was very rarely (0.28%) associated with extraprostatic extension. Patient summary GS6 prostate cancer rarely spreads outside the prostate. A new finding in this study was that GS6 prostate cancer never spread to the seminal vesicles.
Highly Potent Cell-Permeable and Impermeable NanoLuc Luciferase Inhibitors.

Novel engineered NanoLuc (Nluc) luciferase being smaller, brighter, and superior to traditional firefly (Fluc) or Renilla (Rluc) provides a great opportunity for the development of numerous biological, biomedical, clinical, and food and environmental safety applications. This new platform created an urgent need for Nluc inhibitors that could allow selective bioluminescent suppression and multiplexing compatibility with existing luminescence or fluorescence assays. Starting from thienopyrrole carboxylate 1, a hit from a 42 000 PubChem compound library with a low micromolar IC50 against Nluc, we derivatized four different structural fragments to discover a family of potent, single digit nanomolar, cell permeable inhibitors. Further elaboration revealed a channel that allowed access to the external Nluc surface, resulting in a series of highly potent cell impermeable Nluc inhibitors with negatively charged groups likely extending to the protein surface. The permeability was evaluated by comparing EC50 shifts...
Beware the Dark Side: Cultural Preferences for Lying Online

Abstract Deceptive communication is a part of everyday life, regardless of one's geographical location or method of communication. Very little research has examined the role of espoused cultural values in the preferences that individuals hold when considering to deceive others. These preferences include the relationship and the sex of the target of the deception and the modality used for committing the deception. This study features a survey of Internet users from four countries that differ in cultural values. Results indicate that more lying occurs online no matter the country, but preferences for lying differ between nationalities.
Designing and implementing the humane crisis organizing framework for resilience with Grief, Stress, and Faith stakeholders

The crisis organizing frameworks of US higher education institutions prioritize institutional response and recovery at pre‐, mid‐, and postcrisis stages, and too often understate the role of human(e) resilience. At its core, resilience is very personal as seen in times of grief, stress, and crises of faith. To improve institutional response and recovery as well as human(e) resilience, a new crisis organizing framework to enhance human(e) resilience accentuates the role of grief, stress, and faith.
PNL2: an adjunctive biomarker for renal angiomyolipomas and perivascular epithelioid cell tumours.

Aims Renal angiomyolipoma (AML) and perivascular epithelioid cell tumour (PEComa) are members of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MiTF) family of tumours. Traditionally, HMB45 and melan-A have been used to diagnose these lesions; however, low sensitivity can make interpretation difficult. PNL2 is a sensitive and specific biomarker for epithelioid melanoma, and immunoreactivity has also been shown in small series of PEComas. This study was aimed at determining the utility of PNL2 in MiTF and non-MiTF renal tumours. Methods and results PNL2 immunostaining was performed on 196 tumours, including 40 MiTF renal tumours [AMLs, epithelioid AMLs, sclerosing PEComas, malignant PEComas, and Xp11.2 renal cell carcinomas (RCCs)] and 156 non-MiTF renal tumours. HMB45, melan-A and cathepsin K were also evaluated in a subset of MiTF tumours. Overall, 85% of AMLs and PEComas were positive for PNL2, as compared with 81%, 76% and 95% that were positive for HMB45, melan-A, and cathepsin K, respectively. In 55% of cases, PNL2 stained more extensively than HMB45. PNL2 staining was more frequent than HMB45 (78%) and melan-A (38%) staining in sclerosing and malignant PEComas (89%). All remaining renal tumours, except one melanocytic Xp11.2 RCC, were negative for PNL2. Conclusions PNL2 has high sensitivity and specificity for AML and PEComas as compared with non-MiTF renal tumours, and PNL2 appears to be a more useful biomarker for sclerosing and malignant PEComas. For cases that are limited in tissue quantity (i.e. core biopsies) and/or are morphologically suspicious for AML/PEComa, but negative or focally positive for HMB45 and melan-A, PNL2 may be a useful adjunctive biomarker.
Molecular Tension Probes for Imaging Forces at the Cell Surface

Mechanical forces are essential for a variety of biological processes ranging from transcription and translation to cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation. Through the activation of mechanosensitive signaling pathways, cells sense and respond to physical stimuli from the surrounding environment, a process widely known as mechanotransduction. At the cell membrane, many signaling receptors, such as integrins, cadherins and T- or B-cell receptors, bind to their ligands on the surface of adjacent cells or the extracellular matrix (ECM) to mediate mechanotransduction. Upon ligation, these receptor-ligand bonds transmit piconewton (pN) mechanical forces that are generated, in part, by the cytoskeleton. Importantly, these forces expose cryptic sites within mechanosensitive proteins and modulate the binding kinetics (on/off rate) of receptor-ligand complexes to further fine-tune mechanotransduction and the corresponding cell behavior. Over the past three decades, two categories of methods have been developed to measure cell receptor forces. The first class is traction force microscopy (TFM) and micropost array detectors (mPADs). In these methods, cells are cultured on elastic polymers or microstructures that deform under mechanical forces. The second category of techniques is single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) including atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical or magnetic tweezers, and biomembrane force probe (BFP). In SMFS, the experimenter applies external forces to probe the mechanics of individual cells or single receptor-ligand complexes, serially, one bond at a time. Although these techniques are powerful, the limited throughput of SMFS and the nN force sensitivity of TFM have hindered further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of mechanotransduction. In this Account, we introduce the recent advent of molecular tension fluorescence microscopy (MTFM) as an emerging tool for molecular imaging of receptor mechanics in living cells. MTFM probes are composed of an extendable linker, such as polymer, oligonucleotide, or protein, and flanked by a fluorophore and quencher. By measuring the fluorescence emission of immobilized MTFM probes, one can infer the extension of the linker and the externally applied force. Thus, MTFM combines aspects of TFM and SMFS to optically report receptor forces across the entire cell surface with pN sensitivity. Specifically, we provide an in-depth review of MTFM probe design, which includes the extendable "spring", spectroscopic ruler, surface immobilization chemistry, and ligand design strategies. We also demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of different versions of MTFM probes by discussing case studies involving the pN forces involved in epidermal growth factor receptor, integrin, and T-cell receptor signaling pathways. Lastly, we present a brief future outlook, primarily from a chemists' perspective, on the challenges and opportunities for the design of next generation MTFM probes.
Embedded entrepreneurs and post-disaster community recovery

Entrepreneurs can and do play an important role in promoting community recovery after disasters. Research, however, has not adequately explored the behavior and practices of post-disaster entrepren...
Cellular Mechanisms of Anti-Mycobacterial Immunity

Tuberculosis is an ancient human disease (1), which continues to be an important public health problem, despite the development of effective vaccines and chemotherapeutic agents. Widespread use of chemotherapy has dramatically reduced worldwide mortality rates for this disease, but has not yet been able to eliminate it (2). Approximately 28,000 new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were reported in the United States last year, with nearly 3,000 deaths directly attributable to this disease (3,4). This continued high rate of incidence some 30 years after the development of potentially effective control measures is both surprising and disturbing. However, it is only when the problem of controlling this disease in Asia, Africa, and Central America is examined, where overcrowding, malnutrition and inadequate health delivery services contribute still further to its continued persistence, that the true dimensions of this world public health problem begin to emerge (5).
Improving end-of-life care in GI oncology patients.

172Background: In FY17, there were 108 patients with cancer who died on an inpatient unit at UVA, and of these, 17 patients (16%) died with incurable advanced stage GI cancer. In addition, 54% of these GI cancer patients did not have an outpatient palliative care consult prior to their time of death. Lack of early palliative care consultation leads to poor end of life care, compromises quality of life for patients and their families, and promotes the overutilization of healthcare. Methods: We participated in the ASCO Quality Training Program for this project. Our first aim (AIM#1) was to increase inpatient palliative care consults by 25% in patients with advanced stage GI cancers who were considered unscheduled admissions by hospital day 2. Our second aim (AIM#2) was to increase outpatient palliative care referrals by 25% in patients with pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers by the second visit. We conducted these aims at UVA from August 2017 to February 2018. The intervention was to remind the GI oncolog...
Human Biospecimens Come from People

Contrary to the revised Common Rule, and contrary to the views of many bioethicists and researchers, we argue that broad consent should be sought for anticipated later research uses of deidentified biospecimens and health information collected during medical care. Individuals differ in the kinds of risk they find concerning and in their willingness to permit use of their biospecimens for future research. For this reason, asking their permission for unspecified research uses is a fundamental expression of respect for them as persons and should be done absent some compelling moral consideration to the contrary. We examine three moral considerations and argue that each of them fails: that there is a duty of easy rescue binding on all, that seeking consent creates a selection bias that undermines the validity of biospecimen research, and that seeking and documenting consent will be prohibitively expensive.
Origins of CD4+ circulating and tissue-resident memory T-cells.

In response to infection, naive CD4+ T-cells proliferate and differentiate into several possible effector subsets, including conventional T helper effector cells (TH 1, TH 2, TH 17), T regulatory cells (Treg ) and T follicular helper cells (TFH ). Once infection is cleared, a small population of long-lived memory cells remains that mediate immune defenses against reinfection. Memory T lymphocytes have classically been categorized into central memory cell (TCM ) and effector memory cell (TEM ) subsets, both of which circulate between blood, secondary lymphoid organs and in some cases non-lymphoid tissues. A third subset of memory cells, referred to as tissue-resident memory cells (TRM ), resides in tissues without recirculation, serving as 'first line' of defense at barrier sites, such as skin, lung and intestinal mucosa, and augmenting innate immunity in the earliest phases of reinfection and recruiting circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. The presence of multiple CD4+ T helper subsets has complicated studies of CD4+ memory T-cell differentiation, and the mediators required to support their function. In this review, we summarize recent investigations into the origins of CD4+ memory T-cell populations and discuss studies addressing CD4+ TRM differentiation in barrier tissues.
Changes in vascular and inflammatory biomarkers after exercise rehabilitation in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease.

Abstract Objective Home-based exercise is an alternative exercise mode to a structured supervised program to improve symptoms in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), but little is known about whether the slow-paced and less intense home program also elicits changes in vascular and inflammatory biomarkers. In an exploratory analysis from a randomized controlled trial, we compared changes in vascular and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with symptomatic PAD (typical and atypical of claudication) after home-based exercise and supervised exercise programs and in an attention-control group. Methods A total of 114 patients were randomized into one of the three groups (n = 38 per group). Two groups performed exercise interventions, consisting of home-based and supervised programs of intermittent walking to mild to moderate claudication pain for 12 weeks; a third group performed light resistance training as a nonwalking attention-control group. Before and after intervention, patients were characterized on treadmill performance and endothelial effects of circulating factors present in sera by a cell culture-based bioassay on primary human arterial endothelial cells, and they were further evaluated on circulating vascular and inflammatory biomarkers. Results Treadmill peak walking time increased (P = .008) in the two exercise groups but not in the control group (P > .05). Cultured endothelial cell apoptosis decreased after home-based exercise (P Conclusions This exploratory analysis found that both home-based and supervised exercise programs are efficacious to decrease cultured endothelial cell apoptosis in patients with symptomatic PAD. Furthermore, a monitored home-based exercise program elicits additional vascular benefits by improving circulating markers of endogenous antioxidant capacity, angiogenesis, endothelium-derived inflammation, and blood glucose concentration in patients with symptomatic PAD. The novel clinical significance is that important trends were found in this exploratory analysis that a contemporary home-based exercise program and a traditional supervised exercise program may favorably improve vascular and inflammatory biomarkers in addition to the well-described ambulatory improvements in symptomatic patients with PAD.
Non-Cystic Fibrosis-Related Meconium Ileus: GUCY2C-Associated Disease Discovered through Rapid Neonatal Whole-Exome Sequencing.

Meconium ileus is caused by cystic fibrosis; however, mutations in the GUCY2C gene also cause this disease. We report non-cystic fibrosis meconium ileus in an infant of non-Middle Eastern origin with compound heterozygous mutations in GUCY2C.
Health Literacy, Depression Literacy, and Depression among Older Korean Americans

The purpose of this study was to explore depression and its relationship with background characteristics, health literacy, and depression literacy among Korean Americans (KAs). A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 178 older KAs (age 60≥) in the Washington D.C. metro area in 2016. Three open-ended questions were included to obtain narrative responses for thoughts about depression and its symptoms, and the living situation that might be related to depression. Depression was measured on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 translated into Korean. The rate of depression was 22.5% among older KAs. No relationship between health literacy and depression was shown. In the regression analysis with covariates, limited English proficiency, less family support, shorter length of U.S. residency, male, and higher depression literacy were significantly associated with higher odds of depression. On narrative questions, only 35% among respondents believed that depression was a mental status. The others described it as environmental or attitude problems such as stress or goals being set too high. Education about depression engaging older KAs immigrants with limited English, and their families are the important health issue in the Korean community.
Fathering Through Change (FTC) intervention for single fathers: Preventing coercive parenting and child problem behaviors

Dishion and Patterson's work on the unique role of fathers in the coercive family process showed that fathers' coercion explained twice the variance of mothers' in predicting children's antisocial behavior and how treatment and prevention of coercion and promotion of prosocial parenting can mitigate children's problem behaviors. Using these ideas, we employed a sample of 426 divorced or separated fathers randomly assigned to Fathering Through Change (FTC), an interactive online behavioral parent training program or to a waitlist control. Participating fathers had been separated or divorced within the past 24 months with children ages 4 to 12 years. We tested an intent to treat (ITT) mediation hypothesis positing that intervention-induced changes in child problem behaviors would be mediated by changes in fathers' coercive parenting. We also tested complier average causal effects (CACE) models to estimate intervention effects, accounting for compliers and noncompliers in the treatment group and would-be compliers in the controls. Mediation was supported. ITT analyses showed the FTC obtained a small direct effect on father-reported pre-post changes in child adjustment problems (d = .20), a medium effect on pre-post changes in fathers' coercive parenting (d = .61), and a moderate indirect effect to changes in child adjustment (d = .30). Larger effects were observed in CACE analyses.
Early Trends, Current Status and Future Prospects of Farm Mechanization in Asia

During the last five decades Asia has made considerable development in the field of agricultural machinery. During the year 1960 the condition of mechanization was very poor and most of the farm operations were performed manually. A positive correlation between the farm power availability and the productivity was observed during past 3 decades for several Asian nations including China, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. The previous trends have shown that the Pakistan, India and Bangladesh have experienced only the selective farm mechanization which was found to be initially limited to the use of heavy tractors only. In addition to the full-scale tractors, China, India and Bangladesh have adopted the power tillers and small-scale tractors to co-op with the fragmented small farms, however, in Pakistan the current inclination is towards the bigger tractors. The Asian countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Cambodia have relatively low mechanization index and lags behind the other neighboring Asian countries. At present, the farm machinery sector has become much better and Asia now has the largest sales of farm machinery in the world. The sales of farm machinery are even better than North America which is the pioneer in this sector. Besides this incredible development in the field of agricultural machinery there are still many Asian countries where most of the farm operations are performed manually thus resulting in the poor crop production compared to the other mechanized regions of the world. During the last five decades Asia has made considerable development in the field of agricultural machinery. During the year 1960 the condition of mechanization was very poor and most of the farm operations were performed manually. A positive correlation between the farm power availability and the productivity was observed during past 3 decades for several Asian nations including China, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. The previous trends have shown that the Pakistan, India and Bangladesh have experienced only the selective farm mechanization which was found to be initially limited to the use of heavy tractors only. In addition to the full-scale tractors, China, India and Bangladesh have adopted the power tillers and small-scale tractors to co-op with the fragmented small farms, however, in Pakistan the current inclination is towards the bigger tractors. The Asian countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Cambodia have relatively low mechanization index and lags behind the other neighboring Asian countries. At present, the farm machinery sector has become much better and Asia now has the largest sales of farm machinery in the world. The sales of farm machinery are even better than North America which is the pioneer in this sector. Besides this incredible development in the field of agricultural machinery there are still many Asian countries where most of the farm operations are performed manually thus resulting in the poor crop production compared to the other mechanized regions of the world.
Stack and bipolar plates design for direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract This chapter illustrates a methodology for designing a direct methanol fuel cell (FC) stack. To show the path that goes from the electrochemical principle to the final device, the reader will find a general description of the components of a single cell, an FC stack, and an FC system. In addition, a brief review of thermodynamic is provided. These basic skills are essential for understanding the subsequent parts of this chapter, where the entire path for making an FC stack is described. The design methodology starts from the calculation of the electrical parameters of the FC stack (voltage and current), the single cell active area, the number of cells, and the cell voltage (which is related to the stack efficiency). Such parameters represent the input data for the design of the flow-field and for the definition of the layout of the bipolar plate. Moreover, sealing, cooling, and clamping of the stack are discussed and practical suggestion are provided in terms of materials, thicknesses, and simplified calculations. The chapter also presents an excursus on the materials most used for bipolar plates and on different stack architectures.
Computational Comparison of Exact Solution Methods for 0-1 Quadratic Programs: Recommendations for Practitioners

This paper is concerned with binary quadratic programs (BQPs), which are among the most well-studied classes of nonlinear integer optimization problems because of their wide variety of applications. While a number of different solution approaches have been proposed for tackling BQPs, practitioners need techniques that are both efficient and easy to implement. We revisit two of the most widely used linearization strategies for BQPs and examine the effectiveness of enhancements to these formulations that have been suggested in the literature. We perform a detailed large-scale computational study over five different classes of BQPs to compare these two linearizations with a more recent linear reformulation and direct submission of the nonlinear integer program to an optimization solver. The goal is to provide practitioners with guidance on how to best approach solving BQPs in an effective and easily implemented manner.
11 – Cluster Analysis

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the uses of cluster methods and describes the procedures involved in conducting cluster analyses. Cluster analysis is a term used to describe a family of statistical procedures specifically designed to discover classifications within complex data sets. The objective of cluster analysis is to group objects into clusters such that objects within one cluster share more in common with one another than they do with the objects of other clusters. Thus, the purpose of the analysis is to arrange objects into relatively homogeneous groups based on multivariate observations. Furthermore, the chapter discusses the uses for cluster analysis. Clustering methods are useful whenever the researcher is interested in grouping together objects based on multivariate similarity. Cluster analysis can be employed as a data exploration tool as well as a hypothesis testing and confirmation tool. The most frequent use of cluster analysis is in the development of a typology or classification system. However, cluster analysis is not a single standardized procedure, and there are pitfalls associated with its improper use, therefore, care is required in its application.
New capsaicin analogs as molecular rulers to define the permissive conformation of the mouse TRPV1 ligand-binding pocket.

The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 is an outstanding representative of ligand-gated ion channels in ligand selectivity and sensitivity. However, molecular interactions that stabilize the ligand-binding pocket in its permissive conformation, and how many permissive conformations the ligand-binding pocket may adopt, remain unclear. To answer these questions, we designed a pair of novel capsaicin analogs to increase or decrease the ligand size by about 1.5 A without altering ligand chemistry. Together with capsaicin, these ligands form a set of molecular rulers for investigating ligand-induced conformational changes. Computational modeling and functional tests revealed that structurally these ligands alternate between drastically different binding poses but stabilize the ligand-binding pocket in nearly identical permissive conformations; functionally, they all yielded a stable open state despite varying potencies. Our study suggests the existence of an optimal ligand-binding pocket conformation for capsaicin-mediated TRPV1 activation gating, and reveals multiple ligand-channel interactions that stabilize this permissive conformation.
Streamlining Smart Cities to Create Safer Spaces

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there have been growing concerns over the safety of various highly populated areas such as universities, stores, and gyms. For this project, our team created an app using the react native framework in order to help people understand which areas are safe to occupy. The app uses environmental sensors attached to a Raspberry Pi to gather data in various locations to determine whether the area is safe or not. With the app, the goal is to create a streamlined way to relay information to the general public that could aid in the wellbeing of citizens during this pandemic and any future ones.
Not One More! Feminicidio on the Border.: Lozano, Nina Maria. Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 2019. xxv + 158 pp. $29.95 (paperback). ISBN-13: 978-0-8142-1389-6.

In her recent book, Not One More! Feminicidio on the Border, Nina Maria Lozano asks readers to interrogate the relationship between neoliberalism, material property, and the ongoing wave of feminic...
Predicting single freestanding transmission tower time history response during complex wind input through a convolutional neural network based surrogate model

Abstract As the steel towers in the power system are vulnerable to intensive wind loads, it is essential to understand their dynamics response to estimate its potential failure. Conventional structural analysis methods like the finite element analysis or the field test are either computational heavy or cost expensive. Thus, this paper proposes a machine learning approach based on convolutional neural network (CNN) to predict the time history response of the transmission tower during the complex wind input. By preprocessing the time history of wind load and the tower’s dynamic response, a well-developed CNN can capture the time and spatial correlation of the wind load successfully and provide high accuracy results. CNN configuration, window size selection, and training data scale are carefully discussed to optimize the CNN design to maximize the prediction accuracy as well as minimize its computational time. Finally, to evaluate the performance of the surrogate model, the accuracy of the optimal CNN is tested in predicting the time history response of the transmission tower under 15 m/s to 70 m/s wind speed. The effectiveness of the CNN surrogate model is validated through a fragility model development, and its robustness is investigated using two wind inputs generated from a random wind profile and a random wind spectrum.
Mischief with Government Policy

This piece commented on an article by Professor Nathan Cortez on Information Mischief in the Trump Administration. The comment endorsed Professor Cortez’s conclusion about the continued need to inject competing information into the public debate and to promote policies to ensure that historical information is not eradicated from the public record. In addition, the article argues that privacy protections for individually identifiable information should rise to the top of the legislative and administrative policymaking agenda, along with other policies to prevent internet service providers from discriminatory information transmission practices.
Near-Infrared Depth-Independent Image Dehazing using Haar Wavelets

We propose a fusion algorithm for haze removal that combines color information from an RGB image and edge information extracted from its corresponding NIR image using Haar wavelets. The proposed algorithm is based on the key observation that NIR edge features are more prominent in the hazy regions of the image than the RGB edge features in those same regions. To combine the color and edge information, we introduce a haze-weight map which proportionately distributes the color and edge information during the fusion process. Because NIR images are, intrinsically, nearly haze-free, our work makes no assumptions like existing works that rely on a scattering model and essentially designing a depth-independent method. This helps in minimizing artifacts and gives a more realistic sense to the restored haze-free image. Extensive experiments show that the proposed algorithm is both qualitatively and quantitatively better on several key metrics when compared to existing state-of-the-art methods.
SIRT3 overexpression ameliorates asbestos-induced pulmonary fibrosis, mt-DNA damage and lung fibrogenic monocyte recruitment

Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) mitochondrial (mt) DNA damage and fibrotic monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages (Mo-AMs) are implicated in the pathobiology of pulmonary fibrosis. We showed that sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), a mitochondrial protein regulating cell fate and aging, is deficient in the AECs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and that asbestos- and bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis is augmented in Sirt3 knockout (Sirt3-/-) mice associated with AEC mtDNA damage and intrinsic apoptosis. We determined whether whole body transgenic SIRT3 overexpression (Sirt3Tg) protects mice from asbestos-induced pulmonary fibrosis by mitigating lung mtDNA damage and Mo-AM recruitment. Crocidolite asbestos (100 µg/50 µL) or control was instilled intratracheally in C57Bl6 (Wild-Type) mice or Sirt3Tg mice, and at 21 d lung fibrosis (histology, fibrosis score, Sircol assay) and lung Mo-AMs (flow cytometry) were assessed. Compared to controls, Sirt3Tg mice were protected from asbestos-induced pulmonary fibrosis and had diminished lung mtDNA damage and Mo-AM recruitment. Further, pharmacologic SIRT3 inducers (i.e., resveratrol, viniferin, and honokiol) each diminish oxidant-induced AEC mtDNA damage in vitro and, in the case of honokiol, protection occurs in a SIRT3-dependent manner. We reason that SIRT3 preservation of AEC mtDNA is a novel therapeutic focus for managing patients with IPF and other types of pulmonary fibrosis.
Disparate perspectives: Exploring healthcare professionals' misaligned mental models of older adults' transitions of care between the emergency department and skilled nursing facility

Care transitions that occur across healthcare system boundaries represent a unique challenge for maintaining high quality care and patient safety, as these systems are typically not aligned to perform the care transition process. We explored healthcare professionals' mental models of older adults' transitions between the emergency department (ED) and skilled nursing facility (SNF). We conducted a thematic analysis of interviews with ED and SNF healthcare professionals and identified three themes: 1) ED and SNF healthcare professionals had misaligned mental models regarding communication processes and tools used during care transitions, 2) ED and SNF healthcare professionals had misaligned mental models regarding healthcare system capability, and 3) Misalignments led to individual and organizational consequences. Overall, we found that SNF and ED healthcare professionals are part of the same process but have different perceptions of the process. Future work must take steps to redesign and realign these distinct work systems such that those involved conceptualize themselves as part of a joint process.
Biopesticides

The term ‘biopesticide’ encompasses a broad array of microbial pesticides, biochemicals derived from micro-organisms and other natural sources, and processes involving the genetic incorporation of DNA into agricultural commodities that confer protection against pest damage (plant-incorporated protectants). Some microbial pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, have a long history of safe and effective use as a biological insecticide. More recent developments in microbial pest control include the utilisation of other bacterial and fungal species that may competitively inhibit the growth of pathogenic and toxigenic micro-organisms on important agricultural commodities. The use of microbes and their gene products introduces additional considerations to the toxicological dose-response relationship, including a need to determine the plausibility of infectious and immunological effects in association with human exposure to these biopesticides in food or the environment. Studies of substantial equivalence suggest that foods currently derived from plant-incorporated protectants are not likely to differ from conventional foods. However, there is general consensus that the scientific methods to assess risks from genetically modified foods and micro-organisms will continue to evolve in the future.
Slouching Towards a Consumption Tax and the End of Retirement Income Security

In 2003, the Bush Administration proposed two ideas I that I (and others) feared would undermine the retirement income security of millions of Americans. The first idea was to create two new tax-favored personal savings vehicles: the retirement savings account and the lifetime savings account. The second new idea advanced by the White House in 2003 was the exclusion of stock dividends from taxation. This article proceeds as follows: the section immediately below provides an overview of the current employment-based retirement system, followed by a section describing the White House tax proposals as initially proposed in 2003, as modified in subsequent White House Budget proposals, and as again modified by the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform. The next section describes the ways in which the proposals (or similar proposals) would, if enacted, undercut the retirement income security of many working Americans. The succeeding section provides a reflection on the ideological underpinnings of the White House proposal. The final section, using the ERSA proposal as a starting place, provides some ideas to improve the ability of working people to prepare for retirement through incremental reforms to the current system. The final section also briefly discusses the shape that fundamental reform should take if we are to abandon the current employer-based system - which would likely be the effective result of a serious move toward a consumption tax - in favor of new ways to create retirement income security for American working people.
Seasonal Disorder in Urban Traffic Patterns: A Low Rank Analysis

This article proposes several advances to sparse nonnegative matrix factorization (SNMF) as a way to identify large-scale patterns in urban traffic data. The input to our model is traffic counts organized by time and location. Nonnegative matrix factorization additively decomposes this information, organized as a matrix, into a linear sum of temporal signatures. Penalty terms encourage this factorization to concentrate on only a few temporal signatures, with weights which are not too large. Our interest here is to quantify and compare the regularity of traffic behavior, particularly across different broad temporal windows. In addition to the rank and error, we adapt a measure introduced by Hoyer to quantify sparsity in the representation. Combining these, we construct several curves which quantify error as a function of rank (the number of possible signatures) and sparsity; as rank goes up and sparsity goes down, the approximation can be better and the error should decreases. Plots of several such curves corresponding to different time windows leads to a way to compare disorder/order at different time scalewindows. In this paper, we apply our algorithms and procedures to study a taxi traffic dataset from New York City. In this dataset, we find weekly periodicity in the signatures, which allows us an extra framework for identifying outliers as significant deviations from weekly medians. We then apply our seasonal disorder analysis to the New York City traffic data and seasonal (spring, summer, winter, fall) time windows. We do find seasonal differences in traffic order.
TGF-beta increases leukotriene C4 synthase expression in the monocyte-like cell line, THP-1.

The goal of this study was to determine whether cytokines modulate leukotriene C4 (LTC4) synthase expression in mononuclear phagocytes. A panel of cytokines was surveyed for changes in LTC4 synthase mRNA in THP-1 cells. TGF-β1, -2, and -3 had significant stimulatory effects. The addition of TGF-β resulted in a time-dependent increase in LTC4 synthase mRNA at 6 h, which persisted through 48 h. Furthermore, this conditioning resulted in an increase in immunoreactive protein for LTC4 synthase through 7 days. TGF-β conditioning of cells resulted in a time- and dose-dependent increase in stimulated LTC4 synthase activity. Following transient transfection of THP-1 cells with a promoter-reporter construct containing 1.2 kb of the LTC4 synthase promoter, TGF-β treatment resulted in a 2-fold increase in reporter activity. Conditioning with TGF-β did not prolong the half-life of LTC4 synthase mRNA, as assessed by RNase protection assays in actinomycin D-treated cells. Cycloheximide exposure experiments revealed that new protein synthesis was not required for the observed stimulatory effect of TGF-β on LTC4 synthase mRNA. We conclude that LTC4 synthase expression is increased at a transcriptional level by TGF-β in mononuclear phagocytes.