cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct micromechanics derivation and DEM confirmation of the elastic moduli of isotropic particulate materials: Part I No particle rotation

Abstract We derive the macroscopic elastic moduli of a statistically isotropic particulate aggregate material via the homogenization methods of Voigt (1928) (kinematic hypothesis), Reuss (1929) (static hypothesis), and Hershey (1954) and Kroner (1958) (self-consistent hypothesis), originally developed to treat crystalline materials, from the directionally averaged elastic moduli of three regular cubic packings of uniform spheres. We determine analytical expressions for these macroscopic elastic moduli in terms of the (linearized) elastic inter-particle contact stiffnesses on the microscale under the three homogenization assumptions for the three cubic packings (simple, body-centered, and face-centered), assuming no particle rotation. To test these results and those in the literature, we perform numerical simulations using the discrete element method (DEM) to measure the overall elastic moduli of large samples of randomly packed uniform spheres with constant normal and tangential contact stiffnesses (linear spring model). The beauty of DEM is that simulations can be run with particle rotation either prohibited or unrestrained. In this first part of our two-part series of papers, we perform DEM simulations with particle rotation prohibited, and we compare these results with our theoretical results that assumed no particle rotation. We show that the self-consistent homogenization assumption applied to the locally body-centered cubic (BCC) packing most accurately predicts the measured values of the overall elastic moduli obtained from the DEM simulations, in particular Poisson's ratio. Our new analytical self-consistent results lead to significantly better predictions of Poisson's ratio than all prior published theoretical results. Moreover, our results are based on a direct micromechanics analysis of specific geometrical packings of uniform spheres, in contrast to all prior theoretical analyses, which were based on difficult-to-verify hypotheses involving overall inter-particle contact distributions. We continue the analysis begun in this first part for the case of unrestrained particle rotation in Part II, Fleischmann et al. (2013) .
A novel synthesis strategy driven by partial evaluation based circuit reduction for application specific DSP circuits

Traditional application specific synthesis systems for DSP rely on a predesigned library of components. Designs in the DSP domain often involve constant operands. Using off-the-shelf library components for such designs can be wasteful in terms of area, power and timing. Operations involving constant operands are possible candidates for reduction based on partial evaluation. Classical logic synthesis is often incapable of performing reductions because of component sharing (typically decided during high level synthesis) between regular operations and those involving constant operands, which prevent minimizations during this phase. We propose a methodology for performing on-demand component reduction using partial evaluation during synthesis of application specific DSP circuits. The simplified components have better characteristics compared to their unreduced counterparts in terms of both delay and power. Use of reduced components in the synthesis loop showed a system wide improvement in performance, area and power for the synthesized designs for a variety of benchmark DSP circuits.
Nuclear energy levels of 56Fe from studies of the (p, p′γ) reaction

Abstract The predominant decay modes of 12 levels in 56 Fe up to 4.0 MeV excitation have been studied by particle-gamma coincidences from the 56 Fe(p, p′γ) reaction at E p = 6.0 and 7.0 MeV and by Ge(Li) counter measurements of the γ-ray singles spectra. The gamma-ray decays of the levels at 3.12, 3.45 and 3.60 MeV indicated that these levels were doublets and this has been confirmed by high-resolution, magnetic spectrograph measurements. The level energies obtained in recent 56 Fe(p, p′) spectrograph measurements and in γ-ray studies of the β-decay of 56 Mn and 56 Co are compared. The branching ratios derived from Ge(Li) counter and conversion electron studies of the 56 Co and 56 Mn β-decays are summarized and compared with the present results.
Regulation of expression of the SN1 transporter during renal adaptation to chronic metabolic acidosis in rats.

During chronic metabolic acidosis, renal glutamine utilization increases markedly. We studied the expression of the system N1 (SN1) amino acid transporter in the kidney during chronic ammonium chlo...
Why Do Homeowners Make Mortgage Curtailment Payments

This study investigates why homeowners make mortgage curtailment payments. Using data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances (1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2004) to analyze household mortgage curtailments, we consider the propensity to save and relative risk and return as possible factors in the curtailment decision. We find that higher propensities to save are strongly positively correlated with the probability of curtailing the mortgage and nearly double the probability of such payments. Liquidity risk is also a factor in the curtailment decision.
Abstract 839: A novel Gemini vitamin D analog represses a stem cell marker CD44 and its variant CD44v6 and inhibits CD44-Met signaling in breast cancer

CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein that is involved in cell-cell interaction and cell adhesion, has been recognized as a key cell-surface marker for breast cancer stem cells. The CD44 positive breast cancer cells are enriched in residual breast tumors after conventional therapies, suggesting CD44 as an important therapeutic target to block the recurrence of breast cancer. To investigate CD44 expression during tumor progression, we used the CD44 overexpressing MCF10DCIS.com cell line as a model for breast cancer progression. We injected MCF10DCIS.com cells into immunodeficient mice and analyzed the resulting tumors after 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks from cell injection. MCF10DCIS.com cells formed ductal carcinoma in situ like lesion by week 2 and invasive tumor lesions by week 3. CD44 proteins were highly expressed in the membrane of epithelial cells in mammary tumors, suggesting that human MCF10DCIS.com cell line might be a useful model for studying therapeutic agents targeting CD44 positive breast cancer cells. We previously reported that a Gemini vitamin D analog, BXL0124, significantly down-regulated the expression level of CD44 in MCF10DCIS.com cells in vitro and in DCIS xenograft tumors. In the present study, we demonstrated that BXL0124 strongly repressed the protein expression level of two alternative splicing variants of CD44, CD44v3 and CD44v6, in MCF10DCIS.com xenografted tumors. Because these CD44 variants are closely associated with breast cancer growth and invasion, the repression of CD44 variants by BXL0124 in MCF10DCIS.com xenograft tumors may contribute to the inhibitory effect of BXL0124 on tumor growth and invasion. We further investigated the effect of BXL0124 on the Met receptor, which is known to interact with CD44v6 for its downstream signaling transduction to control cancer invasion and metastasis. The treatment with BXL0124 decreased the protein expression level of CD44v6 and inhibited hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced Met signaling in cultured MCF10DCIS.com cells. In the CD44 promoter assay, mutation of p53 binding site in the CD44 promoter abolished the repression of CD44 transactivation by BXL0124, indicating that p53 is necessary for the repression of CD44 by BXL0124. In conclusion, BXL0124 repressed CD44 expression in a p53-dependent manner and inhibited CD44-Met signaling in MCF10DCIS.com cells. Our study suggests the Gemini vitamin D analog, BXL0124, is a potentially useful agent in inhibiting breast cancer by targeting CD44 expressing cancer stem cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 839. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-839
Electron-transporting thiophene-based semiconductors exhibiting very high field effect mobilities

Organic semiconductors exhibiting complementary n-type carrier mobility are the key components for the development of the field of “plastic electronics”. We present here a novel series of oligothiophenes designed to improve performance and stability under electron- transporting conditions. Furthermore, the key structural features of these compounds allows additional modifications of the n-type conducting core to achieve material solubility and processability. Thin film transistor (TFT) devices were fabricated employing both vacuum- and solution-deposited semiconducting layers. Field-effect transistor measurements indicate that all the members of this new series are n-type semiconductors with mobilities and Ion:Ioff ratios approaching 1 cm2/(Vs) and 107, respectively. This family represents a key milestone in the design, understanding, and development of the next generation of highly efficient n-type OTFT components.
Analysis on 15 categories of sampled food sold on markets of Wenling in 2009

Objective:To investigate and understand the hygienic status of market-sold food in Wenling city,and to provide the reference for conducting supervision over food hygiene.Methods: 15 categories of sampled food were randomly selected from Wenling markets,and tested with both national and local criteria on food hygiene.Results: The total qualification rate of food sampled on 15 categories in 2009 was 69.34%,and the lowest qualification rate among them was freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice,only for 6.67%.The qualification rate of bulk-pack food was 64.91%,and lower than that of the stereotyped packaging food which was 76.61%.Conclusion: Health supervision and management over food and beverage industry should be enhanced,the hygienic issue of bulk-pack food should be concerned,and the application and management on food additive should be further strengthened to potect safety of food.
Biomechanics of Rheumatoid Finger Deformities

Rheumatoid arthritis frequently leads to classic finger joint/tendon imbalances such as swan-neck and boutonniere deformities at the proximal interphalangeal joint and ulnar deviation at the metacarpophalangeal joint. The biomechanics of these deformities is relatively well understood and most frequently arises from synovial tissue erosion of tendon insertions or stabilizing ligamentous structures.
Epilogue: Where Do We Go from Here?

This chapter offers a view of what might be over the horizon for the field of faith and spirituality in the workplace and how we might contribute to heaven on earth. Utilizing Alan Lurie’s definition of spirituality, “the experience of a transformative connection” in Chap. 6, several possibilities for transformative connection are offered, including connecting faith and spirituality to sustainability, social justice, social entrepreneurship, spiritual capital, and the conscious capitalism movement. The chapter concludes with an invitation to explore spiritually based noetic ways of knowing in our research.
Sexual orientation, minority stress, social norms, and substance use among racially diverse adolescents.

Abstract Background Sexual minority adolescents are more likely than their heterosexual peers to use substances. This study tested factors that contribute to sexual orientation disparities in substance use among racially and ethnically diverse adolescents. Specifically, we examined how both minority stress (i.e., homophobic bullying) and social norms (i.e., descriptive and injunctive norms) may account for sexual orientation disparities in recent and lifetime use of four substances: tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs. Procedures A probability sample of middle and high school students (N = 3012; aged 11–18 years old; 71.2% racial and ethnic minorities) using random cluster methods was obtained in a mid-size school district in the Southeastern United States. Results Sexual minority adolescents were more likely than heterosexual adolescents to use substances, experience homophobic bullying, and report higher descriptive norms for close friends and more permissive injunctive norms for friends and parents. While accounting for sociodemographic characteristics, multiple mediation models concurrently testing all mediators indicated that higher descriptive and more permissive injunctive norms were significant mediators of the associations between sexual orientation and recent and lifetime use of the four substances, whereas homophobic bullying was not a significant mediator of the associations between sexual orientation and recent and lifetime use of any of the substances. Conclusions Descriptive and injunctive norms, in conjunction with minority stress, are important to consider in explaining sexual orientation disparities in substance use among racially diverse adolescents. These results have implications for substance use interventions among sexual minority adolescents.
Novel measure of autonomic remodeling associated with sudden cardiac arrest in diabetes.

Background Diabetes is independently associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), with a need to identify novel methods for risk stratification. Diabetic patients can develop autonomic dysfunction that has been associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmogenesis and manifests as reduced heart rate variability (HRV). However, previously published studies have not accounted for resting heart rate (HR), important from both pathophysiological and prognosticating standpoints. Objective We sought to evaluate autonomic remodeling of the sinus node response in SCA and diabetes while accounting for HR. Methods We performed a case-control study in SCA cases (age 35–59 years; 2002–2014) from the ongoing Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study (catchment population ∼1 million), and archived 12-lead electrocardiograms recorded prior to the SCA event were compared with those of geographic controls. Short-term HRV was calculated from digitized 10-second electrocardiograms by using established methods. We analyzed 313 subjects (mean age 52.0 ± 5.5 years; 216 men, 69.0%) and compared 4 groups: 111 diabetic (49 cases, 62 controls) and 202 nondiabetic (80 cases, 122 controls) subjects. Results Analysis of covariance showed an absence of the expected interaction between HRV and HR (HRV-HR) in diabetic patients with SCA (regression slope −0.008; 95% confidence interval −0.023 to 0.0071; P = .26). This finding, unique to this population of diabetic patients with SCA, was not detected using traditional HRV measures. Conclusion By incorporating resting HR in this analysis, we observed that this population of diabetic patients with SCA had loss of the expected HRV-HR relationship. This potentially novel noninvasive risk measurement warrants further investigation, especially at the level of the individual patient.
Expose RESTful microservices using OpenAPI, WebSphere liberty and IBM cloud

Application programming interfaces (APIs) are everywhere around us today. Just think - every time you post, comment or "like" on social media or every time you complete a transaction online, you are interacting with an API. API Economy is a vast domain that covers the exposure and invocation of services from and to anywhere. Cloud computing, mobile devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) are the main catalysts behind the growth of the API Economy. At the center of the API Economy are RESTful APIs because they are, by nature, language-neutral and by far the most widely used type of API today.
The experimental and theoretical studies of a merocyanine form based turn off fluorescent sensor for Fe3+ ions with nanomolar level sensitivity in aqueous solution

Abstract A substituted spirooxazine was synthesized and characterized by 1H, 13C NMR, and HR-MS spectroscopic techniques. The open form of the spirooxazine derivative was evaluated for the detection of Fe3+ ions. The colorimetric evaluation revealed that the receptor 1 is highly selective and sensitive towards Fe3+ detection and displayed a turn-off fluorescence response with ferric ions through aggregation induced phenomena. No competitive behavior was observed for detection of Fe3+ ions by the receptor in the presence of different metal ions. The paper based strips for 1 displayed an excellent selectivity and sensitivity (38 nm, 2.12 ppb) for Fe3+ ions. We believe that the receptor 1 could be used as a Fe3+ sensor on field detection tool kit. The B3LYP and B3LYP-D3BJ based methods were used to further investigate the stability of the different stereoisomers of merocyanine in order to find a possible mode of binding, while TD-DFT methods were used to study the UV-Visible and fluorescence spectra observed for the receptor.
Effectiveness of the Heads of Schools in Managing Financial Resources in Public Secondary Schools in Moshi Municipality

This study examined the effectiveness of the Heads of Secondary Schools in Managing Financial Resources in Public Secondary Schools in Moshi Municipality. It was guided by the following research questions: To what extent do Heads of Schools implement the procedures in managing Schools finances? What are the procedures of disbursing, ensuring safe custody, procurements and payments of the School finances? What are the challenges facing head of schools in managing financial resources in secondary schools in Moshi municipality? What should be done to improve the management of financial resources in secondary school in Moshi Municipality? This study was quantitative research which employed cross sectional design. Stratified and simple random sampling procedures were used to obtain the participants. The instruments which were used in data collection were questionnaires, interview schedule and observation schedule. The researcher used quantitative methods to analyze data. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 16) was used to generate data that was used to test the hypotheses. One way ANOVA was used to test all hypotheses. Findings show that Heads of schools do not adhere to the financial guidelines given out by the Government. Also procurements procedures at School are not adhered as the Government guidelines direct. The findings as well show that, financial documents management in Public Secondary Schools in Moshi Municipality does not follow the Government directives. Basing on the findings the following were concluded; Heads of Schools are ineffective and perform poorly in managing the school financial resources. They do not adhere to the procurement procedures given by the Government and perform at satisfactory level on disbursing and payments procedures of the School funds.
Laser Assisted Device Alteration, Efficient Application for Soft Failure Localization on Advanced Node

Laser assisted device alteration (LADA) is a laser-based technique to verify device under test and has been widely used for soft failure debugging. This technique requires the device to be scanned with a laser while it is under active stimulation by the tester. By monitoring test results and scanning laser position, it gives the location of defect and critical path. In the case of complex logic failures in advanced technology nodes, defect localization continues to be a challenge in the failure analysis field. Dynamic electrical failure analysis (D-EFA) techniques and their derivatives can increase efficiency for defect localization techniques. In this paper, several soft failure case studies will be demonstrated by using LADA techniques and further nano-probing results will also be described by physical failure analysis (PFA).
Tighter Blood Pressure Control Is Associated with Lower Incidence of Erectile Dysfunction in Hypertensive Men.

Abstract Introduction Tighter blood pressure control is widely thought to be associated with better erectile function, although the preponderance of data is limited to dichotomous representations of hypertension without an attempt to look at degree of blood pressure control. Aim To determine the association between optimal blood pressure control over time and the development of erectile dysfunction (ED) in a cohort of potent men. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of newly diagnosed hypertensive men without major medical comorbidities in an integrated healthcare system. Patients were stratified by exposure to hypertension, with varying levels of blood pressure control, as measured by ordinal categories of systolic blood pressure and deviation from the mean systolic pressure. Main Outcome Measures Incidence of ED was defined by at least 2 primary care or urology diagnoses of ED in our electronic health records within 2 years, at least 2 filled prescriptions for ED medications within 2 years, or 1 diagnosis of ED and 2 filled prescriptions for ED medications. Results We identified 39,320 newly diagnosed hypertensive men. The overall incidence for ED was 13.9%, with a mean follow-up of 55.1 ± 28.7 months. Higher average systolic blood pressure was associated with a higher risk of ED in a dose-dependent manner (trend test, P Clinical Implications We believe these data may serve as a motivator for hypertensive men to better adhere to their hypertension treatment regimen. Strength & Limitations The retrospective nature of our study precludes us from drawing more than an association between tighter blood pressure control and ED. Strengths of our study include the large sample size, community cohort, and completeness of follow-up. Conclusion Among adults diagnosed with hypertension, tighter blood pressure control, as measured by average systolic blood pressure and deviation from the average, is associated with a lower incidence and a longer time to the development of ED. Hsiao W, Bertsch RA, Hung Y-Y, et al. Tighter Blood Pressure Control Is Associated with Lower Incidence of Erectile Dysfunction in Hypertensive Men. J Sex Med 2019;16:410–417.
Sodium Oxybate: A Cause of Extreme Involuntary Weight Loss in a Young Lady

We present a case of a young lady with extreme involuntary weight loss and alarming constitutional symptoms found ultimately to be all due to a single medication’s side effects. The objective of this case report is to alert physicians, especially in a primary care setting, that the side effects of a medication used mostly in a highly specialized field of neurology, sodium oxybate (SXB), can cause extreme involuntary weight loss in addition to chronic night sweats and symptoms of clinical depression.
The occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes is associated with built environment microbiota in three tree fruit processing facilities

Multistate foodborne disease outbreaks and recalls of apples and apple products contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes demonstrate the need for improved pathogen control in the apple supply chain. Apple processing facilities have been identified in the past as potential sources of persisting L. monocytogenes contamination. In this study, we sought to understand the composition of microbiota in built apple and other tree fruit processing environments and its association with the occurrence of the foodborne pathogen L. monocytogenes. Analysis of 117 samples collected from three apple and other tree fruit packing facilities (F1, F2, and F3) showed that facility F2 had a significantly higher L. monocytogenes occurrence compared to F1 and F3 (p < 0.01). The microbiota in facility F2 was distinct compared to facilities F1 and F3 as supported by the mean Shannon index for bacterial and fungal alpha diversities that was significantly lower in F2, compared to F1 and F3 (p < 0.01). Microbiota in F2 was uniquely predominated by bacterial family Pseudomonadaceae and fungal family Dipodascaceae. The composition and diversity of microbiota and mycobiota present in the investigated built food processing environments may be indicative of persistent contamination with L. monocytogenes. These findings support the need for further investigation of the role of the microbial communities in the persistence of L. monocytogenes to support the optimization of L. monocytogenes control strategies in the apple supply chain.
Cementing Technique in Total Elbow Arthroplasty

Cement is the most commonly used method of achieving fixation of total elbow arthroplasty components. The goal of cementing is to achieve immediate and definitive component fixation. Cementing technique has the potential to impact the short- and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing total elbow arthroplasty. This chapter will review the key technical considerations in cemented total elbow arthroplasty.
Open Surgical Treatment

Although results of surgical treatment will be discussed in Chap. 30, one of the key factors to consider before embarking on open median arcuate ligament (MAL) release is the potential outcomes based on symptoms, patient age, associated comorbidities, and preoperative assessment. Reilly et al. demonstrated that patients with atypical pain patterns, age greater than 60 years old, weight loss less than 20 lbs, and a history of psychiatric disease or alcohol abuse were less likely to improve after MAL release. The patient and surgeon should have a frank discussion regarding the difficulty in predicting postoperative outcomes after MAL release, particularly because of the wide overlap of symptoms of MAL syndrome (MALS) with other gastrointestinal and intra-abdominal pathologies.
Association of open communication and the emotional and behavioural impact of medical error on patients and families: state-wide cross-sectional survey

Background How openly healthcare providers communicate after a medical error may influence long-term impacts. We sought to understand whether greater open communication is associated with fewer persisting emotional impacts, healthcare avoidance and loss of trust. Methods Cross-sectional 2018 recontact survey assessing experience with medical error in a 2017 random digit dial survey of Massachusetts residents. Two hundred and fifty-three respondents self-reported medical error. Respondents were similar to non-respondents in sociodemographics confirming minimal response bias. Time since error was categorised as Results Of respondents self-reporting a medical error 3–6 years ago, 51% reported at least one current emotional impact; 57% reported avoiding doctor/facilities involved in error; 67% reported loss of trust. Open communication varied: 34% reported no communication and 24% reported ≥5 elements. Controlling for error severity, respondents reporting the most open communication had significantly lower odds of persisting sadness (OR=0.17, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.60, p=0.006), depression (OR=0.16, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.77, p=0.022) or feeling abandoned/betrayed (OR=0.10, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.48, p=0.004) compared with respondents reporting no communication. Open communication significantly predicted less doctor/facility avoidance, but was not associated with medical care avoidance or healthcare trust. Conclusions Negative emotional impacts from medical error can persist for years. Open communication is associated with reduced emotional impacts and decreased avoidance of doctors/facilities involved in the error. Communication and resolution programmes could facilitate transparent conversations and reduce some of the negative impacts of medical error.
8.20 – Records of Cenozoic Ocean Chemistry

In this review emphasis is placed on isotopic records of ocean chemistry. In general terms, a conscious decision was made to emphasize those records that document long-term changes in the chemical and physical properties of the global ocean over the course of the Cenozoic. For example, while reconstructions of burial fluxes of barium or phosphorus may place valuable constraints on paleo-productivity in a specific setting, making extrapolations to infer globally integrated trends from these data sets is very difficult because of sparse data coverage in space and time. Similarly, we have also chosen to exclude discussion of short-residence-time tracers like lead and neodymium isotopes that can yield important information about changing patterns of ocean circulation and regional shifts in oceanic inputs.
Chitosan/PVA hydrogels incorporated with green synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles for wound healing applications

Abstract In this paper, we report the synthesis and evaluation of a polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (PVA/chitosan) hydrogel incorporated with green synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) using a Zingiber officinale extract as the reducing, capping and stabilizer agent for wound healing applications. The PVA/chitosan/CeO2-NPs hydrogel was synthesized via the freeze-thaw technique with 0 to 1% (wt) 5 nm CeO2-NPs. Results revealed that the hydrogels containing 0.5% of CeO2-NPs showed better antibacterial activities after just 12 hr (with MRSA but not E. coli) and healthy human dermal fibroblast viabilities up to 5 days (more than 90%) compared to the control group. Therefore, these chitosan/PVA hydrogels incorporated with Ce-NPs could be a potential candidate as a robust wound dressing agent that impressively may decrease wound infections without resorting to the use of antibiotics.
Nebular vs. Stellar Wind Abundances in NGC 6543

An early analysis of Chandra observations of the planetary nebula NGC 6543 suggested that the location and the derived temperature for the X-ray emitting region is inconsistent with the abundances measured for this object (Chu et al. 2001). We revisit observations of this source (following significant updates to both the reprocessing and extraction software) in order to propose a resolution to this apparent anomaly. Our re-analysis using abundances found from observations in the infrared, optical, and ultraviolet suggests that the location and temperature of the X-ray emission from NGC 6543 is consistent with nebular abundances expected for the source.
Management by the Numbers: A Formal Approach to Deriving Informational and Distributional Properties of 'Un-managed' Earnings

We explore the theoretical relation between earnings and market returns as well as the properties of earnings frequency distributions under the assumption that managers use unbiased accounting information to sequentially decide on real options their firms have and report generated earnings truthfully, with the market pricing the firm based on those reported earnings. We generate benchmarks against which empirically observed earnings-returns relations and aggregate earnings distributions can be evaluated. This parsimonious model shows a coherent set of results: reported losses are less persistent than reported gains, decision making diminishes the S-shaped market response to earnings and earnings relate to returns asymmetrically in the way documented by Basu (1997). Furthermore, the implied frequency distribution of aggregate earnings is neither symmetric nor necessarily single-peaked. Instead, it may exhibit a kink at zero and look similar to the plots reported by Burgstahler and Dichev (1997). However, within our model, none of these phenomena are due to reporting noise, bias or some undesirable strategic managerial behavior. They are the natural consequences of using past earnings as the basis for value increasing managerial decision making that in turn generates the future earnings on which future decisions will be based.
A numerical-perturbation method for the nonlinear analysis of structural vibrations

A numerical-perturbation method is proposed for the determination of the nonlinear forced response of structural elements. Purely analytical techniques are capable of determining the response of structural elements having simple geometries and simple variations in thickness and properties, but they are not applicable to elements with complicated structure and boundaries. Numerical techniques are effective in determining the linear response of complicated structures, but they are not optimal for determining the nonlinear response of even simple elements when modal interactions take place due to the complicated nature of the response. Therefore, the optimum is a combined numerical and perturbation technique. The present technique is applied to beams with varying cross sections.
Screen hole size and barriers for exclusion of insect pests of glasshouse crops.

Laboratory trials were conducted to determine the effectiveness of screens as barriers to five major greenhouse pests. Four screen types with a range of hole sizes were tested: high density polyeth...
Nanopore back titration analysis of dipicolinic acid

Here, we report a novel label-free nanopore back titration method for the detection of dipicolinic acid, a marker molecule for bacterial spores. By competitive binding of the target analyte and a large ligand probe to metal ions, dipicolinic acid could be sensitively and selectively detected. This nanopore back titration approach should find useful applications in the detection of other species of medical, biological, or environmental importance if their direct detection is difficult to achieve.
POSSIBILIDADES DE USO DIDÁTICO-PEDAGÓGICO EM ESPAÇO DIGITAL VIRTUAL 3D DO UNILASALLE NO METAVERSO SECOND LIFE

Este artigo apresenta o desenvolvimento de aplicacoes educacionais no Espaco Digital Virtual 3 Dimensoes (EDV3D) do UNILASALLE, no metaverso Second Life (SL). Com o objetivo de verificar como estas aplicacoes podem auxiliar os alunos em formacao inicial no uso das diversas TDVs e, em especial, do metaverso SL, implementou-se o espaco tematico Atelie Digital Virtual. Os dados analisados sao oriundos dos registros interativos no proprio ambiente e de questionarios. Constatou-se que as aplicacoes desenvolvidas no EDV3D do UNILASALLE motivam e facilitam a aprendizagem dos alunos no que tange ao uso dessas tecnologias, uma vez que apresentam materiais diversificados, tais como: audios, videos, machinimas, objetos interativos e animacoes, servindo de apoio para educacao presencial e a distância.
PEMBIAKAN NEMATODA PATOGEN SERANGGA (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditis DAN Steinernema) PADA MEDIA SEMI PADAT

Field application of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) is still hampered by inefficient mass production. The aim of this study was to compare three published in vitro media (medium Wouts, Bedding and Han) for mass propagation of three indigenous EPNs (Heterorhabditis indicus PLR2, H. indicus isolate 5, and Steinernema T96) and one commercial strain (S. carpocapsae #25). The media were impregnated in shredded polyurethane sponge, pre-inoculated with symbiotic bacteria of each nematode and inoculated with the respective infective juveniles (Ijs) of the nematode. Nematode yields at three weeks after nematode inoculation were inconsistent accross replications and experiments and generally not significantly influenced by the kind of media tested. Average yields showed that the highest IJ productions were obtained on medium Han for H. indicus PLR2 (0,4×105 Ijs/g medium) and for S. carpocapsae #25 (2.2×105 IJs/g medium), and on medium Wouts for H. indicus isolate 5 (6.5×105 Ijs/g medium) and Steinernema T96 (1.5×105 IJs/g medium). The Ijs’ body were significantly shorter than those of in vivo propagated, which may impair the nematode pathogenicity. Modifications of the propagation technique and media formulation are needed to improve the quantity and quality of Ijs.
Support for bioindexing in BLASTgres

The ability to perform genome-wide and cross-genome data analyses can dramatically reduce the time required for new biological discoveries. This raises important issues in bioinformatics database research involving data representations and data integration. Essential biodatatypes (biological datatypes such as sequence locations) and tools (such as the popular BLAST sequence alignment tools) are not supported in traditional database systems, which has forced researchers to represent biological knowledge counterintuitively, and implement codes for data operations. This paper introducesBLASTgres, an extension of the PostgreSQL database system, that provides indexable biodatatypes and joinable BLAST alignment.
Deserting Mothers, Abandoned Babies, Lost Fathers: Dangers in Safe Havens

Safe Haven laws allow genetic mothers to abandon their newborns with no questions asked. Newborns are then protected from potential abuse or neglect and can be adopted at an early age into loving and welcoming families. Mothers are free to go on with their lives knowing that the best interests of their children have been secured. So what is wrong? The problem lies with the law's neglect of the genetic fathers. Seemingly, the parenthood opportunities often are lost without anyone asking the genetic fathers if they care. Furthermore, no matter how much better the children's lives, proper social policy demands that genetic fathers, who often have both paternity opportunity and childrearing interests, should not be so easily dismissed. Beyond social policy, it seems that American Safe Haven laws infringe upon the constitutionally-protected paternity opportunity and the childrearing interests of many genetic fathers. The governmental action that infringes on these interests is found in the systematic disregard of "many responsible fathers" who could be safeguarded without undue infringements on the privacy interests of genetic mothers, without undermining their children's best interests, and without diminishing the existing legal doctrine on access to abortion services.
Integrins of Macrophages and Macrophage-Like Cells

The integrins are a family of heterodimeric adhesion receptors present on virtually every cell in metazoan organisms. Macrophage integrins are involved in adhesion to extracellular matrix and to other cells, in phagocytosis, and in cell migration and spreading. Macrophage integrins also transduce signals from the extracellular environment, both through activation of specific kinase cascades and through modulation of cytoskeletal elements. The ligand-binding ability of macrophage integrins can be regulated by environmental cues including growth factors, lipid mediators, bacterial peptides, and fragments of complement, clotting, and other proteins that may accumulate at sites of inflammation. In addition, integrins can function as components of multimolecular plasma membrane complexes that include tetraspanins, proteases, and other receptors. These multimolecular complexes can be endowed with functional properties not inherent in the isolated components. This review summarizes current understanding of the complex biology of macrophage integrins. The involvement of integrins in many macrophage processes fundamental to the function of these cells for inflammation and host defense makes them double-edged swords as candidates for therapeutic intervention. Beneficial effects of broad integrin blockade in ameliorating idiopathic inflammation may be accompanied by unacceptable susceptibility to infection or other deleterious side effects. However, more specific blockade of less widely expressed integrins holds the promise of a better therapeutic effect. For example, recent studies in animals suggest potential therapeutic use for blockade of osteoclast αVβ3 in osteoporosis and of T-cell and monocyte α1β1 and α2β1 in arthritis. Further understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which macrophage integrins control key events in a variety of diseases may lead to the development of inhibitors of even greater specificity. The integrins remain appealing therapeutic targets because of their central role in macrophage biology.
Integrated laptop antennas - design and evaluation

Two performance parameters are used to define integrated antennas for laptop applications. One is SWR, and another is the average antenna gain. Based upon link budget models and system requirements, the integrated antennas should have a 2:1 SWR bandwidth, wide enough to cover the 2.4 GHz ISM band to ensure a wireless system to have reliable, high data rate performance over a useful range or coverage area. The antenna should have average gain values similar to that of an isotropic radiator. The average gain value can be used in a communication link budget model to predict system level performance such as throughput and range. The antenna polarization is not a critical parameter for laptop applications since laptops are primarily used in indoor environment where there is high scattering and mixing of signals. As one would expect, the best location for integrated antennas in laptops is to place the antenna on the laptop display as high as possible. But using this location forces a design trade-off between the antenna's "visibility" and the necessity of a lossy feed cable, since wireless cards are usually placed in the base of a laptop. The ultimate system cost, time to market and performance are consciously traded off for each and every application.
Some arithmetic properties of Weierstrass points: Hyperelliptic curves

The set of Weierstrass points for pluricanonical linear systems on an algebraic curve C have been extensively studied from a geometric viewpoint. If the curve is defined over a number fieldk, then thesen th order Weierstrass points are defined over an algebraic extensionk n ofk, and it is an interesting question to ask for the arithmetic properties of the points and the extension that they generate. In this paper we begin the study of the arithmetic properties of higher order Weierstrass points in the special case of hyperelliptic curves. We give an upper bound for the average height of these points, and we show that for sufficiently large primesp, the first order Weierstrass points and then th order Weierstrass points remain distinct modulop. This limits to some extent the ramification that can occur in the extensionk n /k. We also present two numerical examples which indicate that a complete description of the ramification is likely to be complicated.
Oxidative stress and renal injury with intravenous iron in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Oxidative stress and renal injury with intravenous iron in patients with chronic kidney disease. Background Intravenous iron is widely prescribed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can cause oxidative stress. The relationship of oxidative stress and renal injury in patients with CKD is unknown. Whether renal injury can occur at a time point when transferrin is incompletely saturated is also unclear. Methods We conducted a randomized, open-label, parallel group trial to compare the oxidative stress induced by intravenous administration of 100mg iron sucrose over 5 minutes and its protection with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in 20 subjects with stage 3 or 4 CKD. Transferrin saturation was measured with urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, oxidative stress by malondialdehyde (MDA) measurement by high-performance liquid chromatography, and renal injury by enzymuria and proteinuria. Reduced and oxidized glutathione and free radical scavengers as well as urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were also measured. Results Parenteral iron increased plasma concentration and urinary excretion rate of MDA, a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, within 15 to 30 minutes of iron sucrose administration. This was accompanied by enzymuria and increase in proteinuria. In contrast, saturation of transferrin was not maximally seen until 3hours after the end of infusion. Oxidative stress, enzymuria and proteinuria were transient and were completely resolved in 24hours. NAC reduced acute generation of systemic oxidative stress but failed to abrogate proteinuria or enzymuria. Conclusion Intravenous iron produces oxidative stress that is associated with transient proteinuria and tubular damage. The rapid production of oxidative stress even when transferrin is not completely saturation suggests free iron independent mechanism(s) to be operative in producing oxidative stress and transient renal injury. Long-term implications of these findings need further study.
Relationship of interictal epileptiform discharges to sleep depth in partial epilepsy

Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep activates interictal epileptiform discharges (spikes) in many epileptic syndromes. To define this phenomenon more precisely, we studied the relationship of spikes to absolute log delta power (LDP), a continuous measure of sleep depth, in 8 patients with partial epilepsy. LDP differed significantly across visually scored sleep stages. Logistic regression analyses of spike occurrence in relation to LDP were carried out on the central-occipital channel contralateral to the dominant spike focus (C4-O2 for left and C3-O1 for right temporal focus). Within NREM sleep, spikes were more likely to occur: (1) at higher levels of LDP, (2) on the ascending limb of LDP, and (3) with more rapid rises in LDP. Spike frequency per minute was 4.6 times higher in NREM than in rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep and diminished with time from sleep onset. When the effect of LDP was controlled for in the analysis, however, there was no significant effect of REM sleep stage or time on spike occurrence. Only 1% of spikes occurred within 10 s of an arousal. These findings suggest that processes underlying the deepening of NREM sleep may contribute to spike activation in partial epilepsy.
A simple approximation for semivariance

Abstract Semivariance can differentiate among skewed return distributions but variance is unable to do so. Thus, semivariance has been used as a risk surrogate in portfolio analysis and capital budgeting problems. Unfortunately, semivariance analysis is relatively unknown and poses difficult analytic and computational problems. In this paper an expression is derived which very closely approximates semivariance. This expression is simple in form and uses only familiar statistics, namely, mean, variance, critical value, and cumulative probability below the critical value.
Quantum algorithms a decade after shor

In 1994, Peter Shor discovered a polynomial time quantum algorithm for factoring and discrete logarithm. Two years later, in 1996, Lov Grover discovered a search algorithm which is quadratically better than conventional search. By now, each of the two algorithms has developed into a line of research which goes well beyond the original algorithm. Shor's algorithm has inspired the study of quantum Fourier sampling which has resulted in more quantum algorithms for number-theoretic and group-theoretic problems. Grover's algorithm has developed into the area of quantum query algorithms.I will survey the developments in quantum query algorithms. The topics will include: applications of Grover's algorithm to element distinctness and other problems, lower bounds on quantum algorithms and the use of quantum random walks to design better search algorithm. I will also describe how some of techniques in this area can be used as "quantum black boxes" in an otherwise classical algorithm.