cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
State Influence in Foreign Policymaking: Water Related Environmental Disputes Along the United States-Mexico Border:

rT ^RADITIONALLY, scholars have conceptualized international relations as "conducted by political units treated almost as personalities. The domestic structure is taken as given; foreign policy begins where domestic policy ends" (Kissinger 1966: 503). This tendency has not gone without its critics, however. In a pathbreaking study of domestic influences Rosenau (1967: 4) observed, "domestic factors may be of considerable significance even if they are not primary sources of foreign policy, and on some issues they may well be dominant." Over the last decade this bifurcation of domestic and foreign policy and its attendant concept of the nation-state as unitary actor have virtually broken down as scholars have examined the foreign policy implications of international interdependency (Keohane and Nye 1977), bureaucratic politics (Allison 1971), domestic structure (Katzenstein 1976; Wagner 1974; Hanrieder 1978), and subnational diplomacy (Duchacek 1983, 1984a, 1984b). As the state-centric paradigm has "dissolved," domestic structures have increasingly absorbed the attention of researchers. Domestic structures, loosely conceptualized as institutions, and organized interests at the national and subnational level, are presumed to exert a determining influence on the behavior of foreign policy decision-makers. At the most general level, the relationship between domestic structure and foreign policy creation has been conceptualized vertically in terms of state-society relations, where societal demands on the state generate foreign policy behavior. These statesociety relations may vary from state to state and issue to issue in the degree that authority is centralized or dispersed, affecting policy outcomes (Katzenstein 1977: 15-19). As Hanreider observes, however, this model reflects a traditional state-centric, government-to-government approach at the international level that neglects the variety of cross-national relations seen in the international system. He suggests a typology of international interactions that includes (a) horizontal linkages between governments; (b) lateral, society to society, relations among subnational actors; and (c) integrative, or supra-national, processes to which states are party (Hanrieder 1978: 1278). While Hanrieder's typology does clarify the diversity of international interactions, moving away from the state-centric model, it does not adequately specify the manner in which domestic structures may be linked to
Antennular sensitivity of the rock crab Cancer irroratus to food substances

ABSTRACT The sensitivity of the rock crab Cancer irroratus to extract of the freeze-dried mussel Geukensia demissa was measured using changes in the crabs' antennular flicking rate (AFR). Concentrations of 10―6 to 10―13 g 1―1 of extract were tested. The antennular flicking rate increased significantly at all concentrations down to 10―10 g 1―1. Nondirected feeding behavior was observed at a concentration of 10―6 g 1―1. At concentrations of 10―11 g 1―1 and below, the increase in flicking rate was not significant, although detection of the extract appeared to occur. A linear relationship exists between the ratio of AFR before introduction of extract to AFR after introduction of the extract and the log concentration of the extract.
An economic analysis of the age-crime profile

Abstract The age-crime profile is one of the most established and prominent empirical regularities in social science. This paper formulates an economic dynamic model of illegal behavior to explain the age-crime profile. The model offers a new interpretation of the age-crime profile that is entirely different from the prevailing one in the literature. The implications of the model are testable and are consistent with the empirical evidence examined in the paper. The analysis shows that intertemporal criminal decisions can be modeled as a dynamic consumption-investment problem.
On the ratio of growth functions in EDTOL languages

Abstract EDTOL systems can be used to approximate real numbers by considering the limit of the ratio of the number of occurences of one symbol to the number of occurences of another symbol in a sequence of derived words of increasing length. The complexity of this limit value is shown to be related to the structure of the generating system.
HDAC INHIBITION BLUNTS ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION INJURY BY NORMALIZING CARDIOMYOCYTE AUTOPHAGY

Whereas reperfusion injury accounts for up to 50% of the injury of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), no therapies are available targeting this. Histone deacetylases (HDAC) inhibitor reduces infarct size by 50% in mouse I/R models. Translating these results to human, however, requires large animal testing
Generating Functions for Hecke Algebra Characters

Certain polynomials in variables that serve as generating functions for symmetric group characters are sometimes called character immanants. We point out a close connection between the identities of Littlewood–Merris–Watkins and Goulden–Jackson, which relate character immanants to the determinant, the permanent and MacMahon's Master Theorem. From these results we obtain a generalization of Muir's identity. Working with the quantum polynomial ring and the Hecke algebra , we define quantum immanants that are generating functions for Hecke algebra characters. We then prove quantum analogs of the Littlewood–Merris–Watkins identities and selected Goulden–Jackson identities that relate character immanants to the quantum determinant, quantum permanent, and quantum Master Theorem of Garoufalidis–Le–Zeilberger. We also obtain a generalization of Zhang's quantization of Muir's identity.
Regulation of Upstream Binding Factor 1 Activity by Insulin-like Growth Factor I Receptor Signaling

The upstream binding factor 1 (UBF1) is one of the proteins in a complex that regulates the activity of RNA polymerase I, which controls the rate of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis. We have shown previously that insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) can translocate to the nuclei and nucleoli of cells and bind UBF1. We report here that activation of the type I insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) by IGF-I increases transcription from the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) promoter in both myeloid cells and mouse fibroblasts. The increased activity of the rDNA promoter is accompanied by increased phosphorylation of UBF1, a requirement for UBF1 activation. Phosphorylation occurs on a number of UBF1 peptides, most prominently on the highly acidic, serine-rich C terminus. In myeloid cells (but not in mouse embryo fibroblasts) IRS-1 signaling stabilizes the levels of UBF1 protein. These findings demonstrate that IGF-IR signaling can increase the activity of UBF1 and transcription from the rDNA promoter, providing one explanation for the reported effects of the IGF/IRS-1 axis on cell and body size in animals and cells in culture.
Delayed Light Emission as a Biochemical indicator of Papaya Heat Treatment

Heat inactivation of the delayed light emission (DLE) system in papayas between 42°C to 48°C followed first order kinetics. However, between 49°C to 51°C heat inactivation was biphasic and both phases followed first order kinetics, indicating the presence of a heat-sensitive and heat-resistant component. Arrenhius plots suggested the existence of three different luminescence components in papayas. The heat stability of the most heat-resistant DLE may represent a chemical luminescence component not dependent on tissue integrity. DLE measurements provided a quantifiable, nondestructive means for measuring the primary deleterious effects of heat damage.
Cardiac arrhythmias and blood levels associated with inhalation of Halon 1301

In this study we determined airborne concentrations of Halon 1301 (CBrF3) and the associated blood levels which produce cardiac arrhythmias in dogs. Beagle dogs were exposed by inhalation to Halon 1301 concentrations ranging from 5 to 20% and, after five minutes of exposure, were given epinephrine by intravenous injection (8–10 µg/kg). Electrocardiograms were recorded. Serious cardiac arrhythmias were produced with concentrations of 7.5% or greater. A second group of dogs with cannulas surgically implanted in the common carotid artery and external jugular vein were exposed to 5%, 7.5% and 10% Halon 1301 for 60 minutes. The blood concentration of Halon 1301 increased rapidly during the first five minutes of exposure, plateaued within twenty minutes, and declined rapidly after exposure. The mean blood concentrations at equilibrium were directly proportional to airborne concentrations: at a concentration of 5% in air - arterial 19.2 µg/mL, venous 14.6 µg/mL; at 7.5% in air - arterial 30.6 µg/mL, venous 28.4 ...
Intensive care unit course of infants and children after cranial vault reconstruction for craniosynostosis.

Background: Craniosynostosis (CSS) results from the premature closure of one or more cranial sutures, leading to deformed calvaria at birth. It is a common finding in children with an incidence of one in 2000 births. Surgery is required in order to release the synostotic constraint and promote normal calvaria growth. Cranial vault remodeling is the surgical approach to CSS repair at our institution and it involves excision of the frontal, parietal, and occipital bones. The purpose of this article is to describe the post-operative course of infants and children admitted to our PICU after undergoing cranial vault remodeling for primary CSS. Findings: Complete data was available for analyses in only 82 patients, 44 males (M) and 38 females (F); M: F ratio was 1:1.2. Patients (pts) age in months (mo) ranged from 2 mo to 132 mo, mean 18.2 ±-24.9 mo and weights (wt) ranged from 4.7 kg to 31.4 kg, mean 10.24 ± 5.5 Kg.. Duration of surgery (DOS) ranged from 70 minutes to 573 minutes mean 331.6 ± 89.0 minutes. No significant correlation exist between duration of surgery, suture category, patient’s age or use of blood products (P > 0.05). IOP blood loss was higher in older pts (P 3 days in 32%. Pts with fever had prolonged LOS (P < 0. 05); re-intubation rate was 2.4% and MVD were 1.83 days. Repeat operation for poor cosmetic results occurred in 9.7% of pts. Conclusions: Post-op morbidities from increased use of blood products can be minimized if cranial vault remodeling is done at a younger age in patients with primary CSS. PICU length of stay is determined in part by post-op pyrexia and it can be reduced if extensive evaluations of post-op fever are avoided.
Ensuring the security of warfighters' satcom via programmable cryptographic devices

The National Security Agency's Cryptographic Modernization Initiative (CMI) has far reaching implications for the Information Assurance required on military satellites. The programmability tenet, one of six tenets defined in the National Security Agency (NSA)/Central Security Service (CSS) Policy 3-9, provides the greatest return on investment (ROI) by prolonging a satellite's useful life, but also presents the greatest technological risk. This paper explores trades between current performance capabilities and programmability based on available and planned technology. Algorithm transitioning, forecasting the size and complexity of future algorithms, recertification, and redundancy are technology concerns that are addressed. Several issues are highlighted and a process is proposed that can be used to determine the best return on investment for the government, including technology projections and cost as an independent variable. The end goal is ensuring the security of the Warfighter
Errata to “Investigation of Near-Field Wireless Power Transfer in the Presence of Lossy Dielectric Materials” [Jan 13 482-488]

In the above titled paper (ibid, vol .61, no. 1, pp. 482-488, Jan. 2013), the unit of the y-label in Fig. 3(b) is incorrect. The correction is provided here.
Theory of Muon Capture with Initial and Final Nuclei Treated as "Elementary" Particles

The theory of the capture of muons by nuclei (${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{N}_{a}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}+{N}_{b}$) is developed, the nuclei ${N}_{a}$ and ${N}_{b}$ being treated as "elementary" particles. Form factors are introduced to describe the ${N}_{a}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{N}_{b}$ transition matrix elements of the hadron weak currents; these form factors are then evaluated on the basis of the conserved-vector-current and partially-conserved-axial-vector-current hypotheses and with use of appropriate experimental data regarding the corresponding electromagnetic and beta-decay transitions. The reactions ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+_{2}\mathrm{He}_{1}^{3}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}+_{1}\mathrm{H}_{2}^{3}$, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+_{6}\mathrm{C}_{6}^{12}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}+_{5}\mathrm{B}_{7}^{12}$, and ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+_{3}\mathrm{Li}_{3}^{6}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}+_{2}\mathrm{He}_{4}^{6}$ are discussed explicitly and the calculated rates are compared with available measured values.
Detection and assessment of wood decay using x-ray computer tomography

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) wood cube specimens were exposed to Gloeophyllum fungus (Gloeophyllum trabeum) for increasing periods of time ranging from one week to twelve weeks. The corresponding mass of each of these specimens was recorded before and after they were subjected to the controlled decay. X-ray computed tomography (CT) was then carried out. From the CT scans and recorded mass data, the specimens' corresponding volumes and densities were calculated. Blocks decayed for twelve weeks experienced, on the average, the greatest loss of mass (≈40%), volume (≈30%), and density (≈37%). The observations quantified the well-known effect of non-uniform decay, with the greatest occurring at the surface in contact with the fungi and decreasing to the opposite surface. Wood blocks subjected to controlled decay for twelve weeks lost 47% of density at the surface in contact with the fungi and 28% at the opposite surface, while blocks subjected to only one week of decay experienced over 5% density loss at the surface in contact with fungi and nearly 0% at the opposite surface. While the mass loss of specimens exposed to only one week of controlled decay was difficult to evaluate because of initial moisture absorption, these results indicate that x-ray CT can detect decay in wood specimens exposed to only one week of controlled decay using density measurements.
Application of Event Tree/Fault Tree Modeling Approach to the Evaluation of Proliferation Resistance

With the increasing popularity of nuclear energy as a means to address dwindling fossil resources and generation of greenhouse gases, comes a concern over the potential for increased proliferation of nuclear materials. Newly proposed processes/facilities will require an efficient, timely, and systematic assessment of the potential for proliferation to support decisions about optimum solutions to these competing concerns. Currently, evaluation of proliferation resistance is largely done by experts in an informal and unstructured fashion. As a result the evaluation may not always be repeatable or supportable. In 2002 an expert group was formed by The Generation IV International Forum to develop an internationally accepted methodology for assessing the proliferation resistance of a nuclear energy system (NES) and its individual elements. A pilot study was performed to test the methodologies being developed. The pilot consisted of assessing the proliferation resistance of a specific NES example with each analysis method. The example chosen was called the Example Sodium Fast Reactor which was designed to accept spent sodium-bonded, metallic fuel from four advanced fast reactors and to convert it into new fuel assemblies. A number of different approaches were taken to evaluate the diversion of material from the facility to assess their applicability and usefulness. This paper describes a Decision/Event Tree and Fault Tree Analysis approach.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The effect of alpha platelet thickness on plastic flow during hot working of TI-6Al-4V with a transformed microstructure

Abstract The effect of alpha platelet thickness on the plastic flow of Ti–6Al–4V with a transformed microstructure was established by conducting isothermal, hot compression tests at hot working temperatures on samples with identical crystallographic texture and beta grain size. Microstructures containing alpha laths/platelets ranging in thickness from approximately 0.4 to 10 μm were produced by various sequences consisting of hot rolling and heat treatment. Constant-strain-rate and strain-rate-jump compression tests were conducted at subtransus temperatures of 815, 900, and 955°C in the strain rate regime between 10−3 and 10 s−1. The rate-jump tests suggested that plastic flow is controlled by a power-law creep (dislocation glide/climb) mechanism in all cases except the low-strain rate deformation of material with the thinnest alpha laths. All of the constant-strain-rate compression tests yielded flow curves consisting of a peak stress at low strains (≤0.03), extensive flow softening, and a steady-state flow stress at large strains. The peak stress results indicated a significant Hall–Petch dependence on alpha lath/platelet thickness at the two lower test temperatures. The magnitude of this dependence was predicted by the classical Eshelby expression for grain-size strengthening. In addition, a first-order analysis demonstrated that the observed flow softening is of the same magnitude as that which would be associated with the loss of Hall–Petch strengthening (due to alpha–beta interfaces) during hot working.
Dipolar correlations in liquid water

We present an analysis of the dipolar correlations in water as a function of temperature and density and in the presence of simple ionic solutes, carried out using molecular dynamics simulations and empirical potentials. We show that the dipole-dipole correlation function of the liquid exhibits sizable oscillations over nanodomains of about 1.5 nm radius, with several isosbestic points as a function of temperature; the size of the nanodomains is nearly independent on temperature and density, between 240 and 400 K and 0.9 and 1.3 g/cm3, but it is substantially affected by the presence of solvated ions. In the same range of thermodynamic conditions, the decay time (τ) of the system dipole moment varies by a factor of about 30 and 1.5, as a function of temperature and density, respectively. At 300 K, we observed a maximum in τ as a function of density, and a corresponding shallow maximum in the tetrahedral order parameter, in a range where the diffusion coefficient, the pressure and the dielectric constant increase monotonically.
The Seesaw in Winter Temperatures between Greenland and Northern Europe. Part I: General Description

Abstract We have investigated the well-known tendency for winter temperatures to be low over northern Europe when they are high over Greenland and the Canadian Arctic, and conversely. Well-defined pressure anomalies over most of the Northern Hemisphere are associated with this regional seesaw in temperature, and these pressure anomalies are so distributed that the pressure in the region of the Icelandic low is negatively correlated with the pressure over the North Pacific Ocean and over the area south of 50°N in the North Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean and Middle East, but positively correlated with the pressure over the Rocky Mountains. The composite patterns of pressure anomalies in the seesaw are almost identical to the fist eigenvector in the monthly mean pressure, but the standard deviations of pressure anomalies in seesaw mouths are as large as the standard deviations of monthly means in general. Since 1840 the seesaw, as defined by temperatures in Scandinavia and Greenland, occurred in more than 40%...
The time-varying geomagnetic field

Information (obtained from Magsat and other sources) published by the U.S. authors between 1983 and 1986 on the large-scale geomagnetic field of deep internal origin and its secular variation (SV) is reviewed. Results on the main field modeling, including reference fields, and on the separaton of core and crustal fields are discussed together with the advances made in geomagnetic field theory and applications of novel methods. Consideration is also given to global SV, short-term global SV, and regional CV analyses; nonsecular impulses, featuring the sudden geomagnetic jerk of 1969; and the frozen-flux core approximation, including downward continuation to the core-mantle boundary constraints, westward drift, and estimates of the fluid velocity at the top of the core.
Atrophy and Intramuscular Fat in Specific Muscles of the Thigh Associated Weakness and Hyperinsulinemia in Stroke Survivors

Purpose. Sarcopenia and increased fat infiltration in muscle may play a role in the functional impairment and high risk for diabetes in stroke. Our purpose was to compare muscle volume and muscle attenuation across 6 muscles of the paretic and nonparetic thigh and examine the relationships between intramuscular fat and insulin resistance and between muscle volume and strength in stroke patients. Methods. Stroke participants (70; 39 men, 31 women) aged 40 to 84 years, BMI = 16 to 45 kg/m2 underwent multiple thigh CT scans, total body scan by DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), peak oxygen intake (VO2peak) graded treadmill test, 6-minute walk, fasting blood draws, and isokinetic strength testing. Results. Muscle volume is 24% lower and subcutaneous fat volume is 5% higher in the paretic versus nonparetic thigh. Muscle attenuation (index of amount of fat infiltration in muscle) is 17% higher in the nonparetic midthigh than the paretic. The semitendinosis/semimembranosis, biceps femoris, sartorius, vastus...
Male and Female Conformity in Eating Behavior

An observational methodology was used to evaluate the differences between men's and women's conformity to a single source of influence. A total of 226 adults (115 men and 111 women) were observed in three cafeteria settings. Diners eating in pairs in which the lead diner selected a dessert were identified based on their sex and their position in dyad. The sex of the lead person (the model), the sex of following person (the subject), and whether the following person conformed to the lead by selecting a dessert were recorded. Analysis indicated a significant difference between men's and women's willingness to conform to one model. Women conformed more often than men when the models were male or female. Moreover, compared with men, they showed an even stronger tendency to conform to the behavior of a same-gender model.
Among long-term crack smokers, who avoids and who succumbs to cocaine addiction?

Abstract Crack cocaine is a highly addictive drug. To learn more about crack addiction, long-term crack smokers who had never met the DSM-IV criteria for lifetime cocaine dependence were compared with those who had. The study sample consisted of crack users (n = 172) from the Dayton, Ohio, area who were interviewed periodically over 8 years. Data were collected on a range of variables including age of crack initiation, frequency of recent use, and lifetime cocaine dependence. Cocaine dependence was common with 62.8% of the sample having experienced it. There were no statistically significant differences between dependent and non-dependent users for age of crack initiation or frequency of crack use. In terms of sociodemographics, only race/ethnicity was significant, with proportionally fewer African-Americans than whites meeting the criteria for cocaine dependence. Controlling for sociodemographics, partial correlation analysis showed positive, statistically significant relationships between lifetime cocaine dependence and anti-social personality disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and lifetime dependence on alcohol, cannabis, amphetamine, sedative-hypnotics, and opioids. These results highlight the importance addressing race/ethnicity and comorbid disorders when developing, implementing, and evaluating interventions targeting people who use crack cocaine. Additional research is needed to better understand the role of race/ethnicity in the development of cocaine dependence resulting from crack use.
Expression of a phenylcoumaran benzylic ether reductase-like protein in the ovules of Gossypium hirsutum

Two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) was used to identify differentially expressed proteins in wild-type (DP 5690) and fiberless (SL 1-7-1) cotton ovules. One protein, designated V2 was unique to ovules of the fiber producing DP 5690 line. The protein was purified from 2D-PAGE of 4 d post anthesis DP 5690 ovules and partially sequenced. The short amino acid sequence was nearly identical to the deduced amino acid sequence for cotton phenylcoumaran benzylic ether reductase (PCBER) protein. A consensus sequence was assembled from ESTs encoding cotton PCBER genes, primers were designed, and a full length gene was amplified from plasmid DNA from a 72 h etiolated cotton cotyledon library. The polymerase chain reaction generated a 950 bp product with unique EcoRI (5′) and (3′) KpnI restriction sites for directional insertion into the expression vector pPICZA. Nucleotide sequencing was performed, and the full length coding region was 924 bp encoding a protein of 308 amino acids. The molecular mass and pI measured (2D PAGE) were similar to the theoretical protein.
Accumulation of donor-specific cytotoxic T cells in intestinal lymphoid tissues following intestinal transplantation

Utilizing a rat model of semiallogeneic intestinal transplantation, recipients were evaluated for accumulation of donorspecific cytotoxic T cells in spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, Peyer's patches, lamina propria, and intraepithelial lymphocytes using limiting dilution analysis. Naive animals exhibited a low frequency of cytotoxic T cells in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes with minimal activity detected in Peyer's patches and intraepithelial lymphocytes, but no detectable activity in lamina propria. Orthotopic intestinal transplantation resulted in significant increases in cytotoxic T-cell activity in recipient Peyer's patches as early as Day 6 and by Day 8 in spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, lamina propria and intraepithelial lymphocyte populations. Graft lamina propria and intraepithelial lymphocytes exhibited significant cytotoxic T-cell activity as early as 4 days following transplant. The highest donorspecific cytotoxic T-cell activity was observed in graft intraepithelial lymphocytes on Day 8 posttransplant. These studies demonstrate rapid expansion of donor-specific cytotoxic T cells which migrate to the graft site within 4 days after semiallogeneic intestinal transplantation.
Idiotype-anti-idiotype hapten immunoassays: assay for cotinine.

Abstract Practical application of the idiotype-anti-idiotype reaction to hapten immunoassays has been demonstrated with cotinine as an example. The assay relies on the ability of cotinine, a major nicotine metabolite, to (the idiotype) and a second monoclonal antibody inhibit binding between a monoclonal anti-cotinine antibody (the anti-idiotype) specific for the antigen combining region on the idiotype. A solid phase enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) format was adopted in which fluid phase anti-cotinine and cotinine present either as a standard or in a test sample were incubated in microtiter plate wells coated with F(ab′) 2 fragments of the anti-idiotype. Horseradish peroxidase-labeled protein A and o -phenylenediamine were used to detect idiotype-anti-idiotype binding. Under optimal assay conditions, 0.9 ng cotinine inhibited immune binding by 50% and as little as 0.04 ng could be detected. In contrast, nearly 70 times more rans -3′-hydroxycotinine, a major urinary metabolite, and over 1000-fold more nicotine were required for 50% inhibition. Several other metabolites and structurally related compounds also were poor competitors. Assay reliability was good over a range of cotinine concentrations from 5 to 500 ng/ml saliva with intraassay coefficients of variation between 6 and 10% and interassay values between 6 and 13%. Also, there was a strong correlation ( R 2 = 0.994) between the cotinine levels found in saliva from 35 cigarette smokers with the idiotype-anti-idiotype assay and a cotinine-anti-cotinine ELISA. Because only monoclonal antibodies and antigen are required, the idiotype-anti-idiotype immunoassay offers a high degree of standardization without the need to prepare labeled hapten derivatives or macromolecular conjugates for solid phase assays.
The sources of GARCH: empirical evidence from an intraday returns model incorporating systematic and unique risks

Abstract GARCH models propose that volatility is time varying and persistent. As a parsimonious statistical description of the process driving returns in many financial markets, these models have been very successful. However, GARCH lacks a substantiated economic motivation. This paper provides new and more definitive evidence on the mixture of distributions hypothesis, a prominent potential economic explanation. The mixture hypothesis posits that autocorrelation in the time-varying rate of information arrival leads to the volatility dependencies captured by GARCH models. Previous investigations of this hypothesis have been inconclusive. This paper makes use of a more theoretically appealing risk specification, more appropriate measures of the rate of information arrival, and higher frequency data from the currency futures market. The results show that the mixture hypothesis explains substantial portions of contracts' unique risks, but systematic GARCH remains.
Interactions between nocturnal feeding and wheel running patterns in the rat

Abstract The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the relationship between daily patterns of wheel running activity and feeding behavior. Wheel running and bar pressing for food were continuously recorded from rats which had concurrent access to both wheels and food. In a second condition, wheel running and (non-reinforced) bar pressing were recorded during food deprivation. In a third condition, bar pressing for food was recorded while wheel running was prevented. During ad lib access to wheels and food, both behaviors occurred primarily during the dark phase of the light-dark cycle. However, the nocturnal distribution of these responses differed: the early dark hours were primarily devoted to running, while feeding occurred in small, frequent meals. Maximal food intake occurred during the late dark hours, when meals were larger and less frequent, and there was little running. During three days of complete food deprivation, both wheel running and meal initiation attempts (as indicated by non-reinforced bar pressing) maintained their normal daily patterns. However, during wheel deprivation, changes occurred in the temporal distribution of meals which equalized early and late dark food intake. These results show that the availability of an alternative activity, like wheel running, can be an important determinant of daily feeding patterns. However, the daily pattern of wheel running is not influenced by food availability. Different behaviors may show differential plasticity in the coordination of an overall daily behavioral program.
Selection of advanced technologies for detection of trucks

The North American Free Trade Agreement is anticipated an already increasing trend in highway freight movement across the international border between Texas and Mexico. The Texas Department of Transportation is concerned about safeguarding its motoring public and protection of its highway infrastructure. By sponsoring this research, it hopes to improve traffic signal operations, especially at isolated intersections. Recent advances in sensing technologies and signalization enable safer and more efficient intersection control. This research evaluated advanced detection technologies that can be used to increase green time to trucks and reduce their stops and delays. Equipment selection criteria required devices that were reasonably accurate in classification of vehicles under all weather and lighting conditions and determination of vehicle speeds. The research team selected active IR and passive acoustic technologies. Components of the detection system include: an Industrial PC, proprietary boards inside the computer, IR and acoustic detectors, a pole for mounting the selected systems, and a classifier system using pavement sensors for verification purposes. The purpose of the node computer was to interpret signals from detectors, store data, and communicate with the controller cabinet upon detection of a truck.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
First Lactation Performance and Herd Life

Abstract Records of artificially sired cows of five breeds having up to five or more lactations were divided into four groups according to first-lactation deviations from herd-mate average. The average deviation for each group in each of four succeeding lactations was greater than for the group which was below it in the first lactation. The fraction of cows having subsequent records was also greater for the groups highest in first-lactation deviations. The pattern was similar for all breeds. The Holstein results showed that more of the high producers (Group 1) in the first lactation had second records than the low producers (Group 4)—82 vs. 61%. More than twice as many had at least five records—32 vs. 15%. The high producers in the first lactation not only continued to outproduce their lower-producing first-lactation mates but also had a substantially longer herd life. These results do not substantiate the claim often made, that high producers in the first lactation burn themselves out and leave the herd at an early age. Actually, these cows appear to stay longer and produce more than their lower-producing first-lactation mates.
Stability effects of prey refuges with entry-exit dynamics

Prey refuges are widely believed to be important components of natural communities. Conventional wisdom holds that damping predator-prey oscillations is one of their most significant roles. Refuges are thus thought to reduce fluctuation and foster stable coexistence of prey and predator populations. Here I examine this view using a model which explicitly incorporates the process by which prey enter and leave their refuge, a process which nearly all previous models have ignored. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the results indicate that a prey refuge with legitimate entry-exit dynamics is quite capable of amplifying rather than damping predator-prey oscillations. Some simple conditions are identified which ensure that a refuge will act as (a) a damper and (b) an antidamper, and these are exploited in proposing a strategic way to test the model experimentally.
Idiopathic Intervertebral Disc Calcification in Childhood: An Atypical Case of an Uncommon Entity for Pediatric Pathologists

Calcification of the intervertebral disc is a common occurrence in the adult population, but it is rare in children. However, its radiological and clinical findings are well described in the pediatric age group, with close to 150 publications on record. In contrast, little information is available regarding the histological features of this entity, which may prove to be challenging to surgical pathologists. Here we provide a detailed description of a young patient with an inflammatory retropharyngeal mass originating in a calcified intervertebral disc. A review of the pathological features described in the literature in English, with pathogenic considerations, is presented.
Assessment of recovery of electrophysiological and neurophysiological functions in chronic alcoholics

Abstract Potential recovery oof electrophysiological and neurophyschological functions was investigated in alcoholics completing treatment and controls. Event-related potentials (ERPs) and neuropsychological tests were administered initially and repeated 14 months later. Alcoholics were classified as resumers or abstainers based on consumption patterns before retest. Resumers ( n = 28), abstainers ( n = 44), and controls ( n = 44) differed significantly on ERP measures. No test-retest or group × test-retest interactions were found, indicating little recovery or change in ERPs over time. Differences between groups could not be attributed to family history factors. For neuropsychological efficiency (Accuracy/Time) measures, significant group differences were found. All groups improved from test to retest, with resumers showing the greatest improvement. Analysis of the separate efficiency components indicated resumers' improvement was due to a decrease in performance time, whereas accuracy scores remained significantly impaired. Whether the continued deficits in ERPs and neuropsychological performance at retest is a permanent effect of alcoho abuse, or would remit over longer periods of time, or reflects premorbid deficits, remains to be investigated.
The Effects of Test Condition, Microstructure and Linewidth on Electromigration Void Morphology

In this paper, experimental results for electromigration void morphology and failure time distribution are presented as a function of test condition, grain size distribution and conductor linewidth. Unpassivated Al-Cu(1.5%)-Si(1.5%) conductors with linewidths in the range lum ≤W ≤l0μm were subjected to accelerated temperature stresses of T=150° C and 250°C and current stresses in the range j= 0.5-4X106 A-cm-2, for each temperature stress. Unlike previous reports, erosion-like voids dominated at all current densities and temperatures for both W/D50≤1 and W/D50 > 1. The void distribution within a line was strongly dependent on test conditions and linewidth. The critical current density was extracted from electromigration lifetimes measured as a function of current density. The results show that the linewidth dependence of electromigration lifetimes depend strongly on the Blech relation.
Attention “Blinks” Differently for Plants and Animals

Plants, to many, are simply not as interesting as animals. Students typically prefer to study animals rather than plants and recall plants more poorly, and plants are underrepresented in the classroom. The observed paucity of interest for plants has been described as plant blindness, a term that is meant to encapsulate both the tendency to neglect plants in the environment and the lack of appreciation for plants’ functional roles. While the term plant blindness suggests a perceptual or attentional component to plant neglect, few studies have examined whether there are real differences in how plants and animals are perceived. Here, we use an established paradigm in visual cognition, the “attentional blink,” to compare the extent to which images of plants and animals capture attentional resources. We find that participants are better able to detect animals than plants in rapid image sequences and that visual attention has a different refractory period when a plant has been detected. These results suggest there are fundamental differences in how the visual system processes plants that may contribute to plant blindness. We discuss how perceptual and physiological constraints on visual processing may suggest useful strategies for characterizing and overcoming zoocentrism.
Comment on "Theoretical investigation of the formation mechanism of metallofullerene Y@C82".

A recent study1 by Gan and Wang characterized a formation mechanism for the metallofullerene Y@C82, and the energetically favorable path was determined to be a reaction C76 + YC6 → Y@C82. The YC6 reactant was portrayed as a six-membered ring of carbon coordinated to an yttrium atom in η6 fashion, with C6v or near-C6v point group symmetry. However, what is the stability of this proposed reactant relative to other YC6 isomers? Will the YC6 exist in the proposed form with a sufficient lifetime to perform its proposed role in the mechanism? Using the B3LYP/LANL2DZ method2,3 of the previous study, this isomer of YC6 is compared to two other YC6 isomers from a previous study4 by Strout and Hall. These two other isomers are shown in Figures 1 and ​and2.2. Figure 1 shows a planar isomer in which the yttrium atom is coordinated to a six-membered carbon ring in η2 fashion. Figure 2 shows the so-called “fan isomer” is which the yttrium atom is coordinated to a linear chain of six carbons in such a way as to have Y-C bonding distances with all six carbon atoms. Figure 1 Fan isomer of YC6 (C2v point group symmetry). Figure 2 Planar ring isomer of YC6 (C2v point group symmetry). The first major result is that the geometry optimization of a C6v isomer was unsuccessful due to gradients that suggest that the six Y-C distances should be non-identical. The stationary point most similar to the previous authors’ C6v isomer was found in C2v symmetry and is shown in Figure 3. Even this structure is not quite a local minimum, having a single imaginary frequency of 135i. The molecules in Figures 1 and ​and22 are local minima at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory. Table 1 shows the relative energies of these three stationary points. The fan isomer is the lowest in energy, followed by the planar η2 ring isomer, with the nonplanar isomer lying much higher in energy. Given this energy ordering of the isomers, it is plausible to envision a reaction path whereby the yttrium atom of the nonplanar isomer slides down to its position on the planar ring, followed by insertion of the yttrium into the ring to form a fan isomer. If the barrier between nonplanar ring isomer and planar ring isomer is a high one, then the nonplanar ring isomer may be stable enough to perform its proposed role in the formation of Y@C82. However, that would have to be demonstrated to be the case in order for the nonplanar YC6 to be a plausible reactant in a Y@C82 reaction mechanism. Figure 3 Nonplanar ring isomer of YC6 (C2v point group symmetry). This structure resulted from unsuccessful attempts to optimize the structure with C6v symmetry. TABLE 1 Relative energies of three isomers of YC6 (calculated with B3LYP/LANL2DZ method, energies in kcal/mol).
Boundary detection by contextual non-linear smoothing

Abstract In this paper we present a two-step boundary detection algorithm. The first step is a nonlinear smoothing algorithm which is based on an orientation-sensitive probability measure. By incorporating geometrical constraints through the coupling structure, we obtain a robust nonlinear smoothing algorithm, where many nonlinear algorithms can be derived as special cases. Even when noise is substantial, the proposed smoothing algorithm can still preserve salient boundaries. Compared with anisotropic diffusion approaches, the proposed nonlinear algorithm not only performs better in preserving boundaries but also has a non-uniform stable state, whereby reliable results are available within a fixed number of iterations independent of images. The second step is simply a Sobel edge detection algorithm without non-maximum suppression and hysteresis tracking. Due to the proposed nonlinear smoothing, salient boundaries are extracted effectively. Experimental results using synthetic and real images are provided.
Recent trends in multiple-caused mortality 1968 to 1982: Age and cohort components

Declines in mortality at advanced ages have been observed recently in the United States. These declines have been related to a reduction in the risk of major circulatory diseases, such as stroke and heart disease. In this paper we examine the contribution of two additional major factors in those declines. The first is the effect of conditions associated with circulatory diseases. This effect can be examined by using multiple-cause mortality data in which all conditions reported by the physician on the death certificates are recorded. The second is the contribution of cohort mortality differentials to temporal changes. If major cohort differentials are identified, we may be able to determine if recent declines in mortality are likely to continue-and to what levels. Such insights would be useful both in improving projections of the size and age structure of the U.S. elderly population and its entitlement groups and in helping to identify future patterns of needs for preventive and other health services.
Variations in the pH of sAliva of Five Individuals

When searching the literature concerning the hydrogen ion concentration of saliva, one finds a great range of averages expressed in terms of pH and of methods used for its determination such as indicator paper, colorimetric and electrometric methods. The literature is very limited in referring to the use of the glass electrode to determine the pH of saliva. In Black's "Operative Dentistry" (1) is the statement that up to 1936 no extensive reports as to the pH of saliva by means of the glass electrode were available. Wessinger (2) determined the pH of saliva by means of the glass electrode and compared the readings with those obtained by the quinhydrone electrode, but no averages or statistics were made as he was interested only in comparisons. Also, 3 cases were listed by Wessinger in which 3 or 4 tests were made upon each individual, but no pH averages were given. Brawley (3) determined 6.75 as an average pH of 3404 cases, using the colorimetric method. He found that readings taken immediately after collections did not vary so appreciably as to warrant collecting saliva under oil, as suggested by Starr (4) and others. -Grossman and Brickman (5) reported that averages determined by earlier investigators varied greatly. Their own average (diurnal) was pH 6.7 and was determined with the quinhydrone electrode. No statistical analysis was made. These men reported, also, that while the pH level of saliva varied with different individuals, it was fairly constant in the same person. They tested 3 individuals twice at a 10 month interval. While comparing colorimetrically the pH of saliva with the incidence of caries, Swerdlove (6) gave 6.69 as the average pH of saliva of 351 people. His data were treated statistically. Although investigators have tested the pH of saliva of thousands of individuals, data pertaining to changes in the pH of saliva during the day are not numerous, and no reference was found dealing with repeated tests during the day upon a few individuals. The early work of Bunzell in 1923 (7) dealt in part with colorimetric determinations of several individuals made irregularly in the morning and in the afternoon for a few scattered days. Bunzell stated that he found no difference in the pH of saliva in the morning and afternoon. Grossman and Brickman (8) emphasized that while the salivary pH of individuals varied hourly and daily, it was fairly constant for each individual. A drop in pH occurred in saliva after eating, but returned to the original pH within an hour. These same men (5) reported no apparent drop in the pH of subjects who remained awake for 24 hours, but a definite nocturnal drop occurred if the
Disposable endoscope tip actuation design and robotic platform

A disposable endoscopic platform with actuation motors inside the body of the endoscope is presented. This platform can enable new medical devices for diagnosis and for minimally invasive surgeries. This paper addresses mechanical and safety issues with existing endoscope technologies by incorporating disposability, safety modules, and lower cable forces. In order to produce path-independent cable forces, motors are incorporated in the body of the endoscope near the bending tip. Results for tip forces are shown accompanied by an analytical model describing the scaling laws for this type of robotic architecture. The system under development will provide a platform for research into haptic control and perceptual feedback.