cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High performance multi-node file copies and checksums for clustered file systems

Mcp and msum are drop-in replacements for the standard cp and md5sum programs that utilize multiple types of parallelism and other optimizations to achieve maximum copy and checksum performance on clustered file systems. Multi-threading is used to ensure that nodes are kept as busy as possible. Read/write parallelism allows individual operations of a single copy to be overlapped using asynchronous I/O. Multi-node cooperation allows different nodes to take part in the same copy/checksum. Split file processing allows multiple threads to operate concurrently on the same file. Finally, hash trees allow inherently serial checksums to be performed in parallel. This paper presents the design of mcp and msum and detailed performance numbers for each implemented optimization. It will be shown how mcp improves cp performance over 27×, msum improves md5sum performance almost 19×, and the combination of mcp and msum improves verified copies via cp and md5sum by almost 22×.
Accelerating scientific publication in biology

Scientific publications enable results and ideas to be transmitted throughout the scientific community. The number and type of journal publications also have become the primary criteria used in evaluating career advancement. Our analysis suggests that publication practices have changed considerably in the life sciences over the past 30 years. More experimental data are now required for publication, and the average time required for graduate students to publish their first paper has increased and is approaching the desirable duration of PhD training. Because publication is generally a requirement for career progression, schemes to reduce the time of graduate student and postdoctoral training may be difficult to implement without also considering new mechanisms for accelerating communication of their work. The increasing time to publication also delays potential catalytic effects that ensue when many scientists have access to new information. The time has come for life scientists, funding agencies, and publishers to discuss how to communicate new findings in a way that best serves the interests of the public and the scientific community.
From hybrid fiber coax to all-fiber networks

Cable operators have many options to increase throughput as they progress towards an all-fiber network, including migrating from analog to digital video, increasing compression, using advanced modulation, allocating more upstream spectrum and pushing fiber deeper.
Stresses and strains in the first law for Kaluza-Klein black holes

We consider how variations in the moduli of the compactification manifold contribute `pdV' type work terms to the first law for Kaluza-Klein black holes. We give a new proof for the S1 case, based on Hamiltonian methods, which demonstrates that the result holds for arbitrary perturbations around a static black hole background. We further apply these methods to derive the first law for black holes in 2-torus compactifications, where there are three real moduli. We find that the result can be simply stated in terms of constructs familiar from the physics of elastic materials, the stress and strain tensors. The strain tensor encodes the change in size and shape of the 2-torus as the moduli are varied. The role of the stress tensor is played by a tension tensor, which generalizes the spacetime tension that enters the first law in the S1 case.
DIRECT DETERMINATION OF THE KINEMATICS OF THE UNIVERSE AND PROPERTIES OF THE DARK ENERGY AS FUNCTIONS OF REDSHIFT

Understanding the nature of dark energy, which appears to drive the expansion of the universe, is one of the central problems of physical cosmology today. In an earlier paper we proposed a novel method to determine the expansion rate E(z) and the deceleration parameter q(z) in a largely model-independent way, directly from the data on coordinate distances y(z). Here we expand this methodology to include measurements of the pressure of dark energy p(z), its normalized energy density fraction f(z), and the equation-of-state parameter w(z). We then apply this methodology to a new, combined data set of distances to supernovae and radio galaxies. In evaluating E(z) and q(z), we make only the assumptions that the FRW metric applies and that the universe is spatially flat (an assumption strongly supported by modern cosmic microwave background radiation measurements). The determinations of E(z) and q(z) are independent of any theory of gravity. For evaluations of p(z), f(z), and w(z), a theory of gravity must be adopted, and general relativity is assumed here. No a priori assumptions regarding the properties or redshift evolution of the dark energy are needed. We obtain trends for y(z) and E(z) that are fully consistent with the standard Friedmann-Lemaitre concordance cosmology with Ω_0 = 0.3 and Λ_0 = 0.7. The measured trend for q(z) deviates systematically from the predictions of this model on a ~1-2 σ level but may be consistent for smaller values of Λ_0. We confirm our previous result that the universe transitions from acceleration to deceleration at a redshift zT ≈ 0.4. The trends for p(z), f(z), and w(z) are consistent with being constant at least out to z ~ 0.3-0.5 and broadly consistent with being constant out to higher redshifts, but with large uncertainties. For the present values of these parameters we obtain E_0 = 0.97 ± 0.03, q_0 = -0.35 ± 0.15, p_0 = -0.6 ± 0.15, f_0 = -0.62 - (Ω_0 - 0.3) ± 0.05, and w_0 = -0.9 - e(Ω_0 - 0.3) ± 0.1, where Ω_0 is the density parameter for nonrelativistic matter and e ≈ 1.5 ± 0.1. We note that in the standard Friedmann-Lemaitre models p_0 = -Λ_0, and thus we can measure the value of the cosmological constant directly and obtain results in agreement with other contemporary results.
Synthesis and structural characterization of organometallic cyclynes: novel nanoscale, carbon-rich topologies

A combination of Pd- and Cu-catalyzed couplings make the ferrocene and cyclobutadiene(cyclopentadienylcobalt)-based half-wheels and the cyclobutadiene(cyclopentadienylcobalt)-based seco-wheel accessible. These targets canformally be constructed by fusing two or three organometallic benzohexadehydro[l4]annulenes along an alkyne unit. In addition, a ferrocene-based, enlarged version of the half wheel was prepared. This target compound is obtained by formally fusing two organometallic benzododecadehydro[18]annulenes. Single crystal structures of three target molecules, the cyclobutadiene complex C 1 5 H 1 7 Co, the ferrocene derivative C 1 5 H 3 6 Fe, and the cyclobutadiene complex C 6 9 H 5 9 Co were performed to verify the proposed geometries.
The Value of Public Goods Generated by a Major League Sports Team: The CVM Approach

This article reports an application of the contingent valuation method to measure the value of public goods generated by a professional sports team, the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. The data and analysis indicate that a major league sports team can produce widely consumed public goods such as civic pride and community spirit and that the value of those public goods may be substantial. However, in the case of the Penguins, the value of the public goods is far less than the cost of building a new arena. Although the analysis of public goods generated by other teams in other cities might lead to different results, the results of this article call into question the widespread practice of government funding of sports stadiums and arenas because it appears that the costs borne by taxpayers exceed the benefits received.
The constituent equations of piezoelectric heterogeneous bimorphs

The electromechanical characteristics of a heterogeneous piezoelectric bender subjected to various electrical and mechanical boundary conditions are discussed based on the results of the free bender analysis. The mechanical boundary conditions considered are: a mechanical moment at the end of the bender, a force applied perpendicularly to the tip of the bender, and a uniform load applied over the entire length of the bender. The constituent equations of the bender under these electromechanical influences are derived by calculating the internal energy assuming thermodynamic equilibrium. >
Air Stable, Sterically Hindered Ferrocenyl Dialkylphosphines for Palladium-Catalyzed C−C, C−N, and C−O Bond-Forming Cross-Couplings

Pentaphenylferrocenyl di-tert-butylphosphine has been prepared in high yield from a two-step synthetic procedure, and the scope of various cross-coupling processes catalyzed by complexes bearing this ligand has been investigated. This ligand creates a remarkably general palladium catalyst for aryl halide amination and for Suzuki coupling. Turnovers of roughly 1000 were observed for aminations with unactivated aryl bromides or chlorides. In addition, complexes of this ligand catalyzed the formation of selected aryl ethers under mild conditions. The reactions encompassed electron-rich and electron-poor aryl bromides and chlorides. In the presence of catalysts containing this ligand, these aryl halides coupled with acyclic or cyclic secondary alkyl- and arylamines, with primary alkyl- and arylamines, and with aryl- and primary alkylboronic acids. These last couplings provide the first general procedure for reaction of terminal alkylboronic acids with aryl halides without toxic or expensive bases. The ligand ...
Chlorotrimethylsilane−Nitrate Salts as Oxidants: Direct Oxidative Conversion of Thiols and Disulfides to Sulfonyl Chlorides

A mixture of nitrate salt and chlorotrimethylsilane is found to be a mild and efficient reagent for the direct oxidative conversion of thiols (1) and disulfides (2) to the corresponding sulfonyl chlorides (3) in excellent yields through oxidative chlorination. Sulfides and sulfoxides were also found to undergo oxidation to sulfones under similar reaction conditions. In most cases these reactions are highly selective, simple, and clean, affording products in high yield and purity.
The Infrared Spectral Energy Distribution of Normal Star-forming Galaxies: Calibration at Far-Infrared and Submillimeter Wavelengths

New far-infrared and submillimeter data are used to solidify and to extend to long wavelengths the empirical calibration of the infrared spectral energy distribution (SED) of normal star-forming galaxies. As was found by Dale and coworkers in 2001, a single parameter family, characterized by fν(60 μm)/fν(100 μm), is adequate to describe the range of normal galaxy SEDs observed by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite and Infrared Space Observatory from 3 to 100 μm. However, predictions based on the first-generation models at longer wavelengths (122-850 μm) are increasingly overluminous compared to the data for smaller fν(60 μm)/fν(100 μm), or alternatively, for weaker global interstellar radiation fields. After slightly modifying the far-infrared/submillimeter dust emissivity in those models as a function of the radiation field intensity to better match the long-wavelength data, a suite of SEDs from 3 μm to 20 cm in wavelength is presented. Results from relevant applications are also discussed, including submillimeter-based photometric redshift indicators, the infrared energy budget and simple formulae for recovering the bolometric infrared luminosity, and dust mass estimates in galaxies. Regarding the latter, since galaxy infrared SEDs are not well described by single blackbody curves, the usual methods of estimating dust masses can be grossly inadequate. The improved model presented herein is used to provide a more accurate relation between infrared luminosity and dust mass.
Facile P,N-heterocycle synthesis via tandem aminomethylation–cyclization of H-phosphinate building blocks

Various heterocycles containing phosphorus and nitrogen are easily synthesized from readily available H-phosphinate building blocks. Aminomethylation of these H-phosphinates is followed by in situ cyclization through substitution or cross-coupling to produce novel heterocycles in moderate to good yields.
Economic Shocks and Civil Conflict: The Case of Large Floods

We investigate the impact of large floods on the risk of civil conflict in a sample of 125 countries between 1985 and 2009. We control for endogeneity of floods and the potential spatial and temporal dependency of civil conflict. We find that floods increase the probability of conflict incidence through a negative impact on short-run GDP growth.
DYNAMICAL MEASUREMENTS OF THE INTERIOR STRUCTURE OF EXOPLANETS

Giant gaseous planets often reside on orbits in sufficient proximity to their host stars for the planetary quadrupole gravitational field to become non-negligible. In presence of an additional planetary companion, a precise characterization of the system's orbital state can yield meaningful constraints on the transiting planet's interior structure. However, such methods can require a very specific type of system. This paper explores the dynamic range of applicability of these methods and shows that interior structure calculations are possible for a wide array of orbital architectures. The HAT-P-13 system is used as a case study, and the implications of perturbations arising from a third distant companion on the feasibility of an interior calculation are discussed. We find that the method discussed here is likely to be useful in studying other planetary systems, allowing the possibility of an expanded survey of the interiors of exoplanets.
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis constraints on brane cosmologies

Abstract We examine constraints from Big Bang nucleosynthesis on type II Randall–Sundrum brane cosmologies with both a dark radiation component and a quadratic term that depends on the 5-dimensional Planck mass, M 5 . Using limits on the abundances of deuterium and helium-4, we calculate the allowed region in the M 5 –dark radiation plane and derive the precise BBN bound on M 5 alone with no dark radiation: M 5 >13 TeV.
Advances in control systems for construction manipulators

Abstract Fundamental advances in sensors, actuators, and control systems technology are creating opportunities to improve the performance of traditional construction equipment. New capabilities are being developed as well. These improvements in performance and new capabilities are resulting in better safety and efficiency. However, selecting control strategies can be confusing, and measuring and predicting their performance can be difficult. This paper identifies emerging control paradigms and describes methods for measuring their performance. Many control schemes and corresponding example applications are identified, including single degree of freedom control sticks, multiple degree of freedom joysticks, operating and safety constraints, teach/learn capability, resolved motion with internal and external sensors, spatially correspondent controllers, tele-operation, graphical programming and control, and autonomous controls. Methods described for measuring performance are based on American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standard tests, applications analysis, and ergonomics. Examples focus on the University of Texas at Austin's large scale hydraulic manipulator (LSM) and Automated Road Maintenance Machine (ARMM) with the results of performance tests on these manipulators being presented.
A memory-efficient algorithm to obtain splicing graphs and de novo expression estimates from de Bruijn graphs of RNA-Seq data

The recent advance of high-throughput sequencing makes it feasible to study entire transcriptomes through the application of de novo sequence assembly algorithms. While a popular strategy is to first construct an intermediate de Bruijn graph structure to represent the transcriptome, an additional step is needed to construct predicted transcripts from the graph. Since the de Bruijn graph contains all branching possibilities, we develop a memory-efficient algorithm to recover alternative splicing information and library-specific expression information directly from the graph without prior genomic knowledge. We implement the algorithm as a postprocessing module of the Velvet assembler. We validate our algorithm by simulating the transcriptome assembly of Drosophila using its known genome, and by performing Drosophila transcriptome assembly using publicly available RNA-Seq libraries. Under a range of conditions, our algorithm recovers sequences and alternative splicing junctions with higher specificity than Oases or Trans-ABySS. Since our postprocessing algorithm does not consume as much memory as Velvet and is less memory-intensive than Oases, it allows biologists to assemble large libraries with limited computational resources. Our algorithm has been applied to perform transcriptome assembly of the non-model blow fly Lucilia sericata that was reported in a previous article, which shows that the assembly is of high quality and it facilitates comparison of the Lucilia sericata transcriptome to Drosophila and two mosquitoes, prediction and experimental validation of alternative splicing, investigation of differential expression among various developmental stages, and identification of transposable elements.
1-Alkyl-3-amino-5-aryl-1H-[1,2,4]triazoles: novel synthesis via cyclization of N-Acyl-S-methylisothioureas with alkylhydrazines and their potent corticotropin-Releasing factor-1 (CRF1) receptor antagonist activities

Abstract Cyclizations of alkylhydrazines with N-acyl-S-methylisothioureas, readily synthesized from acyl chlorides, sodium thioisocyanate, dialkylamines then methyl iodide in a one-pot reaction, gave 1-alkyl-3-dialkylamino-5-phenyltriazoles 7 as major products. The regioisomers were assigned through the use of NOE NMR experiments. While bearing a N-bis(cyclopropyl)methyl-N-propylamino group, this series of compounds shows very good binding affinity on the human CRF1 receptor. Among them, 1-methyl-3-[N-bis(cyclopropyl)methyl-N-propylamino]-5-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1H-[1,2,4]triazole 7a had the best binding affinity for the CRF1 receptor (Ki=9 nM).
Evidence Of Social Desirability Response Bias In Ethics Research: An International Study

This paper analyzes the association between ethical perceptions of questionable business practices and Hofstede’s Individualism, Transparency International’s C orruption Index, and social desirability response bias. The sample consists of 1,048 business students from ten countries: Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Nepal, South Africa, Spain, and the United States. The results of our analysis indicate that, while Hofstede’s (1980) cultural construct of Individualism was significant for two of the questions, social desirability response bias was the most consistent variable in modeling subjects’ responses. Our data indicate that social desirability response bias should be controlled for when using self-reported data in ethics and/or international studies.
An insulin signaling feedback loop regulates pancreas progenitor cell differentiation during islet development and regeneration

As one of the key nutrient sensors, insulin signaling plays an important role in integrating environmental energy cues with organism growth. In adult organisms, relative insufficiency of insulin signaling induces compensatory expansion of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta (β) cells. However, little is known about how insulin signaling feedback might influence neogenesis of β cells during embryonic development. Using genetic approaches and a unique cell transplantation system in developing zebrafish, we have uncovered a novel role for insulin signaling in the negative regulation of pancreatic progenitor cell differentiation. Blocking insulin signaling in the pancreatic progenitors hastened the expression of the essential β cell genes insulin and pdx1, and promoted β cell fate at the expense of alpha cell fate. In addition, loss of insulin signaling promoted β cell regeneration and destabilization of alpha cell character. These data indicate that insulin signaling constitutes a tunable mechanism for β cell compensatory plasticity during early development. Moreover, using a novel blastomere-to-larva transplantation strategy, we found that loss of insulin signaling in endoderm-committed blastomeres drove their differentiation into β cells. Furthermore, the extent of this differentiation was dependent on the function of the β cell mass in the host. Altogether, our results indicate that modulation of insulin signaling will be crucial for the development of β cell restoration therapies for diabetics; further clarification of the mechanisms of insulin signaling in β cell progenitors will reveal therapeutic targets for both in vivo and in vitro β cell generation.
China's Campaign to Build a New Socialist Countryside: Village Modernization, Peasant Councils, and the Ganzhou Model of Rural Development*

Since the mid-2000s, the Chinese government has promoted village modernization under the banner of “building a new socialist countryside.” To explain the origins and outcomes of this policy, this article examines the case of Ganzhou city in Jiangxi province. Ganzhou became a national model for rural development known for involving organizations called peasant councils in policy implementation. The study found that despite an initial emphasis on rural participation and moderate change, the new socialist countryside evolved into a top-down campaign to demolish and reconstruct villages. Three factors shaped this process: the strength of bureaucratic mobilization, the weakness of rural organizations, and shifting national policy priorities. After obtaining model status, Ganzhou's rural policy became more ambitious and politicized, leaving little space for participation. This insight suggests there are both benefits and costs to China's policy process. Despite the advantages of policy innovation, scaling up local experiments may actually undermine their success.
A framework for individualizing predictions of disease trajectories by exploiting multi-resolution structure

For many complex diseases, there is a wide variety of ways in which an individual can manifest the disease. The challenge of personalized medicine is to develop tools that can accurately predict the trajectory of an individual's disease, which can in turn enable clinicians to optimize treatments. We represent an individual's disease trajectory as a continuous-valued continuous-time function describing the severity of the disease over time. We propose a hierarchical latent variable model that individualizes predictions of disease trajectories. This model shares statistical strength across observations at different resolutions-the population, subpopulation and the individual level. We describe an algorithm for learning population and subpopulation parameters offline, and an online procedure for dynamically learning individual-specific parameters. Finally, we validate our model on the task of predicting the course of interstitial lung disease, a leading cause of death among patients with the autoimmune disease scleroderma. We compare our approach against state-of-the-art and demonstrate significant improvements in predictive accuracy.
Maternal and child health inequalities in Ethiopia

Recent surveys show considerable progress in maternal and child health in Ethiopia. The improvement has been in health outcomes and health services coverage. The study examines how different groups have fared in this progress. It tracked 11 health outcome indicators and health interventions related to Millennium Development Goals 1, 4, and 5. These are stunting, underweight, wasting, neonatal mortality, infant mortality, under-five mortality, measles vaccination, full immunization, modern contraceptive use by currently married women, antenatal care visits, and skilled birth attendance. The study explores trends in inequalities by household wealth status, mothers’ education, and place of residence. It is based on four Demographic and Health Surveys implemented in 2000, 2005, 2011, and 2014. Trends in rate differences and rate ratios are analyzed. The study also investigates the dynamics of inequalities, using concentration curves for different years. In addition, a decomposition analysis is conducted to identify the role of proximate determinants. The study finds substantial improvements in health outcomes and health services. Although there still exists a considerable gap between the rich and the poor, the study finds some reductions in inequalities of health services. However, some of the improvements in selected health outcomes appear to be pro-rich.
Monitoring, endogenous comparative advantage, and immigration

We propose a theory of free movement of goods and labor between two economies in the presence of moral hazard. Each country produces two final goods where the productive efforts of workers cannot be perfectly observed, or verified only in the complex industry. We show that national institutional quality and the system of the early childhood care and education determine the pattern of international trade. However, individuals’ decisions to emigrate depend only on the national institutional quality, where the country with more developed institutions serves as the host country of immigrants. We conclude that international labor movement promotes international trade. JEL classification: B52, I21, F10, F16, F22, J24.
Similar Microbial Communities Found on Two Distant Seafloor Basalts

The oceanic crust forms two thirds of the Earth's surface and hosts a large phylogenetic and functional diversity of microorganisms. While advances have been made in the sedimentary realm, our understanding of the igneous rock portion as a microbial habitat has remained limited. We present the first comparative metagenomic microbial community analysis from ocean floor basalt environments at the Lō'ihi Seamount, Hawai'i, and the East Pacific Rise (EPR; 9°N). Phylogenetic analysis indicates the presence of a total of 43 bacterial and archaeal mono-phyletic groups, dominated by Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria, as well as Thaumarchaeota. Functional gene analysis suggests that these Thaumarchaeota play an important role in ammonium oxidation on seafloor basalts. In addition to ammonium oxidation, the seafloor basalt habitat reveals a wide spectrum of other metabolic potentials, including CO2 fixation, denitrification, dissimilatory sulfate reduction, and sulfur oxidation. Basalt communities from Lō'ihi and the EPR show considerable metabolic and phylogenetic overlap down to the genus level despite geographic distance and slightly different seafloor basalt mineralogy.
Predicting the Semantic Orientation of Adjectives

We identify and validate from a large corpus constraints from conjunctions on the positive or negative semantic orientation of the conjoined adjectives. A log-linear regression model uses these constraints to predict whether conjoined adjectives are of same or different orientations, achieving 82% accuracy in this task when each conjunction is considered independently. Combining the constraints across many adjectives, a clustering algorithm separates the adjectives into groups of different orientations, and finally, adjectives are labeled positive or negative. Evaluations on real data and simulation experiments indicate high levels of performance: classification precision is more than 90% for adjectives that occur in a modest number of conjunctions in the corpus.
How Universal is the SFR - H2 Relation?

It is a well-established empirical fact that the surface density of the star formation rate, {Sigma}{sub SFR}, strongly correlates with the surface density of molecular hydrogen, {Sigma}{sub H{sub 2}}, at least when averaged over large ({approx}kpc) scales. Much less is known, however, about whether (and how) the {Sigma}{sub SFR}-{Sigma}{sub H{sub 2}} relation depends on environmental parameters, such as the metallicity or the UV radiation field in the interstellar medium (ISM). Furthermore, observations indicate that the scatter in the {Sigma}{sub SFR}-{Sigma}{sub H{sub 2}} relation increases rapidly with decreasing averaging scale. How the scale-dependent scatter is generated and how one recovers a tight {approx} kpc scale {Sigma}{sub SFR}-{Sigma}{sub 2} relation in the first place is still largely debated. Here, these questions are explored with hydrodynamical simulations that follow the formation and destruction of H{sub 2}, include radiative transfer of UV radiation, and resolve the ISM on {approx}60 pc scales. We find that within the considered range of H{sub 2} surface densities (10-100 M{sub sun} pc{sup -2}), the {Sigma}{sub SFR}-{Sigma}{sub H{sub 2}} relation is steeper in environments of low-metallicity and/or high-radiation fields (compared to the Galaxy), that the star formation rate (SFR) at a given H{sub 2} surface density is larger, and themore » scatter is increased. Deviations from a 'universal' {Sigma}{sub SFR}-{Sigma}{sub H{sub 2}} relation should be particularly relevant for high-redshift galaxies or for low-metallicity dwarfs at z {approx} 0. We also find that the use of time-averaged SFRs produces a large, scale-dependent scatter in the {Sigma}{sub SFR}-{Sigma}{sub H{sub 2}} relation. Given the plethora of observational data expected from upcoming surveys such as ALMA, the scale-scatter relation may indeed become a valuable tool for determining the physical mechanisms connecting star formation and H{sub 2} formation.« less
Minimum number of probes for brain dynamics observability

In this paper, we address the problem of placing sensor probes in the brain such that the system dynamics' are generically observable. The system dynamics whose states can encode for instance the fire-rating of the neurons or their ensemble following a neural-topological (structural) approach, and the sensors are assumed to be dedicated, i.e., can only measure a state at each time. Even though the mathematical description of brain dynamics is (yet) to be discovered, we build on its observed fractal characteristics and assume that the model of the brain activity satisfies fractional-order dynamics. Although the sensor placement explored in this paper is particularly considering the observability of brain dynamics, the proposed methodology applies to any fractional-order linear system. Thus, the main contribution of this paper is to show how to place the minimum number of dedicated sensors, i.e., sensors measuring only a state variable, to ensure generic observability in discrete-time fractional-order systems for a specified finite interval of time. Finally, an illustrative example of the main results is provided using electroencephalogram (EEG) data.
Burden of arrhythmias in patients with multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is associated with development of cardiac amyloidosis. Data on arrhythmic burden in this population is lacking. We sought to assess the burden of arrhythmias in patients with MM. Patients with a diagnosis of MM and various cardiac arrhythmias (CA) at discharge were identified
A metric of biodiversity that integrates abundance, phylogeny, and function

A metric of biodiversity is proposed that combines three of its key components: abundance, phylogeny, and ecological function. This metric is an expansion of the current abundance-based metric that uses Hill numbers, the effective number of types in a sample if all types had the same mean proportional abundance. I define analogous proportional measures of phylogenetic divergence and functional distinctiveness. Phylogenetic divergence is measured as the sum of the proportional share of each species of a given branch of a phylogeny. Functional distinctiveness can be measured in two ways, as the proportional share of each species of a specified ecological function, or as the relative distance of each species based on functional trait values. Because all three aspects of biodiversity are measured in the same fashion (relative proportions) in similar units (effective numbers of species), an integrated metric can be defined. The combined metric provides understanding of covariation among the components and how management for one component may trade off against others. The metric can be partitioned into components of richness and evenness, and into subsets and variation among subsets, all of which can be related through a simple multiplicative framework. This metric is a complement to, rather than a replacement of, current metrics of phylogenetic and functional diversity. More work is needed to link this new metric to ecological theory, determine its error structure, and devise methods for its effective assessment.
Trajectory subtypes after injury and patient-centered outcomes

Abstract Background The recent focus on patient-centered outcomes highlights the need to better describe recovery trajectories after injury. The purpose of this study was to characterize recovery trajectory subtypes that exist after non-neurologic injury. Materials and methods A prospective, observational cohort of 500 adults with an Injury Severity Score > 10 but without traumatic brain or spinal cord injury from 2009 to 2011 was formed. The Short Form-36 was administered at admission and repeated at 1, 2, 4, and 12 mo after injury. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to determine the number and shape of physical composite score (PCS) and mental composite score (MCS) trajectories. Results Three PCS trajectories and five MCS trajectories were identified. For PCS, trajectory 1 (10.4%) has low baseline scores, followed by no improvement over time. Trajectory 2 (65.6%) declines 1 mo after injury then improves over time. Trajectory 3 (24.1%) has a sharp decline followed by rapid recovery. For MCS, trajectory 1 (9.4%) is low at baseline and remains low. Trajectory 2 (14.4%) has a large decrease after injury and does not recover over the next 12 mo. Trajectory 3 (22.7%) has an initial decrease in MCS early, followed by continuous recovery. Trajectory 4 (19.1%) has a steady decline over the study period. Trajectory 5 (34.3%) stays consistently high at all time points. Conclusions Recovery after injury is complex and results in multiple recovery trajectories. This has implications for patient-centered clinical trial design and in development of patient-specific interventions to improve outcomes.
Super-Resolution Microscopy Reveals Altered Desmosomal Protein Organization in Tissue from Patients with Pemphigus Vulgaris

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune epidermal blistering disease in which autoantibodies (IgG) are directed against the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein 3. To better understand how PV IgG alters desmosome morphology and function in vivo, biopsies from patients with PV were analyzed by structured illumination microscopy, a form of superresolution fluorescence microscopy. In patient tissue, desmosomal proteins were aberrantly clustered and patient IgG colocalized with markers for lipid rafts and endosomes. Additionally, steady-state levels of desmoglein 3 were decreased and desmosomes were reduced in size in patient tissue. Desmosomes at blister sites were occasionally split, with PV IgG decorating the extracellular faces of split desmosomes. Desmosome splitting was recapitulated in vitro by exposing cultured keratinocytes both to PV IgG and to mechanical stress, demonstrating that splitting at the blister interface in patient tissue is due to compromised desmosomal adhesive function. These findings indicate that desmoglein 3 clustering and endocytosis are associated with reduced desmosome size and adhesion defects in tissue of patients with PV. Further, this study reveals that superresolution optical imaging is a powerful approach for studying epidermal adhesion structures in normal and diseased skin.
Rational expectations and the theory of economic policy

There is no longer any serious debate about whether monetary policy should be conducted according to rules or discretion. Quite appropriately, it is widely agreed that monetary policy should obey a rule, that is, a schedule expressing the setting of the monetary authority’s instrument (e.g., the money supply) as a function of all the information it has received up through the current moment. Such a rule has the happy characteristic that in any given set of circumstances, the optimal setting for policy is unique. If by remote chance, the same circumstances should prevail at two different dates, the appropriate settings for monetary policy would be identical.
Impacts of TTIP on Processed Food Trade under Monopolistic Competition and Firm Heterogeneity

Food processing firms vary in size, exhibit productivity differences, engage in monopolistic competition, and produce highly differentiated products. As the TTIP negotiation is gaining momentum and trade in processed food is becoming more important, it is worth analyzing the impact of this potential trade liberalization on the US and EU processed food markets. This study develops a three-region (United Staates, European Union, and ROW) monopolistic competition trade model with heterogeneous firms to analyze the effects of US-EU bilateral tariff elimination and non-tariff barrier harmonization on prices, domestic production, consumption, bi-lateral trade, cutoff productivity levels, and aggregate productivity in the processed food sector. The empirical results show that this trade liberalization expands cross hauling, with US exports to the European Union increasing b 113.58% and EU exports to the United States rising by 96.19%. This increased cross hauling displaces exports from ROW to the United States and European Union by 47.26% and 16.10%, respectively. US and EU processed food production increases by 4.89% and 3.91%, respectively. Consequently, aggregate utility expands in all three regions.
Who Pays the High Health Costs of Older Workers? Evidence from Prostate Cancer Screening Mandates

Between 1992 and 2009, 30 US states adopted laws mandating that health insurance plans cover screenings for prostate cancer. Because prostate cancer screenings are used almost exclusively by men over age 50, these mandates raise the cost of insuring older men relative to other groups. This article uses a triple-difference empirical strategy to take advantage of this quasi-random natural experiment in raising the cost of employing older workers. Using Integrated Public Use Microdata Series data from the March Supplement of the Current Population Survey, I find that the increased cost of insuring older workers results in their receiving 2.8% lower hourly wages, being 2% less likely to be employed and being 0.7% less likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance.
Patterns of aging in Thailand and Côte d'Ivoire

This paper is broadly concerned with the living standards of older people in two contrasting developing countries, Cote d' Ivoire and Thailand. A series of household surveys from these two countries is used to present evidence on factors affecting the living standards of the elderly: living arrangements, labor force participation, illness, urbanization, income and consumption. One of the issues the authors examine is whether life-cycle patterns of income and consumption can be detected in the data. The fact that few of the elderly live alone makes it difficult to accurately measure the welfare of the elderly, or to make statements about the life-cycle patterns of income and consumption of individuals. They find that labor force participation and individual income patterns follow the standard life-cycle hump shape in both countries, but that average living standards within households are quite flat over the life-cycle. The data presented suggest that changes in family composition and living arrangements of elderly are likely to be more important sources of old-age insurance than asset accumulation.
Fokker-Planck Calculations Using Standard Discrete Ordinates Transport Codes

A method is developed for using standard discrete ordinates neutron transport codes to perform Fokker-Planck calculations in one-dimensional slab and spherical geometries. No modification of the co...
Who Ordered That? The Economics of Treatment Choices in Medical Care

Abstract In the United States, two patients with the same medical condition can receive drastically different treatments. In addition, the same patient can walk into two physicians’ offices and receive equally disparate treatments. This chapter attempts to understand why. It focuses on three areas: the patient, the physician, and the clinical situation. Specifically, the chapter surveys patient or demand-side factors such as price, income, and preferences; physician or supply-side factors such as specialization, financial incentives, and professionalism; and situational factors including behavioral influences and systems-level factors that play a role in clinical decision making. This chapter reviews theory and evidence, borrowing heavily from the clinical literature.
A possible classification of nonequilibrium steady states.

We propose a general classification of nonequilibrium steady states in terms of their stationary probability distribution and the associated probability currents. The stationary probabilities can be represented graph theoretically as directed labelled trees; closing a single loop in such a graph leads to a representation of probability currents. This classification allows us to identify all choices of transition rates, based on a master equation, which generate the same nonequilibrium steady state. We explore the implications of this freedom, e.g., for entropy production.
Open-source simulation of complex surgeries: press "print" to disrupt

Consumer spending has driven advancements in technology for centuries. Recently, crowd-sourced funding platforms and regional collectives of collaborative associations termed "hackerspaces" have taken digital and electronic exploration to unprecedented destinations, facilitating a new era of do-it-yourself enthusiasm and the beginning of the third industrial revolution. This ideological as well as functional movement is already revolutionizing healthcare modalities, generating new opportunities for personalized patient care and pre-surgical planning via the utilization of computer drafting and additive manufacturing (3D printing). Future improvements and increasing implementation of these currently available resources will have a drastic impact on the healthcare landscape.
Mergers: An Overview

This book provides an insightful view of major issues in the economics of corporate governance (CG) and mergers. It presents a systematic update on the developments in the two fields during the last decade, as well as highlighting the neglected topics in CG research, such as the role of boards, CG and public interest and the relation of CG to mergers. Two important conclusions can be drawn from this book: the first is that corporate governance systems that better align shareholders’ and managers’ interests lead to better corporate performance; second, there is an important relationship between CG structures and the quality of firm decision-making, one of the most important being the decision to merge or take over another firm.
Tomographic image of a seismically active volcano: Mammoth Mountain, California

High-resolution tomographic P wave, S wave, and VP/VS velocity structure models are derived for Mammoth Mountain, California, using phase data from the Northern California Seismic Network and a temporary deployment of broadband seismometers. An anomalous volume (5.1 × 109 to 5.9 × 1010m3) of low P and low S wave velocities is imaged beneath Mammoth Mountain, extending from near the surface to a depth of ∼2 km below sea level. We infer that the reduction in seismic wave velocities is due to the presence of CO2 distributed in oblate spheroid pores with mean aspect ratio α = 1.6 × 10−3 to 7.9 × 10−3 (crack-like pores) and mean gas volume fraction ϕ = 8.1 × 10−4 to 3.4 × 10−3. The pore density parameter κ = 3ϕ/(4πα) = na3=0.11, where n is the number of pores per cubic meter and a is the mean pore equatorial radius. The total mass of CO2 is estimated to be 4.6 × 109 to 1.9 × 1011 kg. The local geological structure indicates that the CO2 contained in the pores is delivered to the surface through fractures controlled by faults and remnant foliation of the bedrock beneath Mammoth Mountain. The total volume of CO2 contained in the reservoir suggests that given an emission rate of 500 tons day−1, the reservoir could supply the emission of CO2 for ∼25–1040 years before depletion. Continued supply of CO2 from an underlying magmatic system would significantly prolong the existence of the reservoir.
A free boundary problem related to thermal insulation

ABSTRACTWe study a free boundary problem arising from the theory of thermal insulation. The outstanding feature of this set optimization problem is that the boundary of the set being optimized is not a level surface of a harmonic function, but rather a hypersurface along which a harmonic function satisfies a Robin condition. We show that minimal sets exist, satisfy uniform density estimates, and, under some geometric conditions, have “locally flat” boundaries.
Semi-inclusive wino and higgsino annihilation to LL′

We systematically compute the annihilation rate for winos and higgsinos into the final state relevant for indirect detection experiments, γ + X. The radiative corrections to this process receive enhancement from the large Bloch-Nordsieck-Violating Sudakov logarithm, log(2M χ /M W ). We resum the double logs and include single logs to fixed order using a formalism that combines nonrelativistic and soft-collinear effective field theories. For the wino case, we update an earlier exclusion adapting results of the HESS experiment. At the thermal relic mass of 3 TeV, LL′ corrections result in a ∼30% reduction in rate relative to LL. Nonetheless, single logs do not save the wino, and it is still excluded by an order of magnitude. Experimental cuts produce an endpoint region which, our results show, significantly effects the higgsino rate at its thermal-relic mass near 1 TeV and is deserving of further study.
Neuropeptides and nasal secretion

The nasal mucosa is innervated by the sensory, parasympathetic, and sympathetic nervous systems. Nociceptive sensory nerves are stimulated by mucosal injury, inhalation of irritants, or mast cell degranulation and release of the calcitonin gene-related peptide, the tachykinins substance P and neurokinin A, and other peptides by the axon response mechanism. Sensory nerve stimulation initiates systemic reflexes, such as the sneeze, and central parasympathetic reflexes which release acetylcholine, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and other peptides and lead to glandular secretion. In concert, these proinflammatory neural responses lead to vasodilation, vascular permeability, and glandular secretion. Sympathetic nerves release neuropeptide Y and norepinephrine, potent vasoconstrictors which act to decompress the nasal mucosa and produce nasal patency. The balance between the effects of parasympathetic and sympathetic neurotransmitters may regulate nasal homeostasis, whereas the nociceptive sensory system may be held in reserve as a defense mechanism. Dysfunction of these systems may lead to pathological nasal syndromes. In the future, specific neuropeptide agonists and antagonists may be useful for the treatment of human rhinitic diseases.