cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Data-driven probabilistic power flow analysis for a distribution system with Renewable Energy sources using Monte Carlo Simulation

This paper investigates the effect of uncertainty in the allocation of photovoltaic (PV) generation, solar irradiance, and its impact on the power flow in a distribution network. The solar irradiance available in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Resource Data Center is clustered into two states: high and low irradiance defined by a threshold. The uncertainty is modeled based on Non-Gaussian distribution, obtained using kernel density estimation. This estimation aids in achieving the probability density function and cumulative distribution functions of the solar irradiance. Moreover, the load demand, wind speed, and generator location are modeled according to Gaussian, Weibull, and discrete uniform distribution functions, respectively. As a part of probabilistic power flow, the backward/forward sweep method is used to solve each scenario of the Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed framework is applied to the 33-node test system considering three different test cases. The first case considers deployment of PV systems in three microgrids of the electric grid, and the other two test cases analyze different levels of penetration of randomly allocated PV and wind power systems. At the end, the results indicate potential reverse power flow through certain branches of the grid, and the renewables have a major impact on the system.
Using Visual Activity Schedules for Young Children With Challenging Behavior

Young children with challenging behavior may require individualized interventions to facilitate improved outcomes. Visual activity schedules (VAS) have been well documented for improving engagement...
Mechanisms for the Formation of Synaptic Connections in the Isogenic Nervous System of Daphnia Magna

Most neurobiologists think that a nervous system, in order to function properly, must be wired together in a very accurate manner. Even in a relatively simple system containing a few hundred neurons, only a small fraction of the possible synaptic connections are made, in a pattern which is repeated from individual to individual within a species. Explaining this phenomenon is one of the most important tasks faced by developmental neurobiologists.
3D spatially-adaptive canonical correlation analysis: Local and global methods.

Abstract Local spatially-adaptive canonical correlation analysis (local CCA) with spatial constraints has been introduced to fMRI multivariate analysis for improved modeling of activation patterns. However, current algorithms require complicated spatial constraints that have only been applied to 2D local neighborhoods because the computational time would be exponentially increased if the same method is applied to 3D spatial neighborhoods. In this study, an efficient and accurate line search sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithm has been developed to efficiently solve the 3D local CCA problem with spatial constraints. In addition, a spatially-adaptive kernel CCA (KCCA) method is proposed to increase accuracy of fMRI activation maps. With oriented 3D spatial filters anisotropic shapes can be estimated during the KCCA analysis of fMRI time courses. These filters are orientation-adaptive leading to rotational invariance to better match arbitrary oriented fMRI activation patterns, resulting in improved sensitivity of activation detection while significantly reducing spatial blurring artifacts. The kernel method in its basic form does not require any spatial constraints and analyzes the whole-brain fMRI time series to construct an activation map. Finally, we have developed a penalized kernel CCA model that involves spatial low-pass filter constraints to increase the specificity of the method. The kernel CCA methods are compared with the standard univariate method and with two different local CCA methods that were solved by the SQP algorithm. Results show that SQP is the most efficient algorithm to solve the local constrained CCA problem, and the proposed kernel CCA methods outperformed univariate and local CCA methods in detecting activations for both simulated and real fMRI episodic memory data.
Urban Development and the Growth with Equity Framework: The National Football League Stadium in Downtown Los Angeles:

In political economy, research on growth coalitions and regime theory concludes that progressive coalitions representing lower-income residents and effectively working for policy change at the loca...
Synthesis and Applications of Tricarbonylmethane Compounds

Organic compounds containing the tricarbonylmethane functional group occupy a unique place in organic chemistry (Figure 1). As C-acylated derivatives of the more familiar 1,3-dicarbonyls, tricarbon...
Demonstration of Inter-Dimensional Adaptive Diversity Combining and Repetition Coding in Converged MMW/FSO Links for 5G and beyond Mobile Fronthaul

We firstly introduce inter-dimensional adaptive-diversity-combining-technique in fiber-wireless fronthaul. By adaptively combining symbols from millimeter-wave and free-space-optics links in time/frequency domain and applying repetition coding, we experimentally attained better tunability in power margins with improved reliability.
Short-Term Mission Voluntarism and the Postsecular Imaginary

This chapter examines the spiritual motivations and impacts of voluntarism in the USA through an investigation of international short-term mission (STM), a paradigm involving 1–2-week trips that amalgamate leisure tourism, evangelism, and voluntary development work and are carried out among Christian and non-Christian communities. Mainline and nondenominational bodies sponsor STM, but it is most popular among evangelical Christians. I argue that STM’s effects, while partially explicable in terms of the social capital that it may (or may not) engender at home and in mission fields, include challenges to secular norms and institutions. STM, especially as carried out among non-Christian communities, provides (1) experiential contexts for imagining a world in which divinity is reckoned as immanently and sensorially present, and (2) communicative tools for enacting that world. It thus may rework the categorical boundaries between secular and religious practices and spaces at home, as well as on mission sites. As such, STM can be understood as an artifact of an emergent postsecular imaginary—a characterization that signals the limits of the secularization thesis and the recognition of significance of plural religiosities, spiritual orientations, and faith commitments in social action and institutions. This chapter is based on ethnographic research in southern California conducted from 2009 to 2012.
Existence Results for Some Partial Stochastic Differential Equations

Chapter 6 deals with the existence of p-th mean almost periodic mild solutions for some classes of stochastic partial evolution equations with infinite delay of type $$\begin{array}{lll}d[X(\omega, t) + f_1(t, X_t, (\omega))] & = & \left[\mathcal{A}X(\omega, t) + f_2(t, X_t(\omega))\right]dt \\ {} & + & f_3(t, X_t(\omega))d \mathbb{W}(\omega, t), \ t \in \mathbb{R}, \ \omega \in \Omega ,\end{array}$$ where \(\mathcal{A} : \mathcal{D} = \mathcal{D}(\mathcal{A})\subset \mathbb{H} \to \mathbb{H}\) is a sectorial linear operator whose corresponding analytic semigroup is hyperbolic, that is, \(\sigma (\mathcal{A})\cap i\mathbb{R}\) is empty, and \(f_1 : \mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{H} \to \mathbb{H}_{\beta} (0< \alpha < \frac{1}{p} < \beta < 1), \ f_2 : \mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{H} \to \mathbb{H}, \ {\rm and} \ f_3 : \mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{H} \to \mathbb{L}^{0}_{2}\) are jointly continuous functions. Chapter 6 also presents some recent results on the existence of p-th mean almost periodic and Stepanov almost periodic (mild) solutions to various nonautonomous differential equations using the well-known Schauder fixed point theorem. Some examples are also discussed.
Predicting Practice Setting Using Topic Modeling

The implementation of problem lists in EHRs has a potential to help practitioners to provide customized care to patients. However, it remains an open question on how to leverage problem lists in different practice settings to provide tailored care, of which the bottleneck lies in the associations between problem list and practice setting. In this study, we investigated their association and predicted practice setting based on problem list using topic modeling.
Pharmacology of central octopaminergic and muscarinic pathways in Drosophila melanogaster larvae: Assessing the target potential of GPCRs

G-Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are an underdeveloped target in the search for agrochemicals with octopamine receptors, a GPCR, being the target of a single insecticide/acaricide class (formamidines). The evolution of insecticide resistance has resulted in the need to identify new or underutilized targets for the development of agrochemicals, with the goal of controlling arthropod pests that affect agriculture or human and animal health. The insect cholinergic system has been a fruitful target for the development of insecticides/acaricides viz. acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and agonists/modulators of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. However, the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), which are GPCRs, have not been successfully developed as a target for agrochemicals. Others have recently identified three subtypes of insect mAChRs in Drosophila melanogaster, and extracellular recordings from transected D. melanogaster larval central nervous system (CNS) were performed to investigate the electrogenesis of the octopaminergic and muscarinic systems. Octopamine (10 μM) resulted in a sustained neuroexcitation during a 30 min exposure, and neuroexcitation after 21 min was blocked by octopamine receptor antagonist, phentolamine (100 μM). Exposure of this preparation to the non-selective mAChR agonist, pilocarpine (10 μM), resulted in a biphasic response, characterized by neuroexcitation followed by a decrease in the CNS firing rate below initial control levels. This biphasic effect was antagonized by the classical mAChR antagonist atropine (10 μM). It was also found that atropine (10 μM) blocked octopamine's sustained neuroexcitation, indicating the possibility of cross-talk between these two GPCR pathways.
SAW Correlators in LiNbO 3 and GaN on Sapphire

This paper describes the use of Lithium Niobate and GaN on sapphire substrates to define SAW correlators for direct sequence spread spectrum modulation. Passive correlators with maximal length sequence periods of 7 and 15 are fabricated and tested on 128° Y-cut bulk Lithium Niobate. The input transducer is modulated at carrier frequencies of 470-930 MHz with a chip duration of 100 n $s$ . At the output, a maximum peak-to-sidelobe ratio of 15 dB is measured. The same design is then fabricated in GaN on sapphire in order to incorporate acoustoelectric gain sections using an AlGaN barrier engineered to ensure low sheet density. We consider a basic cell consisting of a tap followed by a gain section to support long correlator structures. This represents a first step towards mitigating acoustic propagation losses in monolithic GaN SAW correlators.
Rethinking practice with multicultural communities: Lessons from research-based applications

Social work recognizes “the power and possibility of story” (Burack-Weiss, Lawrence, & Mijangos, 2017). We listen to our clients’ personal narratives and establish relationships with them. But the ...
Intestinal transit of fat depends on accelerating effect of cholecystokinin and slowing effect of an opioid pathway.

Fat has been described to both accelerate and slow intestinal transit. We hypothesized that the fat-induced jejunal brake depends on the combined accelerating effect of CCK and the slowing effect of an opioid pathway. Using a multifistulated model, intestinal transit was measured in four dogs, while 60 mM oleate was delivered into the proximal gut with either 0 or 6 mg naloxone, and 0.1 mg/kg devazepide (a peripheral CCK-A-receptor antagonist) administered intraluminally and intravenously, respectively. In a second study, intestinal transit was measured in seven dogs, while naloxone was delivered intraluminally at 0-, 3-, 6-, or 12-mg doses. Compared to the jejunal brake (marker recovery of 50.1 ± 2.6%), intestinal transit was slowed by the CCK-A antagonist (36.4 ± 8.3%; P < 0.05) and accelerated by naloxone (82.0 ± 6.8%; P < 0.05). The accelerating effect of CCK occurred early in the transit response, while the dose-dependent effect (P < 0.05) of naloxone occurred later. We conclude that fat-induced jejunal brake depends on the early accelerating effect of CCK and the later slowing effect of a naloxone-sensitive opioid pathway.
Uplink Performance Analysis in D2D-Enabled Millimeter-Wave Cellular Networks With Clustered Users

In this paper, an analytical framework is provided to analyze the uplink performance of device-to-device (D2D)-enabled millimeter-wave (mm-wave) cellular networks with clustered D2D user equipments (UEs). The locations of cellular UEs are modeled as a Poisson point process, while the locations of potential D2D UEs are modeled as a Poisson cluster process. Signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio outage probabilities are derived for both cellular and D2D links using tools from stochastic geometry. The distinguishing features of mm-wave communications such as directional beamforming and having different path loss laws for the line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight links are incorporated into the outage analysis by employing a flexible mode selection scheme and Nakagami fading. Also, the effect of beamforming alignment errors on the outage probability is investigated to get insight into the performance in practical scenarios. Moreover, area spectral efficiency of the cellular and D2D networks is determined for both underlay and overlay types of sharing. Optimal spectrum partition factor is determined for overlay sharing by considering the optimal weighted proportional fair spectrum partition.
Small non-coding RNAs as epigenetic regulators

Abstract Small non-coding RNAs are a class of non-coding transcripts with 15–200 nucleotides in length, which are often involved in gene regulation at the transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional level. In this chapter, we first introduce three types of well-studied canonical small non-coding RNAs, i.e. microRNA, small interfering RNA, and Piwi-interacting RNA, and briefly depict their roles in epigenetic regulation. Second, we focus on two classes of non-canonical small non-coding RNAs, tRNA-derived small RNA and rRNA-derived small RNA, which are markedly under investigated but interestingly are involved in transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Finally, we review the high-throughput approaches to profile small non-coding RNAs and introduce a state-of-the-art open-source framework to analyze both canonical and non-canonical small non-coding RNAs.
De-moralizing gay rights: a reply to my critics

In this response to my critics, I offer a set of clarifications, acknowledgements, and defenses. I clarify, among other things, why my deployment of the term 'queer' is narrow, and at times, succum...
Epitaxial CdTe Thin Films on Mica by Vapor Transport Deposition for Flexible Solar Cells

Most high-quality CdTe thin films are epitaxially grown on single-crystalline substrates through chemical bondings by either molecular beam epitaxy or metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The ep...
QuRate: power-efficient mobile immersive video streaming

Smartphones have recently become a popular platform for deploying the computation-intensive virtual reality (VR) applications, such as immersive video streaming (a.k.a., 360-degree video streaming). One specific challenge involving the smartphone-based head mounted display (HMD) is to reduce the potentially huge power consumption caused by the immersive video. To address this challenge, we first conduct an empirical power measurement study on a typical smartphone immersive streaming system, which identifies the major power consumption sources. Then, we develop QuRate, a quality-aware and user-centric frame rate adaptation mechanism to tackle the power consumption issue in immersive video streaming. QuRate optimizes the immersive video power consumption by modeling the correlation between the perceivable video quality and the user behavior. Specifically, QuRate builds on top of the user's reduced level of concentration on the video frames during view switching and dynamically adjusts the frame rate without impacting the perceivable video quality. We evaluate QuRate with a comprehensive set of experiments involving 5 smartphones, 21 users, and 6 immersive videos using empirical user head movement traces. Our experimental results demonstrate that QuRate is capable of extending the smartphone battery life by up to 1.24X while maintaining the perceivable video quality during immersive video streaming. Also, we conduct an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved subjective user study to further validate the minimum video quality impact caused by QuRate.
Learning without Borders: Asynchronous and Distance Learning in the Age of COVID-19 and Beyond

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted not only clinical care but also medical education. Physical distancing and shift rearrangements for both trainees and faculty have led to a...
An Augmentation Function for Active Pedestrian Safety System Based on Crash Risk Evaluation

This study proposed an augmentation function to current active pedestrian safety systems (APSSs), which is expected to be effective for pedestrian crashes caused by pedestrians’ unexpected behavior. The augmentation function estimates the crash risk with a pedestrian given its time-space-distance relationship with the pedestrian; the crash risk represents the probability of hitting that pedestrian given all the pedestrian's possible random trajectories in the near future. Once the crash risk exceeds a toleration threshold, the augmentation function activates evasive actions, even if there is no current conflict with the pedestrian. A Monte Carlo process was used to estimate the crash risk under different sets of vehicle and pedestrian kinematic features. The possible pedestrian trajectories were sampled from a fine-tuned Markovian integrated random walk model; in particular, kinematic variations between pedestrian types were considered. Then, the effectiveness of evasive actions was evaluated. It was found that children and young/middle-aged pedestrians require higher-intensity evasive actions in zones of moderate and severe crash risk; while old pedestrians need higher-intensity evasive actions in zones of mild crash risk. In addition, it is necessary to select proper speed reduction rate and combination of lane change and speed, to reduce the crash risk. Finally, the study demonstrated that a field of view of 50° and a detection range of 40 m would be the minimum requirement to support the augmentation function, which requires an upgrade for many automobile manufacturers’ current APSSs.
Morbidity and mortality in elderly patients undergoing evacuation of acute traumatic subdural hematoma.

OBJECTIVE Acute traumatic subdural hematoma (atSDH) can be a life-threatening neurosurgical emergency that necessitates immediate evacuation. The elderly population can be particularly vulnerable to tearing bridging veins. The aim of this study was to evaluate inpatient morbidity and mortality, as well as predictors of inpatient mortality, in a national trauma database. METHODS The authors queried the 2016-2017 National Trauma Data Bank registry for patients aged 65 years and older who had undergone evacuation of atSDH. Patients were categorized into three age groups: 65-74, 75-84, and 85+ years. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted for inpatient mortality adjusting for age group, sex, race, presenting Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) category (3-8, 9-12, and 13-15), Injury Severity Score, presence of coagulopathy, presence of additional hemorrhages (epidural hematoma [EDH], intraparenchymal hematoma [IPH], and subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH]), presence of midline shift > 5 mm, and pupillary reactivity (both, one, or none). RESULTS A total of 2508 patients (35% females) were analyzed. Age distribution was as follows: 990 patients at 65-74 years, 1096 at 75-84, and 422 at 85+. Midline shift > 5 mm was present in 72% of cases. With regard to additional hemorrhages, SAH was present in 21%, IPH in 10%, and EDH in 2%. Bilaterally reactive pupils were noted in 90% of patients. A major complication was observed in 14.4% of patients, and the overall mortality rate was 18.3%. In the multivariable analysis, the presenting GCS category was found to be the strongest predictor of postoperative inpatient mortality (3-8 vs 13-15: OR 3.63, 95% CI 2.68-4.92, p 5 mm (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.74-3.32, p < 0.001; 11% of overall variation). Model discrimination was excellent (c-index 0.81). Broken down by age decile group, mortality increased from 8.0% to 15.4% for GCS 13-15 to around 36% for GCS 9-12 to almost as high as 60% for GCS 3-8, particularly in those aged 85 years and older. CONCLUSIONS The present results from a national trauma database will, the authors hope, assist surgeons in preoperative discussions with patients and their families with regard to expected postoperative outcomes following surgical evacuation of an atSDH.
Syndrome of the trephined: A rare challenge in head & neck reconstruction

Abstract Background Syndrome of the trephined (ST) refers to the rare, reversible event of neurological deterioration following craniectomy. ST is also known as “sinking skin flap syndrome” and typically occurs in the weeks to months following operation. The mechanism underlying syndromic onset is poorly understood. Changes to cerebrospinal fluid flow, alteration of temperature-related perfusion, and scarring at the intracranial surgical site have all been proposed. Patients present with a variety of symptoms related to paradoxical increased intracranial pressure. Sometimes falsely attributed as a consequence of the initial cranial insult, ST is more specifically a symptomatic process resulting as direct consequence of the craniectomy procedure. With timely identification and subsequent cranioplasty, the associated neurological dysfunction can be corrected - this rectification being the primary confirmatory feature of the syndrome. Case A 59-year-old female was seen with regards to a wound of the temporoparietal scalp, with exposed cranial implant. She had suffered a traumatic brain injury and underwent craniectomy after a motor vehicle accident 10 years prior. Her injury was complicated by necrosis of her cranial bone flap after reimplantation and at least 10 subsequent attempts to reconstruct her wound. When delayed cranial reconstruction was attempted on two separate occasions, the patient suffered severe syndrome of the trephined and required hospitalization for symptoms of impending herniation. Ultimately, she required revision and replacement of titanium mesh and latissimus dorsi free flap for soft tissue coverage of the titanium mesh. Conclusion This case presents a unique surgical challenge in that chronic infection was perpetuated by the replacement of implant material in the wound. Soft tissue reconstruction alone was not possible given the patient's severe ST. Free tissue transfer was required in order to bring vascularized myofascial tissue to prevent recolonization of the newly implanted mesh and allow the cranial wound to heal.
Abstract PO-016: STAT3 in cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in PDAC

One of the defining characteristics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the formation of a dense stroma comprised of cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and immune cell populations. This stroma is immunosuppressive and can act as a physical barrier against common therapeutic treatments. Attempts to therapeutically target the PDAC stroma have yielded contradictory results, suggesting both tumor promoting and tumor limiting roles for CAFs. These studies emphasize the need to understand important transsignaling pathways between CAFs, tumor cells, and the immune microenvironment. IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in several physiological functions and its increased expression is strongly associated with poor survival rates in PDAC patients. STAT3 is a major downstream target of IL-6, and its aberrant activation has been implicated in PDAC tumor progression and immune evasion. IL-6 expression and the IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis in PDAC has been characterized in epithelial tumor cells, however its stromal-specific function on PDAC has yet to be elucidated. We hypothesized that the STAT3 signaling axis in pancreatic CAFs contributes to the immunosuppressive and fibrotic phenotype seen with disease progression. Employing CreLoxP technology, the fibroblast specific protein-1 (Fsp-Cre) transgene was used to conditionally delete STAT3 in fibroblasts in the PdxFlp; KrasG12D; p53 frt/frt (KPF) PDAC mouse model developed by our lab. Deletion of STAT3 in fibroblasts significantly increased the survival in a cohort of KPF mice compared to those with intact STAT3. Loss of fibroblast STAT3 also resulted in a significant decrease in ECM deposition in the pancreas. In preliminary investigations into the immune microenvironment, we found an increase in overall T cell infiltration and decrease in regulatory T cell populations in the STAT3 deleted cohort. Further, STAT3 deletion resulted in an increase in the ratio of M1 to M2 macrophages within the PDAC stroma, suggesting CAF STAT3 signaling is important to maintaining an immune microenvironment conducive to tumor progression. Ultimately, these preliminary results suggest STAT3 signaling in PDAC CAFs contributes to an overall survival disadvantage, an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and an increase in ECM deposition. Citation Format: Julia E. Lefler, Katie MarElia, Blake E. Hildreth, Katie A. Thies, Maria C. Cuitino, Michael C. Ostrowski. STAT3 in cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in PDAC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2020 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(22 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-016.
Examining the Impact of Restrictive Federal Immigration Policies on Healthcare Access: Perspectives from Immigrant Patients across an Urban Safety-Net Hospital

The Trump Administration instituted a series of restrictive policies including the expansion of the public charge ruling, which created barriers to healthcare access for immigrant communities. This study examined immigrants’ knowledge, attitudes, and health-seeking practices as a result of the public charge proposal. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted in English or Spanish with foreign-born adults at an urban safety-net hospital in Boston from May 2019 to August 2019. Thematic content analysis identified barriers and facilitators of healthcare access and usage. Approximately half of participants were aware of the public charge proposal. Six participants expressed concern about its implications, but only two discontinued benefits. Barriers to care included fear of deportation, interaction with law enforcement, and competing socioeconomic needs. Facilitators of care included supportive communities, immigrant-friendly environment, and personal beliefs. Hospitals can develop community-centered services for immigrant patients that offset the barriers to healthcare access resulting from adverse federal immigration policies.
Structure analysis suggests Ess1 isomerizes the carboxy-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II via a bivalent anchoring mechanism.

Accurate gene transcription in eukaryotes depends on isomerization of serine-proline bonds within the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II. Isomerization is part of the “CTD code” that regulates recruitment of proteins required for transcription and co-transcriptional RNA processing. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ess1 and its human ortholog, Pin1, are prolyl isomerases that engage the long heptad repeat (YSPTSPS)26 of the CTD by an unknown mechanism. Here, we used an integrative structural approach to decipher Ess1 interactions with the CTD. Ess1 has a rigid linker between its WW and catalytic domains that enforces a distance constraint for bivalent interaction with the ends of long CTD substrates (≥4–5 heptad repeats). Our binding results suggest that the Ess1 WW domain anchors the proximal end of the CTD substrate during isomerization, and that linker divergence may underlie evolution of substrate specificity. Namitz, Zheng et al. identify a bivalent interaction by the yeast Ess1 with CTD peptides of RNA polymerase II. Their results suggest an anchored mechanism of isomerization, and raise the possibility of eukaryotic parvulin-class prolyl isomerases gaining a broader substrate specificity during evolution, by acquiring a flexible linker that generates a more dynamic binding mode.
Market Efficiency in ESG Indexes: Trading Opportunities

Examining the returns of 16 ESG indexes, we found evidence that a few violate the conditions of weak-form efficiency and that all violate conditions for semi-strong form efficiency. Given previous research on market efficiency in the ESG market, this points to profitable trading opportunities in this market using public information. We also discuss why these results are not subject to previous criticisms of testing of market efficiency. TOPICS:ESG investing, mutual funds/passive investing/indexing, portfolio theory, financial crises and financial market history Key Findings ▪ We perform market efficiency tests of 32 indexes for 16 countries using the Hurst exponent. ▪ In contrast to previous research, the tests find no difference in market efficiency between ESG and Standard indexes. ▪ For all indexes, efficiency decreased during the Great Financial Crisis.
Significance and Factors Associated with Antipsychotic Polypharmacy Utilization Among Publicly Insured US Adults

Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) lacks evidence of effectiveness in the care of schizophrenia or other disorders for which antipsychotic drugs are indicated, also exposing patients to more risks. Authors assessed APP prevalence and APP association with beneficiary race/ethnicity and payer among publicly-insured adults regardless of diagnosis. Retrospective repeated panel study of fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare, Medicaid, and dually-eligible white, black, and Latino adults residing in California, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota, or West Virginia, filling antipsychotic prescriptions between July 2008 and June 2013. Primary outcome was any monthly APP utilization. Across states and payers, 11% to 21% of 397,533 antipsychotic users and 12% to 19% of 9,396,741 person-months had some APP utilization. Less than 50% of person-months had a schizophrenia diagnosis and up to 19% had no diagnosed mental illness. Payer modified race/ethnicity effects on APP utilization only in CA; however, the odds of APP utilization remained lower for minorities than for whites. Elsewhere, the odds varied by race/ethnicity only in OK, with Latinos having lower odds than whites (odds ratio 0.76; 95% confidence interval 0.60–0.96). The odds of APP utilization varied by payer in several study states, with odds generally higher for Dual eligibles, although the differences were generally small; the odds also varied by year (lower at study end). APP was frequently utilized but mostly declined over time. APP utilization patterns varied across states, with no consistent association with race/ethnicity and small payer effects. Greater use of APP-reducing strategies are needed, particularly among non-schizophrenia populations.
Conware: Automated Modeling of Hardware Peripherals

Emulation is at the core of many security analyses. However, emulating embedded systems is still not possible in most cases. To facilitate this critical analysis, we present Conware, a hardware emulation framework that can automatically generate models for hardware peripherals, which alleviates one of the major challenges currently hindering embedded systems emulation. Conware enables individual peripherals to be modeled, exported, and combined with other peripherals in a pluggable fashion. Conware achieves this by first obtaining a recording of the low-level hardware interactions between the firmware and the peripheral, using either existing methods or our source-code instrumentation technique. These recordings are then used to create high-fidelity automata representations of the peripheral using novel automata-generation techniques. The various models can then be merged to facilitate full-system emulation of any embedded firmware that uses any of the modeled peripherals, even if that specific firmware or its target hardware was never directly instrumented. Indeed, we demonstrate that Conware is able to successfully emulate a peripheral-heavy firmware binary that was never instrumented, by merging the models of six unique peripherals that were trained on a development board using only the vendor-provided example code.
Modeling the Business Value of an Early Fault Detection System using Monte Carlo Simulation

The automotive industry is undergoing a period of rapid advancement, as OEMs race to develop the next generation of electric and autonomous vehicles. Many manufacturers are investing in prognostics technology, which has made advancements mainly in the aerospace industry over the past couple decades. Unlike aerospace applications, which have relatively more safety-critical systems, it can be more challenging to identify a business case for developing a prognostics or early fault detection system for an automotive application. In the retail setting, early fault detection systems may increase warranty costs, and the benefits to customer satisfaction may not be worth this additional cost. For fleet managers who own and operate many vehicles, however, a business case can be made based on the value of preventing unexpected downtime and unnecessary maintenance. Developing a reliable early fault detection algorithm for a complex system can be an expensive undertaking, requiring many parts, months of data collection, and possibly years of effort, so it is important to understand the possible return on investment for the effort. In this paper, we present a method to model the business value of an early fault detection system. The method is generic and may be applied to any system where the failure modes are purely fatigue based (i.e. abuse modes are excluded), and the failure rate of each part in the system can be independently modelled using a time-to-failure probability density function. The model is based on Monte Carlo simulation, and the assumptions and limitations are explored. The model can be used to estimate the expected savings from implementing an early fault detection system and derive requirements on the true positive and false positive rates required for the fault detection system to meet its business objectives. An example is presented with application to a two-stage gearbox, such as one that may be found in an electric vehicle powertrain. The example shows how to estimate the parameters for each component, how to estimate the costs associated with failure, and ultimately how to interpret the model outputs and drive business decisions.
Characterisation of the lymphocyte-glandular mucosal tissue interaction using an in vitro adherence assay

The in vitro adherence of lymphocytes to lacrimal gland (LG) tissue was compared to high endothelial venules (HEV) of cervical lymph node (CLN) tissue. Thoracic duct (TDL) and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) lymphocytes bound preferentially over peripheral lymph node (PLN) lymphocytes, while thymocytes (THY) did not bind. Lymphocyte binding to LG was specific for acinar cells (AC). Like CLN-HEV binding, TDL adherence to LG-AC requires viable, metabolically active cells and involves cellular cytoskeleton, surface protein, but not sialic acid. Unlike binding to CLN-HEV, TDL binding to LG-AC does not require divalent cations. The LG-AC interaction involves carbohydrate, but the sugar specificity differs. These findings suggest that the localization of circulating lymphocytes within one glandular tissue (LG) is mediated by a receptor-ligand interaction which differs from that involved in HEV interactions.
Testicular development and endocrine characteristics of boars selected for either high or low testis size.

Thirty-six Landrace x Large White cross boars were selected from litters with either high or low estimated breeding values for 150-d paired testis weight. Blood samples were taken via jugular venipuncture at eight ages (42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126 and 140 d). At each sampling age, nine blood samples were taken at 30-min intervals. Luteinizing hormone (LH) was determined on the individual serum samples. Serum samples from each boar at each age were pooled and concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol-17 beta (E2) and testosterone (T) were determined. Paired testis width, testis length and body weight were measured at 98, 112, 126 and 140 d of age. Backfat probe, weights of excised testes and histological data on testes were obtained at 140 d of age. Boars with high testis weight (HTW) were heavier (P less than .05), had higher adjusted backfat probes (P less than .01) and had consistently larger in situ testis measurements (P less than .01) than did low testis weight (LTW) boars. Boars with HTW had heavier (P less than .01) testes and epididymides at 140 d of age. They also had a higher percentage of seminiferous tubules in which spermatogenesis was present (P less than .05), a larger percentage of tubules with a lumen (P less than .05) and tubules had a larger mean diameter (P less than .01) than did those of boar with LTW. Adjustment of in situ testis measurements and excised testis weights for body weight reduced line differences by less than 20%. A rise in LH concentrations occurred at approximately 100 d of age. Boars with HTW had higher (P less than .05) and more variable (P less than .01) LH concentrations than did boars with LTW. Boars with HTW also had higher maximum concentrations of LH during the pubertal rise (P less than .01) and these concentrations tended to reach maximum levels at younger ages. Concentrations of T increased in a fashion that was nearly linear with age (P less than .01) and tended to be higher for the boars with HTW (P less than .10). Concentrations of E2 changed little from 42 to 84 d of age but increased steadily thereafter. Boars with HTW had a more rapid increase in E2 concentrations than did boars with LTW (P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A method for intercepting and demodulating slow frequency hopping DPSK signals

This paper presents a non-coherent wireless communication receiver design for intercepting and demodulating frequency hopping spread spectrum (FH-SS) signals. This interception receiver is based on phase modulation to amplitude modulation conversion (PM to AM), and is specifically designed for demodulating a slow frequency-hopped signal that has differentially encoded phase shift keying (DPSK) modulation. The intercept receiver uses a bank of bandpass filters at the front end. Matlab simulations show that if a signal has a signal to noise ratio (SNR) greater than approximately 30 dB (where the bandwidth (BW) of each of the intercept filters in the simulation is five times the message bit frequency), the intercept receiver can demodulate it by using an approach based on PM to AM conversion and adaptive pattern recognition. The performance of the receiver is characterized with simulations and analytical calculations.
The mechanism of end product inhibition of serine biosynthesis. II. Optical studies of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase.

Abstract The absorption spectrum of crystalline phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase had a peak at 276 mµ and a broad shoulder at 320 to 340 mµ. When activated in the region of 285 mµ the enzyme had a fluorescence emission spectrum with peaks in the region of 330 and 430 mµ. The 430 mµ peak was bleached when hydroxypyruvate phosphate was added. This result, plus the fluorescence activation spectrum, shows that the 430 mµ peak results from enzyme-bound DPNH. Addition of a solution of DPNH to the enzyme enhanced the 430 mµ peak and quenched the protein fluorescence at 330 mµ. The physiologically important inhibitor serine reduced the intensity of the 430 mµ peak. On the basis of changes in the fluorescence of the enzyme that accompany ligand binding, titrations were carried out with hydroxypyruvate phosphate, 3-phosphoglycerate, DPN, DPNH, analogues of DPNH, and serine. Dissociation constants were obtained and two binding sites per enzyme molecule were shown for hydroxypyruvate phosphate, DPNH, and serine. The titration curve for serine was sigmoidal, indicating interaction between the binding sites.
Optimal colocalization of TCR and CD8 as a novel mechanism for the control of functional avidity.

The improved efficacy of high avidity CTL for clearance of virus has been well-documented. Thus, elucidation of the mechanisms that confer the increased sensitivity to peptide ligand demonstrated by high avidity CTL is critical. Using CTL lines of high and low avidity generated from a TCR transgenic mouse, we have found that functional avidity can be controlled by the expression of CD8αα vs CD8αβ and the ability of CTLs to colocalize the TCR and CD8 in the membrane. Colocalization of these molecules was mediated by lipid rafts and importantly, raft disruption resulted in the conversion of high avidity CTL into a lower functional avidity phenotype. These novel findings provide insights into the control of functional avidity in response to viral infection.
How Human Adaptive Systems Balance Fundamental Trade-offs: Implications For Polycentric Governance Architectures

Investigations into complex adaptive systems (CAS) have identified multiple trade-offs that place hard limits on the behavior of adaptive systems of any type. Complexity theory continues to search for a formalization that can unify these trade-offs around one or a few fundamental ones, and explain how observed tradeoffs are derived from the most basic ones (Alderson and Doyle, 2010). Resilience Engineering (RE) also arose from the recognition that basic trade-offs placed hard limits on the safety performance of teams and organizations in the context of pressures for systems to be “faster, better, cheaper” (Woods, 2006; Hollnagel, 2009). Combining the results from CAS on physical complex systems with the results from RE on high risk, high consequence human designed systems leads to a potential unification. The unification consists of (a) five basic trade-offs that bound the performance of all human adaptive systems (Hoffman and Woods, 2011), and (b) an architecture for polycentric control or governance based on regulating margin of maneuver to be able to dynamically balance the conflicts, risks and pressures that arise from the fundamental trade-offs.
The Binding of Estradiol-17β to the Bovine Endometrial Nuclear Membrane

Abstract The interaction of estradiol-17β with mature bovine endometrial tissue, and with isolated nuclei has been studied. The hormone binds to an insoluble nuclear fraction. This fraction contains membrane and evidence is presented to show that estradiol is bound to the nuclear membrane. Incubation of isolated nuclei and microsome fractions with estradiol-17β shows that the hormone binds essentially instantaneously to microsomes and nuclei. Such binding is non-saturable up to estradiol-17β concentrations as great as 2.5 x 10-6 moles per mg of membrane protein and it is likely that this interaction is not biologically significant. A second form of binding is observed in nuclei which is of higher affinity and saturable, with 507 ± 47 sites per nucleus. This class of binding sites is found to be blocked in cattle that are maintained in artificially induced estrus by feeding with diethylstilbesterol. The high affinity binding site is present only in the mature endometrium and is absent in nuclei from the mature myometrium (the muscular tissue surrounding the endometrium in the uterus) and the immature uterus. Potent estrogenic agents compete effectively with estradiol-17β for binding to this site, whereas weak estrogenic steroids (such as progesterone and testosterone) are inefficient competitors. The sensitivity of the high affinity site to pH and hydrolytic enzymes has been studied and compared with the effect of such agents on the low affinity, nonspecific, membrane site. Such a comparison underscores the inherent differences between these two sites of interaction. The thermodynamic parameters of the high affinity binding site have been measured and compared to reported values for the specific cytoplasmic receptor binding site. The nuclear high affinity binding site possesses a favorable free energy of interaction as a result of entropic forces (ΔS0 = +36.4 cal deg-1 mole-1, ΔH0 = -0.66 Cal mole-1). The number of high affinity nuclear sites varies dramatically during the estrous cycle in a bicyclic fashion. Sites are available during estrus and diestrus, whereas they are blocked in later metestrus and proestrus.
Optical theorem for active media

We generalize the optical theorem to active scatterers. This includes both the ordinary optical theorem related to the average, real power as well as the recently proposed reactive optical theorem. We demonstrate that the previous results on optical-theorem-based target and change detection have a broader applicability than previously anticipated. The optical theorem detection methods apply not only to passive scatterers, which has been the focus so far, but also to active scatterers composed of a scatterer component and a radiating (antenna) component.
Phenolic aldehydes as indicators of terrestrially derived organic matter in the sea

Abstract The concentration of lignin degradation products (vanillin, p- hydroxybenzaldehyde and syringealdehyde) generated by oxidizing sediment samples with nitrobenzene were considered in an approach to follow the seaward transport of terrestrially derived organic matter. The concentrations of vanillin and syringealdehyde ranged from about 1 per cent of the total ‘organic matter’ in samples taken from inland rivers along the Georgia coast to
ISOLATION OF D-FUCOSAMINE FROM BACILLUS CEREUS.

Crumpton and Davies1 first reported the isolation and characterization of D-fucosamine (2-amino-, 2 : 6-dideoxy-D-galactose) from the soluble polysaccharide moiety of the lipopolysaccharide obtained from the gram negative bacterium, Chromobacterium violaceum (N.C.T.C. 7917). More recently L-fucosamine has been found in the soluble polysaccharides of type V pneumococcus2 and Citrobacter freundii 05 : H30. (In a personal communication, Prof. G. T. Barry stated that a sample of fucosamine isolated by him from Citrobacter freundii 05 : H30 exhibited an infrared spectrum that was identical to that of a sample of D-fucosamine isolated by us from C. violaceum. Specific rotations of the two compounds were of similar value but of opposite sign. (See following communication).) Preliminary reports of the occurrence of D-fucosamine in various species of the genus Bacillus have also recently appeared3,4. We now wish to report the isolation and characterization of D-fucosamine from the insoluble cell-wall residue of an organism identified as Bacillus cereus. The occurrence of both D- and L-fucosamine in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species is, therefore, established.