cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Total Synthesis of (−)-Fumiquinazolines A, B, C, E, H, and I. Approaches to the Synthesis of Fiscalin A

The first syntheses of (-)-fumiquinazolines A, B, and I, which proceed in 14 steps from protected tryptophan, anthranilic acid, leucine, and alanine in 7% overall yield, are described. Tricycle 30 was formed by a palladium-catalyzed cyclization. Oxidation of 30a with saccharine-derived oxaziridine 21 for fumiquinazolines A and B and oxidation of 30b with dimethyldioxirane for fumiquinazoline I selectively formed the appropriate imidazoindolone stereoisomers. Application of the Ganesan-Mazurkiewicz cyclization completed the syntheses. Efficient 14-step syntheses of (-)-fumiquinazolines C (7) and E (3) and a 15-step synthesis of (-)-fumiquinazoline H (8) using FmocNHCH(CH2SePh)CO2H as a dehydroalanine precursor that spontaneously eliminated benzeneselenol without oxidation under the cyclization conditions are also reported. Model 86 for fiscalins A with the H and OH anti to each other has been prepared, but the procedure that worked for the model failed with the fully functionalized side chain.
Synthesis of the G-C DNA base hybrid with a functional tail.

Molecules which possess the hydrogen bonding codes of both guanine and cytosine (“G−C DNA base hybrids”) are known to organize in a hexagonal array both in solution and the solid state. Including an easily derivatizable functional group in the molecule allows the co-organization of virtually any species in the hexagonal periphery. Simple 5- and 6-step procedures are described for the synthesis of DNA base hybrids with tail groups which are terminated by electrophilic (primary bromide) and nucleophilic (primary alcohol) functions, respectively.
A statistical approach to characterizing the reliability of systems utilizing HBT devices

This paper describes a statistical approach to simulating the reliability of systems with HBT devices. Compared to the conventional worst-case method, the described approach utilizes statistical reliability information of the HBT individual devices, along with analysis on the critical paths of the system, to provide more accurate and more comprehensive reliability evaluation of the systems utilizing HBT devices.
Nutritive Quality of Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) Exposed to Tropospheric Ozone

Tropospheric ozone (O3) is a phytotoxic air pollutant widespread in industrialized nations of the world. Ozone is produced by the photo-oxidation of hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere by combustion of fossil fuels. Studies demonstrate O3 can be transported from metropolitan areas to rural areas important to agricultural and forestry practices. Reports regarding O3 effects have focused on vegetation important to food production or agronomic crops of economic importance. However, relatively little is known about O3 effects on native plant species. The effects of tropospheric O3 on two warm-season grasses, eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), were examined during June–September of 2003. Plants were fumigated with three levels of O3 in a randomized-block experiment with three replicates of each treatment. Grasses were grown in open-top chambers with introduced carbon-filtered (CF) air, characteristic of clean air quality; non-filtered (NF) air, representative of quality in Auburn, AL; and air with double (2×) the ambient concentration of O3. Because forage quality can be as important as quantity, we determined various effects on nutritive quality characteristics in addition to biomass yield. Big bluestem exhibited little response to O3 exposure. For eastern gamagrass, we generally found decreased nutritive quality with increasing O3 exposure as evidenced by increased concentrations of cell wall constituents and decreased concentrations of N. Regrowth of both species exhibited little treatment effect which emphasizes the importance of timing and duration of O3 exposures in relation to physiological stage of plant development. Decreased nutritive quality parameters observed for eastern gamagrass may have implications to diet selection and nutrient intake by ruminant herbivores. In addition, range managers can use species-specific information regarding O3 sensitivity to make decisions about mechanical harvesting and grazing regimes of these forages growing in areas exposed to elevated O3 concentrations.
Medians and majorities in semimodular posets

Bruno Leclerc proved that a finite lattice is upper semimodular if and only if, for any profile π and for any π-median m, the inequality c1/2(π) ≤ m holds where c1/2(π) denotes the value of the majority rule at π. We generalize this fact to posets.
Chelation control associated with organometallic addition reactions in water. The high stereoselectivity offered by α- and β-hydroxyl substituents obviates the need for protecting groups

Abstract High stereoselectivities have been observed for indium-promoted allylations of α- and β-hydroxy aldehydes in aqueous media, with strong implication that chelate control can continue to operate in water.
Phytochemical medicinal agents. A quinone-based route to pterocarpins

The synthesis of 6,9 di-demethoxy kushecarpin A has been achieved by the coupling of a benzofuran anion with a quinone monoketal followed by a regioselective cyclization and a stereoselective hydrogenation reaction.
The qualitative and time-dependent character of spatial relations in biomedical ontologies

Motivation: The formal representation of mereological aspects of canonical anatomy (parthood relations) is relatively well understood. The formal representation of other aspects of canonical anatomy, such as connectedness and adjacency relations between anatomical parts, their shape and size as well as the spatial arrangement of anatomical parts within larger anatomical structures are, however, much less well understood and represented in existing computational anatomical and bio-medical ontologies only insufficiently. Results: In this article, we provide a methodology of how to incorporate this kind of information into anatomical and bio-medical ontologies by applying techniques of representing qualitative spatial information from Artificial Intelligence. In particular, we focus on how to explicitly take into account the qualitative and time-dependent character of these relations. As a running example, we use the human temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Availability: Using the presented methodology, a formal ontology was developed which is accessible on http://www.ifomis.org/bfo/fol. This ontology may help to improve the logical and ontological rigor of bio-medical ontologies such as the OBO relation ontology. Contact: bittner3@buffalo.edu
The robustness properties of univariate and multivariate reciprocal polynomials

The author investigates the robustness properties of univariate and multivariate reciprocal polynomials that are nonzero on the unit-circle and the unit-polycircle, respectively. He shows that any polytope of univariate reciprocal polynomials are nonzero on the unit-circle, if and only if a set of real-valued rationals corresponding to its vertices are entirely either positive or negative on the unit-circle. Ensuring that these vertex rationals are entirely either positive or negative on the unit-circle can be carried out by the tests described by Lakshmanan (1992). When these existing tests are combined with the results contained in this paper, it provides a complete procedure for testing the nonzeroness of polytopes of univariate reciprocal polynomials over the unit-circle. He shows that this result generalizes to the case of multivariate polynomials. For any polytope of multivariate polynomials to be nonzero on the unit-polycircle, it is necessary and-sufficient that a set of real-valued multivariate rationals corresponding to its vertices are entirely either positive or negative on the unit-polycircle. Again, by using the test, the positivity or the negativity of the vertex rationals can be ensured as well, thereby resulting in a complete procedure for testing the nonzeroness of an entire polytope of multivariate reciprocal polynomials over the unit-polycircle. Although he develops the results for polytopic families, he then extends those results to the case of non-polytopic reciprocal polynomial families. >
Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (-)-Martinellic Acid.

An enantioselective total synthesis of martinellic acid is described. The pyrroloquinoline alkaloid core is efficiently prepared from a quinoline, employing a method which relies on a newly developed Cu-catalyzed enantioselective alkynylation using the chiral imidazole-based biaryl P,N ligand StackPhos to establish the absolute stereochemistry. The remaining carbon atoms are then installed by means of a diastereoselective Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation and the synthesis is completed after straightforward functional-group manipulation. This new synthetic method enables the most concise enantioselective synthesis of this important class of molecules to date.
Reference-free inference of tumor phylogenies from single-cell sequencing data

Effective management and treatment of cancer continues to be complicated by the rapid evolution and resulting heterogeneity of tumors. Phylogenetic study of cell populations in single tumors provides a way to delineate intra-tumoral heterogeneity and identify robust features of evolutionary processes. The introduction of single-cell sequencing has shown great promise for advancing single-tumor phylogenetics; however, the volume and high noise in these data present challenges for inference, especially with regard to chromosome abnormalities that typically dominate tumor evolution. Here, we investigate a strategy to use such data to track differences in tumor cell genomic content during progression. We propose a reference-free approach to mining single-cell genome sequence reads to allow predictive classification of tumors into heterogeneous cell types and reconstruct models of their evolution. The approach extracts k-mer counts from single-cell tumor genomic DNA sequences, and uses differences in normalized k-mer frequencies as a proxy for overall evolutionary distance between distinct cells. The approach computationally simplifies deriving phylogenetic markers, which normally relies on first aligning sequence reads to a reference genome and then processing the data to extract meaningful progression markers for constructing phylogenetic trees. The approach also provides a way to bypass some of the challenges that massive genome rearrangement typical of tumor genomes presents for reference-based methods. We illustrate the method on a publicly available breast tumor single-cell sequencing dataset. We have demonstrated a computational approach for learning tumor progression from single cell sequencing data using k-mer counts. k-mer features classify tumor cells by stage of progression with high accuracy. Phylogenies built from these k-mer spectrum distance matrices yield splits that are statistically significant when tested for their ability to partition cells at different stages of cancer.
Transfer Learning in Sequential Decision Problems: A Hierarchical Bayesian Approach

Transfer learning is one way to close the gap between the apparent speed of human learning and the relatively slow pace of learning by machines. Transfer is doubly beneficial in reinforcement learning where the agent not only needs to generalize from sparse experience, but also needs to efficiently explore. In this paper, we show that the hierarchical Bayesian framework can be readily adapted to sequential decision problems and provides a natural formalization of transfer learning. Using our framework, we produce empirical results in a simple colored maze domain and a complex real-time strategy game. The results show that our Hierarchical Bayesian Transfer framework significantly improves learning speed when tasks are hierarchically related.
Superinjective simplicial maps of complexes of curves and injective homomorphisms of subgroups of mapping class groups II

Abstract Let R be a compact, connected, orientable surface of genus g with p boundary components. Let C ( R ) be the complex of curves on R and Mod R ∗ be the extended mapping class group of R. Suppose that either g = 2 and p ⩾ 2 or g ⩾ 3 and p ⩾ 0 . We prove that a simplicial map λ : C ( R ) → C ( R ) is superinjective if and only if it is induced by a homeomorphism of R. As a corollary, we prove that if K is a finite index subgroup of Mod R ∗ and f : K → Mod R ∗ is an injective homomorphism, then f is induced by a homeomorphism of R and f has a unique extension to an automorphism of Mod R ∗ . This extends the author's previous results about closed connected orientable surfaces of genus at least 3, to the surface R.
Deep value of information estimators for collaborative human-machine information gathering

Effective human-machine collaboration can significantly improve many learning and planning strategies for information gathering via fusion of 'hard' and 'soft' data originating from machine and human sensors, respectively. However, gathering the most informative data from human sensors without task overloading remains a critical technical challenge. In this context, Value of Information (VOI) is a crucial decision- theoretic metric for scheduling interaction with human sensors. We present a new Deep Learning based VOI estimation framework that can be used to schedule collaborative human-machine sensing with efficient online inference and minimal policy hand-tuning. Supervised learning is used to train deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to extract hierarchical features from 'images' of belief spaces obtained via data fusion. These features can be associated with soft data query choices to reliably compute VOI for human interaction. The CNN framework is described in detail, and a performance comparison to a feature- based POMDP scheduling policy is provided. The practical feasibility of our method is also demonstrated on a mobile robotic search problem with language-based semantic human sensor inputs.
On weak convergence of stochastic heat equation with colored noise

Abstract In this work we are going to show weak convergence of probability measures. The measure corresponding to the solution of the following one dimensional nonlinear stochastic heat equation ∂ ∂ t u t ( x ) = κ 2 ∂ 2 ∂ x 2 u t ( x ) + σ ( u t ( x ) ) η α with colored noise η α will converge to the measure corresponding to the solution of the same equation but with white noise η , as α ↑ 1 . Function σ is taken to be Lipschitz and the Gaussian noise η α is assumed to be colored in space and its covariance is given by E [ η α ( t , x ) η α ( s , y ) ] = δ ( t − s ) f α ( x − y ) where f α is the Riesz kernel f α ( x ) ∝ 1 / | x | α . We will work with the classical notion of weak convergence of measures, that is convergence of probability measures on a space of continuous function with compact domain and sup–norm topology. We will also state a result about continuity of measures in α , for α ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) .
Exploration of Cluster Structure−Activity Relationship Analysis in Efficient High-Throughput Screening

Sequential screening has become increasingly popular in drug discovery. It iteratively builds quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models from successive high-throughput screens, making screening more effective and efficient. We compare cluster structure-activity relationship analysis (CSARA) as a QSAR method with recursive partitioning (RP), by designing three strategies for sequential collection and analysis of screening data. Various descriptor sets are used in the QSAR models to characterize chemical structure, including high-dimensional sets and some that by design have many variables not related to activity. The results show that CSARA outperforms RP. We also extend the CSARA method to deal with a continuous assay measurement.
Articulating the case for the longevity dividend

The survival of large segments of human populations to advanced ages is a crowning achievement of improvements in public health and medicine. But, in the 21st century, our continued desire to extend life brings forth a unique dilemma. The risk of death from cardiovascular diseases and many forms of cancer have declined, but even if they continue to do so in the future, the resulting health benefits and enhanced longevities are likely to diminish. It is even possible that healthy life expectancy could decline in the future as major fatal diseases wane. The reason is that the longer we live, the greater is the influence of biological aging on the expression of fatal and disabling diseases. As long as the rates of aging of our bodies continues without amelioration, the progress we make on all major disease fronts must eventually face a point of diminishing returns. Research in the scientific study of aging has already showed that the aging of our bodies is inherently modifiable, and that a therapeutic intervention that slows aging in people is a plausible target for science and public health. Given the speed with which population aging is progressing and chronic fatal and disabling conditions are challenging health care costs across the globe, the case is now being made in the scientific literature that delayed aging could be one of the most efficient and promising ways to combat disease, extend healthy life, compress morbidity, and reduce health care costs. A consortium of scientists and nonprofit organizations has devised a plan to initiate an accelerated program of scientific research to develop, test for safety and efficacy, and then disseminate a therapeutic intervention to delay aging if proven to be safe and effective; this is referred to as the Longevity Dividend Initiative Consortium (LDIC). In this review, I articulate the case for the LDIC.
Morphisms and Order Ideals of Toric Posets

Toric posets are in some sense a natural “cyclic” version of finite posets in that they capture the fundamental features of a partial order but without the notion of minimal or maximal elements. They can be thought of combinatorially as equivalence classes of acyclic orientations under the equivalence relation generated by converting sources into sinks, or geometrically as chambers of toric graphic hyperplane arrangements. In this paper, we define toric intervals and toric order-preserving maps, which lead to toric analogues of poset morphisms and order ideals. We develop this theory, discuss some fundamental differences between the toric and ordinary cases, and outline some areas for future research. Additionally, we provide a connection to cyclic reducibility and conjugacy in Coxeter groups.
What Do We Know About Short- and Long-Term Effects of Early-Life Exposure to Pollution?

Evidence shows that pollution exposure early in life is detrimental to near-term health, and an increasing body of evidence suggests that early-childhood health influences health and human capital outcomes later in life. This article reviews the economic research that brings these two literatures together. We begin with a conceptual model that highlights the core relationships across the life cycle. We then review the literature concerned with such estimates, focusing particularly on identification strategies to mitigate concerns regarding endogenous exposure. The nascent empirical literature provides both direct and indirect evidence that early-childhood exposure to pollution significantly impacts later-life outcomes. We discuss the potential policy implications of these long-lasting effects and conclude with a number of promising avenues for future research.
Sorption of GR-S Type of Polymer on Carbon Black. III. Sorption by Commercial Blacks

Abstract The sorption capacities toward GR-S five commercial carbon blacks are in decreasing order: Spheron-6, Vulcan-1, Philblack-0, Sterling-105, Philblack-A. Apparently, the sorption is not related to surface area. The sorption on Vulcan-1 of GR-S from its solutions in seven different solvents or mixtures of solvents increases with decreasing solvent power for the rubber. The sorption curves of two “cold rubbers,” polymerized at −10 and +5° respectively, showed little difference from that of 50° GR-S. Previous heating of carbon black in nitrogen at 500 or 1100° increased the sorption by about 20 per cent over unheated carbon. Air-heating of carbon black at 425° did not cause a difference in the sorption from benzene solution, but produced an increase in the sorption of rubber from n-heptane solution. In the range 75% butadiene-25% styrene to 5% butadiene-95% styrene, there is practically no effect of the degree of unsaturation on the sorption. Polystyrene of high intrinsic viscosity exhibits a peculiar...
Risk, self-protection, and ex ante economic value

Abstract We develop three propositions about the ex ante value of reduced risk. If there is a continuous outcome distribution and if self-protection influences outcome probability and severity, then (1) unobservable utility terms cannot be eliminated from the ex ante value expressions; (2) knowledge of the convexity or the nonconvexity of dose-response functions is insufficient to sign changes in these expressions; and (3) self-protection expenditures need not be a lower bound measure of these expressions. Therefore, many restrictions applied in recent empirical work on the economic value of risk changes are not immediately transferable to settings where endogenous risks prevail.
The Effects of FMMOs Pricing Regimes on Milk Price Behavior and Dairy Farm Profitability

This research evaluates the effects of the key changes that took place in the design of Class III milk pricing within Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs) on milk price behavior and dairy farm profitability over three milk pricing regimes: Minnesota-Wisconsin price series (1960s – 1995), Basic Formula Price (1995-1999) and Multiple Component Pricing (2000-present). An autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH) model is estimated to evaluate the effects of changes in the dairy industry institutional environment on the Class III milk price level and volatility over the analyzed period of time. The empirical evidence presented in the paper indicates that changes in the level of Class III milk price were rather minor in magnitude. However, changes in the milk price volatility were dramatic. There is empirical evidence indicating that the private Exchange spot cheese price is the main determinant of the Class III milk price, which is consistent with the design of Class III milk pricing during the analyzed FMMOs milk pricing regimes.
Do Constitutions Matter? The Effects of Constitutional Environmental Rights Provisions on Environmental Outcomes

Summary We use a novel data set within an instrumental variables framework to test whether the presence and language of constitutional environmental rights influence environmental outcomes. The outcome variables include Yale's Environmental Performance Index and its components. We employ two-stage least squares to account for reverse causality, that is, the possibility that a country which takes steps to protect the environment might also be more likely to constitutionalize environmental rights. Our first stage theory combines constitution norms, opposition costs, and generation effects. Our controls include country income, which means that our study is also related to the Environmental Kuznets Curve literature. We find that constitutions do indeed matter for positive environmental outcomes, which suggests that we should not only pay attention to the incentives confronting polluters and resource users, but also to the incentives and constraints confronting those policymakers who initiate, monitor, and enforce environmental policies.
Exploiting cyclic symmetry in convolutional neural networks

Many classes of images exhibit rotational symmetry. Convolutional neural networks are sometimes trained using data augmentation to exploit this, but they are still required to learn the rotation equivariance properties from the data. Encoding these properties into the network architecture, as we are already used to doing for translation equivariance by using convolutional layers, could result in a more efficient use of the parameter budget by relieving the model from learning them. We introduce four operations which can be inserted into neural network models as layers, and which can be combined to make these models partially equivariant to rotations. They also enable parameter sharing across different orientations. We evaluate the effect of these architectural modifications on three datasets which exhibit rotational symmetry and demonstrate improved performance with smaller models.
An Equivalence Between Network Coding and Index Coding

We show that the network coding and index coding problems are equivalent. This equivalence holds in the general setting which includes linear and nonlinear codes. Specifically, we present a reduction that maps a network coding instance to an index coding instance while preserving feasibility, i.e., the network coding instance has a feasible solution if and only if the corresponding index coding instance is feasible. In addition, we show that one can determine the capacity region of a given network coding instance with colocated sources by studying the capacity region of a corresponding index coding instance. Previous connections between network and index coding were restricted to the linear case.
Deformations of Superconformal Theories

We classify possible supersymmetry-preserving relevant, marginal, and irrelevant deformations of unitary superconformal theories in d ≥ 3 dimensions. Our method only relies on symmetries and unitarity. Hence, the results are model independent and do not require a Lagrangian description. Two unifying themes emerge: first, many theories admit deformations that reside in multiplets together with conserved currents. Such deformations can lead to modifications of the supersymmetry algebra by central and non-central charges. Second, many theories with a sufficient amount of supersymmetry do not admit relevant or marginal deformations, and some admit neither. The classification is complicated by the fact that short superconformal multiplets display a rich variety of sporadic phenomena, including supersymmetric deformations that reside in the middle of a multiplet. We illustrate our results with examples in diverse dimensions. In particular, we explain how the classification of irrelevant supersymmetric deformations can be used to derive known and new constraints on moduli-space effective actions.
Transforming Teaching Culture through an Interdisciplinary Faculty Teaching Exchange Program

This paper provides an overview and description of the voluntary Faculty Teaching Exchange program developed to assess whether or not a collaborative teaching exchange program might impact the culture of teaching and learning on a remote interdisciplinary satellite campus. Both full and part-time faculty members were invited to participate as Classroom Hosts and/or Classroom Observers. Data collection methods included pre and post surveys, common rubrics, reflective analyses, and focus group sessions. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected to assess impact on the campus teaching culture. Statistical analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of this program and the factors within the program that were most significant in influencing participation and success of the exchange.
Medical telementoring using an augmented reality transparent display

Background The goal of this study was to design and implement a novel surgical telementoring system called the System for Telementoring with Augmented Reality (STAR) that uses a virtual transparent display to convey precise locations in the operating field to a trainee surgeon. This system was compared with a conventional system based on a telestrator for surgical instruction. Methods A telementoring system was developed and evaluated in a study which used a 1 × 2 between-subjects design with telementoring system, that is, STAR or conventional, as the independent variable. The participants in the study were 20 premedical or medical students who had no prior experience with telementoring. Each participant completed a task of port placement and a task of abdominal incision under telementoring using either the STAR or the conventional system. The metrics used to test performance when using the system were placement error, number of focus shifts, and time to task completion. Results When compared with the conventional system, participants using STAR completed the 2 tasks with less placement error (45% and 68%) and with fewer focus shifts (86% and 44%), but more slowly (19% for each task). Conclusions Using STAR resulted in decreased annotation placement error, fewer focus shifts, but greater times to task completion. STAR placed virtual annotations directly onto the trainee surgeon's field of view of the operating field by conveying location with great accuracy; this technology helped to avoid shifts in focus, decreased depth perception, and enabled fine-tuning execution of the task to match telementored instruction, but led to greater times to task completion.
Multiphase-flow Statistics using 3D Detection and Tracking Algorithm (MS3DATA): Methodology and application to large-scale fluidized beds

Abstract Bubble dynamics play a critical role in the hydrodynamics of fluidized beds and significantly affect reactor performance. In this study, MS3DATA (Multiphase-flow Statistics using 3D Detection And Tracking Algorithm) is developed, validated and applied to numerical simulations of large-scale fluidized beds. Using this algorithm, bubbles are detected using void fraction data from simulations and are completely characterized by their size, shape and location while their velocities are computed by tracking bubbles across successive time frames. A detailed analysis of 2D (across vertical sections) and 3D bubble statistics using 3D simulations of lab-scale (diameter 14.5 cm) and pilot-scale bed (diameter 30 cm) is presented and it is shown that the former (a) under-predicts sizes of larger bubbles, (b) cannot detect a large fraction of small bubbles (
A Ruthenium/Phosphoramidite-Catalyzed Asymmetric Interrupted Metallo-ene Reaction.

Allylic chlorides prepared from commercially available trans-1,4-dichloro-2-butene were converted to trans-disubstituted 5- and 6-membered ring systems with perfect diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity under chiral ruthenium catalysis. These products contain stereodefined secondary and tertiary alcohols that originate from the trapping of an alkylruthenium intermediate with adventitious water. Key to the success of this transformation was the development of a new BINOL-based phosphoramidite ligand containing bulky substitution at its 3- and 3′-positions. As a demonstration of product utility, diastereoselective Friedel–Crafts reactions were performed on the chiral benzylic alcohols in high yield and stereoselectivity.
Privacy constrained information processing

This paper studies communication scenarios where the transmitter and the receiver have different objectives due to privacy concerns, in the context of a variation of the strategic information transfer (SIT) model of Sobel and Crawford. We first formulate the problem as the minimization of a common distortion by the transmitter and the receiver subject to a privacy constrained transmitter, We show the equivalence of this formulation to a Stackelberg equilibrium of the SIT problem. Assuming an entropy based privacy measure, a quadratic distortion measure and jointly Gaussian variables, we characterize the Stackelberg equilibrium. Next, we consider asymptotically optimal compression at the transmitter which inherently provides some level of privacy, and study equilibrium conditions. We finally analyze the impact of the presence of an average power constrained Gaussian communication channel between the transmitter and the receiver on the equilibrium conditions.
A novel enrichment strategy reveals unprecedented number of novel transcription start sites at single base resolution in a model prokaryote and the gut microbiome

The initiating nucleotide found at the 5’ end of primary transcripts has a distinctive triphosphorylated end that distinguishes these transcripts from all other RNA species. Recognizing this distinction is key to deconvoluting the primary transcriptome from the plethora of processed transcripts that confound analysis of the transcriptome. The currently available methods do not use targeted enrichment for the 5′end of primary transcripts, but rather attempt to deplete non-targeted RNA. We developed a method, Cappable-seq, for directly enriching for the 5' end of primary transcripts and enabling determination of transcription start sites at single base resolution. This is achieved by enzymatically modifying the 5′ triphosphorylated end of RNA with a selectable tag. We first applied Cappable-seq to E. coli, achieving up to 50 fold enrichment of primary transcripts and identifying an unprecedented 16539 transcription start sites (TSS) genome-wide at single base resolution. We also applied Cappable-seq to a mouse cecum sample and identified TSS in a microbiome. Cappable-seq allows for the first time the capture of the 5′ end of primary transcripts. This enables a unique robust TSS determination in bacteria and microbiomes. In addition to and beyond TSS determination, Cappable-seq depletes ribosomal RNA and reduces the complexity of the transcriptome to a single quantifiable tag per transcript enabling digital profiling of gene expression in any microbiome.
Silicon-photonic PTAT temperature sensor for micro-ring resonator thermal stabilization

We present a scheme for thermal stabilization of micro-ring resonator modulators through direct measurement of ring temperature using a monolithic PTAT temperature sensor. The measured temperature is used in a feedback loop to adjust the thermal tuner of the ring. The closed-loop feedback system is demonstrated to operate in presence of thermal perturbations at 20Gb/s.
Role of the Support and Reaction Conditions on the Vapor-Phase Deoxygenation of m-Cresol over Pt/C and Pt/TiO2 Catalysts

The catalytic deoxygenation of biomass fast pyrolysis vapors offers a promising route for the sustainable production of liquid transportation fuels. However, a clear understanding of the mechanistic details involved in this process has yet to be achieved, and questions remain regarding the role of the catalyst support and the influence of reaction conditions. In order to gain insight into these questions, the deoxygenation of m-cresol was investigated over Pt/C and Pt/TiO2 catalysts using experimental and computational techniques. The performance of each catalyst was evaluated in a packed-bed reactor under two conditions (523 K, 2.0 MPa and 623 K, 0.5 MPa), and the energetics of the ring hydrogenation, direct deoxygenation, and tautomerization mechanisms were calculated over hydrogen-covered Pt(111) and oxygen vacancies on the surface of TiO2(101). Over Pt(111), ring hydrogenation to 3-methylcyclohexanone and 3-methylcyclohexanol was found to be the most energetically favorable pathway. Over TiO2(101), ta...
Prognostic utility of blood pressure-adjusted global and basal systolic longitudinal strain

Assessment of global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS) and longitudinal systolic strain of the basal segments (BLS) has shown prognostic value in cardiac disorders. However, strain is reduced with increased afterload. We assessed the prognostic value of GLS and BLS adjusted for afterload. GLS and BLS were determined in 272 subjects with normal ejection fraction and no known coronary disease, or significant valve disease. Systolic blood pressure (SP) and diastolic blood pressure (DP) obtained at the time of echocardiography were used to adjust GLS and BLS as follows: strain×SP (mmHg)/120 mmHg and strain×DP (mmHg)/80 mmHg. Patients were followed for cardiac events and mortality. The mean age was 53±15 years and 53% had hypertension. There were 19 cardiac events and 70 deaths over a mean follow-up of 26±14 months. Cox analysis showed that left ventricular mass index (P=0.001), BLS (P<0.001), and DP-adjusted BLS (P<0.001) were independent predictors of cardiac events. DP-adjusted BLS added incremental value (P<0.001) to the other two predictors and had an area under the curve of 0.838 for events. DP (P=0.001), age (P=0.001), ACE inhibitor use (P=0.017), and SP-adjusted BLS (P=0.012) were independent predictors of mortality. SP-adjusted BLS added incremental value (P=0.014) to the other independent predictors. In conclusion, DP-adjusted BLS and SP-adjusted BLS were independent predictors of cardiac events and mortality, respectively. Blood pressure-adjusted strain added incremental prognostic value to other predictors of outcome.
Preoperative Considerations in the Geriatric Patient

Because of the "graying" of the population, the increasing availability of surgeons, and the improvement of surgical techniques and intensive care, more and more surgery will be done on geriatric patients. Sometimes, however, surgery will not be considered in a geriatric patient because of mistaken underestimation of life expectancy. The medical consultant is charged with confirming that surgery represents the consequence of the patient's informed decision, a task that is usually time consuming and often difficult. The medical consultant next identifies patient-related and procedure-related factors that affect surgical morbidity and mortality. General physiologic declines in all organ systems are characteristic of aging, but the most important ones affecting surgical risk are those of cardiovascular, pulmonary, immunologic, and central nervous systems. These systems must be assessed by an orderly preoperative evaluation that aims to optimize the patient's status and anticipate and minimize postoperative complication.
A cross-decomposition scheme with integrated primal---dual multi-cuts for two-stage stochastic programming investment planning problems

We describe a cross-decomposition algorithm that combines Benders and scenario-based Lagrangean decomposition for two-stage stochastic programming investment planning problems with complete recourse, where the first-stage variables are mixed-integer and the second-stage variables are continuous. The algorithm is a novel cross-decomposition scheme and fully integrates primal and dual information in terms of primal---dual multi-cuts added to the Benders and the Lagrangean master problems for each scenario. The potential benefits of the cross-decomposition scheme are demonstrated with numerical experiments on a number of instances of a facility location problem under disruptions. In the original formulation, where the underlying LP relaxation is weak, the cross-decomposition method outperforms multi-cut Benders decomposition. If the formulation is improved with the addition of tightening constraints, the performance of both decomposition methods improves but cross-decomposition clearly remains the best method for large-scale problems.
Back to the Future: Effective Residential Group Care and Treatment for Children and Youth and the Fritz Redl Legacy

In the tradition of Redl's vigorous advocacy papers, Beker examines the current “holiness game” of damning inpatient treatment on the basis of ideology, cost, assumed abuse, and effectiveness. He reviews Redl's position on the potential of such settings and proposes that we look at new possible ingredients for residential work coming from his extensive experience in therapeutic camping.
Atomic Weapons and American Policy

(1953). Atomic Weapons and American Policy. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 9, No. 6, pp. 202-205.
Climate Change, Presidential Power, and Leadership: "We Can't Wait"

The United States now has a climate change policy focused on reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). Most of this policy has been generated by the Obama Administration through executive action, primarily within the Environmental Protection Agency. To meet U.S. pledges to reduce GHG emissions by 17% by 2020 and 83% by 2050, President Obama must do more because it is clear that Congress will not address climate change. As described in this Article, there is much more the president can do. Using his treaty-making authority, he can take a more positive, constructive approach to reducing GHG emissions in the climate change negotiations. He also has a number of tools available within the World Trade Organization for encouraging fuel efficiency, disseminating technologies that would mitigate GHG emissions, and eliminating fossil fuel subsidies. Domestically, he can direct agencies to impose higher standards on existing sources of GHG emissions rather focusing solely on new and modified sources. He can also do much more to reduce emissions of powerful but short-lived climate forcers, such as methane and black carbon. For example, 99% of black carbon emissions could be eliminated from existing trucks by requiring the use of regenerative filters. Lastly, the president could redirect funding to climate prizes that reward innovation in developing transformative technologies to reduce GHG emissions. In this political climate, and with climate science pointing to ever greater climate impacts, President Obama must use the presidency to act. We can’t wait.
Accounting-education trends by authors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the trends in accounting-education publications and the influence of journal rankings for authors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. Design/methodology/approach – The authors included the publications in ten accounting-education journals for the 20-year period from 1993 to 2012. Findings – The data provide insights into the perceptions of accounting-education journals by authors from four countries. The authors found that, while the use of Accounting Education as a publication outlet for accounting authors from Australia and the UK was relatively stable, the use of Accounting Education as a publication outlet increased (decreased) for the accounting authors from New Zealand (Canada). The authors also found that, while coauthoring by the accounting authors from Australia and the UK increased slightly, coauthoring by the accounting authors from Canada and New Zealand increased during the 20-year period. Research limitations/implications – The da...
The homologous recombination component EEPD1 is required for genome stability in response to developmental stress of vertebrate embryogenesis

Stressed replication forks can be conservatively repaired and restarted using homologous recombination (HR), initiated by nuclease cleavage of branched structures at stalled forks. We previously reported that the 5' nuclease EEPD1 is recruited to stressed replication forks, where it plays critical early roles in HR initiation by promoting fork cleavage and end resection. HR repair of stressed replication forks prevents their repair by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), which would cause genome instability. Rapid cell division during vertebrate embryonic development generates enormous pressure to maintain replication speed and accuracy. To determine the role of EEPD1 in maintaining replication fork integrity and genome stability during rapid cell division in embryonic development, we assessed the role of EEPD1 during zebrafish embryogenesis. We show here that when EEPD1 is depleted, zebrafish embryos fail to develop normally and have a marked increase in death rate. Zebrafish embryos depleted of EEPD1 are far more sensitive to replication stress caused by nucleotide depletion. We hypothesized that the HR defect with EEPD1 depletion would shift repair of stressed replication forks to unopposed NHEJ, causing chromosome abnormalities. Consistent with this, EEPD1 depletion results in nuclear defects including anaphase bridges and micronuclei in stressed zebrafish embryos, similar to BRCA1 deficiency. These results demonstrate that the newly characterized HR protein EEPD1 maintains genome stability during embryonic replication stress. These data also imply that the rapid cell cycle transit seen during embryonic development produces replication stress that requires HR to resolve.
New Inversion Formulas for the Horospherical Transform

The following two inversion methods for totally geodesic Radon transforms on constant curvature spaces are well known in integral geometry. The first method employs mean value operators in accordance with the classical Funk–Radon–Helgason scheme. The second one relies on the properties of potentials that can be inverted by polynomials of the Beltrami–Laplace operator. Using tools of harmonic analysis, we show that both methods are also applicable to the horospherical transform on the real hyperbolic space.
MegaJoule NIF

Commissioning of the first 48 of 192 laser beams at the National Ignition Facility has resulted in the first-ever operational MegaJoule laser. A review of the laser performance and experimental campaign plans will be presented.
Balancing Covariates via Propensity Score Weighting

ABSTRACTCovariate balance is crucial for unconfounded descriptive or causal comparisons. However, lack of balance is common in observational studies. This article considers weighting strategies for balancing covariates. We define a general class of weights—the balancing weights—that balance the weighted distributions of the covariates between treatment groups. These weights incorporate the propensity score to weight each group to an analyst-selected target population. This class unifies existing weighting methods, including commonly used weights such as inverse-probability weights as special cases. General large-sample results on nonparametric estimation based on these weights are derived. We further propose a new weighting scheme, the overlap weights, in which each unit’s weight is proportional to the probability of that unit being assigned to the opposite group. The overlap weights are bounded, and minimize the asymptotic variance of the weighted average treatment effect among the class of balancing wei...
Epistemology, Theory, and Methodology in Knowledge Organization: Toward a Classification, Metatheory, and Research Framework

This paper proposes a preliminary classification of knowledge organization research, divided among epistemology, theory, and methodology plus three spheres of research: design, study, and critique. This work is situated in a metatheoretical framework, drawn from sociological thought. Example works are presented along with preliminary classification. The classification is then briefly described as a comparison tool which can be used to demonstrate overlap and divergence in cognate discourses of knowledge organization (such as ontology engineering).
An integrative model of the impairments in insight in schizophrenia: emerging research on causal factors and treatments.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Poor insight, or unawareness of some major aspect of mental illness, is a major barrier to wellness when it interferes with persons seeking out treatment or forming their own understanding of the challenges they face. One barrier to addressing impaired insight is the absence of a comprehensive model of how poor insight develops.Areas covered: To explore this issue we review how poor insight is the result of multiple phenomena which interfere with the construction of narrative accounts of psychiatric challenges, rather than a single social or biological cause.Expert commentary: We propose an integrative model of poor insight in schizophrenia which involves the interaction of symptoms, deficits in neurocognition, social cognition, metacognition, and stigma. Emerging treatments for poor insight including therapies which focus on the development of metacognition are discussed.