cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investment under Uncertainty 1

A real options theory—in its classic formulation—suggests that firms invest less during times of high uncertainty, that is, uncertainty depresses investment. However, several theoretical extensions predict that the relationship between investment and uncertainty may be non-linear, or even non-monotonic, when classic model assumptions are violated. Some model parameters either reinforce or weaken the negative effect of uncertainty on investment, while others distort the investment-uncertainty relationship, making it follow an inverted U-curve. This paper is a first—to my knowledge—attempt to identify the factors affecting investment from various streams of theoretical literature on investor choice and uncertainty, and to assemble them in a single empirical framework. By employing a dynamic panel of oil company data and implied volatilities as measures of uncertainty, I am able to examine the impact of uncertainty on investment and the effect of several factors on the investment-uncertainty relationship. I obtain evidence in support of several predictions from the theory. Both economy-wide and firm-specific types of uncertainty, as well as financing constraints, are found to adversely affect investment, while industry-wide uncertainty has an ambiguous effect, depending on the level of output price. In tests for non-linearity in the investment-output price volatility relationship, I find that output price, firm size and its risk management ability weaken the investment-uncertainty relationship. On the other hand, market imperfection, financing constraints, the firm’s maturity and its risk aversion re-enforce the negative effect of uncertainty. In addition, adjustment costs seem to be considerable, as firm investment reacts to changes in macroeconomic conditions with a noticeable delay.
The compass rose and random walk tests

The recent discovery of the compass rose pattern (Crack and Ledoit J. Finance 51(2) (1996) 751) has sparked considerable interest among researchers. This paper explores the significance of the effect of the compass rose pattern on random walk tests and measures to what extent its influence may limit the performance of test statistics. We show that in general, the asymptotic theory of test statistics is invalid for transactions data. However, Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the impact of the pattern, measured by the empirical size, is visible for moderate size samples only when the tick/volatility ratio is above some threshold, a condition that is readily met with intraday but not daily or weekly returns.
Multi-Matrix System Mesalamine: To Use or Not To Use

Objective:To evaluate the role of Multi-Matrix System (MMX) mesalamine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).Data Sources:Literature was obtained through searches of MEDLINE (1966–October 2007) and a bibliographic review of published articles. Key terms used in the searches included ulcerative colitis, mesalamine, MMX, SPD476, and Lialda.Study Selection and Data Extraction:All English-language articles that were identified through the search were evaluated. All primary literature was included in the review.Data Synthesis:The standard treatment for the induction and maintenance of remission in patients with mi Id-to-moderate UC is aminosalicylate products (mesalamine, sulfasalazine, batasalazide, olsalazine). Current mesalamine formulations are not idea) for long-term treatment due to issues with patient adherence secondary to complex dosing regimens and high pill burden. Clinical studies show that MMX mesalamine achieves clinical and endoscopic remission more frequently compared with placebo or mesa...
Variation in Teen Driver Education by State Requirements and Sociodemographics

OBJECTIVES: There is renewed attention on national standardization of formal driver education (DE) instruction and momentum toward realigning DE with its original goal of producing safer teen drivers. However, teen DE participation rates and how they differ among sociodemographic groups and in states with and without DE requirements remain largely unknown. Thus, our objective was to estimate national teen participation rates in formal classroom and behind-the-wheel DE instruction in relevant demographic subgroups and also estimate subgroup-specific participation rates by presence of a state DE requirement. METHODS: Data were collected via the National Young Driver Survey, administered to a nationally representative sample of 5665 public school 9th- through 11th-graders in Spring 2006. Analyses were restricted to 1770 students with driver licenses. Survey data were weighted to reflect national prevalence estimates. RESULTS: Overall, 78.8% of students reported participating in formal DE. However, in states without DE requirements, more than 1 in 3 students had no formal DE before licensure, and more than half had no behind-the-wheel training. Hispanics, blacks, males, and students with lower academic achievement participated in DE at markedly lower levels than counterparts in states with requirements. Notably, 71% of Hispanic students in states with no requirement received a license without receiving formal DE. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender disparities in DE participation may exist in states with no DE requirements. State DE requirements may be an effective strategy to reduce these disparities.
Using quality improvement to optimise paediatric discharge efficiency

Background Bed capacity management is a critical issue facing hospital administrators, and inefficient discharges impact patient flow throughout the hospital. National recommendations include a focus on providing care that is timely and efficient, but a lack of standardised discharge criteria at our institution contributed to unpredictable discharge timing and lengthy delays. Our objective was to increase the percentage of Hospital Medicine patients discharged within 2 h of meeting criteria from 42% to 80%. Methods A multidisciplinary team collaborated to develop medically appropriate discharge criteria for 11 common inpatient diagnoses. Discharge criteria were embedded into electronic medical record (EMR) order sets at admission and could be modified throughout a patient's stay. Nurses placed an EMR time-stamp to signal when patients met all discharge goals. Strategies to improve discharge timeliness emphasised completion of discharge tasks prior to meeting criteria. Interventions focused on buy-in from key team members, pharmacy process redesign, subspecialty consult timeliness and feedback to frontline staff. A P statistical process control chart assessed the impact of interventions over time. Length of stay (LOS) and readmission rates before and after implementation of process measures were compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results The percentage of patients discharged within 2 h significantly improved from 42% to 80% within 18 months. Patients studied had a decrease in median overall LOS (from 1.56 to 1.44 days; p=0.01), without an increase in readmission rates (4.60% to 4.21%; p=0.24). The 12-month rolling average census for the study units increased from 36.4 to 42.9, representing an 18% increase in occupancy. Conclusions Through standardising discharge goals and implementation of high-reliability interventions, we reduced LOS without increasing readmission rates.
Two-step high performance nonlinear control system design

A constructive high-performance control system design approach is presented. The design objective is to obtain a good step response for a nonlinear (or linear) system by finding an appropriate controller structure. The controller is designed in two steps. First, an ideal model is chosen so that when the model is embedded in a repetitive system with a fixed repetitive controller, the closed loop system has excellent performance in the sense of step response. Second, another controller is designed such that the input-output property of the real controlled process is forced to match that of the ideal model. With this technique, the control of linear or nonlinear systems is treated within the same framework. Simulation results show that the step response of the system designed with the proposed technique is promising. >
Mining and analyzing the topological structure of protein-protein interaction networks

We report a comprehensive evaluation of the topological structure of protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks by mining and analyzing graphs constructed from the publicly available popular data sets to the bioinformatics research community. We compare the topology of these networks across different species, at different confidence levels, and from different experimental systems. Our results confirm the well-accepted claim that the degree distribution follows a power law. However, further statistical analysis shows that the residues are not independent on the fit values, indicating that the power law model may be inadequate. Our results also show that the dependence of the average clustering coefficient on the vertices degree is far from a power law, contradicting many published results. For the first time, we report that the average vertex density exhibits a strong power law dependence on the vertices degree for all the networks studied, regardless of species, confidence levels, and experimental systems.
Bicuculline blocks neuropeptide Y-induced phase advances when microinjected in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of Syrian hamsters.

Abstract Microinjection of neuropeptide Y (NPY) into the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus (SCN) during the middle of the subjective day (i.e. circadian time 6) causes large phase advances in circadian rhythms. The present study demonstrates that microinjection of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) antagonist, bicuculline, completely blocks NPY-induced phase advances. These data indicate that GABAA activity within the SCN may mediate the phase shifting effects of some stimuli on the circadian pacemaker.
Lysophosphatidic Acid-Induced Neurite Retraction in PC12 Cells: Control by Phosphoinositide-Ca2+ Signaling and Rho

The endogenous phospholipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) caused growth cone collapse, neurite retraction, and cell flattening in differentiated PC12 cells. Neurite retraction was blocked by cytochalasin B and ADP-ribosylation of the small-molecular-weight G protein Rho by the Clostridium botulinum C-3 toxin. LPA induced a transient rise in the level of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and retraction was blocked by inhibitors of phospholipase β. Repeated application of LPA elicited homologous desensitization of the Ca 2+ mobilization response. The activation of the phosphoinositide (PIP)-Ca 2+ second messenger system played a permissive role in the morphoregulatory response. Blockers of protein kinase C-chelerythrine, a myristoylated pseudo-substrate peptide, staurosporine, and depletion of protein kinase C from the cells by long-term phorbol ester treatment-all diminshed neurite retraction by interfering with LPA-induced Ca 2+ mobilization, which was required for the withdrawal of neurites. A brief 15-min treatment with 4β-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate also blocked retraction and Ca 2+ mobilization, by inactivating the LPA receptor. Inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphorylation by herbimycin diminished retraction. Although activation of the PIP-Ca 2+ second messenger system appears necessary for the Rho-mediated rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton, bradykinin, which activates similar signaling events, failed to cause retraction, indicating that a yet unidentified novel mechanism is also involved in the LPA-induced morphoregulatory response.
Criticality history guided FPGA placement algorithm for timing optimization

We present an efficient timing-driven placement algorithm for FPGAs. Our major contribution is a criticality history guided (CHG) approach that can simultaneously reduce the critical path delay and computation time. The proposed approach keeps track of the timing criticality history of each edge and utilizes this information to effectively guide the placer. We also present a cooling schedule that optimizes both timing and run time when combined with the CHG method. The proposed algorithm is applied to the 20 largest MCNC benchmark circuits. Experimental results show that compared with VPR, our algorithm yields an average of 21.7% reduction (maximum 45.8%) in the critical path delay and it runs 2.2X fasterthan VPR. In addition, our approach outperforms other algorithms discussed in the literature in both delay and run time.
Assessing the geographic distribution of same sex and opposite sex couples across the United States: implications for claims of causality between traditional marriage and same sex unions

The percent of households headed by married couples has recently fallen below 50%, while the percent of unmarried couples (both heterosexual and homosexual) continues to rise. Nationally-representative estimates of unmarried couples which first appeared in the 1990 and 2000 decennial Censuses are now available on an annual basis through the American Community Survey. In this paper we use state-level panel data from 2000-2006 on the percent of households headed by married couples, same sex couples and opposite sex unmarried couples to assess widespread claims in the popular press of causality across living arrangements. Based on Granger causality tests we can reject claims that an increase in same sex couples has caused either a decline in marriage or (except in one case) an increase in heterosexual cohabitation. There is mixed evidence whether or not opposite sex couples may have Granger caused same sex couples, but stronger evidence that marriage and heterosexual cohabitation are interrelated.
Ryanodine Receptor S2808 Phosphorylation in Heart Failure Smoking Gun or Red Herring

In this issue of Circulation Research , Zhang et al1 provide direct and clear evidence that phosphorylation of S2808 in the cardiac ryanodine receptors (RyR2) has no impact on either normal cardiac function, sympathetic stimulation of the heart, or progression of heart failure (HF) after myocardial infarction (MI). They used mice in which the S2808 site was rendered nonphosphorylatable in S2808A knock-in mice, and the results directly contradict results published by the group of A.R. Marks.2–4 This has been a highly controversial area. This new study compels me to assess this pathway in a balanced way, but recognizing that my opinions are influenced by work that my group has done in this area. My goal here is not to microdissect each controversial piece of data in dozens of relevant papers (see recent reviews and tables5,6), but rather to provide my informed opinion about key aspects of this issue in a balanced manner. Let us first consider the model that importantly raised the issue of SR Ca leak as a potential pathophysiological cardiac effect in HF. Article, see p 831 In 2000 the Marks group published an exciting and seminal paper that has fueled intensive research over the past 11 years.7 They proposed that in HF, PKA hyperphosphorylates RyR2-S2808, causing FKBP12.6 dissociation from RyR2, which directly enhances SR Ca leak/depletion and systolic dysfunction in HF (Figure). Tenets later added to this core model were a down-regulation of phosphatases associated with the RyR2 in HF (which would facilitate the PKA-dependent RyR2 hyperphosphorylation) and that this diastolic SR Ca leak could also contribute to triggered arrhythmias. An extensive series of papers by the same group since then have provided highly consistent and compelling support for this working hypothesis, extending the impact of this intriguing PKA/RyR-S2808/FKBP12.6/RyR …
Value from Regulatory Construal Fit: The Persuasive Impact of Fit between Consumer Goals and Message Concreteness

This research investigates the relationship between regulatory focus and construal level. The findings indicate that promotion‐focused individuals are more likely to construe information at abstract, high levels, whereas those with a prevention focus are more likely to construe information at concrete, low levels (experiments 1 and 2). Further, such fit (vs. nonfit) between an individual’s regulatory focus and the construal level at which information is represented leads to more favorable attitudes (experiments 3 and 4) and enhances performance on a subsequent task (experiment 3). These outcomes occur because fit enhances engagement that in turn induces processing fluency and intensifies reactions.
Controlled Organocatalytic Ring-Opening Polymerization of ε-Thionocaprolactone

For the first time, the controlled ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of e-thionocaprolactone (tnCL) is conducted. The organocatalytic ROP of tnCL occurs without carbonyl scrambling, leading to homopoly(e-thionocaprolactone) (PtnCL). The ROP by base catalysts alone is proposed to proceed via a nucleophilic mechanism, while the addition of an H-bond donating thiourea (TU) is shown to provide excellent reaction control. The increased reaction control provided by the TU occurs in the virtual absence of binding between tnCL and TU, and a mechanistic account for this observation is discussed. The monomer ring strain is measured and found to be similar to δ-valerolactone (VL). Copolymers with VL are synthesized, and the resulting analysis of the copolymer materials properties provides the only known physical characterizations of poly(thio(no)ester-co-ester)s.
Equatorial vertical drift modulation by the lunar and solar semidiurnal tides during the 2013 sudden stratospheric warming

During the 2013 stratospheric sudden warming (SSW) period the Jicamarca Unattended Long-term Investigations of the Ionosphere and Atmosphere (JULIA) radar at Jicarmarca, Peru, observed low-latitude vertical drift modulation with lows of 0–12 m/s daytime maximum drifts between 6–13 and 22–25 January and enhanced drifts up to 43 m/s between 15 snd 19 January. The NCAR thermosphere-ionosphere-mesosphere-electrodynamics general circulation model reproduces the prevailing vertical drift feature and is used to examine possible causes. The simulations indicate that the modulation of the vertical drift is generated by the beating of the semidiurnal solar SW2 and lunar M2 tides. During the SSW period the beating is observable since the magnitudes of lunar and solar semidiurnal tidal amplitudes are comparable. The theoretical beating frequency between SW2 and M2 is 1/(15.13 day) which may be modified due to phase changes. This study highlights the importance of the lunar tide during SSW periods and indicates that the equatorial vertical drift modulation should be observable at other longitudes as well.
Neurosonographic Recognition of Subependymal Cysts in High-Risk Neonates

Serial neurosonography was performed in 210 high-risk, preterm neonates. Eleven (5.8%) demonstrated small cystic formations in the subependymal lining of the lateral ventricles. These subependymal cysts were unilateral and were detected at the exact site of a previous subependymal hemorrhage in two cases. These 11 infants were not significantly different in maturity, size, or clinical parameters from our main high-risk newborn population. Ten survivors had marked motor retardation at follow-up ages of 9–13 months, and one died from neonatal sepsis.
Analysis on the correlation between lifestyle and overweight and obesity among primary and middle school students in Shangluo City

Objective To investigate the lifestyle and the prevalence of obesity and analyze the relationship between them in Shangluo primary and middle school students so as to provide a reference basis for obesity prevention. Methods We randomly selected 6,932students from 8elementary and middle schools in Shangluo City.Their body mass indexes(BMIs) were measured and their lifestyles were investigated using a lifestyle questionnaire.The correlation between overweight and obesity and lifestyle was analyzed. Results The prevalences rates of overweight and obesity in primary and middle school students in Shangluo City were 14.37%and 10.69%,respectively.The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in the urban and the rural students was 16.20% and 12.71%,12.24% and 8.34%,respectively.And the Chi-square test revealed that the differences were statistically significant(P0.05).The multiple-factor non-conditional Logistic regression analysis showed that the main risk factors for overweight and obesity were addicting to sweet food and western food(OR=2.431,95%CI=1.171-5.846),tending to be inactive physically(OR=1.106,95%CI=1.011-2.937), staying up late(OR=1.347,95%CI=1.102-4.073)and skipping breakfast(OR=1.122,95%CI=1.004-1.980), whereas physical exercise(OR=0.819,95%CI=0.011-0.979)was the protective factor for overweight and obesity.The correlation analysis revealed that overweight and obesity in primary and middle school students were significantly positively correlated with the frequency of intake of western food and carbonated beverage consumption(r=0.736,r=0.693,P0. 05),but significantly negatively associated with physical exercise(r=-0.814,P0.05). Conclusions Our study reveals a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the surveyed students in Shangluo City,especially the highest prevalence in the urban students.A significant correlation is found between overweight and obesity with unhealthy lifestyles,including addicting to sweet food and western food and tending to be inactive physically.The students should do more physical exercises and develop healthy lifestyles so as to prevent overweight and obesity.
A medical image registration algorithm based on hybrid optimization algorithm

Image registration algorithm based on mutual information has high complexity and low speed. To solve the problem,a new image registration method based on improved genetic algorithm and Powell algorithm is proposed in this paper. Considering the shortages of the standard genetic algorithm,such as prematurity and slow convergence that may result in mismatching,in this paper,we improve the crossover operation of the genetic operations. At the same time,we combine the improved genetic algorithm and Powell algorithm. The method makes full use of the global search capability of genetic algorithm and the local search capability of Powell algorithm. Compared with Powell algorithm and the traditional genetic algorithm,this algorithm we proposed can effectively improve the image registration velocity and noise immunity.
D-optimal Orthogonal Block Designs with Parameter Estimation for the Additive Mixture Models

For the additive mixture models of 2-degree containing process variables,D-optimal orthogonal block design of parameter estimation was studied with the help of orthogonal Latin squares,and generally D-optimal orthogonal block design points construction for q-variables was given.Further more, we give optimal orthogonal design points with the same low-bound restrain or not.
Determination of trace mercury in seafoods by microwave digestion-hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry

Objective:To establish an analytical method for the determination of mercury in aquatic products by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry with microwave digestion.Methods:After the sample was pretreated by microwave digestion,the analysis was carried out by the atomic fluorescence spectrometry for the determination of trace mercury using potassium borohydride as a reducing agent,5% hydrochloric acid as the carrier and argon as the carrier gas.Results:The linearity of the method was good in the range of 0.1 μg/L～10.0 μg/L with a correlation coefficient of 0.9990.The RSDs were between 1.7% to 8.8%.Validation was performed by analysis of seaweed reference materials(GBW10023) and yellow-fin tuna reference material(GBW08573).The measured results were in good agreement with the certified values.Conclusion:This method is simple,sensitive,accurate and suitable for the determination of mercury in seafood.
Transgenic mice overexpressing both amyloid β-protein and perlecan in pancreatic acinar cells

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans such as perlecan are thought to facilitate amyloid fibril formation. Tg3695 mice overexpress perlecan core protein in many tissues including the brain and pancreas. Tg13592 mice overexpress the signal plus 99-amino acid carboxyl terminal sequences (C99) of amyloid s-protein precursor in multiple tissues and develop amyloid deposits in the pancreas. To investigate a role of perlecan in s-amyloidosis, we established doubly transgenic mice by crossing the two lines of transgenic mice. The expression levels of the two transgenes remained unchanged in the brain and pancreas and the doubly transgenic mice did not develop amyloid deposits in the brain up to 19-months of age. Amyloid load detected by thioflavine S in the pancreas of the doubly transgenic mice was not significantly different from that in the transgenic littermates expressing only C99. Amyloid load in the pancreas increased during aging. We found a positive correlation between the As-immunoreactive (non-fibrillar and fibrillar) and thioflavine S-positive (fibrillar) As deposits in the single (C99) but not doubly transgenic mice. Our results suggest that perlecan does not independently influence amyloid formation in the pancreas of the transgenic mice and that there may be other factors that may modulate amyloid formation together with perlecan.
The Animal–Human Bond: Health and Wellness

Abstract Health comprises the integration of psychological, physical, social, environmental, and spiritual aspects of an individual into a functional whole. Maximal health and wellness is life lived to its fullest. Individuals achieve optimal functioning along their personal continuums from minimal to optimal individual capacity. Individuals with personal, environmental, or physical limitations can achieve a high degree of health and wellness by living to their maximal capacities in a combination of these spheres. Healthy individuals live in harmony with themselves, others, and their environments. Animal-assisted activities (AAAs) and animal-assisted therapy (AAT) are two of several ways that animals can enhance or compromise individuals' health. An AAA refers to a general category of interventions without a common protocol. In general, AAA involves introduction of a companion animal to an individual who does not own that animal with the expectation that the introduced animal will provide short-term benefits to the individual at least while the animal is present. AAT includes an animal in a therapeutic intervention into a therapeutic setting/regimen with specific goals and outcomes.
Excess Scattering Induced Loss at a Rough Surface Due to Partially Coherent Double-Reflection

Transmission (and retransmission) through rough surfaces degrades ultrasonic flaw detection and materials characterization. The flaw signal as well as reference signals (e.g. reflections from the front-surface or back-surface of the specimen) become difficult to interpret. In the simplest case, we make two assumptions in order to model the ultrasonic pulse-echo signal. Our first assumption is that the scatterer is large in the sense that it extends laterally for many surface correlation lengths. In this case, the signal has a small variance and is well described by its average value that will be referred to as the “specular” signal. Our second assumption is that the flaw is far from the surface, in a sense to be defined below. Given these two assumptions, the rough surface introduces a loss that is proportional to the square of the rms height, h, and the frequency, f. Further, the loss due to a double-transmission, L d , is just twice the loss due to a single-transmission, L s , i.e., L d ≈ 2 L s .
U.S. Treasury or Taxpayers Won't Foot Bill for State Aid Recoveries

This letter to the editor of Tax Notes International corrects the seemingly commonly made mistake that any taxes collected against MNCs like Apple in connection with EU State Aid investigations will be borne by US taxpayers. Instead, as this letter makes clear, such taxes will be economically borne by the corporations (e.g. Apple) that pay them.
Ambulatory Patient Preference for VTE Prophylaxis

Abstract Introduction: Cancer-associated thrombosis leads to morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Thromboembolism can be prevented with the use of existing and emerging anticoagulants. We sought to ascertain awareness as well as receptiveness to anticoagulation amongst ambulatory cancer patients receiving active therapy. Methods: Two-hundred-fifty 12 question surveys were distributed to ambulatory cancer patients at the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center of the University of Rochester. Patients included in this study were those with active cancer, age ≥ 18 years and ambulatory. Hospitalized patients were excluded. Data was gathered regarding: age, gender, stage as well as type of malignancy, awareness of increased risk of venous thromboembolism and willingness to use various forms of anticoagulation. Results: One hundred ninety surveys (76%) were completed over a three week period. Study population consisted of 71 males (37%) and 119 females (63%) with mean age of 58. Malignancies surveyed include: lymphoma 26%, breast 20%, gastrointestinal 15%, leukemia 9% and lung cancer 7% among others. Nineteen percent of patients had stage IV malignancy. Of the patients surveyed, 53% reported being unaware of the increased risk of VTE with malignancy. Eighty-six percent of patients surveyed would be willing to use an oral anticoagulant 46% would be willing to perform daily anticoagulant injections. Conclusions: Prophylaxis for VTE in ambulatory cancer patients is an area of active investigation and could lead to improvements in morbidity and mortality. This study reveals a lack of knowledge of the increased risk of VTE amongst cancer patients. However, informed patients expressed willingness to use prophylaxis if shown effective to reduce VTE in the ambulatory setting.
An Innovative Education on the Core Competency “System-Based Practice” for Medical Students: Performing Quality Improvement Projects in a Student-Run Free Clinic

Innovative educational methods are necessary for instructing medical students on core competencies. We implemented eleven quality improvement interventions in clinical processes at our student-run free clinic to educate our students on the core competency “system-based practice.” These could be used by other institutions seeking innovative learning for system-based practice.
Behavior of Enterobacter Species and Hafnia Species in Skimmilk During Fermentation by Lactic Acid Bacteria

Enterobacter cloacae , Enterobacter aerogenes and two strains of Hafnia sp. were cultured individually in skimmilk together with Streptococcus lactis , Streptococcus cremoris or with one of two commercial lactic starter cultures. Incubation was at 21 or 32 C, and the lactic culture inoculum was 0.25, 1.0 or 2.0%. Growth of E. cloacae and E. aerogenes was markedly inhibited by S. lactis and S. cremoris at 32 C, and less so at 21 C. The commercial starter cultures were less inhibitory than the individual lactic streptococci. An increase in inoculum of lactic acid bacteria was accompanied by an increase in inhibition of Enterobacter sp., especially at 32 C. Both strains of Hafnia were inhibited more by S. lactis than by S. cremoris and the commercial starter cultures. Incubation at 32 rather than 21 C and increasing the amount of added lactic starter culture increased inhibition of Hafnia sp. All of the test coliforms were partially or completely inactivated toward the end of the 15-h incubation, provided the necessary conditions prevailed.
Silica-Chip-Based Continuum Generation for Frequency Comb Self-Referencing

Dispersion-engineered silica ridge waveguides are employed for dispersive wave generation from 275 nm to 575 nm. When placed at the pump harmonic, the dispersive wave enables frequency comb self-referencing in a collinear, zero delay geometry.
Orbit-controlling sets for conjunctive Boolean networks

A Boolean network is a finite dynamical system, whose variables take values from a binary set. The value update rule for each variable is a local function, i.e., it depends only on a selected subset of variables. Boolean networks have been widely used in modeling gene regulatory networks. We focus in this paper on a special class of Boolean networks, termed as conjunctive Boolean networks. A Boolean network is called conjunctive if the associated value update rule is comprised of only AND operations. It is known that any trajectory of a finite dynamical system will enter into a periodic orbit. Periodic orbits of a conjunctive Boolean network have been completely understood. In this paper, we investigate the orbit-controllability of a conjunctive Boolean network: We ask the question of how one can steer the network from any initial state to a state in any periodic orbit. Specifically, we assume that there is a selected subset of variables in the network whose values are under control. We then establish a necessary and sufficient condition for the conjunctive Boolean network to be orbit-controllable. Furthermore, we present an explicit control law for steering the network from any initial condition to any periodic orbit.
A System Supporting Semantics Retrieval

With the advance of multimedia technology, image data in various formats are becoming available at an explosive rate. With such enormous data resources, the search and retrieval of image databases are demanded to provide open access to relevant information and products. Thus, content-based image retrieval (CBIR) has become an active research area. A variety of techniques have been developed. In particular, content-based image retrieval using low-level features such as colour [36, 34, 26], texture [21, 33, 32, 20], shape [22, 14, 23, 24, 15, 10, 17] and others [30, 2, 16, 7] extracted from the images has been well studied. Various image querying systems including QBIC [11], VisualSeek [34], PhotoBook [27] and Virage [5] have been built based on the low-level features for general or specific image retrieval tasks.
Juggling the Dialectic: The Abyss of Politics in Chris Abani’s Fiction

This chapter explores Chris Abani’s treatment of politics in his major works of fiction: GraceLand (2004), Becoming Abigail (2006), Song for Night (2007), The Virgin of Flames (2007) and The Secret History of Las Vegas (2014). Throughout these works, Abani suggests that human beings can no longer serve as either the predicate, or the horizon, of politics. Politics can no longer proceed according to what we already know, and must instead determine how the pursuit of social justice and economic equality might be grounded in an “abyss” defined by ambiguity and violence. The dialectic still has a role to play, but only as a collection of terms and concepts that we “juggle,” not as the clear trajectory of political and economic history.
Zooarcheology: Investigating Past Interactions Between Humans and Other Animals

Zooarcheology is the study of animal remains, such as bone, shell, horn, antler, and other tissues, recovered from archeological sites. The field fits neatly under the umbrella of ethnobiology—or the study of human–biota interactions—and often focuses on research related to past subsistence and environments. This chapter introduces decision rules for data quality in faunal analysis, as well as taphonomy. In addition, the chapter covers basic quantification and provides a brief discussion of statistical inference. We summarize a case study from the Shag River Mouth site from the South Island of New Zealand, which introduces fundamental aspects of human behavioral ecology in zooarcheology, as well as a weight of evidence research approach. The final main section of the chapter provides a brief discussion of new directions in applied zooarcheology related to environmental management.
Effect of overcharge on Li(Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2)O2 cathodes: NMP-soluble binder. II — Chemical changes in the anode

Abstract Cells based on nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC)/graphite electrodes, which contained polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) binders in the electrodes, were systematically charged to 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, and 250% state of charge (SOC). Characterization of the anodes by inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) showed several extent-of-overcharge-dependent trends. The concentrations (by wt) of nickel, manganese, and cobalt in the negative electrode increased with SOC, but the metals remained in the same ratio as that of the positive. Electrolyte reaction products, such as LiF:LiPO3, increased with overcharge, as expected. Three organic products were found by HPLC-ESI-MS. From an analysis of the mass spectra, two of these compounds seem to be organophosphates, which were formed by the reaction of polymerized electrolyte decomposition products and PF3 or O=PF3. Their concentration tended to reach a constant ratio. The third was seen at 250% SOC only.
Polyploidy and genome size variation in Phlox nana (Polemoniaceae) from the Pecos plains of New Mexico and the Davis Mountains of West Texas

Polyploidy is conspicuous in the genus Phlox, and some species exhibit variation in ploidy levels, or cytotypic variation. Diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid popula-tions of P. nana occur across parts of the species distribution in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. A recent study highlighted two areas for which ploidy level inferences were challenging: a population on the Pecos Plains of New Mexico (“Caprock”) and the Davis Mountains region of West Texas. Plants in these areas were sampled and chromosome counts and flow cytometry methods were used to assess ploidy levels and genome sizes. Homoploid variation in ge-nome size was unambiguously documented: the genome size of tetraploid plants from the Davis Mountains was significantly larger than that of plants from Caprock. The general condition of larger genome sizes for plants in the Davis Mountains explains previous difficulty in determining ploidy levels within the region. Most plants at the Caprock population appeared to be tetraploid (2n=28), but chromosome counts revealed variants, including some putative pentaploids. Within the Davis Mountains region, both diploid (2n=14) and tetraploid (2n=28) cytotypes were documented, with a parapatric distribution. Overall, this study clarifies patterns of cytotypic diversity in P. nana, highlights an example of infraspecific, homoploid genome size variation, and contributes to a framework for ongoing evolutionary investigation in this study system.
Model-based systems engineering: Motivation, current status, and research opportunities

As systems continue to grow in scale and complexity, the Systems Engineering community has turned to Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to manage complexity, maintain consistency, and assure traceability during system development. It is different from “engineering with models,” which has been a common practice in the engineering profession for decades. MBSE is a holistic, systems engineering approach centered on the evolving system model, which serves as the “sole source of truth” about the system. It comprises system specification, design, validation, and configuration management. Even though MBSE is beginning to see a fair amount of use in multiple industries, specific advances are needed on multiple fronts to realize its full benefits. This paper discusses the motivation for MBSE, and its current state of maturity. It presents systems modeling methodologies and the role of ontologies and metamodels in MBSE. It presents model‐based verification and validation (V&V) as an example of MBSE use. An illustrative example of the use of MBSE for design synthesis is presented to demonstrate an important MBSE capability. The paper concludes with a discussion of challenges to widescale adoption and offers promising research directions to fully realize the potential benefits of MBSE.
Staging breast cancer by sentinel lymph node biopsy: Do patients with a single negative sentinel node (N=1) experience worse outcomes than those with multiple negative sentinel nodes (N>1)?

Abstract Background Though sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard of care for early breast cancer, concern remains for false negative nodes and potential implications for understaging and under-treatment, particularly when only one sentinel node is retrieved. We examined whether patients with a single negative SLN (N = 1) experience worse survival than those with two or more negative SLNs (N > 1). Methods This retrospective review examined 730 SLN-negative patients. Clinicopathologic and demographic data, recurrence-free and overall survival were assessed. Statistical analysis included Chi square tests, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank tests, and multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model. Results There were no statistically significant differences in recurrence-free or overall survival between patients in the N = 1 versus the N > 1 group (log rank test, p = 0.75 and p = 0.52, respectively). There were also no differences in local and distant recurrence (1.9% versus 2.1%, p = 0.89 and 2.4% versus 2.3%, p = 0.78) or breast cancer death (2.4% versus 2.7%, p = 0.85). Increased tumor size was associated with finding greater than one negative sentinel node intraoperatively (p = 0.01). Conclusions A single negative sentinel node did not portend worse recurrence-free or overall survival. After thorough axillary exploration during SLNB, retrieval of a single negative SLN did not result in worse clinical outcomes.
Introducing Ethical Thinking About Autonomous Vehicles Into an AI Course

A computer science faculty member and a philosophy faculty member collaborated in the development of a one-week introduction to ethics which was integrated into a traditional AI course. The goals were to: (1) encourage students to think about the moral complexities involved in developing accident algorithms for autonomous vehicles, (2) identify what issues need to be addressed in order to develop a satisfactory solution to the moral issues surrounding these algorithms, and (3) and to offer students an example of how computer scientists and ethicists must work together to solve a complex technical and moral problems. The course module introduced Utilitarianism and engaged students in considering the classic "Trolley Problem," which has gained contemporary relevance with the emergence of autonomous vehicles. Students used this introduction to ethics in thinking through the implications of their final projects. Results from the module indicate that students gained some fluency with Utilitarianism, including a strong understanding of the Trolley Problem. This short paper argues for the need of providing students with instruction in ethics in AI course. Given the strong alignment between AI's decision-theoretic approaches and Utilitarianism, we highlight the difficulty of encouraging AI students to challenge these assumptions.
Deforestation of the Amazon

During the summer of 1989 this author was afforded the opportunity to live and study in Brazil under the auspices of the Fulbright-Hays Commission. Study included extensive travel, visits to universities and research institutes, a lecture series, and interviews with social and physical scientists concerning many aspects of Brazilian life, culture, history and geography.
Sensitivity of arrangement tests as evaluated in normals at reduced levels of illumination

We evaluated the effect of illumination level on four arrangement tests, the Farnsworth-Munsell (FM) 100-hue test, the Farnsworth Panel D-15, the Lanthony Desaturated Panel D-15 and the Lanthony New Color Test (NCT). Six light levels were used, ranging from 0.1 to 63 lux. Fifteen observers served in the experiment; five older (median age 47) and ten younger (median age 20). All had normal color vision and showed normal performance (average FM 100-hue error score < 30) at 63 lux. Errors increased with reduction in illumination. For the FM 100-hue test, axis analysis showed the development of a significant tritan axis at intermediate levels (0.3 to 3.0 lux), progressing to a scotopic axis at the lowest level of 0.1 lux. Older observers showed development of a tritan axis similar to the younger observers, but the scotopic axis developed at higher light levels. For the Farnsworth Panel D-15 test, tritan errors developed in the desaturated panel at higher light levels than for the regular panel. Anarchic, or more rarely scotopic, patterns were noted at the lowest light level. For the Lanthony NCT, errors developed first in Box 2 (least saturated caps) followed by Boxes 4 and 8. At the lowest light level the errors were scotopic (Box 8) or anarchic (Boxes 2 and 4); tritan errors occurred at intermediate levels.
Positive behavior support: Expanding the application of applied behavior analysis

Positive behavior support (PBS) is an approach to providing services to individuals who exhibit challenging behavior. Since its inception in the early 1990s, PBS has received increasing attention from the behavior-analytic community. Some behavior analysts have embraced this approach, but others have voiced questions and concerns. In this paper we describe the framework of PBS and show that it is consistent with the tenets of behavior analysis. Also, we illustrate how the framework of PBS might be used to guide practitioners and researchers in the field of applied behavior analysis. We hope to demonstrate that PBS offers useful suggestions regarding how applied behavior analysts can design and evaluate effective programs for people with developmental disabilities or behavioral challenges.
Conversion from dual stream to single stream recycling results in nuanced effects on revenues and waste stream amounts and composition

Abstract Single stream recyclables collection (residents set out all recyclables in one container without sorting them further) has become the dominant means of curbside recycling in the United States. Proponents claim it motivates residents to set out more materials for recovery because it is more convenient than other collection strategies; others claim it may also lead to poorer quality materials sent to market. Here we report on a conversion on Long Island (New York) from dual stream collection (paper and container recyclables collected in separate passes) to single stream collection. No other major change was made to the waste program, unlike other documented switches from single stream to dual stream, which means changes we document appear to be due solely to the collection processes change. Waste composition studies before and after the conversion added important information. We found significant (25%) increases in set outs for recycling, but also more inclusion of non-recyclable items in the recycling bins. Residents increased their separation rates of targeted recyclable materials, but because waste composition changed from 2012 to 2014, the increased separation rates resulted in about the same amount of recyclable materials being set aside. However, we estimate that the residual waste stream contained much less recyclable material concurrent with the change to single stream recycling, primarily due to the changes to the waste stream composition and size.
Connecting Assessment Practices with Curricula and Pedagogy via Implementation Fidelity Data.

Globally, higher education institutions aim to assess and improve students’ learning. However, assessment practices often do not culminate in improved learning. For instance, in the United States, ...
Assessing Rigor in Teacher Education: Do NCTQ's Guidelines Measure Up?.

The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has stated that many teacher education programs demonstrate a lack of rigor because a large percentage of their course grades come from assignments th...
Practicing CPR: A Qualitative Analysis of Resident Motivation:

Background. For uncommon events in medicine, such as pediatric CPR, more frequent training is associated with improved performance among healthcare providers and physicians in training. Gamified le...