cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiwavelength depth encoding method for 3D range geometry compression.

This paper presents a novel method for representing three-dimensional (3D) range data within regular two-dimensional (2D) images using multiwavelength encoding. These 2D images can then be further compressed using traditional lossless (e.g., PNG) or lossy (e.g., JPEG) image compression techniques. Current 3D range data compression methods require significant filtering to reduce lossy compression artifacts. The nature of the proposed encoding, however, offers a significant level of robustness to such artifacts brought about by high levels of JPEG compression. This enables extremely high compression ratios while maintaining a very low reconstruction error percentage with little to no filtering required to remove compression artifacts. For example, when encoding 3D geometry with the proposed method and storing the resulting 2D image with Matlab R2014a JPEG80 image compression, compression ratios of approximately 935:1 versus the OBJ format can be achieved at an error rate of approximately 0.027% without any filtering.
Studies on the nature of the plasma erythropoietic factor (S).

Abstract 1.1. The erythropoiesis stimulating factor in boiled "anemic" plasma extracts is ether soluble. 2.2. When given to the normal rat, this factor produces erythrocytosis due to microcytes, reticulocytosis, and myeloid erythrocytic hyperplasia. There are no associated increases in hemoglobin or hematocrit values. 3.3. Ether extracts of whole unmodified "anemic" plasma evoke an identical response in the recipient. 4.4. Current data indicate the existence of more than one plasma factor. One is heat stable, ether soluble, and most likely a lipid. It stimulates erythroblastic division but not hemoglobin synthesis. Another is relatively thermolabile, insoluble in ether, and probably protein in nature. It appears to augment hemoglobin production. 5.5. The conflicting experimental findings that have been reported by different investigators studying the humoral regulation of erythropoiesis are reviewed. It is suggested that these apparent discrepancies are due to the presence of two plasma erythropoietic factors which differ in nature and mode of action.
Investigation of LTE Condition inside a Microwave Induced Nitrogen Plasma Torch

Optical emission spectroscopy is employed to determine the Fe I excitation temperature (Texc) and NH rotational temperature (Trot) inside the microwave excitation region of an atmospheric-pressure, microwave-induced plasma (MIP) torch operating in nitrogen. The plasma is operated at 2.45 GHz at an input power of 900 W with 50 W reflected, and inner and annular auxiliary nitrogen flow rates of 1 slpm each, and annular outer gas nitrogen flow rates of 13 and 25 slpm. Iron is introduced to the inner flow at a concentration of 200 ppm in a 1% HNO3 solution. Measured relative emission intensities of Fe I emission lines in the band between 370.56 and 376.72 nm are used to determine Texc using a fitting method assuming Boltzmann equilibrium. NH radical A( 3 Π)–X( 3 Σ ) spectra are also employed (in the band between approximately 335 and 343 nm) to determine Trot by comparing measured spectra with spectra calculated using the Specair software. The presence of overlapping spectral features from the N2 (C-B) second positive band near 337 nm are accounted for by activating these transitions in Specair in addition to the NH transitions. Good agreement between the Texc of Fe and Trot of NH is observed, indicating a local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) condition. These temperatures range from approximately 5000 K near the inner gas flow injector to approximately 4000 K at a distance of 25 mm downstream of the injector. The temperatures do not change significantly as a function of the outer gas flow rate.
The Performance of Electron-Capture Detection After Capillary Supercritical Fluid Chromatography

Dans cette etude un detecteur a capture d'electron employant l'isotope 63 du nickel comme emetteur beta est utilise comme interface d'une chromatographie SFC capillaire. Determination des performances et des limites de detection du detecteur vis a vis de composes chlores, bromes et nitres. Description de l'analyse de pesticides
The Costs of Party Reform

Several states have attempted to rein in or eliminate political parties through a series of reforms. This paper details several such efforts, ranging from campaign finance reform to nonpartisan elections, designed to reduce partisanship or constrain the power of political parties. Not only have these reforms ultimately failed, but they have imposed other costs on the political system that have generally worked against reformers’ stated goals. This paper describes some of these costs and concludes with recommendations for addressing a political system dominated by powerful but unpopular parties.
Catalyst Control of Selectivity in CO2 Reduction Using a Tunable Heterobimetallic Effect

A tunable bimetallic effect on product selectivity in catalytic CO2 reduction was identified using N-heterocyclic carbene-ligated Cu complexes. While the monometallic Cu-only system catalyzes hydroboration of CO2 with pinacolborane to produce formate exclusively, introducing a bimetallic effect with analogous Cu–Fe, Cu–W, and Cu–Mo catalysts produces mixtures of formate and CO. Within a series of isosteric catalysts, the selectivity of CO versus formate was controlled by tuning the electronic nature of the Cu/M pairing, with high selectivity for CO being achieved using a Cu–Mo catalyst.
Travelling East, Writing in Italian

The paper analyses the use of Italian as a literary language in the literature of European travel to the Ottoman Empire during the late Ranaissance. The choice of Italian will be explained as the link between its diffusion in Europe as a language of culture and its practical uses in the Mediterranean as a diplomatic and commercial code or as a tool of religious propaganda. During the late Renaissance, travels to the Ottoman Empire were the continuation of the peregrinatio academica and the Grand Tour to Italy of high-educated European scholars. In light of this premises, I will present different versions, both manuscripts and in print, of the multilingual relatione by the Pole Wojciech Bobowski (1610-1675), musician and dragoman in the Ottoman Empire, who wrote a description of the Topkapi Palace for European readers in Italian.
P-005 Last-Recorded P2Y12 Reaction Units Value Predicts Thromboembolic and Haemorrhagic Complications Occurring up to 6 Months after Treatment in Patients with Cerebral Aneurysms Treated with the Pipeline Embolisation Device

Background and Purpose A recent study identified a pre-procedure P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) value 240 as a strong independent predictor of perioperative thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications occurring up to 30 days after treatment of cerebral aneurysms with the Pipeline Embolisation Device (PED). This study aims to determine if a last-recorded PRU value 240 predicts thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications occurring up to 6 months after treatment of cerebral aneurysms with the PED in the same patient cohort. Methods We recorded patient and aneurysm characteristics, P2Y12 receptor antagonist administered, PRU value with VerifyNow, procedural variables, number of P2Y12 receptor antagonist dose adjustments, and thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications occurring up to 6 months after PED procedures at our institution during an 8-month period. Complications causing a permanent disabling neurological deficit or death were considered major. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications. Target P2Y12 receptor inhibition range was initially 80–200 PRU and was subsequently expanded to 60–240 PRU. Results Forty-four patients underwent 48 PED procedures at our institution during the study period. There were 11 thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications occurring up to 6 months after treatment in our cohort (22.9%), 5 of which were major (10.4%). Among the 5 major complications, 4 occurred in the perioperative period and 1 occurred on post-operative day 50 (ICH with subdural extension contralateral to the PED in a patient with autopsy-proven amyloid angiopathy). Four of the 5 major complications occurred in patients who exhibited markedly elevated (292) or decreased (0, 10, 58) PRU values shortly before or at the time of the complication. A last-recorded PRU value 240 was the only independent predictor of all (p-value 0.002) and major (p-value 0.03) thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications in our cohort (Table). Most patients (71%) required, on average, 2 adjustments to the dose or type of P2Y12 receptor antagonist administered to remain within the 60–240 target PRU range. Conclusion In our cohort, a last-recorded PRU value was the only independent predictor of all and major thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications up to 6 months after PED procedures. Disclosures J. Delgado Almandoz: 2; C; Covidien/ev3. B. Crandall: 2; C; Covidien/ev3. J. Fease: None. J. Scholz: None. R. Anderson: None. Y. Kadkhodayan: None. D. Tubman: 2; C; Covidien/ev3, MicroVention.
Dynamic Speciation Modeling to Guide Selection of Complexing Agents for Chemical Bath Deposition: Case Study for ZnS Thin Films

The dynamic behavior of complexing agents often governs the kinetics of chemical bath deposition (CBD), but dynamics are frequently overlooked in favor of a more simplified description of only initial conditions. Here we demonstrate the importance of complexing agent dynamics using a combination of equilibrium speciation modeling and experiments for the case of ZnS thin films grown with three common complexing agents: ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), nitrilotriacetate (NTA), and citrate, using a reference recipe that ensured fair comparison. Complexing agents control the deposition rate by limiting the availability of free cations. Speciation modeling was used to simulate the free Zn2+ concentration as a function of total Zn2+ for baths with the individual agents. On the basis of the primary stability constants, deposition rate was predicted to decrease abruptly with reaction time for the EDTA bath, whereas baths with NTA or citrate should provide deposition rates that decrease only slightly over time....
Developmental Surveillance and Screening in the Electronic Health Record

Effective well-child care includes developmental surveillance and screening to identify developmental delays and subsequent interventions. Electronic health records (EHRs) have been widely adopted to improve efficiency and appropriate clinical practice. Developmental surveillance tools have been introduced. This article summarizes a conceptual framework for application and highlights the principles and tools of EHRs applied to developmental assessment, including interoperability, health information exchange, clinical decision support systems, consumer health informatics, dashboards, and patient portals. Further investigation and dedicated resources will be required for successful application to developmental surveillance and screening.
Real-Time Imaging of Platelet-Rich Thrombi in Thick-Walled Blood Vessels Using Near-Infrared Fluorescence Light.

Direct visualization of thrombus formation in real-time is limited by the fact that the vasculature is a closed system. Imaging of thrombi within arterioles and venules of small animals has been accomplished using fluorescent dyes that emit light in the visible spectrum. However, these agents are not able to penetrate large, thick-walled blood vessels and are therefore unable to detect thrombi in clinically important sites such as coronary, carotid, and femoral vessels. Near infrared light (NIR, 700–900 nm) demonstrates enhanced tissue penetration and less light scatter than visible light. By labeling platelets with IR-786, a heptamethine indocyanine-type fluorophore that emits NIR light, we have developed a reagent capable of detecting thrombi within thick-walled vessels of large animals. Optimal platelet loading occurred at 2 μM IR-786, resulting in an accumulation of 3 ×10 6 molecules/platelet. Normal platelet function was demonstrated by platelet aggregation and P-selectin surface expression studies. Clearance studies in 35 Kg Yorkshire pigs showed that IR-786-labeled platelets circulated for >2.5 h following infusion. IR-786-labeled platelets were next used in conjunction with an integrated NIR fluorescence video imaging system to digitally record thrombus formation in large vessels of pigs in real-time. Initially FeCl 3 (oxidant injury) was utilized to induce clot formation in surgically exposed femoral arteries and IR-786-labeled platelets were shown to accumulate at the injury site with a signal to background ratio of 4.4±1.7. Thrombus growth was similarly detected and quantitated in coronary, carotid, and iliac arteries and veins. To assess potential applications of IR-786-labeled platelets for thrombus detection, thrombi were monitored in real-time, and quantified with respect to size and kinetics after electrocautery-induced injury to vessels, cutaneous incisions, intravascular stent insertion and introduction of embolic coils. Thrombolysis of formed IR-786-platelet-rich clots was also evaluated by the infusion of streptokinase and heparin, demonstrating dissolution of thrombi. Two color studies using IR-786-labeled platelets in conjunction with methylene blue, a near-infrared fluorescent blood pool agent used to assess vessel patency, showed that whilst the blood pool agent was more effective for assessing vessel patency, IR-786-labeled platelets were more sensitive for detecting and localizing thrombi within vessels. In addition, IR-786-labeled platelets were able to distinguish between actively growing and stabilized thrombi. IR-786-labeled platelets not only provide a useful tool to study mechanisms of thrombus formation but also afford a means of testing new anti-thrombotics and intravascular devices in vessels approximating the size of those in which clinically relevant thrombosis occurs. In addition, these pre-clinical studies indicate the utility of IR-786-labeled platelets as a contrast agent to detect intraoperative thrombosis, a complication of approximately 1–5% of vascular surgeries.
Sociodemographic Patterns of Chronic Disease: How the Mid-South Region Compares to the Rest of the Country.

Introduction States in the Mid-South region are among the least healthy in the nation. This descriptive study examines sociodemographic differences in the distribution of chronic diseases and health-related behaviors in the Mid-South versus the rest of the U.S., identifying subgroups at increased risk of chronic disease. Methods Data were obtained from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; analyses were completed in January 2016. Twelve chronic health conditions were assessed: obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, chronic kidney disease, cancer, arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and depression. Evaluated health-related behaviors included smoking, physical activity, and fruit and vegetable consumption. Age-standardized percentages were reported using complex survey design parameters to enhance generalizability. Results The Mid-South population had increased rates of chronic disease and worse health-related behaviors than the rest of the U.S. population. Mid-South blacks had the highest percentages of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke of all subgroups, along with lower physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption. In both races and regions, individuals with lower income and education had higher rates of chronic disease and unhealthy behaviors than those with higher income and education. However, black men in both regions had higher obesity and cancer rates in the higher education category. In general, education-level disparities were more pronounced in health-related behaviors, whereas income-level disparities were more pronounced in chronic health conditions. Conclusions Future studies should test tailored interventions to address the specific needs of population subgroups in order to improve their health.
Evaluation of the First-Trimester Products of Conception

Early abortion specimens are one of the most common specimens submitted to pathology. They are quite varied in their composition, as they may consist of blood clot, decidua, fragmented villous tissue, and fetal parts in various combinations. There may be minimal tissue, a completely intact gestational sac, or anything in between. Evaluation of these specimens is enhanced by an understanding of the purpose of pathologic examination, and how it may be helpful to both the patient and the clinician.
Preliminary PET performance evaluation of an RF field-penetrable brain-sized PET insert for simultaneous PET/MR imaging

99 Objectives Simultaneous PET/MRI provides molecular, functional and anatomic information in one combined scan [1]. We are developing an RF-penetrable PET ring insert technology to address the high cost of the current integrated PET/MR systems [2-4]. A brain-sized PET insert system has been built to evaluate the technology. This work reports preliminary performance characterization of the RF-penetrable PET insert, including coincidence time resolution (CTR), energy resolution (ER) and simultaneous PET/MR phantom images. Methods The PET insert consists a ring of 16 detector modules, each shielded with copper Faraday cages with 1 mm gaps in between. Its RF-penetrability is enabled by electrically floating the PET detectors with respect to the MR system, which is achieved by converting the electrical signals of the photodetectors into optical signals, relaying the signals out with optical fibers, and powering the detectors with floating batteries. A radioactive point source (68Ge, ~ 400 µCi) was placed at the center of the insert with all 16 detectors present to evaluate its ER and CTR. Simultaneous PET/MR images of a custom-made resolution phantom were acquired with the ring of 16 Faraday cages with just four of them filled with detectors and, four rotations of the phantom. In this experiment, the built-in body coil of a 3T MRI system was used to transmit MRI pulse sequences (gradient-echo, spin-echo and echo planar imaging) and also served as the RF receiver coil. Results The energy resolution at 511 keV and the CTR of the PET insert was 18.6 ± 0.2% and 4.4 ns FWHM, respectively. Simultaneous PET/MR images were successfully acquired for all RF sequences tested, demonstrating the RF penetrability of the PET detector ring. Conclusions The preliminary performance of a RF-penetrable PET insert for simultaneous PET/MRI was reported. Instead of purchasing an integrated PET/MR system, a RF-penetrable PET ring can be inserted into an existing MR system to achieve simultaneous PET/MR, with the built-in body coil of the MR system used for RF transmission.
Management of pelvic floor disorder in a diethylstilbestrol daughter

Between 1947 and 1971, the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) was prescribed to pregnant women to prevent spontaneous abortions. Many studies have demonstrated adverse consequences of prenatal DES exposure. This report describes a DES daughter treated for uterine cancer who presented with a foreshortened vagina of 4 cm and stage III pelvic organ prolapse. She underwent successful vaginal native tissue reconstructive surgery with uterosacral colpopexy and anterior and posterior repair to lengthen her vagina and treat her prolapse. She then developed stress incontinence and underwent periurethral bulking 5 months later. She has been followed for 2 years with no recurrence of prolapse or incontinence.
Why are low-risk prostate cancers (PCa) treated aggressively? A population-based cohort analysis.

127Background: Per AUA guidelines, active surveillance (AS) is the best option for very low-risk PCa and preferred for all low-risk patients. However, AS continues to be underused. This study examines decision-making factors in low risk patients. Methods: Using Rapid Case Ascertainment of the North Carolina (NC) Cancer Registry, 1,456 patients were enrolled from 2011-13 across NC soon after diagnosis. NCCN risk group and treatments received (or AS) were determined using medical records and registry data. Phone survey asked patients about their perceived cancer aggressiveness, most important decision-making factor (i.e., cure, quality of life, family burden, cost, daily activity), and desire to be involved in the decision process. Results: Of 585 low-risk patients, 38% pursued AS. Multivariable analysis showed that patient desire to pursue aggressive treatment and perceived cancer aggressiveness were significantly associated with aggressive treatment instead of AS (Table). Further, patients indicating prim...
Predictors and Outcomes of Recurrent Stent Thrombosis: Results From a Multicenter Registry

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of recurrent stent thrombosis (rST). Background Patients who had an initial stent thrombosis (ST) develop may be at high risk of rST. Methods We analyzed a multicenter California registry of angiographic definite ST at 5 academic hospitals from 2005 to 2013. A detailed review of the angiogram and procedure was performed of patients with and without rST. Results Among 221 patients with a median follow-up of 3.3 years, definite or probable rST developed in 29, including 19 with angiographic definite rST. The cumulative hazard ratio (HR) of definite or probable rST was 16% at 1 year and 24% at 5 years, whereas the cumulative HR of angiographic definite rST was 11% at 1 year and 20% at 5 years. Despite similar angiographic results, patients who had rST develop had significantly greater peak creatine kinase at the time of initial ST (mean, 2,655 mg/dl vs. 1,654 mg/dl; p = 0.05) than those without rST. The 3-year rate of major adverse cardiovascular events was 50% for patients with rST compared with 22% for patients with a single ST (p = 0.01). After multivariable adjustment, independent predictors of definite/probable rST were age (HR: 1.4; 95 confidence interval [CI]: 1.1 to 1.8 per 10 years), bifurcation ST (HR: 4.4; 95% CI: 1.8 to 10.9), and proximal vessel diameter (HR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.1 to 3.2 per millimeter). Conclusions rST represents an important cause of long-term morbidity and mortality after an initial ST. Bifurcation ST and a larger proximal reference vessel diameter are independently associated with an increased risk of rST.
Measurement of the stiffening parameter for stimuli-responsive hydrogels

A method of measuring the stiffening parameter $$\beta ^\circ $$ for stimuli-responsive hydrogels using a simple tensile test is shown. 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (HEMA–DMAEMA) stimuli-responsive hydrogels are examined using this method. HEMA–DMAEMA preconditioned in 3.0 pH, 7.0 pH, and 11.0 pH buffer solutions is studied experimentally. The stiffening parameter extracted at pH 7.0 is successfully used to predict the nonlinearity at pH 3.0 and 11.0. The measured stiffening parameter $$\beta ^\circ $$ of the hydrogel is 0.870 ± 0.018, compared with 11.4 for ligament and 0.12–0.23 for brain.
Standards and Fairness

The majority of problems that occur in applied clinical assessment are due not to inherent flaws in the tests, but to the inappropriate use of tests, and misinterpretation of their results, by clinicians (Anastasi, 1992). Test misuse is primarily due to substandard practice by clinicians, just as most auto accidents are caused by driver error and not by the car per se. Even a widely used and accepted test can become a tool for disserving a client. And these cases of misuse are common, and include misuses ranging from incorrect scoring to interpretations of scores that have not been shown to be valid by several independent research studies (Eyde et al., 1993). Consequently, psychological assessment practice has long been governed by peer-developed guidelines and standards that have proliferated and become more explicit and sophisticated as the field matures (AERA, APA, NCME, 1999). This chapter is devoted to providing an executive summary of some of the major publications in this area, especially those developed by relevant learned societies. It also provides guidance for practice based on some of the most widely cited ethical principles, test standards, regulations, and recent treatises that give suggestions for assessing diverse clientele. (A self examination for enhancing retention of these issues is given in Box 4.1.)
SLE: insights from array-based proteomics

'Omic'-driven research is exploratory in nature, and seeks to interrogate the entire molecular landscape, with the idea that key pathways or nodes that are aberrant in a disease could be uncovered through a brute-force scan. To date, comprehensive profiling using multiple omics platforms has yielded novel insights on a wide spectrum of diseases, as discussed elsewhere [1]. We recently applied a couple of proteomic and metabolomic approaches to study SLE. In particular, we used planar arrays to uncover novel autoantibodies in SLE, as well as novel serum or urine markers of disease. For the latter, we used planar arrays precoated with antibodies to 274 potential biomarker proteins to interrogate the blood and urine of SLE patients. Thirty of the molecules that were upregulated in SLE sera or urine on these arrays were subsequently validated using independent patient cohorts and orthogonal platforms. In addition to confirming several previously reported increases (including increased serum leptin, osteopontin, OPG, TGF, TNFR-II, and VCAM-1 in SLE), this new study also uncovered several additional proteins to be elevated in SLE. One example of the novel serum markers being pursued is sTREM-1. sTREM-1 is elevated in the serum of patients with lupus nephritis and within their kidneys. We have also verified that Trem-1 becomes upregulated in mice subjected to anti-GBM nephritis. This molecule may not only be a marker of disease, it may also constitute a novel therapeutic target because Trem-1 blockade curtails nephritis in the anti-GBM experimental nephritis model. Ongoing studies will test the therapeutic potential of this target in spontaneous lupus nephritis. Additional markers uncovered using the arrays will also be discussed. Omics-based exploratory scans empower us to discern molecules that are differentially expressed in SLE. The challenge ahead is to carefully validate new candidates in order to identify those with the best biomarker or therapeutic potential in SLE.
The Gossip Circles of Geneva: Morals, Mores and Moralizing in Political Life

Ethics, for Simon Critchley, is an anarchic meta-politics that produces modes of thinking and being that can drive us in ways that are otherwise absent from contemporary politics, and he looks to ethics for an answer to the question of why today so few of us are motivated to be involved in the political life of our liberal democracies. This essay examines the contribution Rousseau makes to this conversation in his Letter to d’Alembert on the Theater (henceforth Letter to d’Alembert). Rather than concentrating on his work on civil religion, it investigates the role Rousseau gives to the social organizations which govern interactions between men and women in the city state of Geneva. The Letter to d’Alembert demonstrates that if ethics is to be the solution to the problem of a motivational deficit in political life, it will have a powerful social component. Its most effective forms will look less anarchic and more like social Calvinism or Machiavellian republicanism.
Scalable Cache Coherence Analysis for Shared Memory Multiprocessors

This paper analyzes a new hardware solution for the cache coherence problem in large scale shared memory multiprocessors. The protocol is based on a linked list of caches — forming a distributed directory and does not require a global broadcast mechanism. Fully-mapped directory-based solutions proposed earlier also do not require a global broadcast mechanism. However, our solution is more scalable and provides potentially better performance than the fully-mapped directory-based protocol. We provide simulation results to show that the performance of the distributed directory protocol is more robust when there is contention for the data and for variations in memory technology. Further, we do not assume that the network preserves the order of messages. Thus we do not preclude adaptive routing.
Levels of Metacognition and Their Applicability to Reinforcement Learning

Recognizing patterns is an integral aspect of human intelligence; we know that every winter brings cold weather and snowfall. We therefore go to the stores beforehand to purchase coats and tools that will ensure our comfort and survival. We are not shocked when the season changes, instead we learn to manage in each new season. We instilled this ability to detect and cope with seasonality into an autonomous agent- Chippy. Chippy uses a reinforcement learner to gather rewards as it explores its environment. Seasonal changes are constructed into Chippy’s environment by changing rewards at regular intervals. We allowed Chippy to operate at different levels of metacognition and compared the amount of rewards gathered when Chippy operates at each level. Results show that Chippy’s reinforcement learner performs best when Chippy metacognitively monitors not only patterns in expectation violations but also patterns in the suggestions made.
Does the Machine Need a Ghost? Corporate Agents as Nonconscious Kantian Moral Agents

Does Kantian moral agency require phenomenal consciousness? More to the point, can firms (and other highly organized collectives) be Kantian moral agents—bound by Kantian obligations—in the absence of consciousness? After sketching the mechanics of my account of corporate agents, I consider three increasingly demanding accounts of Kantian moral agency, concluding that corporate agents can meet each successively higher threshold. They can (1) act on universalizable principles and treat humanity as an end in itself; (2) give such principles to themselves, treat their own ‘humanity’ as an end itself, and act out of respect for the law; and (3) to the extent necessary, draw on empathically generated information and insights to inflect their performance, all in the absence of phenomenal consciousness. I close by rejecting two further arguments that phenomenal consciousness is nonetheless conceptually or practically necessary for Kantian moral agency.
CLINICAL PREDICTORS OF CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS ON CELECOXIB, IBUPROFEN, AND NAPROXEN

The PRECISION trial established the cardiovascular (CV) safety of celecoxib was non-inferior to ibuprofen and naproxen in patients with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) dependent arthritis. Herein, we describe the clinical predictors of CV events in PRECISION. 23,953 patients dependent
Information usage in the formation of price expectations: theory and econometric tests

Assume that economic agents form expectations rationally by forecasting future prices with the stochastic expectation of price, conditional upon an observed set of information. If information used in forming expectations is considered a scarce resource, profit maximizing agents will acquire additional information until the marginal cost of that activity equals the marginal benefit. Agents engaged in purely productive activities are considered, and it is assumed that there is no opportunity for speculation. The benefits of information usage are shown to depend upon the parameters of the market in which the agent is participating. In certain situations, the information used by one agent may create both positive and negative externalities in the market;If information is considered a costly resource, then one does not expect agents to use all that is available, even if expectations are formed rationally. The applicability of different econometric tests of the hypothesis of rationality are discussed in light of this fact. Special attention is given to estimation and hypothesis testing when the error in the model is serially correlated;An empirical analysis of expectation formation in the chicken broiler market is conducted. The results imply that short run production decisions in this industry do not satisfy the rational expectations model. It is suggested that the value of information to broiler producers is relatively small in the short run because of an inability to make substantial short-run changes in the level of production. A cobweb model of expectation formation performed well in describing producer behavior.
Sample Complexity of Learning Mixtures of Sparse Linear Regressions

In the problem of learning mixtures of linear regressions, the goal is to learn a collection of signal vectors from a sequence of (possibly noisy) linear measurements, where each measurement is evaluated on an unknown signal drawn uniformly from this collection. This setting is quite expressive and has been studied both in terms of practical applications and for the sake of establishing theoretical guarantees. In this paper, we consider the case where the signal vectors are sparse; this generalizes the popular compressed sensing paradigm. We improve upon the state-of-the-art results as follows: In the noisy case, we resolve an open question of Yin et al. (IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, 2019) by showing how to handle collections of more than two vectors and present the first robust reconstruction algorithm, i.e., if the signals are not perfectly sparse, we still learn a good sparse approximation of the signals. In the noiseless case, as well as in the noisy case, we show how to circumvent the need for a restrictive assumption required in the previous work. Our techniques are quite different from those in the previous work: for the noiseless case, we rely on a property of sparse polynomials and for the noisy case, we provide new connections to learning Gaussian mixtures and use ideas from the theory of error-correcting codes.
Development of a Connected and Automated Vehicle Longitudinal Control Model.

It is envisioned that, in the future, most vehicles on our roadway will be controlled autonomously and will be connected via vehicle to everything (V2X) wireless communication networks. Developing a connected and automated vehicle (CAV) longitudinal controller, which will consider safety, comfort and operational efficiency simultaneously, is a challenge. A CAV longitudinal controller is a complex system where a vehicle senses immediate upstream vehicles using its sensors and receives information about its surroundings via wireless connectivity, and move forward accordingly. In this study, we develop an information-aware driver model (IADM) that utilizes information regarding an immediate upstream vehicle of a subject CAV through CAV sensors and V2X connectivity while considering passenger comfort and operational efficiency along with maintaining safety gap for longitudinal vehicle motion of the autonomous vehicle. Unlike existing driver models for longitudinal control, the IADM intelligently fuses data received from in vehicle sensors, and immediate upstream vehicles of the subject CAV through wireless connectivity, and IADM parameters do not need to be calibrated for different traffic states, such as congested and non congested traffic conditions. It only requires defining the subject CAVs maximum acceleration and deceleration limit, and computation time that is needed to update the subject CAVs trajectory from its previous state. Our analyses suggest that the IADM (i) is able to maintain safety using a newly defined safe gap function depending on the speed and reaction time of a CAV; (ii) shows local stability and string stability and (iii) provides riding comfort for a range of autonomous driving aggressiveness depending on the passenger preferences.
Chapter 9 – EXCITED SPECIES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the excited atomic and molecular species within the discharge because it is these species that are critical to the determination of light output for lamps or optical gain and available power for lasers. The description of the electrons is a necessary prerequisite to the study of excited species because electron impact excitation is either the primary or secondary source of excitation of the excited species. To determine the density of the excited species of interest, either on a steady state or time varying basis, it is necessary to evaluate the production and loss mechanisms. The excited species can be produced by electron impact excitation from ground or lower excited species, by collisional energy exchange with excited atoms or molecules, or by radiative cascade from higher excited species. The excited species density can be determined by evaluating the loss processes. There are two distinct cases: (1) when radiative decay dominates and (2) when collisional decay dominates.
Juvenile Cystic Adenomyoma Mimicking a Degenerating Leiomyoma

Background: Juvenile cystic adenomyoma (JCA) is a rare form of adenomyosis that affects women ≤30 years old, typically manifesting as severe dysmenorrhea and recurrent pelvic pain. Case: A 14-year-...
RISK ASSESSMENT OF SMALL FISHING VESSEL TRAP NET OPERATIONS

This paper describes a means by which the capsize risk associated with various fishing vessel operating conditions can be evaluated. Rather than relying on the static restoring moment curve as the primary criteria for vessel safety, modern nonlinear systems analysis is applied to the problem of extreme nonlinear rolling in random beam sea. While the method is quite general and not limited to small vessels, it is illustrated with a specific application involving Native American trap net fishing on the upper Great Lakes. General trap net operations, as practiced by Native American fishermen and women in the Grand Traverse Bay region, are presented in detail. The most significant characteristic of trap net operations is the heel induced during net deployment and net lifting. The increased risk to the vessel, in terms of the increased probability of capsize is quantified for various heel angles and various sea states. A significant advantage of the capsize analysis method presented here is its ability to investigate quickly the effects of many parameters (e.g., trap net line tension, wave height, and/or wave period) on a nonlinear dynamic system without having to resort to extensive simulation studies.
TRANSCUTANEOUS OXYGEN (PtcO 2 ) AND CARBON DIOXIDE (PtcCO 2 ) MONITORING IN SICK NEONATES USING A SIMPLE COMBINED SENSOR

TRANSCUTANEOUS OXYGEN (PtcO 2 ) AND CARBON DIOXIDE (PtcCO 2 ) MONITORING IN SICK NEONATES USING A SIMPLE COMBINED SENSOR
Non-linear Doppler scaling correction in underwater acoustic channels: Analysis and simulation

This paper investigates the use of non-uniform fast Fourier transform (NUFFT) in detection of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) in underwater acoustic channels. We propose a new packet format and develop the necessary equations that show how NUFFT should be applied to this application and how the non-linear Doppler Scaling can be estimated and corrected in the received signal. We compare the performance of NUFFT with the traditional method of resampling through computer simulations and show how our method performs better in correcting the effect of non-linear Doppler Scaling.
An /spl alpha/-approximate algorithm for delay-constraint technology mapping

Variants of delay-cost functions have been used in a class of technology mapping algorithms. We illustrate that in an industrial environment the delay-cost function can grow unboundedly and lead to very large runtimes. The key contribution of this work is a novel bounded compression algorithm. We introduce a concept of /spl alpha/ delay-cost curve, (/spl alpha/-DC-curve) that requires up to exponentially less delay-cost points to be stored compared to that stored by the delay function. We prove that the solution obtained by this exponential compaction of the delay-function is bounded to /spl alpha/% of the optimal solution. We also suggest a large set of CAD applications which may benefit from using /spl alpha/-DC-curve. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our compaction scheme on one such application, namely technology mapping for low power. Experimental results on industrial environment show that we are more than 17 times faster than on certain MCNC circuit.
Climate Change "Crisis" - Struggling for Worldwide Collective Action

Global climate change due to increased levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases caused by human activity has the potential to threaten life on earth. International cooperation is required to effectively address this threat; however the climate crisis represents a classic collective action problem in response to overexploitation of a global commons. This article explains the global climate change issue, traces efforts to confront it, and argues that inherent difficulties plague collective responses to global commons problems. It pinpoints individual reasons for collective action failures, examines background economic and scientific problems, and analyzes how group factors such as strategy and coalition building affect cooperation. Finally, the article overviews how ambiguous international environmental law principles may further hinder global solutions to the climate crisis and suggests a series of best practices for future negotiations.
Using Influence Diagrams to Solve the Calibration Problem.

A measuring instrument measures a unit and records an observation y. The non-measurable variable of interest, the “true” measurement, x, of the unit is to be inferred from y, the measurable variable. If P(y|x) is the likelihood of y given x and x has prior p(x), then by Bayes’ Theorem $$ {\rm{p}}({\rm{x}}|{\rm{y}}) \propto {\rm{p}}({\rm{y}}|{\rm{x}}){\rm{p(x)}}{\rm{.}} $$
Uptake of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid by Pseudomonas fluorescens

Factors influencing the uptake of the sodium salt of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), under conditions in which no net metabolism occurred, were investigated in an effort to determine both the significance of “non-metabolic” uptake as a potential agent in reducing pesticide levels and the mechanisms involved. Uptake of 2,4-D was affected by pH, temperature, and the presence of other organic and inorganic compounds. Uptake was more pronounced at pH values less than 6, which implies that there may be some interaction between charged groups on the cell and the ionized carboxyl group of 2,4-D. Active transport, carrier-mediated diffusion, passive diffusion, and adsorption were considered as possible mechanisms. Though uptake was inhibited by glucose, sodium azide, and fluorodinitrobenzene (but not by uranyl ion), 2,4-D was not accumulated against a concentration gradient, a necessary consequence of an active transport system, nor was isotope counterflow found to occur. Thus, carrier-mediated diffusion was finally precluded, implying that uptake probably occurs by a two-step process: sorption onto the cell wall followed by passive diffusion into the cytoplasm.
Immobilization of flavins on electrode surfaces

Abstract The covalent attachment of flavin cofactors to electron-conducting supports serves both as a probe of the spatial requirements for flavinapoenzyme association as well as a novel route for the development of cofactor-apoenzyme electrodes. In this work, a procedure is described for the apparent conversion of riboflavin, immobilized at position 8 to glassy carbon, to flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and then to immobilized flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). The attached materials were characterized electrochemically and coenzymatically. FAD serves as the cofactor for the enzyme glucose oxidase. Partial restoration of enzyme activity was achieved by incubation of the FAD-electrode with apoglucose oxidase. This is the first reported covalent coupling of a coenzymatically active flavin to an electrode through the flavin position 8 group.
Prenylation of Target GTPases Contributes to Signaling Specificity of Ras-Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors

Ras-GRF1 and Ras-GRF2 constitute a family of calmodulin-regulated guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that activate Ras proteins. Here we show that whereas Ras-GRF1 activated both Ha-Ras and R-Ras in cells, Ras-GRF2 activated only Ha-Ras. The inability of Ras-GRF2 to activate R-Ras was the consequence of the GTPase being post-translationally modified, since Ras-GRF2 activated unprocessed R-Ras as effectively as unprocessed Ha-Ras when assays were performed either in vivo orin vitro. Moreover, Ras-GRF2 failed to activate fully processed R-Ras in vitro. The particular C-terminal lipid attached to the GTPases played an important role in determining signaling specificity, since R-Ras became more responsive to Ras-GRF2 when it was farnesylated instead of geranylgeranylated. Similarly, Ha-Ras became less responsive to Ras-GRF2 when it was geranylgeranylated instead of farnesylated. Analysis of chimeras between Ras-GRF1 and Ras-GRF2 demonstrated that a 30-amino acid segment embedded with their catalytic domains was responsible for recognizing the presence of different lipids on Ras proteins. These results indicate that the specific lipid moiety attached to GTPases can contribute to signaling specificity of Ras-GEFs.
RBMS, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, AND THE CHALLENGE OF DIVERSITY: THE ROAD TO THE DIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Anyone who has ever attended an RBMS preconference will have noticed the racial and ethnic homogeneity among the section’s members. In 1997, a survey in the RBMS newsletter revealed that 97 percent of RBMS members were white. 1 Historically, RBMS has responded to the challenge of increasing diversity with some talk, but little action. The recent approval by the RBMS executive board of the Diversity Action Plan is a positive and long overdue step toward encouraging more diversity in the section. Making an effort to attract more members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to RBMS is the right thing to . . .
Attrition in paediatric weight management: a review of the literature and new directions

Paediatric obesity continues to be one of the most important health issues facing children and families today, and there remains a need for effective treatment options. There are a few reports in the literature demonstrating high rates of attrition from paediatric weight management programmes, ranging from 27% to 73%. While some studies show that racial/ethnic minorities, the economically disadvantaged and those with higher levels of obesity are at risk, other studies do not. There is some consistency in reasons given by families for attrition from treatment, most often scheduling issues and programmes not meeting family needs or expectations. This review highlights identified contributors to attrition from paediatric weight management and provides a framework to study this problem, based on models of adherence to paediatric medical regimens.