cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attributes of industry, industry segment and firm-specific information in security valuation*

. One of the objectives of segment reporting, as expressed in the FASB's Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Number 14, is to enable investors to improve their assessments of companies' opportunities for future growth. Implicit in this idea are the assumptions that (1) industry membership provides information on companies' growth prospects, and (2) segment data provide incremental information over consolidated data for assessing industry-related growth prospects. This research examines these assumptions by using an informational perspective for earnings. The informational perspective on accounting information posits that a role of accounting data such as earnings is to alter investors' beliefs about a company's future dividend paying ability, as reflected in its prospective cash flows. Specifically, this study shows that the relationship between earnings amounts and current security prices depends on whether the earnings originate from high growth or low growth industries, as defined in the paper. Furthermore, segment data appear to improve the informativeness of such an earnings classification for explaining security prices. The results suggest that investors use information on industry growth prospects in analyzing individual companies, and that segment information plays a useful role in improving such analyses. Resume. L'un des objectifs de l'information sectorielle, tel qu'il est exprime dans le Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 14 du FASB, est de permettre aux investisseurs d'evaluer avec plus de precision le potentiel de croissance des entreprises. Certaines hypotheses sont implicites a cet objectif: 1) l'appartenance au secteur donne acces a de l'information sur les perspectives de croissance des entreprises et 2) les donnees sectorielles offrent un supplement d'information, par rapport aux donnees consolidees, dans l'evaluation des perspectives de croissance liees au secteur. L'auteur examine ces hypotheses dans l'optique du contenu informationnel des benefices. Cette optique sur l'information comptable etablit le principe selon lequel l'un des roles de donnees comptables telles que les benefices consiste a modifier les convictions des investisseurs au sujet du potentiel de l'entreprise en termes de dividendes, tel que le refletent ses flux monetaires eventuels. L'etude demontre precisement que la relation entre le montant des benefices et le cours des titres depend du fait que les benefices proviennent de secteurs a forte ou a faible croissance, selon la definition du texte. De plus, les donnees sectorielles semblent ameliorer le pouvoir explicatif de cette classification des benefices quant au cours des titres. Les resultats obtenus laissent supposer que les investisseurs utilisent l'information sur les perspectives de croissance du secteur dans l'analyse des differentes societes, et que cette information sectorielle joue un role appreciable dans l'amelioration de ce genre d'analyse.
Host density effects on efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against white grub (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) species

Abstract We tested the effect of host density on entomopathogenic nematode efficacy in 1-L pots with grass and soil. In four experiments, combinations ranged from somewhat resistant hosts (oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis, or northern masked chafer, Cyclocephala borealis, with Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) over more susceptible hosts (Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, with Steinernema glaseri) to a highly susceptible host (P. japonica and S. scarabaei). In each experiment, four larval densities were exposed to two nematode rates over a 14-day period. A significant effect of host density on nematode efficacy occurred only in the A. orientalis–H. bacteriophora combination, but there was no clear trend in the data. This suggests that an exhaustion of available nematode populations to less lethal levels by high host numbers was counteracted by other factors such as increased chances for nematode-host contact and increased host susceptibility due to stress via reduced food resources and increased aggress...
EVHomeShifter: evaluating intelligent techniques for using electrical vehicle batteries to shift when homes draw energy from the grid

Time of use tiered pricing schedules encourage shifting electricity demand from peak to off-peak hours. Charging times for electric vehicles (EV) can be shifted into overnight hours, which are usually off-peak. EVs can also be used as energy storage devices, available during certain peak hours to power a house with electricity stored during off-peak hours. Studies suggest both techniques are practical, but were based on simulated demand patterns or large commercial fleets. To investigate feasibility on a per home basis, we collected data from 15 EV homes using the Lab of Things sensing infrastructure. We evaluate a scheme that powers homes with their car battery during expensive electricity periods and then charges the battery during cheaper periods. We show an average potential savings of $10.91/month for shifting charging times, and an additional $13.58/month for powering the home from the EV, even accounting for the inefficiencies of electric conversion.
Consistency of Handwriting in Early Elementary Students

METHOD. Ninety-three children were tested at the beginning of the kindergarten year and again in the middle of the first-grade year on the Scale of Children’s Readiness In PrinTing (SCRIPT). Data were analyzed with a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) (3 performance groups [lower, middle, upper] x 2 grades) followed by a Tukey’s HSD post hoc analysis. An analysis of the change in performance of individual children also was conducted. RESULTS. The main effects and the interaction in the ANOVA were significant. Post hoc analysis for grade demonstrated that both the middle and the lower performing groups showed a significant improvement from kindergarten to first grade, whereas the upper performing group remained unchanged. Post hoc analysis found significant differences among all three performance groups in kindergarten. In first grade, the lower performing group continued to score significantly lower than the middle and upper performing groups, whereas the middle and upper performing groups were not significantly different. Analysis of individual data revealed that 60% of the students were consistent in their performance from kindergarten to first grade. CONCLUSION. The correlation between kindergarten SCRIPT scores and first-grade SCRIPT scores provides initial evidence that a moderately consistent pattern of handwriting performance exists. Students with low- and middle-ranked handwriting skills show relatively similar improvement over time, whereas change for students ranked high is limited.
Clinical Decision Support for Early Recognition of Sepsis

Sepsis is an inflammatory response triggered by infection, with a high in-hospital mortality rate. Early recognition and treatment can reverse the inflammatory response, with evidence of improved patient outcomes. One challenge clinicians face is identifying the inflammatory syndrome against the background of the patient’s infectious illness and comorbidities. An approach to this problem is implementation of computerized early warning tools for sepsis. This multicenter retrospective study sought to determine clinimetric performance of a cloud-based computerized sepsis clinical decision support system (CDS), understand the epidemiology of sepsis, and identify opportunities for quality improvement. Data encompassed 6200 adult hospitalizations from 2012 through 2013. Of 13% patients screened-in, 51% were already suspected to have an infection when the system activated. This study focused on a patient cohort screened-in before infection was suspected; median time from arrival to CDS activation was 3.5 hours, and system activation to diagnostic collect was another 8.6 hours.
Roadblocks on the Road to Treatment: Lessons from Barbados and Brazil

On a beautiful tropical day, two women living thousands of miles apart enter public clinics. One walks past the neatly parked cars in the parking lot, to the front door of the newly built, well-equipped Ladymeade Reference Unit, which stands across from the largest public medical facility on the island of Barbados. Everything about this experience is neat and well-ordered, from the facilities the woman is entering, to the pill boxes bearing brand-name labels that she receives at the in-house pharmacy, to the referral system that sent her here after she delivered a baby across the street. The second woman’s experience appears a bit less ordered. The clinic she enters, which sits on the outskirts of one of Brazil’s slum-ridden cities, is shabby, with peeling paint and a utilitarian concrete structure. Inside, there are no shiny, manufacturersponsored posters to match the pills being dispensed, because these pills do not bear familiar brand-name labels. Though the pictures may appear quite different, they bear a crucial similarity—both women are living with HIV, and both are fortunate to live in countries that have committed themselves to providing universal treatment access for their HIV-positive citizens. The scourge of HIV/AIDS has affected every country across the globe, though nations have been overwhelmingly slow and incomplete in their responses. At the same time, great strides have been made in the development of treatments. It is now possible to use a combination of antiretroviral medications (ARVs) to render what was once an inevitably fatal disease into a manageable, chronic condition. However, only a few countries have made the commitment to provide these medications to all their people who need them. Within that very short list are two countries that represent extremes in size, power, history and heterogeneity. Brazil: diverse, large in geography and population, with a legacy of turbulent transitions and up-andcoming as a regional power, and Barbados: a tiny island nation, with a small acreage and citizenry, fairly homogenous population, and long-standing history of peaceful and democratic governance. The governments of both countries have made a commitment to their people to provide them with the therapies that, in most low- to middle-income countries, are only available to the few who can afford to pay for them. It is no accident that these countries have two additional commonalities that have had major consequences for people living with HIV. Facilitating both countries’ commitments has been sufficient political will as well as recognition of health care as a human right. What most clearly differentiates the effectiveness of their approaches has been the relative engagement of civil society, and especially of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) themselves, in enforcing this commitment.
Substance abuse treatment counselors and tobacco use: a comparison of comprehensive and indoor-only workplace smoking bans.

Introduction While indoor smoking bans reduce employee tobacco use, less is known about whether comprehensive bans, which prohibit smoking in both indoor and outdoor areas, are associated with lower rates of tobacco use than indoor-only bans. Methods This study integrated data collected via mailed surveys from 1,910 substance abuse treatment counselors and telephone interviews with 417 administrators of substance abuse treatment organizations. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between counselors' self-reported tobacco use and administrators' reports about organizational smoking bans while controlling for counselors' professional and demographic characteristics. Results In this sample, 20.3% of counselors were current tobacco users, 47.7% identified as former users, and 32.0% reported never using tobacco products. Only 19.5% of counselors worked in a treatment organization that had a comprehensive smoking ban. The likelihood of being a current tobacco user, compared with being a former user or nonuser, was significantly lower for counselors in organizations with comprehensive bans even after controlling for professional and demographic characteristics. Conclusions Although relatively few substance abuse counselors worked in treatment organizations with comprehensive bans, such bans may represent a promising direction for tobacco control. Given recent research documenting how tobacco use is negatively associated with the delivery of smoking cessation services by health care workers, additional research on the impact of comprehensive environmental tobacco policies is needed.
Triptolide Induces the Expression of miR-142-3p: a Negative Regulator of Heat Shock Protein 70 and Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the deadliest malignancies, is resistant to current chemotherapies. We previously showed that triptolide inhibits PDAC cell growth in vitro and blocks metastatic spread in vivo . Triptolide downregulates HSP70, a molecular chaperone upregulated in several tumor types. This study investigates the mechanism by which triptolide inhibits HSP70. Because microRNAs (miRNA) are becoming increasingly recognized as negative regulators of gene expression, we tested whether triptolide regulates HSP70 via miRNAs. Here, we show that triptolide as well as quercetin, but not gemcitabine, upregulated miR-142-3p in PDAC cells (MIA PaCa-2, Capan-1, and S2-013). Ectopic expression of miR-142-3p inhibited cell proliferation, measured by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing, and decreased HSP70 expression, measured by real-time PCR and immunoblotting, compared with controls. We showed that miR-142-3p directly binds to the 3′UTR of HSP70, and that this interaction is important as HSP70 overexpression rescued miR–142-3p-induced cell death. We found that miR–142-3p regulates HSP70 independently of heat shock factor 1. Furthermore, Minnelide, a water-soluble prodrug of triptolide, induced the expression of miR-142-3p in vivo . This is the first description of an miRNA-mediated mechanism of HSP70 regulation in cancer, making miR-142-3p an attractive target for PDAC therapeutic intervention. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(7); 1266–75. ©2013 AACR .
The Fourier Transform And The Power Spectral Density Of A Sar Image Of The Ocean Surface

This paper presents a formulation of the Fourier transform of a SAR image in terms of the surface velocity, surface acceleration, radar cross section modulation, and backscatter coherence. The formulation is completely general with respect to the aperture weighting function and the backscatter decorrelation function. The effects of antenna skew angle and adjustment of the processor focus parameter are included. The formulation is direct and does not require the use of Monte Carlo simulations. The Fourier transform expression involves only a few, justifiable approximations relared to the iimaging geometry and the ocean surface motion. It is shown to be consistent with other SAR imaging models and experimental data with regard to the SAR focusing question. When combined with assumptions about the radar backscatter and modulation of the backscatter by surface waves, the formulation can be extended to an expression for the power spectral density.
Contemporary issues in transfusion medicine informatics

The Transfusion Medicine Service (TMS) covers diverse clinical and laboratory-based services that must be delivered with accuracy, efficiency and reliability. TMS oversight is shared by multiple regulatory agencies that cover product manufacturing and validation standards geared toward patient safety. These demands present significant informatics challenges. Over the past few decades, TMS information systems have improved to better handle blood product manufacturing, inventory, delivery, tracking and documentation. Audit trails and access to electronic databases have greatly facilitated product traceability and biovigilance efforts. Modern blood bank computing has enabled novel applications such as the electronic crossmatch, kiosk-based blood product delivery systems, and self-administered computerized blood donor interview and eligibility determination. With increasing use of barcoding technology, there has been a marked improvement in patient and specimen identification. Moreover, the emergence of national and international labeling standards such as ISBT 128 have facilitated the availability, movement and tracking of blood products across national and international boundaries. TMS has only recently begun to leverage the electronic medical record to address quality issues in transfusion practice and promote standardized documentation within institutions. With improved technology, future growth is expected in blood bank automation and product labeling with applications such as radio frequency identification devices. This article reviews several of these key informatics issues relevant to the contemporary practice of TMS.
Elementary Estimators for Sparse Covariance Matrices and other Structured Moments

We consider the problem of estimating expectations of vector-valued feature functions; a special case of which includes estimating the covariance matrix of a random vector. We are interested in recovery under high-dimensional settings, where the number of features p is potentially larger than the number of samples n, and where we need to impose structural constraints. In a natural distributional setting for this problem, the feature functions comprise the sufficient statistics of an exponential family, so that the problem would entail estimating structured moments of exponential family distributions. For instance, in the special case of covariance estimation, the natural distributional setting would correspond to the multivariate Gaussian distribution. Unlike the inverse covariance estimation case, we show that the regularized MLEs for covariance estimation, as well as natural Dantzig variants, are non-convex, even when the regularization functions themselves are convex; with the same holding for the general structured moment case. We propose a class of elementary convex estimators, that in many cases are available in closed-form, for estimating general structured moments. We then provide a unified statistical analysis of our class of estimators. Finally, we demonstrate the applicability of our class of estimators via simulation and on real-world climatology and biology datasets.
Interferon response heterogeneity: activation of a pro-inflammatory response by interferon alpha and beta. A possible basis for diverse responses to interferon beta in MS.

Interferon g (IFN-g) stimulates the (pro- inflammatory) type II interferon receptor and is known to exacerbate multiple sclerosis (MS). In contrast, IFN-a and IFN-b are ligands for the (anti-inflammatory) type I interferon receptor and are beneficial in some (but not all) patients with MS. Should IFN-b elicit a type-II-like pro-inflammatory response, the beneficial effects might be attenu- ated. These studies were undertaken to test this possibility with the use of quinolinic acid (QUIN) formation as a measure of type II receptor activa- tion. In normal human macrophage cultures, IFN-g was the most potent stimulus for QUIN formation. Generally, IFN-b and IFN-a were less potent. However, an unexpected inter-patient variability was observed. In some subjects, IFN-a was more potent than IFN-b. In other subjects, IFN-b was more potent than IFN-a. The present data demon- strate an inter-subject variability for QUIN produc- tion following exposure to the interferons. MS patients who demonstrate a pro-inflammatory re- sponse to IFN-b (e.g., increased QUIN) may be less likely to benefit from this therapy. J. Leukoc. Biol. 65: 439-443; 1999.
Design of a 6 Gbps continuous-time adaptive equalizer using a voltage rectifier instead of a power detector

Two types of voltage rectifiers, CMOS based and diode based, are compared for potential application in an adaptive equalizer feedback loop. The CMOS rectifier, however, works only at lower frequencies and is limited by the maximum rectification frequency. Instead, voltage rectification in an adaptive equalizer is demonstrated by simulation using an ideal Schottky diode. Prior work done by other researchers on this topic, use a power detector, instead of a voltage rectifier. This paper shows that a voltage rectifier, instead of a power detector, can also be used in the adaptive equalizer topology discussed.
Steady Flow in Locally Exponential Tubes

Daniels & Eagles (1979) developed a theory for steady, axisymmetric, viscous flow in tubes of a slowly varying radius. This flow, for tubes of exponentially varying radius, was governed to a first approximation by a nonlinear ordinary differential equation when the Reynolds number was high and the scale of the axial variation in radius was proportional to the Reynolds number. In the present work this theory is modified and extended so that the Daniels & Eagles solutions may be applied to a wide variety of ‘locally exponential’ tubes. Numerical calculations are made of several terms in the series for the Stokes stream function, and a number of examples are presented, which indicate that the theory has a wide applicability.
Competing Medical and Legal Ethical Values

If there is one feature that is shared by all ethical dilemmas, it is the anxiety we feel even after making what we are sure is the best decision. Unlike other problems, anything worthy of the name “dilemma” almost requires the absence of a really good solution. When we explore the reasons why ethical dilemmas are worthy of their (unfortunate) name, we uncover an important truth about the nature of these difficult problems.
Interactions of gastric vagal and peripheral nerves on single neurons of lateral hypothalamus in the cat.

Extracellularly recorded unitary responses in the lateral hypothalamus were evaluated in anesthetized cats during electrical stimulation of the gastric branches of the ventral and dorsal vagal trunks, the T9 intercostal nerve, and the common peroneal nerve (L6-S2). These nerves were stimulated with single or paired (10-ms interval) pulses of 300–500 microA for 0.3 ms at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. The latency of the evoked lateral hypothalamic responses after stimulation of the gastric vagal branches (373 +/- 39.8 ms; means +/- SD) was significantly longer than the latencies after intercostal nerve (62 +/- 17.0 ms) or common peroneal nerve (109 +/- 29.3 ms) stimulation. Convergence of gastric vagal input from the proximal stomach and peripheral nerves (PNs) on single neurons in the lateral hypothalamus was observed. Ninety-two percent of the lateral hypothalamic neurons tested that responded to gastric vagal stimulation also received inputs from the T9 intercostal nerve. Seventy-seven percent of the lateral hy...
A Review of “Implementing Cost-Effective Assistive Computer Technology”

When Implementing Cost-Effective Assistive Computer Technology was published, Vincent was a librarian at the Center for Accessible Technology in Berkeley, California. Currently, she is the Universi...
Resistance of Beauharnois Canal in Winter

The flow in an ice-affected river can be calculated using the open-water Chezy equation and ignoring the presence of ice if a corrective coefficient for Chezy's C is introduced to take into account the ice effects. Analysis of the data from the Beauharnois Canal shows that the corrective coefficient follows a well-defined trend during the ice season. Frazil presence is found to be the most important factor in affecting the resistance of the river. A small amount of frazil ice in the water can reduce the flow by 50 percent. The approach proposed in this study has the advantage over the currently popular approach of using the Manning equation and the composite Manning's n because it can deal with situations when a river is only partially ice covered or is frazil affected. It also avoids the situation of having to choose one from many formulae for evaluating the composite Manning's n. By using the corrective coefficient curve derived from the study, an alternative ice management procedure seems possible which may lead to higher power production.
Group Predator Defense by Mule Deer in Oregon

LEUTHOLD, W. 1977. African ungulates: a comparative review of their behavioral ecology. Springer-Verlag, New York, 307 pp. MARCHINTON, R. L., AND D. H. HIRTH. 1984. Behavior. Pp. 129-168, in White-tailed deer: ecology and management (L. K. Halls, ed.). Wildl. Mgmt. Inst. and Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 870 pp. MOORE, W. G., AND R. L. MARCHINTON. 1974. Marking behavior and its social function in whitetailed deer. Pp. 447-456, in The behaviour of ungulates and its relation to management (V. Geist and F. Walther, eds.). Internat. Union Conserv. Nature Publ., New Ser., 24:1-940. MULLER-SCHWARZE, D. 1971. Pheromones in blacktailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus). Anim. Behav., 19:141-152. . 1972. Social significance of forehead rubbing in black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus). Anim. Behav., 20:788-797. MULLER-SCHWARZE, D., ET AL. 1978. The "deer lactone": source, chiral properties, and responses by black-tailed deer. J. Chem. Ecol., 4:247-256. NIELSEN, D. G., M. J. DUNLAP, AND K. V. MILLER. 1982. Pre-rut rubbing by white-tailed bucks: nursery damage, social role, and management options. Wildl. Soc. Bull., 10:341-348. PETERS, R. 1980. Mammalian communication: a behavioral analysis of meaning. Brooks-Cole Publ. Co., Monterey, California, 341 pp. QUAY, W. B. 1959. Microscopic structure and variation in the cutaneous glands of the deer (Odocoileus virginianus). J. Mamm., 40:114-128. QUAY, W. B., AND D. MULLER-SCHWARZE. 1970. Functional histology of integumentary glandular regions in black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus). J. Mamm., 51:675-694. RALLS, K. 1971. Mammalian scent marking. Science, 171:443-449. SINCLAIR, D. F. 1985. On tests of spatial randomness using mean nearest neighbor distance. Ecology, 66: 1084-1085. VOLKMAN, N. J., K. F. ZEMANEK, AND D. MULLER-SCHWARZE. 1978. Antorbital and forehead secretions of black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus). Anim. Behav., 26:10981100.
Drug resistance of children blood culture-derived coagulase-negative Staphylococcus

OBJECTIVE To investigate coagulase-negative Staphylococci(CNS) infections in children and its drug resistance.METHODS A total of 2522 strains of coagulase-negative Staphylococci were collected from blood culture for children hospitalized in Wuhan children's hospital from 2008 to 2010.The drug susceptibility to antibiotics was determined by disk diffusion method(KB method).RESULTS Of 2522 strains of coagulase-negative Staphylococci,1161(46.03%)strains were S.epidermidis,811(32.16%) strains were S.haemolyticus,and 284(11.26%) strains were S.homis;the resistance rates to oxacillin,cotrimoxazole,clindamycin,rifampin,linezolid,penicillin,teicoplanin,and vancomycin were 78.31%,51.03%,33.31% 3.37%,0.16%,93.97%,0.48%,and 0,respectively.CONCLUSION Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci(MRCNS) have become the major pathogens causing blood infections in children.
Emulsified Explosive Emulsifier Temperature Cortrol

In this paper,in-depth analysis of emulsion explosive production process on the basis of the emulsion explosive production process to consider the non-linear,large inertia,large time delay characteristics of expert control strategy used to achieve emulsification temperature of intelligent control.Industrial explosives in order to achieve continuous production automation technology,to enhance the national explosion of my industry's international status.
Interventional strategies for reducing respiratory-induced motion in external beam therapy

This presentation reviews recent developments in the measurement and control of respiratory motion-induced uncertainty in radiation treatments. These developments have been motivated by advances in high-precision radiotherapy in recent years, together with the recognition that physiological processes, among them respiration, play an important role in limiting the accuracy of dose delivery. In addition, advances in technology have spawned new types of detectors for measuring and reducing respiratory-induced motion.
Guest Editorial Body Sensor Networks

This special issue includes four papers that expand on work presented at the 12th BSN Conference, held in Cambridge, MA, 2015. Since 2004, the annual International Conference on Wearable and Implantable Body Sensor Networks (BSN) has provided a forum for researchers and leaders from academia, government, and industry to share technical advances and new initiatives in body-worn sensors and mobile devices.
Mimetic Relationships Between Group A Streptococci And Mammalian Tissues

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of structural similarities between parasite and host in initiating pathological events, primarily through immunological reactions to the parasite affecting the host. It is a particularly promising approach to the study of rheumatic fever and the various connective tissue disorders and is summarized well by a pioneer in this field. In this connection, special emphasis is placed on the nature of the role this biological mimicry play in streptococcal infections and their nonsuppurative sequelae. Evidence for cross-reactions between host and parasite in other biological organisms is discussed primarily as they relate to similar observations in the Group A streptococcus and its host. Orientation to specific details of biological mimicry among bacteria or helminthes and the blood group substances, heterophile antigens, and tissue-specific antigens is obtained. The long association of this organism to the pathogenic infections of man and its relationship to the nonsuppurative sequelae following a streptococcal infection makes it an ideal model for the study of biological mimicry between host and parasite.
J.M. Keynes and the Personal Politics of Reparations

The second part of this article shows that John Maynard Keynes worked closely with the German Finance and Foreign ministries as a supposed neutral expert in October 1922. He supported passive resistance to the French in the Ruhr without regard to its effects on the currency, secretly collaborated in writing the German reparations note of June 1923, and then praised his own work in a weekly that he controlled. Keynes opposed the 1929 Young Plan that re-scheduled the German debt and declined to accept modern thinking on overcoming the transfer problem.
High-Density Shingled Heat-Assisted Recording Using Bit-Patterned Media Subject to Track Misregistration

Shingled recording employing bit-patterned media when used in conjunction with heat-assisted magnetic recording can significantly enhance the recording density. This paper investigates writing of dots that are not directly under the laser pulse. Such a shifted scheme of writing allows higher densities when used with shingled recording. A further increase in the recording density can be obtained by using composite structures, comprising a superparamagnetic writing layer, and a (doped) FePt storage layer. Effect of head velocity, Curie temperature variation, track mis-registration, and dot position jitter on the standard deviation of switching distribution is studied to evaluate the designs that offer data densities as high as ~16 Tbpsi.
Strategies of valuation: repertoires of worth at the financial margins

This article draws upon thirteen months of ethnographic research in a Chicago pawnshop to show how prices of objects in pawnshops are actively, socially negotiated using what I term discursive strategies of valuation. Three kinds of discursive strategies of valuation emerge repeatedly in the data: a. references to the specific material attributes of the objects, b. references to the unique biographical histories of the objects, c. reference to the financial need and (relative) social positioning of the customer involved in the negotiation. Examining these strategies reveals the relationship between socially contingent and culturally constructed perceptions of value and the production of price. I find that rhetorical strategies can and do affect price, within limits. Perhaps most surprisingly, the data show that discursive strategies emphasizing a lower socio-economic status can inflate the value, and ultimately the price, of an object during negotiations.
Perceived News Media Importance: Developing and Validating a Measure for Personal Valuations of Normative Journalistic Functions

This study features the development and validation of a multidimensional scale for Perceived News Media Importance (PNMI), a concept pertaining to how much individuals personally value normative fu...
A-Kinase Anchoring Protein 150 (AKAP150) Promotes Cocaine Reinstatement by Increasing AMPA Receptor Transmission in the Accumbens Shell

Previous work indicated that activation of D1-like dopamine receptors (D1DRs) in the nucleus accumbens shell promoted cocaine seeking through a process involving the activation of PKA and GluA1-containing AMPA receptors (AMPARs). A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) localize PKA to AMPARs leading to enhanced phosphorylation of GluA1. AKAP150, the most well-characterized isoform, plays an important role in several forms of neuronal plasticity. However, its involvement in drug addiction has been minimally explored. Here we examine the role of AKAP150 in cocaine reinstatement, an animal model of relapse. We show that blockade of PKA binding to AKAPs in the nucleus accumbens shell of Sprague–Dawley rats attenuates reinstatement induced by either cocaine or a D1DR agonist. Moreover, this effect is specific to AKAP150, as viral overexpression of a PKA-binding deficient mutant of AKAP150 also impairs cocaine reinstatement. This viral-mediated attenuation of cocaine reinstatement was accompanied by decreased phosphorylation of GluA1-containing AMPARs and attenuated AMPAR eEPSCs. Collectively, these results suggest that AKAP150 facilitates the reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior by amplifying D1DR/PKA-dependent AMPA transmission in the nucleus accumbens.
Atomistic simulation of shape memory effect (SME) and superelasticity (SE) in nano-porous NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA)

Abstract Porosity can play an important role in altering the phase transformation characteristics of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMA), thus changing its shape memory as well as its superelasticity properties. This work, based on atomistic simulations of binary NiTi SMA, documents the effects of porosity at the nanometer length scale on phase fraction evolution kinetics, transformation temperatures, and stress-strain response. Classical molecular dynamics simulations are performed using a well-examined and verified Finnis-Sinclair type embedded-atom method interatomic potential. Simulation results for the nano-porous NiTi with various porosity configurations are compared to non-porous NiTi. The martensite phase fraction and transformation temperatures increase noticeably with increasing porosity, and the stress-strain response shows noticeable variation with porosity. The residual strain and hysteretic energy dissipation capacity increase significantly with increasing porosity.
A preliminary evaluation of hydroxyurea for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective. To obtain preliminary evidence on the safety and efficacy of low dose hydroxyurea as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Five patients with active RA unresponsive to conventional therapy were entered into a 12 week, open label trial of hydroxyurea followed by a one month postdrug evaluation. Results. Three of the 4 patients completing the study had a decrease in morning stiffness and number of swollen and tender joints. All 4 patients had a decrease in pain and an increase in function as measured by a modified health assessment questionnaire. No patient had improvement in sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, or subjective measures of global well being. However, 3 of the 4 patients had disease flare after the drug was withdrawn, demonstrated by increased number of swollen and tender joints. Conclusion. Low dose hydroxyurea may be effective in the treatment of RA, but confirmation will require further testing by a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial of patients with a broader spectrum of disease severity over a longer period of therapeutic intervention.
Atmospheric composition and behavior

There has been much discussion, both nationally and internationally, abour the effects of various atmospheric pollutants on the earth's climate and on the earth's atmosphere. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, data from the Goddard Space Science center of NASA, for example, shows that average global air temperatures have risen 0.6 to 0.7°C over the last century (Figure 2-1). The 1997 Kyoto Protocol is an agreement among more than 150 countries to attempt to limit global warming by putting limits on their emission of carbon dioxide and some other greenhouse gases (see Section 3.3.3) to limit global warming. Furthermore, other international treaties including the Montreal Protocol of 1988 and its amendments limit and even ban the use of chlorofluorocarbons and the so-called halons in the United States and other countries at different times in order to stop the spread of the “ozone holes” in the stratosphere over the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the globe (see Section 5.2.3.5: Control of Ozone-Depleting Substances). Newspaper and magazine articles often make these problems seem relatively simple but, in fact, they raise a number of questions: 1. What criteria are used to tell us that the earth's climate is becoming warmer? How do we take account of the normal year-to-year variability of the climate in any one area on the earth's surface?
Potassium channels as targets for modulating cell growth and differentiation

Potassium channels, especially small and intermediate conductance KCa channels, have important roles in controlling cell proliferation and differentiation. Thus far regulation of these channels is reported to be primarily at the level of expression, in response to activation of the central growth regulatory signaling pathway (i.e., growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase/Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK). Therefore, the function and regulation of these cell growth-associated channels must be viewed differently from that of channels which govern electrical signaling in excitable cells, and which are typically studied in terms of their transient modulation by G-protein coupled receptors. Although there are suggestions that potassium channels also contribute to growth regulation in excitable cells, a coherent picture of this role in these systems is still emerging. For fibroblasts and T-lymphocytes, it is clear that growth factor and oncogenic upregulation of a unique KCa channel (or possibly KCa channel class) is stimulatory for cell proliferation and activation, respectively. This mitogenic channel has a single channel conductance in the range of 33–39 pS, it is charybdotoxin-sensitive and apamin-insensitive, and its gating is voltage-independent. Recent cloning data suggest that the KCa channel (or channel class) described for fibroblasts and T-cells has a widespread distribution in other mitogenically active (non-neuronal) tissues. A number of studies are now underway to understand the physiology, pharmacology and regulation of this channel. Further, it is now critical to determine how KCa activity integrates into the signaling pathways which convey growth regulatory information from the cell membrane, to the nucleus, and then to the ultimate effectors for cell proliferation or differentiation. It has also become apparent that these growth regulatory signaling systems interact with other channel types, affecting channel densities at the level of expression, and channel activities at the level of gating modulation. Therefore, it seems most appropriate to view ion channel function in the context of how it contributes to and is affected by both cell growth activity, and the biochemical signaling systems linked to growth control.
Correction to: Population dynamics in canopy gaps: nonlinear response to variable light regimes by an understory plant

The original Electronic Supplementary Material incorrectly categorized subpopulation F as a Control rather than a Gap. The corrected version is provided in this Correction, with subpopulation F correctly included as one of the 11 gaps.
Fleshing out enactments of Whiteness in antiracist pedagogy: snapshot of a White teacher educator’s practice

This article paints a partial portrait of a White, antiracist, university-based teacher educator in the United States, and provides a snapshot of her antiracist pedagogy in practice. This snapshot ...
Fibrosis reversal after hepatitis C virus elimination.

Purpose of reviewHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been the leading cause of cirrhosis in the United States now for the last several decades. With the introduction of highly effective direct acting antiviral (DAA) drugs, cure rates are now almost 100%. With this explosion of effective therapy, i
Heavy Pnictogenium Cations as Transmembrane Anion Transporters in Vesicles and Erythrocytes

Our work on the complexation of fluoride anions using group 15 Lewis acids has led us to investigate the use of these main group compounds as anion transporters. In this paper, we report on the anion transport properties of tetraarylstibonium and tetraarylbismuthonium cations of the general formula [Ph3PnAr]+ with Pn = Sb or Bi and with Ar = phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, or pyrenyl. Using EYPC-based large unilamellar vesicles, we show that these main group cations transport hydroxide, fluoride and chloride anions across phospholipid bilayers. A comparison of the properties of [Ph3SbAnt]+ and [Ph3BiAnt]+ (Ant = 9-anthryl) illustrates the favorable role played by the Lewis acidity of the central pnictogen element with respect to the anion transport. Finally, we show that [Ph3SbAnt]+ accelerates the fluoride-induced hemolysis of human red blood cells, an effect that we assign to the transporter-facilitated influx of toxic fluoride anions.
Cyber Security Considerations for Reconfigurable Systems

The class of reconfigurable systems, which include the digital field programmable gate array (FPGA) and emerging new technologies such as neuromorphic computation and memristive devices, represent a type of frontier for cyber security. In this chapter, we provide a brief sketch of the field of reconfigurable systems, introduce a few basic ideas about cyber security, and consider the implications of cyber security as it applies to present and future devices. We also attempt to provide some insights on how to add robustness to reconfigurable systems technologies.
“Less is Better” Philosophy Decreases Home Health Aide Utilization to Increase Reimbursement in Medicare Home Health:

There has been a 75% decline in home health aide visits between 2000 and 2016, the only Medicare home health nonskilled service. A literature review indicates no studies addressing reasons for the ...
Meet-or-Beat Streak Heterogeneity and Equity Prices

Previous research finds higher stock prices for firms with extended EPS meet-or-beat streaks benchmarked to analysts’ forecasts. Due to the different persistence and reliability properties of firms’ revenue and expenses, in this study, I test whether stock valuations are different when EPS streaks are extended by firms meeting their revenue versus expense targets. I find that EPS meet-or-beat streaks that are primarily extended by firms meeting-or-beating analysts’ revenue forecasts are positively valued by the market but EPS streaks extended by meeting implied-expense targets are not associated with valuations. I also find revenue and EPS meet-or-beat streaks are independently and positively associated with firm valuations and extended expense meet-or-beat streaks are negatively associated with firm equity valuations. These relationships are stronger for growth firms and firms that report research and development expenses. In short, my results suggest investors only value firms’ ability to consistently meet their revenue forecasts.
Current Practice and Clinical Utility of Thrombophilia Testing in Hospitalized Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract Background and Purpose: Testing for thrombophilic disorders is often performed in patients after cryptogenic ischemic stroke in an attempt to identify a hematologic explanation for the event. However, the role of commonly tested thrombophilias in ischemic stroke is poorly defined. There is limited evidence to quantify how these disorders affect ischemic stroke risk and testing practices are highly variable. Methods: Retrospective evaluation of thrombophilia testing practices and clinical outcomes was performed in hospitalized patients with acute ischemic stroke (n = 1898) at a large academic hospital over a two-year period. Variables assessed included testing components, timing of testing, number of abnormal results, and frequency of change in clinical management prompted by abnormal results. A provider survey was also performed to assess perceptions of current testing practices and provider understanding of testing indications. Results: Thrombophilia testing was performed in 190 (10%) patients admitted for acute ischemic stroke. Of those tested, 137 (72.1%) had at least one abnormal result, but this decreased to 37.4% when elevated factor VIII activity was excluded. An abnormal result prompted initiation of anticoagulation in only 4 patients (2%). The provider survey indicated that all providers (100%) were selecting thrombophilia tests using a pre-existing order set and were interested in additional education on testing indications and interpretation. Comparison to similar studies at other institutions revealed significant variation in testing practices, and a small proportion of patients in which testing prompted a change in management (1-8%). Conclusions: Thrombophilia testing is frequently obtained in hospitalized patients with acute ischemic stroke, yet testing only changed management in 2% of patients. Efforts to improve provider education and the stewardship of testing are needed to ensure appropriate evaluation and treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke.
PIP Factors: Examine with low Expectations

This article takes a critical look at the factors the income tax regulations use to define partners' intererests in a partnership. The article concludes that the factors do little to help determine partners' interests in the partnership.
SU-E-T-99: An Analysis of the Accuracy of TPS Extrapolation of Commissioning Data

Purpose: To investigate discrepancies between measured percent depth dose curves of a linear accelerator at depths beyond the commissioning data and those generated by the treatment planning system (TPS) via extrapolation. Methods: Relative depth doses were measured on an Elekta Synergy™ linac for photon beams of 6 -MV and 10-MV. SSDs for all curves were 100-cm and field sizes ranged from 4×4 to 35×35-cm2. As most scanning tanks cannot provide depths greater than about 30-cm, percent depth dose measurements, extending 45-cm depths, were performed in Solid Water™ using a 0.125-cc ionization chamber (PTW model TN31012). The buildup regions of the curves were acquired with a parallel plate chamber (PTW model TN34001). Extrapolated curves were generated by the TPS (Phillips Pinnacle3 v. 9.6) by applying beams to CT images of 50-cm of Solid Water™ with density override set to 1.0-g/cc. Results: Percent difference between the two sets of curves (measured and TPS) was investigated. There is significant discrepancy in the buildup region to a depth of 7-mm. Beyond this depth, the two sets show good agreement. When analyzing the tail end of the curves, we saw percent difference of between 1.2% and 3.2%. The highest disagreement for the 6-MV curves was 10×10-cm2 (3%) and for the 10-MV curves it was the 35×35-cm2 (3.2%). Conclusion: A qualitative analysis of the measured data versus PDD curves generated by the TPS shows generally good agreement beyond 1-cm. However, a measurable percent difference was observed when comparing curves at depths beyond that provided by the commissioning data and at depths in the buildup region. Possible explanations for this include inaccuracies in modeling of the Solid Water™ or drift in beam energy since commissioning. Additionally, closer attention must be paid for measurements in the buildup region.