cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Economic growth and income equality since the 1982 recession

This paper tests the “rising tide” and “trickle down” hypotheses of income growth by examining several measures of income inequality between 1983 and 1987. A close look at household incomes between those years shows that post-tax income growth has been concentrated among the 20 percent of American households with the highest incomes. The middle income classes have experienced only modest income growth over this period, and the 20 percent of American households with the lowest incomes have experienced a decline in income. These results hold whether the analysis is based on a summary measure of income equality such as the Gini coefficient, or on a less technical measure such as average income. Furthermore, income growth seems to be decreasing most rapidly for groups of households that historically have had the lowest incomes: female-headed households, blacks, and Hispanics. Finally, two standard explanations of the inequality trend—that the distributional changes are the result of either cohort effects or the movement of jobs to the lower wage areas of South—are tested by disaggregating the data. Neither hypothesis is confirmed by our research.
Adaptive brain-computer interface

Passive brain-computer interfaces are designed to use brain activity as an additional input, allowing the adaptation of the interface in real time according to the user's mental state. While most current brain computer interface research (BCI) is designed for direct use with disabled users, I focus my research on passive BCIs for healthy users. The goal of my dissertation is to employ functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive brain measurement device, to augment an interface so it uses brain activity measures as an additional input channel. I have measured and classified brain signals that are interesting in HCI context, such as mental workload and difficulty level of a task. My future work will focus on creating an interface that responds to one of those measures by adapting the interface. By combining brain signal measured with an adaptive interface I expect to contribute a functional passive brain-computer interface that measures and adapts to the user's brain signal.
Mechanics of polycarbonate during high-rate tension

Polymeric materials often undergo large inhomogeneous deformations at high rates during their use in various impact-resistant energy-absorbing applications. For better design of such structures, a comprehensive understanding of high-rate deformation under various loading modes is essential. In this study, the behavior of polycarbonate was studied during tensile loading at high strain rates, using a splitcollar type split Hopkinson tension bar (SHTB). The effects of varying strain rate, overall imposed strain magnitude and specimen geometry on the mechanical response were examined. The chronological progression of deformation was captured with a high-speed rotating mirror CCD camera. The deformation mechanics were further studied via finite element simulations using the ABAQUS/Explicit code together with a recently developed constitutive model for high-rate behavior of glassy polymers. The mechanisms governing the phenomena of large inhomogeneous elongation, single and double necking, and the effects of material constitutive behavior on the characteristics of tensile deformation are presented.
Impact of pump-phase modulation on the performance of fiber-optic parametric amplifiers and wavelength convertors

We show that pump-phase modulation in dual-pump fiber-optic parametric amplifiers produces large signal fluctuations because of fiber dispersion. The performance becomes worse when phase is modulated using pseudorandom bit patterns with a sharp rise time.
Stable Takens' Embedding for linear dynamical systems

Takens' Embedding Theorem gives theoretical justification for the use of delay coordinate maps in characterizing and predicting nonlinear dynamical systems. However, in practice imperfections such as system and measurement noise may render these results unusable. In this paper, we consider conditions allowing for a stable version of Takens' Embedding Theorem in the restricted case of linear dynamical systems. Our work is inspired from results from the field of Compressive Sensing, where signals from a low-dimensional signal family residing in a high-dimensional space can be robustly recovered from compressive measurements only if the measurement form a stable embedding of the signal family. In particular, we show that a stable embedding of the attractor of the dynamical system is indeed possible and give sufficient conditions on the number of delays and the observation function for the delay coordinate maps to be stabilized. In addition, we also show that when the attractor is an ellipse, the conditioning of the embedding is lower bounded by a positive constant dependent only on the dynamical system and not within control of the experimentalist. We illustrate our results with an example linear dynamical system converging to an elliptical attractor. Our analysis in this paper will give insights into stable Takens' Embedding of general dynamical systems.
Performance discrepancies on the California Verbal Learning Test: Second Edition (CVLT-II) after traumatic brain injury.

Abstract One hundred fourteen patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), selected from a 5-year series of consecutive rehabilitation referrals, completed the California Verbal Learning Test—Second Edition (CVLT-II) within 1 year after injury. Various performance contrasts (i.e., proactive interference, retroactive interference, rapid forgetting, and retrieval problems) were evaluated. Initial analyses revealed higher rates of rapid forgetting in the TBI group as compared to the standardization sample. Follow-up analyses between those patients with and without unusual degrees of rapid forgetting did not reveal any significant differences between these groups on demographic or neurological variables (p > 0.10 for all variables). It is concluded that performance discrepancies on the CVLT-II should never be used in isolation to determine the presence or absence of acquired cerebral or memory impairment. However, regardless of the cause, such discrepancies may still be relevant for clinical treatment recommendations.
Design considerations for an intelligent optoelectronic interface

We discuss a series of design considerations for an intelligent optoelectronic interface between page-oriented parallel optical memories and an electronic computer. Our discussion is limited to the memory readout operation.
Both ciliary and non-ciliary functions of Foxj1a confer Wnt/β-catenin signaling in zebrafish left-right patterning

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is implicated in left-right (LR) axis determination; however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Prompted by our recent discovery that Wnt signaling regulates ciliogenesis in the zebrafish Kupffer's vesicle (KV) via Foxj1a, a ciliogenic transcription factor, we decided to elucidate functions of Foxj1a in Wnt-regulated LR pattern formation. We showed that targeted injection of wnt8a mRNA into a single cell at the 128-cell stage is sufficient to induce ectopic foxj1a expression and ectopic cilia. By interrogating the transcription circuit of foxj1a regulation, we found that both Lef1 and Tcf7 bind to a consensus element in the foxj1a promoter region. Depletion of Lef1 and Tcf7 inhibits foxj1a transcription in the dorsal forerunner cells, downregulates cilia length and number in KV, and randomizes LR asymmetry. Targeted overexpression of a constitutively active form of Lef1 also induced an ectopic protrusion that contains ectopic transcripts for sox17, foxj1a, and charon, and ectopic monocilia. Further genetic studies using this ectopic expression platform revealed two distinct functions of Foxj1a; mediating Wnt-governed monocilia length elongation as well as charon transcription. The novel Foxj1a-charon regulation is conserved in KV, and importantly, it is independent of the canonical role of Foxj1a in the biosynthesis of motile cilia. Together with the known function of motile cilia movement in generating asymmetric expression of charon, our data put forward a hypothesis that Foxj1a confers both ciliary and non-ciliary functions of Wnt signaling, which converge on charon to regulate LR pattern formation.
SNP-Based Differentiation of Phytophthora infestans Clonal Lineages Using Locked Nucleic Acid Probes and High-Resolution Melt Analysis

Phytophthora infestans, the cause of the devastating late blight disease of potato and tomato, exhibits a clonal reproductive lifestyle in North America. Phenotypes such as fungicide sensitivity and host preference are conserved among individuals within clonal lineages, while substantial phenotypic differences can exist between lineages. Whole P. infestans genomes were aligned and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified as targets for the development of clonal-lineage-specific molecular diagnostic tools. Informative SNPs were used to develop high-resolution melt (HRM) assays and locked nucleic acid (LNA) probes to differentiate lineage US-23, the predominant lineage in the Eastern United States for the past several years, from three other U.S. lineages. Three different primer pairs targeting one to three SNPs were capable of separating lineage US-23 from lineages US-8, US-11, and US-24 using HRM analysis. A fourth HRM primer pair targeted a highly variable genomic region containing nine polymorphisms within 63 bp. These primers separated US-23, US-11, and US-8 plus US-24 into three separate groups following HRM analysis but did not separate US-8 from US-24. Additionally, two LNA probes were designed to target a portion of the P. infestans genome containing two SNPs diagnostic for US-23. A single multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay containing both differentially labeled LNA probes differentiated individuals belonging to lineage US-23 from those belonging to US-8, US-11, and US-24.
Catholic Archives in a Public Institution: A Case Study of the Arrangement Between Kent State University and the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio

Perhaps the most lasting effect of America's bicentennial was to encourage individuals and organizations to think more carefully of preserving and making available their historically valuable records. Consistent with this spirit, the American Catholic Church pursued active steps to ensure that its archival records would receive a higher priority than in years past. By 1974, a special committee had prepared and submitted a "Document of Ecclesiastical Archives." It would serve as the cornerstone for Catholic Archives from the mid-1970s onward. Of the many dioceses responding to the need to take better care of the records in their custody, some added support to established archival operations. Others either initiated programs or investigated and implemented alternatives.This study examines the special arrangement between Kent State University and the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio. Among its purposes is that of providing a model for other public institutions and dioceses that may wish to consider entering a sim...
Impact of solar simulator spectrum on multi-junction solar cell measurement

Accurate laboratory measurement of the IV parameters of multi-junction (MJ) solar cells is highly dependent on the incident spectrum. This paper examines the influence of simulator spectrum on MJ solar cell measurements through the use of a multi-zone solar simulator capable of varying light output on each MJ subcell independently. It is shown through solar simulator spectrum offset that standard characterization methodology may result in significant error in IV parameter measurement resulting in over or underestimation of cell performance.
The Role of Payout Horizon in Determining the Risks and Returns of Claims to Aggregate Cash Flows

This paper examines the implications of payout horizon for the prices of aggregate cashflows. The interaction of two long-run forces - a long-run risk in consumption and aggregate dividends, and a cointegration relationship between consumption and aggregate dividends - leads to non-monotonic relationships between a payout's horizon and its cash flow risks, discount rate risks, and risk premia. These relationships with payout horizon are presented as term structures of risk sensitivities and return premia for so-called zero-coupon equity strips. Analytic expressions are derived for these term structures and examined to see how the interaction of long-run risk and cointegration determine risk and expected return. It is found that differences in payout horizon can result in significant differences in mean returns, with long-run strips earning the lowest risk premia and 'intermediate' term strips earning the highest premia. Based on this result, the paper then considers the possibility that differences in firms' payout horizon can account for a value premium within this long-run risks framework. Significant differences in mean returns can arise. However, when payout horizon is the sole difference between firms, the model is unable to account for the failure of the CAPM when calibrated to match first and second moments of aggregate consumption, dividends, and the market.
Patient-specific untreated virtual imaging controls for [18F]-FMISO PET imaging of glioblastoma

1259 Objectives Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a class of primary brain tumours characterized by their ability to rapidly proliferate and diffusely infiltrate surrounding brain tissue. The aggressive growth of GBM leads to the development of regions of hypoxia, which can be clinically assessed through [18F]-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) PET. PET imaging is challenged by image resolution and reconstruction artifact, therefore there is great utility for an integrative tool for predicting patient-specific hypoxic tumor burden beyond the obscuring lens of molecular imaging. Methods Our bio-mathematical model characterizes gliomas into distinct cellular phenotypes including normoxic, hypoxic and necrotic cells that interact with themselves and the microenvironment (vasculature). A pharmacokinetic model for the FMISO-PET tracer is applied throughout the brain and an analytical simulator (ASIM) for image acquisition and reconstruction is applied to the resultant tracer activity map. This combination produces a patient-specific virtual PET image that reproduces the image characteristics of the clinical PET scan. For a wide range of tumor growth and invasion kinetics, we simulated tumor growth for 6 GBM patients, producing maps of tumor cell density, hypoxia and virtual FMISO-PET images to allow comparison with clinical FMISO-PET images. Results Overall hypoxic burden, pixel intensity distribution as well as spatial location of hypoxia relative to MRI abnormalities are compared and demonstrate excellent agreement between the virtual and real FMISO-PET images for all 6 patients. Conclusions The ability to produce simulated PET images from MRI data using the our bio-mathematical model provides a better dynamic understanding of the biological connection between anatomical changes seen on MRI and biochemical activity seen on PET of GBM in vivo. This result provides a novel means for distinguishing hyper activity from hyper density of hypoxic cells on a FMISO-PET image on a patient-specific basis. Research Support NIH grants R01 CA164371, U54 CA14397
Structural and Electronic Properties of Bare and Capped Cd33Se33 and Cd33Te33 Quantum Dots

We performed comparative DFT (B3LYP/Lanl2dz) studies of the structural and electronic properties of bare and NH3-, SCH3-, and OPH3-capped Cd33Se33 and Cd33Te33 quantum dots (QDs). The capping group...
New Names for Stoneflies (Plecoptera)

For some years I have been assembling a list of species of the Plecoptera of the World, and during the past few years Dr. C. F. Wu and Dr. Helen H. Blauvelt have been assisting in this work. We have tried to check each species with the original description. The species list is now nearing completion, and we hope to publish a catalog of the Plecoptera in the near future.
Disturbance History, Management, and Seeding Year Precipitation Influences Vegetation Characteristics of Crested Wheatgrass Stands*

ABSTRACT Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L] Gaertm. and Agropyron desertorum [Fisch.] Schult.) has been seeded across millions of hectares of the sagebrush steppe and is often associated with native species displacement and low biological diversity. However, native vegetation composition of these seedings can be variable. To gain better understanding of the correlation between vegetation characteristics of crested wheatgrass seedings and their seeding history and management, we evaluated 121 crested wheatgrass seedings across a 54 230-km2 area in southeastern Oregon. Higher precipitation in the year following seeding of crested wheatgrass has long-term, negative effects on Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) cover and density. Wyoming big sagebrush cover and density were positively correlated with age of seeding and time since fire. We also found that preseeding disturbance (burned, scarified, plowed, or herbicide) appears to have legacy effects o...
Molecular events in the organization of renal tubular epithelium: from nephrogenesis to regeneration.

Information from studies of embryonic nephrons and established renal tubular cell lines in culture can be integrated to derive a picture of how the renal tubule develops and regenerates after acute injury. During development, the formation of a morphologically polarized epithelium from committed nephric mesenchymal cells requires an external signal for mitogenesis and differentiation. Polypeptide growth factors, in some cases mediated through oncogene expression, act in an autocrine or paracrine fashion to stimulate the production of extracellular matrix proteins that probably provide the earliest orientation signal for the cell. Interaction of these proteins with cell surface receptors leads to early organization of the cytoskeletal actin network, which is the major scaffolding for further differentiation and for definition of plasma membrane domains. The formation of cell-cell contacts via specialized adhesion molecules integrates the epithelium into a polarized monolayer and maintains its fence function, i.e., separation of plasma membrane domains. Microtubules probably participate in the delivery of vesicles to specific plasma membrane domains and in the spatial organization of intracellular organelles. Following acute renal injury, this sequence of events appears to be reversed, resulting in partial or complete loss of differentiated features. Regeneration seems to follow the same pattern of sequential differentiation steps as nephrogenesis. The integrity of the epithelium is restored by reestablishing only those stages of differentiation that have been lost. Where cell death occurs, mitogenesis in adjacent cells restores the continuity of the epithelium and the entire sequence of differentiation events is initiated in the newly generated cells.
Re-understanding for modern EAF steel-making of charging hot metal

According to Tianjin Pipe practice of charging hot metal to a modern electric arc furnace, it was known that the hot metal charging technology could increase the economic benefit and expand the EAF steel grads. Compared the traditional arc furnace with the oxygen converter, the depth of the pool of a modern EAF should be between the EAF’s and the basic oxygen converter’s. Compared the changes of the cost with the profit and the negative influence of charging hot metal, the proportion of the charging hot metal was determined. The best place to charge hot metal into a modern EAF was the back of the opening acidic. The temperature of the hot metal should be higher than 1200℃. Silicon in hot metal should be lower than 1.0% (mass fraction), and the best should be lower than 0.5%.
Application of an Improved Genetic Algorithm in the Probabilistic Causal Fault Diagnosis for Marine Nuclear Power Plant

The traditional genetic algorithms have inherent defects such as serious prematurity phenome non and low accuracy in local search,which may cause disagreement between analytic results and practi cal situations.Therefore,they cannot be well applied to the fault diagnosis of probabilistic causal models for marine nuclear power plant.Aiming at the problem,this paper presents a series of comprehensive im provements for the traditional genetic algorithms.Firstly,the judgment index of singular individuals is de fined and a self-adaptive crossover,mutation and local search strategies are developed.Secondly,the va lidity of the improved algorithm is tested against a classic case.Finally,the improved algorithm together with a probabilistic causal fault diagnosis model is constructed for marine nuclear power plant.The analy sis result is of great significance,since the improved genetic algorithm is proved to be an effective and practical way to perform the fault diagnose for marine nuclear power plant.
Invariant Distributions Associated with Matrix Laws Under Structural Symmetry

Let Y(n x m) be a random matrix in the space En x m of real matrices having location-scale parameters (0, Q) such that (i) O belongs to a linear subspace X# of En m; (ii) the distribution Y(Y) exhibits a type of structural symmetry; and (iii) a certain transformation T(Y) is translation-invariant with respect to ? and is invariant under changes of scale. Then the distribution ?{T(Y)} is invariant for all underlying symmetric distributions Y(Y). The types of symmetry are spherical symmetry and symmetry under multiplication on the left by orthogonal and similar matrices; the scale changes are multiplication by a scalar and multiplication on the right by a non-singular matrix. Applications yield the invariance under structural symmetry of distributions usually associated with normal-theory inferences in multivariate regression analysis and in testing equality of dispersion matrices.
Complexity in phonetics and phonology: gradience, categoriality, and naturalness

This study compares two diphthongs ([ea], [oa]) and two glide-vowel sequences ([ja], [wa]) in Romanian. The diphthongs and the sequences are auditorily very similar, but they differ in their phonological patterning. An integrated production and perception experiment is conducted in search of perceptual and acoustic evidence for the different phonological representations proposed for the diphthongs and the sequences. Four acoustic parameters of the diphthongs and sequences are measured and compared in a production study. In addition, a perception experiment tests native speakers' ability to correctly identify the two types of vocalic sequences. The results support the different representations proposed for [ea] vs. [ja], but not necessarily for [oa] vs. [wa]. This asymmetry is interpreted in the context of language-specific frequency differences, and of contrast maintenance. The study shows that detailed phonetic description is needed for a complete understanding of the phonological facts.
Saltwater Toxicity Tests

Aquatic toxicity testing is a key component of monitoring and assessment programs designed to investigate impacts of contaminants on marine and estuarine ecosystems. This chapter summarizes laboratory methods for assessing toxicity of marine and estuarine receiving waters, with an emphasis on standardized procedures used for regulatory purposes. General methods are described for fish, invertebrates, and marine algae. Use of these methods is discussed in terms of their application for assessing toxicity of transitional habitats, such as estuaries, as well as their use in nonpoint source pollution toxicity assessments, such as stormwater testing. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the utility of these methods for assessing impacts of emerging chemicals of concern. The final section describes future possibilities and probabilities for use of marine toxicity testing in ecotoxicology. This includes use of toxicity testing for assessing the impacts of climate change and associated ocean acidification.
Abnormal event detection in EEG imaging - Comparing predictive and model-based approaches

The detection of abnormal/unusual events based on dynamically varying spatial data has been of great interest in many real world applications. It is a challenging task to detect abnormal events as they occur rarely and it is very difficult to predict or reconstruct them. Here we address the issue of the detection of propagating phase gradient in the sequence of brain images obtained by EEG arrays. We compare two alternative methods of abnormal event detection. One is based on prediction using a linear dynamical system, while the other is a model-based algorithm using expectation minimization approach. The comparison identifies the pros and cons of the different methods, moreover it helps to develop an integrated and robust algorithm for monitoring cognitive behaviors, with potential applications including brain-computer interfaces (BCI).
Phase Balancing in Power Distribution Network with Data Center

High degree of unbalance in electric distribution feeders can significantly affect power quality, damage electrical equipment, and result in tripping of protective devices. If not properly managed, integration of new data center and distributed energy resources into the power distribution network will exacerbate the problem. This paper proposes a new paradigm which coordinates the operation of data center and distributed energy resources to reduce phase unbalance and improve the reliability and efficiency of electric distribution networks. The coordination scheme is implemented within the framework of a distribution system operator managed electricity market. The proposed phase balancing algorithm with data center is validated using a modified IEEE distribution test feeder. The simulation results show the proposed data center and distributed energy resources coordination scheme not only significantly reduces the degree of unbalance of distribution feeders but also results in sizable reduction in data center electricity costs.
The role of military footwear and workload on ground reaction forces during a simulated lateral ankle sprain mechanism.

Abstract Background Ankle sprains are a common orthopedic injury in military populations, which may be attributed to occupational demands and footwear. Minimalist military boots have become popular, but their influence on ground reaction force (GRF) attenuation capabilities during an ankle inversion perturbation are unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine potential differences in GRFs during an ankle inversion perturbation in a standard issue (STN) and minimalist military boot (MIN) before and after a simulated military workload. Methods Twenty-one healthy adult males completed an ankle inversion perturbation protocol in each footwear condition before and after an incremental treadmill exercise protocol to volitional exhaustion while wearing a 16 kg rucksack. The ankle inversion perturbation protocol consisted of stepping down from a 27 cm box onto a force platform with a fulcrum (FUL), which created 25° of inversion upon landing, or flat (FLT) outer sole attached to the plantar aspect of the participants’ footwear in random order. Peak vertical, anterior/posterior, and medial/lateral components of the GRF during FUL and FLT conditions were assessed, normalized to multiples of body weight in each footwear. Dependent variables were then analyzed using separate 2 (footwear) × 2 (time) repeated measures ANOVA (p Results The MIN footwear demonstrated significantly greater vertical GRF and significantly less medial GRF during the FUL condition. Conclusions These results indicate that various mechanical and design characteristics of military footwear may influence GRF attenuation capabilities and ankle joint loading when the foot/ankle complex is forced into inversion.
Introduction to the special section: Integrative approaches for treating violent loss survivors.

Survivors of sudden, traumatic death are at risk for a variety of bereavement-related mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and prolonged grief disorder. Beca...
FT-IR measurements of cold propene (C3H6) cross-sections at temperatures between 150 and 299 K

Abstract In support of infrared remote sensing of Titan, we present temperature dependent cross-sections of propene (C3H6; CH2 CH CH3; propylene) measured in the laboratory. A total of 27 high-resolution (up to 0.0022 cm−1) spectra of pure C3H6 and mixtures of C3H6 with N2 were obtained at 150–299 K in the 650–1534 cm−1 (6.5–15.4 µm) region. A custom-designed cold cell was used, which was configured with an active temperature control and could be integrated to a Fourier-transform spectrometer (Bruker 125HR) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The observed C3H6 spectral features include its strong v19 band bearing the most prominent Q-branch peak at 912 cm−1 and three other strong bands: v18, v16 and v7 centered near 991, 1443, and 1459 cm−1, respectively. In addition, we have generated empirical pseudoline lists (PLLs) in HITRAN-format, in the two separate spectral regions, which are Region I: 800–1100 and Region II: 1340–1524 cm−1. The PLLs of C3H6 consists of spectroscopic line parameters (including line intensities and effective lower state energies) for all the individual pseudoline positions. The pseudoline parameters were determined by fitting 27 laboratory spectra of pure and N2-broadened propene simultaneously in the selected regions. A newly derived partition function was adopted in the line-by-line radiative transfer calculations. Based on the pseudoline intensities, the total integrated intensities in the 800–1120 and 1320–1524cm−1 regions were measured to be 8.79(47)× 10−18 and 3.06(21)×10−18cm−1/(molecule cm−2) at 296 K, respectively. These values are found to be in a good agreement with the recent measurement made at KAUST at room temperature, but they are significantly lower than those reported by one of the most extensive previous studies at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Finally, the two PLLs are submitted as electronic supplements and are also available from the website, https://mark4sun.jpl.nasa.gov/pseudo.html.
Names and Naming: People, Places, Perceptions and Power

Names and Naming: People, Places, Perceptions and Power is an edited volume containing a collection of new research on onomastic themes, demonstrating the importance of names and, therefore, of nam...
Heat flow, geothermal gradients and maturation modelling on the Norwegian continental shelf using computer methods

Two computer programs have been developed to model maturation parameters. The first program (referred to as K-MOD) relates thermal conductivity to interval velocity and then computes either geothermal gradient or heat flow, depending on which is known. The program can be run using interval velocities obtained from either well or seismic data. The second program (referred to as M-MOD) is a maturation modelling program based on time—temperature, theoretical kinetic equations. M-MOD requires burial history, interval geothermal gradients and unconformity data as input. The program then computes present-day equivalent vitrinite reflectance (R e ) values for up to 21 horizons along with palaeo-temperature, palaeo-depth and palaeo-R e values for designated time-stratigraphic horizons.
New Developments in Water-Soluble Polysaccharides

Natural water-soluble polysaccharides usually occur as food reserves, as components of plant fluids, as exudate gums or, infrequently, as components of hemicelluloses (1,2). A great many naturally occurring polysaccharides are dispersible in water and some dispersions produce gels, either directly or indirectly. Often these gels fulfill a significant function in their biological source. For example, polysaccharide gels are important in ocular fluids, in synovial fluids, in protecting microorganisms or injured plant surfaces from desiccation and, as mucilaginous gels, in acting as emollients on membrane surfaces of animals. A lesser number, but the bulk of polysaccharides, are water insoluble and are not dispersible. The principal one of these is cellulose, but the most abundant group are the plant hemicelluloses. The water-soluble and water-dispersible polysaccharides are used in various food and nonfood products. Because of the growing industrial need for water-soluble and water-dispersible polysaccharides, their number and variety are increased by chemically modifying natural polysaccharides that are less soluble or even insoluble; or, water-soluble polysaccharides are created through the biosynthetic use of microorganisms or enzymes. A new group of water-soluble molecules which may find application in the future are manmade glycoproteins.
Investigation of energy storage in bolted joint components and the development of a geometry selection design tool for Belleville washers

Abstract Despite the advantages and widespread use of bolted joints in manufacturing, one major problem is their tendency to loosen, which can ultimately cause the joint to fail. This research evaluates strain energy storage in the Belleville washer, to determine how the washer's design could be modified to counteract relaxation in the bolt, which causes loosening. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is used to study the strain energy, bolt preload, deflections, and other parameters of various geometric configurations of Belleville washers and shows that the strain energy is not optimally utilized with conventional Belleville washers, which have constant wall thickness. Tapering the Belleville washer reduces its weight significantly, thereby increasing the washer's energy storage capacity. The FEA data are used to develop a tool for helping to design Belleville washer geometry that can prevent bolt loosening. One of the tool's inputs is the bolt deflection relaxation within the acceptable bolt preload window. This work opens further research avenues for analyzing anti-loosening joints from the perspective of the elastic energy stored in the joint and thereby predicting when the joint might fail.
Philosophical Approaches to Intellectual Property Law Scholarship

Intellectual property (IP) law and philosophy is an interdisciplinary approach to scholarship that applies insights and methods from philosophy to the legal, normative, theoretical, political, and empirical questions presented by the project of organizing and regulating the creation and dissemination of knowledge, technology, and culture. In this chapter, I outline four types of IP-law-and-philosophy scholarship, focusing specifically on the discipline of analytic philosophy (with appropriate caveats about the coherence of that discipline). These modes of scholarship can be categorized as (1) the jurisprudence of the IP system, (2) philosophical analysis of IP law, (3) applied philosophy in IP, and (4) normative theory of IP. Category (4) is obviously a special case of category (3), focusing specifically on applications of moral philosophy. Within each category, I provide illustrative examples of past scholarship and suggestions for further research.
Commutants mod normed ideals

To Alain Connes’ non-commutative geometry the normed ideals of compact operators are purveyors of infinitesimals. A numerical invariant, the modulus of quasicentral approximation, plays a key role in perturbations from these ideals. New structure is provided by commutants mod normed ideals of n-tuples of operators and by their Calkin algebras. I review the modulus of quasicentral approximation, the relation to invariance of absolutely continuous spectra, to dynamical entropy and the hybrid generalization. I then discuss commutants mod normed ideals, their Banach space duality properties, K-theory aspects, the case of the Macaev ideal. Sample open problems are included.
Simulated supercontinuum generation in water and the human eye

Understanding femtosecond pulse propagation in biological media has become increasingly relevant with the widespread use of femtosecond laser systems for imaging and diagnostic applications. Intense, femtosecond pulses are prone to undergo nonlinear effects in media. The ability to accurately simulate the nonlinear processes femtosecond pulses undergo in biological media is critical for designing new diagnostic techniques and determining maximum permissible exposure (MPE) limits for laser safety standards such as ANSI Z136.1. The combination of strong absorption, broad bandwidth, and dispersive effects makes standard nonlinear simulation methods based on the slowly varying envelope approximation unsuitable for the study of near-infrared (near-IR) pulses in water and biological tissues. Building off an existing linear ultrafast pulse propagation model we present preliminary work simulating supercontinuum broadening in water without using an envelope approximation. Using a one-dimensional simulation of self-phase modulation, we explain the infrared continuum broadening observed in a previous experiment in water using 35 fs near-IR pulses, but fail to explain the visible continuum, suggesting that the continuum is further broadened by self-focusing. We then extend the model to simulate the propagation of near-IR pulses in the human eye at the 100 fs ANSI MPE limit for pulse durations from 10 fs to 1 ps. Using this simulation, we explore the implications of supercontinuum generation on the ANSI MPE limits.
APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-ENABLED ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY IN FAMILIAL DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

Artificial-intelligence enabled electrocardiography (AI-ECG) has demonstrated high accuracy in identifying reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and could be instituted upstream of echocardiography with associated cost savings. However, the accuracy of AI-ECG for diagnosis and
The Value of Poetry

Eric Falci's The Value of Poetry offers an evaluation and critique of the literary, cultural, and political value of poetry in the twenty-first century. Falci claims that some of the most vital, significant, and enduring human notions have been voiced and held in poems. Poems marble civilizations: they catch courses of thought, tracks of feeling, and acts of speech and embed these shapes in language that is, in some fashion, poised toward the future. Falci argues that poetry is a vital medium in addressing and understanding some of the most pressing issues of our time. Ranging widely across canonical and contemporary poetry, The Value of Poetry shows how poems matter, and what poetry offers to readers in the contemporary world.
Reducing cementitious paste volume of slipformed pavement concrete by blending aggregates

A high cementitious paste volume (CPV) can increase the early cracking tendency of the concrete and reduce the durability of concrete pavement. This study investigated the effects of minimized CPV in slipformed pavement concrete (SPC) with blended aggregates (BA). Based on the laboratory results, the performance of pavement concrete with different CPV was evaluated. The CPV of standard SPC can be reduced to 25.0% without affecting its properties as evaluated by compressive strength, drying shrinkage and surface resistivity tests However, the CPV of SPC with optimized aggregate gradation (OAG) using BA technique can be further reduced to 22.5% with satisfactory properties. The SPC mixes with OAG was noted to have better potential performance as a pavement concrete. SPC concrete using Portland limestone cement can give similar properties as those of the conventional concrete using ordinary Portland cement.
Telehealth in Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research.

Purpose of review The COVID-19 pandemic has provided us with a unique opportunity to experiment with telehealth and evaluate its benefits and limitations. This review discusses the impact of telehealth on multiple sclerosis (MS) care and research in adults and children. Recent findings Telehealth visits for MS patients have been shown to reduce missed workdays and costs for patients. Brief telephone-based counseling may be associated with better adherence to disease-modifying therapy, although results of multiple home-based tele-rehabilitation for people with MS have been equivocal. Overall, patients and providers have reported high levels of satisfactions with telehealth. Several remote disability measures and numerous other technological tools have emerged for use in remote MS research and care. Major challenges of telehealth include limitations to performing a complete neurologic exam and disparities in access to telehealth amongst vulnerable populations with limited access to virtual platforms. Following the rapid expansion of telehealth during the pandemic, it is highly likely that we will continue to embrace the benefits of this valuable tool. Future directions for improving telehealth should include more evidence-based research on the diagnostic accuracy in neuroimmunology and reducing disparities in the access to telehealth.
Evaluation of Substituted N-Phenylpiperazine Analogs as D3 vs. D2 Dopamine Receptor Subtype Selective Ligands.

N-phenylpiperazine analogs can bind selectively to the D3 versus the D2 dopamine receptor subtype despite the fact that these two D2-like dopamine receptor subtypes exhibit substantial amino acid sequence homology. The binding for a number of these receptor subtype selective compounds was found to be consistent with their ability to bind at the D3 dopamine receptor subtype in a bitopic manner. In this study, a series of the 3-thiophenephenyl and 4-thiazolylphenyl fluoride substituted N-phenylpiperazine analogs were evaluated. Compound 6a was found to bind at the human D3 receptor with nanomolar affinity with substantial D3 vs. D2 binding selectivity (approximately 500-fold). Compound 6a was also tested for activity in two in-vivo assays: (1) a hallucinogenic-dependent head twitch response inhibition assay using DBA/2J mice and (2) an L-dopa-dependent abnormal involuntary movement (AIM) inhibition assay using unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned (hemiparkinsonian) rats. Compound 6a was found to be active in both assays. This compound could lead to a better understanding of how a bitopic D3 dopamine receptor selective ligand might lead to the development of pharmacotherapeutics for the treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
A draft genome sequence of the common, or spectacled caiman Caiman crocodilus

The common, or spectacled, caiman Caiman crocodilus is an abundant, widely distributed Neotropical crocodilian exhibiting notable morphological and molecular diversification. The species also accounts by far for the largest share of crocodilian hides on the global market, with the C. crocodilus hide trade alone valued at about US$86.5 million per year. We obtained 239,911,946 paired-end reads comprising approximately 72 G bases using Illumina TM sequencing of tissue sampled from a single Caiman crocodilus individual. These reads were de-novo assembled and progressively aligned against the genomes of increasingly related crocodilians; liftoff was used to annotate the draft C. crocodilus genome assembly based on an Alligator mississipiensis (a confamilial species) annotation. The draft assembly has been submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information and both assembly and annotation are currently available for review at doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4755063
Whose money matters in public education: A “public” good that parents purchase:

Instead of asking whether money matters, this paper questions whose money matters in public education. Previous literature on education funding uses an aggregate expenditure per pupil to measure th...
Extremely large magnetoresistance in high-mobility SrNbO 3 /SrTiO 3 heterostructures

An extremely large linear magnetoresistance (LMR) is a ubiquitous phenomenon emerging from topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals. However, the connection between an LMR and a nontrivial topology is under extensive debate. In this paper, by precisely controlling the thickness of ${\mathrm{SrNbO}}_{3}$ thin films grown on ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ substrates, we observe an LMR over a large carrier density range with a magnetoresistance as high as $150\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}000%$ at a carrier density $n\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{21}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, far away from the quantum-limit regime. The temperature-, magnetic-field-, and carrier-density-dependent LMR in ${\mathrm{SrNbO}}_{3}/{\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ heterostructures provides compelling evidence of a mobility-driven LMR in coherent electronic systems. Our results uncover the general principle of an LMR and shed light on proper categorization of transport properties in topological and correlated materials.
Catalytic Amidomethylative [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of Formaldimine and Styrenes toward N-heterocycles

Chemo-switchable catalytic [2+2+2] cycloaddition of alkenes with formaldimines has been reported. Bis(tosylamido)methane (BTM) and 1,2-ditosyl-1,2-diazetidine (DTD), two bench-stable precursors for highly reactive tosylformaldimine, have been identified to be effective. BTM worked as a selective releaser of the formaldimine for catalytic [2+2+2] reactions toward hexahydropyrimidine products via a presumable “imine-alkene-imine” addition. A unique catalytic retro-[2+2] reaction of DTD was used and has enabled a proposed “imine-alkene-alkene” pathway with high chemoselectivity for the synthesis of 2,4-diarylpyperidine derivatives. The two alternative processes were catalyzed by simple and environmentally benign catalysts InCl3 and FeBr2, respectively.
In Search of Deterministic Complex Patterns in Commodity Prices

The possibility and implications of chaotic structure in commodity prices is examined. Chaos will imply that prices are deterministic, so that technical rules are more likely to succeed in short run price projections. On the other hand, chaos will necessarily imply that prices are nonlinear and highly sensitive to initial conditions, so that long-term price projections are treacherous. The study conducts tests for the presence of low-dimensional chaotic structure in the futures prices of four important agricultural commodities. Though there is strong evidence of nonlinear dependence, the evidence is not consistent with chaos. The dimension estimates for the commodity futures series are generally much higher than would be for low dimension chaotic series. The test results indicate that ARCH-type processes, with controls for seasonality and contract-maturity effects, explain much of the nonlinearities in the data. The study makes a case that employing seasonally adjusted price series is important in obtaining robust results via some of the existing tests for chaotic structure. Finally, maximum likelihood methodologies, that are robust to the nonlinear dynamics, lend strong support the Samuelson hypothesis of maturity effects in futures price-changes.
Non‐Homologous Recombination

Genetic recombination classically proceeds by the homologous recombination pathway, but direct joining of chromosome fragments lacking extensive homology also occurs and is of particular interest as a nearly ubiquitous genome alteration in cancer. At least two distinct but overlapping pathways of DNA repair are relevant to the execution of nonhomologous recombination: nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and microhomology mediated end joining (MMEJ). Like other DNA repair pathways, NHEJ and MMEJ seem to facilitate primarily genome maintenance, but by their nature are prone to errors, including an ability to join inappropriately paired chromosome break ends. This review considers the function of these pathways, with an emphasis on the unique and unusual biochemical properties of key enzymes, including DNA ligase IV and Pol X family DNA polymerases, and how these facilitate direct rejoining of broken chromosomes.