cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Organizational Update American Stroke Association Stroke Council Update

In this semiannual update, we will focus on a major American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) initiative to improve its educational programming and changes to the process for developing guidelines and scientific statements. In addition, there are updates on research funding and the upcoming International Stroke Conference (ISC). Before the updates, we will first review the AHA/ASA mission and goals and the role of the stroke council. The mission of the AHA/ASA is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The current goal is, by the year 2020, to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% while reducing deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20%. The AHA/ASA aims to achieve these goals by (1) providing knowledge-based solutions for people of all ages at all levels of risk, (2) leading efforts for research, prevention, and treatment, and (3) serving the cardiovascular and stroke health needs of all people living in the United States as a partner of choice for researchers, systems, providers, and consumers. The stroke council is one of the 16 AHA/ASA councils and provides scientific input and support to the organization in pursuit of these goals. Stroke council volunteers help advance the AHA/ASA mission through many different activities. This includes the dissemination of new knowledge through the Stroke journal, the development and promulgation of evidence-based treatment guidelines and scientific statements, and through scientific meetings (primarily the ISC). The stroke council advises the AHA/ASA in their efforts for advocacy for stroke research funding, public policy, and community education (like the television ads for early stroke recognition—Face Arm Speech Time). The development of primary and comprehensive stroke center certification by the Joint Commission was due in a large …
Dynamic Pricing with Uncertainty

The efficiency results of marginal-cost pricing have been used to justify the imposition of regulatory policy tools to determine optimal pricing. In the more sophisticated form, Ramsey-Boiteux pricing methodology is recommended as a pricing-policy tool. These methods are static. Nevertheless, they are applied to major infrastructure industries such as telecommunications. At best, these methods assume prospective events with certainty; they do not account for stochastic changes in cash flows. However, uncertainty can make a substantial difference in the determination of optimal prices. Moreover, significant sunk (irreversible) costs are incurred by the incumbent firm in these industries. Once the sunk costs are incurred, the firm no longer has the delay option available, that is the firm cannot wait-and-watch how the market develops, but must invest immediately. This opportunity cost has not been acknowledged by the regulatory community in its pricing decisions. In addition to the neglect of opportunity costs, regulators have additional impacts on the incumbent firm’s cost of capital. We first develop a model with sunk costs which determines the optimal price in the spirit of traditional marginal-cost pricing. This model demonstrates the role of sunk cost in determining opportunity cost for the firm of immediate investment. We use the techniques of real options methodology to analyze the cash flows which in turn have an impact on investment valuations. We then solve for the social welfare maximum, namely, the maximization of the discounted value of producer’s and consumers’ surplus. Because the options values/opportunity costs are not recognized in a static view of the world, the resultant price vectors of the traditional models are a poor policy guide. Without regulatory constraints on prices, the model shows that the uncertainty prices differ significantly from the results of both the traditional marginal-cost price and the Ramsey-Boiteux pricing vector. The policy implications of the result are material. For the telecommunications industry, the telecommunications element long-run incremental cost (TELRIC) rates are theoretically incorrect, and, even if the rates derived from the static theoretical construct were exactly as TELRIC would require, they would be erroneous. These results are applicable to other network industries.
Calculating a Trapezoidal Spectrum

(1996). Calculating a Trapezoidal Spectrum. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 103, No. 6, pp. 500-501.
Characteristics of surfactant from SP-A-deficient mice

Mice that are surfactant protein (SP) A deficient [SP-A(−/−)] have no apparent abnormalities in lung function. To understand the contributions of SP-A to surfactant, the biophysical properties and ...
The Effect of Unrestricted Immigration on Public Finances

Although popular rhetoric about “immigrants taking our jobs” or “reducing our wages” typically finds little or no support from rigorous empirical studies, some mainstream investigators conclude that new immigrants sometimes represent a net fiscal burden, especially at the local level in the short run. To estimate the largest-possible immediate effect of various types of migrants on the finances of large cities in particular, this chapter analyzes overtime budgetary data from three natural experiments: Mariel Cubans in Miami; Pieds-Noirs and Harkis “repatriates” in Marseille; and Eastern Europeans in Dublin. On the basis of quantitative panel models, elite interviews, and archival materials, the study concludes that the overall fiscal impact on localities of rapid, “uncontrolled” migration was effectively nil in Miami and Marseille, but positive in Dublin.
An Anti-interference Strategy in Chemical Production

An anti-interference strategy,which combines the dynamic matrix control and improved disturbance observer algorithm,was designed for the control system in chemical production.Theoretical analysis and calcination ZrO2 simulation show that the control perfermance of this strategy outperforms conventional PID control because of its strong robust and adaptive.
Isomer Stability of N6C6H6 Cages

Recent theoretical studies have identified carbon-nitrogen cages that are potentially stable high energy density materials (HEDM). One such molecule is an N(6)C(6)H(6) cage in which a six-membered ring of nitrogen is bonded to C(3)H(3) triangles on both sides. This molecule is based on the structure of the most stable N(12) cage, with six carbon atoms substituted into the structure. In the current study, several N(6)C(6)H(6) isomers (including the previously studied cage) are examined by theoretical calculations to determine which is actually the most stable. Stability will be evaluated from two points of view: (1) thermodynamic stability of one isomer versus another and (2) kinetic stability of each isomer as determined by the energetics of bond breaking. Density functional theory (B3LYP), perturbation theory (MP2 and MP4), and coupled-cluster theory (CCSD(T)) are used in this study, along with the correlation-consistent basis sets of Dunning. Trends in thermodynamic and kinetic stability are discussed.
High-κ dielectrics and device reliability

Technology scaling continues to be driven by the cost per function due to proliferation of mobile computing. With sub-45-nm technology node, high-κ gate dielectrics such as HfO2 have emerged. This chapter is dedicated to high-κ dielectrics with particular emphasis to most important characteristics the reliability.
Mechanics of magnetic fluid column in strong magnetic fields

Abstract Elastic-and magnetic properties of magnetic fluid confined by ponderomotive force in a tube fixed in horizontal position are considered. The system is placed in a strong magnetic field under the influence of external static and dynamic perturbations. An experimental setup has been developed. A theoretical basis of the processes of magnetic colloid elastic deformation has been proposed. The values of the static ponderomotive elasticity coefficient and the elasticity coefficient under dynamic action are experimentally determined. The calculations of the saturation magnetization for two magnetic fluid samples, carried out according to the equation containing the dynamic elasticity coefficient, are in good agreement with the experimental magnetization curve. The described method is of interest when studying magnetophoresis and aggregation of nanoparticles in magnetic colloids.
Putting Back the Individual in BTOF: CEO Regulatory Focus and Firm Responses to Performance Cues

In this study we focus on an often-overlooked but critical component of the Behavioral Theory of the Firm (BTOF) – the role of human agency. Thus, we aim to examine and provide richer understanding...
Small mammal community ecology

The abundance of food in natural 1-ha plot of shortgrass prairie was artificially manipulated by adding alfalfa pellets and whole oats on a regular schedule. The small mammal species naturally inhabiting the manipulated food plot did not respond in either their density or weight to the supplemented food. However, a new specialized seed-eating species, Dipodomys ordii, invaded the food plot and persisted in relatively high density. As a result of this colonization, species diversity was significantly higher on the food plot relative to the unmanipulated control plot. In a second experiment, application of water and nitrogen to two 1-ha plots of shortgrass prairie resulted in increased productivity. However, the increased production on this latter treatment was associated with vegetation growth and thus major changes in habitat structural characteristics relative to the control treatment. Two new species, Microtus ochrogaster and Reithrodontomys megalotis, colonized the nitrogen+water treatment, but other small mammal species “resident” to the shortgrass prairie largely avoided this treatment. As a result of this manipulation, species diversity was significantly lower than the species diversity on the control treatment. These two results agree with the MacArthur prediction regarding how species diversity responds to an increase in production of scarce resources without changes in other habitat variables, and to an increase in productivity associated with changes in other habitat variables.
Combination therapy for the treatment of pulmonary mold infections.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Pulmonary mold infections are caused by ubiquitous organisms found in soil, water, and decaying vegetation, including Aspergillus spp., the Mucormycetes, hyaline molds, and dematiaceous (black) molds.Areas covered: These infections are often a challenge to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. Recently, antifungal combination therapy has emerged as a promising strategy to treat some forms of invasive mycoses, including pulmonary mold infections. Historically, this approach has been limited due to non-uniform interpretation criteria, variations in pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic properties of antifungals used in combination, and an inability to predict clinical success based on in vitro data and animal models. However, recent advances have helped mitigate some of these challenges.Expert commentary: In this paper, we explore what is known about the antifungal combination therapy in the treatment of pulmonary mold infections and explore how it may impact clinical practice. We pay p...
Reactive Oxygen Species Signaling in Cancer Development

Cancer cells exist in chronic condition of metabolic oxidative stress compared to normal cells mainly due to inherent mitochondrial dysfunction and NADPH oxidases activation. DNA damage, mutation, and altered gene expression induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) are all required participants in the process of carcinogenesis. The modification of gene expression by ROS has direct effects on cancer development such as tumor growth, survival, invasion and angiogenesis through the manipulation of signaling pathways, thus promoting metastasis. Meanwhile, some ROS-regulated miRNAs are also involved in mediating tumor progress. Although a precise mechanism of signal transduction remains to be elucidated, in this review we outline the probable role of these signaling cascades and ROS-regulated miRNAs in mediating tumor metastasis. Understanding of the molecular functions of ROS as one of key mediators in cancer development may provide widely opportunities for pharmacological intervention and anticancer therapy.
The Autopsy Lexicon

Abstract Context.—Although standard autopsy texts and other publications discuss the general content of autopsy reports, and some provide examples of autopsy report formats, no publication to date has recommended specific headings for autopsy report organization. The College of American Pathologists Autopsy Committee decided it would be helpful to provide suggestions for autopsy report headings to foster more standardized autopsy reporting, to facilitate review of reports by third parties, and to facilitate searches of electronically stored autopsy reports. Objectives.—To create a model document (named the Autopsy Lexicon), which defines standard categories of information that are useful to include in autopsy reports; to offer specific wording for the headings of various sections of the report; and to explain the rationale for including the various items of information and headings. Participants and Methods.—The members of the Autopsy Committee of the College of American Pathologists prepared the document...
Procedural simulation: medical student preference and value of three task trainers for ultrasound guided regional anesthesia.

Author(s): Lahham, Shadi; Smith, Taylaur; Baker, Jessa; Purdy, Amanda; Frumin, Erica; Winners, Bret; Wilson, Sean P; Gari, Abdulatif; Fox, John C | Abstract: BACKGROUND:Ultrasound guided regional anesthesia is widely taught using task trainer models. Commercially available models are often used; however, they can be cost prohibitive. Therefore, alternative "homemade" models with similar fidelity are often used. We hypothesize that professional task trainers will be preferred over homemade models. The purpose of this study is to determine realism, durability and cleanliness of three different task trainers for ultrasound guided nerve blocks. METHODS:This was a prospective observational study using a convenience sample of medical student participants in an ultrasound guided nerve block training session on January 24th, 2015. Participants were asked to perform simulated nerve blocks on three different task trainers including, 1 commercial and 2 homemade. A questionnaire was then given to all participants to rate their experiences both with and without the knowledge on the cost of the simulator device. RESULTS:Data was collected from 25 participants. The Blue Phantom model was found to have the highest fidelity. Initially, 10 (40%) of the participants preferred the Blue Phantom model, while 10 (40%) preferred the homemade gelatin model and 5 (20%) preferred the homemade tofu model. After cost awareness, the majority, 18 (72%) preferred the gelatin model. CONCLUSION:The Blue Phantom model was thought to have the highest fidelity, but after cost consideration the homemade gelatin model was preferred.
DMRfinder: efficiently identifying differentially methylated regions from MethylC-seq data.

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that is studied at a single-base resolution with bisulfite treatment followed by high-throughput sequencing. After alignment of the sequence reads to a reference genome, methylation counts are analyzed to determine genomic regions that are differentially methylated between two or more biological conditions. Even though a variety of software packages is available for different aspects of the bioinformatics analysis, they often produce results that are biased or require excessive computational requirements. DMRfinder is a novel computational pipeline that identifies differentially methylated regions efficiently. Following alignment, DMRfinder extracts methylation counts and performs a modified single-linkage clustering of methylation sites into genomic regions. It then compares methylation levels using beta-binomial hierarchical modeling and Wald tests. Among its innovative attributes are the analyses of novel methylation sites and methylation linkage, as well as the simultaneous statistical analysis of multiple sample groups. To demonstrate its efficiency, DMRfinder is benchmarked against other computational approaches using a large published dataset. Contrasting two replicates of the same sample yielded minimal genomic regions with DMRfinder, whereas two alternative software packages reported a substantial number of false positives. Further analyses of biological samples revealed fundamental differences between DMRfinder and another software package, despite the fact that they utilize the same underlying statistical basis. For each step, DMRfinder completed the analysis in a fraction of the time required by other software. Among the computational approaches for identifying differentially methylated regions from high-throughput bisulfite sequencing datasets, DMRfinder is the first that integrates all the post-alignment steps in a single package. Compared to other software, DMRfinder is extremely efficient and unbiased in this process. DMRfinder is free and open-source software, available on GitHub ( github.com/jsh58/DMRfinder ); it is written in Python and R, and is supported on Linux.
Home-Based vs. Clinic-Based Parent–Child Interaction Therapy: Comparative Effectiveness in the Context of Dissemination and Implementation

Disruptive child behavior disorders remain a major public health issue despite the proliferation of several strong Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) for these children and their families. This may stem from barriers to treatment facing many families in need, particularly families with low resources. Home-based treatment may be best suited for this population; however, EBPs are not always available or tested as home-based interventions. The current study compares an intensive home-based adaptation of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to the standard clinic-based model in the context of a statewide implementation. As part of the statewide implementation, therapists entered archival data into an online system. Data was gathered for 314 families receiving PCIT, with 181 children in clinic-based PCIT and 133 in intensive home-based PCIT. Consistent with other trials of PCIT, results of the current study indicate that both versions of the therapy were effective in reducing child-behavior problems and increasing parenting skills; however, there were marked differences in attrition. Intensive home-based participants were twice as likely to complete treatment (64.66%) compared to clinic-based participants (33.15%) despite facing more adversity. These results underscore the importance of scientifically-sound adaptations of EBPs, as well as the role of comparative effectiveness studies as a critical tool in the integrative model of intervention science.
Technique development and measurement of cross-sectional area of the pubovisceral muscle on MRI scans of living women.

Measurements of the anatomic cross-sectional area (CSA) of the pubovisceral muscle (PVM) in women are confounded by the difficulty of separating the muscle from the adjacent puborectal (PRM) and iliococcygeal (ICM) muscles when visualized in a plane orthogonal to the fiber direction. We tested the hypothesis that it might be possible to measure the PVM CSA within a defined region of interest based on magnetic resonance images (MRI). MRI scans of 11 women with unilateral PVM tears and seven primiparous women with intact muscles following elective C-section were used to identify the PVM injury zone defined by the mean location of its boundaries with the adjacent intact PRM and ICM from existing anatomic reference points using 3D Slicer and ImageJ software. Then, from the 15 or more 2-mm transverse slices available, the slice with the maximum anatomic CSA of the left and right PVM was found in 24 primiparous women with bilaterally intact muscles who had delivered via C-section. Mean [± standard deviation (SD)] of the maximum left or right PVM cross-section areas for the 24 women, measured by two different raters, was 1.25 ± 0.29 cm2 (range 0.75–1.86). The 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile values were 0.77, 1.23, and 1.80 cm2, respectively. Inter- and intrarater measurement repeatability intraclass correlation coefficients exceeded 0.89 and 0.90, respectively. It is possible to use MRI to identify the volume of interest with the maximum anatomic cross section of the PVM belly while minimizing the inadvertent inclusion of adjacent PRM or ICM in that measurement.
Macro: The Monopole, Astrophysics, and Cosmic-Ray Observatory

The search for the magnetic monopole has motivated an Italian-American collaboration to construct a large ionization detector in the Grand Sasso Laboratory. This detector is also well suited to observe astrophysical phenomenon such as stellar collapse, particle physics processes such as neutrino oscillation, and cosmic-ray events such as muon bundles. Here we describe the detector and outline some of the accessable physics.
Devonian Cladid Crinoid Evolution, Diversity, and First and Last Occurrences: Summary Observations

New discoveries and systematic revisions since the 1978 publication of the crinoid volumes of the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology provide new information about Devonian cladid crinoid evolution, diversity, and first and last occurrences. Summarizing these previous studies resulted in numerous conclusions, including the following. The overall diversity of the Devonian cladids does not reflect the diversity acmes and extinction patterns of the individual superfamilies within the Cyathocrinida and Dendrocrinida. Cyathocrinoidea and Codiacrinoida genera were minor elements in the diversity of Devonian Cyathocrinida that were dominated by Gasterocomoidea (acme in the Eifelian) genera. The Gasterocomidae and Cupressocrinitidae are a clade restricted to the Devonian and Early Mississippian. Primitive Dendrocrinids were replaced in the Devonian by the Glossocrinoidea (referred to as Transitional Dendrocrinids); the Advanced Dendrocrinids and articulates first occurred in the Devonian. Morphologic and stratigraphic differences justify systematic differentiation between these groups. The last occurrences of cladid genera were greater in the Emsian and Givetian than they were in the Frasnian with the exception of the gasterocomids. Advanced cladids with plesiomorphic conical cups are thought to be derived from the Transitional Dendrocrinids, whereas the evolution of those with bowl-shaped cups is uncertain, but may be from the cyathocrinids. Time gaps in the ranges of carry-through genera and the sparse record in the Lochkovian and Pragian suggest stratigraphic intervals for future research to help resolve evolutionary and taxonomic questions in the cladids.
Observation of Hypernuclear Gamma-Ray Transitions in Li Λ 7 and Be Λ 9

$\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transitions of energy 2.034 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.023 MeV in the hypernucleus $_{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ and 3.079 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.040 MeV in the hypernucleus $_{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{9}\mathrm{Be}$ are observed. In both cases, the energy of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray in the hypernucleus $_{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{A}Z$ is very close to the energy of the first excited state of the nuclear core. The $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays are interpreted as arising from core transitions in the presence of the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ particle. The size of the shift places limits on the strength of the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}N$ spin-dependent interaction.
Modulation of autophagy with hydroxychloroquine in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A phase Ib study.

e21138Background: A potential resistance mechanism to chemotherapy in NSCLC is through activation of cell survival pathways such as autophagy. Studies in genetically engineered mouse models demonst...
Conformal coating of cobalt oxide on solid oxide fuel cell cathode and resultant continuously increased oxygen reduction reaction kinetics upon operation

Abstract To improve the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction from the cathode of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), a conformal layer of catalytic CoOx grains was deposited onto the internal surface of LSM/YSZ composite cathode of commercial cells, through atomic layer deposition (ALD). Upon the electrochemical operation, the ALD coated cell has dramatic reduction of the polarization resistance, and the power density exhibits continuous increase over the course of 172 h operation at 750 °C and reaches the cell performance enhancement by a factor of 1.6, in comparison with that from the baseline operated for 96 h. Such performance enhancement was attributed to the combination of the newly added triple phase boundaries for promoting the oxygen reduction reaction, as well as the accelerated oxygen transport on the cathode surface. The present work opens the further research direction for ALD coating of non-precious metal catalyst to boost the performance of as-fabricated SOFCs.
Revenue-Optimal Mechanism Design for Rate-Differentiated Energy Services

The problem of designing revenue-optimal mechanisms for allocating multiple units of a good to consumers over $T$ time steps is considered. Each consumer wants to receive $E$ units of the good and has a delivery rate constraint that limits the number of units it can receive within one time step. Each consumer's rate constraint and valuation for the goods are its private information. Resource allocation problems of this type arise in the context of energy services where consumers have a tolerable rate of energy delivery that cannot be exceeded when they receive their demanded energy. We characterize the allocation rule for a Bayesian incentive compatible, individually rational and revenue maximizing mechanism in terms of solutions to integer programs. The corresponding payment rule is also pinned down by the allocation rule in the form of an integral equation. We then reformulate the problem of finding optimal allocations as a network flow optimization problem. A complete characterization of the optimal allocations and payments is then provided in terms of the solution to the corresponding network flow optimization problem which can be obtained efficiently using the methods developed in the context of discrete optimization [1], [2]. A numerical example is provided to verify our results.
Ultrasensitive Genomic Minimal Residual Disease Detection in Peripheral Blood after Allogeneic HSCT for MDS Is Associated with Increased Relapse Risk and Inferior Survival

Introduction Genomic minimal residual disease (MRD) detected in complete remission using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is associated with inferior survival in AML patients when measured after induction chemotherapy and before and after allogeneic HSCT. However, the utility of high sensitivity genomic MRD detection in the context of allogeneic HSCT for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is unclear. Here we present data evaluating the association of genomic MRD with survival in HSCT recipients with MDS. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 72 MDS patients sampled prior to HSCT were enriched for CD34+ cells and CD3+ cells using MACS columns. Genomic DNA extracted from CD34+ fractions underwent targeted next generation sequencing of 49 genes recurrently mutated in MDS. Variants were confirmed in the CD34+ fraction and germline polymorphisms excluded in the CD3+ fraction using Sanger resequencing. To date, mutations identified in 43 cases have been quantified with ddPCR in unfractionated PBMC genomic DNA prior to conditioning and at day 30 post-transplant with a sensitivity as low as 0.002%. Results A median of 2 mutations per case (range 1-4) was identified with NGS and subsequently measured with ddPCR. Prior to HSCT, 70% of cases had mutations with a variant allele frequency (VAF) ≥10% and had inferior OS compared to those with Conclusion Ultrasensitive genomic MRD detection in PBMC of MDS patients 30 days after HSCT is feasible and is associated with increased relapse risk and inferior DFS and OS. The gene mutations of most MRDpos patients were detected at
Entropy and Accounting

In this paper we establish an equivalence between accounting numbers and information. The information numbers are denominated in entropy which is a measure of uncertainty and is a function of probabilities only. Mutual information is defined as the reduction of entropy when an information source X is available. We state that the log of one plus the accounting rate equals to the sum of the risk free rate and mutual information. Three conditions are sufficient: (i) long run decision frame; (ii) arbitrage free prices; and (iii) accounting valuation approximating discounted cash flows while the discount rate is the sum of risk free rate and mutual information. We derive two versions of the equivalence; they differ only in the measure of mutual information. One version is for when states of the world are observable and mutual information is the reduction of classical or Shannon entropy. If all possible states of the world are observable (and contractible), then all transactions can be consummated in the marketplace. Hence, firms, and the accounting for firms, might not arise. We extend the results by modeling state unobservability using quantum measurement techniques. The equivalence relation remains the same with quantum measurement probabilities substituted for classical probabilities and mutual information is the reduction of quantum entropy. The classical state observable case is seen to be a special case of the quantum equivalence.
Fish community response to in-channel woody debris in a channelized river system

Additions of large wood (LW) have become a go-to technique for recovering altered river ecosystems. However, successful applications of this technique are generally limited to unchannelized rivers ...
Do Non-District Donors Reward Moderates? Evidence from the Senate, 1990-2014

Money from non-district donors represents a growing share of money raised in congressional elections. Yet little research has probed the links between this money and the behavior of legislators in office. I conduct a longitudinal study of the Senate (1990-2014) to understand the links between extremism in floor voting and receipts from out-of-state donors. I find that, among senators not facing reelection during a given two-year congress, there is a negative correlation between extremism and out-of-state donations, which suggests that non-district donors reward “centrists” who vote with the middle of the pack. However, this relationship disappears among senators facing reelection at the end of a congress. These results illuminate the ways in which non-district donors seek to influence the behavior of politicians through their gifts during periods of electoral safety, and suggest that senators behave strategically in order to win favor from non-state donors for support.
Market orientation and poverty reduction: A study of rural microentrepreneurs in Ghana

ABSTRACTWe draw on the quality of life theory and government economic development policies that focus on entrepreneurship for a theoretical backdrop to investigate the consequences of market orient...
Predicting microcystin concentration action-level exceedances resulting from cyanobacterial blooms in selected lake sites in Ohio

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms and the toxins they produce are a global water-quality problem. Monitoring and prediction tools are needed to quickly predict cyanotoxin action-level exceedances in recreational and drinking waters used by the public. To address this need, data were collected at eight locations in Ohio, USA, to identify factors significantly related to observed concentrations of microcystins (a freshwater cyanotoxin) that could be used in two types of site-specific regression models. Real-time models include easily or continuously-measured factors that do not require that a sample be collected; comprehensive models use a combination of discrete sample-based measurements and real-time factors. The study sites included two recreational sites and six water treatment plant sites. Real-time models commonly included variables such as phycocyanin, pH, specific conductance, and streamflow or gage height. Many real-time factors were averages over time periods antecedent to the time the microcystin sample was collected, including water-quality data compiled from continuous monitors. Comprehensive models were useful at some sites with lagged variables for cyanobacterial toxin genes, dissolved nutrients, and (or) nitrogen to phosphorus ratios. Because models can be used for management decisions, important measures of model performance were sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of estimates above or below the microcystin concentration threshold standard or action level. Sensitivity is how well the predictive tool correctly predicts exceedance of a threshold, an important measure for water-resource managers. Sensitivities > 90% at four Lake Erie water treatment plants indicated that models with continuous monitor data were especially promising. The planned next steps are to collect more data to build larger site-specific datasets and validate models before they can be used for management decisions.
Challenges and opportunities toward fully automated analog layout design

Realizing the layouts of analog/mixed-signal (AMS) integrated circuits (ICs) is a complicated task due to the high design flexibility and sensitive circuit performance. Compared with the advancements of digital IC layout automation, analog IC layout design is still heavily manual, which leads to a more time-consuming and error-prone process. In recent years, significant progress has been made in automated analog layout design with emerging of several open-source frameworks. This paper firstly reviews the existing state-of-the art AMS layout synthesis frameworks with focus on the different approaches and their individual challenges. We then present recent research trends and opportunities in the field. Finally, we summaries the paper with open questions and future directions for fully-automating the analog IC layout.
Clairvoyance: Inferring Blocklist Use on the Internet

One of the staples of network defense is blocking traffic to and from a list of “known bad” sites on the Internet. However, few organizations are in a position to produce such a list themselves, so pragmatically this approach depends on the existence of third-party “threat intelligence” providers who specialize in distributing feeds of unwelcome IP addresses. However, the choice to use such a strategy, let alone which data feeds are trusted for this purpose, is rarely made public and thus little is understood about the deployment of these techniques in the wild. To explore this issue, we have designed and implemented a technique to infer proactive traffic blocking on a remote host and, through a series of measurements, to associate that blocking with the use of particular IP blocklists. In a pilot study of 220K US hosts, we find as many as one fourth of the hosts appear to blocklist based on some source of threat intelligence data, and about 2% use one of the 9 particular third-party blocklists that we evaluated.
Women survive longer than men undergoing cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC for appendiceal cancer.

Background We hypothesize that women undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal carcinomatosis from appendiceal cancer will have a survival advantage compared to men. Methods The National Cancer Database (NCDB) public user file (2004-2014) was used to select patients with PC undergoing CRS and HIPEC from appendiceal cancer. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed. Results 1,190 patients with PC from appendiceal cancer underwent HIPEC and CRS. OS was significantly longer for women than for men, with mean and median OS being 73.8 months and 98.2 months for women vs 58.7 months and 82.5 months for men, respectively (p = 0.0032). On multivariable analysis, male sex (HR: 1.444, 95% CI: 1.141-1.827, p = 0.0022) and increasing age (HR: 1.017, 95% CI: 1.006-1.027, p = 0.0017) were both found to be independent risk factors for worse OS. Conclusion Women undergoing CRS and HIPEC for PC from appendiceal origin live longer than men undergoing the same treatment. Increasing age was also found to be independent risk factors for worse survival.
Surgical management of growth hormone-secreting adenomas

Abstract Growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenomas of the pituitary gland can cause acromegaly in adults and gigantism in children before fusion of bony epiphysis. The mortality rate in this patient population is significantly higher than the general population, with the most likely cause of death stemming from cardiac or vascular complications. Therefore treatment of the underlying adenoma is crucial. Currently, surgical tumor extirpation remains the treatment of choice, with high rates of durable endocrinological remission and low rates of adverse events. In patients with recurrence of tumor or endocrinopathy or those in poor general health, long-term targeted therapy with somatostatin analogues may be advised. Reoperation or radiation therapy remains as options for medically intractable growth hormone excess. Current advances in surgical techniques including endoscopy and intraoperative MRI imaging make the initial and repeat surgeries safe and effective in the management of acromegaly/gigantism.
Neither Force nor Will

If we are to choose which provision of the constitution has turned out to be the stupidest, we must be allowed to use hindsight. In the beginning, there were provisions that made good sense in their day, but time has been hard on them. With the use of hindsight, I choose the second sentence of Section 1 of Article III: "The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good behaviour .... " Perhaps there are others who, like me, find the phrase "during good behaviour" to be highly ambiguous. And some of these may even join me in finding the standard interpretation of that phrase rather strange. But I waive all such matters, and I am willing to go forward on the assumption that a community consensus has settled the meaning of the phrase, which is, that our judges shall serve for life, unless they choose to resign, or unless they are impeached. Having accepted that "good behaviour" means "life tenure," I will say that this provision is stupid. However, I admit that this judgment does draw heavily upon the use of hindsight, and I do not wish to impugn the judgment of the drafters. When they wrote, the project of constitution-making was new, and the relevant experience was lacking. Having an independent judiciary was more theory than reality for them, and they had not experienced a regime in which judges declared governmental acts to be unconstitutional. Of course, judicial review was not foreign to them; they were familiar with the precedents and approved of the concept. Even so, it was not a lived reality. In setting up this new and powerful institution, they had to proceed upon assumptions, and it is not strange that some of these assumptions might tum out to be false. Consider, for example, Hamilton's famous discussion of the judiciary in Federalist No. 78. Recall that the context for this discussion is whether the judiciary would have the capacity to upset the political balance of power.
Capacity for Managing Disasters

Capacity for managing and preventing disasters depends upon how disasters are defined or understood. Until the nineteenth century, the capacity to manage disasters was limited to the ability to undertake relief and rescue operations. Beginning in the early 1900s, social scientists laid a foundation for understanding disasters as the product of natural and social forces. Based on this understanding, the capacity to manage “disaster risk” required the ability to develop good models of disaster risk, planning to mitigate known disaster risks, and transferring risk of economic losses from likely disasters along with the ability to be prepared for disasters. However, even with the new understanding and increased efforts associated with disaster response and mitigation, monetary losses from disasters are increased globally. Social scientists now believe that we live in a “risk society” where “industrial-technical-scientific projects” produce unintended risks that are incalculable, uninsurable, and uncontrollable. The capacity to manage disasters now requires an ability to learn, internalize and make change, manage information flow and exchange, ensure flexibility and adaptability in the structure and functions of organizations, and coordinate work with multiple agencies and units to achieve a common purpose. This chapter provides a strong theoretical basis of what capacities are needed for managing disasters and who needs these capacities. This chapter is divided into four sections: (i) the need for capacity development in disaster risk management, (ii) key concepts, (iii) historical evolution of the field and where it is heading, and (iv) what and whose capacity.
The effects of neighbouring tree islands on pollinator density and diversity, and on pollination of a wet prairie species, Asclepias lanceolata (Apocynaceae)

Summary 1 The Everglades (Florida, USA) is a mosaic of different habitats. Tropical and temperate trees grow on patches of high ground (tree islands) surrounded by lower elevation wetland communities (marl prairie). 2 Tree islands of various sizes provide nesting substrate, larval host plants and floral resources for insect pollinators. Herbaceous plants in the open surrounding wetlands may also depend on these pollinators. 3 We investigated pollinator diversity and abundances in both tree island and marl prairie habitats using transect sampling methods and estimated pollination success of the milkweed Asclepias lanceolata, an insect-pollinated marl prairie species, in relation to distance from and size of the closest tree island. 4 On a total of 11 bayhead tree islands, we found that insect diversity and abundance were greater on the edge of larger tree islands (20–30 m2) than on smaller tree islands (5–10 m2). Pollinator diversity and abundance in the marl prairie decreased with increasing distance from tree islands. 5 Pairs of potted A. lanceolata plants were placed in the marl prairie at distances up to 1000 m from small and large tree islands. Fruit and seed production were highest for plants placed less than 25 m from tree islands and decreased with increasing distance. 6 Our results suggest that tree islands are an important source of pollinators for the plants in the tree island and surrounding wetland habitats. 7 This landscape-based study illustrates how overall landscape structure affects important biotic interactions, particularly plant–pollinator relationships. Our findings have far-reaching ecological implications for the reproductive success of plants in small, isolated populations that may depend on insect vectors for pollination.
Thread allocation protocols for distributed real-time and embedded systems

We study the problem of thread allocation in asynchronous distributed real-time and embedded systems. Each distributed node handles a limited set of resources, in particular a limited thread pool. Different methods can be invoked concurrently in each node, either by external agents or as a remote call during the execution of a method. In this pa- per we study thread allocation under a WaitOnConnection strategy, in which each nested upcall made while a thread is waiting must be made in a different thread. We study protocols that control the allocation of threads to guarantee the absence of deadlocks. First, we introduce a computational model in which we formally describe the different protocols and their desired properties. Then, we study two scenarios: a single agent performing sequential calls, and multiple agents with unrestricted concurrency. For each scenario we present (1) algorithms to compute the minimum amount of resources to avoid deadlocks, and (2) run-time protocols that control the allocation of these resources.
Escherichia coli promoters. I. Consensus as it relates to spacing class, specificity, repeat substructure, and three-dimensional organization.

Fifty-two of the best characterized Escherichia coli promoters in the Hawley and McClure [1983) Nucleic Acids Res. 8, 2237–2255) listing were used to determine the distribution of information content in promoters and to describe the basic features underlying the existence of several different promoter spacing classes, which are defined by the number of bases separating the −35 and −10 regions. The contact regions at −35 and −10 do not, on the average, contain sufficient information to specify a promoter. The search for additional specifying bases led to two conclusions: 1) the consensus nucleotide sequence in the noncontact regions of a promoter appears to be distinct for each of the major promoter spacing classes; 2) promoters appear to contain a 15–20 base subset of the 40–50 additional optimal noncontact bases. This improved view of the extended consensus sequence allows the detection of a 10-base degenerate palindrome which may be the basic unit of promoter structure. Contiguous direct repeats of this sequence produce a sequence closely related to the consensus for the 18-base pair spacing class. This underlying structure is also evidenced in the 17- and 16-base pair spacing classes; however, the start points of the fourth and subsequent repetitions of the sequence element are moved one and two bases upstream, respectively, relative to their location in the 18-base pair spacing class. These consensus sequences, when viewed in a helical format, all present the opportunity for two alternative sets of a dyad repeat. The −35 region is common to both sets and is paired with an extended −10 region in one set and with a pseudo-10 region in the other. Possible implications of these arrangements are discussed.
Under-Regulated Healthcare Phenomena in a Flat World: Medical Tourism and Outsourcing

This Article examines two intersecting phenomena: medical tourism and the outsourcing of health care goods and services. "Medical Tourism" (Part I) involves the resident of one state or country physically experiencing health care in another place. "Outsourcing" (Part II) involves care that appears domestic but has been disaggregated to allow some components to be performed non-domestically. Frequently the patient (or in the case of final beneficiaries of a clinical trial, a domestic user of a subsequently approved drug) does not know that care has been outsourced. These two phenomena currently operate outside, and may be disruptive of, contemporary Western health care regulation. While health care, particularly in the U.S., is our most highly regulated industry, medical tourism and outsourcing appear to operate outside our traditional regulatory matrix. Having examined the extent to which this is an accurate intuition, this Article questions (in Part III) the extent to which we do or will enjoy increased trading of health services and addresses some of the issues that must be considered in approaching any regulatory questions posed by medical tourism and outsourcing.
Family of circulant graphs and its expander properties

FAMILY OF CIRCULANT GRAPHS AND ITS EXPANDER PROPERTIES by Vinh Kha Nguyen In this thesis, we apply spectral graph theory to show the non-existence of an expander family within the class of circulant graphs. Using the adjacency matrix and its properties, we prove Cheeger’s inequalities and determine when the equalities hold. In order to apply Cheeger’s inequalities, we compute the spectrum of a general circulant graph and approximate its second largest eigenvalue. Finally, we show that circulant graphs do not contain an expander family.