cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of aperiodicity in nearly periodic signals

Nearly periodic waveforms produced by musical instruments fluctuate from period to period both in the length of the period and in the shape of the waveform of each period. A measure of these fluctuations that is sensitive to correlations in waveshapes for medium time scales (up to 16 in the present implementation) is described. The method also produces two-dimensional color or gray-scale plots that allow visualization of the complexity of waveforms produced by acoustic or electronic instruments over hundreds of periods of the waveform. >
Moving into the technological fast lane: from reverse to forward engineering through the establishment of innovation communities in Korea

This paper examines the role played by the Korean government in developing an innovation community through the initiation of a national research project. Called the highly advanced nation (HAN) project, its goal is to increase the capabilities of the innovation community to conduct forward engineering. The organizational structure of the HAN project is examined to determine which agencies play the key roles in managing and conducting the research. The results show a shift rewards business organizations as the key conductors of the research, and also highlights changes in the management role played by government.
A decomposition approach to nonlinear programs as applied to reservoir systems

The problem considered in this paper is the determination of the operating policy over time of a network of water reservoirs or dams arranged according to an arbitrary topology. If streamflow was a known quantity, the problem could be formulated as a large nonlinear program (several hundred nonlinear) constraints as a minimum) and solved by the two methods proposed in this paper. Since streamflow is random, the problem becomes a large stochastic program which can be solved by a procedure given in the literature. The key step in solving this stochastic program is the solution of the nonlinear program by the methods we propose.
Customer Service in the United States

This case examines the airline industry in the United States as an example of customer service. It uses authentic customer service letters as a springboard for a broader discussion of the current condition of customer service. Anyone who has received customer service from a large organization can relate to the content of this case, perhaps adding their own experiences. The case is applicable to both undergraduate and graduate courses in strategy, marketing, customer relationship management (CRM), and customer loyalty.
Does reducing the rate or efficiency of digestion reduce food intake

Two strains of rats (Charles River CD and Lewis) were fed high-moisture (71% water) diets containing 50-300 mg acarbose/kg dry diet for 1-3 wk. Acarbose impaired carbohydrate digestion in both strains, as evidenced by increased fecal excretion and increased intestinal contents. For both strains the highest dose of acarbose tended to stimulate food intake, whereas an intermediate dose (100 mg/kg) inhibited food intake. The lowest dose (50 mg/kg) had no significant effect. In general the food intake-promoting effect of acarbose was more pronounced in CD rats, whereas the food intake-inhibiting effect of acarbose was more pronounced in Lewis rats. To determine whether increased intestinal bulk, due to undigested food, was responsible for the reduced food intake, another experiment was conducted in which Lewis rats were fed diets containing 5-25% cellulose. Although this level of cellulose should have increased fecal bulk to the same degree as acarbose, cellulose increased rather than decreased food intake. It is proposed that the presence of incompletely digested food in the digestive tract can inhibit food intake for several days. Because manipulating diet moisture altered energy intake without altering percentage of food excreted as feces, it is proposed that acarbose and diet moisture alter food intake by different mechanisms.
Victoria Chemicals Plc (B): The Merseyside and Rotterdam Projects

This case series considers the capital-investment decisions to be made by executives of a large chemicals firm in January 2008. The A case (UVA-F-1543) presents a go/no-go project evaluation regarding improvements to a polypropylene production plant. The B case reviews the same project but from one level higher, where the executives face an either/or investment decision between two mutually exclusive projects.
Public Option for Press Should Get the Red Pen

A major American industry is struggling. Some are calling for subsidies to prop it up; potentially even a bailout. Assistance for displaced workers is also recommended. And a variety of new regulations are proposed to avoid future calamities.Is it the auto industry? The financial sector? The housing market?No, it's the media. With many traditional media providers--newspapers, broadcasters, and others--languishing in the midst of unprecedented marketplace changes and technological upheaval, some regulatory activists are suggesting government should take steps to "save journalism" before venerable news-gathering institutions and reporters are swept away by the ongoing digital tsunami.
Conditions in U.S. Treaty Practice: New Data and Insights on a Growing Phenomenon

The U.S. Senate often adds various types of conditions, also known as reservations, understandings, and declarations, to its advice and consent to multilateral treaties. The ability to add conditions to a treaty likely increases the number of States willing to join a treaty because it allows States to modify their treaty obligations to address domestic concerns. However, the use of conditions also has the potential to undermine the integrity of the treaty by allowing States to opt out of important legal obligations and to create legal uncertainty regarding treaty obligations and relationships. This article examines U.S. treaty practice with respect to use of conditions to determine how and when conditions are being used and the effect of those conditions on the United States’ legal obligations. Drawing on a database of almost 400 multilateral treaties to which the United States is a party, this article demonstrates that the U.S. Senate’s use of such conditions has grown significantly over the last few decades, particularly with respect to the use of conditions other than reservations. The Senate purports to use conditions to modify the United States’ legal obligations; to clarify ambiguous treaty terms; and to address how a treaty is to be implemented in U.S. law. However, the legal effect of the Senate’s use of conditions, both in U.S. law and international law, is often murky. Accordingly, this article examines Senate practice with respect to its advice and consent function for multilateral treaties to determine what is happening in this area of the law and whether changes should be made.The article explains the legal authority for the use of conditions in U.S. treaty practice, and describes different types of conditions the Senate has used, how and when the Senate adds conditions to such agreements, and how Senate practice has changed over time. The article identifies the types of conditions most frequently added by the Senate and examines whether conditions are more likely depending on the treaty’s subject matter. Based on this observed behavior, the article proposes some theories as to why the U.S. Senate is more likely to add conditions to certain types of treaties than others. The article also considers whether a prohibition on treaty reservations significantly lessens the likelihood the United States will join.Next, the article analyzes the consistency of U.S. treaty practice with international practice. This examination shows that U.S. treaty practice is not entirely consistent with international practice, especially with respect to the use of “understandings.” It also highlights legal problems that may arise through the use of conditions. The article then discusses the extent to which the other branches of U.S. government are or should be bound by the different types of conditions proposed by the Senate. Finally, the article concludes with some recommendations regarding changes in treaty practice for the future.
More Information May Reduce Errors for Novice Users: Usability Testing and Redesign of the Square Register App

The popular Square Register app was tested and redesigned for better initial performance using human factors methods. The research team interviewed both current and potential users who expressed co...
The Glory of Ancient India Stems from her Aryan Blood: French anthropologists ‘construct’ the racial history of India for the world

In the last century the French presented their race-neutral policies as evidence of their colour blindness. Yet they were among the foremost proponents of race theory and racial hierarchy, which propelled the colonial machine of the nineteenth century. This article examines the role of French academics in creating a position for India in the racial imagination for the first time in history. It examines the motivations behind such a focus on India and the resulting response from Britain, the colonial ruler. The works of Paul Topinard, Louis Rousselet, Arthur Gobineau, and Gustave le Bon are situated in the colonial and political context of the mid-nineteenth century to demonstrate not only that it was the French, and not the Germans, who placed India on an Aryan pedestal, but that this move was propelled by the dream of an unfulfilled French empire in India.
Competing Mistresses? Academic Vs. Practitioner Perceptions of Systems Analysis

This study investigates whether a gap exists between academic and practitioner-oriented research within the domain of systems planning and analysis. Academic-oriented research is rooted in positivism, which assumes that knowledge is objective and independent from the knower. Practitioner-oriented research assumes that knowledge is a social construction – the meanings and values which constitute knowledge are inseparable from the knower. The research questions include: (1) what are the similarities and differences between academic and practitioner research within systems planning and analysis? (2) in which streams do gaps exist? (3) to what extent do themes emerge from the data? and (4) what are the differences in research focus, pre- and post-1990, between academics and practitioners? The findings suggest that differences do exist between academic- and practitioner- oriented research regarding what is studied, which research methods are employed, and what outcomes arise from the specific studies. These di...
Cellular fatty acid analysis of Legionella pneumophila in air conditioning cooling water in Guangdong

Objective To evaluate the value of cellular fatty acid(CFA) analysis of Legionella pneumophila(Lp) strains to identify species,to compare CFA analysis and serotyping,and to ascertain the differences in CFAs among different Lp serotypes.Methods One hundred and twelve Lp strains belonging to 7 serotypes were isolated from cooling tower water in Guangdong over the last 3 years.The CFA components were extracted and analyzed with the MIDI Sherlock system and SPSS 13.0 statistical software was used for data analysis and cluster analysis.Results Concordance among species was 84.8%.Nine fatty acids were components common to all of the tested strains.The main fatty acid components were found to be 16∶0 iso acid,15∶0 anteiso acid,16∶1 w7c acid,and 14∶0 iso acid.Differences between the serotype 1 strain and serotype 6 and 7 strains in terms of the three main fatty acid components were statistically significant.Conclusion CFA analysis was found to help with rapid identification of Lp strains.The fatty acid components of Lp were stable,but the fatty acid components differed among the different serotypes.CFA information for Lp in the MIDI database still needs to be improved.
Muc4/Sialomucin Complex in the Mammary Gland and Breast Cancer

MUC4 is a one of the membrane mucins of the mucin gene (MUC) family, characterized by mucin tandem repeat domains and a transmembrane domain which associates it with the cell plasma membrane. Although MUC4 is encoded by a single gene, it is produced by epithelial cells as a heterodimer through a proteolytic cleavage mechanism. This heterodimer is found in both membrane and soluble forms associated with epithelia. Functionally, MUC4 is proposed to provide a protective mechanism for vulnerable epithelia, such as those of the airway, eye, female reproductive tract and mammary gland. The protective mechanism(s) may be highjacked by some carcinomas, such as those of the breast, to increase tumor progression. Two mechanisms are proposed to contribute to the MUC4 functions. First, MUC4 acts as an anti-adhesive or anti-recognition barrier at epithelial or tumor cell surfaces. Second, MUC4 can bind the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB2 and alter its cellular signaling. Expression of MUC4 in mammary gland is repressed by posttranscriptional mechanisms involving basement membrane and TGF-β, which are relieved during pregnancy to permit secretion of MUC4 into milk. These mechanisms are also abrogated in some breast cancers, providing a scenario for promotion of tumor progression. These observations imply important functions for MUC4 in both normal mammary function and in breast cancer.
Effects of Lattice Motion on Dissociative Chemisorption: Toward a Rigorous Comparison of Theory with Molecular Beam Experiments

The dissociative chemisorption of small molecules such as methane and water on metal surfaces is a key step in many important catalyzed reactions. However, it has only very recently become possible to directly compare theory with molecular beam studies of these reactions. For most experimental conditions, such a comparison requires accurate methods for introducing the effects of lattice motion into quantum reactive scattering calculations. We examine these methods and their recent application to methane and water dissociative chemisorption. New results are presented for CO2 chemisorption and methane dissociation at step edges. The type of molecule–lattice coupling that leads to a strong variation in the dissociative sticking of methane with temperature is shown to occur for many polyatomic–metal systems. Improvements to these models are discussed. The ability to accurately compare theory with molecular beam experiments should lead to improved density functionals and consequently more accurate thermal rate...
Mikrokosms and robots

This paper presents a computer program that simulates situations (called "MIKROKOSMS") in which severl entities (called "organisms") wander around in an environment that includes one another plus other, apparently simpler, entities (called "objects"). The program has a rather simple set of "laws" of objects, which can be thought of as the laws of physics of the MIKROKOSM. It also has other specifications for organisms - their input and output functions (called "perception" and "response"), their reward functions (called "motivation" or "needs"), and their mechanisms for building up internal memories (called "learning" and "hypothesis formation") that will'help them to recognize objects in the future, and respond appropriately to them (for example, in order to maximize expected rewards). This program lays bare the processes that are needed to handle interactions among simulated organisms and objects, including the learning of hypotheses that will guide future action. The present program has only the simplest of pattern recognition, hypothesis formation and need-satisfaction capabilities. Its purpose is to make clear and concrete how such things can be interrelated in a complete system.
Tumors Are a Major Source of Tissue Factor-Positive Microparticles in a Mouse Model.

Abstract Abstract 3190 Poster Board III-127 Tissue factor (TF) is present in blood in the form of cell-membrane vesicles called microparticles (MPs). Elevated levels of TF-positive MPs may increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with cancer. In mice containing human tumors, levels of human TF antigen significantly correlate with both levels of thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) and tumor size. The objectives of this study were to measure levels of MP TF activity in the plasma of tumor-bearing mice and analyze the relative contribution of host versus tumor to this pool of MPs. Human pancreatic cells (Hpaf-II, 2×106 cells per mouse) were injected subcutaneously into female SCID mice. Five weeks later, whole blood was collected and plasma was prepared. The median tumor weight was 1.03 ± 0.64 grams (n=9). MP TF activity was measured using our recent described method (Wang et al. JTH 2009:1092-1098). The species-specific antibodies 1H1 and HTF-1 were used to inhibit mouse TF activity in MPs derived from the host and human TF activity in MPs derived from the tumor, respectively. We also measured levels of human TF antigen and TAT in the plasma. In control mice injected with saline, levels of human TF antigen and human TF activity in MPs were undetectable, whereas both human TF antigen (318.6 ± 256.2 pg/mL, n=9) and human TF activity in MPs (1.08 ± 1.18 pg/mL, n=9) were dramatically increased in tumor-bearing mice. Consistent with previous reports, there was a significant correlation between levels of human TF antigen and tumor size (r=0.67, n=9, p=0.030). Importantly, we found that levels of human TF activity in MPs significantly correlated with levels of human TF antigen (r=0.883, n=9, p=0.002) and tumor size (r=0.667, n=9, p=0.029). Furthermore, tumor-bearing mice had significant higher levels of TAT (7.5 ± 1.8 ng/mL, n=9) than control mice (3.9 ± 0.7 ng/mL, n=3) (p=0.008). Four of the 9 mice had metastatic tumors in the pancreas. Therefore, based on metastasis and tumor size, the tumor-bearing mice were classified into two groups: early stage (no pancreatic metastasis or tumor size ≤ 1 gram, 0.70 ± 0.35 gram, n=4) and late stage (pancreatic metastasis or tumor size ≥1 gram, 1.30 ± 0.72 gram, n=5). As expected, mice in the late stage group have significant higher levels of human TF antigen (468.1 ± 228.0 vs 131.8 ± 148.3 pg/ml, p=0.039) and human TF activity in MPs (1.74 ± 1.24 pg/ml vs 0.25 ± 0.08 pg/mL, p=0.049) than those in the early stage group. Finally, mice in the late stage group have significantly higher levels of human TF activity in MPs derived from the tumor (1.95 ± 1.54 pg/mL) than mouse TF activity in MPs derived from the host (0.20 ± 0.26 pg/mL, p=0.0362, n=5). In conclusion, mice containing human pancreatic tumors have significant elevated levels of total MP TF activity and TAT. Levels of human TF activity in MPs correlate with levels of human TF antigen and activation of coagulation. Tumors are a major source of TF-positive MPs in a mouse model. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Hyperinsulinemia: a Cause of Obesity?

Purpose of Review This perspective is motivated by the need to question dogma that does not work: that the problem is insulin resistance (IR). We highlight the need to investigate potential environmental obesogens and toxins.
Early Intranasal Vasopressin Administration Impairs Partner Preference in Adult Male Prairie Voles (Microtus ochrogaster).

Research supports a modulatory role for arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the expression of socially motivated behaviors in mammals. The acute effects of AVP administration are demonstrably pro-social across species, providing the justification for an ever-increasing measure of clinical interest over the last decade. Combining these results with non-invasive intranasal delivery results in an attractive system for offering intranasal AVP (IN-AVP) as a therapeutic for the social impairments of children with autism spectrum disorder. But, very little is known about the long-term effects of IN-AVP during early development. In this experiment, we explored whether a single week of early juvenile administration of IN-AVP (low = 0.05 IU/kg, medium = 0.5 IU/kg, high = 5.0 IU/kg) could impact behavior across life in prairie voles. We found increases in fecal boli production during open field and novel object recognition testing for the medium dose in both males and females. Medium-dose females also had significantly more play bouts than control when exposed to novel conspecifics during the juvenile period. Following sexual maturity, the medium and high doses of IN-AVP blocked partner preference formation in males, while no such impairment was found for any of the experimental groups in females. Finally, the high-dose selectively increased adult male aggression with novel conspecifics, but only after extended cohabitation with a mate. Our findings confirm that a single week of early IN-AVP treatment can have organizational effects on behavior across life in prairie voles. Specifically, the impairments in pair-bonding behavior experienced by male prairie voles should raise caution when the prosocial effects of acute IN-AVP demonstrated in other studies are extrapolated to long-term treatment.
On the Use of Betweenness Centrality for Selection of Plausible Trajectories in Qualitative Biological Regulatory Networks

Qualitative modeling approach is widely used to study the behavior of Biological Regulatory Networks. The approach uses directed graphs also called as Open image in new window , to represent system dynamics. As the number of genes increase, the complexity of stategraph increases exponentially. The identification of important trajectories and isolation of more probable dynamics from less significant ones constitutes an important problem in qualitative modeling of biological networks. In this work, we implement a parallel approach for identification of important dynamics in qualitative models. Our implementation uses the concept of Open image in new window . For parallelization, we used a Java based library MPJ Express to implement our approach. We evaluate the performance of our implementation on well known case study of bacteriophage lambda. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our implementation by selecting important trajectories and correlating with experimental data.
The role of pastoral crisis intervention in disasters, terrorism, violence, and other community crises

The term "pastoral crisis intervention" has been defined by Everly (2000) as the functional integration of faith-based resources with traditional crisis intervention assessment and intervention technologies. Pastoral crisis intervention has been differentiated from ministry and the provision of chaplaincy services. This paper provides a public health model for integrating pastoral crisis intervention services within the larger domain of community disaster response, crisis intervention, and emergency mental health.
Ice in Micro Cold Traps on Mercury: Implications for Age and Origin

Evidence in radar, reflectance, and visible imagery indicates that surface and subsurface water ice is present inside permanently shadowed regions in the north polar region of Mercury. The origin of this ice and the time at which it was delivered to the planet are both unknown. Finding the smallest, most easily eroded ice deposits on Mercury can help answer these questions. Here we present evidence for volatiles trapped in cold traps of scales ∼ 1-10 m. We consider two possible delivery methods for these deposits: a gradual, slow accumulation by micrometeorites or solar wind implantation and an episodic deposition, either primordial or by a recent comet impact. We conclude that the mechanism that best explains the presence of volatiles in these micro cold traps is a comet impact that most likely occurred in the last ∼ 100 Ma.
Constrained droplet base in condensed water on carbon nanoparticle coating for delayed freezing

Abstract We studied the freezing of condensed water on carbon nanoparticles coated surfaces under high humidity. The coating is composed of assembled carbon nanoparticles with diameter of 20–30 nm and fabricated through a simple flame synthesis process followed by transfer-printing on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates. Through in-situ observation of water condensation using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), we found that the water nucleation initiated from the underlying PDMS substrate rather than the coating due to the larger free energy barrier induced lower nucleation rate of nanoparticles. Unlike the growth of condensed micro-droplets with constant contact angle on bare PDMS surfaces, the condensed micro-drops on the coating were observed to grow with a constant base area. We showed that the small yet constant solid–liquid contact area during growth resulted in a low heat transfer rate between the condensed water droplets and the substrate, and thus an over twice longer freezing time of condensed water on coated PDMS surfaces than that on uncoated ones. Such a prolonged freezing performance is found to be comparable to that on superhydrophobic surfaces utilizing insulating air pockets to reduce the heat transfer rate, suggesting a complimentary strategy for design of anti-icing materials working under high humidity.
Effectiveness of a Best Practice Alerts at Improving Hypertension Control.

Background Inadequately treated hypertension (HTN) leads to considerable morbidity and mortality. Despite many treatment options, blood pressure (BP) control is suboptimal. Missed opportunities due to the growing complexity of primary care office visits contribute. Electronic health records (EHRs) offer best practice alerts (BPA) tools to support clinicians in identifying poor BP control. BPAs have demonstrated effectiveness for other health outcomes. Methods EHR data were collected for patients ≥18 years old seen for primary care office visits prior to, during, and after the BPA active period and used to identify patients for whom the BPA fired or would have fired during control periods. Logistic regression examined the association of BPA activation with follow-up BP check within 14-90 days and with BP control at follow-up, controlling for demographics and health conditions. Results The BPA active period was associated with reduced patient follow-up; however, a number of covariates were predictive of increased follow-up: Black non-Hispanics, Hispanics, patients on the chronic kidney disease, HTN, or diabetes registries, as well as the morbidly obese, insurance status, and seasonal factors. For those who did follow-up, BPA activation was associated with improved BP control. Conclusions BPA activation was associated with worse patient follow-up but improved BP control. Some subgroups had significantly different rates of follow-up and BP control. This study did not have an experimental design as the BPA was a quality improvement initiative. These results highlight the critical importance of planning experimentally designed organizational initiatives to fully understand their impact.
Systematic Dissection of the Metabolic-Apoptotic Interface in AML Reveals Heme Biosynthesis to Be a Regulator of Drug Sensitivity

Crosstalk between metabolic and survival pathways is critical for cellular homeostasis, but the connectivity between these processes remains poorly defined. We used loss-of-function CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screening to identify metabolic genes capable of influencing cellular commitment to apoptosis, using sensitization to the BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-199 in BCL-2-dependent acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines as a proxy for apoptotic disposition. This analysis revealed metabolic pathways that specifically cooperate with BCL-2 to sustain survival. In particular, our analysis singled out heme biosynthesis as an unappreciated apoptosis-modifying pathway. Although heme is broadly incorporated into the proteome, reduction of heme biosynthesis potentiates apoptosis through the loss of ETC activity, resulting in baseline depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane and an increased propensity to undergo apoptosis. Collectively, our findings chart the first apoptotic map of metabolism, motivating the design of metabolically engaged combination chemotherapies and nominating heme biosynthesis as an apoptotic modulator in AML.
The Relationship between Prerequisite Proficiency and Student Performance in an Upper-Division Computing Course

While it is widely believed that taking a class's prerequisites is critical for success, less is known about how proficiency with the prerequisite knowledge from those courses affects performance in later courses. Specifically, it is unclear how well students understand material from prerequisite courses and whether that understanding may impact their outcomes in the subsequent course. Additionally, in subsequent courses, do students strengthen their knowledge from prerequisite courses and, if they do, does that improvement matter for the subsequent course? This study examines the prerequisite knowledge of 208 students in an upper-division data structures class at a large North American research university. Prerequisite proficiency on entry to the course was surprisingly low, with nearly a third of students demonstrating low proficiency and only a quarter high proficiency. Students modestly improved their proficiency during the term, lifting a third of those with low proficiency to at least medium proficiency. Overall, final exam performance was significantly correlated with prerequisite knowledge. For those with low initial proficiency, improvement in proficiency was significantly correlated with performance on the final. These results suggest that more attention needs to be placed on reinforcing prerequisite knowledge for those with low proficiency.
A correlation study of finite-element modeling for vibrations of composite material panels

A correlation study has been made to evaluate the effectiveness of finite-element modeling for vibrations of composite material panels. The three types of composite material panels studied were: (1) symmetrically laminated cross-ply panels, (2) unsymmetrically laminated cross-ply panels, and (3) a 1/6-scale sandwich wing model. Correlations of finite-element predictions for frequencies and vibration modes were made with Rayleigh-Ritz analyses and experimental data. For the symmetrically laminated panels, the finite-element representation predicted vibration modes very accurately. For the unsymmetrically laminated panels it was found that predictions using uncoupled finite-element plate bending elements did not give good agreement with experimental data. The constant-chord, swept-wing model was effectively analyzed by finite-element presentations using either sandwich elements or ribs and spars.
Understanding AI Collusion and Compliance

Antitrust compliance scholarship, particularly with a focus on collusion, has been an area of study for some time. Changes in technology and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning create new possibilities both for anti-competitive behavior and to aid in detection of such algorithmic collusion. To some extent, AI collusion takes traditional ideas of collusion and simply provides a technological overlay to them. However, in some instances, the mechanisms of both collusion and detection can be transformed using AI. This handbook chapter discusses existing theoretical and empirical work, and identifies research gaps as well as avenues for new scholarship on how firms or competition authorities might invest in AI compliance to improve detection of wrong doing. We suggest where AI collusion is possible and offer new twists to where prior work has not identified possible collusion. Specifically, we identify the importance of AI to address the “trust” issue in collusion. We also identify that AI collusion is possible across non-price dimensions, such as manipulated product reviews and ratings, and discuss potential screens involving co-movements of prices and ratings. We further emphasize that AI may encourage entry, which may limit collusive prospects. Finally, we discuss how AI can be used to help with compliance both at the firm level and by competition authorities.
Ventral pallidum neurons signal relative threat

Ventral pallidum (VP) neurons scale firing increases to reward value and decrease firing to aversive cues. Anatomical connectivity suggests a critical role for the VP in threat-related behavior. Here we tested whether firing decreases in VP neurons conform to relative threat by recording single units while male rats discriminated cues predicting unique foot shock probabilities. Rats behavior and VP single unit firing discriminated danger, uncertainty and safety cues. We found that two VP populations (Low firing and Intermediate firing) signaled relative threat, proportionally decreased firing according shock probability: danger
Association of Endocrine Therapy With Overall Survival in Women With Small, Hormone Receptor-Positive, ERBB2-Negative Breast Cancer

This cohort study examines the association of overall survival with endocrine therapy to treat hormone receptor–positive, ERBB2-negative breast cancer.
Creation of a Delirium Bundle: A Pediatric Palliative Care Team QI Project to Standardize Delirium Management

Background: Delirium is well-described in critically ill adult patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. It is highly prevalent in adult palliative care and at the end of life. Delirium is similarly prevalent and problematic in acutely ill children. Recognition of delirium in hospitalized pediatric palliative care patients is imperative, though with lack of consensus regarding pediatric delirium treatment, management of delirium can vary. Goal: The goal of this QI project is to improve management of delirium …
Look the Part? The Role of Profile Pictures in Online Labor Markets

Freelancing platforms have gained tremendous popularity, connecting millions of employers and freelancers worldwide. We examine whether profile pictures on such platforms may facilitate hiring biases based on appearance-based perceptions of a freelancer's fit for the job (e.g., whether the applicant looks like a programmer). We collect data from Freelancer.com for all jobs posted between January-June 2018 that ended in a contract, resulting in 79,038 jobs with 2,462,043 applications from 220,385 freelancers. Leveraging computer vision techniques, we find that freelancers with pictures perceived as high fit (or who ''look the part'') are more likely to be hired. More importantly, we show that such a bias goes above and beyond known prejudice variables such as demographics and attractiveness. Interestingly, we discover that ''looking the part'' complements rather than substitutes online reputation. We further conduct two experiments to explore the underlying mechanisms behind these findings. We find that when the reputation system is extremely positive, as in most freelancing platforms, employers use profile pictures as tiebreakers to choose among similar applicants. We also show that freelancers, especially those who ''do not look the part,'' may mitigate such biases by strategically selecting backgrounds and accessories in their profile pictures to enhance their chances of being hired.
Doing feminist collaborative event ethnography

Feminist political ecologists have transformed mainstream political ecology since its inception. The foundational and current work of feminist political ecologists indicate that their field is attentive to the epistemological foundations of power, inequities, and inequalities that cut across intersectional identities and hierarchies of difference and at the sites of environmental conflict and governance. Feminist political ecologists have made important theoretical interventions in the interdisciplinary community of political ecologists, but the use of feminist methodologies and 'team-based environmental science' can be expanded. We argue that revisiting feminist methodological commitments is critical for furthering how feminist political ecology examines how, and in what way, power and privilege operate in the contexts where environmental knowledge is produced. We make our argument by drawing upon a multi-year, multi-sited project to describe how collaborative event ethnography (CEE) offers many possibilities to reassess feminist political ecology research designs. We show how the recognition of diverse and plural epistemologies are foundational preconditions to integrating feminist principles in feminist political ecology research. We find that integrating reflexivity, responsibility, and co-production in research designs create opportunities for, and challenges to, carrying out feminist political ecological practice. In so doing, the integration of feminist methodologies are critical to disrupting knowledge hegemonies and providing new modes of practicing feminist political ecologies. Keywords: Collaborative event ethnography, feminist political ecology, feminist methodologies, global environmental governance
“Here We Go Again”: Race and Redevelopment in Downtown Richmond, Virginia, 1977-Present:

This article examines newspapers, archival collections, interviews, and personal papers to place Richmond, Virginia, at the center of the national debate about public–private revitalization project...
Using Conceptual Questions in Electromagnetics Education [Education Corner]

The topic of electromagnetics is rather difficult for students to grasp and for instructors to teach. On the other hand, its importance to technical education can hardly be overstated. This article addresses some of the challenges in the methodology and practice of electromagnetics teaching and learning in general and in particular related to the conceptual understanding of the material and associated concept-based electromagnetic problem-solving skills. It introduces, frames, and discusses some possible uses of conceptual questions. These are multiple-choice questions requiring conceptual reasoning and understanding and very little or no calculations in electromagnetics education. We discuss applications of conceptual questions to modalities of active teaching/learning, such as a flipped classroom, and different types of assessments of student learning and teaching outcomes. Conceptual questions of this scope and intent are new in electromagnetics education and likely in any electrical and computer engineering area.
Investigating Novel Thiazolyl-Indazole Derivatives as Scaffolds for SARS-CoV-2 MPro Inhibitors (preprint)

COVID-19 is a global pandemic caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Remdesivir, a SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase inhibitor, is the only drug to have received widespread approval for treatment of COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease enzyme (MPro), essential for viral replication and transcription, remains an active target in the search for new treatments. In this study, the ability of novel thiazolyl-indazole derivatives to inhibit MPro is evaluated. These compounds were synthesized via the heterocyclization of phenacyl bromide with (R)-carvone and (R)-pulegone thiosemicarbazones. The binding affinity and atomistic interactions of each compound were evaluated through Schrodinger Glide docking, AMBER molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA free energy estimation, and these results were compared with similar calculations of MPro binding various 5-mer substrates (VKLQA, VKLQS, VKLQG). From these simulations, we can see that binding is driven by residue specific interactions such as π-stacking with His41, and S/π interactions with Met49 and Met165. The compounds were also experimentally evaluated in a MPro biochemical assay and the most potent compound containing a phenylthiazole moiety inhibited protease activity with an IC50 of 92.9 µM. This suggests that the phenylthiazole scaffold is a promising candidate for the development of future MPro inhibitors.
Speed Kills

Over the past two decades, a misguided, militaristic war on drugs has been waged through a variety of means, including drug interdiction programs on the streets and highways of the United States, and high-profile campaigns in the United States media designed to construct drug use as a dangerous social problem. Yet during this same period, a far more deadly social problem - the death of some 40,000 people a year in automobile accidents along these same streets and highways — has largely been excluded from public consciousness and public debate. Recently, a convergence of circumstances in New Mexico made visible this imbalance in public awareness and public policy, and perhaps even began to remedy it. The roadside shrines that decorate the highways of New Mexico and other states likewise serve this purpose, encoding the collective tragedy of automotive death in the cultural landscape. In their tragic beauty and ongoing accumulation, these shrines challenge critical criminologists to find a new focus, a new everyday criminology of the automobile that can expand the existing criminology of automotive corporate crime.
Post-lockdown infection rates of COVID-19 following the reopening of public businesses.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic warranted a myriad of government-ordered business closures across the USA in efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus. This study aims to discover the implications of government-enforced health policies of reopening public businesses amidst the pandemic and its effect on county-level infection rates. METHODS: Eighty-three US counties (n = 83) that reported at least 20 000 cases as of 4 November 2020 were selected for this study. The dates when businesses (restaurants, bars, retail, gyms, salons/barbers and public schools) partially and fully reopened, as well as infection rates on the 1st and 14th days following each businesses' reopening, were recorded. Regression analysis was conducted to deduce potential associations between the 14-day change in infection rate and mask usage frequency, median household income, population density and social distancing. RESULTS: On average, infection rates rose significantly as businesses reopened. The average 14-day change in infection rate was higher for fully reopened businesses (infection rate = +0.100) compared to partially reopened businesses (infection rate = +0.0454). The P-value of the two distributions was 0.001692, indicating statistical significance (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This research provides insight into the transmission of COVID-19 and promotes evidence-driven policymaking for disease prevention and community health.
Improving cell phone awareness by using calendar information

The many benefits that cell phones provide are at times overshadowed by the problems they create, as when one person’s cell phone disrupts a group activity, such as a class, meeting or movie. Cell phone interruption is only highlighted by the ever increasing number of mobile devices we carry. Many tools and techniques have been proposed in order to minimize interruption caused by mobile devices. In the current study, we use calendar information to infer users’ activity and to automatically configure cell phones accordingly. Our in-situ experiment uses PDAs that run a cell phone simulator to examine the feasibility and design factors of such a solution. Our results show that both structured activities and appropriate cell phone configuration can be predicted with high accuracy using the calendar information. The results also show consistent mapping of activities to configuration for each individual. However there was a poor consistency of mapping activity to configuration across different participants. We discuss the results in relation to inaccuracy, spontaneous activities, and user reactions.
A Review of: “Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography, 2nd edition, Edited by Iain Hay”

It was a real pleasure to read Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography, edited by Iain Hay, with contributions from notable geographers from the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United St...
Kinetic characteristics of Escherichia coli RNase H1: cleavage of various antisense oligonucleotide-RNA duplexes

1. The effects of variations in substrates on the kinetic properties of Escherichia coli RNase H were studied using antisense oligonucleotides of various types hybridized to complementary oligoribonucleotides. The enzyme displayed minimal sequence preference, initiated cleavage through an endonucleolytic mechanism near the 3' terminus of the RNA in a DNA-RNA chimera and then was processively exonucleolytic. Phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides hybridized to RNA supported cleavage more effectively than phosphodiester oligodeoxynucleotides. Oligonucleotides comprised of 2'-methoxy-, 2'-fluoro- or 2'-propoxy-nucleosides did not support RNase H1 activity. 2. The Km and Vmax. of cleavage of RNA duplexes with full phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides were compared with methoxy-deoxy 'gapmers', i.e.; oligonucleotides with 2'-methoxy wings surrounding a deoxynucleotide centre. Such structural modifications resulted in substantial increases in affinity, but significant reductions in cleavage efficiency. The initial rates of cleavage increased as the deoxynucleotide gap size was increased. Multiple deoxynucleotide gaps increased the Vmax. but had little effect on Km. 3. The effects of several base modifications on the site of initial cleavage, processivity and initial rate of cleavage were also studied.
Arbitration as Delegation

Hundreds of millions of consumer and employment contracts include arbitration clauses, class arbitration waivers, and other terms that modify the rules of litigation. These provisions ride the wake of the Supreme Court’s expansive interpretation of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). For decades, scholars have criticized the Court’s arbitration jurisprudence for distorting Congress’s intent and tilting the scales of justice in favor of powerful corporations. This Article claims that the Court’s reading of the FAA suffers from a deeper, more fundamental flaw: It has transformed the statute into a private delegation of legislative power. The nondelegation doctrine forbids Congress from allowing private actors to make law unless they do so through a process that internalizes the wishes of affected parties or that is subject to meaningful state oversight. The FAA as construed by the Court violates this rule. First, companies have invoked the statute to create a parallel system of civil procedure for consumer and employment cases. This river of privately made law not only washes away Congress’s procedural rulemaking efforts but dilutes the potency of substantive rights. Second, although businesses ostensibly impose these rules through the mechanism of contracting - a process normally rooted in mutual consent - the Court’s arbitration case law deviates from traditional contract principles. It funnels consumers and employees into arbitration even when they truthfully claim that they did not agree to arbitrate. Third, despite the fact that the FAA as enacted mandates robust judicial review of privately made procedural rules, the Court has all but abolished this safeguard. This Article concludes that the Court should recognize that the FAA as interpreted raises grave private delegation issues and should thus limit the statute.
Assessing New Media Literacies in Social Work Education: The Development and Validation of a Comprehensive Assessment Instrument

The focus of this article is to replicate the validity and reliability of a newly developed assessment tool for self-reported media literacy levels by assessing the new media literacy levels of social work students and educators. The study is grounded in the New Media Literacies (NML) framework and the concept of participatory culture. Findings indicate a significant difference between the levels of new media literacy of students and educators. Students were also found to be more engaged with new media. The study demonstrates the need to incorporate new media literacies into the social work curriculum to increase the digital competencies of both educators and students. Implications for social work education and future research are suggested.