cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrating programming by example and natural language programming

We motivate the integration of programming by example and natural language programming by developing a system for specifying programs for simple text editing operations based on regular expressions. The programs are described with unconstrained natural language instructions, and providing one or more examples of input/output. We show that natural language allows the system to deduce the correct program much more often and much faster than is possible with the input/output example(s) alone, showing that natural language programming and programming by example can be combined in a way that overcomes the ambiguities that both methods suffer from individually and, at the same time, provides a more natural interface to the user.
Mental Representation of Persons, Psychology of

Within social psychology, a major research focus is the processes by which perceivers form impressions of other persons, and the nature of the mental representations that they construct as a result. Mental representations or impressions of persons include many types of information, including the person's physical appearance, personality characteristics, and group memberships, as well as the perceiver's reactions to the person (e.g., like or dislike). These representations strongly influence the perceiver's judgments and actions toward the person. A half-century ago, person representations were assumed to consist of unorganized lists of traits, and a key focus of research was investigation of how traits combined to yield an overall evaluation. Since then, increasing emphasis has been given to behaviors as part of person representations, and research has focused on how people infer traits from behaviors, on the organization of impressions (such as associative links among traits and behaviors), and on the effects of general knowledge structures (such as group stereotypes) on impressions of individuals. Through the entire history of research on this topic, conceptions of mental representations of persons have closely tracked assumptions about the nature of mental representation more generally (i.e., general models of memory).
Explaining the Heterogeneous Effects of Natural Resources on Local Economic Development

This article investigates whether the existence of a resource curse in areas with high violence may be explained by the physical characteristics of resources. To identify causal effects, I employ Colombian data and exploit the fact that municipalities with preexisting reserves of resources increase production disproportionately when international market conditions are favorable. I find that lootable and obstructable resources (e.g., gold and oil) are detrimental for growth, whereas non-lootable and non-obstructable minerals (e.g., coal) enhance growth. The effects of gold and oil are explained by higher violence and are concentrated in areas where violent groups compete to appropriate those resources.
A harvest of weeds yields insight into a case of contemporary evolution.

When Charles Darwin was exploring the idea of evolution via natural selection, he looked to domesticated species, with the opening chapter of The Origin of Species titled 'Variation Under Domestication' (Darwin ). Domesticated species such as crops are a great example of artificial selection, which Darwin realized was analogous to natural selection. But growing among those carefully selected crop varieties are the unwelcome and unwanted plants we call weeds. Despite the importance of weeds and long-standing interest in their evolution (Baker ), we still know little about how agricultural weeds evolve, and we often fail to take evolution into account when attempting to manage them (Neve et al. ). Agricultural weeds are subjected to the unique conditions of farm fields, such as frequent soil disturbance and the addition of water and nutrients. They are also confronted with aggressive attempts at their removal via herbicides and mechanical means. As such, they are under intense demographic and selective pressure and can potentially rapidly evolve in response. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Kuester and co-authors make a rare attempt to understand contemporary evolution in an agricultural weed (Kuester et al. ). They do so using the powerful resurrection approach of comparing ancestors and descendants under common conditions (Franks et al. ). They sampled multiple populations of the weedy plant Ipomoea purpurea at two points in time. A comparison of these greenhouse-grown ancestor and descendent populations showed that, over time, populations had lost significant levels of neutral genetic diversity, consistent with genetic bottlenecks. The authors also found a slight increase, on average, of resistance to the herbicide glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in Roundup(®) . This work is one of a growing number of studies demonstrating rapid evolution in natural populations (Thompson ) and also reveals evidence of both selection and drift in populations of an agricultural weed.
A Phase II Study of Azacitidine (Vidaza™) for Patients with Myelofibrosis (MF).

Abstract Aberrant DNA methylation of promoter-associated CpG islands is a mechanism of epigenetic silencing frequently encountered in human neoplasia. Hypermethylation of several genes such as p15INK4B, p16INK4A, progesterone receptor, and the retinoic acid receptor β have been detected in patients (pts) with advanced-stage MF. Azacitidine (Vidaza™) is a hypomethylating agent that induces reactivation of methylated genes and has been approved for the treatment of pts with myelodysplastic syndromes. The objective of this phase II trial was to study the efficacy of azacitidine in pts with relapsed or refractory MF (primary, or secondary to essential thrombocythemia or polycythemia vera) or newly-diagnosed with a Lille risk score 1 or 2 (risk factor are white blood cell [WBC] count >30x109/L or
Polymer Blends’ Technology for Plastics Recycling

Out of the three methods of plastic waste recycling, that is, polymer recycling, feedstock recycling, and energy recovery, the former is the most desirable. The polymer recycling usually involves: segregation, washing, shredding and extruding. During melt-extrusion, the material undergoes devolatilization, stabilization, compatibilization, alloying, filtering and pelletization. The alloying, blending, and compounding are the basic ABC processing steps of the technology for polymer recycling. Hence, this chapter summarizes these elements of blending technology that are pertinent for polymer recycling in three parts: (i) thermodynamics of polymer blends, (ii) flow behavior of polymers and their blends, and (iii) compounding and processing of polymer blends.
Normal and anomalous traffic flow pattern analysis for organizational networks

Traffic monitoring and analysis has become necessary to understand the nature of information flowing within an organization. This is particularly important due to the recent trend of increase in the percentage of anomalous traffic in the overall organizational traffic composition. In this work, we attempt to determine the typical characteristics seen in various organizational network traffic. We use simple flow analysis methods on different datasets which include normal and anomalous traffic. Results from such an analysis can play a vital role in problems ranging from feature selection for machine learning based models to help tune the rules of an intrusion detection system (IDS). Based on the analysis of number of flows, packet size, number of packets per flow, flow duration, and protocol composition present in each dataset, we present our findings in this work.
Alignment for Growth: The CVF’s Power in Aligning Organizations through a Common Language

How do you know what color your growth strategy should be, where each quadrant of the Competing Values Framework (CVF) is assigned a distinct color? This chapter shows how to answer this question by identifying your organization’s core competence and value driver. The chapter also discusses how to distill the growth strategy into a simple two-bullet–point statement and use it for effective communication that aligns the organization with this strategy.
Pathogenic and protective roles of B cells and antibodies in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nose and sinuses that affects up to 12% of the population in Europe and the United States. This complex disease is likely driven by multiple environmental, genetic, and inflammatory mechanisms, and recent studies suggest that B cells might play a critical role in disease pathogenesis. B cells and their antibodies have undisputed roles in health and disease within the airway mucosae. Deficient or inadequate B-cell responses can lead to susceptibility to infectious disease in the nose, whereas excess antibody production, including autoantibodies, can promote damaging inflammation. Thus, patients with B-cell defects often have either chronic or recurrent acute infections, and this can be associated with nonpolypoid CRS. In contrast, many patients with CRS with nasal polyps, which is less likely to be driven by pathogens, have excess production of local immunoglobulins, including autoreactive antibodies. These B-cell responses activate complement in many patients and likely contribute to immunopathogenic responses. A better understanding of the B cell–associated mechanisms that drive disease in patients with CRS should be a high priority in the quest to understand the pathogenesis of this disease.
Geologic and Engineering Modeling

Abstract In this chapter, the principles of reservoir modeling, workflows and their applications have been summarized. Reservoir modeling is a multi-disciplinary process that requires cooperation from geologists, geophysicists, reservoir engineers, petrophysics and financial individuals, working in a team setting. The best model is one that provides quantitative properties of the reservoir, though this is often difficult to achieve. There are three broad steps in the modeling process. The team needs to first evaluate the data quality, plan the proper modeling workflow, and understand the range of uncertainties of the reservoir. The second step is data preparation and interpretation, which can be a long, tedious, but essential process, which may include multiple iterations of quality control, interpretation, calibration and tests. The third step is determining whether to build a deterministic (single, data-based model) or stochastic (multiple geostatistical iterations) model. The modeling approach may be decided by the quality and quantity of the data. There is no single rule of thumb because no two reservoirs are identical. Object-based stochastic modeling is the most widely used modeling method today. The modeling results need to be constrained and refined by both geologic and mathematical validation. Variogram analysis is very important in quality control of object-based stochastic modeling. Outcrops are excellent sources of continuous data which can be incorporated into subsurface reservoir modeling either by 1) building an outcrop “reservoir” model, or 2) identifying and developing outcrop analogs of subsurface reservoirs. Significant upscaling of a reservoir model for flow simulation may well result in an erroneous history match because the upscaling process often deletes lateral and vertical heterogeneities which may control or affect reservoir performance, particularly in a deterministic model. Reservoir uncertainties are easier to manipulate by object-based stochastic models. Choosing the best realization approach for the reservoir model is the key to predicting reservoir performance in the management of reservoirs.
Thermodynamic transition-state theory and extrathermodynamic correlations for the liquid-phase kineics of ethanol derived ethers

The thermodynamic transition-state theory (TTST) is utilized for the elementary steps within the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) framework to develop rate expressions for liquid-phase catalytic reactions in terms of activities for the family of tertiary alkyl ethyl ethers. The TTST formulation also provides a rationale for the extrathermodynamic correlations (ETC) observed.
Pediatric Considerations Before, During, and After Radiological or Nuclear Emergencies

Infants, children, and adolescents can be exposed unexpectedly to ionizing radiation from nuclear power plant events, improvised nuclear or radiologic dispersal device explosions, or inappropriate disposal of radiotherapy equipment. Children are likely to experience higher external and internal radiation exposure levels than adults because of their smaller body and organ size and other physiologic characteristics as well as their tendency to pick up contaminated items and consume contaminated milk or foodstuffs. This technical report accompanies the revision of the 2003 American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on pediatric radiation emergencies by summarizing newer scientific data from studies of the Chernobyl and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant events, use of improvised radiologic dispersal devices, exposures from inappropriate disposal of radiotherapy equipment, and potential health effects from residential proximity to nuclear plants. Also included are recommendations from epidemiological studies and biokinetic models to address mitigation efforts. The report includes major emphases on acute radiation syndrome, acute and long-term psychological effects, cancer risks, and other late tissue reactions after low-to-high levels of radiation exposure. Results, along with public health and clinical implications, are described from studies of the Japanese atomic bomb survivors, nuclear plant accidents (eg, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima), improper disposal of radiotherapy equipment in Goiania, Brazil, and residence in proximity to nuclear plants. Measures to reduce radiation exposure in the immediate aftermath of a radiologic or nuclear disaster are described, including the diagnosis and management of external and internal contamination, use of potassium iodide, and actions in relation to breastfeeding.
Loop diuretic use among patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes treated with sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors.

Abstract Aims To compare loop diuretic use in patients with comorbid heart failure (HF) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) newly initiated on sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2Is) versus other oral anti-glycemic agents (AGAs). Methods This analysis used 2013–2015 MarketScan Medicare Supplemental claims data. HF and T2D patients were identified and SGLT2I users were propensity score matched to other AGA users. The mean daily dose of loop diuretics in furosemide equivalents was ascertained. For those not on baseline loop diuretics, new use was compared between cohorts. For those on baseline loop diuretics, we assessed patterns of use (increased dose, decreased dose, stable dose, no longer using) at 12-months. Results A total of 750 SGLT2I users were matched to 750 other AGA users. The distribution of loop diuretic use at mean doses of 0 mg (i.e., no use), ≤20 mg, >20 mg–40 mg, >40 mg–80 mg and >80 mg/day did not differ between cohorts at baseline or 12-months (p > 0.05 for both). SGLT2I use was associated with less new loop diuretic use (22.7% [79/348] vs. 34.0% [132/388]; p = 0.001). For those on loop diuretics at baseline (n = 764), patterns of use at 12-months did not differ between cohorts (p = 0.14). Conclusions New loop diuretic use was less frequent among SGLT2I users; however, patterns of loop diuretic use did not differ between cohorts in those on loop diuretics at baseline.
Blood feeding activates the vitellogenic stage of oogenesis in the mosquito Aedes aegypti through inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 by the insulin and TOR pathways.

Abstract Most mosquitoes, including Aedes aegypti, only produce eggs after blood feeding on a vertebrate host. Oogenesis in A. aegypti consists of a pre-vitellogenic stage before blood feeding and a vitellogenic stage after blood feeding. Primary egg chambers remain developmentally arrested during the pre-vitellogenic stage but complete oogenesis to form mature eggs during the vitellogenic stage. In contrast, the signaling factors that maintain primary egg chambers in pre-vitellogenic arrest or that activate vitellogenic growth are largely unclear. Prior studies showed that A. aegypti females release insulin-like peptide 3 (ILP3) and ovary ecdysteroidogenic hormone (OEH) from brain neurosecretory cells after blood feeding. Here, we report that primary egg chambers exit pre-vitellogenic arrest by 8 h post-blood meal as evidenced by proliferation of follicle cells, endoreplication of nurse cells, and formation of cytoophidia. Ex vivo assays showed that ILP3 and OEH stimulate primary egg chambers to exit pre-vitellogenic arrest in the presence of nutrients but not in their absence. Characterization of associated pathways indicated that activation of insulin/insulin growth factor signaling (IIS) by ILP3 or OEH inactivated glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) via phosphorylation by phosphorylated Akt. GSK3 inactivation correlated with accumulation of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Max and primary egg chambers exiting pre-vitellogenic arrest. Direct inhibition of GSK3 by CHIR-99021 also stimulated Myc/Max accumulation and primary egg chambers exiting pre-vitellogenic arrest. Collectively, our results identify GSK3 as a key factor in regulating the pre- and vitellogenic stages of oogenesis in A. aegypti.
Protocol for Precise Field Sensing in the Optical Domain with Cold Atoms in a Cavity.

In the context of quantum metrology, optical cavity-QED platforms have primarily been focused on the generation of entangled atomic spin states useful for next-generation frequency and time standards. Here, we report a complementary application: the use of optical cavities to generate nonclassical states of light for electric field sensing below the standard quantum limit. We show that cooperative atom-light interactions in the strong collective coupling regime can be used to engineer generalized atom-light cat states which enable quantum enhanced sensing of small displacements of the cavity field even in the presence of photon loss. We demonstrate that metrological gains of 10--20 dB below the standard quantum limit are within reach for current cavity-QED systems operating with long-lived alkaline-earth atoms.
Using Critical Self - Reflection and Resistance Strategies in Preparing Culturally Responsive Teachers--RESEARCH

As our country becomes more racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse, pre-service teachers must be fully prepared to deal with these changes. As the demographics change, the majority of teachers continue to be white, middle-class females having to teach students who are different from themselves. Ladson-Billings (1995) suggests that schools of education must prepare teachers with the knowledge, skills and values that will enable them to be culturally competent in the classroom so as to meet the challenges of a pluralistic society. According to Brown (2004) and Sleeter (2001), many pre-service teachers simply lack cross-cultural competence and attitudes regarding diversity that would allow them to teach culturally diverse students. Therefore, various scholars (e.g., Cannella & Reiff, 1991; Suleiman, 1996; Ukpokodu, 2003; Vaughan, 2002) argue for the inclusion of diversity training within education programs that are designed to build a better cultural understanding. Several studies (Bennett, 1995; Burstein & Cabello, 1989; Sleeter, 1995) suggest that only teachers who are sensitive to the diverse cultures that students bring to the classroom would be able to understand the cultural cues of different ethnic and social groups, and in following, provide learning experiences that will meet their needs.
Mobility Aware Cache Management in 5G Future Generation Wireless Communication System

Cache management has become one of the key issues in future generation 5G wireless communication network. The feature of high-speed mobility along with vast users of the 5G network increases complexity in cache management. Depending on the cache location and user’s mobility, the handoff has become even more prevalent in the content-centric 5G network architecture. As a result, an increased number of dropping and blocking might occur hindering the desired quality of service (QoS). Keeping that in mind, in this paper we have proposed a mobility-aware handoff priority-based request admission control (RAC) policy for managing cached content requests by utilizing limited bandwidth. By reducing the dropping probability and ensuring lesser force termination of already admitted requests; our system provides a better QoS. This paper investigates the scope of the betterment of QoS by reducing the dropping probability in a mobility-aware 5G heterogeneous network (HetNet). The analytical results show better performances than the general scheme in handling the effects of user mobility.
Identifying Potentially Risky Phases Leading to Knee Musculoskeletal Disorders during Shingle Installation Operations

AbstractRepeated and prolonged awkward kneeling can result in musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in construction roofers. However, a task-specific risk assessment for roofers’ knee injuries is still m...
Longitudinal analysis of pediatric distal radius alignment parameters in a cohort of serial radiographs

Growth in pediatric patients necessitates changes to bony structures throughout the entire body to suit development. Changes in the distal radius during growth are of interest in the pediatric population due to the high incidence of fractures. The purpose of this study was to assess for trends in three radiographic measurements (height of the radial styloid process, radial inclination, ulnar variance) off the distal radius using serial radiographs in subjects aged between 6 and 14 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Longitudinal radiographs from 68 healthy children (n=34 males, 34 females) with a minimal of three annual radiographs between 6 to 14 years of age were analyzed. Measurements of height of the radial styloid process, radial inclination and ulnar variance were performed in each available radiograph. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to measure the association between alignment values and subject age. RESULTS: A total of 436 images in 68 subjects were analyzed, comprising a mean of 6.5 ± 2.0 radiographs per subject. Repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated that all measurement variables changed significantly with age (P<0.001). Ulnar variance demonstrated the most variability with negative ulnar variance in younger children, and trends towards a more neutral ulnar variance by approximately 7 years in females and 11 years in males, while height of the radial styloid process and radial inclination changed relatively minimally with development CONCLUSIONS: In the adolescent age range, ulnar variance, height of the radial styloid process and inclination are all relatively stable and adult parameter values can be used to judge restoration of distal radius alignment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Procedural and Mid-Term Outcomes of Coronary Protection During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients at Risk of Coronary Occlusion: Insight From a Single-Centre Retrospective Analysis

Abstract Background Detailed procedural analysis and long-term data is limited for coronary protection (CP) during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with high anatomical risk for coronary occlusion (CO). We aim to assess the procedural and mid-term outcomes of CP during TAVR. Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent TAVR at Henry Ford Hospital, USA from January 2015 to August 2019 and identified those considered at risk of CO and underwent pre-emptive CP with or without subsequent “chimney” stenting (i.e. coronary stenting with intentional protrusion into the aorta). Procedural features, immediate and mid-term clinical outcomes were reviewed. Results Twenty-five out of 1166 (2.1%) patients underwent TAVR with CP, including 10 (40%) valve-in-valve procedures. Twenty-eight coronary arteries (Left: n = 11, Right: n = 11; Left + Right: n = 3) were protected. Eleven coronaries (39.3%) were electively “chimney”-stented due to angiographic evidence of coronary impingement (63.6%), tactile resistance while withdrawing stent (27.3%) and electrocardiogram change (9.1%). Twenty-four patients (24/25, 96%) had successful TAVR without CO. Procedure-related complications included stent-balloon entrapment (n = 1), stent entrapment (n = 1) and occlusive distal stent edge dissection (n = 1). After a mean follow-up of 19.1 months, there was 1 cardiac death but no target vessel re-intervention or myocardial infarction. Conclusions Our study found that angiographic evidence of coronary impingement (63.6%) was the most common reason for stent deployment during TAVR with CP. The mid-term clinical outcome of CP with TAVR was favorable.
M-TRACK: a platform for live cell multiplex imaging reveals cell phenotypic transition dynamics inherently missing in snapshot data

ABSTRACT Recent advances in single cell techniques catalyze an emerging field of studying how cells convert from one phenotype to another, in a step-by-step process. Two grand technical challenges, however, impede further development of the field. Fixed cell-based approaches can provide genome-wide snapshots of cell status but have fundamental limits on revealing temporal information, and fluorescence-based live cell imaging approaches provide temporal information but are technically challenging for multiplex long- term imaging. We present a live-cell imaging platform, Multiplex Trajectory Recording and Analysis of Cellular Kinetics, or M-TRACK, that tracks cellular status change through combining endogenous fluorescent labeling that minimizes perturbation to cell physiology and live cell imaging of high-dimensional cell morphological and texture features. To test the functionality of our platform, we used the A549 VIM-RFP EMT reporter line (ATCC® CCL-185EMT) to explore cell phenotypic transition in live cells. Live cell trajectories reveal parallel paths of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition despite presence of heterogeneous single cell dynamics, emphasizing the importance of live cell studies. This framework, together with an accompanying computational package, is generally applicable to cell phenotypic transition processes.
Who Matches? Propensity Scores and Bias in the Causal Effects of Education on Participation

In a recent study, Kam and Palmer (2008) employ propensity score matching to assess whether college attendance causes participation after reducing selection bias due to pre-adult factors. After matching the authors find no correlation, upending a major pillar in political science. However, we argue that this study has serious flaws and should not be the basis for rejecting the traditional view of an “education effect” on participation. We match on 766,642 propensity scores and use genetic matching to recover better matches with lower covariate imbalances. We consistently find positive effects as covariate balance improves, though no matching approach yields unbiased results. We demonstrate that selection is a serious concern in studying the participatory effects of college attendance and that balance in the covariates and robustness to sensitivity diagnostics should be the ultimate guide for conducting matching analyses.
Nine months in with the veterinary feed directive

Last year at this time we were preparing for the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) transition and now we are survivors. There have been countless conversations between veterinarians and clients related to label indications, extralabel use, durations of use, concurrent use, repeated regimens (pulses), "hand fed” vs approved free choice feeds, and what comes next. We have advanced to the point of at least clarifying the uncertainties related to these subjects, and there is an indication of the next regulatory focus related to in-feed drugs. The "Blue Bird" labels have become familiar to many veterinarians to clarify the legal inclusions of Type C feeds. Also, Compliance Policy guide 615.115 has been useful for understanding the ability to use in-feed drugs in an extralabel manner in minor species. It is now clearly understood that asecond administration of an approved in-feed drug regimen to an animal requires an additional VFD be written. For determining which drugs may be concurrently fed together in feed, the Blue Bird labels and the Feed Additive Compendium are key sources. Next in the regulatory lineup is an evaluation of medically important in-feed antibiotics for which there is not a defined duration of administration in the label regimen.
Multi-Wavelength Excitation Brillouin Spectroscopy

We propose and demonstrate, first on simulated spectra and then experimentally, a novel approach to correct the undesired background distortions in the Brillouin spectra caused by molecular filter's absorption, fluorescent emission, ambient room light or any other constant contaminant. The developed multi-wavelength excitation Brillouin spectroscopy method computationally reconstructs the pure Brillouin component of the signal from multiple Brillouin spectra acquired using different excitation wavelengths. By removing the baseline distortions, the approach improves the goodness of fit of the Brillouin peaks, enabling accurate Brillouin shift and linewidth measurements from a wide range of challenging samples. In the present report, we explain the principle behind the method on a set of simulated spectra and present experimental application on an intentionally strongly-distorted spectrum. Utilizing the multi-excitation Brillouin spectroscopy approach, we successfully reconstruct Brillouin spectra of a highly-scattering sample, initially rendered not analyzable by excessive iodine absorption and contamination by out-of-focus light.
Minimizing sources of errors in medical image registration

This paper compares the image registration errors associated with traditional unidirectional registration algorithms to the newer inverse consistent image registration algorithms. Inverse consistent registration algorithms jointly estimate the forward and reverse transformation between two images while minimizing the inverse consistency error between these transformations. Unidirectional algorithms estimate the forward and the reverse transformations independently. It is also shown that combining landmark and intensity information produces better registration results than using either type of information independently. In addition to examining the inverse consistency error, the transitivity error associated with each type of registration algorithm is examined. Transitivity of the transformations was evaluated by measuring the difference between the identity mapping and the composition the transformations from image A-to-B, B-to-C, and C-to-A. In all cases, the inverse consistent algorithms out performed the unidirectional algorithms by producing transformations that have less inverse consistency error and less transitivity error.
Multinational Firms, Technology Transfer, and Welfare

We construct an oligopoly model in which a multinational firm has a superior technology compared to local firms in the host country. Workers employed by the multinational acquire knowledge of its superior technology and can spread their knowledge to host firms by switching employers. The multinational chooses to pay a wage premium to prevent host firms from hiring away its workers if host firms are sufficiently disadvantaged and/or there are sufficiently many host firms. Diffusion of the superior technology benefits host firms at the expense of workers, whose wages suffer. The host government can have an incentive to attract FDI, even when technology transfer will not result, due to the wage premium earned by employees of the multinational firm. Also, FDI with technology transfer may reduce host welfare.
The Demographic Correlates of Health Status

As an applied treatise on demography and healthcare, this volume is particularly concerned with the demographic correlates of health status and health behavior. The study of health status focuses on the implications of demographic characteristics for the level and nature of morbidity within a population. The study of health behavior focuses on the extent to which demographic characteristics influence the actions of individuals and groups with regard to a range of health-related behaviors. This chapter and the next should provide the means whereby an analyst, knowing something about demographic conditions and prospects for demographic change, can make assumptions concerning the health status and health behavior of a particular population. This chapter focuses on the demographic correlates of health status, while Chap. 11 addresses the implications of demographic attributes for health behavior.
‘The Rule’: Exclusion and Separation of Witnesses for Dummies

If a witness hears the testimony of others before he himself takes the stand, he will find it much easier to deliberately tailor his own story to that of other witnesses. Witnesses may also be influenced subconsciously. In either event, the cross-examiner will find it more difficult to expose fabrication, collusion, inconsistencies, or inaccuracies with respect to witnesses who have heard others testify.“The aim of imposing ‘the rule on witnesses,’ as the practice of sequestering witnesses is sometimes called, is two-fold. It exercises a restraint on witnesses ‘tailoring’ their testimony to that of earlier witnesses; and it aids in detecting testimony that is less than candid.” Geders v. United States, 425 U.S. 80, 87, 96 S.Ct. 1330, 1335, 47 L.Ed.2d 592 (1976).At common law the court in its discretion could exclude witnesses in the interests of the ascertainment of truth. Rather than adopting a discretionary approach, Fed.R.Evid. 615 treats the exclusion of witnesses as a matter of right – “At the request of a party, the court shall order witnesses excluded.” The court is also empowered to order exclusion on its own motion. A request to exclude witnesses is often referred to as “invoking the rule on witnesses.” In other words, of all the rules of evidence, procedure, etc., Fed.R.Evid 615 is alone referred to as the “Rule”. No time period is specified in which to make the request nor is it specified as to whether exclusion extends beyond testimony offered at a trial or hearing. Several standards have been applied in determining whether a failure of the court to order exclusion of a witness requires a reversal of the judgment.Under Rule 615 not all witnesses may be excluded. The rule does not authorize exclusion of (1) a party who is a natural person, or (2) an officer or employee of a party which is not a natural person designated as its representative by its attorney which includes an investigative agent of the government, or (3) a person whose presence is shown by the party to be essential to the presentation of the cause, or (4) a person authorized by statute to be present.While Fed.R.Evid. 615 provides on its face solely for the exclusion of witnesses from the courtroom, the court may take “further measures” of separation. Separation prevents improper influence during the trial by prohibiting witness to witness communication both inside and outside the courtroom. Separation measures may include ordering witnesses to remain physically apart, ordering them not to discuss the case with one another, ordering witnesses not to read a transcript of the trial testimony of another witness, and possibly even ordering an attorney not to convey the substance of one witness’s testimony to another witness. Whether or not invocation of Fed.R.Evid. 615 in terms of the rule itself alone includes “separation” is less than perfectly clear. Obviously, failure on the part of counsel and the trial court to explicitly address the question of specific “further measures” to accomplish “separation” thus enforcing the policies behind “exclusion” may lead to substantial confusion.
Applications of Cayley Graphs

This paper demonstrates the power of the Cayley graph approach to solve specific applications, such as rearrangement problems and the design of interconnection networks for parallel CPU's. Recent results of the authors for efficient use of Cayley graphs are used here in exploratory analysis to extend recent results of Babai et al. on a family of trivalent Cayley graphs associated with PSL2(p). This family and its subgroups are important as a model for interconnection networks of parallel CPU's. The methods have also been used to solve for the first time problems which were previously too large, such as the diameter of Rubik's 2 × 2 × 2 cube. New results on how to generalize the methods to rearrangement problems without a natural group structure are also presented.
1994 Award-Winning Research Paper from the Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Section

The Psychiatry ehavioral Science Section is proud to announce the winners of its 1994 awards for the best research papers by Fellows in Forensic Psychiatry or Forensic Psychology.
The impact of a computer network on pediatric pain and anxiety: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Abstract This was the third randomized controlled clinical trial (RCCT) of Starbright World (SBW)-a private, interactive computer network for hospitalized children. The present randomized controlled clinical trial (RCCT) consisted of a series of 39 replicated single system designs (SSDs) that compared children's self-reports of pain intensity, pain aversiveness and anxiety in the SBW condition with those in a standard clinical practice condition. Findings from the SSDs were aggregated using meta-analysis. Although children experienced slightly less pain intensity, pain aversiveness, and anxiety in the SBW condition, these results did not achieve statistical significance. The relationship of these findings to the two prior studies of the effectiveness of SBW is discussed.
Depolarization maintains neurites and priming of PC12 cells after nerve growth factor withdrawal

In contrast to its actions on certain neural populations, membrane depolarization by elevated K+ promotes neither the survival nor the differentiation of PC12 cells. We therefore employed this model system to examine directly the actions of elevated K+ on neurites. Here we report that elevated K+ prevents the degeneration of neurites that occurs when NGF is withdrawn from PC12 cell cultures. This effect is inhibited by the L-type Ca2+ channel blockers verapamil and nitrendipine. Although depolarization preserves preexisting neurites, unlike NGF, it does not promote neurite elongation. In addition to neurite stabilization, elevated K+ also maintains NGF-deprived cells in a "primed" state in which they can rapidly regenerate neurites when re-treated with NGF. Elevated K+ alone has no priming effect, nor is it neuritogenic on either naive or NGF-pretreated cells. To probe the molecular basis for these actions of depolarization, we examined several cytoskeletal proteins whose phosphorylations (beta-tubulin, MAP 1.2/1B, and 64, 72 and 80 kDa chartins) or levels (MAP 1.2/1B and peripherin) are regulated by NGF in parallel with neurite outgrowth. Elevated K+ alone does not mimic these effects of NGF. In all cases, NGF withdrawal leads to the return of these proteins to levels characteristic of naive cells; in contrast, with the exception of the 80 kDa chartins, depolarization of NGF-deprived cultures maintained these proteins at or near their NGF-stimulated states. Similar observations were obtained with the NILE/L1 glycoprotein. These findings suggest that elevated K+ preserves priming and preexisting neurites by maintaining NGF-induced changes in cell composition. Our experiments invoke the possibility that elevation of intraneuronal Ca2+ may lead to selective stabilization of preexisting axons or dendrites in the intact nervous system, especially under circumstances in which the supply of neurotrophic factors is absent or limiting.
Global solutions of certain plasma fluid models in three-dimension

We consider several dispersive time-reversible plasma fluid models in 3 dimensions: the Euler-Poisson 2-fluid model, the relativistic Euler–Maxwell 1-fluid model, and the relativistic Euler–Maxwell 2-fluid model. In all of these models, we prove global stability of the constant background solutions, in the sense that small, smooth, and irrotational perturbations lead to smooth global solutions that decay as t → ∞.
Current and angular-dependent transport in the mixed state of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ

Abstract A phenomenology describing recent transport measurements in high quality BiSrCaCuO films and crystals in which the angle θ of the applied field relative to the c-axis is varied is illustrated with fits to experimental results. The data show no evidence for conventional flux-flow; the model features phase-slip in a network of Josephson junctions. At low temperatures, low current densities, and for large fields, the resistivity varies approximately as ϱ ps (H,T,θ)= ϱ n [ I 0 (γ 1 3 (H,T,θ) 2)] 2 with γ≈ A T T c (T|Hcos(θ)|) . The 1 3 power is characteristic of a “stretched exponential” response.
Native lung complications after single lung transplantation for emphysema

We reviewed the impact of the presence of the native diseased contralateral lung on the outcome after single lung transplantation for emphysema. Twenty consecutive recipients of single lung transplants for emphysema were reviewed for complications related to the native lung. Five patients (25%) suffered major complications arising in the native lung and resulting in serious morbidity and mortality. The timing of onset varied from 1 day to 43 months after transplantation. We conclude that the susceptibility of the native lung to complications such as those described in this report is an additional fact to be considered in choosing the ideal transplant procedure for patients with obstructive lung disease.
Sulfur enrichment of humic substances in a Delaware salt marsh sediment core

Abstract Humic sulfur, operationally defined as the sulfur extracted with humic substances in 0. l N NaOH solution, comprises up to 51% of the total sulfur inventory in a sediment core taken from a Delaware Spartina alterniflora marsh. Pyrite sulfur is the next largest fraction, except at the near-surface sediments, where zerovalent sulfur concentrations are significant. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that the humic sulfur consists of sulfoxides or sulfones and, in a more reduced state, organic sulfides and/or organic polysulfides. A subsurface decrease in the humic acid C:S atomic ratio to 56 ± 2 suggests that the upper 4 cm of marsh sediment is the locus for humic sulfur formation. S. alterniflora detritus and microbial biomass cannot fully account for observed sulfur enrichment of humic C:S atomic ratios. Therefore, the enrichment of humic substances by sulfur is probably via reaction of reduced sulfur compounds with organic matter. A humic sulfur formation rate of 10.6 μmol S · cm−3 · a−1 is calculated for the surface sediments and leads to an areal production of 18 μmol S · cm−2 · a−1 of humic sulfur. Humic sulfur formation and preservation is enhanced by the limited availability of iron for the rapid precipitation of iron sulfide minerals and the apparent resistance of organic sulfur compounds towards reoxidation to sulfate, especially in the upper 9 cm of marsh sediment where inorganic sulfur compounds are rapidly oxidized.
Activation of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chymotrypsinogen-A. Enzymatic activity and circular dichroism studies.

Abstract Glutaraldehyde insolubilized chymotrypsin has been prepared by trypsin activation of glutaraldehyde insolubilized chymotrypsinogen-A and found to have esterase activities of 28 and 22% (TEE, ATEE) and proteinase activities of 4.4 and 3.8% (hemoglobin, casein) relative to α-chymotrypsin. A soluble glutaraldehyde crosslinked chymotrypsin, similarly prepared, had a weight average molecular weight of 130,000 and had esterase activity of 90% (ATEE) and proteinase activity of 42% (casein) relative to α-chymotrypsin. These activities were appreciably greater than those shown by glutaraldehyde crosslinked α-chymotrypsin prepared by direct reaction of glutaraldehyde and α-chymotrypsin. Amino acid analyses on the crosslinked enzymes prepared by activation of insoluble and soluble crosslinked zymogens suggest that the insoluble crosslinked enzyme is entirely in the π form and the soluble crosslinked enzyme partly in the π form. Full esterase activity is retained by the trypsin-activated glutaraldehyde insolubilized chymotrypsinogen-A at 25 °C for 14 days. The circular dichroism (CD) changes associated with activation in the native system were also found to occur in the soluble crosslinked system, suggesting that certain conformational changes are necessary for development of enzymatic activity. A CD change at 255 nm toward less negative values was observed when glutaraldehyde was reacted with either native chymotrypsin or crosslinked chymotrypsin generated by activation of glutaraldehyde crosslinked zymogen but not when glutaraldehyde reacted with chymotrypsinogen-A.
Comparison of PDE-based non-linear anistropic diffusion techniques for image denoising

PDE-based, non-linear diffusion techniques are an effective way to denoise images.In a previous study, we investigated the effects of different parameters in the implementation of isotropic, non-linear diffusion. Using synthetic and real images, we showed that for images corrupted with additive Gaussian noise, such methods are quite effective, leading to lower mean-squared-error values in comparison with spatial filters and wavelet-based approaches. In this paper, we extend this work to include anisotropic diffusion, where the diffusivity is a tensor valued function which can be adapted to local edge orientation. This allows smoothing along the edges, but not perpendicular to it. We consider several anisotropic diffusivity functions as well as approaches for discretizing the diffusion operator that minimize the mesh orientation effects. We investigate how these tensor-valued diffusivity functions compare in image quality, ease of use, and computational costs relative to simple spatial filters, the more complex bilateral filters, wavelet-based methods, and isotropic non-linear diffusion based techniques.
Nanochannel arrays as supports for proton exchange membranes in microfluidic fuel cells

Abstract In this article, we report the use of nanochannel arrays as supports for proton exchange membranes in microfluidic fuel cells. The proposed design has been demonstrated by fabricating a sodium silicate based sol–gel structure within such an array bridging two microchannels containing the fuel (HCOOH) and the oxidant (KMnO 4 ) streams. A voltage was generated in this system by bringing two platinum electrodes in contact with these solutions and then connecting them through an external circuitry. With this current design, we have been able to generate an open circuit potential of 1.31 V and a maximum current of 31.2 μA at 25 °C.
The drive for prohibition: A transition from social reform to legislative reform

One could justifiably claim that the American temperance movement is the oldest movement in U.S. history. Although the Eighteenth Amendment was won and lost within a thirteen year period, the temperance sentiment survived and exists today in organizations such as MADD, SADD and even the WCTU (Women's Christian Temperance Union). This movement is distinguished by its duration as temperance sentiment and legislation can be traced to the colonial period. The temperance movement is also unique in the level of success it reached with a constitutional amendment and the fact that this success was overturned with repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment.