cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stepping Stone, Stopping Point, or Slippery Slope? Negotiating the Next Iran Deal

The November 2013 “interim” nuclear deal between Iran and the “P5 1” — the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany — raises challenging questions. Will the initial deal function as a stepping stone toward a more comprehensive deal? Or will it drift into becoming a stopping point that leaves Iran dangerously close to nuclear weapons capability with the sanctions regime in decline? Or will it devolve to a slippery slope that would end up requiring a painful choice for key players between either acquiescing in a nuclear-capable Iran or attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities? With the Iran and the P5 1 each splintered into contending factions, a successful stepping stone strategy requires converting enough “persuadable skeptics” on each side to forge a “winning coalition” on behalf of the a more comprehensive nuclear deal. This supportive group must be strong enough to overcome the potent “blocking coalition” that will oppose virtually any larger, next-stage agreement. The best chance for the interim accord to become a stepping stone to a more valuable deal calls for a two-prong negotiating strategy with both value-enhancing and cost-imposing elements. The first prong of this strategy should strive to craft the most valuable possible next deal that credibly offers Iran a range of benefits, not limited to sanctions relief, that are greater and much more salient than those available from the interim agreement. The second prong should significantly worsen the consequences of failing to reach the next nuclear deal by a strong public U.S. Presidential commitment to sign a bill, prenegotiated with the Congress and P5 1 allies, imposing enhanced sanctions if negotiations toward an acceptable, but relatively narrow, agreement denying Iran an “exercisable nuclear option” do not succeed by the reasonable but firm deadline no later than twelve months from the start of the interim talks.
Bovine Interferon-τ Stimulates the Janus Kinase-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Pathway in Bovine Endometrial Epithelial Cells

Abstract Trophoblastic bovine interferon-tau (bIFN-τ) suppresses luteolytic pulses of endometrial prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) at the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy. This results in maintenance of the corpus luteum in cattle. The hypothesis that effects of bIFN-τ in the endometrium were through activation of the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway of signal transduction was tested. Whole cell, cytosolic, and nuclear extracts from bovine endometrial cells treated with bIFN-τ were analyzed by immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays in a series of dose- and time-dependency experiments. Bovine IFN-τ stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, homo- and heterodimer formation, nuclear translocation, and DNA binding of STAT proteins 1, 2, and 3. Moreover, bIFN-τ induced synthesis of interferon-regulatory factor. In conclusion, bIFN-τ stimulates the JAK-STAT pathway in the bovine endometrium. It is proposed that activation of t...
Quantitative image quality improvement in spatially filtered image sequences

We quantitatively investigated the effect of simulated edge-preserving spatial filtering on image quality of simulated X-ray fluoroscopy images. Using very objective detection tests with human-observers, we compared image quality in image sequences with that in single frames. Although the effect in single frames was insignificant, spatial filtering improved detection in sequences by as much as 23%. In both cases, pixel noise reduction, a measure often used to assess filters, clearly overestimated filter effectiveness. We conclude that edge-preserving filtering is more effective in sequences than in single images and that such filtering may be used to improve image quality in noisy image sequences.
A Hybrid ETKF–3DVAR Data Assimilation Scheme for the WRF Model. Part I: Observing System Simulation Experiment

Abstract A hybrid ensemble transform Kalman filter–three-dimensional variational data assimilation (ETKF–3DVAR) system for the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model is introduced. The system is based on the existing WRF 3DVAR. Unlike WRF 3DVAR, which utilizes a simple, static covariance model to estimate the forecast-error statistics, the hybrid system combines ensemble covariances with the static covariances to estimate the complex, flow-dependent forecast-error statistics. Ensemble covariances are incorporated by using the extended control variable method during the variational minimization. The ensemble perturbations are maintained by the computationally efficient ETKF. As an initial attempt to test and understand the newly developed system, both an observing system simulation experiment under the perfect model assumption (Part I) and the real observation experiment (Part II) were conducted. In these pilot studies, the WRF was run over the North America domain at a coarse grid spacing (200 km) t...
Can Propitious Selection Prevent Unravelling in Insurance Markets

The theory of adverse selection in insurance markets has been enormously influential among scholars, regulators, and the judiciary. But empirical support for adverse selection has been much less persuasive, and several recent studies have found little or no evidence of such selection in insurance markets. “Propitious” (advanta‐ geous) selection offers an alternative mechanism that is consistent with these empirical findings. Like adverse selection, the theory assumes that insureds have an informa‐ tional advantage over insurers. However, propitious selection relies on the plausible assumption that risk aversion is negatively correlated with the riskiness or probability of loss across insureds—the more risk‐averse are also the more careful, and hence are least likely to experience a loss. Theorists have recognized the possibility of equilibria in which highly risk averse insureds with a low probability of loss are willing to remain in the market, despite an actuarially unfair premium. But these conclusions derive from models with only two types of insureds. We use a simulation model that allows for flexible correlation between risk aversion and riskiness across a continuum of types, with plausible distributions of risk aversion and riskiness. We find that (exogenous) negative correlation between risk and risk aversion alone cannot preserve equilibrium in insurance markets. When insureds have moderate uncertainty about their own riskiness, however, equilibrium does become possible, albeit with considerable
Fitness, balance efficacy, and postural control in community-dwelling older adults

1. Anna Lee[1][1] 2. John R. Biggan[1][1] 3. Christopher Ray[1][1][⇑][2] 1. 1University of Texas at Arlington, USA 1. Christopher Ray, Center for Healthy Living and Longevity, Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, 801 Greek Row Dr #117, Arlington, TX 76019, USA. Email: chrisray{at}uta.edu Age-related declines in postural control and physical fitness are strong risk factors for falls in older adults. Balance efficacy has been utilized to identify poor postural control, reduced physical function, and fall risk. However, it is not clear as to whether balance efficacy is truly a better predictor of functional fitness outcomes or postural control. Distinguishing these associations is an important step in the future derivation of physiotherapeutic programming to remediate acute and chronic decline. Therefore, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to partition which measures are more associated with balance efficacy, fitness, or postural control. One hundred eleven community-dwelling older adults participated and were asked to complete the Balance Efficacy Scale (BES), a functional fitness measure (the Senior Fitness Test [SFT]), and a measure of postural control (the Sensory Organization Test [SOT]).We found that the SFT was more significantly associated with balance efficacy ( R 2 = .37) than the SOT ( R 2 = .08) in older adults. Overall, aerobic endurance, functional mobility in the SFT, and the vestibular score on the SOT were significantly associated with balance efficacy. We concluded that clinicians utilizing the BES as a preliminary screen should recommend physiotherapy follow-up activities that build endurance (walking), lower extremity functional mobility (sit-to-stand), and vestibular function (head movement while walking). Understanding the links between a preliminary screening tool and the physiological needs of the patient will allow for targeted activities to be prescribed. [1]: #aff-1 [2]: #corresp-1
Degradation in Cellular Core Mechanical Properties due to Transverse Compression

Manufacturing defects, which occur often in cellular cores of sandwich structures, lead to buckled cells in the core and thus to degraded constitutive core properties. Defects in the core cells may occur due to unintentional tool impacts onto the panel during manufacturing, handling processes, or defects in the manufactured core itself. The degraded constitutive properties of the core lead to local stiffness degradations of the sandwich panel, which in turn may impact the capability of nearby inserts; inserts are often used for component mounting to the panel or as joints used for joining the sandwich panel with another panel. The aim of this paper is to: a) Understand the effect of core density on the critical buckling load/buckling capability of the unit cell for each of the three core shapes: hexagonal, square and triangular, b) Understand the effect of core height (core thickness within the sandwich panel) on the critical buckling load/buckling capability of the unit cell for each of the three core shapes, and c) Investigate the degradation in the constitutive properties of the cellular core due to permanent deformation resulting from transverse compression. Detailed finite element models for five cell sizes and twenty one core densities were created for each of the following cellular core shapes: hexagonal, square and triangular. The critical buckling load is calculated for all twenty one core densities and the five cell sizes under consideration for the hexagonal, square and triangular cellular cores. Additionally, the critical buckling load is calculated for four core heights from 0.25" to 1.00" core height with 0.25" increments to study the effect of the core height on the critical buckling load of the unit cell. The degradation of constitutive properties of the hexagonal, square and triangular cellular cores due to buckling under transverse compression loading for the 1/8′′ cell size and core density of 3.1 pcf is studied for the 0.5′′ core height cells. All cellular cores are assumed to be manufactured of corrugated Al-5056.
Lessons of a Political Science Webcaster

lected on visitors. I always had assumed that surfing the Internet was an anonymous experience. The net was a benign tool that made my job easier. It brought the latest information on politics and media to my fingertips and eliminated my need to dig through dusty old newspapers. In part, it was seeing how the web facilitated my political science work that convinced me to set up my own nonprofit site dedicated to state and national politics. If the Internet was such a positive force for public education, perhaps my site could inform people about political events, upcoming campaigns, and policy controversies. Now that I am a certified webcaster, however, I am astonished at the level of detail available to those
Metastatic solid tumors to the jaw and oral soft tissue: A retrospective clinical analysis of 44 patients from a single institution.

Abstract Purpose Metastatic solid tumors to the oral cavity are rare, frequently indicative of an end-stage disease process, and associated with poor survival rates. We performed a 20-year retrospective clinical analysis of our institution's cases of solid metastases to the oral cavity, and investigated these patients' clinical outcomes. Material and methods A retrospective study of patients with metastatic solid tumors to the oral cavity over a 20-year period (October 1996 to September 2015) was conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Patients were selected if they had a histopathologically confirmed diagnosis. Demographic, pathologic, and clinical information were reviewed to identify patient outcomes. Results A total of 44 patients with metastatic non-melanocytic non-hematopoietic tumor to the oral cavity were identified: 24 males and 20 females (39 adults and 5 children) with a mean age of 54.3 years. In all, 24 cases involved the jaw and 20 cases involved the oral soft tissue. Eight patients (18.2%) had oral cavity metastases as the first indication of an occult malignancy. In adult patients, the common primary sites were the lungs (n = 9, 20%), kidney (n = 7, 16%), breast (n = 5, 11%), and colon (n = 4, 9%); and in pediatric patients the adrenal gland (3/5) was the most common site. Of the adult patients, 33 (84.6%) died of disease. From the time of metastasis diagnosis, patients with jaw metastases had a median and mean survival of 12 months and 27.7 months, respectively. In comparison, patients with oral soft tissue metastases had a median survival time of 5 months, and mean of 8 months. One pediatric patient (20%) died of disease 8 months after metastasis diagnosis. Conclusion Metastatic solid tumors to the oral cavity can be the first sign of a malignancy. Pediatric patients with oral cavity metastases have a better prognosis compared to adult patients. In this series, adults with oral soft tissue involvement had shorter survival times compared to patients with jaw involvement.
Scientific evaluations of interventions to improve the adequate use of pharmaceuticals in Third World countries

The inadequate use of pharmaceuticals continues to be a severe problem in most parts of the world. Developing nations waste very large amounts of scarce health resources on medicines of doubtful therapeutic value, and many persons do not comply with physicians advice or engage in risky self-medication practices contributing to additional misuse of resources and iatrogenia. This paper examines the few scientifically designed interventions at the community and patient s levels to improve the appropriate use of pharmaceuticals in developing nations. The authors analyze the contribution made by these studies and identify several limitations including the absence of independent evaluations of outcomes, lack of sufficient information to judge the quality and adequacy of the instruments used, problems relating to replicability of interventions at regional or country level, or outside the cultural context within which they took place, lack of information on costs of interventions, a crucial variable in poor countries, and the absence of standardized outcome measures that makes comparative analysis very difficult.
The decision to operate in rheumatoid arthritis.

Summary The physician caring for the patient with rheumatoid arthritis should not look upon surgery as a last resort to be turned to when all else has failed and the situation is desperate. Surgical intervention may be important at any stage in the disease. Wrist fusion to obliterate pain and to restore a strong grip is advantageous whenever pain and instability compromise the function of that extremity. The knee with good painless flexion and extension cannot help but insure the patient's ability to get up and down from a chair. There are many goals that may be achieved through surgical intervention, and each of these should be considered and reviewed every time the physician sees the patient. Consider the benefits of prevention of disease progression, the stopping of bone resorption, the relief of pain, the restoration of motion, strength, and stability, and the preservation or restoration of the patient's confidence and determination to remain an independent member of society.
Applications of the Dynamic Model

This section examines the applications of the Dynamic Model in formally reasoning about VHDL programs. In particular, the model is used to validate two transformation rules (Sections 9.2 and 9.3) and to derive conditions under which no transaction preemption occurs (Section 9.4). The results derived herein are aimed at CAD tool optimization.
Just a Peasant: Economy and Legacy in Northern Vietnam

Ideology, understood as a normative glue binding together formal organisations, social norms and networks, and providing a rationale to any given social order, is built on an idea that conviction is the basis for action.2 The paradox of socialism suggests, however, that this assumption may be misleading and at times false. Indeed, one of the more interesting legacies of 'actually existing socialism' are the invisible walls between ideology and conviction, and beliefs and action that persist in many post-socialist societies (Bahro 1978). They pose problems for establishing causality in any traditional fashion, and require us instead to think of ideology as a social practice and political tool rather than as a mindset (Kuran 1997). In this chapter, I examine how socialist ideologies of economy in this non-traditional sense shaped the politics of market development in Vietnam. I focus in particular on socialist ideologies of production and virtuous labour and their role as a resource to challenge the authority of the Vietnamese state, to legitimate the private economy, and to act as a particular form of market culture.
Some Experimental Methods

This chapter highlights a few of the experimental methods to help in the elucidation of the structure of the protein molecule in solution. The determination of the structure of myoglobin in the crystalline form by the X-ray diffraction technique represents a milestone in the field of protein structure. It is important to learn whether the structure of the molecule is the same in solution as it is in the crystal. The temperatures at which these structures are determined are usually not far removed from the transition temperature. Therefore, the protein has marginal stability, and its secondary and tertiary structure can easily be affected by small interactions that differ in solution and in the crystal. While a variety of solvent and ionic effects may give rise to shifts in the ultraviolet spectra of proteins, it is possible, by using auxiliary data such as the pH dependence of reversible denaturation to determine whether the effects are partially because of side-chain hydrogen bonding. While the pH dependence of reversible denaturation can be explained in terms of a model involving hydrogen bonds, this does not preclude the possibility of accounting for the phenomenon in terms of a model based on hydrophobic bonding, including electrostatic effects.
Direct SpermMar Antibody Test

Antisperm antibodies may be present in biological fluids such as serum, seminal plasma, and other reproductive tract secretions. Antisperm antibodies are thought to coat the sperm surface and thereby impair sperm motility or interfere with the actual fertilization process. These antibodies are found in approximately 8 % of infertile men. Antisperm antibodies of the IgA class, which mainly have agglutinating properties, rarely occur without antibodies of the IgG class, but their meaning for male infertility may be more important. Patients combining sperm antibodies of the IgA class with IgG antibodies or presenting IgA antibodies alone have very little chance of impregnating their partner through natural ways. Detection of antibodies of the IgA class is very important for diagnosis and prognosis.
Utilizing Zebrafish to Understand Second Heart Field Development

Heart formation relies on two sources of cardiomyocytes: the first heart field (FHF), which gives rise to the linear heart tube, and the second heart field (SHF), which gives rise to the right ventricle, the outflow tract, parts of the atria, and the inflow tract. The development of the SHF is of particular importance due to its relevance to common congenital heart defects. However, it remains unclear how the SHF is maintained in a progenitor state while the FHF differentiates. Likewise, the factors that trigger SHF differentiation into specific cardiac cell types are poorly understood. Investigation of SHF development can benefit from the utilization of multiple model organisms. Here, we review the experiments that have identified the SHF in zebrafish and investigated its contribution to the poles of the zebrafish heart. Already, zebrafish research has illuminated novel positive and negative regulators of SHF development, cementing the utility of zebrafish in this context.
Tree-Ring Indices of Rainfall, Temperature, and River Flow

History. Dendrochronology—the construction, based on tree-ring widths, of significant indices showing changes in climate from year to year and the use of these indices in dating and forecasting—had early beginnings. That the succession of wide and narrow growth rings of trees might provide a chronology of the wet and dry seasons of the past was noted at least as early as the fifteenth century by Leonardo da Vinci. As in other fields, research expanded tremendously during the 1800’s, when botanists and foresters, particularly in central Europe and in Scandinavia, examined numerous details of growth-climate relationships [2]. About 1880, the Dutch astronomer, Kapteyn [19], succeeded in deriving a ring chronology several centuries long, which gave a first approximation to the annual rainfall of west Germany, but no clear index, which he sought, of solar activity. His concepts of tree selection and analysis, foreshadowing much later work, remained generally unknown, however, for some thirty-five years.
Emerging investigators series: using an analytical solution approach to permit high volume groundwater withdrawals

Sustainable water management is paramount to ensuring continued access to fresh water resources. Some states have chosen to use analytical solutions to predict pumping-induced drawdowns and the reduction in groundwater baseflow to streams in an effort to predict negative impacts associated with high volume groundwater withdrawals (HVGWs). In line with this approach, the State of Michigan has developed the Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool (WWAT), which estimates streamflow depletion to evaluate whether a proposed HVGW activity will have an adverse impact on stream ecology. To assess the tool's performance, this study compared calculations for streamflow depletion estimated using the Hunt (1999) solution, as implemented in the WWAT, with those of a numerical groundwater flow model developed in MODFLOW for two different locations in Michigan where HVGW wells have been permitted. In addition, sensitivity and uncertainty analyses were conducted. The results showed that the WWAT, in general, provides a conservative estimate of stream depletion. However, to obtain a more accurate estimate, the type of aquifer (unconfined versus semi-confined) needs to be taken into account. The most critical parameters are the storativity, S, and the streambed conductance, λ. Since S has a fixed value of 0.01 in the WWAT, the role of streambed conductance becomes paramount. Given the paucity of information regarding λ, its estimation merits additional scrutiny.
Thermal quantitative sensory testing in healthy Dutch children and adolescents standardized test paradigm and Dutch reference values

Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is often used to measure children’s and adults’ detection- and pain thresholds in a quantitative manner. In children especially the Thermal Sensory Analyzer (TSA-II) is often applied to determine thermal detection and pain thresholds. As comparisons between studies are hampered by the different testing protocols used, we aimed to present a standard protocol and reference values for thermal detection- and pain thresholds in children. Our standard testing protocol includes reaction time dependent and independent tests and takes about 14–18 min to complete. Reference values were obtained from a sample of 69 healthy term born children and adolescents with a median age of 11.2 years (range 8.2 to 17.9 years old). Seventy-one children were recruited and data of 28 males and 41 females was obtained correctly. We studied possible age and sex differences. This study provides Dutch reference values and presents a standard quantitative sensory testing protocol for children with an age from 8 years onwards. This protocol appeared to be feasible, since only two out of 71 participants were not able to correctly complete the protocol due to attention deficits and were therefore excluded. We found some significant age and sex differences: females were statistically significantly more sensitive for both cold and heat pain compared to males, and the youngest children (8–9 years old) were less sensitive to detect a warm stimulus. The youngest children tend to be more sensitive to heat pain in comparison to older participants, although the difference was not statistically significant. We present a feasible thermal quantitative sensory testing protocol for children and reference values that are easy to interpret and may serve as normative values for future studies.
Stability, Root Clustering and Inners

Abstract In this paper, the recently introduced approach of Inners to some problems of system theory is further extended to stability, relative stability and aperiodicity conditions for both linear time-invariant continuous and discrete systems. It is shown that by the introduction of the Inners approach a unified theoretical and computational treatment of all cases can be represented. In particular most of the problems of root clustering can be represented in terms of positive innerwise matrices (p.i.). Furthermore, the problem of root distribution is also represented in terms of inners. Applications of these problems to Absolute Stability, Optimality and Passivity are indicated. The connection between positive innerwise matrix (p.i.) and positive definite symmetric matrix for root clustering is indicated.
Feeding Practices and Malnutrition in Infants of Bhil Tribe in Jhabua District of Madhya Pradesh

Growth in children is most rapid in the first year of life. The birth weight doubles by five to six months and triples by one year of age. Growth is a key indicator of child health and development but growth failure is a common problem in pre-school children in developing countries. Almost one out of every two or three children suffer from some degree of growth failure. About 25 to 30 million children are born every year in India. In order that this human resource reaches its optimum development, it is essential that every child gets adequate breastfeeding and supplementary nutrition at the appropriate age. About 1 in every 12 children (85 per 1000) born in the five years before the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) died within the first year of life.
The Great War and the transformation of the Atlantic copper trade

ABSTRACTJust before the First World War, 70% of the globe’s copper was mined or processed in the U.S. At that time, nearly the same percentage of copper was consumed in Europe – the vast majority of which originated from American mines. At first glance, a trade dynamic of this sort would appear to strongly favour the position of U.S. producers; surprisingly, sources indicate that control of the world’s copper trade was largely the prerogative of a select group of German metal trading companies – the largest and most influential among them was Metallgesellschaft (MG). The following essay explores the competitive dynamics among producers, consumers, and intermediary groups. It argues that U.S. producers were only able to gain substantive control over the supply and marketing of copper in the wake of the economic disruption caused by the Great War.
Future Trends in Goal Programming

Goal programming (GP) research has had a great past and will have a great future in helping to improve decision making. Trends in the types of GP research that appear in the literature are important to observe in order to take part in making contributions to that future.
A Biopsychosocial Critique of Managed Mental Health Care and Its Relation to Primary Care

The quality of health care for any given problem is influenced by many factors other than the presence or absence of objective knowledge about the problem and the availability of effective treatments for it. George Engel recognized this more than 20 years ago when he proposed the incorporation of social and psychological factors into the reductionistic biomedical model of his day (1). Engel worried that the healing power of medicine was being diminished by an exclusionary devotion to science, fortified by the professionalism of physician-scientists. His work has provided the philosophical basis for today’s renewed emphasis on the role of the generalist in clinical care. However, his cynicism about economic forces and about superficial enthrallment with technology remains relevant as the health care industry organizes itself around business principles and management technologies.
The Scientific Study of Information — Its Nature and Impact

Throughout my years of work as an information scientist I have been plagued by a personal and professional sense of doubt with respect to the field. A central theme of every conference that I have attended related to “what is information science” or “is information science a science”. In this paper I hope to take these questions head on. I must begin by saying that I do take information science seriously as a science. I see it as the quest for understanding of the nature of information and man’s interaction with it. That we lack so much in this quest for understanding is the greatest challenge of the science. I intend to explore the tradition or world view bearing on the scientific study of information. The currently prevalent world view is the scientific tradition which extends from the Enlightenment to the present. I also intend to look critically at what I perceive to be the premises underlying most of our current efforts to understand the phenomenon of information. The criticism will by necessity be speculative. I intend to stick my neck out, not because I can prove my assertions, but because I believe these ideas must be discussed.
Effects of atrial natriuretic factor on the kidney and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

ANF is a peptide hormone with peripheral and central effects on several physiologic control systems, which suggests broad involvement in the regulation of intravascular volume and cardiovascular homeostasis. ANF acts directly on the kidney to modulate renal vascular resistance, increase glomerular filtration rate, and decrease inner medullary hypertonicity. These hemodynamic effects act in concert to promote marked natriuresis and diuresis and to inhibit renin secretion by the kidney; the potential role of direct effects on tubular transport and on the juxtaglomerular cells remains to be clarified. ANF also inhibits steroidogenesis, most prominently affecting agonist-induced aldosterone biosynthesis by the adrenal cortex. ANF exerts a smooth muscle relaxant effect on isolated vessels constricted with various hormonal agonists. ANF causes especially pronounced antagonism of the adrenal and vascular actions of angiotensin II and antagonizes the latter peptide's central nervous system effects. Although complex systemic hemodynamic mechanisms are involved, ANF-induced vasorelaxation may contribute to its depressor action, particularly in states characterized by angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction. Distention of the atria is a major stimulus to ANF release and evokes many responses that are mimicked by ANF infusion. Although ANF is not the sole or even dominant mediator of the responses to atrial distention, available data suggest that it plays a role in the renal and hormonal responses to intravascular volume expansion. Definitive assessment of its physiologic and pathophysiologic significance must await development of specific antagonists, but further studies on the mechanisms of action of ANF at the molecular, cellular, and systemic levels are likely to contribute significantly to our understanding of the complex process of volume regulation and cardiovascular homeostasis.
Arsenic in ground water used for drinking water in the United States

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently established a new maximum contaminant level of 10 micrograms per liter for arsenic in drinking water in the United States. Ground water is the primary source of drinking water for half the population of the United States. Several national assessments have found that high arsenic concentrations (above 10 micrograms per liter) are widespread in drinking-water aquifers in the western United States, the Great Lakes region, and New England. Moderate to high concentrations were identified in ground water in parts of the central and southern United States. This chapter summarizes national trends in the use of ground water as drinking water, and national estimates of arsenic occurrence in potable ground water. The chapter also briefly describes several studies on arsenic in specific settings and water-use scenarios; these studies illustrate by example the potential power of a regional approach to understanding and managing arsenic in drinking water.
Torsion Algebraic Cycles on Varieties Over Local Fields

In this article we study the torsion in the second Chow group of a smooth, projective scheme over a Henselian discrete valuation ring with finite or separably closed residue field. We show that the prime to p torsion of this group injects into the prime to p torsion of the special fibre (where p is the characteristic of the residue field). Using this result, we prove the finiteness of the prime to p torsion in the second Chow group of certain varieties over p-adic fields. We also prove similar results for other K-cohomology groups.
ANEAR: Automatic Named Entity Aliasing Resolution

Identifying the different aliases used by or for an entity is emerging as a significant problem in reliable Information Extraction systems, especially with the proliferation of social media and their ever growing impact on different aspects of modern life such as politics, finance, security, etc. In this paper, we address the novel problem of Named Entity Aliasing Resolution (NEAR). We attempt to solve the NEAR problem in a language-independent setting by extracting the different aliases and variants of person named entities. We generate feature vectors for the named entities by building co-occurrence models that use different weighting schemes. The aliasing resolution process applies unsupervised machine learning techniques over the vector space models in order to produce groups of entities along with their aliases. We test our approach on two languages: Arabic and English. We study the impact of varying the level of morphological preprocessing of the words, as well as the part of speech tags surrounding the person named entities, and the named entities’ distribution in the data set. We create novel evaluation data sets for both languages. NEAR yields better overall performance in Arabic than in English for comparable amounts of data, effectively using the POS tag information to improve performance. Our approach achieves an F β = 1score of 67.85% and 70.03% for raw English and Arabic data sets, respectively.
Inferring Smart Schedules for Dumb Thermostats

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) accounts for over 50% of a typical home’s energy usage. A thermostat generally controls HVAC usage in a home to ensure user comfort. In this article, we focus on making existing “dumb” programmable thermostats smart by applying energy analytics on smart meter data to infer home occupancy patterns and compute an optimized thermostat schedule. Utilities with smart meter deployments are capable of immediately applying our approach, called iProgram, to homes across their customer base. iProgram addresses new challenges in inferring home occupancy from smart meter data where (i) training data is not available and (ii) the thermostat schedule may be misaligned with occupancy, frequently resulting in high power usage during unoccupied periods. iProgram translates occupancy patterns inferred from opaque smart meter data into a custom schedule for existing types of programmable thermostats, e.g., 1-day, 7-day, and so on. We implement iProgram as a web service and show that it reduces the mismatch time between the occupancy pattern and the thermostat schedule by a median value of 44.28min (out of 100 homes) when compared to a default 8am-6pm weekday schedule, with a median deviation of 30.76min off the optimal schedule. Further, iProgram yields a daily energy savings of 0.42kWh on average across the 100 homes. Moreover, the schedules generated from iProgram converge to optimal schedules within a couple of weeks for most homes. We also show that homeowners having multiple HVAC zones can utilize iProgram and potentially increase unconditioned times of less occupied parts of their homes by 70%. Utilities may use iProgram to recommend thermostat schedules to customers and provide them estimates of potential energy savings in their energy bills.
Consultant Corner: Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Due to the chronic and relapsing nature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), patients often present for emergency care with a wide variety of complaints. A high index of suspicion is needed to differentiate a typical flare from an emergent complication which can quickly lead to a life-threatening illness with significant morbidity and mortality. Imaging, surgical consultation, and consultation with other subspecialties are often essential as adjuncts to the optimal care of this patient population.
Making Peasants Chèf : The Tonton Makout Militia and the Moral Politics of Terror in the Haitian Countryside during the Dictatorship of François Duvalier, 1957–1971

Drawing on never-before-utilized archival and oral sources, “Making Peasants Chef” contends that decades of peasant marginalization from political power created the social and political conditions for the rise of the infamous tonton makout militia under the dictator Francois Duvalier. After coming to power in 1957, Duvalier militarized and rearmed peasants in exchange for their loyalty. Thousands of previously ostracized peasants enlisted in the dreaded makout militia to access status and political power. This explains why the peasant-based militia formed an arm of state repression. With the support of an armed peasantry, Duvalier successfully repressed the political opposition, allowing the regime to stay in power for almost three decades.
Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Aerosol Observing Systems (AOS) for Surface-Based In Situ Atmospheric Aerosol and Trace Gas Measurements

AbstractAerosols alter Earth’s radiative budget both directly and indirectly through interaction with clouds. Continuous observations are required to reduce the uncertainties in climate models asso...
Posteroanterior cervical transcutaneous spinal stimulation targets ventral and dorsal nerve roots

Abstract Objective We aim to non-invasively facilitate activation of spared neural circuits after cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We developed and tested a novel configuration for cervical transcutaneous spinal stimulation (cTSS). Methods cTSS was delivered via electrodes placed over the midline at ~T2-T4 levels posteriorly and ~C4-C5 levels anteriorly. Electromyographic responses were measured in arm and hand muscles across a range of stimulus intensities. Double-pulse experiments were performed to assess homosynaptic post-activation depression (PAD). Safety was closely monitored. Results More than 170 cTSS sessions were conducted without major safety or tolerability issues. A cathode-posterior, 2 ms biphasic waveform provided optimal stimulation characteristics. Bilateral upper extremity muscle responses were easily obtained in subjects with SCI and ALS. Resting motor threshold at the abductor pollicis brevis muscle ranged from 5.5 to 51.0 mA. As stimulus intensity increased, response latencies to all muscles decreased. PAD was incomplete at lower stimulus intensities, and decreased at higher stimulus intensities. Conclusions Posteroanterior cTSS has the capability to target motor neurons both trans-synaptically via large-diameter afferents and non-synaptically via efferent motor axons. Significance Posteroanterior cTSS is well tolerated and easily activates upper extremity muscles in individuals with SCI and ALS.
Reversible Breakdown in GaN Dual Channel Cantilevers for VOC Sensing

There is a unique challenge presented by the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the air quality monitoring. VOCs are vital components for environmental and human health. VOCs from number of sources and mixtures are complex to monitor. But, with the emerging technologies there is a potential to support existing air quality measurement methods by providing data with high time and spatial resolution. With the availability of technology where sensors are connected to each other there is great potential to enhance the research and monitoring for public health and communities impacted by air toxics, which in turn could support a better understanding of exposure levels and actions to reduce harmful exposure. In the past century the pollution levels in the indoor environment has rapidly increased compared to the pollution levels of outdoor environment. The pollution is not only due to carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide that is present in the atmosphere but, there are lot of other pollutants such as VOCs. There is a need for a sensor to continuously monitor all these harmful gases that are present in the air. The focus of our paper is on Gallium nitride (GAN) based cantilevers for VOCs sensing to monitor the air quality.
Considering the Environment

The preceding chapter considered uncertainty in the ability of organizations to perform their key functions, and the relationship of uncertainty to innovation diffusion. We applied contingency theory to help explain how organizational leaders deal with uncertainty by first identifying performance gaps and then by developing agendas to address these performance deficits. These basic concepts were then used to analyze how the key actors—the National Cancer Institute, the academic medical centers, and the community hospitals—in the head and neck demonstration projects defined the innovation and set agendas that addressed specific performance gaps related to their core activities. The agendas that emerged from the networks were constrained by the environments in which the programs were established.
Impacts of advanced diesel combustion operation and fuel formulation on soot nanostructure and reactivity

Abstract Advanced diesel combustion, accomplished via a single pulse fuel injection and high levels of exhaust gas recirculation (referred to as “PCCI”, partially-premixed charge compression ignition), is shown to be a path to reduce oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter simultaneously. This is well established in the literature. Less established is the extent to which such dilute combustion processes influence soot formation and affect soot that is emitted from diesel engines under such combustion modes. This work focuses on characterization of the nanostructure and oxidative reactivity of soot generated by a light-duty turbodiesel engine operating under a PCCI combustion mode, a dilute, low-temperature combustion process. Previous work on a type of PCCI combustion, referred to as high-efficiency clean combustion (HECC), showed soot samples having a fullerenic nanostructure, characterized by high levels of tortuosity of the fringe layers as seen in transmission electron micrograph images and as quantified using an image processing algorithm. Thermogravimetric analysis of the HECC mode soot samples showed that they displayed higher rates of oxidation than soot samples from a conventional diesel combustion mode. The present work returns to PCCI combustion, considering the timing of the main fuel injection, and the effects of operating on fuels rich in n-alkanes, particularly a fuel produced from a low temperature Fischer-Tropsch process (LTFT) and a renewable diesel fuel (RD) produced via hydrodeoxygenation of a plant oil. PCCI combustion conditions yield soot that shows higher reactivity compared to soot from the conventional combustion mode regardless of fuel type. LTFT and RD fuels produce soots with lower reactivity compared to ULSD. Soots produced from PCCI combustion have higher surface oxygen concentration and higher proportion of amorphous carbon. In addition, TEM images show that PCCI soots from all three fuels have smaller primary particle and particle aggregate sizes, and smaller graphene layers. These properties explain the higher reactivity of soot from PCCI combustion. The less reactive soots, which are produced from LTFT and RD fuel under conventional combustion, show internal burning during oxidation. However, soots with higher reactivity which are produced from late injection PCCI combustion and ULSD show shrinking core oxidation, likely because of their overall amorphous structure.
Recollections and Reflections

The latter seems to imply that the successful mathematician must be "shmart" while young and that he will have declining powers as he grows older. This is probably true, in general, although such classical examples as Hadamard, Hilbert, Mordell and Weierstrass may cast doubt on it. I believe that Weierstrass was 40 years of age by the time he began to attract the notice of the mathematical world. On the other hand, experience does teach, and the longer one lives, the more he learns about topics that he wishes he had known earlier. Moreover, he comes to realize that he has seen history in the making. Events that at the time seemed quite ordinary, later turn out to have been of great significance. And sometimes persons that one has known and taken for granted during daily contacts ultimately achieve sufficient recognition to warrant them prominent places ini the history of mathematics. A few years ago, I was a bit startled when my wife told me that one of my students had told her that one of the things he liked best about a course he was taking with me was the incidental remarks I frequently made about people I had known and who were responsible for material being studied; it sounded as though I had been indulging in "name-dropping." Actually, I had been trying to convey some idea to the students of how mathematics is created, and that the creators are human beings like themselves. For example, anyone who regularly attended Eastern mathematical meetings during the years surrounding World War II would very likely have become acquainted with Felix Bernstein, who was at this time living in the United States and doing biometric work for a medical group. His tales about the difficulties he encountered in obtaining materials for fashioning laboratory gadgets revealed an aptitude for invention quite unexpected in one who is probably most commonly remembered in connection with the famous equivalence theorem which bears his name. Students learning about the theorem for the first time are always fascinated to hear about this "non-abstract" side of Bernstein's character. Of course, there may be times when one might wish not to reveal such chance acquaintanceships. Not long ago when inquiring for a prescription in my name at my neighborhood drugstole, I was startled by a new clerk's greeting: "You're the man who knew Einstein!" It reminded me of a book written by the
Who Moves the Asia-Pacific Stock Markets: U.S. Or Japan? Empirical Evidence Based on the Theory of Cointegration

This study examines the recent debacle of the Asian-Pacific stock markets by utilizing the theory of cointegration to investigate which developing markets are moved by the markets of Japan and the United States. The empirical evidence suggests that some countries are dominated by the US, some are dominated by Japan, and the remaining countries are dominated by neither during the time period investigated. The appropriate error correction model is estimated and is used to perform out-of-sample forecasting.