cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Stochastic Hybrid Framework for Driver Behavior Modeling Based on Hierarchical Dirichlet Process

Scalability is one of the major issues for real- world Vehicle-to-Vehicle network realization. To tackle this challenge, a stochastic hybrid modeling framework based on a non-parametric Bayesian inference method, i.e., hierarchical Dirichlet process (HDP), is investigated in this paper. This framework is able to jointly model driver/vehicle behavior through forecasting the vehicle dynamical time-series. This modeling framework could be merged with the notion of model-based information networking, which is recently proposed in the vehicular literature, to overcome the scalability challenges in dense vehicular networks via broadcasting the behavioral models instead of raw information dissemination. This modeling approach has been applied on several scenarios from the realistic Safety Pilot Model Deployment (SPMD) driving data set and the results show a higher performance of this model in comparison with the zero-hold method as the baseline.
Connecting the dots: Mott for emulsions, collapse models, colored noise, frame dependence of measurements, evasion of the "Free Will Theorem"

We review the argument that latent image formation is a measurement in which the state vector collapses, requiring an enhanced noise parameter in objective reduction models. Tentative observation of a residual noise at this level, plus several experimental bounds, imply that the noise must be colored (i.e., non-white), and hence frame dependent and non-relativistic. Thus a relativistic objective reduction model, even if achievable in principle, would be incompatible with experiment; the best one can do is the non-relativistic CSL model. This negative conclusion has a positive aspect, in that the non-relativistic CSL reduction model evades the argument leading to the Conway–Kochen “Free Will Theorem”.
MaskConnect: Connectivity Learning by Gradient Descent

Although deep networks have recently emerged as the model of choice for many computer vision problems, in order to yield good results they often require time-consuming architecture search. To combat the complexity of design choices, prior work has adopted the principle of modularized design which consists in defining the network in terms of a composition of topologically identical or similar building blocks (a.k.a. modules). This reduces architecture search to the problem of determining the number of modules to compose and how to connect such modules. Again, for reasons of design complexity and training cost, previous approaches have relied on simple rules of connectivity, e.g., connecting each module to only the immediately preceding module or perhaps to all of the previous ones. Such simple connectivity rules are unlikely to yield the optimal architecture for the given problem.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil Samples from Diboll, East Texas (USA)

Concentrations of six polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (benzanthrone, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and triphenylene) of soil samples from Diboll, an East Texas city (USA), wer...
The Simplest Test of Target Zone Credibility

Under the assumption of no arbitrage, the credibility of an exchange rate target zone is tested by whether domestic interest rates fall within "rate-of-return bands" between the maximum and minimum home currency rate of return on a foreign investment in the absence of a devaluation. Under the assumption of uncovered interest parity, credibility is tested by whether expected future exchange rates fall within the exchange rate band. These tests are applied on data on the Swedish target zone from January 1987 through August 1990.
Comparing Video Based Shoulder Surfing with Live Simulation

We analyze the claims that video recreations of shoulder surfing attacks offer a suitable alternative and a baseline, as compared to evaluation in a live setting. We recreated a subset of the factors of a prior video-simulation experiment conducted by Aviv et al. (ACSAC 2017), and model the same scenario using live participants (n = 36) instead (i.e., the victim and attacker were both present). The live experiment confirmed that for Android's graphical patterns video simulation is consistent with the live setting for attacker success rates. However, both 4- and 6-digit PINs demonstrate statistically significant differences in attacker performance, with live attackers performing as much 1.9x better than in the video simulation. The security benefits gained from removing feedback lines in Android's graphical patterns are also greatly diminished in the live setting, particularly under multiple attacker observations, but overall, the data suggests that video recreations can provide a suitable baseline measure for attacker success rate. However, we caution that researchers should consider that these baselines may greatly underestimate the threat of an attacker in live settings.
Evidence for a large exomoon orbiting Kepler-1625b

Exomoons are the natural satellites of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system, of which there are currently no confirmed examples. We present new observations of a candidate exomoon associated with Kepler-1625b using the Hubble Space Telescope to validate or refute the moon’s presence. We find evidence in favor of the moon hypothesis, based on timing deviations and a flux decrement from the star consistent with a large transiting exomoon. Self-consistent photodynamical modeling suggests that the planet is likely several Jupiter masses, while the exomoon has a mass and radius similar to Neptune. Since our inference is dominated by a single but highly precise Hubble epoch, we advocate for future monitoring of the system to check model predictions and confirm repetition of the moon-like signal.
An Elementary Proof of Eigenvalue Preservation for the Co-rotational Beris-Edwards System

We study the corotational Beris-Edwards system modeling nematic liquid crystals and revisit the eigenvalue preservation property discussed in Wu et al. (Arch Rational Mech Anal, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00205-018-1297-2 ). We give an alternative but direct proof to the eigenvalue preservation of the initial data for the Q-tensor. It is noted that our proof is not only valid in the whole-space case, but in the bounded-domain case as well.
Patient knowledge and attitudes toward cervical cancer screening after the 2012 screening guidelines.

Abstract Objective To assess women’s attitudes and preferences related to recent changes in cervical cancer screening guidelines. Methods We distributed 380 surveys in three University based and Community clinics. Study participants anonymously completed surveys, which included questions related to demographics, cervical cancer, screening practices, risk perception and attitudes towards changing practices. Results 315 women agreed to participate (83%). 60% (185/310) of participants had some college education or higher and 12% (36/305) worked in the medical field. On average, participants answered 4.1 (SD = 1.3) of the 8 knowledge questions correctly. Knowledge scores significantly increased with education level (Kruskal-Wallis test p-value Conclusion Even among a relatively highly educated population of women, participants had limited knowledge of cervical cancer and current screening guidelines. Many participants reported discomfort with less frequent screening intervals. Practice implications This study supports the need for improvement in cervical cancer prevention education especially with regards to the new screening guidelines.
Fabrication of astronomical x-ray reflection gratings using thermally activated selective topography equilibration

Thermally activated selective topography equilibration (TASTE) enables the creation of 3D structures in resist using grayscale electron-beam lithography followed by a thermal treatment to induce a selective polymer reflow. A blazed grating topography can be created by reflowing repeating staircase patterns in resist into wedgelike structures. Motivated by astronomical applications, such patterns with periodicities 840 and 400 nm have been fabricated in 130 nm-thick poly(methyl methacrylate) using TASTE to provide a base for x-ray reflection gratings. A path forward to integrate this alternative blazing technique into grating fabrication recipes is discussed.Thermally activated selective topography equilibration (TASTE) enables the creation of 3D structures in resist using grayscale electron-beam lithography followed by a thermal treatment to induce a selective polymer reflow. A blazed grating topography can be created by reflowing repeating staircase patterns in resist into wedgelike structures. Motivated by astronomical applications, such patterns with periodicities 840 and 400 nm have been fabricated in 130 nm-thick poly(methyl methacrylate) using TASTE to provide a base for x-ray reflection gratings. A path forward to integrate this alternative blazing technique into grating fabrication recipes is discussed.
Data-driven Blockbuster Planning on Online Movie Knowledge Library

In the era of big data, logistic planning can be made data-driven to take advantage of accumulated knowledge in the past. While in the movie industry, movie planning can also exploit the existing online movie knowledge library to achieve better results. However, it is ineffective to solely rely on conventional heuristics for movie planning, due to a large number of existing movies and various real-world factors that contribute to the success of each movie, such as the movie genre, available budget, production team (involving actor, actress, director, and writer), etc. In this paper, we study a "Blockbuster Planning" (BP) problem to learn from previous movies and plan for low budget yet high return new movies in a totally data-driven fashion. After a thorough investigation of an online movie knowledge library, a novel movie planning framework "Blockbuster Planning with Maximized Movie Configuration Acquaintance" (BigMovie) is introduced in this paper. From the investment perspective, BigMovie maximizes the estimated gross of the planned movies with a given budget. Meanwhile, from the production team’s perspective, BigMovie is able to formulate an optimized team with people/movie genres that team members are acquainted with. We formulate the BP problem as a non-linear binary programming problem and prove its NP-hardness. To solve it in polynomial time, BigMovie relaxes the hard binary constraints and addresses the BP problem as a cubic programming problem. This paper is the short version, and you can move to the full version of the paper to get more information.1.
Caring for cells in microsystems: principles and practices of cell-safe device design and operation.

Microfluidic device designers and users continually question whether cells are ‘happy’ in a given microsystem or whether they are perturbed by micro-scale technologies. This issue is normally brought up by engineers building platforms, or by external reviewers (academic or commercial) comparing multiple technological approaches to a problem. Microsystems can apply combinations of biophysical and biochemical stimuli that, although essential to device operation, may damage cells in complex ways. However, assays to assess the impact of microsystems upon cells have been challenging to conduct and have led to subjective interpretation and evaluation of cell stressors, hampering development and adoption of microsystems. To this end, we introduce a framework that defines cell health, describes how device stimuli may stress cells, and contrasts approaches to measure cell stress. Importantly, we provide practical guidelines regarding device design and operation to minimize cell stress, and recommend a minimal set of quantitative assays that will enable standardization in the assessment of cell health in diverse devices. We anticipate that as microsystem designers, reviewers, and end-users enforce such guidelines, we as a community can create a set of essential principles that will further the adoption of such technologies in clinical, translational and commercial applications.
The Loss of Information Associated with Binary Audit Reports: Evidence from Auditors' Internal Control and Going Concern Opinions

This study provides evidence that binary signals in audit reports are unable to fully communicate underlying risks that are inherently continuous in nature. Specifically, we find that companies whose audit reports signal an improvement in internal control effectiveness relative to the prior year are still more likely to subsequently restate the current year's financial statements than companies with no material weaknesses in either year. Similarly, companies deemed to no longer have substantial doubt of continuing as a going concern are still more likely to declare bankruptcy than companies with no going concern opinion in either year. Results in both settings suggest the presence of residual risk that cannot be communicated through a binary audit report, despite the fact that auditors recognize the risk, as evidenced by higher audit fees and longer audit report lags. Our findings are strongest when the reported improvement is more pronounced, and our results hold in matched samples. Our study provides empirical evidence that supports recent regulatory efforts to improve the content of the audit report and offers suggestions for future research. La perte de renseignements associee aux rapports d'audit binaires : observations relatives aux opinions des auditeurs quant au controle interne et a la continuite de l'exploitation Les auteurs produisent des donnees selon lesquelles les indicateurs binaires des rapports d'audit ne parviennent pas a livrer toute l'information relative aux risques sous‐jacents qui sont, par essence, permanents. Ils constatent, plus precisement, que les societes dont les rapports d'audit indiquent une amelioration de l'efficacite du controle interne par rapport a l'exercice precedent demeurent davantage susceptibles de devoir subsequemment retraiter les etats financiers de l'exercice considere que ne le sont les societes n'affichant pas de faiblesses importantes dans l'un ou l'autre exercice. De meme, les societes a l’egard desquelles on estime qu'il n'existe plus de doute important quant a leur capacite de poursuivre leur exploitation demeurent davantage susceptibles de declarer faillite que les societes a l’egard desquelles aucun doute n'a ete exprime par les auditeurs quant a leur capacite de poursuivre leur exploitation dans l'un ou l'autre exercice. Dans les deux cas, les resultats laissent supposer qu'il existe un risque residuel dont le rapport d'audit binaire ne permet pas de faire etat, meme si les auditeurs sont conscients de ce risque, ainsi qu'en temoignent leurs honoraires d'audit plus eleves et le temps plus long qu'exige la production du rapport d'audit. Ces observations sont le plus notables lorsque l'amelioration dont il est fait etat est plus importante, et elles se confirment dans des echantillons apparies. L’etude fournit des donnees empiriques a l'appui des efforts recents de reglementation en vue d'ameliorer le contenu du rapport d'audit, et des pistes de recherche future y sont proposees.
Soluble transforming growth factor beta-1 enhances murine mast cell release of Interleukin 6 in IgE-independent and Interleukin 13 in IgE-dependent settings in vitro.

Introduction For immune cells transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) can enhance or repress effector functions. Here, we characterize the effects of TGF-β1 on IgE-mediated and IL-33-mediated activation of primary murine mast cells derived from hematopoietic stem cells (bone marrow derived mast cells; BMMC). We also investigated potential interactions between TGF-β1 and stem cell factor (SCF). We conclude TGF-β1 plays a selectively stimulatory role for mast cell cultures in vitro. Methods BMMCs from C57BL/6 mice were differentiated with IL-3 and then treated with TGF-β1. BMMCs were exposed to TGF-β1, primed with IgE, activated with antigen, and then IL-6 and IL-13 cytokine release was quantified using ELISA. Additionally, the effects of TGF-β1 on both IgE and IL-33-mediated short term activation were observed via flow cytometric analysis of both surface LAMP-1 expression and intracellular IL-6. Receptor colocalization was visualized using fluorescence confocal microscopy and individual receptor expression levels were also quantified. Results Resting IL-6 production increased with TGF-β1 but significance was lost following BMMC activation via IgE receptor (FceRI) crosslinking. This was similar to a comparison effect due to SCF treatment alone, which also enhanced resting levels of IL-6. TGF-β1 treatment enhanced release of IL-13 only with FceRI-IgE-mediated activation. TGF-β1 suppressed mobilization of IL-6 with short-term BMMC activation when stimulated with IL-33. Lastly, colocalization patterns of the SCF receptor (CD117) and FceRI with IgE crosslinking were unaffected by TGF-β1 treatment, but individual expression levels for FceRI, CD117, and TGFβRII were all reduced following either IgE activation or TGF-β1 treatment; this reduction was partially recovered in BMMCs that were both activated by IgE and treated with TGF-β1. Discussion These data reveal a novel positive effect of soluble TGF-β1 on mast cell activation in vitro, suggesting mast cells may be activated through a non-canonical pathway by TGF-β1. Understanding this interaction will provide insight into the potential role of mast cells in settings where TGF-β1 is produced in an aberrant manner, such as in and around high grade tumors.
Matlab, Python, Julia: What to Choose in Economics?

We perform a comparison of Matlab, Python and Julia as programming languages to be used for implementing global nonlinear solution techniques. We consider two popular applications: a neoclassical growth model and a new Keynesian model. The goal of our analysis is twofold: First, it is aimed at helping researchers in economics choose the programming language that is best suited to their applications and, if needed, help them transit from one programming language to another. Second, our collections of routines can be viewed as a toolbox with a special emphasis on techniques for dealing with high dimensional economic problems. We provide the routines in the three languages for constructing random and quasi-random grids, low-cost monomial integration, various global solution methods, routines for checking the accuracy of the solutions as well as examples of parallelization. Our global solution methods are not only accurate but also fast. Solving a new Keynesian model with eight state variables only takes a few seconds, even in the presence of an active zero lower bound on nominal interest rates. This speed is important because it allows the model to be solved repeatedly as would be required for estimation.
Measurement Error in Discrete Health Facility Choice Models: an Example from Urban Senegal

A number of authors have utilized health facility choice models to determine how individuals in developing countries evaluate the tradeoff between the price, quality, and indirect costs of obtaining medical care. A common problem in this literature is that researchers only observe the type of facility that individuals report visiting (e.g., public or private hospital, health center or dispensary, or traditional healer) and, therefore, must assume individuals visit the nearest facility of the type they report. This matching procedure creates measurement error in the choice variable, which may introduce bias in parameter estimates. In this research, we use a data set from urban Senegal that allows for a precise individual-health facility match to estimate consumer preferences for health facility characteristics related to maternal health and family planning services. Using actual rather than imputed choices, we find that consumers prefer high quality health facilities that are nearby. Given the preference for quality, our findings indicate that in contrast to the typical assumption in the literature, individuals frequently bypass the facility nearest their home. When we estimate models using the mismeasured choice variable, the results show a significant bias in preference estimates; most notably, these models systematically overestimate distaste for travel. To highlight a potential consequence of biased preference estimates in this setting, we conclude by simulating the impact of an actual policy that took place in 2014; namely, the opening of a new facility in a previously underserved area of Dakar, Senegal.
The fundamentals of harnessing the magneto-optics of quantum wires for designing optical amplifiers: Formalism

Quantum wires occupy a unique status among the semiconducting nanostructures with reduced dimensionality, no other system seems to have engaged researchers with as many appealing features to pursue...
Nutrition provider confidence in the Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (MA-CORD) study

Abstract Objective The multi-sector, multi-level Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (MA-CORD) study resulted in improvements in obesity risk factors among children age 2–4 years enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The goal of this study was to examine whether the MA-CORD intervention increased WIC provider confidence in their ability to identify childhood obesity and obesity-related behaviors. Methods As part of the MA-CORD intervention conducted from 2012 to 2015, we implemented WIC practice changes focused on childhood obesity prevention within two Massachusetts communities. We examined changes in provider confidence to assess childhood obesity risk factors and practice frequency among WIC practices located in MA-CORD intervention communities over a 3-year period, compared to non-intervention sites. We measured provider confidence on a continuous scale using questions previously developed to assess provider and parent confidence to make weight-related behavior change (range 0 to 24). Results There were 205 providers at baseline and 165 at follow-up. WIC providers at intervention sites reported greater confidence in their ability to identify childhood obesity and obesity-related behaviors compared to the usual care sites (β = 1.01, standard error = 0.13). These findings persisted after adjusting for provider gender, years in practice, highest education level, and WIC position. Conclusions The MA-CORD intervention was associated with increased WIC provider confidence to assess children's obesity risk. Interventions that increase confidence in assessing obesity-related behaviors may have salutary effects within WIC programs that serve low-income families.
Transformations in China’s Internal Labor Migration and Hukou System

This paper examines China’s changing internal labor migration patterns between 1990 and 2005 as its household registration (hukou) system evolves. We document a drastic increase in the size of the migrant population, along with significant composition shifts in migrants’ characteristics, and geographic and employment distributions. Recent migrants are on average older, more educated, more likely to be female, more likely to be married, and more likely to have an urban hukou. Regression analysis shows that migration rates increased substantially during this period for all individuals regardless of their education, gender, age, marital or hukou status. By employing a simple migration location choice model, we investigate the relationship between hukou policy and migration behavior. We find that larger and more developed cities are more attractive to migrants but tend to set more stringent hukou restrictions. Rural migrants are significantly more deterred by hukou restrictions relative to urban migrants. These findings suggest that institutional factors, such as the hukou system, are important for understanding the observed patterns in China’s labor migration.
Exploratory learning

In multiclass semi-supervised learning (SSL), it is sometimes the case that the number of classes present in the data is not known, and hence no labeled examples are provided for some classes. In this paper we present variants of well-known semi-supervised multiclass learning methods that are robust when the data contains an unknown number of classes. In particular, we present an "exploratory" extension of expectation-maximization (EM) that explores different numbers of classes while learning. "Exploratory" SSL greatly improves performance on three datasets in terms of F1 on the classes with seed examples—i.e., the classes which are expected to be in the data. Our Exploratory EM algorithm also outperforms a SSL method based non-parametric Bayesian clustering.
Acute Cannabinoids Produce Robust Anxiety-Like and Locomotor Effects in Mice, but Long-Term Consequences Are Age- and Sex-Dependent.

The rise in cannabinoid legalization and decriminalization in the US has been paired with an increase in adolescents that perceive marijuana as a “no risk” drug. However, a comprehensive review of human literature indicates that cannabinoid usage may have both beneficial and detrimental effects, with adolescent exposure being a critical window for harming cognitive development. Although the cannabinoids Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are often used together for recreational and medical purposes, no study has previously observed the acute and long-lasting effects of THC+CBD in a battery of behavioral assays analogous to subjective human reports. The current study observed the acute and long-term effects of THC, CBD, and THC+CBD on object memory, anxiety-like behavior, and activity levels in adolescent and adult mice of both sexes. Acute THC alone and in combination with CBD resulted in robust effects on anxiety-like and locomotor behavior. A history of repeated cannabinoid treatment followed by a period without drug administration resulted in minimal effects in these behavioral assays. Most notably, the strongest effects of repeated cannabinoid treatment were seen in adult females administered THC+CBD, which significantly impaired their object recognition. No effects of repeated cannabinoid history were present on hippocampal protein expression. These studies represent a detailed examination of age- and sex-effects of acute and repeated cannabinoid administration. However, the acute and long-term effects of THC with and without CBD on additional behaviors in adolescents and adults will need to be examined for a more complete picture of these drug effects.
Substitution between groups of highly-educated, foreign-born, H-1B workers

Abstract Highly-educated foreign-born workers can secure legal US employment through the H-1B program. The annual cap on H-1B issuances varies across individuals’ US educational experience, H-1B work history, and employer type. Caps are met quickly in most but not all years. This paper exploits these differences to identify whether firms substitute across different sources of highly-educated, foreign-born, H-1B labor. New H-1B workers without advanced degrees from US universities substitute with new H-1B workers possessing advanced US degrees. Regressions find no evidence for substitution with established H-1B workers.
The impact of cash flow management versus accruals management on credit rating performance and usage

Corporate bond issuers attempt to influence bond ratings through their discretion over reported numbers, which could diminish credit rating quality. I find that cash flow management is negatively associated with rating quality, while accruals management is not. These results suggest that rating agencies fail to adjust for cash flow management, but they undo accruals management. The differential results for cash flow management versus accruals management could be due to the rating agencies’ more skeptical attitude towards accruals and the lower cost of adjusting accruals management. The relation between cash flow management and rating quality is weaker for issuers with high leverage and issuers with prior ratings around the investment-/speculative-grade cutoff. Overall, the evidence suggests that rating management through managerial discretion over reported numbers has a detrimental impact on rating quality, but only via the cash flow component. Fortunately, the bond market understands the implications of cash flow management on rating quality and relies less on ratings in response to cash flow management.
Endoscopic third ventriculostomy versus shunt for pediatric hydrocephalus: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Optimized management of pediatric hydrocephalus remains the subject of debate. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt is largely considered the standard of care. However, the advancements and introduction of new cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion approaches including the use of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) offer appealing alternatives that have been reported in numerous observational series. To evaluate the comparative safety and efficacy of shunting and ETV in pediatric hydrocephalus cases. This systematic literature review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies were identified through a search of PubMed (Medline) and Cochrane until October 2018. A random effects model meta-analysis was conducted and the I-square was used to assess heterogeneity. The ROBINS-1 tool and Cochrane tool were used to assess risk of bias in the observational and randomized studies, respectively. Fourteen studies including 8419 patients were identified. Patients in the ETV group had a statistically significant lower risk of infection compared to shunt (OR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.07–0.53; I2: 0%). All-cause mortality (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.35–1.68; I2: 0%), post-operative CSF leak (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 0.37–6.31; I2: 0%), and reoperation rates were similar between the two study groups (OR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.39–1.32; I2: 93.5%). Subgroup analyses for re-operation demonstrated that ETV in Africa (OR: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.03–0.48; I2: 0%) and Europe (OR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.30–0.52; I2:1.4%) was associated with significantly lower odds of re-operation compared to shunt, but not in USA/Canada (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 0.85–2.63; I2:86.2%). Meta-regression analyses of age and duration of follow-up did not affect re-operation rates. ETV was associated with a statistically significant lower risk of procedure-related infection compared to shunt. All-cause mortality, CSF leak, and re-operation rates were similar between the study groups. Subgroup analysis based on the geographic region showed that ETV is associated with statistically significant lower odds for re-operation in Europe and Africa, but not in USA/Canada. Future RCTs are needed to validate the results of this study and elucidate the cause of this heterogeneity.
Hyperspectral pigment analysis of cultural heritage artifacts using the opaque form of Kubelka-Munk theory

Kubelka-Munk (K-M) theory has been successfully used to estimate pigment concentrations in the pigment mixtures of modern paintings in spectral imagery. In this study the single-constant K-M theory has been utilized for the classification of green pigments in the Selden Map of China, a navigational map of the South China Sea likely created in the early seventeenth century. Hyperspectral data of the map was collected at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, and can be used to estimate the pigment diversity, and spatial distribution, within the map. This work seeks to assess the utility of analyzing the data in the K/S space from Kubelka-Munk theory, as opposed to the traditional reflectance domain. We estimate the dimensionality of the data and extract endmembers in the reflectance domain. Then we perform linear unmixing to estimate abundances in the K/S space, and following Bai, et al. (2017), we perform a classification in the abundance space. Finally, due to the lack of ground truth labels, the classification accuracy was estimated by computing the mean spectrum of each class as the representative signature of that class, and calculating the root mean squared error with all the pixels in that class to create a spatial representation of the error. This highlights both the magnitude of, and any spatial pattern in, the errors, indicating if a particular pigment is not well modeled in this approach.
Some aspects of structure and bonding in binary and ternary uranium(VI) oxides

Aspects of the structure and bonding in binary and ternary uranium oxides are considered using group theoretical and geometrical ideas. A 13-orbital sd5f 7 bonding manifold for the uranium atoms is...
Tetracoordinated Planar Carbon in the Al4C- Anion. A Combined Photoelectron Spectroscopy and ab Initio Study

The chemical structure and bonding of Al4C and Al4C- have been studied by photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. While Al4C is known to be a tetrahedral molecule, the data reported ...
Enantiospecific Synthesis of 5-Methoxy-D(+)- OR L(-) Tryptophan

Abstract A method for the enantiospecific synthesis of 5-methoxy-D(+)-tryptophan 8 or the L(-)-optical antipode is described. This procedure can be scaled up and performed without the need for extensive chromatographic separations. It provides for the first time the synthesis of the optically pure 5-methoxy-D(+) or L(-)-tryptophans required for alkaloid total synthesis.
Longitudinal Standards for Mid-life Cognitive Performance: Identifying Abnormal Within-Person Changes in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention.

Objectives: A major challenge in cognitive aging is differentiating preclinical disease-related cognitive decline from changes associated with normal aging. Neuropsychological test authors typically publish single time-point norms, referred to here as unconditional reference values. However, detecting significant change requires longitudinal, or conditional reference values, created by modeling cognition as a function of prior performance. Our objectives were to create, depict, and examine preliminary validity of unconditional and conditional reference values for ages 40–75 years on neuropsychological tests. Method: We used quantile regression to create growth-curve–like models of performance on tests of memory and executive function using participants from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention. Unconditional and conditional models accounted for age, sex, education, and verbal ability/literacy; conditional models also included past performance on and number of prior exposures to the test. Models were then used to estimate individuals’ unconditional and conditional percentile ranks for each test. We examined how low performance on each test (operationalized as <7th percentile) related to consensus-conference–determined cognitive statuses and subjective impairment. Results: Participants with low performance were more likely to receive an abnormal cognitive diagnosis at the current visit (but not later visits). Low performance was also linked to subjective and informant reports of worsening memory function. Conclusions: The percentile-based methods and single-test results described here show potential for detecting troublesome within-person cognitive change. Development of reference values for additional cognitive measures, investigation of alternative thresholds for abnormality (including multi-test criteria), and validation in samples with more clinical endpoints are needed. (JINS, 2019, 25, 1–14)
Electrodeposition of Bi1-xSbx Films and 200-nm Wire Arrays from a Nonaqueous Solvent

Films and 200-nm wire arrays of Bi1-xSbx alloys, one of the best known low-temperature thermoelectric materials, have been obtained by electrodeposition without the need for complexing the Sb catio...
Dynamic quenching of porous silicon excited states

Porous silicon samples have been prepared from p-type single-crystal silicon 〈100〉 by a galvanostatic and an open-circuit etch in 50% HF. The materials display bright red-orange room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) in air and toluene solution. Infrared measurements show that the porous silicon surface is partially oxidized. Exposure to anthracene (An) or 10-methylphenothiazine (MPTZ) results in dynamic quenching of the material's excited state(s). Nanosecond time-resolved PL decays are complex and wavelength dependent, with average lifetimes in neat toluene of 0.3−16 μs. Quenching by An and MPTZ is more efficient and rapid at short observation wavelengths. The steady-state and time-resolved quenching data are well fit to the Stern−Volmer model. The PL decays are well described by a skewed distribution of recombination rates.
INVESTIGATION OF A SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE CATHOLYTE FOR AN ALUMINUM AQUEOUS BATTERY SYSTEM

A solution-phase sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) cathode for use in an aluminum-based seawater battery is presented. This catholyte attains a high power density, a positive redox potential, and a high Faradaic current capacity. NaOCl is also inexpensive, stable, and environmentally safe/friendly. Four aluminum alloys and 99.999% pure aluminum, serving as anodes, were tested in 3.0, 5.0, and 8.0 M NaOH solutions at the temperatures 45, 55, 65, and 80 °C. The catholyte concentration and temperature effects were optimized, and the best electrocatalyst was chosen to carry out the NaOCl reduction. Optimization experiments were carried out on a half-cell basis using a potentiostat in a three-electrode configuration with Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode and a carbon rod as the counter electrode. Full-cell testing incorporating the optimum conditions was performed with a flowing electrolyte apparatus. A catholyte concentration of 0.70 M NaOCl proved optimum in combination with 3.0 M NaOH at the temperature 55 °C an...
Synthesis of the bi-heterocyclic parent ring system 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b][1,2,4,5]tetrazine and some 3,6-disubstituted derivatives

The synthesis of the previously unknown parent ring system was developed. Treatment of 3-hydrazino-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (4) with diethoxymethyl acetate gave the parent ring system. Similar treatment of 3-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-6-hydrazino-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (2) with one carbon cyclizing reagents gave 3,6-di-substituted derivatives of the 1,2,4-triazolo-1,2,4,5-tetrazine ring system.
Neural Plasticity Following Surgical Correction of Strabismus in Monkeys

Purpose Although widely practiced, surgical treatment of strabismus has varying levels of success and permanence. In this study we investigated adaptive responses within the brain and the extraocular muscles (EOM) that occur following surgery and therefore determine long-term success of the treatment. Methods Single cell responses were collected from cells in the oculomotor and abducens nuclei before and after two monkeys (M1, M2) with exotropia (divergent strabismus) underwent a strabismus correction surgery that involved weakening of the lateral rectus (LR) and strengthening of the medial rectus (MR) muscle of one eye. Eye movement and neuronal data were collected for up to 10 months after surgery during a monocular viewing smooth-pursuit task. These data were fit with a first-order equation and resulting coefficients were used to estimate the population neuronal drive (ND) to each EOM of both eyes. Results Surgery resulted in a ∼70% reduction in strabismus angle in both animals that reverted toward presurgical misalignment by approximately 6 months after treatment. In the first month after surgery, the ND to the treated MR reduced in one animal and ND to the LR increased in the other animal, both indicating active neural plasticity that reduced the effectiveness of the treatment. Adaptive changes in ND to the untreated eye were also identified. Conclusions Active neural and muscle plasticity corresponding to both the treated and the untreated eye determines longitudinal success following surgical correction of strabismus. Outcome of surgical treatment could be improved by identifying ways to enhance "positive" adaptation and limit "negative" adaptation.
Stereoselective synthesis and the polyene macrolide antibiotics.

The stereochemical complexity of roflamycoin and other polyene macrolide antibiotics presents a formidable challenge to the synthetic chemist, and the lack of obvious disconnections makes the retrosynthetic analysis very complex. The alternating (1, 3, 5, ...) polyol chain in roflamycoin is difficult to synthesize in part because there is no simple method to assemble these chains from smaller subunits. We have addressed this problem and developed a simple, convergent method for assembling alternating polyol chains. It is designed around a new class of 1,3-diol synthons: 6-alkyl-4-thiophenyl-1,3-dioxanes. These 1,3-diol synthons are readily available from either homoallylic alcohols or beta-hydroxyesters, which are themselves readily prepared in optically pure form. Reduction of these synthons under the appropriate conditions gives configurationally stable alkyllithiums with either syn or anti stereochemistry. Reaction with electrophiles produces protected syn or anti-1,3-diols.
Physical basis of large microtubule aster growth.

Cells must carefully organize their contents in order to work effectively. Protein filaments called microtubules often play important roles in this organization, as well as giving structure to the cell. Many cells contain structures called asters that are formed of microtubules that radiate out from a central point (much like a star shape). Textbooks generally state that all microtubules in the aster grow outward from its center. If this was the case, the microtubules at the edge of large asters – such as those found in frog egg cells and other extremely large cells – would be spread relatively far apart from each other. However, even at the edges of large asters, the microtubules are quite densely packed. In 2014, a group of researchers proposed that new microtubules could form throughout the aster instead of all originating from the center. This model had not been tested; it was also unclear under what conditions an aster would be able to grow to fill a large cell. Ishihara et al. – including some of the researchers involved in the 2014 work – have now developed a mathematical theory of aster growth that is based on the assumption that microtubules stimulate the generation of new microtubules. The theory reproduces the key features seen during the growth of asters in large cells, and predicts that the asters may stay at a constant size or grow continuously. The condition required for the aster to grow is simple: each microtubule in it has to trigger the generation of at least one new microtubule during its lifetime. Ishihara et al. have named this process “collective growth”. Experiments performed using microtubules taken from crushed frog eggs and assembled under a cover slip provided further evidence that asters grow via a collective growth process. Future studies could now investigate whether collective growth also underlies the formation of other cellular structures.
Disorder–order transformations in metallic films

Abstract: This chapter reviews disorder–order transformations, focusing on the A1 (face centered cubic) to L1 0 transformation in FePt films, a transformation of significant current interest for the development of ultrahigh density magnetic recording media in hard disk drives. The binary phase diagram and the crystal structures of the phases comprising the Fe-Pt system are briefly discussed. Differential scanning calorimetry studies of the thermodynamics and kinetics of the A1 to L1 0 transformation are presented. The Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov (JMAK) kinetic model is introduced, and expressions for the fraction transformed under three nucleation conditions are derived. Experimental kinetic results are then compared to simulated results in order to select the nucleation condition that best describes the transformation in FePt films. To further evaluate the nucleation models, time–temperature–transformation (TTT) diagrams are constructed and compared with experimental results. The impact of the selected nucleation condition on recording media production is discussed.
Synthesis of Tricyclic β-Lactams via Palladium Acetate-Induced Heck Reaction:

Synthesis of tricyclic β-lactams via palladium acetate mediated cyclization of the unsaturated bromo β-lactam was accomplished in good yield.
Rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of terminal alkynes to vinyl ketones

Abstract The metal complex Rh(acac)(CO)2 in the presence of an eqimolar amount of tris(o-methoxyphenyl)phosphine provides a useful catalyst system for the 1,4-addition of alkynes to unsubstituted vinyl ketones. Best yields are obtained when the transformation is performed in benzene at reflux with an excess of vinyl ketone. Both aryl and alkyl substituted alkynes participate in the reaction. Primary alcohols and alkyl chlorides are well tolerated under these reaction conditions. The reaction also proceeds in aqueous solvent mixtures, unlike most organometallic addition reactions.
Effects of force fields on the conformational and dynamic properties of amyloid β(1-40) dimer explored by replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations.

The conformational space and structural ensembles of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides and their oligomers in solution are inherently disordered and proven to be challenging to study. Optimum force field selection for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and the biophysical relevance of results are still unknown. We compared the conformational space of the Aβ(1-40) dimers by 300 ns replica exchange MD simulations at physiological temperature (310 K) using: the AMBER-ff99sb-ILDN, AMBER-ff99sb*-ILDN, AMBER-ff99sb-NMR, and CHARMM22* force fields. Statistical comparisons of simulation results to experimental data and previously published simulations utilizing the CHARMM22* and CHARMM36 force fields were performed. All force fields yield sampled ensembles of conformations with collision cross sectional areas for the dimer that are statistically significantly larger than experimental results. All force fields, with the exception of AMBER-ff99sb-ILDN (8.8 ± 6.4%) and CHARMM36 (2.7 ± 4.2%), tend to overestimate the α-helical content compared to experimental CD (5.3 ± 5.2%). Using the AMBER-ff99sb-NMR force field resulted in the greatest degree of variance (41.3 ± 12.9%). Except for the AMBER-ff99sb-NMR force field, the others tended to under estimate the expected amount of β-sheet and over estimate the amount of turn/bend/random coil conformations. All force fields, with the exception AMBER-ff99sb-NMR, reproduce a theoretically expected β-sheet-turn-β-sheet conformational motif, however, only the CHARMM22* and CHARMM36 force fields yield results compatible with collapse of the central and C-terminal hydrophobic cores from residues 17-21 and 30-36. Although analyses of essential subspace sampling showed only minor variations between force fields, secondary structures of lowest energy conformers are different.
Systematic Metallaborane Chemistry

Monocyclopentadienyl metal chlorides of transition metals of groups 5−9 react with monoboranes (LiBH4 or BH3THF) to give metallaboranes (and LiCl or BH2Cl). The composition of the metallaborane pro...
Synthesis and Diels−Alder Reactions of 4-Substituted- 1,3-diphenoxy-2-[(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy]-1,3-butadienes: Application to the Synthesis of Triaryl Ethers

A novel class of tetrahetero-substituted 1,3-dienes 1a−d having aryl ether substituents at the 1,3-positions were synthesized by enol silylation of 4-substituted 1,3-diphenoxy-3-buten-2-ones 3a−c. The 1Z,3Z configuration of 1b has been assigned by X-ray crystallography. The synthesis of triaryl ethers utilizing a Diels−Alder approach involved reaction of diene 1a with methyl acrylate to furnish a 3:1 mixture of endo- and exo-adducts. Conversion of the adducts to cyclohexenone 8 and aromatization with DDQ gave triaryl ether 9. Cycloaddition reactions of 1a, 1b with some conjugated alkenes exhibited excellent regiospecificity and endo stereoselectivity.