cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strict and pointwise convergence of BV functions in metric spaces

Abstract Consider a metric space X that is equipped with a doubling measure and supports a Poincare inequality. We show that if u i → u strictly in BV ( X ) , i.e. if u i → u in L 1 ( X ) and ‖ D u i ‖ ( X ) → ‖ D u ‖ ( X ) , then for a subsequence (not relabeled) we have u ˜ i ( x ) → u ˜ ( x ) for H -almost every x ∈ X ∖ S u .
Dynamic regulation of metabolic flux in engineered bacteria using a pathway-independent quorum-sensing circuit

Metabolic engineering of microorganisms to produce desirable products on an industrial scale can result in unbalanced cellular metabolic networks that reduce productivity and yield. Metabolic fluxes can be rebalanced using dynamic pathway regulation, but few broadly applicable tools are available to achieve this. We present a pathway-independent genetic control module that can be used to dynamically regulate the expression of target genes. We apply our module to identify the optimal point to redirect glycolytic flux into heterologous engineered pathways in Escherichia coli, resulting in titers of myo-inositol increased 5.5-fold and titers of glucaric acid increased from unmeasurable to >0.8 g/L, compared to the parent strains lacking dynamic flux control. Scaled-up production of these strains in benchtop bioreactors resulted in almost ten- and fivefold increases in specific titers of myo-inositol and glucaric acid, respectively. We also used our module to control flux into aromatic amino acid biosynthesis to increase titers of shikimate in E. coli from unmeasurable to >100 mg/L.
FMRI Clustering in AFNI: False Positive Rates Redux

Abstract Recent reports of inflated false-positive rates (FPRs) in FMRI group analysis tools by Eklund and associates in 2016 have become a large topic within (and outside) neuroimaging. They concluded that existing parametric methods for determining statistically significant clusters had greatly inflated FPRs (“up to 70%,” mainly due to the faulty assumption that the noise spatial autocorrelation function is Gaussian shaped and stationary), calling into question potentially “countless” previous results; in contrast, nonparametric methods, such as their approach, accurately reflected nominal 5% FPRs. They also stated that AFNI showed “particularly high” FPRs compared to other software, largely due to a bug in 3dClustSim. We comment on these points using their own results and figures and by repeating some of their simulations. Briefly, while parametric methods show some FPR inflation in those tests (and assumptions of Gaussian-shaped spatial smoothness also appear to be generally incorrect), their emphasis...
Improving flexural performance of ultra-high-performance concrete by rheology control of suspending mortar

Abstract This study develops a rheology control method to improve steel fiber distribution and flexural performance of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) by adjusting the rheological properties of the suspending mortar of UHPC before steel fibers are added. Correlations among the plastic viscosity of the suspending mortar, the resulting steel fiber distribution, and flexural properties of UHPC are established. This was done by changing the dosage of viscosity modified admixture (VMA) for investigated UHPC mixtures. The optimal plastic viscosity of the suspending mortar that allows for the optimized fiber distribution and flexural performance of UHPC is determined. The plastic viscosity is correlated with the mini V-funnel flow time, which provides a simple alternative to evaluate the plastic viscosity. For a UHPC mixture with 2% micro steel fibers, by volume, the optimal mini V-funnel flow time of suspending motar was determined to be 46 ± 2 s, which corresponded to the optimal plastic viscosity (53 ± 3 Pa s) that ensures the greatest fiber dispersion uniformity and flexural performance of UHPC. However, increasing the VMA dosage retarded the hydration kinetics and reduced the degree of hydration, compressive strength, and the bond properties of the fiber-matrix interface of UHPC.
Variational principle for the parallel-symplectic representation of electromagnetic gyrokinetic theory

The nonlinear (full-f) electromagnetic gyrokinetic Vlasov-Maxwell equations are derived in the parallel-symplectic representation from an Eulerian gyrokinetic variational principle. The gyrokinetic Vlasov-Maxwell equations are shown to possess an exact energy conservation law, which is derived by the Noether method from the gyrokinetic variational principle. Here, the gyrocenter Poisson bracket and the gyrocenter Jacobian contain contributions from the perturbed magnetic field. In the full-f formulation of the gyrokinetic Vlasov-Maxwell theory presented here, the gyrocenter parallel-Ampere equation contains a second-order contribution to the gyrocenter current density that is derived from the second-order gyrocenter ponderomotive Hamiltonian.
The Simulator: Understanding Adaptive Sampling in the Moderate-Confidence Regime

We propose a novel technique for analyzing adaptive sampling called the {\em Simulator}. Our approach differs from the existing methods by considering not how much information could be gathered by any fixed sampling strategy, but how difficult it is to distinguish a good sampling strategy from a bad one given the limited amount of data collected up to any given time. This change of perspective allows us to match the strength of both Fano and change-of-measure techniques, without succumbing to the limitations of either method. For concreteness, we apply our techniques to a structured multi-arm bandit problem in the fixed-confidence pure exploration setting, where we show that the constraints on the means imply a substantial gap between the moderate-confidence sample complexity, and the asymptotic sample complexity as $\delta \to 0$ found in the literature. We also prove the first instance-based lower bounds for the top-k problem which incorporate the appropriate log-factors. Moreover, our lower bounds zero-in on the number of times each \emph{individual} arm needs to be pulled, uncovering new phenomena which are drowned out in the aggregate sample complexity. Our new analysis inspires a simple and near-optimal algorithm for the best-arm and top-k identification, the first {\em practical} algorithm of its kind for the latter problem which removes extraneous log factors, and outperforms the state-of-the-art in experiments.
Use of a 2‐Dose Schedule for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination—Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) is recommended to prevent HPV infections and HPV-associated diseases, including cancers. Routine vaccination at age 11 or 12 years has been recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) since 2006 for females and since 2011 for males (1,2). This report provides recommendations and guidance regarding use of HPV vaccines and updates ACIP HPV vaccination recommendations previously published in 2014 and 2015 (1,2). This report includes new recommendations for use of a 2-dose schedule for girls and boys who initiate the vaccination series at ages 9 through 14 years. Three doses remain recommended for persons who initiate the vaccination series at ages 15 through 26 years and for immunocompromised persons.
CAN SYSTEMATIC MCL NEEDLE PUNCTURING LEAD TO A SAFE AND PREDICTABLE REDUCTION IN MEDIAL TENSION DURING TKA

Traditional medial soft tissue release for balancing of the varus knee in total knee arthroplasty can lead to an inconsistent reduction in medial tension. The purpose of this study is to establish whether sequential needle puncturing of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) can be a safe and predictable method for medial release. Total knee prostheses were implanted in 14 cadaveric specimens by a single surgeon. Medial tension was measured in flexion and extension by a pressure sensor with implants in place, and calipers after removal of implants and gap distraction under constant tension. Measurements were performed after each of 5 sets of 5 punctures of the MCL with an 18-gauge needle and following 5 transverse perforations with an 11-blade. A consistent valgus force was applied after each set of MCL punctures with a pneumatic cylinder. Pearson's correlation was used to compare pressure sensor measurement with gap distance measurement under tension. The pressure as detected by the sensor after each set of 5 punctures was analyzed by a repeated measures two-way ANOVA and a Tukey multiple comparisons test to determine a significant decreases between puncture sets. The pressure sensor device correlated more closely with systematic tissue release (r=0.59 for % change from baseline) than did measurements of gap increase under tension (r= −0.22). All knees had ≤5mm of medial opening with up to 25 needle punctures. Two knees had <5mm of medial opening in flexion after blade perforation. The mean pressure decreases in 90 degrees flexion, mid-flexion and extension were 11.2, 9.4 and 9.9 lbs respectively after 5 needle punctures and 8.1, 11.5 and 9.6 lbs between 5 and 15. Significant pressure decreases were seen after 5 and 10 needle punctures and again after blade perforation (p<0.05) Needle puncture of the deep and superficial MCL leads to a significant and reliable decrease in medial tension over the first 15, with diminishing effect up to 25 punctures. This method may be employed when up to 20 lbs reduction in medial pressure is desired. Blade perforation after needle puncture should be approached with caution.
Characterization of the Lung Parenchyma Using Ultrasound Multiple Scattering.

The purpose of the study described here was to showcase the application of ultrasound to quantitative characterization of the micro-architecture of the lung parenchyma to predict the extent of pulmonary edema. The lung parenchyma is a highly complex and diffusive medium for which ultrasound techniques have remained qualitative. The approach presented here is based on ultrasound multiple scattering and exploits the complexity of ultrasound propagation in the lung structure. The experimental setup consisted of a linear transducer array with an 8-MHz central frequency placed in contact with the lung surface. The diffusion constant D and transport mean free path L* of the lung parenchyma were estimated by separating the incoherent and coherent intensities in the near field and measuring the growth of the incoherent diffusive halo over time. Significant differences were observed between the L* values obtained in healthy and edematous rat lungs in vivo. In the control rat lung, L* was found to be 332 μm (±48.8 μm), whereas in the edematous lung, it was 1040 μm (±90 μm). The reproducibility of the measurements of L* and D was tested in vivo and in phantoms made of melamine sponge with varying air volume fractions. Two-dimensional finite difference time domain numerical simulations were carried out on rabbit lung histology images with varying degrees of lung collapse. Significant correlations were observed between air volume fraction and L* in simulation (r = -0.9542, p < 0.0117) and sponge phantom (r = -0.9932, p < 0.0068) experiments. Ex vivo measurements of a rat lung in which edema was simulated by adding phosphate-buffered saline revealed a linear relationship between the fluid volume fraction and L*. These results illustrate the potential of methods based on ultrasound multiple scattering for the quantitative characterization of the lung parenchyma.
Portable Learning Environments for Hands-On Computational Instruction: Using Container- and Cloud-Based Technology to Teach Data Science

There is an increasing interest in learning outside of the traditional classroom setting. This is especially true for topics covering computational tools and data science, as both are challenging to incorporate in the standard curriculum. These atypical learning environments offer new opportunities for teaching, particularly when it comes to combining conceptual knowledge with hands-on experience/expertise with methods and skills. Advances in cloud computing and containerized environments provide an attractive opportunity to improve the efficiency and ease with which students can learn. This manuscript details recent advances towards using commonly-available cloud computing services and advanced cyberinfrastructure support for improving the learning experience in bootcamp-style events. We cover the benefits (and challenges) of using a server hosted remotely instead of relying on student laptops, discuss the technology that was used in order to make this possible, and give suggestions for how others could implement and improve upon this model for pedagogy and reproducibility.
Survivorship after lower gastrointestinal cancer: Patient reported outcomes and planning for care.

695Background: There is significant need for quality follow-up care to optimize long-term outcomes for the growing population of lower gastrointestinal (GI) cancer survivors. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) provide valuable information regarding late- and long-term effects. Methods: Using a convenience sample from 1,129 colon, rectal and anal cancer survivors (n=792, 218, and 119, respectively) who utilized an Internet-based survivorship care plan (SCP) tool, we examined patient-reported demographics, treatment, and toxicity data. Responses from a follow-up survey were reviewed. Results: Median age of diagnosis was 51 years and median current age was 54 years. 81% of respondents were Caucasian and 58% were female. The most commonly reported late- and long-term effects for all survivors were neuropathy (65%), fatigue (56%), cognitive changes (49%), changes in GI function (43%), sexual dysfunction (22% in males, 43% in females), and radiation-induced dermatologic effects including changes in color/texture ...
Remote sub-wavelength focusing of ultrasonically activated Lorentz current

We propose the use of a combination of ultrasonic and magnetic fields in conductive media for the creation of RF electrical current via the Lorentz force, in order to achieve current generation with extreme sub-wavelength resolution at large depth. We demonstrate the modeling, generation, and measurement of Lorentz current in a conductive solution and show that this current can be localized at a distance of 13 cm from the ultrasonic source to a region about three orders of magnitude smaller than the corresponding wavelength of electromagnetic waves at the same operation frequency. Our results exhibit greater depth, tighter localization, and closer agreement with prediction than previous work on the measurement of Lorentz current in a solution of homogeneous conductivity. The proposed method of RF current excitation overcomes the trade-off between focusing and propagation that is fundamental in the use of RF electromagnetic excitation alone and has the potential to improve localization and depth of operation for RF current-based biomedical applications.We propose the use of a combination of ultrasonic and magnetic fields in conductive media for the creation of RF electrical current via the Lorentz force, in order to achieve current generation with extreme sub-wavelength resolution at large depth. We demonstrate the modeling, generation, and measurement of Lorentz current in a conductive solution and show that this current can be localized at a distance of 13 cm from the ultrasonic source to a region about three orders of magnitude smaller than the corresponding wavelength of electromagnetic waves at the same operation frequency. Our results exhibit greater depth, tighter localization, and closer agreement with prediction than previous work on the measurement of Lorentz current in a solution of homogeneous conductivity. The proposed method of RF current excitation overcomes the trade-off between focusing and propagation that is fundamental in the use of ...
ADN: An Information-Centric Networking Architecture for the Internet of Things

Forwarding data by name has been assumed to be a necessary aspect of an information-centric redesign of the current Internet architecture that makes content access, dissemination, and storage more efficient. The Named Data Networking (NDN) and Content-Centric Networking (CCNx) architectures are the leading examples of such an approach. However, forwarding data by name incurs storage and communication complexities that are orders of magnitude larger than solutions based on forwarding data using addresses. Furthermore, the specific algorithms used in NDN and CCNx have been shown to have a number of limitations. The Addressable Data Networking (ADN) architecture is introduced as an alternative to NDN and CCNx. ADN is particularly attractive for large-scale deployments of the Internet of Things (IoT), because it requires far less storage and processing in relaying nodes than NDN. ADN allows things and data to be denoted by names, just like NDN and CCNx do. However, instead of replacing the waist of the Internet with named-data forwarding, ADN uses an address-based forwarding plane and introduces an information plane that seamlessly maps names to addresses without the involvement of end-user applications. Simulation results illustrate the order of magnitude savings in complexity that can be attained with ADN compared to NDN.
Optimal Multi-Unit Mechanisms with Private Demands

We study a pricing problem that is motivated by the following examples. A cloud computing platform such as Amazon EC2 sells virtual machines to clients, each of who needs a different number of virtual machine hours. Similarly, cloud storage providers such as Dropbox have customers that require different amounts of storage. Software companies such as Microsoft sell software subscriptions that can have different levels of service. The levels could be the number of different documents you are allowed to create, or the number of hours you are allowed to use the software. Companies like Google and Microsoft sell API calls to artificial intelligence software such as face recognition, to other software developers. Video and mobile games are increasingly designed in such a way that one can pay for better access to certain features. Spotify and iTunes sell music subscription, and different people listen to different number of songs in a month. Cellphone service providers like AT&T and Verizon offer cellular phone call minutes and data. People have widely varying amounts of data consumption.
Are key-foreign key joins safe to avoid when learning high-capacity classifiers?

Machine learning (ML) over relational data is a booming area of data management. While there is a lot of work on scalable and fast ML systems, little work has addressed the pains of sourcing data for ML tasks. Real-world relational databases typically have many tables (often, dozens) and data scientists often struggle to even obtain all tables for joins before ML. In this context, Kumar et al. showed recently that key-foreign key dependencies (KFKDs) between tables often lets us avoid such joins without significantly affecting prediction accuracy-an idea they called "avoiding joins safely." While initially controversial, this idea has since been used by multiple companies to reduce the burden of data sourcing for ML. But their work applied only to linear classifiers. In this work, we verify if their results hold for three popular high-capacity classifiers: decision trees, non-linear SVMs, and ANNs. We conduct an extensive experimental study using both real-world datasets and simulations to analyze the effects of avoiding KFK joins on such models. Our results show that these high-capacity classifiers are surprisingly and counter-intuitively more robust to avoiding KFK joins compared to linear classifiers, refuting an intuition from the prior work's analysis. We explain this behavior intuitively and identify open questions at the intersection of data management and ML theoretical research. All of our code and datasets are available for download from http://cseweb.ucsd.edu/~arunkk/hamlet.
Deep anestrous mares under natural photoperiod treated with recombinant equine FSH (reFSH) and LH (reLH) have fertile ovulations and become pregnant.

Abstract The most common equine breeding practice to decrease the time to the first ovulation of the year is to use artificial lights starting December 1 in the Northern Hemisphere. It can take 60–90 d for this lighting regimen to induce a fertile ovulation. The success rate for pharmaceutical compounds to carry out the same process has been variable. One compound that did induce an early ovulation was recombinant equine follicle stimulating hormone (reFSH), but neither pregnancy nor cyclicity was established in that study. Starting on December 1, 20 deep-anestrous mares of light horse breeds (4–15 y old) with follicles ≤ 20 mm in diameter and progesterone 4 ), estradiol-17β (E 2 ) and immunoreactive (ir)-inhibin were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). When the largest follicle reached ≥32 mm in diameter, reFSH treatment was discontinued in both groups while reLH treatment continued in the reFSH/reLH group until a cohort of follicles reached ≥35 mm in diameter. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was administered intravenously (iv) to induce ovulation, and mares were bred to a fertile stallion every other day until ovulation. Mares receiving either reFSH or reFSH/reLH developed follicles ≥35 mm within 5–6 d of treatment compared with 15.8 ± 3.4 d in the control group. Both reFSH and reFSH/reLH induced ovulation in 100% of the mares within 10 d after treatment resulting in an 80% conception rate and a 70% pregnancy rate for both groups. Conception and pregnancy were designated as either presence of a 14 d old embryo (n = 16) or a fetal heartbeat at 24 d (n = 14), respectively. Only three mares in the control group ovulated within the same treatment period. Later ovulations in the control group resulted in 100% conception and pregnancy rates. At 25 d post-conception, treated mares that were pregnant (n = 7 per group) were administered prostaglandin (PGF2 α ) to terminate the pregnancy and later returned to estrus. Treatment with reFSH or reFSH/reLH given to deep-anestrous mares under natural photoperiod induced fertile ovulations that resulted in pregnancy and cyclicity when pregnancies were terminated.
UNDERSTANDING CONFINEMENT IN QCD: ELEMENTS OF A BIG PICTURE

I give a brief review of advances in the strong interaction theory. This talk was delivered at the Conference in honor of Murray Gell-Mann's 80th birthday, 24–26 February 2010, Singapore.
A Dual Palladium and Copper Hydride Catalyzed Approach for Alkyl–Aryl Cross‐Coupling of Aryl Halides and Olefins

We report an efficient means of sp2–sp3 cross coupling for a variety of terminal monosubstituted olefins with aryl electrophiles using Pd and CuH catalysis. In addition to its applicability to a range of aryl bromide substrates, this process was also suitable for electron-deficient aryl chlorides, furnishing higher yields than the corresponding aryl bromides in these cases. The optimized protocol does not require the use of a glovebox and employs air-stable Cu and Pd complexes as precatalysts. A reaction on 10 mmol scale further highlighted the practical utility of this protocol. Employing a similar protocol, a series of cyclic alkenes were also examined. Cyclopentene was shown to undergo efficient coupling under these conditions. Lastly, deuterium-labeling studies indicate that deuterium scrambling does not take place in this sp2-sp3 cross coupling, implying that β-hydride elimination is not a significant process in this transformation.
Permanent nonselective His bundle pacing in an adult with L‐transposition of the great arteries and complete AV block

We report the placement of a permanent transvenous nonselective His bundle pacing lead in conjunction with a transvenous pacemaker/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in an adult with Levo-Transposition of the Great Arteries (L-TGA) and a stenotic coronary sinus (CS) ostium, which would not accommodate a transvenous left ventricular (LV) pacing lead. Nonselective His bundle pacing provided a nearly identical ventricular activation pattern in this previously unpaced patient. Many L-TGA patients will have an eventual need for permanent pacing and, given the challenges of CS cannulation, His bundle pacing may represent a preferred modality rather than pure morphologic LV pacing or surgical systemic ventricular lead placement to achieve optimal electrical synchrony.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 238

Abstract The available nuclear structure information for all nuclei with mass number A = 238 is presented. Various decay and reaction data are evaluated and compared. Adopted data, levels, spin, parity and configuration assignments are given.
Disseminated Infection by Aspergillus Terreus

A patient with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia who received chemotherapy developed lung nodules and later central nervous system symptoms consistent with disseminated aspergillosis. The diagnosis was made at open lung biopsy by culturing the organism and observing in tissue sections conidia borne laterally along the hyphae, a characteristic of the Aspergillus terreus-flavipes group. This is the first reported case of disseminated A. terreus infection in an immunocompromised host.
Discrete Logarithm and Minimum Circuit Size

Abstract This paper shows that the Discrete Logarithm Problem is in ZPP MCSP (where MCSP is the Minimum Circuit Size Problem). This result improves the previous bound that the Discrete Logarithm Problem is in BPP MCSP , shown by Allender et al. [1] . In doing so, this paper helps classify the relative difficulty of the Minimum Circuit Size Problem.
A model for relative biological effectiveness of therapeutic proton beams based on a global fit of cell survival data

We introduce an approach for global fitting of the recently published high-throughput and high accuracy clonogenic cell-survival data for therapeutic scanned proton beams. Our fitting procedure accounts for the correlation between the cell-survival, the absorbed (physical) dose and the proton linear energy transfer (LET). The fitting polynomials and constraints have been constructed upon generalization of the microdosimetric kinetic model (gMKM) adapted to account for the low energy and high lineal-energy spectrum of the beam where the current radiobiological models may underestimate the reported relative biological effectiveness (RBE). The parameters (α, β) of the linear-quadratic (LQ) model calculated by the presented method reveal a smooth transition from low to high LETs which is an advantage of the current method over methods previously employed to fit the same clonogenic data. Finally, the presented approach provides insight into underlying microscopic mechanisms which, with future study, may help to elucidate radiobiological responses along the Bragg curve and resolve discrepancies between experimental data and current RBE models.
Acute Limb Ischemia in a Previously Undiagnosed Case of Mid-Ventricular Non-Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Mid-ventricular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is rare and when associated with an apical aneurysm has a high risk of thrombus formation and embolization. We report a case of a 70-year-old man with peripheral vascular disease who presented with acute progressive right leg pain. Peripheral angiography showed complete thrombotic occlusion of his right superficial femoral artery. Thrombolysis was successfully performed using alteplase. His post-procedure angiography which was obtained the next day showed complete revascularization with no residual stenosis. His echocardiogram showed an ill-defined mass in the left ventricular apex. The absence of residual atheroma on peripheral angiography suggested a primary embolic event. We obtained cardiac MRI which showed mid-ventricular HCM complicated by an apical aneurysm and small thrombus. Left ventricular apical aneurysm occurs commonly in mid-ventricular HCM and is associated with a worse prognosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to echocardiography in identifying left ventricular apical aneurysms and apical thrombi. J Med Cases. 2017;8(10):322-325 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc2915w
Cycle Slicer: An Algorithm for Building Permutations on Special Domains

We introduce an algorithm called Cycle Slicer that gives new solutions to two important problems in format-preserving encryption: domain targeting and domain completion. In domain targeting, where we wish to use a cipher on domain \(\mathcal {X}\) to construct a cipher on a smaller domain \(\mathcal{S}\subseteq \mathcal {X}\), using Cycle Slicer leads to a significantly more efficient solution than Miracle and Yilek’s Reverse Cycle Walking (ASIACRYPT 2016) in the common setting where the size of \(\mathcal{S}\) is large relative to the size of \(\mathcal {X}\). In domain completion, a problem recently studied by Grubbs, Ristenpart, and Yarom (EUROCRYPT 2017) in which we wish to construct a cipher on domain \(\mathcal {X}\) while staying consistent with existing mappings in a lazily-sampled table, Cycle Slicer provides an alternative construction with better worst-case running time than the Zig-Zag construction of Grubbs et al. Our analysis of Cycle Slicer uses a refinement of the Markov chain techniques for analyzing matching exchange processes, which were originally developed by Czumaj and Kutylowski (Rand. Struct. & Alg. 2000).
The role of legal and moral norms to regulate the behavior of texting while driving

Abstract Despite a nationwide lawful effort to regulate texting-while-driving behavior, little change has been reported. This study assessed the effect of current legal enforcement on attitudinal and behavioral responses toward texting while driving in conjunction with potential influences of two types of perceived norms—legal and moral. An online survey was conducted with 313 college students recruited from three states where the history of a banning law of texting while driving varied (more than 3 years, less than 1 year, and none). The students self-reported perceived legal norm, perceived moral norm, perceived risk of texting while driving, frequency of texting while driving, attitude toward texting while driving, and intention of texting while driving. General linear model analyses revealed that the mere presence of legal enforcement showed a negative relationship with frequency of behavior only for the state with the banning law in effect more than 3 years. While the perceived legal norm showed inconsistent relationships with outcome variables, the perceived moral norm appeared most promising to discourage texting while driving among young drivers. A banning law for texting-while-driving behavior not only backfired on the actual behavior in a short-term effect, but also required a long-term exposure of the law to change the actual behavior among college students. On the other hand, cultivation of a moral norm to regulate the behavior of texting while driving is particularly encouraged in that the stable nature of this psychological variable can play a role to suppress possible reactance evoked by an external force. Policy makers are encouraged to harness their approach to regulate young drivers’ texting while driving with the strategy that appeals to the drivers’ moral beliefs rather than simply forcing them to comply with the law.
Network Effects in Corporate Governance

AbstractMost public companies incorporate in Delaware. Is this because they prefer its legal system, or are they simply following a trend? Using the incorporation histories of over 22,000 public co...
Zero-Knowledge Proofs of Proximity

Interactive proofs of proximity (IPPs) are interactive proofs in which the verifier runs in time sub-linear in the input length. Since the verifier cannot even read the entire input, following the property testing literature, we only require that the verifier reject inputs that are far from the language (and, as usual, accept inputs that are in the language). In this work, we initiate the study of zero-knowledge proofs of proximity (ZKPP). A ZKPP convinces a sub-linear time verifier that the input is close to the language (similarly to an IPP) while simultaneously guaranteeing a natural zero-knowledge property. Specifically, the verifier learns nothing beyond (1) the fact that the input is in the language, and (2) what it could additionally infer by reading a few bits of the input. Our main focus is the setting of statistical zero-knowledge where we show that the following hold unconditionally (where N denotes the input length): - Statistical ZKPPs can be sub-exponentially more efficient than property testers (or even non-interactive IPPs): We show a natural property which has a statistical ZKPP with a polylog(N) time verifier, but requires Omega(sqrt(N)) queries (and hence also runtime) for every property tester. - Statistical ZKPPs can be sub-exponentially less efficient than IPPs: We show a property which has an IPP with a polylog(N) time verifier, but cannot have a statistical ZKPP with even an N^(o(1)) time verifier. - Statistical ZKPPs for some graph-based properties such as promise versions of expansion and bipartiteness, in the bounded degree graph model, with polylog(N) time verifiers exist. Lastly, we also consider the computational setting where we show that: - Assuming the existence of one-way functions, every language computable either in (logspace uniform) NC or in SC, has a computational ZKPP with a (roughly) sqrt(N) time verifier. - Assuming the existence of collision-resistant hash functions, every language in NP has a statistical zero-knowledge argument of proximity with a polylog(N) time verifier.
Deference to the Administration in Judicial Review

This report, prepared for the XXth International Congress on Comparative Law, to be held in Fukuoka, Japan, in July, 2018, concerns the U.S. law governing judicial deference to decisions by administrative officials. The report argues that there may be a number of reasons why courts may determine as a matter of fact that aspects concerning the making of an administrative decision—including the administrator’s expertise and experience in technical or scientific matters, the administration’s consistency in similar matters, or the care with which the administration justifies its action—warrant some degree of deference to the administrative decision. But the broadest and most important type of judicial deference in U.S. law is required as a matter of law in order to preserve the meaningfulness of the zone of discretion which the legislature is normally understood to have delegated to administrative agencies when they are given adjudicative or law-making power. These doctrines of de jure judicial deference, the most celebrated of which is Chevron deference, are part of the American system of rather broad diffusion of powers of governance, a pattern that includes but is not limited to the American versions of separation of powers and federalism. Substantial judicial deference to administrative agencies is thus of particular importance to U.S. law because it is part of the system of divided powers that we have in the United States, which is in turn part of the broader pattern of a strongly market-centered (that is, not state-centered) political economy.
Early Evidence on Recreational Marijuana Legalization and Traffic Fatalities

Over the last few years, marijuana has become legally available for recreational use to roughly a quarter of Americans. Policy makers have long expressed concerns about the substantial external costs of alcohol, and similar costs could come with the liberalization of marijuana policy. Indeed, the fraction of fatal accidents in which at least one driver tested positive for THC has increased nationwide by an average of 10 percent from 2013 to 2016. For Colorado and Washington, both of which legalized marijuana in 2014, these increases were 92 percent and 28 percent, respectively. However, identifying a causal effect is difficult due to the presence of significant confounding factors. We test for a causal effect of marijuana legalization on traffic fatalities in Colorado and Washington with a synthetic control approach using records on fatal traffic accidents from 2000-2016. We find the synthetic control groups saw similar changes in marijuana-related, alcohol-related and overall traffic fatality rates despite not legalizing recreational marijuana.
Deep Top-Down Proteomics Using Capillary Zone Electrophoresis-Tandem Mass Spectrometry: Identification of 5700 Proteoforms from the Escherichia coli Proteome.

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has been recognized as a useful tool for top-down proteomics. However, its performance for deep top-down proteomics is still dramatically lower than widely used reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC)-MS/MS. We present an orthogonal multidimensional separation platform that couples size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and RPLC based protein prefractionation to CZE-MS/MS for deep top-down proteomics of Escherichia coli. The platform generated high peak capacity (∼4000) for separation of intact proteins, leading to the identification of 5700 proteoforms from the Escherichia coli proteome. The data represents a 10-fold improvement in the number of proteoform identifications compared with previous CZE-MS/MS studies and represents the largest bacterial top-down proteomics data set reported to date. The performance of the CZE-MS/MS based platform is comparable to the state-of-the-art RPLC-MS/MS based systems in terms of the number of prote...
Teachers can do it: Scalable identity-based motivation intervention in the classroom

Abstract Classroom activities aimed at changing students’ identity-based motivation (IBM) improve student outcomes by helping students experience school as the path to their adult future identities and their difficulties along the way as signals of the importance of schoolwork. One way to scale these effects would be to have teachers deliver IBM activities. Hence, we asked if, after a brief two-day training, teacher-delivered IBM intervention could meet fidelity standards and if attaining more fidelity matters. We trained all eighth grade teachers in two middle schools (N = 211 students). We used Dane and Schneider’s (1988) five-component fidelity model and Durlak and DuPre’s (2008) empirically derived threshold and practical maximum standards for fidelity. We found that most classrooms (88%) and students (89%) received IBM intervention at-or-above threshold standard, implying that teacher-based IBM delivery is viable. Moreover, investing in improving fidelity is worthwhile; above-threshold fidelity improved core grade-point-average and reduced risk of course failure.
The Promise and Peril of the Virtual University

At its inception three decades ago, digital learning seemed to promise access to quality higher education. The physically disabled (i.e., a paraplegic vet who could commute to local colleges only with difficulty) would be able to take online courses at home. Adults with little leisure time (i.e., a single mother with two dead-end jobs and no daycare for her children) could earn a college degree at night, on weekends, or between work shifts. But while it gave instructors flexible schedules, no work commutes, and the opportunity to teach in pajamas, online education also allowed administrators to lower faculty salaries. If a mere one thousand dollars could not induce anyone within fifty miles of a college to teach a certain course, then instructors might now be lured from farther away. In addition to lowering labor costs, online education allowed universities to forego expenses for maintenance, energy, and physical plants.
Megafly: A Topology for Exascale Systems

In this paper we explore network topologies suitable for future exascale systems that need to support over fifty thousand endpoints. With the increased necessity to use optics at higher link speeds, some of the more traditional topologies, such as Tori and Fat-Trees, become prohibitively expensive at such large scale. We identify two cost efficient hierarchical topologies, one a canonical Dragonfly, and one a variant of the Dragonfly topology that we call Megafly. Megafly is an indirect hierarchical topology with high path diversity, flexible tapering options and an abundance of possible system design points. We describe and analyze the Megafly topology to understand its key features and advantages, when compared to the Dragonfly. Additionally, we define a Megafly tapering scheme that enables a good balance of system performance versus cost. Our evaluation shows that the Megafly topology achieves equal or better throughput than the Dragonfly on a variety of traffic patterns, while requiring only half of the virtual channels for deadlock-free routing. Megafly also provides better fairness, which is shown in the evaluation of synchronizing traffic patterns, such as neighbor exchanges. We also showcase the design flexibility and cost vs. performance trade-offs of Megafly in a mini case study that illustrates the challenges of building a high performance fabric topology.
The Coin Problem for Product Tests

Let Xm,v be the distribution over m bits X1,…,Xm where the Xi are independent and each Xi equals 1 with probability (1−v)/2 and 0 with probability (1 − v)/2. We consider the smallest value va of v such that the distributions Xm, v and Xm, 0 can be distinguished with constant advantage by a function f : l0,1rm r S, which is the product of k functions f1,f2,…, fk on disjoint inputs of n bits, where each fi : l0,1rn r S and m = nk.We prove that va = Θ(1/√n log k) if S = [−1,1], while va = Θ(1/√nk) if S is the set of unit-norm complex numbers.
Impact of Parallel Imports on Pricing and Product Launch Decisions in Pharmaceutical Industry

Product launch and pricing decisions in the pharmaceutical industry across different countries are complex. Although introducing a newly developed drug to every country is beneficial to patients worldwide, doing so may have adverse implications for drug developers, such as the emergence of parallel imports. We study a pharmaceutical firm that already introduced a pioneering drug in its home country, where the product is protected by patent rules. The firm decides whether to launch in a second country in the same region, where parallel import between these two countries is feasible and profitable for the parallel importer. We characterize the joint pricing and product launch decision. We show the firm chooses one of three strategies: (i) launch and accommodate parallel import, (ii) launch and deter parallel import, and (iii) not launch. We show that firms are more likely not to launch the drug when the drug price is determined through a negotiation between the firm and the government. We discuss how insurance coverage, market size, quality perception of the parallel imported drug, and valuations affect these strategies. We then study the impact of launch and pricing decisions on social welfare and discuss policy implications for the regulators and potential strategies for the firm to mitigate the negative effects of a parallel import threat. We also study the impact of perfect and imperfect competition among parallel import firms on firm's price and launch decisions. Finally, we discuss the practice of distributing rebates as a post‐launch strategy to manage parallel imports.
Triflic Acid Treatment Enables LC-MS/MS Analysis of Insoluble Bacterial Biomass

The lysis and extraction of soluble bacterial proteins from cells is a common practice for proteomics analyses, but insoluble bacterial biomasses are often left behind. Here, we show that with triflic acid treatment, the insoluble bacterial biomass of Gram- and Gram+ bacteria can be rendered soluble. We use LC-MS/MS shotgun proteomics to show that bacterial proteins in the soluble and insoluble postlysis fractions differ significantly. Additionally, in the case of Gram- Pseudomonas aeruginosa, triflic acid treatment enables the enrichment of cell-envelope-associated proteins. Finally, we apply triflic acid to a human microbiome sample to show that this treatment is robust and enables the identification of a new, complementary subset of proteins from a complex microbial mixture.
Multiple primary malignancies in patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma

Prior studies examining the risk of second primary malignancy (SPM) after a first primary cancer generally have used large datasets such as the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry and excluded survivors of previous primaries and developers of synchronous primaries. The goal of this study was to provide a more complete representation of multiple cancer risk in squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) patients. A single-institution retrospective study of 46 patients treated definitively for SCCA between January 2006 and July 2017 was conducted. Of the 46 patients, 18 (39%) had either a primary malignancy before SCCA (n=9) or SPM after an index SCCA (n=9). Six patients had ≥3 total malignancies. In our cohort, patients without SPMs tended to die from SCCA recurrence, while patients with SPMs were more likely to die from their SPM than from SCCA. Our study suggests that patients with SCCA are often either survivors of previous cancers or develop later malignancies. Several risk factors may play a role including HPV infection, HPV-related or treatment-related immunosuppression, somatic mutations due to chemotherapy, and genetic factors. Patients with SCCA require lifelong surveillance given their elevated risk of malignancy. Future work should focus on identifying genomic or immunologic factors that may predispose SCCA patients to develop multiple primary malignancies.
Corporate debt overhang and investment : firm-level evidence

This paper investigates empirically the linkages between corporate debt overhang and investment activity at the firm level for a cross section of large-sized emerging market and developing economies. It analyzes the extent to which investment may be discouraged by high levels of debt that put at risk future profits, as well as firm dimensions that may sharpen the debt-investment link. Using balance sheet data from a broad set of emerging market and developing economy firms, the analysis suggests that corporate debt overhang imposes a sizable effect on investment at the firm level. This linkage is more pronounced for large firms and highly leveraged firms. The analysis also finds evidence of a nonlinear effect, in which debt overhang discourages investment more severely under high levels of indebtedness.
Is There an Oblivious RAM Lower Bound for Online Reads

Oblivious RAM (ORAM), introduced by Goldreich and Ostrovsky (JACM 1996), can be used to read and write to memory in a way that hides which locations are being accessed. The best known ORAM schemes have an \(O(\log n)\) overhead per access, where \(n\) is the data size. The work of Goldreich and Ostrovsky gave a lower bound showing that this is optimal for ORAM schemes that operate in a “balls and bins” model, where memory blocks can only be shuffled between different locations but not manipulated otherwise. The lower bound even extends to weaker settings such as offline ORAM, where all of the accesses to be performed need to be specified ahead of time, and read-only ORAM, which only allows reads but not writes. But can we get lower bounds for general ORAM, beyond “balls and bins”?