cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discriminative measures for comparison of phylogenetic trees

In this paper we introduce and study three new measures for efficient discriminative comparison of phylogenetic trees. The NNI navigation dissimilarity d n a v counts the steps along a "combing" of the Nearest Neighbor Interchange (NNI) graph of binary hierarchies, providing an efficient approximation to the (NP-hard) NNI distance in terms of "edit length". At the same time, a closed form formula for d n a v presents it as a weighted count of pairwise incompatibilities between clusters, lending it the character of an edge dissimilarity measure as well. A relaxation of this formula to a simple count yields another measure on all treesź-źthe crossing dissimilarity d C M . Both dissimilarities are symmetric and positive definite (vanish only between identical trees) on binary hierarchies but they fail to satisfy the triangle inequality. Nevertheless, both are bounded below by the widely used Robinson-Foulds metric and bounded above by a closely related true metric, the cluster-cardinality metric d C C . We show that each of the three proposed new dissimilarities is computable in time O ( n 2 ) in the number of leaves n , and conclude the paper with a brief numerical exploration of the distribution over tree space of these dissimilarities in comparison with the Robinson-Foulds metric and the more recently introduced matching-split distance.
Insurance risk transfer and categorization of reinsurance contracts

Despite the existence of numerous quantitative approaches to the categorization of financial reinsurance contracts, often insurance regulators may find the practical implementation of the task to be technically challenging. This research paper develops a simple, affordable, and robust regulatory method that can help insurance regulators to categorize financial reinsurance contracts as reinsurance or financial instruments. By reviewing real examples of different categorization methods, this paper explains how the proposed method standardizes such categorization. It also summarizes the existing pertinent literature on the subject with the view to helping insurance regulators to first apply some simple indicators to flag the main issues with financial reinsurance contracts that may need further reviews. Having identified the suspicious reinsurance contracts, supervisors may consider several solutions provided by the authors and, in some cases, requiring further quantitative testing of risk transfer contracts for categorization purposes, supervisors may also consider adopting the Standardized Expected Reinsurer's Deficit approach to contract testing presented in this paper. The approach advocates the use of a simple standardized stochastic method that would allow market participants and regulators to perform robust quantitative tests quickly and at an affordable cost. Besides addressing the obvious drawbacks of the "10-10" test, the proposed alternative method allows a great reduction in the technical challenges posed to the users of the Expected Reinsurer's Deficit approach based on full stochastic models with only a minimum loss of predictive accuracy.
Phase of a Bose-Einstein condensate

Summary form only given. According to the conventional argument, Bose-Einstein condensate (BEG) has a macroscopic wave function with a definite phase. This phase is analogous to the phase of laser light. Here we describe a novel theoretical approach to the study of phase, coherence, and potential of interference of a BEG. We consider a thought experiment in which two BECs are dropped on top of each other. We adapt the standard theory of photon counting to atom detection, and calculate the joint probability density for atom detection.
Information asymmetries and institutional investor mandates

The preference among foreign institutional investors for large firms is widely documented. This paper deepens our understanding of international investments by providing evidence that foreign institutional investors with broader investment scopes prefer to invest in firms where they are less prone to information disadvantages than more specialized ones. In other words, there is heterogeneity in how information asymmetries affect investors' portfolio choices. Theoretically, a model with costly information and short-selling constraints shows that the broader the investor's mandate, the smaller the incentives to gather and process costly information. Empirically, an analysis of the mutual fund industry in the United States supports this hypothesis.
Double node neighborhoods and families of simply connected 4-manifolds with b^+ = 1

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY Volume 19, Number 1, Pages 171–180 S 0894-0347(05)00500-X Article electronically published on August 15, 2005 DOUBLE NODE NEIGHBORHOODS AND FAMILIES OF SIMPLY CONNECTED 4-MANIFOLDS WITH b + = 1 RONALD FINTUSHEL AND RONALD J. STERN 1. Introduction A basic question of 4-manifold topology is whether the complex projective plane, CP 2 , admits exotic smooth structures. Thus one is interested in knowing the smallest m for which CP 2 #m CP admits an exotic smooth structure. In the late 1980s, Dieter Kotschick [K] proved that the Barlow surface, which was known to be homeomorphic to CP 2 # 8CP , is not diﬀeomorphic to it. In the following years the subject of simply connected smooth 4-manifolds with b + = 1 languished because of a lack of suitable examples. However, largely due to a beautiful paper of Jongil Park [P], who found the ﬁrst examples of exotic simply connected 4-manifolds with b + = 1 and b − = 7, the past year has found renewed interest in this subject. Peter Ozsvath and Zoltan Szabo [OS] proved that Park’s manifold is minimal, and Andras Stipsicz and Szabo [SS] used a technique similar to Park’s to construct an exotic manifold with b + = 1 and b − = 6. The rational elliptic surface E(1) ∼ CP 2 #9 CP admits inﬁnitely many distinct smooth structures. Up to now it has not been known whether CP 2 #m CP can have an inﬁnite family of smooth structures when m < 9. It is the purpose of this paper to introduce a new technique which we use to show that for m = 6, 7, 8, CP 2 #m CP does have an inﬁnite family of smooth structures. The construction of these examples to some extent follows the ideas of Park [P] after performing suitable knot surgeries [FS3] on E(1). The essential new idea is that after certain knot surgeries on E(1), one is able to ﬁnd an immersed sphere of self-intersection −1 representing the ‘pseudo-section’. This is accomplished by studying ‘double node neighborhoods’ as described below. Shortly after the appearance of a preliminary version of this article, Park, Stip- sicz, and Szabo [PSS] used the techniques described herein to give even better examples: an inﬁnite family of pairwise nondiﬀeomorphic smooth 4-manifolds all homeomorphic to CP 2 #5 CP . In the ﬁnal section of this paper we give a quick construction of such a family of examples. Received by the editors January 13, 2005. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classiﬁcation. Primary 14J26, 53D05, 57R55, 57R57. Key words and phrases. 4-manifold, Seiberg-Witten invariant, knot surgery, rational blowdown. The ﬁrst author was partially supported by NSF Grant DMS0305818 and the second author by NSF Grant DMS0204041. c 2005 American Mathematical Society Reverts to public domain 28 years from publication
An FPTAS for bargaining networks with unequal bargaining powers

Bargaining networks model social or economic situations in which agents seek to form the most lucrative partnership with another agent from among several alternatives. There has been a flurry of recent research studying Nash bargaining solutions (also called 'balanced outcomes') in bargaining networks, so that we now know when such solutions exist, and that they can be computed efficiently, even by market agents behaving in a natural manner. In this work we study a generalization of Nash bargaining, that models the possibility of unequal 'bargaining powers'. This generalization was introduced in [12], where it was shown that the corresponding 'unequal division' (UD) solutions exist if and only if Nash bargaining solutions exist, and also that a certain local dynamics converges to UD solutions when they exist. However, the convergence time for that dynamics was exponential in network size for the unequal division case. Other approaches, such as the one of Kleinberg and Tardos, do not generalize to the unsymmetrical case. Thus, the question of computational tractability of UD solutions has remained open. In this paper, we provide an FPTAS for the computation of UD solutions, when such solutions exist. On a graph G = (V,E) with weights (i.e. pairwise profit opportunities) uniformly bounded above by 1, our FPTAS finds an e-UD solution in time polynomial in the input and 1/e. We also provide a fast local algorithm for finding e-UD solution.
Social Capital and the Formal Legal System: Evidence from Prefecture-Level Data in Japan

Verifiable proxies for social capital potentially provide an empirically tractable way to identify environments where social norms both constrain behavior and substitute for judicial enforcement. Using regression and factor analysis with Japanese prefecturelevel data, I explore several aspects of this possibility. I first note that people in prefectures with high levels of social capital more readily comply with a wide range of low-level legal mandates. Conditional on levels of economic welfare, I further find that: (i) firms in prefectures with low levels of social capital are more likely to default on their contracts, (ii) residents in low social-capital prefectures are more likely to litigate, (iii) creditors of distressed debtors in low social-capital prefectures are more likely to petition a court for enforcement orders, and (iv) distressed debtors in low social-capital prefectures are more likely to file in court for bankruptcy protection. New York diamond merchants make agreements orally, and keep them. They promise to perform, as Lisa Bernstein (1992) famously explained, and trust each other to perform. They perform and trust because they live their lives within densely overlapping networks of social and religious ties. They perform and trust because they live within a community with an extraordinary level of social capital. Farmers in Shasta County, California, do much the same. They too structure their contracts and resolve their disputes privately, reported Robert Ellickson (1986, 1991). What is more, they structure and negotiate with scarcely a
Solving the Feldstein–Horioka Puzzle With Financial Frictions

Unlike the prediction of a frictionless open economy model, long-term average savings and investment rates are highly correlated across countries—a puzzle first identified by Feldstein and Horioka (1980). We quantitatively investigate the impact of two types of financial frictions on this correlation. One is limited enforcement ,w here contracts are enforced by the threat of default penalties. The other is limited spanning, where the only asset available is noncontingent bonds. We find that the calibrated model with both frictions produces a savings–investment correlation and a volume of capital flows close to the data. To solve the puzzle, the limited enforcement friction needs low default penalties under which capital flows are much lower than those in the data, and the limited spanning friction needs to exogenously restrict capital flows to the observed level. When combined, the two frictions interact to endogenously restrict capital flows and thereby solve the Feldstein–Horioka puzzle.
The adaptive line enhancer applied to chirp detection

The ability of an adaptive line enhancer (ALE) driven by the least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm to track the frequency of a chirping signal in broadband noise is discussed. The dynamic behavior of the weights is described, and a weight tracking error bound is derived in terms of the chirp rate. Frequency tracking and weight behavior are illustrated by means of examples. >
Prediction of coronary artery disease risk based on multiple longitudinal biomarkers

In the last decade, few topics in the area of cardiovascular disease (CVD) research have received as much attention as risk prediction. One of the well-documented risk factors for CVD is high blood pressure (BP). Traditional CVD risk prediction models consider BP levels measured at a single time and such models form the basis for current clinical guidelines for CVD prevention. However, in clinical practice, BP levels are often observed and recorded in a longitudinal fashion. Information on BP trajectories can be powerful predictors for CVD events. We consider joint modeling of time to coronary artery disease and individual longitudinal measures of systolic and diastolic BPs in a primary care cohort with up to 20 years of follow-up. We applied novel prediction metrics to assess the predictive performance of joint models. Predictive performances of proposed joint models and other models were assessed via simulations and illustrated using the primary care cohort.
Efficient selection of disambiguating actions for stereo vision

In many domains that involve the use of sensors, such as robotics or sensor networks, there are opportunities to use some form of active sensing to disambiguate data from noisy or unreliable sensors. These disambiguating actions typically take time and expend energy. One way to choose the next disambiguating action is to select the action with the greatest expected entropy reduction, or information gain. In this work, we consider active sensing in aid of stereo vision for robotics. Stereo vision is a powerful sensing technique for mobile robots, but it can fail in scenes that lack strong texture. In such cases, a structured light source, such as vertical laser line, can be used for disambiguation. By treating the stereo matching problem as a specially structured HMM-like graphical model, we demonstrate that for a scan line with n columns and maximum stereo disparity d, the entropy minimizing aim point for the laser can be selected in O(nd) time - cost no greater than the stereo algorithm itself. A typical HMM formulation would suggest at least O(nd2) time for the entropy calculation alone.
MMR: A Tool for Read Multi-Mapper Resolution

Motivation: Mapping high-throughput sequencing data to a reference genome is an essential step for most analysis pipelines aiming at the computational analysis of genome and transcriptome sequencing data. Breaking ties between equally well mapping locations poses a severe problem not only during the alignment phase but also has significant impact on the results of downstream analyses. We present the multi-mapper resolution (MMR) tool that infers optimal mapping locations from the coverage density of other mapped reads. Results: Filtering alignments with MMR can significantly improve the performance of downstream analyses like transcript quantitation and differential testing. We illustrate that the accuracy (Spearman correlation) of transcript quantification increases by 15% when using reads of length 51. In addition, MMR decreases the alignment file sizes by more than 50%, and this leads to a reduced running time of the quantification tool. Our efficient implementation of the MMR algorithm is easily applicable as a post-processing step to existing alignment files in BAM format. Its complexity scales linearly with the number of alignments and requires no further inputs. Availability and implementation: Open source code and documentation are available for download at http://github.com/ratschlab/mmr. Comprehensive testing results and further information can be found at http://bioweb.me/mmr. Contact: gro.balhcstar@selhak.erdna or gro.balhcstar@hcstar.rannug Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Whose Time Is It? Understanding Clock-time Pacing and Event-time Pacing in Complex Innovations

Time pacing, which refers to the regulation of intensity and direction of people's attention and effort, is central to innovation management. However, in a study of complex product innovation in pharmaceuticals, we find that time pacing is a major source of conflict between managers and scientists over innovation management. Our analysis of this tension reveals that two very different forms of time pacing operate in this complex innovation. Clock-time pacing, which gauges progress by the predictable passage of clock time, is used by strategic managers to reduce unnecessary exploration, focus on necessary questions, and speed up the execution of steps. Event-time pacing, which gauges progress by the unpredictable achievement of learning events, is used by the scientists to develop a deep understanding of how a drug might behave in the body against a disease, to focus on learning by asking many questions, and to integrate emergent results into plausible patterns. We identify four dimensions that differentiate clock-time pacing from event-time pacing, which drive the tension between the two. We summarize negative effects that this tension can have on innovation if left unaddressed, and then suggest ways to integrate clock-time pacing with event-time pacing. We also discuss implications for Chinese management. 摘要 时间节奏，即组织对其成员应在何方向、多大程度付出精力的规范，对于创新管理至关重要。然而，在本文对制药业的复杂产品创新研究中，我们发现时间节奏是管理者和科学家在创新管理中的一个主要冲突来源。对这种冲突的分析揭示出，在复杂创新中存在两种形式截然不同的时间节奏。钟表时间节奏以可预测的客观钟表时间来衡量事件进程，战略管理者采用此种时间节奏来减少不必要的探索，将注意力集中在必要的问题上，并加速执行进程。事件时间节奏以不可预测的学习成果来衡量事件进程，科学家采用此种时间节奏来建立对于药物作用循序渐进的深刻理解，通过提出问题将注意力集中在学习过程，并将意外结果整合进可能合理的假设模式中。我们定义了四个区分钟表时间节奏和事件时间节奏的维度，也正是这四个维度造成了两种节奏的冲突。最后，本文总结了忽视这种冲突对于创新所可能产生的负面影响，并对如何协调融合钟表时间节奏和事件时间节奏给出了建议。同时，我们讨论了课题对于中国管理的意义。
Coda duration magnitudes in central California: An empirical approach

Abstract A new empirical coda magnitude M D is presented for the central California seismic network (CALNET), in which station corrections are introduced to reduce the influence of hypocenter and station distributions. The new magnitude scale is obtained by relating the lapse-time τ^ to local magnitudes M L using data from 55 earthquakes with 1.1 ≦ M L ≤ 5.6 from June 1977 through 1981. Magnitude estimates are significantly improved by introducing corrections for the seismograph instrument attenuation setting α ij and a site correction δ j . The magnitude of the i th event 〈 M D 〉, is the median value of individual M D i j = − 1.03 + 2.10 log ⁡ 10 τ ^ i j + 0.00268 ⁡ τ ^ i j + α i j + δ j , where τ^ ij is the lapse-time measured at the j th station. Local site effects influence the duration of the coda and cause stations to either overestimate or underestimate 〈 M D 〉, typically up to 0.5 magnitude units. The distribution of the site corrections is spatially correlated, changing coherently across major tectonic and geologic features such as the San Andreas fault. It appears that the site corrections are influenced by the physical attenuation properties near the station, seemingly contradicting the concept that the coda is related to back-scattering and attenuation in a volume with dimensions on the order of the hypocenter to receiver distance.
Impaired compensation to femoral artery ligation in diet-induced obese mice is primarily mediated via suppression of collateral growth by Nox2 and p47phox.

Novel observations in this report include the demonstration of collateral resistance as the primary limitation of hindlimb perfusion, elevated NADPH oxidase (Nox) expression in peripheral arteries,...
Monetary policy, bond risk premia, and the economy

Within an affine model of the term structure of interest rates, where bond yields get driven by observable and unobservable macroeconomic factors, parameter restrictions help identify the effects of monetary policy and other structural disturbances on output, inflation, and interest rates and decompose movements in long-term rates into terms attributable to changing expected future short rates versus risk premia. When estimated, the model highlights a broad range of channels through which monetary policy affects risk premia and the economy, risk premia affect monetary policy and the economy, and the economy affects monetary policy and risk premia.
Starvation-induced thermal tolerance as a survival mechanism in a psychrophilic marine bacterium

Carbon-starved cultures of strain Ant-300, a psychrophilic marine vibrio isolated from the Antarctic Convergence, were compared with their nonstarved counterparts for resistance to heat. Specifically, starved and unstarved cells were exposed to 17°C, which is 4°C above the maximum growth temperature, and compared with cells maintained at the optimum temperature (5 to 7°C). Total cell counts, direct viable-cell counts, and plate counts were monitored. At a temperature of 17°C, viability (as indicated by plate counts) was lost within 40 h, with direct viable-cell counts indicating less than 5% viability at this time. However, when cells were carbon starved for 1 week prior to heat challenge, significant plateability was maintained for more than 6 days; direct viable-cell counts of starved cells maintained at 17°C indicated the presence of viable cells for at least 12 days. Because starvation is the normal physiological state of copiotrophic, heterotrophic bacteria in oligotrophic marine waters, these data suggest that starvation conditions may be a significant factor in providing heat tolerance to psychrophiles.
The distribution of sandpile groups of random graphs

We determine the distribution of the sandpile group (a.k.a. Jacobian) of the Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi random graph G(n,q) as n goes to infinity. Since any particular group appears with asymptotic probability 0 (as we show), it is natural ask for the asymptotic distribution of Sylow p-subgroups of sandpile groups. We prove the distributions of Sylow p-subgroups converge to specific distributions conjectured by Clancy, Leake, and Payne. These distributions are related to, but different from, the Cohen-Lenstra distribution. Our proof involves first finding the expected number of surjections from the sandpile group to any finite abelian group (the "moments" of a random variable valued in finite abelian groups). To achieve this, we show a universality result for the moments of cokernels of random symmetric integral matrices that is strong enough to handle dependence in the diagonal entries. We then show these moments determine a unique distribution despite their p^{k^2}-size growth.
Plasma selenium in patients with cirrhosis

Plasma selenium concentration is decreased in patients with cirrhosis and, based on this finding, it has been suggested that patients with cirrhosis are selenium deficient. We measured plasma selenium concentration and the two plasma selenoproteins, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx-3) and selenoprotein P, in the plasma of patients with cirrhosis of Child classes A, B, and C and in control subjects. Plasma selenium declined in proportion to the severity of the cirrhotic condition, as indicated by the Child class. Selenoprotein P, which originates largely in the liver, declined in a similar manner. Plasma glutathione peroxidase activity increased, and GSHPx-3 originates in the kidney. Selenium in the non-selenoprotein pool, shown by others to be largely selenomethionine in albumin, declined. Thus, although plasma selenium is decreased in patients with cirrhosis, the increase in plasma glutathione peroxidase activity, which occurs in them, suggests that patients with cirrhosis do not have selenium deficiency.
Ocular trauma during amniocentesis

A 17-month-old infant had a histologically documented congenital epithelial cyst of the anterior chamber. The only possible source of antenatal penetrating trauma was transabdominal amniocentesis performed at 34 weeks of gestation for determination of erythroblastosis fetalis status. The morphologic structure of the cyst as well as the nature of ocular abnormalities observed from birth are consistent with the hypothesis that ocular penetration occurred during this procedure.
FAR-ULTRAVIOLET OBSERVATIONS OF RR LYRAE STARS IN THE CORE OF NGC 1851

There are extraordinarily few far-ultraviolet (FUV) observations of RR Lyrae stars in the literature. We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) FUV (~1600 A) imaging of the core of the globular cluster NGC 1851. Eleven new variables with light curves consistent with those of RR Lyrae stars are discovered, increasing the total number of RR Lyrae known in this cluster by a substantial amount. In agreement with basic physical theory, the observed amplitude of the variables in the FUV is enormous compared with the century of past optical observations, ranging up to 4 mag. HST Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph FUV observations of cluster cores may prove an especially effective means of obtaining a near-complete census of RR Lyrae stars, combining high angular resolution, suppression of luminous red stars, and data in which the stellar pulsation amplitudes are greatly enhanced. Attention is also drawn to a peculiar blue object in the cluster, which is most probably a low-mass X-ray binary system in quiescence.
Voting with the crowd: do single issues drive partisanship?

We examine whether survey data supports the anecdotal evidence which suggests that group association impacts the individual's stated beliefs. Specifically, we examine whether a rise in the relative importance of a single issue, i.e. national security, blurs the traditional importance of socio-economic variables in determining an electorate's political party association. Further, we examine whether such blurring occurs across the responses to questions outside the scope of this single issue. We find that in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, the relative importance of national security rose in the US electorate and reduced the relative importance of socio-economic variables in determining the electorate's political association for both security and nonsecurity issues.
PHOTOPRODUCTION OF THE Σ*- RESONANCE FROM THE NEUTRON

Data for the reaction was measured at the LEPS detector using a linearly polarized photon beam produced by laser-backscattering at the SPring-8 facility. The cross sections are in good agreement with predictions from a theoretical model by Oh, Ko and Nakayama. This model, which uses SU(3) flavor symmetry, suggests that the coupling constants for strange-particle production in the baryon decuplet can be predicted with reasonable accuracy using this symmetry.
Statistical Mechanics of Neocortical Interactions: EEG Dispersion Relations

An approach is explicitly formulated to blend a local with a global theory to investigate oscillatory neocortical firings to determine the source and the information-processing nature of the alpha rhythm. The basis of this optimism is founded on a statistical mechanical theory of neocortical interactions which has had success in numerically detailing properties of short-term memory (STM) capacity at the mesoscopic scales of columnar interactions, and which is consistent with other theories deriving similar dispersion relations at the macroscopic scales of electroencephalographic (EEG) and magnetoencephalographic (MEG) activity.
The phase diagram of QCD with two and four flavors: results with HYP fermions

Abstract We study the finite temperature phase transition of four and two flavor staggered fermions with hypercubic smeared link actions. These preliminary studies suggest that the improved flavor symmetry of the fermionic action can have a significant effect on the finite temperature phase diagram.
Matrix factorizations and link homology

Author(s): Khovanov, Mikhail; Rozansky, Lev | Abstract: For each positive integer n the HOMFLY polynomial of links specializes to a one-variable polynomial that can be recovered from the representation theory of quantum sl(n). For each such n we build a doubly-graded homology theory of links with this polynomial as the Euler characteristic. The core of our construction utilizes the theory of matrix factorizations, which provide a linear algebra description of maximal Cohen-Macaulay modules on isolated hypersurface singularities.
Synthesis and binding properties of cyclodextrin trimers

Abstract A series of cyclodextrin trimers and dimers were prepared and examined as binders for appropriate trimeric and dimeric aminoacid amides. Tritopic binding was stronger than ditopic binding, although the free energies were not strictly additive. Such trimers are attractive prospects for the binding of polypeptides and proteins.
Work roles, tasks, and the information behavior of dentists

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects work roles (patient managementsservice provider, administratorsmanager, researcher, educator, and student) and their associated tasks have on the choice of information sources used to meet private practice dentists' information needs. Additionally, the study investigated how the Internet has affected the information seeking of dentists. Using Leckie, Pettigrew, and Sylvain's (1996) model of the information seeking of professionals as the conceptual framework, vignette-based, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 dentists in the metropolitan areas of Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett, Washington. Follow-up interviews were used to investigate dentists' use of the Internet. Findings revealed that the type of work role-related task significantly shapes dentists' choices of information sources; the Internet emerged as a significant information source because it provides up-to-date information in a convenient and timely manner; the Internet is a complement to traditional information sources, not a replacement for them; and the Leckie and associates (1996) general model of professional information seeking is supported by this study. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A New Enantioselective Synthesis of Milnacipran and an Analogue by Catalytic Asymmetric Cyclopropanation

Milnacipran and analogues are conveniently prepared by a short sequence of steps from phenylacetic acid, the key step being highly enantioselective catalytic asymmetric cyclopropanation.
Development of an integrated metabolomic profiling approach for infectious diseases research

Metabolomic profiling offers direct insights into the chemical environment and metabolic pathway activities at sites of human disease. During infection, this environment may receive important contributions from both host and pathogen. Here we apply untargeted metabolomics approach to identify compounds associated with an E. coli urinary tract infection population. Correlative and structural data from minimally processed samples were obtained using an optimized LC-MS platform capable of resolving ∼2300 molecular features. Principal components analysis readily distinguished patient groups and multiple supervised chemometric analyses resolved robust metabolomic shifts between groups. These analyses revealed nine compounds whose provisional structures suggest candidate infection-associated endocrine, catabolic, and lipid pathways. Several of these metabolite signatures may derive from microbial processing of host metabolites. Overall, this study highlights the ability of metabolomic approaches to directly identify compounds encountered by, and produced from, bacterial pathogens within human hosts.
Dynamical neutrino mass matrix: large (small) mixing solution to atmospheric (solar) neutrino oscillations

Abstract In the wake of the SuperKamiokande announcement of atmospheric neutrino oscillations which favor the large mixing of ν μ with ν τ , there is considerable theoretical activity towards a possible understanding of the solar neutrino deficit also in terms of the mixing of ν e with the other two neutrinos. A specific dynamical model is presented here for the first time which naturally chooses the large (small) mixing solution to atmospheric (solar) neutrino oscillations.
Isolated hematuria in children: Indications for a renal biopsy

Previous reviews of hematuria in children and adolescents have included patients with proteinuria and other renal functional abnormalities such as hypertension and reduced GFR. We report the clinico-pathological correlations in 76 pediatric patients, aged 3 to 19 years, who underwent a renal biopsy because of isolated hematuria during the 10-year period, 1972 to 1981. All specimens were examined by light and electron microscopy and immunofluorescence techniques. The overall prevalence of abnormal renal histology was 56%. The vast majority (41 of 43) of the abnormal biopsy specimens could be classified into four distinct histological categories: (1) Alport syndrome (N = 9); (2) IgA nephropathy (N = 8); (3) thinning of the glomerular basement membrane (N = 17); (4) vascular C3 staining (N = 7). The children were divided into three clinical subgroups (1) isolated microscopic hematuria ( IMH ), N = 42; (2) IMH plus a family history of hematuria in a first degree relative, N = 15; and (3) IMH plus at least one episode of gross hematuria, N = 19. A significant graded increase in the likelihood of obtaining an abnormal renal biopsy was demonstrated (X2 = 10, P less than 0.007) from groups one to three. Sex, age at onset, or duration of hematuria were not associated with an increased proportion of histopathologic abnormalities. These findings indicate that the yield of a renal biopsy in children with isolated hematuria can be predicted accurately from specific clinical characteristics.
Nanowire Growth for Sensor Arrays

A design concept for nanowire-based sensors and arrays is described. The fabrication technique involves electrodeposition to directly grow nanowires between patterned thin film contact electrodes. To prove our concept, we have electrodeposited 1-μm diameter Pd single wires and small arrays. To demonstrate nanowire sensors, we have electrochemically grown metal (Pd, Au, Pt), metal oxide (Sb 2 O 3 ), and conducting polymer (polyaniline) bundled nanowires. Using Pt bundled nanowires surface modified with glucose oxidase, we have demonstrated glucose detection as a demonstration of a biomolecular sensor.
Stereoselective syntheses of C-(d-glucopyranosyl)alkenes

alpha-D-Glucopyranose pentaacetate (1) was found to undergo stereoselective conversion in good yield into 3-(tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-1-propene (4) by treatment with allyltrimethylsilane and boron trifluoride etherate in acetonitrile. Similar treatment of methyl tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside or tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide also gave 4 in preference to its beta anomer, but net yields were lower. Similar reaction of 1 with (E)-penta-2,4-dienyltrimethylsilane afforded the readily polymerizable 5-(tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(E)-1,3-pentadiene, accompanied by a minor proportion of its beta anomer.
Broadband Measurement of Coating Thermal Noise in Rigid Fabry-Perot Cavities

We report on the relative length fluctuation of two fixed-spacer Fabry–Perot cavities with mirrors fabricated from silica/tantala dielectric coatings on fused silica substrates. By locking a laser to each cavity and reading out the beat note v = v_1− v_2 of the transmitted beams, we find that, for frequencies from 10 Hz to 1 kHz, the power spectral density of beat note fluctuation is S_v(f)=(0.5Hz)^2/f. By careful budgeting of noise sources contributing to the beat note, we find that our measurement is consistent with the fluctuation in this band being dominated by the Brownian noise of the mirror coatings. Fitting for the coating loss angle ⌽_c, we find it equal to 4 × 10^(−4). We then use a Bayesian analysis to combine our measurement with previous observations, and thereby extract estimates for the individual loss angles of the silica and tantala constituents of these coatings. With minor upgrades, the testbed described in this article can be used in the future to measure the length noise of cavities formed with novel mirror coating materials and geometries.
Stabilization-Preserving Atomicity Refinement

Program refinements from an abstract to a concrete model empower designers to reason effectively in the abstract and architects to implement effectively in the concrete. For refinements to be useful, they must not only preserve functionality properties but also dependability properties. In this paper, we focus our attention on refinements that preserve the dependability property of stabilization. Specifically, we present a stabilization-preserving refinement of atomicity from an abstract model where a process can atomically access the state of all its neighbors and update its own state, to a concrete model where a process can only atomically access the state of any one of its neighbors or atomically update its own state. Our refinement is sound and complete with respect to the computations admitted by the abstract model, and induces linear step complexity and constant synchronization delay in the computations admitted by the concrete model. It is based on a bounded-space, stabilizing dining philosophers program in the concrete model. The program is readily extended to: (a) solve stabilization-preserving semantics refinement, (b) solve the stabilizing drinking philosophers problem, and (c) allow further refinement into a message-passing model.
1,1-BIS(BENZOTRIAZOLYL) DERIVATIVES AS GEM-DIANION SYNTHONS

Abstract Bis(benzotriazolyl)methylbenzenes 1a,b were converted by excess lithium metal in the presence of ketones into the 1,3-diols 3a-g in moderate to good yields. However, similar treatment of 5 gave only the mono reduction products 6, 7 . Compounds 1a,b reacted with 1 equivalent of diketone 8 to form olefins 10a,b .
Morphological shape description using geometric spectrum on multidimensional binary images

In this paper we present a useful morphological shape description tool called geometric spectrum or G-spectrum, for quantifying the geometric features on multidimensional binary images. The basis of this tool relies upon the cardinality of a set of non-overlapping segments in an image using morphological operations. The G-spectrum preserves the translation invariance property. With a chosen set of isotropic structuring elements the G-spectrum also preserves the rotation invariance. After the procedure of normalization, the G-spectrum can also preserve the scaling invariance. The properties and proofs of the G-spectrum are discussed.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Branch-Avoiding Graph Algorithms

This paper quantifies the impact of branches and branch mispredictions on the single-core performance of certain graph problems, specifically for computing connected components. We show that branch mispredictions are costly and can reduce performance by as much as 30%-50%. This insight suggests that one should seek graph algorithms and implementations that avoid branches.As a proof-of-concept, we devise such branch-avoiding implementations of the Shiloach-Vishkin algorithm for computing connected components. We evaluate these implementations on current x86 and ARM-based processors to show the efficacy of the approach. Our results suggest how both compiler writers and architects might exploit this insight to improve graph processing systems more broadly and create better systems for such problems.
Campus officers’ sanctioning of alcohol-involved crime: influences on discretionary decision-making

Universities are a hotbed of alcohol consumption, which is a major contributor to campus crime. In the US, campus police are responsible for handling crimes on campus. Like municipal police, campus officers are afforded the power to make discretionary sanctioning decisions. The question for this paper is what affects those decisions? To explore that topic, data collected during ride-alongs with campus officers are analyzed. Campus officers explained their sanctions as being affected by nine factors. The findings suggest that influences on campus and municipal officers’ sanctioning decisions are largely similar. The paper concludes by discussing implications for future research.
Estimating the Effects of Family Background on the Return to Schooling

This article examines the causal link between family background characteristics—parental education and family size—and returns to schooling. I implement a model of schooling and earnings with heterogeneous returns to education using data from the Occupational Change in a Generation Survey. I find that men raised in larger families have substantially lower returns to education, whereas the combined effects of parental education are more modest. In addition, like other “supply-side” instrumental variables studies of the causal effect of education, I find two-stage least squares estimates that are larger than the corresponding ordinary least squares estimates. The results suggest an alternative explanation for this phenomenon: constant marginal return to schooling, combined with a negative absolute ability bias and a positive comparative advantage bias.
Stellar And Solar X-Ray Polarimetry

The theory of Bragg crystal x-ray polarimeters is presented to-gether with an analysis of the statistics of photon-limited polarimeters. The focusing Bragg crystal polarimeter flown on the OSO-8 Satellite is described and a number of results obtained at 2.6 keV and 5.2 keV are presented. A polarimeter of this type with at least ten times the area is needed to answer a number of astrophysically interesting questions. A discussion is given of a Compton scattering polarimeter that is expected to be useful of energies above 40 keV. It is shown how this polarimeter may be used to test for the presence of a black hole in Cyg X-1. A solar flare x-ray polarimeter that is scheduled to be flown on an early space shuttle mission is described and an estimate is given of its sensitivity.
X-Ray Emitting Ejecta of Supernova Remnant N132D

The brightest supernova remnant in the Magellanic Clouds, N132D, belongs to the rare class of oxygen-rich remnants, about a dozen objects that show optical emission from pure heavy-element ejecta. They originate in explosions of massive stars that produce large amounts of O, although only a tiny fraction of that O is found to emit at optical wavelengths. We report the detection of substantial amounts of O at X-ray wavelengths in a recent 100 ks Chandra ACIS observation of N132D. A comparison between subarcsecond-resolution Chandra and Hubble images reveals a good match between clumpy X-ray and optically emitting ejecta on large (but not small) scales. Ejecta spectra are dominated by strong lines of He- and H-like O; they exhibit substantial spatial variations partially caused by patchy absorption within the LMC. Because optical ejecta are concentrated in a 5 pc radius elliptical expanding shell, the detected ejecta X-ray emission also originates in this shell.
Vicinal alkynylation-alkylation via a tandem michael addition - transition metal catalyzed alkylation reaction

Abstract A protocol whereby addition of alkynylalanes to alkylidenemalonates is followed by palladium catalyzed allylation permits vicinal β-alkynylation α-allylation in a single operation
Viruses and human cancer

THE contention that viruses may cause cancer in man rests mainly on analogy with observations in other species, particularly laboratory animals.1 , 2 However, even if tumor viruses were known not to cause human cancer they would be a suitable starting place for the study of genetic mechanisms in neoplasia. Oncogenic viruses have from seven to 50 genes, only a few of which are required to confer malignancy on an infected cell. These viruses obviously represent a more promising place to search for oncogenic genes than mammalian cells, which contain two million genes or more.3 , 4 Approaches to Cancer Viruses Viruses probably evolved . . .
Deacylative allylation: allylic alkylation via retro-Claisen activation.

A new method for allylic alkylation of a variety of relatively nonstabilized carbon nucleophiles is described herein. In this process of “deacylative allylation”, the coupling partners, an allylic alcohol and a ketone pronucleophile, undergo in situ retro-Claisen activation to generate an allylic acetate and a carbanion. In the presence of palladium, these reactive intermediates undergo catalytic coupling to form a new C–C bond. In comparison to unimolecular decarboxylative allylation, a commonly utilized method for allylation of carbon anions, deacylative allylation is an intermolecular process. Moreover, deacylative allylation allows the direct coupling of readily available allylic alcohols. Lastly, the full utility of deacylative allylation is demonstrated by the rapid construction of a variety 1,6-heptadienes via 3-component couplings.
Noncentrosymmetric Polar Oxide Material, Pb3SeO5: Synthesis, Characterization, Electronic Structure Calculations, and Structure−Property Relationships

A noncentrosymmetric (NCS) polar compound, Pb3SeO5, has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Pb3SeO5 exhibits a two-dimensional crystal structure consisting of layers of α-PbO-like “slabs” that are linked through SeO3 polyhedra. Structurally, it is the bridging SeO3 polyhedra between the α-PbO-like slabs that results in the NCS and polar nature of Pb3SeO5. Powder second-harmonic generation (SHG) measurements using 1064 nm radiation indicates that Pb3SeO5 exhibits a strong SHG efficiency of ∼300 × α-SiO2. Additional SHG measurements indicate the material is type-I phase-matchable. Converse piezoelectric measurements revealed a d33 value of ∼81 pm/V, and a pyroelectric coefficient of −42 μC/(m2 K) at 65 °C was also determined. Using first principle density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we demonstrated that polarization reversal in Pb3SeO5 is not energetically favorable—the material is polar but not ferroelectric. Our calculations also in...
The Influences of Financial Statement Recognition and Analyst Coverage on the Market's Valuation of R&D Capital

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (SFAS No. 141)'s requirement that an acquirer in a business combination estimate the fair value of the target's separately identifiable assets and liabilities (including research and development capital) provides a rare occasion where estimated fair values of U.S. firms' research and development (R&D) capital based on private information about their R&D activities are publicly disclosed. The degree to which equity values impound the estimated fair values of R&D depends upon the extent to which the private information implicit in the R&D estimates is reflected in investor expectations. Financial statement recognition of R&D capital and analyst activities have been cited as alternative mechanisms by which private information about firms' R&D activities can be revealed to investors. I investigate the degree to which both mechanisms lead to the public revelation of the private information implicit in the R&D fair value estimates by examining whether financia...
Synthesis of the porphyrins from petroleum

Abstract The presence of complex mixtures of metalloporphyrins in organic sediments has long been recognised. Recently, many new and structurally diverse petroporphyrin structures have been determined, many of which bear exocyclic rings. There is a need for synthetic samples to provide unambiguous confirmation of these petroporphyrin structures. In addition, synthetic samples would be of some value as standards for the analysis of geoporphyrins. We have developed a new approach to the synthesis of geochemically significant porphyrins bearing exocyclic rings. Tetrahydroindoles (b-cyclohexenopyrroles), b-cycloheptenopyrroles and b-cyclooctenopyrrole have been prepared in moderate to good yield from the corresponding cyclic ketones. Reaction with lead tetraacetate affords acetoxy derivatives and these compounds have been further elaborated to give pyrrolyl-b-cycloalkenopyrroles (dipyrroles). Porphyrins with six-, seven- or eight-membered exocyclic rings have been synthesised by application of the MacDonald condensation or the tripyrrene-a,c-biladiene route. Porphyrins with six-membered exocyclic rings have been prepared in good overall yields. Eight-membered carbocyclic rings moderately inhibit porphyrin formation and seven-membered rings severely inhibit porphyrin cyclisations. Nonetheless, syntheses of the meso, β-butanoporphyrins from petroleum have been achieved. The application of b-cyclopentenopyrroles to the synthesis of porphyrins with five-membered exocyclic rings is presently under review and our initial results are reported.