cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two-Stage Life Histories in Fish: The Interaction Between Juvenile Competition and Adult Performance

Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) typically exhibit a strong ontoge- netic diet shift. Small (juvenile) pumpkinseeds feed primarily on soft-bodied littoral in- vertebrates and compete with small bluegill (L. macrochirus), while large (adult) pump- kinseeds feed extensively on snails. We compared pumpkinseed and snail populations in two Michigan lakes that contain bluegill (Three Lakes II and Three Lakes III) with pop- ulations inhabiting Wintergreen Lake, a lake lacking bluegill. In the absence of bluegill, pumpkinseeds were abundant and juveniles grew well; however, snail abundances were low and adult pumpkinseeds grew poorly. Furthermore, no ontogenetic diet shift to snails occurred in Wintergreen Lake, and the pharyngeal muscles and bones used to crush snails were smaller than in fish from Three Lakes II. Pumpkinseeds from Wintergreen Lake also required significantly more time to crush and handle thick-shelled snails, but not thin- shelled snails and nongastropod prey, than did fish from Three Lakes II. In a field caging experiment in Wintergreen Lake snail densities increased fourfold when pumpkinseeds were excluded. Historical data as well as the among-lake comparisons suggest that the changes in Wintergreen Lake occurred in response to the selective elimination of the pumpkinseed's juvenile-stage competitor, the bluegill, via a winterkill event in the late 1970s. It appears that removal of bluegill released juvenile pumpkinseeds from competition and increased pumpkinseed recruitment into the adult stage, which resulted in the overexploitation of the adults' snail resource. These events then led to changes in adult pumpkinseed diet, growth, morphology, and feeding ability. These data are consistent with predictions from a two-stage life history model developed for the pumpkinseed-bluegill interaction and illustrate some of the important indirect consequences of interactions involving stage- structured populations.
U.S. Hog Production and the Influence of State Water Quality Regulation

The U.S. hog industry is experiencing an increase in both the average size and in the geographical concentration of feeding operations. These increases have caused public attention to focus on the environmental consequences of hog production and on the regulations imposed to limit these consequences. This study examines the influence of state water quality regulatory stringency on hog production in the United States. The results of this analysis provide evidence that environmental compliance costs are significant for small hog feeding operations, while production on large operations does not appear to be influenced by the level of state environmental regulatory stringency. On assiste presentement a une augmentation de la taille des exploitations et a une concentration geographique des etablissements d'engraissement dans le secteur americain de l'elevage porcin. Ces changements ont amene la population a s'interesser aux repercussions de la production porcine sur l'environnement et aux reglements adoptes en vue d'attenuer de telles repercussions. L'auteur determine de quelle maniere la severite des reglements d‘Etat sur la qualite de l'eau influe sur l'elevage des pores aux Etats-Unis. Les resultats de son analyse prouvent que le respect des reglements sur la protection de l'environnement engendre des couts appreciables pour les petits eleveurs, alors que les exploitations de plus grande envergure ne sont pas aussi affectees par la rigueur de la reglementation d'Etat en matiere d'environnement.
Quantitative three-dimensional elasticity imaging from quasi-static deformation: a phantom study

We present a methodology to image and quantify the shear elastic modulus of three-dimensional (3D) breast tissue volumes held in compression under conditions similar to those of a clinical mammography system. Tissue phantoms are made to mimic the ultrasonic and mechanical properties of breast tissue. Stiff lesions are created in these phantoms with size and modulus contrast values, relative to the background, that are within the range of values of clinical interest. A two-dimensional ultrasound system, scanned elevationally, is used to acquire 3D images of these phantoms as they are held in compression. From two 3D ultrasound images, acquired at different compressed states, a three-dimensional displacement vector field is measured. The measured displacement field is then used to solve an inverse problem, assuming the phantom material to be an incompressible, linear elastic solid, to recover the shear modulus distribution within the imaged volume. The reconstructed values are then compared to values measured independently by direct mechanical testing.
Therapeutic Options for Thymoma in the Rabbit

Abstract Thymomas are relatively rare tumors that have been reported in a number of rabbits. Clinical signs may be nebulous or a result of the effect of the tumor on the occupied space. Diagnosis is made by aspiration cytology or tissue biopsy and histopathology. Treatment options for thymomas in people and animals include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Surgery appears to offer the best chance for cure and is recommended when possible; however, radiation therapy may also be effective. Chemotherapy alone appears to have limited utility, at least in the rabbit. This article will discuss these treatment options and their use in rabbits with thymoma, both as reported in the literature and based on our experience.
Low discrepancy sequences for Monte Carlo simulations on reconfigurable platforms

Low-discrepancy sequences, also known as ldquoquasi-randomrdquo sequences, are numbers that are better equidistributed in a given volume than pseudo-random numbers. Evaluation of high-dimensional integrals is commonly required in scientific fields as well as other areas (such as finance), and is performed by stochastic Monte Carlo simulations. Simulations which use quasi-random numbers can achieve faster convergence and better accuracy than simulations using conventional pseudo-random numbers. Such simulations are called Quasi-Monte Carlo. Conventional Monte Carlo simulations are increasingly implemented on reconfigurable devices such as FPGAs due to their inherently parallel nature. This has not been possible for Quasi-Monte Carlo simulations because, to our knowledge, no low-discrepancy sequences have been generated in hardware before. We present FPGA-optimized scalable designs to generate three different common low-discrepancy sequences: Sobol, Niederreiter and Halton. We implement these three generators on Virtex-4 FPGAs with varying degrees of fine-grained parallelization, although our ideas can be applied to a far broader class of sequences. We conclude with results from the implementation of an actual Quasi-Monte Carlo simulation for extracting partial inductances from integrated circuits.
Rights, Responsibilities, and Existentialist Ethics

The first question that must be asked with regard to “existentialist” ethics is that of the very possibility of it. From a traditional point of view, the answer would be negative. However, persons can express themselves in a great variety of ways, and an “existentialist” manner of being can be a life-style rich in ethical values.
Fractionization of the octupole strength in 90Zr

Abstract The 90Zr (α, α′) reaction has been studied at 31 MeV with 80 keV resolution. Three octupole states have been found between 5 and 6 MeV with a total strength of 31% of the lowest 3− state. This extends the study of the fractionization of the octupole state previously found in the f 7 2 shell.
Funnel report mining for the MSN network

Data mining research has long concentrated on the five main areas: clustering, association discovery, classification, forecasting and sequential patterns. Web data mining projects are concerned mainly with text mining, user segmentation, forecasting web usage and analyzing users' clickstream patterns. We present a new type of web usage mining called funnel analysis or funnel report mining. A funnel report is a study of the retention behavior among a series of pages or sites. For example, of all hits on the home page of www.msn.com, what percentages of those are followed by hits to moneycentral.msn.com? What percentage of www.msn.com hits are followed by moneycentral.msn.com, and then www.msnbc.com? What are the most interesting funnels starting with www.msn.com? Where does the greatest drop off rate occur after a user has hit MSNBC? Funnel reports are extremely useful in e-business because they give product planners an idea of how usable and well-structured their site is. From our experience performing web usage mining for the MSN network of sites, funnel reports are requested even more than user segmentation analyses, site affiliation studies and classification exercises. In this paper, we define a framework for funnel analysis and provide a tree-based solution we have been using successfully to extract all relevant funnels using only one scan of the data file.
Hospital Readmission for Bronchiolitis

The objectives of this study were to determine the rate and risk factors for hospital readmission after inpatient treatment for bronchiolitis. We conducted a retrospective cohort study from 2000 to 2002. The readmission rate within 30 days was 3.7% (95% Confidence Interval: 2.1%-6.0%). Readmission was not associated with age, prematurity, respiratory syncytial virus status, receipt of intensive care, or the observation period off supplemental oxygen. Those who required supplemental oxygen had a lower risk of readmission. Identifying children at risk for readmission is challenging. Children who did not require supplemental oxygen may be at greater risk because they are progressing in their illness.
Verstehen: The Epistemological Question

Summary The doctrine of Verstehen is here interpreted as a solution to the problem of other minds. The problem of other minds, which has its analogous for external perception and memory, may be put by asking: By means of what epistemic principles may we exhibit the justification we have for attributing particular thoughts and feelings to persons other than ourselves? It is suggested that such principles will refer to the phenomena of Verstehen. Resume La doctrine de la comprehension (Verstehen) est interpretee ici comme une solution au probleme des autres psychismes, qui a son analogue pour les perceptions externes et pour la memoire et qui peut etre mis sous la forme ?une question:Quels sont les principes epistemologiques qui nous permettent de justifier notre attribution de pensees et de sentiments particuliers a des personnes autres que nous-memes?≪. Ľauteur suggere que ces principes se rapporteront au phenomene de la comprehension. Zusammenfassung Die Doktrin des Verslehens wird hier als ein Losungsbeitrag zum Problem des Fremdpsychischen aufgefasst. Das Problem des Fremdpsychischen, das analoge Fragen aufwirft wie die aussere Wahrnehmung und das Gedachtnis, Iasst sich folgendermassen formulieren: Auf Grund von welchen epistemischen Prinzipien konnen wir die Tatsache rechtfertigen, dass wir bestimmte Gedanken und Gefuhle anderen Personen zuschreiben? Es wird nahegelegt, dass sich solche Prinzipien auf Verstehensvorgange beziehen mussen.
In vitro and in vivo characterization of a new receptor specific indium‐111 labeled DOTA‐ST conjugate for targeting guanylin receptors in human colon cancer cells

A new DOTA-6-Ahx-Phe19-ST[1–19] conjugate (DOTA-Ahx-ST), for specific targeting of guanylin receptors expressed on human colon cancer cells, was synthesized and radiolabeled with indium-111. In vitro competitive binding assays, employing T-84 human colon cancer cells, demonstrated an IC50 value of 3.0 ± 0.7 nM for the In-DOTA-Ahx-ST conjugate. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies of 111In-DOTA-Ahx-ST conjugate in T-84 human colon cancer derived xenografts in SCID mice conducted at 1, 4, and 24 hrs p.i. revealed efficient clearance from the blood pool (0.31 ± 0.06 %ID/g, 1 hr p.i.) with excretion mainly through the renal pathway (92.7 ± 0.5 %ID, 1 hr p.i.). Initial tumor uptake of 1.34 ± 0.20 %ID/g at 1 hr p.i. was observed with 54% and 18% retention at 4 and 24 hrs p.i. respectively. These results suggest that this DOTA-Ahx-ST peptide conjugate or a similar analogue may have an application as a radiopharmaceutical in the detection and treatment of human colon cancer using an appropriate radioisotope.
Superior Canal Dehiscence Plugging Reduces Dizziness Handicap

Objectives/Hypothesis: To compare dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) scores before and after surgery for plugging of superior canal dehiscence (SCD). The size of the dehiscence as measured during surgery, subject age, vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials threshold, and degree of conductive hearing loss (CHL) were also considered. Study Design: Retrospective. Methods: Nineteen adults with SCD who underwent surgery to plug the SCD via middle fossa approach were studied. Pre- and postoperative DHI scores were compared, and correlations between DHI scores and other clinical measures were assessed. Results: Average preoperative DHI score was 44 ± 24 (mean ± SD). Postoperative DHI score was significantly lower at 18 ± 15 (P < .01). Only two subjects had a higher DHI score after surgery. Subjects who had a preoperative DHI score below 30 did not have any significant change in their DHI score after surgery, whereas those with a preoperative DHI score ≥30 had an improvement by an average of 39 ± 16 after surgery. There were no correlations between either preoperative DHI score or the change in DHI score after surgery and HL, age, vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials threshold, or dehiscence size. Conclusions: DHI scores significantly decreased after SCD plugging. Subjects who had the largest decrease in DHI scores were those with high preoperative DHI scores. Subjects who chose to undergo SCD plugging because of nonvestibular symptoms such as conductive HL, tinnitus, or autophony generally had lower preoperative DHI scores and did not experience large improvements in DHI scores. The SCD plugging procedure offers an improvement in DHI score that is comparable with that of other procedures for peripheral vestibular dysfunction.
Istvan Jasdi: Serenade in the Vineyard

The main reason that it is worthwhile to read Istvan Jasdi’s book is that if someone perhaps would have neglected to love life for some reason up to this point, by reading this book, he or she can now make up for that hiatus.
Dysnatriämien bei Intensivpatienten

Intensive care patients often suffer from hypo- or hypernatremia. These dysnatremias reflect an antidiuretic-hormone (ADH)-related water imbalance and are the result of the underlying disease. However, they are often triggered by drug side effects and exacerbated by an intentional or unintentional sodium imbalance. Dysnatremias are also caused by artificial ventilation; however, the mechanisms behind this are beyond the scope of this article. Considerations regarding etiology, water and sodium balance and, in particular, the variable in urine dilution or concentration, take priority over a brisk normalization of sodium concentration. Therefore, the 3 most important factors are: 1) delivery of water and sodium to the collecting duct; 2) generation and maintenance of an osmotic pressure gradient exerted by solutes present in the renal medullary interstitium; 3) the regulated water permeability of collecting duct cells under the control of antidiuretic hormone. With these, most disorders can already be identified from patient history and simple factors such as body weight and serum and urine osmolality.
Oxytocin in the Medial Amygdala is Essential for Social Recognition in the Mouse

Oxytocin (OT) knock-out mice fail to recognize familiar conspecifics after repeated social exposures, despite normal olfactory and spatial learning abilities. OT treatment fully restores social recognition. Here we demonstrate that OT acts in the medial amygdala during the initial exposure to facilitate social recognition. OT given before, but not after, the initial encounter restores social recognition in OT knock-out mice. Using c-Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-IR) as a marker of neuronal activation in this initial encounter, we found similar neuronal activation in the wild-type (WT) and OT knock-out mouse in olfactory bulbs, piriform cortex, cortical amygdala, and the lateral septum. Wild-type, but not OT knock-out mice exhibited an induction of Fos-IR in the medial amygdala. Projections sites of the medial amygdala also failed to show a Fos-IR induction in the OT knock-out mice. OT knock-out, but not WT, mice showed dramatic increases in Fos-IR in the somatosensory cortex and the hippocampus, suggesting alternative processing of social cues in these animals. With site-specific injections of OT and an OT antagonist, we demonstrate that OT receptor activation in the medial amygdala is both necessary and sufficient for social recognition in the mouse.
Next generation system for real-time monitoring of rainfall, soil moisture, and soil temperature

Here we present our work on an environmental sensing network that we have been developing over a number of years at The University of Iowa. Sponsored by the Iowa Flood Center, the system consists of instrumentation that measures rainfall, soil moisture, and soil temperature. Field instrumentation relays data via cellular modems to a central server. Users can access the data through a web browser, and programmatic interfaces allow for ingestion of the data into computational models for flood forecasting.
Low-frequency excess noise in metal&#8212;Silicon Schottky barrier diodes

Theoretical models for the generation-recombination noise and trapping noise in metal-semiconductor Schottky barrier diodes are developed. Low-frequency excess noise in Schottky barrier diodes is found to be dominated by the modulation of the barrier height φB caused by fluctuation in the charge state of traps or generation-recombination centers. This noise mechanism does not occur in p-n junctions. The bias and the temperature dependence of the generation-recombination noise is critically compared with the experimental data for forward diode current ranges from 3 to 300 µA and operating temperatures from -25° to 100°C. Trapping noise in Schottky barrier diodes is observed at low temperatures in diodes not intentionally doped with deep level impurities. The experimental results on trapping noise can be described by assuming that the trap states have a constant capture cross section and are uniformly distributed in space, as well as in energy. The surface potential at the diode periphery also has an important effect on the Schottky barrier diode noise. The best low-frequency noise behavior is found when the surface is at the flat-band condition. An accumulated surface is always associated with a large amount of low-frequency excess noise.
Monophyly and Floral Character Homology of Old World Passiflora (Subgenus Decaloba Supersection Disemma)

Abstract The circumscription of the Old World Passiflora subgenus Decaloba supersection Disemma has been problematic for more than one hundred years. Supersection Disemma consists of 22 Old World species found throughout mainland Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. They show great morphological diversity, possessing cup-shaped to tubular flowers and both branched and unbranched inflorescences. These features have been used to link species in Disemma to New World members of subgenus Decaloba, resulting in the widespread suspicion that Disemma is not monophyletic. Plastid (trnL-F intron and spacer) and nuclear (ITS) DNA sequences were used to test the monophyly of supersection Disemma and reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within this group. Two monotypic genera, Hollrungia and Tetrapathaea, were included in this analysis based on their strong morphological similarity to Passiflora, and the Austral-Pacific distribution they share with many of the Old World species. Supersection Disemma is ...
Soluble free-fermion model in d dimensions.

We consider a vertex model in d dimensions characterized by lines that run in a preferred direction. We show that this vertex model is soluble if the weights of vertices with intersecting lines are given by a free-fermion condition, and that a fugacity of -1 is associated with each loop of lines. The solution is obtained by mapping the model into a dimer problem and by evaluating a Pfaffian. We also determine the critical point and the singular behavior of the free energy.
Access to Timely and Optimal Care of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes — Community Planning Considerations: A Report by the National Heart Attack Alert Program

Age-adjusted mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) has declined by more than 50% over the past three decades; however, CVD continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States. In 1994, 1.25 million people experienced an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Nearly 500,000 Americans died from CVD, and more than half of these deaths occurred suddenly, within 1 hour of symptom onset, outside the hospital setting. The National Heart Attack Alert Program (NHAAP) endorses the view of the American Heart Association that the community should be recognized as the “ultimate coronary care unit.” Rapid identification and early treatment are supported by research that demonstrates time is a fundamental factor in reducing morbidity and mortality from AMI and cardiac arrest. A dramatic relationship has been shown between the onset of AMI symptoms, reperfusion treatment, and outcome for patients treated within the first hour after the onset of symptoms. The golden hour has become a widely recognized term in the trauma field, and communities and states are encouraged to develop and implement regional and statewide plans to ensure that trauma patients receive appropriate care within 1 hour of injury. The primary premise of this report — that planning by communities for rapid recognition and triage of patients with symptoms and signs of acute coronary syndromes will result in better outcomes for patients with AMI, including sudden cardiac arrest — is largely based on experience with trauma patients, a population that is benefitting from similar community planning efforts. This NHAAP report reviews community planning considerations and the essential components of an effective community plan (i.e., action plans and protocols, equipment and resources, education and training, and continuous quality improvement evaluation and research) and provides recommendations for each component. The report also presents strategies to guide communities in developing community cardiac emergency action plans.
Pythium Species Associated with Damping-off of Pea in Certified Organic Fields in the Columbia Basin of Central Washington

Organic vegetable production accounted for 19% of the total organic acreage in Washington State in 2013, with 1,700 ha of certified organic vegetable pea. However, production is challenged constantly with the threat of poor emergence after planting due to damping-off caused by Pythium spp. A survey of Pythium spp. in organic vegetable production areas of the semiarid Columbia Basin of central Washington was carried out in fall 2009 to identify species associated with damping-off during early spring planting. Of 305 isolates baited from soil sampled from 37 certified organic fields, 264 were identified to 16 Pythium spp. by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA. A soil DNA-CFU regression curve was developed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays for each of the three predominant pathogenic species (Pythium abappressorium, the P. irregulare complex, and P. ultimum var. ultimum) found in soil sampled from the 37 fields. The P. irregulare complex, P. abappressorium, and P. ultimum var. ultimum were detected in 57, 78, and 100% of the fields sampled, respectively. A regression analysis was used to determine that P. ultimum var. ultimum ranged from 14 to 332 CFU/g of soil in the 37 fields, the P. irregulare complex ranged from 25 to 228 CFU/g of soil, and P. abappressorium DNA was below the quantifiable limit. In summary, P. ultimum var. ultimum was the most prevalent pathogenic Pythium sp. detected in certified organic fields in the semiarid Columbia Basin of central Washington but multiple Pythium spp. may be associated with damping-off in cool and wet, early spring planting conditions.
Rethinking the role of Agent-Based Modeling in archaeology

Abstract Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) represents a methodology with significant potential for altering archaeological analytical practice. The continued growth in the number of publications that use ABM provides evidence for the significance of this emerging approach. However, the scope of the research topics investigated has not increased accordingly. A consensus exists among ABM practitioners, that once generally accepted by the field, ABM can make revolutionary advances within the overall archaeological research paradigm. Unresolved concerns within the archaeological community center on whether ABMs are sufficiently grounded in empirical data, are aligned with theoretical trajectories, and on the difficult task of mastering the computational systems. It is worth exploring these aspects of the disjuncture between the mainstream and ABM practitioners for two reasons – to frame a discussion of qualities of ABM that make it transformative and to provide guidelines for broadening ABM’s applicability. With capacity-building in mind, offered here is a practical reference for the non-practitioner archaeologist considering ABM. A glossary is included of key terms used in the text to describe ABM methods and theory.
Occurrence of Cystathionine in Breast Muscle of Genetically Dystrophic Chicks

SummaryA ninhydrin positive compound present in embryonic chick muscle and in dystrophic chick breast muscle at 2 weeks after hatching was shown to be cystathionine. Cystathionine is characteristically present in embryonic muscle and its persistence in dystrophic muscle several weeks after hatching when it has disappeared from normal muscle is further evidence for retarded development of dystrophic muscle.
Medical approaches to the treatment of acute focal cerebral ischemia.

Acute focal cerebral ischemia is a common entity which has been intensively studied both experimentally and clinically. With the accumulation of knowledge, a framework for reducing tissue injury and improving neurological outcome has evolved. It has been clearly established that treatment must be initiated before irreversible damage occurs. The two basic, interdependent approaches are (/) to improve blood flow to the ischemic zone and (2) to increase the resistance of cerebral tissue to metabolic injury. Optimization of blood viscosity and maintenance of systemic arterial blood pressure are important factors in enhancing circulation. Agents such as mahnitol and low-molecular-weight dextran have proved beneficial, whereas prostacyclin and calcium-entry blockers have not. Elevation of blood glucose levels before the ischemic event has been shown to have a deleterious effect upon circulatiop and metabolism in the ischemic zone. Barbiturate coma, although difficult to use in the usual clinical setting, has been shown to reduce ischemic injury. The rationale and application of the various therapeutic approaches are discussed.
To Ease or Not to Ease: Interest in Conservation Easements Among Landowners in Brown County, Indiana

Clearly understanding the connections among land use, demographics, and sensitivity and engagement with natural areas can provide insight into landowner decision making. Pertinent findings from our mailed survey of landowners in Brown County, Indiana, include that (1) individuals already engaged in land conservation or environmental activities are most likely to consider a conservation easement (CE), (2) hunters and anglers are less likely to have interest in CEs, and (3) few differences exist between seasonal and permanent residents. Among other things, this research highlights the significance for landowner willingness to grant a CE of involving landowners in conservation activities and environmental organizations.
An Empirical Study of Comparative Advantage in World Agricultural Trade

Using cross-section data of 61 countries, based on Leamer’s and Peterson’s tests,A full analysis is made of comparative advantage of world agricultural trade. It concludes that fac-tor endowments are still the leading causes behind agricultural trade patterns and market maturityhas significant effect on total agricultural trade.
Framework and Flow Design of Power Grid Model Maintenance Based on Offline Validation

In view of the security risks existing in the traditional imperfect maintenance of the power grid model in terms of verification,a model maintaining mechanism is proposed and implemented that is capable of improving the operation safety and stability of online system operation by modifying the model offline.After verification in a test environment,the modified model is put into the model maintenance mechanism of the online system.Also provided are the flow management interface,customized validation rules,task rollback and multi-user parallel processing mechanism characterized by safety,flexibility and efficiency.
Exploitative Abuses of Intellectual Property Rights

It is the standard view in the United States that U.S. antitrust law does not reach acts of exploitation by a monopolist, particularly monopoly pricing (“rent extraction”). Even more so for intellectual property, where U.S. courts have emphasized the right of an intellectual property right holder to raise prices and exploit its rights to the fullest, constrained only by market demand. Competition law in the rest of the world appears to be otherwise, however, with many countries generally condemning excessive high prices by dominant firms, even if often reluctant to invoke such provisions in practice.Despite apparent differences in legal approaches, current enforcement practice worldwide with regard to price-raising exploitation of intellectual property rights by monopolists shows a uniform willingness to condemn such conduct as anticompetitive. This paper describes this concern for exploitation, focusing on competition law enforcement in the United States, China, Europe, Japan, and Korea in three substantive areas: patents subject to FRAND licensing obligations, disclosure requirements imposed on patent holders with monopoly power to prevent them from exploiting licensees or potential licensees, and post-expiration royalties.This paper argues that this concern for exploitative behavior is consistent with sound competition policy. Preventing the undue exploitation of intellectual property rights is an important aspect of economizing on the reward we give to incentivize innovation. Antitrust has traditionally favored placing some limits on intellectual property rights and placing greater reliance on the incentives for innovation that competitive markets can provide.
Additional western lithics for Hopewell bifaces in the Upper Mississippi River valley

Excavations ofHopewe/1 tombs in the Trempealeau-LaCrosse localityofthe Upper Mississippi River recovered numerous large “ceremonial” bifaces. Most are manufactured of exotic lithic materials, inclu...
Semiparametric estimation of warranty costs

A large class of financial models of costs associated with warranties involve functions that arise in renewal theory. The simplest interesting example is the renewal function which, for the purposes of this article, may be interpreted as the expected number of failures by a specific warranty duration. To estimate the renewal function, cross-sectional regression data is assumed to be available. The data is assumed to be semiparametric in that the observation may be expressed as a known function of a vector of covariates, a vector of unknown parameters and an unknown error term while no distributional assumptions are made on the error terms. An estimator of the renewal function is constructed and conditions are provided so that it is asymptotically normal, after suitable standardization. This estimator is a special case of a class of statistics introduced here called residual-based infinite order U-statistics. U-statistics are complex averages over functions of observations. In this article, the observation...
Collaborative autonomous sensing with Bayesians in the loop

There is a strong push to develop intelligent unmanned autonomy that complements human reasoning for applications as diverse as wilderness search and rescue, military surveillance, and robotic space exploration. More than just replacing humans for `dull, dirty and dangerous' work, autonomous agents are expected to cope with a whole host of uncertainties while working closely together with humans in new situations. The robotics revolution firmly established the primacy of Bayesian algorithms for tackling challenging perception, learning and decision-making problems. Since the next frontier of autonomy demands the ability to gather information across stretches of time and space that are beyond the reach of a single autonomous agent, the next generation of Bayesian algorithms must capitalize on opportunities to draw upon the sensing and perception abilities of humans-in/on-the-loop. This work summarizes our recent research toward harnessing `human sensors' for information gathering tasks. The basic idea behind is to allow human end users (i.e. non-experts in robotics, statistics, machine learning, etc.) to directly `talk to' the information fusion engine and perceptual processes aboard any autonomous agent. Our approach is grounded in rigorous Bayesian modeling and fusion of flexible semantic information derived from user-friendly interfaces, such as natural language chat and locative hand-drawn sketches. This naturally enables `plug and play' human sensing with existing probabilistic algorithms for planning and perception, and has been successfully demonstrated with human-robot teams in target localization applications.
On the sum capacity of the Gaussian multiple access channel with feedback

This paper studies the sum capacity C(P) of the N-sender additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) multiple access channel (MAC), under equal power constraint P, when noiseless output feedback is available to all the N senders. The multiletter characterization of the sum capacity, in terms of directed information, is considered as an optimization problem. The main result of this paper is to solve this problem when it is restricted to Gaussian causally conditional input distributions. Also, a dependence balance bound in terms of directed information is introduced, which for the case of memoryless channels is the same as the bound introduced by Kramer and Gastpar. This bound is used to capture the causality, however, since it is in general “non-convex” makes the problem technically hard. A general upper bound is obtained by forming the Lagrange dual problem and it is then shown that this upper bound coincides with the sum-rate achieved by Kramer's Fourier-MEC scheme. This result generalizes earlier work by Kramer and Gastpar on the achievable sum rate under a “per-symbol” power constraint to the one under the standard “block” power constraint.
Expression of HDAC2 but Not HDAC1 Transcript Is Reduced in Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex of Patients with Schizophrenia

Postmortem brain studies support dysregulated expression of the histone deacetylase enzymes, HDAC1 and HDAC2, as a central feature in diseases including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Our objective was to investigate HDAC expression in a large postmortem sample set representing healthy and disease brains. We used >700 well-characterized samples from patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (n = 175), major depressive disorder (n = 135), and bipolar disorder (n = 61) to measure HDAC1 and HDAC2 transcript levels by quantitative real-time PCR in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and caudate compared to control samples. HDAC expression was calculated relative to the geometric mean of β-2-microglobulin, β-glucuronidase, and β-actin. In adult-age DLPFC, HDAC2 was decreased by 34% in schizophrenia samples compared to controls (p < 10–4). HDAC2 was significantly upregulated in major depressive disorder samples by 17% versus controls (p = 0.002). Neither smoking history nor therapeutic drugs im...
Comment on “Angular Distribution for the 7 Be ( d , n ) 8 B Reaction at E c . m . = 5.8 MeV and the S 17 ( 0 ) Factor for the 7 Be ( p , γ ) 8 B Reaction”

A Comment on the Letter by Weiping Liu, {ital et al.}, Phys.Rev.Lett.{bold 77}, 611 (1996). {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Phospholipid environment alters hormone-sensitivity of the purified insulin receptor kinase

Insulin receptor kinase, affinity-purified by adsorption and elution from immobilized insulin, is stimulated 2-3-fold by insulin in detergent solution. Reconstitution of the receptor kinase into leaky vesicles containing phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine (1:1, w/w) by detergent removal on Sephadex G-50 results in the complete loss of receptor kinase sensitivity to activation by insulin. Insulin receptors in these vesicles also exhibit an increase in their apparent affinity for 125I-insulin (Kd = 0.12 nM versus 0.76 nM). Inclusion of 8.3-16.7% phosphatidylserine into the reconstituted vesicles restores 40-50% of the insulin-sensitivity to the receptor kinase. An elevated apparent affinity for 125I-insulin of insulin receptors in vesicles containing phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine is also restored to the value observed in detergent solution by the inclusion of phosphatidylserine in the reconstituted system. The effect of phosphatidylserine on insulin receptor kinase appears specific, because cholesterol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid are all unable to restore insulin-sensitivity to the receptor kinase. Autophosphorylation sites on the insulin receptor as analysed by h.p.l.c. of tryptic 32P-labelled receptor phosphopeptides are not different for insulin receptors autophosphorylated in detergent solution or for the reconstituted vesicles in the presence or absence of phosphatidylserine. These data indicate that the phospholipid environment of insulin receptors can modulate its binding and kinase activity, and phosphatidylserine acts to restore insulin-sensitivity to the receptor kinase incorporated into phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine vesicles.
Inpatient versus Outpatient Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Perioperative Complication Analysis of 259,414 Patients From the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Databases.

Background Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is one of the most common operations utilized to address pathology of the cervical spine. Few reports have attempted to compare complications associated with inpatient versus outpatient ACDF. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2001-2012 and the State Ambulatory Services Database (SASD) for New Jersey (NJ) from 2003-2012 were used for analysis. Patients receiving ACDF (defined as anterior cervical fusion (ICD-0 code=81.02) + excision of intervertebral disc (80.51)) were segmented into an inpatient group derived from the NIS, and an outpatient group derived from the NJ SASD. Patients receiving > 2 levels fused (ICD-9 codes 81.63-81.64), or surgery for cancer (ICD-9 codes 140-239), or trauma (ICD-9 codes=805.0-806.9) were excluded. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to adjust the analysis for patient age, race, sex, primary payer for care, and number of medical diagnoses. Results Of the 94,492,438 inpatients comprising the NIS from 2001-2012, 257,398 received ACDF. Of the 4,194,207 outpatients comprising the NJ SASD, 2,016 received ACDF. PSM of 10,080 patients (all 2,016 SASD and 8,064 from NIS) was performed, and subsequent analysis revealed that durotomy (P=0.001;OR=0.81), paraplegia, postoperative infection, hematoma/seroma (OR=0.14), respiratory complications, acute posthemorrhagic anemia and red blood cell transfusion (all P Conclusion Accepting the limitations of the NIS and SASD (inability to distinguish between one and two-level fusions, no long-term follow-up, potential selection bias, disparities between inpatient and outpatient ACDF populations), these findings indicate that for 1-2 level ACDF, perioperative complications, including durotomy, paraplegia, hematoma, and acute posthemorrhagic anemia were more commonly reported following inpatient ACDF. Future studies involving outpatient analysis of several states will be necessary to determine whether these results of outpatient ACDF are applicable nationwide.
Disseminated CD8‐positive, CD30‐positive cutaneous lymphoproliferative eruption with overlapping features of mycosis fungoides and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma following remote solitary lesional presentation

CD8-positive, CD30-positive cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders constitute a rare subset of T-cell lymphoproliferative conditions, including variants of primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), mycosis fungoides, lymphomatoid papulosis type D, cutaneous gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma and cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma. These entities share overlapping clinical, histopathologic and immunophenotypic features, presenting both a clinical and pathological diagnostic challenge. Presented here is a 73-year-old man with a disseminated, indolent CD30+, CD8+ cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorder with overlapping clinical and histopathological features of both mycosis fungoides and primary cutaneous ALCL, as well as features of lymphomatoid papulosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a generalized CD8+, CD30+ eruption with features of both mycosis fungoides and primary cutaneous ALCL arising following an episode of solitary primary cutaneous CD8-positive ALCL.
Intraepidermal Type VII Collagen by Immunofluorescence Mapping: A Specific Finding for Bullous Dermolysis of the Newborn

Background Bullous dermolysis of the newborn (BDN) is a subtype of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) characterized by skin fragility and blister formation at birth that typically resolves within the first year of life. Abnormal intraepidermal retention of type VII collagen (C7) has been reported as a characteristic feature of BDN, but few studies have investigated the specificity of this finding. Methods We retrospectively reviewed pathology reports of patients diagnosed with DEB using immunofluorescence mapping from January 2001 to January 2015. For cases describing intraepidermal accumulation of C7, we collected information on patient characteristics, including genetic testing results, clinical outcome, and concurrent electron microscopy findings, where available. Results Of the 143 cases of DEB with immunofluorescence mapping, eight patients had intracytoplasmic epidermal retention of C7. Of these eight patients, two were lost to follow-up, four had complete resolution of bullae, and two had marked improvement with rare residual bullae. Concurrent electron microscopic findings available for three patients were consistent with BDN. Conclusions Our review of immunofluorescence mapping findings in patients with DEB found that 5.6% had abnormal intracytoplasmic epidermal retention of C7, a finding previously reported in BDN. All such patients with clinical outcomes available had resolution or marked improvement of bullae, consistent with clinical outcomes expected in BDN.
Differential Scanning and Dynamic Calorimetric Studies of Cooperative Phase Transitions in Phospholipid Bilayer Membranes

In this chapter, we will describe the application of equilibrium and dynamic calorimetric techniques to investigate the thermodynamic and dynamic properties of lipid bilayers. Although lipids undergo several types of temperature- and pressure-dependent phase transitions, we will emphasize the gel-liquid-crystalline transition because it has been the most extensively investigated with regard to the effects of temperature and pressure on its equilibrium poise. In addition, the gel—liquid-crystalline transition is also the lipid transition whose relaxation kinetics have been mainly investigated using a variety of techniques.
Psychology in Service of the Church

Don Browning has been a major figure in pastoral theology for a number of years. His most recent major work (Browning, 1987b) is a challenging analysis of and dialogue with the religious dimensions of many of the major modern psychological paradigms that dominate the mental health field. Browning writes from a self-described “liberal Christianity or mainline church” perspective rather than that of evangelical Christianity. The reader will find this perspective clearly articulated, among other places, in the introductory sections below, where he defines his use of the words “church” and “Christian faith.” Though he writes from a nonevangelical perspective, Browning offers a number of insights for JPT readers into the assets and liabilities that a relationship with the field of psychology offers the Church. His analysis reflects a depth understanding of the contemporary view of social science as a cultural phenomenon, one that is founded upon assumptions that are often religious and moral in nature and yet ...
Single-wire DAC/ADC Control and Feedback of Silicon Photonic Ring Resonator Circuits for Wavelength Switching

We develop a robust and scalable solution for control and feedback of silicon photonic circuits used for optical unicast and multicast. A single-wire DAC and ADC feedback architecture is evaluated with 20Gb/s PAM-4 data streams.
Identification of midbrain neurons essential for vocal communication

Vocalizations are an essential medium for communication and courtship in numerous mammalian species ranging from mice to humans. In mammals, the midbrain PAG serves as an obligatory node in a vocalization-related network that spans the forebrain and brainstem, as bilateral lesions of the PAG result in mutism. Despite the importance of the PAG for vocal production, the identity, function, and connectivity of PAG neurons involved in vocalization has remained elusive, in part because the PAG is a functionally and anatomically heterogeneous structure that serves myriad roles including nociception, defensive behaviors, and autonomic regulation. Here we used a viral genetic tagging method to identify a distinct subset of PAG neurons in the male mouse that are selectively activated during the production of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) elicited by female cues. Silencing these PAG-USV neurons rendered males mute without affecting their other courtship behaviors and also impaired their ability to attract female mice in a social choice assay. Activating these neurons using chemogenetic or optogenetic methods strongly elevated USV production, even in the absence of female cues. Notably, the timing of individual USVs was entrained to the expiratory phase of breathing but not to the pattern of optogenetic stimulation, suggesting that PAG-USV neural activity initiates and sets the duration of vocal bouts and recruits downstream premotor circuits that precisely pattern vocal output. Consistent with this idea, we found that PAG-USV neurons extend axons into pontine and medullary regions that are speculated to contain premotor central pattern generators important for vocalization. These experiments establish the identity of the PAG neurons selectively required for USV production in mice, map their efferent connections, and demonstrate the communicative salience of male USVs in promoting female social affiliation.