cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Information-Theoretic Analysis of Haplotype Assembly

This paper studies the haplotype assembly problem from an information-theoretic perspective. In the human genome, a haplotype is a sequence of nucleotide bases on a chromosome that differ from the bases in the corresponding positions on the other chromosome in a homologous pair. Haplotype sequences can conveniently be represented by binary strings, which enable us to transform the bioinformatics problem of haplotype assembly into an equivalent information-theoretic problem. Information about the order of bases in a genome is readily inferred using short reads provided by high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies. Performing haplotype assembly is challenging due to limited lengths of the reads and the presence of sequencing errors. In this paper, the recovery of the target pair of haplotype sequences using short reads is transformed into an equivalent joint source-channel coding problem. Two binary messages, representing haplotypes and chromosome memberships of reads, are encoded and transmitted over a channel with erasures and errors, where the channel model reflects salient features of high-throughput sequencing. The focus of this paper is on determining the required number of reads for reliable haplotype reconstruction. For the error-free reading case, erasure decoding is shown to be one of the optimal algorithms enabling reliable haplotype assembly. For the erroneous reading case, spectral partitioning is proved to be an efficient algorithm with orderwise optimal bounds.
Role of Acid-Base Homeostasis in Diabetic Kidney Disease

Acid-base homeostasis is impaired in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may contribute to disease progression. Diabetes, a major cause of CKD worldwide, may exacerbate acidosis further due to differences in acid production and excretion. Here, we review the role of abnormal acid-base homeostasis in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetes and diabetic kidney disease. Acidosis and dietary acid loading may contribute to the development and worsening of insulin resistance and hypertension, thereby promoting diabetes and diabetic CKD. However, although metabolic acidosis associates with progression of CKD generally, the results in diabetic CKD are mixed. Data suggests that metabolic acid production in diabetes may be higher than would be predicted based on dietary intake alone, and new observational data suggests that this higher diet-independent acid production could potentially be protective. The role of acid-base homeostasis in diabetic CKD progression is complex and must consider differences in endogenous acid production and excretion in diabetes. Ongoing observational and interventional studies in this field should consider the unique physiology of diabetes.
Can Preservation Fluid Biomarkers Predict Delayed Graft Function in Transplanted Kidneys

The need for kidney transplantation far outstrips the organ supply. To address this growing problem, the field continues to push the envelope by procuring and transplanting kidneys from deceased donors who may be considered suboptimal. Donation after circulatory determination of death (DCD), in
Reduced Incidence of Intraoperative Femur Fracture With a Second-Generation Tapered Wedge Stem.

Background Intraoperative fractures during total hip arthroplasty (THA) are more common when using cementless stems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a new shorter second-generation cementless, tapered wedge stem with improved proximal femoral fit in reducing the incidence of intraoperative fracture. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on primary THA cases performed at a single institution using a first-generation or second-generation cementless stem from 2006-2016. All intraoperative femur fractures were identified, as well as early 30-day postoperative periprosthetic femur fractures, which could represent nondisplaced intraoperative fractures that were initially missed. Risk for intraoperative femur fracture was analyzed using logistic regression, accounting for demographic covariates and surgeon. Results Of 6473 primary THA performed with a cementless, tapered wedge stem during the study period, 3126 used a first-generation stem and 3347 used a second-generation stem. The incidence of intraoperative fracture was 1.79% for first-generation stems and 0.24% for second-generation stems, representing a 7.5-fold reduction of risk for fracture. After accounting for covariates, the odds of intraoperative fracture were 0.33 using the second-generation stem relative to the first-generation stem (P = .01). However, there was no significant difference in the odds of early 30-day postoperative fractures using the second-generation stem (odds ratio 0.93, P = .56). Conclusion A new second-generation cementless stem resulted in a 7.5-fold decrease in the incidence of intraoperative femur fracture compared with the preceding stem.
Sociolinguistics of Judeo‐Spanish

In this paper, I address sociolinguistic concerns related to the Judeo-Spanish language from prior to the expulsion of the Sephardic Jews from Spain (1492) and Portugal (1497) until the present day. After discussing relevant sociolinguistic models pre- and post-expulsion in order to account for variation across Judeo-Spanish speech communities worldwide, I discuss the current ethnolinguistic vitality of the language as well as the domains of use whereby speakers continue to utilize their heritage language. I then discuss sociolinguistic variation, noting variables that may condition elements of speech, supported by synchronic and diachronic studies related to the language. Given such factors, I examine two major contact situations: that of code-switching across communities as well as contact with non-Sephardic (“Modern”) varieties of Spanish. I conclude by offering ways in which students and scholars of the language can advance Judeo-Spanish sociolinguistics as a field, including a discussion of current research methodologies and other key considerations of the 21st century.
Paper Modernity? Notes on an Iranian Industrial Tour, 1818

This article contributes to discussions of technology transfer in the modernisation of Iran through the study of a neglected episode in the memoirs of an early Qajar traveller to England. Arguing f...
The Impact of a Custom Electromyograph (EMG) Controller on Player Enjoyment of Games Designed to Teach the Use of Prosthetic Arms

Using electromyography (EMG) for physical therapy is not a new field, but applying it to the game based training for kids who need prosthetic arms to train both use and muscle strength is. The ability to bring fun training games to this demographic of disability gamers is potentially life changing. In an effort to support the training of these children a number of training games were developed. These initial games replace traditional button presses with flex controls using a custom game controller developed specifically for this task. Due to cost, and other factors, kids are often left without prosthetics until they are adults and the rejection rates for adults can be quite high, so the need for these games to not only train but to also be fun and engaging is paramount. This research explores the impact of using a custom EMG controller in place of a keyboard on the usability and user experience of an entertaining training game. Initial user sessions with child users of prosthetics indicate usability scores in a range of 75–85 for most games and moderately high user experience scores (GUESS scores of 40–55). Further comparisons conducted with undergraduate students suggest significantly higher GUESS scores for games where the flex controller is used to control the arms of the player avatar. While mixed, the results of this study indicate a mostly positive impact from the novel nature of using a custom flex controller, while there are indications that sound game design and supportive narrative still matters when developing custom controllers for training or entertainment purposes. Future games and game design for these controllers will utilize the successful design strategies applied by the games tested in this study.
Checklist of Hawaiian Anthocerotes and Hepatics

A literature-based checklist of Hawaiian hepatics and anthocerotes is presented. Geographic coverage includes the eight main Hawaiian Islands; the northwestern Hawaiian Islands are excluded. The checklist is alphabetically ordered by scientific names; the family is noted for each genus. Synonyms and misapplied names are cross-referenced to the accepted names. A bibliography of supporting references is included.
Practical Stabilization on Null Controllable Region

In the previous chapters, we have characterized the asymptotically null controllable region of a linear systems subject to actuator saturation. We have also constructed stabilizing feedback laws that would result in a domain of attraction that is either the entire asymptotically null controllable region or a large portion of it. In this chapter, we start to address closed-loop performances beyond large domains of attraction. In particular, we will design feedback laws that not only achieve semi-global stabilization on asymptotically null controllable region but also have the ability to reject input-additive bounded disturbances to an arbitrary level of accuracy. We refer to such a design problem as semi-global practical stabilization on the null controllable region
DESIGN OF A WHEELCHAIR DYNAMOMETER

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the design of a wheelchair dynamometer. The dynamometer designed for the University of Virginia, Rehabilitation Engineering Center, is an attempt to provide the desired alternative test situation that is more representitive of normal wheelchair driving conditions, including the accelerative phases of propulsion. The performance of a wheelchair patient is observed by placing the patient in his chair on the dynamometer with the rear wheels of the wheelchair riding on a pair of aluminum rollers. The dynamic feedback for constant torque is produced by first mounting the housing of the alternator such that it is free to turn in trunion bearings. The dynamometer allows each wheel of a wheelchair to work either separately or together. By providing a different torque to each wheel, the system can simulate lateral travel along an incline. It is indicated that speed, distance, and direction of turning are all in a display visible to the test subject. The speed and direction of turning are taken from the tachometer generators.
Towards Measurement of the Instantaneous Velocity of a Brownian Particle in Water

Chapter 5 discusses the motivation and challenges of measuring the instantaneous velocity of a Brownian particle in water. It also presents some of our on-going efforts on developing a new detection system to meet the challenges.
Effectiveness of the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) on Depression Literacy and Mental Health Treatment.

BACKGROUND Analysis of data from a NIMH-supported study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) in promoting depression literacy and help-seeking behavior. METHODS Eighteen Pennsylvania schools were matched on size, sex, race, test scores, median income, and free/reduced lunch status. Schools randomized to the intervention implemented ADAP as a compulsory part of the schools health curriculum, while control schools collected study measures. RESULTS Post-randomization analysis revealed no significant differences by sex on the pre-assessments between intervention and control schools. In the intervention schools, a total of 1427 students received ADAP. Written parental consent and adolescent assent was obtained from 33.7% students. The online REDCap survey was completed by 41.78% of the consenting students. The Adolescent Depression Knowledge Questionnaire (ADKQ) findings suggest that ADAP significantly improved depression knowledge (Est. =1.07, SE =.25, p < .001), compared to those in the control group. ADAP was found to facilitate help-seeking behavior by student report in those participating in the REDCap survey 4 months following the ADAP curriculum. CONCLUSIONS Results of the survey suggests that ADAP facilitates help-seeking behaviors in teens. This study supports the efficacy of a teacher delivered school-based universal prevention program, ADAP, on depression literacy.
Abstract 043: Self-Identified Hispanic/Latino Dietary Identity is Differentially Associated With Diet Quality and Food Intake Across Ethnic Heritages in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study on Latinos

Introduction: Characterizing the food intake and dietary quality of diverse Hispanics/Latinos remains challenging given the ethnic-specific sociocultural influences. A construct indicating self-ide...
Disparities in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Progression: Predictors of Presentation to the Emergency Department in Urinary Retention

Purpose:This retrospective cohort study evaluates the characteristics of patients who presented to the emergency department with acute urinary retention.Materials and Methods:Using the Healthcare C...
Cascade of U-Nets in the detection and classification of coronary artery calcium in thoracic low-dose CT

Low-dose thoracic CT (LDCT) screening has provided a low risk method of obtaining useful clinical information with lower quality images. Coronary artery calcium (CAC), a major indicator of cardiovascular disease, can be visualized on LDCT images. Additionally, the U-Net architecture has shown outstanding performance in a variety of medical imaging tasks, including image segmentation. Thus, the purpose of this study is to analyze the potential of the U-Net in the classification and localization of CAC in LDCT images. This study was performed with 814 LDCT cases with radiologist-determined CAC severity scores. A total of 3 truth masks per image were manually created for training of 3 U-Nets that were used to define the CAC search region, identify CAC candidates, and eliminate false positives (namely, aortic valve calcifications). Additionally, a single network tasked with only CAC candidate identification was tested to assess the need for different sections of the cascade of U-Nets. All CAC segmentation tasks were assessed using ROC analysis in the task of determining whether or not a case contained any CAC. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) as a performance metric and preliminary analysis showed potential for extension to a full classification task. CAC detection through the total cascade of 3 networks achieved and AUC of 0.97 +/- 0.01. Overall, this study shows significant promise in the localization and classification of CAC in LDCT images using a cascade of U-Nets.
Soil amendment by composted plant wastes reduces the Verticillium dahliae abundance and changes soil chemical properties in a bell pepper cropping system

Abstract Organic amendments can be effective at controlling some soil-borne pathogens. This work entailed two parts; the first involved two field experiments that investigated the effects of four different composts derived from agricultural wastes on soil load of Verticillium dahliae in organic and conventional bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) systems. The composts were prepared using dairy and horse manure (DC), grape pomace (GC), olive pomace-dairy manure mix (ODC) or mixed crop residue (CRC). For each system, one 25 t ha−1 compost application was made in May 2018 before bell pepper planting. Soil samples were taken before application and four times after application, approximately every six weeks. Plant growth and yield were also monitored. The second part involved lab experiments that tested the effects of extracts of the above composts on the growth of V. dahliae on selective media in Petri dishes. All four compost treatments significantly suppressed soil pathogen populations in June, two weeks after the application of treatments, with plant-based amendments presenting greater effects than DC. These suppressive effects disappeared within eight weeks (for DC) or 14 weeks (for GC, ODC and CRC) after application. The effects of composts on soil chemical properties, V. dahliae abundance and bell pepper growth and yield parameters were generally similar in both organic and conventional fields. In the Petri dish assays, plant composts reduced V. dahliae growth by 40–60 %, especially during the first week after application.
The Genetic Architecture of Plant Defense Trade-offs in a Common Monkeyflower

Determining how adaptive combinations of traits arose requires understanding the prevalence and scope of genetic constraints. Frequently observed phenotypic correlations between plant growth, defenses, and/or reproductive timing have led researchers to suggest that pleiotropy or strong genetic linkage between variants affecting independent traits is pervasive. Alternatively, these correlations could arise via independent mutations in different genes for each trait and extensive correlational selection. Here we evaluate these alternatives by conducting a quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping experiment involving a cross between 2 populations of common monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) that differ in growth rate as well as total concentration and arsenal composition of plant defense compounds, phenylpropanoid glycosides (PPGs). We find no evidence that pleiotropy underlies correlations between defense and growth rate. However, there is a strong genetic correlation between levels of total PPGs and flowering time that is largely attributable to a single shared QTL. While this result suggests a role for pleiotropy/close linkage, several other QTLs also contribute to variation in total PPGs. Additionally, divergent PPG arsenals are influenced by a number of smaller-effect QTLs that each underlie variation in 1 or 2 PPGs. This result indicates that chemical defense arsenals can be finely adapted to biotic environments despite sharing a common biochemical precursor. Together, our results show correlations between defense and life-history traits are influenced by pleiotropy or genetic linkage, but genetic constraints may have limited impact on future evolutionary responses, as a substantial proportion of variation in each trait is controlled by independent loci.
How to design a blockage-tolerant cooling network?

Abstract Nature-inspired microvascular composites rely on microchannel networks to enable a variety of multifunctionality including self-healing and active cooling. However, the small size of the microchannels makes them highly susceptible to blockage from the presence of particulates in the fluid or damage in the vascular network. Blockage in the microchannels may disrupt the functionality of the microvascular composites. As an effort to alleviate the destructive effects of microchannel blockage, we present a Hybrid Topology/Shape (HyTopS) optimization approach to design actively-cooled microvascular networks for blockage tolerance. The proposed method shows a promising capability in producing a reliable design for blockage tolerance. In this hybrid scheme, the optimizer can modify the topology of the design during the shape optimization procedure. Being able to change the topology of the network enables the optimizer to provide network redundancy to effectively optimize the design for blockage tolerance. In this scheme, the optimizer takes into consideration the blockage scenarios in each iteration. As a result, the design will be optimized in such a way that it would perform satisfactorily when blockage of microchannels occurs. The main challenge in this method, similar to the other common approaches for blockage tolerance, is the extensive computational cost. To address this issue, we present a novel Importance Factor (IF) method and combined it with the HyTopS approach to reduce the computational cost significantly. For further reduction of computational cost, we use Interface-enriched Generalized Finite Element Method (IGFEM) wherein the design geometry is projected onto a fixed mesh. Thus, there is no need for remeshing during the optimization procedure. Moreover, a fully analytic sensitivity analysis of the shape optimization of the microvascular composites is also developed. Finally, we solve several numerical examples to investigate the pros and cons of using the proposed optimization approaches for blockage tolerance.
Firm-Specific Worker Incentives, Employee Retention, and Wage–Tenure Slopes

Strategy scholars have long studied the strategic implications of firm-specific human capital but have almost completely ignored their conceptual dual: firm-specific worker incentives. This paper p...
Excessive Financial Services CEO Pay and Financial Crisis: Evidence from Calibration Estimation

The questions of whether there ever existed excessive risk-taking incentives from executive compensation in the financial industry, and whether top executives of financial services firms actually responded to such excessive incentives that eventually led to the crisis remain unanswered. The prior research has attempted to answer the second question, however, with conflicting evidence and without a clear definition of excessive. To answer the first question, this paper uses a numerical calibration approach to estimate the optimal level of CEO pay and derive the excessive compensation which provides excessive risk-taking incentives. We then examine the extent of excessive compensation in the financial industry relative to the non-financial industries during the 2000s and whether there were changes in compensation practices between the post Sarbanes–Oxley period and the pre-crisis period. We find mixed evidence in favor of the presence of higher excessive pay in the financial industry, and the CEO compensation practices remained largely unchanged over time. In addition, the relation between excessive pay and excessive risk-taking in the financial industry is somewhat weak, suggesting that CEO compensation might not be a major cause for the crisis in 2008.
Neural Circuit Pathology Driven by Shank3 Mutation Disrupts Social Behaviors

Loss of sociability is a core symptom in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that may arise from neural network dysconnectivity between multiple brain regions contributing to social behaviors. However, the pathogenic neural network mechanisms underlying social dysfunction of ASD are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the circuit-selective mutation of ASD-risk Shank3 gene within a unidirectional neural circuit from the prefrontal cortex to the basolateral amygdala reduces sociability as well as elevates the neural activity and its amplitude-variability in the circuit, which is consistent with the neuroimaging results from human ASD patients. Moreover, the abnormal neural circuit activities reduce the temporal correlation of socially-tuned neurons to the events of social interactions and alter the intra-circuit functional network involved in social behaviors. Finally, optogenetic mimicry of the circuit hyperactivity recapitulates the reduced sociability of Shank3 ctMUT mice. Collectively these results highlight a circuit-level pathogenic mechanism of Shank3 mutation that drives social dysfunction
Race-Based Redistricting in the 1990s

With the 1990’s redistricting efforts, North Carolina again becomes a test case for both executive and judicial review of its congressional and state legislative redistricting efforts. Due to U.S. Department of Justice oversight, North Carolina creates a majority-minority district that becomes the centerpiece of litigation over racial gerrymandering and elevates the legal and political tensions between White and Black North Carolinians over district lines. North Carolina’s redistricting culminates in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Shaw decision.
Purple Glove Syndrome after Phenytoin or Fosphenytoin Administration: Review of Reported Cases and Recommendations for Prevention

The aim of our study was to identify all previously reported cases of phenytoin- or fosphenytoin-associated purple glove syndrome (PGS) and summarize the most current understanding of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. We searched the English language references from MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, TOXNET, and gray literature that featured one or more case descriptions of phenytoin- or fosphenytoin-associated PGS after administration and provided information on the clinical setting of the event and associated outcome(s). Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize relevant facts about the cases. We identified 82 unique cases of parenteral phenytoin-associated PGS and 5 cases of fosphenytoin-associated PGS that were published from 1984 to 2015. Additionally, we found two cases of PGS associated with oral formulation of phenytoin published from 1999 to 2015. The spectrum of tissue injury ranged from mild local cutaneous reactions around the infusion site to frank limb ischemia. Just over a half of cases reported symptoms after one dose of IV phenytoin. Pathologic findings included evidence for microvascular thrombosis and possible microvascular or subclinical extravasation as a contributing mechanism. Dopper ultrasound and conventional angiography were used in some patients to identify arterial or venous thrombosis. Various treatments were documented including the use of supportive care such as limb elevation and heat or cold application, utilization of systemic antibiotics, anticoagulants, or vasodilators, and local infiltration of hyaluronidase, heparin, or other compounds. In a small number of patients, invasive interventions such as regional anesthesia, thrombectomy, fasciotomy, and debridement were described. Time to resolution varied from days to weeks. Resolution of PGS without deficits was documented in the majority of cases. Skin changes followed by sensory and motor deficits were described in 16, 6, and 5 cases, respectively. Four patients underwent skin grafting and eight patients required limb amputation. Death as a result of PGS was documented in two patients. PGS associated with oral and injectable phenytoin or parenteral fosphenytoin has been documented in the literature and sometimes includes significant vascular thrombosis and potentially limb-threatening ischemia. Avoidance of small hand veins, adherence to recommended IV administration guidelines and monitoring of the infusion site for reactions should be considered to decrease the morbidity of IV phenytoin or fosphenytoin use. Patients with PGS and evidence of decreased distal perfusion should undergo prompt vascular imaging and potential intervention to avoid ischemic sequelae. Alternative anticonvulsant drugs should be considered in patients at risk for PGS when possible.
Arab Water Security: Threats and Opportunities in the Gulf States

This book explores the national security implications of the Arab Gulf states' reliance on desalination plants, and their related infrastructure. It provides the first systematic and comprehensive discussion of current and future threats to the supply of freshwater from a desalination plant, including actual and virtual attacks by terrorists, mechanical failure, contamination, sabotage by aggrieved workers, and attacks relating to regional conflicts, as well as their vulnerability to natural disasters. It also provides a detailed analysis of the effects of a potential disruption to the water supply, and proposes possible measures, both political and technological, that can be used to increase resilience to these threats. Arab Water Security is a valuable reference for researchers and graduate students, as well as for policy makers and professionals, interested in water security, natural resources, and environmental terrorism.
Resolution of Civil Disputes in China

ARTICLES RESOLUTION OF CIVIL DISPUTES IN CHINA Vai lo Lo* In the late 1970s, China launched both economic and legal reforms, intending to introduce market mechanisms, open its door to foreign investors, and maintain social order based on le- gal norms. Accordingly, in the past twenty years, voluminous literature has been published on the Chinese legal system, dis- cussing its basic ingredients and noting discrepancies between theory and practice. 1 The topic of dispute resolution, in particu- lar, has received much attention. Numerous books and articles have been written about the resolution of commercial disputes, 2 especially on disputes between Chinese and foreign parties. With respect to civil conflicts between and among Chinese citi- or in- zens, literature has concentrated on the use of extralegal formal means, notably the various types of mediation. J.D., Ph.D.; Visiting Scholar, Harvard Law School, 1996-97. Some materials for this article were collected during my research residence at Harvard Law School. I would like to thank the East Asian Legal Studies Program at Harvard for facilitat- ing my research there. In addition, I am grateful to Daniel H. Foote and Kazuo Sugeno for reviewing an earlier draft of this article. With the aforementioned said, the responsibility of this article remains with me. 1. Over the years, articles on various issues of the Chinese legal system have often noted its lack of enforcement, especially due to local protectionism. See, e.g., Luming Chen, Some Reflections on International Arbitration in China, J. INT'L ARB., June 1996, at 121, 154-55. See, e.g., SHENG CHANG WANG, RESOLVING DISPUTES IN THE PRC: A (1996); Freder- ick Brown & Catherine A. Rogers, The Role of Arbitration in Resolving Transna- tional Disputes: A Survey of Trends in the People's Republic of China, 15 BERKELEY J. INT'L L. 329 (1997); Guiguo Wang, The Unification of the Dispute Resolution Sys- tem in China: Cultural, Economic and Legal Contributions, J. INT'L ARB., June 1996, PRACTICAL GUIDE TO ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION IN CHINA at 5. 3. See, e.g., Donald C. Clarke, Dispute Resolution in China, 5 J. CHINESE L. 245 (1991); Hualing Fu, Understanding People's Mediation in Post-Mao China, 6 J. CHINESE L. 211 (1992); Eric J. Glassman, The Function of Mediation in China: Ex-
Teaching Social Work Practice: A Review and Analysis of Empirical Research

Abstract This paper reviews, summarizes, and analyzes recent empirical research on social work practice education. It describes general directions of social work practice education and discusses implications of research findings. Findings attest to the profession's commitment to developing social work practice methods based upon testable theories, knowledge, and skills. Important questions remain, however, about the effectiveness of various teaching programs, methods, and procedures.
Chapter 11 Patent licensing

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the patent licensing. Game-theoretic methods have made it possible to address questions with regard to patent licensing. The common modes of patent licensing are a royalty, possibly nonuniform, per unit of output produced with the patented technology, a fixed fee that is independent of the quantity produced with the patented technology, or a combination of a fixed fee plus a royalty. The patentee can choose which of these modes of licensing to employ and how to implement them. The interaction between a patentee and licensees is described in terms of a three-stage noncooperative game. The licensees are assumed to be members of an n -firm oligopoly, producing an identical product. Entry into the industry is assumed to be unprofitable, i.e., the cost of entry exceeds the profits an entrant could realize. The firms in the oligopoly can compete either through quantities or prices. The industry's aggregate output and product price is determined by the Cournot equilibrium in the former case and the Bertrand equilibrium in the latter. In the simplest version of the game, the oligopoly faces a linear demand function for its product. The patented invention reduces the cost of production, i.e., it is a process innovation. Licensing of a product innovation can also be analyzed in this game-theoretic framework. The chapter discusses the licensing by means of an auction, fixed fee licensing of a cost-reducing innovation and then of a new product, licensing by means of a royalty, fixed fee plus royalty licensing, optimal licensing mechanism or the “chutzpah” mechanism, and patent licensing in the presence of Bertrand competition.
Infliximab: A Review of its Use in the Treatment of Crohn’s Disease

Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody to human tumor necrosis factor alpha. While its use was developed in the treatment of rheumatologic diseases its effects on Crohn’s disease have revolutionized the management of this chronic illness. Infliximab has effects on both immune and epithelial cells leading to a reduction in gut inflammation and collagen deposition which promotes wound healing. Large randomized trials have proven efficacy of the drug in luminal and fistulizing Crohn’s disease. Over time our understanding of antibody formation and long-term tolerability of the drug have refined our use of infliximab, eliminating episodic dosing and utilizing concomitant immunomodulator therapy to improve efficacy. Questions remain regarding top-down strategies, length of therapy, cost, reduction in surgical procedures, and the determination of which patients will respond best to any strategy chosen.
Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5-regulated Elk-1 phosphorylation and immediate early gene expression in striatal neurons.

The Galphaq protein-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype-5 (mGluR5) is densely expressed in medium spiny projection neurons of striatum. Emerging evidence suggests a significant role of mGluR5 in the addictive plasticity of striatal neurons that is likely derived from inducible cellular gene expression related to stimulation of mGluR5 and associative signaling proteins. In this study, we found that activation of mGluR5 with a selective agonist (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxy-phenylglycine (CHPG) induced a rapid and transient phosphorylation of a transcription regulator Elk-1 in cultured striatal neurons from rat E19 embryos or neonatal day-1 pups. The Elk-1 phosphorylation was dose-dependent and occurred in neurochemically identified GABAergic neurons, but not glia. A series of experiments further demonstrated that the CHPG-stimulated Elk-1 phosphorylation was mediated through selective activation of mGluR5-regulated phospholipase C and associative second messenger system, i.e. 1,4,5,-triphosphate-sensitive Ca2+ release. Moreover, the Elk-1 phosphorylation was partially dependent on mGluR5-mediated co-activation of NMDA, but not kainate/AMPA receptors and L-type voltage-operated Ca2+ channels. Using an immediate early gene c-fos as a report of inducible gene expression, we found that CHPG induced marked c-fos mRNA expression. The c-fos induction kinetically corresponded to the Elk-1 phosphorylation and was attenuated by antisense oligonucleotides that selectively knocked down Elk-1 proteins. These results indicate that glutamatergic tone on mGluR5 is positively coupled to Elk-1 phosphorylation in striatal neurons via multiple signaling mechanisms involving Ca2+ release and NMDA activation, and the mGluR5-mediated Elk-1 phosphorylation facilitates gene transcription.
Foix-Chavany-Marie-Syndrom

Bei dem seltenen Fall von bilateralen Lasionen der Opercula frontoparietalia resultiert ein Symptomenkomplex aus Anarthrie, schwerster Dysphagie, Unfahigkeit des Kauens und unter Umstanden einer zusatzlichen fazialen Parese. Gleichzeitig besteht eine willkurlich-automatische Dissoziation, d. h. die betroffene Muskulatur ist im Rahmen von unwillkurlichen Bewegungen funktionstuchtig. Dieses Syndrom ist unter den Synonymen Foix-Chavany-Marie-Syndrom (FCMS), (bilaterales) anteriores Operkulumsyndrom und fazio-pharyngo-glosso-mastikatorische Diplegie bekannt. Wir berichten von einem Patienten, der ein FCMS nach bilateralen Mediainfarkten entwickelte, die in einem Abstand von vier Jahren auftraten.
A typed model for encoding-based protocol interoperability

Documentation of the HTTP protocol includes precise descriptions of the syntax of the protocol, but lacks similarly precise specification of the semantics of messages and message bodies. Semantics are stated in English prose; while this makes the document more intuitively accessible, it makes any sort of formal claims of correctness or interoperability difficult to derive from the specification itself. We propose "layered types", a formal description of the interpretive semantics of HTTP message bodies based upon the stacked type syntax. This model allows us to formally declare semantics for content-related HTTP headers and offers a precise way of characterizing interoperability between current and future protocol revisions and extensions.
The bipartite placenta and its clinical features

Abstract Bipartite placenta represented 4.2 per cent (366 of 8,505) of placentas of white women at the Boston Hospital for Women who were enrolled in the Collaborative Project. Multigravidas who had five or more pregnancies and older women, 35 years or more, were more numerous in the bipartite group but a history of infertility also was more frequent than in the comparison series. In spite of an increased incidence of first-trimester bleeding, placenta previa, and adherent placenta in the bipartite group, there was no increase of death rate of the offspring. Birth weight and gestational age in the bipartite group were also in the normal range.
Portrait of the Artist as an American

The Bennington Museum's 2011 exhibition “Grandma Moses and the Primitive Tradition” invited viewers to reassess the twentieth-century work and reception of painter Anna Mary Robertson Moses. The meteoric rise of her art, marketed as “primitive,” coincided with certain refugee German art dealers’ quest to offer an American alternative to the war-contaminated wares of Europe.
Space-time adaptive processing on the Mesh Synchronous Processor

This paper presents an assessment of the applicability of the Mesh Synchronous Processor (MeshSP) architecture to a class of radar signal processing algorithms known as space-time adaptive processing (STAP). The MeshSP is a SIMD processor developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and marketed by Integrated Computing Engines, Inc. A high-level overview of the MeshSP architecture is presented. Mappings of a matrix decomposition algorithm to the MeshSP architecture are described. A performance model for estimating computation and communication latencies for the Householder algorithm on the MeshSP using different mapping approaches is presented. Results of the performance model are discussed.
Relationship Quality and Performance Outcomes: Achieving a Sustainable Competitive Advantage

As firms strive to develop a sustainable competitive advantage, the relationships formed among supply chain parties become a critical consideration. Firms seek to establish relationships that can provide the desired level of performance and competitiveness. Relationship quality provides a global measure of buyer–supplier relationships and can be used to assess the types of relationships a firm has within its supply chain. This research examines the impact of relationship quality on supply chain operational performance and satisfaction with strategic performance while considering both buyer and supplier perspectives and collaborative and arm’s length types of relationships.
Mechanism of moisture induced variations in true density and compaction properties of microcrystalline cellulose

A single lot of MCC powder (Avicel PH102) was equilibrated at 0%, 11.35%, 21.6%, 38.2%, 52%, 57.5%, 75% and 84.3% relative humidity. Each equilibrated powder was compressed. Tablet density and tensile strength were measured as a function of pressure. Powder true density, tabletability, compressibility, compactibility and plasticity were obtained as a function of water content. The true density of MCC ranged 1.42-1.46 g/cm(3) and exhibited a maximum between approximately 3% and approximately 5% (wt%) moisture. Moisture up to approximately 3.3%, corresponding to monolayer coverage, did not induce profound change in MCC plasticity nor bonding strength despite reduced T(g). Consequently, the compaction properties were largely insensitive to moisture variation below 3.3% water. Above 3.3% water, higher moisture content corresponded to improved plasticity, due to the plasticizing effects of water above the critical water content, and consequently larger interparticulate bonding area when compressed. Effects of plasticization by water on bonding area were significant at low compaction pressures but diminish at higher pressures. At above 3.3% water, increasing moisture content also reduced bonding strength. Due to the interplay among the plasticity, compaction pressure and bonding strength, tablet tensile strength peaked in the range of 3.3-5.6% moisture.
Protein adsorption at the oil/water interface: characterization of adsorption kinetics by dynamic interfacial tension measurements

The dynamics of protein adsorption at an oil/water interface are examined over time scales ranging from seconds to several hours. The pendant drop technique is used to determine the dynamic interfacial tension of several proteins at the heptane/aqueous buffer interface. The kinetics of adsorption of these proteins are interpreted from tension/log time plots, which often display three distinct regimes. (I) Diffusion and protein interfacial affinity determine the duration of an initial induction period of minimal tension reduction. A comparison of surface pressure profiles at the oil/water and air/water interface reveals the role of interfacial conformational changes in the early stages of adsorption. (II) Continued rearrangement defines the second regime, where the resulting number of interfacial contacts per protein molecule causes a steep tension decline. (III) The final regime occurs upon monolayer coverage, and is attributed to continued relaxation of the adsorbed layer and possible build-up of multilayers. Denaturation of proteins by urea in the bulk phase is shown to affect early regimes.
Teacher-student relationship quality type in elementary grades: Effects on trajectories for achievement and engagement.

Abstract Teacher, peer, and student reports of the quality of the teacher–student relationship were obtained for an ethnically diverse and academically at-risk sample of 706 second- and third-grade students. Cluster analysis identified four types of relationships based on the consistency of child reports of support and conflict in the relationship with reports of others: Congruent Positive, Congruent Negative, Incongruent Child Negative, and Incongruent Child Positive. The cluster solution evidenced good internal consistency and construct validity. Group membership predicted growth trajectories for teacher-rated engagement and standardized achievement scores over the following three years, above prior performance. The predictive associations between child reports of teacher support and conflict and the measured outcomes depended on whether child reports were consistent or inconsistent with reports of others. Study findings have implications for theory development, assessment of teacher–student relationships, and teacher professional development.
CTCF Mediates Effect of Insulin On Glucagon Expression

Pancreatic islet α-cell development and glucagon production are mainly regulated by Pax6 in the homeobox gene families. However, the molecular mechanism fine-tuning the regulation of these events in α-cell still remains unclear. In ocular cells, Pax6 transcription is regulated by CTCF through its binding to specific sites in Pax6 promoter. In this study, CTCF-mediated regulations of islet α-cell development and glucagon production were investigated in both CTCF transgenic mice and α-TC-1-6 cells. Over-expression of CTCF in transgenic mice affected development of pancreatic islets by significantly suppressing α-cell population in both embryonic and adult pancreases. The effect of CTCF on Pax6 gene expression and subsequently, on pro-glucagon production was however, examined in pancreatic islet α-cells. Over-expression and knock-down of CTCF directly affected Pax6 expression. More importantly, the CTCF binding sites upstream from Pax6 p0 promoter were required for regulating p0 promoter activity in islet α-cells. Stimulation of α-cells with insulin resulted in a significant increase in CTCF expression and a decrease in Pax6 expression, and consequently suppressed pro-glucagon expression. In contrast, these insulin-induced effects were blocked by knockdown of CTCF mRNA with specific siRNA in α-cells. Altogether, our results demonstrated for the first time that CTCF functions as a switch-like molecule between the insulin signaling and the regulations of Pax6 and glucagon expression in pancreatic islet α-cells.
A numerical solver for high dimensional transient Fokker-Planck equation in modeling polymeric fluids

In this paper, a tensor decomposition approach combined with Chebyshev spectral differentiation is presented to solve the high dimensional transient Fokker-Planck equations (FPE) arising in the simulation of polymeric fluids via multi-bead-spring (MBS) model. Generalizing the authors' previous work on the stationary FPE, the transient solution is obtained in a single CANDECOMP/PARAFAC decomposition (CPD) form for all times via the alternating least squares algorithm. This is accomplished by treating the temporal dimension in the same manner as all other spatial dimensions, thereby decoupling it from them. As a result, the transient solution is obtained without resorting to expensive time stepping schemes. A new, relaxed approach for imposing the vanishing boundary conditions is proposed, improving the quality of the approximation. The asymptotic behavior of the temporal basis functions is studied. The proposed solver scales very well with the dimensionality of the MBS model. Numerical results for systems up to 14 dimensional state space are successfully obtained on a regular personal computer and compared with the corresponding matrix Riccati differential equation (for linear models) or Monte Carlo simulations (for nonlinear models).
Cryogenic photolysis of activated bleomycin to ferric bleomycin

Activated bleomycin (ABLM) is a drug--Fe(III)-hydroperoxide complex kinetically competent in DNA attack (via H4' abstraction). This intermediate is relatively stable, but its spontaneous conversion to ferric bleomycin (Fe(III).BLM) is poorly characterized because no observable intermediate product accumulates. Light was shown to trigger ABLM attack on DNA in liquid at -30 degrees C, so ABLM was irradiated (at its 350 nm ligand-to-metal charge-transfer transition) at 77 K to stabilize possible intermediates. ABLM photolysis (quantum yield, Phi = 0.005) generates two kinds of product: Fe(III).BLM (with no detectable intermediate) and one or more minor (1-2%) radical O-Fe-BLM byproduct, photostable at 77 K. Adding DNA, even without its target H4', increases the quantum yield of ABLM conversion >10-fold while suppressing the observed radical yield. Since cryogenic solid-phase reactions can entail only constrained local rearrangement, the reaction(s) converting ABLM to Fe(III).BLM must be similarly constrained.
Role of Probabilistic Methods in Sustainable Geotechnical Slope Stability Analysis

Abstract Sustainable stable slope for flood protection systems are of continuing interest, especially among developers of recommended practices and design standards for geotechnical engineers. The Factor-of-Safety, used in conventional deterministic slope stability analyses, is the ratio of the capacity (force, stress, deformation, displacement) of a structure to the demand imposed on or induced in the structure. Such index is clearly evaluated without regard to the degree of uncertainty involved in its calculation that is for instance particularly large for levee slope stability design. This paper advances reliability based slope stability approaches and strategies that address such uncertainties. Probabilistic methods have been successfully applied taking into account two primary categories of uncertainties: natural variabilities and modeling uncertainties.