cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-Power ${G}_{{m}}{-}C$ Filter Employing Current-Reuse Differential Difference Amplifiers

This paper deals with the design of low-power high-performance continuous-time filters. The proposed operational transconductance amplifier architecture employs current-reuse differential difference amplifiers in order to produce more power-efficient ${G}_{{m}}{-}{C}$ filter solutions. To demonstrate this, a sixth-order low-pass Butterworth filter was designed in a 0.18- $\mu\text{m}$ CMOS, achieving a 65-MHz −3-dB frequency, an in-band input-referred third-order intercept point of 12 dBm, and an input-referred noise density of 40 nV/Hz1/2, while only consuming 8.07 mW from a 1.8-V supply and occupying a total chip area of 0.21 mm2 with a power consumption of only 1.19 mW per pole.
Asthma in Pediatric Sickle Cell Acute Chest Syndrome: In An Inner City London Hospital

Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS) is the second most common cause of hospitalisation in patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and up to 25% of those admitted will require intensive care management. ACS is a leading cause of death in SCD. It may also play a role in the development of chronic lung disease in SCD patients and the prevalence of Asthma in SCD patients is high. The pathogenesis of ACS is complex. Previous work has suggested a relationship between asthma and higher risk of ACS in children with SCD. Data in the UK is limited. Our aim therefore was to describe the presentation, course and outcome of ACS in our local SCD pediatric population, compared with those children who had ACS with SCD and physician diagnosed Asthma (Asthma). Methods: The data collection took place at The Evelina Children’s Hospital, which is part of St Thomas’ Hospital, a large teaching hospital in Central London, England. There are over 400 children with SCD registered, and around 30 new SCD births per year. A retrospective analysis of patient hospital electronic and paper records was performed of 63 ACS presentations over a three year period from 2003 to 2006. Inclusion in the study required a new infiltrate on chest radiograph plus acute respiratory symptoms in a patient with SCD under the age of 16 years. The group included 16 (25%) presentations in children with SCD and Asthma. Results: No Known Asthma 47 Presentations; Mean age 6.2 yrs (range 1–15yrs); HbSS 87%, HbSC13%; Previous ACS 26% (n=12); Mean length of stay 5.4 days (range 1–27); Mortality 0; Mean C-Reactive protein (CRP) on admission 70 (normal Physician Diagnosed Asthma 16 Presentations; Mean age 4.6 (range 1–15yrs); HbSS 94%, HbSC 6%; Previous ACS 63% (n=10); Mean length of stay 5.4 (range 2–14); Mortality 0; Mean CRP on admission 41; Mean oxygen saturations on presentation 92% in air (50% of patients presented with saturations DISCUSSION: Demographics: Comparable in terms of age and haemoglobin genotype. Presentation: Patients with asthma were more likely to have had previous ACS. Children with asthma presented with a lower CRP. Treatment: The treatment in both groups including the use of blood transfusion, and need for transfer to intensive care were comparable. However there was an observed difference in the use of inhaled bronchodilators (non asthma 21% v asthma 50%). Steroids were rarely used (4%) to treat the patients who did not have a pre-existing diagnosis of asthma, however were used to treat most (94%) of those patients with asthma. Outcome: Length of stay was comparable, no deaths in either group. CONCLUSION: Although patients in our study group with asthma had a higher frequency of previous ACS episodes, we did not demonstrate that patients with asthma suffer a more severe course of illness.
Loss Distribution Model for Metal Discovery Probabilities

A loss distribution model is developed and applied to estimate the probabilities of finding enough new mineral deposits to meet demand, throughout the rest of this century, of the ten metals: Au, Ag, Cu, Mo, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, and platinum-group elements (PGE). The model assumes that the necessary amount of metal exists in undiscovered mineral deposits and looks only at the probabilities of finding the required amount of metal in undiscovered resources. The probability density function that describes aggregate tonnage discovery over a specified period of time is the convolution of a mass density function that describes number of discoveries per unit time with a probability density function that describes deposit size distribution. Two alternatives for the deposit size distribution density function are used: pure lognormal or lognormal with a power-law upper tail, both taken from Patino Douce (Nat Resour Res 25:365–387, 2016c). A Pascal (negative binomial) distribution is found to accurately reproduce number of yearly metal discoveries for the period 1950–2007, and is used to estimate future discovery probabilities. The convolution of the two functions is accomplished by means of a simple Monte Carlo method. Numerical experiments consisting of 106 iterations are used to estimate the aggregate tonnage most likely to be discovered until the year 2100, as well as the largest deposit most likely to be discovered over the same time period, together with confidence intervals for the two quantities. The results for Au, Ag, Zn, and Cu strongly suggest that serious shortages of these metals are likely to occur before the year 2100. At the other end of the spectrum, the models suggest that supplies of Mo and Co are not likely to become critical over that time frame. Ni and Pb occupy intermediate positions, and the results for Cr and PGE are inconclusive, chiefly owing to the large variability found in their deposit size distributions. Using a pure lognormal distribution versus a lognormal distribution with a power-law upper tail for deposit sizes does not affect these conclusions. The results do not prove nor disprove that the required amount of metal exists in undiscovered resources, but provide concrete actionable intelligence about the intensity of the exploration efforts needed to find the metal, if the deposits exist.
Large, Organ Confined, Impalpable Transition Zone Prostate Cancer: Association with Metastatic Levels of Prostate Specific Antigen

We present 3 of 25 patients with massive, occult transition zone cancers 7 to 86 cc in volume. Despite serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels of 150 to 456 ng./ml. (Yang polyclonal assay), all 3 were organ confined at radical prostatectomy and have undetectable serum PSA levels by an ultrasensitive assay at 300 to 650 days postoperatively. This clinical syndrome includes a highly elevated PSA level, benign prostatic hyperplasia on digital rectal examination, a nondiagnostic transrectal ultrasound and frequently negative transrectal or perineal needle biopsies. Clinical recognition of this syndrome plus systematic biopsies of the transition zone are the keys to diagnosis and potential cure of these patients. These cases may explain the 10% rate of men who present with metastatic prostate cancer and a normal rectal examination, much of the discrepancy between focal cancer on biopsy and large cancers in radical prostatectomy specimens, and why some men have an extraordinarily high serum PSA level and organ-confined cancer at prostatectomy.
SIGNIFICANCE AND APPLIANCE OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Key problem which started up development of the sustainable agriculture concept, especially in high-developed countries, is uncontrolled application of pesticides and mineral fertilizers in conventional agriculture. The problems, caused by excessive use of synthetic chemical means, have been visible long since and it is very anxious. One of the important elements of sustainable agriculture concept is appliance of alternative, but also enough efficient methods of plant protection, and, among others, biological methods are some of them. Biological control by itself is not sufficient to solve the problems of undesirable organisms in crops' existence, but in combination with other methods of sustainable development, it results satisfactorily. In this paper work we tried to point out to some reasons of actualization and advantages of biological control method, as a new one and, for the environment, harmless method in crops protection.
The Classical Variational Approach

While the fundamental theory behind the differential correction process is more than a century old, its cutting edge applications utilize high fidelity modeling, advanced numerical techniques, and observations with unprecedented precision/accuracy.
Democratic Art: The New Deal's Influence on American Culture

Review of: "Democratic Art: The New Deal’s Influence on American Culture," by Sharon Ann Musher.
A priori estimation of memory effects in reduced-order models of nonlinear systems using the Mori–Zwanzig formalism

Reduced models of nonlinear dynamical systems require closure, or the modelling of the unresolved modes. The Mori-Zwanzig procedure can be used to derive formally closed evolution equations for the resolved physics. In these equations, the unclosed terms are recast as a memory integral involving the time history of the resolved variables. While this procedure does not reduce the complexity of the original system, these equations can serve as a mathematically consistent basis to develop closures based on memory approximations. In this scenario, knowledge of the memory kernel is paramount in assessing the validity of a memory approximation. Unravelling the memory kernel requires solving the orthogonal dynamics, which is a high-dimensional partial differential equation that is intractable, in general. A method to estimate the memory kernel a priori, using full-order solution snapshots, is proposed. The key idea is to solve a pseudo orthogonal dynamics equation, which has a convenient Liouville form, instead. This ersatz arises from the assumption that the semi-group of the orthogonal dynamics is a composition operator for one observable. The method is exact for linear systems. Numerical results on the Burgers and Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equations demonstrate that the proposed technique can provide valuable information about the memory kernel.
Hydrogen Sulfide Specifically Alters NAD(P)H Quinone Dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) Olfactory Neurons in the Rat.

Abstract The regions of the olfactory epithelium affected by hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) toxicity in the rat present a striking similarity with the developmental olfactory zone 1 described in the mouse. This zone which is the only region containing neurons expressing NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) is involved in complex behavioral responses in rodents, and other mammals, triggered by specific olfactory stimuli. We therefore sought to determine whether (1) olfactory neurons expressing NQO1 are located in the same regions in the rats and in the mice and (2) there is an overlap between olfactory neurons expressing this protein and those affected by the toxicity of H 2 S. Rats were exposed to H 2 S – 200 ppm during 3 h, three consecutive days- and displayed symmetric acute segmental necrosis of the neurons and sustentacular cells of the olfactory epithelium in the dorsomedial nasal cavity. We found that expression of NQO1 in Sprague–Dawley rats spatially recapitulated that of the mouse. The degree of agreement or overlap between these two populations of neurons (necrosis vs. NQO1 expression) reached 80.2%. Although the underlying mechanisms accounted for the high sensitivity for NQO1 neurons -or the relative protection of non NQO1 neurons- to sulfide toxicity remain to be established, this observation is offering an intriguing approach that could be used to acutely suppress the pool of neural cells in olfactory zone I and to understand the mechanisms of toxicity and protection of other populations of neurons exposed to sulfide.
Differential expression of genes encoding calmodulin-binding proteins in response to bacterial pathogens and inducers of defense responses.

Calmodulin (CaM) plays an important role in sensing and transducing changes in cellular Ca2+ concentration in response to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Although CaM is implicated in plant-pathogen interactions, its molecular targets and their role in defense signaling pathway(s) are poorly understood. To elucidate the signaling pathways that link CaM to defense responses, we screened a cDNA library constructed from bean leaves undergoing a hypersensitive response (HR) with radiolabeled CaM isoforms. A total of 26 putative CBPs were identified. Sequencing of the cDNAs revealed that they represent 8 different genes. They are homologues of previously identified CaM-binding proteins (CBPs) in other systems. However, some CBPs are novel members of known CBP families. The proteins encoded by these clones bound CaM in a Ca2+-dependent manner. To determine if these CBPs are involved in plant defense responses, we analyzed their expression in bean leaves inoculated with compatible, incompatible and nonpathogenic bacterial strains. Expression of three CBPs including an isoform of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (PvCNGC-A) and two hypothetical proteins (PvCBP60-C and PvCBP60-D) was induced whereas the expression of two other isoforms of CNGCs (PvCNGC-Band PvCNGC-C) was repressed in response to incompatible pathogens. The expression of the rest, a small auxin up RNA (PvSAUR1) and two hypothetical proteins (PvCBP60-Aand PvCBP60-B), was not changed. The expression of most of the pathogen-regulated genes was also affected by salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, hydrogen peroxide and a fungal elicitor, which are known to induce defense responses. Our results strongly suggest that at least five bean CBPs are involved in plant defense responses.
Comprehensive Health Care Economics Curriculum and Training in Radiology Residency.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the ability to successfully develop and institute a comprehensive health care economics skills curriculum in radiology residency training utilizing didactic lectures, case scenario exercises, and residency miniretreats. Methods A comprehensive health care economics skills curriculum was developed to significantly expand upon the basic ACGME radiology residency milestone System-Based Practice, SBP2: Health Care Economics requirements and include additional education in business and contract negotiation, radiology sales and marketing, and governmental and private payers’ influence in the practice of radiology. Results A health care economics curriculum for radiology residents incorporating three phases of education was developed and implemented. Phase 1 of the curriculum constituted basic education through didactic lectures covering System-Based Practice, SBP2: Health Care Economics requirements. Phase 2 constituted further, more advanced didactic lectures on radiology sales and marketing techniques as well as government and private insurers’ role in the business of radiology. Phase 3 applied knowledge attained from the initial two phases to real-life case scenario exercises and radiology department business miniretreats with the remainder of the radiology department. Conclusion A health care economics skills curriculum in radiology residency is attainable and essential in the education of future radiology residents in the ever-changing climate of health care economics. Institution of more comprehensive programs will likely maximize the long-term success of radiology as a specialty by identifying and educating future leaders in the field of radiology.
The Cage-Free Egg Movement

Describes the social movement confronting conventional egg production techniques (battery cages) based on animal welfare concerns, and some merits and drawbacks of cage-free alternatives. Highlights animal rights activist campaigns, political and regulatory responses, and announcements by some companies to shift egg purchases or sales from conventional to alternative production methods.Learning Objective:Enables students to discuss how companies should respond to social movements focusing on supply chains, in light of regulatory uncertainty and competitor pressures.
Copper Complexes as the Active Metabolites of Antiinflammatory Agents

In 1966 it was observed that Cu2(acetate)4 was an effective antiinflammatory agent in the carrageenan paw model of inflammation (1). In pursuing this observation it was found that arthritics had elevated serum Cu levels, and that chelation and subsequent excretion of Cu had been proposed as a mechanism of action of the antiarthritic drugs. This was consistent with the facts that all antiarthritic drugs are chelating agents and the serum Cu level returns to normal with disease remission. However, the administration of Cu leading to an antiinflammatory effect, on the one hand, and promoted excretion of Cu leading to an arthritic effect, on the other, were inconsistent.
T 1ρ mapping for assessment of renal allograft fibrosis.

Background There is an unmet need for noninvasive methods to diagnose and stage renal allograft fibrosis. Purpose To investigate the utility of T1ρ measured with MRI for the assessment of fibrosis in renal allografts. Study type Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved prospective. Subjects Fifteen patients with stable functional allograft (M/F 9/6, mean age 56 years) and 12 patients with allograft dysfunction and established fibrosis (M/F 6/6, mean age 51 years). Field strength/sequence T1ρ imaging at 1.5T using a custom-developed sequence. Assessment Average T1ρ in the cortex and medulla was quantified and T1ρ repeatability (expressed by the coefficient of variation [CV]) was measured in four patients. Statistical tests Differences in T1ρ values between the 2 groups were assessed using Mann-Whitney U-tests. Diagnostic performance of T1ρ for differentiation between functional and fibrotic allografts was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Spearman correlations of T1ρ with Masson's trichrome-stained fractions and serum estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed. Results Higher T1ρ repeatability was found for cortex compared with medulla (mean CV T1ρ cortex 7.4%, medulla 13.3%). T1ρ values were significantly higher in the cortex of fibrotic vs. functional allografts (111.8 ± 17.2 msec vs. 99.0 ± 11.0 msec, P = 0.027), while there was no difference in medullary T1ρ values (122.6 ± 20.8 msec vs. 124.3 ± 20.8 msec, P = 0.789). Cortical T1ρ significantly correlated with Masson's trichrome-stained fractions (r = 0.515, P = 0.044) and eGFR (r = -0.546, P = 0.004), and demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77 for differentiating between functional and fibrotic allografts (sensitivity and specificity of 75.0% and 86.7%, using threshold of 106.9 msec). Data conclusion Our preliminary results suggest that T1ρ is a potential imaging biomarker of renal allograft fibrosis. These results should be verified in a larger study. Level of evidence 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1085-1091.
Sovereignty, Law, and Money: New Developments

Money has remained closely connected to political sovereignty even as polities changed from empires and kingdoms to dictatorships and democracies, and as money shifted from coin to paper and now to...
Business Failure Prediction of Construction Contractors Using a LSTM RNN with Accounting, Construction Market, and Macroeconomic Variables

AbstractIn the construction industry, predicting business failure and providing early warnings are critical challenges in the prevention of business failure chain reactions. Most relevant studies h...
Design of Ceramic Packages for Ultrasonically Coupled Implantable Medical Devices

Objective: Ultrasonic acoustic power transfer is an efficient mechanism for coupling energy to millimeter and sub-millimeter implants in the body. To date, published ultrasonically powered implants have been encapsulated with thin film polymers that are susceptible to well-documented failure modes in vivo , including water penetration and attack by the body. As with all medical implants, packaging with ceramic or metallic materials can reduce water vapor transmission and improve biostability to provide decadal device lifetime. In this paper, we evaluate methods of coupling ultrasonic energy to the interior of ceramic packages. Methods: The classic wave approach and modal expansion are used to obtain analytical expressions for ultrasonic transmission through two different package designs and these approaches are validated experimentally. A candidate package design is demonstrated using alumina packages and titanium lids, designed to be acoustically transparent at ultrasonic frequencies. Results: Bulk modes are shown to be more effective at coupling ultrasonic energy to a piezoelectric receiver than flexural modes. Using bulk modes, packaged motes have an overall link efficiency of roughly 10%, compared to 25% for unpackaged motes. Packaging does not have a significant effect on translational misalignment penalties, but does increase angular misalignment penalties. Passive amplitude-modulated backscatter communication is demonstrated. Conclusion: Thin lids enable the use of ultrasonically coupled devices even with package materials of very different acoustic impedance. Significance: This work provides an analysis and method for designing packages that enable ultrasonic coupling with implantable medical devices, which could facilitate clinical translation.
Circular photogalvanic spectroscopy of Rashba splitting in 2D hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite multiple quantum wells

The two-dimensional (2D) Ruddlesden−Popper organic-inorganic halide perovskites such as (2D)-phenethylammonium lead iodide (2D-PEPI) have layered structure that resembles multiple quantum wells (MQW). The heavy atoms in 2D-PEPI contribute a large spin-orbit coupling that influences the electronic band structure. Upon breaking the inversion symmetry, a spin splitting (‘Rashba splitting’) occurs in the electronic bands. We have studied the spin splitting in 2D-PEPI single crystals using the circular photogalvanic effect (CPGE). We confirm the existence of Rashba splitting at the electronic band extrema of 35±10 meV, and identify the main inversion symmetry breaking direction perpendicular to the MQW planes. The CPGE action spectrum above the bandgap reveals spin-polarized photocurrent generated by ultrafast relaxation of excited photocarriers separated in momentum space. Whereas the helicity dependent photocurrent with below-gap excitation is due to spin-galvanic effect of the ionized spin-polarized excitons, where spin polarization occurs in the spin-split bands due to asymmetric spin-flip. Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIP) have high potential for spintronics applications. Using the circular photogalvanic effect the authors demonstrate the existence of Rashba-splitting in the continuum bands of a 2D layered HOIP that results from inversion symmetry breaking along the growth direction.
How Do Women’s Attitudes Towards Heterosexual Men Differ By Their Sexual Orientation? A Test of Competing Hypotheses

Though feminist theory asserts that women’s sexuality influences their general relationship with heterosexual men, the leading psychological measure of women’s attitudes towards heterosexual men, t...
Differences in microglia morphological profiles reflect divergent emotional temperaments: Insights from a selective breeding model

Microglia are known to play critical roles in healthy brain development and function, as well as the neuropathology underlying a range of brain diseases. Despite the growing evidence for a role for microglia in affective regulation and mood disorders, relatively little is known regarding how variation in microglia status relates to individual differences in emotionality. Using a selective breeding model based on locomotor response to novelty, we have generated rat lines with unique temperamental phenotypes that reflect broad emotional traits: low responder rats (bLRs) are novelty-averse and model a passive coping style, whereas high responder rats (bHRs) are highly exploratory and model an active coping style. To identify a possible functional role of microglia in these phenotypes, we administered minocycline, an antibiotic with potent microglia inhibiting properties. We found changes in emotional and social behaviors in bLRs, with no discernable effects in bHRs. Using detailed anatomical analyses, we went on to explore the nature of baseline differences in hippocampal microglia populations associated with the divergent temperaments. Interestingly, we found that although bHRs and bLRs had comparable total numbers of hippocampal microglia, selective breeding was associated with a shift in the morphological features of these cells. Specifically, microglia from bLRs were characterized by a hyper-ramified morphology, with longer processes and more complicated branching patterns than microglia from bHRs. This morphology is thought to reflect an early stage of microglia activation and suggests that microglia from bLRs may be in a reactive state even when animals are not overtly stressed or challenged. Taken together, our results provide novel evidence linking variation in inborn temperament with differences in the baseline morphological status of microglia cells and highlight the importance of considering the role of microglia not only in acute responses to stress but also in shaping enduring characteristics of emotionality.
Characterization of standard work tools for intrathecal baclofen therapy

Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) has been an effective therapy since the 1980s, with widely reported revision, infection, and complication rates. Publications targeting surgical workflow have resulted in decreased infection and revision rates, but a standard workflow for the entire pathway has not been described. To present, define, and test standard work tools for patients receiving ITB to promote uniformity and standard of care in the field. A multidisciplinary approach from the movement disorder program of a tertiary care center defined all steps comprising the ITB pathway, and then developed standard work tools to decrease variability with respect to preoperative workup, day of surgery protocol, post-operative care, and also evaluation and treatment with respect to pump infection or malfunction. Defined steps used at specific points of ITB pathway are presented with a single institution’s outcome using the protocol from July 2017 to November 2020. A total of 60 procedures were performed. The overall complication rate was 14.5% at 6 months. Complications included an infection rate of 3.6% at 6 months, wound revision rate of 1.8% at 6 months, CSF leak rate of 1.7% at 6 months, and a 30-day readmission rate related to initial surgery of 6.7%. Workflow efficiency and optimization for ITB patients can be used to obtain lower complication rates compared to historical cohorts in literature. A single-center, retrospective review highlights this.
Fair Decision-Making for Food Inspections.

We revisit the application of predictive models by the Chicago Department of Public Health to schedule restaurant inspections and prioritize the detection of critical violations of the food code. Performing the first analysis from the perspective of fairness to the population served by the restaurants, we find that the model treats inspections unequally based on the sanitarian who conducted the inspection and that in turn there are both geographic and demographic disparities in the benefits of the model. We examine both approaches to use the original model in a fairer way and ways to train the model to achieve fairness and find more success with the former class of approaches. The challenges from this application point to important directions for future work around fairness with collective entities rather than individuals, the use of critical violations as a proxy, and the disconnect between fair classification and fairness in the dynamic scheduling system.
MODERN DAY SURVEYS FOR HIGHWAY LOCATION AND DESIGN

Spin-offs of space technology and defense oriented research projects present the highway engineer with adequate means of surveying to demand requirements. Descriptions are presented for various distance measuring instruments and photobase plans. A research project to evaluate cross sectioning by photogrammetry reveals the capabilities of several stereo plotters, aerial film, ground control, and aerial photographic procedures. The use of analytical photogrammetry in matters involving ground position determination and measurement is evaluated by several research projects. Using techniques available today, route surveys can be conceived and implemented in all stages by management-level engineers.
Gonadoblastoma: Structures and background of development

Abstract Based on earlier studies relative to development and maturation of human gonads, a hypothesis is presented, namely, that the production of “psammoma bodies” in gonadoblastoma, as well as intensification of calcification and hyalinization processes, may be an expression of recapitulation of the involution phase of the indifferent gonad and the terminal phase of proliferating activity in the sex cords of such lesions. It is also suggested that pathologic structures found in the medulla of the ovaries of fetuses and newborn infants favor the development of gonadoblastomas and that the latter are formed as the result of dysfunction of a genetic system controlling gonadal maturation and thus are not “neoplasms.”
Separating Up from Down: New Evidence on the Idiosyncratic Volatility - Return Relation

The finding that stocks with high idiosyncratic volatility tend to have low future returns has been dubbed an empirical anomaly in the finance literature. We seek to understand this puzzle by separating the upside volatility associated with positive idiosyncratic returns from the downside risk associated with negative idiosyncratic returns. We find that downside risk is not inversely related to future stock returns, thus easing the concern that the empirical anomaly is a mispricing of risk. Rather, our results suggest that it is upside volatility that drives the inverse idiosyncratic volatility and return relation. We further examine whether the relation of future returns with downside and upside volatility accords with investor underreaction to bad news and overreaction to good news. Finally, we show that momentum strategies may be enhanced by taking into account stocks' upside volatility.
Experiences with the Accent Network Operating System

This paper describes experiences gained during the design, implementation and use of the CMU Accent Network Operating System. It outlines the major design decisions on which the Accent kernel was based and how those decisions evolved from the experiences gain by the author with the University of Rochester's RIG system. Also discussed are some of the major issues in the implementation of message-based systems, the usage patterns observed with Accent over a three year period of extensive use at CMU and a timing analysis of various Accent functions.
Photoinduced self-localized structural distortions in YBa2Cu3O7- delta.

Photoinduced absorption measurements of $\mathrm{Y}{\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ ($\ensuremath{\delta}=0.75$) from 150 to 4000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ are reported. We observed photoinduced infrared-active vibrational modes, associated phonon bleachings, and an electronic transition from a self-localized gap state. The results indicate a local tetragonal to orthorhombic distortion around the charge carriers. The dynamic mass associated with the distortion is smaller in $\mathrm{Y}{\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ than in ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$Cu${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. The photoinduced structural distortion and the associated self-localized gap state demonstrate that the photoexcitations are polarons or bipolarons. Since these photoinduced absorption features are not observed in the isostructural compound ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$Ni${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ we conclude that polaron (or bipolaron) formation may play an important role in the high-temperature superconductivity.
Comparison of the Flow Curves of 6061 Aluminum Alloy at High and Low Strain Rates

Low strain-rate tensile test data (10−5 to 10−2 s−1) were obtained for 6061 aluminum alloy in the -T6- and -0- condition. Little, if any, strain-rate effect was observed over this range of strain rates. Thirteen expanding ring tests were performed on 1-in.- and 2-in.-diam 6061-T6 and -0- temper rings with maximum strain rates of 3000 to 23000 s−1. The flow stress at 2% circumferential expansion was determined from all of the tests and is shown to be dependent upon maximum strain rate. Furthermore, a size effect is observed, since flow stress at 2% strain and equal strain rates is greater in 2-in. rings than in 1-in. rings. This size effect may be due to shock hardening, but a definite conclusion has not yet been reached. The -T6- temper rings also show a size effect, but the difference between the 1- and 2-in. rings was not the same for all values of flow stress.
Animal Cell Products, Overview

Introduction Principles of the Production Process Cell Products Viral Vaccines Immunoregulators Antibodies Recombinant Products Cell and Tissue Therapy Other Products Conclusions Bibliography Keywords: antibodies; hormones; cytokines; enzymes; viruses; cells; vaccines
The Relation Between Incentives to Avoid Debt Covenant Default and Insider Trading

We use a sample of firms that experience technical default to investigate whether an observable managerial action, managers? trading, is useful in (1) determining the existence of pre-default earnings management, and (2) in assessing whether specific contract modifications in renegotiated debt agreements are costly. We find income-increasing accruals and unexpected accruals in the year preceding the year of default of magnitudes sufficient to forestall default. We show, however, that the significant income-increasing accruals and unexpected accruals occur only in firms in which managers engage in abnormal insider selling. Our evidence suggests that by managing earnings to delay the onset of default, managers sell their equity-contingent wealth at higher prices. Finally, our evidence implies that renegotiated debt provisions?such as additional covenants and restricted borrowing?are costly for firms with greater investment opportunities prior to default.
Open Standard Based Visualization of Complex Internet Computing Systems

The emerging distributed internet computing paradigms envision involvement of large conglomeration of dynamic and internet-wide distributed computing resources. Visualization is an indispensable tool to confront the challenge of managing such complex systems. We present a monitor messaging framework for visualizing the lifecycle of a multiparty decentralized process. This design can be used as a blueprint for an open standard based visualization protocol for emerging internet computing systems.
A New Species of Hylophorbus (Anura: Microhylidae) from Papua New Guinea

Abstract: I describe a new frog of the microhylid genus Hylophorbus from the north-coast mountain ranges of Papua New Guinea that is unique in its small size, continuous black lateral band bordered below by a white line and then a field of whitish gray, and other morphometric and color-pattern features that distinguish it from its two most similar congeners, each also possessing a black lateral band. The new species is one of the two smallest species in the genus. It is currently known only from two of the easternmost north-coast mountain ranges, although it seems likely to occur in nearby mountain ranges to the west, a distributional pattern that is common among endemic amphibians from this region.
Prevalence of ophthalmic disease in blue-eyed horses

Summary A perception exists amongst referring veterinarians and the lay public that blue-eyed horses have increased frequency of ocular disease. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the prevalence of ocular disease in horses with blue or heterochromic eyes relative to those with brown eyes. The medical records of horses presenting to either the Comparative Ophthalmology services or Equine Medicine/Surgery services at 2 institutions were reviewed. Signalment, ocular and nonocular diagnoses were recorded. Ocular disease was divided into 4 categories: adnexa, cornea, intraocular/orbit and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Owners were contacted by telephone to confirm iris colour. Chi-square analysis was used to compare group proportions. A total of 164 eyes of horses with ocular disease and 212 eyes of horses without ocular disease were included. Blue eyes were equally common in the ocular disease and nonocular disease groups (P = 0.265). There was no significant difference in the proportion of blue- and brown-eyed horses when comparing the adnexal and corneal (P = 0.548), corneal and intraocular/orbit (P = 0.379) and adnexal and intraocular/orbit (P = 0.843) categories. A significant difference was detected in the proportion of blue-eyed horses between the adnexal (P = 0.000), corneal (P = 0.033), intraocular/orbital (P = 0.000) and SCC categories, with a higher proportion of blue-eyed horses in the SCC than in the other 3 groups. Horses with blue or heterochromic irides are more likely to develop ocular SCC than horses with brown irides, but are not more likely to have adnexal, corneal or intraocular/orbital disease or to be presented for evaluation of ophthalmic disease. Veterinarians should consider the results of this study when answering questions from the lay public regarding the predisposition of blue-eyed horses to ocular disease.
Cyclic Hydroborate Complexes of Metallocenes II: Reactivity of (m-H)(2)(BC(5)H(10))(2) and Its Cyclic Derivative, [H(2)BC(5)H(10)](-); Synthesis of (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)MCl(m-H)(2)BC(5)H(10) (M = Zr, Hf).

Reactions of the organodiborane (m-H)(2)(BC(5)H(10))(2), 1, with the Lewis bases, N(CH(3))(3), P(CH(3))(3), NH(3), and H(-), produced the cyclic adducts LHBC(5)H(10) (L = N(CH(3))(3), P(CH(3))(3), NH(3), H(-)) through symmetrical cleavage of the hydrogen bridge system. The salt [(NH(3))(2)BC(5)H(10)][H(2)BC(5)H(10)] was produced through unsymmetrical cleavage of the hydrogen bridge system. An improved, synthesis of the anion [H(2)BC(5)H(10)](-), 3, is described. It can function as a hydride transfer reducing agent in its reactions with BH(3)THF and 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone. In its reactions with (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)MCl(2) it serves as a chelating agent to produce (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)MCl(m-H)(2)BC(5)H(10) (M = Zr, 4; Hf, 5). The molecular structures of 1 and 4 are reported here. Crystal data for 1: space group Po, a = 6.415(3) A, b = 9.260(4) A, c =10.291(5) A, alpha = 114.53(4) degrees, beta = 104.25(4) degrees, gamma = 90.01(4) degrees, Z = 2. Crystal data for 4: space group P2(1)/c, a = 12.584(2) A, b = 9.511(1) A, c = 12.813(2) A, beta = 100.26(1) degrees, Z = 4.
Relative Catalytic Activities of Carbon Nanotube-Supported Metallic Nanoparticles for Room-Temperature Hydrogenation of Benzene

Carbon nanotube-supported metallic nanoparticles including Pt, Rh, and bimetallic Pd−Rh are effective catalysts for the hydrogenation of neat benzene at room temperature, which cannot be achieved b...
A fifteen-year search for first-stage human ova.

If John Rock, MD, were alive today, he would be coauthor of this article. I first saw John Rock in Boston's Colonial Theater in 1929, when I was a third-year student at Harvard Medical School. Seated four rows ahead of me, he was pointed out by a proper Bostonian lady directly in front, who turned to her companion and said, "That man (indicating Dr Rock) is a prominent Harvard gynecologist but was also a famous actor as a Harvard undergraduate." The story is germane to understanding and appreciating John Rock. He was a famous gynecologist and reproductive physiologist and a consummate actor as well. In 1948, at the annual conference of obstetrics and gynecology in Los Angeles, where we were both on the program, we were christened "the ham and the egg." I first met Dr Rock personally and as a teacher when I was a fourth-year medical student "on
Use of the Gastrografin challenge in patients with a history of abdominal or pelvic malignancy.

Background The Gastrografin (GG) challenge was developed to predict the need for operative management in patients with small bowel obstruction (SBO). Although clinical trials have demonstrated that it is an effective diagnostic and therapeutic modality, these studies excluded patients with a history of abdominal/pelvic malignancy. This study aims to examine the outcomes of the GG challenge for patients with a history of abdominal/pelvic malignancies. Methods Institutional review board approval was obtained to review retrospectively patients admitted with SBO in 3 separate categories: Group 1, patients presenting between 2010 and 2012 with SBO who received the GG challenge and had a concurrent history of abdominal or pelvic malignancy; group 2, patients presenting between 2010 and 2012 with SBO who underwent the GG challenge but did not have a concurrent history of abdominal or pelvic malignancy; and group 3, patients presenting between 2007 and 2010 (before our incorporation of the GG challenge protocol) with SBO and a concurrent history of abdominal or pelvic malignancy who did not receive GG . Two distinct comparisons were made. The first analysis was made between groups 1 and 2. The second comparison was performed comparing patients from groups 1 and 3. Results A total of 237 patients (74 group 1, 83 group 2, 80 group 3) were identified with a mean age of 69.1 years (range, 20–101); 115 were male (48%).There were no adverse events related to GG administration in our study. Analysis of groups 1 and 2 showed similar rates of exploration (25% vs 18%) and complications (32% vs 24%); however, mortality was greater among patients with history of malignancy at 12 months (26% vs 7%). Both groups had similar readmission rates for SBO, as well as exploration upon readmission. Analysis between groups 1 and 3 showed that the need for operative exploration at index admission was less in patients who underwent the GG challenge (26% vs 41%); however, hospital duration of stay was similar (8 vs 9 days). There was no difference in SBO recurrence at 12 months (28% vs 26%); however, mortality was significantly greater among patients not receiving GG (26% vs 41%). Conclusion The GG challenge was safe and effective in patients presenting with SBO and a history of abdominal or pelvic malignancy. As a result, GG has the potential to improve these terminal patients' quality of life.
A preprocessing approach to improve noise reduction for chaotic signals

Abstract Existing algorithms for filtering noise from contaminated chaotic signals require relatively high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). A preprocessing method to be used in conjunction with existing algorithms is proposed for initial noise reduction in severe SNRs. This preprocessing method is applicable to noisy data from any nonlinear dynamical system because no knowledge of the system dynamics is required.
Holocene environments reconstructed from plant macrofossils in stream deposits from southeastern Nebraska, USA

Plant macrofossils from sediments exposed in cutbanks of small streams on the Great Plains yield details of the history of the vegetation and climate, and potentially of the hydrologic behaviour of the streams during the past 9000 radiocarbon years. Five zones are recognized by visual inspection. Macrofossils in zone 1(c. 9000 to c. 8500 BP) indicate that upland deciduous forest was sparsely present, but that prairie, weedy and wetland habitats were also well established. Zone 2 (c. 8500 to c. 5800 BP) is sparsely represented, but upland trees disappeared, riparian trees and wetland plants were sparse, and weeds and prairie taxa fluctuated from low to high values. This interval was probably the warmest, driest part of the Holocene. Zone 3 (c. 5800 to c. 3100 BP) had a rich riparian forest, along with well-developed prairies, disturbed habitats and wetlands. This period was more moist but had intermittent droughts. Zone 4 (c. 3100 to c. 2700 BP) has peaks in many prairie and weedy elements, whereas riparia...
Overconfidence as Dissonance Reduction

People are often more confident than accurate. Past accounts of this overconfidence effect have focused on social-cognitive mechanisms, such as the biasing effects of judgmental heuristics and the faulty integration of relevant information. The current studies tested the idea that overconfidence is also a product of dissonance reduction. Specifically, we argue that overconfidence can result from a desire to see the self as knowledgeable and competent. In two studies, the motive to view the self as an accurate perceiver elevated confidence, independent of its effect on accuracy. This effect was diminished by manipulations derived from cognitive dissonance theory. In Study 1, confidence ratings were debiased by an affirmation manipulation designed to boost feelings of self-worth. In Study 2, confidence ratings were debiased by a manipulation designed to lower the aversive implications of feeling uncertain. These findings argue for a motivational perspective on overconfidence.
Jade-1 inhibits Wnt signalling by ubiquitylating beta-catenin and mediates Wnt pathway inhibition by pVHL.

The tumour suppressor VHL is known to stabilize the ubiquitin ligase Jade-1. Jade-1 targets both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated -catenin, thereby linking VHL function directly to inhibition of Wnt signalling.
Stability of DNA thymine hydrates

Abstract Pyrimidine hydrates are products of ultraviolet irradiation of DNA. We have already demonstrated the formation of both cis-thymine hydrate and trans-thymine hydrate (6-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine) in irradiated poly(dA-dT):poly(dA-dT). These are released from DNA as free bases by bacterial or human glycosylases. Thymine hydrate stabilities were studied in irradiated DNA substrates using purified E. coli endonuclease III as a reagent for their removal. After irradiation, substrate poly(dA-dT):poly(dA-dT), radiolabeled in thymine, was incubated at 50, 60, 70 or 80 degrees C, cooled, and then reacted with the enzyme under standard conditions. Thymine hydrates were assayed by enzymic release of labeled material into the ethanol-soluble fraction. Their identities were confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography. The decay of thymine hydrates in heated DNA followed first-order kinetics with a k = 2.8 x 10(-5)/sec at 80 degrees C. These hydrates were also detected in lesser quantities in the unirradiated, control substrate. Extrapolation from an Arrhenius plot yields an estimated half-life of 33.3 hours at 37 degrees C for DNA thymine hydrates. Such stability, together with their formation in unirradiated DNA, suggest thymine hydrates to be formed under physiological conditions and to be sufficiently stable in DNA to be potentially genotoxic. This necessitates their constant removal from DNA by the excision-repair system.
Performance of Automatic Passenger Counters in the Ventura/Lompoc Smart Card Demonstration Project

Automatic Passenger Counters (APCs) were deployed as part of a Field Operational Test (FOT) of a Fare Transaction and Vehicle Management/Monitoring System (Faretrans VMS). The test took place across several transit operators in Ventura County, California between May 1995 and June 1997. The automatic passenger counters relied on laser sensors installed on buses to count passenger boardings and alightings. The APC data was intended to help the operators meet Federal Section 15 reporting requirements. There were several major technical problems with the APCs. Some of these problems, such as incompatibility with other hardware and software components of the system, were overcome during the course of the FOT. However, data processing problems were not surmounted, and the test revealed significant differences between APC passenger counts and manual passenger counts. The authors conclude that, while APC technology may eventually be a useful means of gathering ridership data, the technology did not perform succes...