cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vinylation of Benzylic Amines via C-N Bond Functionalization of Benzylic Pyridinium Salts

Cross-couplings of benzylic pyridinium salts and vinylboronic acids or esters have been developed. Via benzylic pyridinium intermediates, benzylic amines can be engaged in these cross-couplings through C–N bond functionalization. This method boasts mild reaction conditions and excellent tolerance for heteroaryl substituents and a range of functional groups.
Determinism in future cars: Why autonomous trucks are easier to design

In the last decade we started seeing a major paradigm shift in automotive industry as some safety challenge in vehicles could be improved by using autonomous vehicles. Designing autonomous trucks, due to special features in their operations could be easier than autonomous cars. The behavior of autonomous truck is more predictable, they work on specific routes according to predictable schedule and they can avoid traffic, problem areas, or at least optimize their driving schedule. This structured behavior follows a more deterministic approach of developing the vehicle, and hence could greatly simplify the implementation model from that of personal vehicles. Additionally, we could get better performance in domain of safety as autonomous driving software could be made to follow a more restricted driving approach. Unlike human truck drivers, autonomous trucks will not suffer from fatigue or illness, a contributing factor to truck-related accidents.
De novo Overactive Bladder Symptoms After a Sling

A 45-yr-old woman with pure stress urinary incontinence (SUI) undergoes a sling procedure. Preoperatively, she had no irritative voiding symptoms and no voiding complaints. After the sling is done, she notes some mild increase in her urinary frequency. At her 6-wk follow-up visit, she complains of onset of urge incontinence requiring two pads per day. She has no SUI. She notes her stream has slowed a bit since the surgery.
SUDEP and Cardiac Arrhythmia

A 19-year-old male had drug-resistant epilepsy and recurrent focal and generalized seizures. Trauma was reported in early childhood after he was struck by an automobile at the age of 5. This resulted in significant traumatic brain injury and cognitive impairment. In addition, daily, nocturnally predominant, recurrent seizures became noted that were refractory to multiple AEDs. MRI of the brain revealed evidence of prior trauma (detail). EEG demonstrated diffuse slowing. Video EEG monitoring was ultimately performed though a referral for epilepsy surgery evaluation was not pursued (Fig. 38.1).
Priority Access to Food in Migratory Birds: Age, Sex and Motivational Asymmetries

Although many landbird migrants are capable of making spectacular, nonstop flights over ecological barriers, including the Sahara Desert, the eastern Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico, few actually engage in nonstop flights between points of origin and destination. Rather, they stop over periodically, sometimes for only a few hours and other times for a few days, before resuming migratory flights. When a migrating bird stops during passage, she almost invariably finds herself in unfamiliar surroundings at a time when energy demands are likely to be high, often faced with conflicting demands between predator avoidance and food acquisition, competition with other migrants and resident birds for limited resources, unfavorable weather, not to mention the possible need to resolve orientation errors (Moore et al. 1995). How well she solves those problems will determine the success of her migration, while a successful migration is ultimately measured in terms of her survival and reproductive success.
NGO Strategies for Hungarian and Roma Minorities in Central Europe

NGOs sponsor a variety of innovative projects relating to the Hungarian and Roma minorities in Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine, as well as for the Roma in Hungary. However, a study of 33 NGOs in this region reveals that the strategies behind these projects tend to vary according to the particular group being addressed. NGO projects emphasizing Hungarian minorities tend to utilize network strategies to increase contact between Hungarians and titulars (Romanians, Slovaks, and Ukrainians), while projects for Roma tend to avoid network strategies, focusing exclusively on status-raising strategies. This paper presents the promises and shortcomings of both approaches, and concludes with an analysis addressing why NGOs should be less hesitant to apply network strategies to Roma projects as well as to Hungarian projects.
The transition from Medicaid fee-for-service to managed care among private practitioners in New York City: effect on immunization and screening rates.

Objectives: This study examined the association between participation in Medicaid managed care and up-to-date coverage for childhood immunizations and screenings among private practice physicians serving New York City's poorest neighborhoods. Method: A random sample of 2174 children 3–35 months of age was drawn from 60 physician practices in 1995, and a cross-sectional analysis was used to compare up-to-date status for immunizations, and lead and anemia screening tests, for children cared for by managed care and nonmanaged care physicians. In 1996, an independent sample of 2380 children from the same practices was used to compare up-to-date status for individual children enrolled in Medicaid managed care and children predominantly enrolled in traditional fee-for-service Medicaid. Information from physician interviews augmented chart review data. Chi-square analysis and logistic regression were used. Results: Physicians who participate in Medicaid managed care and those who do not had equal up-to-date coverage for immunizations (41.0 vs. 36.9%, p = .527), and lead (46.8 vs. 38.7%, p = .199) and anemia screening (63.2 vs. 56.5%, p = .272). Measures of the process of care were also similar for the two groups of physicians. Children themselves enrolled in Medicaid managed care appeared significantly more likely to be up-to-date than their nonmanaged care counterparts for immunizations (OR = 1.53, p = .027) and anemia screening (OR = 2.95, p = .000). Conclusions: Participation in managed care does not seem to change physicians' overall preventive care practice behavior. Available data did not reveal major differences in demographics or health status between individual children enrolled in managed care and those not enrolled. That children enrolled in managed care were better immunized and screened than those in fee-for-service Medicaid suggests that physicians receiving compensation under two payment systems may treat children differently depending on each child's mode of reimbursement.
Chromatin Hyperacetylation Impacts Chromosome Folding by Forming a Nuclear Subcompartment

Delineating how chromosomes fold at length scales beyond one megabase remains obscure relative to smaller-scale folding into TADs, loops, and nucleosomes. We find that rather than simply unfolding chromatin, histone hyperacetylation results in interactions between distant genomic loci separated by tens to hundreds of megabases, even in the absence of transcription. These hyperacetylated "megadomains" are formed by the BRD4-NUT fusion oncoprotein, interact both within and between chromosomes, and form a specific nuclear subcompartment that has elevated gene activity with respect to other subcompartments. Pharmacological degradation of BRD4-NUT results in collapse of megadomains and attenuation of the interactions between them. In contrast, these interactions persist and contacts between newly acetylated regions are formed after inhibiting RNA polymerase II initiation. Our structure-function approach thus reveals that broad chromatin domains of identical biochemical composition, independent of transcription, form nuclear subcompartments, and also indicates the potential of altering chromosome structure for treating human disease.
Stark Individual Differences: Face Recognition Ability Influences the Relationship Between Confidence and Accuracy in a Recognition Test of Game of Thrones Actors

Growing evidence suggests face identifications made with high confidence are typically accurate ( Wixted & Wells, 2017 ). However, few studies capture the complexities of real-world face recognition (e.g., non-experimental setting, varied contexts). Moreover, individual differences in face recognition ability may moderate the confidence-accuracy relationship ( Grabman, Dobolyi, Berelovich, & Dodson, 2019 ). In this study, we reanalyzed data from 32 participants who watched six seasons of the television show Game of Thrones for entertainment as the series aired ( Devue, Wride, & Grimshaw, 2019 ). Participants provided confidence ratings on a 168-item old-new recognition test of actors and completed a standard test of face recognition ability. Highest confidence ratings were remarkably accurate – even considering retention-intervals of >3 years and large changes in appearance. However, confidence was generally a better indicator of accuracy for stronger, as compared to weaker, face recognizers.
Repair of O4-alkylthymine damage in human cells.

Experiments using various test systems have demonstrated that agents with carcinogenic potential are also mutagenic in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems (Ames, 1979; Moore et al., 1988; Yuspa et al., 1989). Model studies using experimental animals and cultured cells associate the initiation step in the process of multistage carcinogenesis, with the structural alterations of the cellular DNA (Harris and Autrup, 1983; Cairns, 1981). The modifications of DNA structure can ultimately lead to abnormal cellular function unless the induced damage is repaired prior to the commencement of the cellular DNA replication. DNA alkylating agents e.g., nitrosoureas or nitrosoguanidines are a class of chemical compounds that mediate their biological effects through interactions with nucleophilic sites in DNA and formation of alkyl adducts. The chemistry and extent of formation of these adducts as well as their subsequent fate in the living cell plays a critical role in the mutagenic and carcinogenic processes (Margison and O’Connor, 1979; O’Connor et al., 1979). Elucidation of the mechanism(s), by which a variety of different adducts elicit changes in cellular phenotype, has been an area of intense pathobiological investigation. In-depth studies have been performed on the chemistry and reactivity of different alkylation agents.
VLSI Architectures for Reed–Solomon Codes: Classic, Nested, Coupled, and Beyond

Classic Reed-Solomon (RS) codes and binary Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) codes, which can be considered as a special case of RS codes, are utilized for error correction in numerous systems, such as Flash memories, optical communications, wireless communications, magnetic storage, and deep-space probing. Additionally, RS and BCH codes are interleaved/nested to form high-gain coding schemes, including product and product-like codes and the recent generalized integrated interleaved codes, which are among the most promising candidates to address the hyper-speed and excellent-correction-capability requirements posed by next-generation terabit/s digital communications and storage. In recent developments, RS codes are also split/nested/coupled to form locally recoverable erasure codes and minimum storage regenerating codes that substantially improve the efficiency of failure recovery and enable the continued scaling of large-scale distributed storage. In this article, prominent decoder architectures for classic RS/BCH codes are elaborated and the fundamental mathematical reformulations leading to the architectures are explained. Then the challenges and recent advancements on the decoder design of nested RS/BCH codes are highlighted. Erasure-correcting RS decoders for failure recovery are also briefly discussed. The goal of this article is to provide comprehensive understanding of state-of-the-art VLSI architectures for classic RS/BCH codes and introduce the most recent architectures for new coding schemes built by nesting/coupling RS/BCH codes for emerging applications.
Initial examination of social compensation and honing frameworks for sexual minority social life and well-being:

The present study used an ecologically-valid approach to address the lack of understanding of similarities and differences in social network size and social interaction quality, and links to affect...
A 22 Gb/s Directly Modulated Optical Injection-Locked Quantum-Dot Microring Laser Transmitter with Integrated CMOS Driver

High-speed optical interconnects are a promising solution for the rapidly increasing bandwidth density demands in data center and high-performance computing applications. This paper presents a transmitter that consists of a co-packaged optically injection-locked quantum-dot (QD) microring laser and a 28nm CMOS driver. Optical injection locking provides an effective solution to overcome the inherent low modulation bandwidth (≤ 5 GHz) of the QD microring laser. Further bandwidth extension is provided with the driver's asymmetric 2-tap feed-forward equalizer (FFE) that compensates the laser's non-linear optical dynamics. Combining these techniques allows for a record 22Gb/s operation of an O-band quantum-dot laser heterogeneously integrated in a silicon photonic platform.
Molecular Biomarkers: A Review of Multiple Applications in Clinical Care of Colorectal Cancer.

Background Advancements in tumor profiling have identified multiple molecular biomarkers that influence tumor growth and behavior. Molecular biomarkers provide clinical prognostic and predictive information, which guides treatment decisions and forms the backbone of precision oncology. Objectives This article identifies key predictive and prognostic molecular biomarkers used in the treatment of colorectal cancer and provides greater understanding of their biologic significance and usefulness in guiding treatment decisions. Methods A review of the literature and professional guidelines was performed to evaluate approved molecular biomarkers, targeted agents, and tumor testing modalities used for the management and treatment of colorectal cancer, with an emphasis on treatment decision making. Findings Genomic biomarkers are increasingly used for the prevention, diagnosis, prognostication, and management of colorectal cancer. The introduction of targeted agents and advancements in tumor profiling technologies have increased treatment opportunities and improved clinical outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer.
LAPS - A Digital Data Repository Workflow in Experimental Rock Deformation

Laboratory data are essential for testing and refining of theories and models in Earth sciences. Recent developments in data mining techniques and machine learning have made it feasible to utilize ...
Optimal configuration of industrial user-side energy storage considering power demand income in life cycle

The optimal configuration method of energy storage considering the impact of optimal operation of energy storage on economic income is an important foundation for commercial investment in energy storage. This paper proposes an optimal configuration model of user-side energy storage aiming at the net present value of the entire life cycle of the energy storage system, and comprehensively considering the income of user peak-valley arbitrage and the reduction of demand electricity charges caused by two-part tariff. Considering the problem that the model cannot be solved directly since the operating variables and planning variables in the model are coupled with each other and the model contains exponential variables, this paper proposes the method based on the feasible region discretization and variable iterative correction to reduce the difficulty of solving the original model. Finally, the optimized results of the user-side energy storage configuration are calculated with data from two typical areas of Beijing and Shanghai, which verified the validity and stability of the model.
“Intellectual Power” for All: Theodore Sizer and the Origins of the Coalition of Essential Schools at Phillips Academy, Andover

In the 1980s and 1990s, one of the biggest names in discussions of the American high school was Theodore (Ted) Sizer, author of the influential book Horace’s Compromise (1984) and founder of the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES). This essay examines Sizer’s tenure as headmaster of Phillips Academy, Andover, in the 1970s. Sizer’s time at the private boarding school informed the CES movement, including its emphasis on personalization, critical thinking, student-centered learning, and authentic assessment. In turn, Sizer and his movement hold continuing relevance for discussions about the high school curriculum today, especially calls for greater attention to “deeper learning,” not just for students in private schools like Andover and the higher tracks of some advantaged public schools, but for all students.
The Physics and Metaphysics of Computation and Cognition

For at least half a century, it has been popular to compare brains and minds to computers and programs. Despite the continuing appeal of the computational model of the mind, however, it can be difficult to articulate precisely what the view commits one to. Indeed, critics such as John Searle and Hilary Putnam have argued that anything, even a rock, can be viewed as instantiating any computation we please, and this means that the claim that the mind is a computer is not merely false, but it is also deeply confused.
Appraising Development Plans for a Small, Open Economy

Abstract A dynamic, semi-input-output model is used to examine the consistency and feasibility of medium-term economic plans for the Republic of Cyprus and to measure their implications for certain target variables. A preliminary proposal for the 1982-86 Development Plan is found to imply excess demand for labor, especially skilled workers, to require more capacity than is compatible with the initial conditions of the economy. A Plan with less emphasis on capital- and skill-intensive industries, and a slightly lower growth of GDP, is shown to be feasible.
The apparent impact of gestational magnesium (Mg) deficiency on the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Tant les etudes chez l'homme que les donnees provenant de plusieurs modeles animaux montrent l'importance du magnesium alimentaire maternel sur la croissance, le developpement et la survie des petits. Les constatations effectuees chez les meres d'enfants victimes de MSIN et chez les victimes de MSIN sont comparees avec les caracteristiques de la deficience magnesique chez l'homme et l'animal. Les observations concernant l'apport magnesique des regimes traditionnels de groupes ethniques choisis avec des taux tres eleves ou tres bas de MSIN amenent a confirmer l'importance du Mg pour proteger les petits de la MSIN. Les groupes ethniques avec des taux bas de MSIN (a, ou inferieurs a 1.2 par 1000 naissances vivantes) presentent de riches sources alimentaires en Mg, tandis qu'avec des taux de MSIN eleves (a 5.0 ou plus par 1000 naissances vivantes) ils ont des apports alimentairess en Mg pauvres. Des facteurs autres que le Mg de l'alimentation peuvent etre pris en consideration. Les ratons nes de et nourris par des rattes sans deficience magnesique presentent une croissance, un developpement et une survie superieurs tandis que ceux de meres deficientes en Mg sont faibles avec une croissance et un developpement inhibes et il presentent une mortalite perinatale elevee. En conclusion, ces observations montrent que la deficience magnesique gestationnelle provoque une croissance suboptimale et un developpement avec survie reduite des petits. Bien que les donnees experimentales soient compatibles avec un role de la deficience magnesique dans la MSIN, la cause de la MSIN demeure inconnue et doit etre prouvee par des analyses biochimiques appropriees de tissus de nourrisons MSIN compares a des temoins apparies.
Benchmark Problems for Computer-Aided Control System Design

Abstract The need for having benchmark problems for the evaluation of software for computer-aided control system analysis and design is discussed. The two benchmark problems that have been released to date by the Benchmark Working Group of the Technical Committee on Computer-aided Control System Design of the IEEE Control Systems Society are described, as are the plans for future problems. Information that has been learned about the preparation, distribution, and dissemination of results for this type of problem is included.
Graphs whose normalized Laplacian matrices are separable as density matrices in quantum mechanics

Recently normalized Laplacian matrices of graphs are studied as density matrices in quantum mechanics. Separability and entanglement of density matrices are important properties as they determine the nonclassical behavior in quantum systems. In this note we look at the graphs whose normalized Laplacian matrices are separable or entangled. In particular, we show that the number of such graphs is related to the number of 0-1 matrices that are line sum symmetric and to the number of graphs with at least one vertex of degree 1.
Diastereoselective addition of monoorganocuprates to a chiral fumarate: reaction development and synthesis of (–)-dihydroprotolichesterinic acid

Recent studies of diastereoselective conjugate additions of monoorganocuprates, Li[RCuI], to chiral γ-alkoxycrotonates and fumarates are disclosed. This methodology was applied to the shortest total synthesis of (-)-dihydroprotolichesterinic acid to date, but several attempts to prepare other succinate-derived natural products, such as pilocarpine and antrodin E, were unsuccessful.
Brownian Models of Performance and Control

Direct and to the point, this book from one of the field's leaders covers Brownian motion and stochastic calculus at the graduate level, and illustrates the use of that theory in various application domains, emphasizing business and economics. The mathematical development is narrowly focused and briskly paced, with many concrete calculations and a minimum of abstract notation. The applications discussed include: the role of reflected Brownian motion as a storage model, queuing model, or inventory model; optimal stopping problems for Brownian motion, including the influential McDonald–Siegel investment model; optimal control of Brownian motion via barrier policies, including optimal control of Brownian storage systems; and Brownian models of dynamic inference, also called Brownian learning models or Brownian filtering models.
The structure of motivic homotopy groups

We study the stable motivic homotopy groups \(\pi _{s,w}\) of the 2-completion of the motivic sphere spectrum over \(\mathbb {C}\). When arranged in the (s, w)-plane, these groups break into four different regions: a vanishing region, an \(\eta \)-local region that is entirely known, a \(\tau \)-local region that is identical to classical stable homotopy groups, and a region that is not well-understood.
Human Nav1.6 Channels Generate Larger Resurgent Currents than Human Nav1.1 Channels, but the Navβ4 Peptide Does Not Protect Either Isoform from Use-Dependent Reduction

Voltage-gated sodium channels are responsible for the initiation and propagation of action potentials (APs). Two brain isoforms, Nav1.1 and Nav1.6, have very distinct cellular and subcellular expression. Specifically, Nav1.1 is predominantly expressed in the soma and proximal axon initial segment of fast-spiking GABAergic neurons, while Nav1.6 is found at the distal axon initial segment and nodes of Ranvier of both fast-spiking GABAergic and excitatory neurons. Interestingly, an auxiliary voltage-gated sodium channel subunit, Navβ4, is also enriched in the axon initial segment of fast-spiking GABAergic neurons. The C-terminal tail of Navβ4 is thought to mediate resurgent sodium current, an atypical current that occurs immediately following the action potential and is predicted to enhance excitability. To better understand the contribution of Nav1.1, Nav1.6 and Navβ4 to high frequency firing, we compared the properties of these two channel isoforms in the presence and absence of a peptide corresponding to part of the C-terminal tail of Navβ4. We used whole-cell patch clamp recordings to examine the biophysical properties of these two channel isoforms in HEK293T cells and found several differences between human Nav1.1 and Nav1.6 currents. Nav1.1 channels exhibited slower closed-state inactivation but faster open-state inactivation than Nav1.6 channels. We also observed a greater propensity of Nav1.6 to generate resurgent currents, most likely due to its slower kinetics of open-state inactivation, compared to Nav1.1. These two isoforms also showed differential responses to slow and fast AP waveforms, which were altered by the Navβ4 peptide. Although the Navβ4 peptide substantially increased the rate of recovery from apparent inactivation, Navβ4 peptide did not protect either channel isoform from undergoing use-dependent reduction with 10 Hz step-pulse stimulation or trains of slow or fast AP waveforms. Overall, these two channels have distinct biophysical properties that may differentially contribute to regulating neuronal excitability.
Excusing Selfishness in Charitable Giving: The Role of Risk

Decisions involving charitable giving often occur under the shadow of risk. A common finding is that potential donors give less when there is greater risk that their donation will have less impact. While this behaviour could be fully rationalized by standard economic models, this article shows that an additional mechanism is relevant: the use of risk as an excuse not to give. In a laboratory study, participants evaluate risky payoffs for themselves and risky payoffs for a charity. When their decisions do not involve tradeoffs between money for themselves and the charity, they respond very similarly to self risk and charity risk. By contrast, when their decisions force tradeoffs between money for themselves and the charity, participants act more averse to charity risk and less averse to self risk. These altered responses to risk bias participants towards choosing payoffs for themselves more often, consistent with excuse-driven responses to risk. Additional results support the existence of excuse-driven types.
Heliocentric zoning of the asteroid belt by aluminum-26 heating

Variations in petrology among meteorites attest to a strong heating event early in solar system history, but the heat source has remained unresolved. Aluminum-26 has been considered the most likely high-energy, short-lived radionuclide (half-life 0.72 million years) since the discovery of its decay product - excess Mg-26 - in Allende CAI's. Furthermore, observation of relict Mg-26 in an achondritic clast and in feldspars within ordinary chondrites (3,4) provided strong evidence for live Al-26 in meteorite parent bodies and not just in refractory nebular condensates. The inferred amount of Al-26 is consistent with constraints on the thermal evolution of both ordinary and carbonaceous chondrite parent objects up to a few hundred kilometers in diameter. Meteorites can constrain the early thermal evolution of their parent body locations, provided that a link can be established between asteroid spectrophotometric signature and meteorite class. Asteroid compositions are heliocentrically distributed: objects thought to have experienced high metamorphic or even melting temperatures are located closer to the sun, whereas apparently unaltered or mildly heated asteroids are located farther away. Heliocentric zoning could be the result of Al-26 heating if the initial amount of the radionuclide incorporated into planetesimals was controlled by accretion time, which in turn varies with semimajor axis. Analytic expressions for planetary accretion may be integrated to given the time, tau, required for a planetesimal to grow to a specified radius: tau varies as a(sup n), where n = 1.5 to 3 depending on the assumptions about variations in the surface density of the planetesimal swarm. Numerical simulations of planetesimal accretion at fixed semimajor axis demonstrate that variations in accretion time among small planetesimals can be strongly nonlinear depending on the initial conditions and model assumptions. The general relationship with semimajor axis remains valid because it depends only on the initial orbit properties and distribution of the planesimal swarm. In order to demonstrate the basic dependence of thermal evolution on semimajor axis, we parameterized accretion time across the asteroid belt according to tau varies as a(sup n) and calculated the subsequent thermal history. Objects at a specified semimajor axis were assumed to have the same accretion time, regardless of size. We set the initial Al-26/Al-27 ratio = 6 x 10(exp -5) and treated n and tau(sub 0) at a(sub 0) = 3 AU as adjustable parameters. The thermal model included temperature-dependent properties of ice and rock (CM chondrite analog) and the thermodynamic effects of phase transitions.
Compression Testing and Response of SiC-N Ceramics: Intact, Damaged and Powder

The objective of this work was to determine the fundamental compression response of SiC-N ceramics and obtain an improved understanding of the transition from intact to damaged material to aid in ceramics modeling efforts. Existing models 1 , 2 for evaluating the performance of ceramics under ballistic impact do not adequately address this behavior owing to the lack of experimental data in this regime. Compression experiments were conducted on SiC-N material in various forms: intact, damaged, and powder. A technique was developed for obtaining "comminuted" SiC-N material from intact material by in-situ failure of pre-damaged samples. A thermal shock procedure was devised to pre-damage the SiC-N material. The pre-damaged samples were inserted in a high-strength steel confining sleeve, and then loaded and re-loaded at quasistatic strain rates to fail the material in-situ. Several load/reload cycles were conducted at successively increasing loads. Strain gages mounted on the outer diameter of the confinement sleeve allowed the measurement of hoop strain. A high-strength steel confining ring was also used for testing SiC-N powder. The powder samples were compacted to approximately 50% of theoretical density prior to testing. The experimental findings are presented for the three material forms. The "comminuted" material exhibited a decline in performance versus the intact material. The results are compared and discussed in light of existing damage models. Numerical and analytical modeling of the experiments for damaged and powder materials was performed to enhance understanding; the modeling results are presented in another paper by Chocron, et al. 3 at this conference.
Portfolio Performance Measurement: Theory and Applications

Any admissible portfolio performance measure should satisfy four minimal conditions: it assigns zero performance to each reference portfolio and it is linear, continuous, and nontrivial. Such an admissible measure exists if and only if the securities market obeys the law of one price. A positive admissible measure exists if and only if there is no arbitrage. This article characterizes the (infinite) set of admissible performance measures. It is shown that performance evaluation is generally quite arbitrary. A mutual fund data set is also used to demonstrate how the measurement method developed here can be applied.
Financial Crises and the Presence of Foreign Banks

INTRODUCTION Foreign banks have entered many transition and emerging economies in recent years, sometimes before economic and banking crises have developed, and often after. Today, in a number of countries foreign banks own as much as 90 percent or more of the banking systems' assets. The question then naturally arises as to what the effect of the foreign presence is on crises, especially on preventing or ameliorating them, in addition to their possible role in the restructuring phase already flagged in Chapter 2. This Chapter first discusses the motives, modes, and regulation of foreign banks. In analyzing foreign entry, it is important to distinguish between classic or traditional foreign banks and the innovators, which in turn one can classify either as “bettors,” “prospectors,” or “restructurers.” Innovators enter in response to the opportunities that crises create, but this chapter argues that their entry and the reforms that accompany it erode the very conditions that drew the banks. In the long run, then, it may well be that the relative and possibly even absolute importance of foreign-owned banks in host-country banking systems may shrink. A further distinction is in the mode of entry, as among affiliate, branch, and subsidiary, a choice that is largely based on the foreigners' motives for entry. Section 2 observes that foreign banks have in most cases not played an important role in the emergence of crises, primarily because they did not have a significant presence before the crisis began.
An Intramolecularly Hydrogen Bonded Dihydrotripyrrinone

A yellow tripyrrole analog (1) of bilirubin has been synthesized, and its lone propionic acid group is found to engage in conformation determining, intramolecular hydrogen bonding in solution and in the crystal. Molecular modelling and X-ray crystallography reveal an abbreviated ridge-tile or L-shape conformation in which an essentially planar dipyrrinone is hydrogen bonded to the single opposing propionic acid group. In the (arbitrary) (P)-helicity ridge-tile, the torsion angles about C(10) are computed to be 55° and 61° by molecular dynamics and found to be 66° and 53° in the crystal. Such torsion angles lead to an interplanar dihedral angle (∼93°) between the dipyrrinone and its adjoining pyrrole that is very close to the dihedral angle (∼98°) found in intramolecularly hydrogen bonded bilirubin.
Introducing the Little Higgs

The Standard Model of particle physics is tremendously successful because it can accurately predict the outcomes of experiments from the atomic scale (about 10-10 m) all the way down to the shortest distances that can be probed in the laboratory (about 10-18 m). However, particle theorists are deeply dissatisfied with the model and are racking their brains to find a theory that can go beyond it. Why are they doing this and what is wrong with the Standard Model?
Models and Techniques for Communication in Dynamic Networks

In this paper we will present various models and techniques for communication in dynamic networks. Dynamic networks are networks of dynamically changing bandwidth or topology. Situations in which dynamic networks occur are, for example: faulty networks (links go up and down), the Internet (the bandwidth of connections may vary), and wireless networks (mobile units move around). We investigate the problem of how to ensure connectivity, how to route, and how to perform admission control in these networks. Some of these problems have already been partly solved, but many problems are still wide open. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of recent results in this area, to identify some of the most interesting open problems and to suggest models and techniques that allow us to study them.
Cleavage methods following Boc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis.

Publisher Summary [3] Cleavage methods following Boc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis In solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) using Boc (tert-butyloxycar bonyl) amino acids, peptide chains are linked to the resin supports as benzyl esters or by bonds of similar chemical stability, and side-chain functional groups are protected by groups of similar reactivity. Although anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF) is an inconvenient (it dissolves glass, is volatile) and toxic reagent, it has been used successfully in SPPS and is the cleavage reagent of choice in most cases. Methods have been developed to overcome the limitations of HF cleavage—such as unwanted side reactions with certain amino acids. If equipment for handling HF is not available, peptide-resins may be cleaved by using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMSA) or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid trimethylsilyl ester (TMSOTf), although these reagents may cause serious side reactions with some peptides. Much of the versatility of the Merrifield system of Boc SPPS lies in the fact that different reagents can be used to cleave the finished peptide from the resin, thus, yielding a variety of final products.
On the semantics of linking and importing in modular ontologies

Modular ontology languages, such as Distributed Description Logics (DDL), $\mathcal{E}$-connections and Package-based Description Logics (P-DL) offer two broad classes of approaches to connect multiple ontology modules: the use of mappings or linkings between ontology modules e.g., DDL and $\mathcal{E}$-connections; and the use of importing e.g., P-DL. The major difference between the two approaches is on the usage of “foreign terms” at the syntactic level, and on the local model disjointness at the semantic level. We compare the semantics of linking in DDL and $\mathcal{E}$-connections, and importing in P-DL within the Distributed First Order Logics (DFOL) framework. Our investigation shows that the domain disjointness assumption adopted by the linking approach leads to several semantic difficulties. We explore the possibility of avoiding some of these difficulties using the importing approach to linking ontology modules.
A model free method to generate human genetics datasets with complex gene-disease relationships

A goal of human genetics is to discover genetic factors that influence individuals’ susceptibility to common diseases. Most common diseases are thought to result from the joint failure of two or more interacting components instead of single component failures. This greatly complicates both the task of selecting informative genetic variations and the task of modeling interactions between them. We and others have previously developed algorithms to detect and model the relationships between these genetic factors and disease. Previously these methods have been evaluated with datasets simulated according to pre-defined genetic models. Here we develop and evaluate a model free evolution strategy to generate datasets which display a complex relationship between individual genotype and disease susceptibility. We show that this model free approach is capable of generating a diverse array of datasets with distinct gene-disease relationships for an arbitrary interaction order and sample size. We specifically generate six-hundred pareto fronts; one for each independent run of our algorithm. In each run the predictiveness of single genetic variation and pairs of genetic variations have been minimized, while the predictiveness of third, fourth, or fifth order combinations is maximized. This method and the resulting datasets will allow the capabilities of novel methods to be tested without pre-specified genetic models. This could improve our ability to evaluate which methods will succeed on human genetics problems where the model is not known in advance. We further make freely available to the community the entire pareto-optimal front of datasets from each run so that novel methods may be rigorously evaluated. These 56,600 datasets are available from http://discovery.dartmouth.edu/model_free_data/.
Optimal column-based low-rank matrix reconstruction

We prove that for any real-valued matrix X e Rmxn, and positive integers r ≥ k, there is a subset of r columns of X such that projecting X onto their span gives a [EQUATION]-approximation to best rank-k approximation of X in Frobenius norm. We show that the trade-off we achieve between the number of columns and the approximation ratio is optimal up to lower order terms. Furthermore, there is a deterministic algorithm to find such a subset of columns that runs in O(rnmω log m) arithmetic operations where ω is the exponent of matrix multiplication. We also give a faster randomized algorithm that runs in O(rnm2) arithmetic operations.
Differential modular forms attached to newforms mod p

Abstract In a previous paper [7] we attached to classical complex newforms f of weight 2 certain δ p -modular forms f ♯ (in the sense of [4] , [6] ) of order 2 and weight 0; the forms f ♯ can be viewed as “dual” to f and played a key role in some of the applications of the theory [8] . The aim of this paper is to provide a higher weight version of this “♯-duality,” by attaching to classical newforms mod p, f ¯ , of weight κ between 3 and p, δ π -modular forms f ♯ of order 2 and weight − κ ′ , with κ ′ between 1 and p − 2 .
Eukaryotes, Origin of

Eukaryotes are cells commonly identified by the presence of a nucleus. Eukaryota is one of the three domains of life (bacteria and archaea are the others and collectively referred to as prokaryotes) and encompasses single-celled organisms as well as all multicellular life. The evolution of eukaryotes is rather unique because it is substantially non-Darwinian; where Darwinian evolution largely concerns itself with beneficial genes arising by mutation and then spreading through differential reproductive success, the story of eukaryotes is one of significant horizontal gene flow (the exchange of genes across species) and of distinct organisms fusing into entirely new organisms.
The macro wage curve and labor market flexibility in Zimbabwe

There is little available information about what determines money wages in Sub-Saharan Africa--or indeed about whether there is a stable relationship between wages, productivity, GDP (gross domestic product), inflation, activity in the informal sector, policy changes, and unemployment. In studying how wages in Zimbabwe are affected by short- and long-run changes in variables, the author asks: Are wages affected by prices, unemployment, increased productivity, economic activity, or policy changes? Does a macro wage curve exist? Did structural adjustment cause a structural change in labor markets? She finds that a macro wage curve does exist, so wages are flexible both generally and in the manufacturing sector. So, the labor market is able to adjust to both positive and negative shocks. The main cause of falling real wages in Zimbabwe is reduced economic activity. In the short term, wages are affected by changes in the unemployment rate. They are also affected positively by increases in productivity, prices, and economic activity. The forecasting performance of the wage determination models shows that they are valid after the implementation of structural adjustment in 1991.
Regularities unseen, randomness observed: levels of entropy convergence.

We study how the Shannon entropy of sequences produced by an information source converges to the source’s entropy rate. We synthesize several phenomenological approaches to applying information theoretic measures of randomness and memory to stochastic and deterministic processes by using successive derivatives of the Shannon entropy growth curve. This leads, in turn, to natural measures of apparent memory stored in a source and the amounts of information that must be extracted from observations of a source in order for it to be optimally predicted and for an observer to synchronize to it. To measure the difficulty of synchronization, we define the transient information and prove that, for Markov processes, it is related to the total uncertainty experienced while synchronizing to a process. One consequence of ignoring a process’s structural properties is that the missed regularities are converted to apparent randomness. We demonstrate that this problem arises particularly for settings where one has access only to short measurement sequences. Numerically and analytically, we determine the Shannon entropy growth curve, and related quantities, for a range of stochastic and deterministic processes. We conclude by looking at the relationships between a process’s entropy convergence behavior and its underlying computational structure.
Interim Analysis of Censored Data

Many clinical trials of chronic diseases are monitored periodically and interim analyses are performed, both for reasons of “safety”, that is, to monitor possible side effects, and to avoid continuing a trial from which no more convincing evidence can be expected. The adequate handling of this monitoring requires close collaboration between the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee and statistical expertise. Statistical methods have been developed for respecting basic rules of hypothesis testing when multiple views are involved. Usually some form of grouped sequential approach fits best to the practical situation. A complication is that often the entry of study subjects is staggered over time, so that time on trial does not correspond to calendar time. Keywords: survival analysis; data and safety monitoring; grouped sequential trial; Lexis diagram; staggered entry; clinical trial
The Road to Financial Sustainability. Comparative Analysis of Russia and the Caucasus Region

This paper examines delinquency, profitability, and outreach determinants of microfinance institutions’ (MFIs) performance in Russia and the Caucasus. The estimation is done using the Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) technique. The estimation results suggest that Russian and Caucasian MFIs are profit-driven but are expected to improve outreach in the long-run.
Towards a Unifying View of Block Cipher Cryptanalysis

We introduce commutative diagram cryptanalysis, a framework for expressing certain kinds of attacks on product ciphers. We show that many familiar attacks, including linear cryptanalysis, differential cryptanalysis, differential-linear cryptanalysis, mod n attacks, truncated differential cryptanalysis, impossible differential cryptanalysis, higher-order differential cryptanalysis, and interpolation attacks can be expressed within this framework. Thus, we show that commutative diagram attacks provide a unifying view into the field of block cipher cryptanalysis. Then, we use the language of commutative diagram cryptanalysis to compare the power of many previously known attacks. Finally, we introduce two new attacks, generalized truncated differential cryptanalysis and bivariate interpolation, and we show how these new techniques generalize and unify many previous attack methods.
Urban Demand for Dairy Products in China: Evidence from New Survey Data

In this paper we use 2001-2002 urban survey data we collected to analyze demographics, cultural factors, and purchasing behaviors influencing the consumption of fresh milk, yogurt, ice cream, and powered milk in urban areas of China. The data include frequency of consumption by product, location of consumption and purchase, exposure to advertising and foreign culture, and school milk programs. The variables serve as regressors in a double-hurdle model that examines the decision to consume or not to consume and the level of consumption. We also estimate consumption levels and participation equations with tobit and probit models.
Microbiological hazards of household toilets: droplet production and the fate of residual organisms.

Large numbers of bacteria and viruses when seeded into household toilets were shown to remain in the bowl after flushing, and even continual flushing could not remove a persistent fraction. This was found to be due to the adsorption of the organisms to the porcelain surfaces of the bowl, with gradual elution occurring after each flush. Droplets produced by flushing toilets were found to harbor both bacteria and viruses which had been seeded. The detection of bacteria and viruses falling out onto surfaces in bathrooms after flushing indicated that they remain airborne long enough to settle on surface throughout the bathroom. Thus, there is a possibility that a person may acquire an infection from an aerosol produced by a toilet.