cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ber analysis of the box relaxation for BPSK signal recovery

We study the problem of recovering an n-dimensional BPSK signal from m linear noise-corrupted measurements using the box relaxation method which relaxes the discrete set {±1}n to the convex set [−1,1]n to obtain a convex optimization algorithm followed by hard thresholding. When the noise and measurement matrix have iid standard normal entries, we obtain an exact expression for the bit-wise probability of error Pe in the limit of n and m growing and m/n fixed. At high SNR our result shows that the Pe of box relaxation is within 3dB of the matched filter bound (MFB) for square systems, and that it approaches the (MFB) as m grows large compared to n. Our results also indicate that as m, n → ∞, for any fixed set of size k, the error events of the corresponding k bits in the box relaxation method are independent.
Intermediary asset pricing: New evidence from many asset classes

Abstract We find that shocks to the equity capital ratio of financial intermediaries—Primary Dealer counterparties of the New York Federal Reserve—possess significant explanatory power for cross-sectional variation in expected returns. This is true not only for commonly studied equity and government bond market portfolios, but also for other more sophisticated asset classes such as corporate and sovereign bonds, derivatives, commodities, and currencies. Our intermediary capital risk factor is strongly procyclical, implying countercyclical intermediary leverage. The price of risk for intermediary capital shocks is consistently positive and of similar magnitude when estimated separately for individual asset classes, suggesting that financial intermediaries are marginal investors in many markets and hence key to understanding asset prices.
The patent law Duchy of Grand Fenwick: a comment on The mouse that trolled: the long and tortuous history of a gene mutation patent that became an expensive impediment to Alzheimer's research

This comment on The mouse that trolled by Tania Bubela, Saurabh Vishnubhakat, and Robert Cook-Deegan discusses the authors' description of how patents relating to the gene coding for a protein involved in Alzheimer's disease were obtained and used to sue scientific researchers, of how conflicts can arise among groups of researchers, and of how important research can be delayed or foregone by the exercise of patent rights. The authors sought to counter with evidence the optimistic views that patents on such research tools are not used to sue researchers and thus do not impede sequential innovation. The authors proposed legal reforms to avoid such impediments, particularly adoption of a broader experimental use limit to the patent infringement right. This comment agrees with the authors' analysis, but suggests that their descriptions have more substantial implications that extend beyond their example and that their recommendation for limited expansion of the experimental use doctrine does not go far enough.
Does chondrolysis occur after corticosteroid-analgesic injections? An analysis of patients treated for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder

Background Clinical studies using continuous infusions of local anesthetics and basic science studies that model injections of local anesthetics have shown chondrotoxicity. However, clinical studies do not exist that have assessed for the risk of chondrolysis in nonarthritic joints exposed to single or intermittent corticosteroid or analgesic injections. Currently, there are no data available to guide the clinician on the safety of using these injections in clinical practice. Materials and methods A retrospective review of patients treated for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder with at least 1 intra-articular injection of a corticosteroid and anesthetic was performed. The inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis and a minimum 2-year follow-up. Prospective follow-up was performed to obtain patient-determined outcome scores, range of motion, and radiographs to determine the presence of chondrolysis. Results Fifty-six patients with a mean age of 52.5 ± 7.2 years were enrolled at a mean follow-up of 54 months. The mean number of injections performed was 1.5 ± 0.7 (range, 1-4). At final follow-up, the mean Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder score was 91.4% ± 14.2%; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, 6.7 ± 9.6; Shoulder Pain and Disability Index score, 7.4 ± 11.4; and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, 92.7% ± 10.1%. The Shoulder Activity Score was 8.3 ± 4.7. Passive and active forward elevation, external rotation, internal rotation, and cross-body adduction showed no significant differences compared with the unaffected contralateral shoulder. There was no radiographic evidence of chondrolysis in any patient. Conclusions This study did not show chondrolysis in patients treated with an intra-articular corticosteroid and local anesthetic for adhesive capsulitis. The findings of this study do not support the cessation of using intra-articular analgesic-corticosteroid injections for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis. Level of evidence Level IV; Case Series; Treatment Study
Drought and retribution : evidence from a large-scale rainfall-indexed insurance program in Mexico

Although weather shocks are a major source of income fluctuation, most of the world's poor lack insurance coverage against them. Absence of formal insurance contributes to poverty traps, as investment decisions are conflicted with risk management ones: risk-averse farmers tend to underinvest and produce lower yielding yet safer crops. In the past few years, weather index insurance has gained increasing attention as an effective tool to provide small-scale farmers coverage against aggregate shocks. However, there is little empirical evidence about its effectiveness. This paper studies the effect of the recently introduced rainfall-indexed insurance on farmers' productivity, risk management strategies, as well as per capita income and expenditure in Mexico. The identification strategy takes advantage of the variation across counties and across time in which the insurance was rolled-out. The analysis finds that the presence of insurance in treated counties has significant and positive effects on maize productivity. Similarly, there is a positive association between the presence of insurance in the municipality and rural households' per capita expenditure and income, although no significant relation is found between the presence of insurance and the number of hectares destined for maize production.
Electrical Conductivity in Rubber Double Networks

Abstract The consequences on electrical conductivity of the various processing steps used to form a double-network rubber are summarized in Table IV. Although the objective was not achieved herein, the potential for using double-network rubbers to attain enhanced conductivity remains. Alternate procedures enabling residual extensions exceeding 100% are suggested for future work. Specific conclusions drawn from this study are as follows: 1. The time dependence of the electrical resistivity after imposition of a tensile strain depends on the magnitude of the strain. The observed behavior is consistent with breakup of carbon-black floc at low strains (with concomitant reduction in conductivity) and with promotion of interparticle contacting at higher strains. The latter engenders enhanced longitudinal conductivity. The enhancement may be due to orientation of the filler phase, but this remains speculative. The effect of deformation on the transverse resistivity could not be reproducibly characterized. 2. The...
THE LYGAEOIDEA SENSU LATO OF MAGALLANES REGION: CHECKLIST AND IDENTIFICATION KEY TO THE SPECIES

Se listan las especies de Lygaeoidea e Idiostoloidea de la Region de Magallanes. Se entrega una clave de identificacion ilustrada para las especies del grupo. Se registran en total 5 especies, 2 de Lygaeidae, 2 de Idiostolidae y una de Rhyparochromidae, todas nativas y fitofagas. Se reportan las primeras interacciones sinantropicas para Lygaeoidea en Magallanes. ABSTRACTThe species of Lygaeoidea and Idiostoloidea from Magallanes are listed and keyed. A total of 5 species have been recorded from Magallanes: 2 Lygaeidae, 2 Idiostolidae, 1 Rhyparochromidae, all of these phytophages and endemic. The first reports of synanthrompic interactions for Lygaeoidea in Magallanes are provided.
Search for Information on Multiple Products

We develop a framework for continuous search for information on a choice set of multiple alternatives and apply it to consumer search in a product market. When a consumer considers purchasing a pro...
Thousands of novel translated open reading frames in humans inferred by ribosome footprint profiling

Accurate annotation of protein coding regions is essential for understanding how genetic information is translated into function. We describe riboHMM, a new method that uses ribosome footprint data to accurately infer translated sequences. Applying riboHMM to human lymphoblastoid cell lines, we identified 7273 novel coding sequences, including 2442 translated upstream open reading frames. We observed an enrichment of footprints at inferred initiation sites after drug-induced arrest of translation initiation, validating many of the novel coding sequences. The novel proteins exhibit significant selective constraint in the inferred reading frames, suggesting that many are functional. Moreover, ~40% of bicistronic transcripts showed negative correlation in the translation levels of their two coding sequences, suggesting a potential regulatory role for these novel regions. Despite known limitations of mass spectrometry to detect protein expressed at low level, we estimated a 14% validation rate. Our work significantly expands the set of known coding regions in humans.
Laser-Induced Selective Copper Deposition on Polyimides and Semiconductors

It has been demonstrated that copper can be selectively deposited on a variety of substrates including Teflon (polytetrafluroethylene or PTFE), Kapton (polyimide resin), silicon and gallium arsnide from solution by photo-assisted initiated deposition. A copper containing solution was prepared from a mixture of copper(I) chloride (Cu2Ci2) and decaborane (B10H14) in diethyl ether and/or THF (tetrahydrofuran). The copper films were fabricated by ultraviolet photolytic decomposition of copper chloride and polyhedral borane clusters. This liquid phase deposition has a gas-phase cluster analog that also results in copper deposition via pyrolysis. The approach of depositing metal thin films selectively by pholysis from solution is a novel and an underutilized approach to selective area deposition.
Antibiotic Blood Level Enhancement

commercial laboratories or by workers in the Food and Drug Administration and were published in this journal. These studies, as well as those of a number of others that have been carried out by the same or other groups of workers but have remained unpublished, have yielded conflicting results, but they have been the basis of rather strong claims used in intensive advertising campaigns to promote the various products involved. These conflicting claims and counterclaims have caused considerable confusion and, to the critical, the obvious conclusion must be that some of the claims are unwarranted.
New Polyethylene Based Anion Exchange Membranes (PE–AEMs) with High Ionic Conductivity

This paper discusses a new class of high performance polyethylene-based anion exchange membranes (PE–AEMs) that contain a wide concentration range of pendant (flexible) ammonium chloride (NR3+Cl–) groups and with or without a cross-linked PE matrix structure. The chemistry involves a metallocene-mediated polymerization of ethylene, silane-protected α,ω-amino-olefin [CxN(SiMe3)2], with or without styrenic diene (cross-linker), to form ethylene/CxN(SiMe3)2 copolymers and ethylene/CxN(SiMe3)2/diene terpolymers, respectively. The resulting co- and ter-polymers were completely soluble in common organic solvents and were solution-casted into uniform films (thickness, 50–70 μm; without backing material) and then thermal cross-linked in ethylene/CxN(SiMe3)2/diene case, further interconverting the silane-protected amino groups into the desired −NR3+Cl– groups (R: H, CH3, and C3H7) under solid state conditions. The resulting PE–NR3+Cl– and cross-linked x-PE–N(CH3)3+Cl– membranes were systematically studied to under...
The Pathogenicity of Streptococcus Lacticus

It has been shown by many observers that streptococci frequently occur in milk and Escherich1 is of the opinion that infants fed on cow's milk have especially large numbers of streptococci in the intestines. These streptococci he found fatal to mice in some instances. Milk streptococci have been found pathogenic by some but not all observers. Beck2 injected the centrifugal residue of milk into guinea-pigs which then died of peritonitis caused by streptococci. Pure cultures of this streptococcus in mice brought about a fatal general infection. Rubbing on the ear produced reddening of the skin in some instances. Bergey3 injected streptococci from milk into the skin of the ears of rabbits with the result that slight local lesions developed. The amount injected is not stated. Lammeris and Harrevelt4 recovered a streptococcus from milk which had been the cause of serious stomach troubles and diarrhea in adults, but found it non-pathogenic for rabbits and guinea-pigs. Park and Holt5 stated that 40 per cent of all bacteria injected into guineapigs proved pathogenic, but whether streptococci were among these is not stated. V. Freudenreich6 inoculated rabbits with streptococci from milk with negative results. Holling7 inoculated 11 mice with as many strains of Strept. ladicus. Three of these died. Briining8 found streptococci in 93 per cent of Leipzig milk which produced fatal general infections in mice but did not affect guineapigs. Savage9 obtained negative results from milk streptococcus
MR imaging of the intraparotid facial nerve: normal anatomy and pathology

Three normal volunteers, 58 normal patients, and three patients with parotid tumors were studied with a 0.3 T permanent-magnet imaging system to directly image the intraparotid facial nerve. On T1-weighted images the nerve appeared as a curvilinear structure of relatively low signal intensity within the fatty, high-signal parotid parenchyma. Its major divisions and branches could be imaged only with specially angled axial scan planes. To verify our observations MR imaging was compared with whole-organ cryomicrotome sections cut at the same angles. Normal variations in the appearance of the nerve and pitfalls in its visualization are discussed. Three cases of parotid tumors, with surgical confirmation of the relationship of the facial nerve to the tumor, are presented. MR is the only imaging technique capable of direct imaging of the facial nerve in the parotid bed: it may assist materially in the surgical management of tumors of the parotid gland.
Max Weber’s charismatic prophets

Most accounts of Weber’s notion of charisma follow his own explicit comments and seek its origins in the writings of Rudolf Sohm. While I acknowledge the validity of this, I follow Weber’s suggestions and locate the charismatic forces in the political and ethical conduct and beliefs of certain Old Testament prophets, specifically Amos, Jeremiah and Isaiah. Their emphasis on political justice and ethical fairness, coupled with their unwavering belief in the power of prophecy, infuse Weber’s conception of charisma and in crucial ways contribute to the formation of his notion of the modern political leader.
Taylor's Rule Versus Taylor Rules

Does the Taylor rule prescribe negative interest rates for 2009–11? This question is important because negative prescribed interest rates provide a justification for quantitative easing once actual policy rates hit the zero lower bound. We answer the question by analyzing Fed policy following the recessions of the early-to-mid-1970s, the early 1990s and the early 2000s, in the context of both Taylor's original rule and latter variants of Taylor rules. While Taylor's original rule, which can be justified by historical experience during and following the recessions, does not produce negative prescribed interest rates for 2009–11, variants of Taylor rules with larger output gap coefficients, which do produce negative interest rates, cannot be justified by the same historical experience. We conclude that the Taylor rule does not provide a rationale for quantitative easing.
Base Metal Catalysts for Photochemical C–H Borylation That Utilize Metal–Metal Cooperativity

Heterobimetallic Cu–Fe and Zn–Fe complexes catalyze C–H borylation, a transformation that previously required noble metal catalysts. The optimal catalyst, (IPr)Cu-FeCp(CO)2, exhibits efficient activity at 5 mol% loading under photochemical conditions, shows only minimal decrease in activity upon reuse, and is able to catalyze borylation of a variety of arene substrates. Stoichiometric reactivity studies are consistent with a proposed mechanism that exploits metal–metal cooperativity and showcases bimetallic versions of the classical organometallic processes, oxidative addition and reductive elimination.
Reliability Analysis and Performance Degradation of a Boost Converter

In general, power converters are operated in closed-loop systems, and any characteristic variations in one component will simultaneously alter the operating point of other components, resulting in a shift in overall reliability profile. This interdependence makes the reliability of a converter a complex function of time and operating conditions; therefore, the application may demand periodic replacement of converters to avoid downtime and maintenance cost. By knowing the present state of health and the remaining life of a power converter, it is possible to reduce the maintenance cost for expensive high-power converters. This paper presents a reliability analysis for a boost converter, although this method could be used to any power converter being operated using closed-loop controls. Through the conducted study, it is revealed that the reliability of a boost converter having control loops degrades with time, and this paper presents a method to calculate time-varying reliability of a boost converter as a function of characteristic variations in different components in the circuit. In addition, the effects of operating and ambient conditions have been included in the reliability model as well. It was found that any increase in the ON-state resistance of the MOSFET or equivalent series resistance of the output capacitor decreases the overall reliability of the converter. However, any variation in the capacitance has a more complex impact on the converter's reliability. This paper is a step forward to the power-converter reliability analysis because the cumulative effect of multiple degraded components has been considered in the reliability model.
Field Study of Ohio’s Structural Support Inspection Program for Overhead Signs, Traffic Signals, and High-Mast Lights

The Ohio Department of Transportation (DOT) undertook a field study to evaluate its overall structural inspection programs for overhead sign supports (including those mounted on bridges), high-mast light supports, and traffic signal supports. This paper describes the Ohio DOT’s current support inspection program, the field study performed, and the recommendations that resulted from the field study. This research evaluated the adequacy and frequency of the current structural support inspection program for the studied supports. To assess the current program, a detailed, hands-on inspection was conducted on 202 supports. The results were then compared with the Ohio DOT’s current ground-based, visual inspection process. The hands-on inspection process found almost 87% more deficiencies; some deficiencies detected during the hands-on inspections could not have been observed from the ground. In addition, the different inspection procedures used by each district often produced inspection reports that varied in t...
Persistent Memories in Transient Networks

Spatial awareness in mammals is based on an internalized representation of the environment, encoded by large networks of spiking neurons. While such representations can last for a long time, the underlying neuronal network is transient : neuronal cells die every day, synaptic connections appear and disappear, the networks constantly change their architecture due to various forms of synaptic and structural plasticity. How can a network with a dynamic architecture encode a stable map of space? We address this question using a physiological model of a “flickering” neuronal network and demonstrate that it can maintain a robust topological representation of space.
Modeling NML Using the Area Frame Survey

This report outlines the results of various experiments to model the probability of an area-frame farm not being on the census mailing list (NML) using covariates such as total sales, type of farm, acreage, various operator characteristics (gender, Hispanic status, race, and whether the primaryl occupation of the principal operator is farming), number (if any) of equine on the farm, and, optionally, Area-Frame-Survey stratum. Three sets of experiments were conducted. The flrst used California data only. The second used data from three states - Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, while the third used data from the entire 48 contiguous states (there is no Area Frame Survey in either Alaska or Hawaii). The statistical methodology employed was logistic regression with a modiflcation of stepwise regression for variable selection. Standard errors were estimated using designbased linearization methods. Conclusions are drawn about the nature of 2002 NML farms. Some are as expected (farms with small total sales are more likely to be NML). Others are surprising (holding all other factors constant, point farms are not sgniflcantly more likely to be NML than other farms with less than $2,500 in annual sales). A number of methodological problems needing further research are suggested as a result of this study.
Global Synthesis of Drought Effects on Maize and Wheat Production

Drought has been a major cause of agricultural disaster, yet how it affects the vulnerability of maize and wheat production in combination with several co-varying factors (i.e., phenological phases, agro-climatic regions, soil texture) remains unclear. Using a data synthesis approach, this study aims to better characterize the effects of those co-varying factors with drought and to provide critical information on minimizing yield loss. We collected data from peer-reviewed publications between 1980 and 2015 which examined maize and wheat yield responses to drought using field experiments. We performed unweighted analysis using the log response ratio to calculate the bootstrapped confidence limits of yield responses and calculated drought sensitivities with regards to those co-varying factors. Our results showed that yield reduction varied with species, with wheat having lower yield reduction (20.6%) compared to maize (39.3%) at approximately 40% water reduction. Maize was also more sensitive to drought than wheat, particularly during reproductive phase and equally sensitive in the dryland and non-dryland regions. While no yield difference was observed among regions or different soil texture, wheat cultivation in the dryland was more prone to yield loss than in the non-dryland region. Informed by these results, we discuss potential causes and possible approaches that may minimize drought impacts.
Multiobjective Plan Selection Optimization for Traffic Responsive Control

Optimal coordination of traffic signals requires proper activation of timing plans to match current traffic conditions. One of the greatest challenges in configuring a traffic responsive plan selection control mode is how to select only n number of timing plans (restricted by traffic controller memory limitations) to address possibly all traffic conditions/states that can be encountered in the field, for a specific site, but most importantly, how to associate each of these traffic conditions to one of the n timing plans stored in the traffic controller. This paper uses a multiobjective nondominated sorting genetic algorithm to (1) select the best n timing plans to be stored in the controller and (2) group traffic states into m number of clusters, and associate each of the m clusters with one of the stored timing plans. A new performance measure, degree of detachment, developed by the writers to address the clustering requirements, is described in this paper.
Fast best-effort search on graphs with multiple attributes

We address the problem of top-k search on graphs with multiple nodal attributes, which we call WAGs (short for Weighted Attribute Graphs). For example, a co-authorship network is a WAG, where each author is a node; each attribute corresponds to a particular topic (e.g., databases, data mining, and machine learning); and the amount of expertise in a particular topic is represented by a non-negative weight on that attribute. A typical search in this setting may be: find three coauthors (i.e., a triangle) where each author's expertise is greater than 50% in at least one topic area (i.e., attribute). We show that the problem of retrieving the optimal answer for graph search on WAGs is NP-complete. Moreover, we propose a fast and effective top-k graph search algorithm for WAGs. In an extensive experimental study, our proposed algorithm exhibits significant speed-up over competing approaches. On average, our proposed method achieves 7× faster query processing than the best competitor.
Ab initio calculation of nonlinear-optical properties of GaAs

We calculate the linear-and nonlinear-optical coefficients of GaAs by the standard formula with the single-particle electronic energy and wave function calculated with the fully self-consistent pseudofunction method. We divide the Brillouin zone into tetrahedrons. A mesh of 89 points was chosen for 1/48 of the Brillouin zone, and a linear interpolation scheme was used to calculate the coefficients in each of the tetrahedrons.
Collective benefits in traffic during mega events via the use of information technologies

Information technologies today can inform each of us about the route with the shortest time, but they do not contain incentives to manage travellers such that we all get collective benefits in travel times. To that end we need travel demand estimates and target strategies to reduce the traffic volume from the congested roads during peak hours in a feasible way. During large events, the traffic inconveniences in large cities are unusually high, yet temporary, and the entire population may be more willing to adopt collective recommendations for collective benefits in traffic. In this paper, we integrate, for the first time, big data resources to estimate the impact of events on traffic and propose target strategies for collective good at the urban scale. In the context of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, we first predict the expected increase in traffic. To that end, we integrate data from mobile phones, Airbnb, Waze and transit information, with game schedules and expected attendance in each venue. Next, we evaluate different route choice scenarios for drivers during the peak hours. Finally, we gather information on the trips that contribute the most to the global congestion which could be redirected from vehicles to transit. Interestingly, we show that (i) following new route alternatives during the event with individual shortest times can save more collective travel time than keeping the routine routes used before the event, uncovering the positive value of information technologies during events; (ii) with only a small proportion of people selected from specific areas switching from driving to public transport, the collective travel time can be reduced to a great extent. Results are presented online for evaluation by the public and policymakers (www.flows-rio2016.com (last accessed 3 September 2017)).
Linguistic characterization of preference relations as a basis for choice in social systems

In assessing the applicability of the theories of choice to social systems, one cannot escape the fact that such systems are generally much too complex and much too ill-defined to be susceptible of analysis in precise, quantita? tive terms. For example, as discussed in [1], [2], there is considerable uncertainty in the valuation of interpersonal as well as individual utilities among a collection of individuals. Another complicating factor is that the preference relations are frequently conditioned on variables whose values are unknown or, at least, not well-defined; in addition, they may be, and frequently are, interdependent in the sense that the preference relation of an individual may be affected by his or her perception of the preference relations of other members of the collection. Furthermore, the underlying decision processes are, in most cases, multi-stage processes with poorly defined horizons, uncertain dynamics and vague constraints. These are but a few of the many considerations which suggest that, in their present form, the mathematical theories of choice may well be excessively precise in relation to the overwhelming complexity of real-world social systems. A less precise alternative to the conventional methods of quantitative analysis is provided by the so-called linguistic approach [3], [4], in which words rather than numbers are employed to characterize approximately the values of variables as well as the relations between them. As a matter of fact, we frequently resort to such characterizations in everyday dis? course, e.g., when we describe the age of an individual by a label such as young, not young, very young, not very young, etc., rather than by a number in the set U = {0, 1, 2,..., 100}. In this case, the labels in question
Are Free Trade Agreements Good for the Environment? A Panel Data Analysis

This study attempts to empirically re-examine the relationship between free trade agreements (FTAs) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For this aim, we chose three different free trade agreements: Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). These FTAs are between developing countries, developed and developing countries, and only developed countries, respectively. Panel unit root, panel cointegration, and fully modified OLS (FMOLS) estimators are employed to find the longrun relationship between GHG emission, trade liberalization, and other economic factors. The results indicate that the environmental effect of a free trade agreement depends on the agreement type. When the agreement is among only developed or only developing countries, there is no environmental damage to the world and these types of FTAs can be beneficial for the world environment. However, when developing and developed countries are in the agreement, world GHG emissions increase.
Mesoscale structure of chiral nematic shells

There is considerable interest in understanding and controlling topological defects in nematic liquid crystals (LCs). Confinement, in the form of droplets, has been particularly effective in that regard. Here, we employ a Landau–de Gennes formalism to explore the geometrical frustration of nematic order in shell geometries, and focus on chiral materials. By varying the chirality and thickness in uniform shells, we construct a phase diagram that includes tetravalent structures, bipolar structures (BS), bent structures and radial spherical structures (RSS). It is found that, in uniform shells, the BS-to-RSS structural transition, in response to both chirality and shell geometry, is accompanied by an abrupt change of defect positions, implying a potential use for chiral nematic shells as sensors. Moreover, we investigate thickness heterogeneity in shells and demonstrate that non-chiral and chiral nematic shells exhibit distinct equilibrium positions of their inner core that are governed by shell chirality c.
Intended Continued Use Social Networking Sites: Effects on Job Satisfaction and Performance

Hedonic information systems are those that are used primarily for pleasure. Previous research has established that the intention to use hedonic information systems is explained mainly by perceived ease of use and perceived enjoyment, with perceived usefulness to one's job being given less importance. Facebook could be seen as a hedonic information system. This paper employs a cross-sectional survey of 178 professionals who used Facebook to various degrees. Predictably, the authors' empirical results show that perceived enjoyment is indeed a much stronger determinant of intended continued Facebook use than ease of use or usefulness to one's job, explaining a considerable proportion of variance in continued use behavior. The authors also find that ease of use is a strong determinant of perceived enjoyment. Interestingly, their results suggest that intended continued Facebook use is significantly and positively associated with job performance, both directly and indirectly via job satisfaction.
Synthetic control of manganese birnessite: Impact of crystallite size on Li, Na, and Mg based electrochemistry

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of Mg-birnessite (MgxMnO2) with different crystallite sizes, prepared though low temperature precipitation and ion exchange was demonstrated. The influence of crystallite size on electrochemical performance of Mg-birnessite was studied for the first time, where material with smaller crystallite size was demonstrated to have enhanced capacity and rate capability in Li ion, Na ion, and Mg ion based electrolytes. Cation diffusion using GITT type testing demonstrated the ion diffusion coefficient of Mg2+ was ∼10× lower compared with Li+ and Na+. This work illustrates that tuning of inorganic materials properties can lead to significant enhancement of electrochemical performance in lithium, sodium as well as magnesium based batteries for materials such as Mg-birnessite and provides a deliberate approach to improve electrochemical performance.
Woody biomass processing: Potential economic impacts on rural regions

Abstract This paper estimates the economic and environmental impacts of introducing woody biomass processing (WBP) into a rural area in central Appalachia. WBP is among the most promising additions to energy generation portfolios for reducing import dependency while at the same time providing economic opportunity to stimulate regional economies, especially in rural regions where economic development options are often limited. We use an input-output framework to assess WBP under three different pathways, fast pyrolysis, ethanol and coal-biomass to liquids. We find that the proposed WBP will increase regional output by 0.5–1.3% of gross regional product; it will increase income by $17.32 to $51.31 million dollars each year, and regional employment by 218.1–1127.8 jobs, depending on the chosen pathway. Of these impacts, the direct portions are 63–77% of the total impact, depending on the chosen pathway. The economic analysis and the results from the accompanying environmental assessment show that only the ethanol pathway has both economic and environmental benefits. We conclude that because long-run economic development strategies in rural regions are limited and negative impacts do not alter dramatically the regional environmental profile, regional policymakers should include WBP among their development portfolio options.
Labor Unemployment Concern and Corporate Discretionary Disclosure

We investigate how firms strategically vary their disclosure policies in response to labor unemployment concern. Using changes in state unemployment insurance laws as exogenous variations of labor unemployment concern, we show that firms provide more bad news forecasts when unemployment concern is low. This relation is stronger when firms are financially constrained, when CEOs and CFOs have higher equity incentives, and when workers are likely to be affected more by unemployment. Our findings are not driven by earnings management reversal or underlying performance changes, and are robust to a battery of identification tests. Finally, we find a similar effect of unemployment concern on disclosure using the tone of 10-K and 10-Q filings as an alternative proxy for corporate disclosure. Overall, our findings suggest that labor unemployment concern is an important consideration for corporate discretionary disclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Potential Biophysical Application Of The Los Alamos Infrared Free Electron Laser: DNA Spectroscopy

Recently, the Los Alamos Free Electron Laser (FEL) has demonstrated optical output at wavelengths from 9 to 45 /spl mu/m (1100 to 220 cm/spl -1/). Potential applications of such a laser are proposed for the study of vibrational modes predicted in different conformations of DNA and in DNA complexed with drugs and/or proteins that regulate replication and/or transcription.
Measurement of bacterial replication rates in microbial communities

Culture-independent microbiome studies have increased our understanding of the complexity and metabolic potential of microbial communities. However, to understand the contribution of individual microbiome members to community functions, it is important to determine which bacteria are actively replicating. We developed an algorithm, iRep, that uses draft-quality genome sequences and single time-point metagenome sequencing to infer microbial population replication rates. The algorithm calculates an index of replication (iRep) based on the sequencing coverage trend that results from bi-directional genome replication from a single origin of replication. We apply this method to show that microbial replication rates increase after antibiotic administration in human infants. We also show that uncultivated, groundwater-associated, Candidate Phyla Radiation bacteria only rarely replicate quickly in subsurface communities undergoing substantial changes in geochemistry. Our method can be applied to any genome-resolved microbiome study to track organism responses to varying conditions, identify actively growing populations and measure replication rates for use in modeling studies.
Detecting differential growth of microbial populations with Gaussian process regression

Microbial growth curves are used to study differential effects of media, genetics, and stress on microbial population growth. Consequently, many modeling frameworks exist to capture microbial population growth measurements. However, current models are designed to quantify growth under conditions for which growth has a specific functional form. Extensions to these models are required to quantify the effects of perturbations, which often exhibit nonstandard growth curves. Rather than assume specific functional forms for experimental perturbations, we developed a general and robust model of microbial population growth curves using Gaussian process (GP) regression. GP regression modeling of high-resolution time-series growth data enables accurate quantification of population growth and allows explicit control of effects from other covariates such as genetic background. This framework substantially outperforms commonly used microbial population growth models, particularly when modeling growth data from environmentally stressed populations. We apply the GP growth model and develop statistical tests to quantify the differential effects of environmental perturbations on microbial growth across a large compendium of genotypes in archaea and yeast. This method accurately identifies known transcriptional regulators and implicates novel regulators of growth under standard and stress conditions in the model archaeal organism Halobacterium salinarum For yeast, our method correctly identifies known phenotypes for a diversity of genetic backgrounds under cyclohexamide stress and also detects previously unidentified oxidative stress sensitivity across a subset of strains. Together, these results demonstrate that the GP models are interpretable, recapitulating biological knowledge of growth response while providing new insights into the relevant parameters affecting microbial population growth.
Double dimers, conformal loop ensembles and isomonodromic deformations

The double-dimer model consists in superimposing two independent, identically distributed perfect matchings on a planar graph, which produces an ensemble of non-intersecting loops. Kenyon established conformal invariance in the small mesh limit by considering topological observables of the model parameterized by $\SL_2(\C)$ representations of the fundamental group of the punctured domain. The scaling limit is conjectured to be $\CLE_4$, the Conformal Loop Ensemble at $\kappa=4$. In support of this conjecture, we prove that a large subclass of these topological correlators converge to their putative $\CLE_4$ limit. Both the small mesh limit of the double-dimer correlators and the corresponding $\CLE_4$ correlators are identified in terms of the $\tau$-functions introduced by Jimbo, Miwa and Ueno in the context of isomonodromic deformations.
Open-access journals: bane or boon?

New open-access journals are appearing at a rapid rate. Some may be motivated by an opportunity to make a profit by preying on inexperienced authors. Cries of protest from authors wedded to traditional journals have been voiced. Charges of fake peer review and sloppy editing have some foundation in some of these journals. "Paying to publish" smacks of cheating to those who worked their way up via the traditional route. After all, in the field of book publishing, weak writers with healthy bank accounts have always been able to find publishers who would print their books. By demanding that publishing should be "free," they impart a gloss of high-minded morality over subscription-based journals. These concerns are valid. Some open-access journals are of poor quality. Perhaps some will print anything for the right price and call it peer reviewed. However, there is another side of the story. The open-access model has the following advantages: 1. Articles are freely available without charge to readers. No subscription is necessary. If our work is of value to the world, then making it freely available is in the public interest. 2. The number of places authors can publish has increased. Competition between journals may have increased. This is to the benefit of authors who are new, inexperienced, lack administrative support, or otherwise would face disadvantages in their efforts to begin sharing their ideas. 3. The subscription model limits the number of journals that can be produced because university libraries can only subscribe to a limited number of journals. Limited supply enhances the economic leverage of those journals, imparting power to their editors, board members, and reviewers. This is not particularly democratic. 4. Given the limited number of print pages available in traditional journals, only the best papers could be published. Best is defined as most scientific and usually means grant-funded. Multisite randomized trials are more likely to make the cut. Smaller, more pragmatic studies that are more reflective of real-world practice are left with fewer outlets. Not coincidentally, the public periodically is dismayed to learn that a procedure, medication or delivery system does not perform as well as expected. Publication bias is not limited to exclusion of nonsignificant findings but also includes exclusion of real-world evidence produced by observational studies. 5. Open-access journals were given a big boost when governments began to recognize that scientific reports funded by taxpayers should be made freely available to those same taxpayers. …
Inelastic cross sections and rate coefficients for collisions between CO and H2

Abstract A five-dimensional coupled states (5D-CS) approximation is used to compute cross sections and rate coefficients for CO+H 2 collisions. The 5D-CS calculations are benchmarked against accurate six-dimensional close-coupling (6D-CC) calculations for transitions between low-lying rovibrational states. Good agreement between the two formulations is found for collision energies greater than 10 cm −1 . The 5D-CS approximation is then used to compute two separate databases which include highly excited states of CO that are beyond the practical limitations of the 6D-CC method. The first database assumes an internally frozen H 2 molecule and allows rovibrational transitions for v ≤ 5 and j ≤ 30, where v and j are the vibrational and rotational quantum numbers of the initial state of the CO molecule. The second database allows H 2 rotational transitions for initial CO states with v ≤ 5 and j ≤ 10. The two databases are in good agreement with each other for transitions that are common to both basis sets. Together they provide data for astrophysical models which were previously unavailable.
How Are SNAP Benefits Spent? Evidence from a Retail Panel

We use a novel retail panel with more than six years of detailed transaction records to study the effect of participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on household spending. We frame our approach using novel administrative data from the state of Rhode Island. The marginal propensity to consume SNAP-eligible food (MPCF) out of SNAP benefits is 0.5 to 0.6. The MPCF out of cash is much smaller. These patterns obtain even for households for whom SNAP benefits are economically equivalent to cash in the sense that benefits do not cover all food spending. We reject the hypothesis that households respect the fungibility of money in a semiparametric framework. A model with mental accounting can match the facts.
US-COOL retaliation : the WTO's article 22.6 arbitration

This paper examines the World Trade Organization's Article 22.6 arbitration report on the dispute over the United States’ country of origin labeling (US–COOL) regulation for meat products. At prior phases of the legal process, a WTO Panel and the Appellate Body had sided with Canada and Mexico by finding that the US regulation had negatively affected their exports of livestock – cattle and hogs – to the US market. The arbitrators authorized Canada and Mexico to retaliate by over 1 billion finding. The arbitrators relied on the trade effects’ formula, which sets the retaliation limit as equivalent to the perceived loss of export revenue from the WTO violation. We argue that this amount was implausibly large, given the conditions in the US market for cattle and hogs during this period. We then describe the challenges facing arbitrators as they construct such estimates, including those likely to have arisen in this dispute.
Interactive web application for exploring matrices of neural connectivity

We present here a browser-based application for visualizing patterns of connectivity in 3D stacked data matrices with large numbers of pairwise relations. Visualizing a connectivity matrix, looking for trends and patterns, and dynamically manipulating these values is a challenge for scientists from diverse fields, including neuroscience and genomics. In particular, high-dimensional neural data include those acquired via electroencephalography (EEG), electrocorticography (ECoG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and functional MRI. Neural connectivity data contains multivariate attributes for each edge between different brain regions, which motivated our lightweight, open source, easy-to-use visualization tool for the exploration of these connectivity matrices to highlight connections of interest. Here we present a client-side, mobile-compatible visualization tool written entirely in HTML5/JavaScript that allows in-browser manipulation of user-defined files for exploration of brain connectivity. Visualizations can highlight different aspects of the data simultaneously across different dimensions. Input files are in JSON format, and custom Python scripts have been written to parse MATLAB or Python data files into JSON-loadable format. We demonstrate the analysis of connectivity data acquired via human ECoG recordings as a domain-specific implementation of our application. We envision applications for this interactive tool in fields seeking to visualize pairwise connectivity.