cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is the Parallel Market Premium a Reliable Indicator of Real Exchange Rate Misalignment in Developing Countries

It is often argued that the parallel market premium is a useful indicator of real exchange rate misalignment in developing countries. The empirical evidence does not, however, suggest the existence of a robust correlation between these two endogenous variables that is independent of the nature of economic shocks and various structural relationships in the economy. This paper presents an analytical investigation of the reliability of the parallel market premium as an indicator of real exchange rate misalignment in the context of a fully optimizing model of a developing country. The analysis suggests that one should exercise caution in drawing inferences about the sign and magnitude of real exchange rate misalignment from the parallel market premium.
Mining maximal hyperclique pattern: A hybrid search strategy

A hyperclique pattern is a new type of association pattern that contains items which are highly affiliated with each other. Specifically, the presence of an item in one transaction strongly implies the presence of every other item that belongs to the same hyperclique pattern. In this paper, we present an algorithm for mining maximal hyperclique patterns, which specifies a more compact representation of hyperclique patterns and are desirable for many applications, such as pattern-based clustering. Our algorithm exploits key advantages of both the Depth First Search (DFS) strategy and the Breadth First Search (BFS) strategy. Indeed, we adapt the equivalence pruning method, one of the most efficient pruning methods of the DFS strategy, into the process of the BFS strategy. Our experimental results show that the performance of our algorithm can be orders of magnitude faster than standard maximal frequent pattern mining algorithms, particularly at low levels of support.
Retronasal smell and detection thresholds of iron and copper salts.

Iron and copper salts, when placed in the mouth, may give rise to odorous compounds which complicate their functioning as chemical stimuli. The contribution of retronasal smell to perception of these metal salts at threshold has not been determined. Detection thresholds of the sulfate and chloride salts of ferrous iron and copper, and sodium chloride (as a control) were determined using a modified forced-choice ascending method of limits, with and without nasal occlusion. Threshold values were calculated from geometric means of individual estimates, and from interpolation on logistic regression and percent correct plots. Nasal occlusion raised thresholds for iron salts and copper but not sodium. The geometric mean detection thresholds with the nose open were 30, 64, 7.8, and 8.2 μM for FeSO4, FeCl2, CuSO4, CuCl2, respectively but rose to 160, 227, 24.6 and 15.6 with the nose closed. Metal salts of both iron and copper create a retronasally perceived olfactory stimulus at low concentration levels, probably arising from lipid oxidation products generated in the mouth.
Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on reducing postharvest decay in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP as SmartFresh™ technology), an ethylene antagonist, was evaluated for affecting postharvest decay caused by Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, and Fusarium spp. on ‘Quality 23’ and ‘Seminis 35’ tomatoes at green or pink stages. Fruit with natural or artificial infection were subjected to 1-MCP at 0.0 μL L−1, 0.6 μL L−1 for 12 h, and 1.0 μL L−1 for 6 h. After 31–42 d storage, disease incidence and severity of individual diseases in 1-MCP treated fruit was significantly reduced compared with that of the untreated controls, except in one inoculated test for ‘Quality 23’ where severity of Alternaria rot in 1.0 μL L−1 treated fruit were significantly higher than that of the untreated control. Fruit treated with 1-MCP at 1.0 L−1 for 6 h also had significantly higher incidence of Alternaria rot in the inoculated ‘Quality 23’ and in the non-inoculated ‘Seminis 35’ compared with the fruit treated with 1-MCP at 0.6 μL L−1 for 12 h. The results of this study indicate that 1-MCP can reduce postharvest decay within a certain storage period.
Dendrimer-enhanced MRI as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of sepsis-induced acute renal failure in aged mice

Dendrimer-enhanced MRI as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of sepsis-induced acute renal failure in aged mice. Background Acute renal failure (ARF) induced by sepsis has a high mortality. In an aged mouse model of sepsis-induced ARF we have previously shown that renal injury occurs before serum creatinine is elevated. Development of a noninvasive biomarker that could diagnose renal dysfunction early in sepsis and monitor the response to therapy would be very valuable. Methods We performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium-based G4 dendrimer intravenous contrast in a fluid- and antibiotic-treated cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) sepsis model in aged mice. Imaging was also performed in a mouse volume depletion model and in models of ARF induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and cisplatin. Results Twenty hours post-CLP, aged mice had a distinct pattern of renal injury using dendrimer-enhanced MRI. This pattern was different from renal injury induced by either cisplatin or I/R. Prerenal azotemia induced by volume depletion was distinguished from sepsis by dendrimer-enhanced MRI. Dendrimer-enhanced MRI detected renal dysfunction 6 hours post-CLP, a time when serum creatinine was still normal. Ethyl pyruvate reversed the renal dysfunction detected by dendrimer-enhanced MRI at 20 hours, but not at 6 hours post-CLP. The appearance of renal dysfunction on dendrimer-enhanced MRI at 6 hours post-CLP predicted the length of survival. Conclusion Dendrimer-enhanced MRI is a novel biomarker that provides information for the early diagnosis, drug responsiveness, and prognosis of sepsis-induced ARF.
Reverberations Across Small-Scale British Theatre: Politics, Aesthetics, and Forms edited by Patrick Duggan and Victor Ukaegbu

The innovative structure of Patrick Duggan and Victor Ukaegbu’s collection about small-scale British touring companies from the 1980s to the present puts the voices of artists at the centre of the ...
The origins and significance of coastal resource use in Africa and Western Eurasia

The systematic exploitation of marine foods by terrestrial mammals lacking aquatic morphologies is rare. Widespread ethnographic and archaeological evidence from many areas of the world shows that modern humans living on coastlines often ratchet up the use of marine foods and develop social and technological characteristics unusual to hunter-gatherers and more consistent with small scale food producing societies. Consistent use of marine resources often is associated with reduced mobility, larger group size, population packing, smaller territories, complex technologies, increased economic and social differentiation, and more intense and wide-ranging gifting and exchange. The commitment to temporally and spatially predictable and dense coastal foods stimulates investment in boundary defense resulting in inter-group conflict as predicted by theory and documented by ethnography. Inter-group conflict provides an ideal context for the proliferation of intra-group cooperative behaviors beneficial to the group but not to the altruist (Bowles, 2009). The origins of this coastal adaptation marks a transformative point for the hominin lineage in Africa since all previous adaptive systems were likely characterized by highly mobile, low-density, egalitarian populations with large territories and little boundary defense. It is important to separate occasional uses of marine foods, present among several primate species, from systematic and committed coastal adaptations. This paper provides a critical review of where and when systematic use of coastal resources and coastal adaptations appeared in the Old World by a comparison of the records from Africa and Europe. It is found that during the Middle Stone Age in South Africa there is evidence that true coastal adaptations developed while there is, so far, a lack of evidence for even the lowest levels of systematic coastal resource use by Neanderthals in Europe. Differences in preservation, sample size, and productivity between these regions do not explain the pattern.
Numerical method of estimating and optimizing supersonic aerodynamic characteristics of arbitrary planform wings

Numerical method to obtain pressure distribution on arbitrary wing planform of various surface shapes with attention to aerodynamic characteristics
A Social Stage Model of Collective Coping: The Loma Prieta Earthquake and The Persian Gulf War

When individuals face an emotional upheaval, they naturally talk and think about it. If they are unable to talk with others but continue to think about the event, they are at greater risk for a variety of psychological and health problems. Drawing on survey data gathered from San Francisco residents after the Loma Prieta Earthquake and from Dallas residents during and after the Persian Gulf War, we found evidence to support a social stage model of coping. Immediately after an upheaval, individuals openly talk and think about the event for approximately two weeks. Following this emergency stage, individuals progress into an inhibition stage wherein they stop talking about the upheaval but continue thinking about it for approximately six weeks. Certain indicators of distress, such as hostility and dreaming, peak during the inhibition phase. After this time, people enter an adaptation phase wherein they neither talk nor think about the upheaval. Implications for theory and interventions for both broad-scale collective upheavals as well as personal traumas are discussed.
Tailoring optical focal field through laser beam polarization engineering

I will present the recently developed methods for focal field control using spatially variant polarization engineering. It is shown that the creation of optimal focal spot with arbitrary three-dimensional state of polarization is possible. Their applications in nearfield nanoscale imaging, metrology and nanoparticle manipulation will be discussed.
Millisecond Intensity Fluctuations of Single Molecules at Room Temperature

We show that single DiIC12 molecules adsorbed on a silica surface display a new type of rapid intensity fluctuations between an “on” level and a “dim” level distinct from “on”−“off” blinking. These fluctuations are correlated in time and exhibit two correlation times, one of the order of 10 ms and the other of the order of 100 ms, which are likely due to small motions of the nuclear coordinates of the adsorbed molecule. In addition, molecules that show these fast fluctuations also have emission spectra blue-shifted from the emission spectrum of the ensemble, indicating that this behavior is sensitive to the binding site of the molecule.
The ETO domain is necessary for the developmental abnormalities associated with AML1-ETO expression in the hematopoietic stem cell compartment in vivo.

Abstract Translocation of the ETO gene on human chromosome 8 with the AML1 gene on chromosome 21 (AML1–ETO) is a recurrent cytogenetic abnormality associated with approximately 12% of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cases. To understand the contribution of the t(8;21) to AML, we transduced purified hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) with a retroviral vector that coexpressed AML1–ETO or just the AML1 portion (AML1d) of the translocation along with a green fluorescent protein reporter gene. Animals reconstituted with AML1–ETO-expressing cells exhibited many of the hematopoietic developmental abnormalities seen in the bone marrow of human patients with the t(8;21), although the animals did not develop acute leukemia. We noted a gradual increase in primitive myeloblasts that accounted for approximately 10% of bone marrow by 10 months posttransplant. Consistent with this observation was a 50-fold increase in myeloid colony-forming cells in vitro. In addition, accumulation of late stage metamyelocytes was observed in bone marrow along with an increase in immature eosinophil myelocytes that showed abnormal basophilic granulation. There was also a gradual increase in both the frequency and absolute number of AML1–ETO-expressing HSC so that by 10 months posttransplant, there were 29-fold greater HSC numbers than in transplant-matched control mice. These phenotypes were not observed in animals reconstituted with cells expressing only the DNA-binding domain of AML1, suggesting that the ETO domain is necessary to establish the developmental abnormalities associated with AML1–ETO expression in HSC.
Iodine-123-fibrinogen scintigraphy.

The 125 I-fibrinogen uptake test has proven to be a simple and accurate procedure for the detection of forming and established thrombosis, but it has limitations. Substitution of 123 I for 125 I provides the opportunity to obtain images of the distribution of radiolabeled fibrinogen, and this technique ( 123 I-fibrinogen scintigraphy) has proven to be accurate in more than 350 studies of patients with thrombophlebitis. Iodine-123-fibrinogen scintigraphy appears to overcome the limitations of the 125 I-fibrinogen uptake test. Although not as simple, it is noninvasive, an excellent method for detecting iliofemoral thrombophlebitis, readily discriminates thrombophlebitis, hematoma, and inflammatory diseases.
The transient response of tapered transmission lines

Tapered transmission lines are frequently used in communications engineering to transform voltages and impedances. Much has been done in the steady-state analysis1?12 of these devices. The need remains, however, for a theory of the optimum taper based upon transient considerations because of intrinsic limitations of any steady-state theory. Steady-state treatments are sufficient for a-c applications, but are difficult to apply meaningfully to transient phenomena. Very little has been done in the realm of tapered-transmission line transient analysis. An analysis for exponential tapers has appeared in the literature,13?16 but there has been no attempt to find the optimum taper from transient considerations.
An analytical model for predicting performance in a heterogeneous system

Presents an analytical model for predicting the response time of tasks in a heterogeneous system with load sharing. The model is general and can be used to evaluate the performance of any algorithm and any system configuration as long as task transfer decisions are based on the load levels of the sending and receiving processors. The methodology is applied to three load sharing algorithms in a system comprised of processors with different speeds. >
Using metamaterials to achieve phase center compensation in a log-periodic array

We are considering transmission line-based metamaterials (MTMs) to achieve negative phase shift elements and their introduction into a log-periodic array to correct for the detrimental phase shifts associated with it. We have preliminary indications that this approach leads to a modified log-periodic array that has a flat spectral response over a wide frequency band. Consequently, this modified log-periodic array may be applicable to UWB applications.
Where Do People Drive? Navigation System Use by Typical Drivers and Auto Experts

To effectively design navigation and travel information systems, car manufacturers need data on how these systems are typically used. In this study, researchers surveyed thirty typical drivers and eleven auto experts to determine previously visited destinations, favourite destinations, and other information. Unexpectedly, subjects predominantly reported they used navigation systems to reach familiar destinations (typical drivers: 61 %; auto experts: 89%). History was self-reported to be a very common entry method (typical drivers: 30%; auto experts: 24%), which conflicted with data retrieved from navigation systems (both groups: < 1%). Based on the history list, common trip purposes included Shopping and visiting Friends' Houses.
Pricing and congestion management in a network with heterogeneous users

This note presents an economic model for a communication network with utility-maximizing elastic users who adapt to congestion by adjusting their flows. Users are heterogeneous with respect to both the utility they attach to different levels of flow and their sensitivity to delay. Following Kelly et al. (1998), we introduce dynamic rate-control algorithms, based on the users' utility functions and delay sensitivities, as well as tolls charged by the system, and examine the behavior of these algorithms. We show that allowing heterogeneity with respect to delay sensitivity introduces a fundamental nonconvexity into the congestion-cost functions. As a result, there are often multiple stationary points of the aggregate net utility function. Hence, marginal-cost pricing-equating users' marginal utilities to their marginal costs-may identify a local maximum or even a saddle point, rather than a global maximum. Moreover, the dynamic rate-control algorithm may converge to a local rather than global maximum, depending on the starting point. We present examples with different user utility functions, including some in which the only interior stationary point is a saddlepoint which is dominated by all the single-user optimal allocations. We also consider variants of the dynamic algorithm and their performance in a network with heterogeneous users. Our results suggest that applying a rate-control algorithm such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), even when augmented by some form of implicit or explicit pricing, may have unexpected and perhaps undesirable effects on the allocation of flows among heterogeneous delay-sensitive users.
NeT & CoT: translating relational schemas to XML schemas using semantic constraints

Two algorithms, called NeT and CoT, to translate relational schemas to XML schemas using various semantic constraints are presented. The XML schema representation we use is a language-independent formalism named XSchema, that is both precise and concise. A given XSchema can be mapped to a schema in any of the existing XML schema language proposals. Our proposed algorithms have the following characteristics: (1) NeT derives a nested structure from a flat relational model by repeatedly applying the nest operator on each table so that the resulting XML schema becomes hierarchical, and (2) CoT considers not only the structure of relational schemas, but also semantic constraints such as inclusion dependencies during the translation. It takes as input a relational schema where multiple tables are interconnected through inclusion dependencies and converts it into a good XSchema. To validate our proposals, we present experimental results using both real schemas from the UCI repository and synthetic schemas from TPC-H.
The Idea of Individuality: Origins, Meaning, and Political Significance

The contemporary liberal/communitarian debate depicts the self as essentially static and unspontaneous: in the first instance, as a detached agent of choice equipped with de facto unexamined desires; in the second, as (optimally) the embodiment of virtues and narratives imbedded in socially established practices. The notion of individuality, as it developed from Goethe and Mill to the present, suggests a way to rethink this dichotomy. Individuality--as distinguished from individualism--evokes the notion of personal identity constituted both through reflective reexamination of the givens of life and through the continuous integration of diverse traditions and influences into a coherent whole.
Effect of morphine or phenobarbital on teicoplanin elimination pharmacokinetics

Elimination kinetics following a single dose of teicoplanin in rats pre-treated with morphine sulphate (MS), phenobarbital sodium (Pb), and normal saline (NS) were determined. A microbioassay was used to measure teicoplanin levels. A significant increase in the total clearance of teicoplanin was found in rats pre-treated with MS as compared to controls (P < 0.048). Wide variability was observed in the renal and non-renal clearances of teicoplanin. The mean renal clearance for rats pre-treated with MS, Pb and NS was 0.61 +/- 0.07.mL/min/kg, 0.60 +/- 0.13 mL/min/kg, and 0.46 +/- 0.02 mL/min/kg, respectively; the mean non-renal clearance was 0.33 +/- 0.18 mL/min/kg, 0.17 +/- 0.15 mL/min/kg, and 0.08 +/- 0.03 mL/min/kg, respectively. The differences among the groups for renal and non-renal clearance were not statistically significant. The mean apparent volume of distribution of teicoplanin at steady state was significantly lower in the Pb-pre-treated rats as compared to controls (P < 0.043). The mean half-life for MS-, Pb-, and NS pre-treated groups was 8.1 +/- 3.1 h, 5.9 +/- 3.3 h, and 34.6 +/- 20.7 h, respectively. The differences in mean half-life among the groups achieved statistical significance (P < 0.016). The increase in the total clearance of teicoplanin can best be explained by an increase in both renal elimination and hepatic metabolic pathways.
Competitive Exclusion in a Discrete Stage-Structured Two Species Model

We develop a stage-structured model that describes the dynamics of two competing species each of which have sexual and clonal reproduction. This is typical of many plants including irises. We first analyze the dynamical behavior of a single species model. We show that when the inherent net reproductive number is smaller than one then the population will go to extinction and if it is larger than one then an interior equilibrium exists and it is globally asymptotically stable. Then we analyze the two-species model and establish conditions on the reproduction and survivorship rates that lead to competitive exclusion. We show that the winner species is the one that attains higher density at which its net reproductive number equals unity. Numerical results corroborating the theoretical ones are also presented.
Very large hadron collider R&D

This article discusses the present state of RD the thrust of the R&D is to reduce the cost of the machine, through development of new ideas and utilization of new technologies. R&D issues in the areas of accelerator physics, magnets, and general accelerator technologies, will be reviewed. Finally, the outlook for future R&D will be presented.
Inhibition of arterial thrombogenesis by quinapril but not losartan.

The cardioprotective effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angio tensin type I (AT1) receptor blockers may relate to their antithrombotic effect. We determined the differential effects of the ACE inhibitor quinapril and the AT1 receptor blocker losartan on arterial thrombus formation in the rat. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed regular chow or chow mixed with low-dose quinapril (0.6 mg/kg/day), high-dose quinapril (1.2 mg/kg/day), or losartan (10 mg/kg/day) for 15 days. Abdominal aorta was exposed and wrapped with Whatman paper impregnated with 29% FeCl3 (ferric chloride). Time to occlusive thrombus formation and weight of the thrombus were recorded. Aortic superoxide anion generation, platelet aggregation, plasma angiotensin II levels, and morphology of the thrombus were also examined. Both losartan and quinapril caused similar reductions in arterial pressure. Losartan did not affect the time to thrombus formation, whereas quinapril (both low and high doses) delayed the time to thrombu...
Characterizing logging practices in open-source software

Software logging is a conventional programming practice. While its efficacy is often important for users and developers to understand what have happened in the production run, yet software logging is often done in an arbitrary manner. So far, there have been little study for understanding logging practices in real world software. This paper makes the first attempt (to the best of our knowledge) to provide a quantitative characteristic study of the current log messages within four pieces of large open-source software. First, we quantitatively show that software logging is pervasive. By examining developers' own modifications to the logging code in the revision history, we find that they often do not make the log messages right in their first attempts, and thus need to spend a significant amount of efforts to modify the log messages as after-thoughts. Our study further provides several interesting findings on where developers spend most of their efforts in modifying the log messages, which can give insights for programmers, tool developers, and language and compiler designers to improve the current logging practice. To demonstrate the benefit of our study, we built a simple checker based on one of our findings and effectively detected 138 pieces of new problematic logging code from studied software (24 of them are already confirmed and fixed by developers).
A Numerical Method for Solving Singular Stochastic Control Problems

Singular stochastic control has found diverse applications in operations management, economics, and finance. However, in all but the simplest of cases, singular stochastic control problems cannot be solved analytically. In this paper, we propose a method for numerically solving a class of singular stochastic control problems. We combine finite element methods that numerically solve partial differential equations with a policy update procedure based on the principle of smooth pasting to iteratively solve Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations associated with the stochastic control problem. A key feature of our method is that the presence of singular controls simplifies the procedure. We illustrate the method on two examples of singular stochastic control problems, one drawn from economics and the other from queueing systems.
Performance evaluation of location information distribution strategies for mobility tracking

A user location information distribution strategy is proposed for mobile systems. Local anchors (LAs), replicated databases and forwarding pointers are applied in an integrated way that greatly reduces the location update rate and the call delivery cost incurred by location tracking. In particular, the visitor location registers (VLRs) associated with a user's home and workplace are selected as the user's LAs, which are connected by a forwarding pointer chain. When the user changes their registration area (RA) within a local signal transfer point (LSTP) region, the new location is reported to the home location register (HLR) and to the replicas. In the call delivery procedure, if a call orginates from one of the LAs or replicas, the HLR does not need to be queried. An analytic model is developed and numerical examples are given to compare the performance of the proposed scheme, the standard scheme, the replication scheme and the local anchoring scheme. The results show that the proposed strategy outperforms the other three strategies over a wide range of system parameters.
Quantitative MRI measurement of lung density must account for the change in T(2) (*) with lung inflation.

PURPOSE To evaluate lung water density at three different levels of lung inflation in normal lungs using a fast gradient echo sequence developed for rapid imaging.
Human chromosome-specific changes in a human-hamster hybrid cell line (AL) assessed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)

Abstract Purpose : To quantitatively assess all gamma-ray induced chromosomal changes confined to one human chromosome using fluorescence microscopy and in situ hybridization with a fluorescently labeled human chromosome specific nucleic acid probe. Methods and Materials : Synchronized human-hamser hybrid cells containing human chromosome 11 wer obtained by a modified mitotic shake-off procedure. G1 phase cells (> 95%)_ were irradiated with 137Cs gamma rays (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0 Gy) at a dose rate of 1.1 Gy/min and mitotic cells colleted 16–20 h later; chromosomal spreads were prepared, denatured,and hybridized with a fluorescein-tagged nucleic acid probe against total human DNA. Chromosomes were examined by fluorescence microscopy and all categories of change involving the human chromosome 11 as target, recorded. Results : Overall, of the 3104 human-hamster hybrid cells examined, 82.1% were euploid, of which 88.6% contained one copy of human chromosome 11, 6.2% contained two copies, and 5.2% contained 0 copies. This is compatiblewith mitotic nondisjunction in a small fraction of cells. Of the remaining 17.9% of cells, 85.2% were tetraploid cells with two copies of human chromosome 11. For all aberrations involving human chromosome 11 there was a linear relationship between yield and absorbed dose of 0.1 aberrations per chromosoem per Gy. The yield of dicentrics, translocations, and terminal deletions that involve one lesion on the human chromosoem was linear, while the yield of interstitial deletions that arise from two interacting lesions on the human chromosoem was curvilinear. The frequencies of dicentrics and translocations were about equal, while there was a high (40–60%) incidence of incomplete exchanges between human and hamster chromosomes. Conclusion : Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) procedures allow for the efficient detection of a broad range of induced changes in target chromosomes. Symmetrical exchanges induced in G1 (translocations) were readily scored and found to equate with the complementary asymmetrical exchanges (dicentrics). That is, nonlethal stable changes, which might be concern ini carcinogenic processes, complement lethal, unstable changes. Interstitial deletions that may contribute to the loss of antioncogenes as well as to lethality are also readily detected with enhanced levels detected at higher doses. The high level of induced terminal deletions and of incomplete dicentrics and translocations indicate a partial failure of interaction between lesions induced in human and hamster DNA, and suggest that such interspecies interactions lack the fidelity of intraspecies DNA lesion interactions. This suggest caution in the use of such model systems as indicators of human cell responsiveness.
Magnitude least-squares fitting via semidefinite programming with applications to beamforming and multidimensional filter design

The standard least-squares problem seeks to find a linear combination of columns of a given matrix that best approximates a target vector in Euclidean norm. The problem of finding a linear combination of columns, the componentwise magnitude of which approximates a target, is not a convex problem, but can be well-approximated using semidefinite programming. High quality solutions can be found by reformulating the problem as a generalization of a graph partitioning problem, relaxing a rank constraint, and rounding back onto the feasible set. A bound on the gap between the objectives of the global optimum and the approximate solution can be calculated for instances of the problem, and for many practical problems can be quite small. The problem is shown to have application in array pattern synthesis, multidimensional filtering, and spectral factorization.
Self-organized patterns in the SOM network

This paper reports the discovery of certain self-organized patterns that develop automatically and unexpectedly during the training of a typical self-organizing map (SOM) network. These highly structured patterns emerge and evolve gradually from the random initial state as the training progresses. The web-like patterns are characterized by some line features at different scales, which tend to intersect at some common positions, and they form a highly organized hierarchical structure. The properties and variations of these patterns are affected by the parameters used in the training process. The specific mechanism of the formation of such self-organized patterns is still mostly unknown and currently under investigation. As a preliminary effort to understand the phenomenon, this paper also speculates and hypothesizes the possible mechanism of the phenomenon based on some qualitative and heuristic studies.
Guest Editors’ Overview: Undergraduate Research Mentoring

The Boyer Commission on Educating Undergraduates concluded that students who participated in undergraduate research were more confident and competent in their ability to conduct research, utilize s...
Predictors of recurrent hypoglycemia following a severe hypoglycemic event among hospitalized patients.

ABSTRACTObjectives: Severe hypoglycemia is associated with poor hospital outcomes, but variables contributing to the adequacy of treatment have not been described. The objective of this study was to determine predictors of recurrent hypoglycemia among hospitalized patients with a severe hypoglycemic event. Methods: Patients with severe hypoglycemia (glucose 300 mg/dl within 24 hours). Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were performed. Results: A total of 129 patients with severe hypoglycemia were identified. The median time to repeat glucose measurement was 29 (IQR 15–61) mi...
From Practice to Theory: An Examination of an International Marketing Strategy in the Social Expressions/Greeting Card Industry

Effective international marketing strategies match corporate resources to market needs in ways that competitors cannot easily imitate (Porter 1985). The strategy making process, which for marketers includes manipulating marketing mix elements to meet target market needs, becomes ever-more-complicated when applied to foreign markets. To be effective, managers must absorb the intricacies of global behaviors and adapt corporate offerings to market differences (Buzzell 1968).
Planning for the Future: How South Korea and the USA Will Deal with North Korean Collapse or Internal Crisis

This chapter is an analysis of the key issues involved in a joint/combined ROK-US military operation in the event of a collapse or other catastrophe in North Korea. It will address key military issues, some of the likely scenarios where these issues would arise, and the potential political factors in South Korea, the United States, and the international community that would likely occur. China is likely to be a major concern — making diplomacy with Beijing a vital issue. The Chinese are unlikely to agree to anything unless it is very clear to the world that North Korea is obviously in the throes of collapse, civil war, or complete anarchy. South Korea does not have all of the resources or the military capabilities to carry out such an operation on its own — but it should lead any efforts to intervene in North Korea because ultimately this is a Korean issue.
Free Vibration Characteristics of Symmetric Cross-Ply Laminated Plates: A Semi-Analytical Differential Quadrature Analysis

The analysis of symmetric cross-ply laminated plates considered in this work utilizes both the classical theory and the Mindlin-type theory which includes the effects of thickness shear deformation and rotatory inertia. For the numerical solution of the governing equations of the problem, a semi-analytical differential quadrature method is adopted. It is shown that the proposed solution methodology is computationally efficient and that it yields highly accurate results. The computed results present some quantitative assessment of the effects of thickness shear deformation and rotatory inertia on the free vibration frequencies of symmetric cross-ply laminated plates.
Usability evaluation of the SMART application for youth with mTBI.

Objective There is a dearth of evidence-based treatments available to address the significant morbidity associated with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). To address this gap, we designed a novel user-friendly, web-based application. We describe the preliminary evaluation of feasibility and usability of the application to promote recovery following mTBI in youth, the Self-Monitoring Activity-Restriction and Relaxation Treatment (SMART). SMART incorporates real-time recommendations for individualized symptom management and activity restriction along with training in cognitive-behavioral coping strategies.
Aligning coronary anatomy and myocardial perfusion territories: an algorithm for the CORE320 multicenter study.

Background— Appropriate clinical decisions concerning diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease rely on correct integration of data on coronary anatomy and myocardial perfusion. The purpose of this article is to introduce a new left ventricular segmentation model for improved alignment of coronary arterial segments and myocardial perfusion territories, designed for the CORE320 study. Methods and Results— CORE320 is a prospective, multicenter study with a primary objective to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 320-row detector computed tomography (CT) to detect coronary artery luminal stenosis and corresponding myocardial perfusion deficits in patients with suspected coronary artery disease compared with the gold standard of conventional coronary angiography and single-photon emission CT myocardial perfusion imaging. We describe a 19-coronary segment and 13-myocardial territory alignment model, its application in both standard and CT image data sets, and the adjudication process of the initial cohort of patients recruited for the CORE320 study. Adjudication committees reviewed the images of the first 101 gold standard and 107 CT data sets. On the basis of the presented model and rules, all cases for adjudication were correctly identified. During image review, 6 (5.9%) gold standard and 9 (8.4%) CT data sets needed further realignment not triggered by the algorithm. Conclusions— We present a vascular territory distribution model developed for the CORE320 multicenter study, which accounts for variability in coronary anatomy and potential myocardial perfusion territory overlap. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: . Unique identifier: [NCT00934037][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00934037&atom=%2Fcirccvim%2F5%2F5%2F587.atom
The Culture of Safety and the Era of Better Practices

The SAGES Quality, Outcomes and Safety Manual demonstrates how SAGES members are driving the patient safety/quality improvement movement and promoting a culture of safety and an era of better practices. “Best practices” are our goal, but we realize that only with continuous quality improvement and ongoing initiatives developing “better practices” will we work to optimize the care of the surgical patient. It is this kind of thoughtful effort to promote a culture of safety which sets SAGES members apart as leaders and educators in the field of surgery.
Elusive does not always equal rare: genetic assessment of a protected Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) population in Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Population genetic baselines for species perceived to be at-risk are crucial for monitoring population trends and making well-informed management decisions. We characterized the genetic status of a population of Gila monsters ( Heloderma suspectum ), a large venomous lizard native to deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, by sampling 100 individuals in Sonoran Desert upland habitat at Saguaro National Park, Arizona, USA. We used 18 microsatellite markers, along with 1195 bp of sequence data from the mitochondrial DNA 12S locus, to examine genetic diversity, estimate effective population size, and assess demographic history. Despite suburban development adjacent to the study area, we observed high genetic diversity with uninhibited gene flow within this protected population. We estimated effective population size (N e ) for the total sample area (80 km 2 ) using the linkage disequilibrium method in NeEstimator to be 94 individuals (95% confidence interval: 80.7-111.2). In 2011, we used capture-recapture methods to estimate that 80 adult Gila monsters (95% CI = 37-225) inhabited the area along the 14-km transect that we surveyed most frequently; probability of detecting resident Gila monsters during surveys was <0.01, highlighting the challenges of studying the species. Despite being considered an elusive and thus potentially rare species, these data reveal that in this protected environment the population appears healthy and robust. The results provide an important genetic baseline for future studies and monitoring, and exemplify the success of protective population measures in National Parks and under Arizona state laws.
The Financial Regulatory Environment

The financial regulatory environment in the United States covers the insurance, banking, and securities industries. This note summarizes the regulation of all three as of July 31, 2010.This compact technical note is intended to provide students with a summary of U.S. financial regulatory history. It traces regulatory agencies and the most relevant congressional acts from 1863 to 2010. Its original intent was to be used as background for the "The SEC vs. Goldman Sachs" cases (UVA-GEM-0101 and UVA-GEM-0102). It could also serve as a supplement for a class on financial markets and institutions, the history of U.S. financial crises, or the general history of business regulation in the United States. Excerpt UVA-GEM-0103 Oct. 27, 2010 The Financial Regulatory Environment The financial regulatory environment in the United States covers the insurance, banking, and securities industries. This note summarizes the regulation of all three as of July 31, 2010. Bank Regulation Banks in the United States may be granted their charter by one of three authorities: their home state banking commission can grant state charters, the Comptroller of the Currency can grant federal charters, and the Office of Thrift Supervision can grant charters to savings and loan institutions. The chartering authority of a bank acts as its primary regulator and retains authority to close a bank or thrift that has failed. . . .
Racial Disparities In Surgical Mortality: The Gap Appears To Have Narrowed.

Despite substantial attention to the greater likelihood of poor clinical outcomes among black versus white surgical patients, little is known about whether racial disparities in postoperative mortality in the United States have narrowed over time. Using nationwide Medicare inpatient claims data for the period 2005–14, we examined trends in thirty-day postoperative mortality rates in black and white patients for five high-risk and three low-risk procedures. Overall, national mortality trends improved for both black and white patients, by 0.10 percent per year and 0.07 percent per year, respectively—which significantly narrowed the black-white difference. The reduction occurred primarily within hospitals, rather than between hospitals. Certain subsets of hospitals, such as small hospitals in the Midwest or West that were not minority-serving (that is, not among the top 10 percent of hospitals by volume of black patients served), improved more than others. In spite of concerns that quality improvement effort...
Conservation and relative habitat suitability for an arboreal mammal associated with old forest

Abstract Contraction of native old forest can limit occurrence of old forest associated species, especially species with limited vagility. Patterns of size and distribution of remaining patches of old forest along with forest disturbance and what replaces old forest can influence whether species adapt or perish after forest loss. The arboreal red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) is a small arvicoline rodent that is associated with old coniferous forest and typically emigrates short distances. Since 1911, old forest (≥80 years old) in the northern half of the Oregon Coast Range has been reduced by >80%, primarily due to large stand replacing wildfires, timber harvest, and subsequent conversion to young forest (
Novel Sickle Cell Disease Therapies: Targeting Pathways Downstream of Sickling

Sickle cell disease is an inherited hemoglobinopathy characterized by hemolytic anemia, frequent painful episodes, poor quality of life, end organ damage and a shortened lifespan. Although the seminal event is the polymerization of the abnormal hemoglobin, the downstream pathophysiology of vaso-occlusion results from heterotypic interactions between the altered, adhesive sickle cell RBCs, neutrophils, endothelium, and platelets. Ischemia reperfusion injury, hemolysis and oxidant damage all contribute to heightened inflammation and activation of the hemostatic system. These downstream targets are the focus of emerging treatments with considerable potential to ameliorate disease manifestations. This review summarizes the progress on development of these agents.
A Selection of Applied Mathematics Problems

On April 22, 1988 James McKenna from AT&T made a presentation of several problem areas of present interest to AT&T scientists. His talk is reviewed below.
ONLINE SALES FORECASTING WITH THE MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS DATA MATRICES PACKAGE

The Web-based Multiple Regression Analysis Data Matrices Package (developed jointly with Justin Yost) enables competing participant teams in the marketing simulation COMPETE to apply their knowledge of multiple regression analysis in sales forecasting. Participants with Web-access use this package to create nine data matrices (one data matrix for each strategic business unit) consisting of relevant predictor and response variables for each of the prior decision periods. Next, the data are screened for potential multicollinearity using correlation analysis. Then, the top two predictor variables that satisfy multiple regression analysis assumptions are used to build a linear unrestricted single-equation multiple regression model. The results are checked for potential heteroskedasticity. A major responsibility of marketing is the preparation of sales forecasts. First, market opportunities are identified through marketing research. Then, the size, growth and profitability of each market opportunity are measured and/or forecasted. Sales forecasts are used (a) by finance to raise the needed cash for investment and operations, (b) by manufacturing to establish capacity and output levels, (c) by purchasing to acquire the necessary supplies, and (d) by human resources to hire the needed workers (Kotler 2003). Accurate sales forecasts facilitate effective and efficient allocation of scarce resources. Over-estimates of demand lead to several problems. First, excess inventory uses up valuable shelf space and leads to obsolescence. Next, scarce working capital blocked up in inventory carrying charges [funds used or borrowed (a) by manufacturers to produce goods, or (b) by retailers to purchase goods] cannot be used for other purposes such as R&D or promotional expenses. Third, storage charges are incurred to store excess inventory in public or private warehouses. Finally, margins are reduced when excess inventory is removed through end-of-year clearance sales.
Kinship, Formal Models of

Kinship involves social interactions and forms of social organization based on systems of culturally constructed social relations expressed linguistically through the kin terms constituting a kinship terminology. The organization and structure for these social relations expressed in a kinship terminology is formally modeled here as being part of an axiomatic theory in which a few, primary kinship concepts are the equivalent of axioms in a mathematical theory. The cultural knowledge embedded in a kinship terminology therefore is part of a cultural theory – analogous to a mathematical theory – that expresses the culturally salient kinship properties derived from the primary kinship concepts.
Speculators and specters: Diverse forms of second homeowner engagement in Boston, Massachusetts

Drawing on interview data with second homeowners, this article identifies and explains diverging modes of second homeowner engagement in Boston, Massachusetts. Though recent scholarship suggests th...
Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm with eosinophilia as a manifestation of Li Fraumeni Syndrome

Li Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is an inherited cancer syndrome associated with germline mutations in the TP53 gene [1]. The revised Chompret criteria outline clinical features used to identify patients...