cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Study of Correlation Between International Equity Markets Using Exchange-Traded Funds

ABSTRACT This study utilized weekly closing prices data from three Exchange-Traded Funds representing American, Japanese and European equity markets. The purpose was to examine the joint impact of any two on the third market. Ishares Russell 3000 (IWV), Ishares MSCI Japan (EWJ) and Ishares S&P Europe 350 (IEV) were used to represent the U.S., Japan, the European stock markets, respectively. While the findings indicate that the interdependences among the three markets are significant, there is still room for international portfolio diversification: for example, Japanese investors can realize diversification benefits by investing both in Europe and in the U.S. European and American investors, on the other hand, can diversify portfolios by investing in Japan. The application of multivariate- autoregressive-moving-aver-ages (MARIMA) to the data confirmed the above findings. Finally, the study supported the hypothesis that the international market correlations increase during times of volatility.
A 'User-Friendly' approach to parameter estimation in hydrologic models

Abstract The goal of this paper is to analyze the reliability of the Multi-step Automated Calibration Scheme (MACS) over a variety of climatic and hydrologic conditions. The authors developed MACS for the estimation of parameters for hydrologic models; be it for ‘fine-tuning’ of a priori estimates, or for estimating parameters without a priori knowledge of the system. Optimization methods have advanced over the last few decades, and although they are used extensively by the research community, operational hydrologists have been less eager to implement automated calibration procedures. The authors, under cooperative agreement with the National Weather Service (NWS) Hydrology Laboratory have collaborated to develop a progressive calibration strategy, using ‘in-house’ NWS algorithms to optimize parameters for the hydrologic models used in operational streamflow forecasting: the Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting (SAC-SMA) and the SNOW-17 model. The method, though developed within the NWS forecasting system, can be easily adapted to any hydrologic modeling system. In our current work, MACS has been tested on 20 NWS forecast points (or basins), located in various hydrologic and climatic regimes (five different River Forecast Centers (RFCs)) across the United States. Over half of the basins tested (11) consist of multi-tiered systems in the Western US (i.e. the hydrologic models are run over several elevation zones for one forecast point). The results show comparable, reliable calibrations, similar in quality to the traditional manual techniques, over all of the hydro-climatic regimes used for this study. MACS, generally, produces simulations with desirable performance measures, including improved Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency and lower percent bias. MACS performs well in all regions, even over the complex terrain in the western regions of the United States.
New Isotope Einsteinium-248

The new isotope ${\mathrm{E}}^{248}$ has been identified among the products of the deuteron bombardment of ${\mathrm{Cf}}^{249}$. It decays principally by electron capture with a half-life of 25\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5 minutes and also by the emission of (6.87\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02)-Mev alpha particles. A branching ratio ($\frac{\mathrm{E}.\mathrm{C}.}{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$) of \ensuremath{\sim}400 was determined from the amount of ${\mathrm{Cf}}^{248}$ formed by electron-capture decay of the new isotope. Partial excitation functions supporting the assignment to mass number 248 are presented.
Defect dynamics observed by NMR of quadrupolar nuclei in gallium nitride.

Hexagonal and cubic polytypes of bulk gallium nitride powders are characterized by 69,71Ga and 14N MAS NMR at 11.7 T. The (corrected) 71Ga chemical shifts are 333.0 and 357.5 ppm, respectively; the corresponding 14N chemical shifts are −301.8 and −297.0 ppm (all shifts referenced to 1 M gallium nitrate). The 69,71Ga nuclear quadrupole coupling constants (NQCC) in the hexagonal form are axially symmetric and agree with previous single-crystal determinations. The 71Ga MAS NMR satellite pattern envelope of the cubic form has a large Gaussian half-height width of 297 kHz, due to nonzero NQCC values induced by defects. The 14N MAS NMR spinning sideband pattern of the cubic form has a Lorentzian envelope half-height width of 17.5 kHz for the same reason. A sample containing both phases shows an unexpected marked loss of the 71Ga MAS NMR satellite transition intensity expected for the hexagonal phase. Static 71Ga-selective Hahn spin−echo measurements at the perpendicular edge of the powder pattern for the hexago...
Atomistic simulation of transformation toughening in Ti-V B.C.C. beta phase

It is well-established that the materials evolution at the crack-tip is not directly coupled to the applied load but rather is screened from it by various additional sources of internal stress such as the dislocations, second phase precipitates, microcracks etc. Using the Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation method and the Embedded Atom Method (EAM) interatomic potentials, Hoagland et al. recently carried out a study of the emission of dislocations from the crack tip and its effect on materials toughness. In the present paper, the MD simulation method is used to analyze the crack-tip martensitic phase transformation and its effect on the crack-tip morphology and materials toughness in the b.c.c. beta phase in three Ti-V alloys. To quantify the effect of the crack-tip phase transformation on toughness, the component of the Eshelby`s F conservation integral in the cracking direction was monitored as a function of the extent of the crack-tip martensitic transformation.
Plastic potential theory in large strain elastoplasticity

Abstract The classical theory of isotropie, rate-independent, strain-hardening elastoplasticity based on the “invariance of elastic properties” is reformulated as an incremental state variable theory. In this Eulerian (spatial), formulation, state is described in terms of a scalar work-hardening parameter and a single, finite strain elastic deformation tensor that fixes the elastic stretch ellipsoid in the current configuration. This theoretically “efficient” formulation proves amenable to the consideration of material stability as the postulate of Il'iushin is shown to rigorously extend the classical plastic potential theory into the larger strain/deformation regime in virtually identical form. Special care is taken to establish the precise connection between these theoretical forms and those of Lee, as well as the more general forms of Green and Naghdi. Small strain linearization then serves to justify a particularly convenient frame-invariant generalization of the classical Prandtl-Reuss equations.
Discussion of “Hydrodynamic Loading on River Bridges” by Stefano Malavasi and Alberto Guadagnini

The authors have made a very useful contribution to the understanding of hydrodynamic forces acting on submerged bridge decks approximated as rectangular cylinders. Based on their experimental findings and dimensional analysis, they provided relationships relating hydrodynamic loading coefficients to deckFroude number and geometric-similarity parameters. In particular, an explicit form of the functional relationship between these parameters and the overall drag coefficient was developed from linear-momentum conservation considerations. This discussion is intended to supplement the authors’ contribution by a closer examination of the behavior of drag loading when the circular cylinders interact with the free surface. As pointed out by the authors, results obtained for circular cylinders are not directly applicable to rectangular bridge decks. Nevertheless, the following analysis is useful in that it reveals the intrinsic wave-origin of that interaction, and highlights an alternate hydrodynamic path for arriving at the same parametric relationship developed by the authors. A horizontal cylinder positioned beneath a free surface creates differences in the water-surface level around the body resulting in the formation of standing surface deformations. Lamb ~1945! presented the first analysis of this phenomenon for the case of a two-dimensional, circular, stationary cylinder beneath the free surface of a steady, uniform, potential flow. He assumed the existence of an irrotational ~potential! flow around a circular cylinder with diameter D,z, where z is the distance from the cylinder’s axis to the undisturbed free surface. The free-surface displacement hsx , t.0d about the undisturbed free surface, hsx ,0d=0, where x is the streamwise distance from the vertical passing through the cylinder’s axis and t is time, as developed by Lamb and normalized by the discusser, is given by
Spontaneous flavor and parity breaking with Wilson fermions

We discuss the phase diagram of Wilson fermions in the m{sub 0}{minus}g{sup 2} plane for two-flavor QCD. We argue that, as originally suggested by Aoki, there is a phase in which flavor and parity are spontaneously broken. Recent numerical results on the spectrum of the overlap Hamiltonian have been interpreted as evidence against Aoki{close_quote}s conjecture. We show that they are in fact consistent with the presence of a flavor-parity broken {open_quotes}Aoki phase.{close_quotes} We also show how, as the continuum limit is approached, one can study the lattice theory using the continuum chiral Lagrangian supplemented by additional terms proportional to powers of the lattice spacing. We find that there are two possible phase structures at non-zero lattice spacing: (1) there is an Aoki phase of width {Delta}m{sub 0}{approximately}a{sup 3} with two massless Goldstone pions; (2) there is no symmetry breaking, and all three pions have an equal non-vanishing mass of order a. Present numerical evidence suggests that the former option is realized for Wilson fermions. Our analysis then predicts the form of the pion masses and the flavor-parity breaking condensate within the Aoki phase. Our analysis also applies for non-perturbatively improved Wilson fermions. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Biphasic defibrillation does not improve outcomes compared to monophasic defibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Study Objective. To compare the outcomes of out-of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) victims treated with monophasic truncated exponential (MTE) versus biphasic truncated exponential (BTE) defibrillation in an urban EMS system. Methods. We conducted a retrospective review of electronic prehospital andhospital records for victims of OHCA between August 2000 andJuly 2004, including two years before andafter implementation of biphasic defibrillators by the Fresno County EMS agency. Main outcome measures included: return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), number of defibrillations required for ROSC, survival to hospital discharge, anddischarge to home versus an extended care facility. Results. There were 485 cases of cardiac arrest included. Baseline characteristics between the monophasic andbiphasic groups were similar. ROSC was achieved in 77 (30.6%, 95% CI 25.2–36.5%) of 252 patients in the monophasic group, andin 70 (30.0% 95% CI 24.5–36.2%) of 233 in the biphasic group (p =. 92). Survival to hospital discha...
Lack of irrefutable validation does not negate clinical utility of near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring: Learning to trust new technology

Reliance on new monitoring device technology is based upon an understanding of how the device operates and its reliability in a specific clinical setting. The introduction of new monitoring devices will therefore elicit either distrust of the new technology and the data presented or adoption of new devices. The use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology to monitor vital organs in postoperative pediatric cardiac surgery patients has been extensively described yet controversy remains as to the use of this monitoring device. The following retrospective case series demonstrates how learning from trends in data elicited from 2-site NIRS monitoring provided important bedside insights. These insights led to changes in clinician behavior and reliance on NIRS monitoring for early recognition of clinically silent deteriorations. Disregard for the NIRS data may have led to a fatal outcome in an unstable patient who might have received more timely intervention if the NIRS data had been acknowledged earlier. This case series demonstrates that 2-site NIRS monitoring accurately reflects situations in which poor clinical outcomes may occur when declining trends in somatic tissue oxygen saturations are not corrected. Physician management of the postoperative pediatric cardiac surgery patient can change based upon the insights gained through the application of NIRS monitoring.
Markers of Inflammation Are Heritable and Associated with Subcutaneous and Ectopic Skeletal Muscle Adiposity in African Ancestry Families

Abstract Background: Skeletal muscle adipose tissue (AT) infiltration, or myosteatosis, appears to be greater in African compared with European ancestry individuals and may play a role in type 2 di...
Effects of two years of estrogen loss or replacement on nucleus basalis cholinergic neurons and cholinergic fibers to the dorsolateral prefrontal and inferior parietal cortex of monkeys.

The present study examined the long-term (2 years) effects of estrogen loss or estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on cholinergic neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert and on cholinergic fibers in the prefrontal and parietal cortex of adult female cynomolgus monkeys. Cholinergic fiber density in layer II of the prefrontal cortex was decreased in monkeys who were ovariectomized and treated with placebo for 2 years. In contrast, ovariectomized monkeys receiving ERT for 2 years had fiber densities that were comparable to those of intact controls. No differences in parietal cholinergic fiber density or nucleus basalis cholinergic neuron number or volume were found among intact, ovariectomized, or ERT monkeys. Our results suggest that ERT is effective in preventing region-specific changes in cortical cholinergic fibers that result from the loss of circulating ovarian hormones. These modest but appreciable effects on cholinergic neurobiology following long-term estrogen loss and ERT may contribute to changes in visuospatial attention function that is mediated by the prefrontal cortex. J. Comp. Neurol. 469:507–521, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Internal melting in Antarctic sea ice: Development of “gap layers”

[1] An internal “gap” layer of deteriorated sea ice is co-located with a significant microbial biological community in late first year and second year Antarctic sea ice in summer. We modeled gap layer formation using a thermal flux model based on the summer reversal in thermal gradient and the thermal conductivity found in the upper ice column. The conductive model gives internal sea ice melt rates (gap layer formation rates) between 0.1 to 0.75cm/day. The cumulative melted layer thicknesses during summer computed from these rates agree with field observations. Since the processes for forming these structures act in the vertical direction only and over a significant range of expected conditions, they are commonly formed in the Antarctic sea ice zone during summer, supporting a significant contribution of gap layers to the ice mass balance and productivity on a circumpolar basis.
Competition between Grb2 and Plcγ1 for FGFR2 regulates basal phospholipase activity and invasion

FGFR2-expressing human cancer cells with low concentrations of the adaptor protein Grb2 show high prevalence for metastatic outcome. In nonstimulated cells, the SH3 domain (and not the SH2 domains) of Plcγ1 directly competes for a binding site at the very C terminus of FGFR2 with the C-terminal SH3 domain of Grb2. Reduction of Grb2 concentration permits Plcγ1 access to the receptor. Recruitment of Plcγ1 in this way is sufficient to upregulate phospholipase activity. This results in elevated phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate turnover and intracellular calcium levels, thus leading to increased cell motility and promotion of cell-invasive behavior in the absence of extracellular receptor stimulation. Therefore, metastatic outcome can be dictated by the constitutive competition between Grb2 and Plcγ1 for the phosphorylation-independent binding site on FGFR2.
Behavior of Dinonylphenol Phosphate Ester and its influence on the oxidation of a Zn anode in alkaline solution

Abstract Adsorption and desorption of Dinonylphenol Phosphate Ester (DPE), on the surface of a zinc anode in alkaline solution during discharge, have been studied by AC impedance and numerical fitting techniques. The processes were found reversible only during the initial oxidation. The mechanism of the corrosion inhibition caused by the surfactant was investigated and it was found that both the geometrically blocking effect and the increase of hydrogen evolution overpotential might contribute to the reduction of the corrosion rate. The initial potential “dip” during the discharge of an alkaline zinc cell was found to have resulted from surface coverage of the surfactant.
Spatial and temporal variability of guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) fuel loads and moisture on Oahu, Hawaii

Frequent wildfires in tropical landscapes dominated by non-native invasive grasses threaten surrounding ecosystems and developed areas. To better manage fire, accurate estimates of the spatial and temporal variability in fuels areurgentlyneeded.Wequantifiedthespatialvariabilityinliveanddeadfinefuelloadsandmoisturesatfourguineagrass (Megathyrsus maximus) dominated sites. To assess temporal variability, we sampled these four sites each summer for 3 years(2008-2010)andalsosampledfuelloads,moisturesandweathervariablesbiweeklyatthreesitesfor1year.Liveand dead fine fuel loads ranged spatially from 0.85 to 8.66 and 1.50 to 25.74Mgha � 1 respectively, and did not vary by site or year. Biweekly live and dead fuel moistures varied by 250 and 54% respectively, and were closely correlated (P,0.05) with soil moisture, relative humidity, air temperature and precipitation. Overall, fine fuels and moistures exhibited tremendous variability, highlighting the importance of real-time, site-specific data for fire prevention and management. However, tight correlations with commonly quantified weather variables demonstrates the capacity to accurately predict fuel variables across large landscapes to better inform management and research on fire potential in guinea grass ecosystems in Hawaii and throughout the tropics.
Hippocampal atrophy and the prognosis of epilepsy: some answers, more questions.

In patients whose epilepsy is well controlled by antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), the question usually arises as to whether AEDs can be stopped. The decision depends on the ability to predict risk of recurrence for each individual. This risk is in turn dependent on numerous factors including psychosocial concerns, seizure type and severity, or the epilepsy syndrome.1 Many of the studies to date have focused on children and included large proportions of patients with traditional idiopathic epilepsies of childhood. In these studies, risk was modeled as a function of easily assessed clinical and historical factors rather than as a function of the epilepsy syndrome. A systematic review from 19942 based on 25 different studies, many of children only, found that patients with remote symptomatic etiology3 or an abnormal EEG prior to AED reduction had an increased risk of seizure recurrence. Results from these studies in children have been to …
Studying Biodiversity on Private Lands

More than half of the land in the United States is privately owned. Private lands harbor a great amount of biodiversity, including at least some habitat for 95% of the federally listed species in the United States. It is important to conduct conservation biology research on private lands, but our review of the litera- ture indicates that few conservation-oriented field studies are conducted on private property. Based on our success in obtaining permission to conduct research on 43 land parcels in Sonoma County, California, we de- veloped methods to enhance a conservation biologist's chance of obtaining permission to work on private lands. We provide guidelines for researchers to conduct studies successfully on private land with the goal of improving access, data collection, and relationships with private landowners. We also discuss constraints re- searchers face, such as designing studies appropriate for working on privately owned parcels. In light of the importance of these lands to biodiversity conservation, greater effort should be made to conduct research on private lands.
Favorable noise uniformity properties of Fourier-based interpolation and reconstruction approaches in single-slice helical computed tomography.

Volumes reconstructed by standard methods from single-slice helical computed tomography(CT) data have been shown to have noise levels that are highly nonuniform relative to those in conventional CT. These noise nonuniformities can affect low-contrast object detectability and have also been identified as the cause of the zebra artifacts that plague maximum intensity projection (MIP) images of such volumes. While these spatially variant noise levels have their root in the peculiarities of the helical scan geometry, there is also a strong dependence on the interpolation and reconstruction algorithms employed. In this paper, we seek to develop image reconstruction strategies that eliminate or reduce, at its source, the nonuniformity of noise levels in helical CT relative to that in conventional CT. We pursue two approaches, independently and in concert. We argue, and verify, that Fourier-based longitudinal interpolation approaches lead to more uniform noise ratios than do the standard 360LI and 180LI approaches. We also demonstrate that a Fourier-based fan-to-parallel rebinning algorithm, used as an alternative to fanbeam filtered backprojection for slice reconstruction, also leads to more uniform noise ratios, even when making use of the 180LI and 360LI interpolation approaches.
Nanoscale Optical Computing Using Resonance Energy Transfer Logic

Drawing on the nanometer-placement capabilities of self-assembly fabrication methods, the authors propose a new nanoscale device based on a single-molecule optical phenomenon called resonance energy transfer. This device enables a complete integrated technology, providing a potential path to molecular-scale computing. The authors present several important circuit elements, show how to compose these elements into computational nodes, and outline initial steps toward a prototype system.
DNA base mismatch detection with bulky rhodium intercalators: synthesis and applications

This protocol describes the syntheses and applications of two metallointercalators, Rh(bpy)_2(chrysi)^(3+) and Rh(bpy)_2(phzi)^(3+), that target single base mismatches in DNA. The complexes bind mismatched DNA sites specifically and, upon photoactivation, promote strand scission neighboring the mismatch. Owing to their high specificity and sequence context independence, targeting mismatches with these complexes offers an attractive alternative to current mismatch- and SNP-detection methodologies. This protocol also describes the synthesis of these complexes and their use in marking mismatched sites. Irradiation of 32P-labeled duplex DNA with either intercalator followed by denaturing PAGE allows the detection of mismatches in oligonucleotides. The protocol also outlines a method for efficient detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in larger genes or plasmids. Pooled genes are denatured and re-annealed to form heteroduplexes; they are then incubated with either complex, irradiated and analyzed using capillary electrophoresis to probe for mismatches (SNP sites). The synthesis of the metallointercalators requires approximately 5–7 d. The mismatch- and SNP-detection experiments each require approximately 3 d.
Direct influence of serotonin on the larval heart of Drosophila melanogaster

The heart rate (HR) of larval Drosophila is established to be modulated by various neuromodulators. Serotonin (5-HT) showed dose-dependent responses in direct application within semi-intact preparations. At 1 nM, HR decreased by 20% while it increased at 10 nM (10%) and 100 nM (30%). The effects plateaued at 100 nM. The action of 5-HT on the heart was examined with an intact Central Nervous System (CNS) and an ablated CNS. The heart and aorta of dorsal vessel pulsate at different rates at rest and during exposure to 5-HT. Splitting the heart and aorta resulted in a dramatic reduction in pulse rate of both the segments and the addition of 5-HT did not produce regional differences. The split aorta and heart showed a high degree of sensitivity to sham changes of saline but no significant effect to 5-HT. Larvae-fed 5-HT (1 mM) did not show any significant change in HR. Since 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is known to act as a weak agonist on 5-HT receptors in vertebrates, we tested an exogenous application; however, no significant effect was observed to dosage ranging from 1 nM to 100 μM in larvae with and without an intact CNS. In summary, direct application of 5-HT to the larval heart had significant effects in a dose-dependent manner while MDMA had no effect.
Identification of Small RNAs Associated with Meiotic Silencing by Unpaired DNA

In Neurospora crassa, unpaired genes are silenced by a mechanism called meiotic silencing by unpaired DNA (MSUD). Although some RNA interference proteins are necessary for this process, its requirement of small RNAs has yet to be formally established. Here we report the characterization of small RNAs targeting an unpaired region, using Illumina sequencing.
The “I” in the Gene: Divided Property, Fragmented Personhood, and the Making of a Genetic Privacy Law

In this article, I explore the making and remaking of Oregon's Genetic Privacy Act, one of the first genetic privacy laws passed in the United States. New genetic technologies have provoked debates about medical privacy and property rights to the body and products derived from the body, and a majority of states have passed legislation regarding the use and disclosure of genetic information. Research in medical anthropology has increasingly focused on the politicized and fragmented body in modern science. As genetic privacy debates demonstrate, however, not only is the body increasingly subject to fragmentation but the property and privacy interests in bodies, body parts, and products derived from bodies are also increasingly subject to division. This article is based on my role as a member of two statewide advisory commissions from 1999 to 2005, the recordings and minutes of their meetings, legislation, testimony from legislative hearings, media coverage of the debate in Oregon, and letters to the editors of local newspapers.
Speed and efficiency but not accuracy or timing deficits of limb movements in alcoholic men and women.

Background: Lesions of the cerebellum, a concomitant of alcoholism, can disrupt quality and regularity of movement. Whether evidence for such dysfunction lingers in patients with uncomplicated alcoholism, which is known to affect cerebellar structural integrity, is controversial. Methods: We used quantitative measures to examine component processes of five classes of movement associated with regional cerebellar function: limb ataxia (alternated finger tapping and variants of the finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin tests), paced tapping, eye-hand coordinated tracing, timed response reflecting preparation and execution time, and postural stability. The subjects examined were 39 abstinent alcoholics (13 men and 26 women) and 21 age-matched controls (9 men and 12 women). For limb ataxia, the dependent measures were the trajectory deviation from the subject's own average movement path and the speed of travel from beginning points to endpoints. Results: Repeated-measures analysis of variance comparing movement speed of finger to nose and heel to shin yielded significant interactions in all conditions (p < 0.007); this indicated that the alcoholics were relatively slower in the upper- than lower-limb tasks. Movements by the alcoholic men were significantly slower but less deviant from an ideal trajectory in all upper-limb conditions than those of the control men (p < 0.002). Although measures of lower-limb movement trajectory did not distinguish the groups, tests of ataxia of stance and gait did. The groups did not differ, however, on tests of timed tapping or sinusoid tracing. Conclusions: Alcohol-related postural instability in abstinent alcoholics is functional evidence supporting the postulated damage to the anterior superior vermis. Altered speed or accuracy trade-offs, with alcoholics moving slower to attain equivalent or even smaller trajectory deviations, are symptomatic of cerebellar hemisphere dysfunction that is characterized by deliberation of otherwise automatic movements.
Distinguished Lecture on Economics in Government Reflections on Managing Global Integration

The language of public policy is increasingly the language of economics, and sophisticated policy formulation depends to an ever greater extent on an understanding of economic concepts. Over the last six years I have spent at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, I have had the chance to be present when concepts ranging from “superlative price indices” to “multiple equilibrium” to “the liquidity trap” to “dynamic hedging” to “shadow pricing” were discussed with the President of the United States. Where it was once the case that the president’s Council of Economic Advisers waged a lonely battle for “good” economics in the federal government, today first-rate economists staff departments ranging from Treasury to Labor to Commerce to Justice to the Environmental Protection Agency, and they hold line as well as advisory positions. While academic interlopers serving as political appointees (like myself) may get a majority of the attention, a majority of the greater economic literacy of government policy in areas ranging from tax policy to telecommunications policy, from monetary policy to manpower policy, from financial policy to forestry policy, is the result of the steady perseverance of career government economists. As remarkable as the penetration of economics and economists into the American government has been, their penetration into even higher levels of governments around the world is even more notable. A decade ago, Mexican President Zedillo was a practicing monetary economist in the Bank of Mexico. Two recent Italian Prime Ministers—Romano Prodi and Lamberto Dini— have distinguished records as economic thinkers. Lest anyone think all those trained in economics think alike, Russian Prime Minister Primakov holds a doctorate in political economy. There are too many examples to catalogue of economists at the level of finance minister and central bank governor: consider the influence of
Networked, asynchronous assessment of ongoing instruction

A system for anonymous assessment of ongoing instruction by students is being implemented and used in an undergraduate electrical engineering course on circuit theory. Students submit their detailed assessments through a conferencing system, topic-by-topic as the course proceeds. An intermediary is used to provide anonymity and verification. The teacher receives the assessments forwarded by the intermediary and then posts responses. The system provides a means for obtaining regular, structured feedback about classroom instruction using a fixed-format questionnaire. It is asynchronous and requires almost no use of class time. Students are required to participate and are given a small amount of credit towards their course grade. Reasonable deadlines and the asynchronous operation provide flexibility and yet allow feedback in-time to improve ongoing instruction. This topic-specific feedback on classroom instruction and other course work provides the type of detailed information from enrolled students needed to evaluate and improve the course and the instruction.
Ultrasound follow up of an adnexal mass has the potential to save lives

Ovarian cancer is among the most dreaded cancers since it is often found at a late stage where the opportunity for extended survival is poor. Ultrasound has been utilized in several ovarian cancer screening trials in asymptomatic women in order to detect ovarian cancer at early stages where survival rates are high. Efforts to improve screening for ovarian cancer are ongoing. While ovarian cancer screening in asymptomatic women is not recommended for clinical application currently, the care of women with adnexal masses found by ultrasound in clinical practice can benefit from close evaluation of the evidence obtained from large prospective ovarian cancer screening trials and by relating this evidence to recent advances in the understanding of different types of ovarian cancer. Post-menopausal women who have an adnexal mass discovered by ultrasound have a much higher risk of developing ovarian cancer than women with normal ultrasound. The preponderance of reported evidence indicates that ultrasound monitoring of an adnexal mass is safe, cost effective and can achieve an improved positive predictive value in detecting ovarian cancer when ovarian abnormalities resolve during surveillance. Proposals to arbitrarily discontinue ultrasound monitoring can negatively impact patient care and generate medical-legal actions, especially because there is no evidence to support safe discontinuation. In this review, we outline a rationale for continuing ultrasound surveillance of ovarian abnormalities.
What a tangled web we weave: lying backfires in location-sharing social media

Prior research shows that a root cause of many privacy concerns in location-sharing social media is people's desire to preserve offline relationship boundaries. Other literature recognizes lying as an everyday phenomenon that preserves such relationship boundaries by facilitating smooth social interactions. Combining these strands of research, one might hypothesize that people with a predisposition to lie would generally have lower privacy concerns since lying is a means to preserve relationship boundaries. We tested this hypothesis using structural equation modeling on data from a survey administered nationwide (N=1532), and found that for location-sharing, people with a high propensity to lie actually have increased boundary preservation concerns as well as increased privacy concerns. We explain these findings using results from semi-structured interviews.
An algorithmic study of DDR3 SDRAM on-die termination switch timings

Given the increasing clock signaling rates used by digital memory subsystems, it has become progressively more important that DDR3 SDRAM provide well-controlled impedance to the signal transmission path. The DDR3 specification requires flexible termination, and conformance to analog timing specifications under various operating modes is necessary to ensure reliable system operation. The direct measurement and test of these timings is not possible using simple pass/fail voltage comparators, in the absence of purpose-built hardware (to measure the linear-extrapolated voltage slew rates as defined in the specifications sheet). To get around this limitation, these timing limits are tested in the backend component test flows with two test comparator strobes (per spec) placed at alternative timing and voltage positions. These strobes judge and ensure compliance to MIN and MAX (fastest and slowest) ODT transition timings. The selection of voltage-level and timing-edge offsets requires time-consuming analysis of “shmoo” charts, which are test comparator pass/fail results plotted out across different voltage and timing sweep positions. In this paper, we will share the theory behind an algorithm to visually recognize and extract various signal transition metrics, including slew rates, spec/test points, test-point, and voltage/time offsets from shmoo charts automatically.
Does Increased Coefficient of Friction of Highly Porous Metal Increase Initial Stability at the Acetabular Interface

Abstract Background Highly porous metal acetabular components illustrate a decreased rate of aseptic loosening in short-term follow-up compared with previous registry data. This study compared the effect of component surface roughness at the bone–implant interface and the quality of the bone on initial pressfit stability. The null hypothesis is that a standard porous coated acetabular cup would show no difference in initial stability as compared with a highly porous acetabular cup when subjected to a bending moment. Second, would bone mineral density (BMD) be a significant variable under these test conditions. Methods In a cadaveric model, acetabular cup micromotion was measured during a 1-time cantilever bending moment applied to 2 generations of pressfit acetabular components. BMD data were also obtained from the femoral necks available for associated specimen. Results The mean bending moment at 150 μm was not found to be significantly different for Gription (24.6 ± 14.0 N m) cups vs Porocoat (25 ± 10.2 N m; P > .84). The peak bending moment tolerated by Gription cups (33.9 ± 20.3 N m) was not found to be significantly different from Porocoat (33.5 ± 12.2 N m; P > .92). No correlation between BMD and bending moment at 150 μm of displacement could be identified. Conclusion The coefficient of friction provided by highly porous metal acetabular shells used in this study did not provide better resistance to migration under bending load when compared with a standard porous coated component.
Effects of feeding perennial peanut hay on growth, development, attainment of puberty, and fertility in beef replacement heifers1

The objective of this experiment was to determine the influence of supplementation with perennial peanut hay (Arachis glabrata Benth.) on growth performance and age at puberty in growing beef cattle heifers. Over a 2-yr period, 120 heifers were randomly allocated into 12 pens and assigned to 1 of 3 supplement treatments: 80% corn and 20% soybean meal supplement (CSBM), perennial peanut hay supplementation (PPH), and a control, which received no supplement (CON). All heifers received ad libitum access to bermudagrass hay [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] during the 140-d developmental phase. Following the developmental phase, heifers were commingled for an 84-d breeding season during the breeding phase. The mean age of the heifers at the initiation of yr 1 was 270 ± 21.7 d of age, and mean BW was 244 ± 23.7 kg. In yr 2, the mean was 255 ± 23.9 d of age with a mean BW of 226 ± 29.7 kg. Period influenced ADG (P = 0.002), and treatment affected ADG, with the CON tending (P = 0.06) to have lesser ADG than the CSBM and PPH heifers. There was a treatment × day interaction (P = 0.06) on mean BW, with heifers in the CON treatment being lighter at the end of the development phase (P = 0.02). Total DMI during the 140-d development phase was greater (P < 0.01) for PPH (5.3 ± 0.25 kg/heifer per d) than for CON (3.4 ± 0.25 kg/heifer per d) and CSBM heifers (4.3 ± 0.25 kg/heifer per d), with CSBM being greater than CON. There was no effect of treatment on age (P = 0.32), BW (P = 0.16), and BCS (P = 0.27) at attainment of puberty, nor the days on treatment until puberty was attained (P = 0.42). In addition, no differences in fetal age (P = 0.34) existed; however, treatment affected overall pregnancy rates (PR; P = 0.015), with PPH and CSBM heifers having greater pregnancy rates than the CON heifers. In conclusion, treatment affected the DMI, BW, and ADG, with the supplemented heifers being greater. Whereas, attainment of puberty was not affected by treatment, the overall pregnancy rate was greater for the supplemented heifers, with there being no difference between PPH- and CSBM-supplemented heifers. Therefore, PPH is a viable feed option in the southeastern United States of America for replacement-heifer development.
Commentary on: Visual, Physiological, and Aesthetic Factors and Pitfalls in Asian Blepharoplasty

Upper blepharoplasty (or double eyelid surgery) is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures for Asians.1 Just like any other cosmetic surgical procedure, careful evaluation of patient anatomy, proper selection of the procedure, precisely performing the procedure, and suitable postoperative care are key for an optimal outcome after Asian upper blepharoplasty.2 This Special Topic article, entitled “Visual, Physiological and Aesthetic Factors and Pitfalls in Asian Blepharoplasty,” is a good example of an article written by an experienced Asian blepharoplasty surgeon.3 It starts by emphasizing the importance of upper eyelid anatomy in Asian patients, followed by analyzing some of the common problems in Asian upper blepharoplasty, including the less optimal height of the upper eyelid skin crease, the wrong placement of non-absorbable suture in the upper eyelid that changes its normal anatomy, and the careless closure of the upper eyelid incision, causing functional and anatomic disturbance of the upper eyelid. In general, the upper eyelid is a 7-layer structure that contains skin, orbicularis muscle, orbital septum, preaponeurotic fat pads, the levator muscle, the Mueller's muscle, and upper tarsus, and conjunctiva. One should always pay attention to the differences between Asian and Caucasian upper eyelids in terms of the anatomy, especially preseptal fat, which does not exist in Caucasians.2,4 A schematic diagram clearly demonstrates the distinctive anatomy of the Asian upper eyelid in comparison with that of a Caucasian (Figure 1). Figure 1. A schematic diagram showing the differences of anatomic structures between Asian and Caucasian upper eyelid. Adapted from Park DD.2 We agree with the author that levator function should always be evaluated as one of the important preoperative evaluations for any potential Asian upper blepharoplasty patients. As a matter of fact, levator plication during an open Asian upper blepharoplasty may enhance cosmetic …
Clear cell carcinoma of the cervix and vagina in young women: a report of six cases with association of maternal stilbestrol therapy and adenosis of the vagina.

Abstract Six young women, between the ages of 16 and 20 years, with clear cell carcinoma (4 of the vagina and 2 of the cervix) were treated at the University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center from 1968 through 1971. Irregular vaginal bleeding was the primary symptom. The lesions were described as papillary, fungating, nodular, or granular and showed no predilection for a specific level in the lower reproductive tract. A high degree of associated adenosis of the vagina was noted. Pelvic lymph node metastases were found in 3 patients. Radical pelvic operation has been effective in the management. Two patients have developed isolated distant metastases, but all 6 are living and well one to 4 years following the initiation of treatment. In 5 cases there was a reliable history of maternal hormone administration during pregnancy. There is good evidence that these tumors are of the paramesonephric (Mullerian) duct rather than the mesonephric (Wolffian) duct in origin.
Modulation of Cardiac Potassium Current by Neural Tone and Ischemia

The cardiac action potential is generated by intricate flows of ions across myocyte cell membranes in a coordinated fashion to control myocardial contraction and the heart rhythm. Modulation of the flow of these ions in response to a variety of stimuli results in changes to the action potential. Abnormal or altered ion currents can result in cardiac arrhythmias. Abnormalities of autonomic regulation of potassium current play a role in the genesis of cardiac arrhythmias, and alterations in acetylcholine-activated potassium channels may play a key role in atrial fibrillation. Ischemia is another important modulator of cardiac cellular electrophysiology.
Localized insulin amyloidosis with use of concentrated insulin: a potential complication

Background Insulin-derived amyloidosis is a rare form of amyloidosis composed of insulin fibrils. The pH and concentration of insulin are known to influence the conformational state of the insulin hormone, with an increasing concentration favouring a more complex conformation. Concentrated insulin delivers a large amount of insulin to a localized area, raising the possibility of inducing conformational changes, forming insulin fibrils and leading to localized insulin amyloidosis. Case report A middle-aged woman with long history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, treated with concentrated human insulin (U-500 insulin) presented with nodular lesions at the site of her daily insulin injections. A punch biopsy of the nodules showed skin with dermal amyloidosis staining favourably with Congo Red stain. The amyloid tumours were resected and areas positive for Congo Red stain were sent for liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, which showed a peptide profile consistent with amyloid insulin. Conclusion Concentrated insulin was first introduced in 1952, however, it is only over the last two decades that it has been used increasingly, in congruence with the increasing incidence of obesity and diabetes mellitus seen in the USA. Only a few cases of insulin amyloidosis at the site of injection have been described in literature. With the increase in the use of insulin, this complication seems to be occurring more frequently. This is the first case report of a person with diabetes mellitus who developed localized insulin amyloidosis with the use of concentrated insulin, and points towards a potential complication of developing insulin amyloidosis with the use of concentrated insulin.
LOL-LOL: Little Old Lady—Lots of Lido

This case discusses a pharmacodynamic interaction between lidocaine and bupivacaine. Coadministration causes a synergistic anesthetic effect in the peripheral nerve system with additive cardiovascular and central nervous system toxicity.
Effects of iron-deprivation on the activation of NFκB and the expression of multidrug resistance gene 1 of K562 cells induced by daunorubicin

Aim: To observe the effects of iron-deprivation on the expression of multidrug resistance gene1(MDR1)and activation of NF-κB K562 cells induced by daunorubicin(DNR). Methods: RT-PCR and flow cytometry assay were used respectively to detect the expression of MDR1 mRNA and P glyloprotein(Pgp) after K562 cells receiving the treatment of 25 μmol/L iron chelator-desferioxamine (DFO) only or added with 1.0 μmol/L DNR.The DNA-binding activation of NF-κB was detected by using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). K562 cells without any treatment served as control.Results: Compared with the control group,the expressions of MDR1, Pgp and the activation in NF-κB in K562 cells could be induce by DNR(P0.05). When K562 cells were cultured with 25 μmol/L DFO for 24 h,the expressions of MDR1, Pgp and the activation of NF-κB induced by DNR were significantly suppressed(P0.05). Conclusion: Iron-deprivation could decrease the expressions of MDR1 and Pgp and the activation of NF-κB in K562 cells induced by DNR,the mechanism may be related to suppressing the activation of NF-κB.