cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
REGULATION OF GLUTATHIONE SYNTHESIS

Glutathione (GSH) is a ubiquitous intracellular peptide with diverse functions that include detoxification, antioxidant defense, maintenance of thiol status, and modulation of cell proliferation. GSH is synthesized in the cytosol of all mammalian cells in a tightly regulated manner. The major determinants of GSH synthesis are the availability of cysteine, the sulfur amino acid precursor, and the activity of the rate-limiting enzyme, glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL). GCL is composed for a catalytic (GCLC) and modifier (GCLM) subunit and they are regulated at multiple levels and at times differentially. The second enzyme of GSH synthesis, GSH synthase (GS) is also regulated in a coordinated manner as GCL subunits and its up-regulation can further enhance the capacity of the cell to synthesize GSH. Oxidative stress is well known to induce the expression of GSH synthetic enzymes. Key transcription factors identified thus far include Nrf2/Nrf1 via the antioxidant response element (ARE), activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor κ B (NFκB). Dysregulation of GSH synthesis is increasingly being recognized as contributing to the pathogenesis of many pathological conditions. These include diabetes mellitus, pulmonary fibrosis, cholestatic liver injury, endotoxemia and drug-resistant tumor cells. Manipulation of the GSH synthetic capacity is an important target in the treatment of many of these disorders.
Fast mining of distance-based outliers in high-dimensional datasets

Defining outliers by their distance to neighboring data points has been shown to be an effective non-parametric approach to outlier detection. In recent years, many research efforts have looked at developing fast distance-based outlier detection algorithms. Several of the existing distance-based outlier detection algorithms report log-linear time performance as a function of the number of data points on many real low-dimensional datasets. However, these algorithms are unable to deliver the same level of performance on high-dimensional datasets, since their scaling behavior is exponential in the number of dimensions. In this paper, we present RBRP, a fast algorithm for mining distance-based outliers, particularly targeted at high-dimensional datasets. RBRP scales log-linearly as a function of the number of data points and linearly as a function of the number of dimensions. Our empirical evaluation demonstrates that we outperform the state-of-the-art algorithm, often by an order of magnitude.
The concordance genus of knots

In knot concordance three genera arise naturally, g(K), g 4 (K), and g c (K): these are the classical genus, the 4-ball genus, and the concordance genus, defined to be the minimum genus among all knots concordant to K. Clearly 0 < g 4 (K) ≤ g c (K) ≤ g(K). Casson and Nakanishi gave examples to show that g 4 (K) need not equal g c (K). We begin by reviewing and extending their results. For knots representing elements in A, the concordance group of algebraically slice knots, the relationships between these genera are less clear. Casson and Gordon's result that A is nontrivial implies that g 4 (K) can be nonzero for knots in A. Gilmer proved that g 4 (K) can be arbitrarily large for knots in A. We will prove that there are knots K in A with g 4 (K) = 1 and g c (K) arbitrarily large. Finally, we tabulate g c for all prime knots with 10 crossings and, with two exceptions, all prime knots with fewer than 10 crossings. This requires the description of previously unnoticed concordances.
VOLTAGE CONTROL OF MAGNETISM IN MULTIFERROIC HETEROSTRUCTURES AND DEVICES

Multiferroic materials and devices have attracted intensified recent interests due to the demonstrated strong magnetoelectric (ME) coupling in new multiferroic materials and devices with unique functionalities and superior performance characteristics. Strong ME coupling has been demonstrated in a variety of multiferroic heterostructures, including bulk magnetic on ferro/piezoelectric multiferroic heterostructures, magnetic film on ferro/piezoelectric slab multiferroic heterostructures, thin film multiferroic heterostructures, etc. Different multiferroic devices have been demonstrated, which include magnetic sensors, energy harvesters, and voltage tunable multiferroic RF/microwave devices which are compact, lightweight, and power efficient. In this progress report, we cover the most recent progress on multiferroic heterostructures and devices with a focus on voltage tunable multiferroic heterostructures and devices with strong converse ME coupling. Recent progress on magnetic-field tunable RF/microwave dev...
Improving performance : foundations of systemic performance

At its heart, a performance orientation in the public sector is a predisposition to make promises and an ability to deliver them. Some of the key ideas behind this are: 1) responsiveness - reducing the time lag between changed political priorities and corresponding public policy actions; 2) measurement - the quantification of outputs (and occasionally outcomes); 3) managerialism - the relaxation of the enforced consistency in procedures to move towards flexibility with accountability in order to improve efficiency. It is often seen purely as an import from the private sector, but in fact there have always been areas of managerialism within the public sector. Using these ideas, this note describes some of the key technical foundations necessary for moving towards a performance orientation and outlines a pragmatic approach for improving performance, highlighting the part played by changing performance arrangements for senior management.
Bequest and Tax Planning: Evidence from Estate Tax Returns

I study bequest and wealth accumulation behavior of the wealthy (subject to the estate tax) shortly before death. The onset of a terminal illness leads to a very significant reduction in the value of estates reported on tax returns—fifteen to twenty percent with illness lasting "months to years" and about five to ten percent in the case of illness reported as lasting "days to weeks." I provide evidence suggesting that these findings cannot be explained by real shocks to net worth, such as medical expenses or lost income, but instead reflect "deathbed" estate planning. The results suggest that wealthy individuals actively care about disposition of their estates but that this preference is dominated by the desire to hold on to their wealth while alive.
Computing Boolean functions from multiple faulty copies of input bits

Suppose we want to compute a Boolean function f, but instead of receiving the input, we only get l e-faulty copies of each input bit. A typical solution in this case is to take the majority value of the faulty bits for each individual input bit and apply f on the majority values. We call this the trivial construction.We show that if f : {0,1}n → {0, 1} and e are known, the best function construction, F, is often not the trivial one. In particular, in many cases the best F cannot be written as a composition of f with some functions, and in addition it is better to use a randomized F than a deterministic one.We also prove that the trivial construction is optimal in some rough sense: if we denote by l(f) the number of 1/10-biased copies we need from each input to reliably compute f using the best (randomized) recovery function F, and we denote by ltriv(f) the analogous number for the trivial construction, then ltriv(f)=Θ(l(f)). Moreover, both quantities are in Θ(log S(f)), where S(f) is the sensitivity of f.A quantity related to l(f) is Dstat.erand(f) = min Σi = 1n li where li is the number of 1/10-biased copies of xi such that the above number of readings is sufficient to recover f with high probability. This quantity was first introduced by Reischuk and Schmeltz [14] in order to provide lower bounds for the noisy circuit size of f. In this article we give a complete characterization of Dstat.erand(f) through a combinatorial lemma that can be interesting on its own right.
An Implementable Scheme for Universal Lossy Compression of Discrete Markov Sources

We present a new lossy compressor for discrete sources. For coding a source sequence $x^n$, the encoder starts by assigning a certain cost to each reconstruction sequence. It then finds the reconstruction that minimizes this cost and describes it losslessly to the decoder via a universal lossless compressor. The cost of a sequence is given by a linear combination of its empirical probabilities of some order $k+1$ and its distortion relative to the source sequence. The linear structure of the cost in the empirical count matrix allows the encoder to employ a Viterbi-like algorithm for obtaining the minimizing reconstruction sequence simply. We identify a choice of coefficients for the linear combination in the cost function which ensures that the algorithm universally achieves the optimum rate-distortion performance of any Markov source in the limit of large $n$, provided $k$ is increased as $o(\log n)$.
Seebohm, Husserl, and Dilthey

Thomas Seebohm’s comprehensive study Hermeneutics Method and Methodology 1 is an impressive book in three parts. In the first part, Seebohm provides an informative overview of important development...
Antioxidant inhibitors for cancer therapy

Built-in cellular defense mechanisms play a major role in a tumor's protection against non-surgical antineoplastic therapies. Of these, the overexpression of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) may be the most important. Oxygen radicals are highly toxic, and have been implicated in various diseases, including carcinogenesis and aging. They produce a variety of pathological changes through lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. Therefore, treating free-radical-induced diseases with antioxidants has been an accepted therapeutic approach. Ironically, however, the underlying mechanism that most chemotherapeutic agents and ionizing radiation exert on tumor cell kill is not increased antioxidation but rather the production of more free radicals leading to irreversible tissue injury. A small increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) following non-surgical antineoplastic therapies induces the expression of antioxidants such as SOD, but overproduction of ROS, conversely, exhausts the production of SOD and other adaptive antioxidant defenses. Based on these considerations, we hypothesize that the appropriate administration of antioxidant inhibitors and/or free-radical-generating compounds may be a useful strategy in the treatment of solid tumors.
Shaping Bipolar Planetary Nebulae: How Mass Loss Leads to Waistline Development

Asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars generally have spherically symmetric envelopes, whereas most post-AGB stars and planetary nebulae (PNe) show axisymmetric circumstellar envelopes. While various mechanisms for axisymmetric circumstellar structures may explain the shapes of PNe, they do not address how the shape of the circumstellar shell evolves. Here we address the temporal changes in the axisymmetry of AGB star envelopes, and in particular the development of the torus required in the generalized interacting stellar winds (GISW) model. Assuming that (1) an AGB star rotates with sufficient angular speed at the start of the AGB phase, and (2) the rotational angular momentum of the AGB star is conserved, we demonstrate that some very important observational features of AGB star axisymmetry evolution can be reproduced. We find that, compared to the star's increasing luminosity and decreasing effective temperature, the decreasing mass of the star primarily affects the axisymmetry of the envelope. When a representative mass-loss history is adopted in which most of the mass is lost near the end of the AGB phase, the envelope's axisymmetry increases over time, with the strongest increase occurring near the end of the AGB phase. This may naturally explain why most AGB stars have spherically symmetric envelopes, while axisymmetry seems commonplace in the post-AGB/PNe phase. The degree of axisymmetry at the end of the AGB phase is found to increase with increasing main-sequence mass, and the onset of axisymmetry occurs only after the onset of the superwind phase, in good agreement with the observations.
Noncommutative transforms and free pluriharmonic functions

Abstract In this paper, we study free pluriharmonic functions on noncommutative balls [ B ( H ) n ] γ , γ > 0 , and their boundary behavior. These functions have the form f ( X 1 , … , X n ) = ∑ k = 1 ∞ ∑ | α | = k b α X α ⁎ + a 0 I + ∑ k = 1 ∞ ∑ | α | = k a α X α , a α , b α ∈ C , where the convergence of the series is in the operator norm topology for any ( X 1 , … , X n ) ∈ [ B ( H ) n ] γ , and B ( H ) denotes the algebra of all bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space H . The main tools used in this study are certain noncommutative transforms which are introduced in the present paper and which generalize the classical transforms of Berezin, Poisson, Fantappie, Herglotz, and Cayley. Several classical results from complex analysis have free analogues in our noncommutative multivariable setting.
A DISK-BASED DYNAMICAL MASS ESTIMATE FOR THE YOUNG BINARY AK SCO

We present spatially and spectrally resolved Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of gas and dust in the disk orbiting the pre-main sequence (pre-MS) binary AK Sco. By forward-modeling the disk velocity field traced by CO J = 2?1 line emission, we infer the mass of the central binary, , a new dynamical measurement that is independent of stellar evolutionary models. Assuming the disk and binary are co-planar within ?2?, this disk-based binary mass measurement is in excellent agreement with constraints from radial velocity monitoring of the combined stellar spectra. These ALMA results are also compared with the standard approach of estimating masses from the location of the binary in the Hertzsprung?Russell diagram, using several common pre-MS model grids. These models predict stellar masses that are marginally consistent with our dynamical measurement (at ?2?), but are systematically high (by ?10%). These same models consistently predict an age of 18 ? 1 Myr for AK Sco, in line with its membership in the Upper Centaurus?Lupus association but surprisingly old for it to still host a gas-rich disk. As ALMA accumulates comparable data for large samples of pre-MS stars, the methodology employed here to extract a dynamical mass from the disk rotation curve should prove extraordinarily useful for efforts to characterize the fundamental parameters of early stellar evolution.
Fuzzy logic for depth control of Unmanned Undersea Vehicles

Fuzzy logic is a viable control strategy for depth control of undersea vehicles. It has been applied to the low speed ballast control problem for ARPA's Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV), designed and built by Draper Laboratory. A fuzzy logic controller has been designed and tested in simulation that issues pump commands to effect changes in the UUV depth, while also regulating the pitch angle of the vehicle. The fuzzy logic controller performs comparably to the current ballast control design. The controller is also less sensitive to variations in the vehicle configuration and dynamics. The benefits of the fuzzy logic approach for this problem are: 1) simplicity, by not requiring a dynamic model, thus allowing for rapid development of a working design and less sensitivity to plant variations; 2) better matching of the control strategy and complexity with performance objectives and limitations; 3) the insight provided and easy modification of the controller, through the use of linguistic rules. >
Regional productivity convergence in Peru

This paper examines whether labor productivity converged across Peru’s regions (“departments”) during 2002-12. Given the large differences in labor productivity across the regions of Peru, such convergence has the potential to raise aggregate productivity and incomes, and also reduce regional inequalities. The paper finds that labor productivity in the secondary sector (especially manufacturing) and the mining sector has converged across Peruvian departments. The paper does not find robust evidence for labor productivity convergence in agriculture and services. These patterns are consistent with recent cross-country evidence and with the hypothesis that productivity convergence is more likely in sectors with greater scope for market integration, because of the effects of competition and knowledge flows. The convergence in labor productivity within manufacturing and mining has been sufficient to lead to convergence in aggregate labor productivity across departments. But because services and agriculture continue to employ the majority of workers in Peru, aggregate convergence is slower than that within manufacturing. The paper also finds that poverty rates are not converging across departments. The limited impact of labor productivity convergence on poverty could be tied to the facts that not all sectors are experiencing productivity convergence, poorer people are employed in sectors where convergence has been slower (such as agriculture), and there is very little labor reallocation toward converging sectors (such as manufacturing).
Synthesis of cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines via diastereoselective reduction of N-acyl iminium ions

A new procedure for forming cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines having unsaturated side chains has been developed that features the diastereoselective reduction of N-acyl iminium ions, which were formed in situ by acid-catalyzed cyclizations of unsaturated γ-keto carbamates, with triphenylsilane. The sequence was applied to a very concise synthesis of 16, a subunit in the nonpeptide cholecystokinin antagonist (+)-RP-66803.
A Poor Person’s Posterior Predictive Checking of Structural Equation Models

Posterior predictive model checking (PPMC) is a Bayesian model checking method that compares the observed data to (plausible) future observations from the posterior predictive distribution. We propose an alternative to PPMC in the context of structural equation modeling, which we term the poor person’s PPMC (PP-PPMC), for the situation wherein one cannot afford (or is unwilling) to draw samples from the full posterior. Using only by-products of likelihood-based estimation (maximum likelihood estimate and information matrix), the PP-PPMC offers a natural method to handle parameter uncertainty in model fit assessment. In particular, a coupling relationship between the classical p values from the model fit chi-square test and the predictive p values from the PP-PPMC method is carefully examined, suggesting that PP-PPMC might offer an alternative, principled approach for model fit assessment. We also illustrate the flexibility of the PP-PPMC approach by applying it to case-influence diagnostics.
Urinary Biomarkers Under Investigation for Overactive Bladder Syndrome

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a symptom syndrome of urinary urgency, frequency, nocturia, and urge incontinence suggestive of lower urinary tract dysfunction. Detrusor overactivity (DO) during urodynamic testing may be the cause of symptoms in 54–70 % of OAB study participants. The identification of urinary biomarkers is warranted due to the high false negative rate of urodynamic testing results for the diagnosis of DO and for the evaluation of treatment response in study participants with OAB symptoms. We reviewed the published literature on urinary biomarkers under investigation for OAB with Pub Med up to June 2015 using search keywords that included “overactive bladder,” “nerve growth factor (NGF),” “brain-derived nerve growth factor (BDNF),” “prostaglandins,” “cytokines,” and “CRP.” Current evidence suggests that NGF and BDNF appear to be most promising candidates for urinary biomarkers for the diagnosis and the evaluation treatment response.
Soft computing in the design of nontoxic chemicals.

This research focuses on the use of soft computing to aid in the development of novel, state-of-the-art, nontoxic dyes which are of commercial importance to the U.S. textile industry. Where appropriate, modern molecular orbital (MO) and density functional (DF) techniques are employed to establish the necessary databases of molecular properties to be used in conjunction with the neural network approach. In this research, we focused on the following: (1) using molecular modeling to establish databases of various molecular properties of azo dyes required as input for our neural network approach; (2) designing and implementing a neural network architecture suitable to process these databases; and (3) investigating combinations of molecular descriptors needed to predict various properties of the azo dyes.
Lyon Taming by the IRS: Evidence on Tax Deductions

Graham (2005) calls for increased market-based research to prove the existence of the tax benefits of debt without non-tax related, asymmetric information effects confounding the interpretation. This study examines a unique situation where the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) denied the deductibility of interest payments on a particular debt instrument. Consequently, the debt instrument defaults in structure to a bond where the full interest costs and default risk are borne by the firm without the countervailing interest tax shield. My results show that loss of tax deductibility results in a value decrease that is statistically and economically significant. The IRS subsequently reversed its position and restored the deductibility of interest payments resulting in a value increase that was symmetric to the value decrease when deductibility was first denied. The results from these two exogenous events show robustly that debt financing draws a significant advantage from tax-based benefits. LYON TAMING BY THE IRS: EVIDENCE ON TAX DEDUCTIONS
Solving the Phosphorus Pollution Puzzle: Synthesis and Directions for Future Research

Despite the success of efforts to reduce phosphorus (P) pollution from point sources, P from non-point agricultural sources remains a vexing problem with many U.S. water bodies having impairments. Key to solving the P pollution puzzle is to take stock of progress to date, the puzzle pieces available, and the gaps to be filled. In this paper, we synthesize the state of knowledge on P pollution, discuss the state of existing public programs, and review economists’ contributions to informing P pollution policies. We review the water quality valuation literature, identifying limitations in the linkages to policy-relevant environmental quality metrics. We examine how and why P is used agriculturally, along with recent advances in market-based policy design and field testing. We survey new knowledge in biology and engineering, including improved understanding of the fate and transport of P. In light of recent learning and persistent knowledge gaps, we recommend directions for economic research to add needed pieces to the puzzle of how to protect our water bodies. Puzzle gaps meriting attention include mechanisms to target public funds more effectively in voluntary abatement programs, policy design for emerging mitigation technologies, new ways to implement performance-based policies, means to leverage social norms and behavioral cues, changes in the “pay-the-polluter” paradigm, and application of state-of-the-art evaluation methods to conservation programs. Beyond the realm of public policy lies that of private supply chains, where establishment of environmental standards holds additional promise. Rich research opportunities exist for economists in tandem with biologists, engineers, and others
The Off-Farm Occupations of U.S. Farm Operators and Their Spouses

Because of the broad definition of a farm — which includes numerous small operations that produce little or no agricultural commodities in any given year — most farm households earn all of their income from non-farm sources. However, even those operating farms with substantial production often have significant non-farm income. Most non-farm income, in turn, comes from off-farm jobs. Industry and occupation information collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2010 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) provides one indication of how the skills demanded and cultivated on the farm influence off-farm employment incentives and opportunities. Consistent with the notion that farming requires substantial management skills, this study finds that when farm operators and their spouses work off farm, they are most likely to hold a management or professional occupation. This is especially true for households operating larger farms.
Economic Analysis of Crop Insurance Alternatives Under Surface Water Curtailment Uncertainty

This paper reports SERF analysis to help rice landlords in the Upper Coastal Bend of Texas evaluate alternative crop insurance combinations of yield loss and prevented planting coverage levels given uncertainty related to surface irrigation water curtailment. For baseline and high curtailment probability scenarios, prevented planting buy up is preferred.
Raising the Bar for College Admission: North Carolina’s Increase in Minimum Math Course Requirements

We explore the effects of a statewide policy change that increased the number of high school math courses required for admission to four-year public universities in North Carolina. Using data on co...
Imputing for Missing Data in the ARMS Household Section: A Multivariate Imputation Approach

This study proposes a new method to impute for ordinal missing data found in the household section of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). We extend a multivariate imputation method known as Iterative Sequential Regression (ISR) and make use of cut points to transform these ordinal variables into continuous variables for imputation. The household section contains important economic information on the well-being of the farm operator’s household, asking respondents for information on off-farm income, household expenditures, and off-farm debt and assets. Currently, the USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) uses conditional mean imputation in the household section, a method known to bias the variance of imputed variables downward and to distort multivariate relationships. The new transformation of these variables allows them to be jointly modeled with other ARMS variables using a Gaussian copula. A conditional linear model for imputation is then built using correlation analysis and economic theory. Finally, we discuss a Monte Carlo study which will randomly poke holes in the ARMS data to test the robustness of our proposed method. This will allow us to assess how well the adapted ISR imputation method works in comparison with two other missing data strategies, conditional mean imputation and a complete case analysis.
The Customer May Not Always Be Right: Customer Compatibility and Service Performance

This paper investigates the impact of customer compatibility—the degree of fit between customers’ needs and the capabilities of the operations serving them—on customer experiences and firm performa...
Forecasting data vintages

Abstract This article provides a discussion of Clements and Galvao’s paper “Forecasting with vector autoregressive models of data vintages: US output growth and inflation.” Clements and Galvao argue that a multiple-vintage VAR model can be useful for forecasting data that are subject to revisions. They draw a “distinction between forecasting future observations and revisions to past data,” which focuses forecasters’ attention on yet another real time data issue. This comment discusses the importance of taking data revisions into consideration, and compares the multiple-vintage VAR approach of Clements and Galvao to a state space approach.
Self-assembled ion-pair organocatalysis – asymmetric Baeyer–Villiger oxidation mediated by flavinium–cinchona alkaloid dimer

An ion-pair catalyst generated by assembly of a chiral flavinium and a cinchona alkaloid dimer for use in asymmetric Baeyer-Villiger oxidation is presented. Ion-pair formation is essential for enhancing the catalytic activity and stereoselectivity. The catalyst is applicable to structurally diverse 3-substituted cyclobutanones, providing good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98 : 2 e.r.). This study provides the first example of self-assembly of a flavin derivative and a base to form a chiral reaction site that enables a highly stereoselective reaction to occur.
Compaction and segregation of sister chromatids via active loop extrusion

The mechanism by which chromatids and chromosomes are segregated during mitosis and meiosis is a major puzzle of biology and biophysics. Using polymer simulations of chromosome dynamics, we show that a single mechanism of loop extrusion by condensins can robustly compact, segregate and disentangle chromosomes, arriving at individualized chromatids with morphology observed in vivo. Our model resolves the paradox of topological simplification concomitant with chromosome 'condensation', and explains how enzymes a few nanometers in size are able to control chromosome geometry and topology at micron length scales. We suggest that loop extrusion is a universal mechanism of genome folding that mediates functional interactions during interphase and compacts chromosomes during mitosis.
IN-SITU THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF AN EVOLVING CARBON NANOPARTICLE BASED DEPOSIT LAYER UTILIZING A NOVEL INFRARED AND OPTICAL METHODOLOGY

The use of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in internal combustion engines has significant impacts on engine combustion and emissions. EGR can be used to reduce in-cylinder NOx production, reduce fuel consumption, and enable advanced forms of combustion. To maximize the benefits of EGR, the exhaust gases are often cooled with liquid to gas heat exchangers. However, the build up of a fouling deposit layer from exhaust particulates and volatiles result in the decrease of heat exchanger efficiency, and increase the outlet temperature of the exhaust gases, and decrease the advantages of EGR.This paper presents experimental data from a novel in-situ measurement technique in a visualization rig during the development of a 378 micron thick deposit layer. Measurements were performed every 6 hours for up to 24 hours. Results show a non-linear increase in deposit thickness with an increase in layer surface area as deposition continued. Deposit surface temperature and temperature difference across the thickness of the layer was shown to increase with deposit thickness while heat transfer decreased. The provided measurements combine to produce deposit thermal conductivity.A thorough uncertainty analysis of the in-situ technique is presented and suggests higher measurement accuracy at thicker deposit layers and with larger temperature differences across the layer. The interface and wall temperature measurements are identified as the strongest contributors to the measurement uncertainty. Due to instrument uncertainty, the influence of deposit thickness and temperature could not be determined. At an average deposit thickness of 378 microns and at a temperature of 100°C, the deposit thermal conductivity was determined to be 0.044 ± 0.0062 W/mK at a 90% confidence interval based on instrument accuracy.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Decentralizing Network Inference Problems With Multiple-Description Fusion Estimation MDFE

Network inference (or tomography) problems, such as traffic matrix estimation or completion and link loss inference, have been studied rigorously in different networking applications. These problems are often posed as under-determined linear inverse (UDLI) problems and solved in a centralized manner, where all the measurements are collected at a central node, which then applies a variety of inference techniques to estimate the attributes of interest. This paper proposes a novel framework for decentralizing these large-scale under-determined network inference problems by intelligently partitioning it into smaller subproblems and solving them independently and in parallel. The resulting estimates, referred to as multiple descriptions, can then be fused together to compute the global estimate. We apply this Multiple Description and Fusion Estimation (MDFE) framework to three classical problems: traffic matrix estimation, traffic matrix completion, and loss inference. Using real topologies and traces, we demonstrate how MDFE can speed up computation while maintaining (even improving) the estimation accuracy and how it enhances robustness against noise and failures. We also show that our MDFE framework is compatible with a variety of existing inference techniques used to solve the UDLI problems.
Proportionate affine projection algorithms for block-sparse system identification

A new family of block-sparse proportionate affine projection algorithms (BS-PAPA) is proposed to improve the performance for block-sparse systems. This is motivated by the recent block-sparse proportionate normalized least mean square (BS-PNLMS) algorithm. It is demonstrated that the affine projection algorithm (APA), proportionate APA, (PAPA), BS-PNLMS and PNLMS are all special cases of, the proposed BS-PAPA algorithm. Meanwhile, an efficient implementation of the proposed BS-PAPA and block-sparse memory PAPA (BS-MPAPA) are also presented to reduce computational complexity. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed BS-PAPA and BS-MPAPA algorithms outperform the APA, PAPA and MPAPA algorithms for block-sparse system identification in terms of both faster convergence speed and better tracking ability.
On the Presence of Graphite in the Interstellar Medium

The justification for the presence of graphite in the interstellar medium is examined. The conditions necessary for growth of graphite (single crystals) and other structurally disordered carbons are discussed. The effect of structural imperfections on the mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, optic and chemical properties is illustrated. From this information it is concluded that the existence of graphite (single crystals) in the interstellar medium is unlikely. While various forms of highly disordered carbon grains may exist, none would satisfy the physical properties necessary to explain both polarization and extinction simultaneously.
Commodity Storage and the Market Effects of Biofuel Policies

© The Author 2016. Legislation passed in 2007 by the U.S. Congress increased by about 1.3 billion bushels the net amount of corn required to be processed annually into ethanol for motor-fuel use. We estimate that corn prices were about 30% higher from 2006 to 2014 than they would have been without this demand increase. We develop a partially identified structural vector autoregression model. Our identification strategy is unique in the literature because it enables us to estimate the effects of transitory shocks, such as weather, separately from the effects of persistent shocks, such as the increased ethanol mandate. Moreover, by only partially identifying our model, we show how to generate robust conclusions without strong identifying assumptions.
Revisiting the Risk-Neutral Approach to Optimal Policyholder Behavior: A Study of Withdrawal Guarantees in Variable Annuities

Policyholder exercise behavior presents an important risk factor for pricing Variable Annuities. However, approaches presented in the literature—building on value-maximizing strategies akin to pricing American options—do not square with observed price and exercise patterns for popular withdrawal guarantees. We show that including taxes into the valuation closes this gap between theory and practice. In particular, we develop a subjective risk-neutral valuation methodology that takes into consideration differences in the tax structure between investment opportunities. We demonstrate that accounting for tax advantages significantly affects the value of the guarantees and produces results that are in line with empirical patterns.
The HMGB1-RAGE Inflammatory Pathway: Implications for Brain Injury-Induced Pulmonary Dysfunction.

Abstract Significance: Deceased patients who have suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) are the largest source of organs for lung transplantation. However, due to severely compromised pulmonary lung function, only one-third of these patients are eligible organ donors, with far fewer capable of donating lungs (∼20%). As a result of this organ scarcity, understanding and controlling the pulmonary pathophysiology of potential donors are key to improving the health and long-term success of transplanted lungs. Recent Advances: Although the exact mechanism by which TBI produces pulmonary pathophysiology remains unclear, it may be related to the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) from the injured tissue. These heterogeneous, endogenous host molecules can be rapidly released from damaged or dying cells and mediate sterile inflammation following trauma. In this review, we highlight the interaction of the DAMP, high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) with the receptor for advanced glyc...
Primary care physicians' knowledge of and experience with pharmacogenetic testing

With the expansion of drugs available for pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing, primary care physicians (PCPs) will likely become major users of these tests. Pharmacogenetics uses genetic tests to determine the proper and optimal pharmaceutical therapy for an individual patient with the goal of reducing ad
Thermally Robust Au99(SPh)42 Nanoclusters for Chemoselective Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzaldehyde Derivatives in Water

We report the synthesis and catalytic application of thermally robust gold nanoclusters formulated as Au99(SPh)42. The formula was determined by electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry in conjunction with thermogravimetric analysis. The optical spectrum of Au99(SPh)42 nanoclusters shows absorption peaks at ∼920 nm (1.35 eV), 730 nm (1.70 eV), 600 nm (2.07 eV), 490 nm (2.53 eV), and 400 nm (3.1 eV) in contrast to conventional gold nanoparticles, which exhibit a plasmon resonance band at 520 nm (for spherical particles). The ceria-supported Au99(SPh)42 nanoclusters were utilized as a catalyst for chemoselective hydrogenation of nitrobenzaldehyde to nitrobenzyl alcohol in water using H2 gas as the hydrogen source. The selective hydrogenation of the aldehyde group catalyzed by nanoclusters is a surprise because conventional nanogold catalysts instead give rise to the product resulting from reduction of the nitro group. The Au99(SPh)42/CeO2 catalyst gives high ...
Additions to the exclusion map of man

Exclusion mapping was applied to 10 cases of unbalanced chromosomal rearrangements involving 12 different monosomic segments. A range of genetic markers and blood groups were determined. New exclusions arising from the detection of heterozygosity at codominant loci were detected for the unassigned markers at the following segments: (3)(p25→pter), GPT, PI; (4)(q27→31), MNS, JK, PI, C3, F13B; (7)(q22), MNS, LU, GPT, F13A;(12)(p12), MNS; (12)(p13) and (15)(q15), GPT. C3; (12)(pter) and (19)(pter) or (19)(qter), MNS, GPT, PI: and (18)(q21→23), MNS, JK . These exclusions will assist regional localization if the loci are subsequently assigned to the chromosome involved in the exclusion. No new gene assignments were made from the cases where family data were obtained.
Selective oxidation of benzylic and allylic alcohols using Mn(OAc)3/catalytic 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone.

A practical, chemoselective oxidation of alcohols employing catalytic quantities of DDQ as the oxidant and Mn(OAc)3 as the co-oxidant is described. Electron-rich benzylic alcohols are oxidized efficiently to their corresponding carbonyls, but less electron-rich benzylic alcohols remain unchanged. Allylic alcohols are rapidly oxidized to their corresponding aldehyde or ketone counterparts in high yields. This protocol is operationally simple, employs an inexpensive source of Mn(OAc)3, has short reaction times, and exhibits a significant chemoselectivity favoring allylic alcohols over benzylic alcohols. This procedure also avoids the use of very large excesses of reagents and sometimes poor reproducibility that characterize previously developed reagents such as MnO2.
Sexual Selection and Dimorphism in Female Tiger Swallowtails, Papilio glaucus L. (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) : a Reappraisal

Female Papilio glaucus L. may be either black or yellow, whereas males are monomorphic yellow. The black females are Batesian mimics of the pipevine swallowtail, Battus philenor L., and they predominate where the model is common. Quantitative measurements were made of the insemination frequency, egg production, and relative age of both black and yellow females. The results showed no significant differences between the 2 morphs, suggesting that preferential mating of yellow females and longevity of black morphs are not factors in maintaining the dimorphism. The persistence of the black morph in areas where the model is rare or absent may indicate gene flow from other populations or the existence of positive selective value associated with melanism other than mimicry. The problem of sexual selection is discussed with respect to the characteristics of courtship in Lepidoptera.
Peel Mechanics for an Elastic-Plastic Adherend

Abstract The force required to propagate a 180° bend in an elastic-plastic strip has been calculated from elementary bending theory. Measured forces for Mylar strips of various thicknesses, bent to various degrees, were in good agreement with these calculated values. The corresponding additional stripping force in a peeling experiment will depend upon the thickness of the elastic-plastic adherend, becoming zero both for infinitesimally thin adherends and for those exceeding a critical thickness tc and passing through a maximum value at intermediate thicknesses. Published data are in good agreement with these conclusions. For a strongly adhering strip, higher peel strengths are found for a peel angle of 180°, compared to 90°, and the effect is greater than can be accounted for solely by plastic yielding of the adherend. It is attributed in part to greater energy dissipation within the adhesive layer.
Secular Stagnation in the Open Economy

Abstract Conditions of secular stagnation--low interest rates, below target inflation, and sluggish output growth--now characterize much of the global economy. We consider a simple two-country textbook model to examine how capital markets transmit secular stagnation and to study policy externalities across countries. We find capital flows transmit recessions in a world with low interest rates and that policies that attempt to boost national saving are beggar-thy-neighbor. Monetary expansion cannot eliminate a secular stagnation and may have beggar-thy-neighbor effects, while sufficiently large fiscal interventions can eliminate a secular stagnation and carry positive externalities.
Closure operations that induce big Cohen–Macaulay modules and classification of singularities

Abstract Geoffrey Dietz introduced a set of axioms for a closure operation on a complete local domain R so that the existence of such a closure operation is equivalent to the existence of a big Cohen–Macaulay module. These closure operations are called Dietz closures. In complete rings of characteristic p > 0 , tight closure and plus closure satisfy the axioms. We define module closures and discuss their properties. For many of these properties, there is a smallest closure operation satisfying the property. In particular, we discuss properties of big Cohen–Macaulay module closures, and prove that every Dietz closure is contained in a big Cohen–Macaulay module closure. Using this result, we show that under mild conditions, a ring R is regular if and only if all Dietz closures on R are trivial. Finally, we show that solid closure in equal characteristic 0, integral closure, and regular closure are not Dietz closures, and that all Dietz closures are contained in liftable integral closure.
Quorum-Sensing Synchronization of Synthetic Toggle Switches: A Design Based on Monotone Dynamical Systems Theory

Synthetic constructs in biotechnology, biocomputing, and modern gene therapy interventions are often based on plasmids or transfected circuits which implement some form of “on-off” switch. For example, the expression of a protein used for therapeutic purposes might be triggered by the recognition of a specific combination of inducers (e.g., antigens), and memory of this event should be maintained across a cell population until a specific stimulus commands a coordinated shut-off. The robustness of such a design is hampered by molecular (“intrinsic”) or environmental (“extrinsic”) noise, which may lead to spontaneous changes of state in a subset of the population and is reflected in the bimodality of protein expression, as measured for example using flow cytometry. In this context, a “majority-vote” correction circuit, which brings deviant cells back into the required state, is highly desirable, and quorum-sensing has been suggested as a way for cells to broadcast their states to the population as a whole so as to facilitate consensus. In this paper, we propose what we believe is the first such a design that has mathematically guaranteed properties of stability and auto-correction under certain conditions. Our approach is guided by concepts and theory from the field of “monotone” dynamical systems developed by M. Hirsch, H. Smith, and others. We benchmark our design by comparing it to an existing design which has been the subject of experimental and theoretical studies, illustrating its superiority in stability and self-correction of synchronization errors. Our stability analysis, based on dynamical systems theory, guarantees global convergence to steady states, ruling out unpredictable (“chaotic”) behaviors and even sustained oscillations in the limit of convergence. These results are valid no matter what are the values of parameters, and are based only on the wiring diagram. The theory is complemented by extensive computational bifurcation analysis, performed for a biochemically-detailed and biologically-relevant model that we developed. Another novel feature of our approach is that our theorems on exponential stability of steady states for homogeneous or mixed populations are valid independently of the number N of cells in the population, which is usually very large (N ≫ 1) and unknown. We prove that the exponential stability depends on relative proportions of each type of state only. While monotone systems theory has been used previously for systems biology analysis, the current work illustrates its power for synthetic biology design, and thus has wider significance well beyond the application to the important problem of coordination of toggle switches.
Protecting enzymatic function through directed packaging into bacterial outer membrane vesicles

Bacteria possess innate machinery to transport extracellular cargo between cells as well as package virulence factors to infect host cells by secreting outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that contain small molecules, proteins, and genetic material. These robust proteoliposomes have evolved naturally to be resistant to degradation and provide a supportive environment to extend the activity of encapsulated cargo. In this study, we sought to exploit bacterial OMV formation to package and maintain the activity of an enzyme, phosphotriesterase (PTE), under challenging storage conditions encountered for real world applications. Here we show that OMV packaged PTE maintains activity over free PTE when subjected to elevated temperatures (>100-fold more activity after 14 days at 37 °C), iterative freeze-thaw cycles (3.4-fold post four-cycles), and lyophilization (43-fold). We also demonstrate how lyophilized OMV packaged PTE can be utilized as a cell free reagent for long term environmental remediation of pesticide/chemical warfare contaminated areas.