cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Iterative Approach to Base Station Positioning In Cellular Networks

We consider the problem of finding the optimal spatial configuration of a number of base stations in a cellular network. We propose a framework to approximately maximize the average signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), with respect to the positions of a fixed number of base stations. An iterative algorithm is proposed in the one-dimensional case and the convergence of the algorithm is proved. The generalization to higher dimensions is straightforward. Additional simulation studies verify the convergence and satisfactory performance of the proposed algorithm for a variety of scenarios.
Confidence Sets for Network Structure

Latent variable models are frequently used to identify structure in dichotomous network data, in part because they give rise to a Bernoulli product likelihood that is both well understood and consistent with the notion of exchangeable random graphs. In this article we propose conservative confidence sets that hold with respect to these underlying Bernoulli parameters as a function of any given partition of network nodes, enabling us to assess estimates of residual network structure, that is, structure that cannot be explained by known covariates and thus cannot be easily verified by manual inspection. We demonstrate the proposed methodology by analyzing student friendship networks from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health that include race, gender, and school year as covariates. We employ a stochastic expectation-maximization algorithm to fit a logistic regression model that includes these explanatory variables as well as a latent stochastic blockmodel component and additional node-specific effects. Although maximum-likelihood estimates do not appear consistent in this context, we are able to evaluate confidence sets as a function of different blockmodel partitions, which enables us to qualitatively assess the significance of estimated residual network structure relative to a baseline, which models covariates but lacks block structure.
Implications of OCB and Contextual Performance for Human Resource Management

Abstract The literatures concerning organizational citizenship behavior and contextual performance are selectively reviewed in an effort to build a case for citizenship behaviors as one central element in a multi-dimensional individual performance construct. Next, five human resource management topics are reviewed (selection, training, compensation, appraisal, and labor/employee relations). Emphasis is placed upon how these functions are impacted by an explicit recognition of citizenship/contextual performance as part of individual-level performance. Linkages to other organizational issues are also made.
Theoretical Analysis of Intermolecular Covalent π−π Bonding and Magnetic Properties of Phenalenyl and spiro-Biphenalenyl Radical π-Dimers

Singlet−triplet splittings ΔEST and intermolecular covalent π−π bonding characteristics of the prototypical phenalenyl π-dimer and eight spiro-biphenalenyl radical π-dimer structures are analyzed with the aid of restricted and unrestricted density functional theory calculations and paramagnetic susceptibility data fitted using the Bleaney−Bowers dimer model and the Curie−Weiss model. Single determinant approximations for ΔEST as a function of transfer integrals and on-site Coulomb repulsion energy are presented for the two-electron two-site π-dimers of phenalenyls and the two-electron four-site π-dimers of spiro-biphenalenyl radicals. Within the range of intermolecular separation of 3.12 < D < 3.51 A, for the shorter separations, restricted theory works quite well and indicates the presence of a relatively strong intermolecular covalent π−π bonding interaction. For the longer separations, the singlet−triplet splittings are small; electron correlation plays a significant role, and only the unrestricted the...
Multiplexed visualization of dynamic signaling networks using genetically encoded fluorescent protein-based biosensors

Cells rely on a complex, interconnected network of signaling pathways to sense and interpret changes in their extracellular environment. The development of genetically encoded fluorescent protein (FP)-based biosensors has made it possible for researchers to directly observe and characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics of these intracellular signaling pathways in living cells. However, detailed information regarding the precise temporal and spatial relationships between intersecting pathways is often lost when individual signaling events are monitored in isolation. As the development of biosensor technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly feasible to image multiple FP-based biosensors concurrently, permitting greater insights into the intricate coordination of intracellular signaling networks by enabling parallel monitoring of distinct signaling events within the same cell. In this review, we discuss several strategies for multiplexed imaging of FP-based biosensors, while also underscoring some of the challenges associated with these techniques and highlighting additional avenues that could lead to further improvements in parallel monitoring of intracellular signaling events.
Cavity QED with multiple atomic excited states

We consider cavity QED with single-photon Rabi frequency comparable to the hyperfine splitting of the atom's excited levels. We discuss experimental progress towards relevant measurements
AirGlove: a force feedback device for virtual reality

This paper presents design and implementation of a force feedback hand master called AirGlove for virtual reality applications. The device uses six air nozzles mounted on a glove in a Cartesian coordinate frame setting to apply a point force to the user's hand. At any given time, up to three nozzles may exhaust air jets. The magnitude and direction of the applied force are controlled by changing the flow rate of the air jets and by activating different nozzles. Experimental results indicate that the air jet controllers of the device can maintain air flow rates in spite of disturbances. Also, the AirGlove can improve the realism of a virtual reality simulation by allowing the weight of virtual objects to be felt by the user.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Multiphoton excitation cross‐sections of molecular fluorophores

Nonlinear excitation of fluorophores through molecular absorption of two or three near-infra-red photons from the tightly focused femtosecond pulses of a mode-locked laser offers the cellular biologist an unprecedented panoply of biomolecular indicators for microscopic imaging and cellular analysis. Measurements of the two-photon excitation spectra of 25 ultra-violet and visible absorbing fluorophores from 690 to 1050 nm reveal useful cross sections for near infra-red excitation, providing an artist's palette of emission markers, chemical indicators, and native cellular absorbers for living biological preparations. Measurements of three-photon fluorophore excitation spectra now suggest relatively benign wavelengths to excite deeper UV fluorophores. The inherent optical sectioning capabilities of focused nonlinear excitation provides three-dimensional resolution for imaging and avoids out-of-focus background. Measured nonlinear excitation spectra are described and implications to nonlinear microscopy for biological imaging are defined.
Ca2+, CREB and krüppel: a novel KLF7-binding element conserved in mouse and human TRKB promoters is required for CREB-dependent transcription.

Abstract Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling through its receptor, trkB, is essential for the proper development and function of the nervous system. Here we identify a novel regulatory element designated TCaRE3 (TRKB Ca2+ response element 3) required for CREB-dependent TRKB transcription in neurons. TCaRE3-inactivating mutations abolished both Ca2+- and cAMP-stimulated TRKB expression, despite the presence of upstream CREs. TCaRE3 mutations also reduced basal expression by at least 80%. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed the presence of a neuronal nuclear factor able to bind TCaRE3 in a sequence-specific manner and we have identified kruppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) as a candidate TCaRE3 transcription factor. Importantly, despite limited overall sequence homology between the promoter regions of the human and mouse TRKB genes, TCaRE3 exhibits 100% sequence identity. Mutation analysis of the human TRKB promoter region demonstrated that the role of TCaRE3 is also conserved, suggesting that the functional interaction between CREB bound to the CREs and KLF7 bound to TCaRE3 is essential for the proper regulation of TRKB in neurons.
Antibiotic Resistance in Long-Term Care Facilities

Long-term care facilities are comprised of a heterogeneous group of institutions caring for residential patients over prolonged periods of time. Included as long-term care facilities in this review are private and Veterans' Affairs (VA) nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, institutions for the developmentally disabled, and hospital wards for both long-term and intermediate care. Patients in long-term care facilities incur bacterial infections at a prevalence of 10% to 16%.1-4 These infections usually are caused by common bacterial pathogens that invade the compromised host residing within a complex physical environment. The high prevalence of institutional infections leads, in turn, to the need for multiple courses of antimicrobials5,6 or for hospitalization.7 This process selects strains more resistant to antibiotics, which are then available for repeated dispersal in the long-term care facility. Antibiotic resistance is a special problem in long-term care facilities for three major reasons. First, antibiotics used empirically in long-term care facility patients infected with resistant bacteria may lack specific antimicrobial activity. Second, transfer of these patients to acute-care centers inadvertently jeopardizes the receiving institution by introducing a new set of antibiotic-resistance genes into a different patient population.8 Third, infection control measures necessary to detect or to limit endemic, resistant pathogens fall outside standard practice in most long-term care facilities. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are defined in this paper as those that either have acquired and express genetic resistance determinants normally absent in those genera, or are those species that exhibit intrinsic multiple resistance. As an example of the first type of resistance, a strain of Escherichia coli that harbors and expresses an acquired aminoglycoside acetyltransferase (AAC) gene specifying gentamicin resistance would be considered resistant, whether or not it expresses additional resistance determinants. Using sensitive and specific gene probes, the genetic loci of individual resistance determinants now can be discovered-a technique that should enhance the epidemiologic study of antibiotic resistance.9 As an example of the second type of resistance, several species, such as Providencia stuartii10 and Xanthomonas maltophilia,11 inherently express multiple resistance determinants and, in practice, are viewed like those strains with acquired resistance. In this review, we will discuss the microbiology, modes of transmission, mechanisms of resistance, and strategies for control of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in long-term care facilities.
Lymphocyte-polarized DC1s Effective inducers of tumor-specific CTLs

Activated lymphocytes secrete dendritic cell (DC)-activating cytokines including tumor necrosis factor α and interferon γ, and induce Type-1-polarized DCs (DC1s). Lymphocyte-polarized DC1s secrete high levels of biologically active interleukin-12 (IL-12p70) and CXCL10 and show enhanced CTL-inducing activity. Our data demonstrate the feasibility of using autologous lymphocytes to enhance the immunogenic properties of DCs in a low-cost clinically-compatible process.
Developing brain and in utero cocaine exposure: effects on neural ontogeny.

Within the last decade, many investigators have focused on the physical, neurodevelopmental, and neuropsychological effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on infants and young children. Although inconclusive on many crucial issues, published studies reveal the beginnings of a profile of possible cocaine-related effects on neuropsychological functions subserving arousal and attention regulation. That profile is informed by preclinical studies in which important factors such as duration and type of exposure as well as environmental conditions may be more adequately controlled. In the developing brain, there are a number of candidate mechanisms that account for how prenatal cocaine exposure may interfere with neural ontogeny. This review focuses on the monoamine system, one of the primary sites of action of cocaine in the adult. In the developing organism, monoamines play critical trophic roles through all phases of central nervous system (CNS) ontogeny—cell proliferation, neural migration, growth, maturation, and synaptogenesis. Because of their trophic role in CNS ontogeny, cocaine effects on developing nervous system may be mediated in part through effects on monoamine system ontogeny. In turn, these effects may be expressed behaviorally in disrupted patterns of arousal and attention regulation given that these domains are connected intimately to monoaminergic systems.
Validation of Aqua satellite data in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere with in situ aircraft instruments

[1] Aircraft observations from a recent campaign spanning 0–40N latitude are compared to coincident observations from satellite sensors on board the Aqua satellite of temperature, ozone, water vapor and cloud properties in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Satellite observations compare well to aircraft data; temperature is generally within ±1.5 K and water vapor is within ±25% of aircraft observations for pressures above 150 hPa and mixing ratios above ∼10 ppmv. Satellite ozone has a positive bias in the upper troposphere, and clouds observed by the aircraft are qualitatively well represented in the satellite data. These data and analyses provide critical validation of satellite observations, which promise new global insights into this region of the atmosphere.
Histone deacetylase activity selectively regulates notch-mediated smooth muscle differentiation in human vascular cells.

Background Histone deacetylases (HDACs) modify smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and affect neointimal lesion formation by regulating cell cycle progression. HDACs might also regulate SMC differentiation, although this is not as well characterized. Methods and Results Notch signaling activates SMC contractile markers and the differentiated phenotype in human aortic SMCs. Using this model, we found that HDAC inhibition antagonized the ability of Notch to increase levels of smooth muscle α-actin, calponin1, smooth muscle 22α, and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain. However, inhibition of HDAC activity did not suppress Notch activation of the HRT target genes. In fact, HDAC inhibition increased activation of the canonical C-promoter binding factor-1 (CBF-1)–mediated Notch pathway, which activates HRT transcription. Although CBF-1–mediated Notch signaling was increased by HDAC inhibition in human SMCs and in a C3H10T1/2 model, SMC differentiation was inhibited in both cases. Further characterization of downstream Notch signaling pathways showed activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and PI3K/Akt pathways. The activation of these pathways was sensitive to HDAC inhibition and was positively correlated with the differentiated phenotype. Conclusions Our studies define novel signaling pathways downstream of Notch signaling in human SMCs. In addition to the canonical CBF-1 pathway, Notch stimulates c-Jun N-terminal kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and PI3K cascades. Both canonical and noncanonical pathways downstream of Notch promote a differentiated, contractile phenotype in SMCs. Although CBF-1–mediated Notch signaling is not suppressed by HDAC inhibition, HDAC activity is required for Notch differentiation signals through mitogen-activated protein kinase and PI3K pathways in SMCs. ( J Am Heart Assoc . 2012;1:e000901 doi : 10.1161/JAHA.112.000901)
High energy-density liquid rocket fuel performance

A fuel performance database of liquid hydrocarbons and aluminum-hydrocarbon fuels was compiled using engine parametrics from the Space Transportation Engine Program as a baseline. Propellant performance parameters are introduced. General hydrocarbon fuel performance trends are discussed with respect to hydrogen-to-carbon ratio and heat of formation. Aluminum-hydrocarbon fuel performance is discussed with respect to aluminum metal loading. Hydrocarbon and aluminum-hydrocarbon fuel performance is presented with respect to fuel density, specific impulse, and propellant density specific impulse.
HOST SHIFTS AND THE BEGINNING OF SIGNAL DIVERGENCE

Divergence between populations adapting to different environments may be facilitated when the populations differ in their sexual traits. We tested whether colonizing a novel environment may, through phenotypic plasticity, change sexual traits in a way that could alter the dynamics of sexual selection. This hypothesis has two components: changes in mean phenotypes across environments, and changes in the genetic background of the phenotypes that are produced—or genotype × environment interaction (G × E). We simulated colonization of a novel environment and tested its effect on the mating signals of a member of the Enchenopa binotata species complex of treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae), a clade that has diverged in a process involving host plant shifts and signal diversification. We found substantial genetic variation and G × E in most signal traits measured, with little or no change in mean signal phenotypes. We suggest that the expression of extant genetic variation across old and novel environments can initiate signal divergence.
Observing Technology Enhanced Literacy Learning

Developmental concerns challenge technology use with young learners; however, critical areas of literacy have increased when technology is available. This study was designed to measure when and what kinds of technology were integrated into literacy teaching and learning with second graders. The OTELL (Observing Technology Enhanced Literacy Learning) instrument was created to record teacher and student use of technologies over five components of best practice in literacy instruction. Observations and interviews established pre-intervention literacy practice in year 1, and the OTELL was used to measure technology use in year 2 after district and professional development support provided technology-rich classrooms. Thirty-five random hours of observation over a 7-month period revealed that the curriculum remained stable after intervention and that technology was used in literacy learning and teaching approximately 39% of the time. Within that increased use of technology, students used technology the most when applying their literacy knowledge, and teachers used technology 70% of the time when presenting literacy minilessons.
Characterization of the Klebsiella aerogenes Urease Accessory Protein UreD in Fusion with the Maltose Binding Protein

Assembly of the Klebsiella aerogenes urease metallocenter requires four accessory proteins, UreD, UreE, UreF, and UreG, to effectively deliver and incorporate two Ni 2+ ions into the nascent active site of the urease apoprotein (UreABC). Each accessory protein has been purified and characterized with the exception of UreD due to its insolubility when it is overproduced in recombinant cells. In this study, a translational fusion was made between the maltose binding protein (MBP) and UreD, with the resulting MBP-UreD found to be soluble in Escherichia coli cell extracts and able to complement a Δ ureD -urease cluster in this host microorganism. MBP-UreD was purified as a large multimer (>670 kDa) that bound approximately 2.5 Ni 2+ ions ( K d of ∼50 μM, where K d is the dissociation constant) per UreD protomer according to equilibrium dialysis measurements. Zn 2+ directly competes with 10-fold higher affinity (∼4 Zn 2+ ions per protomer; K d of 5 μM) for the Ni 2+ binding sites. MBP pulldown experiments demonstrated that the UreD domain of MBP-UreD formed in vivo complexes with UreF, UreG, UreF plus UreG, or UreABC when these proteins were overproduced in the same E. coli cells. In addition, a UreABC-(MBP-UreD)-UreFG complex was observed in cells producing all urease components. Comparative in vitro binding experiments with purified proteins demonstrated an approximate 1:1 binding ratio between the UreD domain of MBP-UreD and the UreF domain of the UreEF fusion, only weak or transient interaction between MBP-UreD and UreG, and no binding with UreABC. These studies are the first to describe the properties of purified UreD, and they extend our understanding of its binding partners both in vitro and in the cell.
Dihydropteroate synthase mutations in Pneumocystis pneumonia: impact of applying different definitions of prophylaxis, mortality endpoints and mutant in a single cohort

Pneumocystis jirovecii dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene mutations are well-reported. Although sulfa prophylaxis generally is associated with DHPS mutant infection, whether mutant infection is associated with poorer clinical outcomes is less clear. The differing definitions of sulfa prophylaxis and the different mortality endpoints used in these studies may be one explanation for the conflicting study results. Applying different definitions of prophylaxis, mortality endpoints and DHPS mutant to 301 HIV-infected patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia, we demonstrate that prophylaxis, irrespective of definition, increased the risk of infection with pure mutant (any prophylaxis: AOR 4.00, 95% CI: 1.83-8.76, P 0.05). Future studies should standardize key variables associated with DHPS mutant infection as well as examine DHPS mutant subtypes (pure mutant vs. mixed infections) - perhaps even individual DHPS mutant genotypes - so that data can be pooled to better address this issue.
Product coded modulation

This paper presents a new and powerful technique for constructing MPSK block modulation codes using product codes as the basic building blocks. Basic multilevel block modulation codes turn out to be a special case of this construction. Codes are constructed for both the AWGN and the Rayleigh fading channel and compared with the existing basic multilevel block modulation codes. Conditions on phase invariance of these codes are derived and two sub-optimal decoding schemes for these codes are proposed. Analytical performance bounds and simulation studies show that these codes perform very well and achieve significant coding gains over uncoded reference modulation systems. >
Hyalinization of the Seminiferous Tubules Associated with Normal or Failing Leydig-Cell Function. Microscopic Picture in the Testis and Associated Changes in the Breast12

HIGNIFICANT studies upon testicular degeneration have been recorded by Simmonds (1), Stieve (2), Rossle (3), Sand and Okkels (4), Engle (5), Charny and Merance (6) and Warren and Olshausen (7). These reports have dealt with changes in the interstitial cells of Leydig as well as the seminiferous tubules and some attention has been given to the relation of testicular morphology to the condition and function of the accessory reproductive organs. However, much information is left to be desired as to the relation between testicular morphology and the production of androgenic hormone. In this study an opportunity was presented to survey the structure of testes obtained at biopsy from a group of patients whom we regard as presenting evidence of some degree of failing function of the Leydig cells. Inasmuch as the survey of these patients (Heller and Nelson, 8) has included a wide variety of clinical and hormonal studies the opportunity to compare structure and function was provided. In addition, we have studied t...
ERK and JNK signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of activator protein 1 and cell death elicited by three isothiocyanates in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells

Many isothiocyanates (ITCs) such as sulforaphane (SFN), phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) are highly effectively in chemoprevention or reduction of the risk of cancer and possess antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo. The activator protein 1 (AP-1) and MAPK signaling pathways are believed to play an important role in cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy due to their involvement in tumor cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis and survival. In the present study, we determined the effects of SFN, PEITC and AITC on AP-1 activation, and investigated the roles of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways in the regulation of AP-1 activation and cell death elicited by these ITCs in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. SFN, PEITC and AITC each induced AP-1 activity potently and caused a significant elevation in the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, Elk-1 and c-Jun. Transfection with ERK2 and upstream kinase DNEE-MEK1 activated AP-1 activity, and transfection with dominant-negative mutant ERK2 (dnERK2) potently decreased AP-1 activation induced by SFN, PEITC and AITC. Transfection with JNK1 and upstream kinase MKK7 activated AP-1 activity, and transfection with dominant-negative mutant JNK1-APF significantly attenuated AP-1 activation induced by SFN, PEITC and AITC. Pretreatment with MEK1-ERK inhibitor U0126 and JNK inhibitor SP600125 substantially attenuated the decrease in cell viability induced by SFN, PEITC and AITC. Transfection with dnERK2 and JNK1-APF significantly reversed the decrease of Bcl-2 expression elicited by these ITCs. Furthermore, transfection with dnERK2 and JNK1-APF blocked the apoptosis induced by these ITCs in PC-3 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that the activation of the ERK and JNK signaling pathways is important for transcriptional activity of AP-1 and is involved in the regulation of cell death elicited by ITCs in PC-3 cells.
Acute genistein treatment mimics the effects of estradiol by enhancing place learning and impairing response learning in young adult female rats.

Abstract Endogenous estrogens have bidirectional effects on learning and memory, enhancing or impairing cognition depending on many variables, including the task and the memory systems that are engaged. Moderate increases in estradiol enhance hippocampus-sensitive place learning, yet impair response learning that taps dorsal striatal function. This memory modulation likely occurs via activation of estrogen receptors, resulting in altered neural function. Supplements containing estrogenic compounds from plants are widely consumed despite limited information about their effects on brain function, including learning and memory. Phytoestrogens can enter the brain and signal through estrogen receptors to affect cognition. Enhancements in spatial memory and impairments in executive function have been found following treatment with soy phytoestrogens, but no tests of actions on striatum-sensitive tasks have been made to date. The present study compared the effects of acute exposure to the isoflavone genistein with the effects of estradiol on performance in place and response learning tasks. Long–Evans rats were ovariectomized, treated with 17β-estradiol benzoate, genistein-containing sucrose pellets, or vehicle (oil or plain sucrose pellets) for 2 days prior to behavioral training. Compared to vehicle controls, estradiol treatment enhanced place learning at a low (4.5 μg/kg) but not high dose (45 μg/kg), indicating an inverted pattern of spatial memory facilitation. Treatment with 4.4 mg of genistein over 2 days also significantly enhanced place learning over vehicle controls. For the response task, treatment with estradiol impaired learning at both low and high doses; likewise, genistein treatment impaired response learning compared to rats receiving vehicle. Overall, genistein was found to mimic estradiol-induced shifts in place and response learning, facilitating hippocampus-sensitive learning and slowing striatum-sensitive learning. These results suggest signaling through estrogen receptor β and membrane-associated estrogen receptors in learning enhancements and impairments given the preferential binding of genistein to the ERβ subtype and affinity for GPER.
BENCH-TOP CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ACTIVE ROTOR BLADE FLAP SYSTEM INCORPORATING C-BLOCK ACTUATORS

This paper presents the bench-top testing of a piezoceramic C-block driven active flap system designed to suppress the vibrations of a helicopter rotor blade. The C-block actuators are curved benders designed to generate a larger force output than a straight bender, while providing deflections large enough to eliminate the need for external leveraging systems necessary with stack driven systems. The actuators power a balanced active flap designed to minimize the effect of air speed and rotor speed on flap deflection. Quasi-static experimentation at 1 Hz produced maximum angular flap deflections of 8.4° peak-to-peak. Dynamic tests were conducted over a 40 Hz frequency range demonstrating the ability to generate significant flap deflections both before and after the first natural frequency. Over the 40 Hz range, the flap deflections never dropped below 8° pp, with a first natural frequency of 27 Hz. The flap deflection reached a maximum value of 13.6° pp at 40 Hz. If the applied voltage is increased to the maximum allowable level, it is predicted that flap deflections as large as 20° pp can be achieved.
Strict Liability and Insurance Under Loss Misestimation

This paper analyzes the interaction between the strict liability rule and third-party liability insurance, with regard to providing safety incentives and the allocation of accident risks, when injurers misestimate the severity of victims’ losses. Using Shavell’s hybrid Accident-Contingent Claims model, we obtain one counterintuitive result. When risk averse injurers overestimate losses (and moral hazard is present), they may ex ante purchase partial coverage that may equal the victims’ realized ex post losses. We, therefore, conclude that it is possible to observe ex post, first-best Pareto efficient injurer risk-bearing and accident prevention, as well as zero expected profits for insurers and full compensation for victims, in the presence of moral hazard.
Immigration Policy in the United States

This chapter presents a brief history of U.S. immigration policy. U.S. immigration policy has varied greatly over the country’s history, going from complete openness at the time of independence to a rigid ethnic quota system in the early twentieth century, and now back to a more open, albeit confusingly regulated, system at the start of the twenty first century. The chapter attempts to answer the seven questions posed in the Introduction to this section for each of the distinct immigration policy regimes.
Construction of Efficient Heterogeneous Choice Designs: A New Approach

Extant research on choice designs in marketing focuses on the construction of efficient homogeneous designs where all respondents get the same design. Sandor and Wedel (2005) were the first to propose the construction of efficient heterogeneous designs where different respondents or groups of respondents get different subdesigns, and demonstrate substantial efficiency gain when such heterogeneous designs are employed. A significant hurdle in widespread adoption of heterogeneous designs is the high computation cost, even when the number of subdesigns contained in the heterogeneous design is restricted to be small. In this paper we propose a new approach for the construction of efficient heterogeneous choice designs. In contrast to extant approaches that are based on an exact design framework where it is computationally prohibitive to do an exhaustive search to find a globally optimal design, our proposed approach is based on the continuous design framework where well-established mathematical theories can be leveraged for quick identification of a globally optimal design. The proposed approach makes it feasible to generate a highly efficient choice design that is completely heterogeneous -- a unique subdesign for each individual respondent in the choice experiment. The proposed approach is the first in the marketing literature to find a completely heterogeneous choice design with assured high global design efficiency using the continuous design framework. Results from simulation and empirical studies demonstrate superior performance of the proposed approach over extant approaches in constructing efficient heterogeneous choice designs.
Complementarity of Experimental and Theoretical Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Studies for the Study of Candidate ITSOFC Electrolytes

Issues inherent to the determination of the local structure and transport properties of doped oxide phases of interest as candidate intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell electrolytes are described. In partial mitigation of such difficulties, an approach combining experimental solid state NMR spectroscopy with periodic DFT-based NMR and total energy calculations is outlined. It is anticipated that this method will permit for the more routine assignment of the NMR spectra of such doped phases, which has been hampered to-date by uncertainties in the ranges anticipated for the spectroscopic parameters of species in novel coordination environments.
“A Progression and a Regression at the Same Time” Hybrid Masculinities and Entrepreneurial Selfhood

Research suggests normative masculinities are increasingly defined through consumption, particularly the consumption of fashions and cosmetics. Much existing research examines heterosexual men’s reluctance to embrace consumer masculinities due to cultural associations, which associate consumption with femininities and subordinated masculinities. However, not all men are reluctant consumers. Little research has examined the relationship between masculinity and aesthetic consumption in a cultural context in which the body is increasingly framed as a tool for self-promotion and upward mobility. Drawing on qualitative research on male personal style bloggers, I examine the masculinities of men who actively turn the gaze on themselves, performing creative class ambitions through the display of the dressed body. I find privileged bloggers incorporate elements of non-hegemonic masculinities into the performance of hybrid masculinities, which allow them to distance themselves from the negative associations of heg...
Value Creation Drivers in Large Leveraged Buyouts

This work employs the most complete data sample of large private equity backed transactions in Germany ranging from 1997 to 2008. This research casts light on the impact of the holding period, the effects of divesting activities and expectations about the future shape of the economy on the performance of deals. A longer holding period is associated with a lower internal rate of return, and, contrary to expectations, this study finds a return diminishing effect of selling subsidiaries of target companies. In addition, I apply a new measure of business expectation: ifo slope. Ifo slope incorporates the theory of the interest term structure as a business economic development indicator. Positive expectations at entry lead to higher returns in the future and periods of economic downturn are stretching the length of the investment dramatically. Finally, larger deals are financed more aggressively with debt and generate more value by multiple expansion than smaller deals.
Adaptive Immunity: Neutralizing, Eliminating, and Remembering for the Next Time

Abstract Following viral invasion, the infected host mounts a number of responses to infection. Many of these responses involve the induction by the adaptive immune system of antibodies or cells that are specific for antigenic determinants expressed by the foreign pathogen. Infected hosts also possess a number of nonspecific defenses against an invading virus, and these have been discussed in Chapter 4 , which deals with innate immunity. This chapter will first outline the key cell types involved in coordinating and mediating specific or adaptive responses to viral infections that follow initial innate immune responses. Features of the two key arms of the adaptive response, antibodies made by B cells and T cell responses, will be described. An overview will be provided of the manner by which each of these arms of the adaptive immune system mediates immunological memory and protection from re-infection. Finally, the concept of escape from adaptive immune by viruses will be introduced.
A Rational Analysis of Honesty-Credit

Honesty-credit is the base of the economic market, but still a rare resource in China. The lack of honesty-credit has something to do with the economic development. Through the institutional economics today, we can find principles to deal with the honesty-credit problems, and we will have a good comprehensive understanding of the ethical construction from the angle of the new institutional economics. Finally, there are several suggestions on the construction of honesty-credit system.
Investigation on Health Status of Welding Workers in Hefei City in 2009

[Objective]To understand the status of occupational hazards in welding work in Hefei City,and provide evidence for taking protective measures and protecting health of workers.[Methods]Occupational health investigation and occupational health examination were performed on welding operation posts and 1136 welders.[Results]The qualified rate of hazardous substances in workplace air was 96. 7% ,18. 12% of welders who accepted occupational health examination were detected routine blood test abnormal; abnormal audition were detected on 9. 33% welders,23. 32% welders’disorder of lung vein increased heavily.[Conclusion]Occupational hazards of noise and manganese generated in welding operation places.
Abstract WP379: “Defect-Free” Stroke Care Improves Outcomes in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Studies showed that adherence to a standardized care process model (CPM) during hospitalization can improve clinical outcomes in numerous patient populations.AHA/ASA guidelines encourage this model to improve “Defect-Free” stroke care. It is unknown if “Defect-Free” care improves clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. In 2011, Intermountain Healthcare (IH) implemented a quality improvement initiative to improve compliance with 5 stroke care measures for AIS patients. Hypothesis: Implementation of a systematic quality improvement program will increase “Defect-Free” stroke care performance and improve clinical outcomes in AIS patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of AIS patients 18 years or older was conducted at 6 stroke receiving hospitals within IH. Defect-free care was defined as compliance with 5 care measures: ED arrival to head CT <25 minutes, ED arrival to rtPA <60 minutes, discharge on an anti-platelet, anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation, and statin medication at discharge. All patients who met eligibility criteria for any measure were included. The primary outcome was hospital discharge disposition. Multivariate logistic regression (MLR) controlling for Charlson Comorbidity Index Score (CCIS) assessed the association of “Defect-Free” care with clinical outcomes. Results: Among 817 patients in the study, 707 received “Defect-free” care and 110 did not. The results indicates the compliance rate was increased from 78.1% in 2010 to 86.5% in 2011 (p<0.0001). Additionally, the percentage of patients discharged to home or rehabilitation facilities in “Defect-Free” care and “Non Defect-Free” care groups were 77.6% and 67.3%, respectively. MLR showed that patients who received “Defect-free" care were more likely to be discharged to home or a rehabilitation facility (OR=1.808, 95% CI: 1.155- 2.830) than those who did not get “Defect-free” care after adjusting for CCIS. Conclusion: Improving “Defect-free” stroke care by following a discreet CPM across an integrated healthcare system is achievable and results in improved clinical outcomes in AIS patients.
Laparoscopy Skills Simulation for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident

Abstract Introduction Operating room experience alone is insufficient for surgical training. In the current era of graduate medical education, work hour restrictions and the expectations of patient...
The Convergence of Social Identities and Environmental Contexts in Facilitating Latino Male Resilience

While Latino/as are the largest racial/ethnic group in the United States, they continue to face challenges throughout their educational careers. Latino males, in particular, are said to be vanishing from higher education, earning fewer degrees than their female counterparts. Using in-depth interviews with 24 Latino male collegians, we sought to understand the process of resilience for this population, looking specifically at the factors that enhance their educational access and success within postsecondary institutions. The data demonstrate the social identities and environmental contexts that foster resilience for Latino males, despite adversities they may face. Four main themes arose, illuminating the challenges Latino males may face in their path to college and elucidating the ways they use their identities as motivation and the educational contexts that support their resilience. We highlight resilience as a process, calling for educators to consider the ways in which they can support Latino males’ asp...
THE DIVERSE CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS OF ADRENAL LYMPHOMA

ABSTRACT Objective: Adrenal lymphoma is a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We report 2 cases of adrenal lymphoma: one with typical symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, the other with the unusual presentation of symptomatic hypercalcemia from 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-[OH]2-D) excess. Methods: A comparison of the clinical presentation of 2 patients diagnosed with primary adrenal diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) is reported. Results: The first patient was a 72-year-old man who presented with weight loss, hypotension, and bilateral adrenal masses. He was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency from stage IVB DLBCL with primarily adrenal involvement. Treatment with 6 cycles of R-CHOP led to near-complete regression of adrenal masses and clinical remission, but with continued need for adrenocortical hormone replacement. He eventually succumbed to recurrent DLBCL with brain metastasis. The seco...
Representing Equal Groups (EG) Problems

Learning Outcome: Be able to represent EG word problem stories with the bar model and the EG diagram equation Materials Needed: Equation Diagram Equal Group (EG) Diagram Equation Overhead Modeling Modeling EG story representation 1, 2, and 3 Student Worksheets Modeling EG story representation 1, 2, and 3 Try It Out–EG story representation 4, 5, and 6 Independent Worksheet–EG story representation 7, 8 and 9 Reference Guide Reference Guide: EG story representation 1–9
High Resolution Epigenomic Atlas of Early Human Craniofacial Development

Defects in embryonic patterning resulting in craniofacial abnormalities are common birth defects affecting up to 1 in 500 live births worldwide, and are mostly non-syndromic. The regulatory programs that build and shape the craniofacial complex are thought to be controlled by information encoded in the genome between genes and within intronic sequences. Early stages of human craniofacial development have not been interrogated with modern functional genomics techniques, preventing systematic analysis of genetic associations with craniofacial-specific regulatory sequences. Here we describe a comprehensive resource of craniofacial epigenomic annotations and systematic, integrative analysis with a variety of human tissues and cell types. We identified thousands of novel craniofacial enhancers and provide easily accessible genome annotations for craniofacial researchers and clinicians. We demonstrate the utility of our data to find likely causal variants for craniofacial abnormalities and identify a large enhancer cluster that interacts with HOXA genes during craniofacial development.
APOL1 and Cardiovascular Disease: A Story in Evolution.

Observational studies have long established that African Americans have a higher risk for developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) with faster progression to end-stage renal disease compared with Americans not of African descent, independent of socioeconomic and traditional clinical risk factors.1–3 But it was not until 2010 that the genetic basis behind this association became more apparent when 2 separate genome-wide association studies identified DNA variants in the APOL1 gene that were strongly associated with kidney disease in blacks.4,5 The story of the APOL1 gene that emerged is a fascinating example of natural selection against infectious disease, and discovery of its link to renal, and possibly cardiovascular, diseases has opened a new field of questions. See accompanying article on page 1765 APOL1 encodes for apolipoprotein L-I, a component of dense high-density lipoprotein 3 particles.6 Circulating apolipoprotein L-I has the ability to lyse the parasite Trypanosoma brucei , which is found only in sub-Saharan Africa.7 Over time, 2 subspecies of T. brucei , T. brucei gambiense and T. brucei rhodesiense , evolved resistance by producing a protein that binds and neutralizes apolipoprotein L-I. Subsequently, 2 APOL1 variants (G1 and G2) emerged, producing apolipoprotein L-I with decreased affinity for the trypanosome protein, conferring resistance to African sleeping sickness in carriers of these alleles.8 Although being protected from 1 disease, however, blacks with the APOL1 variant alleles have been shown to be at increased risk for renal disease, as well as a faster …
Evaluation of relational and NoSQL approaches for patient cohort identification from heterogeneous data sources

Patient cohort discovery across heterogeneous data sources is a challenging task, which may involve a complicated process of data loading, harmonization, and querying. Most existing cohort identification tools use a relational database model implemented in SQL for storing patient data. However, SQL databases have restrictions on the maximum number of columns in a table, which necessitates the breaking down of high-dimensional data into multiple tables and affects query performance as a result. In this paper, we proposed two NoSQL-based patient cohort query systems based on an existing SQL-based system for a cross-cohort query interface for the National Sleep Resource Research (NSRR). We used eight NSRR datasets in our experiment to evaluate the performance of NoSQL-based and SQL-based systems in data loading, harmonization, and query. Our experiment showed that NoSQL-based approaches outperformed the SQL-based, and NoSQL-based systems are rather promising for developing patient cohort query systems across heterogeneous data sources.