cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral economic phenomena in decision-making for others

Abstract We examine whether biases identified in the behavioral-economics literature apply in decision-making for others (DMfO). We conduct a laboratory experiment in which subjects make decisions on behalf of themselves and others in eighteen tasks that measure the following biases: present-bias in time preferences, reflection effect in risk preferences, compound risk aversion, decoy effect, anchoring bias, endowment effect, and identifiable-victim bias. In our experiment, DMfO is DMfO simpliciter: unincentivized decisions made by one individual on behalf of another–the individual making decisions faces no direct costs or benefits when engaging in DMfO (as she would in a principal-agent framework or with bequest motives), and DMfO is not framed as giving advice or guessing others’ behavior. Although we find that DMfO is by and large statistically indistinguishable from decisions for oneself, we identify the following self-other discrepancies: (i) willingness to pay (i.e., bids to procure goods and donations to charity) is higher in DMfO than in decisions for oneself in tasks associated with the anchoring bias, end owment effect, and identifiable-victim bias; and (ii) the propensity to give uninterpretable responses is higher in DMfO than in decisions for oneself. We also find order effects, with DMfO more similar to decisions for oneself when DMfO follows decision making for oneself. Lastly, in response to open-ended items soliciting self-reports of subjects’ approach to DMfO, most subjects report having followed some version of the “Golden Rule” (e.g., deciding for others as they would for themselves) or having tried to maximize the other subject’s payment or utility; very few subjects report motivations that can be construed as rivalrous.
Cooperative Transport in a Multi-Particle, Multi-Dimensional Flashing Ratchet

Random and undirected forces are rectified in biological and synthetic systems using ratcheting mechanisms, which employ periodic asymmetric potentials and nonequilibrium conditions to produce useful transport. The density of motors or transported particles is known to strongly affect the nature and efficacy of transport in biological systems, as well as in synthetic ratchets and active swimmer systems. While experimental ratchet implementations typically employ potentials varying in two dimensions (2D), the role of the density of interacting particles in such a system has not been modeled. Prompted by experimental observations and building upon previous simulations, this paper describes the ratcheting process of interacting particles in a 2D flashing ratchet, studied using classical simulations. Increased particle density is found to allow effective ratcheting at higher driving frequencies, compared to the low-density or non-interacting case. High densities also produce a new ratcheting mode at low drivi...
Fully parallelized Lattice Boltzmann scheme for fast extraction of biomedical geometry

Abstract We develop a fully parallel numerical method which quickly performs 2D and 3D segmentation on GPU to extract anatomical structures from medical images. The algorithm solves the level set equations completely within a Lattice Boltzmann model (LBM). Compared with existing LBM-based segmentation approaches, a parallel distance field regularization is added to the LBM computing scheme to keep computation stable with large time step iteration. This approach also avoids external regularization which has been a major impediment to direct parallelization of level set evolution with LBM. It allows the whole computing process to be efficiently executed on GPU. Moreover, the method can be incorporated with different image features to adopt in various image segmentation tasks. Therefore, our method enables fully GPU accelerated geometric extraction from medical images, leading to high computing performance which is demanded in many practical applications. This method is used to exactly accurate 2D and 3D anatomical structures from many real world CT and MRI images. The achieved results can also directly feed required boundary information to LBM-based hemodynamics simulation.
Morocco's Growth and Employment Prospects : Public Policies to Avoid the Middle-Income Trap

This paper studies Morocco's growth and employment prospects in the context of a new growth model aimed at allowing the country, in a rapidly changing international environment marked by increased competition from low-wage economies and growing automation of low-skilled jobs, to avoid falling into a middle-income trap. The first part reviews the growth model that Morocco has pursued in the past few decades and discusses its limitations going forward. The second part characterizes the proposed growth model, which involves, in particular, promoting the transition from labor-intensive imitation activities to technology-intensive innovation activities, increasing public investment in advanced infrastructure, improving the quality of education, improving productivity and increasing value added in key sectors (including agriculture, high-end tourism, and renewable energy), and implementing measures designed to promote women's participation in the labor force and reduce gender inequality. The third part attempts to quantify the medium-run effects of these policies on growth, employment, and unemployment in Morocco. The paper concludes that to achieve high-income status and reduce unemployment significantly, Morocco will need to implement far-reaching reforms, to increase growth to a range of 6-7 percent and improve employment creation to about 35,000 jobs per percentage point of growth.
The Fisher puzzle, real rate anomaly, and Wicksell effect

Abstract We study the relationships between interest and inflation rates using a recursive equation approach that takes into account both Fisher and Wicksell effects. Extending previous work, a state–space representation is used to estimate time-varying ex post Fisher and Wicksell equation effects. We subsequently recover ex ante interest and inflation rate series. Using these ex ante rate series, we estimate an ex ante Fisher equation, including both time-varying intercept estimates of the ex ante real interest rates and time-varying Fisher coefficients. Our results for the U.S. and three other countries support the Fisher propositions after taking into account Wicksell effects.
Paraxial theory of phasor-field imaging

The phasor field has been shown to be a valuable tool for non-line-of-sight imaging. We present a formal analysis of phasor-field imaging using paraxial wave optics. Then, we derive a set of propagation primitives—using the two-frequency, spatial Wigner distribution—that extend the purview of phasor-field imaging. We use these primitives to analyze a set of simple imaging scenarios involving occluded and unoccluded geometries with modulated and unmodulated light. These scenarios demonstrate how to apply the primitives in practice and reveal what kind of insights can be expected from them.
Spiritual Care at the End of Life: Does Educational Intervention Focused on a Broad Definition of Spirituality Increase Utilization of Chaplain Spiritual Support in Hospice?

Background: Research shows that religion and spirituality are important when persons cope with serious and life-threatening illness. Patients who receive good spiritual care report greater quality of life and better coping, and such support is strongly associated with greater well-being, hope, optimism, and reduction of despair at end of life. Despite these benefits, evidence shows that many patients and caregivers (P/C) refuse spiritual care when a hospice team offers it, possibly resulting in unnecessary suffering. Objective: To better understand what contributes to spiritual support acceptance in hospice care. Design: Quasi-experimental quantitative study. Setting/Subjects: 200 patients admitted to hospice. Measurements: Participants were divided equally into intervention and control arms. Control participants received standard information about the availability of chaplain support and an offer for referral to chaplain services. Intervention participants received educational intervention that explained hospice chaplain services and the evidence-based benefits of spiritual support. The association of chaplain acceptance was measured with treatment group, patient age, disease, church affiliation and support, sex, bereavement risk, and place of residence. Results: Among intervention participants, 64 (64%) accepted spiritual support versus 52 (52%) of control participants. The intervention arm's acceptance rate was higher than the control arm after adjustment for other variables. The variables associated with acceptance were age, primary diagnosis, and place of residence. Conclusions: This research suggests that educational intervention that explains spiritual care in hospice and its benefits contributes importantly to greater acceptance and allows P/C to gain the benefits of spiritual support during end-of-life care.
Downstream platelet adhesion and activation under highly elevated upstream shear forces.

Abstract Elevated shear force caused by an anastomotic stenosis is a common complication at the blood vessel-vascular implant interface. Although elevated shear forces were found to cause platelet aggregation around a stenotic region, transient platelet exposure to elevated shear forces and subsequent downstream events occurring under lower shear force were not extensively studied. We hypothesize that effects of elevated shear forces on pre-activation of platelets for downstream adhesion and activation are relevant in understanding the increased thrombotic risk associated with blood-contacting devices. We designed a microfluidic flow system to mimic the hemodynamic environment of vasculature with an upstream anastomotic stenosis with five wall shear strain rates ranging from 1620 s−1 to 11560 s−1. Under shear flow conditions, transient exposure of whole blood to elevated shear forces resulted in higher downstream platelet adhesion onto three different immobilized platelet agonists: fibrinogen, collagen, or von Willebrand factor. Platelet expression of four activation markers (P-selectin, GPIIb/IIIa, lysosomal glycoprotein, and phosphatidylserine) significantly increased after transient exposure to higher upstream wall shear strain rates of 2975–11560 s−1. A significant lysis was observed when platelets were primed by upstream wall shear strain rate of 11560 s−1. These experimental results could be helpful to understand how altered hemodynamics around an anastomotic stenosis promotes thrombus formation downstream. Statement of Significance Studying the downstream response of platelets following transient exposure to an upstream agonist is important because of significant clinical implications to the implantation of vascular devices. Due to intimal fibrous hyperplasia, vascular biomaterials such as synthetic small-diameter vascular grafts sometimes become stenotic (narrow), leading to transient platelet exposure to elevated shear forces. In this study, a microfluidic flow system was developed to mimic a stenosed vascular graft and to investigate how highly elevated, transient upstream shear forces, typically found in severe stenosis, results in the pre-activation of platelets for downstream adhesion and activation. The findings of the present study have implications for optimizing the design of blood-contacting biomaterials in order to minimize thrombotic risk associated with transiently elevated shear forces. The findings also provide additional insights into the mechanisms of thrombus formation at the post-stenotic regions of vascular implants.
A Low Power Superconductor-To-Optoelectronic Interface

We present a ultrahigh-impedance superconducting thermal switch that acts as a superconductor-to-optoelectronic interface. We demonstrated the generation of photons in a cryogenic photonic LED from a low-voltage input, detecting those photons with a waveguide-coupled detector. © 2019 The Author(s)
Insights on CTC Biology and Clinical Impact Emerging from Advances in Capture Technology.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) have been shown to correlate negatively with patient survival. Actual CTC counts before and after treatment can be used to aid in the prognosis of patient outcomes. The presence of circulating tumor materials (CTMat) can advertise the presence of metastasis before clinical presentation, enabling the early detection of relapse. Importantly, emerging evidence is indicating that cancer treatments can actually increase the incidence of CTCs and metastasis in pre-clinical models. Subsequently, the study of CTCs, their biology and function are of vital importance. Emerging technologies for the capture of CTC/CTMs and CTMat are elucidating vitally important biological and functional information that can lead to important alterations in how therapies are administered. This paves the way for the development of a “liquid biopsy” where treatment decisions can be informed by information gleaned from tumor cells and tumor cell debris in the blood.
The erratic and contingent progression of research on territoriality: a case study

Our understanding of animal mating systems has changed dramatically with the advent of molecular methods to determine individuals’ reproductive success. But why are older behavioral descriptions and newer genetic descriptions of mating systems often seemingly inconsistent? We argue that a potentially important reason for such inconsistencies is a research trajectory rooted in early studies that were equivocal and overreaching, followed by studies that accepted earlier conclusions at face value and assumed, rather than tested, key ideas about animal mating systems. We illustrate our argument using Anolis lizards, whose social behavior has been studied for nearly a century. A dominant view emerging from this behavioral research was that anoles display strict territorial polygyny, where females mate with just the one male in whose territory they reside. However, all genetic evidence suggests that females frequently mate with multiple males. We trace this mismatch to early studies that concluded that anoles are territorial based on limited data. Subsequent research assumed territoriality implicitly or explicitly, resulting in studies that were unlikely to uncover or consider important any evidence of anoles’ departures from strict territorial polygyny. Thus, descriptions of anole behavior were largely led away from predicting a pattern of female multiple mating. We end by considering the broader implications of such erratic trajectories for the study of animal mating systems and posit that precise definitions, renewed attention to natural history, and explicitly questioning assumptions made while collecting behavioral observations will allow us to move towards a fuller understanding of animal mating systems. Mismatches between behavioral and genetic descriptions of mating systems are widespread across animals. We argue that these discrepancies can arise from the erratic and contingent progression of research on space use behavior and social interactions. We demonstrate such a trajectory in Anolis lizards, where decades of behavioral data led not only to the conclusion that anoles are territorial but also to the erroneous expectation, disproven by genetic evidence, that each female mates with just one male. The earliest studies concluded that anoles are territorial based on flimsy evidence, leading subsequent studies to implicitly and explicitly assume territorial behavior; later studies were thus unlikely to detect, or consider important, departures from territoriality that could facilitate female multiple mating. Such research trajectories are likely not unique to anoles, and we contend that avoiding these trajectories requires renewed and continued attention to the natural history of even well-studied organisms.
Mutational Landscape of Spontaneous Base Substitutions and Small Indels in Experimental Caenorhabditis elegans Populations of Differing Size

Experimental investigations into the rates and fitness effects of spontaneous mutations are fundamental to our understanding of the evolutionary process. To gain insights into the molecular and fitness consequences of spontaneous mutations, we conducted a mutation accumulation (MA) experiment at varying population sizes in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, evolving 35 lines in parallel for 409 generations at three population sizes (N = 1, 10, and 100 individuals). Here, we focus on nuclear SNPs and small insertion/deletions (indels) under minimal influence of selection, as well as their accrual rates in larger populations under greater selection efficacy. The spontaneous rates of base substitutions and small indels are 1.84 (95% C.I. ± 0.14) × 10−9 substitutions and 6.84 (95% C.I. ± 0.97) × 10−10 changes/site/generation, respectively. Small indels exhibit a deletion bias with deletions exceeding insertions by threefold. Notably, there was no correlation between the frequency of base substitutions, nonsynonymous substitutions, or small indels with population size. These results contrast with our previous analysis of mitochondrial DNA mutations and nuclear copy-number changes in these MA lines, and suggest that nuclear base substitutions and small indels are under less stringent purifying selection compared to the former mutational classes. A transition bias was observed in exons as was a near universal base substitution bias toward A/T. Strongly context-dependent base substitutions, where 5′−Ts and 3′−As increase the frequency of A/T → T/A transversions, especially at the boundaries of A or T homopolymeric runs, manifest as higher mutation rates in (i) introns and intergenic regions relative to exons, (ii) chromosomal cores vs. arms and tips, and (iii) germline-expressed genes.
Synthesis of lipophilic crown ethers with pendant phosphonic acid or phosphonic acid monoethyl ester groups

Synthetic routes to fifteen lipophilic crown ether phosphonic acid monoethyl esters and nine lipophilic crown ether phosphonic acids are described. For both classes of crown ethers which have pendant, protonionizable groups, the crown ether ring sizes are systematically varied from 12-crown-4 and 24-crown-8.
Forward-Secure Signatures with Optimal Signing and Verifying.

We propose the first forward-secure signature scheme for which both signing and verifying are as efficient as for one of the most efficient ordinary signature schemes (Guillou-Quisquater [GQ88]), each requiring just two modular exponentiations with a short exponent. All previously proposed forward-secure signature schemes took significantly longer to sign and verify than ordinary signature schemes. Our scheme requires only fractional increases to the sizes of keys and signatures, and no additional public storage. Like the underlying [GQ88] scheme, our scheme is provably secure in the random oracle model.
Secure Blind Decryption.

In this work we construct public key encryption schemes that admit a protocol for blindly decrypting ciphertexts. In a blind decryption protocol, a user with a ciphertext interacts with a secret keyholder such that the user obtains the decryption of the ciphertext and the keyholder learns nothing about what it decrypted. While we are not the first to consider this problem, previous works provided only weak security guarantees against malicious users. We provide, to our knowledge, the first practical blind decryption schemes that are secure under a strong CCA security definition. We prove our construction secure in the standard model under simple, well-studied assumptions in bilinear groups. To motivate the usefulness of this primitive we discuss several applications including privacy-preserving distributed file systems and Oblivious Transfer schemes that admit public contribution.
Nuclear modification factors from the CMS experiment

We report the measurements of nuclear modification factors of the Z bosons, isolated photons and charged particles in = 2.76 TeV Pb–Pb collisions with the Compact Muon Solenoid detector. The nuclear modification factors are constructed by dividing the Pb–Pb pT spectra, normalized to the number of binary collisions, by the pp references. No modifications are observed in the isolated photon and Z boson production with respect to the pp references, while a large suppression is observed in the charged particles.
Preparation and reactions of 2-chloro-3,4-epoxy-1-butene: a convenient route to (Z)-3-chloroallylic alcohols.

Epoxide 2 was prepared from 3,4-dichloro-1-butene (1) by epoxidation with m-CPBA and subsequent dehydrohalogenation of the intermediate dichloroepoxide with molten KOH, affording 2 in 64% overall yield (2 steps). Catalytic CuBr/SMe2-mediated SN2‘ addition of sp2- or sp3-hybridized Grignard reagents to 2-chloro-3,4-epoxy-1-butene (2) afforded (Z)-3-chloroallylic alcohols such as 3 in good yields and with high regio- and stereoselectivity.
A Semiempirical Study of the Effect of Geometry and Methyl Substituents on the Stabilities of Protonated Cyclopropylcarbinyl Ketones: Resolution of the 7-Nortricyclanone Anomaly

A long-standing anomaly regarding the difference in stabilities of a series of protonated cyclopropylcarbinyl ketones has been resolved. The enthalpies of protonation of the ketones to the oxocarbenium ions (ΔHi) were calculated from the PM3 heats of formation of the ketones and ions using isodesmic cycles. The values of ΔHi correlate well with the experimentally determined values of pKR+ for the ketones in concentrated sulfuric acid. Methyl substitution on the cyclopropyl ring uniformly stabilizes the resulting ions. Orientation of the −OH+ to the cyclopropyl affects stability as well: a syn (periplanar) orientation lowers stability, while an anti (antiperiplanar) orientation increases it, apparently because of charge repulsion between the protonated carbonyl and the partial positive charges on the ring carbons caused by carbinyl “resonance” stabilization. Decreasing the angle about the carbonyl carbon leads to a decrease in stability for all systems tested and appears to be a major source of destabiliz...
Molecular recognition via base pairing: amine-containing, cytosine-based ditopic receptors that complex guanosine monophosphate

The synthesis and binding properties of two types of amine-containing, cytosine-based ditopic receptors, 4-amino-1-[4-[N,N-bis [2-(N,N-diethylamino) ethyl] amino] butyl]-2(1H)-pyrimidione (1) and 4-amino-1-[4-(N,N-diethylamino) butyl]-2 (1H)-pyrimidinone (2a), 4-amino-1-[5-(N,N-diethylamino) pentyl]-2(1H)-pyrimidinone (2b), and 4-amino-1-[6-(N,N-diethylamino) hexyl]-2(1H)-pyrimidinone (2c), are described. The four cytosine derivatives 1 and 2a-c contain both base pairing and ammonium electrostatic binding subunits. As such, they were expected to act as efficient ditopic receptors for the complexation of guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP), a prototypical purine-derived substrate
Proximity labeling reveals novel interactomes in live Drosophila tissue

ABSTRACT Gametogenesis is dependent on intercellular communication facilitated by stable intercellular bridges connecting developing germ cells. During Drosophila oogenesis, intercellular bridges (referred to as ring canals; RCs) have a dynamic actin cytoskeleton that drives their expansion to a diameter of 10 μm. Although multiple proteins have been identified as components of RCs, we lack a basic understanding of how RC proteins interact together to form and regulate the RC cytoskeleton. Thus, here, we optimized a procedure for proximity-dependent biotinylation in live tissue using the APEX enzyme to interrogate the RC interactome. APEX was fused to four different RC components (RC-APEX baits) and 55 unique high-confidence prey were identified. The RC-APEX baits produced almost entirely distinct interactomes that included both known RC proteins and uncharacterized proteins. A proximity ligation assay was used to validate close-proximity interactions between the RC-APEX baits and their respective prey. Furthermore, an RNA interference screen revealed functional roles for several high-confidence prey genes in RC biology. These findings highlight the utility of enzyme-catalyzed proximity labeling for protein interactome analysis in live tissue and expand our understanding of RC biology.
Enhanced enantiocontrol in catalytic metal carbene transformations with dirhodium (II) tetrakis[methyl 2‐oxooxazolidin‐4(S)‐carboxylate], Rh2(4S‐MEOX)4

The synthesis, spectral characteristics, and X-ray structures for dirhodium(II) tetrakis[methyl 2-oxooxazolidin-4(S)-carboxylate], Rh2(4S-MEOX)4, and the related dirhodium(II) tetrakis[methyl 5(R)-methyl-2-oxooxazolidin-4(S)-carboxylate], Rh2(4S-THREOX)4, are reported. Comparison is made between these 2-oxooxazolidin-ligated dirhodium(II) catalysts for metal carbene transformations and those with comparable 2-oxopyrrolidine ligands, especially dirhodium(II) tetrakis[methyl 2-oxopyrrolidine-5(S)-carboxylate], Rh2(5S-MEPY)4. Structure-selectivity comparisons reveal that Rh2(4S-MEOX)4 provides higher enantiocontrol and, in some cases, higher diastereocontrol than Rh2(5S-MEPY)4 in intramolecular carbon-hydrogen insertion reactions of sterically demanding diazoacetates and diazoacetamides and is the catalyst of choice for highly enantioselective diazodecomposition of adamantyl diazoacetates and N-(tert)butyldiazoacetamides. The structurally analogous Rh2(4S-THREOX)4 is nearly identical with Rh2(4S- MEOX)4 in its overall effect on selectivity. The net advantage of Rh2(4S-MEOX)4 lies in its wider openness for metal carbene transformations.
Stereoselective preparation of (Z)-α,β-difluorostyrenes

Abstract Substituted aromatic iodides couple with (E)-HFCCFZnI, under mild conditions, in the presence of catalytic Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 in DMF to give the title compounds in good yield.
Distinguishing genetic correlation from causation across 52 diseases and complex traits

Mendelian randomization, a method to infer causal relationships, is confounded by genetic correlations reflecting shared etiology. We developed a model in which a latent causal variable mediates the genetic correlation; trait 1 is partially genetically causal for trait 2 if it is strongly genetically correlated with the latent causal variable, quantified using the genetic causality proportion. We fit this model using mixed fourth moments $${\it{E}}({\it{\alpha }}_1^2{\it{\alpha }}_1{\it{\alpha }}_2)$$ E ( α 1 2 α 1 α 2 ) and $${\it{E}}\left( {{\it{\alpha }}_2^2{\it{\alpha }}_1{\it{\alpha }}_2} \right)$$ E α 2 2 α 1 α 2 of marginal effect sizes for each trait; if trait 1 is causal for trait 2, then SNPs affecting trait 1 (large $${\it{\alpha }}_1^2$$ α 1 2 ) will have correlated effects on trait 2 (large α1α2), but not vice versa. In simulations, our method avoided false positives due to genetic correlations, unlike Mendelian randomization. Across 52 traits (average n = 331,000), we identified 30 causal relationships with high genetic causality proportion estimates. Novel findings included a causal effect of low-density lipoprotein on bone mineral density, consistent with clinical trials of statins in osteoporosis.
Generating Effective Models and Parameters for RNA Genetic Circuits.

RNA genetic circuitry is emerging as a powerful tool to control gene expression. However, little work has been done to create a theoretical foundation for RNA circuit design. A prerequisite to this is a quantitative modeling framework that accurately describes the dynamics of RNA circuits. In this work, we develop an ordinary differential equation model of transcriptional RNA genetic circuitry, using an RNA cascade as a test case. We show that parameter sensitivity analysis can be used to design a set of four simple experiments that can be performed in parallel using rapid cell-free transcription-translation (TX-TL) reactions to determine the 13 parameters of the model. The resulting model accurately recapitulates the dynamic behavior of the cascade, and can be easily extended to predict the function of new cascade variants that utilize new elements with limited additional characterization experiments. Interestingly, we show that inconsistencies between model predictions and experiments led to the model-g...
Fine-mapping cis-regulatory variants in diverse human populations.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are a powerful approach for connecting genotype to phenotype. Most GWAS hits are located in cis-regulatory regions, but the underlying causal variants and their molecular mechanisms remain unknown. To better understand human cis-regulatory variation, we mapped quantitative trait loci for chromatin accessibility (caQTLs)-a key step in cis-regulation-in 1000 individuals from 10 diverse populations. Most caQTLs were shared across populations, allowing us to leverage the genetic diversity to fine-map candidate causal regulatory variants, several thousand of which have been previously implicated in GWAS. In addition, many caQTLs that affect the expression of distal genes also alter the landscape of long-range chromosomal interactions, suggesting a mechanism for long-range expression QTLs. In sum, our results show that molecular QTL mapping integrated across diverse populations provides a high-resolution view of how worldwide human genetic variation affects chromatin accessibility, gene expression, and phenotype. Editorial note This article has been through an editorial process in which the authors decide how to respond to the issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor's assessment is that minor issues remain unresolved (see decision letter).
Synthesis and structural characterization of the ternary Zintl phases AE3Al2Pn4 and AE3Ga2Pn4 (AE=Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu; Pn=P, As)

Abstract Ten new ternary phosphides and arsenides with empirical formulae AE3Al2Pn4 and AE3Ga2Pn4 (AE=Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu; Pn=P, As) have been synthesized using molten Ga, Al, and Pb fluxes. They have been structurally characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction to form with two different structures—Ca3Al2P4, Sr3Al2As4, Eu3Al2P4, Eu3Al2As4, Ca3Ga2P4, Sr3Ga2P4, Sr3Ga2As4, and Eu3Ga2As4 crystallize with the Ca3Al2As4 structure type (space group C2/c, Z=4); Ba3Al2P4 and Ba3Al2As4 adopt the Na3Fe2S4 structure type (space group Pnma, Z=4). The polyanions in both structures are made up of TrPn4 tetrahedra, which share common corners and edges to form [ T r P n 2 ] 3 – ∞ 2 layers in the phases with the Ca3Al2As4 structure, and [ T r P n 2 ] 3 – ∞ 1 chains in Ba3Al2P4 and Ba3Al2As4 with the Na3Fe2S4 structure type. The valence electron count for all of these compounds follows the Zintl–Klemm rules. Electronic band structure calculations confirm them to be semiconductors.
Scaffolded bis-azasugars: A dual warhead approach to glycosidase inhibition

Abstract Double Suzuki coupling was achieved with vinyl bromide 7 , synthesized from the bromobenzene microbial oxidation metabolite bromocyclohexadienediol 6 and α,ω-diborane coupling partners derived from the hydroboration of the corresponding diene. Ozonolysis and selective reduction protocols served to provide selectively theα/α or β/β tethered polyhydroxylated piperidine ring systems (bis-azabugars). The C 8 linked DMJ analogue 1 showed inhibitory activity against glycosidase enzymes.
Organic gas-phase ion chemistry

Many noteworthy contributions were reported in 2005. Among them were the determinations of the complexation energy of dialane and the heat of hydrogenation of phenylcyclobutadiene, two transient species that can be observed only at very low temperatures in cryogenic matrices. Infrared spectra on organometallic compounds, cationized amino acids and peptides, and cluster ions represent spectacular achievements as do photoelectron spectra studies on dipole bound anions, dicarboxylates, and small clusters. The chiral recognition work of Speranza and coworkers is exciting as is the prediction of observable anion–anion clusters which are not held together by covalent bonds.
1,2-Dihydroisoquinolines as Templates for Cascade Reactions To Access Isoquinoline Alkaloid Frameworks

The synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloid frameworks has been achieved via a series of cascade reactions identified through reaction discovery utilizing 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline scaffolds.
Shugoshin Is Essential for Meiotic Prophase Checkpoints in C. elegans.

Summary The conserved factor Shugoshin is dispensable in C. elegans for the two-step loss of sister chromatid cohesion that directs the proper segregation of meiotic chromosomes. We show that the C. elegans ortholog of Shugoshin, SGO-1, is required for checkpoint activity in meiotic prophase. This role in checkpoint function is similar to that of conserved proteins that structure meiotic chromosome axes. Indeed, null sgo-1 mutants exhibit additional phenotypes similar to that of a partial loss-of-function allele of the axis component, HTP-3: premature synaptonemal complex disassembly, the activation of alternate DNA repair pathways, and an inability to recruit a conserved effector of the DNA damage pathway, HUS-1. SGO-1 localizes to pre-meiotic nuclei when HTP-3 is present but not yet loaded onto chromosome axes and genetically interacts with a central component of the cohesin complex, SMC-3, suggesting that it contributes to meiotic chromosome metabolism early in meiosis by regulating cohesin. We propose that SGO-1 acts during pre-meiotic replication to ensure fully functional meiotic chromosome architecture, rendering these chromosomes competent for checkpoint activity and normal progression of meiotic recombination. Given that most research on Shugoshin has focused on its regulation of sister chromatid cohesion during chromosome segregation, this novel role may be conserved but previously uncharacterized in other organisms. Further, our findings expand the repertoire of Shugoshin’s functions beyond coordinating regulatory activities at the centromere.
Cannabimimetic indoles, pyrroles and indenes.

In the course of efforts to develop new nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, it was discovered that 1-aminoalkyl-3-aroylindoles have affinity for the cannabinoid brain (CB 1 ) receptor. This led to the synthesis of well over 100 cannabimimetic aminoalkylindoles by the group at Sterling Winthrop, and to the development of structure-activity relationships (SAR) for these compounds. These SAR require a heterocyclic aminoethyl group attached to the indole nitrogen, and a 1-naphthoyl group at C-3 for significant receptor affinity. Other workers subsequently demonstrated that an aminoalkyl group was not necessary for cannabinoid activity, but that an N-alkyl group of four to six carbons was sufficient. This led to the discovery that 1-propyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole is a selective ligand for the peripheral cannabinoid (CB 2 ) receptor, and to the development of a series of cannabimimetic pyrroles. Comprehensive SAR for this group of cannabinoids have been developed. Two groups have described cannabimimetic indenes, which have been employed as rigid models for the receptor interactions of cannabimimetic indoles with the CB 1 receptor. There is some evidence that ihe indoles interact at a somewhat different site on the receptor than traditional cannabinoids.
The Active Asteroids

Some asteroids eject dust, unexpectedly producing transient, comet-like comae and tails. First ascribed to the sublimation of near-surface water ice, mass-losing asteroids (also called main-belt comets) can in fact be driven by a surprising diversity of mechanisms. In this paper, we consider 11 dynamical asteroids losing mass, in nine of which the ejected material is spatially resolved. We address mechanisms for producing mass loss including rotational instability, impact ejection, electrostatic repulsion, radiation pressure sweeping, dehydration stresses, and thermal fracture, in addition to the sublimation of ice. In two objects (133P and 238P) the repetitive nature of the observed activity leaves ice sublimation as the only reasonable explanation, while in a third ((596) Scheila), a recent impact is the cause. Another impact may account for activity in P/2010 A2, but this tiny object can also be explained as having shed mass after reaching rotational instability. Mass loss from (3200) Phaethon is probably due to cracking or dehydration at extreme (~1000?K) perihelion temperatures, perhaps aided by radiation pressure sweeping. For the other bodies, the mass-loss mechanisms remain unidentified, pending the acquisition of more and better data. While the active asteroid sample size remains small, the evidence for an astonishing diversity of mass-loss processes in these bodies is clear.
Cyanomethylation of anthranilic acid

Anthranilic acid reacts with chloroacetonitrile and N,N-diisopropylethylamine in DMF to yield 3-imino-2,3-dihydro-4,1-benzoxazepin-5(1H)-one (1) as the only reaction product. Also known as Ashley's fluorescer, compound 1 is fluorescent and binds to calcium carbonate, including the calcium carbonate-rich antennae of Daphnia pulex, the water flea.
Optical absorption spectra of dications of carotenoids

Quantitative optical absorption spectra of the cation radicals and the dications of canthaxanthin (I), β-carotene (II), 7‘-cyano-7‘-ethoxycarbonyl-7‘-apo-β-carotene (III), and 7‘,7‘-dimethyl-7‘-apo...
The synthesis of azabicyclic heterocycles

Abstract An efficient approach to a oxa-azabicyclo[3.2.1] derivatives has been achieved via a double-Mannich reaction of N,N-bis(methoxymethyl)-1-phenylethanamine with symmetrical and unsymmetrical ketones.
Formation of a Tetrameric, Cyclooctane-like, Azidochlorogallane, [HClGaN3]4, and Related Azidogallanes. Exothermic Single-Source Precursors to GaN Nanostructures

The synthesis of a novel tetrameric gallane, [HClGaN3]4 (1),with a heterocyclic cyclooactane-like structure has been demonstrated. A single-crystal X-ray study reveals that the molecule consists of eight-membered Ga4N4 rings with Ga atoms bridged by the α-nitrogens of the azide groups. [HClGaN3]4 crystallizes in the tetragonal space group space group P42bc, with a = 17.920(3) A, c = 10.782(3) A, V = 3462(2) A3, and Z = 8. On the basis of the mass spectrum, the vapor of the compound consists of the trimer [HClGaN3]3, which is a low-temperature molecular source for growth of GaN layers on sapphire and Si substrates at 500 °C. Solid 1 decomposes exothermically at 70 °C to yield bulk nanocrystalline wurtzite and zinc blende GaN. The reaction between H2GaCl and LiN3 yields the analogous and extremely simple azidogallane (H2GaN3)n (2), which is used to deposit crystalline GaN films at 450 °C. Compound 2 is considerably more reactive than 1, and its decomposition, often initiated at room temperature, yields pure...
PALLADIUM CATALYZED CARBONYLATION OF BR-SUBSTITUTED PORPHYRINS

Abstract The Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of Br-substituted porphyrins is reported. Several new alkoxycarbonylporphyrins are synthesized in good yields. The reaction is found particularly useful for derivatization of the tetrabenzoporphyrin system.
Stereoselective synthesis of 3-hydroxyproline benzyl esters from N-protected β-aminoaldehydes and benzyl diazoacetate

The synthesis of a series of 3-hydroxyproline benzyl esters from alpha-alkyl and alpha-alkoxy N-protected aminoaldehydes with benzyl diazoacetate is described. Aldehydes with alpha-alkyl substituents afforded prolines as a single diastereomer with a trans-cis relative configuration in 14-77%. An alpha-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy aminoaldehyde afforded a proline as a single diastereomer with a trans-trans relative configuration in 37% yield.
Carbon-carbon bond forming reactions with oxiranyl radicals

Abstract Substituted oxiranyl radicals have been generated from glycidic acids. The cyclization of these species, the stereochemistry of the resultant products, and an intermolecular application of these reactive species is considered.
High pressure-high temperature synthesis of lithium-rich Li3O(Cl, Br) and Li3 − xCax/2OCl anti-perovskite halides

Abstract In this work, we investigated the systems of (Li, Ca)–O–(Cl, Br) under high pressure and temperature for the synthesis of lithium-rich anti-perovskite (LiRAP) halides. We successfully synthesized Li3 − xCax/2OCl anti-perovskite with x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2 near 0.5 GPa and temperatures of 400–425 K and Li3OBr anti-perovskite at 3.0 GPa and 450 K. Different from the synthetic route previously reported at ambient pressure, LiA + 2LiOH → Li3OA + H2O, the LiRAP halides under high P–T conditions are formed by dehydration of end-member and Ca-doped halide hydrates with a general formula of Li2x + 1A(OH)2y, where A can be Cl or Br and x must be equal to y. This proposed formula predicts several new halide hydrates including Li3Cl(OH)2, Li5Cl(OH)4, Li3Br(OH)2, and Li5Br(OH)4, indicating that halide hydrates are structurally flexible to accommodate a range of lithium and hydroxide occupancies in the puckered layers of [Li2x + 1(OH)2y+].
A microbially derived tyrosine-sulfated peptide mimics a plant peptide hormone

Summary The biotrophic pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) produces a sulfated peptide named RaxX, which shares similarity to peptides in the PSY (plant peptide containing sulfated tyrosine) family. We hypothesize that RaxX mimics the growth-stimulating activity of PSY peptides. Root length was measured in Arabidopsis and rice treated with synthetic RaxX peptides. We also used comparative genomic analyses and reactive oxygen species burst assays to evaluate the activity of RaxX and PSY peptides. Here we found that a synthetic sulfated RaxX derivative comprising 13 residues (RaxX13-sY), highly conserved between RaxX and PSY, induces root growth in Arabidopsis and rice in a manner similar to that triggered by PSY. We identified residues that are required for activation of immunity mediated by the rice XA21 receptor but that are not essential for root growth induced by PSY. Finally, we showed that a Xanthomonas strain lacking raxX is impaired in virulence. These findings suggest that RaxX serves as a molecular mimic of PSY peptides to facilitate Xoo infection and that XA21 has evolved the ability to recognize and respond specifically to the microbial form of the peptide.
Solventless Regeneration of Ketones from Thioketones using Clay Supported Nitrate Salts and Microwave Irradiation

Abstract Thioketones are readily converted into the corresponding ketones under solvent-free conditions using clayfen or clayan in a process that is accelerated by microwave irradiation.
Preferences or Patriarchy: Why Do Religious Women Work Less?

Religious women work less than their non-religious counterparts. Is this because they want to work less or because patriarchal social norms limit their choices? To address this question, we estimate the employment happiness premium, which we define as the happiness gain associated with being employed, for men and women belonging to six world religions and for the non-religious. Our results indicate that the employment happiness premium is higher for men than for women for every world religion and that the gender gap in the employment happiness premium varies significantly across religions. Next, we ask whether the gender gap in the employment happiness premium can explain the gender gap in employment. That is, is it plausible that preferences explain employment patterns across religions and genders? We find that preferences plausibly explain the gender employment gap for Buddhists, Orthodox Christians, and the non-religious. In contrast, they explain less than half the observed gender employment gap for Hindus, Muslims, Catholics and Protestants. Our findings are consistent with a significant role for patriarchal social norms in constraining female employment in these religious traditions.
Allow Offensive Speech --- Curb Abusive Speech?

Free speech can be limited. The Founding Fathers did not give it the high standing many liberals accord it. Moreover, the courts have often limited it for various reasons, thus adding trigger warnings and safe spaces is quite within the main stream legal tradition. This is especially true about speech that causes significant harm, objectively verified. However, the Trump assault on free speech, especially the Press, it should be our highest priority for now to protect this crucial freedom.
Neuropsychiatric phenotypes and a distinct constellation of ASD features in 3q29 deletion syndrome: results from the 3q29 registry

The 1.6 Mb 3q29 deletion is associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric phenotypes, including increased risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a 20 to 40-fold increased risk for schizophrenia. However, the phenotypic spectrum of the deletion, particularly with respect to ASD, remains poorly described. We ascertained individuals with 3q29 deletion syndrome (3q29Del, “cases,” n = 93, 58.1% male) and typically developing controls (n = 64, 51.6% male) through the 3q29 registry ( https://3q29deletion.patientcrossroads.org ). Self-report of neuropsychiatric illness was evaluated for 93 cases. Subsets of participants were evaluated with the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS, n = 48 cases, 56 controls), Social Communication Questionnaire (n = 33 cases, 46 controls), Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (n = 24 cases, 35 controls), and Achenbach Behavior Checklists (n = 48 cases, 57 controls). 3q29Del cases report a higher prevalence of autism diagnoses versus the general population (29.0% vs. 1.47%, p < 2.2E− 16). Notably, 3q29 deletion confers a greater influence on risk for ASD in females (OR = 41.8, p = 4.78E− 05) than in males (OR = 24.6, p = 6.06E− 09); this is aligned with the reduced male:female bias from 4:1 in the general population to 2:1 in our study sample. Although 71% of cases do not report a diagnosis of ASD, there is evidence of significant social disability (3q29Del SRS T-score = 71.8, control SRS T-score = 45.9, p = 2.16E− 13). Cases also report increased frequency of generalized anxiety disorder compared to controls (28.0% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.001), which is mirrored by elevated mean scores on the Achenbach diagnostic and statistical manual-oriented sub-scales (p < 0.001). Finally, cases show a distinct constellation of ASD features on the SRS as compared to idiopathic ASD, with substantially elevated Restricted Interests and Repetitive Behaviors, but only mild impairment in Social Motivation. Our sample of 3q29Del is significantly enriched for ASD diagnosis, especially among females, and features of autism may be present even when an ASD diagnosis is not reported. Further, the constellation of ASD features in this population is distinct from idiopathic ASD, with substantially less impaired social motivation. Our study implies that ASD evaluation should be the standard of care for individuals with 3q29Del. From a research perspective, the distinct ASD subtype present in 3q29Del is an ideal entry point for expanding understanding of ASD.
Small scale creation for solutions of the incompressible two-dimensional Euler equation

We construct an initial data for the two-dimensional Euler equation in a disk for which the gradient of vorticity exhibits double exponential growth in time for all times. This estimate is known to be sharp | the double exponential growth is the fastest possible growth rate.
Complexity Analysis of the Lasso Regularization Path

The regularization path of the Lasso can be shown to be piecewise linear, making it possible to "follow" and explicitly compute the entire path. We analyze in this paper this popular strategy, and prove that its worst case complexity is exponential in the number of variables. We then oppose this pessimistic result to an (optimistic) approximate analysis: We show that an approximate path with at most O(1/√e) linear segments can always be obtained, where every point on the path is guaranteed to be optimal up to a relative e-duality gap. We complete our theoretical analysis with a practical algorithm to compute these approximate paths.