cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear terahertz coherent excitation of vibrational modes of liquids

We report the first coherent excitation of intramolecular vibrational modes via the nonlinear interaction of a TeraHertz (THz) light field with molecular liquids. A terahertz-terahertz-Raman pulse sequence prepares the coherences with a broadband, high-energy, (sub)picosecond terahertz pulse, that are then measured in a terahertz Kerr effect spectrometer via phase-sensitive, heterodyne detection with an optical pulse. The spectrometer reported here has broader terahertz frequency coverage, and an increased sensitivity relative to previously reported terahertz Kerr effect experiments. Vibrational coherences are observed in liquid diiodomethane at 3.66 THz (122 cm(-1)), and in carbon tetrachloride at 6.50 THz (217 cm(-1)), in exact agreement with literature values of those intramolecular modes. This work opens the door to 2D spectroscopies, nonlinear in terahertz field, that can study the dynamics of condensed-phase molecular systems, as well as coherent control at terahertz frequencies.
Polyester–polycarbonate blends. II. Poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Melt blends of polycarbonate and poly(ethylene terephthalate) were prepared and examined for their transitional behavior by thermal analysis and dynamic mechanical testing. A single Tg was observed for compositions containing more than 60%–70% PET by weight while compositions below this range showed two glass transitions. From this it is concluded that PC and PET are completely miscible in the amorphous phase for PET-rich compositions, whereas PC-rich blends separate into two amorphous phases which apparently contain both components. Melting point and crystallization behavior are conssistent with these conclusions and suggest that very little if any interchange reactions occur between the ester and carbonate groups during melt mixing.
Mesoscopic Methods in Engineering and Science

Matter, conceptually classified into fluids and solids, can be completely described by the microscopic physics of its constituent atoms or molecules. However, for most engineering applications a ma...
Trainable methods for surface natural language generation

We present three systems for surface natural language generation that are trainable from annotated corpora. The first two systems, called NLG1 and NLG2, require a corpus marked only with domainspecific semantic attributes, while the last system, called NLG3, requires a corpus marked with both semantic attributes and syntactic dependency information. All systems attempt to produce a grammatical natural language phrase from a domain-specific semantic representation. NLG1 serves a baseline system and uses phrase frequencies to generate a whole phrase in one step, while NLG2 and NLG3 use maximum entropy probability models to individually generate each word in the phrase. The systems NLG2 and NLG3 learn to determine both the word choice and the word order of the phrase. We present experiments in which we generate phrases to describe flights in the air travel domain.
Estimation of Kováts Retention Indices Using Group Contributions

We have constructed a group contribution method for estimating Kovats retention indices by using observed data from a set of diverse organic compounds. Our database contains observed retention indices for over 35 000 different molecules. These were measured on capillary or packed columns with polar and nonpolar (or slightly polar) stationary phases under isothermal or nonisothermal conditions. We neglected any dependence of index values on these factors by averaging observations. Using 84 groups, we determined two sets of increment values, one for nonpolar and the other for polar column data. For nonpolar column data, the median absolute prediction error was 46 (3.2%). For data on polar columns, the median absolute error was 65 (3.9%). While accuracy is insufficient for identification based solely on retention, it is suitable for the rejection of certain classes of false identifications made by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
Nonparametric Bayesian Learning of Other Agents? Policies in Interactive POMDPs

We consider an autonomous POMDP agent facing a multiagent environment with unknown opponents, that are modeled as finite state controllers. The agent first learns the models from (imperfectly) observed behavior, and subsequently exploits them in planning for its own optimal policy by constructing an interactive POMDP. In the learning phase, Bayesian nonparametric methods are used to sample from the posterior distribution over the infinite-dimensional space of all possible controllers, resulting in models whose size scales with the complexity of observed behavior. Experimental results show that learning improves the agent's performance, which increases with the amount of data collected during the learning phase.
On soft predicates in subdivision motion planning

We propose to design new algorithms for motion planning problems using the well-known Domain Subdivision paradigm, coupled with "soft" predicates. Unlike the traditional exact predicates in computational geometry, our primitives are only exact in the limit. We introduce the notion of resolution-exact algorithms in motion planning: such an algorithm has an "accuracy" constant K 1 , and takes an arbitrary input "resolution" parameter e 0 such that: if there is a path with clearance Ke, it will output a path with clearance e / K ; if there are no paths with clearance e / K , it reports "NO PATH". Besides the focus on soft predicates, our framework also admits a variety of global search strategies including forms of the A* search and probabilistic search.Our algorithms are theoretically sound, practical, easy to implement, without implementation gaps, and have adaptive complexity. Our deterministic and probabilistic strategies avoid the Halting Problem of current probabilistically complete algorithms. We develop the first provably resolution-exact algorithms for motion-planning problems in SE ( 2 ) = R 2 i? S 1 . To validate this approach, we implement our algorithms and the experiments demonstrate the efficiency of our approach, even compared to probabilistic algorithms.
The World Bank's classification of countries by income

The World Bank has used an income classification to group countries for analytical purposes for many years. Since the present income classification was first introduced 25 years ago there has been significant change in the global economic landscape. As real incomes have risen, the number of countries in the low income group has fallen to 31, while the number of high income countries has risen to 80. As countries have transitioned to middle income status, more people are living below the World Bank's international extreme poverty line in middle income countries than in low income countries. These changes in the world economy, along with a rapid increase in the user base of World Bank data, suggest that a review of the income classification is needed. A key consideration is the views of users, and this paper finds opinions to be mixed: some critics argue the thresholds are dated and set too low; others find merit in continuing to have a fixed benchmark to assess progress over time. On balance, there is still value in the current approach, based on gross national income per capita, to classifying countries into different groups. However, the paper proposes adjustments to the methodology that is used to keep the value of the thresholds for each income group constant over time. Several proposals for changing the current thresholds are also presented, which it is hoped will inform further discussion and any decision to adopt a new approach.
COMPARISON OF YOUNG AND ADULT DRIVER CRASHES IN ALASKA USING LINKED TRAFFIC CRASH AND HOSPITAL DATA

This report describes young driver crashes in Alaska, compares rates and characteristics of young driver crashes with adult driver crashes, and summarizes the medical and financial outcomes of young driver crashes, for the period 1991 through 1995. Using the Mini Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (MINICODES), trauma registry hospital discharge data were linked with traffic crash records. The data were analyzed to compare drivers aged 16-20 with drivers aged 21-50 who were involved in a crash resulting in the hospitalization or death of a crash victim. The CrashCost Program was used to estimate costs associated with young driver crashes for the five years. Young drivers were 2.9 times more likely than adult drivers to be involved in crashes that resulted in the hospitalization of a crash victim, and 2.6 times more likely to be involved in a crash involving a fatality. The contributing factors for young driver crashes were listed as human factors 73.4% of the time, compared with 65.6% among adults (P = .001). Costs associated with the young driver crashes were estimated to be over $300 million, which resulted in a cost per young licensed driver that was 3.4 times the cost per adult licensed driver. Language: en
All-electrical detection of spin dynamics in magnetic antidot lattices by the inverse spin Hall effect

The understanding of spin dynamics in laterally confined structures on sub-micron length scales has become a significant aspect of the development of novel magnetic storage technologies. Numerous ferromagnetic resonance measurements, optical characterization by Kerr microscopy and Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy, and x-ray studies were carried out to detect the dynamics in patterned magnetic antidot lattices. Here, we investigate Oersted-field driven spin dynamics in rectangular Ni80Fe20/Pt antidot lattices with different lattice parameters by electrical means and compare them to micromagnetic simulations. When the system is driven to resonance, a dc voltage across the length of the sample is detected that changes its sign upon field reversal, which is in agreement with a rectification mechanism based on the inverse spin Hall effect. Furthermore, we show that the voltage output scales linearly with the applied microwave drive in the investigated range of powers. Our findings have direct implications on the development of engineered magnonics applications and devices.
Reinforcing the State Transnational and State Labor Regulation in Indonesia

Research on global programs to regulate labor standards has emphasized interactions between transnational and state regulatory institutions. If transnational initiatives can make state institutions more relevant, they have the potential to reinforce, rather than displace, state labor regulation. Through a study of the Indonesia-based program of a leading initiative to improve working conditions in the garment industry, Better Work, this article identifies the conditions under which transnational regulations reinforce domestic ones. Drawing on two case studies comparing regulations governing fixed-term contracts and minimum wage renegotiations in four Indonesian districts, the authors find that reinforcement is likely when two conditions jointly occur: unions mobilize to activate state institutions, and transnational regulators have support to resolve ambiguities in formal rules in ways that require firms to engage with constraining institutions. The authors further test the findings through a quantitative...
The economy of China: a tourist's view

I visited the People's Republic of China for two weeks, September 8-22, 1972, together with Professors John Kenneth Galbraith and Wassily Leontief, in the first of a series of visits by U.S. academicians and scientists arranged by the Federation of American Scientists and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Our hosts were the Academy of Sciences, the Scientific and Technical Association, and Peking University. We spent a day in Canton, a week in Peking, a day each in Nanking and Hang-chow, three days in Shanghai, and nearly two days traveling by train. We spent two and a half days in Peking in discussions with economists from Peking University and from the Academy's Institute of Economics. A similar but less elaborate discussion took place in Shanghai with economists of Futan University. In addition, we visited an arts and crafts workshop, a cotton textile factory, a machine tool plant, a rural people's commune, a grocery supermarket, a large department store, an industrial exposition, a high school, and a h...
Hoping grey goes green: air pollution’s impact on consumer automobile choices

This paper examines to what extent, if any, natural environmental factors affect consumer purchase decisions regarding “green” products. We collect and combine several unique datasets to study the impact of air pollution on consumers’ choices of passenger vehicles in China. Exploiting cross-city variation, we find that air pollution levels negatively affect the sales of fuel-inefficient cars on average. This relationship, though, is U-shaped over the observed air pollution levels, in that fuel-inefficient car purchases rise with air pollution beyond some threshold. Furthermore, a city’s income level is a significant factor in this non-monotonic relationship, in the sense that consumers of higher-income cities are less likely to suffer this reversal. All these results are consistent with the literature’s theoretical predictions of hope. The rich findings of our study yield important implications to both marketers and policy makers.
Experimental Limit to the Electric Dipole Moment of the Neutron

An experimental measurement of the electric dipole moment of the neutron by a neutron-beam magnetic resonance method is described. The result of the experiment is that the electric dipole moment of the neutron equals the charge of the electron multiplied by a distance $D=(\ensuremath{-}0.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}20}$ cm. Consequently, if an electric dipole moment of the neutron exists and is associated with the spin angular momentum, its magnitude almost certainly corresponds to a value of $D$ less than 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}20}$ cm.
When and where do we see regional poverty reduction and convergence ? lessons from the roof of Turkey

In the past decade, Turkey has experienced a notable level of poverty reduction at all levels (extreme poor, poor, and vulnerable). The steady decline in poverty was also resilient to the decline in gross domestic product per capita growth during the crisis. However, although poverty convergence was strong before the financial crisis, there was an absence of regional convergence afterward. This paper analyzes poverty trends, poverty convergence, economic mobility, and the determinants of poverty reduction at the regional level over the period 2006–13. The analysis finds that agricultural growth in the east was an important contributor to Turkey's regional poverty reduction. In additionally, employment growth in the services sectors boosted poverty reduction throughout the entire country. From a fiscal perspective, the amount of per capita central spending is also linked to poverty reduction, although more strongly for regions in the west.
Fast spectral algorithms from sum-of-squares proofs: tensor decomposition and planted sparse vectors

We consider two problems that arise in machine learning applications: the problem of recovering a planted sparse vector in a random linear subspace and the problem of decomposing a random low-rank overcomplete 3-tensor. For both problems, the best known guarantees are based on the sum-of-squares method. We develop new algorithms inspired by analyses of the sum-of-squares method. Our algorithms achieve the same or similar guarantees as sum-of-squares for these problems but the running time is significantly faster. For the planted sparse vector problem, we give an algorithm with running time nearly linear in the input size that approximately recovers a planted sparse vector with up to constant relative sparsity in a random subspace of ℝn of dimension up to Ω(√n). These recovery guarantees match the best known ones of Barak, Kelner, and Steurer (STOC 2014) up to logarithmic factors. For tensor decomposition, we give an algorithm with running time close to linear in the input size (with exponent ≈ 1.125) that approximately recovers a component of a random 3-tensor over ℝn of rank up to Ω(n4/3). The best previous algorithm for this problem due to Ge and Ma (RANDOM 2015) works up to rank Ω(n3/2) but requires quasipolynomial time.
Mechanistic studies of the anticancer activity of an octahedral hexanuclear Pt(II) cage

The cellular response evoked by a hexanuclear platinum complex, Pt6L4 (1), is reported. Compound 1, a 3-nm octahedral cage formed by self-assembly of six Pt(II) centers and four 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine ligands (L), exhibits promising in vitro potency against a panel of human cancer cell lines. Unlike classical platinum-based anticancer agents, 1 interacts with DNA in a non-covalent, intercalative manner and promotes DNA condensation. In cancer cells, 1 induces DNA damage, upregulates p53, its phosphorylated form phospho-p53 and its downstream effector, p21, as well as both apoptosis and senescence.
I Cannot Afford to Have a Life: Employee Adaptation to Feelings of Job Insecurity

This study examines the links between employee perceptions of job insecurity, the work�nonwork interface, and stress-related outcomes. Drawing on an adaptation perspective, we expect employees feeling greater job insecurity to engage in adaptive work behaviors including less use of work�nonwork support programs and greater willingness to let work permeate into one's personal life, which in turn will associate with greater work�nonwork conflict and emotional exhaustion. Data were collected from employees within a large energy company at 2 points in time. Results support the model, offering important insights into employee behavioral responses to job insecurity and key mechanisms through which insecurity may foster diminished employee well-being.
Theory of the Trojan Asteroids: Part II

In the previously published (1977a) Part I of the paper, the author has constructed a formal long-periodic solution for the case of 1:1 resonance in the restricted problem of three bodies. Here the accuracy of the solution is carried fromO(m) toO(m 3/2), wherem is the mass parameter of the system. Asymptotic approximations for the period of the motion are obtained for the case of small oscillations about the Lagrangian pointL 4, in agreement with the classical theory, and for the vicinity of a logarithmic singularity on themean separatrix, passing throughL 3. The regularizing function ψ(λ), which removes the singularities of the Poincare type, is extended to all orders, and the result is used to prove the periodicity of the solution.
Evaluating the Effect of a Flexible Spine on the Evolution of Quadrupedal Gaits

Animals demonstrate a level of agility currently unmatched in their robotic counterparts. The elasticity of muscles and tendons increase not only performance, but also the efficiency of movements. In contrast, robots are often constructed with rigid components connected by motors. However, recently compliant actuators and materials have been introduced to enhance robot designs, emulating the flexibility of natural organisms. In this paper, we incorporate passive flexibility into the spine of a quadruped animat and employ computational evolution to generate gaits. Results indicate that spine flexibility significantly increases both performance and efficiency of evolved individuals. Moreover, evolving the degree of spine flexibility along with artificial neural network controllers produces the highest performing solutions.
Silatrane as a Practical and Selective Reagent for the Reduction of Aryl Aldehydes to Benzylic Alcohols

Hydrosilanes are cheap, readily available substrates, yet they do not see as extensive use for simple carbonyl reductions as borohydrides. Hydrosilane reducing agents broadly fall into one of two general categories: either a) they are easy to handle and require expensive and/or hazardous additives, or b) they are difficult and/or dangerous to handle. This work details the discovery of mild and functional group compatible conditions utilizing hydrosilatrane for the selective reduction of aryl aldehydes to benzylic alcohols without unwanted formation of ethers or deoxygenated products. This method offers significant advances in silane reductions as silatrane is an air- and moisture-stable yet relatively reactive reducing agent that can be used in benchtop open air reactions.
First-principles screening of complex transition metal hydrides for high temperature applications.

Metal hydrides with enhanced thermodynamic stability with respect to the associated binary hydrides are useful for high temperature applications in which highly stable materials with low hydrogen overpressures are desired. Though several examples of complex transition metal hydrides (CTMHs) with such enhanced stability are known, little thermodynamic or phase stability information is available for this materials class. In this work, we use semiautomated thermodynamic and phase diagram calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) and grand canonical linear programming (GCLP) methods to screen 102 ternary and quaternary CTMHs and 26 ternary saline hydrides in a library of over 260 metals, intermetallics, binary, and higher hydrides to identify materials that release hydrogen at higher temperatures than the associated binary hydrides and at elevated temperatures, T > 1000 K, for 1 bar H2 overpressure. For computational efficiency, we employ a tiered screening approach based first on solid phase grou...
Fragile Merchandise: A Comparative Analysis of the Privacy Rights for Public Figures

Over a century after Warren and Brandeis first presented the right to U.S. jurists for their consideration, privacy has become a central player in U.S. law. But nations around the world, in particular the common and civil law nations of Europe that share similar legal cultures with the United States, are grappling with how best to strike a balance between the competing rights of privacy and freedom of expression—both of which are critical to the functioning of democratic society. Existing literature has not fully drawn from this reservoir of international experience to inform the debate about U.S. privacy rights. This Article addresses this omission by using comparative case studies from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to analyze areas of convergence and divergence in privacy rights. The focus of each case study is the right of privacy afforded to public figures, particularly those at the cusp of the classic definition, i.e., involuntary or temporary public figures. Though some semblance of a bright-line rule has evolved for voluntary public figures, involuntary public figures in the United States are accorded spotty protection varying by jurisdiction. Lacking guiding Supreme Court precedent, this has led to divergent practice especially regarding the definition of “public interest,” which is fundamental to defining the limits of freedom of expression. Thus, this Article draws from the comparative analysis to build a proposal for a clarifying definition of the public interest that helps delineate privacy rights, as well as arguing for the adoption of a graduated structure of privacy protections for public figures along the lines of the German and European Court of Human Rights models.
Political Reform in Saudi Arabia: Necessity or Luxury?

Since its founding in 1932, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has never had a written constitution or any form of publicparticipation in the policy process and governmental decision-making process. Since 1992, the rulers have been under increasing pressureto formulate a written constitution and to increase public participation in the policy process. As a response, Saudi rulers have enactedmany laws, which they claimed were a new constitution for the country. This paper argues that the reforms introduced in Saudi Arabiaare empty reforms that put the country’s political stability in jeopardy. In contrast, increasing public participation in the policy process willensure political stability and legitimize rulers’ authority. Thus, without political reform that guarantees citizen participation in the policyand governmental decision-making processes, the country’s political future will continue to be controlled by a small group of people (theroyal family) who often disagree amongst themselves about what is best for the country.
Synthesis of α-peroxyesters via organocatalyzed O-H insertion of hydroperoxides and aryl diazoesters.

The synthesis of α-aryl peroxyesters, an unprecedented class of organic peroxide, via hydrogen-bond donor catalyzed O–H insertions of hydroperoxides and α-aryl diazoesters is reported. The method is applicable to a diverse set of substrates and the corresponding α-peroxyesters are typically isolated in high yield. Both thermogravimetric analysis and reactions with traditional peroxide reducing agents demonstrate the stability of α-peroxyesters.
Synthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of a New Heteropolyoxoniobate Compound: K10[Nb2O2(H2O)2][SiNb12O40]·12H2O

The synthesis and photocatalytic properties of a heteropolyoxoniobate, K10[Nb2O2(H2O)2][SiNb12O40]·12H2O (1), are reported, revealing an important role of Zr4+ additives in the crystallization. Compound 1 exhibits overall photocatalytic water splitting activity, and its photocatalytic activity is significantly higher than that of Na10[Nb2O2][SiNb12O40]·xH2O (2). Fluorescence lifetime measurements suggest that the enhanced photocatalytic activity of 1 likely results from a larger yield of longer-lived charge trapping states in 1 due to the coordination of one water molecule to the bridging Nb5+, leading to highly unsymmetrical seven-coordinated Nb5+ sites.
Trust and Financial Reporting Quality

Using unique survey data from Great Place to Work® Institute, we investigate the association of intraorganizational trust (i.e., employees� trust in management) with three aspects of financial reporting: accruals quality, misstatements, and internal control quality. We find that trust is associated with better accrual quality, lower likelihood of financial statement misstatements, and lower likelihood of internal control material weakness disclosures. However, these effects are not uniform across all companies. Consistent with trust improving financial reporting quality through improved information production and information sharing, we find that trust is significantly associated with financial reporting quality in relatively decentralized firms, but not in firms that are relatively centralized. Our results are robust to several analyses that attempt to control for potential alternative explanations.
Value of nitroglycerin-induced tilt-table testing in patients with vasovagal syncope

Objective:To study the diagnostic value of nitroglycerin tilt-table testing and the hemodynamic patterns and changes of heart rate variability in patients with vasovagal syncope.Method:Tilt-table testing was performed in fifty-five patients with unexplained syncope and twenty healthy persons.The testing persons were tilted upright to an angle of 75 degrees and observed for 45 minutes.If the result was negative in basic testing,sublingual nitroglycerin(0.3 mg) was administered after 10 minutes lying flat and continuous tilted for 20 minutes.Heart rate(HR),blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) were analyzed during tilt testing.Result:32 of 55 patients had an induced syncope,8 had syncope during tilt testing and 24 syncope occurred after nitroglycerin.In the syncope group 21 had a vasodepressive response(65.63%),6 mixed response(18.75%) and 5 cardioinhibitory response(15.63%).HR in subjects with cardioinhibitory response increased and then abruptly decreased in a very short period before syncope occurred,but BP changed less.For subjects with mixed response,both HR and BP decreased abruptly while syncope occurred.For subjects with vasodepressive response,BP abruptly decreased during syncope with mild decreased in HR,but the decrease of HR was less than subjects with cardioinhibitory response or mixed response.For all subjects with positive response,LFnorm and LF/HF increased before syncope.When syncope occurred,LFnorm and LF/HF markedly decreased with HFnorm increased.Conclusion:Nitroglycerin can increase the positivity of tilt-table testing.Abruptly withdrawl of sympathetic activity and rapid activation of vagus may play an important role in vasovagal syncope and lead to different response in hemodynamics.
PERSPECTIVES ON ADDING NEW LETTERS TO GENETIC ALPHABET

Objective: Today, DNA-based technologies are limited in the range, efficiency and accuracy of their application by the four bases in the structure of DNA. Development of DNA molecules with a higher number of bases could contribute to the resolution of the problem. Moreover, the addition of new letters to the genetic alphabet could be used for the treatment of disorders and development of DNA molecules with extended functionality. The aim of the research was to analyse the current abilities and future perspectives of expanded alphabet with respect to the mentioned problems. Methods: The research questions were addressed by the research of the articles present in NCBI and Google Scholar databases. With the application of developed key terms, such as “expanded gene code”, “expanded genetic alphabet” and “genetic alphabet and medicine”, and certain inclusion and exclusion criteria, six articles published between 2006 and 2016 were selected for analysis. Results: It was identified that most of the applications of DNA with six letters possible for today use are associated with the expansion in the functional abilities of the modern DNA-based methods. Some of the researchers show the higher binding ability and affinity of the artificial DNA aptamers and suggest their application for treatment and increased functions of DNA. However, still a great number of other applications are suggested for the future. They include the production of proteins and enzymes with new qualities, making DNA molecule a molecular probe for tumour detection and a number of other applications. Conclusion: Addition of new letters to the genetic alphabet can be a powerful tool for improvement of diagnostic technologies used today. However, more research in this field is still needed for wider application and development of new treatment approaches. Keywords: Expanded alphabet, Personalized medicine, Pharmaceutics, cancer, Gene technology, Molecular beacon
Influence of alkaloid concentration of tall fescue straw on the nutrition, physiology, and subsequent performance of beef steers.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate digestion, performance, and physiological responses to Acremonium coenophialum-infected tall fescue straw offered to vary ergovaline concentrations. In Exp. 1, 16 Hereford x Angus ruminally cannulated steers (370 k 12 kg BW, mean k SEI were blocked by age and BW and, within block, randomly assigned to one of four treatments containing graded concentra- tions of ergovaline in the diet: 1 ) 0 ppb, 2 1 158 ppb, 3 ) 317 ppb, and 4) 475 ppb. Alkaloid concentrations were produced using various mixtures of two varieties of tall fescue straw that had similar genetic and phenotypic characteristics but differed in degree of endophyte incidence and associated concentrations of alkaloids. In the 36-d digestion study, feed intake, apparent DMD, and total tract NDF digestion were not influenced by alkaloid concentration (P > .lo). Differences were observed with digesta kinetics; spe- cifically indigestible ADF (IADF) fill and outflow decreased linearly with increasing alkaloid concentra- tion (P .lo). Concentration of serum prolactin measured weekly tended ( P .lo) between alkaloid concentrations of the basal diet (P > .lo>. In Exp. 2, 84 Hereford x Angus weaned steer calves (220 f 15 kg BW) were sorted into three BW blocks (heavy, medium, and light) and, within blocks, were assigned randomly to the same treatments as in Exp. 1 for an 84-d feeding period. Feed intake tended (P .lo) among alkaloid concentrations. In conclusion, the endophyte-produced alkaloids as- sociated with feeding tall fescue straw during the winter months did not cause health problems or reductions in animal performance. However, decreases in circulating prolactin with increasing alkaloid con- centration of the diet suggest a possible subclinical effect.
Drought effects on root and tuber production: A meta-analysis

Abstract Roots and tubers such as potatoes and cassava rank within the top six among the world’s most important food crops, yet the extent to which their global production has been adversely affected by drought remains unclear. Greater uncertainties exist on how drought effects co-vary with: (1) root and tuber species, (2) soil texture, (3) agro-ecological region, and 4) drought timing. It is often assumed that potato is drought-sensitive whereas cassava and sweet potato are resistant to drought, but this assumption has not been quantitatively tested. To address these uncertainties, we collected literature data between 1980 and 2015 that reported monoculture root and tuber yield responses to drought under field conditions, and analyzed this large data set using meta-analysis technique. Our results showed that the amount of water reduction was positively related with yield reduction, but the extent of the impact varied with root or tuber species and the phenological phase during which drought occurred. In contrast to common assumptions regarding drought resistance of certain root and tuber crops, we found that yield reduction was similar between potato and species thought to be drought-resistant such as cassava and sweet potato. Here we suggest that drought-resistance in cassava and sweet potato could be more related to survival rather than yield. All root or tuber crops, however, experienced greater yield reduction when drought struck during the tuberization period compared to during their vegetative phase. The effect of soil texture on yield reduction was less obvious, and similarly we did not find any significant effects of region (and related climatic factors) on either yield reduction or drought sensitivity. Our study provides useful information that can inform agricultural planning, and influence the direction of research for improving the productivity and resilience of these under-utilized crops in the drought-prone regions of the world.
Morphological changes following irradiation of a segment of the rat thymus.

SummaryA method is described for producing a narrow region of irradiation damage in the rat thymus bounded by normal thymic tissue. The mitotic and pyknotic indices of the shielded area of the thymus are comparable to those in normal thymic tissue indicating that the shielding is effective. The pattern of repopulation of the irradiated thymus is described. The source of the cells responsible for the repopulation is unknown; however, it is evident that an extensive migration of small thymocytes from the unirradiated area of the thymus into the irradiated area does not occur.
Frozen zygote intrafallopian transfer: a successful approach for transfer of cryopreserved embryos *

Objective To assess whether frozen ET to the fallopian tube is a possible alternative for cryopreserved embryos. Design Fifty-four patients (mean age 35 years) participated, in which their embryos were cryopreserved in 1.5M propanediol at the pronuclear or two-cell stage. Each patient then underwent a steroid replacement cycle consisting of oral micronized 17 β -E 2 2mg on days 2 to 4, 4mg on days 5 to 7, 6mg on days 8 to 10, and 8mg from day 11 on. Serial ultrasounds were performed to evaluate the endometrium until an optimal thickness of ≥10mm triple layer was achieved. At this time, 100mg IM progesterone was initiated and the zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) procedure was performed on the third day of P administration. The average number of embryos transferred was 4.4. Results Twenty-two clinical pregnancies resulted, giving a pregnancy rate of 41%. Eight miscarriages occurred and one ectopic pregnancy resulted, giving a live birth rate of 24%. Implantation rate was 10.8%. The highest chance of pregnancy was seen in patients who never had a previous IVF, GIFT, or ZIFT (61%). Conclusion This is the first report of a series of frozen ETs to the fallopian tubes. These results indicate that tubal transfer may offer a protective benefit of the tubal environment and avoidance of endometrial trauma, and should be added to our armamentarium of replacing cryopreserved embryos.
Wireless Hazard Badges to Detect Nerve-Agent Simulants.

Human exposure to hazardous chemicals can have adverse short- and long-term health effects. In this Communication, we have developed a single-use wearable hazard badge that dosimetrically detects diethylchlorophosphate (DCP), a model organophosphorous cholinesterase inhibitor simulant. Improved chemically actuated resonant devices (CARDs) are fabricated in a single step and unambiguously relate changes in chemiresistance to a wireless readout. To provide selective and readily manufacturable sensor elements for this platform, we developed an ionic-liquid-mediated single walled carbon nanotube based chemidosimetric scheme with DCP limits of detection of 28 ppb. As a practical demonstration, an 8 h workday time weighted average equivalent exposure of 10 ppb DCP effects an irreversible change in smartphone readout.
A Lego Approach to International Monetary Reform

The international monetary arrangement that has prevailed for the last 40 years has been a disaster. During four waves of banking crises, with most of the affected countries also experienced currency crises. These crises led to recessions and extended periods of slow growth. Every country that experienced a banking crises previously had a boom and an increase in investor demand for its securities, which led to an increase in prices and usually an increase in currency prices. These booms morphed into banking crises when investment inflows slowed, which often occurred when lenders recognized that the external indebtedness of these countries was increasing at rates too rapid to be sustainable. This pattern in cross border investment inflows is very different from the one advanced by proponents of floating currencies in the 1950s and 1960s. Their articles have become the monetary constitution for the currency arrangement that has prevailed since the early 1970s. They claimed that if currencies were free to float, deviations between the market prices of currencies and the long-run average prices would be smaller because changes in currency prices would track differences in national inflation rates, but instead the deviations have been much larger. They claimed there would be fewer currency rates, but instead there have been many more and most have occurred with a banking crisis. Proponents claimed that each country would be more fully insulated from shocks in its trading partners, instead countries have been pummeled by variability in inflows. The primary objective of international monetary reform is to dampen sharp cross border investment inflows. The Lego-approach to reform involves selections from two menus. One involves the institutional innovations or frameworks for implementing measures to reduce the sharp variability in cross border investment inflows. The more ambitious institutional innovations involve a new institution like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or a rejuvenation of the IMF. The least ambitious arrangement involves a decision by countries to follow similar policies to dampen the scope for cross border investment inflows.
Asymmetric Catalytic Synthesis of Thiochromenes via an Acyl Transfer-Initiated Cascade

A novel, reagent-free catalytic transformation of α,β-unsaturated thioesters into 2-substituted thiochromenes has been developed, with carbon dioxide as the only byproduct. Amidine-based catalysts, particularly homobenzotetramisole and its analogues, achieve high enantioselectivities and yields in this process.
Selective Data Replication for Online Social Networks with Distributed Datacenters

Though the new OSN model, which deploys datacenters globally, helps reduce service latency, it causes higher inter-datacenter communication load. In Facebook, each datacenter has a full copy of all data, and the master datacenter updates all other datacenters, generating tremendous load in this new model. Distributed data storage, which only stores a user's data to his/her geographically closest datacenters mitigates the problem. However, frequent interactions between distant users lead to frequent inter-datacenter communication and hence long service latencies. In this paper, we aim to reduce inter-datacenter communications while still achieving low service latency. We first verify the benefits of the new model and present OSN typical properties that underlie the basis of our design. We then propose Selective Data replication mechanism in Distributed Datacenters ( $SD^3$ ). Since replicas need inter-datacenter data updates, datacenters in $SD^3$ jointly consider update rates and visit rates to select user data for replication; furthermore, $SD^3$ atomizes users’ different types of data (e.g., status update, friend post, music) for replication, ensuring that a replica always reduces inter-datacenter communication. $SD^3$ also incorporates three strategies to further enhance its performance: locality-aware multicast update tree, replica deactivation, and datacenter congestion control. The results of trace-driven experiments on the real-world PlanetLab testbed demonstrate the higher efficiency and effectiveness of $SD^3$ in comparison to other replication methods and the effectiveness of its three schemes.
Green noise digital halftoning

We introduce the concept of green noise-the mid-frequency component of white noise-and its advantages over blue noise for digital halftoning. Unlike blue noise, which creates the illusion of continuous tone by spreading the minority pixels of a binary dither pattern as homogeneously as possible, green noise forms minority pixel clusters which are themselves distributed as homogeneously as possible. By clustering pixels, green noise patterns are less susceptible to image degradation from printer distortions such as dot-overlap (the overlapping of a printed dot with its nearest neighbors), and by adjusting the average number of pixels per cluster, green noise patterns are tunable to specific printer characteristics. Using both spectral and spatial statistics, are establish models for ideal green noise patterns.
Network Reconstruction From High-Dimensional Ordinary Differential Equations.

ABSTRACTWe consider the task of learning a dynamical system from high-dimensional time-course data. For instance, we might wish to estimate a gene regulatory network from gene expression data measured at discrete time points. We model the dynamical system nonparametrically as a system of additive ordinary differential equations. Most existing methods for parameter estimation in ordinary differential equations estimate the derivatives from noisy observations. This is known to be challenging and inefficient. We propose a novel approach that does not involve derivative estimation. We show that the proposed method can consistently recover the true network structure even in high dimensions, and we demonstrate empirical improvement over competing approaches. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.
High temperature electrical energy storage: advances, challenges, and frontiers

With the ongoing global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emission and dependence on oil, electrical energy storage (EES) devices such as Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors have become ubiquitous. Today, EES devices are entering the broader energy use arena and playing key roles in energy storage, transfer, and delivery within, for example, electric vehicles, large-scale grid storage, and sensors located in harsh environmental conditions, where performance at temperatures greater than 25 °C are required. The safety and high temperature durability are as critical or more so than other essential characteristics (e.g., capacity, energy and power density) for safe power output and long lifespan. Consequently, significant efforts are underway to design, fabricate, and evaluate EES devices along with characterization of device performance limitations such as thermal runaway and aging. Energy storage under extreme conditions is limited by the material properties of electrolytes, electrodes, and their synergetic interactions, and thus significant opportunities exist for chemical advancements and technological improvements. In this review, we present a comprehensive analysis of different applications associated with high temperature use (40–200 °C), recent advances in the development of reformulated or novel materials (including ionic liquids, solid polymer electrolytes, ceramics, and Si, LiFePO4, and LiMn2O4 electrodes) with high thermal stability, and their demonstrative use in EES devices. Finally, we present a critical overview of the limitations of current high temperature systems and evaluate the future outlook of high temperature batteries with well-controlled safety, high energy/power density, and operation over a wide temperature range.
Leveraging syntactic and semantic graph kernels to extract pharmacokinetic drug drug interactions from biomedical literature

Information about drug–drug interactions (DDIs) supported by scientific evidence is crucial for establishing computational knowledge bases for applications like pharmacovigilance. Since new reports of DDIs are rapidly accumulating in the scientific literature, text-mining techniques for automatic DDI extraction are critical. We propose a novel approach for automated pharmacokinetic (PK) DDI detection that incorporates syntactic and semantic information into graph kernels, to address the problem of sparseness associated with syntactic-structural approaches. First, we used a novel all-path graph kernel using shallow semantic representation of sentences. Next, we statistically integrated fine-granular semantic classes into the dependency and shallow semantic graphs. When evaluated on the PK DDI corpus, our approach significantly outperformed the original all-path graph kernel that is based on dependency structure. Our system that combined dependency graph kernel with semantic classes achieved the best F-scores of 81.94 % for in vivo PK DDIs and 69.34 % for in vitro PK DDIs, respectively. Further, combining shallow semantic graph kernel with semantic classes achieved the highest precisions of 84.88 % for in vivo PK DDIs and 74.83 % for in vitro PK DDIs, respectively. We presented a graph kernel based approach to combine syntactic and semantic information for extracting pharmacokinetic DDIs from Biomedical Literature. Experimental results showed that our proposed approach could extract PK DDIs from literature effectively, which significantly enhanced the performance of the original all-path graph kernel based on dependency structure.