cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New Developments in Endoscopic Ultrasound Tissue Acquisition

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition has greatly evolved since the first EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration was reported nearly 25 years ago. EUS-guided tissue acquisition has become the procedure of choice for sampling of the pancreas, subepithelial lesions, and other structures adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract. This review focuses on recent developments in procedural techniques and needle technologies for EUS-guided tissue acquisition.
Assessment of preferences through simulated decision scenarios

This dissertation explores the thesis that preferences can be inferred from the observation of decisions on simulated, representative scenarios, allowing utility information for decision-support systems to be elicited accurately and efficiently. Expert decision makers reveal their values, or preferences, through their decisions. Computer-based decision-support systems that emulate their decisions must be based, implicitly or explicitly, on those preferences. Although decision-theoretic preference models can provide a decision-support system with the means to evaluate alternatives, the direct assessment of those preference models is a notoriously difficult task. In this dissertation, I describe an indirect method for preference assessment in which the decision maker chooses among alternatives in representative, simulated scenarios in the domain of his expertise. The system can then analyze these choices to infer the expert's tradeoffs among possible outcomes. By simulating a task that is familiar to the expert, rather than asking the abstract questions about tradeoffs as are used in traditional assessment methods, the system obtains more accurate information with less effort required from the expert. I describe an evaluation of the accuracy and efficiency of the simulated-decision preference-assessment method that involves the comparison of the technique with traditional assessment methods. I demonstrate the method in the context of a computer-based decision-support system in the domain of ventilator therapy. In the construction of this system's value model, system builders assessed preferences regarding ventilator treatment outcomes from physician experts with a computer-based assessment tool. This assessment tool functions as a patient simulator, and allows the physician to observe the effects of alternate ventilator settings. The simulated-decision preference-assessment method is appropriate for other decision problems in addition to ventilator therapy. To demonstrate this general applicability, I also applied the method to the problem of drug dosing. I created a preference assessment tool that uses a pharmacokinetic model to simulate the drug levels that result from alternative drug dosing regimens. To fully realize the potential benefits of decision-theoretic techniques in computer-based decision-support systems, researchers and system developers require accurate, easy-to-use, automated methods for the assessment of preferences and the refinement of preference models. The simulated-decision preference-assessment method promises significant improvements for these difficult tasks.
The Feminist Everyday, Periodicals and Daily Life

The introduction contextualizes the British feminist periodical press of the early twentieth century within modern conversations concerning daily life. It explores the central role of a gendered domestic life within the dominant theories of the everyday and argues that feminist thinkers of the early twentieth century provided an alternate formulation of the rituals and burdens of the everyday in their periodical writings. The chapter calls for a study of the modern everyday grounded in the overlooked forms of the feminist periodical press, which engage sentimental, vernacular, and realist modes.
Towards an intelligent fault prediction code editor to improve software quality using deep learning

Software quality assurance has become the pillar for success in software companies. High quality, low maintenance programs can be achieved if fault-prone modules can be identified early in the development lifecycle. In this paper, we propose a new intelligent Integrated Development Environment (IDE) which seamlessly allow programmers to test their code for faults using prior source code databases. Our IDE is built upon deep learning models for making recommendations. The editor also gives scores to programmers on their program design. We evaluate and validate our approach using famous NASA code repositories.
Focus and Context-Visualization without the Complexity

Attempting to display the entirety of a large volumetric dataset at one time would result in an overwhelming amount of information. Furthermore, visualization tools based on volume rendering present the user with a host of confusing options. We present ClearView, which provides a simplified volume visualization tool with a focus on doing what matters most: looking at your data. Users frequently want to direct the viewer’s attention to a particular region of their volumes. With many volume rendering tools, this means setting up complex transfer functions to highlight the region of interest, with the unfortunate side effect of potentially affecting the larger image. ClearView allows the user to focus their visualization efforts on the area of their choice, while separating parameters for visualizing of surrounding data. This provides not only a simplified user interface, but finergrained control over the final publication-quality visualization. Through advanced GPU rendering techniques, ClearView presents all of this to the user at highly interactive frame rates.
THE ANEMIA OF HUMAN RIBOFLAVIN DEFICIENCY.

1. Riboflavin deficiency was induced in 8 adult males with a riboflavin deficient diet and a riboflavin antagonist, galactoflavin. 2. Each patient developed a normochromic normocytic anemia and reticulocytopenia. 3. The leukocyte counts and platelet counts remained within the normal range throughout the period of deficiency. 4. The bone marrow changes and ferrokinetic characteristics of this anemia have been described. 5. The anemia was reversed by riboflavin administration.
Chromosomes of the Asian chipmunkEutamias Sibiricus laxmann (rodentia: Sciuridae)

Der Karyotyp vonEutamius sibiricus Laxmann (2n=38) ist ein neuer Typus, der von den fruher beschriebenen Karyotypen vonEutamias- undTamias-Arten abweicht. Der Karyotyp vonE. sibiricus weicht von den Karyotypen anderer Tamiini durch das Vorkommen von 4 «Rearrangements» ab, wahrend die Karyotypen der Tamiini aus Nordamerika nur in einem «Rearrangement» voneinander differieren.
Bean Common Mosaic Virus and Bean Common Mosaic Necrosis Virus

Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and Bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV) are species within the genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae, and cause some of the most economically important diseases of legume crops worldwide. Both viruses occur essentially wherever bean and cowpea (including Phaseolus, Vicia, Vigna), lupin (Lupinus), pea (Pisum), peanut (Arachis), and soybean (Glycine) are grown; are transmitted by aphids in a nonpersistent manner, and also seed-transmitted. Isolates of BCMV and BCMNV can be differentiated into ten pathotypes based on their reactions on differential bean cultivars. BCMV and BCMNV are typical potyviruses with nonenveloped flexuous virions, 12–15 nm wide, and 847–886 nm (BCMV) or 810–818 nm (BCMNV) long. Virions are composed of one single-stranded RNA of c. 9600 nt for BCMNV and c. 10 000 nt for BCMV, encapsulated in 1700–2000 subunits of a single coat protein species of c. 30 kDa for BCMNV and c. 33 kDa for BCMV. BCMV- and BCMNV-specific polyclonal antisera, monoclonal antibodies, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) primers have been utilized to detect, differentiate, and characterize these viruses in infected plants. BCMV and BCMNV can be eradicated by eliminating susceptible genotypes and planting only resistant varieties; ‘virus-tested’ certified seed can be used as an effective means to control these two viruses.
Major Surgery Needed: A Call for Structural Reform of the U.S. Corporate Income Tax

It is widely recognized that the current U.S. corporate income tax is flawed, particularly in its treatment of foreign‐source income. These flaws are amplified by the high U.S. statutory tax rate. Unfortunately,current reform proposals fail to resolve the fundamental contradictions in the current corporate income tax structure.The current system and the reform proposals attempt to base corporate taxation on the source of the corporate income, the residence of the corporation, or a combination of those two factors. The problem is that neither source nor corporate residence can be easily defined. Any viable reform must either find an agreed‐upon way to define those terms or must restructure the tax system in a way that avoids the need to define them.In this report, we describe the challenges facing the corporate income tax and discuss two structural reform options that could address them. One option would seek international agreement on how to allocate income of multinational corporations among countries. The other option would eliminate the corporate income tax, but would tax American shareholders of publicly traded companies at ordinary income tax rates on their dividends and accrued capital gains. We discuss the benefits and limitations of each option.
Bone Marrow Transplantation for Cancer: An Overview

Although allogeneic bone marrow transplantation has been attempted for over 50 years (Bortin 1970), it was not until 1968 that the first successful transplant was achieved in a child with an immunodeficiency syndrome (Gatti et al. 1968). Since that time, allogeneic, and more recently autologous, transplantation has grown repidly as a means of treating a variety of malignant and nonmalignant disorders. In a recent survey conducted by the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry (IBMTR), data from 342 institutions in 47 countries revealed that 14745 patients had been treated with either allogeneic or syngeneic transplants during the years 1988–1990 (Bortin et al. 1992). Overall, it is estimated that over 32500 allogeneic or syngeneic transplants have been performed worldwide since the first successful transplant.
The Foundations of Statistical Thermodynamics

Classical thermodynamics does not require detailed molecular information for thermodynamics parameters. The heat capacity is a proportionality constant relating E to T:
Full-Diversity OAM Multiplexing by Antenna Array

This paper presents a method to use a single planar antenna array with a conserved number of elements to generate multiple LG modes simultaneously, so that OAM-based spatial multiplexing can be realized. The method considers generating modes of various $l$ and $p$ values to fully take advantage of the spatial diversity offered by both the azimuthal domain and the radial domain. At the same time of ensuring the multiplexed signal can be resolved over a finite receive aperture, the sidelobe radiation beyond the aperture is controlled to reduce the possible interference to other users in the surrounding environment.
Testosterone Administration During Energy Deficit Suppresses Hepcidin and Increases Iron Availability for Erythropoiesis.

Context Severe energy deprivation markedly inhibits erythropoiesis by restricting iron availability for hemoglobin synthesis. Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether testosterone supplementation during energy deficit increased indicators of iron turnover and attenuated the decline in erythropoiesis compared to placebo. Design This was a 3-phase, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Setting The study was conducted at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Patients or other participants Fifty healthy young males. Intervention(s) Phase 1 was a 14-day free-living eucaloric controlled-feeding phase; phase 2 was a 28-day inpatient phase where participants were randomized to 200 mg testosterone enanthate/week or an isovolumetric placebo/week during an energy deficit of 55% of total daily energy expenditure; phase 3 was a 14-day free-living, ad libitum recovery period. Main outcome measure(s) Indices of erythropoiesis, iron status, and hepcidin and erythroferrone were determined. Results Hepcidin declined by 41%, indicators of iron turnover increased, and functional iron stores were reduced with testosterone administration during energy deficit compared to placebo. Testosterone administration during energy deficit increased circulating concentrations of erythropoietin and maintained erythropoiesis, as indicated by an attenuation in the decline in hemoglobin and hematocrit with placebo. Erythroferrone did not differ between groups, suggesting that the reduction in hepcidin with testosterone occurs through an erythroferrone-independent mechanism. Conclusion These findings indicate that testosterone suppresses hepcidin, through either direct or indirect mechanisms, to increase iron turnover and maintain erythropoiesis during severe energy deficit. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02734238.
Forced conceptual thought induced by electrical stimulation of the left prefrontal gyrus involves widespread neural networks.

Abstract Background Early accounts of forced thought were reported at the onset of a focal seizure, and characterized as vague, repetitive, and involuntary intellectual auras distinct from perceptual or psychic hallucinations or illusions. Here, we examine the neural underpinnings involved in conceptual thought by presenting a series of 3 patients with epilepsy reporting intrusive thoughts during electrical stimulation of the left lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) during invasive surgical evaluation. We illustrate the widespread networks involved through two independent brain imaging modalities: resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (rs-fMRI) and task-based meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM). Methods We report the clinical and stimulation characteristics of three patients with left hemispheric language dominance who demonstrate forced thought with functional mapping. To examine the brain networks underlying this phenomenon, we used the regions of interest (ROI) centered at the active electrode pairs. We modeled functional networks using two approaches: (1) rs-fMRI functional connectivity analysis, representing 81 healthy controls and (2) meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM), representing 8260 healthy subjects. We also determined the overlapping regions between these three subjects' rs-fMRI and MACM networks through a conjunction analysis. Results We identified that left PFC was associated with a large-scale functional network including frontal, temporal, and parietal regions, a network that has been associated with multiple cognitive functions including semantics, speech, attention, working memory, and explicit memory. Conclusions We illustrate the neural networks involved in conceptual thought through a unique patient population and argue that PFC supports this function through activation of a widespread network.
Anatomic Observation of Recurrent Hiatal Hernia: Recurrence or Disease Progression?

Background Recurrence after hiatal hernia repair is common. The causes are uncertain. Our observation is the site of recurrence is primarily the nonsutured or nonreinforced anterior-left lateral portion of the hiatus. Our aim was to assess the distribution of hiatal hernia recurrence location as a basis for developing a theory of recurrence. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent repair of recurrent hiatal hernias from March 2012 to December 2019 were reviewed. Data collected included age, sex, date of operation, location of hiatal hernia recurrence, operative approach, method of hiatal hernia repair, fundoplication performed, need for gastrectomy, and additional procedures. Results One hundred and eight consecutive patients were studied. The distribution of recurrence locations was as follows: anterior 67%, posterior 12%, and circumferential 21%. Foreshortened esophagus was a contributing factor in 12%. Median time from the original repair to recurrence was 1.5 years (interquartile range 0.9 to 3.75 years) for posterior recurrences, 2.75 years (interquartile range 1.15 to 8.5 years) for circumferential recurrences, and 3.25 years (interquartile range 1.38 to 10 years) for anterior recurrences. Recurrences were repaired in a variety of techniques, depending on the clinical circumstances. Conclusions Hiatal hernia recurrences due to failure of the crural closure were less common, but early, recurrences. The majority of recurrences were due to stretching of the hiatus anterior and to the left of the esophagus. We theorize that the pathophysiology of late hiatal hernia recurrence is widening of the anterior and left lateral portion of the hiatus secondary to repeated stress from differential pressures that eventually overcomes the tensile strength of the hiatus.
Phosphate in Soils: An Undergraduate Exploration of Soil Texture, Chemistry, and Amendment.

This paper presents an experimental lab designed for undergraduate students which focuses on soil science and chemistry. Students perform a series of tests to classify soil’s phosphate retaining ch...
Beyond inclusion: the imperative of criticality in CS education research

In 2018 we wrote a call for this special issue of Computer Science Education, articulating that our goal was “… to explore who gets to participate in Computer Science Learning Activities, why, and ...
Complication Rates in Early Versus Late Cranioplasty—A 14-Year Single-Center Case Series

BACKGROUND Cranioplasty (CP) following decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a common neurosurgical procedure for cranial cosmesis and protection. There is uncertainty regarding the complication rates and potential benefits related to the timing of CP. OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of the timing of CP on complication rates for different etiologies of DC. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed of all CP cases between 2004 and 2018 for traumatic and nontraumatic indications of DC. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and complications were collected. Early and late CP were defined as replacement of the bone flap at ≤90 and >90 d following DC, respectively. RESULTS A total of 278 patients were included, receiving 81 early and 197 late CPs. When analyzing all patients, early CP was associated with a statistically significant higher odds of any complication (odds ratio [OR]: 3.25, P < .001), reoperation (OR: 2.57, P = .019), hydrocephalus (OR: 6.03, P = .003), and symptomatic extra-axial collections (OR: 9.22, P = .003). Subgroup analysis demonstrated statistically significant higher odds of these complications only for the CP trauma subgroup, but not the nontrauma subgroup. The odds of complications postCP demonstrated a statistically significant decrease of 4.4% for each week after DC (Unit Odds Ratio [U-OR]: 0.956, P = .0363). CONCLUSION In our retrospective series, early CP was associated with higher odds of postoperative complications compared to late CP in the trauma subgroup. Greater care should be taken in preoperative planning and increased vigilance postoperatively for complications with this potentially more vulnerable subpopulation. Future prospective controlled trials are needed to elucidate optimal timing for CP.
A Strategic Marketing Plan to Successfully Deliver Your Professional Brand

This exercise will help students understand how to develop a Strategic Marketing Plan: an essential skill, but one that many business, government, and organizational leaders are not equipped to develop strong and competitively superior strategic plans. Because it is complicated to develop a case with the information needed for students to practice developing a Strategic Marketing Plan, this exercise is designed to help students understand how to create a strategic plan in the context of their own brand creation. As such, this exercise not only provides students with practice creating a strategic plan, it has a side benefit of helping them achieve greater success during their internships and careers through more proactive thought and management of their professional brand. In general, this exercise should provide useful, practical insight regarding what it takes to create and demonstrate a superior brand at work, while generating depth of insight about the process of creating a strong strategic plan.This exercise is intended for more advanced students (e.g., undergraduate seniors or MBA, executive MBA, or executive education students) at any point during the business school curriculum. It is designed to follow either “Your Professional Brand: Creating a Brand Essence Statement for Your Internship” (UVA-M-0881) (designed for use by someone starting a dream internship) or “Your Professional Brand: Creating a Brand Essence Statement for Your Career” (UVA-M-0887) (designed for use by someone starting a dream full-time job), which help students understand how to create a superior Brand Essence Statement (BES). The assignment in this exercise also requires students to read and work with “Developing a Superior Brand Essence Statement” (UVA-M-0892) and “Developing a Superior Creative Brief Plan” (UVA-M-0890). Excerpt UVA-M-0894 Rev. Aug. 22, 2018 A Strategic Marketing Plan to Successfully Deliver Your Professional Brand Companies only deliver on their brand promises half the time…(However) top companies deliver on their brand promise 75% of the time. These companies have greater levels of customer engagement, which enables them to surpass their competitors in terms of share of wallet, profitability, revenue, and relationship growth. —Ed O'Boyle and Amy Adkins Most brands fail to deliver on the promises they make. For professional brands, very few people take the time to think through what they want their brand promise to be, let alone whether or not they can deliver on it. Yet those individuals who recognize the importance of creating a professional brand are steps beyond their peers. As Mark Suster indicates, “If you don't control your messaging—someone else will. That goes for both your business and your personal brand.” . . .
‘Good, Rich, or Secure?’. Spanish Scholasticism and Law’s Development of Virtue

In this paper, I argue that the work of Vitoria, Soto, and Suarez presents a sustained tradition arguing that the proper end of civil law is formation in true virtue of the citizens, making citizens capable of achieving natural happiness. Although this development in virtue may prepare citizens to obtain the supernatural happiness made possible ultimately by God’s grace, it still contains its own integrity and moral importance.
Persistence of Gender Bias Over Four Decades of Surgical Training.

OBJECTIVE Female surgeons face gender-specific obstacles during residency training, yet longitudinal data on gender bias experienced by female surgery residents are lacking. We aimed to investigate the evolution of gender bias, identify obstacles experienced by female general surgery residents, and discuss approaches to supporting female surgeons during residency training. METHODS Between August 2019 and January 2021, we conducted a retrospective cohort study using structured telephone interviews of female graduates of the UCLA General Surgery Residency training program. Responses of early graduates (1981-2009) were compared with those of recent graduates (2010-2020). Quantitative data were compared with Fisher's exact tests and Chi-squared tests. Interview responses were reviewed to catalog gender bias, obstacles experienced by female surgeons, and advice offered to training programs to address women's concerns. RESULTS Of 61 female surgery residency graduates, 37 (61%) participated. Compared to early graduates (N = 20), recent graduates (N = 17) were significantly more likely to pursue fellowship training (100% vs. 65%, p CONCLUSIONS While having children during residency has become more common and accepted over the decades, female surgery residents continue to experience implicit gender bias in the workplace. Female surgeons advocate for targeted interventions to establish systems for parental leave, address gender bias, and strengthen female mentorship.
Estimating Optimal Infinite Horizon Dynamic Treatment Regimes via pT-Learning.

Recent advances in mobile health (mHealth) technology provide an effective way to monitor individuals' health statuses and deliver just-in-time personalized interventions. However, the practical use of mHealth technology raises unique challenges to existing methodologies on learning an optimal dynamic treatment regime. Many mHealth applications involve decision-making with large numbers of intervention options and under an infinite time horizon setting where the number of decision stages diverges to infinity. In addition, temporary medication shortages may cause optimal treatments to be unavailable, while it is unclear what alternatives can be used. To address these challenges, we propose a Proximal Temporal consistency Learning (pT-Learning) framework to estimate an optimal regime that is adaptively adjusted between deterministic and stochastic sparse policy models. The resulting minimax estimator avoids the double sampling issue in the existing algorithms. It can be further simplified and can easily incorporate off-policy data without mismatched distribution corrections. We study theoretical properties of the sparse policy and establish finite-sample bounds on the excess risk and performance error. The proposed method is implemented by our proximalDTR package and is evaluated through extensive simulation studies and the OhioT1DM mHealth dataset.
Methamphetamine Use among Homeless Former Foster Youth: The Mediating Role of Social Networks

Objectives: Social network analysis can provide added causal insight into otherwise confusing epidemiologic findings in public health research. Although foster care and homelessness are risk factors for methamphetamine use, current research has failed to explicate why homeless youth with foster care experience engage in methamphetamine use at higher rates than other homeless young adults. This study examined the mediating effect of network engagement and time spent homeless on the relationship between foster care experience and recent methamphetamine use among homeless youth in Los Angeles. Methods: Egocentric network data from a cross-sectional community-based sample (n = 652) of homeless youth aged 13–25 were collected from drop-in centers in Los Angeles. Questions addressed foster care experience, time spent homeless, methamphetamine use, and perceived drug use in social networks. Path analysis was performed in SAS to examine mediation. Results: Controlling for all other variables, results of path analysis regarding recent methamphetamine use indicated a direct effect between foster care experience and recent methamphetamine use (B=.269, t =2.73, p< .01). However, this direct effect became statistically non-significant when time spent homeless and network methamphetamine use were added to the model, and indirect paths from time spent homeless and network methamphetamine use became statistically significant. Conclusions: Foster care experience influenced recent methamphetamine use indirectly through time spent homeless and methamphetamine use by network members. Efforts to reduce methamphetamine use should focus on securing stable housing and addressing network interactions among homeless former foster youth.
Distribution of sphingosine kinase activity and mRNA in rodent brain

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a lipid mediator that exerts multiple cellular functions through activation of a subfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors. Although there is evidence that S1P plays a role in the developing and adult CNS, little is known about the ability of brain parenchyma to synthesize this lipid. We have therefore analyzed the brain distribution of the enzymatic activity of the S1P synthesizing enzyme, sphingosine kinase (SPHK) [EC:2.7.1.91], as well as mRNA distribution for one of the two isoforms of this enzyme, sphingosine kinase 2. SPHK activity, measured by the conversion of [(3)H]sphingosine to [(3)H]S1P, is highest in cerebellum, followed by cortex and brainstem. Lowest activities were found in striatum and hippocampus. Sensitivity to 0.1% Triton-X suggests that this activity is accounted for by SPHK2. RT-PCR and in situ hybridization studies show that mRNA for this isoform has a distribution similar to that of SPHK activity. In vivo and in vitro ischemia increase SPHK activity and SPHK2 mRNA levels. These results indicate that SPHK2 is the predominant S1P-synthesizing isoform in normal brain parenchyma. Its heterogeneous distribution, in particular laminar distribution in cortex, suggests a neuronal localization and a possible role in cortical and cerebellar functions, in normal as well as ischemic brain.
Antibody production in vitamin A-depleted rats is impaired after immunization with bacterial polysaccharide or protein antigens.

Vitamin A nutritional status has been implicated as important in maintaining the integrity of immune functions. We have determined the effect of vitamin A (retinol) depletion on the ability of young animals to produce antibodies after challenge with various bacterial antigens. Male Lewis rats raised on vitamin A-free or adequate diets were immunized either near 40 days of age, before signs of vitamin A deficiency were apparent, or near 47 days of age when symptoms of deficiency were beginning to be manifest. For rats immunized with polysaccharide antigens from Streptococcus pneumoniae or Neisseria meningitidis, antibody production did not exceed 0-19% of the response of control rats. Vitamin A depletion also severely compromised the response to two T cell-dependent antigens, tetanus toxoid and sheep red blood cells. In striking contrast, retinol-depleted rats immunized with lipopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcesens produced an antibody response indistinguishable from retinol-s...
Freedom of Expression in the Federal Republic of Germany

Article 5 of the German Basic Law forms a whole jurisprudential concept; however, it is a complex and differentiated concept. The general aim of Article 5 is to guarantee a set of “communicational” rights that lay the groundwork for the democratic process. The first section protects several distinct liberties: free expression and diffusion of one’s opinion by spoken words; freedom of opinion (written words and images); freedom of access to public information; freedom of the press; freedom of audiovisual broadcasting; and freedom of cinema. The last sentence of the section—“there shall be no censorship”—does not articulate a fundamental right, but rather a “restriction on restrictions” (Schranken-Schranke). Whatever the ends or methods, censorship is a prohibited restriction on the exercise of these liberties.
Quantum cryptography with macroscopic photon-number-correlated light

We describe a new scheme for performing quantum key distribution. We present two physical implementations for the quantum key distribution system. The first implementation uses a type-II optical-parametric amplifier to generate the optical pulses which contain the key information. The second implementation uses correlated semiconductor emitters to generate the optical pulses.
A solution to schroeder's equation in several variables

Let p be an analytic self-map of Bn , the unit ball in Cn , having 0 as the attracting fixed point, and having full-rank near 0. In the well-known case n = 1 (so Bn is the disk) Schroeder's equation asks if there is an analytic f and a number λ satisfying f c p = λf. Under the current assumption that p'(0) ≠ 0, Koenigs showed in 1884 that there is a solution f which is bijective near 0 precisely when λ = p'(0). In 2003, Cowen and MacCluer formulated an analogous functional equation in several variables, i.e. for a non-negative integer n, by considering F c p = AF, for an n × n matrix A and Cn -valued F. They showed that solving this equation with an F which has full rank near 0 is equivalent to solving F c p = p'(0)F with such an F, and F c p = p'(0)F shall be called Schroeder's equation in several variables. The main result of the 2003 Cowen and MacCluer paper provides necessary and sufficient conditions for an analytic solution, F, taking values in Cn and having full-rank near 0, under the additional assumption that p'(0) is diagonalizable. In 2007 Enoch provided many theorems giving formal power series solutions to Schroeder's equation in several variables. This thesis considers the more general equation, F c p = p'(0) kF with k a positive integer, and proves there is always a solution F with linearly independent component functions, but that such an F cannot have full rank except possibly when k = 1. Furthermore when k = 1, and we are considering Schroeder's equation, necessary and sufficient conditions on p are given to ensure F has has full rank near 0 without the added assumption of diagonalizability as needed in the 2003 Cowen and MacCluer paper. In response to Enoch's paper, it is proven in this thesis that any formal power series solution indeed represents an analytic function on the whole unit ball. How exactly resonance can lead to an obstruction of a full rank solution is discussed as well as some consequences of having solutions to Schroeder's equation.
A cross-layer approach for evaluating the impact of single NEXT interferer in DMT based ADSL systems

In this paper we aim to develop an analytical model of the cross-layer characteristics of a Near End Cross Talk (NEXT) limited ADSL channel and determine the effective channel capacity of such a system. The ADSL users often encounter impact of other users in the same cable system due to NEXT interference that reduces the transmission capacity of the ADSL link. At the same time, due to application behavior, the source traffic of the user introduces a level of uncertainty. This paper proposes a model for capturing the cross-layer dynamics of these two uncertainties of an ADSL system. The model provides a closed form analytical method for determining the effective capacity of the ADSL system limited by NEXT interference.
Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography to facilitate transseptal puncture and left atrial appendage occlusion via upper extremity venous access.

Left atrial appendage closure devices are increasingly used in patients with atrial fibrillation at high risk of bleeding and a high thromboembolic risk. The Lariat device (Sentreheart, Redwood City, CA) is an option for those patients who cannot tolerate anticoagulation.1 There are no published data on either transseptal puncture and left atrial procedural manipulation to achieve percutaneous left atrial appendage closure using upper extremity venous access or the use of 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) to guide upper extremity–based percutaneous procedures. A 68-year-old man with a long standing history of persistent atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction, hypertension, age>75 years old, diabetes mellitus, stroke or transient ischemic attack or thromboembolic event, vascular disease [prior myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, or aortic plaque], age 65-74 years old, sex category [female gender]) of 3 was unable to tolerate oral anticoagulants because of gastrointestinal bleeding and a history of a fall with consequent subdural hematoma requiring evacuation. Other significant medical history included placement of an infrarenal inferior vena cava filter because of totally occlusive bilateral common femoral deep venous thromboses. Because of his significant cardioembolic risk and hemorrhagic risk, as well as his inaccessible lower extremity venous system, we attempted percutaneous left atrial appendage closure using upper extremity venous access. Using an 8 Fr sheath, the right internal jugular vein was cannulated and then exchanged over a guidewire for a 61-cm 8.5 Fr inner diameter Agilis sheath (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN). As we expected to use equipment not specifically designed for manipulation …
Mechanisms Underlying Mammalian Hybrid Sterility in Two Feline Interspecies Models

The phenomenon of male sterility in interspecies hybrids has been observed for over a century, however, few genes influencing this recurrent phenotype have been identified. Genetic investigations have been primarily limited to a small number of model organisms, thus limiting our understanding of the underlying molecular basis of this well-documented "rule of speciation." We utilized two interspecies hybrid cat breeds in a genome-wide association study employing the Illumina 63 K single-nucleotide polymorphism array. Collectively, we identified eight autosomal genes/gene regions underlying associations with hybrid male sterility (HMS) involved in the function of the blood-testis barrier, gamete structural development, and transcriptional regulation. We also identified several candidate hybrid sterility regions on the X chromosome, with most residing in close proximity to complex duplicated regions. Differential gene expression analyses revealed significant chromosome-wide upregulation of X chromosome transcripts in testes of sterile hybrids, which were enriched for genes involved in chromatin regulation of gene expression. Our expression results parallel those reported in Mus hybrids, supporting the "Large X-Effect" in mammalian HMS and the potential epigenetic basis for this phenomenon. These results support the value of the interspecies feline model as a powerful tool for comparison to rodent models of HMS, demonstrating unique aspects and potential commonalities that underpin mammalian reproductive isolation.
Measure of goodness of a set of color-scanning filters

Accurate scanning of a color image, which is absolutely essential for good color reproduction, can ensure that all relevant information about the color stimulus of a signal is obtained. The set of scanning filters is hence an important component of a color reproduction system. In this paper we introduce a measure of the goodness of a set of color-scanning filters. This measure relates the space spanned by the scanning filters to the human visual subspace. The q factor of a single color-scanning filter is shown to be a particular case of the measure. Experimental results are presented to justify the appropriateness of the measure.
A DNA substitution in the group A streptococcal bacteriophage SP24

When the group A streptococcal bacteriophage SP24 was propagated on an unrelated host strain CS112, it underwent a DNA rearrangement: the rearrangement involved a substitution of unique DNA (2.5 kb) from an unrelated endogenous prophage carried by strain CS112. This substitution event occurred reproducibly upon infection of strain CS112, as DNAs from a number of independent isolates were found to contain similar, but not identical, DNA sequences. Restriction endonuclease mapping suggested that recombination between homologous sequences shared by the infecting phage and the prophage produced the rearrangement. The recombinant phage was shown to adsorb more rapidly to CS112 cells than did wild type SP24 phage particles: It therefore has a selective advantage during multiple rounds of infection.
Probabilistic Analytical Target Cascading: A Moment Matching Formulation for Multilevel Optimization Under Uncertainty

Analytical target cascading (ATC) is a methodology for hierarchical multilevel system design optimization. In previous work, the deterministic ATC formulation was extended to account for random variables represented by expected values to be matched among subproblems and thus ensure design consistency. In this work, the probabilistic formulation is augmented to allow the introduction and matching of additional probabilistic characteristics. A particular probabilistic analytical target cascading (PATC) formulation is proposed that matches the first two moments of interrelated responses and linking variables. Several implementation issues are addressed, including representation of probabilistic design targets, matching responses and linking variables under uncertainty, and coordination strategies. Analytical and simulation-based optimal design examples are used to illustrate the new formulation. The accuracy of the proposed PATC formulation is demonstrated by comparing PATC results to those obtained using a probabilistic all-in-one formulation.
A linear negative multinomial model

Abstract A linear model is defined for logarithmic and linear functions of negative multinomial frequency counts. A closed-form estimator of the model parameters, estimator covariance matrix, and general Wald test are derived under the assumption of negative multinomial sampling.
Tax evasion, inflation and stabilization

Abstract This paper focuses on the public resort to tax evasion in developing countries as an adjustment tactic during economic downturn. We show, using a theoretical model of intertemporal consumption, that tax compliance declines when current income declines, expectations about future income improve, or inflation rises. We then apply the model empirically to the cases of Argentina, Brazil and Chile, three countries which have long experience with tax evasion and inflation over the last 40 years, and find confirmation.
Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone): a dual functional reductant and stabilizer for the facile synthesis of noble metal nanoplates in aqueous solutions

Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) has been extensively used in the solution-phase synthesis of many types of colloidal particles, where it is mainly considered as a steric stabilizer or capping agent with a major role to protect the product from agglomeration. In a recent study, we discovered that the hydroxyl end groups of PVP could also serve as a very mild reductant for kinetically controlled synthesis of Ag nanoplates with yields as high as 75%. Here we further demonstrate that hydroxyl-terminated PVP is also a well-suited reductant for the aqueous synthesis of circular, triangular, and hexagonal nanoplates made of other noble metals including Pd, Au, and Pt. The reduction kinetics of a metal salt by the hydroxyl end groups of PVP can be maneuvered in at least two different ways to facilitate the evolution of plate morphology: (i) by adjusting the molar ratio of PVP to the salt precursor and (ii) by altering the molecular weight of PVP. Unlike previously reported studies of Ag and Au thin plates, light was found to have a negligible role in the present synthesis.
Meeting U.S. Healthy People 2010 levels of physical activity: agreement of 2 measures across 2 years.

Background Measuring the way people vary across time in meeting recommended levels of physical activity should be a fundamental component of public health surveillance. However, we were unaware of prospective cohort studies that had examined this in a population base using convergent measures. Purpose We examined agreement between two validated measures used to estimate periodic change in the rate of meeting U.S. Healthy People 2010 guidelines for participation in moderate or vigorous physical activity. Methods A cohort (N = 497) from a random, multiethnic sample of adults living in Hawaii was assessed every 6-months for 2 years starting spring 2004. Latent transition analysis classified people as meeting or not meeting the guidelines. Intra-class kappa statistics and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate agreement. Results Agreement for classifying stable classes of people who met or did not meet the guideline each time was substantial for vigorous activity (kappa ∼ 0.65–0.70) but fair-to-moderate for moderate activity (kappa ∼ 0.38–0.48). Agreement was poorer for classifying people who transitioned between meeting and not meeting the vigorous guideline (kappa ∼ 0.45) or the moderate guideline (kappa ∼ 0.21–0.29). Conclusions Rates of meeting the guidelines varied across time and were estimated differently by the two measures, especially for moderate activity. This finding illustrates an understudied problem for public health promotion. Accurate classification of change within people is necessary for determining exposure in outcome studies, personal determinants of sufficient activity, and for evaluating whether interventions are successful in sustaining increases in rates of meeting physical activity guidelines.
Physical Kinetics of Ferroelectric Hysteresis

The physical kinetics of single domain ferroelectric materials are studied employing Landau-Khalatnikov equation. The resulting hysteretic curves are obtained numerically. The effective coercive electric field is found to be theoretically dependent on the driving amplitude and frequency as observed in the experimental hysteretic measurements of ferroelectric materials. The effects of thermal noise on the polarization switching time are analyzed using the Fokker-Planck kinetic equation. It is found that the effect of thermal noise is rather significant in a single domain of small volume. It is also shown that for low temperatures quantum effects dominate classical thermal effects in inducing polarization switching in a single ferroelectric domain.
Nucleic Acid Detection using MNAzymes

Deoxyribozymes are promising biotechnological tools. In a recent JACS article, Mokany et al. reported on the design of multi-component deoxyribozyme (MNAzyme) sensors based on 10-23 and 8-17 DNA enzymes. The sensors can detect down to 5 pM of a specific nucleic acid. The versatility of MNAzyme platform allows the design of catalytic cascades for signal amplification. This work is a step forward to PCR-free molecular diagnostics.
Purification and Catalytic Activities of the Two Domains of the Allene Oxide Synthase-Lipoxygenase Fusion Protein of the CoralPlexaura homomalla

Abstract The conversion of fatty acid hydroperoxides to allene epoxides is catalyzed by a cytochrome P450 in plants and, in coral, by a 43-kDa catalase-related hemoprotein fused to the lipoxygenase that synthesizes the 8R-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (8R-HPETE) substrate. We have expressed the separate lipoxygenase and allene oxide synthase (AOS) domains of the coral protein in Escherichia coli (BL21 cells) and purified the proteins; this system gives high expression (1.5 and 0.3 μmol/liter, respectively) of catalytically active enzymes. Both domains show fast reaction kinetics. Catalytic activity of the lipoxygenase domain is stimulated 5-fold by high concentrations of monovalent cations (500 mmNa+, Li+, or K+), and an additional 5-fold by 10 mm Ca2+. The resulting rates of reaction are ≈300 turnovers/s, 1–2 orders of magnitude faster than mammalian lipoxygenases. This makes the coral lipoxygenase well suited for partnership with the AOS domain, which shows maximum rates of ≈1400 turnovers/s in the conversion of 8R-HPETE to the allene oxide. Some unusual catalytic activities of the two domains are described. The lipoxygenase domain converts 20.3ω6 partly to the bis-allylic hydroperoxide (10-hydroperoxyeicosa-8,11,14-trienoic acid). Metabolism of the preferred substrate of the AOS domain, 8R-HPETE, is inhibited by the enantiomer 8S-HPETE. Although the AOS domain has homology to catalase in primary structure, it is completely lacking in catalatic action on H2O2; catalase itself, as expected from its preference for small hydroperoxides, is ineffective in allene oxide synthesis from 8R-HPETE.