cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Water Conflicts, Compacts, and Treaties

Water conflicts are pervasive, and water managers require effective training and tools to help resolve them. Most scenarios of IWRM involve a spectrum of planning and coordination where conflict management is required when disputes interrupt orderly processes. Tools include shared vision planning as well as consensus building, mediation, and negotiation. Many types of conflicts can occur. Best known among these are transboundary conflicts, which arise when water flows from one political jurisdiction to another. Closely related are conflicts over interbasin transfers, which provide water by transferring it from areas of apparent abundance. The root issue in water conflicts is to mobilize effective collective action. Ideally, voluntary approaches should be used, but without a crisis or regulatory hammer, people may not choose them.
Investigation of tunable terahertz metamaterial perfect absorber with anisotropic dielectric liquid crystal

In this letter, we report the unique design, simulation and experimental verification of an electrically tunable THz metamaterial perfect absorber consisting of complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) arrays integrated with liquid crystal as the subwavelength spacer in between. We observe a shift in resonance frequency of about 5.0 GHz at 0.567 THz with a 5 V bias voltage at 1KHz between the CSRR and the metal backplane, while the absorbance and full width at half maximum bandwidth are maintained at 90% and 0.025 THz, respectively. Simulated absorption spectrum by using a uniaxial model of LC matches perfectly the experiment data and demonstrates that the effective refractive index of LC changes between 1.5 and 1.7 by sweeping a 1 kHz bias voltage from 0 V to 5 V. By matching simulation and experiment for different bias voltages, we also estimate the angle of LC molecules versus the bias voltage. Additionally, we study the created THz fields inside the spacer to gain a better insight of the characterist...
Variable Damping Force Tunnel for Gait Training Using ALEX III

Haptic feedback not only affects the quality of training but can also influence the physical design of robotic gait trainers by determining how much force needs to be applied to the user and the nature of the force. This letter presents the design of a variable damping force tunnel and explores the effect of the shape and strength of the damping field using ALEX III, a treadmill-based exoskeleton developed at Columbia University. The study consists of 32 healthy subjects who were trained for 40 min in the device. The subjects were trained to follow a footpath with a 50% increase in step height, so the foot would have 1.5 times the ground clearance. Subjects were assigned to one of four groups: linear high, linear low, parabolic high, and parabolic low. Linear or parabolic denotes the shape of the damping field, and high or low denotes the rate of change (strength) of the field based on error. It is shown that the new controller is capable of inducing gait adaptations in healthy individuals while walking in the device. All groups showed adaptations in step height, while only the high strength groups showed changes in normalized error area, a measure of how closely the desired path was followed.
λ/2 contamination in X-ray diffraction data – the impact of heavy atoms

The impact of very different values of f′ and f′′ and of absorption coefficients for the wavelengths λ and λ/2 for heavy elements, and the effect of the difference in wavelength dispersion on the profile of the corresponding Bragg reflections, are discussed with respect to the correction of diffraction data for λ/2 contamination. The impact on the results of four charge-density studies is discussed.
Infantile Spasms Treated with the Ketogenic Diet

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD have evaluated the efficacy of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of 104 consecutive infants with infantile spasms (IS) and hypsarrhythmia on EEG.
Multidimensional Child Poverty: From Complex Weighting to Simple Representation

Within the debates on poverty measurement among experts as well as the discussions about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) an interesting shift has taken place in recent years, away from uni-dimensional measurements (based on a poverty line) and towards multi-dimensional approaches. Any multi-dimensional approach is, by definition, dealing with the complexity of poverty across a range of aspects which need to be assessed separately before they can be combined (weighted) to produce an overall, synthetic measure. This measure, in turn, if it is going to be more than a theoretical curiosum, must be translated for and presented to the public at large and decision-makers in order to impact programs and policies to reduce and eliminate poverty. In this paper, all the steps involved in the last two sentences are explored. This is done in the context of the measurement of Child Poverty that was initiated over a decade ago by UNICEF. After a brief review of the history and evolution of the measurement of Child Poverty, three consecutive sections dealing with the issues raised above are introduced. First, based on the experience of over 70 countries from all developing continents, the selection of indicators is discussed. This is followed by a simple simulation showing the pitfalls of endogenous weights. The third of these sections explores the challenges in presenting these results to a wide, lay audience which are shown to be less intractable than the issues faced by weighted composite indexes and the “dollar-a-day” uni-dimensional metric. An additional section deals with the problem of embedding the Child Poverty measurement within the larger poverty picture of the country (i.e. comparing and complementing metrics of adult and overall poverty). The final section summarizes the main results and conclusions of the paper.
Help or Hindrance? The Role of Familiarity in Collaborative Product Development

For products developed through a collaboration of specialized groups, success requires craft and engineering ingenuity from designers who focus on specific attributes, coupled with synchronized coordination between various design groups. We study the relationship between a development team's composition and the performance of the new product. While shared work experience in the team -- or familiarity -- can improve coordination, it can deter creativity. We provide empirical evidence regarding the effects of overall team familiarity, familiarity within and across roles, and the formative experiences of teams on the performance of innovative products. We offer actionable insights for improving the formation of new product development teams. We empirically study product development in the video game industry by coupling a granular database of development credits with sales data for video games. Our novel dataset includes the performance of 752 games, supplemented with the work histories of 13,230 contributors recorded over 100,000 prior games. Overall, team familiarity is associated with a decrease in the product's market performance. This is driven by the negative effect of familiarity among designers, and the negative effect of familiarity between designers and coordinators. While familiarity among coordinators has a positive effect on performance, it is insufficient to overcome the negative effect seen in creative roles. Further, the positive effect of familiarity among coordinators is stronger when the familiarity is built through coordination roles (rather than design roles). Firms can improve the performance of new product development teams by actively considering familiarity among team members. Specifically, our results suggest that infusing fluidity in creative roles and maintaining stability in coordination roles could improve the performance of new products.
Barriers to listing for HIV-infected patients being evaluated for kidney transplantation.

Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients have excellent outcomes following kidney transplantation (KT) but still might face barriers in the evaluation and listing process. The aim of this study was to characterize the patient population, referral patterns, and outcomes of HIV-infected patients who present for KT evaluation. Methods We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study of HIV-infected patients who were evaluated for KT. The primary outcome was time to determination of eligibility for KT. Results Between 2011 and 2015, 105 HIV-infected patients were evaluated for KT. Of the 105 patients, 73 were listed for transplantation by the end of the study period. For those who were deemed ineligible, the most common reasons cited were active substance abuse (n = 7, 22%) and failure to complete the full transplant evaluation (n = 7, 22%). Conclusion Our cohort demonstrated a higher proportion of HIV-infected patients eligible for KT than in previous studies, likely secondary to advances in HIV management., Among those who were denied access to transplantation, we identified that many were unable to complete the evaluation process, and that active substance was common. Future prospective studies should examine reasons and potential interventions for the lack of follow-through and drug use we observed in this population. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Procedures and Tools Used by Teachers When Completing Functional Vision Assessments with Children with Visual Impairments

IntroductionThis study analyzed survey responses from 314 teachers of students with visual impairments regarding the tools and procedures used in completing functional vision assessments (FVAs).Met...
Policy pitfalls and challenges in cannabis regulation: lessons from Colorado

Since legalization of recreational marijuana use in 2012, Colorado has been a site of regulatory experimentation to support commercial sales. The path to legal recreational use began with a series of policy events that expanded the state’s medical marijuana program to include the creation of dispensaries and significantly increase the number of registered users. Voters convincingly passed a constitutional amendment that permitted commercial sale of recreational marijuana, and the state has created a regulatory model, based on a private business model, to address potential negative impacts. Colorado has used state- and local-level licensing, statues, and regulations to address regulatory challenges regarding product potency, cannabis edibles, worksite and worker issues, impaired driving, commercial growing operations, locations of outlets and sites of use, and other policy issues. Jurisdictions considering recreational legalizations should consider a “harm reduction” approach to regulation that is responsive to addressing evolving adverse effects and addresses child safety, traffic safety, cannabis product safety, work and worksite safety, and other aspects of the business model in order to provide a careful approach to recreational use.
The Renaissance of Iron Pyrite Photovoltaics: Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives

Pyrite has long been proposed as a green solar cell material. Even with its promising properties, studies on pyrite have lagged behind many other semiconducting materials. Unanswered questions about the affects of defects and how to grow pure crystalline material still exist. With the rise of nanochemistry and more powerful computational methods, pyrite is seeing an explosion of new studies. This chapter first presents pyrite and its green promise as a material, followed by the materials characteristics. It then moves into synthesis of pyrite, starting with old methods and then transitioning into different methods of nanocrystal creation. Finally, photo-devices created out of pyrite materials are discussed. The chapter then wraps up with a summary and what still needs to be done for pyrite to achieve its golden status.
Voices of Many or a Few? Predicting Active Engagement with Participatory Web Sites

Much enthusiasm surrounds the opportunities made available by digital media for people to express themselves and participate in the public sphere without having to go through traditional gatekeepers Indeed, likely more people than ever before participate in discussions and collaborate on projects yielding heretofore unprecedented outcomes of value to many. How is such online participation distributed among a diverse group of users? Are there systematic differences in who is more or less likely to create and share content and to post reviews and vote on other people’s contributions? This paper uses unique data with details about demographic background as well as online engagement to see whose voices are most often showing up in online spaces. Results suggest that socioeconomic status, gender, race and ethnicity are all predictors of contributing to online content. These results hold even among a group of users who have easy access to Internet-connected machines.
Effect of Illumination Condition on Risk Assessment Behaviors of Mice

Levels of risk assessment evoked by either a synthetic predator odor or noncontact exposure to live rats were examined under white or red light conditions. Defensive responses to the predator odor were infrequent in white light and showed a modest, but reliable, increase under red light. Noncontact exposure to rats, in contrast, produced considerably higher levels of risk assessment than did odors in white light, and these levels were nearly doubled under red light. Judicious selection of eliciting and background stimuli may provide considerable control over the intensity of risk assessment. Such procedures may prove useful for the study of anxiety-like states. Risk assessment is a popular tool for the study of anxiety-like states (e.g., Blanchard & Blanchard, 1988, 1990) but the variables controlling the intensity of these behaviors are not well characterized. Presentation of various odors, for example, regularly evokes modest elevations in the levels of these defensive responses (e.g., Blanchard et aI., 1990; Garbe, Kemble, & Rawleigh, 1994; Williams & Scott, 1989) which are sensitive to both anxiolytic and anxiogenic drug treatments (Blanchard et aI., 1990; Blanchard, Tauklis, Rodgers, Magee, & Blanchard, 1993; Garbe, Kemble, & Strunk, 1993; Kemble & Gordon, 1996; Zangrossi & File, 1992). Although this experimental manipulation is clearly useful, it should be noted that a reasonably wide range of both predator and nonpredator odors have roughly equivalent effects on risk assessment (Garbe et aI., 1994). Furthermore, repeated prior defeat experience (Kemble & Bolwahnn, in press) does not increase odor reactivity. If odor­ induced risk assessment is generally insensitive to major experimental manipulations, then its usefulness for the study of defensiveness may be somewhat compromised. Alternatively, it is possible that some relevant stimulus conditions remain untested. Illumination condition appears to be a likely candidate. Not only is open field activity affected by illumination levels (e.g., Welker, 1959) but Lester and Faneslow (1992) find that light
Peripheral blood flow cytometry for the diagnosis of pediatric acute leukemia: Highly reliable with rare exceptions.

Background Recent data have demonstrated the high sensitivity and specificity of peripheral blood flow cytometry (PBFC) for the diagnosis of pediatric leukemia; however, diagnostically significant immunophenotypic discrepancies between PBFC and bone marrow (BM) evaluation, which result in different lineage assignment and treatment protocols, can rarely occur. Here, we sought to further characterize the performance of PBFC for pediatric leukemia and highlight the exceptions when PBFC can result in misdiagnosis. Methods An institutional database was searched between 2012 and 2016 for cases of acute leukemia with concurrent PBFC and BM evaluation. Immunophenotyping results from the peripheral blood and BM using four or eight color flow cytometry, as well as BM cytochemical staining and immunohistochemistry, were compared. Results Two hundred ninety PBFC samples with concurrent BM evaluation were identified. Based on the final immunophenotypic classification, the cases were distributed as follows: 108 B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), 57 T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), 116 acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and 9 mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). Among all cases, five had a diagnostically significant discrepancy between PBFC and BM evaluation. In three cases, the immunophenotype by PBFC was consistent with early T-cell precursor ALL (ETP-ALL), whereas BM evaluation demonstrated MPAL. Two cases were suspicious for acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) and MPAL, T/myeloid by PBFC but were diagnosed as B-ALL and T-ALL in the BM. Conclusion Immunophenotypic classification by PBFC is accurate (>98%) in almost all cases of pediatric leukemia with the rare exceptions of suspected ETP-ALL, MPAL, and AMKL. These PBFC diagnoses should be confirmed with BM immunophenotyping.
Impella 5.0 as a Bridge to Clinical Decision Making

Purpose Mortality from cardiogenic shock remains a significant clinical challenge. We report our institutional experience with the Impella 5.0 as a means to improve survival and serve as a bridge to clinical decision making in patients presenting with cardiogenic shock and severely decompensated end stage heart failure (HF). Methods A retrospective review was performed on all consecutive patients supported with Impella 5.0 from August 2017 to September 2018 at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Results A total of 32 Impella 5.0 devices were implanted in men and women as a “bridge to decision” regarding the potential for recovery vs. evaluation for long-term ventricular assist device (VAD). Twenty-two patients presented in cardiogenic shock and 10 in severely decompensated HF. All implantations were performed via axillary approach. The average number of pressors was 1.2 and patients were on pressors an average of 1.8 days after Impella implantation. The average length of Impella duration was 11.7 days (range 0 - 36 days). Major adverse complications included one case of flail mitral leaflet requiring urgent mitral valve replacement and one case of ischemic stroke. No devices malfunctioned and there was only one major bleeding event from axillary cutdown requiring surgery. Two (6%) patients had hemolysis requiring device removal on days 6 and 18. Thrombocytopenia requiring more than 10 units of platelets occurred in 4 patients (13%). 12 patients (37%) died and 20 (63%) survived. Of those that survived, 13 (65%) regained their ejection fraction (EF) and seven (35%) had a VAD placed. Of the 12 that died, 8 (67%) were not VAD candidates (for psychosocial reasons) so decided on hospice/withdrawal of care. The other 4 deaths were secondary to worsening HF (2), rupture of chronic abdominal aortic aneurysm, and ischemic stroke. Conclusion For patients with cardiogenic shock and decompensated HF, prolonged hemodynamic support with the Impella 5.0 is safe and improves mortality compared to historical values. This strategy serves as a bridge to clinical decision making, buying time for VAD evaluation and recovery of cardiac function in a subset of the population.
The Evolution of Economic Ideas and Systems: A Pluralist Introduction

In order to fully understand the evolution and future growth of economic systems, we must draw on the lessons of economic history. The 2008 Financial Crisis, for example, mirrored past economic meltdowns with uncanny accuracy. Just like the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Savings and Loan Crisis of the 1980s, it featured deregulated lenders taking incredible risks with other people’s money. Historical analysis is crucial to understanding trends and patterns that can help us predict the future. This text presents a ground-breaking, pluralistic introduction to economic history and the history of economic thought. Tracing the development of economic systems and economic thought, the text introduces students to the story from ancient times to contemporary capitalism, and also its critics. Focusing in particular on Smith, Marx, Veblen, and Keynes, the text encourages students to consider which ideas and systems are still relevant in the modern world. This book can be used as a standalone text for relevant classes or as a supplement in any principles course.
OHMIC HEATING DC CIRCUIT BREAKERS WITH LIQUID-METAL PLASMA VALVES

Introduction and Summary The ohmic heating circuits of Tokamaks and Stellarators now under construction or in the planning state require circuit breakers which can interrupt currents as high as 250 kA against voltages of up to 50 kV after conducting the current for as long as a few seconds (not necessarily in this parameter combination). In order to satisfy these upcoming needs, Hughes Research Laboratories (HRL) is developing a switch module with a 35-kA interrupting capability, based on the “liquid-metal plasma valve” (LMPV). Higher current ratings will be achieved by paralleling several modules. This modular approach will satisfy the needs of different ohmic heating circuits and will permit more economical testing. Current interruption is achieved by forced commutation of the LMPVs. These valves are vacuum arc devices, using a mercury (or other liquid-metal) vapor plasma to provide the current conduction medium without causing appreciable electrode erosion. Conduction for arbitrarily long times without discharge-voltage losses can be achieved by using a mechanical bypass switch (MBS) to carry the current for most of the conduction time, the LMPV taking over the current from the MBS just long enough for the MBS to deionize. A relatively simple, reasonably priced mechanical switch can be employed for this purpose with very little contact erosion, and hence, with long life. At the time of this writing, the following interruption performance levels have been reached with a smaller version of the LMPV: maximum interrupted power: 800 MVA(20 kA, 40 kV, LMPV conduction time 200 μs): maximum LMPV conduction time of 1/2 s at a (power supply limited) current of 8 kA; maximum rate of current fall, minimum deionization margin, and maximum rate of forward voltage rise after interruption of 8 kA: -300 A/μs, 25 μs, 2 kV/μs. Using the same LMPV and an MBS, a current of 10 kA was conducted for > 1/2 s (conduction time is evidently not a critical parameter in this case), then interrupted against 35 kV. Two LMPV versions, rated at 70-kA conduction for 20 ms, 35-kA interruption after 100 ms conduction time, and 15-kA interruption after 1.3 s conduction time, have been designed and are presently being fabricated. A complete 35-kA breaker module is planned to be fully tested at HRL in a 35-kA test facility now under construction. Parallel operation of several modules will be tested at reduced current through individual modules.
Progress in sepsis-associated encephalopathy therapy

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a common complication of sepsis.Not only the cognitive impairment which may develop in the future can reduce the quality of life, but also there is a high mortality in patients with this complication.There is no clear pathogenesis characterized and no specific therapy developed up to date.The synthetic treatment for sepsis is the most commonly used therapy.However, the treatment for encephalopathy is still under research.Therapy that can reduce inflammation caused by SAE, protect the blood-brain barrier, inhibit neurotransmitter abnormality, and restrain other key pathophysiology injuries should be developed in the future to prevent the permanent brain functional damage caused by SAE in patients. Key words: Sepsis; Encephalopathy; Treatment
Does contralateral knee range of motion predict postoperative knee range of motion after total knee arthroplasty

The aim of this study was to determine if contralateral knee range of motion is associated with postoperative range of motion in the operative knee after total knee arthroplasty. Contralateral (nonoperative) knee range of motion was compared to postoperative knee range of motion after total knee arthroplasty using linear regression models in 59 patients who had undergone primary total knee arthroplasty with a minimum of 4 months postoperative follow-up data (range 4–13 months). A strong linear relationship was observed between contralateral knee ranges of motion of 115° or greater and postoperative knee ranges of motion after total knee arthroplasty (slope 0.93, 95% CI 0.58–1.29, P < 0.0001), with a mean difference of −7.44° (95% CI −10.3 to −4.63, P < 0.0001). However, there was no association between contralateral knee range of motion and postoperative knee range of motion when contralateral knee range of motion was less than 115°. Contralateral knee range of motion of 115° or greater correlates linearly with postoperative range of motion after total knee arthroplasty, and thus may be predictive in such cases.
Ex Post Moral Hazard and Automobile Bodily Injury Liability Insurance

This paper focuses on the problem of ex post moral hazard in automobile bodily injury liability insurance markets. We review the relevant theoretical and empirical findings on the topic of ex post moral hazard and extend a simple model of costly state falsification to highlight how claims buildup incentives may vary across key demographic variables in the particular case of bodily injury liability insurance. Using a large dataset of automobile bodily injury liability claims, we confirm empirically a key implication of costly state falsification models, that the level of loss indemnification is positively related to the costliness of claims falsification. We also test, with more limited success, the predictions of the model extension regarding demographic characteristics and associated incentives for claims buildup.
Bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide enhances synaptic transmission at low-output glutamatergic synapses.

Abstract The endotoxin lipopolysaccharides (LPS), secreted from gram-negative bacteria, has direct effects on synaptic transmission independent of systemic secondary cytokine responses. High concentration of LPS (500 μg/mL) from Serratia marcescens increased synaptic efficacy at glutamatergic low-output synapses more than for high-output synapses. Over an hour of exposure was not toxic to the preparation and continued to enhance synaptic transmission. A small but significant rapid hyperpolarization of the post-synaptic cells occurred, in addition to a slower enhancement of in the amplitude of evoked excitatory junction potentials. LPS may promote reserve pool vesicles to the readily releasable pool for low-output synapses. The action of LPS at the glutamatergic synapses of the crayfish neuromuscular junction is unique in promoting synaptic transmission as compared to other glutamatergic synapses in Drosophila and mammals, where synaptic transmission is depressed.
Molecule Induced Strong Coupling between Ferromagnetic Electrodes of a Molecular Spintronics Device

Utilizing molecules for tailoring the exchange coupling strength between ferromagnetic electrodes can produce novel metamaterials and molecular spintronics devices (MSD). A practical way to produce such MSD is to connect the molecular channels to the electrodes of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). This paper discusses the dramatic changes in the properties of MTJ testbed of a MSD due to molecular device elements with a net spin state. When organometallic molecular complexes (OMCs) were bridged across the insulator along the exposed side edges, a MTJ testbed exhibited entirely different magnetic response in magnetization, ferromagnetic resonance and magnetic force microscopy studies. OMCs only affected the ferromagnetic material when it was serving as the electrode of a tunnel junction. Molecule produced the strongest effect on the MTJ with electrodes of dissimilar magnetic hardness. This study encourages the validation of this work and exploration of similar observations with the other combinations MTJs and molecules, like single molecular magnet, porphyrin, and molecular clusters.
Generalization and Memorization: The Bias Potential Model.

Models for learning probability distributions such as generative models and density estimators behave quite differently from models for learning functions. One example is found in the memorization phenomenon, namely the ultimate convergence to the empirical distribution, that occurs in generative adversarial networks (GANs). For this reason, the issue of generalization is more subtle than that for supervised learning. For the bias potential model, we show that dimension-independent generalization accuracy is achievable if early stopping is adopted, despite that in the long term, the model either memorizes the samples or diverges.
Seeing the World Like Never Before: Human stereovision through perfect optics

Abstract Stereovision is the ability to perceive fine depth variations from small differences in the two eyes’ images. Using adaptive optics, we show that even minute optical aberrations that are not clinically correctable, and go unnoticed in everyday vision, can affect stereo acuity. Hence, the human binocular system is capable of using unnaturally fine details that are not encountered in everyday vision. More importantly, stereoacuity was still considerably variable even with perfect optics. This variability can be attributed to neural adaptation. Our visual system tries to compensate for these aberrations through neural adaptation that optimizes stereovision when viewing stimuli through one’s habitual optics. However, the same adaptation becomes ineffective when the optics are changed, even if improved. Beyond optical imperfections, we show that stereovision is limited by neural adaptation to one’s own optics. Significance statement Humans, and animals with front-facing eyes, view the world from slightly different vantage points. This creates small differences in the left and right images that can be utilized for fine depth perception (stereovision). Retinal images are also subject to imperfections that are often different in the optics of the two eyes. Using advanced optical correction techniques, we show that even the smallest imperfections that escape clinical detection affect stereovision. We also find that neural processes become adapted to a person’s own optics. Hence, stereovision is directly impacted by the optics of the eyes, and indirectly via neural adaptation. Since the optics change over the lifespan, our results imply that the adult binocular system is adaptable with possibilities for binocular rehabilitation.
The Pricing and Welfare Implications of Non-anonymous Trading

A key distinction between over-the-counter markets and centralized exchanges is the non-anonymity of the transactions. In this paper, we develop a model of non-anonymous trading and compare its prices, liquidity, and efficiency of asset allocations against a baseline with anonymous transactions. The non-anonymity improves the market liquidity by reducing the concerns for adverse selection. More specially, it allows the market participants to learn valuable information about their counterparties through repeated interactions and consequently enables them to form trading relationships. However, it could harm the market liquidity by increasing the dealers' bargaining power, as the dealers learn more about their clients' liquidity needs. Our theory predicts that the bid-ask spread is smaller in non-anonymous markets, and more so for bonds with low credit-ratings, and at times of high uncertainty. The non-anonymity improves the allocative efficiency for assets with high volatility, with higher degree of asymmetric information, and with less interest among liquidity traders. Using a novel dataset of U.S. corporate bond trades, we find confirming evidence that for high-yield bonds, the bid-ask spread for non-anonymous orders is 20% smaller than that for anonymous orders, while no such price improvement is observed for investment-grade bonds. By examining the waiting times and execution probabilities in our dataset, we present evidence that differentiates our channel from search-based theories.
On a property of 2-integrally closed domains

A ring R will be called dagger if a2−b2∈4R⇒a−b∈2R holds in R. We will show that any 2-integrally closed domain is dagger, and that, when the characteristic is not two, a 2-root closed and dagger do...
Long-life LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4/graphite lithium-ion cells with an artificial graphite-electrolyte interface

Abstract The high operating voltage of a spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) cathode leads to electrolyte decomposition and accelerated deterioration of the electrode/electrolyte interface in lithium-ion cells. Aggressive side reactions prevent long-term cycling and hinder its practical application. Advanced characterization shows that the high-voltage operation makes the graphite anode react with the electrolyte, particularly with the lithium salt in the electrolyte, resulting in massive active lithium inventory loss and capacity fade. The side reactions at the graphite are identified as the main culprit for the LNMO/graphite full cell decay. Here, we demonstrate that an artificial solid-electrolyte interface layer consisting of an ultra-thin Al2O3 film, generated via atomic layer deposition (ALD) at the graphite surface, can successfully isolate the graphite from the electrolyte and inhibit the undesired reactions. Consequently, the capacity and cycling stability of the LNMO/graphite cell are drastically improved. After 300 cycles, the capacity retention of LNMO/graphite cell increases from 57.7% to 98.6% with the ALD-coated graphite. Our findings provide valuable insights into the LNMO/graphite cell degradation and suggest a simple and robust, yet highly effective, approach for the practical viability of high-voltage lithium-ion batteries.
Estimating Accurate Relative Spacecraft Angular Position from DSN VLBI Phases Using X-Band Telemetry or DOR Tones

At present spacecraft angular position with Deep Space Network (DSN) is determined using group delay estimates from very long baseline interferometer (VLBI) phase measurements employing differential one way ranging (DOR) tones. As an alternative to this approach, we propose estimating position of a spacecraft to half a fringe cycle accuracy using time variations between measured and calculated phases as the Earth rotates using DSN VLBI baseline(s). Combining fringe location of the target with the phase allows high accuracy for spacecraft angular position estimate. This can be achieved using telemetry signals of at least 4-8 MSamples/sec data rate or DOR tones.
Cardiorespiratory fitness and white matter integrity in Alzheimer’s disease

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between cardiorespiratory (CR) fitness and the brain’s white matter tract integrity using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) population. We recruited older adults in the early stages of AD (n = 37; CDR = 0.5 and 1) and collected cross-sectional fitness and diffusion imaging data. We examined the association between CR fitness (peak oxygen consumption [VO2peak]) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in AD-related white matter tracts using two processing methodologies: a tract-of-interest approach and tract-based spatial statistic (TBSS). Subsequent diffusivity metrics (radial diffusivity [RD], mean diffusivity [MD], and axial diffusivity [A × D]) were also correlated with VO2peak. The tract-of-interest approach showed that higher VO2peak was associated with preserved white matter integrity as measured by increased FA in the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (p = 0.035, r = 0.36). We did not find a significant correlation using TBSS, though there was a trend for a positive association between white matter integrity and higher VO2peak measures (p < 0.01 uncorrected). Our findings indicate that higher CR fitness levels in early AD participants may be related to preserved white matter integrity. However to draw stronger conclusions, further study on the relationship between fitness and white matter deterioration in AD is necessary.
Behavioral Responses to a Repetitive Visual Threat Stimulus Express a Persistent State of Defensive Arousal in Drosophila

The neural circuit mechanisms underlying emotion states remain poorly understood. Drosophila offers powerful genetic approaches for dissecting neural circuit function, but whether flies exhibit emotion-like behaviors has not been clear. We recently proposed that model organisms may express internal states displaying “emotion primitives,” which are general characteristics common to different emotions, rather than specific anthropomorphic emotions such as “fear” or “anxiety.” These emotion primitives include scalability, persistence, valence, and generalization to multiple contexts. Here, we have applied this approach to determine whether flies’ defensive responses to moving overhead translational stimuli (“shadows”) are purely reflexive or may express underlying emotion states. We describe a new behavioral assay in which flies confined in an enclosed arena are repeatedly exposed to an overhead translational stimulus. Repetitive stimuli promoted graded (scalable) and persistent increases in locomotor velocity and hopping, and occasional freezing. The stimulus also dispersed feeding flies from a food resource, suggesting both negative valence and context generalization. Strikingly, there was a significant delay before the flies returned to the food following stimulus-induced dispersal, suggestive of a slowly decaying internal defensive state. The length of this delay was increased when more stimuli were delivered for initial dispersal. These responses can be mathematically modeled by assuming an internal state that behaves as a leaky integrator of stimulus exposure. Our results suggest that flies’ responses to repetitive visual threat stimuli express an internal state exhibiting canonical emotion primitives, possibly analogous to fear in mammals. The mechanistic basis of this state can now be investigated in a genetically tractable insect species.
Natural cytolytic activity in mice with natural or induced cellular defects. I. Differential ability of in vitro interleukin-2 addition to augment natural cytolytic function.

Abstract The ability of in vitro addition of recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) to differentially enhance natural cytotoxicity was assessed using cells from mice with natural and induced cellular defects. In vivo treatment with most immunosuppressive or cytoreductive agents, anti-asialo-GM1 antibody, or gamma irradiation dramatically reduced in vitro cytotoxicity against natural killer (NK) sensitive targets by direct reduction in either percentage specific lysis or lytic units per spleen. In most cases, in vitro addition of rIL-2 (at concentrations causing augmented NK function in cells from naive Balb/C mice) enhanced cytotoxic activity of cells from treatment groups to a normal value but not within the rIL-2-enhanced range of nontreated animals. Additionally, cyotoxic activity of cells from animals treated with certain drugs or gamma irradiation could be augmented by rIL-2 when measured by percentage lysis but not lytic units per spleen. In vivo treatment with cyclosporin A did not affect natural cytotoxic activity and addition of rIL-2 augmented the NK activity in a similar fashion to the profile of naive cells. In experiments using cells from beige (C57Bl/6- bg ) mice which have a natural defect in NK activity against YAC-1 targets, addition of rIL-2 (at concentrations causing augmented natural cytotoxic function in cells from C57B1/6 mice) could not effectively enhance in vitro natural cytotoxic function.
BIOMATERIALS AND GENE THERAPY

Publisher Summary Gene therapy seeks to alter or control the course of cellular action through the introduction of nucleic acids into a specific cell population. All gene therapy efforts to date in humans have been limited to somatic cells, such that the treatment is confined to the individual and not passed along to offspring. Gene therapy was initially conceived to treat inherited genetic disorders of a single gene, such as cystic fibrosis, adenosine deaminase deficiency associated with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), and hemophilia. For some conditions, the delivery of a gene encoding a protein that is pathologically absent can restore normal function. In other cases, suppression of a defective gene product may be the preferred course of action. Although several methods of gene therapy exist, the use of polymeric biomaterials for nonviral gene therapy has been a major area of focus in recent years. Methods have been developed for the controlled delivery of plasmid DNA from polymer nano- and microspheres as well as from tissue engineering scaffolds. Entrapment of DNA within polymeric carriers has been shown to enhance DNA stability, improve bioavailability, and promote cellular uptake. However, further investigation is warranted to improve the transfection efficiency and cell or tissue targeting.
Comment on Sagal

Sagal criticizes naturalistic epistemology genetically for falling short of the mission of justifying the sciences with “no circles and no gaps,” and he outlines a program, essentially along the lines of Paul Lorenzen’s constructive philosophy, which is intended to carry out that mission. I shall present some reasons for believing that the constructive program is unachievable. The answer which I shall then offer to Sagal’s criticisms of naturalistic epistemology is based in large part upon the inevitability of curtailing our philosophical ambitions.
Is the World Bank Responsive to Informal Institutions

Do World Bank projects that account for informal institutions have better development outcomes? This paper explores the intersection between informal institutions — e.g. clientelism, rent seeking, cultural practices, norms, and other traditions — and international development activities. The hypothesis is: World Bank projects that account for informal institutions are more successful at delivering results on the ground, particularly after the implementation of the 2007 Governance and Anticorruption (GAC) Strategy. Using data collected from a random sample of 200 World Bank projects and 50 country programs during the period between 2004 and 2010, the paper assesses (1) the degree to which the World Bank accounts for informal institutions in the design of projects (both before and after the implementation of the 2007 Governance and Anticorruption Strategy); and (2) what influence accounting for informal institutions has on the success of World Bank projects (development outcome ratings). Results suggest that World Bank projects are relatively good at accounting for informal institutions in their project design; 87% of projects identify informal institutions in project design. Moreover, after the implementation of the GAC Strategy, Development Outcome Ratings have improved in projects that identify informal institutions. This might be explained, in part, due to the GAC Strategy implementation and institutional efforts to improve Political Economy Analysis.
HIV-1 Nef protein protects infected primary cells against killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) lyse virally infected cells that display viral peptide epitopes in association with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on the cell surface. However, despite a strong CTL response directed against viral epitopes, untreated people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) develop AIDS. To resolve this enigma, we have examined the ability of CTLs to recognize and kill infected primary T lymphocytes. We found that CTLs inefficiently lysed primary cells infected with HIV-1 if the viral nef gene product was expressed. Resistance of infected cells to CTL killing correlated with nef-mediated downregulation of MHC class I (ref. 1) and could be overcome by adding an excess of the relevant HIV-1 epitope as soluble peptide. Thus, Nef protected infected cells by reducing the epitope density on their surface. This effect of nef may allow evasion of CTL lysis by HIV-1-infected cells.
Alzheimer's disease. Beta-amyloid precursor protein expression in the nucleus basalis of Meynert.

Abstract The nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM) was examined using immunocytochemistry for beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) expression in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In mild AD cases, light labeling of the cell body and proximal processes was observed, and small intracellular structures were labeled rarely. In the more severe cases, intense cytoplasmic beta APP labeling was seen, often along with small beta APP-positive structures. Double-labeling experiments demonstrated that in the more severe cases these small structures were also decorated by a neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) antiserum. Other neurons in the severe cases showed incorporation of beta APP into large inclusions, which were also labeled with the NFT antiserum. However, some large inclusions in the severe cases were labeled by the NFT antiserum but contained no beta APP. Extraneuronal NFTs did not show beta APP labeling and did not react with an antibody to the beta-amyloid peptide. These results suggest that increased expression of beta APP coincides with intracellular NFT formation in the nbM, but that the formation of extraneuronal NFTs results in a loss of beta APP immunoreactivity.
Less is More: Procedural Efficacy in Vindicating Civil Rights

Eradicating discrimination is a lofty goal, and since the second half of the twentieth century, the US has largely relied upon the legal system to achieve this goal. Yet a great deal of scholarship suggests that the legal system may not always do a credible job. Scholars have documented multiple instances of discrimination laws’ inaccessibility to discrimination victims individually and inability to improve the labor market prospects of victims as a whole. Still missing from the literature, however, is an assessment of what separates effective discrimination laws from ineffective ones. This Article fills this gap, using both qualitative and quantitative methods to determine the types of enforcement mechanisms that successfully and systematically improve the labor market outcomes of individuals protected by discrimination laws. The Article takes advantage of jurisdictional variation in laws that prohibit weight-based employment discrimination, which create a natural experiment for testing what types of laws and what types of remedies lead to meaningful improvement in the employment outcomes of protected workers. Applying the lessons learned from the weight-discrimination context to employment discrimination law more generally, the Article concludes that the existence of civil rights legislation on the books does little good for a protected class if a jurisdiction fails to allocate resources to enforcement appropriately. The study provides a cautionary tale for advocacy groups that focus all their resources on lobbying for new civil rights protections; their purposes might be better served by devoting significant resources to facilitating representation and raising public awareness about existing civil rights laws.