cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carbon foils for space plasma instrumentation

Carbon foils have been successfully used for several decades in space plasma instruments to detect ions and neutral atoms. These instruments take advantage of two properties of the particle-foil interaction: charge conversion of neutral atoms and/or secondary electron emission. This interaction also creates several adverse effects for the projectile exiting the foil, such as angular scattering and energy straggling, which usually act to reduce the sensitivity and overall performance of an instrument. The magnitude of these effects mainly varies with the incident angle, energy, and mass of the incoming projectile and the foil thickness. In this paper, we describe these effects and the properties of the interaction. We also summarize results from recent studies with graphene foils, which can be made thinner than carbon foils due to their superior strength. Graphene foils may soon replace carbon foils in space plasma instruments and open new opportunities for space research in the future.
Surveillance on epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in Gansu from 2005 to 2008

Objective: To explore the epidemic feature,distribution and drug resistance of the epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis(ECM)barrier and adopt preventive measure.Methods:From 2005 to 2008,according to diagnostic code and principle of management for ECM,we carried out serologic identification,biochemical test and detection about distribution barrier and drug resistance.Results:Collecting 102 throat swab and 63 cerebrospinal fluid from ECM cases,621 cerebrospinal fluid from people who contacted ECM patient intimately,2528 throat swab from healthy population.62 Nm strains were detected.Among them,36 Nm strains were tested about drug sensitivity.The result showed that cefotaxime,chloromycetin and ciprofloxacin with the sensitivity rate of 100%.Other 7 antibiotics with the sensitivity rate is 30.56% to 97.22%.Conclusion: In recent years,group Nm A of ECM is still very important part in ECM cases.The group Nm C is increasing.Drug resistance stains is growing in quantity year after year.The strong suggestion is given to clinical practice in rational use of antibiotics based on the drug resistance.
‘Mediating Amicably’? The Birth of the Trauerspiel Out of the Letter of Westphalia

Nietzsche famously claimed that tragedy was born out of the spirit of music. My essay suggests that it was, rather, out of the letter of the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) that the genre famously referred to by Walter Benjamin as the Baroque Trauerspiel was born. Having allegedly brought a century of religious conflict to an end and, in its place, inaugurated a new era based on the ‘modern’ international system of states, the Treaty has come to inhabit a kind of mythically progressivist axial space in early modern political history. But this new age had its price, especially for the smaller polities not or only indirectly represented at the diplomatic extravaganza that produced the Treaty. I discuss, first, Article 5 of one of the two treaties of Westphalia, the Instrumentum Pacis Osnabrugensis (IPO) between the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Sweden, which addresses the question of post-Thirty Years’ War religious freedom in the smaller duchies and cities of Protestant Silesia. I then turn to one of the Trauerspiele about which Benjamin wrote, Gryphius’ Catharina von Georgien, oder Bewehrete Bestandigkeit (Catherine of Georgia, or Constancy Maintained, 1647/1655) and read it as a commentary on the costs not of the war, but of the Westphalian peace negotiations as they played themselves out on Silesian ground.
Girl Power or Powerless Girl? Television, Sexual Scripts, and Sexual Agency in Sexually Active Young Women

Both traditional gender roles and traditional heterosexual scripts outline sexual roles for women that center on sexual passivity, prioritizing others’ needs, and self-silencing. Acceptance of these roles is associated with diminished sexual agency. Because mainstream media are a prominent source of traditional gender portrayals, we hypothesized that media use would be associated with diminished sexual agency for women, as a consequence of the traditional sexual roles conveyed. We modeled the relations among television (TV) use, acceptance of gendered sexual scripts, and sexual agency (sexual assertiveness, condom use self-efficacy, and sexual shame) in 415 sexually active undergraduate women. As expected, both TV exposure and perceived realism of TV content were associated with greater endorsement of gendered sexual scripts, which in turn were associated with lower sexual agency. Endorsement of gendered sexual scripts fully mediated the relation between TV use and sexual agency. Results suggest that endo...
Phylogenetic Prediction to Identify “Evolutionary Singularities”

Understanding adaptive patterns is especially difficult in the case of “evolutionary singularities,” i.e., traits that evolved in only one lineage in the clade of interest. New methods are needed to integrate our understanding of general phenotypic correlations and convergence within a clade when examining a single lineage in that clade. Here, we develop and apply a new method to investigate change along a single branch of an evolutionary tree; this method can be applied to any branch on a phylogeny, typically focusing on an a priori hypothesis for “exceptional evolution” along particular branches, for example in humans relative to other primates. Specifically, we use phylogenetic methods to predict trait values for a tip on the phylogeny based on a statistical (regression) model, phylogenetic signal (λ), and evolutionary relationships among species in the clade. We can then evaluate whether the observed value departs from the predicted value. We provide two worked examples in human evolution using original R scripts that implement this concept in a Bayesian framework. We also provide simulations that investigate the statistical validity of the approach. While multiple approaches can and should be used to investigate singularities in an evolutionary context—including studies of the rate of phenotypic change along a branch—our Bayesian approach provides a way to place confidence on the predicted values in light of uncertainty about the underlying evolutionary and statistical parameters.
A Nuanced Look at Women in STEM Fields at Two-Year Colleges: Factors that Shape Female Students’ Transfer Intent

In this study, we explored the relationship between the intent to transfer upward and a set of motivational, contextual, and socio-demographic background factors among 696 female students beginning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs or courses at two-year colleges in a Midwestern state. Drawing upon survey data and administrative records, our multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that students’ transfer intent is subject to potential influences of their math and science self-efficacy beliefs, as well as transfer-oriented interaction. In addition, the association between transfer intent and key motivational and contextual factors was moderated by students’ racial/ethnic backgrounds, marital status, and childcare obligations. These findings bear important and nuanced implications as policymakers, educators, and researchers continue to discover ways to better support women’s educational pathways and success in STEM fields at and through two-year colleges.
Development of a tissue augmented Bayesian model for expression quantitative trait loci analysis

Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses detect genetic variants (SNPs) associated with RNA expression levels of genes. The conventional eQTL analysis is to perform individual tests for each gene-SNP pair using simple linear regression and to perform the test on each tissue separately ignoring the extensive information known about RNA expression in other tissue(s). Although Bayesian models have been recently developed to improve eQTL prediction on multiple tissues, they are often based on uninformative priors or treat all tissues equally. In this study, we develop a novel tissue augmented Bayesian model for eQTL analysis (TA-eQTL), which takes prior eQTL information from a different tissue into account to better predict eQTL for another tissue. We demonstrate that our modified Bayesian model has comparable performance to several existing methods in terms of sensitivity and specificity using allele-specific expression (ASE) as the gold standard. Furthermore, the tissue augmented Bayesian model improves the power and accuracy for local-eQTL prediction especially when the sample size is small. In summary, TA-eQTL's performance is comparable to existing methods but has additional flexibility to evaluate data from different platforms, can focus prediction on one tissue using only summary statistics from the secondary tissue(s), and provides a closed form solution for estimation.
Why Legal Positivism

This short paper will be presented at a panel on "Legal Positivism: For and Against?" at the annual meeting of the Association of American Law Schools in New Orleans, January 9, 2010. It attempts to identify the theoretical considerations that explain why legal positivism is the dominant view among legal philosophers. Three are identified: (1) positivism gives the best account of the ordinary understanding of law; (2) its account of law is the one deployed fruitfully in all empirical social science; and (3) it does not involve incredible or controversial metaphysical commitments. The paper concludes by noting that the competitors to legal positivism have narrowed considerably in recent years. American Legal Realism (as I have argued elsewhere) depends on a positivist theory of law, rather than being in competition with it. The most sophisticiated version of natural law theory, that of John Finnis, has conceded the main points in dispute to the legal positivists, and simply proposes changing the subject. And Dworkin's theory fails along the three dimensions of theoretical adequacy noted. The paper concludes that the appeal of Dworkin's theory to constitutional lawyers in the Anglophone world and elsewhere is due entirely to the (correct) perception that his theory makes moral considerations relevant to the resolution of momentous constitutional questions. Unfortunately, so do the positivist theories of Hart and Raz. Only atrocious public relations for legal positivism--aided and abetted by decades of misrepresentations by Dworkin – has led so many casual consumers of the jurisprudential literature to think otherwise. Thinking morality relevant to constitutional adjudication is no reason not to be a legal positivist.
Nickel-Catalyzed Coupling of Azoles with Aromatic Nitriles

This manuscript describes the Ni-catalyzed coupling of azoles with aromatic nitriles. The use of BPh3 promotes these arylations with electronically diverse azoles and benzonitriles. While the nickel catalyst is necessary for the arylations of phenyl oxazoles, arylation of benzoxazoles with some nitriles affords the arylated products even in the absence of the Ni catalyst albeit in lower yield than the catalyzed process. The Ni-catalyzed process exhibits higher rates and a broader scope than the uncatalyzed transformation.
Comparison of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin signal reliability with and without global mean removal for digit manipulation motor tasks.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) could be well suited for clinical use, such as measuring neural activity before and after treatment; however, reliability and specificity of fNIRS signals must be ensured so that differences can be attributed to the intervention. This study compared the test–retest and longitudinal reliability of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin signals before and after spatial filtering. In the test–retest experiment, 14 participants were scanned on 2 days while performing four right-handed digit-manipulation tasks. Group results revealed greater test–retest reliability for oxyhemoglobin than deoxyhemoglobin signals and greater spatial specificity for the deoxyhemoglobin signals. To further characterize reliability, a longitudinal experiment was conducted in which two participants repeated the same motor tasks for 10 days. Beta values from the two tasks with the lowest and highest test–retest reliability, respectively, in the spatially filtered deoxyhemoglobin signal are reported as representative findings. Both test–retest and longitudinal methods confirmed that task and signal type influence reliability. Oxyhemoglobin signals were more reliable overall than deoxyhemoglobin, and removal of the global mean reduced reliability of both signals. Findings are consistent with the suggestion that systemic components most prevalent in the oxyhemoglobin signal may inflate reliability relative to the deoxyhemoglobin signal, which is less influenced by systemic factors.
Comparison of transcatheter aortic valve replacement risk score against currently accepted surgical risk models as predictors of 30-day mortality in transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Objectives Aim of the study was to assess the predictive capability of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Risk Score (TAVR-RS) in comparison with Society of Thoracic Surgeon-Predicted Risk of Mortality (STS PROM) and European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II (EuroSCORE II) on 30-day mortality following TAVR. Background With exponentially increasing use of TAVR, a risk stratification model to accurately predict mortality risks in patients undergoing TAVR is urgently warranted. Methods Retrospective analysis of 182 TAVRs between 2014 and 2017, 179 by transfemoral, 3 by subclavian approach. Clinical, laboratory and echocardiography variables were collected. The performance of risk models was evaluated using equivalence tests, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Outcome was 30-day mortality prediction. Results Observed 30-day mortality was 5.49%. TAVR-RS underestimated (4.0%) while surgical models (STS PROM and EuroSCORE II) overestimated mortality, 7.24% and 8.14%, respectively. The TAVR-RS was found to have statistically significant correlation with both individual and group mortalities. AUC was highest for TAVR-RS 0.66 (95%CI: 0.31–0.96), but no difference in 30-day mortality prediction was found in comparison with STS PROM (P = 0.06) or EuroSCORE II (P = 0.2161). Conclusions The TAVR-RS was a better predictor of both group and individual mortality at 30 days. The outcomes were comparable on pairwise testing against surgical risk models, although TAVR-RS was on verge of significance when compared to STS PROM. This study supports the current dogma that a risk model specifically tailored for TAVR population should be implemented to obtain a better patient selection.
Nodular Skin Lesions in a Patient with Leukemia

A 45-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer underwent curative chemotherapy and lumpectomy complicated by therapy-related acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). At the time of presentation, she was suffering from a second relapse of ALL after a hematopoietic stem cell transplant approximately 6 months before. She had received intrathecal chemotherapy 3 days prior to admission, and she was prescribed posaconazole prophylaxis. She presented with 2 days of syncope, headaches, and generalized weakness. The patient denied any fevers, chills, night sweats, or weight change.
Spiritual Support Experienced at a Cancer Wellness Center

ABSTRACTThis exploratory study examines the nature of spiritual support experienced by people diagnosed with cancer at a Cancer Wellness Center. Using qualitative interviews with clients of the Cen...
Endothelial Function of Vessels Used as Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts

Endothelial function has been implicated to be an important mechanism which may contribute to the patency of coronary artery bypass grafts. We have examined the capacity of the human saphenous vein, internal mammary artery (IMA), and the human gastroepiploic artery (GEA) to generate cyclic GMP, the second messenger that translates EDRF release into smooth muscle relaxation.
Environmental transmission of Clostridioides difficile ribotype 027 at a long-term care facility; an outbreak investigation guided by whole genome sequencing.

ObjectiveThis article describes a CDI outbreak in a long-term care (LTC) facility that used molecular typing techniques and whole-genome sequencing to identify widespread dissemination of the clonal strain in the environment which was successfully removed after terminal cleaning.SettingThis study was conducted in a long-term care facility in Texas.MethodsA recently hospitalized LTC patient was diagnosed with CDI followed shortly thereafter by 7 subsequent CDI cases. A stool specimen was obtained from each patient for culturing and typing. An environmental point-prevalence study of the facility was conducted before and after terminal cleaning of the facility to assess environmental contamination. Cultured isolates were typed using ribotyping, multilocus variant analysis, and whole-genome sequencing.ResultsStool samples were available for 5 of 8 patients; of these specimens, 4 grew toxigenic C. difficile ribotype 027. Of 50 environmental swab samples collected throughout the facility prior to the facility-wide terminal cleaning, 19 (38%) grew toxigenic C. difficile (most commonly ribotype 027, 79%). The terminal cleaning was effective at reducing C. difficile spores in the environment and at eradicating the ribotype 027 strain (P<.001). Using multilocus variance analysis and whole-genome sequencing, clinical and environmental strains were highly related and, in some cases, were identical.ConclusionUsing molecular typing techniques, we demonstrated reduced environmental contamination with toxigenic C. difficile and the eradication of a ribotype 027 clone. These techniques may help direct infection control efforts and decrease the burden of CDI in the healthcare system.
Artificial Cellulosome Complex from the Self‐Assembly of Ni‐NTA‐Functionalized Polymeric Micelles and Cellulases

Polymer-protein core-shell nanoparticles have been explored for enzyme immobilization. This work reports on the development of functional polymeric micelles for immobilizing His6 -tagged cellulases with controlled spatial orientation of enzymes, resulting in "artificial cellulosomes" for effective cellulose hydrolysis. Poly(styrene)-b-poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) was prepared through one-pot reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization and modified with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) to afford an amphiphilic block copolymer. The self-assembled polymer was mixed with a solution of NiSO4 to form Ni-NTA-functionalized micelles, which could successfully capture His6 -tagged cellulases and form hierarchically structured core-shell nanoparticles with cellulases as the corona. Because the anchored enzymes are site-specifically oriented and in close proximity, synergistic catalysis that results in over twofold activity enhancement has been achieved.
LiveDataLab: A Cloud-Based Platform to Facilitate Hands-on Data Science Education at Scale

We present LiveDataLab, a novel general cloud-based platform that facilitates data science education at scale by enabling instructors to offer hands-on data science assignments using large real-world datasets. Using real course assignments as examples, our demonstration will walk attendees through the process of an instructor deploying an assignment, students working on and submitting assignments, and leaderboard-based competition and automated grading to demonstrate the major functions and benefits of LiveDataLab.
Extrapolation of Drug Clearance in Children ≤ 2 Years of Age from Empirical Models Using Data from Children (> 2 Years) and Adults

The application of modeling and simulation approaches in clinical pharmacology studies has gained momentum over the last 20 years. The objective of this study was to develop six empirical models from clearance data obtained from children aged > 2 years and adults to evaluate the suitability of the models to predict drug clearance in children aged ≤ 2 years (preterm, term, and infants). Ten drugs were included in this study and administered intravenously: alfentanil, amikacin, busulfan, cefetamet, meperidine, oxycodone, propofol, sufentanil, theophylline, and tobramycin. These drugs were selected according to the availability of individual subjects’ weight, age, and clearance data (concentration–time data for these drugs were not available to the author). The chosen drugs are eliminated by extensive metabolism by either the renal route or both the renal and hepatic routes. The six empirical models were (1) age and body weight-dependent sigmoidal maximum possible effect (Emax) maturation model, (2) body weight-dependent sigmoidal Emax model, (3) uridine 5′-diphospho [body weight-dependent allometric exponent model (BDE)], (4) age-dependent allometric exponent model (ADE), (5) a semi-physiological model, and (6) an allometric model developed from children aged > 2 years to adults. The model-predicted clearance values were compared with observed clearance values in an individual child. In this analysis, a prediction error of ≤ 50% for mean or individual clearance values was considered acceptable. Across all age groups and the ten drugs, data for 282 children were compared between observed and model-predicted clearance values. The validation data consisted of 33 observations (sum of different age groups for ten drugs). Only three of the six models (body weight-dependent sigmoidal Emax model, ADE, and semi-physiological model) provided reasonably accurate predictions of clearance (> 80% observation with ≤ 50% prediction error) in children aged ≤ 2 years. In most instances, individual predicted clearance values were erratic (as indicated by % error) and were not in agreement with the observed clearance values. The study indicated that simple empirical models can provide more accurate results than complex empirical models.
Diagnosis and Management of Inadvertently Placed Pacemaker Lead in the Left Ventricle Following Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect Repair Surgery

No abstract available Keywords: ASD; Lead extraction; Left ventricle; Paced 12-lead EKG; Pacemaker lead malposition; TIA.
Determination of free amino acids in five commercial sweetpotato cultivars by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Abstract A sensitive and rapid method was developed for the determination of free amino acid profiles in sweetpotatoes. The method utilized an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography system with hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) separation coupled with tandem mass-spectrometry (MS/MS) detection without the need for chemical derivatization. Separation of 36 amino acid standards was achieved on a silica HILIC column in a single MS/MS run of 19 min. This validated method was applied for the analysis of the free amino acid composition of five commercial sweetpotato cultivars (Covington, Beauregard, Hatteras, Murasaki-29 and O’ Henry) from two planting lots grown in experimental fields. Analysis of variance with Tukey’s test was used to determine the differences in individual free amino acid content among the analyzed samples, and principle component analysis (PCA) was implemented to evaluate the variation in amino acid profiles of different sweetpotato cultivars. Asparagine was the most abundant free amino acid and its content varied significantly among the cultivars (p
Labor Dynamics of School Principals in Rural Contexts

Numerous studies have explored the labor market of school principals, documenting high turnover rates and voicing concerns regarding labor supply. However, little is known about the staffing challe...
Characteristics and Network Influence of Providers Involved in the Treatment of Patients With Chronic Back, Neck or Joint Pain in Arkansas.

Abstract Increasing emphasis on guidelines and prescription drug monitoring programs highlight the role of healthcare providers in pain treatment. Objectives of this study were to identify characteristics of key players and influence of opioid prescribers through construction of a referral network of patients with chronic pain. A retrospective cohort study was performed and patients with commercial or Medicaid coverage with chronic back, neck, or joint pain were identified using the Arkansas All-Payer Claims-Database. A social network comprised of providers connected by patient referrals based on 12-months of healthcare utilization following chronic pain was constructed. Network measures evaluated were indegree and eigen (referrals obtained), betweenness (involvement), and closeness centrality (reach). Outcomes included influence of providers, opioid prescribers, and brokerage status. Exposures included provider demographics, specialties and network characteristics. There were 51,941 chronic pain patients who visited 8,110 healthcare providers. Primary care providers showed higher betweenness and closeness whereas specialists had higher indegree. Opioid providers showed higher centrality compared to non-opioid providers, which decreased with increasing volume of opioid prescribing. Non-pharmacologic providers showed significant brokerage scores. Findings from this study such as primary care providers having better reach, non-central positions of high-volume prescribers and non-pharmacologic providers having higher brokerage can aid interventional physician detailing. Perspective Opioid providers held central positions in the network aiding provider-directed interventions. However, high-volume opioid providers were at the borders making them difficult targets for interventions. Primary care providers had the highest reach, specialists received the most referrals and non-pharmacological providers and specialists acted as brokers between non-opioid and opioid prescribers.
Bioinformatic Response Data as a Compositional Driver

This paper describes a software system using bioinformatic data recorded from a performer in real-time as a probabilistic driver for the composition and subsequent real-time generation of traditionally notated musical scores. To facilitate the generation and presentation of musical scores to a performer, the system makes use of a custom LilyPond output parser, a set of Java classes running within Cycling ‘74’s MAX environment for data analysis and score generation, and an Atmel AT-Mega16 micro-processor capable of converting analog bioinformatic sensor data into Open Sound Control (OSC) messages.
A Review of Human Relations: Law Enforcement in a Changing Community

This text is not for a person interested in obtaining a thorough understanding of police in the community. Rather it would best be utilized as a source of discussion material for police cadets. The authors raise questions on police action and reaction in the context of dealing with nonpolice citizens, generally members of minority groups. The viewpoint taken is that of the minority, rather than the police. With the exception of the book's third section, the text does the job of a trained group leader in police-minority relations.
Videogames and spatial skills: An exploratory study

Fifty-eight undergraduate and graduate students participated in an exploratory study which examined the relationship between videogames, spatial cognitive skills, and eye-hand coordination. Scores on two videogames were compared with subjects’ scores on three standardized spatial skills tests and on one test of eye-hand coordination. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (which was provided with five hours of videogame practice) or the control group (which was provided with no videogame practice). The scores on the two videogames were found to be correlated with different spatial test scores. Significant sex and age differences were also found on several of the measures. The males scored higher than the females on spatial orientation, visualization, and the baseline measures on one of the videogames, while the females scored higher than the males on the test of eye-hand coordination. The age of the subjects was found to be negatively correlated with scores on the videogames and spatial test scores.
Coping with a decline in energy prices : macroeconomic and income distribution effects in Thailand

After the two first oil price shocks, economists, policy makers, and the public got used to increases in energy prices and they expected them to continue. In 1982, when the oil prices dropped, all expectations needed to be revised and adjustments to the new conditions needed to be considered. This paper analyzes growth, macroeconomic, employment, and income distribution implications of a decline in oil prices. Using the Second Infrastructure Asset Management Project (SIAM2), alternative policies with respect to domestic energy prices is simulated. The outcome of the analysis is that growth is not much affected by changes in energy prices. The macroeconomic resource balance however, and especially the current account deficit, is sensitive. Dropping the domestic prices of energy with the world prices will help more employment in the formal sector. Real incomes per capita of all categories of households benefit in various degrees from a drop in domestic prices. However, if one is concerned about foreign debt accumulation and if sustained and accelerating growth is desired, it will be preferable not to drop the domestic price with the world prices.
Primary structure of insoluble tendon collagen: II. N- and C-terminal positional analysis of collagenolytic breakdown products of trypsin-pretreated collagen☆

Abstract Insoluble native bovine Achilles tendon collagen was incubated with crystalline trypsin. The trypsin as well as tryptic digestion products were eluted and the residual collagen subjected to collagenolysis with purified Clostridium histolyticum collagenase. After practically all of the collagen was solubilized, relative occupancy of the N -terminal, penultimate, and C -terminal positions of the Collagenolytic breakdown products was determined and compared with those obtained after collagenolysis of untreated collagen. The amino acid distribution differed both quantitatively and qualitatively. N -terminally glycine predominated in both cases, but the relative amount was less in the peptides derived from the pretreated collagen, while the alanine percentage increased. It appears that sites previously blocked to the action of collagenase became accessible and susceptible. In the penultimate position differences were less pronounced. Proline predominated, followed by alanine, but most amino acids were represented. C -terminally hydroxyproline and alanine predominated but occupied a lower proportion of this position than in the digest of untreated collagen. Glycine, which was not found C -terminally in digests of untreated collagen, was present to the extent of 8.6%.
Rationalizing Reorganizations and Other Corporate Acquisitions

This paper examines the taxation of human shareholders in the case of mergers and acquisitions. The relevant law is currently extraordinarily complex, utterly inconsistent, and in many instances arguably unfair. There are really only two plausible ways to cure these ills. The first, to move to a tax system with more fulsome gain recognition, ultimately probably in the form of mark-to-market taxation, is not in my opinion feasible (either technically or what is perhaps more important politically). Accordingly, the second, to move to a tax system with less gain recognition merits attention. In this paper, I propose such a tax system. In particular, under my proposal, a human shareholder whose stock is sold or exchanged pursuant to a merger or acquisition would be entitled to nonrecognition treatment so long as either (1) he receives stock in the acquiring corporation or (2) he involuntarily receives consideration other than stock in the acquiring corporation but promptly and appropriately reinvests such consideration.
Effect of bit-level correlation in stochastic computing

Simple stochastic logic gates can compute complex functions using stochastic computing. A stochastic number is encoded by a unary bit stream where each bit is 0 or 1. The value of the number is represented by the percent of 1's in the number, and is interpreted as a probability. Each bit of the stochastic number can be modeled as a Bernoulli random variable, and each stochastic number can be represented by a binomial random variable. The variance of a stochastic number is given by p(1 − p)/N where N represents the number of bits in the sequence, and p represents the mean value of the number. For long word-lengths, a binomial random variable behaves as a Gaussian random variable. The mean and variance of a two-input stochastic logic gate are dependent on the bit-level correlation of the two inputs. This paper derives closed-form expressions for mean and variance of two-input stochastic logic gates with correlated inputs. An approach to synthesize correlated stochastic bit streams with specified correlation from uncorrelated bit streams is also presented. Using the proposed synthesis method, stochastic logic gates are simulated with correlated inputs. The simulated values of means and variances are shown to be the same as the theoretical values; thus, the closed-form expressions are validated.
Anion exchange capacity of biochar

Biochar has gained recent interest as a soil amendment and agent for carbon sequestration. Some biochars have significant levels of anion exchange capacity (AEC), which may reduce leaching of anionic nutrients in soil. Little is known about the nature of anion exchange sites on biochar surfaces and what production conditions promote AEC in biochar. We report that the AEC of biochars produced from four feedstocks (maize stover, cellulose, alfalfa meal, and albumin) ranged from 0.602 to 27.76 cmol kg−1 and increased with decreasing pH (p < 0.0001) and peak pyrolysis temperature. A cellulose biochar, composed almost entirely of C, H, and O, exhibited significant AEC at pH 8 suggesting that pH independent O containing functional groups contribute AEC. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed a prominent 1590 cm−1 band, which we attribute in part to C–O+ stretching in oxonium heterocycles. Both the C1s and O1s X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectra of the biochars provide additional evidence for oxonium heterocycles. The N1s XPS spectra of albumin biochars indicated the presence of pyridinic groups. We conclude that oxonium functional groups contribute pH independent AEC and that both pyridinic functional groups and non-specific proton adsorption by condensed aromatic rings contribute pH dependent AEC to biochars.
The Story of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan

New York Times v. Sullivan is likely the most important First Amendment case the Supreme Court has ever decided. In this case, the Court first announced that the "central meaning" of the First Amendment is the protection of political debate and declared the nation's commitment to public discourse as "uninhibited, robust, and wide-open." There can be no doubt that these principles have had a huge impact on First Amendment jurisprudence. Its impact on journalism and public debate more generally, however, is less certain. In the digital age, the assumptions Sullivan made about the media, the marketplace of ideas, and the ability of individuals to defend their reputations through self-help measures are once again up for reconsideration.
Echocardiography in the Intensive Care Unit

As ultrasound technology improves and ultrasound availability increases, echocardiography utilization is growing within intensive care units. Although not replacing the often-needed comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation, limited bedside echocardiography promises to provide intensivists with enhanced diagnostic ability and improved hemodynamic understanding of individual patients. Routine and emergency echocardiography within the intensive care unit focuses on identifying and optimizing medically treatable conditions in a timely manner. Methods for such goal-directed assessments are presented.
Hermitian phase-difference operator analysis of microscopic radiation-field measurements.

We analyze the phase-fluctuation measurements of Gerhardt et al. [Phys. Lett. 49A, 119 (1974)] on the phase fluctuations of a microscopic radiation field using the Hermitian phase-difference operator of Pegg and Barnett [Phys. Rev. A 39, 1665 (1989)]. The predictions are in agreement with the measurements.
Simulating manufacturing systems: Computer simulations permit run-throughs of systems before they are built and evaluation of proposed changes without shutting existing systems down

Describes the advantages of simulating a flexible manufacturing system on a computer before it is built which includes considerable financial savings.
Simulation and thermal imaging of the 2006 Esperanza Wildfire in southern California: application of a coupled weather–wildland fire model

The 2006 Esperanza Fire in Riverside County, California, was simulated with the Coupled Atmosphere-Wildland Fire Environment (CAWFE) model to examine how dynamic interactions of the atmosphere with large-scale fire spread and energy release may affect observed patterns of fire behavior as mapped using the FireMapper thermal imaging radiometer. CAWFE simulated the meteorological flow in and near the fire, the fire's growth as influenced by gusty Santa Ana winds and interactions between the fire and weather through fire-induced winds during the first day of burning. The airflow was characterized by thermally stratified, two-layer flow channelled between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountain ranges with transient flow accelerations driving the fire in Cabazon Peak's lee. The simulation reproduced distinguishing features of the fire including its overall direction and width, rapid spread west-south-westward across canyons, spread up canyons crossing its southern flank, splitting into two heading regions and feathering of the fire line. The simulation correctly depicted the fire's location at the time of an early-morning incident involving firefighter fatalities. It also depicted periods of deep plume growth, but anomalously described downhill spread of the head of the fire under weak winds that was less rapid than observed. Although capturing the meteorological flow was essential to reproducing the fire's evolution, fuel factors including fuel load appeared to play a secondary role.
Equipment response spectra for base-isolated shear beam structures

Abstract Equipment response spectra in base-isolated structures under seismic ground excitations are studied. The equipment is treated as a single-degree-of-freedom system attached to a nonuniform elastic beam structural model. Several leading base isolation systems, including the laminated rubber bearing, the resilient-friction base isolator with and without a sliding upper plate, and the EDF system are considered. Deflection and acceleration response spectra for the equipment and the shear beam structure subject to a sinusoidal and the accelerogram of the N00W component of El Centro 1940 earthquake are evaluated. Primary-secondary interaction effects are included in the analysis. Several numerical parametric studies are carried out and the effectiveness of different base isolation systems in protecting the nonstructural components is studied. It is shown that use of properly designed base isolation systems provides considerable protection for secondary systems, as well as, the structure against severe seismic loadings.
Text, context, and the fragmentation of contemporary culture

(1990). Text, context, and the fragmentation of contemporary culture. Western Journal of Speech Communication: Vol. 54, Rhetorical Criticism, pp. 274-289.
Elimination of Grain Boundary Glass in α‐Sialon by Adding Aluminium Nitride

The elimination of residual glass in hot-pressed Y-α-SiAlON was demonstrated by varying the nitride composition. This was readily achieved by adding excess aluminium nitride (AlN), while the addition of excess Si3N4 had little effect. The amount of excess AlN required for this purpose increased with increasing Al and O content in α-SiAlON, and was higher if α-SiAlON contained larger interstitial cations. These results were explained by the thermodynamics of α-SiAlON precipitation. The elimination of liquid also led to suppressed grain growth, refined microstructure, and improved oxidation resistance. Grain coarsening by post-sintering annealing was required to obtain high fracture toughness.
Inhibition of Ras and related guanosine triphosphate-dependent proteins as a therapeutic strategy for blocking malignant glioma growth: II--preclinical studies in a nude mouse model.

OBJECTIVE: Preliminary studies have demonstrated that the Ras family and related guanosine triphosphate-dependent proteins are overactivated in malignant gliomas and that inhibition of the activation of such proteins, by blockade of their post-translational processing, reduces tumor cell growth in vitro. The current study evaluates the utility of this therapeutic strategy in vivo, using preclinical glioma model systems. METHODS: We examined the efficacy against U-87 human malignant glioma cells, in both subcutaneous and intracranial nude mouse models, of selective peptidomimetic inhibitors of farnesyltransferase (FTI-276) and geranylgeranyltransferase (GGTI-297), which are involved in critical steps in the post-translational processing of Ras and related guanosine triphosphate-dependent proteins. For the subcutaneous model, 2 × 10 5 U-87 cells were implanted; after measurable tumors were detected on Day 7, animals were treated with either FTI-276, GGTI-297, or vehicle, administered by continuous infusion for 7 days. Differences in tumor volumes among the treatment groups were examined for significance using a Student's t test. For the intracranial model, 2 × 10 5 U-87 cells were implanted in the right frontal lobe and treatment was initiated on Day 7. In initial studies, animals received a 7-day course of either FTI-276, GGTI-297, or vehicle. In subsequent studies, a 28-day treatment period was used. Comparisons of survival times among treatment groups were performed using a rank-sum test. RESULTS: Although the two agents exhibited comparable antiproliferative activities in previous in vitro studies, an obvious difference in efficacy was apparent in this study. Whereas the geranylgeranyltransferase inhibitor failed to improve survival rates, compared with those observed for control animals, in either the subcutaneous or intracranial model, the farnesyltransferase inhibitor produced objective regression of tumor growth in the subcutaneous model and significant prolongation of survival times in the intracranial model, without apparent toxicity. In the subcutaneous model, tumor volumes for the control, GGTI-297-treated, and FTI-276-treated animals on Day 28 after implantation were 621 ± 420, 107 ± 104, and 18.5 ± 12.7 mm 3 , respectively (P < 0.05). In the 7-day-treated intracranial model, survival times for the control, GGTI-297-treated, and FTI-276-treated groups were 27.7 ± 2.9, 29.8 ± 2.1, and 43.6 ± 2.7 days, respectively (P < 0.001). In the 28-day-treated intracranial model, survival times for the control, GGTI-297-treated, and FTI-276-treated groups were 29.2 ± 3.7, 28.3 ± 3.9, and 58.7 ± 6.2 days, respectively, with five of six animals in the latter group surviving more than 55 days after tumor implantation (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These studies demonstrate that farnesyltransferase inhibition is effective in diminishing the growth of human glioma cells in vivo. Evaluation of this treatment approach in clinical trials is warranted.
Expectations about the short-term functional role played by defensive behavior in interpersonal interactions

Abstract Based on the theory of interpersonal defense ( Westerman, 1998 , Westerman, 2005 , Westerman and Steen, 2005 ), an interpersonal conceptualization of defense processes, we conducted a set of studies to investigate (a) implicit lay beliefs (i.e., implicit beliefs widely held by people in our culture) about the effects of defensive behavior on short-term interaction events, and (b) individual differences in implicit beliefs about the costs and benefits of defensive behavior and their relation to behaving defensively. In these studies, participants imagined themselves in several interpersonal situations presented in a paper-and-pencil protocol and responded to questions about what they expected would happen after they behaved defensively or nondefensively. As predicted, results indicated that, according to participants’ implicit lay beliefs, defensive behavior as compared to nondefensive behavior makes short-term clear-cut feared occurrences less likely, reduces the likelihood of clear-cut wished-for short-term outcomes, and affects how these outcomes will be experienced when they do take place. Also, findings indicated that there was an inverse association between self-reports of behaving defensively and the extent to which participants appreciated the short-term costs of defensive behavior. Alternative models for explaining this association are considered, including the idea that expectations minimizing the costs of defensive behavior develop because they support previously established, emotionally charged interpersonal behavior patterns.
A matched case-control study of preoperative biliary drainage in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma: routine drainage is not justified.

Background Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) prior to pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) continues to be routine in many centers despite retrospective and randomized data showing that PBD increases perioperative infectious complications.
THE EFFECT OF THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF BORON AND MANGANESE ON THE GROWTH AND CALCIUM UPTAKE OF BLUE LUPINE (LUPINUS ANGUSTIFOLIUS L.) IN SOLUTION CULTURE.

A few years ago widespread interest was shown in the effect of fertilizers containing boron and manganese upon plant growth. These trace elements were used because (1) they exert a marked effect upon plant growth; and (2) they influence very materially the crop yield. The earlier work on the role of boron and manganese has been discussed by Brenchley (2), later reviews are those of McHargue and Calfee (7), McMurtrey (8), Minarik and Shive (10), Schuster and Stephenson (11), Meyer (9), and Thatcher (13). Blue lupine was of interest because it is a relatively new green manure crop in the southern sections of the United States (?), although as a plant, blue lupine has been known for hundreds of years. Beaumont (1) states that the ancient Romans and Germans used lupines in the role of leguminous green manure crops for the purpose of improving soils. It is with this latter purpose in mind that this study was undertaken. A definite boron deficiency in many soils has been recognized throughout the country in a number of species of crops. As a result, several physiological diseases of plants have in recent years been attributed to this inadequacy of boron compounds in the soils. On the other hand boron may be present in the soils in sufficient amounts, but is rendered unavailable to crop plants, due to some chemical combination, soil reaction, etc. Manganese is in many instances similar to boron in its effect on plants. Thatcher (13) states that manganese has been found by several investigators to be a specific remedy for chlorosis of plants due to excessive lime in the soil. However, its action is not uniform, in that on the same soil, or in the same culture medium, its beneficial effects will be shown by some crops and not by others. Some investigators have related calcium uptake to the presence of certain minor elements in the soil. Minarik and Shive (10) noted that the concentration of boron in the nutrient solution was an important factor for the production of tissues and for the accumulation of calcium in the leaves of the soybean plant. Brenchley and Warington (2) have shown that insufficient levels of calcium in solution cultures resulted in definite anatomical abnormalities in the broad bean plant. 1 Present address : Kerckhoff Biological Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 4, California.