cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Onset/offset characteristics and intubating conditions of rapacuronium: a comparison with rocuronium

We compared onset and offset of action and tracheal intubating conditions after rapacuronium and rocuronium in 60 patients in a randomized, assessor-blinded study. Following induction of anaesthesia with propofol 2.5 mg kg-1, either rapacuronium 1.5 mg kg-1 (n = 30) or rocuronium 0.6 mg kg-1 (n = 30) was administered to facilitate tracheal intubation. Anaesthesia was maintained with either a propofol infusion (100 micrograms kg-1 min-1) or sevoflurane (1% end-tidal) with 66% nitrous oxide (N2O), n = 15 in each subgroup. Neuromuscular monitoring was performed using an electromyographic (EMG) device (Datex Relaxograph). The lag times (mean 42 (SD 11) s and 44 (16) s), maximum block (99 (2)% and 98 (3)%) and intubating conditions at 60 s (good-to-excellent in 86% and 84% of patients) were similar for rapacuronium and rocuronium, respectively. The onset time of rapacuronium was shorter than rocuronium (87 (20) vs 141 (65) s, P < 0.001), and the degree of block at 60 s was greater (69 (26) vs 50 (27)%, P < 0.05). Twenty-five per cent recovery was shorter with rapacuronium than rocuronium during propofol (15.0 (3.2) vs 39.1 (14.2) min, P < 0.001) and sevoflurane (15.1 (4.2) vs 47.8 (19.0) min, P < 0.001) anaesthesia. We conclude that rapacuronium 1.5 mg kg-1 had a more rapid onset, similar intubating conditions, and shorter recovery times than rocuronium 0.6 mg kg-1.
Rhesus macaques vaccinated with consensus envelopes elicit partially protective immune responses against SHIV SF162p4 challenge

The development of a preventative HIV/AIDS vaccine is challenging due to the diversity of viral genome sequences, especially in the viral envelope (Env160). Since it is not possible to directly match the vaccine strain to the vast number of circulating HIV-1 strains, it is necessary to develop an HIV-1 vaccine that can protect against a heterologous viral challenge. Previous studies from our group demonstrated that a mixture of wild type clade B Envgp160s were able to protect against a heterologous clade B challenge more effectively than a consensus clade B Envgp160 vaccine. In order to broaden the immune response to other clades of HIV, in this study rhesus macaques were vaccinated with a polyvalent mixture of purified HIV-1 trimerized consensus Envgp140 proteins representing clades A, B, C, and E. The elicited immune responses were compared to a single consensus Envgp140 representing all isolates in group M (Con M). Both vaccines elicited anti- Envgp140 IgG antibodies that bound an equal number of HIV-1 Envgp160 proteins representing clades A, B and C. In addition, both vaccines elicited antibodies that neutralized the HIV-1SF162 isolate. However, the vaccinated monkeys were not protected against SHIVSF162p4 challenge. These results indicate that consensus Envgp160 vaccines, administered as purified Envgp140 trimers, elicit antibodies that bind to Envgp160s from strains representing multiple clades of HIV-1, but these vaccines did not protect against heterologous SHIV challenge.
Epidemiology of depressive symptomatology in adolescents.

Three hundred and eighty-five junior and senior high school students completed the Beck Depression Inventory. Utilizing cut-off points developed by Beck, 300 adolescents (77.9%) were nondepressed, 52 (13.5%) were mildly depressed, 28 (7.3%) were moderately depressed, and 5 (1.3%) were severely depressed. Lower social class adolescents were more depressed than higher social class adolescents; younger adolescents were less depressed than older adolescents and there was no difference between total depression scores in male and female adolescents when age and social class were controlled.
The use of maximum likelihood estimation for forming images of diffuse radar targets from delay-Doppler data

An approach to high-resolution imaging that starts with a model of the radar echo signal derived from the physics governing radar reflections is presented. The model has been used in the past to describe radar targets that are rough compared to the wavelength of the transmitted radiation. Without specifying precisely what the transmitted signal is, a general estimation-based procedure is derived for obtaining images. After discretizing the model, the radar imaging problem reduces to the task of estimating discretized second-order statistics of the reflectance process of the target. Maximum-likelihood estimates of these statics are obtained as the limit point of an expectation-maximization algorithm. >
A seasonal and diurnal climatology of precipitation organization in the southeastern United States

This article describes results from a new four-year (2009–2012) radar-based precipitation climatology for the southeastern United States (SE USA). The climatology shows that a size-based classification between mesoscale precipitation features (MPF) and isolated precipitation reveals distinct seasonal and diurnal variability of precipitation. On average, from 70 to 90% of precipitation is associated with MPF, generally less in the summertime and in southern coastal regions. MPF precipitation has a relatively small seasonal cycle except in Florida and the warm offshore waters of the Gulf Stream. In contrast, isolated precipitation has a dramatic seasonal cycle that outlines the SE USA coastline whereas the MPF precipitation does not, consistent with a thermodynamic mechanism for onshore isolated storms in coastal regions. In summer, the isolated precipitation preferentially forms offshore at night, and dramatically ‘flips’ inland by early afternoon. In contrast, MPF precipitation has no clear diurnal variations except in the southern coastal region in the summer, likely associated with sea breeze convection organized on the mesoscale. These results suggest that the MPF versus isolated precipitation system framework provides a useful basis for future studies of large-scale and local controls on precipitation and resulting implications for long-range predictability of precipitation.
Instability threshold currents vs. energy in CESR

CESR has been observed to have two coupled bunch instabilities, one horizontal and the other longitudinal, which can limit the total beam current when operating with trains of bunches. Feedback has been employed for some time to counter these instabilities. This paper reports on the threshold current for the onset of the longitudinal instability when feedback is turned off vs. beam energy over a range from 1.9 GeV to 5.2 GeV and compares the change in threshold current with that expected from the change in radiation damping. Operating performance with feedback in use will also be reported for both longitudinal and horizontal instabilities.
Implementation mechanisms for packet switched voice conferencing

A distributed control mechanism for managing a packet-switched voice conference connection is presented. The principal concept introduced is the idea of viewing a conference connection as a logical ring of participants. Alternative methods for implementing voice conferencing on both broadcast and point-to-point networks are introduced, analyzed, and compared. Tradeoffs between the two methods with respect to station workload and maximum number of conference participants are discussed. Experimental implementations on both a carrier-sense multi-access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) Ethernet and a token-ring ProNet are described. The mechanisms presented can be used as part of a packet-switched voice communications protocol that includes conferencing capabilities. >
Interannual and long-term changes in the trophic state of a multibasin lake: Effects of morphology, climate, winter aeration, and beaver activity

Little St. Germain Lake (LSG), a relatively pristine multibasin lake in Wisconsin, USA, was examined to determine how morphologic (internal), climatic (external), anthropogenic (winter aeration), a...
Experimentelle Untersuchungen zum Ersatz des linken Ventrikels mit Hilfe einer ventrikulo-aortalen Pumpkammer

Von allen den Kreislauf assistierenden Systemen haben parallel oder in Serie geschaltete Bypass-Ventrikel bisher im Tierexperiment die besten hamodynamischen Wirkungen gezeigt. Wir haben eine implantierbare ventriculo-aortale Pumpkammer entwickelt (Abb. 1), die sich zur Unterstutzung des linken Herzens selbst durch Wochen eignet. Der Anschlus an das Herz erfolgt uber die Spitze des linken Ventrikels, in den der Einflusstutzen eingebracht wird. Das Blut wird uber die infrarenale Aorta wieder dem Systemkreislauf zugefuhrt; das Pumpengehause kommt dabei ins linke Hypogastrium zu liegen. Der Antrieb des Systems erfolgt pneu-matisch.
Ambient temperature and food costs: effects on behavior patterns in rats

Eating, drinking, wheel running, and nesting were recorded continuously in animals living in cages where they foraged for and consumed food by completing operant bar-press requirements. The ambient temperature was either 24 or 0 degrees C. Two food costs, that of initiating meals and that of pellets within meals, were separately manipulated at each temperature. Compared with room temperature, the cold temperature produced a doubling of food and water intake and a greater than twofold increase in nesting time each day. Running behavior was not altered. Regardless of temperature, the cost of initiating meals influenced the frequency and size of meals but did not affect total food intake or time spent feeding, and this cost had no effect on any other activity. As the cost of pellets within meals increased, the time spent feeding increased and there was a decline in daily food intake. The change in intake was greater at the cold temperature because in the cold the rats did not increase daily feeding time sufficiently to maintain intake as pellet cost increased. Such an increase in feeding time would have required that less time be spent in one of the other activities.
Knoweldge Transfer Across Hierarchical Lines: The Importance of Organizational Structure and Type of Knowledge

This paper uses football and ice hockey as archetypal contexts to explore managerial knowledge transfer to subordinates in tall and flat organizational structures. Interviews with players and coaches, and observations of team meetings, practices, and games, revealed different mechanisms for transferring declarative knowledge (tall context) and procedural knowledge (flat context).
Inhomogeneous Broadening Induced Long-Lived Integrated Two- Color Coherence Photon Echo Signal

Recent observations of the long-lasting nonlinear signals in a variety of light-harvesting complexes have initiated an active debate on the origin of long-lived coherence in the biological systems. In this work we show that disorder of site energy can induce a long-lived electronic coherence between two chromophores in a strongly coupled dimer system, in addition to the ensemble dephasing effect. This phenomenon is physically explained as the correlated fluctuation of excitons with the equal delocalization on two sites, when the site-energy distributions overlap to give resonance. Using the integrated two-color coherence photon echo signal as an example, we show that the coherence in such a system exhibits a biexponential decay with a slow component with a lifetime of hundreds of femtoseconds and a rapid component with a lifetime of tens of femtoseconds. The current result provides a possible microscopic basis for the electronic coherence to be the origin of the long-lived coherence signals to be consider...
Discourse level variable licensing. Par exemple in Quebec French

This paper reports the existence of a type of lexical item that has gone unnoticed in the previous literature. We start from the observation that the phrase par exemple in Quebec French has two possible meanings: an illustrative one and a contrastive one. We argue that contrastive par exemple adjoins to constituents that are similar to polarity sensitive items and thus marks sensitivity of the respective XP to a certain property of the environment. The syntactic distribution of the XP to which contrastive par exemple adjoins to, although similar to that of polarity sensitive items, actually differs from the latter in important respects. Just like polarity sensitive items, the [XP par exemple] constituent must be in the scope of an operator. However, unlike polarity sensitive items, which are licensed by operators that are defined at sentence level, the licensor of contrastive [XP par exemple] is a discourse level connector (i.e. a connector that relates the sentence that contains par exemple with a previous, independently expressed sentence). This implies that discourse connectors do more than simply relate two propositions: given that they also licence variables, they also have operator properties.
The Hidden, Denied and Unpunished Mass Crimes

The Nuremberg and Tokyo trials were followed by a number of national trials by criminal or military courts: they tried both Germans and Japanese, and, in Europe, nationals of occupied countries who had collaborated with the Nazis, alleged to have committed violations against traditional international humanitarian law, to which the innovations brought in by the Nuremberg precedent were added progressively. On 11 December 1946, the UN General Assembly affirmed the principles of international law recognized by the Charter of the Nuremberg Tribunal (Res. 95 (1)). As a direct consequence of Nuremberg, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was approved by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1948, one month after the Tokyo judges rendered their majority judgment. The UN Economic and Social Council urged all states in 1965 to ensure that war criminals and persons who had committed crimes against humanity were traced, apprehended and equitably punished. The General Assembly adopted on 26 November 1968 the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity.
Synchronization Trade-Offs in GPU Implementations of Graph Algorithms

Although there is an extensive literature on GPU implementations of graph algorithms, we do not yet have a clear understanding of how implementation choices impact performance. As a step towards this goal, we studied how the choice of synchronization mechanism affects the end-to-end performance of complex graph algorithms, using stochastic gradient descent (SGD) as an exemplar. We implemented seven synchronization strategies for this application and evaluated them on two GPU platforms, using both road networks and social network graphs as inputs. Our experiments showed that although none of the seven strategies dominates the rest, it is possible to use properties of the platform and input graph to predict the best strategy.
A Case Study of Cognitive Radio Networks: Secure Spectrum Management for Positive Train Control Operations

Positive Train Control (PTC) is a federally mandated emerging radio-based signaling system designed to provide safe navigation of passenger and freight trains. Achieving the safety objectives of PTC requires dealing with the diversity and variability of train schedules, as well as the complexity of rail track geometries. As a result, PTC implementation demands using variable amounts of the spectrum in a time critical manner. In this book chapter, we present a multi-tiered cognitive radio network architecture currently under development that addresses spectrum allocation for PTC operations, while providing substantial improvements in the security of operations. In addition to efficient spectrum sharing, the architecture includes a built-in capability of detecting spectrum abuse and any potential cyber threats to PTC operations, as well as enhanced security of radio communication between the PTC nodes. The design architecture, message exchange protocols, and partial implementation are explained, and the results of the experiments performed with our cognitive radio architecture are discussed.
Design Techniques for Direct Digital Synthesis Circuits with Improved Frequency Accuracy over Wide Frequency Ranges

Recently, there is increasing interest in impedance sensors for various applications. Direct digital synthesis (DDS) circuits are commonly used in such sensor circuits for generating stimulus signals, due to advantages of accurate frequency control, drift-free performance, etc. Previously reported DDS circuits for sensor applications typically maintain superb frequency accuracy within relatively small frequency ranges. This paper investigates techniques to improve frequency accuracy over wide frequency ranges. In addition, it presents an analytical framework to estimate the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the generated signal and derives guidelines for optimizing DDS circuit configurations. Both simulation and hardware measurement results are presented to validate the derived SNR estimation equation as well as the developed frequency accuracy enhancement techniques.
Associative CAD references in the neutral parametric canonical form

ABSTRACTDue to the multiplicity of computer-aided engineering applications used in industry, interoperability between programs has become increasingly important. A 1999 study by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) estimated that inadequate interoperability between the original engineering manufacturers (OEM) and their suppliers cost the US automotive industry over $1 billion per year, with the majority spent fixing data after translations. The Neutral Parametric Canonical Form (NPCF) prototype standard developed by the BYU Site of the NSF Center for e-Design offers a solution to this problem by enabling real-time collaboration between heterogeneous systems while preserving design intent. The NPCF is implemented within a SQL database and defines the schema both for neutral features and for the parameters defining the inter-feature relationships and associations.
Role of postgraduate year 2 pharmacy residents in providing weekend antimicrobial stewardship coverage in an academic medical center.

Purpose The integration of pharmacy residents into an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is described, and data on the residents’ ASP interventions and outcomes are reported. Summary ASP coverage of nighttime, holiday, and weekend shifts is often provided by infectious diseases (ID) medical fellows and staff pharmacists, potentially leading to inconsistent stewardship practices. As part of an initiative by a large urban hospital to provide around-the-clock, comprehensive ASP services 7 days a week, postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residents in ID or critical care were assigned to provide ASP coverage on weekends. Over a 12-month period, residents providing ASP weekend coverage documented a total of 1,443 interventions, of which 1,000 (69%) were pursuant to 72-hour prospective audit and feedback review and 443 (31%) occurred during ASP phone coverage. A comparison of overall antimicrobial utilization (mean ± S.D. days of therapy [DOT] per 1,000 patient-days [PD]) before and after implementation of resident ASP coverage on weekends showed a decrease in aggregate antimicrobial use from 799.3 ± 46.8 to 740.7 ± 17.3 DOT/1,000 PD (a difference of 58.6 DOT/1,000 PD, p = 0.08), with a corresponding decline in the incidence of hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection (from 1.18 cases to 0.9 case per 1,000 PD). Conclusion By expanding the hospital’s ASP services by assigning PGY2 pharmacy residents to weekend coverage, the institution was able to provide high-level clinical care 7 days per week, which benefited both patients and PGY2 pharmacy residents while meeting national ASP regulatory requirements.
Diabetic Driving Studies-Part 2: A Comparison of Brake Response Time Between Drivers With Diabetes With and Without Lower Extremity Sensorimotor Neuropathy.

We have previously demonstrated an abnormally delayed mean brake response time and an increased frequency of abnormally delayed brake responses in a group of neuropathic drivers with diabetes compared with a control group of drivers with neither diabetes nor lower extremity neuropathy. The objective of the present case-control study was to compare the mean brake response time between 2 groups of drivers with diabetes with and without lower extremity sensorimotor neuropathy. The braking performances of the participants were evaluated using a computerized driving simulator with specific measurement of the mean brake response time and the frequency of the abnormally delayed brake responses. We compared a control group of 25 active drivers with type 2 diabetes without lower extremity neuropathy and an experimental group of 25 active drivers with type 2 diabetes and lower extremity neuropathy from an urban U.S. podiatric medical clinic. The experimental group demonstrated an 11.49% slower mean brake response time (0.757 ± 0.180 versus 0.679 ± 0.120 second; p < .001), with abnormally delayed reactions occurring at a greater frequency (57.5% versus 35.0%; p < .001). Independent of a comparative statistical analysis, diabetic drivers with neuropathy demonstrated a mean brake response time slower than a suggested safety threshold of 0.70 second, and diabetic drivers without neuropathy demonstrated a mean brake response time faster than this threshold. The results of the present investigation provide evidence that the specific onset of lower extremity sensorimotor neuropathy associated with diabetes appears to impart a negative effect on automobile brake responses.
Melanoma in 2017: Moving treatments earlier to move further forwards

In 2017, results from phase III trials demonstrated the impressive safety and efficacy of adjuvant targeted and immune therapies in patients with resectable stage III–IV melanoma, and raised questions about the surgical management of patients with microscopic sentinel-lymph-node metastases. For patients with unresectable disease, new overall survival data added to the debate about the relative benefits of single-agent anti-PD-1 versus combined anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy.
Advances in Invasive Brain–Computer Interface Technology and Decoding Methods for Restoring Movement and Future Applications

Abstract Many advances have been made in the field of invasive brain–computer interface (BCI) technology in recent years, including improved implantable microelectrodes, better-performing neural decoding algorithms, and the development of invasive BCI systems that have helped restore functional movement in paralyzed clinical study participants. This chapter describes historical developments that have paved the way for recent achievements in the invasive BCI field. Critical technology components of an invasive BCI system are described, and future applications and directions for the field are discussed.
Increased Tumor Glycolysis Characterizes Immune Resistance to Adoptive T Cell Therapy.

Adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) produces durable responses in some cancer patients; however, most tumors are refractory to ACT and the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance are unclear. Using two independent approaches, we identified tumor glycolysis as a pathway associated with immune resistance in melanoma. Glycolysis-related genes were upregulated in melanoma and lung cancer patient samples poorly infiltrated by T cells. Overexpression of glycolysis-related molecules impaired T cell killing of tumor cells, whereas inhibition of glycolysis enhanced T cell-mediated antitumor immunity in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, glycolysis-related gene expression was higher in melanoma tissues from ACT-refractory patients, and tumor cells derived from these patients exhibited higher glycolytic activity. We identified reduced levels of IRF1 and CXCL10 immunostimulatory molecules in highly glycolytic melanoma cells. Our findings demonstrate that tumor glycolysis is associated with the efficacy of ACT and identify the glycolysis pathway as a candidate target for combinatorial therapeutic intervention.
Circulating sclerostin is not suppressed following a single bout of exercise in young men

The aim of this study was to determine whether an acute bout of exercise reduces serum sclerostin under diet-controlled conditions that stabilize the parathyroid hormone (PTH)-1,alpha-hydroxylase axis. Fourteen male volunteers (age, 22.1 years ± 4.05; BMI, 27.3 kg/m2 ± 3.8) completed a randomized crossover study in which they performed 10 sets of 10 repetitions of plyometric jumps at 40% of their estimated one-repetition maximum leg press or a nonexercise control period. A calcium-controlled diet (1000 mg/day) was implemented prior to, and throughout each study period. Blood was drawn for analysis of serum sclerostin, Dickkopf-1, markers of bone metabolism (PTH, calcium), markers of bone formation (bone alkaline phosphatase, BAP; osteocalcin, OCN), and markers of bone resorption (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b, TRAP5b; C-telopeptide cross-links of type I collagen, CTX) at baseline and 12, 24, 48, and 72 h following exercise or rest. Changes in serum concentrations were expressed as percentage change from individual baselines. Data were analyzed using a repeated measured linear mixed model to assess effects of time, physical activity status (rest or exercise condition), and the time by activity status interaction. There was a significant effect of exercise on OCN (P = 0.005) and a significant interaction effect for CTX (P = 0.001). There was no effect of exercise on any other biochemical marker of bone metabolism. A single bout of plyometric exercise did not induce demonstrable changes in biochemical markers of bone metabolism under conditions where dietary effects on PTH were controlled.
Arylamine-induced hemolytic anemia: electron spin resonance spectrometry studies.

A variety of arylamine derivatives (e.g. dapsone, primaquine) are known to produce hemolytic anemia in man and experimental animals. Extensive studies in the 1950’s and 60’s established that hemolytic drugs induced methemoglobinemia and loss of erythrocytic reduced glutathione (GSH), and that individuals deficient in erthrocytic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrog-enase displayed enhanced susceptibility to drug-induced hemolytic anemia (for review, see E. Beutler, 1969; E. Beutler, 1972). Since drugs such as primaquine were active in vivo but not in vitro, the concept arose that the drugs were metabolized in the liver to active/reactive metabolites which, on entry to the red cell, produced a state of “oxidative stress”. The resulting oxidative damage to critical sites within the red cell has been considered to lead to their “premature aging” and premature removal from the circulation by the spleen (A.R. Tarlov, et al., 1962; F.C. Gooden-Smith, et al., 1974; G. Cohen et al., 1964; A. Miller et al., 1970; R.W. Carrell, et al., 1975). The nature of the oxidant stress and the identity of the critical sites, however, are still unclear. Since the oxidation of hemoglobin to methemoglobin is known to be associated with the reduction of oxygen, much work has centered around the role of active oxygen species and free radicals as molecules capable of attacking cellular components (G. Cohen, et al., 1964; R.W. Carrell, et al., 1975; H.P. Misra et al., 1976; H.A. Itano, et al., 1977; B. Goldberg, et al., 1977). We have recently shown that phenylhydroxylamine (PHA) is a direct acting hemotoxin, capable of damaging the red blood cell during in vitro incubation such that, when readministered to isologous rats, the cells are rapidly sequestered by the spleen (J.H. Harrison, et al., 1986). This communication describes spin trap studies aimed at determination of whether or not free radical specie(s) are formed in the red cell in response to PHA, and if so, the identification of these specie(s).
Piezoelectric Crystals and Electro-elasticity

Abstract The classical, linear theory of piezoelectricity is briefly reviewed. Applications to piezoelectric vibrations are discussed for plates of infinite and finite extents, of uniform and variable thicknesses, with full and partial coatings, and under initial stresses. Recently developed theories of elastic dielectrics, i.e., the polarization gradient theory and the theory of diatomic dielectrics, are presented. Their accommodations to many physical phenomena not accounted for by the classical theory and their convergences and relations to the long-wave limits of dynamical theories of crystal lattices are discussed.
Beyond BATSA: Getting Serious About State Corporate Tax Reform

(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.)Table of ContentsI. Introduction 276II. The Disappearing State Corporate Income Tax 278III. The Basic Mechanics of State Corporate Income Taxation ......... 280A. Formulary Apportionment 280B. Jurisdictional Limitations on State Income Taxation 2851. The Due Process Clause 2862. The Commerce Clause 2873. The "Safe Harbor" of Public Law 86-272 2914. Quill Corp. v. North Dakota 293C. "Throwback" 296D. Combined Reporting 299IV. Post-Quill Jurisprudence and the Problematic Physical Presence Standard for Income Tax Nexus 301A. Geoffrey I: The Out-of-State Holding Company 303B. J.C. Penney National Bank: The Out-of-State Financial Services Institution 305C. Discussion 307V. State Corporate Income Tax Reform: A Two-Pronged Approach 307A. A Proposed Economic Presence Standard for Income Tax Nexus 307B. Imposing Uniformity: An Updated UDITPA 311VI. Evaluative Criteria: Equity, Efficiency, and Simplicity 315A. Equity 315B. Efficiency 317C. Simplicity 319VII. The Undesirable Alternative: BATSA's Physical Presence Standard for Income Tax Nexus 320A. Proposed Legislation 320B. Critique 323VIII. Conclusion 326I. IntroductionThe state corporate income tax system is broken, and only Congress can fix it. The current state of affairs is problematic for states,1 burdensome for multistate corporations,2 and unfair to smaller, local businesses.3 States are unable to resolve these problems themselves; federal intervention is the only solution.Two major defects plague the current system. The first is the lack of a clear national standard for state income tax jurisdiction.4 The second is the lack of a uniform method for apportioning the income of multistate businesses for tax purposes.5 These defects combine to create a number of serious problems. Multistate businesses are subjected to onerous compliance burdens and significant tax uncertainty,6 as well as the risk of taxation on more than 100% of their income.7 States suffer as substantial amounts of income fall through jurisdictional cracks, resulting in "nowhere income" that is untaxed by any state.8 Moreover, the tax revenue that is collected is not distributed equitably among the states in which the income is generated.9 Tax planning opportunities abound,10 diverting resources away from efficient economic activity and into elaborate tax avoidance schemes.11 Such tax shelters are often not available to smaller local businesses, which places them at a competitive disadvantage with their larger national competitors. …
Kwoka’s Mergers, Merger Control, and Remedies: Rejoinder to Kwoka☆

Abstract John Kwoka’s Mergers, Merger Control, and Remedies is a meta-analysis of “retrospective” academic studies of consummated mergers and other horizontal arrangements. Based on this meta-analysis, Kwoka strongly criticizes federal enforcement policies, claiming that the agencies permit far too many anticompetitive mergers to go unchallenged, and are far too willing to accept remedies that fail to prevent a significant loss of competition. Kwoka claims further that this excessive leniency is the culmination of a trend reflecting deliberate policy choices made over the last several decades. In a forthcoming critique, Vita and Osinski challenge Kwoka’s analysis and his conclusions, identifying serious flaws in the size, construction, and composition of his sample, and in the statistical analysis of the data drawn from that sample. In a published response to Vita and Osinski, Professor Kwoka offers a number of objections and counter-arguments. In this rejoinder, I respond to Professor Kwoka.
Social interactions shape individual and collective personality in social spiders.

The behavioural composition of a group and the dynamics of social interactions can both influence how social animals work collectively. For example, individuals exhibiting certain behavioural tende...
Sample Complexity of Networked Control Systems Over Unknown Channels

Recent control trends are increasingly relying on communication networks and wireless channels to close the loop in Internet-of-Things applications. Traditionally these approaches are modeled-based, i.e., given a network or channel model they analyze stability and design appropriate controller structures. However such modeling is a fundamental challenge as channels are typically unknown a priori and only available through data samples. In this work we aim to characterize the amount of channel modeling that is required to determine the stability of networked control tasks. Our most significant finding is a direct relation between the sample complexity and the system stability margin, i.e., the underlying packet success rate of the channel and the spectral radius of the dynamics of the control system.
Catalytic conversion of alcohols and amines using metal nitride catalysts

Abstract High surface area metal nitrides of Mo, W and V are very active and selective alcohol dehydration catalysts and retain the bulk nitride structure even after 30 hours or longer exposure to water generated during alcohol dehydration. Unlike some of the corresponding metal oxides, the nitrides are not selective for any particular octene isomer. These catalysts were much less active for the analogous reaction of deamination of 2-octylamine to produce ammonia and octenes; furthermore, condensation to produce di- and tri-octylamines was more rapid than alkene production. These catalysts were very inactive, in comparison to typical Pt-SiO2 catalysts, for dehydrogenating cyclohexene.
The Evolution of the Paraguayan Tax System

This chapter maps the evolution of Paraguay’s tax system from the late 1980s until 2012. It illustrates that Paraguay’s 2004 and 2012 tax reforms have had the clear objective to formalise the economy. The intention was to generate a wider tax base and boost revenue collection. This chapter outlines how the reforms aim to achieve this formalisation, while explaining the political context and challenges that the Paraguayan authorities encountered during the policy drafting and implementation process.
Clinical implementation, logistics and workflow guide for MRI image based interstitial HDR brachytherapy for gynecological cancers.

Interstitial brachytherapy (IBT) is often utilized to treat women with bulky endometrial or cervical cancers not amendable to intracavitary treatments. A modern trend in IBT is the utilization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a high dose rate (HDR) afterloader for conformal 3D image-based treatments. The challenging part of this procedure is to properly complete many sequenced and co-related physics preparations. We presented the physics preparations and clinical workflow required for implementing MRI-based HDR IBT (MRI-HDR-IBT) of gynecologic cancer patients in a high-volume brachytherapy center. The present document is designed to focus on the clinical steps required from a physicist's standpoint. Those steps include: (a) testing IBT equipment with MRI scanner, (b) preparation of templates and catheters, (c) preparation of MRI line markers, (d) acquisition, importation and registration of MRI images, (e) development of treatment plans and (f) treatment evaluation and documentation. The checklists of imaging acquisition, registration and plan development are also presented. Based on the TG-100 recommendations, a workflow chart, a fault tree analysis and an error-solution table listing the speculated errors and solutions of each step are provided. Our workflow and practice indicated the MRI-HDR-IBT is achievable in most radiation oncology clinics if the following equipment is available: MRI scanner, CT (computed tomography) scanner, MRI/CT compatible templates and applicators, MRI line markers, HDR afterloader and a brachytherapy treatment planning system capable of utilizing MRI images. The OR/procedure room availability and anesthesiology support are also important. The techniques and approaches adopted from the GEC-ESTRO (Groupe Europeen de Curietherapie - European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) recommendations and other publications are proven to be feasible. The MRI-HDR-IBT program can be developed over time and progressively validated through clinical experience, this document is expected to serve as a reference workflow guideline for implementing and performing the procedure.
Mean-Flow Damping Forms the Buffer Zone of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation: 1D Theory

AbstractThe quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is a descending pattern of alternating easterly and westerly winds in the tropical stratosphere. Upwelling is generally understood to counteract the des...
Epicardial ultrasound in a case of myocardial bridge and apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

A 59-year-old male with a history of unstable angina was diagnosed with a myocardial bridge of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and apical variant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM). He underwent unroofing of the myocardial bridge and a left ventricular apical myectomy. Intraoperatively, epicardial ultrasound was used to identify the myocardial bridge with systolic compression of the LAD and confirm resolution of this compression postoperatively. Furthermore, epicardial ultrasound was used for guiding the degree of apical resection of the decompressed heart. This novel use of intraoperative epicardial ultrasound can help guide surgeons preoperatively and confirm results immediately after an operation.
Supporting Delay Tolerant Networking: A Comparative Study of Epidemic Routing and NDN

Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) is characterized by its dynamic and intermittent connectivity, resulting in the absence of end-to-end communication paths in general. Many proposed solutions have been developed over the years to enhance TCP/IP protocol stack for DTN environment; Epidemic Routing (ER) is among the earliest and most well-known designs. Recent years have seen both renewed interests and investigations into Epidemic Routing for vehicular and satellite communications, and the development of a new Internet architecture Named Data Networking (NDN) which, due to its data-centric design, can support DTN communications natively. In this paper, we identify the basic functionality requirements for DTN support, compare and contrast ER and NDN to show the commonalities and differences in their designs. We use simulation results to illustrate how the design differences lead to different functionalities and protocol performance: although ER enhances IP nodes with data-centric features to enable packet delivery in DTN environments, compared to NDN's native data-centric design with built-in security, such “patch-on” suffers from not only lower performance with higher overhead, but more importantly the lack of systematic security support.
Game Theoretic Potential Field for Autonomous Water Surface Vehicle Navigation Using Weather Forecasts.

Imperfect weather forecasts complicate robot planning. A conservative motion planning algorithm is developed to address uncertainty in autonomous boat missions. Dynamic Programming generates an optimal action for every location and game theory strategically handles uncertainty. Experimental results using Massachusetts Bay forecasts show the robot is able minimize the cost of worst-case weather.
Self-healing ceramic coatings that operate in extreme environments: A review

This paper provides an overview of the latest research developments in the design and exploration of ceramic coatings with high temperature adaptive behavior. The adaptive behavior, triggered by thermal or thermomechanical stimulus, may be used to create smart surfaces that are able to change their chemistry and structure to achieve the desired functionality. The initial focus of the paper will be to provide an overview on the basics of self-repairing materials. This will be followed by a brief outline of the work that has been reported on self-healing/adaptive mechanisms in bulk ceramics. We will then focus on providing a thorough review on self-healing ceramics with a focus on adaptation/healing in tribology as well as thermal barrier, anticorrosion, and oxidation resistant coatings. Advantages and disadvantages of using hybrid polymer-ceramic coatings will also be discussed toward the end of the article. This overview will provide a fundamental understanding of the changes in the structural and chemical properties of these materials and how that correlates to their performance. This review also includes a discussion on anticipated future developments in this important and upcoming area of research.
Evaluating the Potential and Challenges of an Uncertainty Quantification Method for Long Short-Term Memory Models for Soil Moisture Predictions

Recently, recurrent deep networks have shown promise to harness newly available satellite-sensed data for long-term soil moisture projections. However, to be useful in forecasting, deep networks mu...
A multiscale framework to predict electrochemical characteristics of yttrium doped Barium Zirconate based solid oxide cells

Abstract A multiscale model is developed combining physics at atomistic, meso and continuum scales to predict the electrochemical characteristics of Current-Voltage curves in Yttrium doped Barium Zirconate based solid oxide cells. The most probable reaction pathway involving proton transfer from the surface of electrodes to the electrode/air/electrolyte Triple Phase Boundary from where it moves to the electrolyte is proposed, and their reaction barriers have been predicted from Density Functional Theory calculations. The model is validated against experimental observations. The environment, such as the amount of H2 (reducing) and O2 (oxidizing) gases the electrolyte is equilibrated in, affects the type of charge carriers while the temperature affects their rate of transport. Both these factors affect the rate of reactions in the proposed pathway. These effects are well manifested in the predicted electrochemical characteristics. The reducing environments are suitable for fuel cell mode operation and, the oxidizing environments are suitable for electrolyzer cell mode operations. The activation energy for conductivity in oxidizing environments is higher making it less amenable for low-temperature operation than in reducing environments. A data-driven sensitivity analysis is performed from which a non-intuitive parameter, permittivity of the electrolyte, is predicted to be important for Solid Oxide Cell performance.
Security and privacy in the age of cordless power world: poster abstract

In this work, we conduct the first study to explore the potential security and privacy vulnerabilities of cordless power transfer techniques, particularly Qi wireless charging for mobile devices. We demonstrate the communication established between the charger and the charging device could be easily interfered with and eavesdropped. Specifically, through stealthily placing an adversarial coil on the wireless charger, an adversary can hijack the communication channel and inject malicious data bits which can take control of the charging process. Moreover, by simply taping two wires on the wireless charger, an adversary can eavesdrop Qi messages, which carry rich information highly correlated with the charging device's activities, from the measured primary coil voltage. We examine the extent to which this side-channel leaks private information about the smartphone's activities while being charged (e.g., detect and identify incoming calls and messages from different apps). Experimental results demonstrate the capability of an adversary to inject any desired malicious packets to take over the charging process, and the primary coil voltage side channel can leak private information of the smartphone's activities while being charged.
Bed-Based Ballistocardiography: Dataset and Ability to Track Cardiovascular Parameters.

Background: The goal of this work was to create a sharable dataset of heart-driven signals, including ballistocardiograms (BCGs) and time-aligned electrocardiograms (ECGs), photoplethysmograms (PPGs), and blood pressure waveforms. Methods: A custom, bed-based ballistocardiographic system is described in detail. Affiliated cardiopulmonary signals are acquired using a GE Datex CardioCap 5 patient monitor (which collects ECG and PPG data) and a Finapres Medical Systems Finometer PRO (which provides continuous reconstructed brachial artery pressure waveforms and derived cardiovascular parameters). Results: Data were collected from 40 participants, 4 of whom had been or were currently diagnosed with a heart condition at the time they enrolled in the study. An investigation revealed that features extracted from a BCG could be used to track changes in systolic blood pressure (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.54 +/− 0.15), dP/dtmax (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.51 +/− 0.18), and stroke volume (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.54 +/− 0.17). Conclusion: A collection of synchronized, heart-driven signals, including BCGs, ECGs, PPGs, and blood pressure waveforms, was acquired and made publicly available. An initial study indicated that bed-based ballistocardiography can be used to track beat-to-beat changes in systolic blood pressure and stroke volume. Significance: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no other database that includes time-aligned ECG, PPG, BCG, and continuous blood pressure data is available to the public. This dataset could be used by other researchers for algorithm testing and development in this fast-growing field of health assessment, without requiring these individuals to invest considerable time and resources into hardware development and data collection.
Use of Disproportionality Analysis to Identify Previously Unknown Drug-Associated Causes of Cardiac Arrhythmias Using the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Database:

Introduction:Drug-induced QTc-prolongation is a well-known adverse drug reaction (ADR), however there is limited knowledge of other drug-induced arrhythmias.Purpose:The objective of this study is t...
A Gender-Based Generational Comparison of Sexual Behaviors Adolescents Engage in Prior to First Coitus

Comparing two convenience samples of college students in the northeastern region of the USA, this study sought to examine, by gender, whether there has been a change over the past two decades in the type and frequency of sexual behaviors heterosexual emerging adults report engaging in prior to their first coitus. Sexual behaviors engaged in prior to coital initiation were extracted from our 2018 survey of college students (n = 293) and compared to published results from a similar survey conducted in 1995/1996 (n = 311). Mean comparisons and chi-square tests were used to evaluate gender differences among the 2018 cohort, and equality of proportion tests were used to compare the 2018 and 1995/1996 cohorts. Overall, a higher percentage of respondents in the 2018 cohort reported engaging in precoital activity as compared to the 1995/1996 cohort. Specifically, relative to the 1995/1996 cohort, masturbation significantly increased among both males and females; caressing partner’s genitals or giving oral sex significantly increased in frequency among females, and receiving oral sex significantly increased in frequency among males. A salient finding of this study is that the rate of increase in precoital sexual activity was greater among females than it was among males. Health and education professionals seeking to facilitate the healthy sexual development of adolescents may want to consider broadening the scope of risk management strategies when working with heterosexual emerging adults, focusing not only on the coitally experienced population but also on adolescents who have not yet experienced coitus and may be engaging in other behaviors that pose a risk for STI transmission (e.g., oral sex).