cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comprehensive test of the Trivers–Willard hypothesis in pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)

The Trivers–Willard hypothesis (TWH) predicts that in a polygynous mating system, when fitness of male offspring is more variable than fitness of female offspring, mothers should invest more heavily in the sex with the highest marginal fitness returns. Females in good condition or high social rank should benefit by investing in sons, and females in poor condition or low social rank should benefit by investing in daughters. Many empirical studies have tested different aspects of the TWH, but no study has tested the assumptions and predictions in a single polygynous species using measures of maternal condition and maternal social rank, while accounting for random effects that can also influence offspring growth and survival. Here, we followed individuals in an isolated population of pronghorn on the National Bison Range, Montana, over multiple generations and tested the assumptions and predictions of the TWH. Pronghorn females who were in good condition or were socially dominant weaned larger fawns that were in better condition, but this advantage did not increase male fawn survival or reproductive success. We detected a slight bias in birth sex ratios according to maternal social rank, but overall we did not detect any adaptive benefit to mothers adopting a sex-biased investment strategy.
Creative Writing: The [Self-] Identification of Mendelssohn as Jew

In the early nineteenth century, a process began that transformed the Jews living in German-speaking lands into (at least in their own minds) Jewish Germans-a result of increasing acculturation, emancipation, and the continuing secularization of their Christian countrymen. Over time, enlightened rationalists also began to share this perception and to define Jewish "otherness" as a difference in religion (as opposed to culture) alone and accept Jews into their social circles. But despite this shift in perception, as well as other Jewish attempts to assimilate into their environment through superficial changes in clothing, speech,1 and gesture, the general populace-and indeed the law itself-continued to see them as adherents to what Kant called a "useless, true-religion-displacing old cult"2 and refused to grant them any more than partial entry into German society.3 This led many Jews who had given up the ritual law (either under the influence of rationalism or because they wished to better assimilate) and were therefore Jews in name only to separate themselves from Judaism altogether and to accept what poet Heinrich Heine called the "admission-ticket to European culture"-baptism.4 But far from being a simple bill of admittance, baptism was a virtual Pandora's box filled with paradoxes and contradictions, the most devastating of which was the continued distrust Jews faced from the non-Jews who had originally called for their conversion. From early childhood onward, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy had to contend with the fact that, despite his baptism, the public display of his Christian faith through his sacred music, and claims (reflected in his private correspondence) of German pride and of discipleship to the Protestant theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher,5 many continued to see him as Jewish both in religion and in culture, or, at the very least, as having a strong personal connection to his Jewish heritage. Such suspicions were common with respect to the so-called Neuchristen,6 many of whom had, admittedly, converted for purely pragmatic reasons. These assessments
Correction to "Design, Development, Mechanistic Elucidation, and Rational Optimization of a Tandem Ireland Claisen/Cope Rearrangement Reaction for Rapid Access to the (Iso)Cyclocitrinol Core".

An approach to the synthesis of the (iso)cyclocitrinol core structure is described. The key step is a tandem Ireland Claisen/Cope rearrangement sequence, wherein the Ireland Claisen rearrangement effects ring contraction to a strained 10-membered ring, and that strain in turn drives the Cope rearrangement under unusually mild thermal conditions. A major side product was identified as resulting from an unexpected and remarkably facile [1,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, and a tactic to disfavor the [1,3] pathway and increase the efficiency of the tandem reaction was rationally devised.
Corridors for people, corridors for nature

Transportation corridors have long helped to spread people into more remote places ( 1 ). In the past century, a burgeoning road network has grown in concert with the human population, connecting people across entire continents. The immense benefits of roads connecting people to agriculture, natural resources, mines, and each other must be reconciled with their severe environmental degradation.
222 HYPOVOLEMIC SYSTOLIC HYPERTENSION: HIGH ADRENERGIC NEUROVASCULAR TONE.

Our pilot studies (PS) show that systolic hypertension (SH) is due to high adrenergic neurovascular tone (ANVT) and is associated with a low central blood volume (CBV) in a significant (sig) number of patients. This complicates treatment (Rx) since sig postural hypotension (PH) occurs with low CBV when systolic blood pressure (SBP) is reduced by Rx of systemic vascular resistance (SVR) alone (Rx1 = atenolol 13-100 mg/day). These patients can be identified in the PS by the abnormal rise of pulse pressure (RPP) > 25 mm Hg, during sustained isometric handgrip (5 psi - 3 min) and by low systolic time intervals (STI) 11 mm Hg and STI > 31%. G1 and G2 were selected with SBP > 135 mm Hg, diastolic BP 80 ± 5 all Caucasian, female-male ratio 2/1, mean age 57 (range 50-65), HgA1C 50% and were age/sex matched to G1 and 2. STI is a measure of ANVT (STI = PEP/LVET × 100). G1 and G2 had Rx1 and Rx2 (diltiazem CD 240-360 mg/day followed by atenolol 13-100 mg/day) in a double-blind crossover design. Serial measurements were made at time (T) 1-6 as shown in the table below. Measurements of CO and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were made by ultrasonic methods. All data were placed into a blind matrix for later correlation. Prospective results: group means are shown. Where *Sig difference from GC at p
Association of primary open-angle glaucoma with mitochondrial variants and haplogroups common in African Americans

Purpose To estimate the population frequencies of all common mitochondrial variants and ancestral haplogroups among 1,999 subjects recruited for the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) Study, including 1,217 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) cases and 782 controls, and to identify ancestral subpopulations and mitochondrial mutations as potential risk factors for POAG susceptibility. Methods Subject classification by characteristic glaucomatous optic nerve findings and corresponding visual field defects, as defined by enrolling glaucoma specialists, stereo disc photography, phlebotomy, extraction of total DNA from peripheral blood or saliva, DNA quantification and normalization, PCR amplification of whole mitochondrial genomes, Ion Torrent deep semiconductor DNA sequencing on DNA pools ("Pool-seq"), Sanger sequencing of 3,479 individual mitochondrial DNAs, and bioinformatic analysis. Results The distribution of common African haplogroups within the POAAGG study population was broadly similar to prior surveys of African Americans. However, the POAG case population was found to be enriched in L1c2 haplogroups, which are defined in part by missense mutations m.6150G>A (Val83Ile, odds ratio [OR] 1.8, p=0.01), m.6253C>T (Met117Thr, rs200165736, OR 1.6, p=0.04), and m.6480G>A (Val193Ile, rs199476128, OR 4.6, p=0.04) in the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (MT-CO1) gene and by a variant, m.2220A>G (OR 2.0, p=0.01), in MT-RNR2, which encodes the mitochondrial ribosomal 16s RNA gene. L2 haplogroups were predicted to be overrepresented in the POAG case population by Pool-seq, and the difference was confirmed to be significant with Sanger sequencing, that targeted the L2-associated variants m.2416T>C (rs28358580, OR 1.2, p=0.02) and m.2332C>T (OR 1.2, p=.02) in MT-RNR2. Another variant within MT-RNR2, m.3010G>A (rs3928306), previously implicated in sensitivity to the optic neuropathy-associated antibiotic linezolid, and arising on D4 and J1 lineages, associated with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) severity, was confirmed to be common (>5%) but was not significantly enriched in the POAG cases. Two variants linked to the composition of the gut microbiome, m.15784T>C (rs527236194, haplogroup L2a1) and m.16390G>A (rs41378955, L2 haplogroups), were also enriched in the case DNA pools. Conclusions These results implicate African mtDNA haplogroups L1c2, L1c2b, and L2 as risk factors for POAG. Approximately one in four African Americans have these mitochondrial ancestries, which may contribute to their elevated glaucoma risk. These haplogroups are defined in part by ancestral variants in the MT-RNR2 and/or MT-CO1 genes, several of which have prior disease associations, such as MT-CO1 missense variants that have been implicated in prostate cancer.
Re-interpreting the past to shape the future: The uses of memory discourses in community tourism development*:

Ideas about collective memory are implicit in tourism development, even when development projects are primarily entertainment-oriented. This paper studies collective memory in the form of community creation myths associated with the transformation of two rural towns from seasonal tourism to casino gaming. Known for their contributions to Colorado mining history, Central City and Black Hawk adopted casino gambling in 1991. This paper presents data from a longitudinal study of creation myth discourses expressed by stakeholders across several decades. Data show that over time, spokespersons more frequently described a nostalgic yearning for earlier mining periods, though the content and form of discourses varied by commentator. Local residents made more emotional appeals, while local leaders’ and external entrepreneurs’ claims were more strategic. This study shows how memory is manipulated, especially during periods of rapid tourism growth, shedding light on under-studied aspects of social and cultural impac...
Stochastic Optimal Control using polynomial chaos variational integrators

In this paper a novel method towards solving the Stochastic Optimal Control problem is proposed, which is based on the combination of the generalized Polynomial Chaos theory and the Differential Dynamic Programming framework. Utilizing the Polynomial Chaos theory allows us to handle a wide range of uncertainties, without having to rely on limiting assumptions regarding the form of stochasticity. In addition, the Differential Dynamic Programming framework provides an iterative algorithm for finding optimal controls, which attains scalability and, under mild assumptions, fast convergence. Last but not least, towards increasing the numerical stability of our algorithm, the concept of Variational Integrators is incorporated. Numerical examples validate the applicability of the proposed approach.
A Contemporary Estimate of Total Mortality and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: The Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study.

OBJECTIVE The degree to which mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence remains elevated in young U.S. adults with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is unclear. We determined contemporary rates for adults RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Members of the EDC Study cohort RESULTS In both age groups, the SMR for total mortality was ∼5 (95% CIs: 30–39-year-olds, 2.8, 7.2; 40–44-year-olds, 3.4, 7.8). CVD mortality SMRs ranged from 19 (95% CI 11, 32) to 33 (95% CI 17, 59). Hospitalized CVD IRR was ∼8 (95% CIs: 30–39-year-olds, 2.5, 18.9; 40–44-year-olds, 4.5, 12.8); revascularization procedures account for much of the increased risk. For all outcomes, the relative risk was larger in women. Participants aged 30–39 years had 6.3% (95% CI 3.8, 9.8) absolute 10-year CVD risk, approaching the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association–recommended cut point of 7.5% for initiation of statin therapy in older adults. CONCLUSIONS Total and CVD mortality and hospitalized CVD are all significantly increased in this contemporary U.S. cohort of young adults with long-standing T1DM. These findings support more aggressive risk factor management in T1DM, especially among women.
The Synthesis and Characterization of Polyesters Derived from L-Lactide and Variably-Sized Poly(Caprolactone)

In an age of increasing societal concerns for an environmentally conscious method of disposing end-use materials, poly(lactic acid)[PLA] offers a viable means to potentially alleviate the repercussions that accompany this complex issue. With biocompatible degradation by-products and physical properties that rival those of polyethylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride, PLA appears to be an attractive alternative to these high-volume commodity thermoplastics from a somewhat superficial perspective.1 However, with its relatively high cost, PLA does not reside in the same marketability category as the aforementioned commodities. A possible resolution to this problem of economics stems from the origin of its lactic acid(LA) building blocks; that is, LA is produced from fermentation of naturally abundant carbohydrates.2 In any event, prior to addressing the ever-present question of cost, the fact that PLA is deficient in certain areas of performance must not be overlooked. With a glass transition temperature(~55–65°C) that resides in a precarious regime if considering biodegradable, consumer product applications, less than adequate thermal and hydrolytic stability, and toughness that is highly dependent upon stereoregularity, it is obvious that much attention must be given to these limitations.
IoT Quality Control for Data and Application Needs

The amount of Internet of Things (IoT) data is growing rapidly. Although there is a growing understanding of the quality of such data at the device and network level, important challenges in interpreting and evaluating the quality at informational and application levels remain to be explored. This article discusses some of these challenges and solutions of IoT systems at the different OSI layers to understand the factors affecting the quality of the overall system. With the help of two IoT-enabled digital health applications, the authors investigate the role of semantics in measuring the data quality of the system, as well as integrating multimodal data for clinical decision support. They also discuss the extension of IoT to the Internet of Everything by including human-in-the-loop to enhance the system accuracy. This paradigm shift through the confluence of sensors and data analytics can lead to accelerated innovation in applications by overcoming the limitations of the current systems, leading to unprecedented opportunities in healthcare.
A Method for Assessing and Predicting Water Quality Status for Improved Decision-Making and Management

In this study, subindex formulations for key water quality parameters were developed and enhanced to incorporate water quality thresholds and criteria. The enhanced subindex formulations were built into the Unweighted Multiplicative Water Quality Index (UMWQI) and tested for suitability, with a focus on the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB). The modified UMWQI model integrates water quality criteria and thresholds set forth by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and state-level environmental agencies, to improve the water quality status. Monthly average subindex values for total suspended solids (TSS) ranged between 33 and 80 (ranking from “poor” to “very good”), those for total phosphorus ranged between 31 and 73 (ranking “poor” to “good”), while those for soluble reactive phosphorus ranged between 13 and 78 (ranking “unsuitable for all uses” to “good”). Overall index values ranged from 35 to 80 throughout the basin, indicating that water quality in the basin is generally “poor” to “good”, consistent with existing literature and water quality reports. Of the four sites that were being assessed, the River Raisin site tended to have the highest annual overall water quality index (cleanest system), with the Tiffin and Blanchard sites ranking the worst. All four sites had soluble reactive phosphorus as the worst ranking determinant, indicating that this is the determinant of greatest concern, also consistent with existing literature. Results indicated that UMWQI and associated subindices as developed were suitable for use within the WLEB. Methodologies and approaches developed are applicable in other areas experiencing similar concerns.
From Intended Curriculum to Written Curriculum: Examining the "Voice" of a Mathematics Textbook

In this article, I used a discourse analytic framework to examine the "voice" of a middle school mathematics unit. I attended to the text's voice, which helped to illuminate the construction of the roles of the authors and readers and the expected relationships between them. The discursive framework I used focused my attention on particular language forms. The aim of the analysis was to see whether the authors of the unit achieved the ideological goal (i.e., the intended curriculum) put forth by the NCTM's Standards (1991) to shift the locus of authority away from the teacher and the textbook and toward student mathematical reasoning and justification. The findings indicate that achieving this goal is more difficult than the authors of the Standards documents may have realized and that there may be a mismatch between this goal and conventional textbook forms.
A Culture-Based Talking Circle Intervention for Native American Youth at Risk for Obesity

This community-based study explored the effectiveness of an after-school cultural-based intervention for Native American youth at risk for obesity. A standard health education after-school program served as the comparison control condition. Cherokee self-reliance (cultural identity), perceived stress, and obesity knowledge and related behaviors were the three outcome measures evaluated at baseline and immediate post-intervention. Findings revealed that participants who completed the cultural-based intervention had better results on the three outcome measures in comparison to the standard health education program.
Why Does Pain Persist in so Many Cases

Two questions that patients with chronic pain frequently ask are: “Why me?” and “Why now?” Clearly some individuals are more vulnerable for developing chronic pain than others. A subset of all patients who undergo surgery of any kind develop chronic pain with the lowest rate (5–30%) for simple procedures such as hernia repair and C-sections, an intermediate rate (30–60%) for chest and heart surgery and the highest rate (50–85%) for surgeries involving major nerves such as surgery for sciatica. Between 25% and 50% of patients who develop acute sciatica will go on to develop chronic sciatica whether or not they have surgery. Why is there such a wide variation in whether or not a person develops chronic pain?
Is sleep position associated with glenohumeral shoulder pain and rotator cuff tendinopathy: a cross-sectional study.

Glenohumeral pain and rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCT) are common musculoskeletal complaints with high prevalence among working populations. The primary proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms are sub-acromial RC tendon impingement and reduced tendon blood flow. Some sleep postures may increase subacromial pressure, potentially contributing to these postulated mechanisms. This study uses a large population of workers to investigate whether there is an association between preferred sleeping position and prevalence of: (1) shoulder pain, and (2) rotator cuff tendinopathy. A cross-sectional analysis was performed on baseline data from a multicenter prospective cohort study. Participants were 761 workers who were evaluated by questionnaire using a body diagram to determine the presence of glenohumeral pain within 30 days prior to enrollment. The questionnaire also assessed primary and secondary preferred sleep position(s) using 6 labeled diagrams. All workers underwent a structured physical examination to determine whether RCT was present. For this study, the case definition of RCT was glenohumeral pain plus at least one of a positive supraspinatus test, painful arc and/or Neer’s test. Prevalence of glenohumeral pain and RCT were individually calculated for the primary and secondary sleep postures and odds ratios were calculated. Age, sex, Framingham cardiovascular risk score and BMI had significant associations with glenohumeral pain. For rotator cuff tendinopathy, increasing age, Framingham risk score and Hand Activity Level (HAL) showed significant associations. The sleep position anticipated to have the highest risk of glenohumeral pain and RCT was paradoxically associated with a decreased prevalence of glenohumeral pain and also trended toward being protective for RCT. Multivariable logistic regression showed no further significant associations. This cross-sectional study unexpectedly found a reduced association between one sleep posture and glenohumeral pain. This cross-sectional study may be potentially confounded, by participants who are prone to glenohumeral pain and RCT may have learned to avoid sleeping in the predisposing position. Longitudinal studies are needed to further evaluate a possible association between glenohumeral pain or RCT and sleep posture as a potential risk factor.
DYNAMIC ATRIOVENTRICULAR BLOCK: A RARE COMPLICATION OF THYROID STORM

AV block as a complication of thyroid storm is extremely rare and its pathophysiology and optimal management are not established. A 28-year-old female presented with a 3-day history of fever, nausea, and vomiting. Vital signs showed temperature of 38.3 oC and heart rate of 180 BPM. Physical exam
Technological barriers and incentives to learning analytics adoption in higher education: insights from users

Learning analytics (LA) tools promise to improve student learning and retention. However, adoption and use of LA tools in higher education is often uneven. In this case study, part of a larger exploratory research project, we interviewed and observed 32 faculty and advisors at a public research university to understand the technological incentives and barriers related to LA tool adoption and use. Findings indicate that lack of a trustworthy technological infrastructure, misalignment between LA tool capabilities and user needs, and the existence of ethical concerns about the data, visualizations, and algorithms that underlie LA tools created barriers to adoption. Improving tool integration, clarity, and accuracy, soliciting the technological needs and perspectives of LA tool users, and providing data context may encourage inclusion of these tools into teaching and advising practice.
High-affinity FKBP-12 ligands derived from (R)-(−)-carvone. Synthesis and evaluation of FK506 pyranose ring replacements

Abstract The preparation and evaluation of potent small molecule inhibitors of FKBP-12 rotamase activity is described. These ligands contain many of the structural features of the FK506 pyranose ring region, yet are synthetically more accessible. The versatility of these FKBP-12 ligands is demonstrated with respect to effector domain exploration.
Impact of Fundamental Temperature Fluctuations on the Frequency Stability of Metallo- Dielectric Nanolasers

The capability of nanolasers to generate coherent light in small volume resonators has made them attractive to be implemented in future ultra-compact photonic integrated circuits. However, compared to conventional lasers, nanolasers are also known for their broader spectral linewidths, that are usually on the order of 1 nm. While it is well known that the broad linewidths in light emitters originate from various noise sources, there has been no rigorous study on evaluating the origins of the linewidth broadening for nanolasers to date to the best of our knowledge. In this manuscript, we investigate the impact of fundamental thermal fluctuations on the nanolaser linewidth. We show that such thermal fluctuations are one of the intrinsic noise sources in a sub-wavelength metal-clad nanolaser inducing significant linewidth broadening. We further show that with the reduction of the nanolaser’s dimensions, i.e., mode volume, and the increase of the ambient temperature, such linewidth broadening is enhanced, due to the effect of more pronounced fundamental thermal fluctuation. Specifically, we show that the finite linewidths induced by the thermal fluctuations at room temperature are 1.14nm and 0.16nm, for nanolasers with core radii of 250nm and 750nm, respectively. Although our study was performed on a metallo-dielectric nanolaser, it is reasonable to assume that, in general, other nanolaser architectures are also more prone to thermal fluctuations, and hence exhibit larger finite linewidths than conventional large mode volume lasers.
Clinical, Cytogenetic, and Molecular Findings in Two Cases of Variant t(8;21) Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

t(8;21)(q22;q22) is present in ~5-10% of patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is associated with a better overall prognosis. Variants of the t(8;21) have been described in the literature, however, their clinical and prognostic significance has not been well-characterized. Molecular profiling of these cases has not previously been reported but may be useful in better defining the prognosis of this subset of patients. We present two cases of variant t(8;21) AML including clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular data.
Near-Field Microwave Imaging Utilizing Tapered Rectangular Waveguides

This paper is focused on utilizing tapered rectangular waveguides for near-field microwave-imaging purposes. Conventionally, the standard rectangular waveguides have been used as imaging probes to capture images of subsurface inclusions/defects in various dielectric media. The lateral resolution provided by the standard probes is inversely proportional to the waveguide's aperture size. Consequently, seeking high-resolution images dictates the operation in higher microwave frequency bands. For many applications, however, the probe's sensitivity is not optimum in these frequency bands, and hence, there is a tradeoff between sensitivity and resolution. In this paper, the authors propose the employment of tapered waveguides in the near-field imaging systems as an effort to attain higher resolution while maintaining an acceptable sensitivity. It will be shown that tapering the rectangular waveguide significantly enhances the spatial resolution of the obtained images as opposed to the standard waveguides operating at the same frequency
Use of molecular-level dissipated energy of asphalt binders to predict moisture effects on pavements

Moisture-induced damage in asphalt concrete is a major concern to the transportation agencies. Existing moisture sensitivity tests are mostly conducted at the macro- or micro-level and focused on t...
Arrows on the Page Are Not a Good Gauge: Evidence for the Importance of Causal Mechanistic Explanations about Nucleophilic Substitution in Organic Chemistry

This three-year study builds on prior work analyzing students’ causal mechanistic explanations about acid–base reactions. Here we extend that work to characterize and investigate how students construct causal mechanistic explanations of simple nucleophilic substitution reactions. After an initial pilot study, we adopted a modified version of the original task prompt which was used in two subsequent years to compare responses from students enrolled in a transformed organic chemistry course (Organic Chemistry, Life, the Universe and Everything) and a traditional organic chemistry course. Student responses were sampled in the middle of the first semester organic chemistry, just after they had learned the material, and once again at the end of the course, to identify how responses changed over time. Our findings from this study include (1) eliciting causal mechanistic explanations requires careful scaffolding to activate productive elements of a response, and (2) students from a transformed course are more likely to construct a causal mechanistic explanation at the end of Organic Chemistry 2 than students from the control group, suggesting that if students are to retain the use of valuable knowledge, this must be supported by instruction and course expectations.
Physical characteristics and simulated transport of pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon eggs

The imperiled pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) and closely related, but more common, shovelnose sturgeon (S. platorynchus) are believed to broadcast adhesive, demersal eggs in the current and...
Evidence-Based Social Work Practice: The Conundrum.

It has been 50 years since my graduation with a Ph.D. in Social Work awarded by the School of Social Work at Washington University. During that program so many years ago we discussed the need for a...
Considerations in Pediatric Facial Trauma Populations

Pediatric trauma is unique from adult facial trauma in that it requires an a fundamental understanding of the growing patient. This chapter reviews the various epidemiology, etiology, and treatments that are specific to pediatric facial trauma populations. It also provides further insight into some physiological differences between the pediatric and adult trauma populations.
Baseball Commissioner Has Several Ways to Punish Cards

During his tenure as the Cardinals’ baseball development director, Christopher Correa hacked into the Houston Astros’ database on several occasions between March 2013 and June 2014. Correa stole Houston’s intellectual property in the form of player evaluations, trade discussions with other teams and scouting reports.
Heterogeneous Effects of Bank Consolidations in Local Markets: Evidence from Branch Level Data

This paper investigates the efficiency and competition effects of bank mergers and acquisitions on deposits growth and mortgage loan lending, using a sample of bank M&As between 1997 and 2014. I exploit the within-bank cross-branch variation in whether there is a merging opponent branch nearby, as a variation in changes in lo- cal competition condition at branch level. I find that deposits growth increases for all branches involved in M&As on average, but branches with merging counterpart branches nearby actually see drop in deposits growth. Regions affected by M&As on average experience increase in mortgage loan denial rates, with especially large increase among the regions with opponent branches located closely. Subsample analyses reveal the increase in denial rates generally comes from low-income applicant, especially for M&As with government assistance, suggesting an additional social cost the government should consider in assessing assisted bank mergers.
Neural networks and emergent adaptive signal processing

The relationships between neural networks and adaptive signal processing are made evident by treating the connection weights in neural networks as integrators. The integrators are often preceded and followed by multipliers, leading to a multiplier-integrator-multiplier structure for the weights. Neural networks calculate correlations in the input data and develop correlative codes, as opposed to analog-to-digital conversions. Hebbian learning adjusts weight values to minimize the expected variance of the neuron outputs. The correlation processing of neural networks may lead to the development of alternate methods for adaptive signal processing. >
The microbiological environment of a rooming-in maternity

Abstract A review of the literature and an analysis of the changing conditions which have identified coagulase-positive hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus as the primary endemic and epidemic menace in hospital environments has been presented. A detailed description has been provided of the six different physical environments in which newborn infants reside in the patient-care areas of the newly constructed (1959) Rooming-In Maternity of the Evanston Hospital. A comprehensive, 2 year analysis of the microbiological environments of these six infant care areas and of the related nurseries is detailed in which a total of 2,222 bacteriological samples, both human and environmental, were processed.
Non-Locality, Complementarity and Cosmology

There are a number of observational and theoretical reasons in support of a view that non-locality may be a fundamental property of the universe. The term non-locality usually refers to spatial correlations found in laboratory experiments testing quantum correlations. Here, the term non-locality is used to denote spatial non-locality but is not limited to it. We discuss quantum experiments that reveal spatial and temporal non-localities. Extending the idea of correlations beyond these quantum effects, Universal Diagrams involving different physical quantities in multi-dimensional space indicate remarkable self-similarity or structure over all scales. Eddington’s and Dirac’s observation of certain numerical coincidences involving physical constants as well as various cosmological correlations are discussed. We will explore some consequences which indicate a linkage between microphysics and the universe at all scales, amply demonstrated by the appearance of the Universal Diagrams. The inherent limitations of cosmological observations and the apparent linkage of objects at different scales of the universe may be indicating that quantum-like effects are pervasive. As such, complementarity may be a foundational principle which applies at all scales from the quantum to the cosmological realms. The thesis is made here that non-locality and complementarity are fundamental constructs of the universe and our way of understanding it.
Host-specificity of AM fungal population growth rates can generate feedback on plant growth

While the mutualistic interaction between plants and AM fungi is of obvious importance to ecosystem processes, the factors influencing the ecological and evolutionary dynamics within this interaction are poorly understood. The mutual interdependence of plant and AM fungal relative growth rates could generate complex dynamics in which the composition of the AM fungal community changes due to association with host and this change in fungal composition then differentially feeds back on plant growth. I first review evidence for feedback dynamics and then present an approach to evaluating such complex dynamics. I specifically present evidence of host-specific differences in the population growth rates of AM fungi. Pure cultures of AM fungi were mixed to produce the initial fungal community. This community was then distributed into replicate pots and grown with one of four cooccurring plant species. Distinct compositions of AM fungal spores were produced on different host species. The AM fungal communities were then inoculated back onto their own host species and grown for a second growing season. The differentiation observed in the first generation was enhanced during this second generation, verifying that the measure of spore composition reflects host-specific differences in AM fungal population growth rates. In further work on this system, I have found evidence of negative feedback through two pairs of plant species. The dynamic within the AM fungal community can thereby contribute to the coexistence of plant species.
Energy and Environmental Impacts of Electric Vehicle Battery Production and Recycling

Electric vehicle batteries use energy and generate environmental residuals when they are produced and recycled. This study estimates, for 4 selected battery types (advanced lead-acid, sodium-sulfur, nickel-cadmium, and nickel-metal hydride), the impacts of production and recycling of the materials used in electric vehicle batteries. These impacts are compared, with special attention to the locations of the emissions. It is found that the choice among batteries for electric vehicles involves tradeoffs among impacts. For example, although the nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries are similar, energy requirements for production of the cadmium electrodes may be higher than those for the metal hydride electrodes, but the latter may be more difficult to recycle.
1,2,4-Triazolines

Publisher Summary The formation of a 1,2, 4-triazoline heterocycle was first observed by Pinner, in the course of his classic work on the synthesis of amidrazones by the reaction of an imidate with hydrazine; 15 years later, an example was synthesized by Busch and Ruppenthal by the cyclocondensation of an amidrazone with an aldehyde. Since then, the birth of the concept of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions along with the discovery of several new classes of 1,3-dipoles from the laboratories of Huisgen and associates has contributed greatly to the development of 1,2,4-triazoline chemistry. This chapter surveys the synthesis, physical properties, and chemical reactions of 1,2,4-triazolines and covers the literature through 1986 to the middle of 1987. Triazolines bearing ring-linked functions that are potentially aromatic, such as 4, =S, =N-R, and =CRR are not considered.
Cardiometabolic risk in psoriasis: differential effects of biologic agents

Psoriasis is associated to an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) complications. Overall, the pathogenic mechanisms involved in premature CV complications in psoriasis appear to be complex and multifactorial, with traditional and nontraditional risk factors possibly contributing to the increased risk. Based on what is known about the pathogenesis of psoriasis and extrapolating the current knowledge on CV complications in other inflammatory diseases, studies are needed to investigate if appropriate control of the inflammatory, immunologic and metabolic disturbances present in psoriasis can prevent the development of this potentially lethal complication. It is clear that there is a great need for heightened awareness of the increased risk for vascular damage in patients with psoriasis. It is also crucial to closely monitor patients with psoriasis for CV risk factors including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Whether treatment regimens that effectively manage systemic inflammation will lead to prevention of CV complications in psoriasis needs to be investigated. Clearly, studies should focus on establishing the exact mechanisms that determine CV risk in psoriasis so that appropriate preventive strategies and treatment guidelines can be established.
Worldwide disparities in cardiovascular disease: Challenges and solutions

The 20th century saw cardiovascular disease ascend as the leading cause of death in the world. In response to the new challenge that heart disease imposed, the cardiovascular community responded with ground breaking innovations in the form of evidence based medications that have improved survival, imaging modalities that allow for precise diagnosis and guide treatment; revascularization strategies that have not only reduced morbidity, but also improved survival following an acute myocardial infarction. However the benefits have not been distributed equitably and as a result disparities have arisen in cardiovascular care. There is tremendous data from the United States demonstrating the many phenotypical forms of disparities. This paper takes a global view of disparities and highlights that disparate care is not limited to the United States and it is another challenge that the medical community should rise and face head on.
Outlier Detection in Categorical, Text and Mixed Attribute Data

The discussion in the previous chapters has primarily focused on numerical data. However, the setting of numerical data represents a gross oversimplification because categorical attributes are ubiquitous in real-world data. For example, although demographic data may contain quantitative attributes such as the age, most other attributes such as gender, race, and ZIP code are categorical. Data collected from surveys may often contain responses to multiple-choice questions that are categorical. Similarly, many types of data such as the names of people and entities, IP-addresses, and URLs are inherently categorical. In many cases, categorical and numeric attributes are found in the same data set. Such mixed-attribute data are often challenging to machine-learning applications because of the difficulties in treating the various types of attributes in a homogeneous and consistent way.
Galactose-Deficient Endotoxin from Urinary Escherichia coli

Analysis of 111 rough strains of Escherichia coli from known urinary infections revealed for the first time that galactose-deficient rough mutants are not exclusively a laboratory phenomenon. They exist naturally with or without an epimerase deficiency and represent natural examples of the key role of galactose in the attachment of "O" side chains to the core of bacterial lipopolysaccharides.
Dopamine agonists increase pallidal unit activity: Attenuation by agonist pretreatment and anesthesia

Abstract Intravenous administration of a single bolus dose of 1 μ mol/kg of the dopamine agonists, pergolide and lisuride, caused marked increases in the unit activity of globus pallidus neurons in awake, paralyzed, locally anesthesized and artificially respired rats. These agonist effects were similar to those observed after administration of 1 μ mol/kg apomorphine to awake, paralyzed rats; in rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate, however, responses to apomorphine were markedly attenuated. Subsequent administration of haloperidol reversed the effects of pergolide and pretreatment with haloperidol blocked the effects of lisuride. LSD (1 μ mol/kg i.v.) did not effectively stimulate pallidal neuronal activity, suggesting that the ability to stimulate pallidal firing rates correlates better with dopamine, as opposed to serotonin, agonist potency. The ability of a non-excitatory dose of apomorphine to attenuate responses of pallidal neurons to a normally excitatory 1 μ mol/kg dose of this agonist administered subsequently, was reconfirmed. Pretreatment with this ‘priming’ dose of apomorphine also attenuated the rate increases produced by d-amphetamine (8.7 μ mol/kg) and enhanced the rate inhibitory effects of haloperidol. The ‘priming’ effect appears related to the dopamimetic effects of apomorphine; a non-excitatory dose of a second dopamine agonist, lisuride (0.07 μ mol/kg i.v.), similarly blocked the effect of excitatory doses of lisuride (1 μ mol/kg i.v.) on pallidal activity
Determination of a general economic location constant by monte carlo simulation

Abstract The problem of estimating the number of markets (or plants) to serve a set of sources in a given geographical area was considered. Markets were located so as to minimize total assembly cost which was considered a linear function of the weighted Euclidean distances between sources and markets. The following predictive function Cm was proposed for estimating the minimum total assembly cost for a given number of markets: C m = C 1 −( m−1 m ) k ( M M − 1 ) k (C 1 − C M ),m = 1, 2, 3, …, M where m = number of markets being located. M = maximum number of potential market sites. C1 = minimum assembly cost when only one market is located. CM = minimum assembly cost when all M markets are located. k = an undetermined constant which specifies the shape of the function. The validity of the Cm function and the range of the k constant were determined by computer Monte Carlo experimentation. The constant k, to a sufficient degree of approximation and ordinary use, was found independent of the number of sources and their distribution. A general economic location co
Motor impairment following blockade of the infraorbital nerve: implications for the use of anesthetization techniques in speech research.

Infraorbital nerve blocks were performed bilaterally in three subjects as a partial test of the hypothesis that some portion of the motor innervation to die facial muscles is provided in the trigem...
Production of barrier films by chaotic mixing of plastics

Recent studies have demonstrated that highly multilayered blend morphologies can be formed by chaotic mixing and captured within extrusions of various forms. The number and thickness of internal layers prior to layer breakup and the extent of breakup are controllable via specification of process variables. A variety of derivative morphologies can thereby be obtained. Although methods can be applicable to other blends, the relation of oxygen permeability to various morphologies was specifically investigated in this study for extruded films without drawing consisting of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, low density polyethylene and maleic anhydride modified polyethylene as a compatibilizing agent. Optimal barrier properties were obtained in a novel single phase continuous and mechanically interlocked morphology that was an outcome of stretching and folding characterizing chaotic mixing. Barrier properties were similar to those obtainable in co-extruded films because of the presence of abundant platelets across the film thickness and crystallinity increases caused by barrier phase refinement.
Localization and longevity of seminal-fluid esterase 6 in mated female Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract Esterase 6 is a non-specific carboxylesterase (EC 3.1.1.1) and is a component of the seminal fluid of Drosophila melanogaster. Previous studies showed the presence of this enzyme in seminal fluid is associated with a variety of effects on female reproductive behaviour and physiology. In the present experiments, male-derived esterase 6 was initially transferred into the female's reproductive tract but was translocated within minutes of the beginning of mating into the haemolymph. Seminal-fluid esterase 6 was detected by Western blot analyses in mated-female haemolymph for as long as 4 days after mating. These results show that the enzyme remains in females for a period long enough to account for many of its behavioural and physiological effects.
Teaching Utilization of a Multitasking Operating System: A Case Study

Engineers are taught to use a variety of tools in system design. This paper describes a project used successfully to teach one software tool, a real-time, multitasking operating system. The project involved the simulation of a simple traffic light controller and associated traffic. Pieces of the simulation are implemented as independent tasks runining under the operating system. Small groups of students (2-3) worked nearly independently to write their respective parts, with the whole simulation being integrated only at final load time. The traffic light provided a familiar example with which to work, and student interest and enthusiasm were high for the duration of the project. Several aspects of the educational results of this case are presented.
Recollections from the Kunkel laboratory, 1956-1958.

The Kunkel laboratory provided a unique environment for dedicated young scientists to learn the art of clinical investigation.
Ultrastructural localization of peroxidase activity in normal human bone marrow cells.

The ultrastructural localization of peroxidase activity has been studied in the cells of normal human bone marrow using the diaminobenzidine peroxidase technique. Peroxidase activity has been localized within the primary (azurophil) granules of the neutrophilic series as well as in the cytoplasmic granules of eosinophils, basophils and monocytes. Peroxidase activity appears within the cisternal system (nuclear envelope, Golgi complex and rough endoplasmic reticulum) of these cells during the period of peroxidase-containing lysosome production. With the cessation of granulogenesis, peroxidase activity disappears from the cisternal system and does not reappear in subsequent developmental stages. In cells incubated in peroxide-free media, staining of granular components, but not of cisternae, is reduced. The inclusion of catalase in peroxide-free media eliminates all staining. This indicates that an endogenous peroxide is present within the cisternae and granules of these cell types.