cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incorporating MM Quadruple Bonds Into Conjugated Organic Oligomers: Syntheses and Optoelectronic Properties

Metal–metal (MM) quadruply bonded units supported by four carboxylate ligands MM(O2CR)4, where MM = Mo2, MoW, or W2 react with dicarboxylic acids or monocarboxylic acids to generate compounds of the form [(RCO2)3MM]2 (O2C–X–CO2) (I), and trans-MM(O2CR)2 (O2C–X)2 (II), where X is a π-conjugated group, under appropriate conditions. (I) and (II) provide model compounds for extended-chain polymers/oligomers of formula [(RCO2)2MM(O2C–X–CO2)] (III). Oxidation of (I) and reduction of (II) lead to mixed valence (MV) metal- and organic-centered ions, respectively, which have been characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance and UV–Vis–near infrared spectroscopy. Photochemical excitation of compounds (I) and (II) leads to metal–ligand charge transfer states. Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy has been employed to determine the charge distribution and dynamics in the S1 and T1 states.
The Quantified Self Movement and Hospital Librarians

The Quantified Self Movement founded by Kevin Kelly and Gary Wolf of Wired Magazine is gaining momentum with far reaching possibilities. The Quantified Self (QS) is about creating a digital reposit...
Ethical receptive capacity and teaching business ethics

In this study, we proposed the ethical receptive capacity (ERC) perspective on teaching business ethics. The ERC perspective was developed on two premises: the separation of personal moral values and professional ethics, and the path dependent nature of professional ethics, such that individuals in the early stage of their profession have higher ERC (i.e., individuals’ capacity to receive ethical contents) and thus are more receptive to new ethical contents prescribed to them. The experimental results in this study supported the ERC perspective, suggesting that business ethics education should be introduced to students as early as possible in their business programme.
New d4 dihydrides of Ru(IV) and Os(IV) with π-donor ligands: M(H)2(chelate)(PiPr3)2 with chelate =ortho-XYC6H4 with X, Y = O, NR; R = H or CH3

The synthesis and characterization of Ru(H)2(ortho-OC6H4E)L2 (L = PiPr3, E = NH, O) show these to be dihydrides with a nonoctahedral structure. The former compound reacts with H2 to give Ru(H)3(OC6H4NH2)L2, which has the ability to hydrogenate tBuHCCH2. Osmium analogs are available from Os(H)3ClL2, and the mono-N-methyl example Os(H)2[N(Me)C6H4NH]L2 shows inequivalent hydrides by 1H NMR at 20 °C. It exchanges with D2 faster into the NH site than into the OsH sites. Triflic acid protonates Os(H)2[N(Me)C6H4NH]L2 at the metal to give a trihydride. Catechol protonates Os(H)2[N(Me)C6H4NH]L2 to displace the ortho-diamine to give Os(H)2(OC6H4O)L2. The collective evidence is consistent with a dianionic, not a quinoid oxidation state for the chelate ligands and a d4, six-coordinate potential energy surface, often with low barriers between alternative non-octahedral structures.
Matrilineal transmission of birth weight in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) across several generations.

Abstract Objective: To investigate how secular trends in maternal weight characteristics, in response to living in a permissive laboratory environment, influence intergenerational trends in birth weight in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) and to assess the role of female offspring in perpetuating these matrilineal traits. Methods: A multigenerational data set was used to evaluate the relationship between familial and contemporaneous pregnancy factors and infant birth weight across several generations. These records provided 25 years of information on the maternal and paternal ancestries and reproductive histories, gestation lengths, and birth weights for 1321 infants. Results: Pregnancy weight gain, gestation length, and maternal familial factors were the most important predictors of infant birth weight, followed by infant sex, paternity, and maternal pregravid weight (P Conclusion: With the delivery of ample nutrition and health care in a laboratory setting, there was a dramatic increase in the birth weight of daughters within certain matrilines, providing evidence that an intrauterine mechanism transmitted through female progeny can regulate fetal development. Further, the upward trend in female birth weight had a beneficial influence on the reproductive performance of female descendants in those lineages.
Patterns of racial steering in four metropolitan areas

Discrimination against minority homeseekers can take many forms. One important form of housing market discrimination is steering, in which minority homebuyers are shown houses, but in systematically different neighborhoods than those shown or recommended to comparable white homebuyers. Steering is often difficult for individual homeseekers to detect, since minorities are shown houses that meet their specifications and have few opportunities to find out about the houses they are not shown. But if minorities are systematically steered away from predominantly white neighborhoods-and vice versa-this form of discrimination clearly limits housing and neighborhood choice and may play a role in perpetuating patterns of residential segregation. This paper describes and analyzes patterns of racial steering, using data from the Housing Discrimination Study (HDS), a nationwide fair housing audit study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).’ We focus on similarities and differences among four major metropolitan areas-Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta-where sufficient audits were conducted to permit site-specific analysis. Statistical procedures are used to compare the characteristics of neighborhoods where houses were shown or recommended to black and white auditors and to test the hypothesis that black homebuyers are “steered” away from predominantly white neighborhoods, and offered housing opportunities in integrated or black neighborhoods instead. In addition, spatial patterns are illustrated in greater depth using maps for the metropolitan areas of Chicago and Atlanta, and spatial analytic tech-
Reflections on feedback: Closing the loop

Lately, I have been reflecting a lot about feedback in medical education. One might think this is old hat with no new avenues for exploration, but that would be far from the truth. The feedback lit...
Generating and updating multiplicatively weighted Voronoi diagrams for point, line and polygon features in GIS

A Voronoi diagram is an interdisciplinary concept that has been applied to many fields. In geographic information systems (GIS), existing capabilities for generating Voronoi diagrams normally focus on ordinary (not weighted) point (not linear or area) features. For better integration of Voronoi diagram models and GIS, a raster-based approach is developed, and implemented seamlessly as an ArcGIS extension using ArcObjects. In this paper, the methodology and implementation of the extension are described, and examples are provided for ordinary or weighted point, line, and polygon features. Advantages and limitations of the extensions are also discussed. The extension has the following features: (1) it works for point, line, and polygon vector features; (2) it can generate both ordinary and multiplicatively weighted Voronoi diagrams in vector format; (3) it can assign non-spatial attributes of input features to Voronoi cells through spatial joining; and (4) it can produce an ordinary or a weighted Euclidean distance raster dataset for spatial modeling applications. The results can be conveniently combined with other GIS datasets to support both vector-based spatial analysis and raster-based spatial modeling.
Benthic–pelagic coupling in sediment-associated populations of Karenia brevis

Nutrient delivery to populations of Karenia brevis in oligotrophic water columns in the Gulf of Mexico remains uncertain. Aggregations of K. brevis near the sediment-water interface suggest that cells derive nutrients from the sediment. Video of cells near the sediment suggest that cells either access nutrients that flux out of the sediment or migrate into the sediment pores where higher nutrient concentrations exist. Experiments tested K. brevis' ability to migrate into the sediment using chambers divided by a 100 μm mesh overlain with a thin layer of sediment. Since the diel vertical migration of K. brevis typically displays a nocturnal descent, experiments tested migration response at night in response to sub-sediment nutrient sources. The experiments suggest that while the sediment affects the progress of descending cells, migration occurs through thin layers of sediment and increases in response to elevated nutrient concentrations below the sediment. Since all cells found below the sediment had significantly higher C/N ratios than those remaining above the sediment, migration appears related to a cell's internal biochemical state. The vertical migration behavior of K. brevis may help alleviate bottom-up controls and permit populations to persist as vegetative cells near the sediment-water interface.
Response to Comment on “Rapid Cancer Detection by Topically Spraying a γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase–Activated Fluorescent Probe”

It takes considerable time and effort to create a successful imaging agent for clinical translation. In general, there are two approaches to developing new agents—bottom-up and top-down—which we compare here.
Pure Component Analysis of Chain Length Distributions from Solid-State Polymerization of Formaldehyde

Infrared spectra of oligomers formed during solid-state polymerization of formaldehyde at 77 K and subsequent warm-up to 150 K have been analyzed with the use of Simple Interactive Self-Modeling Multivariate Analysis (SIMPLISMA). Two pure spectral components, corresponding roughly to
Influence of hedgerow and grassy field borders on ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) activity in fields of corn

Agricultural landscapes may be manipulated in ways that benefit predatory invertebrates by providing alternate food sources, overwintering sites, and refuge from farming activities. Ecological theory predicts that complex plant communities should support a richer community of natural enemies of pest insects than a simple plant community. A study was conducted in Iowa, USA to investigate the influence of the vegetative diversity of field boarders on the activity, species richness, and community similarities of predatory beetles occurring in corn fields. Ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) populations were compared among corn fields bounded by either complex hedges or simple grass edges. Directional pitfall traps were used to investigate activity patterns of beetles between border types and their adjacent corn fields. Beetles were trapped during four seasonal periods, based on the growth stage of corn. During corn emergence (May‐June) when fields are barren, carabids were more active and species richness was higher in the corn fields bordered by woody hedges. The carabid species Scarites quadriceps, Scarites subterraneus, and Harpalus pensylvanicus, were more dominant in hedge sites as compared to grass sites at this time. Following corn‐canopy closure, carabids were now more active in fields bordered by grassy edges, but beetle activity also remained high in the fields adjacent to woody hedges. Further analysis of the carabid communities by Bray‐Curtis Similarity Index showed no difference among field edge types at any time of the season. Results indicate that both complex and simple field border habitats support abundant and diverse populations of carabids during most of the growing season. However, during the early growing season hedges appear to be more important than grass edges in supplying carabid beetles to corn fields. Woody hedges may serve as very important overwintering sites and as an early season refuge for predatory beetles in corn. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Transport of human lysosomal neuraminidase to mature lysosomes requires protective protein/cathepsin A

Human lysosomal N-acetyl-alpha-neuraminidase is deficient in two lysosomal storage disorders, sialidosis, caused by structural mutations in the neuraminidase gene, and galactosialidosis, in which a primary defect of protective protein/cathepsin A (PPCA) leads to a combined deficiency of neuraminidase and beta-D-galactosidase. These three glycoproteins can be isolated in a high molecular weight multi-enzyme complex, and the enzymatic activity of neuraminidase is contingent on its interaction with PPCA. To explain the unusual need of neuraminidase for an auxiliary protein, we examined, in transfected COS-1 cells, the effect of PPCA expression on post-translational modification, turnover and intracellular localization of neuraminidase. In pulse-chase studies, we show that the enzyme is synthesized as a 46 kDa glycoprotein, which is poorly phosphorylated, does not undergo major proteolytic processing and is secreted. Importantly, its half-life is not altered by the presence of PPCA. However, neuraminidase associates with the PPCA precursor shortly after synthesis, since the latter protein co-precipitates with neuraminidase using anti-neuraminidase antibodies. We further demonstrate by subcellular fractionation of transfected cells that neuraminidase segregates to mature lysosomes only when accompanied by wild-type PPCA, but not by transport-impaired PPCA mutants. These data suggest a novel role for PPCA in the activation of lysosomal neuraminidase, that of an intracellular transport protein.
Major element and oxygen isotope geochemistry of vapour-phase garnet from the Topopah Spring Tuff at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA

Twenty vapour-phase garnets were studied in two samples of the Topopah Spring Tuff of the Paintbrush Group from Yucca Mountain, in southern Nevada. The Miocene-age Topopah Spring Tuff is a 350 m thick, devitrified, moderately to densely welded ash-flow tuff that is zoned compositionally from high-silica rhyolite to latite. During cooling of the tuff, escaping vapour produced lithophysae (former gas cavities) lined with an assemblage of tridymite (commonly inverted to cristobalite or quartz), sanidine and locally, hematite and/or garnet. Vapour-phase topaz and economic deposits associated commonly with topaz-bearing rhyolites (characteristically enriched in F) were not found in the Topopah Spring Tuff at Yucca Mountain. Based on their occurrence only in lithophysae, the garnets are not primary igneous phenocrysts, but rather crystals that grew from a F-poor magma-derived vapour trapped during and after emplacement of the tuff. The garnets are euhedral, vitreous, reddish brown, trapezohedral, as large as 2 mm in diameter and fractured. The garnets also contain inclusions of tridymite. Electron microprobe analyses of the garnets reveal that they are almandine-spessartine (48.0 and 47.9 mol.%, respectively), have an average composition of (Fe1.46Mn1.45Mg0.03Ca0.10)(Al1.93Ti0.02)Si3.01O12 and are comparatively homogeneous in Fe and Mn concentrations from core to rim. Composited garnets from each sample site have δ18O values of 7.2 and 7.4‰. The associated quartz (after tridymite) has δ18O values of 17.4 and 17.6‰, values indicative of reaction with later, low-temperature water. Unaltered tridymite from higher in the stratigraphic section has a δ18O of 11.1‰ which, when coupled with the garnet δ18O values in a quartz-garnet fractionation equation, indicates isotopic equilibration (vapour-phase crystallization) at temperatures of ~600°C. This high-temperature mineralization, formed during cooling of the tuffs, is distinct from the later and commonly recognized low-temperature stage (generally 50–70°C) of calcite, quartz and opal secondary mineralization, formed from downward-percolating meteoric water, that locally coats fracture footwalls and lithophysal floors.
Neutrophils in host defense: new insights from zebrafish

Neutrophils are highly motile phagocytic cells that play a critical role in the immune response to infection. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are increasingly used to study neutrophil function and host-pathogen interactions. The generation of transgenic zebrafish lines with fluorescently labeled leukocytes has made it possible to visualize the neutrophil response to infection in real time by use of optically transparent zebrafish larvae. In addition, the genetic tractability of zebrafish has allowed for the generation of models of inherited neutrophil disorders. In this review, we discuss several zebrafish models of infectious disease, both in the context of immunocompetent, as well as neutrophil-deficient hosts and how these models have shed light on neutrophil behavior during infection. J. Leukoc. Biol. 98: 000–000; 2015.
Solving elliptic problems with non-Gaussian spatially-dependent random coefficients

We propose a simple and effective numerical procedure for solving elliptic problems with non-Gaussian random coefficients, assuming that samples of the non-Gaussian random inputs are available from a statistical model. Given a correlation function, the Karhunen–Loeve (K–L) expansion is employed to reduce the dimensionality of random inputs. Using the kernel density estimation technique, we obtain the marginal probability density functions (PDFs) of the random variables in the K–L expansion, based on which we define an auxiliary joint PDF. We then implement the generalized polynomial chaos (gPC) method via a collocation projection according to the auxiliary joint PDF. Based on the observation that the solution has an analytic extension in the parametric space, we ensure that the polynomial interpolation achieves point-wise convergence in the parametric space regardless of the PDF, where the energy norm is employed in the physical space. Hence, we can sample the gPC solution using the joint PDF instead of the auxiliary one to obtain the correct statistics. We also implement Monte Carlo methods to further refine the statistics using the gPC solution for variance reduction. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.
Biosynthesis of Isoprenoid Wax Ester in Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus DSM 8798: Identification and Characterization of Isoprenoid Coenzyme A Synthetase and Wax Ester Synthases

Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus DSM 8798 has been reported to synthesize isoprenoid wax ester storage compounds when grown on phytol as the sole carbon source under limiting nitrogen and/or phosphorous conditions. We hypothesized that isoprenoid wax ester synthesis involves (i) activation of an isoprenoid fatty acid by a coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase and (ii) ester bond formation between an isoprenoid alcohol and isoprenoyl-CoA catalyzed, most likely, by an isoprenoid wax ester synthase similar to an acyl wax ester synthase, wax ester synthase/diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WS/DGAT), recently described from Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1. We used the recently released rough draft genome sequence of a closely related strain, M. aquaeolei VT8, to search for WS/DGAT and acyl-CoA synthetase candidate genes. The sequence information from putative WS/DGAT and acyl-CoA synthetase genes identified in this strain was used to clone homologues from the isoprenoid wax ester synthesizing Marinobacter strain. The activities of the recombinant enzymes were characterized, and two new isoprenoid wax ester synthases capable of synthesizing isoprenoid ester and acyl/isoprenoid hybrid ester in vitro were identified along with an isoprenoid-specific CoA synthetase. One of the Marinobacter wax ester synthases displays several orders of magnitude higher activity toward acyl substrates than any previously characterized acyl-WS and may reflect adaptations to available carbon sources in their environments.
Structure of a thiol monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle at 1.1 A resolution

Structural information on nanometer-sized gold particles has been limited, due in part to the problem of preparing homogeneous material. Here we report the crystallization and x-ray structure determination of a p-mercaptobenzoic acid (p-MBA)-protected gold nanoparticle, which comprises 102 gold atoms and 44 p-MBAs. The central gold atoms are packed in a Marks decahedron, surrounded by additional layers of gold atoms in unanticipated geometries. The p-MBAs interact not only with the gold but also with one another, forming a rigid surface layer. The particles are chiral, with the two enantiomers alternating in the crystal lattice. The discrete nature of the particle may be explained by the closing of a 58-electron shell.
Rapid speciation of mycobacteria with simultaneous detection of MDR tB

Background Multidrug resistance (MDR) TB is on the rise globally and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Conventional culture based drug susceptibility testing (DST) for TB drugs is time consuming, leading to diagnostic delays contributing to higher TB morbidity and mortality and exacerbation of ongoing transmission. Moreover most of the NTM(Non tuberculous mycobacteria) that are resistant to common anti tB drugs, can be falsely labeled as MDR tB if not identified correctly. This study was aimed to identify Mycobacterium species and to determine the prevalence of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR tB) by line probe assay.
Digital Music Players Cause Interference with Interrogation Telemetry for Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators without Affecting Device Function

Background Concern exists regarding the potential electromagnetic interaction between pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and digital music players (DMPs). A preliminary study reported interference in 50% of patients whose devices were interrogated near Apple iPods. Objective Given the high prevalence of DMP use among young patients, we sought to define the nature of interference from iPods and evaluate other DMPs. Methods Four DMPs (Apple Nano, Apple Video, SanDisk Sansa and Microsoft Zune) were evaluated against pacemakers and ICDs (PM/ICD). Along with continuous monitoring, we recorded a baseline ECG strip, sensing parameters and lead impedance at baseline and for each device. Results Among 51 patients evaluated (age 6 to 60 years, median 22), there was no interference with intrinsic device function. Interference with the programmer occurred in 41% of the patients. All four DMPs caused programmer interference, including disabled communication between the PM/ICD and programmer, noise in the ECG channel, and lost marker channel indicators. Sensing parameters and lead impedances exhibited no more than baseline variability. When the DMPs were removed six inches, there were no further programmer telemetry interactions. Conclusions Contrary to a prior report, we did not identify any evidence for electromagnetic interference between a selection of DMPs and intrinsic function of PM/ICDs. The DMPs did sometimes interfere with device-programmer communication, but not in a way that compromised device function. Therefore, we recommend that DMPs not be used during device interrogation, but suggest that there is reassuring counterevidence to mitigate the current high level of concern for interactions between DMPs and implantable cardiac rhythm devices.
Excited-State-Mediated Capture of Carriers Into the Ground State and the Saturation of Optical Power in Quantum-Dot Lasers

Excited-state-mediated capture of carriers from the waveguide into the lasing ground-state in quantum dots (QDs) is studied. Such a two-step capture places a fundamental limitation on ground-state lasing-the output power saturates at high injection currents. The saturation power is controlled by the transition time between the excited- and ground-state in a QD. The longest, cut-off transition time exists, beyond which no ground-state lasing is possible
National burden of preventable adverse drug events associated with inpatient injectable medications: healthcare and medical professional liability costs.

Background Harmful medication errors, or preventable adverse drug events (ADEs), are a prominent quality and cost issue in healthcare. Injectable medications are important therapeutic agents, but they are associated with a greater potential for serious harm than oral medications. The national burden of preventable ADEs associated with inpatient injectable medications and the associated medical professional liability (MPL) costs have not been previously described in the literature. Objective To quantify the economic burden of preventable ADEs related to inpatient injectable medications in the United States. Methods Medical error data (MedMarx 2009-2011) were utilized to derive the distribution of errors by injectable medication types. Hospital data (Premier 2010-2011) identified the numbers and the types of injections per hospitalization. US payer claims (2009-2010 MarketScan Commercial and Medicare 5% Sample) were used to calculate the incremental cost of ADEs by payer and by diagnosis-related group (DRG). The incremental cost of ADEs was defined as inclusive of the time of inpatient admission and the following 4 months. Actuarial calculations, assumptions based on published literature, and DRG proportions from 17 state discharge databases were used to derive the probability of preventable ADEs per hospitalization and their annual costs. MPL costs were assessed from state- and national-level industry reports, premium rates, and from closed claims databases between 1990 and 2011. The 2010 American Hospital Association database was used for hospital-level statistics. All costs were adjusted to 2013 dollars. Results Based on this medication-level analysis of reported harmful errors and the frequency of inpatient administrations with actuarial projections, we estimate that preventable ADEs associated with injectable medications impact 1.2 million hospitalizations annually. Using a matched cohort analysis of healthcare claims as a basis for evaluating incremental costs, we estimate that inpatient preventable ADEs associated with injectable medications increase the annual US payer costs by $2.7 billion to $5.1 billion, averaging $600,000 in extra costs per hospital. Across categories of injectable drugs, insulin had the highest risk per administration for a preventable ADE, although errors in the higher-volume categories of anti-infective, narcotic/analgesic, anticoagulant/thrombolytic and anxiolytic/sedative injectable medications harmed more patients. Our analysis of liability claims estimates that MPL associated with injectable medications totals $300 million to $610 million annually, with an average cost of $72,000 per US hospital. Conclusion The incremental healthcare and MPL costs of preventable ADEs resulting from inpatient injectable medications are substantial. The data in this study strongly support the clinical and business cases of investing in efforts to prevent errors related to injectable medications.
The formation of a tree leaf

In this article, we build a mathematical model to understand the formation of a tree leaf. Our model is based on the idea that a leaf tends to maximize internal efficiency by developing an efficient transport system for transporting water and nutrients. The meaning of "the efficient transport system" may vary as the type of the tree leave varies. In this article, we will demonstrate that tree leaves have different shapes and venation patterns mainly because they have adopted different efficient transport systems. The efficient transport system of a tree leaf built here is a modified version of the optimal transport path, which was introduced by the author in [Comm. Cont. Math. 5 (2003) 251-279; Calc. Var. Partial Differ. Equ. 20 (2004) 283-299; Boundary regularity of optimal transport paths, Preprint] to study the phenomenon of ramifying structures in mass transportation. In the present paper, the cost functional on transport systems is controlled by two meaningful parameters. The first parameter describes the economy of scale which comes with transporting large quantities together, while the second parameter discourages the direction of outgoing veins at each node from differing much from the direction of the incoming vein. Under the same initial condition, efficient transport systems modeled by different parameters will provide tree leaves with different shapes and different venation patterns. Based on this model, we also provide some computer visualization of tree leaves, which resemble many known leaves including the maple and mulberry leaf. It demonstrates that optimal transportation plays a key role in the formation of tree leaves.
Nutritional Requirements of Staphylococcus aureus S-6

A synthetic medium was devised for growth of Staphylococcus aureus strain S-6. The growth yield in synthetic medium was compared to that in complex medium containing an equivalent amount of protein hydrolysate. Enterotoxin B formation in the two media was also compared. The defined medium was composed of inorganic salts, 11 amino acids (glycine, valine, leucine, threonine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, cysteine, methionine, proline, arginine, and histidine), and three vitamins (thiamine, nicotinic acid, and biotin). Biotin was a growth factor requirement of S-6 when glutamic acid but not glucose was used as a carbon source. The quantity of enterotoxin B produced in the defined medium was about one-seventh of that produced in complex medium, even though the growth yields were similar.
Random fields in the diluted Ising system Fe1−xMgxCl2

Abstract We discuss how random fields (RFs) are generated in uniaxial random antiferromagnets by applied fields and report a systematic specific heat study on the three-dimensional (3-D) system Fe 1− x Mg x Cl 2 to demonstrate their effects. The RF crossover exponent o is determined by measuring the shape of the phase boundary in the T  H plane and we obtain o =1.26 ± 0.10, in agreement with theoretical prediction. Drastic changes in the shape of the specific anomaly are observed. We argue that they are due to the temperature dependence of the random fields.
Creating the Two Slightly More Complex Benchmarks

To test the performance of a neuroevolutionary system after adding a new feature, or in general when trying to assess its abilities, it is important to have some standardized benchmarking problems. In this chapter we create two such benchmarking problems, the Pole Balancing Benchmarks (Single, Double, and With and Without dampening), and the T-Maze navigation benchmark, which is one of the problems used to assess the performance of recurrent and plasticity enabled neural network based systems.
Application of information theory and statistical learning to anomaly detection

In today's highly networked world, computer intrusions and other attacks area constant threat. The detection of such attacks, especially attacks that are new or previously unknown, is important to secure networks and computers. A major focus of current research efforts in this area is on anomaly detection. In this dissertation, we explore applications of information theory and statistical learning to anomaly detection. Specifically, we look at two difficult detection problems in network and system security, (1) detecting covert channels, and (2) determining if a user is a human or bot. We link both of these problems to entropy, a measure of randomness information content, or complexity, a concept that is central to information theory. The behavior of bots is low in entropy when tasks are rigidly repeated or high in entropy when behavior is pseudo-random. In contrast, human behavior is complex and medium in entropy. Similarly, covert channels either create regularity, resulting in low entropy, or encode extra information, resulting in high entropy. Meanwhile, legitimate traffic is characterized by complex interdependencies and moderate entropy. In addition, we utilize statistical learning algorithms, Bayesian learning, neural networks, and maximum likelihood estimation, in both modeling and detecting of covert channels and bots. Our results using entropy and statistical learning techniques are excellent. By using entropy to detect covert channels, we detected three different covert timing channels that were not detected by previous detection methods. Then, using entropy and Bayesian learning to detect chat bots, we detected 100% of chat bots with a false positive rate of only 0.05% in over 1400 hours of chat traces. Lastly, using neural networks and the idea of human observational proofs to detect game bots, we detected 99.8% of game bots with no false positives in 95 hours of traces. Our work shows that a combination of entropy measures and statistical learning algorithms is a powerful and highly effective tool for anomaly detection.
Sharps injuries among emergency department nurses in one tertiary care hospital in Ghana

Exposure to bloodborne pathogens is the most serious occupational health risk encountered within the healthcare profession worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that 3 million healthcare workers experience percutaneous injuries each year. The objectives of this study were to: (1) examine the frequency of sharps injuries, and (2) assess the adequacy, understanding, and use of post-exposure protocols within a sample of the nursing staff at a busy tertiary care emergency department in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A mixed-methods descriptive study design was used including key informant interviews to develop the survey, a structured survey of emergency department nursing staff, and document review. Overall, the emergency department staff was well informed regarding the risks of sharps injury and the immediate steps to take in the event of a sharps injury. However, few staff could list essential post-exposure follow-up steps. Over one-quarter (28.9%) of emergency nurses reported a sharps injury during a one-year period according to hospital records. The high incidence of sharps injuries indicates an urgent and pressing need for policy and educational interventions to address the infectious disease risk to this group of emergency department staff.
Reply to Michael Mann

First of all, let me repeat my profound admiration for the scale and achievement of Mann’s work as a whole. Indeed, concerning certain issues—like his differing dates for the origins of the welfare state in Europe—the sheer scale of Mann’s work allows him to say, in the words of Walt Whitman, BDo I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself. I am large, I contain multitudes^. I am entirely sympathetic to Mann’s cry that his series is long enough without including more material on India and so on. When it comes to the Bleading edge^ countries of Britain and the USA, to which he devotes most of his later volumes, there is no need to spend much time on a discussion of the role of kinship, for example (with the politically important exception of the southern states of the USA, which Mann hardly mentions). However, it is worth reiterating that this series is entitled The Sources of Social Power, that its first volume is called A History of Power from the Beginning to AD 1760, that it begins with the origins of organised human societies and a range of ancient peoples, and that Mann extends his IEMP framework far back into history. In this wider context, the omission of kinship as a highly important source of power cannot possibly be seen as valid. Concerning the modern world, Mann dismisses kinship as a mere feature of Bprimitive^ societies. He would probably do better not to say that in India, which, in the estimation of its own elites at least, represents modern democracy in Asia. There, kinship has been central to democratic politics both in terms of kinship-based vote banks at the bottom and political dynasties at the top; insofar as dynastic politics have been eclipsed at the centre (though not in the states), this has been at the hands of another sort of force that Mann ignores or downplays, a highly culturally specific form of ideological nationalism embodied in Narendra Modi’s BJP and RSS. While Mann chooses largely to omit India, in his final volume, he does naturally devote considerable attention—and admiration—to China and its tremendous resurgence in recent decades. There is a mass of evidence to show that kinship ties, although weaker than in the past, continue to permeate Chinese society—including in the Communist Party and its leadership. Indeed, one key aspect of President Xi Jinping’s struggle against corruption in Int J Polit Cult Soc (2016) 29:221–223 DOI 10.1007/s10767-015-9214-2
Variability of substance abuse. Global variability of substance abuse: is latitude a unique etiological factor?

Worldwide substance abuse consequences are a major problem challenging health planners and providers. To mediate these problems effectively, further information on the variability of substance abuse prevalence and associated causes is needed. There is some evidence suggesting that latitude may present unique etiology for substance abuse because of northerly conditions such as extreme light and dark cycles and longer periods of cold harsh environment. This hypothesis is investigated by reviewing the known literature and applying methods for evaluating latitude as a geophysical grouping characteristic on archival substance abuse data. Conclusions are based on previous findings and examples of alcohol-attributable mortality for populations from six northern areas and the United States. Language: en
The Theory of Franchising

Franchising is a business model decision. The franchise model provides leveraged growth and entrepreneurial flexibility when the firm’s cash flow is uncertain. The theory of franchising provides firm-specific and location-specific conditions that explain when and why some firms franchise and others do not. The firm-specific conditions suggest that when the cash flow appropriability is more uncertain, the firm may choose to franchise the outlets; thus, the rate of franchising will be higher. The location-specific conditions suggest that unless the demand variability is low and the demand externality high, the franchisor will choose to franchise the outlets in the region, not own them. Franchisees possess high-powered entrepreneurial incentives that provide an entrepreneurial surplus. The franchising mechanism provides entrepreneurial leverage to enhance and sustain the firm’s competitive position when the cash flow appropriability is more uncertain and the firm’s economic rent is subject to competitive dissipation.
Price Advertising by Manufacturers and Dealers: Online Appendix

This document contains supporting materials for the following article: Price Advertising by Manufacturers and Dealers by Linli Xu, Kenneth C. Wilbur, S. Siddarth, and Jorge M. Silva-Risso.The paper "Price Advertising by Manufacturers and Dealers" to which these Appendices apply is available at the following URL: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1756845
INTERACTIVE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY ON GROWTH AND ACTIVITY OF A SALT MARSH ISOLATE OF AUREOBASIDIUM PULLULANS

The effect of various combinations of temperature and salinity on growth and xylanase production by a salt marsh isolate of Aureobasidium pullulans was investigated. At 10, 15, and 25 C growth was ...
Severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH) after “therapeutic” doses of aspirin (ASA) in normal chieldren

Although gastrointestinal hemorrhage (due to gastritis) associated with the abuse of ASA-containing preparations by adults is well recognized, its importance as a cause of severe GIH in children has not been well appreciated, either in the literature or practice of pediatrics. From 1965–1970 we observed 12 children from 3 months to 14 years of age in whom severe hematemesis and/or melena followed ordinary (antipyretic) doses of ASA. Hemoglobin concentrations were decreased in all, with levels below 7 gm% in 3 patients; RBC morphology and reticulocytosis suggested acute blood loss. Studies of hemostasis (prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, platelet count, and Ivy Bleeding time) were normal. Gastrointestinal roentgenograms revealed no lesions. Laparotomy in one patient yielded negative results. A history of ASA ingestion had been recorded initially in several patients, but the possibility of an etiologic relationship between ASA and GIH was not considered until the above studies had been reported as normal. Discontinuation of ASA, observation of serial Hb levels and iron prophylaxis has sufficed in the management of this self-limited iatrogenic problem. Our experience with these cases suggests the need to re-evaluate current pharmacologic practices regarding ASA therapy in children.
The determination of Biogenic Amines in Silage

(1991). The determination of Biogenic Amines in Silage. Archiv fur Tierernaehrung: Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 97-104.
Tadeusz Orłowski: founder of nephrology and kidney transplantation in Poland.

Modern nephrology in Poland and in the world owes much to the scientific, clinical and organizational activities of Prof. Tadeusz Orlowski. He was a pioneer in many fields of kidney disease. His pathophysiological work included studies on renal dysfunction in heart and liver diseases, function of the transplanted kidney and various aspects of the uremic syndrome. He was engaged in the development of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in Warsaw. Together with surgeon Jan Nielubowicz, he initiated the transplant program in Poland and on January 26, 1966, successfully transplanted a kidney in a patient on chronic dialysis. This success was followed by establishment of the Transplantation Institute of the Warsaw Medical Academy in 1975, which facilitated the scientific and clinical growth of nephrology and transplantation in Poland. He also introduced and established scientific evidence for the use of immunosuppressive therapy for glomerular diseases. The heritage of Tadeusz Orlowski is broader than nephrology. His legacy will continue through the work of the many who learned from his example.
Intragap States Induced Visible Light Absorption of TiO 2 Nanoparticles: En Route to Solar Fuel Production

Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas that is a bi-product of industrial approaches to energy production. Forests and nonagricultural lands act as a natural sink for CO2 removal from the atmosphere; however, the amount of emitted CO2 is significantly larger than the capacity of these natural sinks. This is particularly problematic as two cornerstones of our modern world, electricity generation and transportation, hold the largest share in greenhouse gas (such as CO2) emission. This leads to malignant impacts on the natural environment and human life, such as global warming. The obvious approach to reduce the amount of generated CO2 is to limit the use of fossil fuels. However, coal-fired power plants remain the largest source of electricity generation in 2014 and an equally potent and financially reasonable source is yet to be fully developed. Hence, new systems and strategies are crucial for the remediation of CO2. In this work, we present novel TiO2 nanoparticles, synthesized via a facile solution-phase method, which show a significant visible light absorption. The synthesized nanoparticles can be applied towards photoreduction of CO2 for hydrocarbon solar fuels production. A thorough photoemission spectroscopy analysis outlined the energy structure of the materials which uncovered a sub-bandgap absorption in the visible range due to the presence of intragap states. The origins of intragap states were investigated in greater detail using various characterization techniques. An in-depth chemical composition study of the developed material using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that the synthesized material is considerably un-doped. Further structural analysis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that distances between visible lattice fringes are matched with ordered crystalline phases of TiO2. The core emission study using XPS revealed that the oxygen vacancy defects in the structure--i.e. likely due the synthesis--are responsible for intragap states formation. Charge dynamics were investigated using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. EPR spectra were dominated by signals from oxygen-centered surface hole trapping sites with principle g values [2.003, 2.010, 2.023]--i.e. Ti4+ ˗ O2 - on anatase. A faint signal was also observed as a function of visible light illumination at 5 K with principle g value of 1.975 that is suggestive of Ti3+ in rutile, a typical product of UV light exposure. In general, this study demonstrates the potential of a relatively inexpensive material for photoreduction of CO2 and generation of solar fuels.
Two-photon fluorescent sensor for K+ imaging in live cells (Conference Presentation)

It is difficult to overstate the physiological importance of potassium for life as its indispensable roles in a variety of biological processes are widely known. As a result, efficient methods for determining physiological levels of potassium are of paramount importance. Despite this, relatively few K+ fluorescence sensors have been reported, with only one being commercially available. A new two-photon excited fluorescent K+ sensor is reported. The sensor is comprised of three moieties, a highly selective K+ chelator as the K+ recognition unit, a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivative modified with phenylethynyl groups as the fluorophore, and two polyethylene glycol chains to afford water solubility. The sensor displays very high selectivity (<52-fold) in detecting K+ over other physiological metal cations. Upon binding K+, the sensor switches from non-fluorescent to highly fluorescent, emitting red to near-IR (NIR) fluorescence. The sensor exhibited a good two-photon absorption cross section, 500 GM at 940 nm. Moreover, it is not sensitive to pH in the physiological pH range. Time-dependent cell imaging studies via both one- and two-photon fluorescence microscopy demonstrate that the sensor is suitable for dynamic K+ sensing in living cells.
Definitions and Taxonomy of Keynes’s Revolution

Physical scientists, with the aid of modern technology, claim to observe phenomena beyond the recognition of the average layman. These scientists are, therefore, free to invent language (e.g. the quark) to describe the hypothetical causes of observable events. Economists, on the other hand, are destined to discuss phenomena which all but the youngest among us have observed and experienced. Thus, as soon as we are out of our infancy, we all (including the most feeble-minded among us) are ‘economists’ able to discourse on what are the causes of inflation, unemployment, deficits, with ease and expertise. After all, everyone knows what money is; all have experienced price rises; from childhood on, we are taxed on our purchases and are recipients of government services.
Enthalpy versus entropy: What drives hard-particle ordering in condensed phases?

Abstract In support of mesoscopic-scale materials processing, spontaneous hard-particle ordering has been actively pursued for over a half-century. The generally accepted view that entropy alone can drive hard particle ordering is evaluated. A thermodynamic analysis of hard particle ordering was conducted and shown to agree with existing computations and experiments. Conclusions are that (i) hard particle ordering transitions between states in equilibrium are forbidden at constant volume but are allowed at constant pressure; (ii) spontaneous ordering transitions at constant pressure are driven by enthalpy, and (iii) ordering under constant volume necessarily involves a non-equilibrium initial state which has yet to be rigorously defined.