cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of histone and diolein on the structure of phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylglycerol bilayers

The effects of the PKC substrate histone 1 and the PKC activator diolein (Ole2Gro) on the structure of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho)/phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), or PtdCho/phosphatidylglycerol (PtdGro) bilayers were studied using 2 H-NMR. The results showed that in PtdCho/PtdSer bilayers, histone preferentially increased order parameters of the acyl chains of the PtdSer, but not the PtdCho lipid component. This effect was additive with the effect of Ole 2Gro, which equally increased the ordering of the acyl chains of both PtdCho and PtdSer. The histone-induced change in the conformation of the PtdCho headgroups in PtdCho/PtdSer bilayers indicated that positively charged residues of the bound histone are located above the lipid2water interface and their location was altered by the presence of Ole 2Gro. A different picture was observed in the case of PtdCho/PtdGro bilayers; although the effect of Ole2Gro on both the PtdCho or the PtdGro components was similar to the case of the PtdCho/PtdSer bilayers, histone did not significantly affect the order parameters of PtdCho or PtdGro in either the absence or presence of Ole2Gro. The results indicate that histone 1 induces clustering of PtdSer in PtdCho bilayers which may contribute to PKC activation. Moreover, the observed differences in the interactions of histone with PtdCho/PtdSer compared with PtdCho/PtdGro bilayers may explain the higher efficiency of PtdSer in activating PKC.
In‐shoe plantar measurements during running on different surfaces: changes in temporal and kinetic parameters

Running is a very popular sport with millions of participants worldwide. As with any physical activity, injuries occur when the musculoskeletal system is overloaded. Running surfaces are often cited as a cause of injuries. The objective of this work was to determine changes in ground contact times, impulses, and shoe reaction forces while running on different surfaces. Eleven healthy adult males (22.9 ± 3.2 years, 176.9 ± 8.4 cm, 74.5 ± 8.6 kg) were recruited to run on four different surfaces: asphalt, concrete, grass, and a synthetic track. The majority of research on running surfaces has been completed in laboratory settings with force plates mounted beneath the running surfaces. Plantar pressure technology permits data collection on the actual running surfaces outside the laboratory. Therefore, data were collected at 250 Hz using a Parotec® plantar pressure measurement system. Participants ran at the same velocity on each of the surfaces. No significant differences were detected among the surfaces for shoe reaction forces, contact time, or impulse (P > 0.05). This implies that runners who choose to run on stiffer surfaces are not exposing themselves to additional risk as a result of loading but possibly because of internal compensatory mechanisms. However, these results may not apply to all runners.
High-Resolution Atmospheric Modeling of Fluorotelomer Alcohols and Perfluorocarboxylic Acids in the North American Troposphere

A high spatial and temporal resolution atmospheric model is used to evaluate the potential contribution of fluorotelomer alcohol (FTOH) and perfluorocarboxylate (PFCA) emissions associated with the manufacture, use, and disposal of DuPont fluorotelomer-based products in North America to air concentrations of FTOH, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in North America and the Canadian Arctic. A bottom-up emission inventory for PFCAs and FTOHs was developed from sales and product composition data. A detailed FTOH atmospheric degradation mechanism was developed to simulate FTOH degradation to PFCAs and model atmospheric transport of PFCAs and FTOHs. Modeled PFCA yields from FTOH degradation agree with experimental smog-chamber results supporting the degradation mechanism used. Estimated PFCA and FTOH air concentrations and PFCA deposition fluxes are compared to monitoring data and previous global modeling. Predicted FTOH air concentrations are generally in agreement with available monitoring data. Overall emissions from the global fluorotelomer industry are estimated to contribute approximately 1-2% of the PFCAs in North American rainfall, consistent with previous global emissions estimates. Emission calculations and modeling results indicate that atmospheric inputs of PFCAs in North America from fluorotelomer-based products will decline by an order of magnitude in the near future as a result of current industry commitments to reduce manufacturing emissions and lower the residual fluorotelomer alcohol raw material and trace PFCA product content.
A Dual-Channel Pulse-Counting Astronomical Spectrophotometer

A spectrophotometer constructed and used by the author simultaneously compares 15 A centered at Hα with 100 A of flanking continuum, also 15 A centered at Ca K with 100 A of flanking continuum; the readout employs pulse-counting electronics and an automatic digital printer. Wavelengths other than Hα and CaK may he easily selected. Design criteria and relevant details of construction are discussed. A special cooling pump used to refrigerate the photomultiplier tubes is described, together with a system for preventing condensation of moisture on the optics and photomultiplier. The performance of the apparatus is discussed—in particular its approach to 1% accuracy in individual Hα line-intensity readings, and its ability to work through several magnitudes of varying clouds and extinction with essentially unimpaired accuracy.
Quadruplet spectroscopy in the region of strong nuclear octupole correlations

Experimental evidence from the spectroscopy of155Gd and153Sm for the theoretically predicted quadruplet band structure, with band parity sequences (+−−+) and (−++−), is examined.
Optically detected magnetic resonance study of polaron and triplet-exciton dynamics in poly(3-hexylthiophene) and poly(3-dodecylthiophene) films and solutions.

The X-band optically detected magnetic resonance of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and poly(3-dodecylthiophene) films and solutions are described and discussed. The photoluminescence-enhancing features include (i) a strong, \ensuremath{\sim}15-G-wide, asymmetric peak at g\ensuremath{\simeq}2.003; (ii) a weak peak at g\ensuremath{\simeq}4.07; and (iii) a weak, \ensuremath{\sim}800-G-wide structure around g\ensuremath{\simeq}2. It is believed that feature (i) results from polaron recombination, and the others from the decay of two distinct intrinsic triplet polaronic excitons. The levels of all are apparently close to the band edges.
Understanding commercial truck drivers' decision-makin process concerning distracted driving

A concurrent mixed methods design was used to explore personal and workplace factors, informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior, that affect truck drivers' decision-making about distracted driving on the job. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews with experts in truck safety and distracted driving, and quantitative data were collected via online survey of truck drivers in the United States. Findings from the interviews illustrated how drivers perceived distractions and the importance of supervisors enforcing organizational distracted driving policies. Survey results found that behavioral intentions were most important in regards to texting and crash and near-crash outcomes, while perceived norms from management best described the correlation between dispatch device use and negative crash-related outcomes. By using a mixed methods design, rather than two separate studies, these findings revealed nuanced differences into the influence of supervisors on distracted driving.
Description of electrical networks using bond graphs

The bond graph language is introduced as a means of describing the topology of an electrical network composed of one-port and multi-port elements in a condensed alphanumeric notation suitable for computer interfacing. Series-parallel networks are represented in the particularly simple form of bond graph trees. Wiring operators, introduced by Penfield, can be constructed from bond graph junctions. Concepts from circuit theory can usefully be applied to nonelectrical systems which often are modeled by using multiport elements. For such systems bond graphs may provide a simpler description than conventional circuit diagrams.
The Impact of the EU Connection on Turkey's Domestic and Foreign Policy

Abstract The monumental progress made by Turkey since the late 1990s towards the establishment of solid democratic institutions and politics can be counted as the greatest success story of the European Union's enlargement policy. Arguably, the EU has been an indispensable partner—not just an accessory—towards that progress. At the same time, a consolidated EU–Turkey relationship has much broader political implications than merely the strengthening of Turkish democracy. For a number of reasons, that consolidated relationship also has a strong impact on the evolution of the overall international order.
Lower utilization of dermatologists in managed care: despite growth in managed care, visits to dermatologists did not decrease: an analysis of National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data, 1990-1992.

Growth of managed care and the decline of direct access are two of the major issues confronting dermatology. Previous study has demonstrated that patients in managed care are less likely than patients with indemnity insurance to see a dermatologist for skin problems, and it was predicted that this would result in a slowing in the demand for dermatologist services. To examine whether the changing health-care environment has resulted in fewer visits to dermatologists, we used National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data from the years 1990–1992 to examine utilization of dermatologist services over a period in which managed care grew by 32%. Patients with HMO/prepaid insurance were less likely to have their skin care provided by dermatologists than patients with commercial insurance (Blue Cross/Blue Shield and other commercial carriers) or Medicare. A reduction in the number of visits to dermatologists was observed among patients with HMO/prepaid insurance despite the growth in HMO/prepaid insurance as a form of payment; when all payers were considered, however, the number of visits to dermatologists increased from the 1989 level, reaching a plateau in 1992. The number of visits for skin disease to all physicians increased from 56.5 million to 63.5 million, whereas the proportion of this care delivered by dermatologists decreased from 39.6% to 37.9%. The overall increase in visits for skin conditions tempered the reduction in demand for dermatology services expected with the growing transition to managed care.
Induction of Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines by Borrelia burgdorferi Lipoproteins in Monocytes Is Mediated by CD14

We previously showed that heat-killed Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes and lipidated outer surface protein A (L-OspA) stimulated the in vitro production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from uninfected humans and rhesus monkeys (G. Giambartolomei et al., Infect. Immun. 66:2691–2697, 1998). Here we demonstrate that uninfected human peripheral blood monocytes, but not B or T cells, are the cells that transcribe the IL-10 cytokine gene in response to heat-killed B. burgdorferi. B. burgdorferi similarly induced an upregulation of the IL-1β and IL-6 cytokine genes in monocytes and the production of IL-10 and IL-6 in culture supernatants of the human monocytic cell line THP-1. Purified L-OspA (but not unlipidated OspA [U-OspA] or U-OspC) also stimulated the production of both cytokines in THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent fashion, suggesting that acylation of the OspA protein molecule is required for the production of both anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines in naive monocytes. A lipohexapeptide that contained the tripalmitoyl-modified cysteine motif (Pam3Cys-Hex) of B. burgdorferi lipoproteins but with an arbitrary peptide sequence had the same effect. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) MY4 and 60bca, both of which bind to CD14 and are known to block lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated cytokine production, were able to block L-OspA-mediated IL-10 and IL-6 cytokine production. In contrast, MAb 26ic, which also binds to CD14 but does not block LPS function, failed to inhibit L-OspA-mediated cytokine production. These data suggest that activation of monocytes and production of both anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by lipoproteins proceeds via the CD14 receptor. LPS binding protein was not required for OspA-induced cytokine production. Our results demonstrate that pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines induced by B. burgdorferi lipoproteins in PBMC are produced by monocytes and that lipoprotein and LPS signaling pathways share at least the initial signaling event that involves the CD14 receptor.
High power testing of the 402.5 MHz and 805 MHz RF windows for the Spallation Neutron Source accelerator

Historically, Radio Frequency (RF) windows have been a common point of failure in cavity input power couplers; therefore, reliable RF windows are critical to the success of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) project. The normal conducting part of the SNS accelerator requires six RF windows at 402.5 MHz and eight RF windows at 805 MHz. Each RF window will transmit up to 180 kW of average power and 2.5 MW peak power at 60 Hz with 1.2 millisecond pulses. The RF windows, designed and manufactured by Thales, were tested at the full average power for 4 hours to ensure no problems with the high average power and then tested to an effective forward power level of 10 MW by testing at 2.5 MW forward power into a short and varying the phase of the standing wave. The sliding short was moved from 0 to 180 degrees to ensure no arcing or breakdown problems occur in any part of the window. This paper discusses the results of the high power testing of both the 402.5 MHz and the 805 MHz RF windows. Problems encountered during testing and the solutions for these problems are discussed.
cDNA cloning, genomic structure, and chromosome mapping of the human epithelial membrane protein CL-20 gene (EMP1), a member of the PMP22 family

CL-20 is a novel gene encoding a protein that is structurally related to but distinct from the peripheral myelin protein PMP22. Like PMP22, CL-20 is likely to play important roles in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. In this study, we describe the cloning and sequencing of a cDNA encoding the human homologue of CL-20 and characterize the genomic structure of this gene. The hCL-20 gene (HGMW-approved symbol EMP1) encodes a protein of 157 amino acids that exhibits 76% identity to the rabbit CL-20 and to the rat EMP-1, which have been described recently, and 39% identity to human PMP22. CL-20 contains four hydrophobic domains, suggesting that it is an integral membrane protein. In particular the second hydrophobic domain encoded within the fourth exon is highly conserved among CL-20, EMP-1, and PMP22, suggesting a functional role for this region. CL-20 mRNA is abundant in squamous-differentiated bronchial epithelial cells; however, low levels of CL-20 mRNA can be detected in several human tissues by Northern analysis. Retinoic acid, which inhibits squamous differentiation, represses CL-20 expression in normal human bronchial epithelial cells. The genomic structure of the hCL-20 gene was analyzed using a P1 vector containing this gene. The hCL-20 gene contains five exons about 0.2, 0.12, 0.1, 0.14, and 2.2 kb and four introns about 15, 1.9, 0.1, and 0.7 kb. We have mapped the hCL-20 gene to chromosome 12p12 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.
A NEW SATELLITE-BASED METHODOLOGY FOR CONTINENTAL-SCALE DISTURBANCE DETECTION

The timing, location, and magnitude of major disturbance events are currently major uncertainties in the global carbon cycle. Accurate information on the location, spatial extent, and duration of disturbance at the continental scale is needed to evaluate the ecosystem impacts of land cover changes due to wildfire, insect epidemics, flooding, climate change, and human-triggered land use. This paper describes an algorithm developed to serve as an automated, economical, systematic disturbance detection index for global application using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)/Aqua Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Terra/MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data from 2003 to 2004. The algorithm is based on the consistent radiometric relationship between LST and EVI computed on a pixel-by-pixel basis. We used annual maximum composite LST data to detect fundamental changes in land-surface energy partitioning, while avoiding the high natural variability associated with tracking LST at daily, weekly, or seasonal time frames. Verification of potential disturbance events from our algorithm was carried out by demonstration of close association with independently confirmed, well-documented historical wildfire events throughout the study domain. We also examined the response of the disturbance index to irrigation by comparing a heavily irrigated poplar tree farm to the adjacent semiarid vegetation. Anomalous disturbance results were further examined by association with precipitation variability across areas of the study domain known for large interannual vegetation variability. The results illustrate that our algorithm is capable of detecting the location and spatial extent of wildfire with precision, is sensitive to the incremental process of recovery of disturbed landscapes, and shows strong sensitivity to irrigation. Disturbance detection in areas with high interannual variability of precipitation will benefit from a multiyear data set to better separate natural variability from true disturbance.
Efficient Nonparametric Belief Propagation with Application to Articulated Body Tracking

An efficient Nonparametric Belief Propagation (NBP) algorithm is developed in this paper. While the recently proposed nonparametric belief propagation algorithm has wide applications such as articulated tracking [22, 19], superresolution [6], stereo vision and sensor calibration [10], the hardcore of the algorithm requires repeatedly sampling from products of mixture of Gaussians, which makes the algorithm computationally very expensive. To avoid the slow sampling process, we applied mixture Gaussian density approximation by mode propagation and kernel fitting [2, 7]. The products of mixture of Gaussians are approximated accurately by just a few mode propagation and kernel fitting steps, while the sampling method (e.g. Gibbs sampler) needs many samples to achieve similar approximation results. The proposed algorithm is then applied to articulated body tracking for several scenarios. The experimental results show the robustness and the efficiency of the proposed algorithm. The proposed efficient NBP algorithm also has potentials in other applications mentioned above.
An experimental and theoretical characterization of a broadband arbitrarily-polarized rectenna array

Planar rectenna arrays for rectification of broadband electromagnetic waves of arbitrary polarization are designed and characterized. The performance of the arrays is accurately predicted using a combination of full-wave analysis for the passive part of the rectenna and harmonic balance simulations for the nonlinear rectification process. The arrays used in this paper to demonstrate the principles of operation consist of self-similar right-hand and left-hand polarized spirals which are simulated and measured over a 2.5:1 band (6-15 GHz). Two arrays with different diodes exhibit conversion efficiencies from 5 to 45% under monochromatic linearly polarized illumination with power densities from 1-1.6 mW/cm/sup 2/.
Consolidation operator for Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set

Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set (IFS) is the first major attempt to capture both membership as well as the nonmembership in a comprehensive way. The currently available operators of IFS, at the very least, cannot be used for of knowledge consolidation. In this paper the consolidation operator for IFS has been introduced.
A graphical approach to hydrogenerator governor tuning

A graphical approach to hydrogenerator governor tuning is described. A graph which is developed can be used to predict optimum proportional and integral gains based on four parameters: the time constants of the water column and of the rotor inertia, and the self-regulation constants of the turbine and of the loading grid. The pole cancellation method of design is used, and the results are posed in an easy-to-use format that does not require the solution of systems of equations. Information on stability limits and comparisons with other work are included. >
Computation of age-specific HIV Incidence estimates using the EM algorithm

The fitting of age-dependent HIV incidence models to AIDS data is a computationally intensive task, particularly when allowance is made for non-proportional dependence of the infection rate on age. This paper presents a computational alternative to a very intensive method described by Rosenberg (1994). Our approach is to use the EM algorithm on a discretized form of the model used by Rosenberg (1994). The EM approach has certain attractive features including ease of implementation and flexibility. of model specification. It also conveniently generalizes to allow smoothed estimation and less detailed forms of age-specific AIDS data.
Threshold current analysis of compressive strain (0-1.8%) in low-threshold, long-wavelength quantum well lasers

A comprehensive study of the effect of compressive strain on the threshold current performance of long-wavelength (1.5 mu m) quantum-well (QW) lasers is presented. Model predictions of threshold currents in such devices identify QW thickness as a parameter that must be considered in optimizing laser performance when Auger currents are present. Experimental comparisons between strained and unstrained devices reveal strain-induced reductions in internal transparency current density per QW from 66 to 40 A/cm/sup 2/, an increase in peak differential modal gain from 0.12 to 0.23 cm/A, and evidence for the elimination of intervalence band absorption as compressive strain increases from 0 to 1.8%. However, most of these improvements arise in the first approximately 1% of compressive strain. To fabricate low-threshold 1.5- mu m buried heterostructure (BH) devices in InP using the strained QW active regions an optimized design which shows that threshold current is at its lowest when the stripe width is approximately 0.6-0.7 mu m is derived. Results for uncoated BH lasers are reported. >
Towards robust automatic traffic scene analysis in real-time

Automatic symbolic traffic scene analysis is essential to many areas of IVHS (Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems). Traffic scene information can be used to optimize traffic flow during busy periods, identify stalled vehicles and accidents, and aid the decision-making of an autonomous vehicle controller. Improvements in technologies for machine vision-based surveillance and high-level symbolic reasoning have enabled the authors to develop a system for detailed, reliable traffic scene analysis. The machine vision component of the system employs a contour tracker and an affine motion model based on Kalman filters to extract vehicle trajectories over a sequence of traffic scene images. The symbolic reasoning component uses a dynamic belief network to make inferences about traffic events such as vehicle lane changes and stalls. In this paper, the authors discuss the key tasks of the vision and reasoning components as well as their integration into a working prototype. Preliminary results of an implementation on special purpose hardware using C-40 Digital Signal Processors show that near real-time performance can be achieved without further improvements.
The use of native cation-exchange chromatography to study aggregation and phase separation of monoclonal antibodies

This study introduces a novel analytical approach for studying aggregation and phase separation of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The approach is based on using analytical scale cation-exchange chromatography (CEX) for measuring the loss of soluble monomer in the case of individual and mixed protein solutions. Native CEX outperforms traditional size-exclusion chromatography in separating complex protein mixtures, offering an easy way to assess mAb aggregation propensity. Different IgG1 and IgG2 molecules were tested individually and in mixtures consisting of up to four protein molecules. Antibody aggregation was induced by four different stress factors: high temperature, low pH, addition of fatty acids, and rigorous agitation. The extent of aggregation was determined from the amount of monomeric protein remaining in solution after stress. Consequently, it was possible to address the role of specific mAb regions in antibody aggregation by co-incubating Fab and Fc fragments with their respective full-length molecules. Our results revealed that the relative contribution of Fab and Fc regions in mAb aggregation is strongly dependent on pH and the stress factor applied. In addition, the CEX-based approach was used to study reversible protein precipitation due to phase separation, which demonstrated its use for a broader range of protein-protein association phenomena. In all cases, the role of Fab and Fc was clearly dissected, providing important information for engineering more stable mAb-based therapeutics.
Explicit and Implicit Approach Motivation Interact to Predict Interpersonal Arrogance

Self-reports of approach motivation are unlikely to be sufficient in understanding the extent to which the individual reacts to appetitive cues in an approach-related manner. A novel implicit probe of approach tendencies was thus developed, one that assessed the extent to which positive affective (versus neutral) stimuli primed larger size estimates, as larger perceptual sizes co-occur with locomotion toward objects in the environment. In two studies (total N = 150), self-reports of approach motivation interacted with this implicit probe of approach motivation to predict individual differences in arrogance, a broad interpersonal dimension previously linked to narcissism, antisocial personality tendencies, and aggression. The results of the two studies were highly parallel in that self-reported levels of approach motivation predicted interpersonal arrogance in the particular context of high, but not low, levels of implicit approach motivation. Implications for understanding approach motivation, implicit probes of it, and problematic approach-related outcomes are discussed.
Model-Based Machine Learning

Several decades of research in the field of machine learning have resulted in a multitude of different algorithms for solving a broad range of problems. To tackle a new application, a researcher typically tries to map their problem onto one of these existing methods, often influenced by their familiarity with specific algorithms and by the availability of corresponding software implementations. In this study, we describe an alternative methodology for applying machine learning, in which a bespoke solution is formulated for each new application. The solution is expressed through a compact modelling language, and the corresponding custom machine learning code is then generated automatically. This model-based approach offers several major advantages, including the opportunity to create highly tailored models for specific scenarios, as well as rapid prototyping and comparison of a range of alternative models. Furthermore, newcomers to the field of machine learning do not have to learn about the huge range of traditional methods, but instead can focus their attention on understanding a single modelling environment. In this study, we show how probabilistic graphical models, coupled with efficient inference algorithms, provide a very flexible foundation for model-based machine learning, and we outline a large-scale commercial application of this framework involving tens of millions of users. We also describe the concept of probabilistic programming as a powerful software environment for model-based machine learning, and we discuss a specific probabilistic programming language called Infer.NET, which has been widely used in practical applications.
Modeling indirect interaction in open computational systems

Open systems are part of a paradigm shift from algorithmic to interactive computation. Multiagent systems in nature that exhibit emergent behavior and stigmergy offer inspiration for research in open systems and enabling technologies for collaboration. This contribution distinguishes two types of interaction, directly via messages, and indirectly via persistent observable state changes. Models of collaboration are incomplete if they fail to explicitly represent indirect interaction; a richer set of system behaviors is possible when computational entities interact indirectly, including via analog media, such as the real world, than when interaction is exclusively direct. Indirect interaction is therefore a precondition for certain emergent behaviors.
Alignment of Magnetic Nanorods in Solidifying Films

In this paper, the kinetics of ordering of an assembly of non-interacting nanorods suspended in a solidifying liquid film is studied theoretically. Assuming random orientation of nanorods at the initial moment of time, the time needed for nanorods to align along the direction of an external magnetic field is estimated. In the solidifying films with exponentially increasing viscosity, the viscous drag significantly resists the nanorod alignment. Therefore, some nanorods might be quenched halfway to the equilibrium orientation even before complete solidification of the film. Different regimes of ordering have been revealed and classified and the criterion for the alignment of nanorods prior to the film solidification has been introduced.
The influence of patent protection on firm innovation investment in manufacturing industries

Countries enact various mechanisms, such as patent protection, to encourage, protect, and reward firm innovation. The degree to which these mechanisms afford firms protection over their intellectual property influences the innovation strategy that firms pursue and innovation investments they make. To date, empirical evidence on the relationship between patent protections and firm innovation is lacking, despite the relationship being the subject of intense theoretical and policy debate. To further consider the influences on firm innovation, we test the influence of a country's patent rights and changes in them on firm-level investment in innovation. Data for 706 firms competing in ten manufacturing industries across 29 countries were gathered and analyzed. Even after controlling for various firm, industry, and national factors, there is a strong positive influence of patent rights and changes in patent rights on a firm's propensity to invest in innovation. In addition, we consider the sensitivity of this result to alternative measures of patent and other intellectual property protection. We also find that the influence of patent rights on firm-level innovation varies across industries for example, the impact appears greatest in the scientific instruments and industrial chemicals industries.
Cultural Conflict in American Politics: Religious Traditionalism, Postmaterialism, and U.S. Political Behavior

Recent trends indicate that American politics is becoming more "cultural" or "value-based." However, the leading account of cultural conflict in advanced industrial democracies-Ronald Inglehart's theory of Postmaterialism-has received relatively little attention from students of American politics The present paper argues that cultural orientations have come to exert a substantial influence on American political life; however the cultural divisions relevant for contemporary American politics are those between religious traditionalists and those rejecting traditional religiosity rather than divisions between Postmaterialists and Materialists Using the 1980 through 1992 National Election Studies, we test the relative influence of our measure of religious traditionalism and Inglehart's value typology on the political orientations of the American populace. The analysis shows that cultural orientations significantly influence American political behavior However, the impact of these divisions is almost always mo...
Adaptive estimation in pattern recognition by combining different procedures

We study a problem of adaptive estimation of a conditional probability function in a pattern recognition setting. In many applications, for more flexibil- ity, one may want to consider various estimation procedures targeted at different scenarios and/or under different assumptions. For example, when the feature di- mension is high, to overcome the familiar curse of dimensionality one may seek a good parsimonious model among a number of candidates such as CART, neural nets and additive models. For such a situation, one wishes to have an automated final procedure that performs as well as the best candidate. In this work, we propose a method to combine a countable collection of pro- cedures for estimating the conditional probability. We show that the combined procedure has a property that its statistical risk is bounded above by that of any of the procedure being considered plus a small penalty. Thus asymptotically, the strengths of the different estimation procedures are shared by the combined pro- cedure. A simulation study shows the potential advantage of combining models compared with model selection.
Hypertension in the 1990s: a new disease.

Background: Recent analyses of the cumulative results of the major treatment trials of mild-to-moderate hypertension have shown only a small benefit in the prevention of stroke and no benefit in the prevention of coronary heart disease. Methods: A MEDLINE search for articles published from 1966 to 1991 was made using the key words “left ventricular hypertrophy,” “hypertension,” “insulin resistance,” and “cholesterol.” The bibliographies of these articles and articles previously abstracted in The Family Practice Newsletter (InforMed) and the author’s personal files were also sources of information. Results and Conclusions: Newer pharmacologic agents for hypertension, the peripheral α-blockers, the calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, exert positive effects on left ventricular hypertrophy, serum lipids, and serum insulin and could be cardioprotective. These drugs offer the promise of being able to show cardiovascular benefits from the treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension that were not realized in the earlier clinical trials.
The Symbolic Lynching of James Meredith A Visual Analysis and Collective Counter Narrative to Racial Domination

The hanging of a noose on the University of Mississippi's statue of civil rights pioneer James Meredith in February 2014 was framed by university administrators as the act of a few deviant white students, but our analysis suggests otherwise. A historical review shows the university's long-standing resistance to meaningful change and a continuing lack of transparency following racist incidents. Visual analysis shows that the university remains saturated with monuments, place names, and other symbols of racial dominance. Narratives of marginalized people on campus, including some of the authors, reveal the corrosive effects of normalized white supremacy. The authors' analysis suggests that, instead of an aberration, the noosing aligned the statue with the prevailing symbolic environment. This study builds bridges between sociological analysis and critical race theory and demonstrates the importance of group processes in understanding and responding to racist incidents on campuses. Language: en
148 Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Screening and Decolonization of Lung Transplant Recipients (LTR) Prevents Disease and Saves Costs

Purpose: Decolonization of MRSA cardiac surgery pts may be costeffective and prevent post-operative infections, but the value in LTR is unknown. We modeled the impact of screening and decolonizing LTR at UPMC. Methods and Materials: We performed a retrospective review of LTR from 2006-2010, during which time post-LT nasal MRSA cultures were performed. In 2010, systematic decolonization of MRSA LTR was initiated with mupirocin and chlorhexidine. Outcomes within 90 d of LT were used to develop a stochastic computer simulation model to determine the economic value of screening/decolonization. Results: 464 and 131 LTR were enrolled in 2006-09 and 2010, respectively. 9.6% of LTR were MRSA on screening. 36.7% (2006-09) and 25% (2010) of colonized LTR developed SA disease, compared to 16.3% of non-colonized LTR. Colonized LTR were more likely to develop MRSA disease (33% vs. 3%; p 0.0001) and had longer stays (median: 35 vs 25 d; p 0.0003). Using UPMC colonization, disease and decolonization efficacy data, 11.5 and 7.2 cases of SA and MRSA disease, respectively, would have been averted if the strategy were in place from 2006-10. 90 LTR would need to be screened to prevent 1 case. Cost savings per case averted (2011 $) would be $127,140 (hospital) and $15,049 (3 party). Varying colonization and disease rates from 5-20% and 10-50%, and decolonization efficacy from 25-90%, sensitivity analyses indicated savings per case averted that ranged from $111,754 to $134,830 (hospital) and $10,010 to $15,987 (3 party). Colonization and disease rates had greater impact on number of cases averted than decolonization efficacy. Conclusions: Based on our experience, routine screening and decolonization for MRSA among LTR can prevent disease and save costs. Given the clinical and economic impact of a case of SA disease following LT, benefits are apparent even in models with low rates of colonization, disease and decolonization efficiency. Strategies targeting LTR may be more efficient than against broader surgical populations.
Automatic microseismic denoising and onset detection using the synchrosqueezed continuous wavelet transform

ABSTRACTTypical microseismic data recorded by surface arrays are characterized by low signal-to-noise ratios (S/Ns) and highly nonstationary noise that make it difficult to detect small events. Currently, array or crosscorrelation-based approaches are used to enhance the S/N prior to processing. We have developed an alternative approach for S/N improvement and simultaneous detection of microseismic events. The proposed method is based on the synchrosqueezed continuous wavelet transform (SS-CWT) and custom thresholding of single-channel data. The SS-CWT allows for the adaptive filtering of time- and frequency-varying noise as well as offering an improvement in resolution over the conventional wavelet transform. Simultaneously, the algorithm incorporates a detection procedure that uses the thresholded wavelet coefficients and detects an arrival as a local maxima in a characteristic function. The algorithm was tested using a synthetic signal and field microseismic data, and our results have been compared wit...
Examining the Aging Semantic Differential: Suggestions for Refinement.

One of the most widely used instruments for the assessment of attitudes toward the elderly is the Aging Semantic Differential, first developed by Rosencrantz and McNevin in 1969. Although widely used, problems concerning the instrument have been found. This article reviews the research using the Aging Semantic Differential and the validity of the instrument itself. Directions for refinement are presented and discussed.
Processing and properties of diamond films for applications in novel electronic devices

Polycrystalline diamond films have unique properties for applications in advanced electronic devices. Undoped and doped polycrystalline diamond films are deposited on p type Si (100) and n type SiC (6H) substrates at the low surface deposition temperatures of 370deg - 530degC using a microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPECVD) system in which the surface temperatures during deposition is monitored and controlled. The structure and microstructure of these films are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, and related to measured thermal and electrical properties. The room temperature in-plane thermal conductivity of the low surface temperature deposited thin films and electrical properties of the undoped and B- and N-doped films are measured over a temperature range of 25- 550degC.
Montana’s New State-Wide Bighorn Sheep Research Initiative

Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) conservation and management in Montana has been, and continues to be, a challenge. The majority of Montana’s bighorn sheep populations are patchily distributed across the state and are relatively small, with many populations static or periodically experiencing dramatic declines despite the fact that adequate habitat seems to be abundant. Wildlife managers and biologists are routinely making decisions on bighorn sheep population augmentation and restoration, harvest, habitat management, disease prevention and response, and other conservation actions without adequate knowledge of the drivers of demographic processes that inform management of many of Montana’s more successfully restored ungulate species. Field studies of bighorn sheep in Montana have been limited primarily to short-term, master’s thesis projects focused on a specific herd. A 6-yr research program has been designed and funded on the premise that research insights that are broadly applicable for management and conservation are best obtained by addressing the same questions in multiple populations representing differing demographic characteristics, ecological settings, and management histories that capture the range of variation realized by the species of interest. The research program will involve field studies of seven bighorn sheep herds in Montana, with data on each herd collected over a 5-yr period. Herds were selected to capture a wide range of variability in disease outbreak history, habitat types, and herd attributes in an effort to maximize our ability to partition and quantify the potential relative effects of these factors on lamb and adult survival, recruitment, and population dynamics.
Integrin α8 and Pcdh15 act as a complex to regulate cilia biogenesis in sensory cells.

ABSTRACT The way an organism perceives its surroundings depends on sensory systems and the highly specialized cilia present in the neurosensory cells. Here, we describe the existence of an integrin α8 (Itga8) and protocadherin-15a (Pcdh15a) ciliary complex in neuromast hair cells in a zebrafish model. Depletion of the complex via downregulation or loss-of-function mutation leads to a dysregulation of cilia biogenesis and endocytosis. At the molecular level, removal of the complex blocks the access of Rab8a into the cilia as well as normal recruitment of ciliary cargo by centriolar satellites. These defects can be reversed by the introduction of a constitutively active form of Rhoa, suggesting that Itga8–Pcdh15a complex mediates its effect through the activation of this small GTPase and probably by the regulation of actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Our data points to a novel mechanism involved in the regulation of sensory cilia development, with the corresponding implications for normal sensory function.
A Policy Roadmap for Improved Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Monitoring

Just over two decades since the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) opened for signature, a total of 183 states have signed and 166 have ratified the accord. However, the treaty cannot enter into force until all 44 “nuclear-capable” states listed in its Annex 2 deposit their instruments of ratification. Eight of these states have not ratified the test ban. In light of this situation, it is nearly second nature for academic and policy discussions of the CTBT to overwhelmingly focus on the political roadblocks obstructing its entry into force. By contrast, this paper contends that the politics of treaty ratification are not the only dimension to the test ban discussion. Instead, it highlights a series of overlooked or understudied aspects of nuclear explosion monitoring. States can undertake a number of scientific and technical initiatives to strengthen CTBT monitoring, even in the absence of entry into force. In turn, by engaging in these types of projects, states do not merely create a more difficult climate for evasive nuclear testing; they may also bolster long-term prospects for the treaty’s ratification. This roadmap lays out a number of complementary efforts that policymakers may pursue toward this end.
Exploitation of bio signal data to understand human state

Around 2010, brain machine interface (or brain computer interface), which can control a machine (a computer) by human thought, was one of hot topics in computer science area. The basic technical components of brain machine interface are sensing bio signal, i.e. brain activity, analyzing bio signal data and controlling a machine based on the analyzed data. Many institutes and companies joined competitions to show the results of brain machine interface and its applications. However, a few products were released based on these competitions. The main reasons are insufficient performance against product level and no proper applications. After these competitions, the progress of exploitation of bio signal data was little bit saturated. Recently, exploitation of bio signal data to estimate human state is becoming a hot topic again because of technological aspect and social needs. The performance of machine learning including deep learning proposed by Hinton is dramatically improving and the progress of computer resources, ex. GPGPU, allows us to treat huge data and carry out huge calculation. After showing the surprising performance of deep learning in the field of computer vision, the exploitation of bio signal data is revisited from machine learning point of view. Furthermore, since possibility of autonomous driving and advanced driver assistant system based on AI technology is becoming more realistic, estimation of human state, i.e. a driver, is starting to gather our attention because except for L4/L5 autonomous driving, transfer of responsibility for control of car from a car to a driver or vise versa, so called 'takeover' or 'handover', should be considered. In order to transfer the right properly, we have to consider several strategies according to a human (human) state, ex. normal transfer, warning, or emergency stop without transfer. In my presentation, the history of exploitation of bio signal data including brain machine interface will be explained and several hot topics around bio signal exploitation, ex. combination of AI and brain machine interface, will be shown. Finally, we would like to discuss the future topics around bio signal exploitation.
Results of ifosfamide-Etoposide combinations for patients with recurrent or refractory aggressive lymphoma

The prognosis of patients with recurrent or refractory lymphoma is known to be extremely poor. This is particularly true with the aggressive types of lymphoma which correspond to the intermediate and high grade cell types of the International Working Classification [1]. From 1977–1983, we treated 187 patients with recurrent or refractory aggressive lymphoma. The main goal of this study is to assess their response to salvage chemotherapy and their long-term outcome. A secondary goal is to compare the three different treatment programs used during this six-year period, all of which were based on ifosfamide and etoposide (VP-16).