cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dare to play with fire? Managerial ability and the use of short-term debt

Abstract This study documents a positive relation between managerial ability and the use of short-term debt. This finding is robust to various specifications, including a difference-in-difference approach based on CEO turnovers. Able managers' preferences for short-term debt are amplified for firms with greater growth opportunities and are attenuated by firms' refinancing risk. Additional analyses shed light on the implications of high-ability managers' strategic use of short-term debt. Overall, the results presented in this study demonstrate that managers' innate ability plays a critical role in shaping corporate debt maturity structure.
Development of a sub-seasonal cyanobacteria prediction model by leveraging local and global scale predictors.

Abstract In recent decades, cultural eutrophication of coastal waters and inland lakes around the world has contributed to a rapid expansion of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, threatening aquatic and human systems. For many locations, a complex array of physical, chemical, and biological variables leads to significant inter-annual variability of cyanobacteria biomass, modulated by local and large-scale climate phenomena. Currently, however, minimal information regarding expected summertime cyanobacteria biomass conditions is available prior to the season, limiting proactive management and preparedness strategies for lake and beach safety. To address this, sub-seasonal (two-month) cyanobacteria biomass prediction models are developed, drawing on pre-season predictors including stream discharge, phosphorus loads, a floating algae index, and large-scale sea-surface temperature regions, with an application to Lake Mendota in Wisconsin. A two-phase statistical modeling approach is adopted to reflect identified asymmetric relationships between predictors (drivers of inter-annual variability) and cyanobacteria biomass levels. The model illustrates promising performance overall, with particular skill in predicting above normal cyanobacteria biomass conditions which are of primary importance to lake and beach managers.
What Do Clinicians and Organizations Owe Patients With Recalled Implanted Devices or Materials

Placement of prosthetic breast implants for augmentation or reconstruction is common. Two specific safety concerns are considered in this article: breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) and complexes of symptoms known as breast implant illness. In response to a case involving a patient with concerns about BIA-ALCL, this commentary notes that triage, counseling, and treatment are guided in practice by available data in the literature. The commentary also discusses ethical considerations regarding breast implants and related illnesses.
Precise time-resolved technique for a pump- and signal-induced phase shift measurement in fiber amplifiers

We have developed a precise (/spl sim/ /spl pi//25) and accurate time-resolved technique for measurement of pump-and signal induced phase shift in fiber amplifiers and demonstrated it with phase shift measurements in Nd-doped fiber amplifier.
ICAO air-ground security standards strategy

Summary for Secure Dialogue Service Approach The original Doc 9705 Edition 3 approach to ATN Security is a validated standard. It has the disadvantage that its implementation in the ULCS introduces significant complexity to the ULCS and requires that the complete ULCS be replaced. The proposed Secure Dialogue Service approach would simplify the implementation of ATN Security • Security is all performed in the same place, i.e., in the Secure Dialogue Service sub-layer The Doc 9880 ULCS (Draft Version 2) has been updated to remove the security features. This version is equivalent to Doc 9705 Edition 2 but with PDRs incorporated The Secure Dialogue Service provides implementation options: ➢ It can not be implemented or implemented and used or not depending or the operational domain ➢ In any case the applications and ULCS would be the same The Secure Dialogue Service has the added advantage that it can be used in the ATN/IPS stack.
Corporate and information disclosure: The definitional landscape

Abstract Disclosure is ultimately about communicating organizational value to various stakeholders. But while interest in the concept of disclosure has recently gained momentum, a precise and commonly agreed upon definition is still lacking, as is a comprehensive review. Thus, I review, analyze and evaluate prior definitional statements of disclosure, culled from a variety of discipline-based literature published between 1978 and 2012, to provide future direction about two primary questions: to whom disclosure is directed and about what is the disclosure made?
NF-κB and the immunoglobulin κ gene enhancer

Enhancers regulate lineage choice and the developmental timing of antigen receptor gene rearrangements. The transcription factor NF-kappaB has been implicated as a key component of the recombination and transcription activation potential of the immunoglobulin kappa chain gene intronic enhancer. Here, I discuss the implications of the new observation that an NF-kappaB binding site-mutated enhancer in the correct biological context does not appear to affect kappa gene expression.
The role of potassium and calcium ions in the effect of epinephrine on cardiac cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, phosphorylase kinase, and phosphorylase.

The effect of epinephrine on the biochemical sequence of events leading to the activation of glycogen phosphorylase was studied in the isolated, perfused rat heart. In arrested preparations, perfused with a medium either devoid of Ca++ or containing a depolarizing concentration of K+, the epinephrine-induced activation of phosphorylase was markedly diminished. In the absence of Ca++, however, the epinephrine-induced rise in cyclic adenosine 39,59-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) concentration and the activation of phosphorylase kinase were not greatly altered. This suggested that the effect of omission of Ca++ occurred at the phosphorylase b to a conversion step. The effect of epinephrine on phosphorylase activation was blocked simultaneously with the cessation of contraction following perfusion with a Ca++-deficient medium. The store of Ca++ required for the maintenance of contractile activity appeared to be similar to that necessary for the conversion of phosphorylase b to a. Elevation of Ca++ in the perfusion medium resulted in activation of phosphorylase but not of phosphorylase kinase; nor was there an increase in cyclic AMP concentration. This observation also suggested that Ca++ is required for the catalytic activity of phosphorylase kinase. In the heart depolarized with K+, only a small and transient increase in cyclic AMP concentration occurred in response to epinephrine. Activation of phosphorylase kinase was considerably less than that observed in the beating heart. This suggested that an excess of K+ interfered with the action of epinephrine at a site at or before adenyl cyclase. Thus the activation of phosphorylase in cardiac muscle can be the consequence of one of the following events: (a) the activation of phosphorylase kinase as a result of a rise in cyclic AMP concentration; (b) an increase in the catalytic activity of phosphorylase kinase as a result of an increase in the concentration of Ca++ available to the enzyme; or (c) a combination of these two mechanisms.
Effects of Ozone and Sulfur Dioxide on Phyllosphere Fungi from Three Tree Species

Short-term effects of ozone (O(3)) on phyllosphere fungi were studied by examining fungal populations from leaves of giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) Buchholz) and California black oak (Quercus kelloggii Newb.). Chronic effects of both O(3) and sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) were studied by isolating fungi from leaves of mature Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis L.) trees. In this chronic-exposure experiment, mature orange trees were fumigated in open-top chambers at the University of California, Riverside, for 4 years with filtered air, ambient air plus filtered air (1:1), ambient air, or filtered air plus SO(2) at 9.3 parts per hundred million. Populations of Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler and Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) de Vries, two of the four most common fungi isolated from orange leaves, were significantly reduced by chronic exposure to ambient air. In the short-term experiments, seedlings of giant sequoia or California black oak were fumigated in open-top chambers in Sequoia National Park for 9 to 11 weeks with filtered air, ambient air, or ambient air plus O(3). These short-term fumigations did not significantly affect the numbers of phyllosphere fungi. Exposure of Valencia orange trees to SO(2) at 9.3 parts per hundred million for 4 years reduced the number of phyllosphere fungi isolated by 75% compared with the number from the filtered-air treatment and reduced the Simpson diversity index value from 3.3 to 2.5. A significant chamber effect was evident since leaves of giant sequoia and California black oak located outside of chambers had more phyllosphere fungi than did seedlings within chambers. Results suggest that chronic exposure to ambient ozone or SO(2) in polluted areas can affect phyllosphere fungal communities, while short-term exposures may not significantly disturb phyllosphere fungi.
An Interview with Charles L. Whitfield, MD

Abstract Dr. Charles L. Whitfield is interviewed regarding his extensive clinical experience and research in the treatment of adult survivors of childhood trauma. He discusses the repercussions and effects of childhood maltreatment on adolescents and adults, as well as the stages of trauma recovery. He gives clinical advice regarding the treatment of abuse-related trauma and discusses some of the most recent research relating to abuse-related trauma clients.
Electrical properties of (SN) x films

Abstract The temperature dependence of the thermopower S and the conductivity σ of (SN)x films has been investigated as a function of the substrate temperature during film deposition Ts. In contrast to the transport properties of SNx films previously reported, films made with high Ts have metallic-like transport properties approaching those of (SN)x crystals. For low substrate temperatures σ and S are found to increase strongly with rising temperature and thermopower values up to 0.9 mV/K are observed. This conduction behavior is explained by a heterogeneous model with areas having different electronic gaps. Annealing as well as decomposition effects suggest that the gap width is correlated to the (SN)x chain length. No evidence was seen for superconductivity in these films.
Malfunction detection of nuclear reactor by dynamic data system methodology

Abstract A new time series modeling technique called Dynamic Data System (DOS) is applied to malfunction detection of the nuclear reactor by using operating neutron flux data. An AR(1) model and an ARMA (5,4) model are found adequate to characterize the normal and abnormal data respectively of fuel cycle #14, #15, and #16 from the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). Using an AR(1) model the time of malfunction occurring at the 13th day of cycle #15 is detected by the estimated parameter. A malfunction detection scheme employing control chart is developed for diagnosis, surveillance and early malfunction detection of the reactor system for online application. A control chart is established from cycle #14 data and tested on cycle #15 and #16. It is shown that malfunction is clearly detected in cycle #15 while cycle #16 is free from malfunction.
CO Oxidation on Unsupported Dendrimer-Encapsulated Gold Nanoparticles

Unsupported gold nanoparticles in solution are reported here for the first time to catalyze the oxidation of CO at ambient conditions. Gold was stabilized in solution by various polyamidoamine dendrimers. Dendrimer-encapsulated gold nanoparticles (DENs) 0.5−2.5 nm in diameter have low initial activity. With storage time, however, the activity of the aged DENs increased and became comparable to a reference Au−TiO2 catalyst with the same gold loading and average gold particle size, which was tested under the same reaction conditions. The activation is attributed to partial hydrolysis of gold as followed by UV−vis spectroscopy.
Graphs, Words, and Deeds: Reflections on Commissioner Rosenfeld and California's Energy Efficiency Leadership (Innovations Case Discussion: The California Effect)

California’s path-breaking curbs on greenhouse gas emissions, a reporter asked California Energy Commissioner Arthur Rosenfeld when statewide reductions would start showing up. “Around 1975,” he replied. Showing how right he was would require an entire treatise, and happily a most compelling edition is already available to the public at no charge. In addition to the energy-efficiency achievements recounted in Commissioner Rosenfeld’s article, a recently compiled Green Innovation Index adds five more California distinctions: • Greenhouse gas emissions per capita, and greenhouse gas emissions per dollar of economic output, are less than half the average for the rest of the nation. • California increased its renewable electricity production by 24 percent from 2003 to 2007. • The state is home to 60 percent of U.S. venture capital investment in “clean technology” companies. (Californians also captured almost 40 percent of all U.S. solar energy patents from 2002 to 2007.) • It has the fifth-lowest electricity cost, measured as a fraction of the state’s economy, in the United States. • Its residential gas and electric bills are well below the national average. A study at the University of California Berkeley, supplementing the index, also concluded that California’s comparative advantage in energy efficiency had generated some $56 billion in net economic benefits since 1972, yielding an employment dividend of 1.5 million jobs. And MIT’s Energy Innovation initiative independently ranked California first among the states in sustained progress since 1980 in reducing residential sector energy use. Some maintain that California has championed efficiency at the expense of its economy, and that its low energy consumption is primarily a function of high elec-
Local Evidence of Pleistocene to Recent Orogeny in the Argentine Andes

Deformed continental sedimentary rocks are exposed in the province of Salta, northwestern Argentina, in one of many intermontane basins of the Puna, a high desert region of subparallel north-trending block-fault ranges. These rocks, formerly thought to be Tertiary but recently dated by fossil diatoms as Pleistocene or younger, comprise several thousand feet of elastics and evaporites interpreted as having accumulated in a structural basin under geologic and climatic conditions much like those of today. They are overlain unconformably by sedimentary rocks and sediments of three distinct depositional periods. The stratigraphic section is as follows: Fan gravels and playa deposits (Recent) — Disconformity — Flat-lying lacustrine sandstones and siltstones, minor salines — Angular unconformity — Gently folded conglomerates and sandstones — Angular unconformity — Folded and faulted conglomerate, sandstone, shale, evaporites, and tuffs The basin rocks are folded along north-trending axes and are cut by northeast- to southeast-trending normal faults and by a north-trending reverse fault; the next younger conglomerates and sandstones are gently folded; the two youngest units are undisturbed. The three unconformities, the faults and folds in the older beds, and post-lake-bed faulting of an erosion surface on an adjacent block all indicate intermittent late Pleistocene to Recent local deformation. Neither regional tension nor regional compression can explain both the Pleistocene to Recent movements on the regional block faults and the contemporaneous compressional structures within the basin. The mechanism of horst-wedging, suggested by a current explanation of the analogous ranges of the Great Basin, is proposed as a solution to the dilemma; the horst blocks, forced directly upward along Miocene normal faults, acted as wedges and compressed the sediments accumulating in the graben, creating the pattern of faults and folds now observed. If such structures are ever discovered in the North American Great Basin, as seems reasonable, they should offer new insight into the understanding of basin-and-range structure.
Conversion of Solar Radiation Into Electricity in Silicon Solar Cells: A Thermodynamic Assessment

In this paper the thermodynamic dissipations in crystalline silicon solar cells are identified and evaluated. The ratio of the exergy of the output electrical power to the exergy of the input solar radiation is the effectiveness of the solar cell. The input exergy is converted to the output exergy (the electrical power delivered) with a series of dissipations. These dissipations are identified and evaluated for crystalline silicon cells in terms of the thickness and certain fundamental properties of the light absorbing silicon semiconductor (in this case a P-type material). It is assumed that the N-type material is very thin and absorbs no radiation. For representative values of these properties and a range of thicknesses, it is found that the dissipations due to transmission and thermalization and in the photogeneration process are dominant. The dissipations due to the dark current and recombination are small.
Analysis of the 1986 Mt. Lewis, California, earthquake: preshock sequence-mainshock-aftershock sequence

Zhou, Y., McNally, K.C. and Lay, T., 1993. Analysis of the 1986 Mr. Lewis, California, earthquake: preshock sequencemainshock-aftershock sequence. Phys. Earth Planet. Inter.. 75: 267-288. The 1986 Mt. Lewis earthquake (M L = 5.7) occurred on a right-lateral fault northeast of and oblique to the Calaveras fault in a region that had not experienced significant seismicity since 1943. Data from the nearby Lawrence Livermore Seismic Network and selected U.S. Geological Survey stations are used to relocate events within 15 km of the mainshock epicenter during the period 1980-1987, using the master-event method. Beginning 17 months before the mainshock, 22 events ruptured in the depth range 5-9 km within 1.4 km and northwest of the mainshock epicenter, in an area subsequently almost devoid of aftershocks. This cluster of preshock activity is clearly separated both spatially and temporally from the background activity in the surrounding area. Composite focal mechanisms for the preshocks and for nearby aftershocks suggest that there are two slightly different focal mechanisms amongst the preshocks, one being similar to the mainshock and aftershocks and one being rotated in strike. Cross-correlations of digitally recorded short-period waveforms of 10 of the clustered preshocks (Mu. = 1.5-2.5) reveal that the average inter-event peak cross-correlation between seismograms is 0.62. Six nearby early aftershocks show an average inter-event peak cross-correlation between seismograms of 0.54. Only a few aftershocks have cross-correlations of 0.6 or higher, which implies that the events were slightly further apart or multiple mechanisms were active during the early aftershock period. No significant differences are observed between the spectra of the preshocks and aftershocks. The aftershock area expanded along the strike with time, ultimately defining a north-south fault plane, 11 km in length, extending from 3 to 10 km in depth. The mainshock appears to have originated at the base of the seismogenic zone and ruptured bilaterally along strike and updip. A forward modeling technique is used to model teleseismic body waveform data of the mainshock. The long-period data (P and SH) are consistent with a point source strike-slip earthquake with a teleseismic moment of 3.9 × 1017 N m. We infer that the mainshock involved the rupture of an asperity in the central portion of the aftershock zone.
Reduction of the false-positive rate in newborn screening by implementation of MS/MS-based second-tier tests: The Mayo Clinic experience (2004–2007)

The continued expansion of newborn screening programmes to include additional conditions increases the responsibility of newborn screening laboratories to provide testing with the highest sensitivity and specificity to allow for identification of affected patients while minimizing the false-positive rate. Some assays and analytes are particularly problematic. Over recent years, our laboratory tried to improve this situation by developing second-tier tests to reduce false-positive results in the screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), tyrosinaemia type I, methylmalonic acidaemias, homocystinuria, and maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). Beginning in 2004, this approach was applied to Mayo's newborn screening programme and resulted in a false-positive rate of 0.09%, a positive predictive value of 41%, and a positive detection rate of 1 affected case in 1672 babies screened.
The inability of the resonant Compton upscattering model of gamma-ray bursts to produce a third cyclotron harmonic

The inability of the resonant Compton upscattering model to produce a third cyclotron resonance, which provides a strong observational test of this model, is discussed. The relevant features of the Compton upscattering model and the thermal cross sections responsible for the cyclotron lines are examined. The impossibility of producing a third cyclotron feature for all realistic temperatures of the line-forming plasma is addressed.
Personal values and the value of expert testimony

Psychologists who routinely offer expert testimony to the courts about the problems of eyewitness testimony demonstrate an unwarranted degree of faith in experimental psychology. Although progress in the field ultimately depends on laboratory research, the extrapolation of laboratory research to the real world is fraught with difficulties. Among the difficulties are the following: Laboratory studies are typically not designed with ecological validity in mind, they involve “fixed effects” statistical designs, they do not tell us how individuals (as opposed to mean values) behave under various experimental conditions. Presentation of such studies as relevant to the specific conditions of a court case entails a significant misrepresentation of the results of the research.
An interactive control strategy is more robust to non-optimal classification boundaries

We consider a new paradigm for EEG-based brain computer interface (BCI) cursor control involving signaling satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the current motion direction instead of the usual direct control of signaling rightward or leftward desired motion. We start by assuming that the same underlying EEG signals are used to either signal directly the intent for right and left motion or to signal satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the current motion. We model the paradigm as an absorbing Markov chain and show that while both the standard system and the new interactive system have equal information transfer rate (ITR) when the Bayes optimal classification boundary (between the underlying EEG feature distributions used for the two classes) is exactly known and non-changing, the interactive system is much more robust to using a suboptimal classification boundary. Due to non-stationarity of EEG recordings, in real systems the classification boundary will often be suboptimal for the current EEG signals. We note that a variable step size gives a higher ITR for both systems (but the same robustness improvement of the interactive system remains). Finally, we present a way to probabilistically combine classifiers of natural signals of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with classifiers using standard left/right controls.
The temporal relationship among anti-parasite immune elements expressed during the early phase of infection of the rat with Trichinella spiralis.

Immunological parameters were measured during the first 20 days of infection with Trichinella spiralis in the rat. Expulsion of adult worms was complete by day 15 postinfection. Eosinophil and neutrophil numbers rose in the blood of infected rats above preinfection levels on days 3 and 6, respectively, and remained high to day 20 postinfection. Release of cytokines by Trichinella-antigen-stimulated mesenteric lymph node cells was measured, and a significant elevation in interferon (IFN)-γ release was detected during the early stage of infection. Although initiated later, interleukin (IL)-10 release showed a pattern similar to IFN-γ. Biphasic release of IL-5 was seen with significant elevation above the preinfection level on day 3 and after day 6 postinfection to the end of the study. IL-4 and IL-2 showed biphasic secretion as well, with the level of IL-4 high in the early and middle part of infection, while the level of IL-2 was detectable only at days 2, 3 and 6 postinfection. Serum anti-parasite IgE rose above preinfection levels after day 6 postinfection. Anti-parasite Ig-positive mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells were evident by day 3 postinfection for IgM, and day 9 postinfection for IgA and total IgG. The number of Ig-positive MLN cells for all antibody classes returned to preinfection levels by day 20 postinfection. Evaluation of the temporal interactions of the key anti-parasite immune components with which the host engages Trichinella shows a complex interplay between Th1 and Th2 helper subsets.
Preservation of genetic redundancy in the existence of developmental error and fitness assignment error

Conservation of functionally identical copies of the same gene throughout the generations is not an easy task. In this study, based on the biological evidence that suggests the existence of the developmental error as one of the ways to preserve redundancy, our goal is to investigate the impact of developmental error on a simple problem using a genetic algorithm(GA). Developmental errors exist during the biological development of an individual. The biological models with developmental errors have demonstrated that it is possible to maintain redundant copies in the existence of proper mutation rates and developmental error rates. Our preliminary results with a simple problem demonstrates that using developmental error helps preserving the redundant copies and maintaining a better solution quality for the redundant copies of a gene. Besides the developmental error, we propose a new error type that comes into play during the fitness assignment and enhances the quality of the solutions when used together with developmental error.
Quantitative Analysis Of Nitrocellulose And Pulp In Gunpowder By Using TGA/FT-IR

Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) has routinely been used to quantitatively determine the presence of a specific component within a material by direct measurement from the weight loss profile. This technique works well when it is known that the detected weight loss was caused only by that component. If more than one material evolves during a single weight loss it is impossible to quantify the contribution of each individual component by using stand-alone TGA. However by coupling an FT-IR to the TGA one may assign evolved gases to a detected weight loss and potentially isolate each iny dividual material. Although a number of gases may evolve during one weight loss, the judicious selection of "Specific Gas Profiles" may allow the experimentalist to isolate each gas. The SGP is a measure of IR absorbance within specific frequency regions as a function of time. Through the use of standards, integration of theseprofiles allows the operator to quantitate the various components in an unknownp. Data from this research will show that nitrocellulose andpulp content in gun powder samples may be measured using the TGA/FT-IR technique.
Teacher and Self-Ratings of Popular and Rejected Adolescent Boys' Behavior

This investigation was designed to further an understanding of the differences between popular and rejected adolescent males with regard to the domains of social skills, self-control, anger, problem behaviors, and academic performance. For a multi-state sample (N = 191) of adolescents, it was demonstrated that teacher and self-ratings of social skills and self-control meaningfully discriminated popular from rejected males. Ratings of anger, problem behaviors, and academic performance did not contribute to the differentiation of the two groups via a stepwise discriminant function analysis. This investigation extended established behavioral correlates of social competency findings to older adolescents and employed several new (Social Skills Rating System) or infrequently used (Self-Control Rating Scale and Children's Inventory of Anger) behavior rating scales to operationalize social or social-cognitive behaviors hypothesized to be important to the development of social competency.
Human type II arginase: sequence analysis and tissue-specific expression

A full-length cDNA encoding type II arginase was isolated from a human kidney cDNA library and its sequence compared to those of vertebrate type I arginases as well as to arginases of bacteria, fungi and plants. The predicted sequence of human type II arginase is 58% identical to the sequence of human type I arginase but is 71% identical to the sequence of Xenopus type II arginase, suggesting that duplication of the arginase gene occurred before mammals and amphibians diverged. Seven residues known to be essential for activity were found to be conserved in all arginases. Type II arginase mRNA was detected in virtually all human and mouse RNA samples tested whereas type I arginase mRNA was found only in liver. At least five mRNA species hybridizing to type II arginase cDNA were found in the human RNA samples whereas only a single type II arginase mRNA species was found in the mouse. This raises the possibility that the multiple type II arginase mRNAs in humans arise from differential RNA processing or usage of alternative promoters.
Intelligent Database Placement in Cloud Environment

Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) has gain significant momentum with the prevailing usage of Cloud computing. Multi-tenancy is one of the key features of DBaaS offering, where a large volume of databases with different Service Level Agreement (SLA) requirements are co-located in one environment and sharing resources. As Cloud resources are elastic and resource demands of database requests are unpredictable, it is challenging to decide when and where to place databases in Cloud environment according to their resource requirements. In this paper, we propose a cost-efficient placement algorithm striving to produce placement solution that optimizes multiple objectives considering multi-resource constraints, user preferences and system preferences. The objective is to help DBaaS providers to achieve effective resource allocation among multiple databases, minimize the disturbance to the system caused by database migration, and maximize Cloud resource utilization. The demonstrated online placement technique can be used as decision making reference for DBaaS providers to make optimal resource planning. The effectiveness and efficiency of the algorithm have been verified by intensive simulation experiments and real-case study in IBM cloud platform.
Jobs, location, and real estate

The decision to relocate has traditionally been based on job opportunities alone, with no attention paid to the real estate market. The cost of housing, its rate of return, and its specificity to a location do not enter the decision to move or stay. This article develops a more general definition of income, including real estate and labor markets. The null hypothesis is that relocation is based on comparing labor income differentials alone. The alternative is that income is more broadly based, including real estate returns. Estimates are provided in a quantal choice framework.
Semi-commutativity and the McCoy condition

Abstract We prove that all reversible rings are McCoy, generalizing the fact that both commutative and reduced rings are McCoy. We then give an example of a semi-commutative ring that is not right McCoy. At the same time, we also show that semi-commutative rings do have a property close to the McCoy condition.
Analysis of Flavonoids by HPLC

Abstract During the past ten years there has been a dramatic increase of interest in the field of flavonoid chemistry. This was mainly due to the application of HPLC to the study of flavonoids. These compounds, natural plant constituents with a structure based on the aromatic heterocycle, 3-phenylbenzopyrone, are ideally suited for analysis by HPLC. The basic complex structure can be varied by the number and position of hydroxyl substituents and other derivatives (sugars, methyl). These variations cause changes in the way the compounds react to solvents and columns commonly used in HPLC allowing separation and identification.
Real Investment Implications of Employee Stock Option Exercises

This paper examines a real cost of awarding employee stock options. Based on the observation that managers are extremely concerned about earnings-per-share dilution in equity related compensation, we predict and find that firms experiencing significant employee stock option (ESO) exercises shift resources away from real investments towards the repurchase of their own stocks. We further find weak evidence of a decline in subsequent firm performance (as measured by return on assets) for several years following the cut in discretionary investments as a result of stock option exercises, though this result is sensitive to the metric used to measure performance. Collectively, our findings indicate that ESO exercises potentially impose a real cost on the firm in terms of foregone investment opportunities.
Hoffa fragment associated with a femoral shaft fracture. A case report.

A coronal plane fracture of the femoral condyle (creating a so-called Hoffa fragment) has been well described in association with fractures of the supracondylar-intercondylar region of the distal part of the femur1. This fracture has implications with regard to preoperative planning, the choice of surgical approach, implant selection, and functional outcomes. Coronal plane fractures of the distal part of the femur are markers of high-energy injury mechanisms. Their presence warrants a thorough workup for other injuries associated with high-energy trauma such as fractures of the spine, pelvis, femoral neck, tibial plateau, ankle, and calcaneus. A Hoffa fracture can often be missed on plain radiographs. Nork et al. showed that up to 30% of coronal plane fractures were missed on plain radiographs of distal femoral fractures, often necessitating the use of computerized tomography for identification and preoperative planning2. While the association of a Hoffa fragment with a supracondylar-intercondylar femoral fracture has been well characterized, we are unaware of any previous reports on the isolated occurrence of a coronal plane fracture of a femoral condyle in association with an ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture. We report on a patient who sustained a femoral shaft fracture with an ipsilateral coronal plane fracture of the medial femoral condyle. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication. A thirty-three-year-old right-hand-dominant man was riding a motorcycle when he was struck by a tractor trailer. He was immediately transported to a level-I trauma center, where he described severe pain in the left leg and arm. Gross deformities of the left arm and thigh were identified on physical examination. Both injuries were closed, and both extremities were neurovascularly intact. A transverse fracture of the left humerus was treated with a coaptation splint. A small effusion was present in the …
Structure, function, and evolutionary relationships of Fc domains of human immunoglobulins A, G, M, and E

Human immunoglobulins, A, G, M, and E have strong homology in amino acid sequence (about 30 percent) distributed nonuniformly throughout the Fc region. Immunoglobulins M are A are least alike in the first Fc domain and most alike in the second. Individual domains of heavy chains have evolved with different mutation rates but with conservation of essential structural features. No relation of primary structure to complement binding ability is apparent.
Forcing Choices: Testing the Transformation of Hamas

Hamas is at a crossroads: although it will not disarm or renounce the use of violence now, it has been willing to participate within the bounds of the political establishment. To test Hamas's commitment, the PA must establish certain benchmarks that ultimately strengthen the rule of law.
Epoxide-opening cascades promoted by water

Selectivity rules in organic chemistry have been inferred largely from nonaqueous environments. In contrast, enzymes operate in water, and the chemical effect of the medium change remains only partially understood. Structural characterization of the "ladder" polyether marine natural products raised a puzzle that persisted for 20 years: Although the stereochemistry of adjacent tetrahydropyran (THP) cycles would seem to arise from a biosynthetic cascade of epoxide-opening reactions, experience in organic solvents argued consistently that such a pathway would be kinetically disfavored. We report that neutral water acts as an optimal promoter for the requisite ring-opening selectivity, once a single templating THP is appended to a chain of epoxides. This strategy offers a high-yielding route to the naturally occurring ladder core and highlights the likely importance of aqueous-medium effects in underpinning certain noteworthy enzymatic selectivities.
The AVPR1A gene and substance use disorders: association, replication, and functional evidence.

Background The liability to addiction has been shown to be highly genetically correlated across drug classes, suggesting nondrug-specific mechanisms. Methods In 757 subjects, we performed association analysis between 1536 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 106 candidate genes and a drug use disorder diagnosis (DUD). Results Associations ( p ≤ .0008) were detected with three SNPs in the arginine vasopressin 1A receptor gene, AVPR1A , with a gene-wise p value of 3 × 10 −5 . Bioinformatic evidence points to a role for rs11174811 (microRNA binding site disruption) in AVPR1A function. Based on literature implicating AVPR1A in social bonding, we tested spousal satisfaction as a mediator of the association of rs11174811 with the DUD. Spousal satisfaction was significantly associated with DUD in males ( p AVPR1A SNP, rs11174811, was associated with spousal satisfaction in males ( p = .007). Spousal satisfaction was a significant mediator of the relationship between rs11174811 and DUD. We also present replication of the association in males between rs11174811 and substance use in one clinically ascertained ( n = 1399) and one epidemiologic sample ( n = 2231). The direction of the association is consistent across the clinically-ascertained samples but reversed in the epidemiologic sample. Lastly, we found a significant impact of rs11174811 genotype on AVPR1A expression in a postmortem brain sample. Conclusions The findings of this study call for expansion of research into the role of the arginine vasopressin and other neuropeptide system variation in DUD liability.
A Novel Mechanism for Regulating Transforming Growth Factor β (TGF-β) Signaling FUNCTIONAL MODULATION OF TYPE III TGF-β RECEPTOR EXPRESSION THROUGH INTERACTION WITH THE PDZ DOMAIN PROTEIN, GIPC

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mediates its biological effects through three high-affinity cell surface receptors, the TGF-beta type I, type II, and type III receptors, and the Smad family of transcription factors. Although the functions of the type II and type I receptors are well established, the precise role of the type III receptor in TGF-beta signaling remains to be established. While expression cloning signaling molecules downstream of TGF-beta, we cloned GIPC (GAIP-interacting protein, C terminus), a PDZ domain-containing protein. GIPC binds a Class I PDZ binding motif in the cytoplasmic domain of the type III receptor resulting in regulation of expression of the type III receptor at the cell surface. Increased expression of the type III receptor mediated by GIPC enhanced cellular responsiveness to TGF-beta both in terms of inhibition of proliferation and in plasminogen-activating inhibitor (PAI)-based promoter gene induction assays. In all cases, deletion of the Class I PDZ binding motif of the type III receptor prevented the type III receptor from binding to GIPC and abrogated the effects of GIPC on type III receptor expressing cells. These results establish, for the first time, a protein that interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of the type III receptor, determine that expression of the type III receptor is regulated at the protein level and that increased expression of the type III receptor is sufficient to enhance TGF-beta signaling. These results further support an essential, non-redundant role for the type III receptor in TGF-beta signaling.
Utilisation des compteurs de mouvements pour la mesure de l'activité physique

Resume Dans le but d'etudier les habitudes de vie en matiere d'activite physique, le maintien d'un bon etat de sante ou l'evolution de la maladie dans les etudes epidemiologiques, il est essentiel de pouvoir estimer la depense energetique de grandes populations. Cet article retrace le developpement des appareils permettant d'estimer l'activite physique ou la depense d'energie dans les etudes de terrain. Les compteurs de mouvements simples et complexes, les accelerometres portatifs ainsi que les appareils combinant les mesures de l'activite physique et des variables physiologiques font donc l'objet d'une analyse particuliere.
Steptorials: mixed-initiative learning of high-functionality applications

How can a new user learn an unfamiliar application, especially if it is a high-functionality (hi-fun) application, like Photoshop, Excel, or programming language IDEfi Many applications provide introductory videos, illustrative examples, and documentation on individual operations. Tests show, however, that novice users are likely to ignore the provided help, and try to learn by exploring the application first. In a hi-fun application, though, the user may lack understanding of the basic concepts of an application's operation, even though they were likely explained in the (ignored) documentation. This paper introduces steptorials ("stepper tutorials"), a new interaction strategy for learning hi-fun applications. A steptorial aims to teach the user how to work through a simple, but nontrivial, example of using the application. Steptorials are unique because they allow varying the autonomy of the user at every step. A steptorial has a control structure of a reversible programming language stepper. The user may choose, at any time, to be shown how to do a step, be guided through it, use the application interface without constraint, or to return to a previous step. It reduces the risk in either trying new operations yourself, or conversely, the risk of ceding control to the computer. It introduces a new paradigm of mixed-initiative learning of application interfaces.
VARIABLE EXPRESSION OF “X-LINKED INFANTILE AGAMMA-GLOBULINEMIA” (X-LA)

X-LA is a syndrome of males, characterized by early onset of recurrent pyogenic infections, markedly diminished or undetectable serum immunoglobulins, depressed or absent humoral immune responses. Intact cellular immunity, and lymphoid tissues devoid of plasma cells, germinal centers, and follicle formation. Rigorous criteria include other affected male maternal relatives.
A Large-Area Gas Scintillation Proportional Counter for X-Ray Astronomy

An improved large-area gas scintillation proportional counter has been built, suitable for use in X-ray astronomy. This counter employs electron focusing in a drift region to achieve uniform response. We show that we can obtain a spectral resolution of 9.1% FWHM at 5.9 keV over a useful area of 100 cm2. We demonstrate that signal rise-time discrimination can be used to reject non-X-ray background as efficiently as in ordinary proportional counters.
Nanoscale impurity structures on the surface of d x 2 − y 2 -wave superconductors

We study the effects of nanoscale impurity structures on the local electronic structure of ${d}_{{x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{y}^{2}}$-wave superconductors. We show that the interplay between the momentum dependence of the superconducting gap, the geometry of the nanostructure, and its orientation gives rise to a series of interesting quantum effects. Among these are the emergence of a zero-bias conductance peak in the superconductor's density of states and the possibility to screen impurity resonances in nanostructures.
Cytotoxic Effects of Exposure to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Protein Tat in the Hippocampus Are Enhanced by Prior Ethanol Treatment

BACKGROUND Long-term ethanol exposure leads to increases in the expression and/or sensitivity of NMDA-type glutamate receptors, effects that may contribute to the development of cytotoxicity in the brain. The human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) transcription factor Tat is one of many viral proteins that may contribute to the development of HIV-associated dementia (HAD) by indirectly or directly promoting excess function of NMDA receptors. Thus, these studies examined the hypothesis that long-term ethanol pre-exposure would sensitize the hippocampus to Tat-induced cytotoxicity in an NMDA receptor-dependent manner. METHODS Organotypic slice cultures of rat hippocampus were exposed to a recombinant 86-amino acid form of Tat (Tat1-86) or a Tat deletion mutant devoid of amino acids 31 to 61 (TatDelta31-61; 0.1-100 nM) for 24 hr alone or during withdrawal from 10 days of ethanol exposure (50 mM in culture medium). Additional cultures were exposed to NMDA (5 microM) or the NMDA receptor channel blocker MK-801 (1 microM) during these treatments. Cellular injury in the CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus regions of slice cultures was assessed by microscopy of propidium iodide fluorescence. RESULTS Twenty-four hours of withdrawal from ethanol exposure did not produce overt cellular injury in any region of slice cultures. However, NMDA-induced toxicity was markedly increased in ethanol-pre-exposed cultures, an effect prevented by MK-801 (1 microM) coexposure. Treatment of cultures with Tat1-86 alone (> or = 0.1 nM) produced modest toxicity in each region of hippocampal cultures that was also blocked by MK-801 coexposure. In contrast, exposure to TatDelta31-61 did not alter propidium iodide fluorescence. Exposure of cultures to Tat1-86 (> or = 0.1 nM) during ethanol withdrawal resulted in a marked potentiation of Tat's toxic effects in each region of slice cultures, particularly the CA1 region. This potentiation of Tat neurotoxicity was significantly attenuated by coexposure of cultures to MK-801 (1 microM). CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that long-term ethanol exposure sensitizes the hippocampus to the cytotoxic effects of Tat in an NMDA receptor-dependent manner. This may suggest that HIV-1-positive individuals who are alcohol dependent possess a heightened risk for the development of HAD. Furthermore, the NMDA receptor, particularly allosteric modulatory sites such as polyamine-sensitive sites, may be a therapeutic target to be investigated in the treatment of HAD.
Neutrality conditions for block copolymer systems on random copolymer brush surfaces

The wetting behavior of P(S-b-I) and P(S-b-nBMA) thin films placed upon tunable P(S-r-MMA) brush surfaces is addressed. Homopolymer dewetting experiments show an increase in interfacial energy between PI and P(S-r-MMA) with increasing styrene fraction, while the interfacial energy dependence of PnBMA with brush composition was indeterminate. Reflection optical micrographs of block copolymer films cast on PS and PMMA brush surfaces show island/hole structures that are indicative of a parallel orientation of the block copolymer domains with respect to the film boundaries. The micrographs are identical in structure and are comprised of the same interference colors, indicating antisymmetric wetting conditions for films cast upon both PS and PMMA brush surfaces. Thus, for P(S-b-I) and P(S-b-nBMA) films cast upon PMMA brush surfaces, unfavorable wetting of the PS component occurs at the PMMA brush surface in order to avert PI/PMMA and PnBMA/PMMA interactions which are more unfavorable. Consequently, the depende...