cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electronic Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) in youth with bipolar disorder: Demographic and clinical predictors of electronic EMA adherence.

Abstract Background Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is increasingly used to characterize patients’ daily lives, monitor mood, and test efficacy of treatment interventions. However, few studies have examined patient characteristics impacting adherence with EMA protocols, and to our knowledge, no such study has been conducted in youth with bipolar disorder (BD). Methods As part of a larger observational study, 14- to 21-year-olds diagnosed with BD, and who were between episodes of illness (n = 39, 19.0 ± 2.05 Mean ± Standard Deviation years old, 74.4% female) and psychiatrically healthy controls (n = 47, 18.3 ± 2.40 years old, 66.0% female) completed baseline diagnostic and symptom severity interviews, and were instructed to complete diary assessments of mood, sleep, and behavior electronically three times per day for 21 consecutive days (i.e., in total 5418 (or 63 per person) diary entries). Multiple regression was used to examine effects of BD participants’ demographic and clinical characteristics on diary completion rates. Results 53.8 ± 9.3 diary entries per person were actually completed. Adherence rates were high (87.5% of healthy controls and 80.4% of adolescents with BD), but were still significantly poorer in youth with BD. Adequate adherence (≥80%) rates were also significantly poorer in youth with BD relative to healthy controls (56.4% versus 83.0%). Among youth with BD, more lifetime suicide attempts and higher current mood elevation symptom severity predicted significantly poorer adherence. Limitations Limited sample size/generalizability. Conclusions Findings highlight the importance of considering the impact of patient characteristics on adherence with EMA protocols among youth with severe mental illness.
Design Meets Disability Rhetorical AccessAbility

Although Graham Pullin, an instructor of design, probably doesn't refer to himself as a technical communicator, he takes on the role of one in his book, Design Meets Disability. In this book, Pulli...
A Stochastic Optimal Regulator for a Class of Nonlinear Systems

This work investigates an optimal control problem for a class of stochastic differential bilinear systems, affected by a persistent disturbance provided by a nonlinear stochastic exogenous system (nonlinear drift and multiplicative state noise). The optimal control problem aims at minimizing the average value of a standard quadratic-cost functional on a finite horizon. It has been supposed that neither the state of the system nor the state of the exosystem is directly measurable (incomplete information case). The approach is based on the Carleman embedding, which allows to approximate the nonlinear stochastic exosystem in the form of a bilinear system (linear drift and multiplicative noise) with respect to an extended state that includes the state Kronecker powers up to a chosen degree. This way the stochastic optimal control problem may be restated in a bilinear setting and the optimal solution is provided among all the affine transformations of the measurements. The present work is a nontrivial extension of previous work of the authors, where the Carleman approach was exploited in a framework where only additive noises had been conceived for the state and for the exosystem. Numerical simulations support theoretical results by showing the improvements in the regulator performances by increasing the order of the approximation.
Corporate Social Performance and Managerial Labor Market

This paper examines the impact of a firm’s social performance on the CEO’s employment prospects. We find that CEOs are more (less) likely to leave office when there is a significant recent decline (improvement) in social performance. We then track departing CEOs’ subsequent employment records and find that the social performance of their previous employers improves their labor market outcomes. These CEOs are more likely to find a new executive position, move up to a larger public firm, and receive higher compensation from the new public firm. Using a Cox proportional hazard model, we find that the strong social performance of the previous employer helps CEOs find their next executive positions sooner. Overall, our results suggest that corporate social performance enhances CEOs’ labor market potentials.
Two-step conversion of unprotected oligosaccharides to generate bioorthogonal oligosaccharide tool compounds

Abstract Oligosaccharides have valuable effects in biological systems, but their complex nature makes them difficult to convert into chemical tools. We have developed a two-step conversion of unprotected oligosaccharides that is highly amenable to generating a variety of complex oligosaccharide tool compounds. This sequence features an optimized Kochetkov amination procedure and subsequent amide coupling. With these simple synthetic conversions, the creation of novel bioorthogonal carbohydrate probes becomes easily accessible and new avenues for chemical biology may be opened. • Optimized Kochetkov amination procedure for complex oligosaccharides. • Highly versatile amide coupling for facile probe synthesis.
Obstetric morbidity in gestational carrier pregnancies: a population-based study

We sought to characterize severe obstetric morbidity among women who are gestational carriers compared to other patients. This was a population-based study comparing gestational carrier pregnancies to non-surrogate pregnancies (non-surrogate IVF pregnancies, all non-gestational carrier pregnancies, and a cohort of matched controls) delivering in Utah between 2009 and 2018, using birth certificate data. Our primary outcome was a composite of severe morbidity, including death, ICU admission, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, transfusion, and unplanned hysterectomy. Our secondary outcomes were cesarean delivery (CD) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. During the study period, 361 gestational carrier pregnancies and 509,015 other pregnancies resulted in live births. Severe morbidity was less common among gestational carrier pregnancies than IVF pregnancies (1.7% versus 5.5%, odds ratio [OR] 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12–0.70), but was not different when compared to all other pregnancies (1.0%, OR 1.61, 95% CI 0.72–3.60), or a cohort of matched controls (1.0%, OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.55–3.40). CD was less common among gestational carrier pregnancies than IVF pregnancies, but not different than all other pregnancies or matched controls. While frequency of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was lower among gestational carrier pregnancies than IVF pregnancies, it was higher than all other women who delivered and comparable to matched controls. Severe obstetric morbidity is uncommon among gestational carrier pregnancies. Women who are gestational carriers are at lower risk of morbidity and CD than others who conceive through IVF and do not appear to be at increased risk compared to matched controls.
Engineering structural robustness in power grid networks susceptible to community desynchronization

Networked power grid systems are susceptible to a phenomenon known as Coherent Swing Instability (CSI), in which a subset of machines in the grid lose synchrony with the rest of the network. We develop network level evaluation metrics to (i) identify community substructures in the power grid network, (ii) determine weak points in the network that are particularly sensitive to CSI, and (iii) produce an engineering approach for the addition of transmission lines to reduce the incidences of CSI in existing networks, or design new power grid networks that are robust to CSI by their network design. For simulations on a reduced model for the American Northeast power grid, where a block of buses representing the New England region exhibit a strong propensity for CSI, we show that modifying the network’s connectivity structure can markedly improve the grid’s resilience to CSI. Our analysis provides a versatile diagnostic tool for evaluating the efficacy of adding lines to a power grid which is known to be prone to CSI. This is a particularly relevant problem in large-scale power systems, where improving stability and robustness to interruptions by increasing overall network connectivity is not feasible due to financial and infrastructural constraints.
Ratios and Benchmarks for Measuring the Financial Well-Being of Families and Individuals

Financial planners and educators comprised a panel of 156 experts in this Delphi study designed to identify and refine ratios and benchmarks for measuring financial well-being. Consensus between the two groups existed for benchmarks on 20 of 22 ratios in the areas of liquidity, savings inflation protection and insolvency/credit. The preferred ratios were generally less complex and more easily measured than many of the ratios used in previous work. From the findings, a profile of financial well-being for the typical family/individual was proposed.
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) in Wireless Communication Network-Overview

Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is a significant innovation that is quickly developing in private organizations. The Quality of Service (QOS) and Capacity are two of the most significant issues that actually should be investigated on remote Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP). The principle point of this paper is to examination the exhibition of the voice over internet protocol (VOIP) application in tiny organizations regarding extraordinary transport layer protocols and sound codec. Two situations utilized in the reenactment stage. In the primary concern, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) with codec G.711 communicated over User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), and Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP). While, in the second situation Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) with codec G.726 communicated over UDP, SCTP, and RTP protocols. Organization test system NS2 is utilized in all situations. Moreover, a few QOS models, for example, throughput, start to finish delay, jitter, also, bundle misfortune has been considered to assess the presence of VOIP.
Civil Rights and Systemic Wrongs

Systemic employment discrimination is a structural, social harm whose victims include not only those who can be specifically identified, but also many who cannot. Pattern and practice claims in employment litigation are an essential tool for challenging this structural harm. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court's decision in Wal-Mart v. Dukes brushes aside the systemic nature of the plaintiffs ' claims, making both theoretical and doctrinal mistakes in its application of the procedural and substantive law applicable in employment discrimination class action litigation. The most troubling part of the Court's opinion—its rejection of statistical modeling for remedial determinations—has received little attention. This article critiques the Court's novel and careless interpretation of Title VII and explains the threat the opinion poses to the continued viability ofpattern and practice claims.
A Bayesian nonparametric causal model for regression discontinuity designs

For non-randomized studies, the regression discontinuity design (RDD) can be used to identify and estimate causal effects from a “locally randomized” subgroup of subjects, under relatively mild conditions. However, current models focus causal inferences on the impact of the treatment (versus non-treatment) variable on the mean of the dependent variable, via linear regression. For RDDs, we propose a flexible Bayesian nonparametric regression model that can provide accurate estimates of causal effects, in terms of the predictive mean, variance, quantile, probability density, distribution function, or any other chosen function of the outcome variable. We illustrate the model through the analysis of two real educational data sets, involving (resp.) a sharp RDD and a fuzzy RDD.
Gaps in the Great Chain of Being: An Exercise in the Methodology of the History of Ideas

For some historians, to understand everything is to pardon everything. For others, like Lord Acton, history is not only a judge, but a hanging judge. But when everything is said and done — and read and understood — surely the most appropriate key for the music of Clio, the Muse of History, is irony. Any such irony can scarcely be sharper than the one created by a juxtaposition of the following two quotes. (I call your attention especially to the italicized sentences and to their role in the overall argument. These italics are all mine.)
On Dynamic Principal-Agent Problems in Continuous Time

I study the provision of incentives in dynamic moral hazard models with hidden actions and possibly hidden states. I characterize implementable contracts by establishing the applicability of the first-order approach to contracting. Implementable contracts are history dependent, but can be written recursively with a small number of state variables. When the agent’s actions are hidden, but all states are observed, implementable contracts must take account of the agent’s utility process. When the agent has access to states which the principal cannot observe, implementable contracts must also take account of the shadow value (in marginal utility terms) of the hidden states. As an application of my results, I explicitly solve a model with linear production and exponential utility, showing how allocations are distorted for incentive reasons, and how access to hidden savings further alters allocations.
Generating Co-occurring Facial Nonmanual Signals in Synthesized American Sign Language

Translating between English and American Sign Language (ASL) requires an avatar to display synthesized ASL. Essential to the language are nonmanual signals that appear on the face. In the past, these have posed a difficult challenge for signing avatars. Previous systems were hampered by an inability to portray simultaneously-occurring nonmanual signals on the face. This paper presents a method designed for supporting co-occurring nonmanual signals in ASL. Animations produced by the new system were tested with 40 members of the Deaf community in the United States. Participants identified all of the nonmanual signals even when they co-occurred. Co-occurring question nonmanuals and affect information were distinguishable, which is particularly striking because the two processes move an avatar’s brows in a competing manner. This breakthrough brings the state of the art one step closer to the goal of an automatic English-to-ASL translator. .
Development and Use of an Instrument Adapted to Assess the Clinical Skills Learning Environment in the Pre-clinical Years

Background The Communication, Curriculum, and Culture (C3) instrument is a well-established survey for measuring the professional learning climate or hidden curriculum in the clinical years of medical school. However, few instruments exist for assessing professionalism in the pre-clinical years. We adapted the C3 instrument and assessed its utility during the pre-clinical years at two U.S. medical schools.
Genetics of autism.

In summary, autism genetics has moved from a time of identification of heritability and determination of risk of "lesser variants" or the "broader phenotype" in relatives to a phase where some cases of autism have a definite basis such as maternally inherited duplications of 15q11-q13, identification of mutations causing AS, Rett syndrome, and FRAXA. The first phase of genome-wide screens has not revealed definitive linkage, but as samples are enlarged and meta-analyses performed, the strongest linkage findings are likely to yield susceptibility variants once fine mapping proceeds. Recent statistical and molecular genetic analysis methods make the additional work feasible. However, frustrating it may be to be in this phase of the research, it is an essential part of the process of moving from identification of heritability in autism to understanding of the disorder in a way that may permit improved treatment in the future. If there is an advantage to autism being a complex rather than monogenic disorder, it is that the nature of multiplicative or interacting genetic risk is that prevention or treatment directed to any of the identified genetic risks may be sufficient to break a chain of pathophysiology. More genes increase the chance that one or more will have implications for treatment development sooner.
The Regional Factor in Contemporary Ukrainian Politics: Scale, Place, Space, or Bogus Effect?

(2001). The Regional Factor in Contemporary Ukrainian Politics: Scale, Place, Space, or Bogus Effect? Post-Soviet Geography and Economics: Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 1-33.
Quasi-periodic Tiling with Multiplicity: A Lattice Enumeration Approach

The k-tiling problem for a convex polytope P is the problem of covering $$ \mathbb {R}^d$$Rd with translates of P using a discrete multiset $$\varLambda $$? of translation vectors such that every point in $$ \mathbb {R}^d$$Rd is covered exactly k times, except possibly for the boundary of P and its translates. A classical result in the study of tiling problems is a theorem of McMullen [Mathematika 27(1):113---121, 1980] that a convex polytope P that 1-tiles $$ \mathbb {R}^d$$Rd with a discrete multiset $$\varLambda $$? can, in fact, 1-tile $$ \mathbb {R}^d$$Rd with a lattice $$\mathcal {L}$$L. A generalization of McMullen's theorem for k-tiling was conjectured by Gravin et al. [Combinatorica 32(6):629---649, 2012], which states that if Pk-tiles $$ \mathbb {R}^d$$Rd with a discrete multiset $$\varLambda $$?, then Pm-tiles $$ \mathbb {R}^d$$Rd with a lattice $$\mathcal {L}$$L for some m. In this paper, we consider the case when Pk-tiles $$ \mathbb {R}^d$$Rd with a discrete multiset $$\varLambda $$? such that every element of $$\varLambda $$? is contained in a quasi-periodic set $$\mathcal {Q}$$Q (i.e., a finite union of translated lattices). This is motivated by the result of Gravin et al. [Discrete Comput Geom 50(4):1033---1050, 2013] and Kolountzakis [Discrete Comput Geom 23(4):537---553, 2000], showing that for $$d \in \{2,3\}$$d?{2,3}, if a polytope Pk-tiles $$ \mathbb {R}^d$$Rd with a discrete multiset $$\varLambda $$?, then Pm-tiles $$ \mathbb {R}^d$$Rd with a quasi-periodic set $$\mathcal {Q}$$Q for some m. Here we show for all values of d that if a polytope Pk-tiles $$ \mathbb {R}^d$$Rd with a discrete multiset $$\varLambda $$? that is contained in a quasi-periodic set $$\mathcal {Q}$$Q that satisfies a mild hypothesis, then Pm-tiles $$ \mathbb {R}^d$$Rd with a lattice $$\mathcal {L}$$L for some m. This strengthens the results of Gravin, Kolountzakis, Robins, and Shiryaev, and is a step in the direction of proving the conjecture of Gravin et al. [Combinatorica 32(6):629---649, 2012].
Effect of mineralogy on nuclear magnetic resonance surface relaxivity: A case study of Middle Bakken and Three Forks formations

Abstract Porosity and pore size distribution (PSD) are crucial for reserve and producibility estimation and production planning. PSD properties are evaluated in the subsurface from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logs and require knowledge about surface relaxivity. In common industry practice, a constant surface relaxivity value is used for a well, formation or rock type, regardless of mineralogical and textural variation. We present a case study of the Middle Bakken and Three Forks formations to evaluate surface relaxivity using porosity, PSD and total specific surface area data. To avoid error propagation from the input parameters to surface relaxivity estimates, we first acquired reliable porosity and PSD by combining different techniques. We analyzed the data using information on mineralogy, mass magnetic susceptibility (MMS) and scanning electron microscopy. We find that: (a) Surface relaxivity (ρ [μm/s]) depends on paramagnetic mineral content, magnetic susceptibility and distribution in natural rocks. (b) The linear correlation between surface relaxivity and illite content (ρ = 0.067 × fil + 0.56) has a goodness of fit R2 = 0.79; where fil is wt% of illite. (c) This linear correlation only holds if the illite is distributed in the matrix. (d) Clay bound water cut off times lie between 2.13–2.23 ms for T1 and 1.34–1.40 ms for T2 distributions based on our mineralogy-guided calculations. The commonly-used T2 value of 3 ms results in large errors in clay bound porosity calculations (>100%) especially for high clay content samples. Our results can help improve NMR logs interpretations for surface relaxivity, PSD and clay content evaluation in Middle Bakken and Three Forks Formations. We suggest using our methodology to find similar correlations between surface relaxivity and distributed clay content and, in turn, to calculate surface relaxivity for other formations.
Plausible Responsiveness To Scope In Contingent Valuation

Plausible responsiveness to scope is a question of economic significance, in addition to statistical significance, of the scope test in contingent valuation. We briefly review the history of the scope test in order to place the current issue in the context of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. As a result of the review we gain insights into how the issue of scope “adequacy” arose twenty years after it was first mentioned by the NOAA Panel on Contingent Valuation following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. We then provide a review of Desvousges, Mathews and Train (2012) who promote the adding-up test to identify inadequate responsiveness to scope adequacy. The adding-up test is a test of the construct validity of the contingent valuation method but is flawed as a measure of economic significance. We propose scope elasticity of willingness-to-pay as a measure of economic significance. A simulation suggests a likely range of elasticity estimates given linear and quadratic functional forms for the willingness-to-pay function. In order to illustrate the ease of implementation of scope elasticity within the context of the standard scope test we calculate scope elasticity with willingness-to-pay estimates from several studies, describe two studies that directly estimate scope elasticity and estimate scope elasticity with primary data from two studies. All of these empirical estimates of scope elasticity fall within the range of scope elasticity suggested by the simulation. Scope elasticity provides a practical way forward, relative to the adding up test, on the issue of economic significance of scope effects.
A low-overhead non-block checkpointing algorithm for mobile computing environment

In this paper, we have proposed a new approach toward designing a low-overhead non-blocking single phase synchronous checkpointing algorithm suitable for distributed mobile computing environment. The algorithm produces a reduced number of checkpoints. To achieve this reduction in the number of the checkpoints we have used very simple data structure. Each process independently takes its decision whether to take a checkpoint or not. It makes the algorithm simple, fast, and efficient. The algorithm has been shown to be suitable for distributed mobile computing environment.
The Impact of Health Insurance Expansion on Physician Treatment Choice: Medicare Part D and Physician Prescribing

We test the effect of the introduction of Medicare Part D on physician prescribing behavior by using data on physician visits from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) 2002–2004 and 2006–2009 for patients aged 60–69. We use regression discontinuity designs to estimate the effect of part D around the age of 65 before and after 2006 and then compare the discrete jump in outcomes at age 65 before and after Part D. We find a 32% increase in the number of prescription drugs prescribed or continued per visit and a 46% increase in the number of generic drugs prescribed or continued for the elderly after the introduction of Medicare Part D.
Stable Vortex Configurations in a Cylinder

We calculate stable arrangements for a single superfluid vortex pinned to the wall of a stationary cylindrical container. We find that, independent of the details of the pinning site, stable vortices must subtend most of the cell horizontally and cannot be vertical or nearly vertical. More generally, the geometry of a container severely limits the possible vortex configurations, making macroscopic trapped vortices less common than previously believed.
On the Largest Empty Axis-Parallel Box Amidst n Points

We give the first efficient (1−e)-approximation algorithm for the following problem: Given an axis-parallel d-dimensional box R in ℝ d containing n points, compute a maximum-volume empty axis-parallel d-dimensional box contained in R. The minimum of this quantity over all such point sets is of the order $\Theta (\frac {1}{n} )$ . Our algorithm finds an empty axis-aligned box whose volume is at least (1−e) of the maximum in O((8ede −2) d ⋅nlog d n) time. No previous efficient exact or approximation algorithms were known for this problem for d≥4. As the problem has been recently shown to be NP-hard in arbitrarily high dimensions (i.e., when d is part of the input), the existence of an efficient exact algorithm is unlikely. We also present a (1−e)-approximation algorithm that, given an axis-parallel d-dimensional cube R in ℝ d containing n points, computes a maximum-volume empty axis-parallel hypercube contained in R. The minimum of this quantity over all such point sets is also shown to be of the order $\Theta (\frac{1}{n} )$ . A faster (1−e)-approximation algorithm, with a milder dependence on d in the running time, is obtained in this case.
mod_oai: an apache module for metadata harvesting

We describe mod_oai, an Apache 2.0 module that implements the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH). OAI-PMH is the de facto standard for metadata exchange in digital libraries and allows repositories to expose their contents in a structured, application-neutral format with semantics optimized for accurate incremental harvesting. mod_oai differs from other OAI-PMH implementations in that it optimizes harvesting web content by building OAI-PMH capability into the Apache server.
CAUSES OF DEATH IN CASES OF PRECLIMACTERIC MENORRHAGIA.

T II I s study was designed to seek evidence supporting or disproving concepts previously expressed which are essentially as follows: Women developing menorrhagia in the years preceding the expected time of their menopause, once malignancy has been excluded, should be regarded as a group more likely to develop carcinoma of the endometrium than are the majority of women, who do not develop dysfunctional menorrhagia preceding the spontaneous cessation of their menstrual peri0ds.l” I2 Women experiencing preclimacteric menorrhagia; with or without fibroids in the uterus, whose bleeding tendency has been terminated by irradiation, not only have a better than average chance of developing endometrial cancer, they are also more likely than the average to develop malignancy within any pelvic tissue irradiated; the vagina, rectum, bladder, or the uterus.** 9, I*, I59 I6 Whether the result of surgery or radiation on the woman whose extra ovarian sources of estro,qen fail to protect her from atrophic changes, the withdrawal of estrogens as a
The Distance Between Perception and Reality in the Social Domains of Life

This chapter provides an overview of the psychological biases behind the striking gaps between perception and reality in four social domains—health, employment, the perception of security, and social ranking. Biases associated with cultural values are very relevant with respect to health and job satisfaction. Affect and availability heuristics are the dominant sources of bias in perceptions of security. The formation of subjective social rankings appears to be less culturally dependent and more dependent on the level of socioeconomic development of each country. Understanding the gaps between objective and subjective indicators may help clarify public debate on social policy.
Temporary Protection and Technology Adoption: Evidence from the Napoleonic Blockade

This paper uses a natural experiment to assess whether temporary protection from trade with industrial leaders can foster development of infant industries in follower countries. Using a new dataset compiled from primary sources, I find that in the short-run regions (departements) in the French Empire which became better protected from trade with the British for exogenous reasons during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-15) increased capacity in a new technology, mechanised cotton spinning, to a larger extent than regions which remained more exposed to trade. Temporary protection had long term effects. In particular, by exploiting the fact that the post-war location of the cotton industry was determined to a large extent by the historical accident of the wars, I first show that the location of cotton spinning within France was persistent, and firms located in regions with higher post-war spinning capacity were more productive 30 years later. Second, I find that after the restoration of peace, exports of cotton goods from France increased substantially, consistent with evolving comparative advantage in cottons. Third, I show that as late as 1850, France and Belgium - both part of the French Empire prior to 1815 - had larger cotton spinning industries than other Continental European countries which were not protected from British trade during the wars; this suggests that adoption of the new technology was far from inevitable.
Direct and Indirect Effects

The direct effect of one event on another can be defined and measured by holding constant all intermediate variables between the two. Indirect effects present conceptual and practical difficulties (in nonlinear models), because they cannot be isolated by holding certain variables constant. This paper presents a new way of defining the effect transmitted through a restricted set of paths, without controlling variables on the remaining paths. This permits the assessment of a more natural type of direct and indirect effects, one that is applicable in both linear and nonlinear models and that has broader policy-related interpretations. The paper establishes conditions under which such assessments can be estimated consistently from experimental and nonexperimental data, and thus extends path-analytic techniques to nonlinear and nonparametric models.
C^*-algebras associated with branched coverings

In this note we analyze the C*-algebra associated with a branched covering both as a groupoid C*-algebra and as a Cuntz-Pimsner algebra. We determine conditions when the algebra is simple and purely infinite. We indicate how to compute the K-theory of several examples, including one related to rational maps on the Riemann sphere.
Physiologic Stress Reduction by a Local Anesthetic During Newborn Circumcision

To evaluate the effectiveness of the dorsal penile nerve block in reducing the stress of circumcision upon newborns, physiologic measurements in 30 healthy full-term infants (including transcutaneous oxygen levels, crying time, heart rate, and respiratory rate) were monitored continuously before, during, and after the operation. Infants receiving the dorsal penile nerve block with lidocaine (1% Xylocaine) (N = 20) experienced significantly less stress, as evidenced by smaller decreases in transcutaneous oxygen pressure levels, less time spent crying, and smaller increases in heart rate, than infants circumcised in an identical manner without anesthetic (N = 10). No complications resulted from injection of the local anesthetic or from the circumcision procedure itself. Inasmuch as dorsal penile nerve block has a low complication rate, is simple to learn, and adds little time or expense to the overall procedure, and if it proves to be as effective clinically as the physiologic data indicate, the dorsal penile nerve block should be considered for every infant undergoing circumcision.
Circuit design style for energy efficiency: LSDL and compound domino

Introduction of sub-90nm technology has made a profound impact on circuit designs. Thus, it requires understanding of existing design styles for desired energy-efficiency. We compare adder designs in the energy-delay space, implemented with Limited Switch Dynamic Logic (LSDL) and Compound Domino Logic (CD) in a 65nm SOI technology. Evaluation results show that LSDL can provide more than 35% energy savings than CD with 25% switching activity at relaxed cycle times greater than 10.5 FO4.
Discontinuous Galerkin finite element differential calculus and applications to numerical solutions of linear and nonlinear partial differential equations

This paper develops a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element differential calculus theory for approximating weak derivatives of Sobolev functions and piecewise Sobolev functions. By introducing numerical one-sided derivatives as building blocks, various first and second order numerical operators such as the gradient, divergence, Hessian, and Laplacian operator are defined, and their corresponding calculus rules are established. Among the calculus rules are product and chain rules, integration by parts formulas and the divergence theorem. Approximation properties and the relationship between the proposed DG finite element numerical derivatives and some well-known finite difference numerical derivative formulas on Cartesian grids are also established. Besides independent interest in numerical differentiation, the primary motivation and goal of developing the DG finite element differential calculus is to solve partial differential equations. It is shown that several existing finite element, finite difference and discontinuous Galerkin methods can be rewritten compactly using the proposed DG finite element differential calculus framework. Moreover, new discontinuous Galerkin methods for linear and nonlinear PDEs are also obtained from the framework.
Hedging in Presence of Market Access Risk

Existing literature predominantly assumes perfect knowledge of production methods when deriving optimal futures position hedging rules. This paper relaxes this assumption and recognizes situations where producers interested in hedging may not know the exact input mix that will subsequently be used in their physical operations. This uncertainty is built into a conceptual model subsequently used to demonstrate the impacts of this risk on optimal hedging behavior.
On Flattenability of Graphs

We consider a generalization of the concept of d-flattenability of graphs - introduced for the $$l_2$$l2 norm by Belk and Connelly - to general $$l_p$$lp norms, with integer P, $$1 \le p < \infty $$1≤p<∞, though many of our results work for $$l_\infty $$l∞ as well. The following results are shown for graphs G, using notions of genericity, rigidity, and generic d-dimensional rigidity matroid introduced by Kitson for frameworks in general $$l_p$$lp norms, as well as the cones of vectors of pairwise $$l_p^p$$lpp distances of a finite point configuration in d-dimensional, $$l_p$$lp space: i d-flattenability of a graph G is equivalent to the convexity of d-dimensional, inherent Cayley configurations spaces for G, a concept introduced by the first author; ii d-flattenability and convexity of Cayley configuration spaces over specified non-edges of a d-dimensional framework are not generic properties of frameworks in arbitrary dimension; iii d-flattenability of G is equivalent to all of G's generic frameworks being d-flattenable; iv existence of one generic d-flattenable framework for G is equivalent to the independence of the edges of G, a generic property of frameworks; v the rank of G equals the dimension of the projection of the d-dimensional stratum of the $$l_p^p$$lpp distance cone. We give stronger results for specific norms for $$d = 2$$d=2: we show that vi 2-flattenable graphs for the $$l_1$$l1-norm and $$l_\infty $$l∞-norm are a larger class than 2-flattenable graphs for Euclidean $$l_2$$l2-norm case and finally vii prove further results towards characterizing 2-flattenability in the $$l_1$$l1-norm. A number of conjectures and open problems are posed.
Two-output secure computation with malicious adversaries

We present a method to compile Yao's two-player garbled circuit protocol into one that is secure against malicious adversaries that relies on witness indistinguishability. Our approach can enjoy lower communication and computation overhead than methods based on cut-and-choose [13] and lower overhead than methods based on zero-knowledge proofs [8] (or Σ-protocols [14]). To do so, we develop and analyze new solutions to issues arising with this transformation: -- How to guarantee the generator's input consistency -- How to support different outputs for each player without adding extra gates to the circuit of the function f being computed -- How the evaluator can retrieve input keys but avoid selective failure attacks -- Challenging 3/5 of the circuits is near optimal for cut-and-choose (and better than challenging 1/2). Our protocols require the existence of secure-OT and claw-free functions that have a weak malleability property. We discuss an experimental implementation of our protocol to validate our efficiency claims.
Building a Framework to Support Project-Based Collaborative Learning Experiences in an Asynchronous Learning Network

Providing students in an asynchronous learning network (ALN) a rich learning environment is not easy, especially in terms of promoting higher cognitive functioning such as analysis and evaluation. The use of project-based, collaborative assignments has been demonstrated to foster greater depth of learning in traditional classroom settings, but this type of assignment is very difficult to plan, develop, and execute in an ALN. This paper presents a case study describing a systemsbased framework for designing, implementing, and evaluating project-based collaborative learning experiences to be delivered via an ALN. Included in the framework is an analysis of the benefits of both collaborative and project-based learning, an examination of the challenges to incorporating project-based collaborative learning activities, and an examination of specific procedures to address those challenges.
A Fully Coupled Three-Dimensional THM Analysis of the Febex in Situ Test with the Rocmas Code: Prediction of THM Behavior in a Bentonite Barrier

Abstract This paper presents a fully coupled thermal-hydrological-mechanical analysis of FEBEX—a large underground heater test conducted in a bentonite and fractured rock system. System responses predicted by the numerical analysis—including temperature, moisture content, and bentonite-swelling stress—were compared to field measurements at sensors located in the bentonite. An overall good agreement between predicted and measured system responses shows that coupled thermal-hydrological-mechanical processes in a bentonite barrier are well represented by the numerical model. The most challenging aspect of this particular analysis was modeling of the bentonite's mechanical behavior, which at FEBEX turned out to be affected by gaps between prefabricated bentonite blocks. At FEBEX, the swelling pressure did not develop until a few months into the experiment when moisture swelling of bentonite blocks had closed the gaps completely. Moreover, the wetting of the bentonite took place uniformly from the rock and was not impacted by the permeability difference between the Lamprophyres dykes and surrounding rock.
On-Line Monitor Design of Finite-State Machines

On-line monitoring is a useful technique for ensuring system reliability. By continuously supervising the system's operation, a wide range of problems, such as physical defects, transient faults and design errors, can be detected. A monitor M*'s behavior can be viewed as an abstraction of the target system M's behavior, and can be represented by a homomorphic mapping from M to M*. We present a systematic procedure to select homomorphisms for monitor design and measure their costs based on a behavioral fault model. Analysis of the method shows that monitors with very few states and low area can provide high fault coverage. Experimental results are presented which quantify the basic trade-off between area overhead and fault coverage. Simulation results under the industry-standard single stuck-at fault model are also reported.
The Law of Evidence and the Idea of Progress

To ask the question, “Does evidence law matter?,” is often to assume that some sets or groups of people believe it is important while others are challenging that view. However, another assumption regarding the nature of this question is possible—that the question is asked because legal academics believe that evidence law both does and does not matter, and that those academics also believe that these are irreconcilable beliefs. What is of particular interest is how legal academics reached this point and why they believe that evidence law both does and does not matter. Consideration of these aspects of evidence law scholarship and study reveals that evidence law can be understood as something both rational, irrational, and non-rational. It can be perceived as permitting practitioners and scholars to both accommodate paradox and accept the conflict of an abstract rule of law imposed by “concrete” persons. This stands at odds with progressive reform efforts which attempt to define, codify, and ultimately reconcile the inherently dichotomous nature of evidence law. In order to achieve real progress in the area of evidentiary reform, the idea of progress will have to be abandoned.
Release of bFGF, an endothelial cell survival factor, by osmotic shock.

PURPOSE. To test the effects of osmotic change on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) release from cultured endothelial cells (ECs). METHODS. Bovine aortic and bovine retinal ECs were exposed to hypoosmotic shock for 2 minutes, were allowed to recover for 15 minutes, and had bFGF release assayed. The role of bFGF in cell recovery was assessed by including neutralizing antibody against bFGF or the addition of exogenous bFGF. Cell number and viability were determined under varying conditions. Apoptosis was assessed by immunoperoxidase detection of digoxigenin-labeled DNA. RESULTS. After shock and recovery, both ECs released significantly greater amounts of bFGF than untreated control, bFGF release after shock for 2 minutes was lower than release after shock and recovery. Bovine retinal endothelial (BRE) cell number was reduced at 48 hours after shock, recovery, and removal of released bFGF compared with cells left in the presence of released bFGF. Cell number was significantly lower when BRE cells were shocked and recovered in the presence of a neutralizing anti-bFGF antibody (P < 0.05). Exogenous bFGF reversed this effect. Apoptosis was significantly increased in BRE cells shocked and recovered or in the presence of bFGF antibody (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS, bFGF is released by cultured ECs in response to osmotically induced cell injury. These results support the concept of bFGF as a wound hormone and survival factor for ECs. In further compromised tissue, release of bFGF in this manner may play a role in the pathogenesis of disease.
Negative examples for sequential importance sampling of binary contingency tables

The sequential importance sampling (SIS) algorithm has gained considerable popularity for its empirical success. One of its noted applications is to the binary contingency tables problem, an important problem in statistics, where the goal is to estimate the number of 0/1 matrices with prescribed row and column sums. We give a family of examples in which the SIS procedure, if run for any subexponential number of trials, will underestimate the number of tables by an exponential factor. This result holds for any of the usual design choices in the SIS algorithm, namely the ordering of the columns and rows. These are apparently the first theoretical results on the efficiency of the SIS algorithm for binary contingency tables. Finally, we present experimental evidence that the SIS algorithm is efficient for row and column sums that are regular. Our work is a first step in determining rigorously the class of inputs for which SIS is effective.
Outer Join Elimination in the Teradata RDBMS

Queries in rela tional DBMS are getting more and more complex especially in the decision support environment. Also, tools generate most SQL queries received by commercial DBMS engines with not much user control. Query rewrite plays an important role in optimizing these co mplex and tool – generated queries. One important such technique is eliminating redu ndant joins whenever possible. In this paper, we present a new solution for outer join elimination. This solution was implemented in the Teradata DBMS part of V2R5.1. As an example, we show how applications based on vertical partitioning and universal views can greatly benefit from our outer join elimination technique. Finally, we describe performance improvement results of applying these techniques to the TPC-H benchmark.
Mutually unbiased bases and orthogonal decompositions of Lie algebras

We establish a connection between the problem of constructing maximal collections of mutually unbiased bases (MUBs) and an open problem in the theory of Lie algebras. More precisely, we show that a collection of µ MUBs in n gives rise to a collection of µ Cartan subalgebras of the special linear Lie algebra sln() that are pairwise orthogonal with respect to the Killing form, where = or =. In particular, a complete collection of MUBs in n gives rise to a so-called orthogonal decomposition (OD) of sln(). The converse holds if the Cartan subalgebras in the OD are also †-closed, i.e., closed under the adjoint operation. In this case, the Cartan subalgebras have unitary bases, and the above correspondence becomes equivalent to a result of [2] relating collections of MUBs to collections of maximal commuting classes of unitary error bases, i.e., orthogonal unitary matrices. This connection implies that for n ≤ 5 an essentially unique complete collection of MUBs exists. We define monomial MUBs, a class of which all known MUB constructions are members, and use the above connection to show that for n = 6 there are at most three monomial MUBs.
Computational Investigation of Low-Discrepancy Sequences in Simulation Algorithms for Bayesian Networks

Monte Carlo sampling has become a major vehicle for approximate inference in Bayesian networks. In this paper, we investigate a family of related simulation approaches, known collectively as quasi-Monte Carlo methods based on deterministic low-discrepancy sequences. We first outline several theoretical aspects of deterministic low-discrepancy sequences, show three examples of such sequences, and then discuss practical issues related to applying them to belief updating in Bayesian networks. We propose an algorithm for selecting direction numbers for Sobol sequence. Our experimental results show that low-discrepancy sequences (especially Sobol sequence) significantly improve the performance of simulation algorithms in Bayesian networks compared to Monte Carlo sampling.
Catalyst Poisoning and Chemical Process Dynamics

The major purpose of the material herein is to link the more fundamental aspects of catalyst deactivation by poisoning to those related problems which plague industrial practitioners. Thus we are primarily concerned with events which occur on an intermediate size scale: within catalyst particles or in chemical reactors that are well characterized in terms of conventional models. Even within this framework the task is not a simple one, since catalyst poisoning in the sense of this link range from some rather fundamental considerations of surface chemical physics (SCP) to the furtherest reaches of catalytic reaction engineering.