cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Design in Education Applied to Medical Problems

The goal of this paper is to outline the successful application of a multidisciplinary approach to the design of a piece of laboratory equipment to be used in the field. Commercial design projects commonly involve multi-disciplinary teams that include designers, engineers, marketing professionals as well as experts from other disciplines. Accordingly, it is important that design instruction adequately prepare students for this professional reality. They must be cognizant of the goals and concerns that team members from other backgrounds may have and understand how best to interact with them to optimize outcome. The results of a design project within a multidisciplinary studio class are discussed.
Invariant subspaces of RL1

In this note we extend D. Singh and A. A. W. Mehanna's invariant subspace theorem for RH1 (the real Banach space of analytic functions in H1 with real Taylor coefficients) to the simply invariant subspaces of RL1 (the real Banach space of functions in L1 with real Fourier coefficients.
Structure, function and assembly of mammalian branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex

The mammalian branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex (BCKDC) catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of the branched-chain α-ketoacids derived from valine, leucine, and isoleucine. The mammalian BCKDC is a member of the α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes comprising pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDC), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDC) and BCKDC with similar structure and function (Reed et al., 1985; Yeaman, 1989). All three of these complexes are located in the mitochondrial matrix compartment and are associated with the inner membrane. BCKDC is a highly assembled macromolecular structure with an estimated molecular mass of 3 to 4 million daltons. BCKDC isolated from bovine kidney and liver has been shown to contain three catalytic components (Pettit et al., 1978; Heffelfmger et al., 1983): a branched-chain α-ketoacid decarboxylase (E1), a dihydrolipoyl transacylase (E2) and a dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3). The E3 components are shared by PDC, KGDC and BCKDC (Yeaman, 1989). BCKDC also contains two regulatory enzymes, a specific kinase (Shimomura et al., 1990; Lee et al., 1991) and a specific phosphatase (Damuni et al., 1984), which modulate the activity of BCKDC by reversible phosphorylation-dephosphorylation.
Regulation and Functional Analysis of Glutamine Syntbetase Genes in Legumes

Glutamine synthetase (GS) is the key enzyme responsible for the assimilation and reassimilation of ammonia. GS catalyzes the ATP dependent condensation of NH3 with glutamate to produce glutamine. Subsequently, glutamate synthase transfers an amido group of glutamine to ∝-ketoglutarate to produce two molecules of glutamate (Lea et al., 1990). Glutamine is one of the major nitrogen transport compounds in plants and acts as the nitrogen donor for the synthesis of most nitrogenous compounds. GS in plants, is made up of eight subunits, each subunit having a molecular weight of between 38-45kD. The GS isoenzyme localized in the plastid/chloroplast (GS2) functions in the reassimilation of NH3 produced by photorespiration, while the cytosolic isoforms of GS (GS,), depending on the organ/tissue where it is located, assimilates ammonia produced by different physiological processes (McGrath, Corruzzi, 1991). The GS1 in roots, stems and leaves is localized around the vasculature and it is believed to function in generating glutamine for nitrogen transport (Brears et al., 1991). The GS1 in the root vasculature is believed to be involved in the assimilation of ammonia produced by the reduction of nitrate obtained from the soil water. In root nodules, GS1 is localized mostly in the infected cells where it assimilates ammonia produced by the N2-fixing bacteroids.
Assessing Learning Behavior and Cognitive Bias from Web Logs

This research to practice, work in progress paper presents the analysis strategy used to assess the learning behavior using logs on an e-learning platform. Students who can link algebraic functions to their corresponding graphs perform well in STEM courses. Early algebra curricula teaches these concepts in tandem. However, it is challenging to assess whether students are linking the concepts. Video analyses, interviews and other traditional methods that aim to quantify how students link the concepts taught in school require precious classroom and teacher time. We use web logs to infer learning. Web logs are widely available and amenable to data science. Our approach partitions the web interface into components related to data and graph concepts. We collect click and mouse movement data as users interact with these components. We used statistical and data mining techniques to model their learning behavior. We built our models to assess learning behavior for a workshop presented in Summer 2016. Students in the workshop were middle-school math teachers planning to use this curriculum in their own classrooms. We used our models to assess participation levels, a prerequisite indicator for learning. Our models aligned with ground-truth traditional methods for 17 of 18 students. The results of the models with respect to the two types of components of the web portal have been used to infer possible data or graph oriented cognitive bias.
Remote detection of uranium with filament ablation spectroscopy

We demonstrate that femtosecond filaments can efficiently excite metallic uranium over distances on the order of 10 meters, and that characteristic uranium atomic and molecular signatures can be simultaneously detected in seconds. © 2019 The Author(s)
Growth response of two grasses and a legume on coal fly ash amended strip mine spoils

The use of fly ash as an amendment for strip mine soils was studied under field conditions. Three plant species—Agrostis tenuis var. Highlander,Festuca arundinacea, andLespedeza cuneata—were grown in strip mine plots. Half of the plots were treated with an equivalent of 70 metric tons per hectare of coal fly ash and half were untreated. Biomass production ranged from 5 to 30 times higher in fly ash treated plots compared to untreated plots. No toxic effects to the plants were observed.
Institutionalizing and sustaining virtual reality experiences

The speakers on this panel will discuss the curricular uses, partnership opportunities, infrastructure requirements, and planning results of institutionalizing for the sustained support of Virtual Reality experiences for teaching and learning in library settings. The panel will provide an opportunity for those with some familiarity of emerging technologies to extend their understanding of the field, and help develop ideas for new research and teaching areas related to information science and digital librarianship. The panel will also motivate JCDL audience participation and discussion for potential Virtual Reality development uses in research settings beyond academic libraries. Supporting Virtual Reality research, pedagogy, and content creation requires extensive cross-campus collaboration, and the session will highlight the conference theme of connecting people to achieve extraordinary results.
Reflections Prompted by the Maintenance of Certification.

Has it really been 10 years since I took the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Forensic Psychiatry Maintenance of Certification (MOC) examination? That thought is disturbing enough in and of itself. But do I really have to take it again? And do I really have to study? I have served
Love as Respect, Admiration, and Submission to a Partner

This chapter describes the experience and expression of love as respect, admiration, and submission to other. Scholarly literature does not commonly discuss these forms of love, even though they are widely accepted in many cultures as attributes of love. The chapter reviews cross-cultural studies of love as respect and submission. The pleasure of submission in love is illustrated with Japanese indigenous concept of amae.
L'etat, c'est moi. Fifty years of history and philosophy of evolutionary biology.

DESCRIPTION I reflect on my fifty-year history as a philosopher of biology, showing how it has taken me from rather narrow analytic studies, through the history of ideas, and now on to issues to do with science and religion. I argue that moral concerns were and still are a major motivation behind what I do and write.
Taxes and Borrower Behavior: Evidence from the Mortgage Interest Deductibility Limit

Abstract This paper estimates the behavioral response to mortgage interest tax deductibility by studying the discrete change in the net-of-tax marginal interest rate that occurs at $1 million in mortgage debt. Using data on 2004-2016 mortgage originations, I estimate excess bunching in the loan distribution based on a counterfactual that accounts for bunching at salient loan amounts. Findings suggest excess of about 54,000 loans at the deductibility limit, or 4.5% of the sample. The level of bunching implies an average reduction in borrowing around the $1 million limit of 9.4 percent, and mortgage demand elasticities between − 0.132 to − 0.115 for home purchase loans. Estimated elasticities imply that from 2004-2016 the MID induced $49.52 billion in deadweight loss in the mortgage market.
Injection printing: additive molding via shell material extrusion and filling

Abstract Material extrusion is a popular process for both prototyping and digital manufacturing, yet it is lacking in terms of part strength, feature resolution, and production rate relative to alternative processes. Injection printing addresses these issues by combining material extrusion of the outer surfaces of the part at fine resolution with injection molding of larger interior cavities at high flow rates. Injection printing thus aims to utilize the full melting capacity of material extrusion printers to mitigate the curse of dimensionality that plagues additive manufacturing. Simple governing models for flow in the formed cavities as well as the stress and deflection of the shell walls are presented. To validate the performance of injection printing relative to material extrusion, impact specimens and tensile bars were printed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The tensile and impact results of the samples were compared, and image analysis was performed on the post-test samples. It was found that injection printing increased print speeds by an average factor of 3.2 relative to conventional material extrusion using the same linear print velocities. With respect to properties, the stiffness, strength, and strain to failure of injection printed tensile bars (in-plane) were respectively increased by 21 %, 47 %, and 35 % compared to material extrusion. Properties of impact specimen and vertically printed tensile bars also showed promising gains albeit with constraints related to the printer’s melting capacity. Even still, injection printing is shown as a broadly applicable and readily accessible process for increasing part strength and production rate while enabling improved feature resolution without greatly extended print times.
Neuro-anesthesiology in pregnancy.

Management of the pregnant patient requiring neurosurgery poses multiple challenges, juxtaposing pregnancy-specific considerations with that accompanying the safe provision of intracranial or spine surgery. There are no specific evidence-based recommendations, and case-by-case interdisciplinary discussions will guide informed decision-making about the timing of delivery vis-a-vis neurosurgery, the performance of cesarean delivery immediately before neurosurgery, consequences of neurosurgery on subsequent delivery, or even the optimal anesthetic modality for neurosurgery and/or cesarean delivery. In general, identifying whether increased intracranial pressure poses a risk for herniation is crucial before allowing neuraxial procedures. Modified rapid sequence induction with advanced airway approaches (videolaryngoscopic or fiberoptic) allows improved airway manipulation with reduced risks associated with endotracheal intubation of the obstetric airway. Currently, very few anesthetic drugs are avoided in the neurosurgical pregnant patient; however, ensuring access to critical care units for prolonged monitoring and assistance of the respiratory-compromised patient is necessary to ensure safe outcomes.
Organophosphate pesticide dose estimation from spot and 24-hr urine samples collected from children in an agricultural community

Abstract Background Spot urine samples are often used to assess exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides in place of “gold standard” 24-hr samples, which are cumbersome to collect. Assessment of non-persistent chemicals using spot urine samples may result in exposure misclassification that could bias epidemiological analyses towards the null. Few studies have examined the validity of measurements of urinary metabolites in spot samples to estimate daily OP dose or the potential implications of reliance on spot samples for risk assessments. Objective Examine the validity of using first morning void (FMV) and random non-FMV urine samples to estimate cumulative 24-hr OP pesticide dose among children living in an agricultural region. Methods We collected urine samples over 7 consecutive days, including two 24-hr samples, from 25 children living in an agricultural community. We used measurements of urinary dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites, data on nearby agricultural pesticide applications, and daily dietary intake data to estimate internal dose from exposure to a mixture of OP pesticides according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Cumulative Risk Assessment guidelines. Dose estimates from volume- and creatinine-adjusted same-day FMV and non-FMV spot urine samples were compared to the “gold standard” estimates from 24-hr samples. Results Non-FMV samples had relatively weak ability to predict 24-hr dose (R2 = 0.09–0.38 for total DAPs) and tended to underestimate the percentage of samples exceeding regulatory guidelines. Models with FMV samples or the average of an FMV and non-FMV sample were similarly predictive of 24-hr estimates (R2 for DAPs = 0.40–0.68 and 0.40–0.80, respectively, depending on volume adjustment method). Conclusion Reliance on non-FMV samples for risk assessments may underestimate daily OP dose and the percentage of children with dose estimates exceeding regulatory guidelines. If 24-hr urine sample collection is infeasible, we recommend future studies prioritize the collection of FMV samples to most accurately characterize OP dose in children.
The Fragility of Grace in the Karamazov World—and Ours:

This article analyzes the vision of Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov as a narrative riff on Kant’s three basic questions. The novel shows what it means to live out “What can I know?” “What ought...
Verifying Mars 2020 Sampling and Caching Robotic Functions with Position Budgeting Process and Tool

The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover was launched on July 30th, 2020 with one of the most complex robotic systems ever implemented on an interplanetary mission. Much of this robotic complexity resides in the Rover Sampling and Caching Subsystem (SCS) to enable collection of Martian samples for possible future return to Earth and preparation of surfaces for close-up surface science observations. Two robotic arms are used by SCS: the large Robotic Arm (RA) positions the coring drill and science instruments mounted to the Turret for surface interactions, and the smaller Sample Handling Assembly (SHA) manipulates Sample Tube Assemblies (STA) within the Adaptive Caching Assembly (ACA) to prepare them for sample collection, processing, and hermetic sealing. The robotic arms interact with the Martian surface and other SCS components in many ways and in a variety of configurations, with positioning accuracy requirements ranging from tens of millimeters for some surface interactions down to sub-millimeter accuracy for some ACA interactions. This paper describes the process and tool used to calculate the SCS robotic interaction positioning budgets and verify the as-built hardware when delivered. To ensure that these robotic systems are able to perform their tasks, each robotic interaction with another element was broken down into its composite functions. To calculate a positioning budget margin for each function, an allowable was defined and then compared to the list of error sources that contribute to misalignment. Across the subsystem, over 250 functions were identified to be assessed, with almost 500 error sources feeding into their budget calculations. In addition to using as-built values in the budgets for SCS Verification and Validation (V&V) after the hardware was complete, these budgets were populated with design data during the design phase to identify areas of concern and guide hardware design to ensure positive position budget margins. Because of the size of the SCS team that had inputs to the positioning budgets and the sheer number of items in the budgets that needed to be created, updated, and verified, having a tool that would allow for simultaneous access and robust data integrity and processing was imperative. To accomplish this, a web-based MySQL database was created that allowed users to create function position budgets, link individual errors and allowables to them, and view function position budget margin reports. Each error and allowable records data for lateral, normal, angular, and clocking errors, with the ability to add as-built data for up to four different hardware builds. Margin reports can be generated for either design values alone or replacing design data with as-built data when available. These as-built reports are used for final verification of the SCS positioning requirements. Ultimately, the SCS positioning budget process and database tool led to successful interactions during test and an SCS robotic system that is ready to perform sample acquisition and caching on the surface of Mars.
Impact of Electronic Properties of Grain Boundaries on the Solid Electrolyte Interphases (SEIs) in Li-ion Batteries

Electron leakage through the solid-state electrolyte interphase (SEI) in Li-ion batteries causes the reduction of the electrolyte and the consumption of Li-ions, decreasing the battery capacity and...
ULoc: Low-Power, Scalable and cm-Accurate UWB-Tag Localization and Tracking for Indoor Applications

A myriad of IoT applications, ranging from tracking assets in hospitals, logistics, and construction industries to indoor tracking in large indoor spaces, demand centimeter-accurate localization that is robust to blockages from hands, furniture, or other occlusions in the environment. With this need, in the recent past, Ultra Wide Band (UWB) based localization and tracking has become popular. Its popularity is driven by its proposed high bandwidth and protocol specifically designed for localization of specialized "tags". This high bandwidth of UWB provides a fine resolution of the time-of-travel of the signal that can be translated to the location of the tag with centimeter-grade accuracy in a controlled environment. Unfortunately, we find that high latency and high-power consumption of these time-of-travel methods are the major culprits which prevent such a system from deploying multiple tags in the environment. Thus, we developed ULoc, a scalable, low-power, and cm-accurate UWB localization and tracking system. In ULoc, we custom build a multi-antenna UWB anchor that enables azimuth and polar angle of arrival (henceforth shortened to '3D-AoA') measurements, with just the reception of a single packet from the tag. By combining multiple UWB anchors, ULoc can localize the tag in 3D space. The single-packet location estimation reduces the latency of the entire system by at least 3×, as compared with state of art multi-packet UWB localization protocols, making UWB based localization scalable. ULoc's design also reduces the power consumption per location estimate at the tag by 9×, as compared to state-of-art time-of-travel algorithms. We further develop a novel 3D-AoA based 3D localization that shows a stationary localization accuracy of 3.6 cm which is 1.8× better than the state-of-the-art two-way ranging (TWR) systems. We further developed a temporal tracking system that achieves a tracking accuracy of 10 cm in mobile conditions which is 4.3× better than the state-of-the-art TWR systems.
Ballistic Electron Current in System of Asymmetrical Double Quantum Wells and its Terahertz Oscillations

In this paper a ballistic transport of current carriers with special dispersion relation e(px) across a thin doped base of the n + nn + or p+pp+ - diode is considered (px is a component of crystal momentum p in the current direction). A distinguished feature of the e(px)- relation consists in the presence of some region in the p- space where effective mass of the carriers (∂ 2 e /∂px 2y)-1 is negative. Among possible mechanisms of realization of the required dispersion relation we turn attention to such of them which can be described by matrix Hamiltonian: H 11 = e(1) (p), H 22 = e (2)(p), H12 = H21=δ,
Land Regulations and the Optimal Distribution of Cities

Despite the large impact institutions have on the allocation of population, it remains an open question which institutions produce an efficient allocation of people across cities. Due to agglomeration, differences in amenities, and congestion, cities experience decreasing returns to population within cities (intensive margin) and across cities (extensive margin). This paper considers three institutional designs with different abilities or incentives to set land regulations. The main results imply that land regulations can be a part of an efficient institutional design and inefficient land regulations distort the types of cities, in terms of production and quality of life amenities, that are created. These insights are used to structurally estimate amenities across cities. The estimates, consistent with the model, find that cities with more production amenities have fewer land regulations (e.g., Houston, TX) and cities with more quality of life amenities have more land regulations (e.g., Portland, OR).
Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Opportunities

Abstract In numerous countries, many entrepreneurial opportunities have been created as a result of the transformation from a planned economy to the market-driven system. This process continues to receive attention within both the business and academic communities. According to Ivy (1996), newly created small-scale enterprises run by local entrepreneurs are making major contributions to private sector development in these countries. Ivy further states that the increasing number of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the role they play in economic regeneration are of vital importance to economic stability in many nations. Countries in Central and Eastern Europe have made radical changes, and many new firms have emerged. This has initiated and promoted a new way of doing business for millions of people from many different cultures. New ideas, entrepreneurship, and market-oriented methods are being quickly implemented. The transformations in Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic have outperformed...
Earthquake Effects on Soil-Foundation Systems

The damage resulting from earthquakes may be influenced in a number of ways by the characteristics of the soils in the affected area. Where the damage is related to a gross instability of the soil, resulting in large permanent movements of the ground surface, association of the damage with the local soil conditions is readily apparent. Thus, for example, deposits of loose granular soils may be compacted by the ground vibrations induced by the earthquake, resulting in large settlements and differential settlements of the ground surface. Typical examples of damage due to this cause are shown in Figures Figure 16.1 and Figure 16.2 Figure Figure 16.1 shows an island near Valdivia, Chile, which was partially submerged as a result of the combined effects of tectonic land movements and ground settlement due to compaction in the Chilean earthquake of 1960. Figure Figure 16.2 shows differential settlement of the backfill of a bridge in the Niigata earthquake of 1964.
Cores, microbial organelles possibly specific to group D streptococci.

Abstract A long, thin, approximately cylindrical core spans the interior of cells of 24-hr cultures of all group D streptococci that were examined, five strains of Streptococcus faecalis, single strains of S. faecalis subsp. zymogenes and S. durans, and three strains of Streptococcus spp. In one strain of S. faecalis, serial section electron microscopy showed that most cells possess a core. The core is 0.10 to 0.16 μm thick and consists of a matrix and an axial array of ribosomelike particles. It resembles one of two types of cores present in a stable protoplast form of one of the S. faecalis strains. Cores were not present in single strains of S. pyogenes (β-hemolytic group A), S. agalactiae (group B), S. dysgalactiae (group C), S. equisimilis (group C), and S. mitis (viridans group) that were examined; nor were cores observed in single strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus megaterium. Cores may be useful, therefore, in identification of group D streptococci. For preservation and rapid recognition of cores, a glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide sequence of fixation appears superior to the osmium tetroxide method often employed in processing bacteria for electron microscopy.
Reciprocal regulation of CD4/CD8 expression by SWI/SNF-like BAF complexes

Thymic development produces two sub-lineages of T cells expressing either CD4 or CD8 co-receptors that assist antibody production and mediate cell killing, respectively. The mechanisms for mutually exclusive co-receptor expression remain poorly defined1,2. We find that mutations in the high mobility group (HMG) domain of BAF57—a DNA-binding subunit of the mammalian SWI/SNF-like chromatin-remodelling BAF complexes—or in the BAF complex ATPase subunit Brg, impair both CD4 silencing and CD8 activation. Brg is haploinsufficient for CD8 activation, but not for CD4 silencing, whereas BAF57 mutations preferentially impair CD4 silencing, pointing to target- and subunit-specific mechanisms of chromatin remodelling. BAF complexes directly bind the CD4 silencer, but the BAF57 HMG domain is dispensable for tethering BAF complexes to the CD4 silencer or other chromatin loci in vivo, or for remodelling reconstituted templates in vitro3,4, suggesting that chromatin remodelling in vivo requires HMG-dependent DNA bending. These results indicate that BAF complexes contribute to lineage bifurcation by reciprocally regulating lineage-specific genes, reminiscent of the role of the yeast SWI/SNF complex in mediating mating-type switching5,6.
Strehl’s ratio for a two-wavelength continuously deformable optical adaptive transmitter

Polychromatic adaptive optical systems differ from monochromatic systems in that the required phase compensation is measured at a wavelength (or wavelengths) different from that at which compensation is required. Unfortunately, the effect of turbulence is dispersive, and consequently, because of the wavelength difference, the compensation will not be exact. In an effort to determine the magnitude of the effect, a formulation of Strehl’s ratio for the polychromatic case has been developed and numerical data generated for both horizontal and vertical paths.
Long-term responses of aquatic macrophyte diversity and community structure to variation in nitrogen loading

Abstract In a chain of small lakes in southeastern Michigan, USA, macrophyte community dynamics have shown a strong relationship to variations in nitrogen (nitrate and ammonia) loading that appear to correlate with variations in regional annual precipitation. We examined the community structures of two of these lakes 9 years after a drought in 1987–1988 which had temporarily reduced nutrient loading in the system, and during which the macrophytes in normally more eutrophic Shoe Lake had shifted from a Ceratophyllum -dominated community of low diversity to a more diverse community similar to that in less productive East Graham Lake downstream. With a return to the normal precipitation rates and associated nitrogen loading, the macrophytes in Shoe Lake returned to a community dominated by the non-rooted species Ceratophyllum demersum . However, overall species diversity remained relatively high in Shoe Lake after the drought event.
Sorption of nitrogen dioxide by cellulose acetate

Sorption of NO2 by cellulose acetate proceeds by a process of solution, diffusion, and reaction governed by Henry's law, Fick's law, and first order kinetics with respect to the consumption of NO2. It appears as though water is the primary substrate with which NO2 reacts in the acetate film. The pseudo-unimolecular rate constant for films conditioned at 50% RH seems to be about 10 ± 5 × 10−3 sec.−1. The solubility of NO2 in dry film increases with increasing degree of acetylation. With the present data the diffusion coefficient and solubility in moist films cannot be determined separately, but only jointly as a parameter involving the product of one by the square of the other. Improved experiments designed to yield precision during the later stages of the sorption process should yield separate values of the two constants.
What do sexually active adolescent females say about relationship issues

Many sexually active teenagers face risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. The purpose of our study was to gain an understanding about influences on condom use among sexually active adolescents in relationships. Data were collected through semi-structured openended interviews. The findings of this study suggest that many adolescents desired the love of a male partner, and were willing to concede to his request of practicing unprotected sex. Findings support the urgent need for interventions that will promote skill-building techniques to negotiate safer sex behaviors among youth who are most likely to be exposed to STIs through risky behaviors.
Cell fusion, using Sendai virus, to effect inter-species transfer of a cell-associated parasite (Theileria parva).

Abstract Baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells were fused with Theileria parva-infecled bovine lymphoid cells, using u.v. light-inactivated Sendai virus. The resultant hamster/bovine heterokaryons were shown to be infected with T. parva. In some cases parasites were detected in cells which apparently contained only BHK nuclei.
Strategic Asset Allocation and Other Determinants of Portfolio Returns

This article challenges the prevalent notion that more than 90% of the variability of returns is determined by strategic asset allocation. The authors critically review five methodological issues surrounding studies by Brinson and colleagues in 1986 and 1991 that concluded strategic asset allocation determines more than 90% of the variability of returns. They then present an alternative study, which uses a slightly different framework and covers a longer time horizon than the earlier work, includes alternative assets, and utilizes synthetic portfolios. Using identical calculations, they find that on average strategic asset allocation explained 77.5% of the variability of portfolio returns, while security selection accounted for 10.3%, and tactical asset allocation explained 5.6%. Though the authors thus agree that strategic asset allocation is a major determinant of investment performance, they argue that the investment process should not be limited to strategic asset allocation, as managers can potentially add value through tactical asset allocation and security selection. Although the contributions of security selection and tactical asset allocation may seem small, the power of compounding returns makes them significant to individual investors.
Distinct α-Synuclein Strains Differentially Promote Tau Inclusions in Neurons

Many neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the accumulation of insoluble protein aggregates, including neurofibrillary tangles comprised of tau in Alzheimer's disease and Lewy bodies composed of α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease. Moreover, different pathological proteins frequently codeposit in disease brains. To test whether aggregated α-synuclein can directly cross-seed tau fibrillization, we administered preformed α-synuclein fibrils assembled from recombinant protein to primary neurons and transgenic mice. Remarkably, we discovered two distinct strains of synthetic α-synuclein fibrils that demonstrated striking differences in the efficiency of cross-seeding tau aggregation, both in neuron cultures and in vivo. Proteinase K digestion revealed conformational differences between the two synthetic α-synuclein strains and also between sarkosyl-insoluble α-synuclein extracted from two subgroups of Parkinson's disease brains. We speculate that distinct strains of pathological α-synuclein likely exist in neurodegenerative disease brains and may underlie the tremendous heterogeneity of synucleinopathies.
Surfactant charge effects on the location, vibrational spectra, and relaxation dynamics of cyanoferrates in reverse micelles

Ultrafast infrared spectroscopy has been used to measure vibrational energy relaxation (VER) and reorientation (Tr) times for the high frequency CN stretches of potassium ferrocyanide and ferricyanide and the NO stretch of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in several reverse micelle (RM) systems using cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants. The confinement effects on anion vibrational spectra and dynamics in aqueous RMs depend on the charge of the surfactant that is used to form the RMs. Spectra and VER dynamics of ferrocyanide are not significantly altered in the limited number of RMs in which it could be solubilized. The static spectra of ferricyanide suggest an environment that is most bulklike in anionic RMs and least bulklike in cationic RMs. The dynamics of ferricyanide are slower in cationic RMs and indistinguishable from the bulk in nonionic RMs. The VER dynamics and static spectra of SNP are indistinguishable from the bulk in anionic RMs, but much slower in cationic RMs. This suggests a strong surfactant-solute repulsion in the former and an attraction in the latter. Broad static spectra and probe frequency dependent dynamics are seen for SNP in nonionic RMs, indicating an inhomogeneous distribution of environments. Similar measurements were carried out for SNP in mixtures of water and a model compound containing only the hydrophilic portion of the nonionic surfactants in which RMs are not formed. The results closely resemble those observed for SNP in nonionic RMs and provide evidence that in the latter water penetrates the interface and hydrates the ethylene oxide groups before forming a water pool. The results are consistent with the explanation that Coulombic forces determine the anion location. The anions are repelled to the interior of the water pool, which has a bulklike environment in anionic RMs, and are attracted to the interface in cationic RMs, resulting in a strong interaction with the surfactant. The solute location in the nonionic RMs depends on the hydrophilic nature of the probe, with ferrocyanide and ferricyanide being more hydrophilic than SNP. These results and the dependence on surfactant charge are similar to those reported for azide.
The relationship between two statistical tests for the comparison of two exponential distributions

To compare two exponential distributions with or without censoring, two different statistics are often used; one is the F test proposed by COX (1953) and the other is based on the efficient score procedure. In this paper, the relationship between these tests is investigated and it is shown that the efficient score test is a large-sample approximation of the F test.
Social Media, Social Me: A Content Analysis of Beauty Companies’ Use of Facebook in Marketing and Branding

This paper initiated an investigation on how beauty brands employ social media, particularly Facebook, to increase brand awareness and reinforce brand loyalty. It is no doubt that changes in the consumptive patterns of media have led companies to shift their focus from products to people and from information delivery to information exchange. Few studies, to our knowledge, exist that examine beauty brands and/or beauty companies’ use of social media as a means of engaging with or interacting with their current and potential consumers. Thus, the present study represented findings from a content analysis of Facebook posts from Estee Lauder, MAC cosmetics, Clinique, L’Oreal, Maybelline, and CoverGirl to see what types of social media tools were used more frequently by these brands to connect with their fans and users. Specifically, the study focused on the theoretical and practical implications of viral marketing in the branding strategies of the six beauty and/or makeup brands. Additionally, the study examin...
Muon pair production in strong interactions

The general analysis ofμ+μ− (or e+e−) pair production from any unpolarized initial state of strongly interacting particles is given to lowest order in the electromagnetic interaction. The process is completely described by five real form factors that are simply related to the density matrix elements for the production of a virtual photon which then decays into the pair. The angular distribution of theμ+μ− pairs in their center of momentum and their polarizations are computed in terms of the form factors. By measuring the angular distribution and polarizations of the pair one can determine all five form factors and thereby investigate the structure of the production process. Finally, some peripheral-meson-exchange models of the process are considered.
Tight Complex Formation between Cosmc Chaperone and Its Specific Client Non-native T-synthase Leads to Enzyme Activity and Client-driven Dissociation

The interaction of the endoplasmic reticulum molecular chaperone Cosmc with its specific client T-synthase (Core 1 β1–3-galactosyltransferase) is required for folding of the enzyme and eventual movement of the T-synthase to the Golgi, but the mechanism of interaction is unclear. Here we show that the lumenal domain of recombinant Cosmc directly interacts specifically in either free form or covalently bound to solid supports with denatured T-synthase but not with the active dimeric form of the enzyme. This leads to formation of a relatively stable complex of Cosmc and denatured T-synthase accompanied by formation of reactivated enzyme in an ATP-independent fashion that is not regulated by redox, calcium, pH, or intermolecular disulfide bond formation. The partly refolded and active T-synthase remains tightly bound noncovalently to Cosmc. Dissociation of T-synthase from the complex is promoted by further interactions of the complex with free forms of either native or non-native T-synthase. Taken together, these results demonstrate a novel mechanism in which Cosmc cycles to bind non-native T-synthase, leading to enzyme activity and release in a client-driven process.
Alternative Therapy for Epstein-Barr Virus Related Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rapidly fatal condition characterized by excessive immune activation. HLH can occur as a familial or sporadic acquired disorder. Acquired HLH is more frequently found in adults and is commonly secondary to infections, malignancies, or autoimmune diseases. Diagnosing HLH is challenging because of the rare occurrence, variable presentation, and nonspecific findings of this disorder. Diagnosis of HLH can be based on the diagnostic criteria which were used in the HLH-2004 trial. Given the rarity of this disease, protocols for its treatment have developed slowly, and obtaining adequate short-term and long-term control of the disease continues to be a challenge. Conventional induction therapy for HLH is dexamethasone and etoposide (VP-16), followed by or with cyclosporine. Intrathecal methotrexate ± hydrocortisone is given to those with central nervous system disease. We are reporting a patient who was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) related HLH. He achieved complete remission with rituximab alone. To our knowledge, this is the first case of an adult patient with EBV related HLH who went into remission with rituximab therapy alone, without using the conventional chemotherapy.
Compactifications of Symmetric and Locally Symmetric Spaces

* Preface * Introduction Part I: Compactifications of Riemannian Symmetric Spaces * Review of Classical Compactifications of Symmetric Spaces * Uniform Construction of Compactifications of Symmetric Spaces * Properties of Compactifications of Symmetric Spaces Part II: Smooth Compactifications of Semisimple Symmetric Spaces * Smooth Compactifications of Riemannian Symmetric Spaces G / K * Semisimple Symmetric Spaces G / H * The Real Points of Complex Symmetric Spaces Defined Over R * The DeConcini-Procesi Compactification of a Complex Symmetric Space and its Real Points * The Oshima-Sekiguchi Compactification of G / K and Comparison with G/Hw (R) Part III: Compactifications of Locally Symmetric Spaces * Classical Compactifications of Locally Symmetric Spaces * Uniform Construction of Compactifications of Locally Symmetric Spaces * Properties of Compactifications of Locally Symmetric Spaces * Subgroup Compactifications of o \ G * Metric Properties of Compactifications of Locally Symmetric Spaces o \ X * References * Index
Cognitive and Affective Rejection of Mentally ILL Persons as a Function of Dogmatism

St~mmary.-Cognitive and affective attitudes toward the mentally ill were studied in introductory social psychology srudents categorized on the basis of their dogmatism. On a purely cognitive level highly dogmatic Ss held more stereotypical attitudes toward the mentally ill than low-dogmatic Ss. After a series of regularly scheduled lectures on the social psychology of deviance in a normal classroom situation, highly dogmatic Ss significantly decreased their srereotypical attitudes toward the mentally ill. However, on semantic-differential scales to measure affective attitudes toward the mentally ill highly dogmatic Ss increased their affective rejection of the mentally ill after this series of regularly scheduled lectures. There was no difference between high- and low-dogmatic Ss on an objective test measuring learning with respect to the lectures on deviance. The implications of these data for dogmatism theory are discussed, especially in terms of the relationship between dogmatism, anxiety, and the cognitive and affective rejection of others. Much of the research utilizing Rokeach's Dogmatism Scale has focused upon the conditional acceprance and rejection of others on the basis of belief congruence. Generally, this research has been conducted within the specific concexc of prejudice and the degree to which ethnic and belief factors account for che rejection of racially different others (Bryne & Wong, 1962; Insko &
Women in Street Prostitution: The Result of Poverty and the Brunt of Inequity

ABSTRACT Street prostitution is intrinsically related to poverty. Female prostitutes, in disproportionate numbers, are known to be ethnic minorities who are impoverished, uneducated and possess few marketable skills. Viewed as depraved individuals, lawmakers have and continue to chastise these women through the law. Consistency in enforcing prostitution laws, which includes laws against patronizing prostitutes, nonetheless, has been and continues to be inequitable. The female prostitute or sex worker continues to be the target of enforcement strategies, while the illegal activities of the sex buyer are minimized or completely ignored. Sentencing practices have also followed suit. The aim of this article, then, is to (1) discuss Africana womanist theory in the context of prostitution; (2) present structurally centered arguments for why poor and minority women resort to prostitution; (3) discuss prostitution laws; (4) examine the differential practices of law officials between the female prostitute and the ...
PRECIPITATES AND FLUXOID PINNING IN A SUPERCONDUCTING Nb--Hf ALLOY.

Abstract The relationship between superconducting fluxoid pinning and precipitate dispersion was investigated in a high-field type II superconducting alloy. The alloy, Nb-38 at. % Hf, is a b.c.c. solid solution above 1200°C; at lower temperatures the equilibrium structure is two-phase: b.c.c. β and Hf-rich h.c.p. a. The quenched alloy was aged at 600°C. The changes in microstructure during ageing were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The attendant changes in superconducting properties—transition temperature (T c) and critical flux gradient (dB/dr)—were measured by an a.c. susceptibility technique. It was found that precipitation at 600°C proceeds by the formation and growth of strained, partially coherent particles in the b.c.c. matrix termed transition alpha, αt. Particle size measurements indicated that growth of at follows a t 1/3 coarsening law after times not longer than ∼ 0·5 hr. Transition temperature measurements substantiate this finding. Measurements of dB/dr showed little change fr...
Environmental fluctuations lead to predictability in Sin Nombre hantavirus outbreaks

Predicting outbreaks of zoonotic infections in reservoir hosts that live in highly fluctuating environments, such as Sin Nombre virus (SNV) in deer mice, is particularly challenging because host populations vary widely in response to environmental conditions and the relationship between field infection rates and abundance often appears to contradict conventional theory. Using a stage-structured host-pathogen model parameterized and cross-validated from a unique 15-year data set, we show how stochastic population fluctuations can lead to predictable dynamics of SNV in deer mice. Significant variation in host abundance and the basic reproductive number of the virus results in intermittent crossing of the critical host population density necessary for SNV endemicity and frequent local extinctions. When environmental conditions favor growth of the host population above the threshold, host–pathogen interactions lead to delayed density dependence in reservoir prevalence. The resultant ecological delay may provi...
Strategic altruistic transfers and rent seeking within the family

This paper examines the rent-seeking behavior of “selfish” children in competing for parental transfers. The paper extends Chang and Weisman (South Econ J 71:821–836, 2005), that focuses on compensated transfers, to allow for non-compensated transfers a la Buchanan (J Law Econ 26:71–85, 1983) and derives results for the case in which children’s time contributions as perceived by their parents are a merit good (e.g., service), pure waste (e.g., bugging), or a mix of both. For an increase in the proportion of time contributions that are pure waste, parents find it optimal to reduce the size of an overall transfer, thereby lowering the levels of wasteful rent-seeking activities by their children within the family.
The influence of hydration on anaerobic performance: a review.

This review examines the influence of dehydration on muscular strength and endurance and on single and repeated anaerobic sprint bouts. Describing hydration effects on anaerobic performance is difficult because various exercise modes are dominated by anaerobic energy pathways, but still contain inherent physiological differences. The critical level of water deficit (∼ 3–4%; mode dependent) affecting anaerobic performance is larger than the deficit (∼ 2%) impairing endurance performance. A critical performance-duration component (> 30 s) may also exist. Moderate dehydration (> 3% body weight; precise threshold depends on work/recovery ratio) impairs repeated anaerobic bouts, which place an increased demand on aerobic metabolism. Interactions between dehydration level, dehydration mode, testing mode, performance duration, and work/recovery ratio during repeated bouts make the dehydration thresh-old influencing anaerobic performance mode dependent.