cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visual Dysfunction in Concussion

The last decade has seen a 60 % rise in sport-related brain trauma in emergency departments across the country [1]. Although prima facie disturbing, the steep rise can be attributed to increased awareness of deficits that can occur from concussion. The intent is not to discourage play but rather to enable people to engage in sport and recreational activity armed with knowledge to keep them playing longer, smarter, and safer.
Design of Integrated Experiments Based on MSL-1 Program-Controlled Exchange System

The program-controlled exchange technology is a backbone course in communication specialty,an important direction that experiments should follow is integrated experiments and the trend will also follow this way.This paper introduced the designing way of integrated experiments based on MSL-1 program-controlled exchange system.
Studies on extraction of small molecule metabolites produced by marine microorganisms with macroporous adsorption resin

OBJECTIVE To establish a crude extraction method for the library of small molecule metabolites produced by marine microorganisms using macroporous adsorption resin( MAR). METHEDS 11 types of MARs were selected based on their adsorption rate,desorption rate,protein and polysaccharide adsorption rate. RESULTS DM11 and SD300 in series,were used to extrat small chemical molecules from bacterial fermentation liquid,by which the adsorption rate is up to 7. 528%,while the removal rate of protein and polysaccharides is 90. 98% and 77. 69% respectively. In addition,this process barely lose compounds that extracted from ethyl acetate. CONCLUSION the approach of DM11-SD300 in series could extract small molecule metabolites from fermentation liquid rapidly and effectively,which will make a fundation to achieve the library of small molecule metabolites produced by marine microorganisms.
Depression in the very old. Differences in presentation and approach to treatment: a case example.

Would you prescribe the same exercise program for a 90-year-old that you would for a 60-year-old?
Eugenics and pragmatism : F. C. S. Schiller's philosophical politics

The British philosopher F. C. S. Schiller (1864–1937) was a leading pragmatist in the early twentieth century. His critiques of formal logic and his attempts to construct a humanist logic, derived from an anti-foundationalist humanism, are recognized as lasting philosophical achievements. But scholars have failed to consider that Schiller was passionately committed to the British eugenics movement. This essay explores the relationship between Schiller's pragmatism and his eugenicism. It argues that Schiller represents the broad scope of pragmatism in the early twentieth century through his involvements not only with eugenics, but also with psychical research as well. Underneath Schiller's various undertakings lies a common theme: the self, conceived in voluntaristic, historicist, and concrete terms. By tracing the trajectory of this theme in Schiller's thought, this essay demonstrates that Schiller's eugenicism was confined to the presuppositions of his pragmatist logic, which steered Schiller's eugenicism toward a distinctively nondeterministic and non-social-Darwinist kind.
Comprehensive Assessment of Cytokines and Chemokines In Patients with Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Reveals a Distinct Profile with Pathobiological and Clinical Relevance

Abstract 1911 Waldenstrom9s macroglobulinemia (WM) is a B-cell lymphoplasmacytic disorder characterized by elevated clonal IgM secretion and bone marrow infiltration. Dysregulation of plasma cytokines and chemokines have been described in related malignancies, though large scale comparative efforts to WM have been limited. We therefore evaluated the levels of 20 cytokines, 27 chemokines, and soluble CD27 (sCD27) given the putative memory B-cell origin of WM in peripheral blood derived plasma obtained from 54 patients with WM, 31 patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM), and 37 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) using the Bio-Plex Pro Human Cytokine 27-plex Assay and the Bender instant soluble CD27 ELISA. Twenty-six age-matched normal donors (ND) were used as controls. Among WM patients, we detected significantly higher levels of the cytokines IL-1Rα (p 2 M (rho = -0.42, p = 0.016) and positively with CD8+ T-cell percentage (rho = 0.44, p Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Improved π−12C optical potential at 50 MeV

The order‐of‐magnitude discrepancy between experiment and a Kisslinger potential calculation of π−12C elastic scattering at 50 MeV disappears if kinematical corrections and higher order effects (Pauli‐ and short‐range correlations, absorption) are taken into account.
Tax Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Developed and Developing Countries: An Analysis of Factors that Affect Dispute Mechanism Design and Functionality

Tax dispute resolution mechanisms (TDRMs), which encompass the institutions and procedures established to resolve tax disputes, are a critical component of effective tax systems. In many countries TDRMs function in an efficient and transparent manner. However, in other countries TDRMs may be (or perceived to be) inefficient and biased, and may contribute to lower taxpayer compliance and tax revenue leakage. Considerable scholarship has been devoted to the discussion of substantive tax policy and to selected tax administration issues, such as audit and collection practices. Less attention has been devoted to the examination of domestic TDRMs, particularly in a developing country context. This paper contributes to the conceptual understanding of TDRMs by providing a descriptive framework that identifies, and describes the implications of, factors at both administrative and judicial appeal levels that affect the design and functionality of domestic TDRMs. Factors are divided into three primary categories: (1) tax dispute resolution institutions (e.g., administrative review boards and courts); (2) tax dispute resolution procedures; and (3) other factors (e.g., culture, capacity and corruption) that may influence the effectiveness of tax dispute resolution mechanisms. This descriptive analysis can contribute to the development of a normative framework for tax, as well as non-tax, dispute resolution mechanisms.
Patients With Cirrhosis Require More Fecal Microbiota Capsules to Cure Refractory and Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infections.

The incidence of recurrent and refractory Clostridium difficile (rCDI) is increasing.1 Cirrhotic patients are at increased risk of CDI as a result of frequent hospitalizations, prophylactic antibiotics, proton pump inhibitor use, and comorbidities.2 In addition, cirrhotic patients with CDI have a higher mortality rate, longer length of stay, and a higher cost compared with noncirrhotic patients.3.
Methodological Approach to the Study of Risk Policy Decision-Making: The Case of Deliberate Release of Genetically Engineered Organisms

Policy making for regulating genetically engineered organisms is fraught with uncertainty and incomplete information. Risk assessment studies useful for policy decision-making require the knowledge of multiple perspectives on the nature of risk and influence of variation in perspectives on the judgements for policy decisions. The proposed methodological approach combines Repertory grid and Social judgement analysis to examine variation in problem formulation and perspectives, and influence of this variation in decision-making in deliberate release of genetically engineered organisms.
Theoretical and Experimental Basis of Hyperthermia

When hyperthermia is applied, tumors tend to be preferentially heated relative to normal tissues because heat dissipation through blood flow is inefficient in tumors compared to normal tissues. Furthermore, the vasculature in tumors is more vulnerable to heat so that the accumulation of tissue necrosis due to heat-induced vascular damage is greater than that in normal tissues. Another factor in favor of selective tumor damage by hyperthermia is the intratumor environment. The intratumor environment is nutritionally deprived and acidic, causing the intracellular pH (pHi) of tumor cells to be low, which enhances hyperthermic cell killing. All these advantageous physiological features for causing more damage in a tumor relative to normal tissue by hyperthermia can be exploited only when the tumor temperature is raised to 42°–43°C or above. In general, it is difficult to raise human tumor temperature to a cytotoxic level, yet numerous clinical trials have unequivocally demonstrated that hyperthermia is effective when used in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Our laboratory results strongly indicate that tumor blood flow is increased upon heating at noncytotoxic temperatures, resulting in improvement of tumor oxygenation and drug delivery to tumor cells. Importantly, we have observed that the increase in blood flow and pO2 in tumors caused by mild-temperature hyperthermia can last for as long as 24–48 h after heating. It must be remembered that the overall temperature distribution in human tumors during heating is rather heterogeneous. Vascular damage caused by high temperatures as well as increases in blood flow caused by mild temperatures may simultaneously occur in different regions of the same tumor heated at relatively high temperatures. Consequently, multiple mechanisms may be involved in the tumor response to hyperthermic treatment.
John E. Harris — III. National Scope

Dr. John E. Harris is among the very few individuals in ophthalmology who have managed to combine successfully a career in clinical medicine with one in basic research, excelling in both fields, and making valuable contributions to each. This combination of skills has made him very much in demand by those involved in national biomedical research policymaking, in particular for the past nine years, by the National Eye Institute (NEI) which has sought his advice and counsel on numerous occasions. He was a member from 1969 to 1971 of the very first National Advisory Eye Council and has just completed a second term on this distinguished body. Before NELs formation, the Vision Research Training Committee, the Sensory Disorders Study Section, and the National Advisory Council to the then National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness (NINDB) also benefitted from Dr. Harris’ participation. He also successfully chaired a committee for determining National Manpower Needs in the field of Ophthalmology. The first International Symposium was organized and hosted by Dr. Harris in Minneapolis under the sponsorship of NINDB.
Winning the war

Pearl Harbor day was December 7, 1941; for the next 3½ years the U.S. was at war. The war affected everything and everybody—sometimes only a little and sometimes a lot. There was the draft, for one thing—all the men of my age group were affected by that. Only a few active research mathematicians were drafted, but enough that we were all aware of the possibilities. Most of us were deferred throughout the war; we were badly needed as teachers. I knew, I thought I knew, that if I were to be called, I would fail the physical exam (because of my bad foot)—for me the draft was only a vague threat on the horizon.
Control of brain serotonin and norepinephrine by specific neural systems.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the experiment technique of selective destruction of discrete groups of central neurons employed to study the monoamines, 5-HT, and NE. The experiments are initiated to identify neuronal systems in brain responsible for the presence and metabolism of these substances as one step in the elucidation of their functional role in this organ. Each area whose destruction is demonstrated to lower brain levels of either 5-HT or NE, involves neural elements within or directly related to the neurons of the medial forebrain bundle. Septa lesions reduce hippocampal 5-HT and result in some minimal reduction in cortical 5-HT and NE, which may be either polysynaptic in character or a function of loss of monoamine neurons innervating these areas. Each central neuron receives input over much of the surface of its soma and dendrites and may be influenced by vast numbers of presynaptic elements. The neurochemical integrity of any given cell is interpreted as a function of this afferent pool of innervation. Stimulation of the tegmentum causes release of 5-HT within the telencephalon. Similarly, the syndrome of adipsia and aphagia resulting from lateral hypothalamic lesions represents distant changes in the functional activity of widespread areas on the basis of transsynaptic changes. The lesion technique has proved a useful approach to the study of neuronal systems controlling brain monoamines. The maintenance of 5-HT and NE in brain appears to be a function of the integrity of a specific system of hypothalamic neural elements, the medial forebrain bundle.
Sofosbuvir Based Regimens in the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C with Compensated Liver Cirrhosis in Community Care Setting

Background. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs have been highly effective in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. We aim to evaluate the treatment response of Sofosbuvir based DAA in CHC patients with compensated liver cirrhosis as limited data exists in the real-world community setting. Methods. All the CHC patients with compensated liver cirrhosis treated with Sofosbuvir based DAAs between January 2014 and December 2017 in a community clinic setting were retrospectively analyzed. Pretreatment baseline patient characteristics, treatment efficacy with the sustained virologic response at 12 weeks posttreatment (SVR12), and adverse reactions were assessed. Results. One hundred and twelve patients with CHC infection and concurrent compensated cirrhosis were included in the study. Black patients represented the majority of the study population (64%). Eighty-seven patients were treated with Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) ±Ribavirin and 25 patients were treated with Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir (SOF/VEL). Overall, SVR 12 after treatment was achieved in 90% in patients who received one of the two DAA regimens (89.7% in LDV/SOF group and 92% in SOF/VEL group). SVR 12 did not vary based on age, sex, body mass index, baseline HCV viral load, HCV/HIV coinfection, type of genotype, and prior treatment status. Apart from a low platelet count, there were no other factors associated with a statistical difference in SVR 12(p=0.002) between the two regimens. Fatigue (35%) was the most common adverse effect and no patients discontinued treatment due to adverse effects. Conclusion. In the community care setting, Sofosbuvir based DAAs are safe, effective with high overall SVR, and well tolerated in patients with CHC patients with compensated liver cirrhosis.
Falsification of cyber-physical systems through multi-fidelity stochastic optimization

This talk will review some recent results on requirements driven search-based testing for Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). Namely, we will present an extension to a Bayesian optimizer that makes use of models of different complexity (and accuracy) that allow obtaining several approximations of the guiding cost function. The goal of the method is to enable falsification of computationally expensive simulation models through the use of simpler but much faster simulation models.
Low-frequency charge noise in Si/SiGe quantum dots

Electron spins in silicon have long coherence times and are a promising qubit platform. However, electric field noise in semiconductors poses a challenge for most single- and multiqubit operations in quantum-dot spin qubits. We investigate the dependence of low-frequency charge noise spectra on temperature and aluminum-oxide gate dielectric thickness in Si/SiGe quantum dots with overlapping gates. We find that charge noise increases with aluminum-oxide thickness. We also find strong dot-to-dot variations in the temperature dependence of the noise magnitude and spectrum. These findings suggest that each quantum dot experiences noise caused by a distinct ensemble of two-level systems, each of which has a nonuniform distribution of thermal activation energies. Taken together, our results suggest that charge noise in Si/SiGe quantum dots originates at least in part from a nonuniform distribution of two-level systems near the surface of the semiconductor.
Carnival, paranoia and experiential learning

AbstractTheories of experiential learning have tended to view experience as liberating only insofar as it frees us both from the contagious influence of others and from the unruly, irrational Other within. This paper first traces this view of experience to the privatising of body and mind that emerged with capitalism and liberal humanism as public discourse became preoccupied with dirt, licentiousness and self-control, and as economic and political prerogatives were justified by the ability to constrain the self within carefully crafted, socially governable norms. It then uses Bakhtin's notion of carnival as the basis for an alternative understanding of experience. This alternative view rests neither on the fear of contagion by others nor the splitting off of the Other within the self, but rather celebrates the sociality of experience and affirms the interplay between the body and the world. Finally, the paper locates insurgent meanings for experiential learning in various sites within contemporary cultur...
19 – Does dynein influence the non-Mendelian inheritance of chromosome 17 homologues in male mice?∗

Natural populations of the various subspecies of Mus musculus possess two homologous forms of the proximal one-third of chromosome 17, a region known as the t-complex. About 80–90% of mice carry a wild-type (+) form, while a substantial minority contains t-haplotypes (t), members of a family of region-spanning inversion polymorphisms recently descended from a common ancestor. Interestingly, male +/t-heterozygotes transmit t en bloc to 95–99% of their progeny, while males carrying two t-haplotype (t/t) are invariably sterile. Approximately one-quarter of a century ago, Lyon proposed that two to three cis/trans-acting t-complex distorter factors (Tcd-1, Tcd-2, Tcd-3) operating on a cis-acting t-responder gene product were responsible for the observed non-Mendelian transmission of t-chromosomes (transmission ratio distortion (TRD)) and that homozygosity for these Tcds was the basis of the observed sterility. Subsequent gene mapping and cloning studies linked two mutant dynein light chains to the Tcd-1 and Tcd-3 loci and an altered dynein heavy chain to the Tcd-2 locus. Evidence that TRD is caused by defective sperm flagellar function in roughly one-half of the caudal sperm population from +/t-males raised the possibility that the mutant axonemal dynein components were the Tcds. Here, I discuss whether, in light of new evidence, the dynein subunits linked to the Tcd loci retain any or all of their original mystique as genes that affect the non-Mendelian inheritance of mouse chromosome 17.
ZFP281 recruits polycomb repressive complex 2 to restrict extraembryonic endoderm potential in safeguarding embryonic stem cell pluripotency

In the original publication the labelling in middle and bottom panels of figure 2k is published incorrectly as “Soc17”. The correct labeling is available in this correction as “Sox17”.
Romantic relationships and sexual minority health: A review and description of the Dyadic Health Model

A large body of literature has documented the health promotive effects of healthy committed relationships on the health and wellbeing of heterosexual people in different-sex relationships, including observational and longitudinal studies, couple-based intervention development and evaluation efforts, and articulation of theoretical frameworks. A much smaller but growing field of research has observed that same-sex relationships have similar effects on health outcomes but that these couples face unique stressors that may impact relationship functioning and health. Further, extant theoretical frameworks do not sufficiently address the multiple pathways by which psychosocial vulnerabilities and stressors impact same-sex relationship functioning, engagement in health-related risk behaviors, and the mental and physical health of sexual minorities in relationships. The purpose of this manuscript is to: a) review the existing literature on relationship functioning and health among sexual minorities, including both observational and intervention studies; and b) present an integrated model of relationship functioning and health for same-sex couples that can be used as a basis for further studies on sexual minority dyads, as well as the development of novel couple-based interventions to optimize the health promoting effects of relationships.
Understanding the Role of Ion Migration in the Operation of Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes by Transient Measurements.

Perovskite light-emitting diodes have been gaining attention in recent years due to their high efficiencies. Despite of the recent progress made in device efficiency, the operation mechanisms of th...
Relationship between periodontal disease, tooth loss, and osteoporosis

Abstract In this chapter, we discuss the epidemiology of periodontal disease and review previous literature investigating the relationship of periodontal disease, tooth loss (TL), and/or edentulism with osteoporosis. Periodontal disease and osteoporosis are highly prevalent conditions, especially in aging adults. Both conditions are associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and/or bone tissue degradation, and they share common risk factors. Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition caused by the dysbiosis of pathogenic oral bacteria that leads to destructive loss of tissue and alveolar bone surrounding the teeth. A number of studies, largely representing cross-sectional associations, have assessed the association between periodontal disease and TL and their relation to osteoporosis and BMD. Although gaps in the literature remain, there is evidence to suggest that a relationship exists.
Punitive Juvenile Justice and Public Trials by Jury: Sixth Amendment Applications in a Post-McKeiver World

Juvenile courts were originally created as non-punitive, rehabilitative alternatives to the criminal justice system. As a result, the proceedings were not adversarial in nature, and were not governed by the procedural protections of due process available in adult criminal courts. Recently, however, the focus of the juvenile justice system has shifted from rehabilitation towards punishment, applying most of the procedural protections constitutionally required in adult criminal cases with the exception of the Sixth Amendment right to a public trial (to those who are accused of punishable offenses) and the right to a jury trial (to those facing punishment possibly exceeding six months of incarceration). The courts, appealing to the rehabilitative nature of juvenile courts, have, with rare exceptions, denied public and jury trials to juveniles facing punitive sanctions. This article argues that, unlike rehabilitative dispositions, punitive sanctions require recognition of the Sixth Amendment right to a public trial by jury for juveniles exposed to punishment. The article proposes a conceptual framework for differentiating between punitive and rehabilitative dispositions that would enable the courts to accurately determine when the Sixth Amendment jury and public trial rights should apply. Although some commentators argue that recognition of such rights belies the theoretical basis for retaining a juvenile system separate from adult criminal courts, this article argues that the emergence of punitive juvenile justice, with full procedural protections, actually provides a new rationale for retaining a separate juvenile court system.
An economic assessment of behind-the-meter photovoltaics paired with batteries on the Hawaiian Islands

Abstract Due to natural variability and uncertainty, the ever-increasing penetration of solar generation in Hawaii presents challenges to power grid operators to maintain reliable system operation. Demand response (DR) has the potential to be a cost-effective tool for Hawaii to reach its aggressive renewable energy goals while maintaining the reliability of power grids. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved the Hawaiian Electric Company’s revised portfolio of DR programs. The companies have released a grid services purchase agreement and subscribed an initial tranche of load into their DR programs. This paper presents innovative analytical methods and comprehensive economic assessment for distributed photovoltaics (PV) paired with battery energy storage systems (BESSs) for two new DR programs, including fast frequency response and capacity grid service. Optimal dispatch and sizing methods are proposed for the paired system considering different tariff schedules and PV compensation programs across five islands. It was found that while the best resource configuration and potential economic benefits vary with tariff structure, a BESS paired with PV can be optimally dispatched to generate multiple value streams simultaneously. Compensation from DR programs is an important value stream to help increase the cost-effectiveness of the integrated system.
Queueing Network Realization of an Epidemiological Model for Efficient Evaluation of Computer Transmitted Infections

Abstract This paper reexamines an epidemiological model with 4 population groups (vigilant/non-vigilant susceptible/infectious) built to study the effect of user vigilance on computer transmitted infections (CTIs) in computer networks. The model serves as an example through which a model conversion process is delineated, which aims at enhancing computational efficiency in the evaluation of the global prevalence of CTIs. More specifically, the conventional node-centric networked Markov chain (NCMC) is remodeled as a population-centric Markov chain (PCMC) to reduce the state-space size from an exponential to a polynomial function of the number of computing nodes N in a strongly connected network, where external attack and internal spread processes are aggregated. The PCMC is then realized as a closed queueing network of 4 M/M/N/N queueing nodes, corresponding to the 4 population groups. The results of evaluating the evolution of mean populations for the 4-population network of up to 150,000 computing nodes show that the queueing network realization slows the growth of computational complexity from exponential to linear with respect to the network size without resorting to mean field approximations. The paper briefly discusses on how the queueing network framework can accommodate node-centric Markov chains (NCMCs) of arbitrary directed networks of heterogeneous nodes, and its potential to significantly reduce the complexity in the evaluation of mean population dynamics for the more general class of large networks.
Mechanization of Pruning, Canopy Management, and Harvest in Winegrape Vineyards

Summary Aim: In winegrape production, pruning, canopy management, and harvest are essential practices that are increasingly being done by machines. How well these practices are executed can substantially affect fruit yield and quality. Mechanization offers timeliness, uniformity, and cost benefits, but most methods available to date are nonselective and optimal execution requires careful attention to vineyard design, management, and machine settings. This review provides information to help growers make the best use of machines for these tasks. Key Themes: Vineyard design considerations Winter pruning Canopy management Harvesting Impact and Significance: The need to manage large vineyards in a contracting labor market is achievable with mechanization. This review summarizes the best practices in consideration of vineyard design, as well as operation of machines for optimal productivity for the winegrape grower. This review also provides information to help growers effectively incorporate the machines in their vineyards for consistent and economical production of winegrapes including pruning, shoot-thinning, fruit-zone leaf removal, crop load management, and mechanical harvest.
Subscapular-Thoracodorsal and Lateral Thoracic Vessels

The branches of the axillary artery offer a great resource for use as recipient in microsurgical flap reconstruction. The current chapter describes the applied anatomy of the subscapular, circumflex scapular, thoracodorsal, and lateral thoracic vessels as well as surgical technique for their exposure.
Assessing inertial measurement unit locations for freezing of gait detection and patient preference

ABSTRACT Background Freezing of gait, a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease, presents as sporadic episodes in which an individual’s feet suddenly feel stuck to the ground. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) promise to enable at-home monitoring and personalization of therapy, but there is a lack of consensus on the number and location of IMUs for detecting freezing of gait. The purpose of this study was to assess IMU sets in the context of both freezing of gait detection performance and patient preference. Methods Sixteen people with Parkinson’s disease were surveyed about sensor preferences. Raw IMU data from seven people with Parkinson’s disease, wearing up to eleven sensors, were used to train convolutional neural networks to detect freezing of gait. Models trained with data from different sensor sets were assessed for technical performance; a best technical set and minimal IMU set were identified. Clinical utility was assessed by comparing model- and human-rater-determined percent time freezing and number of freezing events. Results The best technical set consisted of three IMUs (lumbar and both ankles, AUROC = 0.83), all of which were rated highly wearable. The minimal IMU set consisted of a single ankle IMU (AUROC = 0.80). Correlations between these models and human raters were good to excellent for percent time freezing (ICC = 0.93, 0.89) and number of freezing events (ICC = 0.95, 0.86), for the best technical set and minimal IMU set, respectively. Conclusions Several IMU sets consisting of three IMUs or fewer were highly rated for both technical performance and wearability, and more IMUs did not necessarily perform better in FOG detection. We openly share our data and software to further the adoption of a general, open-source model that uses raw signals and a standard sensor set for at-home monitoring of freezing of gait.
Cross-border valuation using the international CAPM and the constant perpetual growth model

Abstract For cross-border valuation to be consistent with the International CAPM (ICAPM), translating projected cash flows across currencies should account for a currency risk premium and the economic interaction between uncertain cash flows and uncertain exchange rates. The conventional translation method ignores these items. This study proposes a translation method that is consistent with the ICAPM, given the constant perpetual growth model of valuation. Using empirical data, the study illustrates the conventional translation method’s potentially substantial valuation error if the ICAPM describes the risk-return trade-off in financial markets.
Formalizing Software Architectures for Embedded Systems

This paper outlines an approach to embedded computer system development that is based on integrated use of multiple domainspecific languages; on increased use of mathematical analysis methods; and on increased integration between domain-specific specification and mathematical modeling and code generation. We first outline some general principles of this approach. We then present a bit more detail about the emerging SAE standard Avionics Architecture Description Language and our supporting MetaH toolset.We conclude with a summary of some research challenge problems, technical approaches, and preliminary results uncovered during our work.
Siderophores Produced by Nitrogen-Fixing Azotobacter vinelandii OP in Iron-Limited Continuous Culture.

Azotobacter vinelandii requires a high complement of iron and an efficient iron acquisition system to support nitrogen fixation. To circumvent problems inherent in batch culture trace metal studies, continuous cultures were used to measure the response of A. vinelandii to iron stress. Iron was found to be growth limiting for nitrogen-fixing A. vinelandii at a concentration as high as 12.5 μM; iron was growth sufficient at 25 μM. Iron-stressed A. vinelandii in continuous culture formed 2,3-hydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), 2-N,6-N-di-(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-l-lysine (DHBL), and a chromophoric yellow-green fluorescent peptide (YGFP). At a fixed dilution rate of 0.1 h−1, steady-state growth occurred at growth-limiting iron concentrations. DHB and DHBL were quantitatively measured during iron-limited steady states and iron-sufficient states by Arnow colorimetric assays. YGFP was determined by absorbance measurements taken at 380 nm, and the concentration was calculated from the reported specific absorption coefficient. Biomass increased and DHBL, DHB, and YGFP concentrations decreased as the concentration of growth-limiting iron was increased in the culture vessel and medium reservoirs. DHBL was the major siderophore and YGFP was the minor siderophore species produced during iron-limited equilibrium growth. A low level of DHB and YGFP, but no DHBL, was formed under iron-sufficient conditions. These results provide further physiological evidence that DHB, YGFP, and especially DHBL may function as siderophores in nitrogen-fixing A. vinelandii.
Multidistrict Litigation: A Surprising Bonus for Pro Se Plaintiffs and a Possible Boon for Consumers

Conventional wisdom says that pro se plaintiffs almost invariably fare worse than represented plaintiffs. However, there exists in federal court a procedural regime under which pro se plaintiffs effectively receive attorneys and therefore experience success rates similar to their represented peers: multidistrict litigation. Multidistrict litigation is a procedure for consolidating multiple federal civil cases sharing common questions of fact into a single proceeding in one federal district court for coordinated pre-trial proceedings and discovery. This paper takes an empirical look at all federal civil cases terminating between 2006 and 2008 to determine what effect multidistrict litigation has on case outcome and finds that for all kinds of plaintiffs, consolidation into an MDL proceeding dramatically increased the chance that their case would settle. While pro se plaintiffs rarely reach settlement when they proceed on their own, in multidistrict litigation, there is no statistically significant difference in the settlement rates of pro se and represented plaintiffs. After exploring possible explanations for why multidistrict litigation equalizes the results of pro se and represented plaintiffs, this paper turns to those plaintiffs who do have attorneys but are unlikely to have attorneys of the same quality as their adversaries, consumers, and argues that they too are likely to benefit from the multidistrict litigation process for many of the same reasons as pro se plaintiffs. Finally, this paper suggests ways to improve the multidistrict litigation process in light of these findings.
Struggling with Beauty: A Reading of Vanni Santoni's Se fossi fuoco, arderei Firenze

This essay discusses the representation of the city of Florence in Vanni Santoni's Se fossi fuoco, arderei Firenze. Reflecting on the peculiar dynamics and interactions between this urban space and its citizens, the essay argues that the novel displays an ambiguous attitude toward Florence's problematic and contradictory beauty. In particular, the essay provides a reading of Se fossi fuoco in the light of some of Vincenzo Binetti's observations in his Citta nomadi: esodo e autonomia nella metropoli contemporanea. Ultimately, despite its prevalent atmosphere of disillusionment and disenchantment, Santoni's representation of the city of Florence in Se fossi fuoco does not entirely exclude the possibility of different forms of inhabitation and processes of deterritorialization, which are potentially similar to those Binetti analyzes in his work.
Quantized compressive channel estimation for OFDM systems

Compressive sensing (CS) techniques have been shown to enhance the performance of sparse channel estimation. This paper addresses CS-based sparse channel estimation in practical systems where the measurements are quantized to a finite number of bits. In these systems, quantization introduces two kinds of errors into the CS framework: quantization errors and saturation errors. To combat the effect of quantization error on estimating the sparse channel, a new complex-valued cost function is formulated based on the quantization model. To minimize this cost function, a multi-bit iterative hard thresholding algorithm is proposed. The channel estimate performance is evaluated by modeling the quantization error as white Gaussian noise. Our simulation results quantify the number of bits needed for our proposed quantized CS-based sparse channel estimate to achieve satisfactory performance.
Complex Contracting: Management strategies for complex contracts

THE AFTERMATH By the summer of 2007 the Deepwater program was on its last legs. After six months of exposes, investigations, lawsuits, and oversight hearings, the ICGS–Coast Guard relationship turned openly antagonistic. Coast Guard Commandant Allen announced that the Coast Guard would expand its acquisition workforce to take over the program’s LSI functions. On April 17, the Coast Guard announced it had reversed its decision to accept the first eight P-123s and two months later, on June 5, 2007, the Coast Guard filed suit in federal court to recover $96 million from ICGS (O’Rourke, 2010). Meanwhile Lockheed Martin’s and Northrop Grumman’s ICGS partnership began to dissolve. Lockheed quickly blamed Northrop Grumman for the P-123s, claiming that “it would not be financially affected by the government’s refund request because the faulty ships had structural, not equipment, problems,” meaning only Northrop was to blame since it had been responsible for the work on the P-123’s hull. Northrop passed the blame on to its subcontractor, Bollinger Shipyards, which also happened to be the original manufacturer of the 110 patrol boat (Associated Press, 2007). The Deepwater contract was still in effect, but the cooperative partnership the contract was intended to promote had crumbled.
Serum stimulation of the c-fos enhancer induces reversible changes in c-fos chromatin structure.

Abstract Transcription of the proto-oncogene c-fos is known to be activated by growth factors in serum and subsequently repressed by the Fos protein. We show that generalized DNase I sensitivity of c-fos chromatin correlates closely with enhancer activity during induction, repression, and superinduction of the c-fos gene. Within 90 s of serum stimulation, proximal DNA sequences on both sides of the enhancer exhibit increased DNase I sensitivity. Within 5 min, elevated DNase I sensitivity spreads to chromatin at the distal 3' end of the c-fos gene. These results suggest that an open state of chromatin is propagated in both directions from the enhancer. The induced alterations in chromatin structure precede the increased transcriptional activity of the c-fos gene, suggesting that these changes in chromatin structure potentiate transcription.
Asymmetric Synthesis of Crispine A: Constructing Tetrahydroisoquinoline Scaffolds Using Pummerer Cyclizations

For the first time, a concise, linear and stereoselective synthesis of both enantiomers of the natural product crispine A has been achieved in six steps with an overall yield of ≥ 20 %, starting from commercially available veratraldehyde. Asymmetric Keck allylation and trifluoroacetic anhydride-mediated Pummerer cyclization were the key transformations used to construct the tetrahydroisoquinoline core structure.
Differing lifestyles of Staphylococcus epidermidis as revealed through Bayesian clustering of multilocus sequence types

Staphylococcus epidermidis is part of the normal bacterial flora of human skin and a leading cause of infections associated with indwelling medical devices. Previous phylogenetic analyses of subgenomic data have been unable to distinguish between S. epidermidis strains with nosocomial or commensal lifestyles, despite the identification of specific phenotypes and accessory genes that may contribute to such lifestyles. To attempt to better define the population structure of this species, the international S. epidermidis multilocus sequence typing database was analyzed with the Bayesian clustering programs STRUCTURE and BAPS. A total of six genetic clusters (GCs) were identified. A local population of S. epidermidis from clinical specimens was classified according to these six GCs, and further characterized for antibiotic susceptibilities, biofilm, and various genetic markers. GC5 was abundant and significantly enriched for isolates that were resistant to four classes of antibiotics, high biofilm production, and positive for the virulence markers icaA, IS256, and sesD/bhp, indicating its potential clinical relevance. In contrast, GC2 was rare and contained the only isolates positive for the putative commensal marker, fdh. GC1 and GC6 were abundant but not significantly associated with any of the examined characteristics, except for sesF/aap and GC6. GC3 was rare and identified as a potential genetic sink that received, but did not donate, core genetic material from other GCs. In conclusion, population genetics analyses were essential for identifying clusters of strains that may differ in their adaptation to nosocomial or commensal lifestyles. These results provide a new, population genetics framework for studying S. epidermidis.
Alcohol in the USSR: A fiscal dilemma

(1975). Alcohol in the USSR: A fiscal dilemma. Soviet Studies: Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 161-177.
Handling temperature dependent properties and boundary conditions in stochastic finite element analysis

Abstract This paper describes the application of the stochastic finite element method (SFEM) to problems in which the properties and boundary conditions are temperature dependent. It is shown that, in contrast to systems with constant but uncertain properties, the equations are nonlinear. A method is given mat linearizes the equations. Several examples are given to demonstrate when higher order estimates of the variances are needed. The problems are also solved using stratified sampling, and it is shown that for equal accuracy, the SFEM involves approximately 1 / 20th the computational effort.
The Compatibility of Anti-individualism and Privileged Access

Michael McKinsey [5] has provided a general argument for the claim that any version of anti-individualism is incompatible with the Principle of Privileged Access, viz. the principle that each subject can know his thought contents without having undertaken an empirical investigation. McKinsey applies the term 'a priori' to knowledge that is obtained independently of empirical investigation. This use of 'a priori' is not entirely happy,1 but I will follow McKinsey's terminology in this paper. The structure of McKinsey's argument is as follows. According to anti-individualism, the environment of a subject partly individuates some of his thought contents. A subject need not know the conditions which individuate his thoughts in order to have those thoughts. However, a subject who knows the arguments for anti-individualism may know a priori that if he has a certain thought content, then certain environmental conditions obtain. A subject could use this philosophical knowledge and his a priori knowledge of his thought contents to gain by inference the a priori knowledge that those environmental conditions obtain. However, it is plausible that a subject cannot have a priori knowledge of the way his environment is. So, it seems that anti-individualism and the Principle of Privileged Access are incompatible. McKinsey [5] argues that Burgian anti-individualism, in particular, is incompatible with the Principle of Privileged Access. McKinsey claims, and I agree, that Burge is committed to the following three propositions:
SURE-tuned tapering estimation of large covariance matrices

Bandable covariance matrices are often used to model the dependence structure of variables that follow a nature order. It has been shown that the tapering covariance estimator attains the optimal minimax rates of convergence for estimating large bandable covariance matrices. The estimation risk critically depends on the choice of the tapering parameter. We develop a Stein's Unbiased Risk Estimation (SURE) theory for estimating the Frobenius risk of the tapering estimator. SURE tuning selects the minimizer of SURE curve as the chosen tapering parameter. An extensive Monte Carlo study shows that SURE tuning is often comparable to the oracle tuning and outperforms cross-validation. We further illustrate SURE tuning using rock sonar spectrum data. The real data analysis results are consistent with simulation findings.
Variation in steroid hormones associated with infant care behaviour and experience in male marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii).

Abstract We describe temporal patterns of change in paternal behaviour and urinary concentrations of the steroid hormones testosterone (T) and oestradiol (E2) in male black tufted-ear marmosets, Callithrix kuhlii, relative to the birth of their young, and test predictions of the hypotheses that (1) high levels of T are incompatible with paternal care and (2) levels of T and E2vary with a father's prior experience in his family group. After young were born, levels of urinary T and E2remained near prepartum concentrations and rates at which fathers carried infants were below peak levels until the approximate time that postpartum mating ordinarily occurs, suggesting a possible trade-off between readiness to mate and paternal behaviour in C. kuhlii. Infant-carrying behaviour of fathers occurred at its highest rate 3–4 weeks after parturition and coincided with significant declines in urinary levels of T and E2, providing preliminary support for the hypothesis that these hormones are antagonistic to paternal behaviour. Urinary T and E2declined among fathers regardless of whether their young survived to weaning or died at birth, indicating that variation in these hormones after parturition occurs even in the absence of continued stimuli from infants. When adjusted for declines ordinarily associated with aging, urinary T tended to be lower among fathers with a great deal of prior experience caring for young compared with fathers having little or no experience, suggesting that either experience affects T levels of fathers, or that T levels influence fathers' chances of successfully rearing infants. Overall, our results suggest that in maleC. kuhlii , T, and possibly E2, play an important role in balancing the expression of paternal care with that of other reproductive behaviours.