cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular triads composed of ferrocene, C60, and nitroaromatic entities: Electrochemical, computational, and photochemical investigations

Synthesis and physicochemical characterization of a series of molecular triads composed of ferrocene, C60, and nitroaromatic entities are reported. Electrochemical studies revealed multiple redox processes involving all three redox active ferrocene, C60, and nitrobenzene entities. Up to eight redox couples within the accessible potential window of o-dichlorobenzene containing 0.1 M (TBA)ClO4 are observed. A comparison between the measured redox potentials with those of the starting compounds revealed absence of any significant electronic interactions between the different redox entities. The geometric and electronic structure of the triads are elucidated by using ab initio B3LYP/3-21G(*) methods. In the energy-optimized structures, as predicted by electrochemical studies, the first HOMO orbitals are found to be located on the ferrocene entity, while the first LUMO orbitals are mainly on the C60 entity. The coefficients of the subsequent LUMO orbitals track the observed site of electrochemical reductions o...
Optimal control of systems with delayed observation sharing patterns via input–output methods

Abstract In this paper we present an input–output point of view of certain optimal control problems with constraints on the processing of the measurement data. In particular, we consider norm minimization optimal control problems under the so-called one-step delay observation sharing pattern. We present a Youla parametrization approach that leads to their solution by converting them to nonstandard, yet convex, model matching problems. This conversion is always possible whenever the part of the plant that relates controls to measurements possesses the same structure in its feedthrough term with the one imposed by the observation pattern on the feedthrough term of the controller, i.e., (block-)diagonal. When that is not the case, it amounts to the so-called non-classical information pattern problems. For the H ∞ case, using loop-shifting ideas, a simple sufficient condition is given under which the problem can be still converted to a convex, model matching problem. We also demonstrate that there are several nontrivial classes of problems satisfying this condition. Finally, we extend these ideas to the case of a N-step delay observation sharing pattern.
The Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation of Ketones and Aldehydes

The oxidative conversion of alicyclic ketones into lactones with permonosulfuric acid was discovered by Baeyer and Villiger in 1899, and in their honor the general process by which ketones are converted into esters or lactones is now known as the Baeyer–Villiger reaction. The literature on this synthetically useful process has been reviewed comprehensively through 1953 in Volume 9 of Organic Reactions, and less comprehensive reviews of the reaction have appeared since then. More recent investigations have led to the development of new synthetic reagents, to improvements in experimental reaction conditions, and to a better understanding of regiochemical and stereochemical aspects of the reaction. Baeyer–Villiger reactions now often can be carried out with functional group chemoselectivity and regiochemical control. Although the recent removal from commerce of 90% hydrogen peroxide and reagents based upon this oxidant are a setback to Baeyer–Villiger reaction methodology, alternative reagents, catalysts, and methods described in this review are available to fill the gaps. The definition of the Baeyer–Villiger reaction is somewhat fuzzy, and can be considered to include both ketones and aldehydes. In addition to the traditional use of organic and inorganic peracids as oxidants, examples of oxygen insertion reactions using hydrogen peroxide, alkyl peroxides, and several metal ion oxidants are considered to fall within the scope of this chapter and are included in the tabular survey. Keywords: Baeyer-Villiger oxidation; ketones; aldehydes; Criegee mechanism; migrating step; rate determining addition; straight chain ketones; monocyclic ketones; polycyclic ketones; α,β-unsaturated ketones; 1,2 dicarbonyls; reagents; fused ring ketones; peracid reactions; α,β-unsaturated aldehydes; ketals; acetals; side reactions; alternative methods; experimental procedures; scope; limitations; spirocyclic ketones; bridged compounds; nitrogen derivatives
The right to water in the slums of Mumbai, India.

In India, some slums are notified, or recognized, by the government. In some cities, notified slums are entitled to receive security of land tenure, which means that the people who live in them cannot be arbitrarily evicted. In other words, inhabitants have a form of prop-erty rights to the land even though they do not own it. People living in notified slums are also usually entitled to access city services, including connections to the water supply. In 2012, 59% of slum settlements in India were non-notified.
ROMK inhibitor actions in the nephron probed with diuretics

Diuretics acting on specific nephron segments to inhibit Na+ reabsorption have been used clinically for decades; however, drug interactions, tolerance, and derangements in serum K+ complicate their use to achieve target blood pressure. ROMK is an attractive diuretic target, in part, because its inhibition is postulated to indirectly inhibit the bumetanide-sensitive Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter (NKCC2) and the amiloride- and benzamil-sensitive epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC). The development of small-molecule ROMK inhibitors has created opportunities for exploring the physiological responses to ROMK inhibition. The present study evaluated how inhibition of ROMK alone or in combination with NKCC2, ENaC, or the hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) target NCC alter fluid and electrolyte transport in the nephron. The ROMK inhibitor VU591 failed to induce diuresis when administered orally to rats. However, another ROMK inhibitor, termed compound A, induced a robust natriuretic diuresis without kaliuresis. Compound A produced additive effects on urine output and Na+ excretion when combined with HCTZ, amiloride, or benzamil, but not when coadministered with bumetanide, suggesting that the major diuretic target site is the thick ascending limb (TAL). Interestingly, compound A inhibited the kaliuretic response induced by bumetanide and HCTZ, an effect we attribute to inhibition of ROMK-mediated K+ secretion in the TAL and CD. Compound A had no effect on heterologously expressed flow-sensitive large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (Slo1/β1). In conclusion, compound A represents an important new pharmacological tool for investigating the renal consequences of ROMK inhibition and therapeutic potential of ROMK as a diuretic target.
A Small Molecule That Binds and Inhibits the ETV1 Transcription Factor Oncoprotein

Members of the ETS transcription factor family have been implicated in several cancers, where they are often dysregulated by genomic derangement. ETS variant 1 (ETV1) is an ETS factor gene that undergoes chromosomal translocation in prostate cancers and Ewing's sarcomas, amplification in melanomas, and lineage dysregulation in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Pharmacologic perturbation of ETV1 would be appealing in these cancers; however, oncogenic transcription factors are often deemed “undruggable” by conventional methods. Here, we used small-molecule microarray (SMM) screens to identify and characterize drug-like compounds that modulate the biological function of ETV1. We identified the 1,3,5-triazine small molecule BRD32048 as a top candidate ETV1 perturbagen. BRD32048 binds ETV1 directly, modulating both ETV1-mediated transcriptional activity and invasion of ETV1-driven cancer cells. Moreover, BRD32048 inhibits p300-dependent acetylation of ETV1, thereby promoting its degradation. These results point to a new avenue for pharmacological ETV1 inhibition and may inform a general means to discover small molecule perturbagens of transcription factor oncoproteins.
Lesbian dating and courtship from young adulthood to midlife.

Abstract Lesbian dating and courtship were explored based on interviews with 38 predominantly white lesbians (ages 22-63) representing young adult, adult, and midlife age groups. Friendship was found to be the most widely used courtship script across all age groups, followed by the sexually explicit and romance scripts, with friendship and romance scripts being preferred. Unique aspects of lesbian dating cited by participants included freedom from gender roles, heightened intimacy/friendship, the rapid pace of lesbian relationship development, and the effects of prejudice. Friendship was found to be differentiated from romance by two main criteria: emotional intensity and sexual energy or contact. Verbal declarations of interest and nonverbal behaviors were the primary means of communicating sexual attraction. Few lesbians adhered to traditional gender roles in dating, and those who reported assuming the feminine reactive role nevertheless rejected the traditional notion that women should limit sexual con...
Knowledge Management in LLiSA ICT4D Projects

The Living Labs in South Africa (LLiSA) projects have been introducing telecommunications and Internet technologies to remote rural South African municipalities for over seven years. The projects have exhibited mixed success with some quite successful in assisting schools and health clinics to use the Internet for obtaining and sharing information and others enjoying initial success only to fall into disuse. Knowledge management (KM) for technology expertise, Internet and computer usage, and software tools has required a transfer of knowledge to local interested individuals. However, KM is typically not an explicitly named aspect of the projects. Rather, projects cite a need for training and development of skills for maintainability but no explicit KM. This report identifies KM best practices. Then, project practices are analysed to determine knowledge components to be managed to improve project sustainability beyond the involvement of the original developers. Recommendations on how to apply KM best practices are developed.
Elements of Professional Expertise Understanding Relational and Substantive Expertise through Lawyers’ Impact

Lawyers keep the gates of public justice institutions, particularly through their roles in formal procedures like hearings and trials. Yet, it is not clear what lawyers do in such quintessentially legal settings: conclusions from past research are bedeviled by a lack of clear theory and inconsistencies in research design. Conceptualizing litigation work in terms of professional expertise, I conduct a theoretically grounded synthesis of the findings of extant studies of lawyers’ impact on civil case outcomes. Using an innovative combination of statistical techniques—meta-analysis and nonparametric bounding—the present study transcends previous work to reveal a domain of consensus for lawyers’ effect on case outcomes and to explore why this effect varies so greatly across past studies. For the types of cases researched to date, knowledge of substantive law explains surprisingly little of lawyers’ advantage compared to lay people appearing unrepresented. Instead, lawyers’ impact is greatest when they assist ...
Avatar: A Time- and Space-Efficient Self-stabilizing Overlay Network

Overlay networks present an interesting challenge for fault-tolerant computing. Many overlay networks operate in dynamic environments e.g. the Internet, where faults are frequent and widespread, and the number of processes in a system may be quite large. Recently, self-stabilizing overlay networks have been presented as a method for managing this complexity. Self-stabilizing overlay networks promise that, starting from any weakly-connected configuration, a correct overlay network will eventually be built. To date, this guarantee has come at a cost: nodes may either have high degree during the algorithm's execution, or the algorithm may take a long time to reach a legal configuration. In this paper, we present the first self-stabilizing overlay network algorithm that does not incur this penalty. Specifically, we i present a new locally-checkable overlay network based upon a binary search tree, and ii provide a randomized algorithm for self-stabilization that terminates in an expected polylogarithmic number of rounds and increases a node's degree by only a polylogarithmic factor in expectation.
Financial Intermediation, International Risk Sharing, and Reserve Currencies

Abstract I model the equilibrium risk sharing between countries with varying financial development. The most financially developed country takes greater risks because its financial intermediaries deal with funding problems better. In good times, the more financially developed country consumes more and runs a trade deficit financed by the higher financial income that it earns as compensation for taking greater risk. During global crises, it suffers heavier losses. Its currency emerges as the reserve currency because it appreciates during crises, thus providing a good hedge. I provide evidence that financial net worth plays a crucial role in understanding this asymmetric risk sharing. (JEL E44, F14, F32, G01, G15, G21)
Direct Mapping of Consumer Perceptions

Traditional perceptual mapping techniques such as factor analysis and multidimensional scaling do not directly involve the consumer in determining the number of dimensions, naming the dimensions or locating brands along the dimensions. This paper describes Direct Perceptual Mapping (DPM), a technique with which perceptual maps are elicited directly from the consumer. Results show that DPM compares favorably with traditional techniques in producing perceptual maps. In addition, DPM can provide process data that are not available with traditional techniques.
War, Law, and Labour: The Munitions Acts, State Regulation, and the Unions 1915-1921

This book examines the working of the Munition of War Acts 1915-1917, during the First World War. The munitions code, parts of which remained in force until 1921, appeared at first to constitute a radical break with the pre-war voluntarist system of industrial relations. It aimed to prevent strikes by law, it imposed wage controls and tighter factory discipline and discouraged munitions workers from leaving their jobs. Munitions tribunals were established to enforce the law. Using, among other sources, the evidence offered by the tribunal proceedings under the Acts, the author suggests that a policy of strict enforcement of the law was transformed to one of sensitive conflict management, involving trade unionists, employers, and the tribunal judges. The identification of complex working-class attitudes to the wartime state accounts largely for the creation of this modus vivendi, despite the controversial nature of the legislation. This book, though dealing with events which arose during wartime in an atmosphere of militarism, radicalism as well as patriotism, inflation and full employment, may nevertheless offer glimpses of insight to analysts of modern industrial relations.
Energy-aware cooperative computation in mobile devices

New data intensive applications, which are continuously emerging in daily routines of mobile devices, significantly increase the demand for data, and pose a challenge for current wireless networks due to scarce resources. Although bandwidth is traditionally considered as the primary scarce resource in wireless networks, the developments in communication theory shifts the focus from bandwidth to other scarce resources including processing power and energy. Especially, in device-to-device networks, where data rates are increasing rapidly, processing power and energy are becoming the primary bottlenecks of the network. Thus, it is crucial to develop new networking mechanisms by taking into account the processing power and energy as bottlenecks. In this paper, we develop an energy-aware cooperative computation framework for mobile devices. In this setup, a group of cooperative mobile devices, within proximity of each other, (i) use their cellular or Wi-Fi (802.11) links as their primary networking interfaces, and (ii) exploit their device-to-device connections (e.g., Wi-Fi Direct) to overcome processing power and energy bottlenecks. We evaluate our energy-aware cooperative computation framework on a testbed consisting of smartphones and tablets, and we show that it brings significant performance benefits.
Stochastic Matrix-Free Equilibration

We present a novel method for approximately equilibrating a matrix using only multiplication by the matrix and its transpose. Our method is based on convex optimization and projected stochastic gradient descent, using an unbiased estimate of a gradient obtained by a randomized method. Our method provably converges in expectation and empirically gets good results with a small number of iterations. We show how the method can be applied as a preconditioner for matrix-free iterative algorithms, substantially reducing the iterations required to reach a given level of precision. We also derive a novel connection between equilibration and condition number, showing that equilibration minimizes an upper bound on the condition number over all choices of row and column scalings.
California’s State and Local Revenue Structure After Proposition 13: Is Denial the Appropriate Way to Cope?

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the case of California coping with an alternative sub-national revenue structure that is the result of its 1978 implementation of Proposition 13 and a drastic reduction in reliance on property taxes. It describes changes in state and local revenue reliance for the state and compares California to the United States as a whole. The paper then offers a description of the instability in California’s post-Proposition 13 revenue structure. California’s policymakers have in part coped with such instability by denying that a structural deficit exists and/or refusing to eliminate it. A review of policy reforms that could alter the boom and bust course of California’s fiscal situation over future economic cycles and an “out of the box” idea tied to California’s pursuit of greenhouse gas reduction are also offered.
HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CLOUDY MINI-NEPTUNES AND WATER/VOLATILE-DOMINATED SUPER-EARTHS

One of the most profound questions about the newly discovered class of low-density super-Earths is whether these exoplanets are predominately H2-dominated mini-Neptunes or volatile-rich worlds with gas envelopes dominated by H2O, CO2, CO, CH4, or N2. Transit observations of the super-Earth GJ 1214b rule out cloud-free H2-dominated scenarios, but are not able to determine whether the lack of deep spectral features is due to high-altitude clouds or the presence of a high mean molecular mass atmosphere. Here, we demonstrate that one can unambiguously distinguish between cloudy mini-Neptunes and volatile-dominated worlds based on wing steepness and relative depths of absorption features in moderate-resolution near-infrared transmission spectra (R ~ 100). In a numerical retrieval study, we show for GJ 1214b that an unambiguous distinction between a cloudy H2-dominated atmosphere and cloud-free H2O atmosphere will be possible if the uncertainties in the spectral transit depth measurements can be reduced by a factor of ~3 compared to the published Hubble Space Telescope Wide-Field Camera 3 and Very Large Telescope transit observations by Berta et?al. and Bean et?al. We argue that the required precision for the distinction may be achievable with currently available instrumentation by stacking 10-15 repeated transit observations. We provide a scaling law that scales our quantitative results to other transiting super-Earths and Neptunes such as HD 97658b, 55 Cnc e, GJ 3470b and GJ 436b. The analysis in this work is performed using an improved version of our Bayesian atmospheric retrieval framework. The new framework not only constrains the gas composition and cloud/haze parameters, but also determines our confidence in having detected molecules and cloud/haze species through Bayesian model comparison. Using the Bayesian tool, we demonstrate quantitatively that the subtle transit depth variation in the Berta et?al. data is not sufficient to claim the detection of water absorption.
Motion trajectories

A simple algorithm for selecting and linking interesting flow vectors across a sequence of frames for computing motion trajectories is presented. Tokens are tracked that have both interesting pixel gray values in the spatial domain and in the optical flow field in the temporal domain. This effectively removes some redundant trajectories. Due to errors introduced during the computation of optical flow, and the linking of such flow vectors across a sequence of frames, the resultant trajectories are not always smooth. A Kalman filtering based approach is discussed for smoothing the trajectories. Isolating the trajectories into sets belonging to individual objects is an important first step that should be taken before any type of shape or motion interpretation can be done. Therefore, a simple algorithm for segmenting motion trajectories is also discussed. When motion trajectories belonging to a single translating object are extended, they intersect at a single point called the focus of expansion (FOE). If the motions of objects are assumed to be independent, each FOE represents one object. Therefore, FOE can be used to segment trajectories belonging to individual objects. A simple but highly robust algorithm for partitioning motion trajectories is presented that does not require the exact location of FOE, but uses some useful properties of FOE. The authors have applied their method for computing and segmenting motion trajectories to a number of real sequences, and have obtained very encouraging results. >
Dimethyl Sulfoxide as a Synthon in Organic Chemistry

Dimethyl sulfoxide is generally characterized as a solvent and oxidant rather than as a substrate, building block, or synthon in organic chemistry. However, an abundance of reports have recently appeared that demonstrate dimethyl sulfoxide acting in these roles. This review article offers a comprehensive summary of the literature on this topic until the end of 2015. Synthetic transformations that have utilized the ‘C–S–C’, ‘C’, and ‘C–S’ fragments of dimethyl sulfoxide as building blocks are systematically summarized. 1 Introduction 2 History and Recent Highlights of DMSO-Based Oxidations 3 DMSO-Based Methylthiomethylation (–CH2SMe) 4 DMSO as a One-Carbon Synthon 4.1 DMSO-Based Methylation (–Me) 4.2 DMSO-Based Methylenation (–CH2–) 4.3 DMSO-Based Annulation/Aromatization (=CH–) 4.4 DMSO-Based Formylation (–CHO) 4.5 DMSO-Based Cyanation (–CN) 5 DMSO as Synthon for ‘S–C’ Functionalities 5.1 DMSO-Based Thiomethylation (–SMe) 5.2 DMSO-Based Methylsulfonylation (–SO2Me) 6 Summary and Conclusions
The Occipital Place Area Is Causally Involved in Representing Environmental Boundaries during Navigation

Thirty years of research suggests that environmental boundaries-e.g., the walls of an experimental chamber or room-exert powerful influence on navigational behavior, often to the exclusion of other cues [1-9]. Consistent with this behavioral work, neurons in brain structures that instantiate spatial memory often exhibit firing fields that are strongly controlled by environmental boundaries [10-15]. Despite the clear importance of environmental boundaries for spatial coding, however, a brain region that mediates the perception of boundary information has not yet been identified. We hypothesized that the occipital place area (OPA), a scene-selective region located near the transverse occipital sulcus [16], might provide this perceptual source by extracting boundary information from visual scenes during navigation. To test this idea, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to interrupt processing in the OPA while subjects performed a virtual-reality memory task that required them to learn the spatial locations of test objects that were either fixed in place relative to the boundary of the environment or moved in tandem with a landmark object. Consistent with our prediction, we found that TMS to the right OPA impaired spatial memory for boundary-tethered, but not landmark-tethered, objects. Moreover, this effect was found when the boundary was defined by a wall, but not when it was defined by a marking on the ground. These results show that the OPA is causally involved in boundary-based spatial navigation and suggest that the OPA is the perceptual source of the boundary information that controls navigational behavior.
Reductive Cross-Coupling of Nonaromatic, Heterocyclic Bromides with Aryl and Heteroaryl Bromides

Reductive cross-coupling allows the direct C–C bond formation between two organic halides without the need for preformation of an organometallic reagent. A method has been developed for the reductive cross-coupling of nonaromatic, heterocyclic bromides with aryl or heteroaryl bromides. The developed conditions use an air-stable Ni(II) source in the presence of a diamine ligand and a metal reductant to allow late-stage incorporation of saturated heterocyclic rings onto aryl halides in a functional-group tolerant manner.
Doing Things Differently in the Cloud: Streamlining Library Workflows to Maximize Efficiency

Libraries share many common challenges, including ever more complex collections, systems, and workflows, as well as increased user demand. To help manage these challenges, today’s cloud‐based library management services are offering workflows that save library staff time and discovery solutions that meet users’ needs. Libraries using these services are seeing drastic reductions in the time it takes to perform routine tasks because of the integration between libraries, applications, partners, and data. As a result of doing things differently, libraries save staff time and money while streamlining workflows and improving efficiency. In short, cloud‐based library management services like OCLC’s WorldShare Management Services allow you to manage your library’s back office tasks differently—from acquisitions to cataloging to collection development. This paper gives a synopsis of the efforts of Southeastern University’s Steelman Library to streamline technical services workflows after going live on WorldShare Management Services (WMS) in July 2013. The impact that WMS has had on the library workflows at Clearwater Christian College will also be discussed briefly.
On the Stability of N5+N5-

We investigate the stability of N5+N5- as an isolated species and in a potential periodic structure. Its barriers toward loss of N3· from the N5+ ion or addition to form N10 are 25 and 15 kcal/mol. The barrier toward loss of N2 from the N5- ion is 15 kcal/mol. Increasingly positive charges of the N5 species in N5·, “N5+N3-”, N5+N5-, and N5+ are correlated with increased dissociation barriers. Preliminary calculations on quasi-periodic (N5+N5-)2 clusters and periodic DFT calculations agree on a density of ∼1.9 g/cm3 and a lattice energy of ∼130 kcal/mol. If a crystalline form of N5+N5- could be stabilized, it would be an ideal monopropellant since its density is nearly twice that of hydrazine while the energy densities (heat of reaction per gram) are comparable.
A Rapid, One-Pot, Microwave-Influenced Synthesis of Spiro-2,5-diketopiperazines via a Cascade Ugi/6-Exo-Trig Aza-Michael Reaction

A rapid, cascade reaction process has been developed to access biologically validated spiro-2,5-diketopiperazines. The facile and environmentally benign method capitalizes on commercially available starting reagents for a sequential Ugi/6-exo-trig aza-Michael reaction, water as a solvent, and microwave irradiation without any extraneous additives.
Profiles in Chemistry: A Historical Perspective on the National Organic Symposium

This perspective delineates the history of the National Organic Chemistry Symposium (NOS) and, in doing so, traces the development of organic chemistry over the past 88 years. The NOS is the premier event sponsored by the ACS Division of Organic Chemistry (ORGN) and has been held in odd-numbered years since 1925, with the exceptions of 1943 and 1945. During the 42 symposia, 332 chemists have given 549 plenary lectures. The role the NOS played in the launch of TheJournal of Organic Chemistry and Organic Reactions and the initiation of the Roger Adams Award are discussed. Representative examples highlighting the chemistry presented in each era are described, and the evolution of the field is examined by assigning each NOS talk to one of seven subdisciplines and analyzing how the number of talks in each subdiscipline has changed over time. Comparisons of the demographics of speakers, attendees, and ORGN members are made, and superlatives are noted. Personal interest stories of the speakers are discussed, alo...
A New Approach to the Theory of Rubberlike Elasticity

Equations are derived for stress–strain curves for a hypothetical model substance containing a large number of like systems, each assumed to be in equilibrium between two states having different arrangements of the atoms. With this model one can study the dependence of the initial elastic modulus, the limiting strain (for infinite stress), and the over-all shape of the stress–strain curve on characteristics of the rearranging systems—their number, the initial energy difference between the two states, the shift of atomic positions, etc. Introduction of an assumed proportionality between the shift per rearrangement and the square of the relative length of the sample (in the direction of the shift) leads to stress–strain curves similar to those determined experimentally for natural rubber and other rubberlike materials.
MENA export performance and specialization -- the role of financial sector development and governance

Industry and financial profiles of MENA firms may underpin the observation that MENA country exports are below potential and skewed toward low value-added goods that are unable to spur rapid job creation and inclusive growth. To assess this link, the paper combines analysis highlighting external financing as a determinant of export performance, and analysis highlighting sector asset tangibility and governance. Why? Because high value-added sectors tend to have higher shares of intangible assets and to create innovative products requiring substantial research and development or investments, thereby making these sectors more dependent on external financing. Using sector- and firm-level export data with country-level indicators, the results indicate that countries with more developed financial sectors and stronger governance tend to have higher exports from sectors that are more reliant on finance external to the firm, and lower exports from sectors with higher shares of tangible assets. Interestingly, financial sector development boosts exports less in MENA than in non-MENA countries. To foster expansion of higher value exports, the results suggest a critical need for: (i) deeper financial sector development that strengthens market-based systems, such as asset registries and credit reporting agencies, and (ii) strengthening of legal and governance frameworks.
A longitudinal study of prenatal marijuana use: Effects on sleep and arousal at age 3 years

Objective: To test the hypothesis that sleep disruptions would be evident in 3-year-old children with a history of prenatal marijuana exposure. Design: A prospective study using stratified random sampling beginning in the fourth month of pregnancy. Marijuana and other substance use were assessed by interviews at multiple time points. Offspring were followed up through age 3 years with multidomain assessments at fixed time points, including electroencephalographic sleep studies in the newborn period and at age 3 years. Setting: Primary care, prenatal clinic at a university hospital. Subjects: The sample included 18 children with prenatal marijuana exposure (mean [±SD] age, 39.0±4.4 months) and 20 control children (mean [±SD] age, 39.7±4.4 months). The two groups were similar in relationship to maternal age, race, income, education, or maternal use of alcohol, nicotine, and other substances in the first trimester. Main Outcome Measure: Sleep variables from polysomnographic recordings at age 3 years. Results: Children with prenatal marijuana exposure showed more nocturnal arousals (mean [±SD], 8.2±5.3 vs 3.2±4.6;P Conclusion: Prenatal marijuana exposure was associated with disturbed nocturnal sleep at age 3 years. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995;149:145-150)
Pd-Catalyzed Intermolecular C–H Amination with Alkylamines

C-H amination of N-aryl benzamides with O-benzoyl hydroxylamines has been achieved with either Pd(II) or Pd(0) catalysts. Furthermore, we demonstrate that secondary amines can be directly used with benzoyl peroxide in a one-pot procedure that proceeds via the in situ generation of the appropriate O-benzoyl hydroxylamines. This catalytic reaction provides a new disconnection for the convergent synthesis of tertiary and secondary arylalkyl amines starting from benzoic acids.
The effectiveness of quantitative easing: new evidence on private investment

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the effect of Federal Reserve’s large-scale purchases of securities on private investment. We find tentative evidence that quantitative easing (QE) stimulated the level of aggregate investment through the interest rate channel by narrowing corporate bond spread. In particular, the Fed’s purchases of mortgage-backed securities were found to have a statistically significant effect on aggregate private investment. Moreover, using a GARCH model, we find that QE has led to a reduction in the volatility of private investment. This finding remains robust with a QE dummy variable as an alternative measure of the unconventional monetary policy. The study also indicates how different aspects of QE influence private investment and its volatility.
Congested C–C Bonds by Pd-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allyl–Allyl Cross-Coupling, a Mechanism-Guided Solution

Under the influence of a chiral bidentate diphosphine ligand, the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric cross-coupling of allylboron reagents and allylic electrophiles establishes 1,5-dienes with adjacent stereocenters in high regio- and stereoselectivity. A mechanistic study of the coupling utilizing reaction calorimetry and density functional theory analysis suggests that the reaction operates through an inner-sphere 3,3′-reductive elimination pathway, which is both rate-defining and stereodefining. Coupled with optimized reaction conditions, this mechanistic detail is used to expand the scope of allyl–allyl couplings to allow the generation of 1,5-dienes with tertiary centers adjacent to quaternary centers as well as a unique set of cyclic structures.
Ultrasound assisted one-pot synthesis of benzo-fused indole-4,9-dinones from 1,4-naphthoquinone and α-aminoacetals

A one-pot synthesis of benzo[f]indole-4,9-diones from 1,4-naphthoquinone with α-aminoacetals has been developed. This method provides a straightforward synthesis of benzo[f]indole-4,9-diones via intramolecular nucleophilic attack of aminoquinones to aldehydes under mild reaction conditions. The detailed mechanism was also investigated.
Independent Sets in Polarity Graphs

Given a projective plane $\Sigma$ and a polarity $\theta$ of $\Sigma$, the corresponding polarity graph is the graph whose vertices are the points of $\Sigma$, and two distinct points $p_1$ and $p_2$ are adjacent if $p_1$ is incident to $p_2^{ \theta}$ in $\Sigma$. A well-known example of a polarity graph is the Erdos--Renyi orthogonal polarity graph $ER_q$, which appears frequently in a variety of extremal problems. Eigenvalue methods provide an upper bound on the independence number of any polarity graph. Mubayi and Williford showed that in the case of $ER_q$, the eigenvalue method gives the correct upper bound in order of magnitude. We prove that this is also true for certain other families of polarity graphs. This includes a family of polarity graphs for which the polarity is neither orthogonal nor unitary. We conjecture that any polarity graph of a projective plane of order $q$ has an independent set of size $\Omega (q^{3/2})$. Some related results are also obtained.
Lung cancer screening

Purpose of reviewLung cancer screening with low-dose chest computed tomography is now recommended for high-risk individuals by the US Preventive Services Task Force. This recommendation was informed by several randomized controlled trials, the largest of which, the National Lung Screening Trial, dem
CAN THE “TURN-OF-THE-NUT” METHOD IMPROVE CORTICAL SCREW INSERTION?

Summary A rotational limit for screw insertion may improve screw purchase and plate compression by reducing stripping, as compared to a torque based limit. Introduction Over-tightening screws results in inadvertent stripping of 20% of cortical bone screws. The current method of “two-fingers tight” to insert screws relies on the surgeon receiving torque feedback. Torque, however, can be affected by screw pitch, bone density and bone-thread friction. An alternative method of tightening screws is the “turn-of-the-nut” model, commonly used in engineering applications. In the “turn-of-the-nut” method, nuts used to fasten a joint are rotated a specific amount in order to achieve a pre-specified bolt tension. When applied to orthopaedics, bone assumes the role of the nut and the screw is the bolt. The screw is turned a set angular rotation that is independent of torque feedback. Potentially the “turn-of-the-nut” method provides an easier way of screw insertion that might lessen inadvertent screw stripping. The purpose of the current study was to use the “turn-of-the-nut” method to determine the angular rotation that results in peak plate compression and peak screw pullout force. Methods Three pairs of human humeri in each of three groups (osteopenic, osteoporotic, and normal) underwent plate compression and pullout protocols. For plate compression, 3.5-mm screws were tightened into strain gauge instrumented plate until screw stripping occurred. Insertion torque, plate compression, and screw rotation were measured. For pullout, 3.5-mm screws were inserted until the head contacted the plate, additionally rotated (90, 180, 270, or 360 degrees), and then pulled out. A generalised linear and latent mixed model was used to check for significant associations (P Results Mean (95% CI) peak plate compression occurred at 286 degrees (range, 261 – 311 degrees) beyond screw seating. Plate compression significantly increased at 90 to 135 degrees but not after 180 degrees. At 270 degrees, 39% of the screws had already reached their peak ability to compress. Peak screw torque lagged behind peak plate compression by 31 ± 50 degrees, and in seeking peak screw torque, a loss of 104 ± 115 N in plate compression resulted. Screw pullout force was greatest at 90 degrees, but it was not significantly different from that of the other angle groups. Conclusions Screw rotation at 180 degrees provides plate compression and pullout strength statistically similar to those at greater rotations but without the loss of purchase associated with greater rotations.
List Equivalency of PRESTO for the Evaluation of Speech Recognition.

Background There is a pressing clinical need for the development of ecologically valid and robust assessment measures of speech recognition. Perceptually Robust English Sentence Test Open-set (PRESTO) is a new high-variability sentence recognition test that is sensitive to individual differences and was designed for use with several different clinical populations. PRESTO differs from other sentence recognition tests because the target sentences differ in talker, gender, and regional dialect. Increasing interest in using PRESTO as a clinical test of spoken word recognition dictates the need to establish equivalence across test lists. Purpose The purpose of this study was to establish list equivalency of PRESTO for clinical use. Research design PRESTO sentence lists were presented to three groups of normal-hearing listeners in noise (multitalker babble [MTB] at 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio) or under eight-channel cochlear implant simulation (CI-Sim). Study sample Ninety-one young native speakers of English who were undergraduate students from the Indiana University community participated in this study. Data collection and analysis Participants completed a sentence recognition task using different PRESTO sentence lists. They listened to sentences presented over headphones and typed in the words they heard on a computer. Keyword scoring was completed offline. Equivalency for sentence lists was determined based on the list intelligibility (mean keyword accuracy for each list compared with all other lists) and listener consistency (the relation between mean keyword accuracy on each list for each listener). Results Based on measures of list equivalency and listener consistency, ten PRESTO lists were found to be equivalent in the MTB condition, nine lists were equivalent in the CI-Sim condition, and six PRESTO lists were equivalent in both conditions. Conclusions PRESTO is a valuable addition to the clinical toolbox for assessing sentence recognition across different populations. Because the test condition influenced the overall intelligibility of lists, researchers and clinicians should take the presentation conditions into consideration when selecting the best PRESTO lists for their research or clinical protocols.
Aging and cancer.

The world's population is aging. Older age is associated with an increase in the incidence of cancer, especially cancer of the breast, lung, prostate, and colon. The management of older patients with cancer is biased by the simple fact of their chronologic age. Underscreening, understaging, less aggressive therapy, lack of participation in clinical trials, or no treatment at all reflect this bias. Although an age-related reduction in the physiologic function of many organs occurs with age, these are not contraindications to treatment with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Chronologic age alone should not be used as a guide for cancer management. Rather, physiologic function or existence of comorbid conditions should be major factors in determining treatment. As a result of the impending need for improved cancer management in older persons, a new subspecialty is evolving: geriatric oncology. This field stresses an important interaction between geriatricians and oncologists, development of research directed at the problems of cancer in older persons, and education at all levels with respect to cancer prevention, cancer detection, and cancer therapy. Physicians and oncologists need to be prepared for the projected increase of cancer in older persons.
Mammalian Cell Tissue Culture Techniques.

Cultured tissues and cells are used extensively in physiological and pharmacological studies. In vitro cultures provide a means of examining cells and tissues without the complex interactions that would be present if the whole organism were studied. A number of special skills are required in order to preserve the structure, function, behavior, and biology of cells in culture. This unit describes the basic skills required to maintain and preserve cell cultures: maintaining aseptic technique, preparing media with the appropriate characteristics, passaging, freezing and storage, recovering frozen stocks, and counting viable cells. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: aseptic technique; freezing cells; medium; passaging cells; tissue culture
KSOS—Computer network applications

The need for multilevel security in computer systems has become well known. In the military, lacking such systems makes costs higher than they should be because of the need either to replicate facilities or perform "color changes" (shutting down and purging systems between uses at varying levels) in order to deny less-cleared users access to highly-classified information, and desirable functions which would require the controlled intermixing of data at different security levels are simply not yet done. The Government’s concern with such matters is amply reflected in Reference 9 . Outside the military, it is clear that most if not all funds transfer systems, for example, would benefit from the other side of the security coin—that is, although the major military threat is compromise of data, the major financial threat is alteration of data. In both broad areas, a free-standing multilevel secure operating system would be a distinct asset. The Kemelized Secure Operating System is meant to be just such a system, and in these terms alone is of considerable interest. This paper, though, will address potential applications of KSOS in areas other than as a free-standing system.
Excess HB-EGF, which promotes VEGF signaling, leads to hydrocephalus

Heparin binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is an angiogenic factor mediating radial migration of the developing forebrain, while vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to influence rostral migratory stream in rodents. Cell migratory defects have been identified in animal models of hydrocephalus; however, the relationship between HB-EGF and hydrocephalus is unclear. We show that mice overexpressing human HB-EGF with β-galactosidase reporter exhibit an elevated VEGF, localization of β-galactosidase outside the subventricular zone (SVZ), subarachnoid hemorrhage, and ventriculomegaly. In Wistar polycystic kidney rats with hydrocephalus, alteration of migratory trajectory is detected. Furthermore, VEGF infusions into the rats result in ventriculomegaly with an increase of SVZ neuroblast in rostral migratory stream, whereas VEGF ligand inhibition prevents it. Our results support the idea that excess HB-EGF leads to a significant elevation of VEGF and ventricular dilatation. These data suggest a potential pathophysiological mechanism that elevated HB-EGF can elicit VEGF induction and hydrocephalus.
Effect of Production Parameters On the Economic Feasibility of a Biofuel Enterprise

In order to guarantee the success of the nascent cellulose-based biofuel industry, it is crucial to identify the most economically relevant components of the biofuel production path. To this aim, an original stochastic financial model is developed to estimate the impact that different feedstock production and biofuel conversion parameters have on the probability of economic success. Estimation of the model was carried out using Monte Carlo simulation techniques along with parametric maximum likelihood estimation procedures. Results indicate that operational efficiency strategies should concentrate on improving feedstock yields and extending the feedstock growing season.