cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic release management: A market intensity approach

We consider a release manager who sequentially releases new versions of her product, and ask how she should account for the overall level of competitive intensity in her industry. We model the problem within a combinatorial framework in which new releases consist of discrete features. Motivated by a simple mixed-integer non-linear program (MINLP) that formed the basis of a collaboration with industry sponsors, we propose an approach in which the manager tunes her discount factor to capture the aggregate impact of market intensity. This technique relies on a multiplicative compound Poisson model of market intensity, which we justify by showing how it emerges naturally in a multi-firm equilibrium. This intensity equilibrium facilitates operational analysis, as it captures the relationships among firms at a statistical level, as opposed to a release-by-release strategic level. We also examine how ignoring the existence and/or stochasticity of the outside market can lead to suboptimal outcomes. To facilitate implementation, we provide a numerical procedure for calibrating the market intensity model based on the stylized multi-firm game-theoretic framework.
Race to De-Democratization

… Like I said, they wanted to test us, see how we’d react to what they call the Variables, and to a problem that has no solution. See if we could work together—build a community, even. Everything was provided for us, and the problem was laid out as one of the most common puzzles known to civilization—a maze. All this added up to making us think there had to be a solution, just encouraging us to work all the harder while at the same time magnifying our discouragement at not finding one. – Thomas, The Maze Runner.
A Model for Aging in Place in Apartment Communities

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this article is to introduce a theoretical model for an aging-in-place housing specialist for those living in congregate housing facilities. A “needs assessment” tool is outlined to help facilitate the successful implementation of a Health and Aging Residential Service Coordinator (HARSC), both from a research perspective and from implementation of training curriculum for this specialized population. A model that provides both on- and off-site services is hypothesized to be most effective.
Analysis of components of compound action potentials in response to infrared laser light (Conference Presentation)

Many techniques may modulate peripheral nerve activity. Infrared light (IR) can excite or inhibit nerves. Compound action potentials (CAPs) are often measured as an endpoint, focusing on complete block, or overall amplitude reduction. To our knowledge, no standard techniques determine whether CAP sub-components have been modulated. Treatments may alter timing of CAP components as well as blocking them. How can these be distinguished? We developed a numerical simulation in which extracellularly recorded action potentials were summed, assuming a Gaussian distribution for their onset time. Onset time for sub-populations was delayed (shifting), or amplitudes were reduced to zero (blocking). We demonstrated that area under the rectified curve, divided by the entire duration of the CAP, provided a more stable measure of change than other options (e.g., power). Regions must be selected such that the CAP’s individual components do not shift out of the analysis window. The largest reductions in area under the curve due to shifts were ~55% due to destructive interference, which is likely to be much larger than typically observed experimentally. In contrast, blocking components could reduce the area under the curve to zero. The analysis was applied to sequential nerve stimulations. At every point, variance of the normalized area was computed. Choosing regions of lowest variance across stimulations defined an objective criterion for boundaries between CAP subcomponents. Analysis was applied to IR effects on CAPs recorded in the pleural-abdominal connective of Aplysia californica and musk shrew vagus. Slower conducting CAP subcomponents were selectively blocked before faster subcomponents.
What Happened to the Angel in the House?: The Violent Female Lover

In this chapter Taylor Porter analyzes information and perspectives regarding particularly female-initiated domestic violence as an introduction to plays depicting female characters who fight with past and present intimate partners. She discovered that a significant proportion of women engage in not only low-level, mutual violence with their partners, but some also reverse the traditional model and become “intimate terrorists.” The plays discussed include Noel Coward’s Private Lives (1930), Paula Vogel’s Hot ’n’ Throbbing (2000), and Frank Canino’s The Angelina Project (2000), ending with a brief look at Pearl Cleage’s Flyin’ West (1995). Coward depicts mutual partner violence with a lack of both political agenda and sensitivity in a comic genre, whereas Vogel and Canino focus on female protagonists’ responses to intimate partner abuse, doing an admirable job of presenting women’s various and complex relationships to physical force. They recognize the cultural stereotypes but move audiences beyond them. Less successful is Cleage’s melodramatic play.
Impacts of soil surface roughness changes on SMOS soil moisture retrievals

The Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) soil moisture retrievals are too dry and noisy when compared to the South Fork of the Iowa River (SFIR), a heavily agricultural watershed with a USDA-ARS in situ soil moisture network. After testing for invalid retrievals, errors in auxiliary datasets, and a non-representative parameterization of scattering in the canopy, soil surface roughness changes were identified as the next potential source of the dry bias. Soil surface roughness increases the amount of radiation emitted from the surface; if the SMOS processor does not “know” that the soil is rough, the increased brightness temperature is interpreted as a drier soil. When the processor does account for a rougher soil surface, the previous dry bias between SMOS and the SFIR will reduce. This ability to zero the bias comes at a high cost: SMOS sensitivity to the SFIR soil moisture is halved between the moderately-rough and rough scenarios.
The political failure of U.S. energy policy

Two important developments occurred after this article went to press: the decline in world oil prices was halted; and the Congress agreed to relax some of the federal controls over natural gas supplies and prices.
Collaborative Learning in an Information Literacy Course: The Impact of Online Versus Face-to-face Instruction on Social Metacognitive Awareness

Abstract Metacognition and social metacognition play important roles in information literacy, online learning, and collaborative learning. This study examines how students rated themselves in both metacognitive and social metacognitive awareness after a collaborative project in an information literacy course offered face-to-face and online. Students in the face-to-face version of the course rated themselves as having higher social metacognitive awareness, though metacognitive awareness scores were similar. Because of this finding, this article makes recommendations for improving collaboration online for information literacy instruction.
Argentine Cinema and National Identity (1966–1976)

Argentine Cinema and National Identity' covers the development of Argentine cinema since the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, a period that has been understudied. This essential cultural history delves on the dialect tradition versus modernity that was in place during those years and also comprises an examination of the political economy of film production as well as the different laws, including that implementing censorship that regulated this cultural industry. It also pays particular attention to two historical film genres: the historical film genre per se and the 'gauchesque', a genre based on outlaw gauchos that was crucial for nation-building in the nineteenth century. This volume investigates the way Argentine cinema positioned itself when facing the competition of glossy American films and resorted to the historical and 'gauchesque' to bridge the stark divisions between the Argentine left and right in the late 1960s.
Recurrence of Femoral Pseudoaneurysm after Ultrasound-Guided Thrombin Injection:

Although pseudoaneurysm is a rare recurrence after ultrasound-guided thrombin injection, it can occur. We report a patient who, despite complete pseudoaneurysm thrombosis, visualized on ultrasound,...
Tailoring the pore size distribution of self-cross-linked 4,4′-bis(chloromethyl)-1,1′-biphenyl polymers using reactive and non-reactive co-solvents

Abstract Self-cross-linked 4,4′-bis(chloromethyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (BCMBP) polymers with tailored pore size distribution (PSD) and average pore width (Wavg) were synthesized via the Friedel-Crafts reaction in 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) with reactive (benzene) or non-reactive (hexane and cyclohexane) co-solvents. Compared to using only DCE, Wavg increases (up to 450%) with increasing benzene:DCE ratio due to decreases in cross-linking degree. Hexane and cyclohexane induce phase separation and co-solvent trapping in developing polymers, changing PSD and Wavg without altering cross-linking degree. Findings provide a simple technique to synthesize hyper-cross-linked polymers with user-defined PSDs.
Flow-Induced Crystallization and Orientation from the Melt

Highly oriented fibers and ribbons of polyethylene and polypropylene were formed in a process using a single screw plasticating extruder as the melt source. These extrudates exhibited properties typical of highly oriented semicrystalline polymers: transparency, fibrous morphology, elevated melting temperatures, and high initial and secant moduli and yield strength. This process had demonstrated the capability of imparting controlled levels of uniaxial and apparently biaxial orientation, that range up to exceptionally high values. A conditioned polymer melt is fed to specially designed and operated dies where it experiences elongational flow to impart orientation in the desired direction(s), and at least the outer sheath of the extrudate is crystallized in the fixed boundary land of the die prior to exiting. The flow behavior in one of the dies used in this process has been modeled illustrating the streamlines that exist.
Arousal and the relationship between positive and negative affect: An analysis of the data of Ito, Cacioppo, and Lang (1998).

Research on positive and negative emotional states has supported several models of how those states relate to each other. Many studies suggest that they are independent, the “bivariate” view, while others suggest that they are inversely correlated, the “bipolar” view. Other research has shown that stress is a major moderator of the relationship; the affects become coupled under conditions of high stress, a contextual model, but are relatively independent otherwise. To expand the range of tests of this dynamic model of affect, we reanalyzed a data set initially reported by Ito, Cacioppo, and Lang (1998) on affect-eliciting picture stimuli. In that study, arousal was assessed separately from positive and negative affect, allowing investigation of a source of interaffect relationships different from stress, per se. Arousal interacted with positive and negative affect, showing both bivariate and bipolar relationships, and effects similar to stress. Affective reactions to the stimuli became more inversely correlated when the affects were high and interacting with higher arousal. The data supported the dynamic model of affect and suggest the need for further analyses of the linkages between stress, arousal, and reduced levels of emotional complexity.
Src kinase inhibition restores E-cadherin expression in dasatinib-sensitive pancreatic cancer cells

The Src family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases are frequently activated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), contributing to disease progression through downregulation of E-cadherin and induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of Src kinase inhibition in restoring E-cadherin levels in PDAC. Immunohistochemical analysis of human PDAC samples showed Src activation is inversely correlated with E-cadherin levels. Protein and mRNA levels of E-cadherin, the gene expression of its various transcriptional repressors (Zeb1, Snail, Slug, LEF-1, TWIST), and changes in sub-cellular localization of E-cadherin/β-catenin in PDAC cells were characterized in response to treatment with the Src inhibitor, dasatinib (DST). DST repressed Slug mRNA expression, promoted E-cadherin transcription, and increased total and membranous E-cadherin/β-catenin levels in drug-sensitive PDAC cells (BxPC3 and SW1990), however no change was observed in drug-resistant PANC1 cells. BxPC3, PANC1, and MiaPaCa-2 flank tumor xenografts were treated with DST to examine changes in E-cadherin levels in vivo. Although DST inhibited Src phosphorylation in all xenograft models, E-cadherin levels were only restored in BxPC3 xenograft tumors. These results suggest that Src kinase inhibition reverses EMT in drug-sensitive PDAC cells through Slug-mediated repression of E-cadherin and identifies E-cadherin as potential biomarker for determining response to DST treatment.
Postpartum LARC discontinuation and short interval pregnancies among women with HIV: a retrospective 9-year cohort study in South Carolina

Abstract Objectives To evaluate rates of discontinuation and short interval pregnancy among women with HIV who received a postpartum IUD or implant. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women who had an IUD or implant placed within 3 months postpartum during a nine-year period (1/1/09 to 2/14/18). We assessed the prevalence of discontinuation within 12 months and rates of subsequent delivery within 18 months. We examined differences in these outcomes between women with and without HIV. Results Of the 794 women who received a long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) within 3 months postpartum, most chose an IUD (85%). Twenty-one percent (165) elected for immediate postpartum placement: 119 IUDs and 46 implants. Women with HIV were more likely to receive an implant (48% vs 13%, p p Conclusions Women with HIV in South Carolina were more likely than HIV negative women to receive immediate postpartum LARC and to receive an implant. They were not more likely to discontinue LARC within 12 months nor experience short interval pregnancies. Implications. Further study is needed to evaluate preferences for implants and immediate postpartum insertion among women with HIV.
Polymerized Ionic Liquid-Containing Interpenetrating Network Solid Polymer Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

The practical application of lithium metal batteries (LMBs) with high energy density is hindered by uneven lithium deposition during battery cycling. To mitigate this process, in this work, an inte...
The Levin–Stečkin Inequality and Simple Quadrature Rules

We obtain an error term for an extension of the Levin–Steckin Inequality, which yields the error terms for the Midpoint, Trapezoid, and Simpson’s rules.
Postoperative Serum Cytokine Levels Are Associated With Early Stiffness After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Abstract Background Inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in organ fibrosis; however, their role in the development of arthrofibrosis after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has not been well explored. The purpose of this study is to assess whether perioperative synovial fluid or blood plasma cytokine levels are associated with reduced early post-TKA range of motion. Methods A total of 179 patients with end-stage idiopathic osteoarthritis undergoing TKA were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Synovial fluid and blood plasma were collected prearthrotomy and plasma was collected longitudinally in the postacute care unit and on postoperative days (PODs) 1 and 2. Stiffness was defined as ≤95° range of motion measured with a goniometer at 6 weeks (±2 weeks). Results Thirty-two of 162 (19.8%) patients analyzed were stiff at 6 weeks postoperatively. Postoperative plasma levels of 9 cytokines (Eotaxin3, IL-5, IL12_23p40, IP10, VEGF, IL-7, IL-12p70, IL-16, IL-17a) were significantly different between stiff and nonstiff patients on POD1 and/or POD2. An association between preoperative plasma and synovial fluid cytokine levels and the development of postoperative stiffness was not detected. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that there is a distinct acute postoperative cytokine response profile in patients who develop stiffness 6 weeks after TKA. This profile was characterized by significant differences in levels of 9 cytokines over the first 2 postoperative days. These results identify cytokines that are potential biomarkers for risk of early stiffness after TKA and may play a role in the pathophysiology of this outcome.
Sins of the Father: The Effect of a Parent Firm's Accounting Misconduct on Current and Former Subsidiaries

We exploit a unique setting to examine how managerial and economic connections affect the current and former subsidiaries (“subsidiaries”) of a parent firm undergoing a restatement and bankruptcy. The demise of Enron and the varying nature of ties between Enron and its four publicly traded subsidiaries allow us to examine if capital market reactions for each of the subsidiaries surrounding Enron’s failure vary with the nature of their connections to Enron. We observe no significant differences in contemporaneous market reaction regardless of the nature and strength of connections between Enron and the subsidiaries, providing two main insights. First, over the year following the Enron events, those subsidiaries with ownership or accounting ties but with weak economic ties performed in-line with the industry, consistent with the lack of a differential market reaction across these sets of firms. This result contrasts with recent studies finding evidence of manager fixed effects affecting accounting choices. Second, we find that Enron’s most economically connected subsidiary (predictably) went bankrupt shortly after Enron, suggesting a market under-reaction at the time of the Enron events. Additional analysis provides some limited evidence that low institutional ownership or slow analyst forecast updating partly explains this under-reaction. Our study adds to the literature on restatements, management reputation effects, peer information transfer, and the market’s ability to react to specific fundamental information.
Competitive Interactions at Electrolyte/Octanol Interfaces---A Molecular Perspective

Much is understood about electrolyte liquid/liquid interfaces, yet the relationships between ion solvation, adsorption, and the instantaneous surface have not been the topic of significant study. T...
Polyamine block of MthK potassium channels.

Polyamines can modulate membrane excitability by blocking ion flux through ion channels. Suma et al. determined the location of the binding site for polyamines inside a model potassium channel pore.
Varicella-Zoster Meningitis With Hypoglycorrhachia in an Immunocompetent Patient Presenting With Disseminated Varicella-Zoster Infection.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection is rarely reported in immunocompetent hosts. We report the case of a 40-year-old male who presented with altered mental status. One week prior, he was seen at his outpatient physician's office for a rash along the lateral right thigh. Erythema of the right gluteal region was noted, but no vesicles were present. He was treated for shingles rash with acyclovir with improvement. After a period of initial improvement in the rash, the patient developed a persistent headache. Given his migraine history, he overlooked the headache. He then developed fever, followed by confusion and was brought to the ED for further evaluation. CT head was unremarkable. Lumbar puncture revealed aseptic meningitis. This case highlights the unusual presentation of disseminated VZV infection in an immunocompetent host. It stresses the importance of maintaining high suspicion for disseminated VZV infection despite the patient being immunocompetent.
Soliton interactions in certain square matrix nonlinear Schrödinger systems

This work deals with a class of square matrix nonlinear Schrodinger (MNLS) systems whose reductions include two equations that model hyperfine spin $$F = 1$$ spinor Bose–Einstein condensates in the focusing and defocusing dispersion regimes, and two novel (mixed sign) equations that were recently shown to be integrable. Our main goal is to discuss the bright soliton solutions and their interactions for the focusing MNLS and for the two mixed sign systems within the framework of the inverse scattering transform. The nature of the solitons and their interactions depend on whether the associated norming constants (polarization matrices) are rank-one matrices (giving rise to ferromagnetic solitons) or full rank (corresponding to polar solitons). By computing the long-time asymptotics of the 2-soliton solutions, we determine how the polarization matrix of each soliton changes because of the interaction. Explicit formulas for the soliton interactions are given for all possible types of interacting solitons, namely ferromagnetic–ferromagnetic, polar–polar, and polar–ferromagnetic soliton interactions, and for all three inequivalent reductions of the MNLS systems that admit regular bright soliton solutions. We also present bound states, representing 2 solitons travelling with the same velocity, for all three systems.
Re-politicizing financial regulation: a sociological analysis of the debate on loan-to-value regulation in Norway

While financial regulation became highly contested in the aftermath of the financial crisis, the specifics of such regulation is usually debated among professionals, in specialized fora. This artic...
How Should Cancer Models Be Constructed

Choosing and optimizing treatment strategies for cancer requires capturing its complex dynamics sufficiently well for understanding but without being overwhelmed. Mathematical models are essential to achieve this understanding, and we discuss the challenge of choosing the right level of complexity to address the full range of tumor complexity from growth, the generation of tumor heterogeneity, and interactions within tumors and with treatments and the tumor microenvironment. We discuss the differences between conceptual and descriptive models, and compare the use of predator-prey models, evolutionary game theory, and dynamic precision medicine approaches in the face of uncertainty about mechanisms and parameter values. Although there is of course no one-size-fits-all approach, we conclude that broad and flexible thinking about cancer, based on combined modeling approaches, will play a key role in finding creative and improved treatments.
Amyloid-β Peptide Impact on Synaptic Function and Neuroepigenetic Gene Control Reveal New Therapeutic Strategies for Alzheimer’s Disease

Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides can form protease-resistant aggregates within and outside of neurons. Accumulation of these aggregates is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology and contributes to devastating cognitive deficits associated with this disorder. The primary etiological factor for Aβ aggregation is either an increase in Aβ production or a decrease in its clearance. Aβ is produced by the sequential activity of β- and γ-secretase on the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the clearance is mediated by chaperone-mediated mechanisms. The Aβ aggregates vary from soluble monomers and oligomers to insoluble senile plaques. While excess intraneuronal oligomers can transduce neurotoxic signals into neurons causing cellular defects like oxidative stress and neuroepigenetic mediated transcriptional dysregulation, extracellular senile plaques cause neurodegeneration by impairing neural membrane permeabilization and cell signaling pathways. Paradoxically, senile plaque formation is hypothesized to be an adaptive mechanism to sequester excess toxic soluble oligomers while leaving native functional Aβ levels intact. This hypothesis is strengthened by the absence of positive outcomes and side effects from immunotherapy clinical trials aimed at complete Aβ clearance, and support beneficial physiological roles for native Aβ in cellular function. Aβ has been shown to modulate synaptic transmission, consolidate memory, and protect against excitotoxicity. We discuss the current understanding of beneficial and detrimental roles for Aβ in synaptic function and epigenetic gene control and the future promising prospects of early therapeutic interventions aimed at mediating Aβ induced neuroepigenetic and synaptic dysfunctions to delay AD onset.
Sexual Dysfunction in Women With Kidney Disease

Sexual health is inversely associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate and is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, depression, poor self-image, and impaired quality of life. Many women with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ESKD experience symptoms of sexual dysfunction which is underrecognized secondary to a variety of factors including physicians' discomfort in discussing sexual health, patients' reluctance to bring up sexual health, difficulty in the assessment of sexual health in comparison to men, and the overall lack of well-conducted clinical studies in women. The pathophysiology is not fully understood but likely involves changes in sex hormones throughout the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Proper evaluation of this axis is necessary as treatment is tailored to these findings and can improve outcomes. A comprehensive assessment of sexual dysfunction inclusive of women with varying gender identification and sexual orientation, partnered with recognition and treatment of contributing factors as well as identifying the underlying cause, is paramount. With the lack of studies, particularly in women with CKD, treatment options, in some cases, can be considered unchartered territory. In this article, we will review available evidence on the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment for sexual dysfunction in women with CKD and ESKD.
Weak housing demand in a shrinking city: the potential effects of the water crisis on Flint, Michigan’s housing market and homeowners’ perceived mobility

This study explores perceived and real effects of a human-made environmental crisis (the Flint water crisis) on residential mobility and housing demand in the weak market city of Flint, Michigan, U...
Capturing the Transient Microstructure of a Physically Assembled Gel Subjected to Temperature and Large Deformation

The microstructure of physically assembled gels depends on mechanical loading and environmental stimuli such as temperature. Here, we report the real-time change in the structure of physically assembled triblock copolymer gels that consist of 10 wt% and 20 wt% of poly(styrene)-poly(isoprene)-poly(styrene) [PS-PI-PS] triblock copolymer in mineral oil (i) during the gelation process with decreasing temperature, (ii) subjected to large oscillatory deformation, and (iii) during the stress-relaxation process after the application of a step-strain. The presence of loosely bounded PS-aggregates at temperatures higher than the rheometrically determined gelation temperature (Tgel) captures the progressive gelation process spanning over a broad temperature range. However, the microstructure fully develops at temperatures suciently lower than Tgel, and the storage modulus (G0 ) also reaches a plateau at those temperatures. The microstructure orients in the stretching direction with the applied strain. In an oscillation strain cycle, such oriented structure has been observed at low-strain. But, at large-strain, the oriented structure splits, and only a fraction of midblock participates in load-bearing. This has been attributed to the endblock pullout from the aggregates, likely caused by the strain localization in the samples. Both microstructure recovery and time-dependent moduli during the stress-relaxation process after the application of a step-strain can be captured using a stretched-exponential model. However, the microstructure recovery time has been found to be two orders of magnitude slower than the stress-relaxation time at room temperature, indicating a complex nature of relaxation process involving midblock relaxation, endblock pullout and reassociation process. Due to their viscoelastic nature, these gels' mechanical responses are sensitive to strain, temperature, and rate of deformation. Therefore, insights into the microstructural information as a function of these parameters will assist these gels' real-life applications and design new gels with improved properties
The Politics of Open Economies: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand

This book asks why some countries have responded to the external constraints and opportunities arising from their global and regional economic context by opening up their economies. In particular, the authors examine the role domestic political and economic factors play in shaping the decision to become more open, or more inward-looking. The countries of Southeast Asia have generally enjoyed economic success in the postwar period. The authors argue that one of the explanations for this success has been their integration into the global division of labor, and analyze decision-makers' reasons for following this course. They place particular emphasis on external events, notably the two oil shocks of the 1970s, and the more recent outflow of investment capital and manufacturing capacity from Japan and East Asia.
Use of 5-fluorouracil for the isolation of auxotrophic mutants of Bacillus megaterium.

Wachsman, J. T. (University of Illinois, Urbana), and L. Hogg. Use of 5-fluorouracil for the isolation of auxotrophic mutants of Bacillus megaterium. J. Bacteriol. 87:1137–1139. 1964.—The combination of 5-fluorouracil (FU) and uridine was used to selectively kill wild-type cells of Bacillus megaterium KM, thereby providing surviving populations greatly enriched in auxotrophic mutants. Exponentially growing cells were irradiated with ultraviolet light, incubated in a basal medium containing sucrose and, in most experiments, a complete amino acid mixture. Exponentially growing cells were then washed and incubated in the basal medium containing only sucrose, to deplete intracellular reserves. FU and uridine were added, and incubation was continued. After 5 hr, auxotrophs may account for up to 50% of the survivors. Organisms requiring each of the following compounds were identified: alanine, arginine, asparagine, cysteine, histidine, phenylalanine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, adenine, and guanine.
Flywheel Energy Storage: An Alternative to Batteries For UPS Systems

ABSTRACT Direct current (DC) system flywheel energy storage technology can be used as a substitute for batteries to provide backup power to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. Although the initial cost will usually be higher, flywheels offer a much longer life, reduced maintenance, a smaller footprint, and better reliability compared to a battery. The combination of these characteristics will generally result in a lower life-cycle cost for a flywheel compared to a battery. Flywheels intended for UPS application are typically designed to provide power at their maximum rate for a period of about 15 seconds. In contrast, most batteries for UPS applications are designed to provide their maximum rated power for about 15 minutes. Therefore, using a flywheel instead of a battery will generally require a generator that can come up to full power within about 10 seconds, which is well within the capabilities of standby generators. With or without a standby generator, flywheels could be used to significant...
The Epigenetic Profile of Ig Genes Is Dynamically Regulated during B Cell Differentiation and Is Modulated by Pre-B Cell Receptor Signaling

Ag receptor loci poised for V(D)J rearrangement undergo germline transcription (GT) of unrearranged genes, and the accessible gene segments are associated with posttranslational modifications (PTM) on histones. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic changes of four PTM throughout B and T cell differentiation in freshly isolated ex vivo cells. Methylation of lysines 4 and 79 of histone H3, and acetylation of H3, demonstrated stage and lineage specificity, and were most pronounced at the J segments of loci poised for, or undergoing, rearrangement, except for dimethylation of H3K4, which was more equally distributed on V, D, and J genes. Focusing on the IgL loci, we demonstrated there are no active PTM in the absence of pre-BCR signaling. The κ locus GT and PTM on Jκ genes are rapidly induced following pre-BCR signaling in large pre-B cells. In contrast, the λ locus shows greatly delayed onset of GT and PTM, which do not reach high levels until the immature B cell compartment, the stage at which receptor editing is initiated. Analysis of MiEκ −/− mice shows that this enhancer plays a key role in inducing not only GT, but PTM. Using an inducible pre-B cell line, we demonstrate that active PTM on Jκ genes occur after GT is initiated, indicating that histone PTM do not make the Jκ region accessible, but conversely, GT may play a role in adding PTM. Our data indicate that the epigenetic profile of IgL genes is dramatically modulated by pre-BCR signaling and B cell differentiation status.
Behavior profiling of email

This paper describes the forensic and intelligence analysis capabilities of the Email Mining Toolkit (EMT) under development at the Columbia Intrusion Detection (IDS) Lab. EMT provides the means of loading, parsing and analyzing email logs, including content, in a wide range of formats. Many tools and techniques have been available from the fields of Information Retrieval (IR) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) for analyzing documents of various sorts, including emails. EMT, however, extends these kinds of analyses with an entirely new set of analyses that model "user behavior". EMT thus models the behavior of individual user email accounts, or groups of accounts, including the "social cliques" revealed by a user's email behavior.
Is Auditor Independence Endogenous? Evidence Against Common Governance Indices and Sarbanes-Oxley Prescriptions

This paper examines whether firms jointly choose auditor-independence with alternative inputs to governance production. We find that auditor-independence is correlated with a number of alternative governance-producing mechanisms, and show that these results are unlikely to be artifacts of omitted variable bias. These findings (i) suggest that firm responses will tend to offset the intended governance enhancing consequences of any regulation that formally proscribes the level of an input to corporate governance production, such as the auditor independence provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and (ii) highlight how simple-sum indices of corporate governance can exhibit considerable bias.
What Are the Odds? Option-Based Forecasts of FOMC Target Changes

This article uses probability forecasts derived from options to assess evolving market uncertainty about Federal Reserve monetary policy actions in a variety of recent events and episodes. Options on federal funds futures contracts reveal a complete probability density function over possible Federal Reserve target rates, thus augmenting the expectations provided by federal funds futures contracts. Option-based forecasts are most useful when more than two federal funds target outcomes are plausible at an upcoming policy meeting.
Imagining Gun Control in America: Understanding the Remainder Problem

Gun control in the United States generally has meant some type of supply regulation. Supply restrictions ranging from one-gun-a-month schemes to flat gun bans cannot work without a willingness and ability to reduce total inventory to levels approaching zero ("the supply-side ideal"). This is an impossible feat in a country that already has 300 million guns tightly held by people who think they are uniquely important tools. The average defiance ratio in places that have attempted gun confiscation and registration is 2.6 illegal guns for every legal one. In many countries defiance is far higher. None of those countries has as deep and entrenched a gun culture as the U.S. This remainder problem and defiance impulse mean that we are far past the point where supply restrictions can work. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled in D.C.v. Heller that the Second Amendment prohibits general disarmament, the temptation is to view Heller as the central obstacle to effective gun control. This is a mistake born of our failure to confront the incoherence of pre-Heller supply-side controls. This article elaborates the supply-side ideal as the foundation of our most ambitious gun control proposals, explains the remainder problem and the defiance impulse as both cultural and physical phenomena that block supply-side rules, and evaluates a series of familiar gun-control proposals in the context of these structural barriers in order to identify which can work and which cannot.
Phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol in amniotic fluid: indices of lung maturity.

Abstract The minor phospholipids in amniotic fluid from normal pregnancies were correlated with the well-established index of lung maturity, the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio. When the L/S ratio was less than 1.0, the acidic phospholipids phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) were absent or low in concentration (0.0 to 2.5 per cent of lipid phosphorus). Parallel to the increase in the L/S ratio to 2.0, the content of PI increased to 6.0 to 8.5 per cent of lipid phosphorus. PG, the unique phospholipid of lung surfactant, first appeared and PI concomitantly decreased when the L/S ratio exceeded 2.0, indicating the secretion of mature lung surfactant. Analysis of PI and PG in amniotic fluid as markers of surfactant seems to be of value as an additional index of prenatal evaluation of lung maturity and may be particularly useful when the specimen is contaminated with blood.
Sliding wear behavior of Fe50−xCr15Mo14C15B6Erx (x=0, 1, 2 at%) bulk metallic glass

Abstract The sliding wear behavior was investigated for Fe 50− x Cr 15 Mo 14 C 15 B 6 Er x ( x =0, 1, 2 at%) bulk metallic glasses (BMG). Minor alloying with 1–2 at% erbium resulted in an increase in hardness and a deterioration of the indentation fracture toughness, but the wear resistance increased with increasing Er content. The Fe 48 Cr 15 Mo 14 C 15 B 6 Er 2 bulk metallic glass was then annealed and the wear resistance increased in the following order: crystallized, as-cast, and structurally relaxed condition. Transmission electron microscopy studies did not reveal sliding wear-induced crystallization, but instead shear band formation. The results demonstrate that micro-alloying is a useful approach for improving the wear resistance of bulk metallic glasses and that the combination of micro-alloying and annealing can substantially improve the wear resistance.
Laparoscopic-guided compared to skilled instructor support for student rectal examination training using live horses in the veterinary curriculum.

Objectives To evaluate the veterinary student learning outcome of 2 methods of equine rectal examination training. Study Design Randomized prospective study. Sample Population Veterinary students (3rd and 4th year; n = 40) and practicing equine veterinarians (n = 10). Methods Year 1: Group 1 (n = 11) and Group 2 students (n = 10) received skilled instructor (SI) and laparoscopic-guidance (LG), respectively, during rectal exam instruction. All students were tested on rectal identification of 4 abdominal organs. Year 2: One group of students (n = 19) was trained and subsequently tested using each technique, first SI, followed by LG. Subjective evaluation of laparoscopy as a teaching tool was achieved with veterinary students and equine practitioners. Results A significantly greater percentage of students having LG compared to SI were able to correctly identify the left kidney (Year 1) and the spleen, cecum, and right ovary (Year 2). A significantly greater proportion of LG trained students in years 1 and 2 (100% and 95%, respectively) were also able to identify 75% of organs compared with SI (27% and 21%, respectively). Both students and veterinarians uniformly provided favorable feedback for LG in teaching rectal palpation skills. Conclusion The LG method of equine rectal examination instruction resulted in improved learning for identification of several key abdominal organs compared with SI.
Resposta hipertensiva ao esforço: um problema silencioso

Introduction: Physically active people are usually considered healthy and protected from cardiovascular disease and hypertension due to their good physical condition. The prevalence of hypertension in these groups is estimated to be about 50% lower than in the general population. Exercise is a well-known non-pharmacological measure for diminishing cardiovascular risk. The purpose of this article is to make health professionals aware of the hypertensive response to exercise and of the need for early diagnosis in order to assess and control cardiovascular risk in these patients. Description of Case: The case of a 33 year-old asymptomatic Caucasian male is presented. He was a former high-level competitive swimmer between the ages of 10 and 22. He currently performs regular physical activity with moderate to high intensity. His personal history includes current smoking, a BMI of 28.9kg/m2 and a family history of obesity and high blood pressure. As part of his routine assessment, we detected borderline elevated blood pressure values (high normal), overweight, hypercholesterolemia (with a total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol index of 4.7), and left ventricular hypertrophy by electrocardiographic and echocardiographic criteria. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement was negative for hypertension. A stress test was performed. It was interrupted prematurely due to a hypertensive response to exercise. This explained not only the cardiac anomalies found but also allowed early pharmacological intervention with control of blood pressure during exercise. Comments: In asymptomatic and normotensive individuals, an exaggerated blood pressure response during exercise is associated with an increased risk of future hypertension and negative cardiovascular outcomes. The treadmill test can be used to identify individuals with abnormal responses, probably preceding hypertension, allowing early intervention in the natural history of the disease. This case emphasizes the importance of knowing the patient’s lifestyle for optimal clinical evaluation.
Stem Cell Research

Stem cell research involves destruction of the developing embryo and hence poses issues regarding the sanctity of nascent human life. Jewish law issues related to that matter are discussed. Among those are the parameters of the obligation to engage in medical research, the status of a subvisual fetus, of the fetus in the very early stages of gestation and of a fetus conceived ex utero. Public policy considerations in a pluralistic society are also addressed.
Police Unions, the Judicial System, and the Development of Police Department Policy

This research note reports on an exploratory case study to identify hypotheses concerning when and how police unions use the judicial system to influence the development and implementation of police department policy. The focus of the case study is on identifying conditions that facilitate police union recourse to the courts rather than to administrative or legislative channels to influence departmental policy and the effect of police union use of the courts.
Best Practice Guidelines on Informed Consent for Weight Loss Surgery Patients

Objective: To provide evidence-based guidelines on informed consent and the education that underlies it for legally competent, severely obese weight loss surgery (WLS) patients. Research Methods and Procedures: We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature published on MEDLINE between 1984 and 2004. Three articles focused on informed consent for WLS; none was based on empirical studies. We summarized each paper and assigned evidence categories according to a grading system derived from established evidence-based models. We also relied on informed consent and educational materials from six WLS programs in Massachusetts. All evidence is Category D. Recommendations were based on a review of the available literature, informed consent materials from WLS programs, and expert opinion. Results: This Task Group found that the informed consent process contributes to long-term outcome in multiple ways but is governed by limited legal requirements. We focused our report on the legal and ethical issues related to informed consent, i.e., disclosure vs. comprehension. Recommendations centered on the importance of assessing patient comprehension of informed consent materials, the content of those materials, and the use of active teaching/learning techniques to promote understanding. Discussion: Although demonstrated comprehension is not a legal requirement for informed consent in Massachusetts or other states, the members of this Task Group found that the best interests of WLS patients, providers, and facilities are served when clinicians engage patients in active learning and collaborative decision making.
The Russell-Silver syndrome without asymmetry†

Five cases of strikingly similar unrelated children with growth deficiency of prenatal onset are reported. All had relatively large heads, triangular facies, and small slender bodies. All 5 children had a tendency to increased sweating of an unusual degree; 2 of them had hypoglycemia following short periods of fasting. These children are similar to cases described by Silver and Russell; however, since our patients manifest no asymmetry they most closely resemble the patients of Russell. The Russell-Silver syndrome without asymmetry is a distinct entity that can be diagnosed with assurance in early infancy. Early recognition is important in order to prevent unnecessary diagnostic procedures. Mental development is usually normal. The possibility of hypoglycemia in early childhood is an important additional reason for early diagnosis.
Synthesis of polystyrene-polysiloxane side-chain liquid crystalline block copolymers

The synthesis of a new liquid crystalline block copolymer consisting of a polystyrene block and a side-chain liquid crystalline siloxane block is reported. The synthetic approach described is based on the anionic polymerization of styrene and cyclic trimethyltrivinyltrisiloxane monomers, followed by functionalization of the siloxane block with side chain mesogens. The siloxane block has a Tg well below 25°C and is designed to exhibit a chiral smectic C* phase at room temperature. These block copolymers are the first side-chain liquid crystalline block copolymers which contain both a high Tg glassy block and a low Tg liquid crystalline block.
Environmentally Sensitive Road Maintenance Practices

The objective of this study was to quantify sediment generation rates from unpaved roads before and after placement of a durable unbound surface aggregate. Sediment pollution from unpaved roads is a well-documented problem across the United States and the world. The quality of road surface material is a large determining factor in how much sediment is generated from the road surface during rain events. This study attempted to quantify the sediment reduction potential of driving surface aggregate (DSA), an unbound aggregate specification used in Pennsylvania that was designed specifically as a wearing course for gravel roads. DSA is widely used to surface roads in Pennsylvania to reduce road runoff in environmentally sensitive areas. The road surface erosion rates in this study were measured on two sites before DSA placement and at time intervals of 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years after placement. A rainfall simulator was employed to generate a consistent and repeatable storm event over a 100-ft (30-m) sectio...