cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Particle Size on the Discharge Performance of a Nickel-Metal Hydride Cell

We investigate the effect of article size on the discharge performance of a nickel-metal hydride cell with a mathematical model. Electrodes with uniform as well as with nonuniform particle sizes are studied. With uniform particle size, the dependence of the particle-to-particle resistance on the particle size is taken into account. The optimal particle size depends on the discharge rate. Moreover, we show that under certain conditions it is advantageous to use a nonuniform particle size. In general, the higher the discharge current density, the more the particle size affects the electrode performance.
In vitro steroid synthesis by the ovaries of the teleost fish, Centropristes striatus (L.)

Abstract Ovarian tissue of the teleost Centropristes striatus was incubated with labeled pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione (progesterone) and 17β-hydroyyandrost-4-ene-3-one (testosterone). Using pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione as a precursor only pregnane-3,20-dione could be identified as a metabolite. 17β-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3-one yielded the 5β-reduced steroids 5β-androstane-3,17-dione, 17β-ol-5β-androstane-3-one and 5β-androstane-3α,17β-diol.
Estimates of use and costs of behavioural health care: a comparison of standard and finite mixture models.

Estimates of health care demand are known to depend on the empirical specification used in the analysis. In this paper, an innovative specification, the finite mixture model (FMM), is employed to estimate the utilization of and expenditures on behavioural health care. Unlike standard specifications, the FMM has the ability to distinguish between distinct classes of users of behavioural health care (e.g. the 'worried well' and the severely mentally ill). This new model is tested against standard empirical specifications using data from the National Medical Expenditure Survey. Using common risk stratifiers, estimates of utilization and costs are generated with each specification. It is found that the FMM provides a much better fit of both expenditure and utilization data than standard specifications, particularly among high intensity users that standard models have been unable to represent adequately. Furthermore, the results provide preliminary evidence that there are (at least) two distinct groups of users of behavioural health care. The empirical advantages of the FMM translate into superior estimates of mean costs and utilization that have widespread application in rate-setting exercises.
Acculturation-Based and Everyday Family Conflict in Chinese American Families.

Everyday conflict (studied primarily among European American families) is viewed as an assertion of autonomy from parents that is normative during adolescence. Acculturation-based conflict (studied primarily among Asian- and Latino-heritage families) is viewed as a threat to relatedness with parents rather than the normative assertion of autonomy. Our overarching goal for the chapter is to integrate our knowledge of these two types of family conflict that have been studied separately to arrive at a new understanding of what family conflict means for Chinese American adolescents and their parents.
Comparisons of Models for Simulating Energy Transfer in Ne-Atom Collisions with an Alkyl Thiolate Self-Assembled Monolayer†

A range of attributes of a molecular dynamics model for Ne-atoms colliding with a n-hexylthiolate self-assembled monolayer (SAM)/Au{111} surface are investigated to determine how they affect the energy-transfer dynamics. Explicit-atom (EA) and united-atom (UA) models for the SAM surface give similar energy accommodation, with energy transfer to the EA model approximately 10% less efficient. An accurate potential energy function is needed to described the interaction between Ne and the carbon and hydrogen atoms of the SAM. Quasiclassical and molecular dynamics sampling of initial conditions for the SAM give very similar simulation results. A SAM model with only 35 alkyl chains gives the same energy transfer to the Au{111} substrate as do much larger models. Energy transfer to the Au{111} substrate is unimportant during the Ne-atom collision. Increasing the temperature of the SAM in the initial conditions and, thus, increasing the SAM's thermal motion lead to more energy dissipation pathways and broaden the...
Non-invasive measurement of eddy diffusion in very efficient liquid chromatography columns packed with sub-3 μm shell particles

Mass transfer kinetics in a particular column packed with 2.6μm Kinetex-C18 particles was measured using a series of non-invasive methods. According to the manufacturer, this column was the most efficient one in a lot of 133 columns of the same dimensions, packed with particles of the same batch, with an efficiency about 6% larger than the lot average. The total eddy diffusion term of this column was determined by subtracting from the experimental HETP data (1) the longitudinal diffusion term (given by the peak parking method); (2) the trans-particle solid–liquid mass transfer resistance term (given by the peak parking method and an axial diffusion model); and (3) the external film mass transfer resistance term (derived from the Wilson and Geankoplis correlation). The results are analyzed based on the general coupling theory of eddy diffusion of Giddings and are compared to those previously obtained with a column packed with 2.7μm Halo-C18 column, which also has a low eddy diffusion term. The particular column investigated shows no trans-column velocity bias and a smaller reduced short-range inter-channel eddy diffusion term than the Halo column. This result explains the unusual efficiency of this exceptionally well packed column.
Cultural Studies as Performative Politics

This article addresses the role public intellectuals and cultural workers might play in challenging the pervasive institutional and ideological influ ence of neoliberalism as it continues to attack all public spaces and social services not governed by the logic of the market. The author takes up this challenge by articulating a relationship between the political and peda gogical that is central to any notion of cultural politics. In doing so, he attempts to foreground how the diverse forms of critical pedagogy and cul tural studies can engage in progressive cultural politics through the interre lated registers of insurgent citizenship, a performative critical pedagogy, and a contextualized notion of political agency. The interconnected con cepts of discourse, context, power, and theory are used to critique notions of textuality that refuse to link the symbolic to material relations of power and to engage the limits of dystopian performative work that fails in spite of its appeal to the transgressive to ad...
U.S. Economic Prospects: Secular Stagnation, Hysteresis, and the Zero Lower Bound

I would like to thank Michael Peterson very much for his generous words of introduction and for his thoughtful observations about the long-run economic challenges that our country faces. You do not, however, get to the long run except through the short run, and what happens in the short run has a profound impact on the long run. To reverse Keynes a bit, if you die in the short run, there is no long run. So my preoccupation this morning will be with a set of temporary but, I believe, ultimately long-term concerns.
Change in vertebral shape in spinal osteoporosis.

The change in vertebral shape with increasing severity of spinal osteoporosis was studied in 139 women with atraumatic spinal fractures. The anterior height was below the normal range in 570 vertebrae, and the posterior height was below normal in 157 vertebrae. All values below the normal range were defined as fractures. Ninety-eight percent of posterior fractures were associated with anterior fractures. The fractures involved both the anterior and posterior vertebral borders in 58/356 (17%) of the fractured vertebrae in patients with 6 or less fractures, compared with 93/217 (45%) of the fractured vertebrae in patients with 7 or more fractures. The distribution of anterior fractures was biphasic with peak frequencies at T7–T8 and T11–T12. Posterior fractures had a more lumbar distribution, perhaps resulting from higher compressive forces on the posterior vertebral border of the lordotic lumbar spine than on the kyphotic thoracic spine. The mean anterior and posterior height of nonfractured vertebrae in osteoporotics was not significantly different from normal, suggesting that osteoporotics do not have smaller vertebrae than normal subjects.
Dynamic characteristics of vibratory gyroscopes

Although there have been test results on microgyroscope dynamic characteristics, quantitative results relating the dynamic properties to microgyro design and operating parameters are not yet available. In this paper, we study the dynamic characteristics of a vibrating wheel microgyroscope. In vibratory microgyroscopes, the mechanical structure is driven into oscillatory motion. Consequently, the angular velocity input to the sensor is multiplied by the periodic driven motion. In order to recover the angular velocity input from the sensor responses, a demodulation must by carried out. Therefore, the differential equation governing the gyro input and output is not time invariant. The frequency response for the time-variant linear system is obtained through the demodulated and low-pass filtered steady-state output to sinusoidal excitations. With further assumptions of large Q value and close frequency match between the driven mode and sense mode, we obtain a time invariant model for the microgyroscope which is much simpler to use in the design of the microgyroscopes.
Selective Photoinduced Ligand Exchange in a New Tris−Heteroleptic Ru(II) Complex

The complex cis-[Ru(biq)(phen)(CH3CN)2]2+ (1, biq = 2,2′-biquinoline, phen = 1,10-phenathroline) displays selective photosubstitution of only one CH3CN ligand with a solvent molecule upon irradiation with low energy light (λirr ≥ 550 nm), whereas both ligands exchange with λirr ≥ 420 nm. In contrast, [Ru(phen)2(CH3CN)2]2+ (2) and [Ru(biq)2(CH3CN)2]2+ (3) exchange both CH3CN ligands with similar rates upon irradiation with a broad range of wavelengths. The photolysis of 1 in the presence of pyridine (py) results in the formation of the intermediate cis-[Ru(biq)(phen)(py)(MeCN)]2+, which was isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography, revealing that the CH3CN positioned trans to the phen ligand is more photolabile than that positioned trans to the biq ligand when irradiated with low energy light. These results are explained using the calculated stabilities of the two possible products, together with the molecular orbitals involved in the lowest energy excited state.
Pitch Manipulation for Dual Band Helical Antennas

This paper demonstrates a method of designing helical antenna using the pitch manipulation method. A dual band antenna operating at both 900 MHz and 1900 MHz has been designed. By associating the helix turns to the electrical length, one can easily change to a different set of helix parameter set. This method should reduce the number of cut-and-try for designing helical antenna. Using the same method, multi band helical antenna have been designed for UHF/GPS and VHF/800 MHz applications
El Niño, La Niña, and stratospheric sudden warmings: A reevaluation in light of the observational record

[1] Recent studies have suggested that El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) may have a considerable impact on Northern Hemisphere wintertime stratospheric conditions. Notably, during El Nino the stratosphere is warmer than during ENSO-neutral winters, and the polar vortex is weaker. Opposite-signed anomalies have been reported during La Nina, but are considerably smaller in amplitude than during El Nino. This has led to the perception that El Nino is able to substantially affect stratospheric conditions, but La Nina is of secondary importance. Here we revisit this issue, but focus on the extreme events that couple the troposphere to the stratosphere: major, mid-winter stratospheric sudden warmings (SSWs). We examine 53 years of reanalysis data and find, as expected, that SSWs are nearly twice as frequent during ENSO winters as during non-ENSO winters. Surprisingly, however, we also find that SSWs occur with equal probability during El Nino and La Nina winters. These findings corroborate the impact of ENSO on stratospheric variability, and highlight that both phases of ENSO are important in enhancing stratosphere-troposphere dynamical coupling via an increased frequency of SSWs.
Reproductive biology and survival of Diabrotica barberi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): effect of temperature, food, and seasonal time of emergence

The reproductive biology of Diabrotica barberi Smith & Lawrence was studied in the laboratory at seven constant temperatures, six dietary regimes at 25°C, and at two time periods during adult emergence in the field. Preoviposition periods ranged from a mean of 24.8 d at 15°C to 11.8 d at 25°C, and the mean period of oviposition ranged from 65.7 d at 15°C to 33.7 d at 30°C. Mean female and male longevity were similar, ranging from ca. 90 d at 17.5°C to 42 d at 30°C. Eggs were laid in clutches with a mean of 25 to 31 eggs. Clutch size was independent of temperature but the interval between clutches, the number of clutches, and overall fecundity were all affected by temperature. At 22.5°C females laid an average of 8.7 clutches, one every 6.4 d with a mean fecundity of 274 eggs. In contrast, at 30°C females laid a mean of 4.3 clutches at a frequency of 7.3 d with a mean fecundity of 118 eggs. Beetles failed to mature and survived poorly when provided only with food sources from immature corn plants. Reduction in the quality of food associated with corn plant maturity significantly reduced the period of oviposition, fecundity, and longevity. Feeding for various periods after emergence allowed maturation and some oviposition but continual feeding was necessary for continued oviposition and normal survival. Adult size was not correlated with any aspect of reproduction, and adults emerging relatively early and late in the field differed in size but not significantly in reproductive potential.
Low-Energy Atrial Defibrillation A Promising New Technique

Temporary epicardial wire electrodes placed during open heart surgery for potential diagnostic and/or therapeutic use in patients in the immediate postoperative period have been used safely and effectively as part of standard care for a long time.1 2 3 4 We have also known that synchronized delivery of a low-energy DC shock for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation is very effective.5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 With the presentation by Liebold et al22 of the study of 100 consecutive patients undergoing open heart surgery, we now have the demonstration of a new clinical application of both the use of temporary epicardial atrial wire electrodes and low-energy DC cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. The article by Liebold et al22 is actually about 2 things. One is a new therapeutic modality in the treatment of atrial fibrillation in the period immediately after open heart surgery. The other is the efficacy, safety, and tolerance of so-called low-energy atrial defibrillation. It is widely recognized that atrial fibrillation is a common and important …
Diet-Induced Milk Fat Depression in Dairy Cows Results in Increased trans-10, cis-12 CLA in Milk Fat and Coordinate Suppression of mRNA Abundance for Mammary Enzymes Involved in Milk Fat Synthesis

Milk composition can be altered by diet, and one example is milk fat depression (MFD) in dairy cows. The biohydrogenation theory of MFD has implicated unique fatty acids formed by altered rumen biohydrogenation of PUFA; one example is trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). In the present study, we induced MFD with a high concentrate/low forage (HC/LF) diet and examined milk composition, milk fatty acid changes and mammary lipogenic mRNA abundance to determine the mechanism involved. The HC/LF diet reduced milk fat percentage by 25% and yield by 27% with no effect on dietary intake, milk production, protein or lactose. Milk fatty acids synthesized de novo in the mammary gland and fatty acids taken up from circulation were reduced to a similar extent (molar basis). MFD was also characterized by the appearance of trans-10, cis-12 CLA in the milk fat. We analyzed mammary mRNA abundance for lipogenic genes and detected reductions for acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), fatty acyl CoA ligase, glycerol phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) and acylglycerol phosphate acyltransferase (AGPAT). There was no effect on the milk protein gene, kappa-casein. The reductions in mRNA were also correlated with the appearance of trans-10, cis-12 CLA in the milk fat for ACC, FAS, lipoprotein lipase and GPAT. This study demonstrates that diet-induced MFD involves coordinated effects on mRNA for mammary lipid synthesis pathways, and provides support for a mechanism involving alterations in transcriptional activation of these genes.
Revisiting the Public Job Security: Thirty Years of Research and an Agenda for the Future

This paper seeks to develop a research agenda for future public job security research. We begin by clarifying the meaning of the job security concept and specifying its content domain based on Gree...
Team-Based Message Logging: Preliminary Results

Fault tolerance will be a fundamental imperative in the next decade as machines containing hundreds of thousands of cores will be installed at various locations. In this context, the traditional checkpoint/restart model does not seem to be a suitable option, since it makes all the processors roll back to their latest checkpoint in case of a single failure in one of the processors. In-memory message logging is an alternative that avoids this global restoration process and instead replays the messages to the failed processor. However, there is a large memory overhead associated with message logging because each message must be logged so it can be played back if a failure occurs. In this paper, we introduce a technique to alleviate the demand of memory in message logging by grouping processors into teams. These teams act as a failure unit: if one team member fails, all the other members in that team roll back to their latest checkpoint and start the recovery process. This eliminates the need to log message contents within teams. The savings in memory produced by this approach depend on the characteristics of the application, the number of messages sent per computation unit and size of those messages. We present promising results for multiple benchmarks. As an example, the NPB-CG code running class D on 512 cores manages to reduce the memory overhead of message logging by 62%.
A Pancreatic Mass and Bilateral Pitting Pedal Edema: Nothing Is Ever What It Seems

t o ( g 4 A man with an unremarkable medical history presented with a 3-month history of initially unilateral but ubsequently bilateral lower limb pitting edema in the absence of yspnea or chest discomfort. An abdominal ultrasound was sugestive of a retroperitoneal mass. A subsequent contrast-enhanced omputed tomography of the abdomen revealed a 7.0 3.8 8.4 m septated cystic lesion in the pancreatic head that extended oward the hepatic hilum with an unobstructed main pancreatic uct (Video 1). In contrast, endoscopic ultrasonography with fineeedle aspiration revealed a solid, well-defined mass confined to he pancreatic head, establishing an endocrine neoplasm immuoreactive with synaptophysin, chromogranin, keratin, and CAM .2 (Figures A–D). A preoperative 24-hour urinary collection reealed 15,406 mg of protein in addition to hypoalbuminemia, with normal creatinine level. A radical pylorus-preserving pancreatioduodenectomy was performed, reaffirming a high-grade neuoendocrine carcinoma (9.3 7.4 3.8 cm) involving peripancreatic soft tissue in the absence of vascular or nodal involvement (American Joint Committee on Cancer pT3N0) (Figures E and F). Postoperatively, the patient developed an acute kidney injury (urinalysis, renal epithelial cells) in addition to the previously noted nephrotic syndrome. His serology for hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus were negative. The urinary protein increased to 33,585 mg/24 h. Light and electron microscopy of a renal biopsy revealed membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN), stage I–II and acute tubular necrosis (Figures G and H). Possible causes of nephrotic syndrome include MGN, minimal hange disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, collapsing gloerulopathy, amyloidosis, and diabetic kidney disease among others. GN etiologic factors include the so-called idiopathic (70% of paients have antibodies against phospholipase A2 receptor1), and secndary causes include infection (eg, hepatitis B), autoimmune disease eg, systemic lupus erythematosus), exposure to medications such as old, penicillamine, and less so, malignancy. Malignancy accounts for .5% of secondary MGN cases.2 An extensive review of paraneoplastic glomerular disease identified 3 cases of pancreatic or ampullary adenocarcinoma associated with MGN.3 Nonpancreatic neuroendocrine tumors have been associated with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and Goodpasture syndrome. Recently, MGN remission after a Whipple procedure has been reported in a Finnish patient with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.4
Proteinase Enzyme System of Lactic Streptococci III. Substrate Specificity of Streptococcus lactis Intracellular Proteinase

The substrate specificity of an intracellular proteinase from Streptococcus lactis was investigated in an effort to understand the role of the enzyme in the cell. Peptides in which the N-terminal residue was glycine were not hydrolyzed by the enzyme (exceptions were glycyl-alanine, glycyl-aspartic acid, and glycyl-asparagine), but the peptide was hydrolyzed if the N-terminal residue was alanine. The enzyme also showed activity toward peptides containing aspartic acid or asparagine. Hydrolysis of only the peptide bonds of alanyl, aspartyl, or asparaginyl residues was confirmed by the action of the enzyme on oxidized bovine ribonuclease A- and B- chain insulin. The N-terminal residues of the peptide fragments liberated were identified. The enzyme attacked both substrates only at alanyl, aspartyl, and asparaginyl residues, releasing these as free amino acids. In addition to alanine, aspartic acid, and asparagine, certain other amino acids were liberated from ribonuclease A, but these were accounted for by the relation of their position to alanine, aspartic acid, and asparagine residues.
The incorporation of microscopic material models into the FDTD approach for ultrafast optical pulse simulations

We are developing full-wave vector Maxwell equation solvers for use in studying the physics and engineering of linear and nonlinear integrated photonics systems. Particular emphasis has been given to the interaction of ultrafast optical pulses with nonresonant and resonant optical materials and structures. Results are reviewed that simulate the interaction of ultrafast optical pulses with structures (e.g., gratings of finite length) filled with materials exhibiting resonant loss or gain. In particular, we consider structures loaded with atomic media resonant at or near the frequency of the incident optical radiation. Interest in these problems follows from our desire to design micron-sized linear and nonlinear guided-wave couplers, modulators, and switches. These resonant problems pose interesting FDTD modeling issues because of the many time and length scales involved. To understand the physics underlying the small-distance scale and short-time scale interactions, particularly in the resonance regime of the materials and the associated device structures, a first principles approach is desirable. Thus, the results presented are based upon a quantum mechanical two-level atom model for the materials. The resulting Maxwell-Bloch model requires a careful marriage between microscopic (quantum mechanical) material models of the resonant material systems and the multidimensional, macroscopic Maxwell's equations solver. The FDTD numerical issues are discussed. Examples are given to illustrate the design and control of these resonant large-scale optical structures. An optical triode is designed and characterized with the FDTD Maxwell-Bloch simulator.
Characteristics of cabin air quality in school buses in Central Texas

Abstract This study assessed in-cabin concentrations of diesel-associated air pollutants in six school buses with diesel engines during a typical route in suburban Austin, Texas. Air exchange rates measured by SF 6 decay were 2.60–4.55 h −1 . In-cabin concentrations of all pollutants measured exhibited substantial variability across the range of tests even between buses of similar age, mileage, and engine type. In-cabin NO x concentrations ranged from 44.7 to 148 ppb and were 1.3–10 times higher than roadway NO x concentrations. Mean in-cabin PM 2.5 concentrations were 7–20 μg m −3 and were generally lower than roadway levels. In-cabin concentrations exhibited higher variability during cruising mode than frequent stops. Mean in-cabin ultrafine PM number concentrations were 6100–32,000 particles cm −3 and were generally lower than roadway levels. Comparison of median concentrations indicated that in-cabin ultrafine PM number concentrations were higher than or approximately the same as the roadway concentrations, which implied that, by excluding the bias caused by local traffic, ultrafine PM levels were higher in the bus cabin than outside of the bus. Cabin pollutant concentrations on three buses were measured prior to and following the phased installation of a Donaldson Spiracle Crankcase Filtration System and a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst. Following installation of the Spiracle, the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst provided negligible or small additional reductions of in-cabin pollutant levels. In-cabin concentration decreases with the Spiracle alone ranged from 24 to 37% for NO x and 26 to 62% and 6.6 to 43% for PM 2.5 and ultrafine PM, respectively. Comparison of the ranges of PM 2.5 and ultrafine PM variations between repetitive tests suggested that retrofit installation could not always be conclusively linked to the decrease of pollutant levels in the bus cabin.
Human Growth Hormone Induces System B Transport in Short Bowel Syndrome

Background: After massive enterectomy, remnant intestine undergoes compensatory adaptation. A combination of human growth hormone (hGH) and a glutamine-enriched modified diet induces further adaptation in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) on long-term total parenteral nutrition. The specific actions of each component, however, are not well-defined. Methods: New Zealand White rabbits were randomized to control, sham operation, or SBS (70% midjejunoileal resection) groups and treated with either hGH or saline. Sodium-dependent uptake of glucose, glutamine, alanine, leucine, and arginine into brush border membrane vesicles was quantitated. Serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels were determined by immunoradiometric assay. Mucosal mRNA expression of IGF-I and IGF binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4) was evaluated by Northern blot analysis using rat cDNA probes. Results: Glutamine and leucine transports were 33 and 39% greater, respectively, in the hGH-treated versus saline-treated SBS group (P < 0.05), supporting induction of system B amino acid transport. This upregulation was due, in part, to an 88% increase in glutamine carrier capacity (V max ) with no change in carrier affinity (K m ). Both hGH treatment and SBS increased serum IGF-I levels without direct correlation with increased nutrient transport. IGFBP-4 mRNA expression in small bowel mucosa of saline-treated SBS animals was significantly greater than saline-treated unoperated control values. Mucosal IGFBP-4 mRNA was not significantly altered from control in the other study groups. IGF-I mRNA expression was not detected in mucosa, but weak hybridization was noted in rabbit liver. Conclusions: Human growth hormone accelerates early adaptation in SBS by upregulation of system B carrier capacity. Serum IGF-I levels and mucosal IGF-I and IGFBP-4 mRNA expression did not directly correlate with this enhanced nutrient transport, suggesting that hGH might exert its adaptive effects by mechanisms that are independent from the IGF system in this model.
Adaptive chaotic maps for identification of complex targets

Identification of complex targets in radar or sonar is a difficult problem. The author shows how the parameters of a simple chaotic map may be optimised to increase the cross correlation of a transmitted signal with the reflection from one target while decreasing the cross correlation with another target. The targets consist of simple arrays of point scatterers. The author shows that the optimisation process produces a chaotic signal with a power spectrum that maximises the ratio of the cross correlation with one target to the cross correlation with a different target, however the author also shows that the specific time ordering of the chaotic signal is also important in determining the cross correlation. The performance of the chaotic signal is better than a random signal with the same power spectrum. The author also shows an example of applying these methods to targets that are more complex.
The Economics of Clearing in Derivatives Markets: Netting, Asymmetric Information, and the Sharing of Default Risks Through a Central Counterparty

Credit derivatives have received intense scrutiny -- and criticism -- as a major contributor to the ongoing financial crisis. In response, regulators have proposed requiring the formation of a central clearinghouse to share default risk on these contracts. A comparative economic analysis of the costs and benefits of alternative default risk sharing mechanisms casts considerable doubt on the advisability of central clearing of credit derivatives. These products are likely to be subject to severe information asymmetry problems regarding their value, risk, and the creditworthiness of those who trade them, and these information asymmetries are likely to be less severe in bilateral markets than in centrally cleared systems. Moreover, although regulators have argued that clearing would reduce systemic risk, a more complete analysis demonstrates that clearing could actually increase risks to the broader financial system.
Cost of Equity and Risk in Cash Flow and Accrual Components of Earnings

This paper shows that risk in cash flow and accrual components of earnings is an important determinant of a firm’s cost of equity beyond risk in earnings. The paper develops and tests a model that demonstrates how earnings smoothing hinders the ability of earnings to capture firm risk and how cash flows and accruals can be used to unravel the effect of smoothing in estimating firm risk. The model also shows that the sensitivity of firm risk to risk in cash flows and accruals depends on the profit margin and the length of the operating cash cycle. The empirical results are generally consistent with the model findings. Relative to estimates of cost of equity based on volatility of earnings, estimates of cost of equity based on volatilities of cash flows and accruals result in lower valuation errors, lower valuation biases, and better explain future stock returns.
A New Role in Nursing: Unit-Based Manager of Patient Safety and Quality

Professional Issues Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program To introduce the role of Patient Safety and Quality Program Manager to the community. In today's health care environment, quality care is at the forefront for health care professionals, regulatory agencies, accrediting bodies, patients, and families. This person in this new role assumes accountability for facilitating performance improvement and safety initiatives throughout designated areas using evidence-based practice, evaluation of core measures, and continuous accreditation readiness. Our simulation staff, clinical educators, and patient outcome facilitators (POFs) work together to achieve best outcomes. Our team is unit based. Proposed Change To implement the role of program manager in other institutions to improve their culture of safety and quality. Each program manager has a team that collaborates to improve processes and achieve best outcomes. The team consists of clinical educators and POFs for each specialty area. The team works together by combining individuals who can facilitate, educate, monitor, and assist with safety and quality initiatives in synergy. The clinical educators and POFs work together to educate staff on new and ongoing measures that affect patient outcomes and drive initiatives for their areas. Currently three program managers are in place at our hospital. The areas that benefit from this type of specialty are pediatrics, obstetric/women's services, critical care, pulmonary and step-down, and dialysis. This unique team works alongside the direct patient care health care to ensure daily compliance with clinical improvement initiatives. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation The Safety and Performance Improvement team collaborates with the health care team, leadership, and key stakeholders to improve care. Together we work in synergy to collect, measure, and improve safety and quality indicators. We anticipate that with this close collaboration, we can continuously monitor for opportunities for improvement. Communicating any initiative to frontline staff is a challenge in many organizations. This unique team structure provides consistent access to individuals who focus on clinical improvements and can support the health care team directly at the individual unit level. Implications for Nursing Practice Improvement of patient safety and quality outcomes through continual process evaluation, evidence-based improvements, and measurement of outcomes.
Exploiting home automation protocols for load monitoring in smart buildings

Monitoring and controlling electrical loads is crucial for demand-side energy management in smart grids. Home automation (HA) protocols, such as X10 and Insteon, have provided programmatic load control for many years, and are being widely deployed in early smart grid field trials. While HA protocols include basic monitoring functions, extreme bandwidth limitations (
What do brain dysfunctional patients report following memory compensation training

Twenty five (25) out of 29 patients (86%) with unequivocal memorydisorders who received Memory Compensation Training (MCT) completed both a brief survey regarding their use of memory compensations and the Memory Compensation Questionnaire. Twenty-two (22) of the 25 patients (88%) reported daily use of memory compensation several months to years after the onset of their memory problems. The benefits included, by their report, being more productive, less disorganized, and less confused. Patients with memory disorders, who received MCT, also reported more frequent use of compensations than older normal adults studied by Dixon et al. [6]. The present sample of patients report proportionally spending more time to remember and greater reliance on those around them to help them to remember. The findings suggest that patients who are taught memory compensations tend to use them after the training period and show a different pattern of compensatory activities compared to normal older adults.
The New Era of High-Functionality Interfaces

Traditional user interface design works best for applications that only have a relatively small number of operations for the user to choose from. These applications achieve usability by maintaining a simple correspondence between user goals and interface elements such as menu items or icons. But we are entering an era of high-functionality applications, where there may be hundreds or thousands of possible operations. In contexts like mobile phones, even if each individual application is simple, the combined functionality represented by the entire phone constitutes such a high-functionality command set. How are we going to manage the continued growth of high-functionality computing? Artificial Intelligence promises some strategies for dealing with high-functionality situations. Interfaces can be oriented around the goals of the user rather than the features of the hardware or software. New interaction modalities like natural language, speech, gesture, vision, and multi-modal interfaces can extend the interface vocabulary. End-user programming can rethink the computer as a collection of capabilities to be composed on the fly rather than a set of predefined "applications". We also need new ways of teaching users about what kind of capabilities are available to them, and how to interact in high-functionality situations.
The CDC Injury Center's response to the growing public health problem of falls among older adults.

BACKGROUND: Older adult falls are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. This leading cause of injury in adults aged 65 and older results in $35 billion in direct medical costs. OBJECTIVE: To project the number of older adult falls by 2030 and the associated lifetime medical cost. A secondary objective is to review what clinicians can do to incorporate falls screening and prevention into their practice for community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Using the CDC's Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System and the US Census Bureau data, the number of older adults in 2030, fatal falls, and medical costs associated with fall injuries was projected. In addition, evidence-based interventions that can be integrated into clinical practice were reviewed. RESULTS: The number of older adult fatal falls is projected to reach 100,000 per year by 2030 with an associated cost of $100 billion. By integrating screening for falls risk into clinical practice, reviewing and modifying medications, and recommending Vitamin D supplementation, physicians can reduce future falls by nearly 25%. CONCLUSION: Falls in older adults will continue to rise substantially and become a significant cost to our health care system if we do not begin to focus on prevention in the clinical setting. Language: en
Finding Non-Redundant Multi-Word Events on Twitter

Twitter is a pervasive technology, with hundreds of millions of users serving as sensors that provide eyewitness accounts of events on the ground. In case of popular events, these sensors start to broadcast news by tweeting to their followers, and to the world. Within minutes these tweets can attract attention and also serve as a primary information source for traditional media. Given a huge set of tweets, the key questions are: (1) How can we detect informative events in general? (2) How can we distinguish relevant events from others? In this paper we tackle these challenges with a statistical model for detecting events by spotting significant frequency deviations of the words' frequency over time. Besides single word events, our model also accounts for events composed of multiple co-occurring words, thus, providing much richer information. Our statistical process is complemented with an optimization algorithm to extract only non-redundant events, overall, providing the user with a succinct summary of the current events. We used our model to analyze 24 million geotagged tweets that have been sent in the US from April 9 to April 22, 2013 -- the time period of the Boston marathon bombing -- and we show that our approach can create multi-word events that efficiently summarize real-world events.
A Bold Solution to a Severe and Overlooked Safety Flaw in the Aviation Industry

Unruly passengers continue to pose significant safety and financial threats to the aviation industry today, and currently there is not a way to keep people who have been convicted of being an unruly passenger off of commercial airlines. In 2013 there was over 8,000 reports of unruly passenger incidents aboard airlines. Not only are these incidents putting the safety of the flight in jeopardy, but they can cost airlines up to $200,000 because often in the event of an unruly passenger, the flight needs to be diverted to an alternate airport and extra charges occur. When this happens the airline has to cover associated expenses such as additional jet fuel, lodging and meals for passengers, and in some cases the airline may even have to pay for a competing airline to take the passengers to their final destination. One solution may be the implementation of a viable safeguard integrated into the reservation booking flow where airlines can implement a supervision into reservation booking flow stating “I agree that I have not been convicted of 49 U.S. Code § 46504, and that being convicted of this voids my privilege to board this aircraft.” This would add another layer of protection to help keep individuals that are proven threats from boarding aircraft on their current flight as well as connecting flights which may include other airlines across the industry.
Some Fifth Degree Diophantine Equations

(1965). Some Fifth Degree Diophantine Equations. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 161-163.
A Method for Inducing Limb Regeneration in Adult Anura

It has been demonstrated by Barfurth1 and confirmed by subsequent investigators that frogs apparently lose their ability to regenerate limbs during the tadpole stage. On the other hand, a few adult frogs2 and toads3 have been observed with very definite indications of limb regeneration. These few cases of regeneration in adults are rare. Usually the stumps heal without regenerating.A method of inducing limb regeneration in tadpoles too old to regenerate, after simple amputation, has been described by Polejaiev.4 His method involves injury to the stump by cutting. Since Tubularia does not regenerate unless a cut surface is maintained where exchanges occur between tissue and environment5 and since urodele limbs fail to regenerate when the amputation surface is covered by epidermis,6 the following experiment was performed. The normal irritation following amputation was prolonged in Anura by baths in a saturated sodium chloride solution.Parts of limbs were removed from Rana clamitans varying in stage from a f...
Effects of triamcinolone and of desoxycorticosterone on renal function in sheep.

SummarySheep were treated for 10 or 17 days with triamcinolone acetonide, 0.1 mg/kg body weight/day, or desoxycorticosterone acetate, 0.1 mg/kg body weight/day, and the results of renal function studies during hydropenia and mannitol diuresis were compared with respective control periods. GFR was increased and urine concentration was unimpaired by treatment with triamcinolone. A consistent decrease in mannitol-induced Na excretion was observed, but with large variations in the mean change, in triamcinolone treatment periods. Treatment with desoxycorticosterone resulted in an increased GFR but with impaired urine concentrating capacity. The hypokalemia produced by desoxycorticosterone was not accompanied by an increase in urinary K excretion. During mannitol diuresis in sheep treated with desoxycorticosterone, there was a significant decrease in Na excretion when compared with control periods.Supported by USPHS grants, No. HE 06844 and RR 05429.
Effects of Chronic Injection of Rats with Extract of Pituitaries of the Same Species

SummaryWe have confirmed our previous findings that rats receiving chronic treatment with active principles of the anterior lobes of the same species fail to become refractory. Under the conditions of the experiment an aqueous extract of acetone-desiccated hypophyses obtained by extraction with dilute sodium bicarbonate produced effects similar to those of implants of fresh anterior lobes.
Inhibition of RNA polymerase III by N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene.

AbstractParenteral administration of the potent hepatocarcinogen N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene to rats results in a substantial inhibition of hepatic RNA polymerase III(C), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of tRNA and 5 S RNA. The minor component of RNA polymerase III extractable from nuclei shows a 45-65% reduction in activity while the major component of the enzyme extractable from cytoplasm shows a 40-65% inhibition. This reduction of RNA polymerase III activity is sufficient to account for the inhibition of rRNA synthesis produced by administration of the carcinogen in vivo.
Diagnostic Methods for Detecting Outliers in Regression Analysis

Statistical modeling using linear regression in the presence of un usual observations, or outliers, is discussed and illustrated with an example from entomological field research. The effect of outliers on estimates of coefficients using least squares regression is discussed and compared with estimates using weighted least squares robust regression. The ability of the latter technique to detect outliers and estimate regression coefficients in their presence is demonstrated. Several other diagnostic displays for the objective detection of outliers and the evaluation of the fitted model are illustrated.
P3.061 Mycoplasma Genitalium DNA Detected from Adolescent Males in a Longitudinal Cohort

Background Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) causes non-gonococcal urethritis as well as asymptomatic infections although most data on the incidence and natural history of MG is from adults. Methods Participants were 14–17 year old men in a longitudinal study of STI and the urethral microbiome. Urine samples were collected monthly and batch tested retrospectively for MG DNA using PCR. Urine samples were tested in real-time for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas and white blood cells (WBC): infections by these organisms were treated. White blood cell count (WBC) was measured by automated cell count of fresh urine. Dysuria and urethral discharge were self-reported on cell phone diaries. Results Among 75 participants (mean age 16.0 at enrollment), 6 (8.0%) men have at least one MG positive sample, with a total of 14 MG positive monthly urine samples. The prevalence of Chlamydia or gonorrhoea infection was 19/75 (25.3%) and 1/75 (1.3%), respectively. All but one participant was positive for at least two consecutive months, and one participant was positive for 4 consecutive months. One participant was positive only once, was co-infected with chlamydia, but treatment could not be confirmed. No other MG positive visits occurred simultaneously with other STI. None of the participants reported symptoms or sexual behaviours within a 15 day window of the positive visit. Average urine WBC was 21.8 WBC/ml urine although only 3/14 MG positive samples were associated with urine WBC > 28.5/ml (commonly used as a diagnostic threshold for pyuria). Conclusions MG in adolescent men is more common than gonorrhoea, persistent without treatment for up to 120 days, and is typically not associated with symptoms or pyuria. These data add to emerging understanding of the prevalence and natural history of sexually transmitted MG and support the importance of more detailed understanding of sexual and reproductive health morbidity associated with these infections.
Perspectives from the Field: HIV Testing and Linkage to Care in North Carolina

Background:HIV testing and linkage to care are critical first steps along the care continuum. Targeted efforts are needed in the South to achieve the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, and qu...
A Lonely Stranger:Analysis of Chen He's Novel Muppet

The novel Muppet tells a story of the special time: "Cultural Revolution",focusing on the life of those people who have the overseas relatives or the overseas Chinese identity in the coastal area.Pei Dafeng as a spiritual leader of this group,because of his unique "other" identity,becomes a lonely "stranger" who can not gain recognition in the complex social environment.His pursuit of self-recognition and sense of belonging results in his personality distortion and dissimilation,and creates tragedy for both himself and others,which highlights the alienation of humanity in the complex environment,expresses the author's exploration and rethinking on human nature and destiny.