cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
'Neither the Best of Times Nor the Worst of Times': EPA Enforcement During the Clinton Administration

This article examines the enforcement efforts at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 1993 to 2001, during the Administration of President William J. Clinton. It covers EPA’s reorganization, budget dispute, institutional intragovernmental enforcement relationships, and enforcement programs and initiatives. The piece is based upon interviews with current and former EPA/DOJ officials and review of numerous articles and EPA policy documents.
Ionically Cross-Linked Polymer Networks for the Multiple-Month Release of Small Molecules

Long-term (multiple-week or -month) release of small, water-soluble molecules from hydrogels remains a significant pharmaceutical challenge, which is typically overcome at the expense of more-complicated drug carrier designs. Such approaches are payload-specific and include covalent conjugation of drugs to base materials or incorporation of micro- and nanoparticles. As a simpler alternative, here we report a mild and simple method for achieving multiple-month release of small molecules from gel-like polymer networks. Densely cross-linked matrices were prepared through ionotropic gelation of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) with either pyrophosphate (PPi) or tripolyphosphate (TPP), all of which are commonly available commercial molecules. The loading of model small molecules (Fast Green FCF and Rhodamine B dyes) within these polymer networks increases with the payload/network binding strength and with the PAH and payload concentrations used during encapsulation. Once loaded into the PAH/PPi and PAH/TPP ionic networks, only a few percent of the payload is released over multiple months. This extended release is achieved regardless of the payload/network binding strength and likely reflects the small hydrodynamic mesh size within the gel-like matrices. Furthermore, the PAH/TPP networks show promising in vitro cytocompatibility with model cells (human dermal fibroblasts), though slight cytotoxic effects were exhibited by the PAH/PPi networks. Taken together, the above findings suggest that PAH/PPi and (especially) PAH/TPP networks might be attractive materials for the multiple-month delivery of drugs and other active molecules (e.g., fragrances or disinfectants).
Calhoun’s Heirs: Southern Opposition to Integration and John C. Calhoun’s Constitutional Theory

This paper examines how southern opponents of racial integration in the 1950s drew from the antebellum constitutional doctrine of nullification pioneered by John C. Calhoun of South Carolina (1782-1850). Calhoun argued that a state may constitutionally block implementation of a federal law or court decision that the state judges unconstitutional or oppressive. The “interposition” argument advanced by white Southern leaders was in all essentials identical to Calhoun’s doctrine of nullification, from which it drew explicit inspiration. The interposition argument was presented most forcefully in editorials authored by James J. Kilpatrick of the Richmond News-Leader, which played a key role in the interposition campaign in Virginia and throughout the South. The doctrine of interposition presented itself as a wholly legal and constitutional method by which a state nullifies an “unconstitutional” act of the federal government. Following Calhoun, the 1950s advocates of interposition argued that the burden was on supporters of any disputed federal power to enact a constitutional amendment; unless and until a constitutional amendment was passed endorsing the Brown decision, states could constitutionally block its implementation. The interposition campaign was successful for a decade in preventing real progress on school integration in the South. The paper uses Calhoun to shed light on the constitutional theory underlying white backlash, and assesses the continuing relevance of Calhoun’s thought for contemporary American politics.
Relative or absolute? A significant intervention for chlamydia screening with small absolute benefit

“This complex intervention within the English chlamydia screening programme led to a 76% increase in chlamydia screening test rates across all practices offered the intervention, with a 40% increase in infections detected.”1 Thus begins the Discussion section of the article by McNulty, et al in this edition of Sexually Transmitted Infections . On the surface, the finding appears dramatic, offering hope for a major advance in the coverage of screening for chlamydial infection under the UK's National Chlamydia Screening Programme. Look a little deeper, however, and chlamydia screening clearly remains a major challenge. McNulty et al 1 conducted a cluster randomised controlled trial using a ‘Modified Zelen’ design to assess the impact of an intervention developed to alter the screening behaviours of general practices in the southwest of England. Over 150 practices were randomised: 77 to receive the intervention and 83 to serve as control practices. The intervention, developed using the Theory of Planned Behaviour,2 incorporated an outreach educational workshop, posters, invitation cards, feedback on practice performance and ongoing support to the practices. Grounding the intervention in the Theory of Planned Behaviour provided a strong framework and justification for each component of the intervention and is a fundamental strength of this study. The uptake of the intervention was modest: only 62% of intervention practices agreed to three contacts with a chlamydia support worker and 17% refused all contacts. Additionally, only 45% of practices used computer prompts and about two-thirds used invitation cards. Use of posters was more common, with about 80% of practices using posters. Given the modest …
NEURAL NETWORK BASED ADAPTIVE PREDICTIVE CONTROL FOR VIBRATION SUPPRESSION

A neural network based adaptive predictive controller was developed and validated experimentally. The on-line nonlinear plant identification is performed using a multilayer perceptron neural network with tapped delay inputs. The performance index includes the squared value of plant response (which is desired to be zero for vibration suppression) and a weighted squared change in the control signal. The one-step ahead prediction of plant response is used to minimize the performance index. Efficient algorithms are used for on-line plant identification and performance index minimization to achieve real time control of plants with relatively fast response time. Piezoelectric actuators are employed to reduce the vibrations with sine wave and band-limited white noise excitations. Experimental results demonstrate the excellent performance of the developed control system. Adaptive control is verified through similar performance for a modified plant.
Size Effects Determined from Tensile Tests of Perforated MEMS Scale Specimens

A systematic study of small-scale size effects has been conducted on elliptically perforated specimens with minimum radius of curvature of 1 micron. This study aimed at assessing the dependence of failure stress at the tip of a notch on varying: (a) stress concentration for constant radius of curvature, (b) radius of curvature of micro-notches relative to the material grain size and constant stress concentration. The experiments demonstrate a strong influence of notch radius on the failure strength of MEMS scale specimens, while the effect of the stress concentration factor is of rather secondary importance. The local failure strength at the tip of a notch increases when the radius of curvature becomes smaller, which is in accordance with the probabilistic nature of failure. When the notch radius becomes as small as 1 micron (only three times larger than the grain size) then a strong size effect is observed. This effect becomes moderate for larger radii of curvature, up to 8 microns (25 times the grain size), when the failure stress at the notch tip almost reaches the tensile strength recorded for 50 micron wide samples.
Stepping back from queer theory: Language, fieldwork and the everyday in sexuality studies in France

In a 2012 special issue of French Cultural Studies, Didier Eribon urges French studies scholars to step back from critical theory, and in particular queer theory as it has emerged in cultural and literary studies. He is also particularly critical of a version of queer theory conjugated with psychoanalysis. For Eribon, cultural studies scholars and those working in sexuality studies should move away from the ‘master narrative’ of the family and (re)turn to the cultural, the social, the field and empirical evidence. Over the last 15 years, I have conducted fieldwork and ethnographic interviews with self-identified same-sex desiring men in France. Their life stories can be read at times through the Anglo-American lens of a gay-identified, Western coming-out narrative with a telos of ‘progress’ that involves moving from the closet to being ‘out’. At the same time, however, a queer linguistic approach can help us to read against the grain of several norms and hence provide us with a broader understanding of th...
ON FIMARIA DENTATA, A NEW COMBINATION, WITH A REVIEW OF SYNONYMS AND COMMENTS ON FIMARIA (PEZIZALES)

Ascophanus dentatus provides the oldest available name for a species of the Pezizales which has been described subsequently several times. Several generic names not currently well-defined are treated in relationship to this species. The new combination Fimaria dentata is proposed with the following synonyms: Cubonia bulbifera and Fimaria trochospora. Cubonia hyracis is given as a possible synonym and Pyronemella araneosa is treated as a misapplied name. The genus Cubonia is not a generic name available for this fungus and the genus Pyronemella is a synonym of Lasiobolus. A key to the 11 described species of Fimaria is given with comments. A number of taxa, all with spherical ascospores, have been described in the Pezizales from dung of various animals. To place properly the genera and species involved, a survey of a number of taxa was undertaken. Though the study was hampered by the lack of specimens and poorly preserved material, it has been possible to resolve some of the ambiguity surrounding these taxa. The taxa in? volved are discussed below. They are ordered by date of publication. A list of synonyms is given by way of summary.
Statics of the Body

The statics of the body are investigated by first reviewing forces, torques, and equilibrium, and then applying these conditions to statics in a plane and a lever. Specific examples of statics in the body are analyzed, including that of the lower arm, hips, shoulder, knee, ankle, jaws, and lower back. Some of these are related to injuries in the body, such as those in the hips and lower back. Several of the discussions in this chapter form the basis for analyzing motion in the next chapter.
Research and Application of Complexity Scene Scheduling Strategy Based on Virtual Reality

It was the main problem of the contradiction between the complexity of scenes and real-time interaction in the drawing of virtual reality system,and it was also the bottleneck to restrict the development of virtual reality application.The complex scene of the block scheduling strategy and its improvement programme are discussed,and it is applyed to "the virtual training system of station" ,soluted the "jump flash" phenomenon in the block scheduling strategy.
How do firm's use cash tax savings? A cross-country analysis

Cash tax avoidance activities can serves as a significant source of additional cash flows for firms; how managers utilize this additional cash source and the resulting consequences is an empirical question. To answer our research question, we examine the association between the spread between a country’s enacted statutory rate for the year and the cash effective tax rate, and two uses of cash – investment and dividend payout – for an international sample of firms. In the cross-section, we find the firms are more likely to invest cash tax savings rather than distribute them in the form of dividends and find that this results in inefficient over investment for firms. When partitioning on country-level governance, we find that firms located in weak-governance countries actually under invest and pay out larger amounts of tax savings in the form of dividends. Our results suggest that firms’ cash tax avoidance activities have a real effect on firm decisions, namely investment and payout policies, and this effect varies based on the country in which the firm operates.
Where do pretest probabilities come from

The attending physician teaching in an outpatient clinic listens while a house officer presents the history of a patient in follow-up. She is 57 years old and presents with 3 week of dizziness, which she describes as a lightheaded feeling when standing up to walk. She describes no sensation of movement of either head or room. She takes a diuretic for essential hypertension, and its dose was increased a month ago. Examinations of her heart, lungs, and neurological system an normal, as is a headhanging manoeuvre. While discussing the likelihood of possible causes of dizziness in this patient, the house officer asks the question thai is this essays title, “Where do pretest probabilities come from?”
Late Stage Azidation of Complex Molecules

Selective functionalization of complex scaffolds is a promising approach to alter the pharmacological profiles of natural products and their derivatives. We report the site-selective azidation of benzylic and aliphatic C–H bonds in complex molecules catalyzed by the combination of Fe(OAc)2 and a PyBox ligand. The same system also catalyzes the trifluoromethyl azidation of olefins to form derivatives of natural products containing both fluorine atoms and azides. In general, both reactions tolerate a wide range of functional groups and occur with predictable regioselectivity. Azides obtained by functionalization of C–H and C═C bonds were converted to the corresponding amines, amides, and triazoles, thus providing a wide variety of nitrogen-containing complex molecules.
Cytochrome c Can Form a Well-Defined Binding Pocket for Hydrocarbons.

Cytochrome c can acquire peroxidase activity when it binds to cardiolipin in mitochondrial membranes. The resulting oxygenation of cardiolipin by cytochrome c provides an early signal for the onset of apoptosis. The structure of this enzyme–substrate complex is a matter of considerable debate. We present three structures at 1.7–2.0 A resolution of a domain-swapped dimer of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c with the detergents, CYMAL-5, CYMAL-6, and ω-undecylenyl-β-d-maltopyranoside, bound in a channel that places the hydrocarbon moieties of these detergents next to the heme. The heme is poised for peroxidase activity with water bound in place of Met80, which serves as the axial heme ligand when cytochrome c functions as an electron carrier. The hydroxyl group of Tyr67 sits 3.6–4.0 A from the nearest carbon of the detergents, positioned to act as a relay in radical abstraction during peroxidase activity. Docking studies with linoleic acid, the most common fatty acid component of cardiolipin, show that C11 of linole...
Electric field effect near the metal-insulator transition of a two-dimensional electron system in SrTiO3

SmTiO3/SrTiO3 interfaces exhibit a two-dimensional electron system with carrier densities in the order of 3 × 1014 cm−2 due to the polar discontinuity at the interface. Here, electric field effect is used to investigate an electron system at this interface whose carrier density has been depleted substantially by the gate metal and by reducing the thickness of the SmTiO3. At zero applied gate voltage, the sheet resistance exceeds the quantum resistance, h/e2, by more than an order of magnitude, and the SrTiO3 channel is in the hopping transport regime. The electric field modulates the carrier density in the channel, which approaches the transition to a metal at positive gate bias. The channel resistances are found to scale by a single parameter that depends on the gate voltage, similar to two-dimensional electron systems in high-quality semiconductors.
Geopolitics from Below: Student Perceptions of Contemporary U.S.-Turkey Relations

This paper analyzes a survey involving 288 participants from three Turkish universities (Sabanci University, Gebze Institute of Technology, and Istanbul University) that was carried out to evaluate...
The impact of common dopamine D2 receptor gene polymorphisms on D2/3 receptor availability: C957T as a key determinant in putamen and ventral striatum

Dopamine function is broadly implicated in multiple neuropsychiatric conditions believed to have a genetic basis. Although a few positron emission tomography (PET) studies have investigated the impact of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) on D2/3 receptor availability (binding potential, BPND), these studies have often been limited by small sample size. Furthermore, the most commonly studied SNP in D2/3 BPND (Taq1A) is not located in the DRD2 gene itself, suggesting that its linkage with other DRD2 SNPs may explain previous PET findings. Here, in the largest PET genetic study to date (n=84), we tested for effects of the C957T and -141C Ins/Del SNPs (located within DRD2) as well as Taq1A on BPND of the high-affinity D2 receptor tracer 18F-Fallypride. In a whole-brain voxelwise analysis, we found a positive linear effect of C957T T allele status on striatal BPND bilaterally. The multilocus genetic scores containing C957T and one or both of the other SNPs produced qualitatively similar striatal results to C957T alone. The number of C957T T alleles predicted BPND in anatomically defined putamen and ventral striatum (but not caudate) regions of interest, suggesting some regional specificity of effects in the striatum. By contrast, no significant effects arose in cortical regions. Taken together, our data support the critical role of C957T in striatal D2/3 receptor availability. This work has implications for a number of psychiatric conditions in which dopamine signaling and variation in C957T status have been implicated, including schizophrenia and substance use disorders.
Stability and convex hulls of matrix powers

AbstractInvertibility of all convex combinations of A and I is equivalent to the real eigenvalues of A, if any, being positive. Invertibility of all matrices whose rows are convex combinations of the respective rows of A and I is equivalent to A having positive principal minors (i.e. being a P-matrix). These results are extended by considering convex combinations of higher powers of A and of their rows. The invertibility of matrices in these convex hulls is associated with the eigenvalues of A lying in open sectors of the right-half plane and provides a general context for the theory of matrices with P-matrix powers.
Establishing Semi-Official Sino-Japanese Economic Relations

Chapter 3 provides the secret account of how Zhou met the Japanese businessman-turned-politician Takasaki Tatsunosuke and worked out semi-official Sino-Japanese economic relations in the absence of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The memoirs of Takasaki and his aide, Okada Akira (a specialist on China in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs), offer important insights for the early stage of Sino-Japanese relations.
Reciprocal feedback between self-concept and goal pursuit in daily life.

Objective: We hypothesized that self-knowledge and goal-perseverance are mutually reinforcing because of the roles of self-knowledge in directing goal pursuit, and of goal pursuit in structuring the self-concept. Method: To test this hypothesis, we used a daily diary design with 97 college-aged participants for 40 days to assess whether daily self-concept clarity and grit predict one another's next day levels. Data were analyzed using multilevel cross-lagged panel modeling. Results: Results indicated that daily self-concept clarity and grit had positive and symmetric associations on each other across time, while controlling for their respective previous values. Similar crossed results were also found when testing the model using individual daily self-concept clarity and grit items. Conclusion: The results are the first to indicate the existence of reinforcing feedback loops between self-concept clarity and grit, such that fluctuations in the clarity of self-knowledge are associated with fluctuations in goal resolve, and vice versa. Discussion centers on the implications of these results for the functional link between mind and action and on the study's heuristic value for subsequent research. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Co-Evolution Model for Social Network Evolving and Opinion Migration

Almost all real-world social networks are dynamic and evolving with time, where new links may form and old links may drop, largely determined by the homophily of social actors (i.e., nodes in the network). Meanwhile, (latent) properties of social actors, such as their opinions, are changing along the time, partially due to social influence received from the network, which will in turn affect the network structure. Social network evolution and node property migration are usually treated as two orthogonal problems, and have been studied separately. In this paper, we propose a co-evolution model that closes the loop by modeling the two phenomena together, which contains two major components: (1) a network generative model when the node property is known; and (2) a property migration model when the social network structure is known. Simulation shows that our model has several nice properties: (1) it can model a broad range of phenomena such as opinion convergence (i.e., herding) and community-based opinion divergence; and (2) it allows to control the evolution via a set of factors such as social influence scope, opinion leader, and noise level. Finally, the usefulness of our model is demonstrated by an application of co-sponsorship prediction for legislative bills in Congress, which outperforms several state-of-the-art baselines.
Prevalence of patient-reported gastrointestinal symptoms and agreement with clinician toxicity assessments in radiation therapy for anal cancer.

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms pose a significant burden to patients receiving chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for anal cancer; however, the impact of symptoms from the patient perspective has not been quantified. This retrospective study examined and compared patient and clinician reports of acute GI toxicity during CRT. Patients treated with definitive RT using intensity-modulated radiation therapy for anal cancer between 9/09 and 11/12 were reviewed. Median RT dose was 56 Gy (range 45–56), and 76 patients (97%) received concurrent 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. During RT, patients completed the 7-item Bowel Problem Scale (BPS) weekly. Clinicians assessed toxicity separately using CTCAE v. 3.0. Scores of BPS ≥ 3 and CTCAE ≥ 1 were considered to be clinically meaningful. Agreement of the two assessments was evaluated by Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Seventy-eight patients completed at least one BPS and had a corresponding clinician assessment. Patients reporting scores of ≥3 was highest at week 5 (n = 68) for diarrhea (44.1%), proctitis (57.4%), and mucus (48.4%), while urgency (47.6%), tenesmus (31.7%), and cramping (27%) were highest at week 4 (n = 63). Baseline bleeding scores (26.7%; score ≥3) improved during treatment (13.4% at week 5). “Poor” agreement was observed between patient- and clinician-reported proctitis (Cohen’s k = 0.11; n = 58); however, there was “good” agreement for diarrhea (Cohen’s k = 0.68; n = 58). Acute GI toxicity during definitive CRT for anal cancer was most significant during weeks 4–5, while rectal bleeding improved during treatment. Discrepancies in patient- and clinician-reported symptoms demonstrate the potential for patient-reported outcomes to be useful tools for anal cancer clinical assessments.
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Implementation in Secure Care Juvenile Justice Schools: Results of a National Survey of School Administrators:

Despite the prevalence of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) for addressing student behavior in public schools, little information exists on the extent and consistency of impleme...
Cone-Rod Dystrophy: A Clinical and Histopathologic Report

Abstract Clinical, histopathologic, and electron microscopic findings in two postmortem eyes from a 29-year-old black man and the clinical and electrophysiologic findings of his 33-year-old sister, both of whom had bilateral atrophic macular lesions, confirmed the diagnosis of cone-rod dystrophy in these two patients. Light microscopy revealed a loss of photoreceptor cells primarily in the peripheral retina and macula, with relative preservation of both rod and cone cells in the equatorial area. Electron microscopy showed abundant lipofuscinlike granules aggregated in the basal portion of the retinal pigment epithelial cells. In the macular area, many retinal pigment epithelial cells were atrophic. The phagocytic capacity of the retinal pigment epithelium appeared to remain intact. The accumulation of lipofuscin-like granules in the retinal pigment epithelium may be one of the significant pathologic changes of this dystrophy.
A Lifetime-Optimizing Approach to Routing Messages in Ad-hoc Networks

The proliferation of low-power analog and digital electronics has created huge opportunities for the field of wireless computing. It is now possible to deploy hundreds of devices of low computation, communication and battery power. They can create ad-hoc networks and be used as distributed sensors to monitor large geographical areas, as communication enablers for field operations, or as grids of computation. These applications require great care in the utilization of power. The power level is provided by batteries and thus it is finite. Every message sent and every computation performed drains the battery.
Bolder print does not increase reading speed in people with central vision loss.

Abstract Patients with central vision loss are often advised by low vision rehabilitation professionals to read bolder print to ameliorate their reading difficulties. Is boldface print really effective in improving reading performance for people with central vision loss? In this study, we evaluated how reading speed depends on the stroke-width of text in people with central vision loss. Ten participants with long-standing central vision loss read aloud single, short sentences presented on a computer monitor, one word at a time, using rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP). Reading speed was calculated based on the RSVP word exposure duration that yielded 80% of words read correctly. Text was rendered in Courier and at six boldness levels, defined as the width of the letter-strokes normalized to that of the standard Courier font: 0.27, 0.72, 1, 1.48, 1.89 and 3.04× the standard. Reading speed was measured for two print sizes — 0.8× and 1.4× the critical print size (the smallest print size that can be read at the maximum reading speed). For all participants and both print sizes, reading speeds were essentially the same for text with stroke-width boldness ranging from 0.72 to 1.89× the standard, and were significantly lower for the thinnest and the boldest print. Most importantly, reading speed was not higher for bolder print than for the standard one. Despite the clinical wisdom that patients with central vision loss might benefit from bolder print, print with stroke-widths larger than the standard does not significantly improve reading speed for participants with central vision loss.
Crystal structures and spectroscopic characterization of MBr2(CNXyl)n (M = Fe and Co, n = 4; M = Ni, n = 2; Xyl = 2,6-dimethylphenyl), and of formally zero-valent iron as a cocrystal of Fe(CNXyl)5 and Fe2(CNXyl)9.

Structures and spectroscopic characterization of the divalent complexes cis-di­bromido­tetra­kis­(2,6-di­methyl­phenyl isocyanide)iron(II) di­chloro­methane 0.771-solvate, [FeBr2(C9H9N)4]·0.771CH2Cl2 or cis-FeBr2(CNX­yl)4·0.771CH2Cl2 (Xyl = 2,6-di­methyl­phen­yl), trans-di­bromido­tetra­kis­(2,6-di­methyl­phenyl isocyanide)iron(II), [FeBr2(C9H9N)4] or trans-FeBr2(CNX­yl)4, trans-di­bromido­tetra­kis­(2,6-di­methyl­phenyl isocyanide)cobalt(II), [CoBr2(C9H9N)4] or trans-CoBr2(CNX­yl)4, and trans-di­bromido­bis­(2,6-di­methyl­phenyl isocyanide)nickel(II), [NiBr2(C9H9N)2] or trans-NiBr2(CNX­yl)2, are presented. Additionally, crystals grown from a cold diethyl ether solution of zero-valent Fe(CNX­yl)5 produced a structure con­taining a cocrystallization of mononuclear Fe(CNX­yl)5 and the previously unknown dinuclear [Fe(CNX­yl)3]2(μ2-CNX­yl)3, namely penta­kis­(2,6-di­methyl­phenyl isocyanide)iron(0) tris­(μ2-2,6-di­methyl­phenyl isocyanide)bis[tris­(2,6-di­methyl­phenyl isocyanide)iron(0)], [Fe(C9H9N)5][Fe2(C9H9N)9]. The (M)C—N—C(X­yl) angles of the isocyanide ligand are nearly linear for the metals in the +2 oxidation state, for which the ligands function essentially as pure donors. The νCN stretching frequencies for these divalent metal isocyanides are at or above that of the free ligand. Relative to FeII, in the structure containing iron in the formally zero-valent oxidation state, the Fe—C bond lengths have shortened, the C≡N bond lengths have elongated, the (M)C—N—C(X­yl) angles of the terminal CNXyl ligands are more bent, and the νCN stretching frequencies have shifted to lower energies, all indicative of substantial M(dπ)→π* backbonding.
The Baker—Campbell—Hausdorff Formula

In this chapter, we will, as usual, restrict our attention mainly to matrix Lie groups. Nevertheless, the proofs of the main results are the same for general Lie groups, provided one has already established the basic results about the Lie algebra and the exponential mapping for general Lie groups.
Developing Action-Taking Programs in Sustainable Consumption Education: Applying the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change (TTM)

How to motivate individual consumers to engage in consumption activities that contribute to sustainable development through action-taking education programs? This is the question this conceptual paper attempts to address. This paper proposes a definition of sustainable consumer behavior and applies a theory-based, conceptual framework to develop action-taking programs in sustainable consumption education. Sustainable consumer behavior is defined as consumer acts that consider current and future interests of themselves and others when they purchase and use market goods. The behavior change theory used here refers to the transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM), a commonly used behavior change theory in health and finance. The paper demonstrates how to facilitate the development of sustainable consumer behavior in education programs based on principles outlined in TTM with specific examples. Implications for education policies and future research are also discussed.
Who Profits from Industry 4.0? Theory and Evidence from the Automotive Industry

We develop a framework linking organizational and industry architectures to value creation and value capture, and apply it to the case of Industry 4.0 (the coordinated use of digitally-enabled technologies like robots, sensors, and artificial intelligence) in the automotive industry. We argue that if factory owners develop automation methods that capitalize on their greater access to the context in which production data is generated, they will be better able to prevent value from migrating to “digital entrants” that offer automation consulting and data analytics. Manufacturers can do this by adopting an organizational architecture that empowers shop-floor workers to combine their local knowledge with digital tools. Conversely, to the extent that digital entrants develop a more abstract version of these tools that they spread across industries, they will capture more value.
On quiver W-algebras and defects from gauge origami

Abstract In this note, using Nekrasov's gauge origami framework, we study two different versions of the BPS/CFT correspondence – first, the standard AGT duality and, second, the quiver W algebra construction which has been developed recently by Kimura and Pestun. The gauge origami enables us to work with both dualities simultaneously and find exact matchings between the parameters. In our main example of an A-type quiver gauge theory, we show that the corresponding quiver qW-algebra and its representations are closely related to a large-n limit of spherical gl n double affine Hecke algebra whose modules are described by instanton partition functions of a defect quiver theory.
Short Term Complications in Geriatric Ankle Fractures Using a Protocolized Approach to Surgical Treatment: Is Early Weight Bearing Safe?

Background Surgical management of geriatric ankle fractures requires unique considerations in addressing operative risks. Prior studies have reached varying conclusions regarding optimal treatment strategies. The primary aim of this study was to determine if surgical fixation following a predetermined treatment protocol was safe and effective. The secondary aim was to determine if immediate weight bearing as tolerated (IWBAT) in a subset of patients was safe or conferred any short-term benefits. Methods This retrospective study included all patients over the age 65 treated surgically for an ankle fracture by a single surgeon over a five-year period. A protocol was used including: augmented fixation techniques, IWBAT for select patients, and specific strategies to minimize soft tissue damage. Complications associated with operative treatment were analyzed. A subgroup analysis of patients with isolated ankle injuries was carried out to compare patients made IWBAT to patients made non-weight bearing (NWB) postoperatively. Results Thirty-four patients were included in the study. Fracture types were predominantly OTA 44B2 (18/34, 53%) and 44B3 (8/34, 24%). Union rate was 100%. Augmented fixation techniques were used in 14/34, 41% of patients. Twenty-one of 34, 62% of patients were allowed IWBAT. There were 4 complications, 12%: 1 malunion, 1 superficial infection, and 2 wound dehiscence. Two patients returned to the operating room for removal of hardware and irrigation and debridement. In the subgroup analysis, the IWBAT group was discharged to a rehabilitation facility at a significantly lower rate than the NWB group, 25% (4/16) vs 90% (9/10; p=0.0036). There were no differences in the complication rates between the two groups. Conclusion Acceptable outcomes can be reliably obtained when following a standardized approach to geriatric ankle fracture management. In addition, immediate weight bearing in select patients does not seem to increase complications and may benefit patients by increasing rate of discharge to home.Level of Evidence: IV.
Amyloid β, α-synuclein and the c subunit of the ATP synthase: Can these peptides reveal an amyloidogenic pathway of the permeability transition pore?

Abstract Mitochondrial Permeability Transition (PT) is a phenomenon of increased permeability of the inner mitochondrial membrane in response to high levels of Ca2+ and/or reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the matrix. PT occurs upon the opening of a pore, namely the permeability transition pore (PTP), which dissipates the membrane potential uncoupling the respiratory chain. mPT activation and PTP formation can occur through multiple molecular pathways. The specific focus of this review is to discuss the possible molecular mechanisms of PTP that involve the participation of mitochondrially targeted amyloid peptides Aβ, α-synuclein and c subunit of the ATP synthase (ATPase). As activators of PTP, amyloid peptides are uniquely different from other activators because they are capable of forming channels in lipid bilayers. This property rises the possibility that in this permeabilization pathway the formation of the channel involves the direct participation of peptides, making it uniquely different from other PTP induction mechanisms. In this pathway, a critical step of PTP activation involves the import of amyloidogenic peptides from the cytosol into the matrix. In the matrix these peptides, which would fold into α-helical structure in native conditions, interact with cyclophilin D (CypD) and upon stimulation by elevated ROS and/or the Ca2+ spontaneously misfold into β-sheet ion conducting pores, causing PTP opening.
Comprehensive pathogen detection for ocular infections.

Abstract Background Molecular diagnostics such as pathogen-directed PCRs have transformed testing for ocular infections since the late 1990s. Although these assays remain important diagnostic tools for samples with low biomass, the lack of diagnostic range motivates alternative molecular approaches for ocular infections. The aim of this study was to determine the performance of a high-throughput RNA sequencing approach, RNA-seq, to detect infectious agents in ocular samples from patients with presumed ocular infections. Methods We compared the performance of RNA-seq to pathogen-directed PCRs using remnant nucleic acids from 41 aqueous or vitreous samples of patients with presumed ocular infections. Pathogen-directed PCRs were performed at the CLIA-certified Stanford Clinical Virology Laboratory. RNA-seq was performed in a masked manner at the Proctor Foundation at the University of California San Francisco. Percent positive and negative agreement between the two testing approaches were calculated. Discordant results were subjected to orthogonal testing. Results The positive percent agreement between RNA-seq and pathogen-directed PCRs was 100% (95% confidence interval (CI): 78.5%–100%). The negative percent agreement was 92.6% (95% CI: 76.6%–97.9%). RNA-seq identified pathogens not on the differential diagnosis for 9.7% (4/41) of the samples. Two pathogens solely identified with RNA-seq were confirmed with orthogonal testing. Conclusions RNA-seq can accurately identify common and rare pathogens in aqueous and vitreous samples of patients with presumed ocular infections. Such an unbiased approach to testing has the potential to improve diagnostics although practical clinical utility warrants additional studies.
Flexible M-Tooth Hybrid Micro-Structure-Based Capacitive Pressure Sensor With High Sensitivity and Wide Sensing Range

A novel flexible capacitive pressure sensor based on hybrid micro-structured (HM) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) dielectric layer was developed. The HM-PDMS with M-tooth structured patterns was fabricated using a laser engraved acrylic master mold. The top and bottom electrodes were fabricated by depositing silver (Ag) on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate using additive screen-printing process. The pressure sensor was assembled by sandwiching two HM-PDMS based dielectric layers between the top and bottom electrodes. The capability of the developed pressure sensor to detect a wide range of pressure was investigated by applying varying pressure from 0 to 1 kPa, 1 to 10 kPa, and 10 kPa to 40 kPa. A sensitivity of 51.36% kPa-1, 8.37% kPa-1, and 2.46% kPa-1 was obtained for the pressure ranges of 0 to 1 kPa, 1 to 10 kPa, and 10 to 40 kPa, respectively. The capacitive pressure sensor response, hysteresis, and repeatability of the fabricated pressure sensor is investigated and presented in this paper. To demonstrate the wide sensing range of the pressure sensor, the sensor was attached to face mask for breath monitoring applications that require low pressure sensing of ~20 Pa, and to the hand glove for fingertip pressure monitoring applications that require relatively high pressure sensing of ~3 kPa.
Electrophysiological correlates of mood and reward dynamics in human adolescents

Abstract Despite its omnipresence in everyday interactions and its importance for mental health, mood and its neuronal underpinnings are poorly understood. Computational models can help identify parameters affecting self-reported mood during mood induction tasks. Here we test if computationally modelled dynamics of self-reported mood during monetary gambling can be used to identify trial-by-trial variations in neuronal activity. To this end, we shifted mood in healthy (N=24) and depressed (N=30) adolescents by delivering individually tailored reward prediction errors whilst recording magnetoencephalography (MEG) data. Following a pre-registered analysis, we hypothesize that expectation (defined by previous reward outcomes) would be predictive of beta-gamma oscillatory power (25-40Hz), a frequency shown to modulate to reward feedback. We also hypothesize that trial variations in the evoked response to the presentation of gambling options and in source localized responses to reward feedback. Through our multilevel statistical analysis, we found confirmatory evidence that beta-gamma power is positively related to reward expectation during mood shifts, with possible localized sources in the posterior cingulate cortex. We also confirmed reward prediction error to be predictive of trial-level variations in the response of the paracentral lobule and expectation to have an effect on the cerebellum after presentation of gambling options. To our knowledge, this is the first study to relate fluctuations in mood on a minute timescale to variations in neural oscillations with noninvasive electrophysiology. Significance Statement Brain mechanisms underlying mood and its relationship with changes in reward contingencies in the environment are still elusive but could have a strong impact on our understanding and treatment of debilitating mood disorders. Building on a previously proposed computational mood model we use multilevel statistical models to find relationship between trial-by-trial variations in model components of mood and neural responses to rewards measured with non-invasive electrophysiology (MEG). Through confirmatory analysis we show that it is possible to observe relationships between trial variations in neural responses and computational parameters describing mood dynamics. Identifying the dynamics of mood and the neural processes it affects could pave the way for more effective neuromodulation treatments.
Symposium Article: The Myth of the Ideal Investor

Critiques of specific investor behavior often assume an ideal investor against which all others should be compared. This ideal investor figures prominently in the heated debates over the impact of investor time horizons on firm value. In much of the commentary, the ideal is a long-term investor that actively monitors management, but the specifics are typically left vague. That is no coincidence. The various characteristics that we might wish for in such an investor cannot peacefully coexist in practice. If the ideal investor remains illusory, which of the real-world investor types should we champion instead? The answer, I argue, is none. The corporate finance ecosystem evolves at such a rapid pace that interventions specifically designed to encourage particular types of investors are increasingly likely to be ineffective or even counterproductive: we are destined to place our bets on the wrong horse, time and again. To illustrate the difficulty, this Article briefly sketches the evolution of three types of shareholders frequently advanced as exemplars based on their time horizons: major mutual fund groups, activist hedge funds, and private equity funds. Based on their behavior to date, there is little support for policies aimed either at favoring or penalizing such investors’ participation in the capital markets generally, and corporate governance specifically.
A Diffusion Approximation Theory of Momentum Stochastic Gradient Descent in Nonconvex Optimization

Momentum stochastic gradient descent (MSGD) algorithm has been widely applied to many nonconvex optimization problems in machine learning (e.g., training deep neural networks, variational Bayesian ...
Molecular Epidemiology and DNA Technology Transfer: A Program for Developing Countries

Molecular epidemiology has recently been defined as “a science that focuses on the contribution of potential genetic and environmental risk factors, identified at the molecular level, to the etiology, distribution and prevention of disease within families and across populations”.1 This new field has emerged from the integration of molecular biology into traditional epidemiologic research. The objectives of molecular epidemiology are quite broad and include: 1) descriptive and analytical studies to evaluate host/environmental interactions in disease, 2) the development of strategies for the control of bacterial, parasitic and viral disorders through molecular diagnosis, and 3) the prevention of non-communicable diseases and genetic disorders by assessing risk and identifying susceptible individuals through genetic screening.
Making Waves: Democratic Contention in Europe and Latin America since the Revolutions of 1848

This study investigates the three main waves of political regime contention in Europe and Latin America. Surprisingly, protest against authoritarian rule spread across countries more quickly in the nineteenth century, yet achieved greater success in bringing democracy in the twentieth. To explain these divergent trends, the book draws on cognitive-psychological insights about the inferential heuristics that people commonly apply; these shortcuts shape learning from foreign precedents such as an autocrat's overthrow elsewhere. But these shortcuts had different force, depending on the political-organizational context. In the inchoate societies of the nineteenth century, common people were easily swayed by these heuristics: jumping to the conclusion that they could replicate such a foreign precedent in their own countries, they precipitously challenged powerful rulers, yet often at inopportune moments - and with low success. By the twentieth century, however, political organizations had formed. As organizational ties loosened the bounds of rationality, contentious waves came to spread less rapidly, but with greater success.
Conjectures on some curious connections among social status, calorie restriction, hunger, fatness, and longevity.

Many animal and human studies show counterintuitive effects of environmental influences on energy balance and life span. Relatively low social and/or economic status seems to be associated with and produce greater adiposity, and reduced provision (e.g., caloric restriction) of food produces greater longevity. We suggest that a unifying factor may be perceptions of the environment as “energetically insecure” and inhospitable to reproduction, which may in turn provoke adiposity-increasing and longevity-extending mechanisms. We elaborate on two main aspects of resources (or the perceptions thereof) on body weight and longevity. We first discuss the effects of social dominance on body weight regulation in human and animal models. Second, we examine models of the interactions between caloric restriction, body composition, and longevity. Finally, we put forth a relational model of the influences of differing environmental cues on body composition and longevity.
CHANGING TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MIDWESTERN HYDROLOGIC DROUGHTS

Hydroclimatic parameters were examined to identify spatial variability among 19 Midwestern basins during the 1950–1990 period. The magnitude of annual streamflow variability values increased westward across the Midwest and appeared to be associated with a similar pattern in annual precipitation variability. Basin seasonal streamflow values were analyzed to determine the occurrence of hydrologic drought. A criterion that combined duration and severity of low-flow characteristics was used to determine hydrologic droughts. Sixteen of the 19 basins experienced between one and four hydrologic droughts, whereas 3 experienced none. The temporal distribution and spatial extent of the 45 hydrologic droughts indicated that there were two classifications of Midwestern hydrologic drought during this period. The first type–“long-term” hydrologic drought–occurred over: (1) a period of 12 or more consecutive seasons and (2) a broad latitudinal belt across the Midwest. Long-term hydrologic droughts occurred during the pe...