cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
No Longer Just Company Men: The Flexible Workforce and Employment Discrimination, Review Essay on 'from Widgets to Digits Employment Regulation for the Changing Workplace', by Katherine V.W. Stone (2004)

In her new book, From Widgets to Digits, Professor Katherine V.W. Stone reviews and analyzes the dramatic changes, both technological and demographic, that have transformed work in America during the last thirty years. The book broadly documents the shift from an economy that primarily relies on the production and consumption of goods to one in which learning and the transmittal of knowledge is central to the creation of wealth. Professor Stone describes how in the past, workers may have expected job security and long-term employment, but that recent economic, social, and technological change have led to a more temporary and transitory relationship between employers and workers. Today, workers face the challenges and risks of a "boundaryless career" in which they advance by moving laterally from employer to employer, acquiring skills and knowledge along the way. Meanwhile, Stone argues, the legal system remains mired in the industrial age, with serious consequences for post-employment restraints, anti-discrimination law, fringe benefits, and unionization, among other areas. The challenge, Stone contends, is for the legal system to respond to these changes creatively and effectively, advancing the needs of both employers and workers in a new age of flexible employment. From Widgets to Digits presents an insightful analysis of the modern "psychological contract" between employers and workers, their understandings about their mutual obligations. Perceptively, Stone concludes that the new goal of employment law should be to establish rules that assist workers with training opportunities, guarantee ownership of the intellectual capital that they develop at work, ensure benefits are easily transferred between jobs, and provide safety nets for those that are left behind by technological change. If there is any area where the analysis is incomplete, it is in its treatment of employment discrimination issues, especially those that women workers must face. Stone contends that employment discrimination was part of the old life-cycle model of employment, and states that with the new boundaryless career, "there is reason to believe that discrimination might subside in the future." For the more subtle forms of discrimination that remain, Stone advocates alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as the preferred solution. Perhaps I am more pessimistic about the persistence of gender discrimination in the modern workplace than is Professor Stone. I argue that it is an open question whether the structural changes in the workforce will benefit or harm women workers.
The Marketing Concept: What it is and What it is Not:

The marketing concept has been misunderstood and misused over the years. It is not obsolete nor is it the optimal managerial approach to marketing. The marketing concept is restated in a way that m...
The Influence of Actidione on Wood-Staining Fungi

In many sections of the nation during certain seasons, lumber must be dipped in stain-preventive chemicals to reduce and prevent heavy degrade due to unsightly discolorations (2) caused by fungi. Where logs are not immediately sawed into lumber the same chemicals may be sprayed on the ends and bark-skinned areas of freshly cut logs (1). There are many proprietary compounds available on the market for stain control. These contain ethyl mercuric phosphate or chlorinated phenols which are toxic to fungi at low concentrations. However, Ascocybe grovesii Wells, the cause of "brown surface stain" or "brick-red stain" of conifers, is reported by Wells (3) to be unaffected by Permatox, which contains sodium pentachlorophenate. Whiffen (4, 5) has shown that the antibiotic cycloheximide (Ac? tidione) is inhibitory to a number of yeasts that cause disease in animals, and to many fungus pathogens of plants. The possibility of using Actidione as a stain preventive was investigated by observing its in vitro effect on various stain fungi, including Ascocybe grovesii. Its effective? ness was compared to pentachlorophenol. materials and methods The basic medium consisted of 1.5 gm Difco malt extract and 1.5 gm agar per 100 ml of solution. The medium was autoclaved, cooled to 50? C, and sufficient quantities of the chemicals were added to produce the desired concentrations. This method of addition was used to elimi
Air-stable, solution-processed oxide p-n heterojunction ultraviolet photodetector.

Air-stable solution processed all-inorganic p–n heterojunction ultraviolet photodetector is fabricated with a high gain (EQE, 25 300%). Solution-processed NiO and ZnO films are used as p-type and n-type ultraviolet sensitizing materials, respectively. The high gain in the detector is due to the interfacial trap-induced charge injection that occurs at the ITO/NiO interface by photogenerated holes trapped in the NiO film. The gain of the detector is controlled by the post-annealing temperature of the solution-processed NiO films, which are studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Survey of HIV/AIDS knowledge and behavior among the workers in an enterprise of Pudong New Area

[Objective]To understand the of knowledge level,attitude and behavior about HIV/AIDS among workers in a enterprise of Pudong New Area,and provide theoretical foundation for developing intervention strategies and measures of HIV/AIDS control.[Methods]The randomly cluster sampling was taken to recruit 557 workers.Cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed for the investigation.[Results]Most of the surveyed workers were young and middle aged males,the awareness rate of basic HIV/AIDS related knowledge was 68.94%;there was 91 workers(16.34%) who had sex outside of marriage,there were significant differences in age(χ2=7.28,P0.01),educational background(χ2=15.82,P0.01) and marriage(χ2=36.82,P0.01);among sex behaviors outside of marriage,only 22 workers(24.18%) used condom each time,the proportion of condom use was low in sex outside of marriage.[Conclusion]The rate of sex outside of marriage of enterprise workers was high,knowledge levels about HIV/AIDS among them was low,intervention related to HIV/AIDS on workers should be enhanced,so as to prevent its spread.
Personal Character or Social Expectation: a formal analysis of ‘suzhi’ in China

AbstractThe notion of ‘suzhi’ (素质), which roughly means human quality or character, features prominently in public and intellectual discourses in China about the country’s social and political development, including the prospects for democratization. Despite the pervasive use of the concept by both the government and society, few studies have analyzed whether suzhi is really the root cause of the myriad social issues that have been attributed to it. This article problematizes the notion of suzhi and shows through simple game-theoretic analyses of two heavily debated issues in China that such a predominant focus on suzhi is misguided and misses the crucial role of social expectations in multiple-equilibria social interactions. In fact, without good social expectations even ‘high suzhi’ people would behave as if they were of ‘low suzhi’, which perhaps best characterizes many social phenomena in contemporary China. The results of the study thus have critical implications for a successful social and political...
IL-2, the next best thing in chronic GVHD therapy?

In this issue of Blood , [Koreth et al][1] have reported that interleukin-2 (IL-2) is effective in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) patients who had failed up to two prior lines of therapy.[1][2] ![Figure][3] IL-2 induces both Treg expansion and an increase in the median Treg:Tcon
When do unethical brand perceptions spill over to competitors

We examine whether the unethical actions of marketplace brands (e.g., the Volkswagen emissions scandal) hurt the ethical perceptions of competing brands (e.g., Ford, BMW). Across two studies, we find evidence for this unethical spillover effect and show that it can negatively affect consumers’ liking and purchase intentions for a competing brand. The results show that the spillover effect (1) only occurs for similar competitors and (2) is moderated by construal level (CL). Specifically, the spillover effect is more likely to occur when consumers focus on the finer details of the unethical brand’s transgression (i.e., low CL) but not when they focus on the bigger picture of the transgression (i.e., high CL). Thus, while it is intuitively appealing to assume that brands may benefit from a competitor’s foible, this research indicates that competitors may be hurt by a similar brand’s wrongdoing.
Sonar and laser based HIMM map building for collision avoidance for mobile robots

This paper presents a sonar and laser-based sensing system for collision avoidance for mobile robots that operate in a particular semi-structured environment: the parking lot area. In this system, 26 sonars are positioned around an omni-directional robot and 2-D laser is located in the front. Histogramic In-Motion Mapping algorithm is applied for map building using data from both the sonars and the 2-D laser. Decisions for collision avoidance are made based on this HIMM map together with the velocity vector of the robot in its Body Fixed Coordinate System. Experimental results show that the robot can operate reliably in a STOP-RESUME manner in a real dynamic parking lot environment.
Novel Optical Techniques for Efficient Stand off Detection of Backscattered Polarimetric Signatures from Cluttered Targets

Novel detection concepts aimed to enhance the detection/discrimination capabilities of targets surrounded by scattering/cluttered backgrounds have been presented. The experimental results of this study, acquired using lasers beams to illuminate scenes at specific wavelengths and interrogate their respective reflectance spectral features, indicate that spectral Degree of Linear Polarization (DOLP) image difference techniques, as well as near-pixel multispectral detection techniques provide enhanced detection with high discrimination capabilities.
“I Just Don’t Know Where to Begin”: Designing to Facilitate the Educational Use of Commercial, Off-the-Shelf Video Games

This chapter documents the process and preliminary results of a two year project in which a team of MIT researchers, in close collaboration with local educators, designed and tested supplemental teaching resources for supporting educators in implementing the use of commercial, off-the-shelf games in their secondary level, humanities (e.g. social studies, history, languages) classrooms. The chapter also provides an overview of similar research in the field of game-based learning and addresses challenges likely to be encountered in such implementation processes, particularly in the American public educational context.
The effect of needle-free administration of local anesthetic on the behavior and physiology of castrated pigs

Abstract Pigs are routinely castrated in many countries without giving pain relief, which is an animal welfare concern. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the stress caused by administering local anesthetic (LA) using a needle-free injection system and evaluate if there are any benefits of administering LA immediately before castration on postoperative pain. At 3 days of age, piglets were allocated to 1 of 4 treatment groups. Treatments included sham castration (CON), surgical castration (CAS), castration plus LA administered immediately before castration using a conventional needle and syringe (NED), and castration plus LA administered immediately before castration using a needle-free injection system (NF). In experiment 1, behavior and stress vocalizations were recorded during administration of treatments, and blood samples were collected from all piglets before and 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes post-treatment to measure complete blood cell counts and cortisol concentrations. In experiment 2, behavior was recorded in the farrowing crate for 180 minutes post-treatment using 1-minute scan sampling (n = 9 pigs/treatment). Change in the percentage of stress vocalizations in response to processing differed among treatments ( P = 0.004) with CAS, NED, and NF pigs producing more stress vocalizations than CON. Over the entire processing period, tail movement and the sum of the behavioral scores during processing were greater ( P ≤ 0.01) for CAS, NED, and NF compared with CON pigs. During the administration of LA, NF pigs tended to have lower tail flicking ( P = 0.062) and sum of behavior scores ( P = 0.056) than NED pigs. Cortisol concentrations were elevated ( P P = 0.01) time lying without contact compared with CON pigs, and NED ( P = 0.074) and NF ( P = 0.032) pigs spent less time lying without contact compared with CAS pigs; however, there was no effect of treatment on other behaviors measured. These results suggest that administering LA using a needle-free injection may cause less stress; however, administering LA immediately before castration did not appear to reduce postoperative pain. More research is needed to find effective practical methods of pain relief for piglets during castration.
Abstract 1654: Development of subtype specific mouse models of bladder cancer

Introduction: High-grade, muscle-invasive bladder cancer has recently been shown to harbor intrinsic molecular subtypes with distinct biologic features. Current murine models of bladder cancer, including the prominent carcinogen induced model MB49, do not account for subtype specific characteristics, leaving a gap in available tools for understanding subtype specific differences in bladder cancer. We have developed and validated immunocompetent, subtype specific models of bladder cancer, and we have used these models to assess differential responses to immune checkpoint inhibition. Methods: Two distinct models of murine bladder cancer were developed in a C57BL/6 background. The UPPL models were generated through Pten/Trp53 conditional knockout in Uroplakin3a expressing cells. BBN models were generated through exposure of wild-type C57BL/6 mice to the carcinogen N-Butyl-N-(4-hydmoxybutyl)nitrosamine and subsequent generation of cell lines from spontaneous tumors. RNAseq was performed on several BBN and UPPL tumors and cell lines, with findings validated with flow cytometry and T/B cell receptor (TCR/BCR) amplicon sequencing of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Results: BBN and UPPL models reflected characteristics of human basal and luminal bladder cancers, respectively. BBN (basal) models demonstrated higher immune gene signature expression, with concordantly higher numbers of TILs compared to the UPPL (luminal) model (p Discussion: We have developed two unique classes of murine bladder cancer lines, UPPL and BBN, with gene expression and TIL profiles that closely correlate with human luminal and basal bladder cancers, respectively. The BBN and UPPL subtype specific models can serve as a tool for elucidating bladder cancer responses to immunotherapy. The mixed response of BBN963 tumors to PD-1 blockade should be an asset for assessing pathways mediating response to checkpoint blockade as well as the value of combination therapy. [C.S., R.S, B.V, W.K contributed equally to this work] Citation Format: Christof C. Smith, Ryoichi Saito, Lisa M. Bixby, Takanobu Utsumi, Jordan Kardos, Shengjie Chai, Sara E. Wobker, Bhavani Krishnan, Jeffrey S. Damrauer, Jonathan S. Serody, David Darr, Benjamin G. Vincent, William Y. Kim. Development of subtype specific mouse models of bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1654. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1654
An improved silhouette for human pose estimation

We propose a novel method for analyzing images that exploits the natural lines of a human poses to find areas where self-occlusion could be present. Errors caused by self-occlusion cause several modern human pose estimation methods to mis-identify body parts, which reduces the performance of most action recognition algorithms. Our method is motivated by the observation that, in several cases, occlusion can be reasoned using only boundary lines of limbs. An intelligent edge detection algorithm based on the above principle could be used to augment the silhouette with information useful for pose estimation algorithms and push forward progress on occlusion handling for human action recognition. The algorithm described is applicable to computer vision scenarios involving 2D images and (appropriated flattened) 3D images.
Recursion versus tail recursion over F¯p

Abstract We characterize the intrinsically recursive functions over the algebraic closure of a finite field in terms of Turing machine complexity classes and derive some structural properties about the family of such functions. In particular, we show that the domain of convergence of any partial recursive function is again recursive, and, under complexity-theoretic hypotheses, that the class of tail recursive functions is strictly smaller than the class of recursive functions (cf. Theorems 5.4, 5.2, and Section 8). Underlying these results is the “meta-result” that we can perform a limited amount of arithmetic inside the field itself, with no access to a separate sort of natural numbers.
Internal states and extrinsic factors both determine monkey vocal production

A key question for understanding speech evolution is whether or not the vocalizations of our closest living relatives-nonhuman primates-represent the precursors to speech. Some believe that primate vocalizations are not volitional but are instead inextricably linked to internal states like arousal and thus bear little resemblance to human speech. Others disagree and believe that since many primates can use their vocalizations strategically, this demonstrates a degree of voluntary vocal control. In the current study, we present a behavioral paradigm that reliably elicits different types of affiliative vocalizations from marmoset monkeys while measuring their heart rate fluctuations using noninvasive electromyography. By modulating both the physical distance between marmosets and the sensory information available to them, we find that arousal levels are linked, but not inextricably, to vocal production. Different arousal levels are, generally, associated with changes in vocal acoustics and the drive to produce different call types. However, in contexts where marmosets are interacting, the production of these different call types is also affected by extrinsic factors such as the timing of a conspecific's vocalization. These findings suggest that variability in vocal output as a function of context might reflect trade-offs between the drive to perpetuate vocal contact and conserving energy.
NCX-DB: a unified resource for integrative analysis of the sodium calcium exchanger super-family

Na+/Ca2+ exchangers are low-affinity high-capacity transporters that mediate Ca2+ extrusion by coupling Ca2+ efflux to the influx of Na+ ions. The Na+/Ca2+ exchangers form a super-family comprised of three branches each differing in ion-substrate selectivity: Na+/Ca2+ exchangers (NCX), Na+/Ca2+/K+ exchangers, and Ca2+/cation exchangers. Their primary function is to maintain Ca2+ homeostasis and play a particularly important role in excitable cells that experience transient Ca2+ fluxes. Research into the role and activity of Na+/Ca2+ exchangers has focused extensively on the cardio-vascular system, however, growing evidence suggests that Na+/Ca2+ exchangers play a key role in neuronal processes such as memory formation, learning, oligodendrocyte differentiation, neuroprotection during brain ischemia and axon guidance. They have also been implicated in pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy, however, a clear understanding of their mechanism during disease is lacking. To date, there has never been a central resource or database for Na+/Ca2+ exchangers. With clear disease relevance and ever-increasing research on Na+/Ca2+ exchangers from both model and non-model species, a database that unifies the data on Na+/Ca2+ exchangers is needed for future research. NCX-DB is a publicly available database with a web interface that enables users to explore various Na+/Ca2+ exchangers, perform cross-species sequence comparison, identify new exchangers, and stay-up to date with recent literature. NCX-DB is available on the web via an interactive user interface with an intuitive design, which is applicable for the identification and comparison of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger proteins across diverse species.
How Dopamine Receptors Work

Neurotransmitter chemicals like dopamine allow the transfer of information from one nerve cell to the next. These small signaling molecules are synthesized and stored in nerve endings awaiting release. When the nerve is activated, packets containing the neurotransmitter burst out of the nerve allowing the chemical to diffuse into the synaptic space, creating a temporary rise of about 100-fold in its local concentration. A portion of the released transmitter molecules collides with receptor protein molecules on the surface of the nerve across the synapse and a portion of these collisions result in specific binding to the receptors. Much of the released neurotransmitter diffuses away or is metabolized, while some is transported back into the nerve ending and is recycled for further use.
Convection Current Contributions to Spin Excitations

We first briefly review the role of convection currents in electron scattering and the utility of Rosenbluth plots in separating and studying the familiar longitudinal and transverse form factors defined for electromagnetically induced nuclear transitions. Then, noting that an energy-dependent probe-target-nucleon interaction can often be cast, to a good approximation, as an energy independent leading term plus a “convection current” dominated correction term, we study pion-nucleus and nucleon-nucleus transitions involving these “convection current” corrections. We discuss how, in both pion and nucleon-nucleus interactions, techniques that separate the (q,E,9) dependences of the nuclear response (as the Rosenbluth plot does for electron scattering) can be used to advantage.
Welfare-Enhancing Social Security Reform

The last two decades have witnessed the complete or parital privatization of public pension systems in several countries, and many proposals have been made to privatize the U.S. Social Security system either completely or partially. The motivation behind such proposals is that privatization will lead to substantial long-run welfare gains due to an increase in the economy's steady-state capital stock and a reduction in labor market distortions. This buildup of capital requires lower consumption during the short run, however, so that transition generations might su¤er welfare losses. Previous analyses of the transition to privatized social security using large-scale, computable, overlapping generations models have generally confirmed both large long-run welfare gains and substantial welfare losses during the transition. This paper uses such a model to explore the characteristics that a reform proposal must have if it is to avoid welfare losses in the short run. Using reasonable parameter values, it demonstrates that a Pareto-improving transition to privatized social security is feasible.
The GTAP Data Base: Version 10

This paper highlights the numerous improvements to the Global Trade, Assistance, and Production (GTAP) Data Base, version 10 (also referred to as GTAP 10). The Data Base describes the world economy for 4 reference years (2004, 2007, 2011, and 2014) and distinguishes 65 sectors, up from 57 in the previous release, in each of the 141 countries/regions. The 121 countries in the Data Base account for 98% of world GDP and 92% of world population. For each country/region, the Data Base reports production, intermediate and final uses, international trade and transport margins, and taxes/subsidies. This Data Base underlies most, if not all, applied global general equilibrium models. We use the time series GTAP 10 Data Base to examine the evolution of carbon dioxide emissions embodied in bilateral merchandise and services trade over the 2004-2014 period.
Reexamination of the α − α “fishbone” potential

The fishbone potential of composite particles simulates the Pauli effect by nonlocal terms. We determine the $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\alpha}$ fishbone potential by simultaneously fitting to two-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ resonance energies, experimental phase shifts, and three-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ binding energies. We found that, essentially, a simple Gaussian can provide a good description of two-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and three-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ experimental data without invoking three-body potentials.
Transforming lanthanide and actinide chemistry with nanoparticles

Lanthanides and actinides are used in a wide variety of applications, from energy production to life sciences. To address toxicity issues due to the chemical, and often radiological, properties of these elements, methods to quantify and recover them from industrial waste are necessary. When used in biomedicine, lanthanides and actinides are incorporated in compounds that show promising therapeutic and/or bioimaging properties, but lack robust strategies to target cancer and other pathologies. Furthermore, current decorporation protocols to respond to accidental actinide exposure rely on intravenous injections of soluble chelating agents, which are inefficient for treatment of inhaled radionuclides trapped in lungs. In recent years, nanoparticles have emerged as powerful tools in both industry and clinical settings. Because some inorganic nanoparticles are sensitive to external stimuli, such as light and magnetic fields, they can be used as building blocks for sensitive bioassays and separation techniques. In addition, nanoparticles can be functionalized with multiple ligands and act as carriers for selective delivery of therapeutic and contrast agents. This review summarizes and discusses recent progress on the use of nanoparticles in lanthanide and actinide chemistry. We examine different types of nanoparticles based on composition, functionalization, and properties, and we critically analyze their performance in a comparative mode. Our focus is two-pronged, including the nanoparticles free of lanthanides and actinides that are used for the detection, separation, or decorporation of f-block elements, as well as the nanoparticles that enhance the inherent properties of lanthanides and actinides for therapeutics, imaging and catalysis.
Mapping the Burden of COVID-19 in the United States

Abstract As of April 5th 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in over 273,000 confirmed infections in the United States of America. Incidence continues to rise. As the epidemic threatens to overwhelm health care systems, identifying regions where the expected disease burden is likely to be high relative to the rest of the country is critical for enabling prudent and effective distribution of emergency resources. Across all global regions affected by the pandemic, an elevated risk of severe outcomes has consistently been observed in older age groups. Using age-specific mortality patterns in tandem with demographic data, we map a projection of the cumulative burden of COVID-19 and the associated cumulative burden on the healthcare system at the county-scale in the United States for a scenario in which 20% of the population of each county acquires infection. We identify regions that may be particularly impacted relative to the rest of the country, and observe a general trend that per capita disease burden and relative healthcare system demand may be highest away from major population centers.
Vitamin A Absorption Efficiency Determined by Compartmental Analysis of Postprandial Plasma Retinyl Ester Kinetics in Theoretical Humans.

Background Better methods are needed for determining vitamin A absorption efficiency in humans to support development of dietary recommendations and to improve the accuracy of predictions of vitamin A status. Objectives We developed and evaluated a method for estimating vitamin A absorption efficiency based on compartmental modeling of theoretical data on postprandial plasma retinyl ester (RE) kinetics. Methods We generated data on plasma RE and retinol kinetics (30 min to 8 h or 56 d, respectively) after oral administration of labeled vitamin A for 12 theoretical adults with a range of values assigned for vitamin A absorption (55-90%); we modeled all data to obtain best-fit values for absorption and other parameters using Simulation, Analysis, and Modeling software. We then modeled RE data only (16 or 10 samples), with or without added random error, and compared assigned to predicted absorption values. We also compared assigned values to areas under RE response curves (RE AUCs). Results We confirmed that a unique value for vitamin A absorption cannot be identified by modeling plasma retinol tracer kinetics. However, when RE data were modeled, predicted vitamin A absorptions were within 1% of assigned values using data without error and within 12% when 5% error was included. When the sample number was reduced, predictions were still within 13% for 10 of the 12 subjects and within 23% overall. Assigned values for absorption were not correlated with RE AUC (P = 0.21). Conclusions We describe a feasible and accurate method for determining vitamin A absorption efficiency that is based on compartmental modeling of plasma RE kinetic data collected for 8 h after a test meal. This approach can be used in a clinical setting after fasting subjects consume a fat-containing breakfast meal with a known amount of vitamin A or a stable isotope label.
Introduction: perspectives on the ancient philosophy of sport

This brief article introduces the special section on the ancient philosophy of sport. The article introduces the various papers, explains the background of the project and thanks the appropriate pa...
Safety of Outpatient Procedural Sedation Administered by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: The Mayo Clinic Experience in 17,634 Sedations (2004 to 2019).

Purpose The safety of the team anesthesia model routinely used by the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery has recently been called into question. The purpose of this article is to measure the frequency of adverse anesthetic events related to ambulatory surgical procedures performed under intravenous (IV) sedation by the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Mayo Clinic during a 15-year period using the team anesthesia model. Materials and Methods A retrospective cohort study was designed, and a sample of subjects identified undergoing IV sedation at Mayo Clinic from 2004 to 2019. The primary outcome variable of interest was the presence of anesthetic-related adverse events (AEs) consistent with the World Society of Intravenous Anesthesia International Sedation Task Force's intervention-based definitions of adverse anesthetic events. Additional covariates included patient age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, type of surgical procedure performed, and the type/dosage of medications administered periprocedurally. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess for associations between AEs and covariates. Results The study identified 17,634 sedations administered to 16,609 unique subjects. In 17,634 sedations, 16 (0.1%) AEs and no subject deaths (0%) were identified. There were no statistically significant associations between AEs and age (hazard ratio [HR], 0.4; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.2 to 1.3; P = .13); gender (HR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.3 to 2.5; P = .87); ASA 2 classification (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.6 to 4.5; P = .33); ASA 3 classification (HR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.1 to 22.0; P = .86), or types of IV sedation medications administered during the procedure: fentanyl (HR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.02 to 6.3; P = .5); midazolam (HR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.2 to 4.3; P = .98); propofol (HR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.3 to 3.5; P = .99); or ketamine (HR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.1 to 7.3; P = .97). Conclusions The frequency of AEs (0.1%) and 0% mortality rate reported in this study demonstrate that the anesthesia team model used by oral and maxillofacial surgeons compares favorably to standardized intervention-based adverse anesthetic event outcomes reported by other nonanesthesiology specialties routinely performing outpatient procedural sedation.
The Earnings Announcement Premium as Uncertainty Aversion: Theory and Evidence

We argue the earnings announcement premium is a measure of firm-specific uncertainty aversion. Our stylized model shows earnings announcements, as pure news events, are priced only if investors are uncertainty averse; further, the earnings announcement return is negatively correlated to future investment only if there is time-varying uncertainty. Consistent with the model, we empirically show that when the earnings announcement premium is higher, investment falls, cash levels and savings increase. Finally, the earnings announcement return is higher for firms with greater political risk, small firms, complex firms, and firms listed on NASDAQ or AMEX, inconsistent with time-separable expected utility.
Slavery Revisited in Penal Plantation Labor

The Thirteenth Amendment prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, but contains an exception for convicted prisoners. Scholars who have interrogated the prisoner-labor exception have wrongly concluded that prisoners may constitutionally be subjected to slavery (not just involuntary servitude). Courts have simply construed prisoners' labor complaints as involuntary servitude, failing to distinguish between the two concepts. Similarly, the public has failed to discuss the types of labor we expect from the incarcerated. The lack of attention to prison-created slavery is particularly problematic in the current economy. States, facing increasing budget deficits, are turning to inmate labor to produce additional revenue, or at a minimum, offset the cost of imprisonment. Based both upon the text and history of the Thirteenth Amendment, this article argues that prisoners may only be subjected to conditions approximating involuntary servitude. When a prisoner experiences "social death," i.e. the chattelizing of a person through the ritual or symbolic social degradation and exclusion, the prisoner is subjected to constitutionally prohibited conditions approximating slavery. In addition, the imposition of slavery on prisoners constitutes "cruel and unusual punishment" under the Eighth Amendment. The article applies these concepts to the history and operation of a modern-day penal plantation, Louisiana State Penitentiary. Last, the article concludes that a broader public discussion of the re-creation of slavery behind prison walls can lead to other positive outcomes, including enhanced legitimacy of the criminal justice system.
Biorefinery ethanol upgrading: Opportunities and challenges

The production of drop-in replacements for biofuels is a grand challenge. Lignocellulosic biomass is considered a promising feedstock for producing fuel ethanol because of its great availability. Restrepo-Florez et al. systematically study the upgrading of ethanol toward advanced fuels with tailored properties and with consideration of process synthesis.
Flattening the Insolvency Curve: Promoting Corporate Restructuring in Asia and the Pacific in the Post-C19 Recovery

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) triggered a sharp contraction of economic activity across Asia and the Pacific. Policymakers adopted a 'whatever it takes' approach in their initial response, relying mainly on liquidity support to help firms survive the shock. This paper discusses how the initial policy response should evolve as the region's economies stabilize and enter the recovery phase. Many firms will need to repair their balance sheets and adjust their business models to the post-pandemic realities. The priority will be to support this process by facilitating the efficient restructuring of viable firms while allowing nonviable firms to exit. This requires action on three complementary fronts: reinforcing private debt resolution frameworks to flatten the insolvency curve, ensuring that adequate financing is available to support corporate restructuring, and facilitating access to equity to speed up the reallocation of jobs and capital into growth sectors.
A mass-energy balance model for strongly magnetized argon discharges

A semiempirical physical model of a strongly magnetized argon discharge is presented. Experimental extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) spectra are analyzed and photon emission is incorporated via the most important ground-state transitions for neutral and ionic species. Other major plasma processes are also included: ionization by electron impact, wall recombination, anomalous cross field diffusion, and charge-exchange. Plasma acceleration in the ambipolar electric field is treated phenomenologically. Specific power/mass flow densities and discharge vessel geometry are factorized into equations. The resultant non-linear system of normalized stiff ordinary differential equations describes the evolution of the temperatures and densities of the plasma components under the quasi-neutrality constraint. The equations are integrated numerically using a new unconditionally stable method. The transport coefficients are deduced from a two-point comparison to experimental data. Results of multiple parametric scans are presented and discussed in detail, with emphasis on plasma acceleration and EUV light production.
Sequences of SARS-CoV-2 Hybrids" with the Human Genome: Signs of Non-coding RNA?"

Controversial reports of human-virus chimeric reads (HVCRs) suggested a possible integration of SARS-CoV-2 sequences into human DNA (1-3).….
Project-Based Learning and Doctoral Student Research Skill Development: A Case Study

The purpose of this study was to understand the ways doctoral students in an online Ed.D. program developed their skills as practitioner researchers through a project-based learning (PBL) experience. In order to describe and analyze the nature of the students’ PBL experiences, case study methodology was used. Interviews, a video-recording of a two-hour synchronous class session, and student generated artifacts were iteratively analyzed by a team of researchers. Results reveal underlying tensions within three case themes: individual versus collective learning, simulated versus real research experience, and public class activity versus private group conversations. These findings demonstrate that Ed.D. program area faculty must balance the competing tensions raised by these case themes in order to facilitate research skill development and foster the ability of their students to grow as practitioner scholars.
A framework for randomized benchmarking over compact groups.

Characterization of experimental systems is an essential step in developing and improving quantum hardware. A collection of protocols known as Randomized Benchmarking (RB) was developed in the past decade, which provides an efficient way to measure error rates in quantum systems. In a recent paper (arXiv:2010.07974), a general framework for RB was proposed, which encompassed most of the known RB protocols and overcame the limitation on error models in previous works. However, even this general framework has a restriction: it can only be applied to a finite group of gates. This does not meet the need posed by experiments, in particular the demand for benchmarking non-Clifford gates and continuous gate sets on quantum devices. In this work we generalize the RB framework to continuous groups of gates and show that as long as the noise level is reasonably small, the output can be approximated as a linear combination of matrix exponential decays. As an application, we numerically study the fully randomized benchmarking protocol (i.e. RB with the entire unitary group as the gate set) enabled by our proof. This provides a unified way to estimate the gate fidelity for any quantum gate in an experiment.
Compensatory islet response to insulin resistance revealed by quantitative proteomics

Compensatory islet response is a distinct feature of the prediabetic insulin-resistant state in humans and rodents. To identify alterations in the islet proteome that characterize the adaptive response, we analyzed islets from 5 month old male control, high-fat diet fed (HFD), or obese ob/ob mice by LC-MS/MS and quantified ~1100 islet proteins (at least two peptides) with a false discovery rate < 1%. Significant alterations in abundance were observed for ~350 proteins among groups. The majority of alterations were common to both models, and the changes of a subset of ~40 proteins and 12 proteins were verified by targeted quantification using selected reaction monitoring and western blots, respectively. The insulin-resistant islets in both groups exhibited reduced expression of proteins controlling energy metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, hormone processing, and secretory pathways. Conversely, an increased expression of molecules involved in protein synthesis and folding suggested effects in endoplasmic reticulum stress response, cell survival, and proliferation in both insulin-resistant models. In summary, we report a unique comparison of the islet proteome that is focused on the compensatory response in two insulin-resistant rodent models that are not overtly diabetic. These data provide a valuable resource of candidate proteins to the scientific community to undertake further studies aimed at enhancing β-cell mass in patients with diabetes. The data are available via the MassIVE repository, under accession no. MSV000079093.
Relationships Among Pain Quality, Pain Impact, and Overall Improvement in Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia Treated with Gastroretentive Gabapentin

Objective To determine the effect of gastroretentive gabapentin (G-GR) and describe relationships among pain quality, pain impact, and overall-improvement scores in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods Analyses of integrated data from two Phase 3 studies in which PHN patients received once-daily G-GR 1,800 mg (n = 356) or placebo (n = 363). Neuropathic pain scale (NPS) and brief pain inventory (BPI) were completed at baseline and Week 10; patients' global impression of change (PGIC) at Week 10. Regression analyses described relationships among changes in the NPS, BPI, and PGIC scores. Results Compared with placebo, G-GR patients had significant reductions from baseline in individual NPS measures except cold pain ( P < 0.05); composite NPS scores ( P ≤ 0.003); BPI pain scores ( P < 0.05); three individual (mood, sleep, and enjoyment of life) and the average of BPI interference scores ( P < 0.05). Clinically significant improvements in BPI interference scores (except walking ability) were positively correlated with reductions in BPI and NPS pain (except dull and cold pain), and with improvements on the PGIC. Reductions in pain qualities at Week 2, especially in NPS pain intensity, were significant ( P ≤ 0.0001) predictors of improvements in three BPI interference scores, total NPS score, and PGIC. Conclusions For patients with PHN, G-GR provided significant improvements in multiple measures of pain quality and pain-related functional impairment. There was a positive correlation between pain relief and improvement in patient function, with reduction in pain intensity among predictors of improvements in patients' lives. Such comprehensive analyses give an insight into numerous factors that may contribute to better management of PHN.
Efficacy and tolerability of treatments for bipolar depression

Background: Depression in bipolar disorder is a major therapeutic challenge associated with disability and excess mortality. Methods: We reviewed findings from randomized placebo-controlled trials concerning efficacy and adverse effects of treatments for acute bipolar depression, including anticonvulsants, antidepressants, lithium, and modern antipsychotics, to compare numbers-needed-to-treat (NNT) versus -to-harm (NNH). Results: Included were data from 22 reports involving 33 drug-placebo pairs. Antidepressants (especially modern drugs) had the most favorable (highest) risk/benefit ratio (pooled NNH/NNT¼18.1). Anticonvulsants were effective agents (pooled NNT¼5.06), but carbamazepine and valproate were not as well tolerated (NNHo10) as lamotrigine, and they had an unfavorable pooled NNH/NNT (3.75). Some antipsychotics (lurasidone, olanzapineþ fluoxetine, and quetiapine (NNT all o 10) were effective though aripiprazole and ziprasidone were not (NNTZ45); olanzapine alone was weakly effective (NNT¼11.3), and all but lurasidone (NNH¼20.2) were not well tolerated (NNHr4.18). Lithium appeared to be poorly effective but well tolerated in only one trial. Conclusions: Some anticonvulsants and antipsychotics seemed effective for acute bipolar depression, but most antipsychotics were not well tolerated. Antidepressants were effective and well-tolerated; lithium remains inadequately tested. Limitations: There are remarkably few short-term treatment trials (2.75/12 treatments), and fewer longterm trials for bipolar depression, possibly arising from exaggerated concerns about inducing mania.
Caspase-7: a critical mediator of optic nerve injury-induced retinal ganglion cell death

Axonal injury of the optic nerve (ON) is involved in various ocular diseases, such as glaucoma and traumatic optic neuropathy, which leads to apoptotic death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and loss of vision. Caspases have been implicated in RGC pathogenesis. However, the role of caspase-7, a functionally unique caspase, in ON injury and RGC apoptosis has not been reported previously. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of caspase-7 in ON injury-induced RGC apoptosis. C57BL/6 (wildtype, WT) and caspase-7 knockout (Casp7 −/− ) mice were used. We show that ON crush activated caspase-7 and calpain-1, an upstream activator of caspase-7, in mouse RGCs, as well as hydrolysis of kinectin and co-chaperone P23, specific substrates of caspase-7. ON crush caused a progressive loss of RGCs to 28 days after injury. Knockout of caspase-7 partially and significantly protected against the ON injury-induced RGC loss; RGC density at 28 days post ON crush in Casp7 −/− mice was approximately twice of that in WT ON injured retinas. Consistent with changes in RGC counts, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography analysis revealed that ON crush significantly reduced the in vivo thickness of the ganglion cell complex layer (including ganglion cell layer, nerve fiber layer, and inner plexiform layer) in the retina. The ON crush-induced thinning of retinal layer was significantly ameliorated in Casp7 −/− mice when compared to WT mice. Moreover, electroretinography analysis demonstrated a decline in the positive component of scotopic threshold response amplitude in ON crushed eyes of the WT mice, whereas this RGC functional response was significantly higher in Casp7 −/− mice at 28 days post injury. Altogether, our findings indicate that caspase-7 plays a critical role in ON injury-induced RGC death, and inhibition of caspase-7 activity may be a novel therapeutic strategy for glaucoma and other neurodegenerative diseases of the retina.
A comprehensive assessment of solar photovoltaic technologies: Literature review

In the modern era renewable energy generation technologies have broad societal impact and need to be assessed considering multiple perspectives including: social, technological, economic, environmental, and political (STEEP). Assessment of energy technologies is a complex process because it is based on multiple criteria and multiple decision makers, and usually requires analytical models. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature to determine the assessment methods used and the perspectives covered. As a result of the literature analysis a list of perspectives addressed by each research study is compiled and the gaps in the research are identified. The focus of this paper is solar photovoltaic technologies.