cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shifted Hamming distance: a fast and accurate SIMD-friendly filter to accelerate alignment verification in read mapping

Motivation: Calculating the edit-distance (i.e. minimum number of insertions, deletions and substitutions) between short DNA sequences is the primary task performed by seed-and-extend based mappers, which compare billions of sequences. In practice, only sequence pairs with a small editdistance provide useful scientific data. However, the majority of sequence pairs analyzed by seedand-extend based mappers differ by significantly more errors than what is typically allowed. Such error-abundant sequence pairs needlessly waste resources and severely hinder the performance of read mappers. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a fast and accurate filter that can rapidly and efficiently detect error-abundant string pairs and remove them from consideration before more computationally expensive methods are used. Results: We present a simple and efficient algorithm, Shifted Hamming Distance (SHD), which accelerates the alignment verification procedure in read mapping, by quickly filtering out error-abundant sequence pairs using bit-parallel and SIMD-parallel operations. SHD only filters string pairs that contain more errors than a user-defined threshold, making it fully comprehensive. It also maintains high accuracy with moderate error threshold (up to 5% of the string length) while achieving a 3-fold speedup over the best previous algorithm (Gene Myers’s bit-vector algorithm). SHD is compatible with all mappers that perform sequence alignment for verification. Availability and implementation: We provide an implementation of SHD in C with Intel SSE instructions at: https://github.com/CMU-SAFARI/SHD.
Development of Department Writing Guide for Civil Engineering

This paper describes the development of a writing guide for the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Department of Civil Engineering. Practicing engineers, academics, and accrediting agencies identify written communication as an essential component of an engineer’s education. However, faculty experience in grading student work, conducting senior exit interviews, and completing the ABET assessment process, revealed shortcomings in student writing. Therefore, the authors began a project to develop a writing guide for use in all civil engineering courses. The writing guide covers reports, memos, figures, tables, equations, references, general homework submission requirements, and professional e-mails. The authors expect building faculty consensus, achieving an appropriate level of detail, and developing an assessment plan for use of the guide to be the most serious obstacles to its success. To overcome these obstacles, the authors are involving the entire department faculty, including tenured, tenure-track, and term faculty members, in developing and reviewing the project, so that consensus is reached and a common terminology is used. Prior to introducing the writing guide across the department’s courses, student volunteers will use a draft to determine if the level of detail is appropriate. Finally, examples of student writing kept for previous ABET assessment and work from the Fall 2014 semester will be assessed to determine a pre-writing guide baseline. Future comparison between that analysis and assessment of post-writing guide student work will dictate whether the guide is helping to improve student writing as well as which sections of the writing guide require improvement.
Diesel and glyphosate price changes benefit the economics of conservation tillage versus traditional tillage

Recent increases in diesel price and decreases in glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] price should favor the profitability and farmer acceptance of herbicide-intensive conservation tillage systems versus fuel-intensive traditional tillage (TT) systems. Profitability results from a long-term field experiment that compared TT, minimum tillage (MT), and delayed minimum tillage (DMT) systems for winter wheat‐(Triticum aestivum L.)summer fallow in eastern Washington, USA were calculated using both 1998 and 2005 input prices. Net returns for the MT and DMT systems increased by US$ 6.37 and 6.30 (rotational ha) 1 , respectively, and net returns to the TT system decreased by US$ 2.36 (rotational ha) 1 when 2005 versus 1998 prices were used. Here, rotational ha equals 0.5 ha fallow and 0.5 ha wheat. Focusing on the dominant crop of soft white winter wheat (SWWW), the 2005 price hikes pushed diesel costs up for all systems, from US$ 6.81 (rotational ha) 1 for DMT to US$ 9.00 (rotational ha) 1 for TT. The cost of diesel for the conservation tillage systems, relative to the cost for TT, decreased by US$ 1.50‐2.20 (rotational ha) 1 . The conservation tillage systems accrue greater savings from the price reduction in glyphosate because they consume more of this herbicide. An unanticipated result was that relative cost savings from price changes in N fertilizer rivaled those from diesel and glyphosate because anhydrous NH3‐N was exclusively used in the experiment for TTand aqueous NH3‐N for MTand DMT. The price of anhydrous NH3‐N increased from US$ 0.55 kg 1 in 1998 to 0.85 kg 1 in 2005, a 56% increase. Aqueous NH3‐N only increasedfrom $0.75 kg 1 in 1998to0.85 kg 1 in 2005,a 15%increase. Thegreater priceincrease foranhydrous NH3‐N penalized the TT system because of its use of this fertilizer. If the same source of N fertilizer were used on all three tillage systems, this fertilizer cost effect would disappear. Nonetheless, the conservation tillage systems still retained a statistically significant profitability advantage over TT even if the same fertilizer was used throughout. The sharp price increase for diesel and the concurrent price decrease for glyphosate herbicide favored the conservation tillage systems over TT in this study. Results provide strong evidence for the superior profitability of conservation tillage winter wheat‐summer fallow under current economic conditions.
Specific Health Conditions and Work-Retirement Status Among the Elderly

A thorough understanding of the relationship between ill health and retirement requires the investigation of specific illnesses and mediating mechanisms. We examined the relationship between specific major and minor health conditions and work status (retired-health, RH; retired-other, RO; or working, W) in a population- based (N = 3097) study of rural elderly persons. Lifetime history rates of major conditions were typically highest among RHpersons, and differed little between RO and Wpersons. Mean number of major conditions was typically highest among RH persons. RH was associated with poorer self-perceived health, physical functional status, mood, and recall than were RO and W, which did not differfrom each other. RH was also associated with increased prevalence and number of minor conditions among women but not men. Thus RH is preferentially associated with specified major medical conditions, increased number of major and minor health conditions, and quantitative functional and psychological decrements.
Comparative day/night metatranscriptomic analysis of microbial communities in the North Pacific subtropical gyre.

Summary Metatranscriptomic analyses of microbial assem- blages (< 5 mm) from surface water at the Hawaiian Ocean Time-Series (HOT) revealed community-wide metabolic activities and day/night patterns of differ- ential gene expression. Pyrosequencing produced 75 558 putative mRNA reads from a day transcriptome and 75 946 from a night transcriptome. Taxonomic binning of annotated mRNAs indicated that Cyano- bacteria contributed a greater percentage of the tran- scripts (54% of annotated sequences) than expected based on abundance (35% of cell counts and 21% 16S rRNA of libraries), and may represent the most actively transcribing cells in this surface ocean com- munity in both the day and night. Major heterotrophic taxa contributing to the community transcriptome included a-Proteobacteria (19% of annotated sequences, most of which were SAR11-related) and g-Proteobacteria (4%). The composition of transcript pools was consistent with models of prokaryotic gene expression, including operon-based transcription patterns and an abundance of genes predicted to be highly expressed. Metabolic activities that are shared by many microbial taxa (e.g. glycolysis, citric acid cycle, amino acid biosynthesis and transcription and translation machinery) were well represented among the community transcripts. There was an overabun- dance of transcripts for photosynthesis, C1 metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation in the day compared with night, and evidence that energy acquisition is coordinated with solar radiation levels for both autotrophic and heterotrophic microbes. In contrast, housekeeping activities such as amino acid biosynthesis, membrane synthesis and repair, and vitamin biosynthesis were overrepresented in the night transcriptome. Direct sequencing of these envi- ronmental transcripts has provided detailed informa- tion on metabolic and biogeochemical responses of a microbial community to solar forcing.
Cardiovascular MR Imaging at 3 T: Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions

Although 3-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is well established in neuroradiology and musculoskeletal imaging, it is in the nascent stages in cardiovascular imaging applications, and there is limited literature on this topic. The primary advantage of 3 T over 1.5 T is a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which can be used as such or traded off to improve spatial or temporal resolution and decrease acquisition time. However, the actual gain in SNR is limited by other factors and modifications in sequences adapted for use at 3 T. Higher resonance frequencies result in improved spectral resolution, which is beneficial for fat suppression and spectroscopy. The higher T1 values of tissues at 3 T aid in myocardial tagging, angiography, and perfusion and delayed-enhancement sequences. However, there are substantial challenges with 3-T cardiac MR imaging, including higher magnetic field and radiofrequency inhomogeneities and susceptibility effects, which diminish image quality. Off-resonance artifacts are particularly challenging, especially with steady-state free precession sequences. These artifacts can be managed by using higher-order shimming, frequency scouts, or low repetition times. B1 inhomogeneities can be managed by using radiofrequency shimming, multitransmit coils, or adiabatic pulses. Chemical shifts are also increased at 3 T. The higher radiofrequency results in higher radiofrequency deposition power and a higher specific absorption rate. MR angiography, dynamic first-pass perfusion sequences, myocardial tagging, and MR spectroscopy are more effective at 3 T, whereas delayed-enhancement, flow quantification, and black-blood sequences are comparable at 1.5 T and 3 T. Knowledge of the relevant physics helps in identifying artifacts and modifying sequences to optimize image quality. Online supplemental material is available for this article.
Looking closely at infants' performance and experimental procedures in the A-not-B task

Thelen et al.'s model of A-not-B performance is based on behavioral observations obtained with a paradigm markedly different from A-not-B. Central components of the model are not central to A-not-B performance. All data presented fit a simpler model, which specifies that the key abilities for success on A-not-B are working memory and inhibition. Intention and action can be dissociated in infants and adults.
Binocular summation at the absolute threshold of peripheral vision.

Binocular probability of seeing, P(B), was measured as a function of the time between onsets of 2-msec, 35-min visual angle flashes to corresponding locations 7° horizontally displaced from the foveas of both eyes of dark-adapted subjects. P(B) was greater than the value that would be predicted if the two eyes were independent detectors [P′(B)] for interstimulus intervals below 100 msec. Two peak values of P(B) were observed, one occurring close to zero and the other close to 90 msec. P(B) and P′(B) were indistinguishable for interstimulus intervals above 100 msec. It is concluded that the largest barrier to seeing at threshold lies in a pathway common to the two eyes.
Compact Wideband UHF Patch Antenna on a Reactive Impedance Substrate

The goal of this letter is to design a compact, planar UHF antenna operating over the frequency range 420?450 MHz. A microstrip patch antenna is selected as the elementary radiating structure because it has a low profile and is simple to fabricate. Compact size and enhanced bandwidth are simultaneously achieved through the use of a reactive impedance surface (RIS) in place of a PEC ground plane. The inherently limited bandwidth of the patch is overcome by incorporating a U-shape resonant slot radiator within the patch area. The design, fabrication, and measurement results are presented. It is shown that a patch with a U-shape slot whose dimensions are only $0.136~lambda times 0.228~lambda$ at the lowest frequency of operation can provide more than 20% bandwidth, covering a frequency range of 410?485 MHz.
Feminism Revisited The Lessons Beyond the Privileged Lens

Yoder, Snell, and Tobias (2012) present an important study linking feminist beliefs with liberation with well-being for a group of predominantly White college-enrolled women. In this reaction to their work, the authors discuss how we can use the results of this study to further develop the concept of liberation and feminist beliefs for diverse women with varying degrees of privilege. The relationship between the current study and liberation psychology perspectives are addressed, as well as practical implications of these perspectives.
Creative sentencing: A critical analysis

There is doubt that creative sentencing is efficacious in reducing incarceration levels; but, in the long run, that issue is not as important as whether certain freedoms are unduly abused by alternative sentencing practices. Orders of restitution, without full judicial hearing on the loss, represent an obvious danger of injustice. Less obvious is the danger abiding in community service orders where the awesome power of the state compels “good works.” This article argues that criminal sentencing should not be distorted to serve general social goals (“good works”) no matter how noble the sentencing seems to the judge or how much the judge thinks the community might endorse it. Regardless of whether it is true, we assume that the consensus of society supports the criminal law and its enforcement. We can make no similar assumption in regard to the tremendous number of social causes, ideological perspectives and “good works” which a sentencing judge might directly support through the sentencing power. The foll...
The Algebra U

3.1.1. Assume that a root datum (Y, X, 〈,〉,…) of type (I, ·) is given. We consider the associative Q(υ)-algebra ’U (with 1) denned by the generators $${E_i}{\rm{ }}(i \in I),{\rm{ }}{F_i}{\rm{ (}}i \in I),{\rm{ }}{K_\mu }{\rm{ (}}\mu \in Y)$$
Primary and Secondary Reconstruction of the Neophallus Urethra

Neophalloplasty is one of the most difficult surgical procedures in genital reconstructive surgery. It is indicated in men where the penis is missing due to either congenital or acquired reasons, as well in women with gender dysphoria. Many different tissues have been applied such as local vascularized flaps or microvascular free transfer grafts. The main goal of the neophalloplasty is to construct the functional and cosmetically acceptable penis. Urethral reconstruction in neophalloplasty presents a great challenge for surgeons who manage genital reconstruction. Different flaps (penile skin, scrotal skin, abdominal skin, labial skin, vaginal flaps, etc.) or grafts (skin, bladder, buccal mucosa) have been suggested for urethral lengthening. Although serious complications were reported in the past, new techniques and modifications for primary and secondary neophallus urethroplasty seem to be safe in experienced hands.
Alternative forms of the scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI)

The class B, type I scavenger receptor has been implicated as a receptor for high density lipoprotein (HDL). We have isolated a murine cDNA clone encoding an alternative form of SR-BI that differs in the putative cytoplasmic domain of the receptor. This variant form, likely the result of alternative mRNA splicing, is designated SR-BI.2. SR-BI.2 mRNA was detected in mouse tissues known to express SR-BI and tissue-specific differences in the relative abundance of SR-BI.2 were apparent. In mouse adrenal glands, SR-BI.2 represented approximately one-third of total SR-BI mRNA, whereas in mouse testes, SR-BI.2 represented the major mRNA species (79% of total). SR-BI.2 was also detected in the human cell lines examined, namely HeLa, HepG2, and THP-1 cells. CHO cells transfected with the mouse SR-BI.2 cDNA expressed significant levels of SR-BI.2 protein and acquired the ability to take up fluorescent lipid (DiI) from DiI-HDL. Alternative splicing of SR-BI represents a potentially important process for the regulation of SR-BI expression and function.
Influence of nicotinic acid on hepatic cholesterol synthesis in rabbits.

Summary1) The mechanism by which ingestion of large amounts of nicotinic acid lowers serum cholesterol in rabbits has been investigated. The rate at which cholesterol is synthesized from acetate-1-C14 by liver slices from animals on control or cholesterol supplemented diets, with or without nicotinic acid., has been measured. 2) There is marked inhibition of the rate of cholesterol synthesis by liver slices from animals fed nicotinic acid on both control and supplemented diets. Since the principal detoxication product of large doses of nicotinic acid is nicotinuric acid, it is possible that this inhibition of cholesterol synthesis occurs as a direct result of competition of lipid synthesizing and detoxication systems for a limiting amount of Co A in the liver cell.
Etiological analysis of hand, foot and mouth disease in Changzhou from 2010 to 2013

Objective To analyze the pathogens of hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD) in Changzhou from 2010 to 2013.Methods Both rectal and throat swab samples from 1945 HFMD children in Changzhou from Jan. 2010 to Dec. 2013 were selected.The real-time fluorescence PCR was applied to detect nucleic acids of enteroviruses, and the genotype distribution according to year,age, gender and sample type, and the positive rate were analyzed statistically. Results Of 1945 HFMD patients, 591 patients(30.39%)were found positive for enterovirus(EV) 71, 526 patients(27.04%) for coxasckievirus A(Cox A) 16, and 476 patients(24.47%) for other EVs. The genotype distribution according to year was significantly different. In 2010 and 2012, the positive rate of Cox A16 was the highest, followed by that of EV71; in 2011, the positive rate of EV71 was the highest, followed by that of Cox A16; in 2013, the positive rate of non-Cox A16/EV71 was the highest, followed by that of EV71. The total positive rate of 1~ age group was higher than that of 0~ age group, but the differences were not significant among the other age groups. There were significant differences in the distribution of the three genotypes among the different age groups. The positive rate of non-Cox A16/EV71 was the highest, followed by that of EV71 in 0~and 1~ age groups, and the positive rate of EV71 was the highest, followed by that of and Cox A16 in 3~ and 6~ age groups. The positive detection rate in rectal swab group was significantly higher than that in throat swab group. Conclusions EV71 and Cox A16 are predominant pathogens of HFMD in Changzhou from 2010 to 2013. HFMD mainly occurs in children at the age of 3-6 years. The positive detection rate of rectal swab samples is significantly higher than that of throat swab samples.
IPO Underpricing in China's Security Market:Degrees and Main Reasons

There are two objectives of this paper, the first is to describe thoroughly and deeply the degree of IPO Underpricing in Chinese security market, the second is to give correct reasons of this phenomenon, referring to the particular institutional background of China. To achieve these, we divide the sample according to issuing years, industries, locations, listing cycles, and calculate the abnormal return of each sub-sample. We believe that the primary reason of IPO Underpricing in China is the restriction of issuing price during listing process from the government.
Current uses of phlebotomy therapy.

Despite its archaic origins and its general condemnation only a few decades ago, “bleeding” remains one of medicine's most important tools. In the conditions for which phlebotomy is indicated, the benefits may be profound and the risks small, compared with myelosuppressive and other toxic drugs. Its use for polycythemia vera and other diseases is discussed in detail.
Alcohol Use and Food Insecurity in HIV Disease Management

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics are concentrated in impoverished communities; therefore, people with HIV infection face multiple social and economic disadvantages. Among the most salient facets of poverty that interact with HIV disease processes are alcohol misuse and food insecurity, both of which contribute to declining health and impede the medical management of HIV. Research that has investigated both alcohol misuse and food insecurity finds that food insecurity is a primary contributor to HIV disease progression. Alcohol misuse exacerbates food insecurity by diverting limited resources away from accessing nutrition as well as through the adverse health effects of alcohol itself. Interventions that provide access to food show improvements in health and medication adherence, but few have intervened to simultaneously address alcohol use and food insecurity. Given that most HIV infections occur in poverty, interventions are needed to resolve the complex interplay between alcohol misuse and food insecurity in people living with HIV.
On the “How” of Social Experiments: Using Implementation Research to Get Inside the Black Box

Implementation research supports impact evaluation by determining how programs have been carried out prior to evaluation, studying what internal features explain high and low performance in a program, and exploring possible new applications of a program model. Permission to interview staff and data availability may limit opportunities for implementation research. Evaluation cannot succeed alone but only as part of a broader process of governmental learning that includes implementation research.
Making Musicals that Matter: George C. Wolfe and Oskar Eustis at the Public Theater

Following in Joseph Papp’s footsteps, George C. Wolfe (artistic director 1993–2004) and Oskar Eustis (since 2005) have led the Public Theater in the development of new musical theatre and have regularly transferred Public Theater musicals to Broadway. Wolfe conceived and produced the black history tap musical Bring in ’Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk (1995) and championed contemporary musical theatre composers such as Michael John LaChiusa, Adam Guettel, and Jeanine Tesori. Eustis has shepherded an eclectic range of musicals through development, including Stephen Sondheim’s Road Show (2008), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (2009), and Fun Home (2013), each of which stretched the boundaries of the American musical.
Inquiry on the Sly: Playful Intervention as Philosophical Action:

As an ongoing practice, work can never be fully accounted for or described. Furthermore, the notion of play is often situated in opposition to work in Western cultures—as though work and play canno...
Allosteric effects in bacteriophage HK97 procapsids revealed directly from covariance analysis of cryo EM data.

Abstract The information content of cryo EM data sets exceeds that of the electron scattering potential (cryo EM) density initially derived for structure determination. Previously we demonstrated the power of data variance analysis for characterizing regions of cryo EM density that displayed functionally important variance anomalies associated with maturation cleavage events in Nudaurelia Omega Capensis Virus and the presence or absence of a maturation protease in bacteriophage HK97 procapsids. Here we extend the analysis in two ways. First, instead of imposing icosahedral symmetry on every particle in the data set during the variance analysis, we only assume that the data set as a whole has icosahedral symmetry. This change removes artifacts of high variance along icosahedral symmetry axes, but retains all of the features previously reported in the HK97 data set. Second we present a covariance analysis that reveals correlations in structural dynamics (variance) between the interior of the HK97 procapsid with the protease and regions of the exterior (not seen in the absence of the protease). The latter analysis corresponds well with hydrogen deuterium exchange studies previously published that reveal the same correlation.
Benefits and Process Alternatives Made Possible by Primary Effluent Filtration

The BOD associated with the suspended solids in effluents from primary clarifiers represents a substantial portion of the organic load applied to subsequent wastewater treatment processes or receiving water bodies. Although it has been shown that the solids in primary wastewater can be removed by filtration, this application of filtration has not been used because of several impediments. The main impediments to the successful filtration of primary effluent and lesser treated wastewater are 1) the high suspended solids concentrations causing a rapid development of headloss and short filter runs, and 2) the presence of grease and the buildup of biological slimes resulting in the formation of mudballs.
Allegory and the Dramatic Foundations of the Medieval Theater

The investigation of the dramatic principles of mystery or morality plays is not a novel task. Jerome Taylor’s “The Dramatic Structure of the Middle European Corpus Christi, or Cycle, Plays,” Richard J. Collier’s Poetry and Drama in the York Corpus Christi Play, and Robert Potter’s The English Morality Play: Origins, History, and Influence of a Dramatic Tradition are just a few examples of the critical interest in the dramatic aspects of the medieval drama, whether associated with staging, the function of poetry, plot structure, or ideological content. My investigation of the dramatic will focus on the role of allegory in creating both the artistic unity and dramatic tension necessary to sustain the attention of the audience. I do not assume that allegory is the sole foundation of the medieval drama, nor do I try to ignore the fact that allegory has quite obviously been studied in the case of morality plays. Instead, I propose to focus on the role of allegory in the creation of a certain dramatic tension by means of the via negativa. In other words, establishing the reality of a given play and its spiritual impact by means of a skillfully applied interplay between allegorical representation of the obviously true and the allegorical representation of the obviously false adds dramatic quality to the medieval plays.
Recent Advances in Soybean Transformation

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) transformation continues to be problematic even with the efforts of numerous researchers in the field. In spite of this low efficiency, soybean transformation is now routine utilizing the somatic embryogenie and meristematic tissue culture methods. A comparison, including the advantages and disadvantages, of each method are presented in this review. Soybean transformation is currently done using both Agrobacterium tumefaciens and particle bombardment. We review some of the current selectable marker genes in use, and we also describe additional non-standard transformation techniques that have been, or are being attempted, to produce transgenic soybeans.
THEOREMS OF DESARGUES AND PAPPUS

This chapter discusses the theorems of Desargues and Pappus. Any nonempty set of points and lines will be called a configuration. Certain configurations occur frequently enough to warrant special attention and naming. A set consisting of a triple of noncollinear points will be called a triangle. Given a triangle, one can consider additional points and lines generated by forming joins and intersections of the given elements. In the case of a triangle, one would obtain exactly three additional lines. This leads to the next concept. A complete triangle is a set consisting of the points of a triangle plus their three distinct joins. Triangle and trilateral are dual concepts as are complete triangle and complete trilateral. It is found that each of the latter two is self-dual. It is observed that complete triangle and complete trilateral are the same conceptually. A projective plane is said to be desarguesian if the Theorem of Desargues holds and nondesarguesian otherwise. It is shown that in a desarguesian projective plane, the dual statement of the Theorem of Desargues holds.
Investigating Creativity from a Semantic Network Perspective

Semantic memory plays a role in the creative process, either as an integral component or as the basis upon which executive functions operate on. Yet, due to the challenge of representing semantic memory, the relationship between semantic memory and creativity has not been thoroughly investigated. In recent years, computational network science tools are increasingly being applied at the cognitive level to examine language and memory systems. Network science is based on mathematical graph theory, providing quantitative methods to investigate complex systems as networks. Here, a series of semantic network studies aimed at investigating different facets of creativity in low- and high-creative individuals will be reviewed. These studies include representing their structure of semantic memory (both at the group and individual level), simulating uncontrolled search processes over their semantic memory, examining the relation of semantic memory structure to creative achievement and fluid intelligence, and relating flexibility of thought to the robustness of their semantic networks to attack. Finally, a general theory relating semantic memory structure to typical and atypical semantic processing will be presented and its relation to individual differences in creativity will be discussed. These studies demonstrate how the role of semantic memory in creativity can be investigated via quantitative measures of connectivity, distance, and structure of semantic networks. Thus, the application of network science tools to study creativity provides a quantitative and direct investigation of theories on creativity. Importantly, network science offers powerful tools in quantitatively studying different facets of high-level cognitive constructs such as creativity.
Developments in Blood-Brain Barrier Penetrance and Drug Repurposing for Improved Treatment of Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most common, deadly, and difficult-to-treat adult brain tumors. Surgical removal of the tumor, followed by radiotherapy (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ) administration, is the current treatment modality, but this regimen only modestly improves overall patient survival. Invasion of cells into the surrounding healthy brain tissue prevents complete surgical resection and complicates treatment strategies with the goal of preserving neurological function. Despite significant efforts to increase our understanding of GBM, there have been relatively few therapeutic advances since 2005 and even fewer treatments designed to effectively treat recurrent tumors that are resistant to therapy. Thus, while there is a pressing need to move new treatments into the clinic, emerging evidence suggests that key features unique to GBM location and biology, the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and intratumoral molecular heterogeneity, respectively, stand as critical unresolved hurdles to effective therapy. Notably, genomic analyses of GBM tissues has led to the identification of numerous gene alterations that govern cell growth, invasion and survival signaling pathways; however, the drugs that show pre-clinical potential against signaling pathways mediated by these gene alterations cannot achieve effective concentrations at the tumor site. As a result, identifying BBB-penetrating drugs and utilizing new and safer methods to enhance drug delivery past the BBB has become an area of intensive research. Repurposing and combining FDA-approved drugs with evidence of penetration into the central nervous system (CNS) has also seen new interest for the treatment of both primary and recurrent GBM. In this review, we discuss emerging methods to strategically enhance drug delivery to GBM and repurpose currently-approved and previously-studied drugs using rational combination strategies.
Surfing the Tides of Political Tumult: Supply Chain Risk Management in an Age of Governmental Turbulence

While the dominant focus in discussions of supply chain risk management has been on dyadic relationships, even a very cursory familiarity with global events should serve to make it clear that business interests are profoundly impacted by politics, and the speed and frequency of the shifting political tides are expanding at a pace that is almost unimaginable.
Meta-effect of insect resistant maize on fumonisin B1 in grain estimated by variance-weighted and replication-weighted analyses

Fumonisins are a class of mycotoxins occurring in foods and feeds at concentrations that may be of concern to human and animal health. Meta-analysis was used to predict the probability of fumonisin...
The Home Visit Rating Scales: Revised, restructured, and revalidated

The Home Visit Rating Scales (HOVRS) were initially developed from field-based descriptions of successful home visits and are supported by home-visiting research in multiple disciplines. Four home-visiting practices scales include indicators of relationship building with families, responsiveness to family strengths, facilitation of parent-child interaction, and collaboration with parents. Three family engagement scales include indicators of parent-child interaction, parent engagement, and child engagement in the visit. The original version, the HOVRS-1, was validated using video and data from two Early Head Start home-visiting programs. Conceptual and structural changes for the HOVRS-3 were designed to improve readability, usability, and clarity. Newly trained observers used the HOVRS-3 to observe archived videos from the original measurement sample. The HOVRS-3 showed good interrater reliability, scale internal consistency, convergent validity, predictive validity, practical significance, and version stability. When the HOVRS-3 home-visit quality scores were higher, it was twice as likely for parenting scores to be average or better and for child language to be at age level or better at age 3 years, over and above parenting and child language at age 1 year. The HOVRS can guide observations of home-visit quality in infant-toddler and early childhood programs to improve home-visiting practices and family engagement.
Development and Evaluation of a New Frailty Index for Older Surgical Patients With Cancer.

Importance Frailty based on the modified Frailty Index is associated with poor postoperative outcomes. However, the index requires high levels of personnel time and effort and often has missing data. Objective To evaluate the association of the Memorial Sloan Kettering–Frailty Index (MSK-FI) with established geriatric assessment (GA) and surgical outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study included prospectively evaluated patients with cancer 75 years and older who were referred to MSK Geriatrics Service clinics for preoperative evaluation before undergoing surgery requiring hospitalization between February 2015 and September 2017. Patients were comanaged by the Geriatrics Service and Surgery Service in the postoperative period. Exposures Impairments identified by GA and comorbid conditions retrieved from submittedInternational Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) andICD-10codes within the first 48 hours of hospitalization. Main Outcomes and Measures The association of MSK-FI score (which includedICD-9andICD-10codes) with GA impairments (based on clinical interview and examination as well as patient reports) was examined. The associations of MSK-FI score with short-term surgical outcomes (ie, frequency of complications, length of stay, 30-day surgical complications, 30-day intensive care unit admissions, and 30-day readmissions) and 1-year survival, estimated by Kaplan-Meier methods, were determined. Results In total, 1137 patients (median [interquartile range] age, 80 [77-84] years; 583 [51.2%] women) were included in the study. A higher MSK-FI score was associated with the number of GA impairments (ρ = 0.52; bootstrapped 95% CI, 0.47-0.56). Each 1-point increase in MSK-FI score was associated with longer length of stay (0.58 d; 95% CI, 0.22-0.95;P = .002) and higher odds of intensive care unit admission (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.04-1.58;P = .02). Median (interquartile range) follow-up among survivors was 12.1 (5.6-19.1) months. The MSK-FI score was associated with overall mortality; 12-month risk of death was 5% for a score of 0 and approximately 20% for scores of 4 and higher (nonlinear association,P = .005). Conclusions and Relevance In this study, the MSK-FI was associated with the previously validated GA and postoperative outcomes in older patients with cancer and may be a feasible tool for perioperative assessment of older surgical patients with cancer. Future studies should assess the association of MSK-FI score with postoperative care and outcomes of older, frail patients with cancer.
Robert Karl. La Paz Olvidada. Políticos, letrados, campesinos y el surgimiento de las FARC en la formación de la Colombia contemporánea.

Este libro explora una problematica vigente: de que manera la formacion del Estado y la sociedad colombiana se relacionan, no solo con repetidos episodios de violencia, sino tambien con insistentes intentos de paz. En particular, este texto retrata el camino recorrido por la iniciativa de pacificacion que Alberto Lleras Camargo se empeno en adelantar desde 1958 y estudia sus alcances y limitaciones hasta el ano de 1966. A traves de los actores y las iniciativas institucionales disenadas y puestas en marcha, Karl analiza este ensayo de pacificacion, el cual nombra como “paz criolla” (que luego se convertira en la “paz olvidada”). En su narrativa nos presenta, tambien, la historia de su frustracion. Este experimento se agota prontamente, a principios de la decada de 1960. En efecto, Karl evidencia el posterior desmonte de esta iniciativa a partir de las acciones militares y el cambio de orientacion en la politica social del siguiente presidente, el conservador Guillermo Leon Valencia. El autor, ademas, se encarga de retratar con extensa documentacion primaria un evento posterior a esta paz criolla: la fundacion de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (farc) en 1966.
Coding Guide for Larson Legal-Argument Research

(As if fall 2020, the final version of this document and replications data for the associated study are available on the Texas Dataverse: https://doi.org/10.18738/T8/SXNR02 Scholars should use those materials instead of this SSRN document.) This document is a coding guide for a research project I am conducting on how lawyers and judges use citations to courts’ opinions in their arguments. It is posted here to permit collaborators and potential collaborators to access the current coding guide. Please contact me before using this guide to ensure that you have the most recent version.
An Innovative Disease-Drug-Trial Framework to Guide Binge Eating Disorder Drug Development: A Case Study for Topiramate.

As with other psychiatric disorders, development of drugs to treat binge-eating disorder (BED) has been hampered by high placebo response and dropout rates in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Although not approved for use in BED, several RCTs have suggested that topiramate is efficacious for BED in obese individuals. Using data from a positive investigator-initiated RCT of topiramate in 61 obese individuals with BED, the objective of the present study is (i) to develop a quantitative disease-drug-trial framework to inform future BED clinical trial designs, and (ii) to determine the optimal topiramate dose to achieve therapeutic efficacy. Disease-drug-trial models were developed separately for the two efficacy measures, namely, longitudinal normalized weekly binge-eating episode frequency (BEF) and binge day frequency (BDF). Model building consisted of (i) developing a placebo effect model that describes response from the placebo group, (ii) adding a drug effect to the placebo model to describe dose-response relationships, and (iii) developing a parametric time to event model to characterize patient dropout patterns. The placebo effect on normalized BEF and BDF over time demonstrated a maximum decrease of ~ 57% by 5 weeks. Participants had a higher dropout probability if no weight loss occurred during the trial period. The identified dose-response relationship demonstrated a daily dose of 125 mg was needed to exhibit a marked reduction in weekly BEF. The developed comprehensive disease-drug-trial model will be utilized to simulate different clinical trial designs to increase the success for future BED drug development programs.
Malone Continent Appendicostomy

This chapter describes the surgical procedure of a Malone continent appendicostomy performed using the following approaches: open and laparoscopic. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedure in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as is found in a patient chart or electronic medical record. A description is provided of the following critical concepts for this procedure: (1) mobilization of the cecum, (2) plication of the cecum to create a valve mechanism, (3) transection of the distal appendix, (4) anastomosis of the appendix to the skin, and (5) securing of a catheter through the stoma.
Endoscopic Creation of a Neochimneycystotomy: A Case Report of a Ureteroileal Chimney Stricture.

Background: There are many nonmalignant complications after urinary reconstruction. Anastomotic strictures and redundancy of an ileal chimney are such. A patient with both issues might necessitate ...
Slidecho: Flexible Non-Visual Exploration of Presentation Videos

We present Slidecho, a system that enables non-visual access of the slide content in a presentation video on-demand. Slidecho automatically extracts slides and their text and image elements from the presentation video and aligns these elements to the presenter’s speech. When listening to the video, Slidecho provides learners with audio notifications about slide changes and slide elements that are not described by the presenter. The learner can pause the video and browse the entire slide, or only the undescribed slide elements, to gain information. A technical evaluation with presentation videos in-the-wild shows that compared to the presenter’s speech alone, Slidecho provides access to an additional 20% of total text elements and 30% of total image elements that were previously not described. Blind and visually impaired participants in our user study reported that it was easier to locate undescribed slide elements with Slidecho’s synchronized interface than when browsing the video and extracted slides separately, and using Slidecho they read fewer slides that were fully redundant with the speech.
Safety and Tolerability of a Wearable, Vibrotactile Stimulation Device for Parkinson’s Disease

Background: Resting tremor is a cardinal symptom of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) that contributes to the physical, emotional and economic burden of the disease. Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the safety, tolerability and preliminary effectiveness of a novel wearable vibrotactile stimulation device on resting tremor in individuals with PD. Methods: Using a randomized cross-over design, subjects received two different vibrotactile stimulation paradigms (high amplitude patterned and low amplitude continuous) on two separate laboratory visits. On each visit, resting tremor was video recorded for 10 minutes at baseline and while the vibrotactile stimulation was applied. Tremor severity was scored by a blinded clinician. Results: Both vibration paradigms were well safe and well tolerated and resulted in a reduction in resting tremor severity with a moderate effect size (n=44, P<0.001, r=0.37-0.54). There was no significant difference between the two vibration paradigms (P=0.14). Conclusions: Short durations of vibrotactile stimulation delivered via wearable devices were safe and well tolerated and may attenuate resting tremor severity in individuals with PD. The sample size as well as the potential preliminary effectiveness revealed by two arms of the study could not eliminate the potential for a placebo effect.
Numbers and Functions

In starting the study of any sort of mathematics, we cannot prove everything. Every time that we introduce a new concept, we must define it in terms of a concept whose meaning is already known to us, and it is impossible to keep going backwards defining forever. Thus we must choose our starting place, what we assume to be known, and what we are willing to explain and prove in terms of these assumptions.
A Generalized Sato’s Equation of the KP Theory and Weyl Algebra

We give a generalization of the Sato equation of the KP theory, and show that the corresponding flows form the Weyl algebra of infinite dimension. Giving several realizations of this algebra on the infinite dimensional Grassmann manifold, we discuss some connections to the string theory in 2-D gravity 1).
Significance of the Epithelial Collar on the Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft

Methods: Twenty patients with Miller Class I or II gingival defects ‡2.0 mm were recruited for the study. The patients were randomly assigned to receive an SCTG with a retained epithelial collar + CAF (SCTGE; n = 10) or an SCTG without an epithelial collar + CAF (SCTGN; n = 10). Clinical parameters, including recession depth, recession width (RW), width of keratinized gingiva (KW), clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), gingival index (GI), and plaque index (PI), were assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 months after surgery. Results: SCTGE and SCTGN groups exhibited significant root coverage at 3 and 6 months compared to baseline (P <0.05). The SCTGE group had mean root coverage of 97.50% – 7.90% at 6 months compared to 89.10% – 25.93% in the SCTGN group, with no significant difference between the groups. At 6 months, complete root coverage was seen in nine of 10 and seven of 10 subjects from SCTGE and SCTGN groups, respectively. Mean KW at 3 months for the SCTGE group was 4.10 – 1.10 mm, whereas in the SCTGN group it was 2.75 – 0.68 mm. Mean RW was 0 mm and 1.20 – 1.60 mm for SCTGE and SCTGN groups, respectively. KW and RW were statistically significantly different between the two groups at 3 months; however, this significance was not seen at 6 months. Other clinical parameters (CAL, PD, thickness of the recipient gingival tissue, PI, GI, and the wound healing index) showed no significant differences between the groups at any time point. Conclusions: Both SCTG techniques (with or without the epithelial collar) provided predictable and successful root coverage (‡89%). This study suggests that a retained epithelial collar on the SCTG may not provide a significant benefit with regard to clinical parameters. J Periodontol 2009;80:924-932.