cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Copycat Layout: Network layout alignment via Cytoscape Automation

The copycatLayout app is a network-based visual differential analysis tool that improves upon the existing layoutSaver app and is delivered pre-installed with Cytoscape, beginning with v3.6.0. LayoutSaver cloned a network layout by mapping node locations from one network to another based on node attribute values, but failed to clone view scale and location, and provided no means of identifying which nodes were successfully mapped between networks. Copycat addresses these issues and provides additional layout options. With the advent of Cytoscape Automation (packaged in Cytoscape v3.6.0), researchers can utilize the Copycat layout and its output in workflows written in their language of choice by using only a few simple REST calls. Copycat enables researchers to visually compare groups of homologous genes, generate network comparison images for publications, and quickly identify differences between similar networks at a glance without leaving their script. With a few extra REST calls, scripts can discover nodes present in one network but not in the other, which can feed into more complex analyses (e.g., modifying mismatched nodes based on new data, then re-running the layout to highlight additional network changes).
Rural-Urban Difference in Workplace Supports and Impacts for Employed Caregivers.

PURPOSE This study examines rural-urban differences in employed caregivers' access to workplace supports, negative impacts of caregiving on work, and the association between work and caregiver strain, which can have negative impacts on health. METHODS We used a cross-sectional analysis of employed caregivers (n = 635) from the 2015 Caregiving in the US survey, including bivariate comparisons of caregiver characteristics, access to workplace benefits, and workplace impacts by rural-urban location, as well as ordered logistic regression models to assess the relationship between workplace benefits and impacts and caregiver strain, stratified by rural-urban location. FINDINGS Employed rural caregivers had significantly fewer workplace benefits available to them (1.3 out of 5 vs 1.9, P < .001), compared with urban caregivers. In particular, employed rural caregivers were less likely to have access to telecommuting, employee assistance programs, and paid leave. For the full sample, having more negative workplace impacts was associated with greater caregiver strain (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.65, P < .001); for employed rural caregivers, using paid help for caregiving was associated with more strain (AOR: 4.39, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS More should be done to support all employed caregivers, especially those in rural locations who have more limited access to workplace supports and who may be more negatively impacted by the financial toll of caregiving and of missing work because of caregiving responsibilities. Interventions could range from employer-initiated programs to local, state, or national policies to improve supports provided to employed caregivers in urban and rural areas.
Impact of anemia and fatigue on quality of life in cancer patients : a brief review

Anemia is a frequent complication of cancer and its treatment. Cancer-related anemia is a phenomenon whose physiologic mechanisms are well documented. Yet the impact of that anemia on the individual with cancer is not well understood. This paper describes the impact of anemia, and its distressing manifestations, particularly fatigue, on an individual's quality of life.
Thyristor circuits basics

Phase control and zero-voltage switching are the basic power control methods used in the SCR and triac circuits. Phase control is achieved by resistive or resistive—capacitive networks or by triggering pulses derived from such devices as diacs, unijunction transistors, two-transistor trigger circuits, and neon bulbs.
Capstone projects as community connectors

At the University of Washington, a capstone design project to help artists market their craft, taught students valuable, cross-cultural collaboration skills while providing evidence of the local and global positive impacts of computing. In this project, which took place in the context of a year-long course focusing on technology for low-income regions, a group of senior computing students worked with business students and faculty at Heritage University to create an on-line store for marketing crafts made by artists in rural Washington state and Mexico. In addition to the skills normally gained in capstone design courses, including group work, iterative design, and software engineering, students in this project learned to collaborate over a distance with partners from different backgrounds and to capitalize on the strengths of each group. In this paper, we briefly describe the course as a whole, the specific project, and lessons learned.
Publication patterns and the impact of self-citation among minimally invasive surgery fellowships.

Abstract Introduction The h-index is a widely utilized academic metric that measures both productivity and citation impact. The purpose of this study is to define the impact of self-citation among minimally invasive surgery (MIS) fellowship program directors. Methods Through the Fellowship Council's website, all program directors and associate program directors from the 148 MIS fellowship programs were identified. Using the Scopus database, we calculated the number of publications, citations, self-citations, and h-index for each surgeon. Results A total of 274 surgeons were identified. The mean number±SD of publications, citations, and h-index for the cohort were 60.5 ± 77.2, 1765 ± 4024, and 16.0 ± 15.0, respectively. The self-citation rate for the entire cohort was 3.23%. Excluding self-citations reduces the mean number of citations to 1708 ± 3887 and h-index to 15.8 ± 14.6. The h-index remained unchanged for 77% (210/274) of surgeons. Only 5% (15/274) of surgeons had a change in h-index of greater than one integer and no surgeon had a change greater than three integers. Conclusion Self-citation is infrequent and has a minimal impact on the academic profile of program directors of MIS fellowships.
Treatment of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations: A Single-Center Experience of 86 Patients and a Critique of the A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations (ARUBA) Trial.

Objective The A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations (ARUBA) trial has received fierce criticism, including considerable selection bias, poor generalizability, questionable clinical practices (only 15.8% underwent surgical resection, the gold standard for arteriovenous malformation [AVM] treatment), and short follow-up (33 months) for a disease process that carries a life-long risk. In this study, we sought to present our own experience treating unruptured brain AVMs to provide supporting evidence of the ARUBA trial criticism. Methods All cases of treated brain AVMs from 2004 to 2017 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed and included in the analysis if they met ARUBA trial inclusion criteria. The primary outcome was symptomatic stroke or death. Secondary outcomes included AVM obliteration, long-term clinical impairment (modified Rankin Scale score >1), and new major or minor postoperative deficit. Results Of the 245 reviewed cases, 86 met the ARUBA trial criteria. Treatment included microsurgical resection alone (2.3%), preoperative embolization followed by microsurgical resection (62.8%), stereotactic radiosurgery alone (10.5%), embolization followed by stereotactic radiosurgery (15.1%), and embolization alone (9.3%). The primary outcome was met in 8.3%, new perioperative major and minor complications occurred in 5.8% and 12.8%, and long-term clinical impairment in 4.5%. AVM obliteration was observed in 92.4% overall and in 100% of patients who underwent surgical resection. Conclusions The criticism of the ARUBA trial is warranted, as our study found that treatment of unruptured brain AVMs has an acceptable safety profile when approached in a multidisciplinary manner at an experienced institution, using surgical resection as the primary treatment modality when applicable.
Failure Thresholds in CBRAM Due to Total Ionizing Dose and Displacement Damage Effects

With the growing interest to explore Jupiter’s moons, technologies with +10 Mrad(Si) tolerance are now needed, to survive the Jovian environment. Conductive-bridging random access memory (CBRAM) is a nonvolatile memory that has shown a high tolerance to total ionizing dose (TID). However, it is not well understood how CBRAM behaves in an energetic ion environment where displacement damage (DD) effects may also be an issue. In this paper, the response of CBRAM to 100-keV Li, 1-MeV Ta, and 200-keV Si ion irradiations is examined. Ion bombardment was performed with increasing fluence steps until the CBRAM devices failed to hold their programed state. The TID and DD dose (DDD) at the fluence of failure were calculated and compared against tested ion species. Results indicate that failures are more highly correlated with TID than DDD. DC cycling tests were performed during 100-keV Li irradiations and evidence was found that the mobile Ag ion supply diminished with increasing fluence. The cycling results, in addition to prior 14-MeV neutron work, suggest that DD may play a role in the eventual failure of a CBRAM device in a combined radiation environment.
Optimized large-scale optogenetic interface for non-human primates

Stable large-scale optogenetic interfaces for non-human primates (NHPs) have a great potential to answer fundamental questions about brain function and to develop novel therapies for neurological disorders. We have previously reported an interface that enables manipulation and recording from up to 2 cm2 of cortical tissue by combining three technologies: 1- convection enhanced viral delivery to achieve high levels of expression across large cortical areas, 2- semi-transparent micro-electrocorticographic arrays to record from these expressing areas, and 3- artificial dura to protect the brain and provide optical access. Although this interface provided a unique platform to study network activity and brain connectivity, it was based on day-to-day implantation and explantation of the recording array which led to accelerated tissue growth on top of the brain and limited the efficient time window for optical access to only several weeks. We then needed to wait for a month or two to remove the tissue from the surface of the brain and regain optical access. Here, we are optimizing this interface by incorporating the recording array into the artificial dura to reduce the manipulation at the brain surface and increase the efficient optical access window to 3-9 months. We are using a transparent, flexible polymer as an insulator for our recording sites that can be easily molded into the artificial dura. Furthermore, we have optimized our stimulation setup to increase the number of simultaneous light stimulation locations. We believe this optimized interface has a great potential for long-term optogenetic experiments in non-human primates.
Kidney Injury in Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) represent a spectrum of disease with wide-reaching effects. While often thought of as a surgical disease, a number of medical management strategies may be utilized, in some cases obviating the need for surgical intervention. Central to this issue are the interrelated pressures within the abdominal, thoracic, and vascular compartments within the body. Fluid management and the treatment of renal dysfunction in patients at risk for IAH and ACS is a complex problem and one that cannot be easily separated from concurrent multiorgan system effects. We therefore provide a brief overview of the systemic effects that affect many patients developing acute kidney injury in this setting. We will review in more detail the relevant renal pathophysiology as well as the medical and surgical management strategies for treating patients with IAH and ACS.
Clinical Pearls: Non-dialytic Management of Kidney Complications in the Postoperative Period

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in the postoperative period whose risk increases with the complexity and type of surgery and preoperative chronic kidney disease (CKD). As expected, renal dysfunction in a critically ill patient during the postoperative period is associated with a range of perturbations including volume regulation, electrolyte, and acid/base disorders. The majority of AKI patients do not require renal replacement therapy and need a stepwise approach in recognizing and managing these complications in the perioperative period. The following chapter discusses the key principles in maximizing renal perfusion during the postoperative period and managing complications of decreased renal function including volume manegement, electrolyte disorders, and acid/base derangements.
Psychological ownership within psychology of working theory: A three-wave study of gender and sexual minority employees

Abstract The present study examines the experiences of gender and sexual minority employees regarding their ability to secure decent work. Specifically, we extend psychology of working theory (PWT) by integrating social identity theory and incorporating psychological ownership into the model. We tested our hypotheses in a sample of 240 gender and sexual minority employees gathering data at three time points over a two-week period. Financial strain, work volition, and psychological ownership were all found to directly predict decent work and work volition was found to mediate the effects of financial strain and workplace climate to decent work. Although climate was significantly predicted by psychological ownership, it failed to mediate the climate-decent work relation, highlighting the need for future research to examine additional constructs in and refinement of PWT. We offer suggestions for future research on PWT and the experiences of marginalized employees, particularly gender and sexual minority employees.
Stereoselective Steady-State Disposition and Bioequivalence of Brand and Generic Bupropion in Adults.

The antidepressant bupropion is stereoselectively metabolized and metabolite enantiomers have differential pharmacologic effects, but steady-state enantiomeric disposition is unknown. Controversy persists about bupropion XL300mg generic equivalence to brand product, and whether generics might have different stereoselective disposition leading to enantiomeric non-bioequivalence and thus clinical nonequivalence. This preplanned follow-on analysis of a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, crossover study of brand and three generic bupropion XL300mg products; measured steady-state enantiomeric plasma and urine parent bupropion and primary and secondary metabolite concentrations and evaluated bioequivalence and pharmacokinetics. Steady-state plasma and urine bupropion disposition was markedly stereoselective, with up to 40-fold differences in plasma concentrations of the active metabolite S,S-hydroxybupropion versus R,R,-hydroxybupropion. Urine metabolite glucuronides were prominent, but glucuronidation was metabolite-specific and enantioselective. There were no differences between any generic and brand, or between generics, in plasma enantiomer concentrations of bupropion or the major metabolites. All generic products satisfied formal bioequivalence criteria (Cmax and AUC0-24 ) using enantiomers for bupropion as well as for metabolites, and generics were comparable to each other, and were considered bioequivalent, based on enantiomeric analysis. Enantiomeric bioequivalence explains the previously observed therapeutic equivalence of bupropion generics and brand in treating major depression. These results have important implications for understanding the clinical therapeutic effects of bupropion based on complex and stereoselective metabolism.
Coordination Games in Continuous Time

This paper studies the impact of continuous time interaction on two iconic coordination games: stag hunt and battle of the sexes in a laboratory environment and compare results to possible theoretical explanations. Experimental results show that subjects consistently coordinate better in continuous time than in discrete time under various treatment environments. In continuous time, they are also more likely to converge to payoﬀ-dominant equilibrium in stag hunt games and alternating dynamics in battle of the sexes games. Furthermore, the coordination rate is aﬀected by complexity of action sets and weakly inﬂuenced by payoﬀ matrices. The paper also explores some stylized facts that result in the treatment eﬀects.
Electrospun Tissue-Engineered Arterial Graft Thickness Affects Long-Term Composition and Mechanics

Wall stress is often lower in tissue-engineered constructs than in comparable native tissues due to the use of stiff polymeric materials having thicker walls. In this work, we sought to design a murine arterial graft having a more favorable local mechanical environment for the infiltrating cells; we used electrospinning to enclose a compliant inner core of poly(glycerol sebacate) with a stiffer sheath of poly(caprolactone) to reduce the potential for rupture. Two scaffolds were designed that differed in the thickness of the core as previous computational simulations found that circumferential wall stresses could be increased in the core toward native values by increasing the ratio of the core:sheath. Our modified electrospinning protocols reduced swelling of the core upon implantation and eliminated residual stresses in the sheath, both of which had contributed to the occlusion of implanted grafts during pilot studies. For both designs, a subset of implanted grafts occluded due to thrombosis or ruptured due to suspected point defects in the sheath. However, there were design-based differences in collagen content and mechanical behavior during early remodeling of the patent samples, with the thinner-core scaffolds having more collagen and a stiffer behavior after 12 weeks of implantation than the thicker-core scaffolds. By 24 weeks, the thicker-core scaffolds also became stiff, with similar amounts of collagen but increased smooth muscle cell and elastin content. These data suggest that increasing wall stress toward native values may provide a more favorable environment for normal arterial constituents to form despite the overall stiffness of the construct remaining elevated due to the absolute increase in load-bearing constituents.
Introduction to the Special Issue on the Economics of Religion

The economics and political science of religion have blossomed into full-fledged fields in the last decade and a half. What was once a field on the far outskirts of economics and political science now regularly publishes in its top journals (see Figure 1).1 By 1998, the field was large enough for Iannaccone (1998) to write a survey of the shape of the field. The field was very much at its infancy at that time, and most of the best work was done by sociologists and/or published in sociology journals. This has changed significantly in the 22 years since Iannaccone's survey. While the sociology of religion is still thriving as a field, the economics and political science of religion has become a distinct and impactful field of its own.
Microbial Profile Evaluation of Beef Steaks From Different Packaging and Retail Lighting Display Conditions

To date, meat microbiology research has relied on culture-dependent methods. Amplicon sequencing technology provides a deeper look into the microbial community. This study set out to evaluate the bacterial community of fresh beef longissimus lumborum steaks exposed to retail packaging and display conditions. Four packaging treatments were assigned after fabrication 7 d postmortem: high-oxygen modified atmosphere packaging, overwrapped packages within a carbon monoxide tri-gas flushed motherbag, vacuum rollstock pouches, and traditional overwrap. After a 14-d dark storage, carbon monoxide motherbag overwrapped packages were removed from the motherbag, and packages were distributed to a retail lighting condition for 72 h of retail display: fluorescent, light emitting diode, or darkness. Aerobic plate count and psychrotrophic bacteria were enumerated, in addition to 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing of DNA for microbial profile investigation. Sampling occurred at fabrication (7 d), end of dark storage (20 d), and end of retail display (23 d). The V3–V4 regions of the 16S bacterial ribosomal RNA gene were sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA). Counts for aerobic plate count bacteria differed by packaging (P = 0.039) but not lighting (P > 0.05). Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the dominate phyla identified but were not affected by packaging or lighting (P > 0.05). Traditional overwrapped packages displayed in darkness and fluorescence had a higher abundance of Carnobacterium compared with those displayed under light emitting diode (P = 0.05). Dark-stored samples had more Pseudomonas compared with fluorescent display, regardless of packaging type (P = 0.03). While packaging and lighting conditions had a minimal impact on the community composition, these data positively contribute to a baseline establishing bacterial community profiles of fresh beef steaks subjected to retail display. This foundation suggests that further work is needed to understand whether shifts are more likely to occur during extended shelf life or in other retail beef display conditions.
Moringa isothiocyanate-1 regulates Nrf2 and NF-κB pathway in response to LPS-driven sepsis and inflammation

This study aims to document the dual mode of pharmacological action of moringa isothiocyanate-1 (MIC-1) derived from seeds of Moringa oleifera Lam. Oral administration of chemically stable MIC-1 (80 mg/kg) significantly reduced the expression of inflammatory markers (Tnf-α, Ifn-α, IL-1β, IL-6) in the liver, kidney, spleen, and colon and decreased spleen weight in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis / acute inflammation model in mice. Transcriptomic analysis of the effect of MIC-1 on the liver and in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 murine macrophage showed that MIC-1 decreases inflammation via inflammation, immunity, and oxidative stress pathways. These results are supported by the immunocytochemical observations that MIC-1 increased the nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) transcription factor and decreased the nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) in the LPS-induced macrophages. Transcriptional activation of antioxidant genes by MIC-1 translated into a reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cytoplasm, decrease of mitochondrial superoxide content, and restoration of the mitochondrial membrane potential in the LPS-induced macrophages. Our data indicate that MIC-1 affects inflammation and oxidative stress, two key processes involved in the etiology of many chronic diseases. These effects involve upstream regulation of two key transcriptional factors regulating responses to these processes at a gene expression level.
Tell Me Your Story: Experiential learning using in-home interviews of healthy older adults.

Purpose To create a curriculum innovation for early preclinical medical students to explore personal perspectives by listening to and learning from the lived experience of community-living older adults. Method Tell Me Your Story (TMYS) paired first-year medical students (MS1s) with community-dwelling older adult partners (OAPs) residing in the independent living portion of a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) for a half-day educational experience. MS1s conducted 1-hour semi-structured interviews with their OAP and then formed small groups with geriatric faculty members to explore experiences and views that were either reinforced or challenged. The authors evaluated the effectiveness of this exercise using post-activity surveys. A mixed-methods analysis of 7 years of data (2013-2019) was conducted. Results TMYS had 1251 MS1 participants from 2013 to 2019. Students completed 1052 surveys for a response rate of 84%. During the semi-structured interview with OAP, the frequency of issues discussed included relationships (94%), professionalism/art of medicine (91%), healthcare accessibility (83%), death/dying/grieving/loss (72%), nutrition (69%), ethics (64%), and cultural competence (61%). Exactly 97% (n = 1023) responded that the overall organization was "good, very good or excellent." The most prominent themes identified by student responses highlighted person-centered care, patient perspective, life experience/personal stories, and doctor-patient relationship. Fifty-three faculty members completed the post-program survey. Exactly 100% (53/53) rated the quality of this exercise as an educational experience high. Conclusion TMYS was highly valued by students and provided an important experiential learning activity in preclinical medical education. Themes related to person-centered care emerged from the intervention.
Anomalous Flexor Digitorum Profundus Muscle Bellies as a Cause of Snapping Wrist and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Case Report.

CASE A 20-year-old right hand dominant woman presented with an audible and painful snapping wrist occurring with finger flexion. This bothersome mechanical finding and concomitant carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) did not resolve with conservative measures. Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging revealed anomalous flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) muscle bellies as the cause of the mechanical snapping and irritation of the median nerve. Carpal tunnel release and excision of anomalous muscle within the carpal tunnel and distal forearm provided complete resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSION Anomalous muscle bellies of the FDP is a rare cause of a volar snapping wrist and CTS.
Substrate Characterization and Outcome of Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients With Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy and Isolated Epicardial Scar.

BACKGROUND The substrate for ventricular tachycardia (VT) in left ventricular (LV) nonischemic cardiomyopathy may be epicardial. We assessed the prevalence, location, endocardial electrograms, and VT ablation outcomes in LV nonischemic cardiomyopathy with isolated epicardial substrate. METHODS Forty-seven of 531 (9%) patients with LV nonischemic cardiomyopathy and VT demonstrated normal endocardial (>1.5 mV)/abnormal epicardial bipolar low-voltage area (LVA, <1.0 mV and signal abnormality). Abnormal endocardial unipolar LVA (≤8.3 mV) and endocardial bipolar split electrograms and predictors of ablation success were assessed. RESULTS Epicardial bipolar LVA (27.3 cm2 [interquartile range, 15.8-50.0]) localized to basal (40), mid (8), and apical (3) LV with basal inferolateral LV most common (28/47, 60%). Of 44 endocardial maps available, 40 (91%) had endocardial unipolar LVA (24.5 cm2 [interquartile range, 9.4-68.5]) and 29 (67%) had characteristic normal amplitude endocardial split electrograms opposite the epicardial LVA. At mean of 34 months, the VT-free survival was 55% after one and 72% after multiple procedures. Greater endocardial unipolar LVA than epicardial bipolar LVA (hazard ratio, 10.66 [CI, 2.63-43.12], P=0.001) and number of inducible VTs (hazard ratio, 1.96 [CI, 1.27-3.00], P=0.002) were associated with VT recurrence. CONCLUSIONS In patients with LV nonischemic cardiomyopathy and VT, the substrate may be confined to epicardial and commonly basal inferolateral. LV endocardial unipolar LVA and normal amplitude bipolar split electrograms identify epicardial LVA. Ablation targeting epicardial VT and substrate achieves good long-term VT-free survival. Greater endocardial unipolar than epicardial bipolar LVA and more inducible VTs predict VT recurrence.
Effects of simulated maternal hyperventilation on the umbilical vein.

Abstract There is some question about the role of hyperventilation in obstetric anesthesia. There are thought to be certain fetal benefits from this alteration in the maternal acid-base status. Certain clinical and animal studies have documented that excessive hyperventilation may lead to deterioration of the acid-base status of the fetus. The etiology of this problem has been thought to be maternal alkalosis with decreased uterine artery blood flow and subsequent inadequate placental perfusion. The object of this study was to determine if there was a fetal component of this problem. This in vitro study of simulated hyperventilation in 22 human umbilical veins demonstrated pressure changes with changes in pH and Pco 2 . It was observed that for every 0.1 U. pH decrease the vein decreased in pressure by 8.7 per cent, and for every 0.1 U. pH increase the pressure increase was 6.3 per cent. The clinical implications of these studies were discussed.
Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility (R&R) Studies

This article discusses basic design considerations for so-called gauge repeatability and reproducibility studies. These common industrial measurement studies are used to investigate the precision of measurement systems that employ more than one operator to make measurements with a single gauge/measurement device. Data from them are typically used to estimate functions of variance components in random-effects models that quantify both “within part-by-operator combination” and “between-operator” variation in measurement. Keywords: operators; parts; random-effects model; variance components; Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML); Bayes; ANOVA ; design figure of merit
TWO APPROACHES TO EXAMINING THE ETHICS OF INSIDER TRADING

The common view is that insider trading is always unethical and illegal. But such is not the case. Some forms of insider trading are legal. Furthermore, applying ethical principles to insider trading causes one to conclude that it is also sometimes ethical. This chapter attempts to get past the hype, the press reports and the political grandstanding to get to the truth of the matter. The author applies two sets of ethical principles - utilitarianism and rights theory - in an attempt to determine when, and under what circumstances, insider trading is ethical. The views of Henry Manne, an early proponent of insider trading, are critically examined, as are the major arguments against insider trading. Is insider trading good for the company if it is used as a form of executive compensation, which makes it possible to pay lower salaries than would otherwise be the case? Does insider trading cause the stock market to work more efficiently? If insider trading does increase efficiency, is that sufficient to call for its total legalization, or are there other things to be considered? Several arguments against insider trading have been put forth over the last few decades but there are problems with all of them. One of the main arguments is the fairness argument. The problem with this argument is that different people have different definitions of unfairness. A closely related argument is the level playing field argument, which advocates wider dissemination of information so that it is less asymmetric. One problem with the level playing field argument is that it is better applied to sporting competitions than to trading in information. Some economists argue that forcing the disclosure of nonpublic information can actually result in more harm than good and must necessarily involve the violation of property rights. Other arguments examined in this chapter include the fiduciary duty argument, the problem of outside traders, the misappropriation doctrine and the restrictions that insider trading laws place on freedom of speech and press. The chapter concludes by setting forth some principles or guidelines to determine when insider trading should be punished and when it should not.
Increased dissolved oxygen in Pacific intermediate waters due to lower rates of carbon oxidation in sediments

Concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the ocean seem to correlate well with climate instabilities over the past 100,000 years. For example, the concentration of dissolved oxygen in Pacific intermediate waters was considerably higher during Pleistocene glacial periods than it is today. This has been inferred from the presence of bioturbated sediments, implying that oxygen levels were sufficient for burrowing organisms to live. Today, basins in the northeastern Pacific Ocean are floored by laminated sediments implying lower oxygen levels, which may be explained by reduced ventilation. Here we report a recent return to bioturbated sediments in the northeastern Pacific Ocean since the late 1970s. From the carbon isotope composition of benthic foraminifers living in the sediment, we infer a twofold decrease in the carbon oxidation rate occurring within sediments, equivalent to an increase in dissolved oxygen concentration of 15-20 micromoles per litre. These changes, at the edges of the Santa Barbara, Santa Monica and Alfonso basins, are coincident with a change in North Pacific climate which has reduced upwelling by 20-30% and increased sea surface temperatures by 1.5-3 degrees C. This suggests that climate effects on surface productivity, reducing the supply organic matter to sediments, may have had a greater effect on benthic oxygen levels than changes in ocean circulation patterns.
COMPUTER SIMULATION OF SUBWAY ENVIRONMENT

A designer-oriented computer program, designated the Single-Track Subway Environment Simulation model, has been developed to simulate multiple train operation in a single-train subway and to provide continuous peak, and average readings for the air velocity, temperature, and humidity throughout the stations, tunnels, and ventilation shafts. The program also provides continuous calculations of the location, velocity, and acceleration of the train(s) moving through the system. This program is intended for use in evaluating the influence of tunnel geometry, ventilation shaft design, and environmental control equipment upon airflow, temperature, and humidity in a subway. The aerodynamic portion of the program has been validated using data from a scale-model test facility.
Tracking the traveler without a passport: perspective on surveillance of imported disease.

Since the turn of the century, we have experienced increases in a variety of disease threats including bioterrorist attacks, pandemic influenza, emergence of novel diseases, and re‐emergence of known pathogens. Although every disease scenario had specific criteria surrounding its spread, a common factor in nearly all included travel. It is not a new concept that travel is in itself a vector for disease transmission and in some respects one of the most important factors, given our increasingly global society. The mode of disease transmission, whether vector borne, such as dengue, or airborne, such as influenza, provides us with a clear picture of the necessary mitigation strategies for minimizing transmission; however, our prevention strategies have not advanced to keep in line with the role of travel in the rapid spread of diseases. Our borders have significant restrictions for the movement of people and goods, but not for the potential pathogens traveling with them. There is substantial lack of addressing the human role, or more specifically the traveler's role in disease spread. We tend to view the traveler as a victim of diseases present in endemic travel destinations when infection is acquired. We need to evolve our approach to travel health by recognizing the traveler as an important aspect of the disease transmission cycle. This would allow … Corresponding Author: Koya C. Allen, PhD, MSPH, Department of Biostatistics, Environmental Health & Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Kent State University, 750 Hilltop Dr., Lowry Hall, Kent, OH 44240, USA. E‐mail: kallen37{at}kent.edu; koya.c.allen.ctr{at}mail.mil
A robust dynamic pricing approach that tracks the customer's imputed valuation

We present a robust dynamic pricing approach which seeks to offer prices that can become the actual sale prices, inasmuch as they are at or below the customer's imputed valuation. The customer's maximum buying prices are imputed since they are unknown; indeed, no historical demand data are provided. The only information that we are given in each time epoch is how much of the product is sold at a sale price offered by the seller, based on the remaining time, the level of product inventory, and whether the amount sold to date is more or less than the cumulative average amount. The proposed approach is quite successful in finding and tracking the imputed customer valuation curve over a finite time horizon. The results demonstrate the superiority of the approach not only in terms of revenue generation, but also in terms of four other effectiveness measures developed herein. The approach is especially well-suited for e-commerce.
Diacylglycerol metabolism in cellular membranes

Publisher Summary The synthesis, degradation, and transport of sn -1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) within cells has become a critical research area because DAG plays a central role in membrane synthesis, energy storage, and signal transduction. Quantitatively, the most important phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and, indirectly, phosphatidylserine) are all derived from DAG. It is also the precursor of triacylglycerol, the major storage form of energy in all cells. DAG is an important intracellular second messenger, mediating the actions of numerous cytokines, drugs, and hormones by activating protein kinase C (PKC). Other roles for DAG are suggested in the chapter. It promotes actin nucleation in Dictyostelium discoideum , regulates enzymes such as cytidylyltransferase and monoacylglycerol acyltransferase, and increases the potential for membrane fusion. The metabolism of DAG includes the use of DAG as a substrate for the synthesis of complex glycerolipids, as well as the recycling or hydrolysis of DAG. This chapter examines DAG formation, use, and metabolism.
A regulatory perspective on validation of surrogate endpoints

The use of biomarkers as surrogate endpoints has had a dramatic and powerful impact on health care and the development and accessibility of drugs. For example, cholesterol is a biomarker used in many clinical trials of cardiovascular drugs such as “statins” where cholesterol reduction is used as a surrogate endpoint for reduced mortality. Although much progress had already been made over the past 20 years—especially in terms of the very real benefits surrogate endpoints have made to efficient medical product development and patient care—the industry faces a host of future challenges as the use of biomarkers and surrogate endpoints play a more integral role in the advancement of new medicines along the critical path of drug development. During the 41st DIA Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, Dr. Lawrence Lesko from the Office of Clinical Pharmacology at the Food and Drug Administration presented a discussion on the challenges associated with the validation of surrogate endpoints, highlighting progress to date as well as future objectives.
Factors Identifying Risk for Psychological Distress in the Civilian Trauma Population

Objectives: The emergency department (ED) is a valuable setting to initiate intervention to prevent future complications following traumatic injury. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in 10% to 40% of patients after single-incident civilian trauma. Prior research suggests that young age is associated with increased risk. We hypothesized that other factors correlated with age may be responsible. The aim of this study was to determine if factors identifiable in the ED can better explain the relationship between younger age and PTSD, therefore more specifically identifying those at risk for long-term distress. Methods: The influence of age on PTSD severity scores was isolated using data from an established screening program for all admitted trauma patients at a Level I trauma center. The PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCLC) was administered prospectively to 527 adult trauma patients to measure PTSD symptom severity immediately posttrauma. Patient and trauma characteristics were then reviewed using medical records. Hierarchical linear regression modeled and evaluated the independent association of age with PTSD symptom severity and explored additional variables as better predictors of risk. Results: PTSD symptom severity was associated individually with younger age, ethnic minority status, assaultive trauma, unemployment, low household income, and being unmarried, but not with sex, Injury Severity Score (ISS), or Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at the scene. Multivariate analysis demonstrated assaultive trauma and lower socioeconomic status (SES) were best associated with greater PCLC scores, accounting for 9.3% of the variance. Age did not account for additional variance. Conclusions: Although young age is associated with increased PTSD symptom severity scores, characteristics associated with young age, specifically assaultive trauma and low SES, account for this risk. Young age is not an independent risk factor for PTSD. Psychological assessment in the ED can be targeted toward assaultive trauma patients, especially those of low SES, to establish early intervention and hopefully prevent the development of PTSD. Language: en
Using the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative Data to conduct a genome-wide association study of sleep duration.

Sleep is critical to health and functionality, and several studies have investigated the inherited component of insomnia and other sleep disorders using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, genome-wide studies focused on sleep duration are less common. Here, we used data from participants in the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative (CPMC) (n = 4,401) to examine putative associations between self-reported sleep duration, demographic and lifestyle variables, and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data to better understand genetic contributions to variation in sleep duration. We employed stepwise ordered logistic regression to select our model and retained the following predictive variables: age, gender, weight, physical activity, physical activity at work, smoking status, alcohol consumption, ethnicity, and ancestry (as measured by principal components analysis) in our association testing. Several of our strongest candidate genes were previously identified in GWAS related to sleep duration (TSHZ2, ABCC9, FBXO15) and narcolepsy (NFATC2, SALL4). In addition, we have identified novel candidate genes for involvement in sleep duration including SORCS1 and ELOVL2. Our results demonstrate that the self-reported data collected through the CPMC are robust, and our genome-wide association analysis has identified novel candidate genes involved in sleep duration. More generally, this study contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of human sleep.
Induced seismicity associated with fluid injection into a deep well in Youngstown, Ohio

[1] Over 109 small earthquakes (Mw 0.4–3.9) were detected during January 2011 to February 2012 in the Youngstown, Ohio area, where there were no known earthquakes in the past. These shocks were close to a deep fluid injection well. The 14 month seismicity included six felt earthquakes and culminated with a Mw 3.9 shock on 31 December 2011. Among the 109 shocks, 12 events greater than Mw 1.8 were detected by regional network and accurately relocated, whereas 97 small earthquakes (0.4 < Mw < 1.8) were detected by the waveform correlation detector. Accurately located earthquakes were along a subsurface fault trending ENE-WSW—consistent with the focal mechanism of the main shock and occurred at depths 3.5–4.0 km in the Precambrian basement. We conclude that the recent earthquakes in Youngstown, Ohio were induced by the fluid injection at a deep injection well due to increased pore pressure along the preexisting subsurface faults located close to the wellbore. We found that the seismicity initiated at the eastern end of the subsurface fault—close to the injection point, and migrated toward the west—away from the wellbore, indicating that the expanding high fluid pressure front increased the pore pressure along its path and progressively triggered the earthquakes. We observe that several periods of quiescence of seismicity follow the minima in injection volumes and pressure, which may indicate that the earthquakes were directly caused by the pressure buildup and stopped when pressure dropped.
Brain cell number and motor activity in rats subjected to neonatal undernutrition

Abstract Rat pups were undernourished until weaning by raising them in oversized litters. After weaning they were fed ad lib . Control subjects were raised in normal-sized litters and fed ad lib . After weaning. They were all examined between 4 and 5 weeks of age in 3 behavioral tests, measuring various aspects of motor capabilities: orienting locomotor activity, rotarod performance, and activity wheel running. Following the completion of behavioral studies the animals were sacrificed and cerebral and cerebellar DNA (cell number) were assayed. Comparisons between control and undernourished groups revealed significant reduction in body weights in the undernourished subjects, both at weaning and at the time of behavioral testing. Cerebral and cerebellar DNA were reduced in the undernourished rats as compared to controls. No difference was noted between the groups in rotarod performance or activity wheel running. The orienting locomotor activity, however, was greater in controls than in undernourished subjects. When these one-hour activity counts were divided into periods, the early counts did not differ between groups, while the counts late in the hour were significantly less in the undernourished animals. Thus, while the high counts of the initial orienting response were unaffected by the state of nutrition, the decay with habituation occurred at a more rapid rate in the rats that were poorly nourished. Cerebellar levels of DNA were found to correlate with locomotor activity counts, but cerebral DNA levels did not. The findings suggest that cerebellar underdevelopment can influence behavior in subtle ways not clearly associated with deficiencies in control of skeletal muscle tone or coordination.
Angle-resolved photoemission study of oxygen chemisorption on Gd(0001)

Abstract The initial stages of oxidation and the electronic structure of chemisorbed oxygen on Gd(0001) thin films have been studied by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. Dissociative chemisorption of oxygen occurs with initial exposures and is followed by formation of a more complex surface oxide of Gd. The symmetry of oxygen-induced states has been identified. Initial oxygen chemisorption occurs through bonding to the Gd(0001) surface via the px,y derived oxygen states. The surface work function decreases with initial oxygen adsorption. The electronic structure induced by oxygen and the work function change indicate that the chemisorbed oxygen layer is below the plane of the Gd(0001) surface layer.
POSTPARTUM HYPOGONADOTROPHINISM: EVIDENCE FOR INCREASED OPIOID INHIBITION

To investigate a proposed role for endogenous opioids in the inhibition of LH:RH-gonadotrophin release in the postpartum hypogonadotrophic state, LH and FSH responses to naloxone infusion (1.6 mg/h for 2 h) and to a pulse of LHRH (10 micrograms) were measured in five non breast-feeding women. Sequential studies were made at four intervals during the first 25 d postpartum. LH and FSH responses to naloxone were absent on Day 10 postpartum, but significant increments were observed in all studies performed between Days 13-25 postpartum. The relative increments of FSH and LH during naloxone varied as the puerperium progressed; a 3-fold greater release of FSH than LH was found on Day 13 to 15 while the reverse was observed on Day 25. The intermediate days (17-20) yield an equal response. There was a positive linear correlation between the LH and FSH responses to naloxone infusion and to LHRH. These data suggest that the hypogonadotrophinism of the puerperium is due at least in part to increased opioid inhibition of LHRH secretion.
Supercharging Your Creative Skills

The author discusses advanced techniques for unleashing the creative self through subconscious and superconscious awarenesses. He discusses brain waves, the hypnogogic state, and two powerful creativity tools known as lucid dreaming and image streaming.