cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Myocardin-Related Transcription Factor A Promotes Recruitment of ITGA5+ Profibrotic Progenitors during Obesity-Induced Adipose Tissue Fibrosis.

Summary Adipose tissue fibrosis is associated with inflammation and insulin resistance in human obesity. In particular, visceral fat fibrosis is correlated with hyperlipidemia and ectopic fat accumulation. Myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTFA) is an important coactivator that mediates the transcription of extracellular matrix and other fibrogenic genes. Here, we examine the role of MRTFA in the development of adipose tissue fibrosis and identify a signaling pathway that regulates the fate of vascular progenitors. We demonstrate that obesity induces the formation of Sca1−, Sma+, ITGA5+ fibrogenic progenitor cells (FPCs) in adipose tissue. MRTFA deficiency in mice shifts the fate of perivascular progenitors from FPCs to adipocyte precursor cells and protects against chronic obesity-induced fibrosis and accompanying metabolic dysfunction, without a shift in energy expenditure. Our findings highlight the ITGA5-MRTFA pathway as a potential target to ameliorate obesity-associated metabolic disease.
Low-Energy Deep Belief Networks Using Intrinsic Sigmoidal Spintronic-based Probabilistic Neurons

A low-energy hardware implementation of deep belief network (DBN) architecture is developed using near-zero energy barrier probabilistic spin logic devices (p-bits), which are modeled to realize an intrinsic sigmoidal activation function. A CMOS/spin based weighted array structure is designed to implement a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM). Device-level simulations based on precise physics relations are used to validate the sigmoidal relation between the output probability of a p-bit and its input currents. Characteristics of the resistive networks and p-bits are modeled in SPICE to perform a circuit-level simulation investigating the performance, area, and power consumption tradeoffs of the weighted array. In the application-level simulation, a DBN is implemented in MATLAB for digit recognition using the extracted device and circuit behavioral models. The MNIST data set is used to assess the accuracy of the DBN using 5,000 training images for five distinct network topologies. The results indicate that a baseline error rate of 36.8% for a 784x10 DBN trained by 100 samples can be reduced to only 3.7% using a 784x800x800x10 DBN trained by 5,000 input samples. Finally, Power dissipation and accuracy tradeoffs for probabilistic computing mechanisms using resistive devices are identified.
Whether and How Authentic Contexts Using a Virtual Chemistry Lab Support Learning

How can we help students develop an understanding of chemistry that integrates conceptual knowledge with the experimental and computational procedures needed to apply chemistry in authentic contexts? The current work describes ChemVLab+, a set of online chemistry activities that were developed using promising design principles from chemistry education and learning science research: setting instruction in authentic contexts, connecting concepts with science practices, linking multiple representations, and using formative assessment with feedback. A study with more than 1400 high school students found that students using the online activities demonstrated increased learning as evidenced by improved problem solving and inquiry over the course of the activities and by statistically significant improvements from pre- to posttest. Further, exploratory analyses suggest that students may learn most effectively from these materials when the activities are used after initial exposure to the content and when they wo...
Slytherin: Dynamic, Network-Assisted Prioritization of Tail Packets in Datacenter Networks

Datacenter applications demand both low latency and high throughput; while interactive applications (e.g., WebSearch) demand low tail latency for their short messages due to their partition-aggregate software architecture, many data-intensive applications (e.g., Map-Reduce) require high throughput for long flows as they move vast amounts of data across the network. Recent proposals improve latency of short flows and throughput of long flows by addressing the shortcomings of existing packet scheduling and congestion control algorithms, respectively. We make the key observation that long tails in theFlow Completion Times (FCT) of short flows result from packetsthat suffer congestion at more than one switch along their paths in the network. Our proposal,Slytherin, specifically targets packets that suffered from congestion at multiple points and prioritizes them in the network. Slytherin leverages ECN mechanism which iswidely used in existing datacenters to identify such tail packets and dynamically prioritizes them using existing priority queues. As compared to existing state-of-the-art packet scheduling proposals, Slytherin achieves 18.6% lower 99th percentile flow completion times for short flows without any loss of throughput. Further, Slytherin drastically reduces 99th percentile queue length in switches by a factor of about 2x on average.
Does Time of Day Affect Variety-Seeking?

Variety-seeking is a fundamental aspect of choice. But given circadian rhythms in chronobiology, might variety-seeking vary by time of day? Four studies, including an empirical analysis of millions of purchases, demonstrate diurnal variation in variety-seeking. Variety-seeking is lower in the morning than other times of day. People pick less varied flavors of yogurt, for example, when choosing in the morning. Further, the results demonstrate the underlying role of circadian changes in physiological stimulation and arousal. The effect is mediated by a physiological measure of arousal (i.e., body temperature) and moderated by factors that shape physiological arousal (i.e., sunlight and individual differences in circadian preferences). These findings shed light on drivers of variety-seeking and the biological basis of consumer behavior more generally.
Abbreviated dignity therapy for adults with advanced-stage cancer and their family caregivers: Qualitative analysis of a pilot study.

Objective Dignity therapy (DT) is designed to address psychological and existential challenges that terminally ill individuals face. DT guides patients in developing a written legacy project in which they record and share important memories and messages with those they will leave behind. DT has been demonstrated to ease existential concerns for adults with advanced-stage cancer; however, lack of institutional resources limits wide implementation of DT in clinical practice. This study explores qualitative outcomes of an abbreviated, less resource-intensive version of DT among participants with advanced-stage cancer and their legacy project recipients. Method Qualitative methods were used to analyze postintervention interviews with 11 participants and their legacy recipients as well as the created legacy projects. Direct content analysis was used to assess feedback from the interviews about benefits, barriers, and recommendations regarding abbreviated DT. The legacy projects were coded for expression of core values.ResultFindings suggest that abbreviated DT effectively promotes (1) self-expression, (2) connection with loved ones, (3) sense of purpose, and (4) continuity of self. Participants observed that leading the development of their legacy projects promoted independent reflection, autonomy, and opportunities for family interaction when reviewing and discussing the projects. Consistent with traditional DT, participants expressed "family" as the most common core value in their legacy projects. Expression of "autonomy" was also a notable finding.Significance of resultsAbbreviated DT reduces resource barriers to conducting traditional DT while promoting similar benefits for participants and recipients, making it a promising adaptation warranting further research. The importance that patients place on family and autonomy should be honored as much as possible by those caring for adults with advanced-stage cancer.
Clinical and Hemodynamic Correlates in Pulmonary Embolism

The clinical presentation of pulmonary embolism may be dominated by manifestations of pulmonary infarction or by the signs and symptoms of an acute hemodynamic disturbance. Most often, some manifestation is present along with hemodynamic abnormalities, which may range from shock or cardiac arrest to tachycardia.
Newton's financial misadventures in the South Sea Bubble

A very popular investment anecdote relates how Isaac Newton, after cashing in large early gains, staked his fortune on the success of the South Sea Company of 1720 and lost heavily in the ensuing c...
Introgression of regulatory alleles and a missense coding mutation drive plumage pattern diversity in the rock pigeon

Birds and other vertebrates display stunning variation in pigmentation patterning, yet the genes controlling this diversity remain largely unknown. Rock pigeons (Columba livia) are fundamentally one of four color pattern phenotypes, in decreasing order of melanism: T-check, checker, bar (ancestral), or barless. Using whole-genome scans, we identified NDP as a candidate gene for this variation. Allele-specific expression differences in NDP indicate cis-regulatory divergence between ancestral and melanistic alleles. Sequence comparisons suggest that derived alleles originated in the speckled pigeon (Columba guinea), providing a striking example of introgression. In contrast, barless rock pigeons have an increased incidence of vision defects and, like human families with hereditary blindness, carry start-codon mutations in NDP. In summary, we find that both coding and regulatory variation in the same gene drives wing pattern diversity, and post-domestication introgression supplied potentially advantageous melanistic alleles to feral populations of this ubiquitous urban bird.
Sequential Sampling for Optimal Bayesian Classification of Sequencing Count Data

High throughput technologies have become the practice of choice for comparative studies in biomedical applications. Limited number of sample points due to sequencing cost or access to organisms of interest necessitates the development of efficient sample collections to maximize the power of downstream statistical analyses. We propose a method for sequentially choosing training samples under the Optimal Bayesian Classification framework. Specifically designed for RNA sequencing count data, the proposed method takes advantage of efficient Gibbs sampling procedure with closed-form updates. Our results shows enhanced classification accuracy, when compared to random sampling.
Electromagnetic and Axial Current Form Factors and Spectroscopy of Three-Flavor Holographic Baryons

We present an analysis of the three-flavor holographic model of QCD associated to a $D4/D8$ brane configuration, with symmetry breaking induced by a world sheet instanton associated to a closed loop connecting $D4\ensuremath{-}D8\ensuremath{-}D6\ensuremath{-}\overline{D8}$. We calculate the electromagnetic and axial couplings of all octet and decuplet baryons, as well as several negative parity excitations, with and without symmetry breaking effects, and demonstrate qualitative and quantitative agreement with many available experimental measurements, with marked improvement over the analogous two-flavor models.
Does When You Die Depend on Where You Live? Evidence from Hurricane Katrina

We follow Medicare cohorts to estimate Hurricane Katrina’s long-run mortality effects on victims initially living in New Orleans. Including the initial shock, the hurricane improved eight-year survival by 2.07 percentage points. Migration to lower-mortality regions explains most of this survival increase. Those migrating to low-versus high-mortality regions look similar at baseline, but their subsequent mortality is 0.83–1.01 percentage points lower per percentage point reduction in local mortality, quantifying causal effects of place on mortality among this population. Migrants’ mortality is also lower in destinations with healthier behaviors and higher incomes but is unrelated to local medical spending and quality.
Detecting Link and Landing Page Misalignment in Marketing Emails

Links and their landing pages in the World Wide Web are oftentimes flawed or irrelevant. We created a data set of 4266 links within 160 marketing emails whose relevance with landing pages have been evaluated by crowd workers. We present a study of common misalignments and propose methods for detecting these misalignments. An F-score of 0.63 can be achieved by a neural network for cases where the misaligned label requires the majority out of 5 crowd worker votes.
The Spread of Deposit Insurance and the Global Rise in Bank Asset Risk since the 1970s

ABSTRACT We construct a new measure of deposit insurance generosity for many countries, empirically model the exogenous international influences on the adoption and generosity of deposit insurance and use a novel econometric method to explore the causal chain from the expansion of deposit insurance generosity to increased overall lending, increased lending to households, increased banking system leverage, and more severe and frequent banking crises. Greater deposit insurance generosity robustly produces greater overall lending relative to bank assets and more lending to households relative to both bank assets and GDP, and results in higher banking system leverage. Our estimates, however, are not conclusive regarding whether greater deposit insurance generosity resulted in greater total loans relative to GDP or in more frequent or severe banking crises.
Bad-metal relaxation dynamics in a Fermi lattice gas

Electrical current in conventional metals is carried by electrons that retain their individual character. Bad metals, such as the normal state of some high-temperature superconductors, violate this scenario, and the complete picture for their behavior remains unresolved. Here, we report phenomena consistent with bad-metal behaviour in an optical-lattice Hubbard model by measuring the transport lifetime for a mass current excited by stimulated Raman transitions. We demonstrate incompatibility with weak-scattering theory and key characteristics of bad metals: anomalous resistivity scaling consistent with T-linear behavior, the onset of incoherent transport, and the approach to the Mott–Ioffe–Regel limit. Our work demonstrates a direct method for determining the transport lifetime, which is critical to theory but difficult to measure in materials, and exposes minimal ingredients for bad-metal behavior. The origin of bad-metal resistivity is a long-standing problem for condensed matter physics. Here the authors show anomalous resistivity, transport lifetime, and relaxation dynamics consistent with bad-metal behavior over a wide range of temperature for fermionic potassium atoms in optical lattices.
Turbulent action at a distance due to stellar feedback in magnetized clouds

A fundamental property of molecular clouds is that they are turbulent1, but how this turbulence is generated and maintained is unknown. One possibility is that stars forming within the cloud regenerate turbulence via their outflows, winds and radiation (‘feedback’)2. However, disentangling motions created by feedback from the initial cloud turbulence is challenging. Here, we confront the relationship between stellar feedback and turbulence by identifying and separating the local and global impact of stellar winds. We analyse magnetohydrodynamic simulations in which we track wind material as it interacts with the ambient cloud. By distinguishing between launched material, gas entrained by the wind and pristine gas we show energy is transferred away from the sources via magnetic waves excited by the expanding wind shells. This action at a distance enhances the fraction of stirring motion compared with compressing motion and produces a flatter velocity power spectrum. We conclude that stellar feedback accounts for significant energy transfer within molecular clouds—an impact enhanced by magnetic waves, which have previously been neglected by observations. Overall, stellar feedback can partially offset global turbulence dissipation. The mechanisms that sustain turbulence in a molecular cloud are not well understood. Using magnetohydrodynamic simulations, the effects of stellar winds on a cloud are studied, finding that energy can be efficiently transferred in magnetic waves generated by this stellar ‘feedback’.
Change, Creation, and Unpredictability in Statutory Interpretation: Interpretive Canon Use in the Roberts Court's First Decade

In resolving questions of statutory meaning, the lion’s share of Roberts Court opinions considers and applies at least one interpretive canon, whether the rule against surplusage or the presumption against state law preemption. This is part of a decades-long turn toward textualist statutory interpretation in the Supreme Court. Commentators have debated how to justify canons, since they are judicially-created rules that reside outside the statutory text. Earlier studies have cast substantial doubt on whether these canons can be justified as capturing congressional practices or preferences; commentators have accordingly turned toward second-order justifications, arguing that canons usefully make interpretation constrained and predictable, supplying Congress with a stable interpretive background. Based on an extensive study tracking the use of over 30 interpretive canons in the first 10 years of the Roberts Court, this article attempts to contribute evidence to the debate over canons. The data raise substantial questions regarding stability and predictability. Despite a long tradition of use, some canons have essentially disappeared; meanwhile, the Court is creating others out of whole cloth. In addition, application is erratic. The Justices decline to apply even the most widely engaged canons 20-30% or more of the time, often for difficult-to-anticipate reasons; some well-known canons, such as the rule of lenity and the presumption against preemption, are applied little better than 50-50. The story is worse in the many cases in which multiple canons are considered. Based on these and other findings, this article accordingly argues that predictability and stability arguments cannot supply a firm foundation for canon use. The study also reveals troubling mismatches between canons actually in use and congressional staff acceptance of canons. The article concludes by suggesting some future directions for investigation and reform.
Radical factorization in commutative rings, monoids and multiplicative lattices

In this paper we study the concept of radical factorization in the context of abstract ideal theory in order to obtain a unified approach to the theory of factorization into radical ideals and elements in the literature of commutative rings, monoids and ideal systems. Using this approach we derive new characterizations of classes of rings whose ideals are a product of radical ideals, and we obtain also similar characterizations for classes of ideal systems in monoids and star ideals in integral domains.
GOSSEZ'S SKEW LINEAR MAP AND ITS PATHOLOGICAL MAXIMALLY MONOTONE MULTIFUNCTIONS

In this note, we give a generalization of Gossez's example of a maximally monotone multifunction such that the closure of its range is not convex, using more elementary techniques than in Gossez's original papers. We also discuss some new properties of Gossez's skew linear operator and its adjoint. While most of this paper uses elementary functional analysis, we correlate our results with those obtained by using the Stone-Cech compactification of the integers.
“Fixed Star” or Twin Star?: The Ambiguity of Barnette

Written for a conference on “Barnette at 75," this essay argues that West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette addressed the fundamental challenge for modern societies– how to deal with pluralism. In response to that challenge, the case attempted to describe “the fixed star in our constellation.” But what was that “fixed star”? Two main interpretations have developed; these can be called “the neutrality interpretation” and “the integrity interpretation.” The essay argues that despite its widespread appeal, the neutrality interpretation is untenable; conversely, the integrity interpretation captures a fundamental commitment of the American constitutional project. And, as it happens, that commitment is particularly timely, albeit embattled, in our own circumstances, as the debate surrounding the Masterpiece Cakeshop controversy reflects.
Folded symplectic toric four-manifolds

We show that two orientable, four-dimensional folded symplectic toric manifolds are isomorphic provided that their orbit spaces have trivial degree-two integral cohomology and there exists a diffeomorphism of the orbit spaces (as manifolds with corners) preserving orbital moment maps.
Birthweight and feeding practices are associated with child growth outcomes in South Asia

Although there has been a focus on preventing stunting over the past decade, wasting has received less policy and programmatic attention. Recent national surveys from six South Asian countries were pooled to generate a dataset of 62,509 children aged 0 to 59 months to explore associations between low birthweight (LBW) and suboptimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices with child wasting, severe wasting, and the co-occurrence of wasting and stunting. Logistic regression models accounted for the surveys' clustered designs and adjusted for a potential confounding factors. Children with reported LBW had significantly higher odds of being wasted (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 1.60 [1.45, 1.76]) or severely wasted (1.57 [1.34, 1.83]), compared with non-LBW children. Similarly, children aged 0 to 23 months who were not breastfed within the first hour post-partum, those who were provided prelacteal feeds, and those aged 0 to 5 months who were not exclusively breastfed, were more likely to be wasted (P < 0.05 for all three feeding practices). In India, not achieving minimum diet diversity and minimum adequate diet were significantly associated with the co-occurrence of stunting and wasting. In other words, many key domains of concern to development agents who seek to address stunting are also of direct concern to those focused on wasting. The co-occurrence of wasting and stunting requires more integrated interventions. That is, programmes aimed at preventing LBW and poor IYCF to avert stunting should be linked more effectively with actions aimed at the management of wasting.
Towards a Neurocognitive Model of Visual Perception.

Natural and artificial vision systems differ considerably in their underlying hardware and their method of information processing. Nevertheless, biological concepts are relevant, adaptable and useful in solving hard computer vision problems. This paper presents a biologically-inspired active vision framework that emulates early visual processing at the neuronal level to accomplish a range of visual tasks. Its emergent behavior is found to be qualitatively similar to humans in certain contexts, and performance is shown to be comparable to computer vision algorithms on a saliency detection task. A neurocognitive model of visual perception based on this framework is motivated.
Osteoporosis in Men

To many in the general public and in the health-care field as well, osteoporosis is a disorder of older white women. For example, advertising of osteoporosis treatments aimed at consumers always features postmenopausal women. Most studies of osteoporosis in the medical literature have focused on postmenopausal women. Then why devote a chapter to osteoporosis in men? The answer is that while men have fewer fractures than women and the fractures usually occur about 10 years later in life, morbidity and mortality outcomes are worse in men than women. Almost 30% of osteoporotic fractures occur in men (1), resulting in a considerable economic burden. There are gender differences in the causes of osteoporosis, and more studies are now providing insight into osteoporosis in men. Thus, the purpose of this chapter is to review what we know about the epidemiology and pathophysiology of osteoporosis in men and provide, before evidence-based guidelines are established, some framework for evaluation and treatment.
On the dimensionality of word embedding

In this paper, we provide a theoretical understanding of word embedding and its dimensionality. Motivated by the unitary-invariance of word embedding, we propose the Pairwise Inner Product (PIP) loss, a novel metric on the dissimilarity between word embeddings. Using techniques from matrix perturbation theory, we reveal a fundamental bias-variance trade-off in dimensionality selection for word embeddings. This bias-variance trade-off sheds light on many empirical observations which were previously unexplained, for example the existence of an optimal dimensionality. Moreover, new insights and discoveries, like when and how word embeddings are robust to over-fitting, are revealed. By optimizing over the bias-variance trade-off of the PIP loss, we can explicitly answer the open question of dimensionality selection for word embedding.
Chapter 2 – The Regulatory Environment

Considerable time is devoted to discussing the prenotification and disclosure requirements of current legislation and how decisions are made within the key securities law and antitrust enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the implications of the Dodd–Frank bill passed in 2010 are discussed. This chapter provides only an overview of the labyrinth of environmental, labor, benefit, and foreign (for cross-border transactions) laws affecting mergers and acquisitions (M&As).
How Elastic is the Demand for Tax Havens? Evidence from the US Possessions Corporations Tax Credit

Why do some firms adopt certain tax havens, and how sensitive is the demand for tax havens? We address these questions by studying how the repeal of section 936 tax credits affected firms with affiliates in Puerto Rico. We first describe the characteristics of US multinationals that were exposed to section 936. We then show that the market value of exposed firms decreased after losing access to section 936, implying that firms could not perfectly substitute to other tax havens. Finally, we find that firms exposed to section 936 did not respond by expanding their network of tax havens.
Ordinal Regression Models

Regression models for ordinal data have been developed based upon the cumulative probabilities for the categories of response variable. One of the most frequently used ordinal regression model is the ordinal logistic model, a member of the family of generalized linear models. Keywords: logistic regression; ordinal variable; regression coefficient; odds ratio
Real Option Exercise: Empirical Evidence

We study when and why firms exercise real options. Using detailed project-level investment data, we find that the likelihood that a firm exercises a real option is strongly related to peer exercise behavior. Peer exercise decisions are as important in explaining exercise behavior as variables commonly associated with standard real option theories, such as volatility. We identify peer effects using localized exogenous variation in peer project exercise decisions and find evidence consistent with information externalities being important for exercise behavior. (JEL G30, G31, G32)
Oil price shocks and the equity market: Evidence for the S&P 500 sectoral indices

Abstract Using monthly returns of ten S&P 500 sectoral indices from January 1990 to January 2015, I examine the impact of demand and supply shocks of oil on the stock market. I confirm that positive shocks to U.S. production of oil and economic activity have a significant and positive influence on stock returns. Moreover, the negative and persistent effect of real oil price shocks on all sectoral indices except energy and utility found by this study. I also examine the impact of oil price volatility on stock returns. Oil price volatility has a negative and significant effect on all industries, even oil-related and oil substitutes. In addition, I get the VAR estimations for the crisis period and find that there is a substantial increase in the role of oil price shocks in the decomposition of stock returns of all sectors. Furthermore, stock returns are better explained by U.S. oil production shocks than other shocks in most sectors over the financial crisis time period. In addition, I find the asymmetric effects of oil shocks are applicable to only two out of ten sectors, implying the effect of oil price return on equity returns only in the energy and utility sectors are not asymmetric.
The Medicaid Expansion and Attitudes toward the Affordable Care Act: Testing for a Policy Feedback on Mass Opinion

Enacted in 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has reshaped U.S. health policy. Yet overall opinions on the law remained relatively stable during the few years before and after enactment. In a polarized era, can the implementation of a complex program such as the ACA influence public opinion through a policy feedback? Research on policy feedbacks and self-interest provide competing expectations. To address that question, we consider the impact of the Medicaid expansion which took place in select states. Using differences-in-differences estimation and 2010-2017 surveys of more than 51,000 non-elderly American adults, we show that the Medicaid expansion made low-income Americans on average 4.4 percentage points more favorable toward the ACA (SD=1.7) relative to those in non-expansion states. Given that we find no such effect for high-income respondents, these results are consistent with an impact via self-interest and with a policy feedback on public opinion.
Reductions Do Not Preserve Fast Convergence Rates in Average Time

Cai and Selman [CS] proposed the following definition for measuring average computation time: A time function t is T on average over a distribution μ if, for all $ n \geq 1 $ , $ \sum_{|x|\geq n}T^{-1}(t(x))|x|^{-1}\mu (x) \leq W_n $ , where $ W_n = \mu (\{ x : |x| \geq n\} ) $ . This definition results in a modification of Levin's notion of average time [L]. The effect of the modification is to control the rate of convergence of the expressions that define average computation time. With this modification, they proved a hierarchy theorem for average-time complexity that is as tight as the Hartmanis—Stearns [HS] hierarchy theorem for worst-case deterministic time. They also proved that under a fairly reasonable condition on distributions, called condition W, a distributional problem is solvable in average polynomial time under the modification exactly when it is solvable in average polynomial time under Levin's definition. Various notions of reductions, as defined by Levin [L] and others, play a central role in the study of average-case complexity. However, the class of distributional problems that are solvable in average polynomial time under the modification is not closed under the standard reductions. In particular, we prove that there is a distributional problem that is not solvable in average polynomial time under the modification but is reducible, by the identity function, to a distributional problem that is, and whose distribution even satisfies condition W.
Why the Tsirelson Bound? Bub’s Question and Fuchs’ Desideratum

To answer Wheeler’s question “Why the quantum?” via quantum information theory according to Bub, one must explain both why the world is quantum rather than classical and why the world is quantum rather than superquantum, i.e., “Why the Tsirelson bound?” We show that the quantum correlations and quantum states corresponding to the Bell basis states, which uniquely produce the Tsirelson bound for the Clauser–Horne–Shimony–Holt (CHSH) quantity, can be derived from conservation per no preferred reference frame (NPRF). A reference frame in this context is defined by a measurement configuration, just as with the light postulate of special relativity. We therefore argue that the Tsirelson bound is ultimately based on NPRF just as the postulates of special relativity. This constraint-based/principle answer to Bub’s question addresses Fuchs’ desideratum that we “take the structure of quantum theory and change it from this very overt mathematical speak ... into something like [special relativity].” Thus, the answer to Bub’s question per Fuchs’ desideratum is, “the Tsirelson bound obtains due to conservation per NPRF”.
Continual Learning in a Multi-Layer Network of an Electric Fish

Summary Distributing learning across multiple layers has proven extremely powerful in artificial neural networks. However, little is known about how multi-layer learning is implemented in the brain. Here, we provide an account of learning across multiple processing layers in the electrosensory lobe (ELL) of mormyrid fish and report how it solves problems well known from machine learning. Because the ELL operates and learns continuously, it must reconcile learning and signaling functions without switching its mode of operation. We show that this is accomplished through a functional compartmentalization within intermediate layer neurons in which inputs driving learning differentially affect dendritic and axonal spikes. We also find that connectivity based on learning rather than sensory response selectivity assures that plasticity at synapses onto intermediate-layer neurons is matched to the requirements of output neurons. The mechanisms we uncover have relevance to learning in the cerebellum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex, as well as in artificial systems.
Cancer History, Health Insurance Coverage, and Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence and Medication Cost-Coping Strategies in the United States.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the relationship between cancer history and cost-related medication nonadherence (CRN) as well as cost-coping strategies, by health insurance coverage. Methods We used the 2013 to 2016 National Health Interview Survey to identify adults aged 18 to 64 years with (n = 3599) and without (n = 56 909) a cancer history. Cost-related changes in medication use included (1) CRN, measured as skipping, taking less, or delaying medication because of cost, and (2) cost-coping strategies, measured as requesting lower cost medication or using alternative therapies to save money. Separate multivariable logistic regressions were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of CRN and cost-coping strategies associated with cancer history, stratified by insurance. Results Cancer survivors were more likely than adults without a cancer history to report CRN (AOR 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.43) and cost-coping strategies (AOR 1.10; 95% CI 0.99-1.19). Among the privately insured, the difference in CRN by cancer history was the greatest among those enrolled in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) without health savings accounts (HSAs) (AOR 1.78; 95% CI 1.30-2.44). Among adults with HDHP and HSA, cancer survivors were less likely to report cost-coping strategies (AOR 0.62; 95% CI 0.42-0.90). Regardless of cancer history, CRN and cost-coping strategies were the highest for those uninsured, enrolled in HDHP without HSA, and without prescription drug coverage under their health plan (all P Conclusions Cancer survivors are prone to CRN and more likely to use cost-coping strategies. Expanding options for health insurance coverage, use of HSAs for those with HDHP, and enhanced prescription drug coverage may effectively address CRN.
An analysis of malpractice litigation in the surgical management of carotid artery disease.

Objective Carotid artery disease is a common illness that can pose a significant risk if left untreated. Treatment via carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) can also lead to complications. Given the risk of adverse events related to treating, or failing to treat, carotid artery disease, this is a possible area for litigation. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the medicolegal factors involved in treating patients suffering carotid artery disease and to compare litigation related to CEA and CAS. Methods Three large legal databases were used to search for jury verdicts and settlements in cases related to untreated carotid artery disease, CEA, and CAS. Search terms included "endarterectomy," "medical malpractice," "carotid," "stenosis," "stenting," "stent," and combinations of those words. Three types of cases were considered relevant: 1) cases in which the primary allegation was negligence performing a CEA or perioperative care (CEA-related cases); 2) cases in which the primary allegation was negligence performing a CAS or perioperative care (CAS-related cases); and 3) cases in which the plaintiff alleged that a CEA or CAS should have been performed (failure-to-treat [FTT] cases). Results One hundred fifty-four CEA-related cases, 3 CAS-related cases, and 67 FTT cases were identified. Cases resulted in 133 verdicts for the defense (59%), 64 settlements (29%), and 27 plaintiff verdicts (12%). The average payout in cases that were settled outside of court was $1,097,430 and the average payout in cases that went to trial and resulted in a plaintiff verdict was $2,438,253. Common allegations included a failure to diagnose and treat carotid artery disease in a timely manner, treating with inappropriate indications, procedural error, negligent postprocedural management, and lack of informed consent. Allegations of a failure to timely treat known carotid artery disease were likely to lead to a payout (60% of cases involved a payout). Allegations of procedural error, specifically where the resultant injury was nerve injury, were relatively less likely to lead to a payout (28% of cases involved a payout). Conclusions Both diagnosing and treating carotid artery disease has serious medicolegal implications and risks. In cases resulting in a plaintiff verdict, the payouts were significantly higher than cases resolved outside the courtroom. Knowledge of common allegations in diagnosing and treating carotid artery disease as well as performing CEA and CAS may benefit neurosurgeons. The lack of CAS-related litigation suggests these procedures may entail a lower risk of litigation compared to CEA, even accounting for the difference in the frequency of both procedures.
Whole genome SNP typing to investigate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage in a health-care provider as the source of multiple surgical site infections

Prevention of nosocomial transmission of infections is a central responsibility in the healthcare environment, and accurate identification of transmission events presents the first challenge. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole genome sequencing provides a high-resolution approach for accurately relating isolates to one another, allowing precise identification or exclusion of transmission events and sources for nearly all cases. We sequenced 24 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) genomes to retrospectively investigate a suspected point source of three surgical site infections (SSIs) that occurred over a one-year period. The source of transmission was believed to be a surgical team member colonized with MRSA, involved in all surgeries preceding the SSI cases, who was subsequently decolonized. Genetic relatedness among isolates was determined using whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. Whole genome SNP typing (WGST) revealed 283 informative SNPs between the surgical team member’s isolate and the closest SSI isolate. The second isolate was 286 and the third was thousands of SNPs different, indicating the nasal carriage strain from the surgical team member was not the source of the SSIs. Given the mutation rates estimated for S. aureus, none of the SSI isolates share a common ancestor within the past 16 years, further discounting any common point source for these infections. The decolonization procedures and resources spent on the point source infection control could have been prevented if WGST was performed at the time of the suspected transmission, instead of retrospectively. Whole genome sequence analysis is an ideal method to exclude isolates involved in transmission events and nosocomial outbreaks, and coupling this method with epidemiological data can determine if a transmission event occurred. These methods promise to direct infection control resources more appropriately.
Aryl radical cyclizations of N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N, S-acetals

2-Ethylthiazolines react with 2-halobenzoyl chlorides to form N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,S-acetals, which undergo stereo-controlled radical cyclizations to afford (R,S,S)-3-alkyl-10-methyl-2,3,10,10a-tetrahydrothiazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-one and (R,R,S)-3-alkyl-10-methyl-2,3,10,10a-tetrahydrothiazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-one.
Quasi-periodic patterns of intrinsic brain activity in individuals and their relationship to global signal.

Quasiperiodic patterns (QPPs) as reported by Majeed et al., 2011 are prominent features of the brain's intrinsic activity that involve important large-scale networks (default mode, DMN; task positive, TPN) and are likely to be major contributors to widely used measures of functional connectivity. We examined the variability of these patterns in 470 individuals from the Human Connectome Project resting state functional MRI dataset. The QPPs from individuals can be coarsely categorized into two types: one where strong anti-correlation between the DMN and TPN is present, and another where most areas are strongly correlated. QPP type could be predicted by an individual's global signal, with lower global signal corresponding to QPPs with strong anti-correlation. After regression of global signal, all QPPs showed strong anti-correlation between DMN and TPN. QPP occurrence and type was similar between a subgroup of individuals with extremely low motion and the rest of the sample, which shows that motion is not a major contributor to the QPPs. After regression of estimates of slow respiratory and cardiac induced signal fluctuations, more QPPs showed strong anti-correlation between DMN and TPN, an indication that while physiological noise influences the QPP type, it is not the primary source of the QPP itself. QPPs were more similar for the same subjects scanned on different days than for different subjects. These results provide the first assessment of the variability in individual QPPs and their relationship to physiological parameters.
Synthesis of epibatidine

Abstract A total synthesis of racemic epibatidine, a natural product with analgesic activity, is described. Distinctly different from the previously published routes it starts from simple, known precursors, to provide the alkaloid in six steps.
Dibaryons, branes, and strings in AdS orbifold models

A generalization of the Maldacena conjecture asserts that Type IIB string theory on AdS5 × S5/Bbb Z3 is equivalent to a certain supersymmetric SU(N)3 gauge theory with bifundamental matter. To test this assertion, we analyze the wrapped branes on S5/Bbb Z3 and their interpretation in terms of gauge theory. The wrapped branes are interpreted in some cases as baryons or dibaryons of the gauge theory and in other cases as strings around which there is a global monodromy. In order to successfully match the brane analysis with field theory, we must uncover some aspects of S-duality which are novel even in the case of four-dimensional free field theory.
Addressing climate change through price and non-price interventions

Abstract Recognizing the importance of the second-best nature of economies, the Stern–Stiglitz report on carbon pricing departed from the recommendation of a single carbon price for all uses at all places and times. This paper provides some of the analytics behind these recommendations. First, I analyze the circumstances in which distributional concerns make desirable a tax or regulation inducing significant reductions in carbon usage in a carbon-intensive sector for which consumers are disproportionately rich. Such policies allow lower carbon prices elsewhere without exceeding carbon emission targets. The cost of the resulting production inefficiency may, under the identified circumstances, be less than the distributional benefits. The paper considers the circumstances in which such differential policies may be best implemented through regulation vs. differential pricing, as well as differential effects on political economy and norm setting. Second, I consider the effect of carbon price trajectories on induced innovation, providing general conditions under which the optimal carbon path should, at least eventually, be falling over time. Finally, I revisit the price-versus-quantity debate and highlight important aspects of the dynamic nature of the problem.
Transparent Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Gels: A Classification Scheme

An attempt is made to classify transparent organic/inorganic materials synthesized by the sol–gel process. The chemical structures of the hybrids are the main criteria for this classification. Three main types of organic/inorganic gels are distinguished and their basic physico-chemical characteristics are outlined. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Palladium-catalyzed bisdiene carbocyclizations: a facile [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction mode.

In contrast to alkyl-substituted bisdienes, aryl-substituted substrates undergo surprisingly facile palladium-catalyzed carbocyclization via a novel [3 + 2] cycloaddition mode.
Applications of carbene complexes toward organic synthesis

Abstract The article highlights advances in the discovery and development of reaction processes utilizing metal–carbene complexes which are useful in the field of synthetic organic chemistry. Emphasis is on reaction processes which result in the formation of carbon–carbon bonds in a reliable and efficient manner. Examples utilizing these reaction processes for the synthesis of biologically-important molecules has been noted wherever appropriate.
Reactions of perfluoro-1-chloro-2-trimethylsilylcyclobutene

Abstract The reaction of perfluoro-1,2-dichlorocyclobutene with t-butyllithium leads to replacement of Cl by Li. The lithio derivative was stable to −30°C and reaction with trimethylsilyl chloride gave perfluoro-1-chloro-2-trimethylsilylcyclobutene. The reaction of the latter with t-butyllithium leads to dehalogenation and the addition of t-butyl to form a dimeric compound. The reaction of 1-chloro-2,2,3,3-tetrafluorocyclobutene with phenyllithium followed by treatment with deuterium oxide gave perfluoro-1-phenylcyclobutene-2-d 1 , suggesting that perfluorocyclobutyne may have been an intermediate.