cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Palaeoseismicity of the Oquirrh fault, Utah from shallow seismic tomography

The magnitude and frequency of normal-fault palaeoearthquakes are usually determined by trenching studies that ascertain the size and number of colluvial wedges along the fault. Such information can be invaluable in predicting the seismic hazard and potential for a future earthquake in that region. Digging trenches across normal faults, however, is environmentally intrusive, expensive and limited in the penetration depth. To overcome these problems we propose the use of 3-D seismic tomography as a means to identify the shapes and sizes of colluvial wedges along normal faults. As an example,2-D and 3-D seismic surveys were conducted across the Oquirrh fault, Utah with the purpose of imaging the normal-fault structure to a depth of about 10 m. Results show that the 3-D tomogram clearly delineates the fault zone and a colluvial wedge, both of which correlate extremely well with the geological cross-section interpreted from an adjacent trench. The thickness of the colluvial wedge image is used in conjunction with a seismic section to compute an estimate of a 6.8 moment magnitude earthquake for the most recent event on this fault, which is in close agreement with the 7.0 estimate based on a nearby trenching study. These tomographic results demonstrate, for the first time, that seismic imaging methods can be used in some cases to estimate unambiguously the shapes of colluvial wedges and the sizes of prehistoric earthquakes. Thus, seismic tomography has the possibility of providing cheaper, deeper and wider, but less resolved, images of fault systems than the intrusive excavation of trenches across faults.
An optimal strategy for anonymous communication protocols

For many Internet applications, the ability to protect the identity of participants in a distributed applications is critical. For such applications, a number of anonymous communication systems have been realized over the recent years. The effectiveness of these systems relies greatly on the way messages are routed among the participants. (We call this the route selection strategy.) In this paper we describe how to select routes so as to maximize the ability of the anonymous communication systems to protect anonymity To measure this ability, we define a metric (anonymity degree), and we design and evaluate an optimal route selection strategy that maximizes the anonymity degree of a system. Our analytical and experimental data shows that the anonymity degree may not always monotonically increase as the length of communication paths increase. We also found that variable path-length strategies perform better than fixed-length strategies.
Does the probiotic L. casei help prevent recurrence after transurethral resection for superficial bladder cancer

A randomized clinical trial conducted in Japan compared standard intravesical epirubicin alone with epirubicin plus 1 year of oral Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota in patients who had undergone resection of intermediate-risk, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. A statistically significant ∼15% absolute reduction in long-term tumor recurrence was seen in the group that received the oral probiotic; however, as the dropout rate was nearly 3.5-fold greater in the probiotic group, and as neither the treating doctors nor their patients were blinded to the assigned treatment, uncertainty remains as to the reliability of the findings. Also unknown is whether other probiotics would provide similar results and whether these agents would provide benefits in conjunction with other intravesical chemotherapeutic drugs. At this time, while physicians should not necessarily promote the use of probiotics, neither should they discourage their patients from trying what could amount to a much-needed boost to the efficacy of conventional intravesical chemotherapy.
High-speed low-temperature-grown GaAs p-i-n traveling-wave photodetector

We report a novel type of p-i-n traveling-wave photodetector utilizing low-temperature-grown GaAs (LTG-GaAs). The devices show a record impulse response time (530-fs fullwidth at half-maximum, /spl sim/560 GHz -3-dB bandwidth) which agrees with theoretical estimates. The effects of various limiting factors on the device performance were analyzed theoretically and compared with measurements obtained by electrooptic characterization of our devices. Calculations indicate that the device speed is dominated by the short carrier lifetime. DC external quantum efficiencies as high as 8% were obtained.
CONSTRUCTING AND NATURALIZING THE MIDDLE EAST

(2010). Constructing and Naturalizing the Middle East. Geographical Review: Vol. 100, No. 4, pp. 583-597.
Roles of osmolality, calcium - Potassium antagonist and calcium in activation and flagellar beating pattern of sturgeon sperm.

Abstract The present study shows the roles of osmolality, calcium (Ca 2+ )–potassium (K + ) antagonist and Ca 2+ in sperm activation and flagellar beating of a sturgeon species, sterlet ( Acipenser ruthenus ). Sperm motility was activated at hypoosmolality relative to seminal plasma and suppressed at 175 mOsmol kg − 1 . Sperm activation was totally suppressed by 0.35 mM K + , but Ca 2+ could fully reverse K + inhibitory effect at Ca 2+ : K + ratio of 0.25. Neither EGTA (a chelator of Ca 2+ ions) nor nifedipine (a Ca 2+ channel blocker) prevented sperm activation. But, sperm motility and velocity were significantly decreased by EGTA, nifedipine and an inhibitor for Ca 2+ /calmodulin activated phosphodiesterase (w-7) that suggest role of Ca 2+ signaling after triggering sperm activation through hypoosmolality. Symmetric flagellar beating was also turned to asymmetric after activation in w-7, which is an evidence for modulation of Ca 2+ -binding proteins activity. Sturgeon sperm, similar to salmonids, is immotile in seminal plasma due to high K + concentrations, but the mechanism of sperm activation seems to be closer to other fish species where osmolality prohibits sperm activation in seminal plasma. In these species, hypoosmolality is the primary signal for sperm Ca 2+ -dependent signaling of axonemal beating.
Massive pulmonary embolism with ST-elevation in the inferior leads and other interesting ECG findings

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism is associated with many ECG findings, most of which are non-specific and most can be explained by the sudden severe increase in the right ventricular afterload leading to dysfunction, hypoperfusion, dilation and in rare very severe cases to ischemic injury. Many case reports described patients presenting with massive pulmonary embolism and very rare atypical ECG findings especially ST-segment elevation in the anteroseptal leads (V1-V4). Case presentation: We present a case of a 73-year old African American male who suffered from a massive pulmonary embolism with interesting ECG findings mainly ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads mimicking Inferior wall myocardial infarction. To our knowledge, this is the first case of ST-elevation in the inferior leads in the setting of a massive PE. Conclusion: The most likely explanation to the case is that the associated cardiac injury is multifactorial. Severe right ventricular dilation with significant increase in wall tension and oxygen consumption, sudden coronary hypoperfusion caused by the sudden drop in the right and left ventricular output, hypoxia caused by the massive PE and finally possible coronary spasm caused by hypoxia and increased right heart pressure might all have contributed to inducing the acute right ventricular ischemia which showed as ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads and an elevation in cardiac enzymes.
Hepatic teratomas in children

This report describes a hepatic teratoma in a newborn child. Microscopic examination showed a predominantly immature teratoma containing tissue representative of all three germ layers. No evidence of malignant tissue was found in the tumor, and no clinical evidence of metastasis was found in the child. A markedly elevated serum alpha fetoprotein was documented. A review of the literature on hepatic teratomas in children is also presented.
Using Automated Scores of Student Essays to Support Teacher Guidance in Classroom Inquiry

Computer scoring of student written essays about an inquiry topic can be used to diagnose student progress both to alert teachers to struggling students and to generate automated guidance. We identify promising ways for teachers to add value to automated guidance to improve student learning. Three teachers from two schools and their 386 students participated. We draw on evidence from student progress, observations of how teachers interact with students, and reactions of teachers. The findings suggest that alerts for teachers prompted rich teacher–student conversations about energy in photosynthesis. In one school, the combination of the automated guidance plus teacher guidance was more effective for student science learning than two rounds of personalized, automated guidance. In the other school, both approaches resulted in equal learning gains. These findings suggest optimal combinations of automated guidance and teacher guidance to support students to revise explanations during inquiry and build integrated understanding of science.
Clinical Trials: Legal Aspects and Consent

Clinical trials create both legal and ethical concerns, many of which overlap. This chapter focuses on informed consent of human research subjects, participation of special populations in medical research, medical research involving the mentally incapacitated, the use of placebos in human subject research, confidentiality of subject information, conflicts of interest in clinical trials, and research review committees.
How the ubiquitin–proteasome system controls transcription

Gene transcription and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis are two processes that have seemingly nothing in common: transcription is the first step in the life of any protein and proteolysis the last. Despite the disparate nature of these processes, a growing body of evidence indicates that ubiquitin and the proteasome are intimately involved in gene control. Here, we discuss the deep mechanistic connections between transcription and the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and highlight how the intersection of these processes tightly controls expression of the genetic information.
Realisation of robot ink deposition on a curved surface

In the robot ink deposition system proposed in this paper, an Additive Manufacturing AM concept-based method generates an ink deposition path, and the developed adaptive compensation algorithm allows the robot to deposit ink on a curved surface based on B-spline surface theory. This method gives the robot arm more flexibility to print characters or to graph on a curved surface, and it affords the robot system a larger working envelope for ink deposition. A letter-printing experiment was conducted in a laboratory using this method. The results show that writing letters on the ink deposition path generated based on the AM concept is much easier than doing so on paths generated using existing methods, and that the adaptive compensation algorithm for printing letters on a large curved surface is effective.
Coalition Formation of Cognitive Agents.

Part of the knowledge and set of beliefs of a cognitive agent are its mental models of the world and of other agents. A mental model reflects the cultural context and past experiences of an adaptive agent. In interacting with other agents, we claim that a causal mental model, i.e. a cognitive map, which might be different for each agent, adapts and changes causing coalitions to emerge. Possible actions are reflected through the respective cognitive maps of the agents to determine whether a favorable steady state will emerge from a coalition. The problems addressed are which coalitions will be more likely to form and how to adapt the cognitive maps of the agents in order to reduce conflicts. The claim is that a group mental model can emerge from individual mental models through the learning and adaptation of cognitive maps. An algorithm based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for evolving cognitive maps for coalition formation is introduced and experiments on randomly generated cognitive maps are presented. We conclude with possible uses of this adaptive cognitive modeling approach to understand other cultures, predict coalitions/chaos and shifts of allegiance, and induce group formation through avatars in a virtual world.
Hybrid Nanostructured Microcantilevers for Enhanced Chemimechanical Transduction and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectrocopy

Hybrid microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based on microcantilevers (MCs) that exhibit very large chemi-mechanical responses are described. The principle method for enhancing response involves introducing metallic nanostructure to one side of the MC. This serves to increase surface area and create new modes of analyte-induced surface stress. Methods of fabricating these cantilevers are described. Bending of these MCs upon exposure to both gas phase and liquid phase analytes have been shown to be as much as two orders of magnitude greater than for conventional smooth surface cantilevers. The utility of these systems for sensing and actuation are discussed and demonstrated. The nanostructured cantilevers also exhibit potential as substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The capability of these devices to function as hybrid MEMS, combining large mechanical responses to analytes with an ability to obtain distinctive SERS spectra, will be shown.
Practical stability limits of magnesium electrolytes

The development of a Mg ion based energy storage system could provide several benefits relative to today's Li-ion batteries, such as improved energy density. The electrolytes for Mg batteries, which are typically designed to efficiently plate and strip Mg, have not yet been proven to work with high voltage cathode materials that are needed to achieve high energy density. One possibility is that these electrolytes are inherently unstable on porous electrodes. To determine if this is indeed the case, the electrochemical properties of a variety of electrolytes were tested using a porous carbon coating on graphite foil and stainless steel electrodes. It was determined that the oxidative stability limit on these porous electrodes is considerably reduced as compared to those found using polished platinum electrodes. Furthermore, the voltage stability was found to be about 3 V vs. Mg metal for the best performing electrolytes. These results imply the need for further research to improve the stability of Mg electrolytes to enable high voltage Mg batteries.
Commentary: Paleoethnobotany Beyond Diet, Environment, and Ecology

In this chapter I focus on contemporary practices and approaches in paleoethnobotany beyond diet, environment, and ecology as illustrated by the papers of this volume, and by the contributions of Christine A. Hastorf. I discuss approaches for seeking “the invisible,” insights into spatiotemporal characteristics of rituals, and revealing the social realm through paleoethnobotany. Inferring complex human behaviors from the archaeobotanical record is both challenging and rewarding.
The Perfect Bikini Body: Can We All Really Have It? Loving Gaze as an Antioppressive Beauty Ideal

In this paper, I ask whether there is a defensible philosophical view according to which everybody is beautiful. I review two purely aesthetical versions of this claim. The No Standards View claims that everybody is maximally and equally beautiful. The Multiple Standards View encourages us to widen our standards of beauty. I argue that both approaches are problematic. The former fails to be aspirational and empowering, while the latter fails to be sufficiently inclusive. I conclude by presenting a hybrid ethical–aesthetical view according to which everybody is beautiful in the sense that everybody can be perceived through a loving gaze (with the exception of evil individuals who are wholly unworthy of love). I show that this view is inclusive, aspirational and empowering, and authentically aesthetical.
Smoking Habits of Patients Undergoing Treatment for Intermittent Claudication in the Vascular Quality Initiative

Background Society for Vascular Surgery practice guidelines for the medical treatment of intermittent claudication give a GRADE 1A recommendation for smoking cessation. Active smoking is therefore expected to be low in patients suffering from intermittent claudication selected for vascular surgical intervention. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of smoking in patients undergoing intervention for intermittent claudication at the national level and to determine the relationship between smoking status and intervention. Methods The Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) registries for infra-inguinal bypass, supra-inguinal bypass, and peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) were queried to identify patients who underwent invasive treatment for intermittent claudication. Patient factors, procedure type (bypass versus PVI), and level of disease (supra-inguinal versus infra-inguinal) were evaluated for associations with smoking status (active smoking or nonsmoking) by univariate and covariate analysis. Results Between 2010 and 2015, 101,055 procedures were entered in the 3 registries, with 40,269 (40%) performed for intermittent claudication. Complete data for analysis were present in 37,632 cases. At the time of intervention, 44% of patients were active smokers, with wide variation by regional quality group (16–53%). In covariate analysis, active smoking at treatment was associated with age Conclusions At the time of treatment, 44% of patients undergoing intervention for intermittent claudication in the VQI were active smokers and there was a wide regional variation. Prevalence of active smoking was greater in the presence of younger age, fewer comorbidities, lower ABI, and supra-inguinal disease. Type of procedure performed, and in turn level of invasiveness required, did not appear to be influenced by smoking status. Elderly patients and those undergoing open procedures were more likely to quit smoking during follow up. These findings suggest opportunities for greater smoking cessation efforts before invasive therapies for intermittent claudication.
Distribution of Suspended Particles in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean

Light scattering, size distribution of the suspended particles and standard hydrographic parameters were measured on water samples collected at 152 stations in the Panama Basin during October and November 1971. The particle-volume concentrations are calculated by fitting the measured particle size distributions to the exponential distribution and integrating the exponential distribution. Total suspended matter was calculated using a particle density of 2.2 mg/ml. The suspended matter in the water below 25 m depth ranges from 0.04 mg/l to 0.092 mg/l and from 0.11 mg/l to 1.76 mg/l in the sea surface.
Epidemic outbreak and spread detection system based on twitter data

Social Network systems, such as Twitter, can serve as important data sources to provide collective intelligence and awareness of health problems in real time. The challenges of utilizing social media data include that the volume of data is large but distributed and of a highly unstructured form. Appropriate data gathering, scrubbing and aggregating efforts for these data are required to transform them for meaningful use. In this paper, we discuss such a social media data ETL (Extract-Transform-Load) method, to provide a user-friendly, dynamic method for visualizing outbreaks and the spread of developing epidemics in space and time. We have developed the Epidemics Outbreak and Spread Detection System (EOSDS) as a prototype that makes use of the rich information retrievable in real time from Twitter. EOSDS provides three different visualization methods of spreading epidemics, static map, distribution map, and filter map, to investigate public health threats in the space and time dimensions. The results of these visualizations in our experiments correlate well with relevant CDC official reports, a gold standard used by health informatics scientists. In our experiments, the EOSDS also detected an unusual situation not shown in the CDC reports, but confirmed by online news media.
Advice for Owners of Contaminated Land after Meghrig V. KFC Western, Inc.

In its decision in Meghrig v. KFC Western, Inc., the United States Supreme Court concluded that section 7002(a)(1)(B) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act does not authorize private parties to recover cleanup costs associated with contaminated land, but only authorizes injunctive relief. This means owners of contaminated land must choose whether to seek injunctive relief under RCRA or cost recovery action under CERCLA or state common law or statutory claims. This article analyzes and critiques the Meghrig decision and discusses how owners of contaminated land should evaluate and decide among the options available to them for seeking relief.
Classifying Cubic Surfaces over Finite Fields Using Orbiter

We present two algorithms to classify cubic surfaces over a finite fields. An implementation in the programming system Orbiter will be described.
Faith and disbelief

Is faith that p compatible with disbelief that p? I argue that it is. After surveying some recent literature on the compatibility of propositional (so-called faith-that) and non-propositional (faith-in) forms of faith with the lack of belief, I take the next step and offer several arguments for the thesis that both these forms of faith are also compatible, in certain cases, with outright disbelief. This is contrary to the views of some significant recent commentators on propositional faith, including Robert Audi and Daniel Howard-Snyder. The primary argument revolves around the possibility of maintaining a single faith through drastic changes in cognitive attitude. I argue that once we allow that propositional faith is compatible with weaker cognitive attitudes than belief, such as acceptance or assent, there is prima facie reason to consider propositional faith as sometimes compatible with disbelief. I then consider objections and offer some final reflections on the significance of the thesis.
A single molecular distance predicts agonist binding energy in nicotinic receptors.

Agonists turn on receptors because they bind more strongly to active (R*) versus resting (R) conformations of their target sites. Here, to explore how agonists activate neuromuscular acetylcholine receptors, we built homology models of R and R* neurotransmitter binding sites, docked ligands to those sites, ran molecular dynamics simulations to relax (“equilibrate”) the structures, measured binding site structural parameters, and correlated them with experimental agonist binding energies. Each binding pocket is a pyramid formed by five aromatic amino acids and covered partially by loop C. We found that in R* versus R, loop C is displaced outward, the pocket is smaller and skewed, the agonist orientation is reversed, and a key nitrogen atom in the agonist is closer to the pocket center (distance d x ) and a tryptophan pair but farther from αY190. Of these differences, the change in d x shows the largest correlation with experimental binding energy and provides a good estimate of agonist affinity, efficacy, and efficiency. Indeed, concentration–response curves can be calculated from just d x values. The contraction and twist of the binding pocket upon activation resemble gating rearrangements of the extracellular domain of related receptors at a smaller scale.
Multiplexed intensity diffraction tomography (mIDT) for dynamic, label-free volumetric biological imaging

We present multiplexed Intensity Diffraction Tomography (mIDT) for live biological sample imaging. We achieve 100X imaging speed improvements using model-based multiplexed LED illuminations that maintain high-quality 3D object reconstructions.
The Hippocampus Generalizes across Memories that Share Item and Context Information

Episodic memory is known to rely on the hippocampus, but how the hippocampus organizes different episodes to permit their subsequent retrieval remains controversial. One major area of debate hinges on a discrepancy between two hypothesized roles of the hippocampus: differentiating between similar events to reduce interference and assigning similar representations to events that share overlapping items and contextual information. Here, we used multivariate analyses of activity patterns measured with fMRI to characterize how the hippocampus distinguishes between memories based on similarity at the level of items and/or context. Hippocampal activity patterns discriminated between events that shared either item or context information but generalized across events that shared similar item-context associations. The current findings provide evidence that, whereas the hippocampus can reduce mnemonic interference by separating events that generalize along a single attribute dimension, overlapping hippocampal codes may support memory for events with overlapping item-context relations. This lends new insights into the way the hippocampus may balance multiple mnemonic operations in adaptively guiding behavior.
Gemcitabine (G) plus nab-paclitaxel (nab-P) plus chemoradiation (CRT) in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).

e14714 Background: 30-40 % of PC pts present with LAPC. Optimal management remains controversial. Current NCCN guidelines, suggests clinical trial, FOLFIRINOX, G, G based combination therapy, chemo...
Is less really more? Reexamining video-assisted thoracoscopic versus open lobectomy in the setting of an enhanced recovery protocol

Abstract Objectives Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy has been associated with improved pain, length of stay, and outcomes compared with open lobectomy. However, enhanced recovery protocols improve outcomes after both procedures. We aimed to compare video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and open lobectomy in the setting of a comprehensive enhanced recovery protocol. Methods All patients undergoing lobectomy for lung cancer at a single institution since the adoption of an enhanced recovery protocol (May 2016 to December 2018) were stratified by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery versus open status and compared. Demographics and outcomes, including length of stay, daily pain scores, and short-term operative complications, were compared using standard univariate statistics and multivariable models. Results A total of 130 patients underwent lobectomy, including 71 (54.6%) undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and 59 (45.4%) undergoing open surgery. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery versus open cases exhibited similar length of stay (median 4 days for both, P = .07), opioid requirement (33.2 vs 30.8 mg morphine equivalents, P = .86), and pain scores at 0, 1, 2, and 3 days after surgery (4.3 vs 2.8, P = .12; 4.4 vs 3.7, P = .27; 3.9 vs 3.5, P = .83; and 3.4 vs 3.5, P = .98, respectively). Patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy exhibited lower rates of readmission (1.4% vs 17.0%, P Conclusions In the setting of a comprehensive enhanced recovery protocol, patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery versus open lobectomy exhibited similar short-term outcomes. Surgical incision may have less impact on outcomes in the setting of a comprehensive thoracic enhanced recovery protocol.
Citrus Rootstock Propagation: Traditional Techniques and Recent Advances

Commercially grown citrus trees are usually composed of two parts: 1) the scion, which is the aboveground portion of the tree that produces the fruit, and 2) the rootstock, which comprises the root system and the lower portion of the trunk. This new 4-page publication, chapter 6 of the forthcoming Citrus Nursery Production Guide, discusses three kinds of rootstock propagation: seed, cuttings, and tissue culture. Written by Ute Albrecht, Lorenzo Rossi, and Mongi Zekri and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1329
Role of ER stress and caspase 4 activation in bladder cancer cell death following exposure to Ad-IFNα

1387 Adenoviruses encoding interferon (Ad-IFNα) show a significant potential for treatment of superficial bladder cancer based on our preclinical findings (Benedict et al. Mol. Ther. 10: 525-532, 2004). These findings have resulted in a Phase l study now underway for superficial bladder cancer using Ad-IFN. Cancer cells transfected with Ad-IFN show high perinuclear cytoplasmic IFN expression and lead to our examination of whether endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cleavage of caspase 4 could play a major role in the direct effect of Ad-IFN produced cell death. Further knowledge may help optimize the therapeutic use of Ad-IFNα and provide markers of efficacy. Since the cancer cells in this study,namely UC9, are resistant to high concentrations of IFNα protein , this mechanism of Ad-IFN produced cell death was excluded (Zhang et al, Cancer Gene Ther. 14(3):241-50, 2007). The UC9 bladder cancer line was examined by Western blotting and immunofluorescent confocal microscopy to investigate the role of ER stress and cleavage of caspase 4 in the direct cell death following Ad-IFNα transfection. We found caspase 4 was cleaved following Ad-IFNα transfection but not treatment with Intron A by Western blot analysis. In addition confocal microscopy showed both enhanced signals of the cleaved caspase 4 form p10 and enhanced staining of ER tracker in the perinuclear areas following Ad-IFNα transfection, indicating the involvement of the ER stress-mediated apoptotic pathway in the cell killing caused by Ad-IFNα. Interestingly, Ad-IFNα also induced upregulation of procaspase 4 expression in these cells. In conclusion ER stress and activation of caspase 4 could be an important mechanism involved in the cell death induced by Ad-IFNα.
Gene expression, cell determination, differentiation, and regeneration

Abstract This chapter focuses on determination and differentiation of skeletal muscle as a paradigm for how tissues differentiate in development and regeneration. Classical embryological concepts that emerged from descriptive embryology are explained and cast in genetic and molecular biological terms. An understanding of the mechanistic basis of embryonic commitment to a unique developmental pathway, and the subsequent realization of the adult phenotypes, is essential for understanding embryonic, fetal, and adult cell behavior; and how stem cells might be manipulated for therapeutic purposes. The importance of satellite, or stem cells, in skeletal muscle formation and regeneration of skeletal muscle and the role of transcription factors, microRNAs, and tissue environment play in these processes are illustrated. The challenge of regeneration of anatomic muscles to repair damage from disease, aging, and trauma is a central problem in tissue engineering and requires an understanding of fundamental mechanisms in skeletal muscle determination and differentiation.
Shape Machine: A Primer for Visual Computation

A brief survey of the expressive power of Shape Machine, a new shape grammar interpreter, is presented. The work is presented in two parts: A brief presentation of a series of shape computations that have been routinely used as benchmarks for the design tasks a shape grammar interpreter should be able to accomplish; and a brief exploration of design applications in various domains, namely product modeling, mechanical, and architectural design to suggest possibilities for new design workflows and/or new trajectories in new domains too. Some speculations on the future of the technology pertaining to its potential usage in a new paradigm of programming with shapes (programming by drawing) and/or the envision of a new paradigm of a physical computer are presented in the end.
Toward autonomous design and synthesis of novel inorganic materials

Autonomous experimentation driven by artificial intelligence (AI) provides an exciting opportunity to revolutionize inorganic materials discovery and development. Herein, we review recent progress in the design of self-driving laboratories, including robotics to automate materials synthesis and characterization, in conjunction with AI to interpret experimental outcomes and propose new experimental procedures. We focus on efforts to automate inorganic synthesis through solution-based routes, solid-state reactions, and thin film deposition. In each case, connections are made to relevant work in organic chemistry, where automation is more common. Characterization techniques are primarily discussed in the context of phase identification, as this task is critical to understand what products have formed during synthesis. The application of deep learning to analyze multivariate characterization data and perform phase identification is examined. To achieve “closed-loop” materials synthesis and design, we further provide a detailed overview of optimization algorithms that use active learning to rationally guide experimental iterations. Finally, we highlight several key opportunities and challenges for the future development of self-driving inorganic materials synthesis platforms.
Post-Kidney Transplant Serum Magnesium Exhibits a U-Shaped Association with Subsequent Mortality: An Observational Cohort Study

Background Hypomagnesemia is common in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). We sought to explore the relationship between Mg and outcomes in KTRs, which may be associated with mortality and thus, may be a potential intervention target to improve outcomes. Methods We followed KTRs performed between 01/2000 and 6/2016 at a large US transplant center from 6 months post-transplant to graft failure, death, or loss to follow-up. Using Mg as a time-dependent variable, associations between Mg and outcomes any time after 6-months post-transplant were evaluated. Results 3,680 KTRs with 50,413 Mg measurements met inclusion criteria. 657 deaths occurred over a median follow-up of 5.1 years. Compared to Mg of 1.5-1.8 mg/dL, both lower (HR 1.17, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.07-1.28) and higher (HR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.09-1.23) Mg levels were associated with greater risk of mortality. Similar U-shaped associations were observed for Mg and cardiovascular disease-related mortality (HR for Mg ≤1.5 mg/dL: 1.31; CI: 1.03-1.68) and infection-related mortality (HR for Mg ≤1.5 mg/dL: 1.28; CI: 1.09-1.51), although relationships for Mg >1.8 mg/dL were not statistically significant. Conclusions Mg exhibits a U-shaped association with mortality in KTRs, with levels between 1.5-1.8 mg/dL associated with the lowest risk.
Medical contraindications to combined hormonal contraceptive use among women using methods prescribed by a pharmacist.

Abstract Objective To determine whether pharmacist prescription of combined hormonal contraception is associated with inappropriate prescription to women with medical contraindications. Study design We conducted a retrosopective cohort study of all short-acting, hormonal contraceptive users (pill, patch, ring, injectable) in Oregon's All Payer All Claims database from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. Our primary outcome was the proportion of women receiving a combined hormonal method who had a Medical Eligibility Category (MEC) 3 or 4 condition. We identified potential contraindications using International Classification of Disease codes. We conducted descriptive analyses of contraindication prevalence and prescription error rate by prescriber type. We used a multivariable logistic regression model to test the association between pharmacist prescriber and population characteristics. Results Our study sample consisted of 439,240 contraceptive users, of which 3782 (0.86%) received their prescriptions from a pharmacist. Women aged 25 to 29 were more likely than women over age 35 to receive contraception from a pharmacist (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.44–3.08). Pharmacist prescriptions were slightly less likely in rural areas (aOR 0.78, 95% CI 0.69–0.89) and among women on Medicaid, relative to those with commercial insurance (aOR 0.21, 95% CI 0.19–0.24). Among women given contraception in a clinical setting, 4.25% had evidence of an MEC 3 or 4 contraindication, compared to 0.9% for women seen by a pharmacist. Rates of prescribing a combined method to women with a potential contraindication were not meaningfully different by prescriber type (2.16% for clinicians vs 0.74% for pharmacists). Conclusion Rates of contraceptive prescribing with a contraindication were relatively low and did not differ between clinicians and pharmacists. Implications Pharmacists can safely screen for medical contraindications to combined hormonal contraception.
Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship opportunities for Pediatrics-trained physicians in the United States.

OBJECTIVES To characterize Primary Care Sports Medicine (PCSM) fellowship opportunities for Pediatrics-trained physicians across all programs in the United States. METHODS Cross-sectional study using data from publicly-available online sources. Data were collected from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) online listings of PCSM programs and cross-referenced with individual program websites. Variables such as program location, departmental sponsor, and eligibility criteria specific to pediatricians were collected. RESULTS 202 programs were identified. 196 (97.0%) were ACGME-accredited, of which 75.0% were sponsored by Family Medicine (FM), 9.7% by Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR), 9.2% by Pediatrics, and 5.1% by Emergency Medicine (EM) departments. Pediatrics-trained physicians were eligible for 133 of 196 (67.9%) programs and 241 of 350 (68.9%) total positions. Eligibility for pediatricians was highest in Pediatrics-sponsored programs (18/18, 100.0%), followed by EM (7/10, 70.0%), FM (98/147, 66.7%), and PMR (9/19, 47.4%). 49 of 133 (36.8%) programs accepting pediatricians had discrepancies regarding eligibility criteria (e.g. did not confirm eligibility criteria on their website, listed conflicting eligibility criteria within or between their website and AMSSM listing, or did not have a website available to cross-reference). CONCLUSIONS Pediatricians are eligible for more than two-thirds of PCSM fellowship programs across the United States, including programs that are not sponsored by Pediatrics departments. Applicants may not be aware of these opportunities given discrepancies regarding eligibility in over one-third of programs. In a field underrepresented by Pediatrics-trained physicians, accurate online information and transparency of eligibility criteria are critical to raise awareness about fellowship opportunities and foster equity with regards to career opportunities for pediatricians in PCSM.
EpiGnome[trade] Methyl-Seq Kit: a novel post-bisulfite conversion library prep method for methylation analysis

Epigenomics is increasingly becoming an important field of research, and the ability to detect and quantify DNA methylation accurately is now critical for numerous fields of study, including disease biology and gene expression. The differential reactivities of methylated and nonmethylated cytosines in DNA with sodium bisulfite forms the basis for their identification in the genome by sequencing. Current whole-genome bisulfite sequencing methods require substantial amounts of starting DNA to compensate for the loss due to bisulfite-mediated DNA degradation. To address issues with sample preparation, we have developed the EpiGnome™ Methyl-Seq Kit, which utilizes a novel pre-library bisulfite conversion scheme to prepare whole-genome bisulfite sequencing libraries with no sample loss and with only 50 ng of input genomic DNA.
The Value of Personal Health Record (PHR) Systems

Personal health records (PHRs) are a rapidly growing area of health information technology despite a lack of significant value-based assessment. Here we present an assessment of the potential value of PHR systems, looking at both costs and benefits. We examine provider-tethered, payer-tethered, and third-party PHRs, as well as idealized interoperable PHRs. An analytical model was developed that considered eight PHR application and infrastructure functions. Our analysis projects the initial and annual costs and annual benefits of PHRs to the entire US over the next 10 years. This PHR analysis shows that all forms of PHRs have initial net negative value. However, at the end of 10 years, steady state annual net value ranging from $13 billion to -$29 billion. Interoperable PHRs provide the most value, followed by third-party PHRs and payer-tethered PHRs also showing positive net value. Provider-tethered PHRs constantly demonstrating negative net value.
Development as a source of complexity

Summary form only given. Development represents a period in an organism's life during which it is at risk; the immature individual is unable to fend for itself, obtain food or protection, and is highly dependent on its caretakers. Given the apparent maladaptive nature of prolonged development, it is thus something of a puzzle that the human species should have evolved such that it spends more time in a state of developmental immaturity (relative to total lifespan) than any other species. In this presentation, I shall review evidence from a wide range of sources-natural as well as computer simulation-suggesting that there are positive aspects to development, and that in some cases, developmental processes make possible a complexity of organization that might be otherwise difficulty to achieve. In this light, development may be seen as Nature's solution to the "scaling problem.".
A General Class of No-Regret Learning Algorithms and Game-Theoretic Equilibria

A general class of no-regret learning algorithms, called Φ-no-regret learning algorithms is defined, which spans the spectrum from no-internal-regret learning to no-external-regret learning, and beyond. Φ describes the set of strategies to which the play of a learning algorithm is compared: a learning algorithm satisfies Φ-no-regret iff no regret is experienced for playing as the algorithm prescribes, rather than playing according to any of the transformations of the algorithm’s play prescribed by elements of Φ. Analogously, a class of game-theoretic equilibria, called Φ-equilibria, is defined, and it is shown that the empirical distribution of play of Φ-no-regret algorithms converges to the set of Φ-equilibria. Perhaps surprisingly, the strongest form of no-regret algorithms in this class are no-internal-regret algorithms. Thus, the tightest game-theoretic solution concept to which Φ-no-regret algorithms (provably) converge is correlated equilibrium. In particular, Nash equilibrium is not a necessary outcome of learning via any Φ-no-regret learning algorithms.
Schopenhauer: A Biography

1. The affirmation of the will 2. A tour for a trade 3. A father's death, a philosopher's birth 4. The university years 5. The better consciousness, causes, grounds, and confrontations 6. Goethe, colors, and eastern lights 7. The single thought of Dresden 8. Failure in Berlin 9. Ich bin kein Berliner 10. The Frankfurt philosopher 11. The dawn of fame and the end of life.
Mode of Action of Novobiocin in Escherichia coli

The mechanism of action of novobiocin was studied in various strains of Escherichia coli. In all strains tested except mutants of strain ML, the drug immediately and reversibly inhibited cell division, and later slowed cell growth. The previously described impairment of membrane integrity, degradation of ribonucleic acid (RNA), and associated bactericidal effect were found to be peculiar to ML strains. The earliest and greatest effect in all strains was an inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis; RNA synthesis was inhibited to a lesser extent, and cell wall and protein synthesis were affected later. The inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis was accompanied by an approximately threefold accumulation of all eight nucleoside triphosphates. Since novobiocin does not inhibit nucleoside triphosphate synthesis, degrade DNA, or immediately affect energy metabolism, it must inhibit the synthesis of DNA and RNA by direct action on template-polymerase complexes.
Spectra of -linear relations, _{}-series, and cohomology of Eilenberg-Mac Lane spaces

On Brown-Peterson cohomology groups of a space, we introduce a natural inherent topology, BP topology, which is always complete Hausdorff for any space. We then construct a spectra map which calculates infinite BP-linear sums convergent with respect to the BP topology, and a spectrum which describes infinite sum BP-linear relations in BP cohomology. The mod p cohomology of this spectrum is a cyclic module over the Steenrod algebra with relations generated by products of exactly two Milnor primitives. We show a close relationship between BP-linear relations in BP cohomology and the action of the Milnor primitives on mod p cohomology. We prove main relations in the BP cohomology of Eilenberg-Mac Lane spaces. These are infinite sum BP-linear relations convergent with respect to the BP topology. Using BP fundamental classes, we define v,-series which are v,-analogues of the p-series. Finally, we show that the above main relations come from the vn-series.
What if intraverted women tend to dislike Java and object oriented programming

We consider the strong possibility that extraverted and intraverted women differ on preference for some aspects of programming, and how this difference might be more significant than its expression among men. We discuss the reasons why we are moved to design a new study confirming a gender-specific relation of Myers-Briggs personality types to programming paradigms and specific language features. We discuss the implications of a significant gender difference on representation in industry, advancement in profession, and curriculum design. We invite hypotheses that explain a significant difference. Past classroom questionnaires and future questions will be shown (but not data, since we are bound by IRB rules not to report them), as well as method of analysis and test for robustness in subcategories. We have a specific method for mitigating ambiguity and non-repeatability in Myers-Briggs type determination. Our cohort is expected to include about 500 Master's students per year, most from the same region in India, with about 25% women respondents, if we sample at past rates.
Is the EU Collapsing

Thies, Wallace J. (2012) Is the EU Collapsing? International Studies Review, doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2486.2012.01110.x This paper argues that the conventional wisdom about the European Union (EU) is wrong. It questions whether the EU is now or ever has been on the brink of collapse. And it offers reasons for believing that an international organization made up entirely of liberal democratic states will exhibit great resilience and impressive staying power. We can never say never when discussing the prospect of an EU collapse, but we can make a strong case that the democracies that comprise the EU will continue to find ways to muddle through.