cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CANCER LINK TO MAGNETIC FIELD EXPOSURE: A HYPOTHESIS

The hypothesis is presented for a relationship between exposure to magnetic fields and the induction of cancer: alterations in the mitotic processes caused by exposure to magnetic fields can provide a proliferative stimulus to latent tumor cells, thereby leading to the expression of malignant neoplasia. In a review of the literature, it was found that most of the magnetic field data cited were taken in connection with static field conditions. Neither 0 or 60 Hz fields interact with biological tissue in a manner analogous to the resonant energy absorption found with microwave exposure. Some evidence, however, indicates similar biologic effects for both frequencies with those at 60 Hz being somewhat more pronounced. While there is no data relating magnetic field exposure to any parameter directly related to cellular toxicity or cellular death, there is a growing data base indicating increases or decreases in cellular reproductive rate and function consequent to magnetic field exposure. Therefore, it appears that mathematical development of the hypothesis discussed is possible utilizing available information. (JMT)
The So-Called Logical Relations

The relations which Frege would have called Grundsteine of his system (GRG I, p. 3) are examined. Why should such relations be called logical rather than, for instance, ontological (3.1)? “Subject—predicate” in Frege has a different meaning from that of traditional logic (3.3); traditional philosophy has taken into account facts covered by Frege’s UF and UO (3.4). But the most interesting point is what we call hierarchy of predicates, about which our contemporary (Fregean) philosophy of logic has not yet provided a clear statement; traditional logic, to the contrary, was somehow “suffocated” by such a hierarchy of predicates (3.5). Some aspects of the relations between Husserl and Frege are next considered. Husserl’s Philosophie der Arithmetik was still pre-Fregean in matters of predication-theory (3.62), whereas Frege’s review of Husserl’s book was still pre-Aristotelian, since Frege did not realize that there was a hierarchy of predicates behind Husserl’s “psychologism” (3.63).
A semantic integrity framework: set restrictions for semantic groupings

Three of the most common fundamental groupings that are utilized in semantic database models are considered: set groupings, power set groupings, and Cartesian aggregation groupings. For each, useful restrictions that control its structure and composition are defined. This permits each grouping to capture more subtle distinctions of the concepts or situations in the application environment. The resulting set of restrictions forms a framework for integrity constraints in semantic data models. This framework is targeted towards advanced applications, such as computer-aided design, office automation, and artificial intelligence, which require the support of more sophisticated relationships among data than traditional database domains. >
Postnatal development of mouse plasma and brain corticosterone levels: new findings contingent upon the use of a competitive protein-binding assay.

A competitive protein-binding (CPB) assay, suitable for measuring corticosterone levels in 20 (μl of mouse plasma or 100 mg of brain, is described. The postnatal development of adrenocortical function was determined in C57BL/10 and DBA/1 mice by CPB assay of basal and stressinduced levels of plasma corticosterone and resting levels of brain corticosterone. Marked increases in both basal and stressed levels of plasma corticosterone were found beginning at day 12 after birth: mean basal levels rose from about 1 /μg/100 ml on day 12 to peak values of about 10–15 /μg/100 ml on days 18–20, and then declined by day 30 to the 13-day level of 2.6 /μg/100 ml. This pattern differs significantly from results obtained with standard fluorometric assays for corticosterone; it was determined that a major part of this discrepancy is due to the lack of specificity of the fluorometric assay. The developmental change in brain corticosterone was similar to the pattern found in plasma. Only the stress-induced levels of plasma...
CO-PARENTING FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS

This study assessed factors contributed from parents who live in two different households and that lead to academic success. Data were collected from undergraduates enrolled in a Midwestern satellite university. Academic success was defined by university enrollment, grade point average, and standardized testing scores. Co-parenting factors that were hypothesized to lead to academic success included the distance between parents homes (which further influenced time spent with the child, participation in child‘s activities, and participation in decision making) and financial stability (which also influenced participation in decision making and the level of conflict within the family). The original structural equation model revealed that the relationship linking the distance between homes and the time spent with the child was accurately described. Added to the model, after the Lagrange test, was a path from finances to participation in child‘s activities and time spent with the child. The financial stability of a family predicted the participation of the non-custodial parent in the child‘s activities, in the decision-making for the child, conflict, and the time spent with the child. Implications for practitioners who work with families with co-parenting responsibilities are discussed.
Utilizing longitudinal measures of fetal growth to create a standard method to assess the impacts of maternal disease and environmental exposure

Impaired or suboptimal fetal growth is associated with an increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. By utilizing readily available clinical data on the relative size of the fetus at multiple points in pregnancy, including delivery, future epidemiological research can improve our understanding of the impacts of maternal, fetal, and environmental factors on fetal growth at different windows during pregnancy. This study presents mean and standard deviation ultrasound measurements from a clinically representative US population that can be utilized for creating Z-scores to this end. Between 2006 and 2012, 18, 904 non-anomalous pregnancies that received prenatal care, first and second trimester ultrasound evaluations, and ultimately delivered singleton newborns at Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston were used to create the standard population. To illustrate the utility of this standard, we created Z-scores for ultrasound and delivery measurements for a cohort study population and examined associations with factors known to be associated with fetal growth. In addition to cross-sectional regression models, we created linear mixed models and generalized additive mixed models to illustrate how these scores can be utilized longitudinally and for the identification of windows of susceptibility. After adjustment for a priori confounders, maternal BMI was positively associated with increased fetal size beginning in the second trimester in cross-sectional models. Female infants and maternal smoking were associated with consistently reduced fetal size in the longitudinal models. Maternal age had a non-significant association with increased size in the first trimester that was attenuated as gestation progressed. As the growth measurements examined here are widely available in contemporary obstetrical practice, these data may be abstracted from medical records by investigators and standardized with the population means presented here. This will enable easy extension of clinical data to epidemiologic studies investigating novel maternal, fetal, and environmental factors that may impact fetal growth.
An Introduction to the CDA Decision

On June 26, 1997, the United States Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union, 117 S. Ct. 2329 (1997). While it has been hailed widely as an enormous victory for free speech on the Internet, the decision to overturn key portions of the Communications Decency Act was hardly a surprise. Given the poor drafting of the statute, and the extensive and completely pro-plaintiff findings of fact by the trial court -- which in the US system are almost never open to direct revision by the courts of appeal -- the Supreme Court had little choice. Although the decision is a victory for free speech online, the decision is as notable for what it does not say as for what it decides. Indeed, the decision demonstrates great caution on the part of the United States Supreme Court with regards to new communications technologies and new media.To understand what was decided in the Reno case -- and, more importantly, what was not decided -- requires a brief description of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) and of the litigation mounted by a coalition of advocacy groups that ultimately defeated it.
Pushing forward marginal map with best-first search

Marginal MAP is known to be a difficult task for graphical models, particularly because the evaluation of each MAP assignment involves a conditional likelihood computation. In order to minimize the number of likelihood evaluations, we focus in this paper on best-first search strategies for exploring the space of partial MAP assignments. We analyze the potential relative benefits of several best-first search algorithms and demonstrate their effectiveness against recent branch and bound schemes through extensive empirical evaluations. Our results show that best-first search improves significantly over existing depth-first approaches, in many cases by several orders of magnitude, especially when guided by relatively weak heuristics.
Use of Pediococcus acidilactici to Control Listeria monocytogenes in Temperature-Abused Vacuum-Packaged Wieners.

Pediococcus acidilactici JBL1095 (pediocin AcH producer) and P. acidilactici LB42 (bacteriocin nonproducer) were evaluated for the production of antilisterial compounds in packages of all-beef wieners. Commercially processed, freshly manufactured, unpackaged wieners were surface inoculated (ca. 105 CFU/g) as follows: (i) untreated control; (ii) a three-strain (Scott A, V7, 101M) mixture of Listeria monocytogenes ; (iii) strain JBL1095; (iv) L. monocytogenes and strain JBL1095; and (v) L. monocytogenes and strain LB42. Wieners were vacuum packaged and cell numbers, pH, and bacteriocin activity within packages were determined following storage at refrigeration (4°C) or abuse (25°C) temperatures for 72 and 8 d, respectively. L. monocytogenes and pediococci survived in packages held at 4°C, but pediococci did not produce acid or pediocin during refrigerated storage. At 25°C, total numbers of L. monocytogenes (treatment ii) increased 3.2 log10 CFU/g and the pH of the fluid (exudate) within packages increased from 5.5 to 5.6. In contrast, L. monocytogenes survived but did not grow in packages inoculated with strain LB42 (treatment v), and was inhibited (average reduction of 2.7 log10 CFU/g) in packages inoculated with strain JBL1095 (treatment iv) during storage at 25°C for 8 d. The pH of exudate in packages inoculated with strains JBL1095 (treatment iv) or LB42 (treatment v) showed a similar decline (ca. 5.5 to 4.6). The onset of bacteriocin production coincided with early-logarithmic growth of JBL1095 (treatment iv) and continued into the late logarithmic phase. These data suggest that bacteriocinogenic pediococci can be used to control L. monocytogenes in temperature-abused, cook/chili meats.
Prolongation of pseudopregnancy by deciduomata in the rat.

SummaryThe presence of deciduomata prolongs the length of pseudopregnancy in the rat an average of 7.2 7 days beyond the normal duration of 13.33 days.
Specious arguments for the arms race

“God knows, it's been frustrating to read some of these stories and not be able to say, ‘That's untrue! Here's what the actual facts are….’ It's just been frustrating the hell out of me.”—Cyrus Vance
III-V Multi-Junction Materials and Solar Cells on Engineered SiGe/Si Substrates

The monolithic integration of high efficiency III-V compound solar cell materials and devices with lower-cost, robust and scaleable Si substrates has been a driving force in photovoltaics (PV) basic research for decades. Recent advances in controlling mismatch-induced defects that result from structural and chemical differences between III-V solar cell materials and Si using a combination of SiGe interlayers and monolayer-scale control of III-V/IV interfaces, have led to a series of fundamental advances at the material and device levels, which establish that the great potential of III-V/Si PV is within reach. These include demonstrations of GaAs epitaxial layers on Si that are anti-phase domain-free with verified dislocation densities at or below 1×10 6 cm −2 and negligible interface diffusion, minority carrier lifetimes for GaAs on Si in excess of 10 ns, single junction GaAs-based solar cells on Si with open circuit voltages ( V oc ) in excess of 980 mV, efficiencies beyond 18%, and area-independent PV characteristics up to at least 4 cm 2 . These advances are attributed in large part to the use of a novel “engineered Si substrate” based on compositionally-graded SiGe buffers such that a high-quality, low defect density, relaxed, “virtual” Ge substrate could be developed that can support lattice-matched III-V epitaxy and thus merge III-V technology based on the GaAs (or Ge) lattice constant with Si wafers. This paper focuses on recent results that extend this work to the first demonstration of high performance III-V dual junction solar cells on SiGe/Si. Open circuit voltages in excess of 2 V at one-sun have been obtained for the conventionally “lattice-matched” In 0.49 Ga 0.51 P/GaAs dual junction cells on inactive, engineered SiGe/Si; to our knowledge is the first demonstration of > 2V solar power generation on a Si wafer. Comparisons with identical cells on GaAs substrates reveal that the V oc on engineered Si retains more than 94% of its homoepitaxial value, and that at present both DJ/GaAs and DJ/SiGe/Si cells are similarly limited by current mismatch in these early cells, and not fundamental defect factors associated with the engineered Si substrates.
IMMUNOGLOBULIN THERAPY IN KAWASAKI SYNDROME AND RSV PROPHYLAXIS

Kawasaki syndrome and RSV infection are common illnesses that afflict infants and young children. Recent studies demonstrate that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment significantly reduces the clinical severity of these illnesses. The purpose of the current review will be initially to examine mechanisms of disease pathogenesis in KS and RSV infection. This will be followed by a discussion of the potential mechanisms by which IVIG acts in these two illnesses. In both KS and RSV prophylaxis, an important action by which IVIG may work is primarily through toxin or microbial neutralization resulting in the dampening or prevention of the inflammatory response. Other immunomodulatory actions of IVIG are likely to be operative in these diseases and will be an active area of future research.
[Sleep disorders: principles, basic diagnostics and elementary measures and recommendations].

Schlafstorungen gehen einher mit Einschrankungen der Leistungsfahigkeit im sozialen und beruflichen Bereich sowie Ausbildung akuter und chronischer Krankheiten. Die Pravalenz ist hoch. Der volkswirtschaftliche Schaden wird als bedeutend eingeschatzt. Der uberwiegende Teil der unter dem Begriff „Schlafstorungen“ zusammengefassten Krankheitsentitaten ist gut behandelbar und damit als prognostisch gunstig einzustufen. Die Diagnose kann in vielen Fallen ohne apparative Zusatzdiagnostik allein durch Anamnese und klinische Untersuchung entscheidend eingekreist werden. Hierzu sind allerdings schlafmedizinische Basiskenntnisse erforderlich, die dieser Artikel vermitteln will.
Recommendations for adjuvant post prostatectomy radiation.

Address correspondence to Dr. Leonard G. Gomella, Department of Urology, Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, 1025 Walnut Street, Room 1102, Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA Recommendations for adjuvant post prostatectomy radiation Leonard G. Gomella, MD Department of Urology, Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Referring to the article published on pp. 7290-7297 in this issue
Role of lymphadenectomy in management of adenocarcinoma of the endometrium

Purpose: To review the role of lymphadenectomy (LND) for patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma. Methods: A review was undertaken of the English Language literature dealing with the role of LND for patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma (EC). Results: The prognostic value of node status for EC patients has been recognized. LND performed by experienced surgeons has acceptable morbidity. Multiple series have suggested that significantly less external beam radiation is given to patients with known negative nodes. The decreased use of postop whole pelvic radiation has potential cost savings. However a survival advantage for LND has not yet been proven in a randomized clinical trials. United Kingdom investigators have begun a trial to determine if there is a demonstrable survival advantage for EC patients who undergo LND. Conclusion: Although the morbidity, potential cost savings, and prognostic impact of node status are well accepted, it remains controversial as to whether LND provides a survival advantage. Trials are underway.
Case selection for and practical points on the administration of ACTH; recent developments.

This article discusses the changes in emphasis the last year has brought in therapy, the refinement of diagnostic tests of adrenal function, and the newer ACTH preparations and their properties.
A Brief History of Causality

Philosophical Foundations of Causality When discussing causality and causal inference we must first distinguish between the thing itself and how to recognize it. Most scientific work on causality involves developing methods for providing evidence for causal relationships, while work in philosophy addresses what it means for something to be a cause. This philosophical work is not immediately applicable to practical problems, but it provides a necessary starting point for work by computer scientists, epidemiologists, and economists. This section introduces readers not familiar with the philosophical literature to how philosophers have conceptualized causality and why this problem is still unsolved after centuries of work. I begin with a review of the primary ways philosophers have addressed causality leading up to more recent probabilistic methods. The review is not an unbiased survey of causality, but rather a discussion of its philosophical foundations through the lens of researchers aiming to build inference methods upon them. As a result, I omit large bodies of work such as process-based theories (Dowe, 2000; Salmon, 1994) and mechanistic models (Glennan, 1996; Machamer et al., 2000) because knowledge of these is not required to understand the later sections. I also raise concerns (such as computational complexity) that differ from those of philosophers but are important when translating these methods to practice. While Aristotle is often credited with the first formal theory of causality in his Physics and Metaphysics , the most influential modern discussion of causality comes from David Hume in the 18th century. Hume attempted to define both what a cause is and what is meant by the term; as well as how we can come to possess causal knowledge and what is needed to infer it from observations. The core of Hume’s work is arguing that we come to know of causal relationships by inferring them from observations, so they may also be subjective due to beliefs and perception.
Limited options for low-global-warming-potential refrigerants

Hydrofluorocarbons, currently used as refrigerants in air-conditioning systems, are potent greenhouse gases, and their contribution to climate change is projected to increase. Future use of the hydrofluorocarbons will be phased down and, thus replacement fluids must be found. Here we show that only a few pure fluids possess the combination of chemical, environmental, thermodynamic, and safety properties necessary for a refrigerant and that these fluids are at least slightly flammable. We search for replacements by applying screening criteria to a comprehensive chemical database. For the fluids passing the thermodynamic and environmental screens (critical temperature and global warming potential), we simulate performance in small air-conditioning systems, including optimization of the heat exchangers. We show that the efficiency-versus-capacity trade-off that exists in an ideal analysis disappears when a more realistic system is considered. The maximum efficiency occurs at a relatively high volumetric refrigeration capacity, but there are few fluids in this range.
Reducing optical confinement losses for fast, efficient nanophotonic modulators

We demonstrate high-speed operation of ultracompact electroabsorption modulators based on epsilon-near-zero confinement in indium oxide (In 2 O 3 ) on silicon using field-effect carrier density tuning. Additionally, we discuss strategies to enhance modulator performance and reduce confinement-related losses by introducing high-mobility conducting oxides such as cadmium oxide (CdO).
A dedicated anticoagulation clinic does not improve postoperative management of warfarin after total joint arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are devastating complications. Excessive anticoagulation with warfarin is an independent risk factor for PJIs. The use of a dedicated anticoagulation clinic to improve warfarin management has not been proven. Methods Between 2006 and 2014, we identified 92 patients who were placed on postoperative warfarin, and later developed PJI. These patients were compared to 313 patients who underwent total joint arthroplasty placed on warfarin without developing PJI. Patients were included if they had no history of a venous thromboembolic event, were warfarin naive, and enrolled in the anticoagulation clinic. A univariate analysis compared independent variables, and statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test and Pearson chi-square test for continuous and categorical variables. Results Thirty-six PJI patients and 297 control patients met the inclusion criteria. The venous thromboembolism rate was 2.1%. At discharge, 82% of all patients were subtherapeutic. Patients were within their target international normalized ratio (INR) range 26.7% of the time. The mean INR in the initial postoperative period for the PJI group was 1.46 and 1.29 in the control group (P Conclusions Despite utilization of a dedicated anticoagulation clinic, patients were only within their target INR range 27% of the time. Total knee arthroplasty patients who developed a PJI were more likely to be therapeutic or supratherapeutic in the initial postoperative period. Consequently, the risks associated with warfarin as a venous thromboembolism prophylaxis may outweigh the potential benefits.
Total Syntheses of Thailanstatins A-C, Spliceostatin D, and Analogues Thereof. Stereodivergent Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Dihydro- and Tetrahydropyrans and Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Discovery of Potent Antitumor Agents.

Efficient and selective total syntheses of spliceosome modulating natural products thailanstatins A–C and spliceostatin D are reported. A number of stereoselective methods for the construction of various tetrasubstituted dihydro- and tetrahydropyrans were developed as a prerequisite for the syntheses of these naturally occurring molecules and variations thereof. The pyran-forming reactions utilize a Heck/Saegusa–Ito cascade sequence to generate hydroxy α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated aldehyde precursors followed by a catalyst-controlled oxa-Michael cyclization to furnish tetrasubstituted dihydropyrans with high stereocontrol. Subsequent optimized homogeneous or heterogeneous hydrogenations of these dihydropyran systems afford their tetrahydropyran counterparts, also in a highly stereoselective manner. The synthesized thailanstatins and related analogues were biologically evaluated for their cytotoxic properties, leading to the identification of a number of compounds with exceptionally potent antitumor activities suit...
Seeing the Forest for the Trees: The Firewood Trade in Southern Chile

Since the first settlers arrived in Aysen from the Archipelago of Chiloe, residents have depended on the abundant hardwood forests of the region to cook and heat their homes. Aysen’s continued isolation and recent battles over hydroelectric development on the Pasqua and Baker rivers have assured the continued importance of firewood as a heat source, even in the most modern homes, and today more than 700 families across the region work in the firewood trade. This chapter, based on ethnographic research in southern Chile in 2015–2016, examines the challenges faced by firewood traders (leneros) throughout Aysen. Recent state involvement in the industry has ranged from efforts to regulate the quality of fuelwood to initiatives to subsidize its associated costs. New concerns about air quality in cities like Coyhaique are beginning to affect the trade, perhaps changing how Ayseninos think about firewood—and by extension, their long-standing traditions.
Drosophila and C. elegans Models of Human Age-Associated Neurodegenerative Diseases

Defining specific mutations in familial human neurodegenerative diseases has allowed researchers to make animal models of the diseases through directed genetic approaches. These studies help address the molecular mechanisms of disease, and provide the foundation toward therapeutics. Modeling human neurodegenerative diseases in invertebrates has revolutionized the field in such a way that both reverse and forward genetic approaches are leading to the discovery of new players in neurodegeneration. This review focuses on fruit fly and nematode models of human neurodegenerative diseases, with emphasis on how these models have provided new insights into aspects of human disease.
Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations

The following are some of the major and important issues/aspects associated with risk assessment (R.A.) compiled from a questionnaire filled by the participants on the fourth day of the meeting
Distributed Storage Meets Secret Sharing on the Blockchain

Blockchain systems establish a cryptographically secure data structure for storing data in the form of a hash chain. We use a novel combination of distributed storage, private key encryption, and Shamirs secret sharing scheme to distribute transaction data, without significant loss in data integrity. Additionally, using Shamirs secret sharing scheme on the hash values and dynamic zone allocation, we further enhance the integrity. We highlight the tradeoff in storage cost and data loss probability with varying zone size choices. We also study the tradeoff between recovery cost and security from adversarial corruption with varying recovery mechanisms. Then, we formulate code design, given a probability of data recovery and targeted corruption, as an integer program. Using the coding scheme we establish a mechanism to insure data, for instance in blockchain-based cloud storage systems, based on the value of the data, by understanding the costs involved for the service provider.
Identification of the parasitoid community associated with an outbreaking gall wasp, Zapatella davisae, and their relative abundances in New England and Long Island, New York.

Gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) are phytophagous insects that often go unnoticed; however, when they are introduced to a new area or released from their natural enemies, they have the capacity to outbreak and cause extensive foliar damage. One such outbreaking pest, Zapatella davisae (Cynipidae: Cynipini), causes significant damage and mortality to black oak, Quercus velutina, in the northeastern United States. In this study, we aimed to identify the parasitoid community associated with Z. davisae, compare differences in percent parasitism of Z. davisae in Cape Cod and Long Island, and determine which parasitoid species contribute most to parasitism in each region. From both locations, we reared parasitoids, identified morphological groups, analyzed percent parasitism rates for each group, and used DNA barcoding to provide species-level identifications. On Long Island, there was nearly 100% parasitism in 2015 followed by a near total collapse of the population in 2016. In contrast, parasitism rates were lower and remained consistent on Cape Cod between 2015 and 2016, which may explain the greater canopy damage observed in that region. Species of Sycophila were the dominant parasitoids, with one species Sycophila nr. novascotiae representing ~65% of reared parasitoids from Long Island, and two species of Sycophila (S. nr. novascotiae and S. foliatae) with near equal representations on Cape Cod. In order to manage an insect pest, it is important to understand factors that influence its mortality and survival. An understanding of how these infestations progress overtime can help predict the impact that newer infestations in Nantucket, MA, and coastal Rhode Island will have on black oak populations and will aid in the management of this rapidly spreading gall wasp pest.
Effect of Bicarbonate-Buffered Dialysate on Ventricular Arrhythmias in Hemodialysis Patients

Background: The etiology of sudden cardiac death in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) is largely unknown, though there is evidence to suggest that metabolic alkalosis induced by HD with a high-bicarbonate dialysate/prescription may play a role. Methods: We investigated the effects of metabolic alkalosis induced by HD with an acetate-containing bicarbonate-buffered dialysate on frequency of ventricular arrhythmia in 47 patients with ESRD on chronic HD using 48-h Holter monitoring in 3 phases: intra-HD, post-HD day 1, and post-HD day 2. Serum levels of bicarbonate, calcium, and potassium along with hemodynamics were measured pre-HD, post-HD, 20-h post-HD, and 44-h post-HD. Correlations were performed to verify the association between bicarbonate prescription and change in serum bicarbonate levels post-HD and to determine if the HD-induced change in serum bicarbonate level (metabolic alkalosis) had any direct association with ambient ventricular arrhythmia (premature ventricular contractions per hour) or indirect associations with ambient ventricular arrhythmia by affecting electrolytes or hemodynamics that are known to increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmia. Results: Mean pre-HD serum bicarbonate level was 21.3 mEq/L. Dialysate bicarbonate prescription (mean of 36.4 mEq/L) correlated with changes in serum bicarbonate levels immediately post-HD 26.7 mEq/L (r = 0.46, p < 0.01), 20-h post-HD 25.2 mEq/L (r = 0.38), and 44-h post-HD 23.2 mEq/L (r = 0.35, p = 0.01). No statistically significant correlations were found between the post-HD change in serum bicarbonate levels (metabolic alkalosis) with ambient ventricular arrhythmia, changes in serum calcium, potassium, or hemodynamics in any phase. Conclusions: High-bicarbonate dialysate prescription is associated with metabolic alkalosis following the HD procedure. A mild metabolic alkalosis induced by HD with an acetate-containing bicarbonate-buffered dialysate solution had no direct association with ambient ventricular arrhythmia on Holter monitoring and was not associated with changes in hemodynamics or changes in serum total calcium or potassium levels. This study helps to provide guidance for the safe use of high bicarbonate dialysate/prescription in patients with ESRD on HD.
Coverage Control for Multi-Robot Teams with Heterogeneous Sensing Capabilities Using Limited Communications*

This paper presents a coverage algorithm for multi-robot systems where the robots are equipped with qualitatively different sensing modalities. Unlike previous approaches to the problem of coverage for teams with heterogeneous sensing capabilities, in this paper the robots have access to information about their neighbors' specific sensor modalities. This knowledge affords the ability of ensuring that no robot is tasked with covering features in a region without the required sensing modalities. With this information, a robot can determine which of its neighbors it should coordinate with to cover the environmental features in a region while ignoring robots that are not equipped with that particular sensory capability. We derive a distributed control algorithm that allows the robots to move in a direction of descent relative to a novel locational cost, in order to minimize it. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated on a real robotic platform.
Spontaneous Recurrent Absence Seizure-like Events in Wild-Caught Rats

Absence epilepsy is a heritable human neurological disorder characterized by brief nonconvulsive seizures with behavioral arrest, moderate-to-severe loss of consciousness (absence), and distinct spike-wave discharges (SWDs) in the EEG and electrocorticogram (ECoG). Genetic models of this disorder have been created by selectively inbreeding rats for absence seizure-like events with similar electrical and behavioral characteristics. However, these events are also common in outbred laboratory rats, raising concerns about whether SWD/immobility accurately reflects absence epilepsy as opposed to "normal" rodent behavior. We hypothesized that, if SWD/immobility models absence seizures, it would not exist in wild-caught rats due to the pressures of natural selection. To test this hypothesis, we compared chronic video/electrocorticogram recordings from male and female wild-caught (Brown-Norway [BN]) rats to recordings from laboratory outbred BN, outbred Long-Evans, and inbred WAG/Rij rats (i.e., a model of absence epilepsy). Wild-caught BN rats displayed absence-like SWD/immobility events that were highly similar to outbred BN rats in terms of spike-wave morphology, frequency, diurnal rhythmicity, associated immobility, and sensitivity to the anti-absence drug, ethosuximide; however, SWD bursts were less frequent and of shorter duration in wild-caught and outbred BN rats than the outbred Long-Evans and inbred WAG/Rij strains. We conclude that SWD/immobility in rats does not represent absence seizures, although they appear to have many similarities. In wild rats, SWD/immobility appears to represent normal brain activity that does not reduce survival in natural environments, a conclusion that logically extends to outbred laboratory rats and possibly to those that have been inbred to model absence epilepsy.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Spike-wave discharges (SWDs), behavioral arrest, and diminished consciousness are cardinal signs of seizures in human absence epilepsy and are used to model this disorder in inbred rats. These characteristics, however, are routinely found in outbred laboratory rats, leading to debate on whether SWD/immobility is a valid model of absence seizures. The SWD/immobility events in wild-caught rats appear equivalent to those found in outbred and inbred rat strains, except for lower incidence and shorter durations. Our results indicate that the electrophysiological and behavioral characteristics of events underlying hypothetical absence epilepsy in rodent models are found in wild rats captured in their natural environment. Other criteria beyond observation of SWDs and associated immobility are required to objectively establish absence epilepsy in rat models.
An Argument Against Regulating Cannabis Like Alcohol

As cannabis prohibition comes to an end in the United States, federal and state governments must decide how to regulate its cultivation, distribution, and sales. One particular option, supported by some alcohol wholesalers and distributors, is a regulatory system based on that of the alcohol industry, whereby the government mandates a distribution system consisting of three mutually exclusive tiers: manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. This paper, however, argues against creating a regulatory framework for the nascent adult-use cannabis industry modeled after the government-mandated, three-tier distribution system established for alcohol post-Prohibition as it inherently stifles innovation and quality. Essentially, the three-tier distribution system creates an unnatural layer of government-mandated middlemen, distributors and wholesalers, who perpetuate market inefficiencies that benefit themselves, along with large corporations, to the detriment of consumers and small-to-medium-sized businesses. The beer industry, now dominated by two breweries offering largely undifferentiated products, provides a cautionary tale regarding the effects of the three-tier distribution system to those developing the regulatory structure for the adult-use cannabis industry.
Relief-based feature selection: Introduction and review.

Abstract Feature selection plays a critical role in biomedical data mining, driven by increasing feature dimensionality in target problems and growing interest in advanced but computationally expensive methodologies able to model complex associations. Specifically, there is a need for feature selection methods that are computationally efficient, yet sensitive to complex patterns of association, e.g. interactions, so that informative features are not mistakenly eliminated prior to downstream modeling. This paper focuses on Relief-based algorithms (RBAs), a unique family of filter-style feature selection algorithms that have gained appeal by striking an effective balance between these objectives while flexibly adapting to various data characteristics, e.g. classification vs. regression. First, this work broadly examines types of feature selection and defines RBAs within that context. Next, we introduce the original Relief algorithm and associated concepts, emphasizing the intuition behind how it works, how feature weights generated by the algorithm can be interpreted, and why it is sensitive to feature interactions without evaluating combinations of features. Lastly, we include an expansive review of RBA methodological research beyond Relief and its popular descendant, ReliefF. In particular, we characterize branches of RBA research, and provide comparative summaries of RBA algorithms including contributions, strategies, functionality, time complexity, adaptation to key data characteristics, and software availability.
Litter-driven feedbacks influence plant colonization of a high elevation early successional ecosystem

Plant-microbe interactions are crucial components of ecosystem development but are understudied during early succession. The goal of this study was to investigate species-specific effects of plants on unvegetated soils being colonized by plants as climate changes, and assess how plant-soil feedbacks influence plant succession. We used lab and field litter additions in an early successional unvegetated ecosystem in the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains to examine litter-driven changes in soil bacterial and fungal communities. We then used plant litter-trained soil as inocula in a greenhouse experiment to test plant-soil feedbacks. We found species-specific effects of litter additions on bacterial and fungal communities in unvegetated soils, which are likely due to both differences in tissue litter chemistry and differences in the litter microbiome. We identified a negative effect of soil trained by litter from the conservative forb Silene acaulis on the growth of the fast-growing bunchgrass Deschampsia cespitosa, likely due to changes in microbial communities that resulted in lowered nitrification rates or to a litter-driven increase in N-immobilization. Our study demonstrates the importance of plant specificity and potential negative litter-driven feedbacks in primary succession, which could lead to patchy distribution of plant colonists as climate change allows colonization of these areas.
Survey on Decentralized Modular Robots and Control Platforms

Swarm robotics is a relatively new field that has utilized significant progress in the area of multi-agent robotic systems over the last two decades. At times, Swarm robotic systems adopt a decentralized approach in which the desired collective behaviors emerge from local decisions made by robots themselves according to their environment. On the other hand, traditional multi-robot systems basically use centralized communication control in coordinating each robot. The fact that typical swarm of robots consists of relatively simple and homogeneous robots allows the group to self-organize or dynamically reorganize the way individual robots are deployed. Therefore, the swarm approach is considered to be highly robust to the failure of individual robots. The decentralized approach not only addresses the fact that there is a shortage of available software frameworks for distributed control systems/robotics but also introduces system software for controlling multiple expandable and reconfigurable swarm agents. We investigate the behavior of many swarm systems that have been proposed in the literature. In this survey we provide a detailed summary of systems that have been classified under four main categories of the multi-robot system platforms namely; self-reconfigurable, modular, self-replicating, and swarm systems. We present a preliminary taxonomy for swarm robotics and classify existing studies into this taxonomy.
“But first let me take a selfie”: U.S. adolescent girls’ selfie activities, self-objectification, imaginary audience beliefs, and appearance concerns

While some scholars argue that selfies can be a way for teenage girls, particularly, to showcase their individual identity, others argue that selfie activities can lead to body dissatisfaction and ...
Stable Retinoid Analogue Targeted Dual pH-Sensitive Smart Lipid ECO/pDNA Nanoparticles for Specific Gene Delivery in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium.

Dysfunctions caused by gene mutations in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) lead to retinal degeneration, visual function loss, and even blindness. RPE-specific gene replacement therapy holds gre...
AzureML Based Analysis and Prediction Loan Borrowers Creditworthy

In the era of big data, it would be beneficial for lenders to use modern technology such as machine learning algorithms to analyze and predict customers' creditworthy. In this research, our aim is to analyze LendingClub dataset to make it well understood dataset features. Then, we upload our clean dataset to Microsoft Azure machine learning (AzureML) platform to use for building our model. Which aims to predict whether the customers are going to pay back their loans or not. This model predicts the loan status going to be default or fully paid. Moreover, the LendingClub dataset we used in this work is gathered from 2007 to 2018 used accept loans. We used AzureML platform with Two Jungle algorithm and the Two Decision tree. Thereafter, we assess their performance (algorithms) in terms of Accuracy, Precision, Recall, F1 and AUC. Finally, we compare our work with other researchers and our work shows a good result compared to others.
Speech-language pathologists and prosody: Clinical practices and barriers

Prosodic impairments occur in many clinical populations, including those with autism and motor speech disorders. These impairments can negatively impact intelligibility, as well as an individual's ability to signal and understand linguistic contrasts and emotions. For this study, we surveyed 245 Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) to assess their clinical practices with regards to prosody and to identify potential barriers to addressing prosody in the clinic. While a majority of respondents agreed that prosody was within their scope of practice, they reported that they rarely assessed or treated prosody when they suspected that a client had a prosodic impairment. Overall, respondents felt they were lacking in knowledge of the nature of prosody, experience with clients who have prosodic impairments, and knowledge of assessment and treatment methods for prosody. Recommendations include increasing training opportunities, encouraging collaboration between researchers and SLPs with expertise in prosody, and the development of a clinically feasible prosody assessment.
Abstract IA07: Making it easier to participate in research: A patient’s perspective

Today’s patients exist in a new culture of “peer health advice” where people with similar lived experiences are crowdsourcing health questions and relying on the advice of others. Additionally, Google reports there are 70,000 health-related searches happening every 60 seconds. People are naturally turning to social media and the Internet for health information, and yet it is quite difficult for most people to gain access to the detailed information in their own health records. Medical record requests—whether for transitions in care, for greater understanding, or as a requirement to participate in research—take time and effort, and costs are often involved. This creates a massive barrier and delay to accessing potentially life-saving information. In this presentation Liz Salmi will share her own patient experience and the barriers she faced in participating in research. Based on her personal experience, and now her work with the OpenNotes research team, she will outline simple steps health systems and researchers can put into place to make it easier for patients to engage more meaningfully in the health information that is their own. Citation Format: Liz Salmi. Making it easier to participate in research: A patient’s perspective [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advancing Precision Medicine Drug Development: Incorporation of Real-World Data and Other Novel Strategies; Jan 9-12, 2020; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(12_Suppl_1):Abstract nr IA07.
Silk Reservoir Implants for Sustained Drug Delivery

Biomaterial implants for the sustained delivery of therapeutics can be utilized to deliver drugs at near-constant rates over extended time frames to provide an alternative to daily oral medications...
Analytical and functional aspects of protein-ligand interactions: Beyond induced fit and conformational selection.

Abstract Ligand-dependent changes in protein conformation are foundational to biology. Historical mechanistic models for substrate-specific proteins are induced fit (IF) and conformational selection (CS), which invoke a change in protein conformation after ligand binds or before ligand binds, respectively. These mechanisms have important, but rarely discussed, functional relevance because IF vs. CS can differentially affect a protein's substrate specificity or promiscuity, and its regulatory properties. The modern view of proteins as conformational ensembles in both ligand free and bound states, together with the realization that most proteins exhibit some substrate promiscuity, demands a deeper interpretation of the historical models and provides an opportunity to improve mechanistic analyses. Here we describe alternative analytical strategies for distinguishing the historical models, including the more complex expanded versions of IF and CS. Functional implications of the different models are described. We provide an alternative perspective based on protein ensembles interacting with ligand ensembles that clarifies how a single protein can ‘apparently’ exploit different mechanisms for different ligands. Mechanistic information about protein ensembles can be optimized when they are probed with multiple ligands.