cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Atlas of Contemplative Walks (poster)

Background Design of walking environments has been field studied by the author both theoretically as well as in practice as a landscape architect for several decades. Purposes examined have included walking for transportation, health, renewal and safety as well as for creativity. This work examines the modality of walking for contemplation as a unique behavior that is supported by specific design characteristics. Aims The material raises awareness of the why and how of contemplative walk design. The media of silk-screened ceramic and light facilitates a peripatetic sharing of the theory, design principles and case studies. The Atlas presents a start point for considering the geography of contemplative walking behavior when thinking about making cities "walkable". Method Exhibition: I would like to exhibit 13, 6" x 22 printed ceramic steles as a visual narrative of place for people who walk to think. The exhibition is installed where the 13 pieces can be seen "en passant" or "in the round". Each stele presents a facet of the study including design theory, case studies and participatory recommendations. The steles contribute to the the visual plates in the Atlas. Sound and Light: This multi-media sound and light installation was exhibited at Nuit Blanche Toronto 2016 on Bloor Street as "The Firefly Effect". It includes an immersive experience about the role of nature in contemplative walking. This can be done as an "indoor" landscape installation and is best attached to the stele installation (see above). Results - Atlas The interactive atlas presents deep spatial narratives of landscapes made, designed or found. The atlas is illustrated in with plates of the stele images. Some famous, some personal, the atlas presents the walking thinking person with guideposts to choose landscapes for contemplation. The atlas includes pinnacle places sought out as contemplative walks, both monumental and small. Conclusion Some of the great works of our global civilizations have been conceived of or developed as part of walking. This work concludes that need to be outdoors walking to think supports creativity, and attributes of those landscapes chosen for this purpose matters.
Superhydrophobic, carbon-infiltrated carbon nanotubes on Si and 316L stainless steel with tunable geometry

The use of carbon nanotubes to create superhydrophobic coatings has been considered due to their ability to offer a relatively uniform nanostructure. However, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) may be considered delicate with a typical diameter of tens of nanometers for a multi-walled CNT; as-grown carbon nanotubes often require the addition of a thin-film hydrophobic coating to render them superhydrophobic. Furthermore, fine control over the diameter of the as-grown CNTs or the overall nanostructure is difficult. This work demonstrates the utility of using carbon infiltration to layer amorphous carbon on multi-walled nanotubes to improve structural integrity and achieve superhydrophobic behavior with tunable geometry. These carbon-infiltrated carbon nanotube (CICNT) surfaces exhibit an increased number of contact points between neighboring tubes, resulting in a composite structure with improved mechanical stability. Additionally, the native surface can be rendered superhydrophobic with a vacuum pyrolysis treatment, with contact angles as high as 160° and contact angle hysteresis on the order of 1°. The CICNT diameter, static contact angle, sliding angle, and contact angle hysteresis were examined for varying levels of carbon-infiltration to determine the effect of infiltration on superhydrophobicity. The same superhydrophobic behavior and tunable geometry were also observed with CICNTs grown directly on stainless steel without an additional catalyst layer. The ability to tune the geometry while maintaining superhydrophobic behavior offers significant potential in condensation heat transfer, anti-icing, microfluidics, anti-microbial surfaces, and other bio-applications where control over the nanostructure is beneficial.The use of carbon nanotubes to create superhydrophobic coatings has been considered due to their ability to offer a relatively uniform nanostructure. However, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) may be considered delicate with a typical diameter of tens of nanometers for a multi-walled CNT; as-grown carbon nanotubes often require the addition of a thin-film hydrophobic coating to render them superhydrophobic. Furthermore, fine control over the diameter of the as-grown CNTs or the overall nanostructure is difficult. This work demonstrates the utility of using carbon infiltration to layer amorphous carbon on multi-walled nanotubes to improve structural integrity and achieve superhydrophobic behavior with tunable geometry. These carbon-infiltrated carbon nanotube (CICNT) surfaces exhibit an increased number of contact points between neighboring tubes, resulting in a composite structure with improved mechanical stability. Additionally, the native surface can be rendered superhydrophobic with a vacuum pyrolysis treatment,...
Emerging Applications of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) in neurological research.

To review the clinical and research value of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in the field of neurology. Current literature involving OCTA were reviewed through PubMed using the search terms “optical coherence tomography angiography”, with “multiple sclerosis”, “Alzheimer’s disease”, “optic neuropathy”, or other closely-related terms. OCTA has been applied in research to advance our understanding of the pathobiology of neurological disorders. OCTA-derived blood flow and vessel density measures are altered in multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and various optic neuropathies (ON) in varying regions of the posterior segment vasculature of the eye. These emerging research findings support the occurrence of retinal vascular alterations across a host of neurological disorders and raise the possibility that vasculopathy can be clinically relevant since it contributes to the pathobiology of several neurological disorders. OCTA may be beneficial for neurological research. Additional investigations using OCTA in neurological disorders will help to further validate its clinical and research utilities in terms of characterizing the role of vasculopathy in neurological disorders.
Ruxolitinib Rechallenge Can Improve Constitutional Symptoms and Splenomegaly in Patients With Myelofibrosis: A Case Series.

Abstract Introduction Myelofibrosis (MF) is one of the classic myeloproliferative neoplasms and can occur de novo or following transformation from polycythemia vera (PPV MF) or essential thrombocythemia (PET MF). It can be associated with constitutional symptoms and splenomegaly, both of which can negatively impact quality of life. The only curative option for MF is allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Studies have shown that JAK2 inhibitors such as ruxolitinib are effective in reducing both splenomegaly and symptom burden. Although there is no approved treatment for patients who progress on ruxolitinib, anecdotal evidence suggests patients may respond to a re-challenge of ruxolitinib after drug cessation. Patients and Methods We conducted a multi-institutional, retrospective case series to study patients who were re-challenged with ruxolitinib after inadequate response to or loss of response with an initial treatment course. Thirteen patients were identified. Six patients had primary MF, 3 patients had PPV MF, and 4 patients had PET MF. Ten patients were JAK2-positive, 2 were CALR-positive, and 1 patient had neither mutation. Nine patients received 1 ruxolitinib re-challenge, and 4 received 2 re-challenges. Response was defined as improvement in constitutional symptoms and/or reduction in spleen size. Results During the primary treatment course with ruxolitinib, there was improvement in constitutional symptoms and reduction in spleen size in 92% and 85% of patients, respectively. Following cessation of ruxolitinib, all patients received a first re-challenge course with improvement in symptoms and splenomegaly in 92% and 69%, respectively. Of the 4 patients who received a second re-challenge course of ruxolitinib, all had improvements in spleen size and constitutional symptoms. Six patients have continued on a first or second ruxolitinib re-challenge course with good response. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that re-exposure to ruxolitinib following a period of treatment cessation in patients with MF can lead to durable responses with regards to both splenomegaly and symptom burden.
Landslide Tsunami Hazard Along the Upper US East Coast: Effects of Slide Deformation, Bottom Friction, and Frequency Dispersion

Numerical simulations of Submarine Mass Failures (SMFs) are performed along the upper US East Coast to assess the effect of slide deformation on predicted tsunami hazard. Tsunami generation is simulated using the three-dimensional non-hydrostatic model NHWAVE. For rigid slumps, the geometry and law of motion are specified as bottom boundary conditions. Deforming slide motion is modeled using a depth-integrated bottom layer of dense Newtonian fluid, fully coupled to the overlying fluid motion. Once the SMFs are no-longer tsunamigenic, tsunami propagation simulations are performed using the Boussinesq wave model FUNWAVE-TVD, using nested grids of increasingly fine resolution towards shore and employing a one-way coupling methodology. Probable maximum tsunamis are simulated for Currituck SMF proxies sited in four areas of the shelf break slope that have enough sediment accumulation to cause large failures. Deforming slides have a slightly larger initial acceleration, but still generate a smaller tsunami than rigid slumps due to their spreading and thinning out during motion, which gradually makes them less tsunamigenic. Comparing the maximum envelope of surface elevations along a 5 m isobath, consistent with earlier work, the bathymetry of the wide shelf is found to strongly control the spatial distribution of tsunami inundation. Overall, tsunamis caused by rigid slumps are worst case scenarios, providing up to 50% more inundation than for deforming slides having a moderate level of viscosity set in the upper range of debris flows. Tsunamis from both types of SMFs are able to cause water withdrawal to the 5 m isobath or deeper. Bottom friction effects are assessed by performing some of the simulations using two different Manning coefficients, one 50% larger than the other. With increased bottom friction, the largest tsunami inundations at the coast are reduced by up to 15%. Selected simulations are rerun by turning off dispersion in the model, which leads to moderate changes in maximum surface elevations nearshore (− 10 to + 5% changes), but to more significant effects in the far field (− 40 to 80% changes). Onshore, dispersion causes the appearance of short period undular bores that eventually break nearshore without significantly affecting inundation at the coast. However, these bores increase wave-induced maximum flow velocity and impulse forces, the latter by up to 40%, which may affect the design of coastal structures.
MapReduce - The Scalable Distributed Data Processing Solution.

MapReduce is a programming paradigm used for processing massive data sets with a scalable and parallel approach on a cluster of distributed compute nodes. In this chapter we aim to provide background on the MapReduce programming paradigm and framework, highlighting its significance and usage for data crunching in today’s scenario. Alongside, students will be introduced to important concepts such as Big Data, scalability, parallelization and divide & conquer. The chapter provides ample examples, both beginner level and advanced, for students to become proficient in recognizing problems suitable for a MapReduce solution and to define efficient Map and Reduce functions for those data sets.
Lower extremity kinematics of cross-slope roof walking.

Abstract Working conditions of residential roofers expose them to a unique sloped environment. The purpose of this study is to determine in what way traversing across a sloped/roof surface alters lower extremity kinematics of the upslope and downslope legs compared to level walking. College aged males negotiated across a pitched (26 degrees) roof segment during which lower extremity three-dimensional kinematics were calculated. One foot was higher on the slope and one was lower for the duration of cross slope walking. Overall, cross-slope walking on a 26 degree roof significantly altered 77% of the measured lower extremity variables compared to level self-selected pace walking. The data suggest that roof pitch incite significant differences in crossslope walking of the kinematics in the lower extremity between the upslope and down slope limbs when compared to level surface walking. These alterations could temporarily alter proprioception which may in turn lead to increased falls and musculoskeletal injury, though further study is needed.
The role of autobiographical memory in competence need satisfaction

The present investigation examined whether autobiographical memory can function to regulate competence need satisfaction. Across two experiments, we examined how autobiographical memories affected perceived competence after competence was threatened or satisfied in a previous task. Experiment 1 results from an undergraduate student sample (N = 150) indicated that reflecting on a competence-satisfying memory increased perceived competence for all participants, but this increase was particularly large for participants whose competence was previously threatened. Experiment 2 results using an undergraduate student sample (N = 245) indicated that participants were not more likely to select a competence-satisfying autobiographical memory over a relatedness-satisfying memory after experiencing a competence threat in a previous task; however, those who selected a competence-satisfying memory reported greater competence need satisfaction and more positive affect than those who selected a relatedness-satisfying memory. Moreover, degree of competence need satisfaction predicted positive affect which in turn predicted self-esteem and optimism. The present experiments highlight the powerful role of reflecting on important autobiographical experiences on need fulfillment and general psychological well-being.
A History of the American Civil Rights Movement Through Newspaper Coverage: The Race Agenda, Volume 1

Steve Hallock acknowledges the challenge he faces with his latest book. He tackles a familiar subject—the civil rights movement—and focuses on the role newspapers played in the drama. Didn’t Robert...
Confessions of an Intellectual Freedom Novice

AbstractFor nearly three years the Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC) has been accused as a “purveyor of pornography” for its cooperative purchasing services – licensing resources from EBSCO, Gale/...
Elective induction of labor.

I T IS 0~1: opinion that the elective induction of labor has a useful place in present-day obstetrics with advantages to both patient and doctor. If the procedure is applied to the proper patient at the proper time, no serious complications should result. As Eastman1 points out in commenting on Hanley’s; paper, “It is the abuse of the procedure, or its application to the wrong patient that is fraught with danger, not the procedure itself.” It should no longer be necessary to do this procedure secretively or with apologies to one’s confreres or to the nursing staff, provided the cervix is “ripe,” which means that the cervix is partially dilated and 50 per cent or more effaced; in addition, the vertex should be well in the pelvis, the pelvis normal, and the patient at or close to term. The advantages to the patient who is a proper candidate for induction and who lives at a considerable distance from the hospital are obvious. It is these patients who often have to race to the hospital in a breakneck contest with t,ime in which they occasionally fail. It gives both the patient and doctor greater peace of mind knowing that they can plan a particular delivery without detriment to the mother or her offspring. It, also lightens t,he load for the busy obstetrician who is often called upon to exercise his best judgment when he is physically at low ebb. When the patient is admitted to the hospital, the vulva is shaved, scrubbed, and prepared for a sterile vaginal examination in the labor room. The operator scrubs in the same way as he would for a delivery, puts on sterile gloves, and examines the patient. If the cervix is at least, 1 to 2 cm. dilated, 50 per cent or more effaced, and the vertex well in the pelvis, the membranes are ruptured with an ordinary dressing forceps. We usually strip the membranes from the cervix and lower uterine segment before rupturing them, and then allow a considerable amount of fluid to escape. We feel that stripping of the membranes shortens the latent period before contractions set, in. A small dose of Seconal (llhL grains) is frequently given to the patient on admission. After the membranes have been ruptured the patient is given a soapsuds enema. Pituitrin, 1/3 t,o 1 minim doses, repeated every 20 to 30 minutes, has frequently been used in the hope of shortening the latent period. In recent years, some of us have used intravenous Pitocin (3 minims to 500 cc. of 5 per cent glucose in water) for the same purpose.
Weak pluralism and shallow democracy: the rise of identity politics in Bulgaria and Romania

The rise of identity politics has been surprising in two countries that have benefitted extensively from EU membership. To address the puzzle, the paper suggests that the EU vision of common and in...
Highly sampled measurements in a controlled atmosphere at the Biosphere 2 Landscape Evolution Observatory.

Land-atmosphere interactions at different temporal and spatial scales are important for our understanding of the Earth system and its modeling. The Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO) at Biosphere 2, managed by the University of Arizona, hosts three nearly identical artificial bare-soil hillslopes with dimensions of 11 × 30 m2 (1 m depth) in a controlled and highly monitored environment within three large greenhouses. These facilities provide a unique opportunity to explore these interactions. The dataset presented here is a subset of the measurements in each LEO’s hillslopes, from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2019 every 15 minutes, consisting of temperature, water content and heat flux of the soil (at 5 cm depth) for 12 co-located points; temperature, relative humidity and wind speed above ground at 5 locations and 5 different heights ranging from 0.25 m to 9–10 m; 3D wind at 1 location; the four components of radiation at 2 locations; spatially aggregated precipitation rates, total subsurface discharge, and relative water storage; and the measurements from a weather station outside the greenhouses. Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12881810
Method for identification of redox control parameters for corrosion mitigation in molten fluoride salts

Abstract Structural material corrosion is a significant concern for the development of molten salt-cooled reactors (MSR) and redox control was proposed to mitigate the corrosion. This study presents an efficient approach to identify the partial pressure of F2 gas for fluorine driven corrosion, the concentration ratios of UF4/UF3 and ZrF4/ZrF2, and the partial pressure ratio of HF/H2 needed to limit metal corrosion and its subsequent dissolution in molten fluoride salts. The identification procedure is made by simply using auxiliary axes in Ellingham diagrams. This approach greatly simplifies the optimization of redox control methods in studying the material corrosion in molten salts.
Time-saving goods, time inequalities and optimal commodity taxation

Time-saving goods are defined as market goods that reduce home labor requirements (e.g., restaurants; washing machines). Assuming that time savings are costly, this paper shows that lower income individuals can purchase fewer time savings and enjoy less leisure time. Commodity tax rates affecting low-income individuals should depend more on time savings, and less on the classic Corlett and Hague rule. The related literature suggests to impose lower tax rates on goods that require less home labor. This paper shows that goods that offer greater time savings with respect to their more affordable substitutes should also receive favorable tax treatment.
Best Practices in Engagement and Research to Practice.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines Research to Practice (r2p) as “an approach to collaborations with partners and stakeholders on the use, adoption, and adapt...
Risks associated with continuation of potentially inappropriate antihypertensive medications in older adults receiving hemodialysis.

Background and objectives After dialysis initiation, older adults may experience orthostatic or post-dialysis hypotension. Some orthostasis-causing antihypertensives (i.e., central alpha agonists and alpha blockers), are considered potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) for older adults because they carry more risk than benefit. We sought to (1) describe antihypertensive PIM prescribing patterns before and after dialysis initiation and (2) ascertain the potential risk of adverse outcomes when these medications are continued after dialysis initiation. Design, setting, participants, and measurements Using United States Renal Data System data, we evaluated monthly prevalence of antihypertensive PIM claims in the period before and after dialysis initiation among older adults aged ≥66 years initiating in-center hemodialysis in the US between 2013 and 2014. Patients with an antihypertensive PIM prescription at hemodialysis initiation and who survived for 120 days were classified as 'continuers' or 'discontinuers' based on presence or absence of a refill within the 120 days after initiation. We compared rates of hospitalization and risk of death across these groups from day 121 through 24 months after dialysis initiation. Results Our study included 30,760 total patients, of whom 5981 (19%) patients had an antihypertensive PIM claim at dialysis initiation and survived ≥120 days. Most [65% (n = 3920)] were continuers. Those who continued (versus discontinued) were more likely to be black race (26% versus 21%), have dual Medicare-Medicaid coverage (31% versus 27%), have more medications on average (12 versus 9) and have no functional limitations (84% versus 80%). Continuers experienced fewer all-cause hospitalizations and deaths, but neither were statistically significant after adjustment (Hospitalization: RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.86, 1.00; Death: HR 0.89, 95% CI: 0.78-1.02). Conclusions Nearly one in five older adults had an antihypertensive PIM at dialysis initiation. Among those who survived ≥120 days, continuation of an antihypertensive PIM was not associated with increased risk of all-cause hospitalization or mortality.
Sexuality, Contraception, and Pregnancy in Kidney Transplantation

Sexual dysfunction is defined as any abnormality in sexual arousal, libido, intercourse, orgasm, or satisfaction. It is prevalent in patients with chronic and end-stage kidney disease, with 70% to 84% of men and 30% to 60% of women reporting some form of sexual dysfunction. Although kidney transplantation improves the overall quality of life for patients receiving dialysis, it can have unexpected effects on sexual function owing to the use of immunosuppressive medications and comorbid illnesses. It is important to recognize these adverse effects and pre-emptively discuss them with patients to help mitigate consequent psychosocial discontent. Women of reproductive age will often recover fertility after kidney transplantation and therefore need to be empowered to prevent unwanted pregnancies and plan for a safe pregnancy if desired. Complications such as preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, ectopic pregnancy, still birth, low birth weight, and preterm birth are more common in pregnant women with a kidney transplant. Careful monitoring for infection, rejection, and immunosuppressive dose adjustment along with comanagement by a high-risk obstetrician is of utmost importance. Breast-feeding is safe with most immunosuppressive medications and should be encouraged.
Patient Satisfaction with Telephone Versus Video-Televisits: A Cross-Sectional Survey of an Urban, Multiethnic Population.

Objective To examine differences between telephone and video-televisits and identify whether visit modality is associated with satisfaction in an urban, academic general urology practice. Methods A cross sectional analysis of patients who completed a televisit at our urology practice (summer 2020) was performed. A Likert-based satisfaction telephone survey was offered to patients within 7 days of their televisit. Patient demographics, televisit modality (telephone vs video), and outcomes of the visit (eg follow-up visit scheduled, orders placed) were retrospectively abstracted from each chart and compared between the telephone and video cohorts. Multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate variables associated with satisfaction while controlling for potential confounders. Results A total of 269 patients were analyzed. 73% (196/269) completed a telephone televisit. Compared to the video cohort, the telephone cohort was slightly older (mean 58.8 years vs. 54.2 years, P = .03). There were no significant differences in the frequency of orders placed for medication changes, labs, imaging, or for in-person follow-up visits within 30 days between cohorts. Survey results showed overall 84.7% patients were satisfied, and there was no significant difference between the telephone and video cohorts. Visit type was not associated with satisfaction on multivariable analyses, while use of an interpreter [OR:8.13 (1.00-65.94); P = .05], labs ordered [OR:2.74 (1.12-6.70); P = .03] and female patient gender [OR:2.28 (1.03-5.03); P = .04] were significantly associated with satisfaction. Conclusion Overall, most patients were satisfied with their televisit. Additionally, telephone- and video-televisits were similar regarding patient opinions, patient characteristics, and visit outcome. Efforts to increase access and coverage of telehealth, particularly telephone-televisits, should continue past the COVID-19 pandemic.
How to Jump Start a Post-Coronavirus Economy

Those people who have recovered from the coronavirus, whose number will grow over the next days and weeks, should get certificates to this effect from their healthcare provider and be free to go to work and otherwise move about, to help beef up the economy.
Composition and Optical Properties of Warm Dense Germanium Plasma

A major effect of high-intensity, cold X-rays (1.0-1.5 keV) released from a high-altitude nuclear burst to a few microns of satellite surface materials is the absorption of X-rays, shock wave induction, blow-off, and generation of warm dense plasma (WDP). It produces the extreme pressures and temperatures causing the damage of exposed optics, sensors, and solar cells on satellites. Implications of X-ray irradiation of solar cells are potentially quite serious. The semiconductor elements are not shielded and can be directly exposed to X-ray radiation when a solar panel is oriented under some angle relative to the X-ray source. The dense surface plasmas can couple the solar cells to each other and to dielectric structures, particularly in a gap between the unshielded Germanium (Ge) elements causing them to be destroyed. The study and understanding the physical and electrical properties of WDP generated in the cold X-ray radiation environment can improve the ways to design more survivable solar arrays for satellites. High-fidelity computational models are vital to guide our fundamental understanding of the underlining physics of WDP and its physical properties.
Troponin I phosphorylation is essential for cardiac reserve.

With an increase in the body's metabolic demand (e.g., exercise), the heart must increase its pumping performance. To achieve this increased performance, the heart relies on its cardiac reserve, which is the ability to increase its systolic and diastolic function. The mechanism responsible for cardiac reserve is poorly understood. The myofilaments are essential for contraction/relaxation, with troponin I (the inhibitory subunit of troponin, TnI) being a key regulatory protein. Studies have shown that TnI serine 23/24 (S23/S24) phosphorylation is a key mechanism for accelerating relaxation by decreasing Ca2+ sensitivity. However, the role of TnI in cardiac reserve is unknown. For this study, we characterized the systolic and diastolic reserve in TnI S23/S24 phosphorylation-null transgenic mice (S23/S24 mutated to alanine [AA] mice). Even with increased Ca2+ sensitivity, the AA mice exhibited normal function at resting heart rate with no difference in cardiac structure compared with wild type. To examine the role TnI S23/S24 phosphorylation in systolic and diastolic reserve, we assessed hemodynamics via left ventricular catheterization on the Bowditch effect (i.e., an increase in contractile function with increasing heart rate) by increasing heart rate (from 240 to 420 beats per minute) and sympathetic stimulation (dobutamine). Our data exhibited a clear loss of diastolic and systolic reserve in the AA mice with increasing heart rate and dobutamine. Since we observed a clear inability to increase systolic and diastolic function in AA mice, we performed speckle tracking echocardiography to quantitatively characterize function at resting heart rate. We observed that AA mice demonstrated normal systolic function (radial strain rate) and impaired directional diastolic function (reverse radial strain rate) at resting heart rate. We conclude that TnI S23/S24 phosphorylation is essential for cardiac reserve by enhancing systolic and diastolic function. A blunted cardiac reserve leads to heart disease making TnI S23/S24 phosphorylation a potential therapeutic strategy.
Unnnatural Competition: Applying the New Antitrust Learning to Foster Competition in the Local Exchange

This article evaluates the local telephone competition-enhancing provisions of the 1996 Telecommunications Act in light of recent developments in the economic theory of competition and anticompetitive behavior. The basic thesis of the article is that the 1996 Telecommunications Act's attempts to create competition in the local telephone exchange by requiring, inter alia, interconnection between rival carriers, network unbundling by incumbent carriers, resale of services, and a number of other similar obligations, while a good start, do not go far enough. The economic model upon which this portion of the Act is premised is the price theoretic model of neoclassical economics, and in particular the version of price theory brought to prominence by the so-called "Chicago School" in the 1970s and 1980s. This model tends to view competition in static, cost-based terms and tends to discount the possibility of market imperfections or successful anticompetitive behavior. As such, it suggests that removing legal barriers to competition, and otherwise adopting a laissez faire approach to the development of competition, is the optimum regulatory strategy. In recent years, however, a new type of economic learning has emerged, which challenges the assumptions of the Chicago School that unregulated markets will achieve socially optimum results. Using tools such as game theory; models of "strategic behavior," "foreclosure," and "raising rivals' costs"; awareness of network effects; and path dependency theory, this learning has presented a strong case for greater governmental intervention in markets. The implications of this learning for local competition are that simply permitting entry into local telephone markets will not suffice to create viable competition, in light of the incentive and ability of powerful incumbents to thwart competition. Instead, an official policy of actively fostering nascent competition, and temporarily constraining dominant incumbents, may be necessary if competition is to emerge.
Coalition formation among autonomous agents

Coalitions of agents can work more effectively than individual agents in many multi-agent settings. Determining which coalitions should form (i.e., what agents should work together) is a difficult problem that is typically solved by some kind of centralised planner. As the number of agents grows, however, reliance on a central authority becomes increasingly impractical. This paper formalises the coalition formation problem in decision theoretic and game theoretic terms and presents a fully distributed algorithm that can efficiently determine coalitions that will be approximately “stable.” Stable coalitions are resistant to attempts of outsiders to break the coalition, because remaining in the coalition maximises the expected reward for each agent in the coalition. The algorithm is a variant of the “stable marriage matching with unacceptable partners” [6]. The Shapley value ([11], [12]) is suggested as a fair method to divide the coalition's utility among the members.
Patterns of woody plant abundance, recruitment, mortality, and growth in a 65 year chronosequence of old-fields

We surveyed vegetation along forest margins in a 65-year chronosequence of old-fields at the Cedar Creek Natural History Area in east-central Minnesota, USA, to identify successional patterns of woody plants and to determine if these were correlated with soil nitrogen. We predicted that shrub and tree abundance, size, and distance of occurrence from the forest edge would be correlated with field age or soil nitrogen. Instead we did not find successional trends in the abundance or composition of woody species. Even in the oldest field the abundance of trees and shrubs was low and concentrated in areas close to the forest. Though trees were larger and present further from the forest edges in older fields, average tree height was less than 126 cm in all fields. Since we did not find successional trends we looked at various local factors (local seed sources, deer browsing, and forest edge aspect) and their relation to recruitment, mortality, or growth to explain variation among fields in abundance of trees or shrubs. The three most common tree species (Quercus rubra, Q. macrocarpa,and Populus tremuloides) all had a higher relative abundance of seedlings, and two (Q. rubra and Q. macrocarpa) had a higher relative abundance of large trees adjacent to forests with a high abundance of conspecific adults. Most trees taller than 20 cm were browsed by deer and were shorter in 1995 than they were in 1993. Mortality was higher for trees less than 30 cm indicating that mortality was size-dependent. Forest edge aspect did not significantly influence the abundance or demography of any species. Our results suggest that the patterns of seedling recruitment were largely determined by the proximity of seed sources and that these patterns may persist so that tree communities in old-fields resemble adjacent forests. Deer may be a significant factor in the suppression of tree populations in old-fields through repeated browsing which reduces tree growth and elevates tree mortality by prolonging the period of time trees remain susceptible to size-dependent mortality.
Multicriterially Best Explanations

Inference to the best explanation, IBE, (or abduction) requires finding the best explanatory hypothesis, from a set of rival hypotheses, to explain a collection of data. The notion of best, however, is multicriterial and the available rival hypotheses might be variously good according to different criteria. Thus, one can view the abduction problem as that of choosing the best hypothesis from among a set of multicriterially evaluated hypotheses - i.e as a multiple criteria decision making problem. In the absence of a single hypothesis that is the best along all dimensions of goodness, the MCDM problem becomes especially hard. The Seeker-Filter-Viewer architecture provides an effective and natural way to use computer power to assist humans to solve certain classes of MCDM problems. In this paper, we apply an MCDM perspective to the abductive problem of red-cell antibody identification and present the results obtained by using the S-F-V architecture.
Comparative Control of a Branch-Point Enzyme in Microorganisms

Thirty-two genera of microorganisms were identified with one of six distinctive control patterns for the enzyme 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthetase. These patterns included sequential feedback inhibition, isoenzyme feedback inhibition, cumulative feedback inhibition, and three (apparent) simple one-effector patterns. Documentation is provided of an overwhelming tendency for control patterns to be strongly conserved among the member species of the various genera that were examined.
Molecular mechanism of the synergistic phosphorylation of phosphatase inhibitor-2. Cloning, expression, and site-directed mutagenesis of inhibitor-2.

Inhibitor-2 (I-2) is the regulatory subunit of the ATP-Mg-dependent phosphatase, a cytosolic form of type 1 protein phosphatase. Phosphorylation of I-2 at Thr-72 by the protein kinase glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) leads to activation of the enzyme. Casein kinase II action was shown to synergistically enhance phosphorylation and activation by GSK-3 (DePaoli-Roach, A.A. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12144-12152). Rabbit skeletal muscle and liver I-2 cDNA clones have been isolated. Rabbit skeletal muscle cDNAs could be placed in two subtypes, differing in the length of the 3'-untranslated region. The coding sequence of 612 nucleotides was identical in the two skeletal muscle and the liver cDNAs and predicted a protein of 204 amino acids, consistent with analysis of the purified protein. Northern hybridization analysis indicated that the two mRNAs of 1.7 and 2.7 kilobase pairs were present in all rabbit tissues examined, except in liver, where only the larger transcript was detected, and in testis, where additional transcripts were present. Expression in Escherichia coli of wild-type and phosphorylation site mutants resulted in the production of I-2 polypeptides with apparent M(r) values of approximately 31,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The inhibitory activity of the recombinant proteins was similar to that of native rabbit skeletal muscle I-2 and was unaffected by the substitution of alanine for the GSK-3 site (Thr-72) and for the casein kinase II sites (Ser-86 and Ser-120/121) or by substitution of glutamic acid and aspartic acid for Thr-72 and Ser-86. Recombinant wild-type I-2 and the Ala-120/121 mutant were phosphorylated synergistically by GSK-3 and casein kinase II. The Thr-72 and Ser-86 mutants, however, did not undergo this synergistic phosphorylation. Our studies indicate that Thr-72 is the only GSK-3 site and that Ser-86 is the casein kinase II site required for the potentiation of GSK-3 action. Furthermore, acidic residues cannot substitute for the phosphate group either in enhancing GSK-3 phosphorylation or in activating the phosphatase.
Terminal protein‐induced stretching of bacteriophage φ29 DNA

Stretching of DNA molecules helps to resolve detail during the fluorescence microscopy of both single DNA molecules and single DNA-protein complexes. To make stretching occur, intricate procedures of specimen preparation and manipulation have been developed in previous studies. By contrast, the present study demonstrates that conventional procedures of specimen preparation cause DNA stretching to occur, if the specimen is the double-stranded DNA genome of bacteriophage phi29. Necessary for this stretching is a protein covalently bound at both 5' termini of phi29 DNA molecules. Some DNA molecules are attached to a cover glass only at the two ends. Others are attached at one end only with the other end free in solution. The extent of stretching varies from approximately 50% overstretched to approximately 50% understretched. The understretched DNA molecules are internally mobile to a variable extent. In addition to stretching, some phi29 DNA molecules also undergo assembly to form both linear and branched concatemers observed by single-molecule fluorescence microscopy. The assembly also requires the terminal protein. The stretched DNA molecules are potentially useful for observing DNA biochemistry at the single molecule level.
Quantum Relativity and the Cosmic Observer

By a critique of the opposing characteristics of general relativity and quantum theory, I want to assess the possibility and form of a quantum relativity, and thereby—through the “observer problem”—to arrive at a view of the scientist as an incarnated or embodied knower, not beyond nature, but naturalized in the material universe. My point of view is that of a philosopher and a physicist, and the manner is more heuristic than technical, although the technical material could be provided if necessary. In my treatment of the quantum theory, I am presupposing that some form of the Copenhagen Interpretation is valid.(1)
Endemism and extinction of a new genus of chionine (Veneridae; Chioninae) bivalve from the late Neogene of Venezuela

Liromissus, a new genus of chionine bivalve from the Neogene of Venezuela, serves as an example of the link between geographic range, endemism and extinction susceptibility. Unlike other Neogene tropical American chionine genera, Liromissus was not widespread in the tropical Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, but was instead restricted to the Atlantic Gatunian region. Late Neogene extinctions in tropical America affected taxa with restricted geographic ranges, and regions with higher degrees of endemism more severely. Accordingly, Liromissus is the only tropical chionine genus to suffer extinction during the Neogene.The type species of Liromissus, L. quirosensis, was originally described as a member of the genus Lirophora. Morphological considerations preclude this assignment, but also demonstrate that Liromissus possesses all the characters diagnostic of the Chioninae.
On the Phenomenology of Hidden Valleys with Heavy Flavor

A preliminary investigation of a large class of Hidden Valley models is presented. These models are more challenging than those considered in arXiv:0712.2041 [hep-ph]; although they produce a new light resonance which decays to heavy standard model fermions, they exhibit no light dilepton resonance. A heavy $Z'$ decaying to v-hadrons, which in turn decay mainly to bottom quarks and tau leptons, is considered; six case studies are investigated, using a new Monte Carlo simulation package. It is found that the one-to-one correspondence of jets and partons is badly broken, and the high-multiplicity heavy-flavor signal probably cannot be isolated by counting jets, with or without heavy-flavor tags. Instead, other measures, such as counting and correlating vertices or displaced tracks, and possibly counting of (non-isolated) muons and use of event-shape variables, should be combined with scalar transverse energy and/or missing transverse energy to reduce backgrounds. Within the resulting sample, searches for the v-pion mass resonance in both di-jet and single-jet invariant mass can help confirm a signal. The best observable in a perfect calorimeter seems to be single-jet invariant mass for jets of larger radius ($R$=0.7), although this needs further study in a realistic setting. A more detailed signal-to-background study is needed as a next step, but will face the difficulty of estimating the various high-multiplicity backgrounds.
Higher-Order Corrections to QCD Factorization in B → πK,ππ Decays

The renormalon calculus is used to calculate the terms of order β0n−1αsn in the perturbative expansions of the Wilson coefficients and hard-scattering kernels entering the QCD factorization formula for hadronic B-meson decays into two light pseudoscalar mesons. The asymptotic behavior of the expansions is analyzed, and a minimal model of power corrections arising from soft ``non-factorizable'' gluon exchange to the B→πK,ππ decay amplitudes is obtained, which takes into account the structure of the leading and subleading infrared renormalon singularities. Whereas the resulting power corrections are generally very small, some of the strong-interaction phases of the hard-scattering kernels receive sizeable two-loop corrections. The implications of these findings on CP asymmetries and branching ratios are investigated.
Infrared Examination of Micro Samples Using Reflectance Techniques

The past few years have seen a significant increase in the use of infrared reflectance techniques for obtaining information of types not previously associated with reflectivity measurements. The purpose of this paper is to describe several reflectance attachments used by our laboratory and to illustrate a few of their applications in general chemical analyses. In addition to the normal types of reflectivity study, we have found these attachments to be extremely valuable for micro-analyses and thin coating or surface chemistry studies. One attachment is particularly useful at extended wavelengths, i.e., to 300 microns.
Inflammation and Lung Cancer: Addressing Inflammation with Immunotherapy

New ground-breaking discoveries in cancer immunotherapeutics are now applicable for lung cancer therapy, exemplified by the recent FDA approval of nivolumab for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung as a second line therapy, harnessing the immune system to fight lung cancer. This opens the door for lung cancer to enter the mainstream of immunotherapeutics along with other malignancies that have been traditionally viewed as immune unresponsive. The durable responses that result in continued separation of the survival curves suggest a new emerging paradigm that may add significantly to the benefit of existing conventional therapies. This chapter reviews immunotherapeutic approaches for lung cancer that have shown promise in early clinical trials and/or have advanced to late-phase development and FDA approval.
American Exceptionalism at the Crossroads: Three Responses

Unlike the immediate post-Cold War era of triumphalism and neoliberal prosperity, the last decade has witnessed the erosion of the ‘unipolar moment’ after the major setbacks of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and the financial crisis of 2008. In this context, reconsidering the idea of American exceptional identity is not simply a scholastic exercise, but an urgent practical problem concerning the direction of US leadership in the world. This article presents a review of three representative discourses on American exceptionalism at a critical juncture. First, the neoconservatives Charles W. Dunn et al. and Robert Kagan attempt to reconfirm the virtue of the ‘American Creed’ and reassure the American people that the US will lead the world as it has done. Second, Tony Smith represents a dominant liberal consensus in US academia. Following Louis Hartz, Smith emphasizes not triumphalism, but an historical irony of American liberal identity. Finally, Anatol Lieven, resonating with the ‘multiple traditions’ approa...