cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seismic hybrid simulation of a nonductile RC building with severe damage to multiple columns

Summary Reinforced concrete frame structures built prior to the mid-1970s are susceptible to brittle column failure under seismic action, potentially leading to progressive collapse of the structure. The behavior of columns susceptible to brittle shear-axial failure has been studied previously but rarely has the interaction between damaged columns and the surrounding three-dimensional structure been investigated experimentally and at full scale. In this study, as the second in a series of hybrid simulations, two full-scale reinforced concrete columns of a representative pre-1970s structure were tested at the Multi-axial Full-scale Substructure Testing and Simulation (MUST-SIM) laboratory. Through the use of hybrid simulation, the interaction of the columns with the surrounding structure is studied under a severe seismic motion including vertical excitation. The computational model representing the remainder of the representative 10-story structure is created in the computer program OpenSees. During the hybrid simulation, both physical specimens experience significant loss of shear and axial strength, and the effects of these failures on the surrounding system are described. The three-dimensional computational model in OpenSees allowed for analytical flexural-axial failure of a third column in the structure to occur. The effects of these multiple failures on the response of a full structural system under seismic action are quantified, and the progressive collapse resistance mechanisms are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Speak my language or look like me? – Language and ethnicity in bilingual customer service recovery

Abstract This research examines the influence of verbal (language) and non-verbal communication (ethnicity) of service providers on customers' perceptions of service recovery. Drawing insights from speech accommodation theory and inferiority complex, this study uses between subject experimental design to explore conditions under which language convergence and divergence are effective ways to build rapport. Results show that the influence of ethnicity and language cannot be interpreted without considering the ethnic composition of customers and service providers. Results also show that language can trigger stigma with positive country image that interact together to create a more favorable rapport.
The Characterization of Bulk

An attempt is made to define the physical connotations of the aesthetic concept of bulk. In a review of the past usage of this term, it is shown to have originated as a purely aesthetic description...
Chain Exchange Kinetics in Diblock Copolymer Micelles in Ionic Liquids: The Role of χ

Chain exchange kinetics of diblock copolymer micelles with lower critical micellization temperature (LCMT) phase behavior were investigated using time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS). Three nearly identical isotopically substituted pairs of poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PMMA-b-PnBMA) diblocks were used in mixtures of the room temperature ionic liquids 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. In this case, the h-PnBMA and d9-PnBMA blocks form the micellar cores. The results are consistent with previous measurements in other systems, in that the barrier to chain extraction scales linearly with the core block length. By varying the ratio of the two homologous solvents in the mixture, the value of χ between the core block and the solvent is varied systematically. The results show that the solvent selectivity has a remarkable effect on the chain exchange rate, as anticipated b...
The Impact of a Death Row Exoneration Testimonial on Social Work Students: A Teaching Note

ABSTRACTCriminal-justice-involved clients often are a complicated population for students to consider through a lens of oppression. Nevertheless, it is critical that they do so given that many will serve clients with criminal records during their careers. An attempt to challenge students’ prejudice toward criminal-justice-involved people was deployed using a teaching technique derived from intergroup contact theory. The authors invited Juan Melendez to share his story of incarceration on death row for more than 17 years for a crime he did not commit. This article is an examination of the impact of Mr. Melendez’s story and the application of intergroup contact theory.
Differential regulation of TauT by calcitriol and retinoic acid via VDR/RXR in LLC-PK1 and MCF-7 cells.

The interaction between taurine and the absorption of fat-soluble ­vitamins, such as vitamin A and D, has been an interesting topic in the field of ­nutrition science, because taurine-conjugated bile acid optimizes fat and fat-soluble vitamin absorption. However, whether the hormone calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) and retinoic acid regulate the expression of the TauT gene is unknown. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the TauT gene is regulated by vitamin D3 (VD3) and retinoic acid (RA) via activation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and retinoic acid receptor (RXR). Taurine uptake, Western blotting, gene reporter assay, and immunohistochemical analysis of TauT, VDR, and RXR were used in VD3- and/or RA-treated LLC-PK1 and MCF-7 cells. We demonstrated that VD3 alone had little effect on TauT expression in both LLC-PK1 and MCF-7 cells. Expression of TauT was significantly increased by RA, which was synergized by the addition of VD3 after RXR activation in LLC-PK1 cells. In contrast, expression of TauT was significantly decreased by the combination of VD3 and RA in MCF-7 cells. Regulation of TauT by VD3/RA appears to occur at the transcriptional level, as determined by a reporter gene assay of the TauT promoter. Immunohistochemical study showed that VDR and RXR were activated by VD3 and RA, respectively, in both LLC-PK1 and MCF-7 cells. The activated VDR and RXR also colocated in nuclei of both cells, suggesting that a VDR/RXR complex is involved in the transcriptional regulation of TauT. Our results show that expression of TauT is differentially regulated by VD3 and RA via formation of VDR and RXR complexes in the nuclei in a cell type-dependent manner.
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: Farm and Turbine Design

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) represent a unique form of power-generating technology. Historically, they have been relegated to fulfilling a small niche market in commercially available wind turbines due to their “yaw-less” design. Current VAWT designs lag behind their Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) counterparts in terms of efficiency, as measured by their power coefficient. However, new research suggests that these types of wind turbines may be better suited for wind farm installations than previously thought. In this chapter VAWT farm research will be reviewed and discussed. This will then be followed by an overview of different parameters for VAWT design, with an eye toward designs suitable for installation in an optimized wind farm.
Timing of Laparotomy and Closure in Burn Patients with Abdominal Compartment Syndrome: Effects on Survival

Background Survival of burn patients with abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is uniformly reported to be poor, averaging just 16% after laparotomy. We hypothesize that better outcomes can be achieved with a strategy of immediate laparotomy and early fascial closure. Study Design Patients with burn injury who were diagnosed with ACS between 2005 and 2016 were identified through a search of databases. Data were gathered from electronic medical records. Timing of laparotomy and closure were calculated for each patient. Patients were stratified into predefined groups based on timing of laparotomy, cause of ACS, patient age, and timing of abdominal closure. Survival rates were calculated and compared. Results Forty-six patients with burn injury and ACS were identified. Abdominal compartment syndrome developed during initial resuscitation in 27 patients, during perioperative resuscitation in 5 patients, and during an episode of sepsis in 13 patients. Overall survival was 56%. Mean time to laparotomy from diagnosis of ACS was 1 hour 8 minutes (SD 59 minutes). When ACS developed in patients during initial resuscitation, the mean time to laparotomy from hospital admission was 13 hours (SD 7 hours). Survival rate in this group was 70%, and survival rate in patients treated for ACS later in their hospital course was 33% (p = 0.03). Survival among patients whose laparotomy was closed within 48 hours was 100%, and survival among patients whose laparotomy was not closed within 48 hours was 48% (p = 0.01). Conclusions Immediate laparotomy resulted in much higher survival rates than previously reported in burn patients with ACS. Survival was higher when ACS was diagnosed during initial resuscitation. Fascial closure within 48 hours was associated with improved survival compared with later fascial closure.
Assessing thermodynamic consistency of gas hydrates phase equilibrium data for inhibited systems

Abstract Phase equilibrium properties of gas hydrates in the presence of thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors (THIs) like alcohols, glycols, and salts are essential in developing thermodynamic prediction models to identify their physicochemical features and phase behavior for gas production from hydrates and operation of oil/gas production systems. Though a significant amount of experimental data are available in the literature and models have been developed based on those data, a reliable method to assess the thermodynamic consistency of the data has not been established. Here, we provide a rigorous method to assess the thermodynamic consistency of hydrate phase equilibrium data in inhibited systems. Fundamental thermodynamic relations are used to derive the assessment criteria for thermodynamic consistency, including the heat of dissociation for solid hydrate phase and the activity for liquid water. The quantitative assessment of CH4 hydrate + THIs, including salts, glycols, methanol, and amino acids are performed for demonstration, and guidelines on how to assess the thermodynamic consistency are provided.
“Will This Record Work for Us?”: Managing Music Formats in Commercial Radio

How do radio stations decide what music to play on the air? Previous studies offer a single answer to this question. In contrast, this study examines the variety of ways that radio programmers answer this question by conceptualizing them as mediators between record companies and radio audiences. From interviews with programmers at commercial radio stations in the United States we identify key programming practices that programmers use to manage their stations' music formats and present a typology of repertoires of such practices. We then discuss the implications of each programming repertoire for stations' music formats and the structural conditions that promote the use of each programming repertoire. In conclusion, we consider the study's implications for understanding culture production in the commercial radio industry.
Postmortem Mechanisms of Meat Tenderization

The conversion of muscle to meat is a complex process resulting in a set of conditions in postmortem muscle that are vastly different from those in living tissue. Efforts designed to understand the mechanism of postmortem meat tenderization must first define the postmortem biology of muscle tissue. Postmortem meat tenderization is associated with myofibrillar protein degradation. The protease µ-calpain and its endogenous inhibitor calpastatin are implicated as major causative agents/regulators of myofibrillar protein degradation. The interaction between g-calpain, calpastatin and myofibrillar protein substrates is complex, and, on a whole, poorly understood. Postmortem conditions of relatively low temperature, low pH and relatively high ionic strength create conditions which can alter protein conformation and protein interactions. Information regarding post-translational modification and environmentally induced conformational changes of both the calpain system and its substrate proteins can yield important information regarding postmortem meat tenderization
EXAMINING CALIFORNIA’S ASSEMBLY BILL 1629 AND THE LONG-TERM CARE REIMBURSEMENT ACT: DID NURSING HOME NURSE STAFFING CHANGE?

xix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 The Study Problem 1 Background 3 Study Aims and Research Questions 4 Current Study Significance 6 Theoretical Framework Overview 7 Research Hypotheses 8 Data Sources and Analyses 9 Remaining Chapter Outline 11 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 12
Advances in diabetes for the millennium: diabetes and cholesterol

The development of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors has made it possible to significantly lower cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. A moderate reduction of LDL levels has resulted in substantial decreases on the order of 30% to 40% in cardiovascular mortality. It is yet unknown whether a reduction of cholesterol levels below normal levels can counteract the increased cardiovascular mortality associated with diabetes. Studies thus far do demonstrate at least as much benefit in diabetic as in nondiabetic patients from cholesterol-lowering therapy. Pharmacologic therapy does have side effects. It is important to consider possible adverse effects as we progressively increase the dosage levels of various agents to meet the continually dropping LDL target levels in diabetic patients.
Different Harm and Mortality in Critically Ill Medical vs Surgical Patients: Retrospective Analysis of Variation in Adverse Events in Different Intensive Care Units.

BACKGROUND Institutional harm reduction campaigns are essential in improving safe practice in critical care. Our institution embarked on an aggressive project to measure harm. We hypothesized that critically ill surgical patients were at increased risk of harm compared with medical intensive care patients. METHODS Three years of administrative data for patients with at least 1 Intensive Care Unit day at an urban tertiary care center were assembled. Data were accessed from the Henry Ford Health System No Harm Campaign in Detroit, MI. Harm was defined as any unintended physical injury resulting from medical care. Patients were deemed surgical if they had at least 1 procedure in the operating room. Univariate analysis was used to compare surgical patients with nonsurgical. Logistic regression was used for risk adjustment in predicting harm and death. RESULTS The study included 19,844 patients, of whom 7483 (37.7%) were surgical. The overall mortality was 7.8% (n = 1554). More surgical patients experienced harm than did nonsurgical patients (2923 [39.1%] vs 2798 [22.6%], odds ratio [OR] = 2.2, p < 0.001). Surgical patients were less likely to die (6.2% vs 8.8%, p < 0.001). Surgical patients were more likely to experience harm (OR = 2.1) but had lower mortalities (OR = 0.45) vs other harmed patients (OR = 3.8; all p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Most harm in surgically critically ill patients is procedure related. Preliminary data show that harm is associated with death, yet both surgical and African American patients experience more harm with a lower mortality rate.
Is It “Trade?” Data Flows and the Digital Economy

This paper is a preliminary attempt to analyze information as a factor of production in international trade. It is a first attempt to get a handle on the direction and balance of information flows. We have obtained quantitative data about Web-related data flows between countries, and we explore how those flows are correlated to trade in goods . Using Telegeography data on “Server Location as a Percentage of Top Websites,” we found that 2/3 of all web traffic is transnational. More than half of the top 100 web sites in 9 of the world’s 13 sub-regions are hosted in the United States. Central Asia and Eastern Europe, for whom 37% and 41% of their most popular websites, respectively, are requested from the US. Even well-developed Western Europe makes almost half of its top 100 web site requests to US-based sites. For US users, on the other hand, only about 26 of the top 100 websites are hosted outside the country, and 20 of them are in Europe.Ironically, East Asia, which has a huge goods trade surplus with the developed economies, particularly with the US, has the largest negative balance in the relationship between incoming and outgoing Web requests. Indeed, we found a very strong negative correlation (-0.878) between web traffic balances and the balance of trade in goods across all subregions. Once these aspects of transnational data flows are quantified, the paper discusses the implications of these findings for policy, especially trade policy. It raises the question whether the goal of a free and open digital economy is best advanced by placing information exchanges in the trade paradigm and pushing for free trade, or by asserting a more general human right to free and open information exchanges across borders, which has social and political as well as economic consequences. These two approaches are not mutually exclusive, of course, but by making these distinctions we clarify the debate over international policy in the digital world.
Politics and Pandemics.

Politics and Pandemics If the world is to reduce the risk of a devastating pandemic, the medical community may have to publicly engage with controversial issues to help save us from the social trends, political movements, and policy failures that are elevating that risk.
Identifying Medical Student Mistreatment in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship.

Objective To characterize the mistreatment identified within the University of Michigan's Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) clerkship and compare the rates of mistreatment to that of other clerkships in an effort to improve the learning environment. Design This is a retrospective cohort study looking at multiple sources of data from 2015 to 2018 about student mistreatment including end-of-rotation and teaching evaluations completed by students, as well as an online reporting system available to medical students. For evaluations, students were asked to rate their agreement with statements on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, to 5 = strongly agree). Narrative comments were also solicited and evaluated. Setting University of Michigan Medical School and Michigan Medicine Ob/Gyn Department, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Participants A total of 513 students rotated through the Ob/Gyn clerkship between 2015 and 2018 and were asked to complete evaluations. Results Five hundred and five of the 513 students completed evaluations between 2015 and 2018. In response to the statement, “Students are treated in a professional/respectful manner in this clerkship,” the Ob/Gyn clerkship's mean scores on a 5-point scale were 4.45 (in 2015-2016), 4.52 (in 2016-2017), and 4.27 (in 2017-2018). These means, as well as the means to 3 other professionalism questions, were lower than the range of 4.42 to 4.84 for all other third-year clerkships over this time. The mean scores were also lower for Ob/gyn when compared to the Surgery clerkship. A total of 32 narrative comments were submitted by students between 2015 and 2017 related to mistreatment or unprofessional behavior. Frequent themes included students being treated as “stupid” or discouraged from asking questions (8 comments), being treated in an unprofessional manner by staff (7 comments), feeling ignored or marginalized by faculty (4 comments), and faculty unprofessional behavior toward others (4 comments). Conclusions Students on the Ob/Gyn clerkship reported a higher rate of mistreatment compared to other clerkships. Efforts are being made by the Ob/Gyn department to communicate these data on mistreatment to educators in order to improve the Ob/Gyn culture and learning environment for medical students.
A Wearable Intervention for Laptop Users

The paper aims to investigate the potential impact of a wearable glasses-type intervention regarding the posture and the productivity of laptop users in a standard working environment. Participants...
Connexin43 expression in bone marrow derived cells contributes to the electrophysiological properties of cardiac scar tissue

Cardiac pathologies associated with arrhythmic activity are often accompanied by inflammation. The contribution of inflammatory cells to the electrophysiological properties of injured myocardium is unknown. Myocardial scar cell types and intercellular contacts were analyzed using a three-dimensional reconstruction from serial blockface scanning electron microscopy data. Three distinct cell populations were identified: inflammatory, fibroblastic and endocardial cells. While individual fibroblastic cells interface with a greater number of cells, inflammatory cells have the largest contact area suggesting a role in establishing intercellular electrical connections in scar tissue. Optical mapping was used to study the electrophysiological properties of scars in fetal liver chimeric mice generated using connexin43 knockout donors (bmpKO). Voltage changes were elicited in response to applied current pulses. Isopotential maps showed a steeper pattern of decay with distance from the electrode in scars compared with uninjured regions, suggesting reduced electrical coupling. The tissue decay constant, defined as the distance voltage reaches 37% of the amplitude at the edge of the scar, was 0.48 ± 0.04 mm (n = 11) in the scar of the bmpCTL group and decreased 37.5% in the bmpKO group (n = 10). Together these data demonstrate inflammatory cells significantly contribute to scar electrophysiology through coupling mediated at least partially by connexin43 expression.
Prostaglandin receptor EP2 is a novel molecular target for high-risk neuroblastoma

ABSTRACT As the third-most common type of cancers in infants and young children, neuroblastoma accounts for nearly 10% of all childhood cancers. Despite remarkable advances in tumor diagnosis and management during the past decades, the five-year survival rates for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma remain below 50%. Developing new therapies for this devastating type of childhood cancer is an urgent unmet need. Cyclooxygenase (COX) via synthesizing prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) promotes tumor cell proliferation, survival, migration and invasion, and fosters an inflammation-enriched microenvironment that can facilitate angiogenesis, immune evasion and treatment resistance. However, which downstream PGE2 receptor subtype – namely EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4 – is directly involved in COX activity-promoted neuroblastoma growth remains elusive. Analyzing five major neuroblastoma patient datasets: Versteeg-88, Kocak-649, SEQC-498, Primary NRC-283, and Oberthuer-251, we show that COX-1/PGE2/EP2 signaling axis is highly associated with the aggressiveness of human neuroblastoma. A time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) method reveals EP2 as the key Gαs-coupled receptor that mediates PGE2-initiated cAMP signaling in neuroblastoma cells with various risk factors. Taking advantage of novel, selective and bioavailable small-molecule antagonists that we recently developed to target the PGE2/EP2 signaling in vivo, we have demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of the peripheral EP2 receptor substantially impairs the growth of human neuroblastoma xenografts and the associated angiogenesis in mice. Collectively, our results suggest that the PGE2/EP2 pathway contributes to the growth and malignant potential of human neuroblastoma cells; pharmacological inhibition on EP2 receptor by our drug-like compounds might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for this deadly pediatric cancer.
Assessment of Asynchronous Development in the Implementation of the Main Areas of Regional Policy

Purpose: The current stage of development of the socio-economic systems of the Russian regions is characterized by significant asynchrony, which is perceived in two ways, on the one hand, as an obstacle to sustainable development, and on the other, as a source of growth, due to the equalization of the level of socio-economic development and the accelerated development of lagging regions. Design/methodology/approach: These circumstances prove the relevance of this study aimed at developing the fundamental foundations of the formation and implementation of tools and methods to smooth out the asynchronism of regional development, which will ensure a progressively balanced socio-economic development of the Russian regions and the country as a whole. The methodological basis of the study was composed of comparative and graphoanalytic methods, methods of statistical processing of information characterizing regional economic complexes as complex socio-economic systems. Findings: The aim of the study is to assess the asynchronism of the development of regions on the basis of an integrated indicator in economic and social contexts and to substantiate the areas of managerial impact on various groups of regions. The article shows the relevance of developing state and regional measures to smooth out asynchrony and reduce differences in the levels of socio-economic development of regions. Originality/value: The study assessed the levels of socio-economic development of regions in order to identify asynchrony in their development, and also based on the application of rating technology, grouped regions to determine the main directions for reducing asynchrony. The results obtained in the study develop management theory in socio-economic systems, in particular, the level of development of regions and the degree of their asynchrony.
The Mathematics Laboratory: What? Why? When? How?.

After fifteen years in the British Army, William Ewbank began to teach, first in England and since 1964 at Taylor University, Upland, Indiana. There he is responsible for the elementary teacher preparation in mathematics content and methods. The mathematics-laboratory approach is used both in the university mathematics laboratory and in a regular weekly program with grades K-7 of the local public schools.
The impact of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections on future pandemic waves

The prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections is largely unknown and may determine the course of future pandemic waves and the effectiveness of interventions. Using an epidemiological model fit to COVID-19 hospitalization counts from New York City, New York and Austin, Texas, we found that the undocumented attack rate in the first pandemic wave depends on the proportion of asymptomatic infections but not on the infectiousness of such individuals. Based on a recent report that 22.7% of New Yorkers are seropositive for SARS-CoV-2, we estimate that 56% (95% CI: 53-59%) of COVID-19 infections are asymptomatic. Given uncertainty in the case hospitalization rate, however, the asymptomatic proportion could be as low as 20% or as high as 80%. We find that at most 1.26% of the Austin population was infected by April 27, 2020 and conclude that immunity from undetected infections is unlikely to slow future pandemic spread in most US cities in the summer of 2020.
Hemodynamics in Adults With the Shone Complex

Patients with Shone complex (SC) have multiple left-sided obstructive lesions and thus are at risk for left ventricular (LV) remodeling, LV diastolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Yet, to date, there has been no description of hemodynamics in adults with SC. Retrospective chart review of 25 patients with SC who underwent cardiac catheterization at Mayo Clinic, MN between 2002 and 2019 was performed. SC was defined as multiple left-sided obstructive lesions in the presence of an anatomically abnormal mitral valve. Median age was 32 years (22.5, 42) and 15 patients (60%) were female. The majority of patients (84%) had history of coarctation of the aorta, 10 (40%) had subaortic stenosis, 11 (44%) had prior aortic valve replacement, and 10 (40%) had prior mitral valve replacement. Structural disease at the time of catheterization which warranted intervention within the next year was present in 13 patients (52%). The mean LV end-diastolic pressure was 21.3 ± 9.0 mm Hg (>15 mm Hg in 71%), pulmonary artery peak systolic pressure was 55.4 ± 13.4 mm Hg, and the pulmonary artery mean pressure was 37.0 ± 9.4 mm Hg (>20 mm Hg in 96%). During a mean follow-up of 8.3 ± 4.4 years, there were 7 deaths (28%) and 3 additional patients (12%) underwent cardiac transplantation. In conclusion, adults with SC who underwent catheterization showed significant left-sided heart and pulmonary vascular remodeling. Elevated LV end-diastolic pressure and pulmonary artery pressures were highly prevalent. There were high mortality and cardiac transplant rates in our cohort.
Complex Skill Acquisition Through Simple Skill Imitation Learning

Humans often think of complex tasks as combinations of simpler subtasks in order to learn those complex tasks more efficiently. For example, a backflip could be considered a combination of four subskills: jumping, tucking knees, rolling backwards, and thrusting arms downwards. Motivated by this line of reasoning, we propose a new algorithm that trains neural network policies on simple, easy-to-learn skills in order to cultivate latent spaces that accelerate imitation learning of complex, hard-to-learn skills. We focus on the case in which the complex task comprises a concurrent (and possibly sequential) combination of the simpler subtasks, and therefore our algorithm can be seen as a novel approach to concurrent hierarchical imitation learning. We evaluate our algorithm on difficult tasks in a high-dimensional environment and find that it consistently outperforms a state-of-the-art baseline in training speed and overall performance.
'Carbon Pricing: Essential but Insufficient'

As states move forward to address the climate challenge and Congress floats potential bills, a key issue is the role of carbon pricing. Economists and some advocates argue that a carbon price, whether through a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade program, should be the central strategy, with a few complementary policies to take care of any gaps. In this short white paper, I acknowledge the importance of a carbon price, but argue that the emphasis should be reversed: more comprehensive, deliberative, and participatory strategies should be center stage, and these strategies should be complemented by a carbon price, rather than the other way around. Given the complexity of a transition to a clean economy, a carbon price alone would be ineffective because it does not provide a mechanism for integrating piecemeal private decisions and is unlikely to be robust enough to induce necessary change. And, from a democratic governance perspective, carbon prices incentivize private, atomized, decisionmaking, rather than promoting democratic deliberation over the full range of social, economic, and environmental implications of our climate strategies. This white paper provides a short synopsis of a more in-depth law review article on the role of markets in climate policy: Energy, Governance, and Market Mechanisms, available here: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3191433.
Synthesis, crystal structure, and thermoelectric properties of ternary phosphide BaCu5P3

Abstract A new copper-phosphide, BaCu5P3, was synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state route and salt flux method. The crystal structure of BaCu5P3 was determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction. BaCu5P3 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnnm (No. 58) with unit cell parameters of a ​= ​12.018 (1) A, b ​= ​23.762 (2) A, and c ​= ​3.984 (1) A with Z ​= ​8. BaCu5P3 crystallizes in a new structure type. A complicated three-dimensional framework built by Cu–Cu and Cu–P interactions hosts Ba cations in BaCu5P3. According to differential scanning calorimetry, BaCu5P3 decomposes to BaCu2P4 and BaCu8P4 around 1180 (5)K. Theory calculation and thermoelectric measurements confirm the metallic nature of BaCu5P3. The experimentally measured moderate thermal conductivity of BaCu5P3 is mainly originated from its complex crystal structure. The Seebeck coefficient of BaCu5P3 is positive and low, ranging from 10 ​K to 400 ​K.
Dietary Oxalate Loading Impacts Monocyte Metabolism and Inflammatory Signaling in Humans.

Diet has been associated with several metabolic diseases and may impact immunity. Increased consumption of meals with high oxalate content may stimulate urinary calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals, which are precursors to CaOx kidney stones. We previously reported that CaOx stone formers have decreased monocyte cellular bioenergetics compared to healthy participants and oxalate reduces monocyte metabolism and redox status in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dietary oxalate loading impacts monocyte cellular bioenergetics, mitochondrial complex activity, and inflammatory signaling in humans. Healthy participants (n=40; 31.1 ± 1.3 years) with a BMI of 24.9 ± 0.6 kg/m2 consumed a controlled low oxalate diet for 3 days before drinking a blended preparation of fruits and vegetables containing a large amount of oxalate. Blood and urine were collected before (pre-oxalate) and for 5 hours after the oxalate load to assess urinary oxalate levels, monocyte cellular bioenergetics and mitochondrial complex activity, and plasma cytokine/chemokine levels. Urinary oxalate levels significantly increased in post-oxalate samples compared to pre-oxalate samples. Monocyte cellular bioenergetics, mitochondrial complex I activity, and plasma cytokine and chemokine levels were altered to varying degrees within the study cohort. We demonstrate for the first time that dietary oxalate loading may impact monocyte metabolism and immune response in a cohort of healthy adults, but these response are variable. Further studies are warranted to understand oxalate mediated mechanisms on circulating monocytes and how this potentially influences CaOx kidney stone formation. Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03877276).
Equal Treatment and the Free Speech Clause

The traditional Free Speech Clause burden is a law that directly impedes speech interests and that courts can remedy through invalidation. This model is simple in theory and remedy, but it accounts for surprisingly few cases. Instead, a substantial – and growing – number of cases involve what this Article calls “layered speech regulations”: laws that first impede speech broadly (layer 1), and then exempt some speech or speakers (layer 2). As the Court recently made clear in Barr v. AAPC, challenges to layer 2 attract scrutiny under the Free Speech Clause just like challenges to layer 1. In its analysis, however, the Court has brushed over the fact that such layered speech regulations allow rather than restrict speech with their layer 2 provisions. As a result, layer 2 challenges create a Free Speech Clause paradox, as invalidating the law does not allow the challenger to speak, while leaving it in place authorizes censorship through artful drafting. This Article resolves the paradox of layer 2 challenges by showing that such challenges rely on a mandate of equal treatment within the Free Speech Clause, and links that mandate to broader issues that plague freedom of speech law. After demonstrating the Court’s reliance on the equal treatment mandate, the Article provides two doctrinal grounds for the mandate: one concerned with coercion, and one concerned with how the Equal Protection Clause changed the shape of First Amendment protections. With the speech right in layer 2 cases triggered by unequal treatment, the remedy is equal treatment – striking layer 2 to vindicate the speech right and using legislative intent to determine if layer 1 can be severed. This approach resolves the Free Speech Clause and the Article III problems created by layer 2 challenges. It also has substantial implications for the Free Speech Clause more broadly. Specifically, it demonstrates how much room remains to legislatures to correct unequal treatment, including through redistributive regulation beneficial in today’s environment of digital speech, contrary to the common trend of comparing the Free Speech Clause to Lochner. Finally, it reveals the doctrinal changes required to bring the prohibition against content-based regulations in line with the Free Speech Clause’s equal treatment mandate.
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis/pseudomonas.

A 47-year-old Caucasian man on long-standing antifungal therapy for chronic necrotising aspergillosis and a history of recurrent pseudomonas pneumonias presented to the outpatient pulmonary clinic with dyspnoea and chest discomfort for 3 days. A CT angiography of the chest demonstrated angioinvasion from the previously noted left upper lobe cavitary lesion into the left main pulmonary artery, along with new consolidating lesions. Due to the high risk for massive haemoptysis, he was evaluated by thoracic surgery and underwent a successful left pneumonectomy. As invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is associated with high mortality, surgical intervention should always be considered, especially in those who develop extensive disease, despite being on aggressive antifungal therapy. Though minimally described in literature, invasive pulmonary pseudomonas also carries a high mortality risk. In our patient, cultures from the resected lung only demonstrated Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
A Fuzzy Logic Approach for Spacecraft Landing Site Selection

A method for object identification using a cascading set of two fuzzy inference systems was developed as part of an algorithm to select a landing location for a spacecraft approaching the surface of the Moon. The method relies only on optical images, eliminating the need for lidar, and utilizes the tolerance for uncertainty inherent to fuzzy systems to reduce the amount of data that must be processed, thus reducing the computational burden. The algorithm is tested on a dataset of 36 real lunar images in which a human analyst has created labels for each large rock seen in the image. The algorithm was able to identify 80% of the labeled rocks. The algorithm also classified additional features as rocks, shadows, or sky that were not selected by the human analyst. Using this broader definition of hazards, 72% of the cases found an acceptable landing site.
On Tacit versus Explicit Collusion

Antitrust law makes a sharp distinction between tacit and explicit collusion whereas the theory of repeated games -- the standard framework for studying collusion -- does not. In this paper, we study this difference in Stigler's (1964) model of secret price cutting. This is a repeated game with private monitoring since in the model, firms observe neither the prices nor the sales of their rivals. For a fixed discount factor, we identify conditions under which there are equilibria under explicit collusion that result in near-perfect collusion -- profits are close to those of a monopolist -- whereas all equilibria under tacit collusion are bounded away from this outcome. Thus, in our model, explicit collusion leads to higher prices and profits than tacit collusion.
Ecology of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria—Where Do Human Infections Come from?

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental, opportunistic human pathogens whose reservoirs include peat-rich potting soil and drinking water in buildings and households. In fact, humans are likely surrounded by NTM. NTM are ideally adapted for residence in drinking water distribution systems and household and building plumbing as they are disinfectant-resistant, surface adherent, and able to grow on low concentrations of organic matter. For individuals at risk for NTM infection, measures can be taken to reduce NTM exposure. These include avoiding inhalation of dusts from peat-rich potting soil and aerosols from showers, hot tubs, and humidifiers. A riskanalysis of the presence of NTM in drinking water has not been initiated because the virulence of independent isolates of even single NTM species (e.g., Mycobacterium avium) is quite broad, and virulence determinants have not been identified.
Anomalous Capacitance Maximum of the Glassy Carbon−Ionic Liquid Interface through Dilution with Organic Solvents

We use electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to measure the effect of diluting a hydrophobic room temperature ionic liquid with miscible organic solvents on the differential capacitance of the glassy carbon–electrolyte interface. We show that the minimum differential capacitance increases with dilution and reaches a maximum value at ionic liquid contents near 5–10 mol% (i.e., ∼1 M). We provide evidence that mixtures with 1,2-dichloroethane, a low-dielectric constant solvent, yield the largest gains in capacitance near the open circuit potential when compared against two traditional solvents, acetonitrile and propylene carbonate. To provide a fundamental basis for these observations, we use a coarse-grained model to relate structural variations at the double layer to the occurrence of the maximum. Our results reveal the potential for the enhancement of double-layer capacitance through dilution.
Fredholmness and invertibility of Toeplitz operators with matrix almost periodic symbols

We consider Toeplitz operators with symbols that are almost periodic matrix functions of several variables. It is shown that under certain conditions on the group generated by the Fourier support of the symbol, a Toeplitz operator is Fredholm if and only if it is invertible.
Energy Loss Mechanisms for Fast Particles

Beams or jets of rapidly moving particles appear to be present in several classes of objects in astrophysics, including active galactic nuclei and quasars, compact binary systems, and supemovae. There is evidence from some radio bright active galaxies of a direct connection between the central, relativistically moving beams and the large, subrelativistic radio jets. In this paper we review the various energy loss mechanisms for a beam of relativistic particles propagating through an ambient medium, and compare the energy loss rate of those processes with that of plasma (collective) processes. Plasma processes are typically found to be the dominant energy loss mechanism. Inverse Compton X-ray emission and proton-proton related γ-ray production yield photons at roughly equal rates, and X-ray and γ-ray emission represent less than 10% of the total energy loss rate of the beams for parameters likely to be associated with the nuclei of active galaxies and quasars.
Ethics of Research: Scientific Misconduct

Scientific misconduct presents a challenge, not just to the reputation of the misbehaving scientist, but also to research institutions, the integrity of the scientific record and to the enterprise of science itself. In this article we discuss the varied definitions of scientific misconduct and explore the social sources of the concern with the misbehaviour of researchers as well as competing explanations of the causes of that misbehaviour. We review efforts to prevent scientific misconduct and look at how the (mis)conduct of researchers will be influenced by the trend towards interdisciplinary collaboration and the globalisation of research. Key Concepts: Common misbehaviours in research threaten the integrity of science in addition to the more egregious, yet less frequent, acts of falsification, fabrication and plagiarism. Scientific misconduct results from the behaviour of ‘bad apples’ and the organisation of science. Responses to scientific misconduct must address individual and organisational sources of misbehaviour. The rise of interdisciplinary science and the globalisation of science present new challenges to integrity in research conduct. Keywords: scientific misconduct; research misconduct; integrity; ethics of research; organisation of science
Interstellar Molecular Formation Processes

Visible radiation from galaxies is dominated by hot stellar material. However, the existence of cooler, interstellar phases can be inferred from the absorption and scattering of visible radiation as well as from emission at longer wavelengths. In particular, radioastronomical and, to a lesser extent, infrared observations have helped to uncover the existence of vast interstellar clouds of gaseous and particulate matter, with most of the matter (≈ 99%) in the gaseous form and ≈ 1% in the form of dust-like particles [1]. In the denser interstellar clouds, approximately eighty different molecular species and numerous isotopic variants have been discovered in the gas phase. These molecules range in complexity from diatomics to a thirteen-atom species, are mainly organic (carbon-containing) in nature, and comprise a variety of standard and bizarre species [1,2]. Detected by narrow line spectra, the gaseous molecules are exceedingly well characterized and their observation leads to a detailed knowledge of the chemical and physical state of the gas in dense interstellar clouds [2, 3]. For example, gas temperatures are in the range 10 – 70 K and total gas densities are on the order of 104 cm-3. Since dense clouds can range in extent up to ≈ 100 pc, cloud masses can range up to 106 solar masses. The material is slowly collapsing to form stars. Material in star-forming regions is typically denser and warmer than ambient material and can be studied separately from the ambient material either interferometrically or via differences in line profiles [4]. The particulate phase of dense clouds consists of small (0.1 μm) dust particles that contain refractory cores of material such as silicates covered mantles deposited from the gas phase [5].
Near infrared optical tomographic imaging of fluid containing tissues

In recent years near-infrared optical tomographic imaging (OTI) has made big strides towards becoming a clinically relevant medical imaging modality. Imaging of dynamic changes in blood parameters, functional brain imaging, and breast imaging are the most advanced areas of application of this novel technique. In this study we focus on difficulties that are encountered when OTI is employed for imaging tissues that contain fluid-filled regions. Examples of such tissues are the brain, which contains low scattering cerebrospinal fluids, joints, which enclose translucent synovial fluids, and the maternal abdomen, which is filled with amniotic fluid. In these cases widely accepted image reconstruction schemes that rely on the diffusion approximation have limited applicability, and more advanced model-based iterative image reconstructions methods that make use of the equation of radiative transfer promise more accurate results.
Financial Markets, FDI, and Economic Growth: Granger Causality Tests in Panel Data Model

This study investigates various links between financial markets, FDI and the economic growth. Our results, using a panel of 25 countries over the period of 1975-2002 and the Granger causality model, reveal bi-directional links between financial markets and economic growth. We find that initially in countries with low GDP per capita economic growth stimulate financial development; however, the direction of causality reverses for countries with higher GDP per capita. We also find bi-directional causality between financial markets and FDI in countries with relatively higher GDP per capita and more developed financial markets. However, our results suggest that FDI can not induce economic growth.