cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeted energy transfers and passive acoustic wave redirection in a two-dimensional granular network under periodic excitation

We study passive pulse redirection and nonlinear targeted energy transfer in a granular network composed of two semi-infinite, ordered homogeneous granular chains mounted on linear elastic foundations and coupled by weak linear stiffnesses. Periodic excitation in the form of repetitive half-sine pulses is applied to one of the chains, designated as the “excited chain,” whereas the other chain is initially at rest and is regarded as the “absorbing chain.” We show that passive pulse redirection and targeted energy transfer from the excited to the absorbing chain can be achieved by macro-scale realization of the spatial analog of the Landau-Zener quantum tunneling effect. This is realized by finite stratification of the elastic foundation of the excited chain and depends on the system parameters (e.g., the percentage of stratification) and on the parameters of the periodic excitation. Utilizing empirical mode decomposition and numerical Hilbert transforms, we detect the existence of two distinct nonlinear phenomena in the periodically forced network; namely, (i) energy localization in the absorbing chain due to sustained 1:1 resonance capture leading to irreversible pulse redirection from the excited chain, and (ii) continuous energy exchanges in the form of nonlinear beats between the two chains in the absence of resonance capture. Our results extend previous findings of transient passive energy redirection in impulsively excited granular networks and demonstrate that steady state passive pulse redirection in these networks can be robustly achieved under periodic excitation.
Developments in International Intellectual Property

This article examines the provision of international intellectual property law information through new online resources, such as the World Intellectual Property Organization's WIPO Lex database. It also provides information on the underlying documentation related to the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), and notes some of the transparency concerns related to that treaty.
Overview of vital sign detection-simulation and measurements

Commercial EM software packages are not suitable to detect cardiac and respiratory motion of the chest cavity, crucial to vital sign detection, in the study of electromagnetic (EM) wave interaction with tissues using utilized phantom models. The tissue constitutive parameters are time dependent, and are strong function of the volume and physical composition of the tissue layers near the surface due to the associated physiological motion. In this paper, we consider a human body phantom model that includes physiological motion, and a state-space method to extract cardiac and respiration rates. The method is applied to simulated data as well as 3 GHz UWB radar measurements on a sedentary subject. It is shown that the state-space method accurately estimates vital signs without producing harmonics and inter-modulation products that plague signal resolution in commonly used auto-correlated FFT spectrograms relying on peak detection with errors less than 2%.
Recent advances in the management of peritoneal dialysis patients

Peritoneal dialysis is a form of kidney dialysis that is used to remove accumulated metabolic waste products and water in patients with end stage kidney disease. Long-term exposure to high concentrations of glucose and its by-products, both found in peritoneal dialysis fluid, has been implicated in contributing to peritoneal damage over time, in turn limiting long-term use of the technique. Newer peritoneal dialysis solutions have been developed in the hope of reducing the unfavorable effects of peritoneal dialysis solutions. In vitro and in vivo studies have suggested that newer peritoneal dialysis fluids have salutary effects on the peritoneal membrane. Short-term clinical studies have also found some metabolic benefits of glucose-sparing regimens in chronic peritoneal dialysis. Mixed results have been found in studies examining whether newer peritoneal dialysis fluids reduce peritonitis rates. Long-term studies are needed to investigate whether newer peritoneal dialysis fluids provide better peritoneal dialysis technique and/or patient survival, compared to standard glucose-based peritoneal dialysis fluids.
Methodologic issues in acute migraine clinical trials.

Article abstract-Migraine is a common chronic condition with an ever-expanding therapeutic armamentarium. As new migraine therapies are investigated, the methodology of clinical trials has become increasingly important. Clinical trials should provide clinicians and patients with the information they need to assess the efficacy, safety, and comparative benefits of current and emerging therapies. The study design (e.g., crossover, parallel group) and methods, including determination of appropriate dosing, are key. The selection of primary efficacy end points is another critical factor. There is increasing evidence that complete pain relief powerfully predicts patient satisfaction with treatment and quality of life. Secondary end points, such as relief of migraine-associated symptoms, need for use of escape medication, and quality of life measurements, should also be carefully considered.
Dynamics of Semiconductor Quantum Well Laser under Sub-Terahertz Electrical Field Modulation

Dynamic simulations are presented for GaAs quantum well laser under inplane sub-terahertz electric field modulation. The active medium is described by a hydrodynamic model including nonlinear optical gain and plasma heating. Optimization schemes are discussed for future ultrafast optoelectronic applications.
Commute well-being differences by mode: Evidence from Portland, Oregon, USA

Abstract To understand the impact of daily travel on personal and so cietal well-being, researchers are developing more sophisticated quantitative measures of travel satisfaction. Metrics related to Subjective Well-Being (SWB), defined as an evaluation of one׳s happiness or life satisfaction, hold promise for better evaluating health impacts of transportation and land-use policies. This article examines commute well-being, a multi-item measure of how one feels about the commute to work, and its associated factors. The measure was adapted from the Satisfaction with Travel Scale originated by Ettema et al. (2010) . Data were collected from a web-based survey of workers ( n =828) in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. with four modal groups: walk, bicycle, transit and car users. With some modifications from previous research, this research confirms that the commute well-being scale reliably measures commute satisfaction. A multiple linear regression model shows that along with travel mode, traffic congestion, travel time, income, general health, attitudes about travel, job satisfaction and residential satisfaction also play important individual roles in shaping commute well-being. Results in this study add further evidence that people who bike and walk to work are happier with their commutes and are relatively unaffected by traffic congestion compared to bus and car commuters. The findings suggest opportunities for policymakers to more effectively market active transportation policies.
Ultra-wideband radars operating over the frequency range of 2-18 GHZ for measurements on terrestrial snow and ice

In this paper, we present the development of an ultra-wideband microwave radar for fine-resolution measurements of snow. The radar was developed for operation on a Twin Otter aircraft with a nominal survey altitude of 500 m. The radar is designed to operate in frequency modulated continuous wave (FM-CW) mode from 2 to 18 GHz. The radar has a total transmit power is of 1.5 W and a vertical resolution of 1.6 cm as demonstrated experimentally. The radar has two modes of operation: snow sounding mode for snow thickness measurements and accumulation mapping, and side-looking mode for snow backscatter measurements and imaging. The radar system was flown from Barrow, Alaska in spring 2015 and 2016 as a part of the Naval Research Laboratory sea ice survey campaign to characterize sea ice and snow on sea ice. Between February and March 2016, we also took advantage of radar test flights in Colorado to conduct terrestrial snow measurements over the alpine areas. Sample radar data from the field campaigns will be presented.
Precision measurements in microresonators and microresonator frequency combs

We describe our measurements on high-precision microresonators and microresonator-based optical frequency combs, including full stabilization of planar frequency microcombs, with an instrument-limited instability at 3.6-mHz-per-root-tau and tooth-to-tooth relative uncertainty to 50mHz. Noise in thermally-compensated ultrahigh-Q microresonators and lasers are demonstrated at the thermodynamical limits.
Improving the Hawaiian Seismic Network for Earthquake Early Warning

ABSTRACT The motivation for earthquake early warning (EEW) is the fact that in many applications a few extra seconds of notice ahead of the about‐imminent strong shaking can provide significant benefit. Reducing data latencies, accelerating processing times, and tuning seismic station distributions increase time available for warning. We assess the feasibility of EEW for Hawai‘i and examine how additional stations or upgrades to existing stations can improve warning times. We designed an objective method to identify the most efficient sites for improving an existing seismic network’s coverage, taking both seismic station distribution and seismic hazard into account. The choice of locations for new seismic station sites is informed by improvements in warning time, considering the distribution of seismic hazard and exposure. New sites that improve warning time from earthquakes that are most likely to generate significant ground motions are given preference. This technique may be applied to any seismically active region and target infrastructure in which seismic hazard is spatially defined. We demonstrate this method’s use on the Island of Hawai‘i, with focus on warnings to astronomical observatories on Mauna Kea and island population centers Hilo and Kailua‐Kona. We identified 13 candidate sites for new sensors, telemetry upgrades, or new station installations that should provide an additional 1–4 s of warning for the most probable damaging earthquakes in southern Ka‘ū and northern offshore regions in which 2–14 s and
Whole-Genome Sequence of the Soil Bacterium Micrococcus sp. KBS0714

We present here a draft genome assembly of Micrococcus sp. KBS0714, which was isolated from agricultural soil. The genome provides insight into the strategies that Micrococcus spp. use to contend with environmental stressors such as desiccation and starvation in environmental and host-associated ecosystems.
A Defense of the Objective/subjective Moral Ought Distinction

In this paper, I motivate and defend the distinction between an objective and a subjective moral sense of “ought.” I begin by looking at the standard way the distinction is motivated, namely by appealing to relatively simple cases where an agent does something she thinks is best, but her action has a tragic outcome. I argue that these cases fail to do the job—the intuitions they elicit can be explained without having to distinguish between different senses of “ought.” However, these cases are on the right track—I argue that more sophisticated versions of the cases provide strong motivation for the distinction. I then discuss two important problems for the distinction: the “which ‘ought’ is more important?” problem, and the “annoying profusion of ‘oughts’” problem. I argue that each of these problems can be solved in several different ways.
Parallel Irelands: The Disenchantment and Re-Enchantment of Iona

This book length work by Sean O Nuallain and other authors (Gearoid O' Colmain, Joe McCarthy, Gerald Gillespie, Frank Lillis, Glynn Custred, Cathal Brugha II, Hassan Ahmad, Eoin de Bhaldraithe, Mary Elizabeth Steiner) explores the geopolitics of the islands of the north Atlantic (IONA) in the wake of Brexit and the new dispensation governing Ireland's place in the EU following the EC's Apple tax decision. This is juxtaposed with deep analysis of how the Irish state works, and fails to work. Moreover, the conference on which this is based featured trenchant discussion on immigration to the EU. It is proposed that a Celtic confederation should co-exist with the UK in IONA. The high resource, low population density countries of Ireland and Scotland should reach out to their peers in Wales and England with an offer of belonging. An immense and beautiful new possibility is proposed to replace the current illegal congeries. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
The Influence of Nicotine on Lung Tumor Growth, Cancer Chemotherapy, and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Studies in animal models have suggested that nicotine, an agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, may have the potential to prevent and/or reverse the peripheral neuropathy induced by cancer chemotherapeutic drugs, such as paclitaxel and oxaliplatin. However, a large body of evidence suggests that nicotine may also stimulate lung tumor growth and/or interfere with the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapy. Whereas the reported proliferative effects of nicotine are highly variable, the antagonism of antitumor drug efficacy is more consistent, although this latter effect has been demonstrated primarily in cell culture studies. In contrast, in vitro and in vivo studies from our own laboratory indicate that nicotine fails to enhance the growth of nonsmall cell lung cancer cells or attenuate the effects of chemotherapy (paclitaxel). Given the inconsistencies in the literature, coupled with our own findings, the weight of evidence suggests that caution may be warranted in proposing to use nicotine to mitigate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Conversely, clinical trials could be performed in patients who have completed therapy and are considered to be disease-free to determine whether nicotine, in the form of commercially available patches or gum, is effective in alleviating peripheral neuropathy symptoms.
The Queue GI/G/1

We consider the single-server queueing system where successive customers arrive at the epochs t0 (= 0), t1, t2,... and demand services times v1, v2,.... The interarrival times are then given by u n = t n — t n-1 (n≥1). Let Xk = Vk — uk (k ≥ 1), and So = 0, S n = X 1 + X 2 + … + X n (n ≥ 1). We assume that the X kare mutually independent random variables with a common distribution; the basic process underlying this queueing model is the random walk {Sn}. To see this, let Wn be the waiting time of the nth customer and I n the idle period (if any) that just terminates upon the arrival of this customer. Then clearly for n≥ 0
Robotic Laser Welding Systems in Automotive Operations

The primary focus of this paper will be upon the application of Robotic Laser Welding on automotive sheet metal components, sub-assemblies and the complete body itself. Also reviewed is the world’s first production on-line application of Robotic Laser Welding of the roof panel to quarter panel joint on a complete body in the U.S.A. The major subjects covered include the following: Overview of laser welding vs. resistance spotwelding; Advantages of laser welding vs. resistance spotwelding; Design flexibility of laser welded joints; Requirements for successful laser welding systems; Advancements in robotic laser systems both CO2 and Nd:YAG; Applications of in-production laser welded assemblies; and, Laser welding challenges of the future.
Transdisciplinary Training in Health Research: Distinctive Features and Future Directions

The malaria and AIDS epidemics, rising cancer, diabetes, and obesity rates are but some of the tremendously complex global health challenges of the twenty-first century. Since these challenges do not lie in the domain of any one academic discipline, many scholars have recognized that if they are to be tackled effectively, a new generation of scientists and health promotion practitioners must be trained to ensure that they have the requisite conceptual, methodological, and interpersonal skills to enable them to bridge traditional discipline-based, regional, and cultural boundaries (Nash, 2008; Nash et al., 2003; National Academy of Sciences, 2003; von Ruschkowski, 2003).
Interface Tracking Investigation of Geometric Effects on the Bubbly Flow in PWR Subchannels

Absorbing heat from the fuel rod surface, water as coolant can undergo subcooled boiling within a pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel rod bundle. Because of the buoyancy effect, the vapor bubbles ...
Collision Imminent Steering Using Nonlinear Model Predictive Control

Collision imminent steering is an automotive active safety feature designed to swerve and avoid an obstacle on the road if the vehicle detects a forward collision cannot be avoided by braking alone. A collision imminent steering system is formulated in this paper to generate an optimal control sequence that performs an aggressive lane change maneuver in the shortest distance possible in a highway driving environment. The algorithm uses nonlinear model predictive control that pushes the vehicle to its dynamic handling limits, which are established through limits on the tire slip angle. Additionally, the algorithm is developed to leverage active four wheel steering to improve the performance over traditional front only steering. Numerical results show a window exists for which the vehicle can change lanes safely, even at highway speed. A Pareto front is generated to quantify the trade-off between maximum allowable tire slip and safe steering distance.
Intranasal Corticosteroids Do Not Lead to Ocular Changes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objectives The safety and efficacy of intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) are well established, but there remains apprehension that INCS could lead to systemic side effects, as with oral steroids. The objective of this systematic review was to assess whether the use of INCS lead to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) above 20 mm Hg, glaucoma, or formation of posterior subcapsular cataracts in adult patients with rhinitis. Methods Two medical librarians searched the published literature for records discussing the use of "nasal steroids" in "rhinitis" and their effect on "intraocular pressure," "cataracts," or "glaucoma." Results A total of 484 studies were identified, and 10 randomized controlled trials met our inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of 2,226 patients revealed that the relative risk of elevated IOP in those who received INCS was 2.24 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68 to 7.34) compared to placebo. The absolute increased incidence of elevated IOP in patients using INCS compared to placebo was 0.8% (95% CI: 0% to 1.6%). There were zero cases of glaucoma in both placebo and INCS groups at 12 months. The absolute increased incidence of developing a posterior subcapsular cataract was 0.02% (95% CI: -0.3% to 0.4%). Conclusions Use of INCS is not associated with a significant risk of elevating IOP or developing a posterior subcapsular cataract in patients with allergic rhinitis. Presence of glaucoma, however, is the real clinical adverse event of concern. There were zero reported cases of glaucoma at 12 months. Future studies should formally evaluate for glaucoma rather than use IOP measures as a surrogate. Laryngoscope, 129:6-12, 2019.
The landscape of clinically actionable ALK/MET/RET/ROS1 fusions to reveal a shared pattern of protein domains in fusion partners.

11560Background: Scalable next-generation sequencing methods for the detection of gene fusions have become available. Currently, the landscape of clinically reported ALK/RET/ROS1 fusion partners an...
Imaging in pancreatitis: current status and recent advances

Introduction: Imaging of the pancreas has been challenging because of its retroperitoneal location but this has evolved significantly the past decade.Areas covered: Based on an enhanced understandi...
Hertz-Class Brillouin Lasing with Nanokelvin Thermal Sensing

We demonstrate a stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) laser that uses a large mode-volume cavity to achieve a record integrated linewidth of 20 Hz. This narrow SBS line enables thermometry with better than 100 nK sensitivity.
Predicting Stock Returns Using Neural Networks

A single hidden layer neural network can be trained to predict whether a stock will be in the top, middle, or bottom third of sample stocks based on its return over the next month based on return, trading volume, and volatility measures available at the end of this month. In my preliminary work using S&P 500 stocks, the network has limited success in predicting which stocks are likely to go up but the prediction strength is not strong enough to help build profitable portfolios. While neural networks have pushed artificial intelligence forward in many fields, and while the investment industry has been shifting more towards quantitative prediction using neural networks and other machine learning models, their place in empirical finance research has been limited. My work aims to contribute to this growing literature.
What's So Great About the Declare War Clause?

I have long believed two things about constitutional war powers, which my reading of Noah Feldman’s “The Three Lives of James Madison” largely confirmed. First, James Madison was brilliant and prescient about many things, but the strategy and politics of war were not among them. Second, modern constitutional critics of an imperial presidency place too much weight on the declare war clause — and especially Madison’s statements about it. Madison, indeed, worried deeply about unchecked presidential war powers. But Feldman’s book shows that Madison did not emphasize the same risks and checks so often ascribed to him today, especially by congressionalists who invoke Madison’s statements about war-initiation.
A role for clathrin in the sorting of vacuolar proteins in the Golgi complex of yeast.

Abstract We have investigated the role of clathrin in vacuolar protein sorting using yeast strains harboring a temperature-sensitive allele of clathrin heavy chain (chc1-ts). After a 5 min incubation at the non-permissive temperature (37 degrees C), the chc1-ts strains displayed a severe defect in the sorting of lumenal vacuolar proteins. Sorting of a vacuolar membrane protein, alkaline phosphatase, and transport to the surface of a cell wall protein, was not affected at 37 degrees C. In chc1-ts cells incubated at 37 degrees C, secretion of the missorted lumenal vacuolar protein carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) was blocked by the sec1 mutation which prevents fusion of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane. Unexpectedly, chc1-ts cells incubated for extended periods at 37 degrees C regained the ability to sort CPY. Cells carrying deletions of the CHC1 gene (chc1 delta) also sorted CPY to the vacuole even when subjected to temperature shifts. Vacuolar delivery of CPY in chc1 delta cells was not blocked by sec1 suggesting that transport does not occur by secretion and endocytosis. These results provide in vivo evidence that clathrin plays a role in the Golgi complex in sorting of vacuolar proteins from the secretory pathway. With time, however, yeast cells lacking functional clathrin heavy chains are able to adapt in a way that allows restoration of vacuolar protein sorting in the Golgi complex. These conclusions clarify previous studies of chc1 delta cells which raised the possibility that clathrin is not involved in vacuolar protein sorting.
Algorithmic Capitalism and the Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa:

Digitalization generates new opportunities for employment and earnings, but also entails a plethora of uncertainties and challenges. This article highlights the implications of algorithmic capitali...
Adult attachment and online dating deception: a theory modernized

An extreme form of online dating deception, also known as “catfishing,” involves falsely representing oneself to a potential romantic partner, without the intention of meeting in person. The limite...
Toward a Systematic Phenomenology of the Religious Attitude: Commentary on Part 3

This is the concluding section to Part 3 of the book The Problem of Religious Experience. I discuss a possibility of conducting phenomenological research in the religious attitude and how this attitude can be compatible with phenomenological reduction. Using the findings from Part 3, I examine the isomorphism between perception and the knowledge of God and then revisit the idea of the metaphysical realism of phenomenology in light of Carla Canullo’s interpretation of Henry’s phenomenology of life as a philosophy of religion.
Effects of Tongue Exercise Frequency on Tongue Muscle Biology and Swallowing Physiology in a Rat Model

Age-related changes in muscle composition and function are often treated using exercise, including muscles of the tongue to treat swallowing impairments (dysphagia). Although tongue exercise is commonly prescribed, optimal tongue exercise doses have not been determined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of varying tongue exercise frequency on tongue force, genioglossus muscle fiber size, composition and metabolism, and swallowing in a rat model. We randomized 41 old and 40 young adult Fischer 344/Brown Norway rats into one of four tongue exercise groups: 5 days/week; 3 days/week; 1 day/week; or sham. Tongue force was higher following all exercise conditions (vs sham); the 5 day/week group had the greatest change in tongue force (p 0.05). Significant main effects for age showed a greater proportion of Type I fibers in (p < 0.0001) and increased fiber size of IIa fibers (p = 0.026) in old. There were no significant effects of citrate synthase activity or PGC-1α expression. Significant differences were found in bolus speed and area (size), but findings were potentially influenced by variability. Our findings suggest that tongue force is influenced by exercise frequency; however, these changes were not reflected in characteristics of the GG muscle assayed in this study. Informed by findings of this study, future work in tongue dose optimization will be required to provide better scientific premise for clinical treatments in humans.
David and the Three Goliaths – Defending the Arm’s Length Principle

The arm's length principle (ALP), which requires multinationals to price their related-party transactions as if the transactions were conducted at arm's length, currently faces three major criticisms (or Goliaths), two old, one new. The old Goliaths are (1) transfer pricing is abusive and strips income out of developing countries; and (2) transfer price cannot work either in theory or practice due to the absence of comparables and the presence of synergies. The new Goliath is that the ALP cannot work in the digital economy. I argue that all three Goliaths can be felled by the ALP (David) using the arrows of logic, economics, and pragmatism. The ALP is still and needs to remain a valuable core component of the international tax system.
Control laws in the mesoscopic processes of biocomputing

Biocomputing in a multi-cellular organism is implemented in computational networks arranged in a hierarchical fashion (Conrad, 1990a). In addition to the obvious network formed by interconnecting neurons, numerous biochemical processes in the cytoplasm and the nucleus can be regarded as a distributed network. Conrad (1984) has characterized biocomputing as a hierarchy of microscopic-macroscopic (m-M) network dynamics, in which microscopic intracellular processes are vertically coupled to macroscopic interneuronal processes by means of second messenger signaling — an intermolecular process commonly referred to as signal transduction. Signal transduction takes place in the membrane and its vicinity, the dimension of which is too large to be considered microscopic but too small to be considered macroscopic. Information processing at the membrane level is thus referred to as a mesoscopic process.
Administrative Burdens and Citizen Likelihood to Seek Local Public Services: The Case of Hurricane Shelters

Drawing on the theory of administrative burdens, we assess how a variety of rules surrounding access to public hurricane shelters influences residents’ likelihood of using this service. We employ t...
The Effect of Directed Movement on the Strong Allee Effect

It is well known that movement strategies in ecology and in economics can make the difference between extinction and persistence. We present a unifying model for the dynamics of ecological populati...
Abnormal Calcium Handling in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Mechanisms and Potential Therapies.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked muscle-wasting disease caused by the loss of dystrophin. DMD is associated with muscle degeneration, necrosis, inflammation, fatty replacement, and fibrosis, resulting in muscle weakness, respiratory and cardiac failure, and premature death. There is no curative treatment. Investigations on disease-causing mechanisms offer an opportunity to identify new therapeutic targets to treat DMD. An abnormal elevation of the intracellular calcium ( Ca i 2 + ) concentration in the dystrophin-deficient muscle is a major secondary event, which contributes to disease progression in DMD. Emerging studies have suggested that targeting Ca2+-handling proteins and/or mechanisms could be a promising therapeutic strategy for DMD. Here, we provide an updated overview of the mechanistic roles the sarcolemma, sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria play in the abnormal and sustained elevation of Ca i 2 + levels and their involvement in DMD pathogenesis. We also discuss current approaches aimed at restoring Ca2+ homeostasis as potential therapies for DMD.
Thoughts on Legal Writing from the Greatest of Them All: Joseph M. Williams—Part II

This is the second of a two-part column offering thoughts from Joseph. M. Williams's Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace and what lawyers can learn from his advice.
Natural Language Processing to Identify Pulmonary Nodules and Extract Nodule Characteristics From Radiology Reports.

Background There is an urgent need for population-based studies on managing patients with pulmonary nodules. Research Question Is it possible to identify pulmonary nodules and associated characteristics using an automated method? Study Design and Methods We revised and refined an existing natural language processing (NLP) algorithm to identify radiology transcripts with pulmonary nodules and greatly expanded its functionality to identify the characteristics of the largest nodule, when present, including size, lobe, laterality, attenuation, calcification, and edge. We compared NLP results with a reference standard of manual transcript review in a random test sample of 200 radiology transcripts. We applied the final automated method to a larger cohort of patients who underwent chest CT scan in an integrated health care system from 2006 to 2016, and described their demographic and clinical characteristics. Results In the test sample, the NLP algorithm had very high sensitivity (98.6%; 95% CI, 95.0%-99.8%) and specificity (100%; 95% CI, 93.9%-100%) for identifying pulmonary nodules. For attenuation, edge, and calcification, the NLP algorithm achieved similar accuracies, and it correctly identified the diameter of the largest nodule in 135 of 141 cases (95.7%; 95% CI, 91.0%-98.4%). In the larger cohort, the NLP found 217,771 reports with nodules among 717,304 chest CT reports (30.4%). From 2006 to 2016, the number of reports with nodules increased by 150%, and the mean size of the largest nodule gradually decreased from 11 to 8.9 mm. Radiologists documented the laterality and lobe (90%-95%) more often than the attenuation, calcification, and edge characteristics (11%-14%). Interpretation The NLP algorithm identified pulmonary nodules and associated characteristics with high accuracy. In our community practice settings, the documentation of nodule characteristics is incomplete. Our results call for better documentation of nodule findings. The NLP algorithm can be used in population-based studies to identify pulmonary nodules, avoiding labor-intensive chart review.
Suicidal Behavior and Coming Out Milestones in Three Cohorts of Sexual Minority Adults.

Purpose: We describe the timing of suicidality across the life span in three cohorts of sexual minority adults. We hypothesized that suicide attempts coincide with the coming out period and that yo...
On L. Klein’s Erroneous Assessments of J M Keynes’s Views on Probability, Mathematics, and Statistics: Reviewing His 1951 Review of Harrod’s the Life of John Maynard Keynes

Lawrence Klein was a follower of the Limiting Frequency Interpretation of probability. This concept of probability requires that probability must always be a precise, exact mathematical probability. This meant that additivity was always the case. His acceptance of Kolmogorov’s axiom of countable additivity meant that he had no idea whatsoever about the concept of interval valued probability espoused by Boole and Keynes using upper and lower probability bounds. Klein’s belief in the limiting frequency interpretation of probability meant that there can be no such things as imprecise and/or indeterminate probabilities. This view impacts Klein’s understanding of economic statistics and Econometrics. Klein builds his approach to economic statistics and Econometrics on the application of the Multivariate Normal probability distribution a la Tinbergen in 1939-40. There is no evidence that Klein was familiar with Mandelbrot’s demonstration, starting in the late 1950’s, that the Normal Distribution is not supported by any empirical evidence or Keynes’s point that it was impossible to use a Normal Distribution to account for changes in the demand (supply) of durable, physical capital goods, due to the impact of future technological change, innovation (obsolescence), and advance that impacted the expectations of those investing in such producer goods. However, Klein’s approach could be used to analyze the consumption function and inventory changes over time since these are stable, linear functions. Klein misunderstood Keynes’s comments about mathematical economics in the General Theory in the appendix to chapter 19 and chapter 21 of the General Theory. Keynes’s comments were a critique of Pigou’s use of Marshallian mathematics, based on ceteris paribus, partial equilibrium models that did not take into account the interdependencies and complex, complicated interactions between variables caused by the positive feedback effects emanating from, for one example, the interactions of the multiplier and accelerator. Klein also failed to recognize that Keynes was the creator, developer and innovator of the IS-LM (LP) model, which Keynes presented as a three equation system on pp. 298-299 of the General Theory in 1936. Hicks’s and Harrod’s versions of IS-LM were just inferior versions of Keynes’s original model that left out expectations and uncertainty considerations, which Keynes had incorporated in his supporting D-Z model of chapters 20 and 21 (there is no D-Z model in chapter 3 of the GT).
Evaluating the impact of back diffusion on groundwater cleanup time.

Abstract Back diffusion of groundwater contaminants from low permeability (K) zones can be a major factor controlling the time to reach cleanup goals in downgradient monitor wells. We identify the aquifer and contaminant characteristics that have the greatest influence on the time (T OoM) after complete source removal for contaminant concentrations to decline by 1, 2 and 3 Orders-of-Magnitude (T1, T2 and T3). Two aquifer configurations are evaluated: (a) layered geometry (LG) with finite thickness low K layers; and (b) boundary geometry (BG) with thick semi-infinite low K boundaries. A semi-analytical modeling approach (Muskus and Falta, 2018) is used to simulate the concentration decline following source removal for a range of conditions and generate ≈21,000 independent values of T1, T2 and T3. Linear regression is applied to interpret this large dataset and develop simple relationships to estimate TOoM from three characteristic parameters – the mass residence time (TM), diffusion time (TD), and ratio of low K to high K mass storage (γ). TM is most important predictor of T1, T2 and T3 for both geometries and is equal to the combined high and low K contaminant mass divided by the mass flux, at the end of the loading period (TL). For LG, T3 is strongly influenced by TD = RLLD2/(4D*), where RL is the low K retardation factor , L D is the half-thickness of the embedded low K layers, and D* is the effective diffusion coefficient . For BG, T 3 is strongly influenced by γ. Contaminant decay in low K zones can significantly reduce cleanup times when λLTD > 0.01, where λL is the effective first order decay rate in the low K zone. The 1st Damkohler (Da), equal to TM/TD, provides a useful indicator of the relative importance of back diffusion on TOoM. Back diffusion impacts are greatest on T3 when 0.01 > Da > 0.1, then decrease with increasing Da. Back diffusion has less impacts on T2, with limited influence on T1. The results are summarized in a simple conceptual model to aid in evaluating the impact of back diffusion on the time for concentrations to decline by 1–3 OoM.
„Heute schon gegendert?“ Gender Mainstreaming als Herausforderung für die Soziale Arbeit

Gender Mainstreaming ist eine geschlechterpolitische Strategie, die aus den Erfahrungen der Frauen mit der internationalen Entwicklungspolitik entstand und die Frauen von der Position der Bittstellerinnen, die an ihre Regierungen Forderungen stellen, befreit. Bereits in den 80er Jahren haben Frauen gefordert, dass die grosen entwicklungspolitischen Akteure, wie die Weltbank und die Vereinten Nationen, geschlechtersensible Konzepte in ihren Entwicklungsprogrammen einsetzen. Zum einen setzten sie mit dem Gender Budgeting der neoliberalen Strukturpolitik und insbesondere den Strukturanpassungsmasnahmen ein vielfaltiges analytisches Methodenset entgegen (vgl. Budlender u.a. 1998). Zum anderen konnten sie durch die Verankerung von Gender Mainstreaming in dem Abschlussdokument der Weltfrauenkonferenz 1995 erstmals die Regierungen verpflichten, die frauenpolitische Agenda auch in einer bestimmten Weise umzusetzen.
Supervised and unsupervised clustering with probabilistic shift

We present a novel scale adaptive, nonparametric approach to clustering point patterns. Clusters are detected by moving all points to their cluster cores using shift vectors. First, we propose a novel scale selection criterion based on local density isotropy which determines the neighborhoods over which the shift vectors are computed. We then construct a directed graph induced by these shift vectors. Clustering is obtained by simulating random walks on this digraph. We also examine the spectral properties of a similarity matrix obtained from the directed graph to obtain a K-way partitioning of the data. Additionally, we use the eigenvector alignment algorithm of [1] to automatically determine the number of clusters in the dataset. We also compare our approach with supervised[2] and completely unsupervised spectral clustering[1], normalized cuts[3], K-Means, and adaptive bandwidth meanshift[4] on MNIST digits, USPS digits and UCI machine learning data.
The Education and Medical Practice of Dr. James McCune Smith (1813-1865), First Black American to Hold a Medical Degree

James McCune Smith (1813-1865)--first black American to obtain a medical degree, prominent abolitionist and suffragist, compassionate physician, prolific writer, and public intellectual--has been relatively neglected by historians of medicine. No biography of Smith exists to this day, though he has been the subject of several essays. Born, in his own words, "the son of a self-emancipated bond-woman," and denied admission to colleges in the United States, his native land, Smith earned medical, master's, and baccalaureate degrees at Glasgow University in Scotland. On his return to New York City in 1837, Smith became the first black physician to publish articles in US medical journals. Smith was broadly involved in the anti-slavery and suffrage movements, contributing to and editing abolitionist newspapers and serving as an officer of many organizations for the improvement of social conditions in the black community. In his scientific writings Smith debunked the racial theories in Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia, refuted phrenology and homeopathy, and responded with a forceful statistical critique to the racially biased US Census of 1840. Frederick Douglass, Gerrit Smith, and John Brown personally collaborated with James McCune Smith in the fight for black freedom. As the learned physician-scholar of the abolition movement, Smith was instrumental in making the overthrow of slavery credible and successful.
The Morphology and Physiology of the Acrosome Reaction in the Sperm of the Decapod, Sicyonia ingentis.

Sperm of the shrimp, Sicyonia ingentis, undergo a biphasic acrosome reaction consisting of acrosomal exocytosis and acrosomal filament formation. These events are temporally separated by 10–20 min, in vivo. Using egg water preparations the complete reaction can be induced, in vitro, albeit the temporal separation of the two phases is lengthened. External Ca++ is required for the exocytotic phase, while a cytoplasmic acidification and K+ efflux are associated with polymerization of the acrosomal filament.
Mutational spectra in human B-cells. Spontaneous, oxygen and hydrogen peroxide-induced mutations at the hprt gene.

Abstract To test the hypothesis that reactive species in the oxygen cascade are responsible for spontaneous mutation, we examined the spectra of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide-induced mutations at the hprt locus in a human B-lymphoblastoid cell line. We compared these spectra with the spontaneous mutational spectrum. Large gene alterations were studied by Southern analysis of individual TGR clones. A combination of high fidelity polymerase chain reaction, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and direct DNA sequencing were used to detect and identify point mutations in exon 3 of hprt. With regard to spontaneous mutations, a previous study showed that 39% of the spontaneous TGR clones had large gene alterations. In the present study, the analysis of spontaneous point mutations within exon 3 revealed two hotspots. A one base-pair deletion (−A) at base-pair 256 or 257 and a two base-pair deletion (−GG) at base-pair 237 and 238, were detected in triplicate cultures. Each of the hotspots comprised about 1% of the TGR mutants. The analysis of individual oxygen-induced TGR clones (48 h, 910 μ m -O2) showed 43% had large gene alterations similar to the spontaneous TGR clones. However, none of the spontaneous point mutation hotspots was found among triplicate oxygen-treated cultures. Two point mutations in common with H2O2-treated cultures were found in one of the three oxygen-treated cultures. Hydrogen peroxide-induced mutations (1 h, 20 μ m ) also differed from spontaneous mutations. Only 24% of the hydrogen peroxide-induced TGR clones had large gene alterations. The analysis of point mutations showed three hotspots within exon 3 of hprt. An AT to TA transversion at base-pair 259 had an average frequency of 3 % of all TGR mutants (present in all of 3 H2O2-treated cultures). Two GC to CG transversions at base-pairs 243 and 202 were present at a frequency of 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively. A five base-pair deletion (base-pair 274 to 278) was present at an average frequency of 0.3%. The latter three mutations were detected in two of three H2O2-treated cultures. Thus, the point mutation spectra of both oxygen and hydrogen peroxide were significantly different from the spontaneous spectrum. The oxygen and hydrogen peroxide-induced spectra shared some features, suggesting that oxygen and hydrogen peroxide share some but not all pathways for induction of mutations within the DNA sequence studied here. Subject to the caveat that the mutation rates differed among the three conditions characterized, and that these differences may well affect mutation mechanisms, we conclude that spontaneous point mutations at the hprt gene in human cells in vitro do not arise primarily from reactions of the DNA with elements of the active oxygen cascade. However, it is possible that the pathway(s) of spontaneous large deletions do involve active oxygen species.
Advances in the use of animal models for analysing intestinal cancers and protective effects of dietary components.

Abstract: This chapter begins by discussing the development and features of two of the most widely used rodent models for human colorectal cancer, namely azoxymethane-induced rat colon carcinogenesis and ApcMin/+ mice models. Then it reviews the results from the studies using these rodent models that have identified many potential preventive dietary components against colon cancer. The major dietary components discussed are (1) dietary fat such as fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, and conjugated linolenic acid; (2) dietary fiber such as inulin-type of fructans, resistant starch, and wheat bran; and (3) tea polyphenols.
Qualitative theory of differential equations

In this chapter we consider the differential equation $$\dot x = f\left( {t,x} \right)$$ (1) where $$ x = \left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {{x_1}\left( t \right)} \\ \vdots\\ {{x_n}\left( t \right)} \end{array}} \right], $$ and $$ f\left( {t,x} \right) = \left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {{f_1}\left( {t,{x_1}, \ldots ,{x_n}} \right)} \\ \vdots\\ {{f_n}\left( {t,{x_1}, \ldots ,{x_n}} \right)} \end{array}} \right] $$ is a nonlinear function of x1, ..., xn. Unfortunately, there are no known methods of solving Equation. This, of course, is very disappointing. However, it is not necessary, in most applications, to find the solutions of explicitly. For example, let x1(t) and x2(t) denote the populations, at time t, of two species competing amongst themselves for the limited food and living space in their microcosm. Suppose, moreover, that the rates of growth of x1(t) and x2(t) are governed by the differential equation. In this case, we are not really interested in the values of x1(t) and x2(t) at every time t. Rather, we are interested in the qualitative properties of x1(t) and x2(t). Specically, we wish to answer the following questions.