cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
John Locke on Hypotheses: Placing the Essay in the ‘Scientific Tradition’

It has often been assumed by advocates of the purist view of the theory of knowledge (a view outlined in Chapter 2) that John Locke was primarily an epistemologist with only a casual and superficial interest in the physical sciences. Despite the fact that he studied medicine and spoke glowingly of figures like Newton and Boyle,1 Locke’s Essay seems — at least on the surface — to be concerned with the epistemology of commonsense rather than with the logic and methods of science. Philosophers, evidently by reading history backwards, have written as if Locke accepted the view of Berkeley and Hume that the empiricist philosophy should not base itself on a ‘scientific’ metaphysics. Furthermore, in so far as the Essay does deal with scientific matters, it usually seems to treat them with derision and condescension. Consequently, some commentators have inferred that Locke was an opponent of the corpuscular micro-physics which dominated the science of his day and have viewed his Essay as an attempt to develop a theory of knowledge with no corpuscularian, or other quasi-scientific, bias. They suggest that Locke was opposed not only to the atomic hypothesis, but to the use of virtually all hypotheses about imperceptibles in science. Those commentators who do not explicitly attribute to Locke a hostility to hypotheses generally leave unmentioned his remarks about scientific method, as if philosophy of science was foreign to the spirit of the Essay.2 Recently, however, Maurice Mandelbaum has pointed out riot only that Locke was sympathetic to the corpuscular program, but that an atomic view of nature is essential to Locke’s epistemology and metaphysics.3 Rather than read Locke in the light of Berkeley’s criticisms, Mandelbaum, urges us to approach the Essay with the atomic theories of Boyle and Newton in mind.
Hosting Patrons Between the Ages of Nine and Sixteen in an Academic Library

This article provides examples of event planning and programming provided for youth groups (middle school or high school students), and it offers tips to giving younger students a hands-on, educational, and entertaining academic library experience. Buy-in from administration is important, and the inclusion of all library staff will turn what could be an overwhelming task for a single librarian into a team building, uplifting event for everyone involved.
The Efficacy of Antibacterial Prophylaxis Against the Development of Meningitis After Craniotomy: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective Prophylactic antibiotics are widely used before craniotomy to prevent postoperative infections. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the effect of prophylactic antibiotics on meningitis after craniotomy. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched through October 2014 for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of prophylactic antibiotics on meningitis after craniotomy. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using fixed-effects and random-effects models. Results Seven studies with 2365 patients were included in the final analysis. All studies were randomized controlled trials with different antibiotic regimens. Prophylactic antibiotic use reduced the rate of meningitis after neurosurgery, with a pooled Peto odds ratio of 0.34 (95% confidence interval 0.18–0.63). Cochran's Q test indicated no significant heterogeneity among studies ( I 2 = 0; P value for heterogeneity = 0.44). Subgroup analysis based on Gram-negative coverage, blinding design, and study quality demonstrated no statistically significant difference among these groups ( P > 0.05 for all). A meta-regression on surgery duration ( P = 0.52) and on antibiotics duration ( P = 0.59) did not show significant differences in the results among studies. Conclusions This meta-analysis shows that prophylactic antibiotic use significantly decreases meningitis infections after craniotomy.
The (Non)Uniqueness of Environmental Law

In everyday discourse, the label "environmental law" signifies a distinct and unique area of the law. The uniqueness of environmental law stems most obviously from the subject matter of environmental legislation and regulation. But does environmental law also differ from other areas of law with respect to how judges ought to approach deciding cases? Should judges act differently somehow when they are deciding an environmental law case as opposed to, for example, a labor law or banking law case? At least one influential scholar - Richard Lazarus of the Georgetown University Law Center - has argued that the distinctive features of ecological injury justify treating environmental cases differently from other types of cases. This Article critically examines this claim, by identifying and evaluating seven potential paradigms that federal courts could use to relate environmental law to other areas of law, particularly administrative law, when deciding environmental law cases. In sum, the Article argues that when relevant under the appropriate legal standards, courts should consider the distinctive features of ecological injury when applying facts to law, and in some situations they should draw on their knowledge of those distinctive features when fashioning rules of general application. They should not, however, reach pro-environment decisions in a non-principled manner, automatically vote to protect the environment whenever the relevant legal materials prove substantially indeterminate, or otherwise act as though protection of the environment is an inherent aspect of the judicial role. Nor should they fashion completely distinct rules to govern environmental law cases or alter generally applicable rules to apply differently in environmental law cases. The point of the Article is not to suggest that environmental law should not exist as a separate legal category, but rather to suggest that generally judges need not approach environmental law cases differently from how they approach other types of cases.
Phase Behavior of Polymer Blends

Abstract We have demonstrated in two separate cases that SANS experiments can be used to obtain binary interaction parameters effectively and accurately. With measured χ as a function of composition and temperature, the free energy of mixing can be obtained at least numerically. The phase diagram including spinodal curves and cloud-point curves can be predicted. The second derivative of free energy of mixing w.r.t. composition, ∂2ƒ/∂ϕ2, can be used directly in the kinetics studies of spinodal decomposition. In the polybutadiene/polybutadiene case, individual pair interaction parameters can be separated out. Microstructure effect is the main contribution to the incompatibility of the blends. Nevertheless, with the use of the random copolymer theory, phase behavior can be predicted.
Design and Analysis on Fire Prevention of Xujiahui Subway Station Transferring Hall

Based on the rule of a suitable environment for evacuation and evacuating time,the functional fire safety method was adopted,in which,the most unfavorable condition was taken into account,different fire scenes were built up for the simulation and analysis of the fire prevention and smoke extraction system,personnel evacuating facilities of Xujiahui subway station transferring hall.The result proves that the fire prevention system is safe and reliable.
Codebook-based Scalable Music Tagging with Poisson Matrix Factorization.

Automatic music tagging is an important but challenging problem within MIR. In this paper, we treat music tagging as a matrix completion problem. We apply the Poisson matrix factorization model jointly on the vector-quantized audio features and a “bag-of-tags” representation. This approach exploits the shared latent structure between semantic tags and acoustic codewords. Leveraging the recentlydeveloped technique of stochastic variational inference, the model can tractably analyze massive music collections. We present experimental results on the CAL500 dataset and the Million Song Dataset for both annotation and retrieval tasks, illustrating the steady improvement in performance as more data is used.
Effect of Read Disturb on Incomplete Blocks in MLC NAND Flash Arrays

The effect of read disturb on partially programmed blocks of MLC NAND is evaluated using experimental data from 2y-, 1y- and 1x-nm Flash memory devices. We demonstrate that when a partially programmed block is exposed to a large number of reads before it is finalized in terms of page programming, the remaining pages will exhibit a significant bit error-rate (BER) increase. The page-BER is characterized in terms of program-erase cycles and read cycles and is further analyzed based on the programmed threshold voltage distributions. The impact of the page programming algorithm is also discussed.
Magnetoelastic biosensor for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium in food products

In this article, a magnetoelastic sensor immobilized with polyclonal antibody for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium in food products is described. The remote query nature of magnetoelastic sensors enables the detection of bacterial species in sealed and opaque containers. Bacterial binding to the antibody on the sensor surfaces changed the resonance parameters, and these changes were quantified by the shift in the sensor’s resonance frequency. Response of the sensors to increasing concentrations (5 × 101–5 × 108 cfu/ml) of S. typhimurium in three different food products (water, fat-free milk and apple juice) was studied and similar responses were observed. These results were also further ascertained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies. A detection limit of 5 × 103 cfu/ml, with a sensitivity of 139 Hz/decade was obtained for the sensors tested in water samples, as compared to 129 Hz/decade in apple juice and 127 Hz/decade in fat free milk. A 2 × 0.4 × 0.015 mm sensor was employed in all the investigations. The dissociation constant K d and the binding valencies for S. typhimurium spiked in water samples was 435 cfu/ml and 2.33 respectively; as compared to 309 cfu/ml and 2.38 for apple juice; and 1389 cfu/ml and 1.85 for fat free milk samples. Bacterial binding was specific and a divalent binding was observed.
The Electronic Liquid of Metals

Any metal can be considered as a Fermi sea of electrons which moves within a crystalline lattice. Each of these conduction or “free” electrons strongly interacts with ions of the lattice. Besides, there exists a strong interaction among electrons. Actually, the potential energy of the conduction electrons in metals is of the same order as their kinetic energy. However, it appears that this strongly interacting system of conduction electrons (electron liquid) in many aspects behaves like a system of noninteracting particles (electron gas) affected by the electric field of the crystalline lattice. This similarity is the basis of a phenomenological theory of Fermi liquids. This theory was first proposed by Landau for neutral Fermi liquids in [77], [78] and then generalized by Silin for charged Fermi liquids like the electron liquid of metals [4].
Multi-scale Analysis of Gas Transport Mechanisms in Kerogen

Quantification of natural gas transport in organic-rich shale is important in predicting natural gas production. However, laboratory measurements are challenging due to tight nature of the rock and include large uncertainties. The emphasis of this work is to understand mass transport mechanisms inside the organic nanoporous material known as kerogen under subsurface conditions and describe its permeability. This requires a multi-scale theoretical approach that includes flow measurements in model nanocapillaries and within their network. Molecular dynamics simulation results of steady-state supercritical methane flow in single-wall carbon nanotube are presented in this article. A transition from convection to molecular diffusion is observed. The simulation results show that the adsorbed methane molecules are mobile and contribute a significant portion to the total mass flux in nanocapillaries with diameter $${<}$$ 10 nm. They experience cluster diffusion that is dependent on the applied pressure drop across the capillary. A modified Hagen–Poiseuille equation is proposed considering the convective–diffusive nature of the overall transport in nanocapillary. The molecular-level study of steady-state transport is extended to a simple network of interconnected nanocapillaries representing kerogen. The modified Hagen–Poiseuille equation leads to a representative elementary volume of the model kerogen. The estimated permeability of the volume is sensitive to compressed and adsorbed fluids density ratio and to surface properties of the nanocapillary walls, indicating that fluid–wall interactions driven by molecular forces could be significant during the large-scale transport within shale. A modified Kozeny–Carman correlation is proposed, relating kerogen porosity and tortuosity to the permeability.
Enhancing Phototherapy with Topical Agents

Various topical agents can be used to augment the effectiveness of phototherapy for psoriasis, especially when the lesions are thick and light cannot penetrate. Topical retinoids (tazoratene) and keratolytics (salicylic acid and lactic acid) can help reduce scale. Coal tar and anthralin, although messy and more difficult to use, can also increase the effectiveness of phototherapy as demonstrated in the Goeckerman regimen and Ingram regimen, respectively.
Comment on “Diet-Derived Short Chain Fatty Acids Stimulate Intestinal Epithelial Cells To Induce Mucosal Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells”

An article recently published by Goverse et al. ([1][1]) in The Journal of Immunology reported that epithelial cells in the intestine expressed retinaldehyde dehydrogenase (RALDH) and therefore the epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal tract could synthesize the vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid
Building uSafeNH mobile app: the evolution of an undergraduate project over multiple semesters

Working on real world projects has always been a highly desirable component of undergraduate software development courses. However, teachers face many challenges when helping undergraduate students successfully complete a project for actual clients. First, given the wide range of technologies available, it is important to choose the right development languages and tools to ensure the timely delivery of quality products. The main factors that influence such decision of which languages and tools to use in an undergraduate project should also include the students' skill levels, the learning curve associated with emerging technologies, and the user requirements. Moreover, it becomes particularly difficult to manage larger real world projects in different courses over multiple semesters, particularly when the development teams change as different groups of students leave or enter the project.
Trade-offs between conservation and development in community-based management initiatives

Community-based management (CBM) has attracted much interest as a conservation and development strategy in natural resource-dependent communities in recent decades. However, most initiatives fail to achieve both objectives. The most analyzed CBM strategies in the literature include donor- and government-driven initiatives, but other types exist as well. The research objective was to identify the internal and external factors that influence the trade-offs between conservation and development in three internally driven CBM initiatives in Latin America: a long-term indigenous-based conservation strategy, the constitutional recognition of ancestral land rights of Afro-American communities and artisanal fisheries management. The results showed that livelihoods depend on natural resources, but none of the cases identified a balance between conservation and development. Community activities are not the primary cause of natural resource degradation. Conservation is supported by ethnicity and cultural values and is challenged by current development models and worldviews that push intensification of resource use and by power asymmetries. Internal pressures include limited rule compliance and enforcement authority to stop free-riding and unauthorized activities. Internal challenges for development include the lack of capacities, rigid rules and non-inclusive CBM, and the inertia and risk aversion that prevail in many communities. External challenges include the lack of economic incentives and compensation models that enable welfare opportunities linked to sustainable management
Flood concerns and impacts on rural landowners: An empirical study of the Deerfield watershed, MA (USA)

Abstract Riverine flooding is the most common and costly natural hazard. While there has been substantial research on the perception and management of flood risk among urban and agricultural landowners, we have little knowledge about the ways different groups of rural landowners are impacted by and manage floods. To address this gap, we investigate the impacts of flooding on rural landowners in Massachusetts, USA, the actions they have taken to protect their property, and the ways these concerns and actions vary by land use. We show that floods impact rural landowners in ways that are directly linked to the rural context of their land and livelihoods. Rural landowners face multiple flood risks that include damage to the land itself and rural infrastructure as well as to residential structures. The ways landowners use their land can influence the ways they experience floods and the specific concerns they hold about flood damages. Further, many of these landowners often utilize flood management strategies that involve physical manipulation of riparian areas. Our findings draw attention to the unique context of rural flooding. We argue that more research is needed to understand how these experiences and other factors drive landowners’ perspectives on flood management and how these perspectives and management activities influence the practice of flood management at the basin-scale.
Rituximab for frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome or steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome: What is the lowest effective dose?

Introduction Rituximab, the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is effective in reducing relapses in nephrotic syndrome. Published series have predominantly used 1.5 g/m2 over 2–4 doses. With the lowest effective dose to be elucidated, balancing this against potential long-term side effects is important. We report our experience with a single 375 mg/m2 dose. Methods We retrospectively examined notes of 20 patients with FRNS/SDNS treated over 6 years at a regional centre. Nineteen patients received a first dose of 375 mg/m2; 1 patient received a second dose after 14 d. Results Eleven patients were male. The median age at diagnosis was 3.5 years (range: 1.8–11.3). Time from diagnosis to first dose was 5.5 years (2.3–11.3). One or more renal biopsies were performed in 18 patients: minimal change disease was seen initially in all patients; calcineurin-inhibitor toxicity was seen in 9 patients prior to rituximab. Following a first dose, 4 patients have remained in remission (median follow-up 734 days). Time to B cell depletion ( Conclusion Our data demonstrates that a single dose of 375 mg/m2 induces B cell depletion and maintains remission comparable to larger doses. A lower dose has cost-effective benefits but may also reduce the risk of long-term adverse effects. Further work is needed to optimize treatment strategies for repeated rituximab dosing.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, epigenetics, and skeletal system dysfunction: exploration of links using bisphenol A as a model system

Early life exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been associated with physiological changes of endocrine-sensitive tissues throughout postnatal life. Although hormones play a critical role in skeletal growth and maintenance, the effects of prenatal EDC exposure on adult bone health are not well understood. Moreover, studies assessing skeletal changes across multiple generations are limited. In this article, we present previously unpublished data demonstrating dose-, sex-, and generation-specific changes in bone morphology and function in adult mice developmentally exposed to the model estrogenic EDC bisphenol A (BPA) at doses of 10 μg (lower dose) or 10 mg per kg bw/d (upper dose) throughout gestation and lactation. We show that F1 generation adult males, but not females, developmentally exposed to bisphenol A exhibit dose-dependent reductions in outer bone size resulting in compromised bone stiffness and strength. These structural alterations and weaker bone phenotypes in the F1 generation did not persist in the F2 generation. Instead, F2 generation males exhibited greater bone strength. The underlying mechanisms driving the EDC-induced physiological changes remain to be determined. We discuss potential molecular changes that could contribute to the EDC-induced skeletal effects, with an emphasis on epigenetic dysregulation. Furthermore, we assess the necessity of intact sex steroid receptors to mediate these effects. Expanding future assessments of EDC-induced effects to the skeleton may provide much needed insight into one of the many health effects of these chemicals and aid in regulatory decision making regarding exposure of vulnerable populations to these chemicals.
A literature review of overnight work travel within individual, family and social contexts

This paper presents results of a comprehensive literature review of empirical studies investigating travel for work and how it relates to individual lives. The paper presents information on how wor...
Optimizing Program Performance via Similarity, Using a Feature-Agnostic Approach

This work proposes a new technique for performance evaluation to predict performance of parallel programs across diverse and complex systems. In this work the term system is comprehensive of the hardware organization, the development and execution environment. The proposed technique considers the collection of completion times for some pairs program,i¾?system and constructs an empirical model that learns to predict performance of unknown pairs program,i¾?system. This approach is feature-agnostic because it does not involve previous knowledge of program and/or system characteristics features to predict performance. Experimental results conducted with a large number of serial and parallel benchmark suites, including SPEC CPU2006, SPEC OMP2012, and systems show that the proposed technique is equally applicable to be employed in several compelling performance evaluation studies, including characterization, comparison and tuning of hardware configurations, compilers, run-time environments or any combination thereof.
Region of Interest Determination for Quantitative Evaluation of Myocardial Ischemia from PET Images

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) of the heart permits non-invasive identification of myocardial ischemia and infarction through metabolic and perfusion imaging. Ischemic tissue is characterized by reduced perfusion and appears as a defect when 13-N ammonia is used as the imaging agent because this tracer is taken up in the myocardium in proportion to blood flow (Schelbert et al., 1981). Within the ischemic zone, viable tissue can be differentiated from non-viable or infarcted tissue by the presence of persistent metabolic activity which can be imaged with 18-F deoxyglucose (18-FDG) (Schwaiger et al., 1985). Of particular clinical importance is the non-invasive measurement of the fraction of the total left ventricular (LV) volume which is infarcted or ischemic. We have developed two approaches to accurately recover the fraction of LV myocardium involved in the ischemic process directly from PET images of myocardial perfusion, metabolism, and the LV bloodpool.
Inferences from Simple Models of Slow, Convectively Coupled Processes

AbstractA framework for conceptual understanding of slow, convectively coupled disturbances is developed and applied to several canonical tropical problems, including the water vapor content of an ...
Parameter-dependent surrogate model development for PZT bimorph actuators employed for micro-air vehicles

In the paper, we discuss the use of the homogenized energy model (HEM) to develop a dynamic mode decomposition surrogate model for a PZT bimorph actuator used for micro-air vehicles including Robobee. The HEM quantifies the nonlinear, hysteretic, and rate-dependent behavior inherent to PZT in highly dynamic operating regimes. Due to the computation complexity of the HEM, we must develop a surrogate model. The surrogate model must be parameter- and control-dependent to be able to perform inverse problems or uncertainty quantification in different driving regimes. In the literature, DMD can be adapted to address different control inputs. We will discuss using interpolation over the parameters to adapt the DMD to include parameter dependence. Finally, we will discuss the results and limitations of the new surrogate model.
Populations of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef lack vertical connectivity

Larval connectivity among and within coral reefs is important for sustaining coral metapopulations, enhancing ecosystem resilience through species and genetic diversity, and maintaining reef ecosystems’ structure and functions. This study characterized genetic structure and assessed horizontal and vertical connectivity among populations of the ubiquitous gonochoric broadcast spawning coral Montastraea cavernosa in Belize. Using nine polymorphic microsatellite loci, we genotyped M. cavernosa colonies from four depth zones at four study sites within Belizean marine management zones. Study sites were selected within South Water Caye Marine Reserve (3 sites) and Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve (1 site). Strong contemporary genetic differentiation was observed between relatively shallow M. cavernosa populations (10 m, 16 m) and relatively deep (25 m, 35 m) populations, coinciding with a transition from reef crest to reef slope. These results were consistent across both marine reserves. Vertical and horizontal migration models suggest that all populations were historically panmictic, with little unidirectional migration. The relative local isolation of shallow and mesophotic M. cavernosa populations in Belize, coupled with the importance of Belize’s upper mesophotic populations as potential larval sources for other areas in the Tropical Western Atlantic, reinforces the need for management strategies that conserve coral populations across all depth zones.
Die-less fabrication of miniaturized parts through single point incremental micro-forming

Abstract In recent years, demand for miniaturized products has significantly increased in biomedical and micro-electronics industries. In this article, a relatively new sheet forming technique named incremental sheet micro-forming (μISF) is comprehensively investigated to address the emerging need for micro-manufacturing. Using μISF, a metal foil is deformed into complex three dimensional shape by navigating a hemispherical-tip tool over it in a pre-defined toolpath. Experiments are conducted using 50 μm thick AL 1100-O and AL 5052-H19 foils on a table-top numeric controlled machine coupled with force transducer. Measured force data reveal a cyclic nature in axial direction with fluctuations close to 13% that is unprecedented in macro-scale metal parts. This fluctuation can be attributed to either heterogeneous material deformation due to high grain size to thickness ratio or planar anisotropy. The subsequent analysis provides insight into extent of geometric accuracy and enhanced material formability obtained in μISF process. Also, a novel defect is detected due to feature twisting that is never observed in macro-scale parts while forming pyramid shaped geometry. The developed setup is proved to obtain reliable and repeatable results and validates that μISF can provide good alternative for flexible manufacturing of miniaturized products.
Rewiring the Regenerated Zebrafish Retina: Reemergence of Bipolar Neurons and Cone-Bipolar Circuitry Following an Inner Retinal Lesion.

We previously reported strikingly normal morphologies and functional connectivities of regenerated retinal bipolar neurons (BPs) in zebrafish retinas sampled 60 days after a ouabain-mediated lesion of inner retinal neurons (60 DPI) [McGinn et al., 2018, J Neurosci 38(1):120-136]. Here we report early steps in the birth of BPs and formation of their dendritic trees and axonal arbors during regeneration. Adult zebrafish were subjected to ouabain-mediated lesion that destroys inner retinal neurons but spares photoreceptors and Muller glia, and were sampled at 13, 17, and 21 DPI, a timeframe over which plexiform layers reemerge. We show that this timeframe corresponds to reemergence and accumulation of two populations of BPs (PKCα+ and nyx::mYFP+). Sequential BrdU, EdU incorporation reveals that similar fractions of PKCα+ BPs and HuC/D+ amacrine/ganglion cells are regenerated concurrently, suggesting that the sequence of neuronal production during retinal regeneration does not strictly match that observed during embryonic development. Further, accumulation of regenerated BPs appears protracted, at least through 21 DPI. The existence of isolated, nyx::mYFP+ BPs allowed examination of cytological detail through confocal microscopy, image tracing, morphometric analyses, identification of cone synaptic contacts, and rendering/visualization. Apically-projecting neurites (=dendrites) of regenerated BPs sampled at 13, 17, and 21 DPI are either truncated, or display smaller dendritic trees when compared to controls. In cases where BP dendrites reach the outer plexiform layer (OPL), numbers of dendritic tips are similar to those of controls at all sampling times. Further, by 13-17 DPI, BPs with dendritic tips reaching the ONL show patterns of photoreceptor connections that are statistically indistinguishable from controls, while those sampled at 21 DPI slightly favor contacts with double cone synaptic terminals over those of blue-sensitive cones. These findings suggest that once regenerated BP dendrites reach the OPL, normal photoreceptor connectomes are established, albeit with some plasticity. Through 17 DPI, some basally-projecting neurites (=axons) of regenerated nyx::mYFP+ BPs traverse long distances, branch into inappropriate layers, or appear to abruptly terminate. These findings suggest that, after a tissue-disrupting lesion, regeneration of inner retinal neurons is a dynamic process that includes ongoing genesis of new neurons and changes in BP morphology.
Multi Sensor Performance Driven Data Fusion for Sign Language Synthesis

In this paper, we propose a multi sensor framework fusing hand and body motion for sign language synthesis. Microsoft Kinect and the VMG30 data gloves are used in our framework to capture finger and corresponding arm motions from two different views during gesturing. The proposed method uses a twofold approach to first coupling both hand and arm motion together for recognition, and secondly, applying boosted hierarchical Hidden Markov Model to synthesize animation.
Nested Workflows for Loosely Coupled HPC Simulations

The increasing complexity of modern scientific simulations has given rise to the notion of re-usability as a means to reduce development time and effort. One form of re-usability involves hierarchical modelling, where the code and artifacts that model a physical phenomenon are used as the building blocks for more complex coupled physical systems. This reusability mode allows for improvements in constituents sub-models to impact the overall fidelity of the entire system with minimal effort. This benefit, however, hinges upon the ability to provide a fairly loose coupling across model boundaries, where changes in any sub-model do not result in wholesale changes to other sub-models, or in the structure and details of the code for the entire physical system. In this paper, we present the design, implementation, and case studies for incorporating sub-workflows as building blocks in a framework for loosely coupled high performance simulations. We outline the issues involved in providing lightweight customization points for full workflows that allows their use unchanged in a nested-workflow setting, while providing each sub-workflow with a separate execution context that ensures non-interference with other parts of the simulation. We present several use cases that demonstrate the successful use of the proposed design and its flexibility in accommodating different customization and scaling requirements.
Low-temperature breakdown of many-body perturbation theory for thermodynamics

It is shown analytically and numerically that the finite-temperature many-body perturbation theory in the grand canonical ensemble has zero radius of convergence at zero temperature when the energy ordering or degree of degeneracy for the ground state changes with the perturbation strength. When the degeneracy of the reference state is partially or fully lifted at the first-order Hirschfelder-Certain degenerate perturbation theory, the second-order grand potential and internal energy diverge as $T\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$. Contrary to earlier suggestions of renormalizability by the chemical potential $\ensuremath{\mu}$, this nonconvergence, first suspected by Kohn and Luttinger, is caused by the nonanalytic nature of the Boltzmann factor ${e}^{\ensuremath{-}E/{k}_{\text{B}}T}$ at $T=0$, also plaguing the canonical ensemble, which does not involve $\ensuremath{\mu}$. The finding reveals a fundamental flaw in perturbation theory, which is deeply rooted in the mathematical limitation of power-series expansions and is unlikely to be removed within its framework.
Edward Vidaurre and the Politics of the Cholo Strut

I chart paths for navigating the contemporary political moment via the work of the working-class barrio poet Edward Vidaurre. The take-away from his work is a form of confrontational poetic activis...
Dermatologic findings in individuals with genetically confirmed Proteus syndrome.

Background/objective Proteus syndrome, caused by a mosaic activating AKT1 variant, typically presents in toddlers with progressive, asymmetric overgrowth of the skin and bones. We aimed to define the spectrum of dermatologic disease in individuals with genetically confirmed Proteus syndrome. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of records from dermatologic examinations of individuals evaluated at the NIH with a molecular diagnosis of Proteus syndrome. The types, prevalence, and localization of dermatologic findings were assessed. Results Fifty-one individuals (29 males, 22 females, mean age: 9 years) with clinical features of Proteus syndrome had the mosaic c.49G>A, p.Glu17Lys AKT1 variant. Fifty (98%) had at least one cutaneous feature constituting current clinical diagnostic criteria, including vascular malformations in 42 (82%), epidermal nevus in 41 (80%), volar cerebriform connective tissue nevi in 34 (67%), and adipose dysregulation in 30 (59%). Forty-nine (96%) had at least one dermatologic finding not included within the diagnostic criteria, including confluent volar skin-colored to hypopigmented papules or nodules (n = 33, 65%), papules or nodules on the digits or face (n = 27, 53%), and nonlinear epidermal nevi (n = 15, 29%). Other frequently observed features include nail changes (n = 28, 55%), hyperpigmented macules (n = 27, 53%), patchy dermal hypoplasia (n = 18, 35%), gingival/oral mucosal overgrowth (n = 17, 33%), hypopigmented macules (n = 16, 31%), dental enamel changes (n = 9, 18%), acrochordons (n = 6, 12%), and lingual overgrowth (n = 4, 8%). Conclusions The range of mucocutaneous features occurring in Proteus syndrome is broader than previously considered. These observations may assist in earlier diagnosis and management and provide novel insights regarding the pathogenesis of the condition.
Statins, Enzyme CoQ10 Supplement Use, and Cognitive Functioning.

OBJECTIVE The current study assessed the effects of statin and CoQ10 supplement use on changes in cognitive functioning in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention study. METHODS 1,573 subjects were administered medical histories, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Wechsler Memory Scale, Logical Memory subtest, and the Trail Making Test, Parts A (TMT-A) and B (TMT-B) 3-4 times over 5-10 years. RESULTS Linear mixed models did not yield significant effects for statin or CoQ10 supplement use on changes in mental status, learning and memory, psychomotor speed, and cognitive flexibility. CONCLUSIONS Statin and/or CoQ10 supplement use was not associated with neuropsychological test performance in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention study.
Opioid use in patients with peripheral arterial disease undergoing lower extremity bypass.

Abstract Objective Opioid use is common among patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), given that pain is a defining symptom. Unfortunately, long-term opioid use places patients at dramatically increased risk of overdose and death. Although surgical revascularization is extremely effective in alleviating ischemic pain related to PAD, it is unclear whether this practice results in the discontinuation of opioids after surgery. Therefore, we conducted the following study to investigate trends in opioid use before and after surgical bypass in patients with PAD, as well as the risk factors for continued opioid use after surgery. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing open lower extremity bypass for claudication or rest pain between June 1, 2017, and March 31, 2021. Patients were grouped according to whether they reported preoperative opioid use at the time of surgery. The primary outcome was continued opioid use at 30-day follow-up after discharge. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to estimate the association of continued opioid use with patient characteristics, preoperative opioid use, and receiving a postoperative opioid prescription. Results Among 3873 patients undergoing surgery, the mean age was 65.7 (10.2) years and 2650 (68.4%) patients were male. There were 913 patients (23.6%) who used opioids preoperatively and hydrocodone was the most common preoperative opioid (583 [63.9%]). At discharge, 2506 patients (64.7%) received a postoperative opioid prescription. Postoperative opioid prescriptions were significantly more common for preoperative opioid users than opioid-naive patients (813 [89.0%] vs 1693 [57.2%]; P Conclusions Most patients with PAD who use opioids preoperatively do not discontinue opioids after lower extremity bypass. Moreover, a significant proportion of previously opioid-naive patients are still using opioids 1 month after surgery. In both cases, postoperative opioid prescriptions had the strongest association with continued opioid use. These findings underscore the need for improved prescribing practice and increased attentiveness to discontinuation of unnecessary medications after surgery.
A Positive-Real Modification of a Class of Nonlinear Controllers for Robot Manipulators

In this paper the new class of "PD+" control laws for rigid-link manipulators, whose members are PD joint controllers plus dynamic compensation, is extended. We show that the PD joint control can be generalized to a positive-real (PR) controller without altering the exponential stability of these control algorithms. This positive-real modification allows a robot control system designer to do joint-by-joint loop shaping of the joint servos to improve stiffness and stability margin. Moreover, the use of the passive positive-real joint controllers guarantees that stiction and friction will not induce limit cycling. This PR modification is applicable to adaptive control laws as well.
Numerical Methods for Gasdynamic Systems on Unstructured Meshes

This article considers stabilized finite element and finite volume discretization techniques for systems of conservation laws. Using newly developed techniques in entropy symmetrization theory, simplified forms of the Galerkin least-squares (GLS) and the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element method are developed and analyzed. The use of symmetrization variables yields numerical schemes which inherit global entropy stability properties of the PDE system. Detailed consideration is given to symmetrization of the Euler, Navier-Stokes, and magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) equations. Numerous calculations are presented to evaluate the spatial accuracy and feature resolution capability of the simplified DG and GLS discretizations. Next, upwind finite volume methods are reviewed. Specifically considered are generalizations of Godunov’s method to high order accuracy and unstructured meshes. An important component of high order accurate Godunov methods is the spatial reconstruction operator. A number of reconstruction operators are reviewed based on Green-Gauss formulas as well as least-squares approximation. Several theoretical results using maximum principle analysis are presented for the upwind finite volume method. To assess the performance of the upwind finite volume technique, various numerical calculations in computational fluid dynamics are provided.
Therapeutic concentrations of local anaesthetics unveil the potential role of sodium channels in neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is frequently associated with hyperexcitability of primary afferents, characterized by spontaneous impulses and repetitive firing. Electrophysiology and molecular biology reveal changes in dorsal root ganglion Na+ channels under conditions of neuropathic pain, but the manner by which these changes alter the physiology of sensory afferents remains unknown. Equally mysterious is the mechanism by which i.v. local anaesthetic-like Na+ channel blockers suppress neuropathic pain behaviour at concentrations well below those reported for channel inhibition. We have compared the anti-allodynic actions of i.v. lidocaine (L) and stereoisomers of mexiletine (R-M, S-M), in rats after spinal nerve ligation, with their ability: (1) to inhibit fast, tetrodotoxin-sensitive neuronal Na+ currents, elicited by brief (1 ms) pulses, at 10 Hz, from 'resting' potentials (-80, -60 mV) and (2) to suppress the seconds long plateau and the repetitive firing produced in axons by slowing of Na+ channel inactivation (e.g. using scorpion alpha-toxins). Both L and R-M at 5-10 microM relieved allodynia; S-M was ineffective. Na+ currents also were inhibited by M, with affinities that were increased by both repetitive 'firing' (K(R,S) = 5 microM) and depolarization of the 'resting' membrane (K(R) = 15 microM; K(S) = 30 microM). Stereopotency ratios depended on the manner in which different states of the channel were inducted. Both L and M shortened the action potential's 'plateau' in alpha-toxin treated axons, without reducing the spike, and suppressed repetitive firing with IC(50)s = 5 microM, and no stereoselectivity. These findings together demonstrate that Na+ channel blockers, at 'therapeutic' concentrations, can inhibit neuronal hyperexcitability.
MRI Technique, Contrast, Safety, Anatomy, and Differential

This is an entirely new part of this textbook that describes the liver MRI techniques and approaches that are currently used in the clinical setting. This is followed by the most recent information on the gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs), including the chemical structure, the biodistribution, the excretion pathways, and the safety aspects. Since the first edition of the book in 2007, tremendous development occurred regarding the GBCAs. After the initial publication in 2006, the medical community became familiar with a new disease associated with the GBCAs. This is of course nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). After recovering from the initial shock, we have learned a great deal about this disease and how to best deal with the underlying causes of NSF. The professional organizations, the vendors, the scientists, and the medical community came together and have adequately dealt with NSF. The most problematic GBCAs were identified and practice guidelines were made available to apply in the high-risk patients.
The Federal Reserve’s Use of International Swap Lines

This Article focuses on the U.S. Federal Reserve’s controversial practice of loaning U.S. dollars to foreign central banks, which the foreign central banks then turn around and loan to institutions in their jurisdictions. The Federal Reserve does not know the identity of these recipient institutions. Nevertheless, these loans — termed “swap lines” — provide foreign financial institutions the type of financial stability that the U.S. Federal Reserve was created to provide for U.S. banks during times of crises. During the financial crisis, the U.S. Federal Reserve arranged swap lines with 14 foreign central banks for a total amount of $583 billion, making it the de facto international lender of last resort. In December 2012, the U.S. Federal Reserve once again extended the duration of its swap line function. In this Article, I argue that because of U.S. dollar dependencies and stability risks in global financial markets, and because of the global financial markets’ dependency on the U.S. dollar, an international dollar lender of last resort is needed. The U.S. Federal Reserve is currently the institution best positioned to fill this role. Yet, I also argue that because of the potential problems, risks, and costs of this role, the U.S. Federal Reserve’s swap line function must be rethought. The U.S. Federal Reserve’s swap line authority relies upon an interpretation of statutory provisions in the Federal Reserve Act dating back to its origins in 1913. The institutional structure of today’s global, interconnected financial markets bears little resemblance to that existing in 1913. This has left the swap line function open to undue problems and risks and allows for the possibility of problematic future overseas expansions.
Counter machines and crystallographic structures

One way to depict a crystallographic structure is by a periodic (di)graph, i.e., a graph whose group of automorphisms has a translational subgroup of finite index acting freely on the structure. We establish a relationship between periodic graphs representing crystallographic structures and an infinite hierarchy of intersection languages $$\mathcal {DCL}_d,\,d=0,1,2,\ldots $$DCLd,d=0,1,2,?, within the intersection classes of deterministic context-free languages. We introduce a class of counter machines that accept these languages, where the machines with d counters recognize the class $$\mathcal {DCL}_d$$DCLd. An intersection of d languages in $$\mathcal {DCL}_1$$DCL1 defines $$\mathcal {DCL}_d$$DCLd. We prove that there is a one-to-one correspondence between sets of walks starting and ending in the same unit of a d-dimensional periodic (di)graph and the class of languages in $$\mathcal {DCL}_d$$DCLd. The proof uses the following result: given a digraph $$\Delta $$Δ and a group G, there is a unique digraph $$\Gamma $$Γ such that $$G\le \mathrm{Aut}\,\Gamma ,\,G$$G≤AutΓ,G acts freely on the structure, and $$\Gamma /G \cong \Delta $$Γ/G?Δ.
Resonant charge transfer in collisions between positive ions.

We present a numerical evaluation of the resonant charge-transfer cross sections for ions of various positive charges. In the calculations we introduce trajectory parameters through the expression for the instantaneous velocity of the projectile. Subsequent analysis reveals the existence of a natural scaling law by which cross sections of ion-ion collisions can be generated from the isoelectronic ion-atom charge-exchange cross section. We obtain a set of simple formulas useful for a semiquantitative description of the features of such cross section curves and we discuss the oscillatory structure of the cross sections.