“Study, practice, and a reasonable working method”

This article presents the first step toward a hitherto unwritten history of creative process pedagogy in the territories of the Holy Roman Empire between 1500 and 1850. In answering the question of how musical creativity was taught and learned beyond the obvious theoretical aspects of composition such as counterpoint, harmony, and instrumentation, it analyzes a plethora of treatises, composer’s sketches, and study manuscripts to identify and describe important pedagogical trends and methodologies. These include, for example, the use of principles from classical Latin rhetoric and, as a derivative technique, the study and use of loci or musical commonplaces. Musical “shorthand” notation such as partimento and figured bass are investigated as basis for the sketches and drafts by composers of the Classical period which, in 19th-century treatises, became the foundation for creative process pedagogy themselves.

Elaboration Tolerant Representation of Markov Decision Process via Decision-Theoretic Extension of Probabilistic Action Language +

We extend probabilistic action language $p{\cal BC}$ + with the notion of utility in decision theory. The semantics of the extended $p{\cal BC}$ + can be defined as a shorthand notation for a decision-theoretic extension of the probabilistic answer set programming language LPMLN. Alternatively, the semantics of $p{\cal BC}$ + can also be defined in terms of Markov decision process (MDP), which in turn allows for representing MDP in a succinct and elaboration tolerant way as well as leveraging an MDP solver to compute a $p{\cal BC}$ + action description. The idea led to the design of the system pbcplus2mdp, which can find an optimal policy of a $p{\cal BC}$ + action description using an MDP solver.

Update on LIPID MAPS classification, nomenclature, and shorthand notation for MS-derived lipid structures

A comprehensive and standardized system to report lipid structures analyzed by MS is essential for the communication and storage of lipidomics data. Herein, an update on both the LIPID MAPS classification system and shorthand notation of lipid structures is presented for lipid categories Fatty Acyls (FA), Glycerolipids (GL), Glycerophospholipids (GP), Sphingolipids (SP), and Sterols (ST). With its major changes, i.e., annotation of ring double bond equivalents and number of oxygens, the updated shorthand notation facilitates reporting of newly delineated oxygenated lipid species as well. For standardized reporting in lipidomics, the hierarchical architecture of shorthand notation reflects the diverse structural resolution powers provided by mass spectrometric assays. Moreover, shorthand notation is expanded beyond mammalian phyla to lipids from plant and yeast phyla. Finally, annotation of atoms is included for the use of stable isotope-labeled compounds in metabolic labeling experiments or as internal standards. This update on lipid classification, nomenclature, and shorthand annotation for lipid mass spectra is considered a standard for lipid data presentation.

MS-DIAL 4: accelerating lipidomics using an MS/MS, CCS, and retention time atlas

To the EditorWe formulated mass spectral fragmentations of lipids across 117 lipid subclasses and included ion mobility tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to provide a comprehensive lipidome atlas with retention time, collision cross section, and MS/MS information. The all-in-one solution from import of raw MS data to export of a common output format (mztab-M) was packaged in MS-DIAL 4 (http://prime.psc.riken.jp/) providing an enhanced standardized untargeted lipidomics procedure following lipidomics standards initiative (LSI) semi-quantitative definitions and shorthand notation system of lipid structures with a 1–2% estimated false discovery rate, which will contribute to harmonizing lipidomics data across laboratories to accelerate lipids research.

Classification of Cleft Lip/Palate: Then and Now

Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is phenotypically diverse, making classification difficult. This article explores the evolution of ideas regarding CL/P classification and includes the schemes described by Davis and Ritchie (1922) , Brophy (1923) , Veau (1931) , Fogh-Andersen (1943), Kernahan and Stark (1958) , Harkins et al. (1962) , Broadbent et al. (1968), Spina (1973) , and others. Based on these systems, a longhand structured form is proposed for describing CL/P in a way that is clear, comprehensive, and consistent. A complementary shorthand notation is also described to improve the utility and convenience of this structured form.