cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Safety Comparison of Centralized and Distributed Aircraft Separation Assurance Concepts

This paper presents several models to compare centralized and distributed automated separation assurance concepts in aviation. In a centralized system, safety-related functions are implemented by common equipment on the ground. In a distributed system, safety-related functions are implemented by equipment on each aircraft. Failures of the safety-related functions can increase the risk of near mid-air collisions. Intuitively, failures on the ground are worse than failures in the air because the ground failures simultaneously affect multiple aircraft. This paper evaluates the degree to which this belief is true. Using region-wide models to account for dependencies between aircraft pairs, we derive the region-wide expectation and variance of the number of separation losses for both centralized and distributed concepts. This derivation is done first for a basic scenario involving a single component and function. We show that the variance of the number of separation losses is always higher for the centralized system, holding the expectations equal. However, numerical examples show that the difference is negligible when the events of interest are rare. Results are extended to a hybrid centralized-distributed scenario involving multiple components and functions on the ground and in the air. In this case, the variance of the centralized system may actually be less than that of the distributed system. The overall implication is that the common-cause failure of the ground function does not seriously weaken the overall case for using a centralized concept versus a distributed concept.
Surface biochemical changes accompanying primary infection with Rous sarcoma virus. II. Proteolytic and glycosidase activity and sublethal autolysis.

Abstract Normal chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) had low levels ( 100 nmoles/106 cells/h) of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30) and acid phosphatase (EC 3.2.3.2). High levels of pH 3.4 protease (EC 3.4.4.23) and low levels of pH 7.4 protease (EC 3.4.4.4) were found. Chick embryo fibroblasts infected and transformed with the Schmidt-Ruppin strain of Rous sarcoma virus (SR-RSV) had elevated activity levels of β-galactosidase, β-fucosidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, N-acetylgalactosaminidase, and α-mannosidase; acid phosphatase activity was not elevated. Proteolytic activity at pH 3.4 (cathepsin-like activity) was greatly elevated in the SR-RSV-CEF while proteolytic activity at pH 7.4 (trypsin-like activity) was lower (but not significantly so) in the normal CEF cells. Elevated levels of these degradative enzymes were not found in leukosis virus (RAV-1) infected cells. Similarly, with a temperature-sensitive mutant of SR-RSV (TS-68), these elevations in degradative enzymes occurred only at the permissive temperature. The results are discussed in terms of sublethal autolysis and growth control by degradative enzymes.
Rapid evolutionary innovation during an Archaean genetic expansion

Hidden in the modern-day genomes of today's living organisms are the imprints of ancient biogeochemical events. Lawrence David and Eric Alm have developed a new algorithm designed to reconstruct ancient genomes, taking into account the confounding effects of horizontal gene transfer and phylogenetic uncertainty. Applying this to around 100,000 gene sequences from present-day organisms, they find the genetic imprints of major events in Earth's history, including the gradual rise of oxygen starting more than 2.5 billion years ago, and a previously unreported brief but massive expansion in genetic diversity in the Archaean, more than 2 billion years before the Cambrian explosion. To shed light on the natural history of Precambrian life, the evolutionary history of almost 4,000 gene families across the three domains of life are mapped onto a geological timeline. Over one-quarter of modern gene families arose during a period of rapid diversification of bacterial lineages. Functionally, these genes are likely to be involved in electron transport and respiratory pathways, whereas those that arose later are implicated in functions consistent with an increasingly oxygenating biosphere. The natural history of Precambrian life is still unknown because of the rarity of microbial fossils and biomarkers1,2. However, the composition of modern-day genomes may bear imprints of ancient biogeochemical events3,4,5,6. Here we use an explicit model of macroevolution including gene birth, transfer, duplication and loss events to map the evolutionary history of 3,983 gene families across the three domains of life onto a geological timeline. Surprisingly, we find that a brief period of genetic innovation during the Archaean eon, which coincides with a rapid diversification of bacterial lineages, gave rise to 27% of major modern gene families. A functional analysis of genes born during this Archaean expansion reveals that they are likely to be involved in electron-transport and respiratory pathways. Genes arising after this expansion show increasing use of molecular oxygen (P = 3.4 × 10−8) and redox-sensitive transition metals and compounds, which is consistent with an increasingly oxygenating biosphere.
Numerical strategies for filtering partially observed stiff stochastic differential equations

In this paper, we present a fast numerical strategy for filtering stochastic differential equations with multiscale features. This method is designed such that it does not violate the practical linear observability condition and, more importantly, it does not require the computationally expensive cross correlation statistics between multiscale variables that are typically needed in standard filtering approach. The proposed filtering algorithm comprises of a ''macro-filter'' that borrows ideas from the Heterogeneous Multiscale Methods and a ''micro-filter'' that reinitializes the fast microscopic variables to statistically reflect the unbiased slow macroscopic estimate obtained from the macro-filter and macroscopic observations at asynchronous times. We will show that the proposed micro-filter is equivalent to solving an inverse problem for parameterizing differential equations. Numerically, we will show that this microscopic reinitialization is an important novel feature for accurate filtered solutions, especially when the microscopic dynamics is not mixing at all.
Robust estimation of causal effects of binary treatments in unconfounded studies with dichotomous outcomes

The estimation of causal effects has been the subject of extensive research. In unconfounded studies with a dichotomous outcome, Y, Cangul, Chretien, Gutman and Rubin (2009) demonstrated that logistic regression for a scalar continuous covariate X is generally statistically invalid for testing null treatment effects when the distributions of X in the treated and control populations differ and the logistic model for Y given X is misspecified. In addition, they showed that an approximately valid statistical test can be generally obtained by discretizing X followed by regression adjustment within each interval defined by the discretized X. This paper extends the work of Cangul et al. 2009 in three major directions. First, we consider additional estimation procedures, including a new one that is based on two independent splines and multiple imputation; second, we consider additional distributional factors; and third, we examine the performance of the procedures when the treatment effect is non-null. Of all the methods considered and in most of the experimental conditions that were examined, our proposed new methodology appears to work best in terms of point and interval estimation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Roles of Active Site and Novel K+ Ion-binding Site Residues in Human Mitochondrial Branched-chain α-Ketoacid Decarboxylase/Dehydrogenase

Abstract The human mitochondrial branched-chain α-ketoacid decarboxylase/dehydrogenase (BCKD) is a heterotetrameric (α2β2) thiamine diphosphate (TDP)-dependent enzyme. The recently solved human BCKD structure at 2.7 A showed that the two TDP-binding pockets are located at the interfaces between α and β′ subunits and between α′ and β subunits. In the present study, we show that the E76A-β′ mutation results in complete inactivation of BCKD. The result supports the catalytic role of the invariant Glu-76-β′ residue in increasing basicity of the N-4′ amino group during the proton abstraction from the C-2 atom on the thiazolium ring. A substitution of His-146-β′ with Ala also renders the enzyme completely inactive. The data are consistent with binding of the α-ketoacid substrate by this residue based on the Pseudomonas BCKD structure. Alterations in Asn-222-α, Tyr-224-α, or Glu-193-α, which coordinates to the Mg2+ ion, result in an inactive enzyme (E193A-α) or a mutant BCKD with markedly higher K m for TDP and a reduced level of the bound cofactor (Y224A-α and N222S-α). Arg-114-α, Arg-220-α, and His-291-α interact with TDP by directly binding to phosphate oxygens of the cofactor. We show that natural mutations of these residues in maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) patients (R114W-α and R220W-α) or site-directed mutagenesis (H291A-α) also result in an inactive or partially active enzyme, respectively. Another MSUD mutation (T166M-α), which affects one of the residues that coordinate to the K+ ion on the α subunit, also causes inactivation of the enzyme and an attenuated ability to bind TDP. In addition, fluorescence measurements establish that Trp-136-β in human BCKD is the residue quenched by TDP binding. Thus, our results define the functional roles of key amino acid residues in human BCKD and provide a structural basis for MSUD.
Objective Evaluation of Durable Press Treatments and Fabric Smoothness Ratings

In this research, we validate an imaging system for automatic grading of fabric smoothness, developed at Texas Tech University. This system consists of a sheet-of-light, laser-line projector; a smart CMOS camera; a moving platform; and a PC. Its purpose is to provide the textile industry with a tool for rapid, objective evaluation of fabric smoothness after home laundering. The validation study involves two cotton fabrics treated with increasing amounts of a textile-finishing agent to impart durable press properties. The UATR-FTIR is used as a rapid and nondestructive technique to determine the amount of the crosslinking agent linked to the cellulose after the required laundering cycles. To demonstrate the potential of our newly developed imaging system, we extract five features from the acquired images and relate them to AATCC grading and to the amount of finish as evaluated by FTIR. Our results demonstrate that this new wrinkle measurement technology has the potential to discriminate between different l...
Rehabilitating Tinker: A Modest Proposal to Protect Public-School Students’ First Amendment Free-Expression Rights in the Digital Age

The First Amendment provides limited free-expression protections for public-school students, though the Supreme Court precedent on the issue is limited to four cases. None of these opinions enunciate the breadth of students’ free-expression rights for online, off-campus expression. As a result of this shortcoming, multiple circuit courts have reached conflicting conclusions when called on to determine whether schools have violated students’ rights when school administrators punish students for online expression. This inconsistency contributes to confusion — among students, school administrators, and the public at large — that threatens to undermine students’ First Amendment rights. In order to ameliorate this problem, this Note proposes a modified approach that reinvigorates the Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District standard. This standard would only allow school administrators to regulate off-campus, online student expression that infringes on the rights of other students or otherwise would seriously disrupt the operation of the school in ways that Tinker countenanced.
FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION OF TURBOMACHINE BLADE ROW VISCOUS INTERACTIONS - VANE VIBRATORY STRESS PREDICTIONS

A fluid-structure interaction analysis is developed to study wake-generated turbomachine blade row unsteady aerodynamics and predict the resulting vibratory stress. This is accomplished by incorporating the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model into TAMALE3D, a 3D multi-material finite element code employing an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) solver. This viscous TAM-ALE3D model is then utilized to simulate fluid-structure interactions in the Purdue Transonic Compressor. First, the viscous analysis is experimentally validated by simulating the rotor-stator interaction unsteady aerodynamics at the part-speed condition at which detailed experimental data are available. The resonant response of the stator vanes to the unsteady aerodynamic excitation is then predicted by performing a full fluid-structure interaction simulation.
Sensor configuration and optimization for detection of micro-anomalies in structural materials

The current work presents a sensor placement strategy to detect microanomalies (microcracks), that are not discernible by naked eyes, in structural materials. Such microlevel defects can be potentially dangerous for structural and mechanical systems due to fatigue cyclic loading that results in initiation of fatigue cracks. Analysis of this precursory state of internal damage evolution, before a macrocrack visibly appears, is beyond the scope of the conventional crack propagation analysis, e.g., fracture mechanics. The present work utilizes a stochastic upscaling scheme that has recently been developed to characterize continuum constitutive material properties which have the capability to capture signatures of microcracks at 30–70 μm level for aluminum (other materials can be similarly characterized). Relying on this novel feature, the present work proposes an optimal sensor placement scheme that, in a certain sense, maximizes the probability of detection of microcracks. The developed algorithm is also likely to be useful in other areas of threat detection.
Health literacy in an orthopaedic trauma patient population: improving patient comprehension with informational intervention.

Objectives This study aims to evaluate the change in comprehension of diagnoses, treatment plans, and discharge instructions after orthopaedic trauma patients are given an informational document that includes pictorial representations at the time of discharge. It also seeks to determine if the intervention has a greater impact on patients with lower educational backgrounds. Design Prospective comparative cohort study. Setting Academic level 1 trauma center. Patients From April to December 2011, 529 orthopaedic trauma patients with an operatively fixed isolated fracture were eligible for inclusion. Two hundred ninety-nine eligible questionnaires were collected (56.5% response rate). Intervention Patients were administered a questionnaire regarding their treatment and discharge instructions during their first postoperative clinic visit before being seen by a physician. The questionnaire included demographic information and questions regarding: (1) which bone was fractured, (2) type of implanted fixation, (3) weight-bearing status, (4) expected recovery time, and (5) need for deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis. All patients had received verbal instructions outlining this information at postoperative hospital discharge. During the second half of the study, patients were given an additional informational sheet with both text and pictorial representations at discharge. Multivariable log-binomial regression analyses were used to examine the impact of this intervention. Results One hundred forty-six patients were given only the standard discharge instructions, whereas 153 patients were also administered the additional information document. The mean score for patients who received the intervention was 2.90 (out of 5) compared with the mean score of 2.54 for patients who did not receive the intervention (P = 0.013). Patients who received the intervention were 1.3 times more likely to know which bone was fractured (P = 0.007) and 1.1 times more likely to be able to correctly name the medication(s) they were prescribed for deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis (P = 0.03). Conclusions Overall performance on comprehension questionnaires in orthopaedic trauma patients was significantly improved via a text and pictorial intervention. The intervention did not preferentially aid patients with lower education backgrounds. Future studies should evaluate long-term postoperative results to determine if improved patient comprehension has an effect on surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Living donor liver transplantation in adults

Living donor liver transplantation has revolutionized adult liver transplantation and has been the focus of significant attention in both the professional and lay media this past year. The evaluation of potential donors has almost become a specialty itself, and considerable progress has been made in the radiologic evaluation of these patients that is both comprehensive and, even more importantly, noninvasive. Our understanding of donor psychosocial outcomes has also increased significantly. Donor safety issues have become the focus of the transplant community. There have also been many technical advances, particularly with regard to biliary reconstructions and, in the case of right lobes, segmental venous drainage. As the indications for living donor liver transplantation for adults broaden, these issues will become even more important. Donor safety must remain paramount. Donors and recipients need to be carefully and responsibly chosen. All efforts should be made to improve cadaveric donation and to make the best use of this precious and, unfortunately, limited resource.
Acquired Factor X Deficiency and Amyloidosis

A selective acquired Factor X deficiency is an unusual occurrence. Six cases of an acquired Factor X deficiency in association with amyloidosis have been reported. This paper describes two additional cases, suggesting that this relationship may be niore than coincidental. The mechanism by which amyloid may affect Factor X levels remains unknown, but suggestions include consumption, inactivation or decreased synthesis of Factor X. Factor II, VII, IX, and X concentrate transiently increased the Factor X level to normal in one of the patients. In an adult patient who has an isolated Factor X deficiency, amyloidosis should be actively sought.
Medicaid and state regulation of nurse-midwives: the challenge of data retrieval.

This article discusses one of four findings of a larger descriptive correlational health policy study, the purpose of which was to investigate relationships among state regulation of nurse-midwifer...
Breeding of Fine Quality PTGMS Line Guang 3S in Rice

Guang 3S,developed from the cross between Yueguang S(the donor of male sterile genes) and Zengchengsimiao-8 Xuan(a fine quality rice variety with genetic background of Guangdong Wild Rice) by pedigree selection over years,is a new photo-and thermo-sensitive genic male sterile(PTGMS) line in rice.It has such characteristics as a low critical temperature for fertility alteration,good flowering habits,high outcrossing rate,strong cold tolerance,high combining ability,good grain quality and desirable integrated agronomic characters.In 2007,it was technically identified in Guangdong Province.The F1 hybrids derived from Guang 3S like Guangliangyou 931(Guang 3S/GR931) and Guangliangyou 802(Guang 3S/GR802) had a good coordination among high yield,good disease resistances and fine grain quality in the regional trials of Guangdong Province,indicating that it would have a good prospect for commercial production.
PUERPERAL EMERGENCY: Vaginal and Vulvar Hematomas

SUMMARY Puerperal hematoma is an uncommon complication of childbirth with a potential for serious morbidity and possible mortality. Prevention, using good surgical technique with attention to hemostasis in the repair of lacerations and episiotomies, should limit the occurrence of this complication. Puerperal hematomas, however, are not unavoidable. Thus, one must be alert to the possibility so that the hematoma can be diagnosed early and treated aggressively. This includes correcting hypovolemia and intervening with active surgical management if the hematoma is large or expanding.
Stammering Toward the Unsayable: Old Testament Theology, Trauma Theory, and Genesis

This essay begins its discussion of biblical theology with the simple assertion that God is ineffable. Biblical language neither contains God nor provides satisfactory ontological insight into the ...
Use of Additive Manufacturing (AM) to Fabricate Injection Molding Inserts

Using Additive Manufacturing (AM) to produce inserts for injection molding of parts used for rapid quote can drastically reduce costs and time frame. Prototype injection molding currently can take weeks and thousands of dollars to develop and manufacture, making AM as a very viable option. Functional prototypes of mold inserts were developed and analyzed with CAD software, then printed on a 3D printer, and tested using industrial plastic injection molding equipment. Calculations for cooling and mold compression were used to develop guidelines for future parts. Measurements were taken on the molded parts in order to validate calculations and dimensions. This methodology is beneficial to industry because a company can rapidly and efficiently produce functional parts for quoting for prospective clients.
DBSecSys 2.0: a database of Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei secretion systems

Burkholderia mallei and B. pseudomallei are the causative agents of glanders and melioidosis, respectively, diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates. B. mallei and B. pseudomallei are closely related genetically; B. mallei evolved from an ancestral strain of B. pseudomallei by genome reduction and adaptation to an obligate intracellular lifestyle. Although these two bacteria cause different diseases, they share multiple virulence factors, including bacterial secretion systems, which represent key components of bacterial pathogenicity. Despite recent progress, the secretion system proteins for B. mallei and B. pseudomallei, their pathogenic mechanisms of action, and host factors are not well characterized. We previously developed a manually curated database, DBSecSys, of bacterial secretion system proteins for B. mallei. Here, we report an expansion of the database with corresponding information about B. pseudomallei. DBSecSys 2.0 contains comprehensive literature-based and computationally derived information about B. mallei ATCC 23344 and literature-based and computationally derived information about B. pseudomallei K96243. The database contains updated information for 163 B. mallei proteins from the previous database and 61 additional B. mallei proteins, and new information for 281 B. pseudomallei proteins associated with 5 secretion systems, their 1,633 human- and murine-interacting targets, and 2,400 host-B. mallei interactions and 2,286 host-B. pseudomallei interactions. The database also includes information about 13 pathogenic mechanisms of action for B. mallei and B. pseudomallei secretion system proteins inferred from the available literature or computationally. Additionally, DBSecSys 2.0 provides details about 82 virulence attenuation experiments for 52 B. mallei secretion system proteins and 98 virulence attenuation experiments for 61 B. pseudomallei secretion system proteins. We updated the Web interface and data access layer to speed-up users’ search of detailed information for orthologous proteins related to secretion systems of the two pathogens. The updates of DBSecSys 2.0 provide unique capabilities to access comprehensive information about secretion systems of B. mallei and B. pseudomallei. They enable studies and comparisons of corresponding proteins of these two closely related pathogens and their host-interacting partners. The database is available at http://dbsecsys.bhsai.org .
Regulating film, regulating emotion: the emotional history of public opinion

ABSTRACTThe article argues that the legal about face in 1950s law in which film was granted First Amendment protection was driven in part by a change in the “emotional regimes” of US democracy, or emotions/performances of emotion that are part of legitimate political culture. The legal understanding of how film does or does not contribute to democratic political culture tracks historical shifts in these emotional regimes. In the teens, elites feared the activation of the masses, as crowds, in political uprisings. By 1950, elite fears had turned to passive audiences, “narcotized” masses that might easily be seduced by totalitarian demagogues.
Grand-canonical evolutionary algorithm for the prediction of two-dimensional materials

Single-layer materials represent a new materials class with properties that are potentially transformative for applications in nanoelectronics and solar-energy harvesting. With the goal of discovering novel two-dimensional (2D) materials with unusual compositions and structures, we have developed a grand-canonical evolutionary algorithm that searches the structure and composition space while constraining the thickness of the structures. Coupling the algorithm to first-principles total-energy methods, we show that this approach can successfully identify known 2D materials and find low-energy ones. We present the details of the algorithm, including suitable objective functions, and illustrate its potential with a study of the Sn-S and C-Si binary materials systems. The algorithm identifies several 2D structures of InP, recovers known 2D structures in the binary Sn-S and C-Si systems, and finds two 1D Si defects in graphene with formation energies below that of isolated substitutional Si atoms.
Emerging and Future Therapeutic Options for Femoropopliteal and Infrapopliteal Endovascular Intervention

Despite recent advances in endovascular therapy for peripheral artery disease, current technologies remain limited by rates of long-term restenosis and application to complex lesion subsets. This article presents data on upcoming therapies, including novel drug-coated balloons, drug-eluting stents, bioresorbable scaffolds, novel drug delivery therapies to target arteries, techniques to limit postangioplasty dissection, and treatment of severely calcified lesions.
An approach to quantifying rainwater harvesting potential using imagery, geographic information systems (GIS) and LiDAR data

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software is used to analyze rainwater harvesting potential in Escambia County, Florida, USA. The approach presented can be replicated using LiDAR data, and the infrared spectrum of National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) imagery. GIS surface maps are analyzed in combination with local utility consumption data to determine potential reductions in potable water consumption for households. The results indicate an extensive, urban catchment of rooftop surfaces, and commensurate potential for rainwater harvesting and stormwater attenuation. Sixty two percent of the households analyzed consumed less water than could be potentially harvested. The remaining 38% consumed more water than could be potentially harvested. There are noted and significant differences between the two sample populations, including differences in water consumed and roof size. A comparison of lot size between the two sample populations did not yield any significant difference. The conclusions indicate that the widespread implementation of rainwater harvesting could substantially reduce potable water use in urban areas, and are of use to policy makers, planners, engineers and property owners everywhere.
The Association between Treated and Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Depression

Study Objectives: The aims of this study were (1) to determine the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and depression and (2) to identify if treated or untreated OSA affects depressio...
Stress (Takotsubo) Cardiomyopathy During Liver Transplantation: Case Study and Literature Review.

Abstract A case of stress (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy (TC) that occurred intraoperatively during liver transplantation surgery was identified by transesophageal echocardiography. Only a few cases of TC occurring during liver transplantation have been reported to date. Unlike other cases reported, TC occurred during the anhepatic stage of the liver transplantation, with subsequent complete recovery. Notwithstanding the large number of cases of TC in the perioperative settings reported worldwide, the exact reasons of this syndrome occurring intraoperatively as well as precipitating factors and conditions remain mostly unknown.
Modelling effects of vector acquisition threshold on disease progression in a perennial crop following deployment of a partially resistant variety

Deployment of resistant varieties is a key strategy to mitigating economic losses due to arthropod‐transmitted plant pathogens of perennial crops. In many cases, the best available resistant traits for introgression confer only partial resistance. Plants displaying partial resistance have lower pathogen titres than susceptible counterparts, but remain hosts for the pathogen. As partially resistant varieties maintain yield after infection, infected plants are unlikely to be rogued (i.e. removed). Accordingly, there is a risk that partially resistant plants could serve as a source of inoculum for pathogen spread to susceptible plants. Here, a mathematical model that tracked spread of an arthropod‐transmitted pathogen in a plant population consisting of susceptible and partially resistant plants was used to identify a threshold acquisition rate from partially resistant plants that resulted in limited spread of the pathogen from partially resistant plants to susceptible plants. The acquisition threshold from partially resistant plants varied with parameters influenced by disease management decisions such as number of vectors per plant, vector turnover, replacement of susceptible plants, and proportion of plants that were partially resistant. In model simulations, effects of deploying a partially resistant variety on disease incidence in a susceptible variety depended on the extent to which pathogen spread among susceptible plants was suppressed and acquisition rates from partially resistant plants. Collectively, the results indicate that risk of partially resistant plants serving as inoculum sources could be assessed prior to deployment, thereby enabling design of complementary disease management tactics to minimize economic losses in susceptible varieties following deployment.
Evolution of Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy for Advanced Heart Failure: A Review

Importance The mortality rate for the most advanced forms of heart failure with medical therapy alone remains unacceptably high at 30% to 80% at 1 year. In the past decade, left ventricular assist devices have assumed an increasingly prominent role in the management of these patients. This review included all English-language articles published over the past 15 years on left ventricular assist devices. Search topics focused on advanced heart failure and ventricular assist devices, including volume of implantations, patient selection, complications, cost, and recovery of function. The search also included all published clinical trials or reports of cohort studies as well as registry data. Observations There has been significant progress in nearly all aspects of left ventricular assist device therapy, from patient selection to device design and postoperative management. Percutaneous devices have been developed to facilitate rapid deployment and provide short-term hemodynamic support. The devices have transitioned from pulsatile to continuous flow design and are now smaller, with enhanced durability more suited for long-term support. The mean survival following left ventricular assist device implantation is nearly 5 years. However, some complications, including bleeding, infection, pump thrombosis, and stroke, limit the potential of the therapy. There are many innovations now under investigation that promise to further improve outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction. Conclusions and Relevance Advanced or end-stage heart failure remains a major health care problem in terms of both patient morbidity and mortality as well as cost. Physicians and health care professionals need to become aware of the significant progress in the field of mechanical support of circulation with the use of ventricular assist devices.
Coalescing and Deduplicating Incremental Checkpoint Files for Restore-Express Multi-Level Checkpointing

In multicore systems, a large portion of checkpoint time overhead can be hidden from the execution critical path by resorting to a dedicated checkpointing thread run concurrently with regular execution threads for compressing checkpoint files to lower checkpointing overhead. On the other hand, the restore time is on the critical path that cannot be hidden, making it most important to accelerate execution restore upon failures. This work pursues a restore-express (REX) strategy for multi-level checkpointing (MLC), applicable to any incremental checkpointing (IC). Oblivious to application codes, REX employs adaptive IC (AIC) for local (L1) checkpointing and follows our runtime control for second-level (L2) checkpointing, with its aim at express restore from failures while holding down the overall execution time. It takes advantage of two unique insights for overhead reduction: (1) the modified pages of an incremental checkpoint file are likely to exist in a subsequent checkpoint file, and (2) many data patterns (on an average, some 40 percent of them) stay unchanged from one L2 checkpoint file to the next. These insights enable REX to (1) coalesce IC files (by involving only the last copy of every dirty page among files) and (2) boost file compression across multiple L2 checkpoints. Time and storage overhead results of REX during normal job execution are gathered for 16 benchmarks from SPEC, PARSEC, and NPB suites. The evaluation outcomes of the execution restore time confirm that REX is fast and able to quicken restore by a factor of 4.5× when compared with its IC counterpart (without utilizing the unique insights), while incurring same execution time overhead.
Numerical and Structural Chromosome Abnormalities

Within the past 15 years, the rapid progress in human cytogenetics has resulted not only in the delineation of a wide variety of syndromes, but also in the demonstration of a causal relationship between various chromosomal abnormalities and phenotypic manifestations. Multiple congenital abnormalities and mental retardation are an almost consistent finding in individuals with autosomal unbalanced aberrations and to a lesser frequency and degree in individuals with sex chromosomal abnormalities.
Induction and Justification

Sellars’ theory of justification rests on a theory of probability wherein a reorientation is urged on us concerning the meaning of ‘probable’. To say a statement is probable, means, according to Sellars, that there is good reason for accepting the statement as true. The giving of good reasons involves practical reason and a general goal. In the context of science practical reasoning occurs in the meta-language of a theory. The goal is an explanatorily coherent theory.
Do I Really Know You and Does It Matter? Unpacking the Relationship Between Familiarity and Information Elaboration in Global Virtual Teams:

We investigate the relationship between personal and professional familiarly, team effectiveness, and viability, and how these relationships are mediated by information elaboration in global virtua...
Approach to Patients with Skin Manifestations

A hypothetical case of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) will be presented and discussed to illustrate the author’s approach to diagnosis and management of complex medical dermatology problems involving rheumatologic diseases. The case discussion will involve three different time points in the patient’s disease course to illustrate key elements of the initial evaluation and diagnosis of such patients, the recognition and management of adverse effects of treatment, and the management of disease complications resulting from the development of overlapping autoimmune disorders during a patient’s disease course.
Biological Adaptations and Affinities of Mesolithic South Asians

The earliest reported discovery in South Asia of human skeletons associated with Mesolithic cultural materials occurred in 1880–1881 at Mahara Pahar, Uttar Pradesh, India (Allchin, 1958; Carlleyle 1883, 1885). In the full century that has elapsed since the date of Carlleyle’s survey, the Mesolithic skeletal record has increased considerably (Kennedy 1980). Today skeletal biologists may turn to research materials from South Asia that are commensurate in size and preservation quality with Mesolithic series from Europe, Africa, and the Levant. South Asian collections are datable within a temporal range extending from the terminal Pleistocene times of ca. 12,000 years b.p. (before present) to the periods of establishment of Neolithic communities in the northwestern sector of the subcontinent by the seventh millennium b.c. and by some 4000 years later in peninsular India. Thus, they are contemporary with other Mesolithic skeletal series recovered from sites outside of South Asia. Also, certain economic and technological aspects of the hunting—gathering Mesolithic life-style persisted until historic times in some tribal areas in India. Distribution of the Indian Mesolithic is attested to by the archaeological evidence scattered across the South Asian landmass from Afghanistan in the west and eastward to Assam, from the Kashmir Valley of the Himalayan ranges southward to island Sri Lanka.
Prevention of Atopy: Neonatal Aspects

The allergy-prone human infant fortunately differs from other small mammals with regard to early sensitization. It has been reported by Jarrett (1977) that ingestion of low antigen doses predisposes to IgE production in rodents. This observation led to the hypothesis that breast-fed human infants “denied access to large doses of food antigens in infancy” would be more prone to IgE sensitization to those foods in a manner similar to that observed in rodents (Gerrard 1979). That this is not the case is evidenced by double-blind or controlled studies revealing a lowered incidence of IgE-mediated allergic disease in breast-fed human infants compared with infants fed with cow’s milk formula (Hamburger and Orgel 1976a, b; Matthew et al. 1977; Ziering et al. 1979; Hide and Buyer 1981; Mellon et al. 1983), confirming the earlier clinical observations of Grulee and Sanford (1936) and Glazer and Johnstone (1953). Furthermore, the longer and more exclusive the breast feeding, the lower the incidence of sensitization and allergic disease (Orgel et al. 1975; Orgel and Hamburger 1976; Saarinen et al. 1979; Hamburger et al. 1983), the lower the total IgE level, and the lower the specific IgE and IgG antibody to cow’s milk proteins and to egg proteins observed (Hamburger 1981; Hamburger et al. 1983; Hamburger 1984). The issue, however, is not yet resolved, with other studies (Halpern et al. 1973; Ferguson et al. 1983) revealing no difference in the incidence of allergic diseases in infants fed cow’s milk or soybean formulas vs breast feeding, and Bjorksten and Juto (1983) and Bjorksten and Saarinen (1978) reporting increased cow’s milk sensitization in breast-fed babies.
Effect of plant age on in-soil decomposition and nitrogen content of sunn hemp tissue.

ABSTRACTThe effects of plant age at the time of mowing on sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) tissue decomposition, nitrogen (N) release, and fiber content in Krome very gravelly loam were assessed. Combined leaf and stem tissue from 42-, 77- or 112-day-old sunn hemp plants was placed in mesh bags and buried below the soil surface in the field. Bags were removed bi-weekly and dry weights, N concentration, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations in buried sunn hemp tissues were determined. There was a rapid decrease plant tissue dry weight during the first 14 days after tissue was buried, followed by a slow gradual decrease. The amount N per hectare was much lower for 42-day-old than 112-day-old sunn hemp. Tissue of the youngest plants decomposed the quickest. Forty two-day-old tissue had a higher N concentration, N mineralization rate, and lower NDF and ADF than 77- or 112-day-old tissue. Mowing and soil incorporation of a 42-day-old instead of a 77- to 112-day-old sunn he...
Obesity, Diabetes, and Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract This book chapter provides an overview of extant research and evidence on associations and effects of sleep in obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Specifically, the chapter describes the role sleep plays in the etiology of overweight–obesity, diabetes, and MetS. The chapter also describes the public health relevance of sleep in these three health outcomes and provides population and public health insights as to how improving sleep at the population level may impact the obesity, diabetes, and cardiometabolic disease epidemics in the United States. Lastly, the chapter describes evidence-based assessments and interventions of sleep disturbances that may stave off or better manage health risk.
Mucormycosis emboli: a rare cause of segmental bowel ischemia

The patient is a 34-year-old man with a history of primary refractory acute myeloblastic leukemia diagnosed 1 year prior, with multiple relapses. As rescue treatment, he underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplant from cord blood 27 days prior to surgical consult. His post-transplant course has been notable for delayed engraftment, prolonged severe neutropenia, resulting in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, Streptococcus viridans and Streptococcus mitis bacteremia for which he treated with tedizolid, cefepime, Flagyl and daptomycin per guidance from the Infectious Disease team. On the day of consultation, he developed acute abdominal pain, he was on filgrastim to promote hematopoiesis, and prophylaxis with acyclovir, Bactrim, and caspofungin as well as the above antibiotics for bacteremia. A second antifungal was not started due to the potential toxicity and data from prior infections that he had. On surgical evaluation, his examination was notable for fever to 38.2°C, tachycardia to 155 basic metabolic panel, hypotension to 99/81 and tachypnea to 36; he was ill appearing with a distended abdomen and localized peritonitis. His white cell count was 0.2 x 109 /L with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of zero. Additionally, he was anemic with a hemoglobin of 7 g/L, thrombocytopenic with a platelet count of 10 x 109 /L, and a lactic acid of 3.1 mmol/L. His CT scan earlier in the morning revealed segmental ischemia of the small bowel (figure 1). What would you do? Offer non-operative management with broad spectrum antibiotics. Transition to comfort care. Perform a small bowel resection with primary anastomosis. Perform a small bowel resection with end ileostomy.
The ‘tapestry’ of bricolage: Extending interdisciplinary approaches to psycho-spiritual self-care research:

Interdisciplinary psycho-spiritual research into workplace stress and self-care is scant noting the fact that negative self-talk and harsh self-judgement stymie the search for inner meaning and sel...
Long-term impact of acute restraint stress on heroin self-administration, reinstatement, and stress reactivity.

There is a robust relationship between anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse. In fact, 30–50% of people seeking treatment for substance abuse have a comorbid diagnosis for PTSD. Heroin use is at epic proportions in the USA and is commonly used by people with co-occurring PTSD symptoms and substance use disorder. Here, we combined animal assays of acute restraint stress and contingent heroin self-administration (SA) to study comorbidity between stress disorders and opioid use disorder and identify shifts in anxiety-like behaviors following stress and/or heroin in response to a stress-conditioned cue. Our objective for this approach was to determine the long-term impact of acute restraint stress and heroin self-administration on stress reactivity and basic reward processes. We used 2-h acute restraint stress paired with an odor stimulus to condition a stress cue (CS) for testing of subsequent stress reactivity in a burying task and reinstatement and extinction to heroin seeking. Rats were also tested for social place preference for measures of social reward and anxiety-like behaviors. Stress rats exhibited multiple levels of disrupted behavior including enhanced acquisition of heroin intake and reinstatement in response to the stress CS, as well as delayed extinction in response to the stress CS. All rats developed a social place preference, but stress rats spent more time in nose-to-nose contact with the unfamiliar rat while heroin rats spent time exploring the chamber. In the burying task, stress shortened latencies to bury the CS and increased burying and immobility in male and female rats relative to sham counterparts. Acute restraint stress results in anxiety-like behaviors and a stress-associated cue is sufficient to reinstate extinguished heroin seeking. This project has the potential to elucidate the complex relationship between stress/anxiety disorders, including some PTSD-like characteristics, and the onset, maintenance, and relapse to heroin seeking.
Elevated supine midline head position for prevention of intraventricular hemorrhage in VLBW and ELBW infants: a retrospective multicenter study.

To evaluate the impact of elevated supine midline head position on intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. We reviewed data from four Level III/IV units. Two of these units (mid-line group) cared for infants in midline position and the other two (routine care group) provided routine care. We compared incidence of any and severe IVH in two groups using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Of 2201 VLBW infants, 1041 were extremely-low-birth-weight (ELBW). Odds of any IVH were not different either for VLBW or ELBW infants. Odds of severe IVH were higher for VLBW infants in mid-line group (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.007–2.02; p value 0.046) but not for ELBW infants (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.6–1.4; p value 0.73). The incidence of any IVH was similar in the two groups but the incidence of severe IVH was higher in VLBW infants in mid-line group.
The Spectacle of Data: A Century of Fairs, Fiches, and Fantasies:

Alongside the robots, rockets, kitchen appliances, and other technical wonders displayed at the great expositions and world’s fairs of the late-19th and early-20th centuries, visitors frequently fo...
Choosing a Candidate: Traits, Issues, and Electability:

This research investigates the roles of issues, traits, and electability in the 2020 U.S. presidential nominating contest. These analyses utilize survey data gathered at political rallies in Iowa l...
Tense Driven Asymmetries and Clitic Placement in Compound Verbs of Pashto Language

The tense driven asymmetry of the Pashto clause is analyzed from the perspective of the minimalist framework. The study proves that the split ergativity in Pashto is tense based and does not have the aspect driven features proposed by Roberts (2000). The study argues that the object is assigned a theta role by the V and the subject is assigned a theta role by the little v. The accusative case is assigned by the little v but the nominative and ergative cases are assigned by T. It claims that the T head assigns multiple cases as the split ergativity is tense driven. It highlights the syntactic effects of the possible phonological processes in combining some of the closely adjacent words and making a single phonological word. The study also discusses clitic placement and prosodic inversion to refute the assumption that perfective feature is a strong feature in Pashto.