cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single lung transplantation in patients with systemic disease.

Objective To report functional results and survival in patients undergoing single lung transplantation (SLT) for pulmonary involvement associated with systemic disease or prior malignancy, criteria traditionally considered contraindications to SLT. Design Case series. Setting The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Patients Nine patients who have undergone SLT for end-stage lung disease: four patients with sarcoidosis; two patients with limited scleroderma; and three patients with prior malignancies (two with prior lymphoma and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and one who received two bone marrow transplants for acute lymphocytic leukemia and subsequently developed chemotherapy-induced pulmonary fibrosis). Measurements Pulmonary function testing, exercise oximetry, quantitative ventilation-perfusion lung scanning. Actuarial survival. Results All patients had marked improvement in pulmonary function, exercise oximetry, and quantitative ventilation perfusion to the SLT. One patient with scleroderma died 90 days postoperatively from Pseudomonas pneumonia with a sepsis syndrome. One patient with sarcoidosis died 150 days postoperatively from disseminated aspergillosis. At autopsy, there was no evidence of recurrent fibrosis or sarcoidosis in the transplanted lungs in either of these two patients. The seven surviving patients have returned to work or school and are conducting all activities of daily living without pulmonary disability. The 1- and 2-year actuarial survival rates in these nine patients is 68.6 percent as compared with the 1- and 2-year actuarial survival rates of 66.3 percent and 55.8 percent in the remainder of our SLT group as a whole (n = 49). Despite pharmacologic immunosuppression, there is no evidence of recurrent malignancy in the 3 patients with prior malignancies. Conclusions We conclude that carefully selected patients with end-stage lung involvement related to systemic disease or chemotherapy-induced fibrosis may benefit from SLT.
Sparse kernel cepstral coefficients (SKCC): Inner-product based features for noise-robust speech recognition

In this paper we present a novel speech feature extraction algorithm based on sparse auditory coding and regression techniques in a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS). The features known as sparse kernel cepstral coefficients (SKCC) are extracted under the hypothesis that the noise-robust information in speech signal is embedded in a subspace spanned by overcomplete, regularized and normalized gamma-tone basis functions. After identifying the information bearing subspace, noise-robustness is achieved by sparsifying the SKCC features using simple thresholding. We show that computing the SKCC features involves correlating the speech signal with a pre-computed matrix, thus making the algorithm amenable to DSP based implementation. Speech recognition experiments using AURORA 2 dataset demonstrate that the SKCC features delivers consistent improvements in recognition performance over the state-of-the-art features under different noisy recording conditions.
Synthesis of amine, halide, and pyridinium terminated 2-alkyl-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes

Abstract The synthesis of calix[4]arenes with functional groups tethered to a single methylene bridge has been explored. Mono-lithiated calix[4]arenes react with 1,ω-bromochloroalkanes to give 2-(ω-chloroalkyl)-calix[4]arenes, which function as key intermediates in the synthesis of a variety of tether-functionalized calix[4]arenes. Subsequent reactivity of these chloroalkyl species has allowed for successful synthesis of 2-(ω-iodoalkyl)-calix[4]arenes, 2-(ω-pyridiniumalkyl)-calix[4]arenes, and 2-(ω-aminoalkyl)-calix[4]arenes. This latter group of amine-terminated calix[4]arenes are especially significant as they may serve as useful entries to a wide range of subsequent chemistry, including metal coordination or attachment to a solid support. Both alkyl and aryl amines have been incorporated at the end of the tether, and a 2,6-diisopropylaniline derivative has been analyzed by X-ray diffraction.
Autophagy-based unconventional secretory pathway for extracellular delivery of IL-1β

Autophagy controls the quality and quantity of the eukaryotic cytoplasm while performing two evolutionarily highly conserved functions: cell-autonomous provision of energy and nutrients by cytosol autodigestion during starvation, and removal of defunct organelles and large aggregates exceeding the capacity of other cellular degradative systems. In contrast to these autodigestive processes, autophagy in yeast has additional, biogenesis functions. However, no equivalent biosynthetic roles have been described for autophagy in mammals. Here, we show that in mammalian cells, autophagy has a hitherto unappreciated positive contribution to the biogenesis and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β via an export pathway that depends on Atg5, inflammasome, at least one of the two mammalian Golgi reassembly stacking protein (GRASP) paralogues, GRASP55 (GORASP2) and Rab8a. This process, which is a type of unconventional secretion, expands the functional manifestations of autophagy beyond autodigestive and quality control roles in mammals. It enables a subset of cytosolic proteins devoid of signal peptide sequences, and thus unable to access the conventional pathway through the ER, to enter an autophagy-based secretory pathway facilitating their exit from the cytoplasm.
A term rewriting system for the calculus of moving surfaces

The calculus of moving surfaces (CMS) is an analytic framework that extends the tensor calculus to deforming manifolds. We have applied the CMS to a number of boundary variation problems using a Term Rewrite System (TRS). The TRS is used to convert the initial CMS expression into a form that can be evaluated. The CMS produces expressions that are true for all coordinate spaces. This makes it very powerful but applications remain limited by a rapid growth in the size of expressions. We have extended results on existing problems to orders that had been previously intractable. In this paper, we describe our TRS and our method for evaluating CMS expressions on a specific coordinate system. Our work has already provided new insight into problems of current interest to researchers in the CMS.
The Human Pathogen Leishmania donovani Secretes a Histidine Acid Phosphatase Activity that is Resistant to Proteolytic Degradation

Promastigotes of all pathogenic Leishmania species secrete acid phosphatase (SAcP) activity during their growth in vitro. It has been suggested that this enzyme may play a role in the survival of the parasite within its sandfly-vector host. To carry out such functions, SAcP would have to be relatively resistant to endogenous sandfly gut-proteases. Therefore, the current study was undertaken to ascertain whether L. donovani SAcP activity was affected by treatment with various proteases. Native L. donovani SAcP was treated with a variety of serine-, thiol-, metallo- and mixed-proteases and subsequently assayed for enzymatic activity. Of the eleven proteases tested, only bromelain and subtilisin treatments caused a pronounced reduction in SAcP activity. Treatment of SAcP with seven out of the remaining nine proteases, resulted in an overall enhancement in SAcP enzymatic activity ranging from ∼ 10% (e.g. with trypsin) to ≥ 90% (e.g. with ficin). The resistance of the Leishmania SAcP to various proteases may prolong its functional life within the sandfly gut and help to facilitate parasite infection in this host.
Does professional orientation predict ethical sensitivities? Attitudes of paediatric and obstetric specialists toward fetuses, pregnant women and pregnancy termination

Background To determine (1) whether fetal care paediatric (FCP) and maternal–fetal medicine (MFM) specialists harbour differing attitudes about pregnancy termination for congenital fetal conditions, their perceived responsibilities to pregnant women and fetuses, and the fetus as a patient and (2) whether self-perceived primary responsibilities to fetuses and women and views about the fetus as a patient are associated with attitudes about clinical care. Methods Mail survey of 434 MFM and FCP specialists (response rates 60.9% and 54.2%, respectively). Results MFMs were more likely than FCPs to disagree with these statements (all p values Conclusions Independent of demographic and sociopolitical characteristics, FCPs and MFMs possess divergent ethical sensitivities regarding pregnancy termination, pregnant women and fetuses, which may influence clinical care.
How to use SNLO nonlinear optics software to select nonlinear crystals and model their performance

SNLO is free, public domain software developed at Sandia National Laboratories. It is intended to assist you in selecting the best nonlinear crystal for your particular application and to predict its performance. This paper briefly describes its functions and how to use them.
The Neglect of Monotone Comparative Static Methods

Monotone methods enable comparative static analysis without the restrictive assumptions of the implicit function theorem. Ease of use and flexibility in solving comparative static and game theory problems have made monotone methods popular in the economics literature and in graduate courses, but they are still absent from undergraduate mathematical economics courses and textbooks. We illustrate the generality of monotone comparative statics relative to the implicit function approach. For example, to sign the effect of a discrete policy shift on an optimal control or choice variable, one need only check that marginal returns increase with the policy parameter. We also apply monotone methods in game theory settings. As mathematical economics courses and majors gain popularity, incorporating monotone methods into curriculum and textbooks would provide a modern treatment of comparative static analysis.
Phase I Trial of High-Dose Infused Zidovudine Combined with Leucovorin plus Fluorouracil

This phase I trial evaluated a high-dose, short-term infusion of zidovudine (AZT) following oral leucovorin (LV) and bolus 5-fluorouracil (FUra). Thirteen patients with metastatic cancer received 30 cycles of therapy. Plasma monitoring demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in peak plasma levels of AZT through the range of dose levels, from 104.3 +/- 8.7 microM at the 1.5 g/m2 dose of AZT to 1312.6 +/- 165.9 microM at the 11.0 g/m2 dose. While AZT did not potentiate the usual clinical toxicities of LV plus FUra, an unexpected finding of symptomatic hypotension during the AZT infusion was the dose-limiting toxicity in this trial. One partial response was observed in a previously untreated patient with metastatic colorectal cancer. The maximal tolerated dose of AZT, 7.0 g/m2 over 2 hr, is recommended for future phase II evaluation of this novel combination.
Politics in Time: History, Institutions, and Social Analysis

Politics in Time: History, Institutions, and Social Analysis. By Paul Pierson. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2004. 108p. $49.50 cloth, $19.95 paper.Paul Pierson opens his book with a fictional metaphor in which he imagines “the trendiest new restaurant in town, charmingly named ‘The Modern Social Scientist.’” He invites you to tour the restaurant as “the chef explains that the kitchen is divided into two parts.” On one side, the chef proudly points out the ingredients, called “variables.” On the other side are lovingly arrayed an “extraordinary profusion of measuring devices.” In order to prepare your favorite culinary delight, all the chef need do is combine the correct ingredients, properly measured and calibrated. In this kitchen, the length of time in which the variables are cooked, the order in which the ingredients are combined, and the relative skill of the chef are unimportant to the preparation of the meal. (Later on, the book makes it clear that the specialty of this particular establishment is something called the “multiple regression.”) Pierson concludes this metaphor with the observation that “[f]ew would want to patronize a restaurant with such a philosophy of cooking, but most social scientists are working in that kind of kitchen” (p. 1).
Turbulent Taylor vortex flow

The wavelength of turbulent Taylor vortices at very high Taylor numbers up to 40000Tc , has been measured in long fluid columns with radius ratios η = 0·896 and η = 0·727. Following slow acceleration procedures the wavelength (in units of the gap width) of turbulent axisymmetric vortices was found to be λ = 3·4 ± 0·1 with the small gap and about λ = 2·4 ± 0·1 with the larger gap, and thus in both cases substantially larger than the critical wavelength of laminar Taylor vortices. In the narrow and wide gap the wavelength was, within experimental error, independent of the Taylor number for T > 100Tc . In the experiments with the narrow gap a clear dependence of the value of the wavelength of the turbulent vortices on initial conditions was found. After sudden starts to Taylor numbers > 700Tc the wavelength of steady axisymmetric turbulent vortices was only 2·4 ± 0·05, being then the same as the wavelength of the vortices after sudden starts in the wide gap, and being, within the experimental error, independent of the Taylor number. In the narrow gap all values of the wavelength between λmax = 3·4 and λmin = 2·4 can be realized as steady states through different acceleration procedures. In the wide gap the dependence of the wavelength on initial conditions is just within the then larger experimental uncertainty of the measurements.
Effect of Bovine Manure on Cryptosporidium parvum Oocyst Attachment to Soil

The objective of this work was to assess the effect of dilute bovine manure (1.0% and 0.1%) versus that of no manure on attachment and subsequent detachment of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts to soil. Manure enhanced the attachment of oocysts to soil particles; the maximum attachment was observed with 0.1% manure. Oocyst attachment was partially reversible; maximum detachment was observed with dilute manure. These results indicate that oocyst attachment to soil is substantially affected by bovine manure in a complex manner and should have implications for how oocysts may be transported through or over soils.
Tdap Vaccine: Current Indications for Adolescent and Adult Patients in the United States

Despite the availability of a tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine in the United States since 2005, the vaccine remains underutilized and perhaps misunderstood by many physicians. Pertussis continues to be a major public health problem, with adults being the primary source of infectious transmission to unprotected infants. Consequently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has expanded the indications for the Tdap vaccine. In addition, the vaccine can be safely administered regardless of the time since the patient's last tetanus-diphtheria booster. Widespread use of the Tdap vaccine-especially in health-care workers, adolescents, and adults aged 19 to 64 years-should greatly reduce the incidence of Bordetella pertussis infection in the United States. The recent Food and Drug Administration approval of the Tdap vaccine for individuals aged 65 years or older should increase the use of this vaccine.
Isolation of a hepatic iodothyronine 5'-monodeiodinase by nondenaturing agarose gel electrophoresis

We have examined the application of nondenaturing agarose gel electrophoresis for isolation of the catalytically active iodothyronine 5'-monodeiodinase (5'-MD) in rat liver microsomes. Preliminary studies showed that most ingredients of conventional sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, including acrylamide, SDS, and bromophenol blue, markedly inhibited 5'-MD activity in solubilized rat liver microsomal proteins (SRLMP). We replaced these inhibitory components with those that had little or no inhibitory effect on the 5'-MD and devised conditions for nondenaturing agarose gel electrophoresis for isolation of a 5'-MD protein. SRLMP (up to 120 micrograms protein/well), prepared by preincubation with 5 mM 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio 1-propanesulfonate] (CHAPS) and 1% 2-mercaptoethanol, were subjected to electrophoresis in 0.35% agarose gel in 20 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM EDTA, pH 6.6 buffer containing 2 mM CHAPS and 1 mM thioglycolic acid. Electrophoresis was carried out for 14 h at 4 C using 2.5 V/cm. After phoresis, the gel was sliced into 16 fractions, and homogenates of each fraction were tested for 5'-MD activity by incubation with 0.6 nM [125I]rT3 for 30 min at 37 C in the presence of 10 mM dithiothreitol. The peak 5'-MD activity was detected in fraction 6 (Rf, 0.375). This fraction accounted for about 30% of total 5'-MD activity and only 6% of protein in the gel. The gel slice containing the peak 5'-MD activity was next subjected to a second electrophoresis at pH 7.6 for 4 h in a 90 degrees different direction. The most 5'-MD activity was demonstrated in the third of 8 gel fractions. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of this fraction demonstrated only one 55 K protein in most experiments and occasionally an additional 35 K protein. The specific activity of 5'-MD in this fraction of greater than 11 pmol I-/mg protein.h was at least 2.3-fold that in SRLMP. Rabbits were immunized with agarose gel containing the peak 5'-MD activity. Immunized rabbit immunoglobulin G bound up to 70% of 5'-MD activity in SRLMP, and the binding effect varied in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that the anti-5'-MD antibody bound only one 55 K protein among innumerable proteins in SRLMP. A specific antiprotein disulfide isomerase antibody bound a slightly larger, 57 K protein in SRLMP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Patient Mood and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Alzheimer Disease Relationship Between Patient and Caregiver Reports

This retrospective study investigated the relationship between self-reports and caregiver perceptions of patients' depressive symptoms and the respective ability of these reports to predict instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) beyond what is accounted for by cognitive abilities in 71 patients with mild Alzheimer disease. Patients completed the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, and caregivers completed the Behavior Rating Scale for Dementia assessing their perception of patients' depressive symptoms. Caregivers also completed IADL items from the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living Inventory. Cognitive measures included the Mini-Mental State Examination, Logical Memory from the Wechsler Memory Scale III, and Trail Making Test, Part B. The relationship between self-reported depressive symptoms and caregiver report of patients' depressive symptoms showed a trend toward significance (r = .22, P = .06). Measures of depressive symptoms significantly predicted 12.5% of the variance in IADLs performance, beyond that accounted for by patient demographics and cognitive functioning. Interestingly, patients' reports, rather than caregivers', were particularly useful in this prediction.
A Comparative Analysis of the Safety, Efficacy, and Cost of Islet Versus Pancreas Transplantation in Nonuremic Patients With Type 1 Diabetes.

Few current studies compare the outcomes of islet transplantation alone (ITA) and pancreas transplantation alone (PTA) for type 1 diabetes (T1D). We examined these two beta cell replacement therapies in nonuremic patients with T1D with respect to safety, graft function and cost. Sequential patients received PTA (n = 15) or ITA (n = 10) at our institution. Assessments of graft function included duration of insulin independence; glycemic control, as measured by hemoglobin A1c; and elimination of severe hypoglycemia. Cost analysis included all normalized costs associated with transplantation and inpatient management. ITA patients received one (n = 6) or two (n = 4) islet transplants. Mean duration of insulin independence in this group was 35 mo; 90% were independent at 1 year, and 70% were independent at 3 years. Mean duration of insulin independence in PTA was 55 mo; 93% were insulin independent at 1 year, and 64% were independent at 3 years. Glycemic control was comparable in all patients with functioning grafts, as were overall costs ($138 872 for ITA, $134 748 for PTA). We conclude that with advances in islet isolation and posttransplant management, ITA can produce outcomes similar to PTA and represents a clinically viable option to achieve long-term insulin independence in selected patients with T1D.
A fine resolution multifrequency polarimetric FM radar

A fine resolution polarimetric FM SAR was developed for optimization of polarimetric SARs and interpretation of SAR data via controlled experiments with surface-base sensors. The system is designed for collecting polarimetric data at 5.3 and 10 GHz over incidence angles from 0 to 60 deg. Features of the system include broad bandwidth to obtain fine range resolution, phase stabilization and linearization loop circuitry, and digital signal processing capability. The system is used in a research program to collect polarimetric backscatter data from artificial sea ice research and design trade-offs, laboratory and field evaluation, as well as results from experiments on artificial sea ice are presented.
Threat Perceptions and Support for Authoritarianism: Evidence from a Survey Experiment in Azerbaijan

Do threat perceptions increase support for authoritarian governments? Where people perceive themselves and their country to be in a position of insecurity, their attitudes toward the ideal political system may tend toward support for the centralization of power rather than pluralism, the maintenance of order at the expense of civic freedoms, and greater state control over the economy. This paper analyzes the results of an original survey experiment in Azerbaijan to test whether exposure to messages that emphasize threats from nearby countries -- Armenia and Russia -- primes anti-democratic attitudes. The study has implications for (lack of) democratization in states engaged in active and "frozen" conflicts, and where incumbents successfully instill perceptions of threats in the minds of their citizens.
Abram Bergson and the Development of Soviet Economic Studies

(2004). Abram Bergson and the Development of Soviet Economic Studies. Problems of Post-Communism: Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 34-39.
Estimating dynamic ultimate tensile strength from instrumented Charpy data

Abstract Instrumented Charpy test data have often been used to obtain estimates of various mechanical properties under elevated loading rates, such as dynamic yield properties. A widely used relationship between Charpy general yield force and dynamic yield strength was originally proposed by Server in 1978. This same relationship, however, cannot be used for estimating the dynamic (ultimate) tensile strength from the Charpy maximum force, since it relies on the ratio between shear and tensile stress, which at general yield is different than at maximum force. In the study described in this paper, we modified Server's relationship in order to obtain reliable, and possibly conservative, estimates of dynamic ultimate tensile strength from the maximum force measured in an instrumented Charpy test. Once more experimental data has been accumulated, the results of this investigation might have significant implications for the revision of fracture mechanics test standards which utilize dynamic ultimate tensile properties for the qualification/validation of fracture toughness tests conducted at elevated loading rates.
Social Justice and Technocracy: Tracing the Narratives of Inclusive Education in the USA.

ABSTRACTOver the past two decades, the percentage of American students with disabilities educated in general classrooms with their nondisabled peers has risen by approximately 50%. This gradual but steady policy shift has been driven by two distinct narratives of organisational change. The social justice narrative espouses principles of equality and caring across human differences. The narrative of technocracy creates top-down, administrative pressure through hierarchical systems based on quantitative performance data. This article examines these two primary policy narratives of inclusive education in the USA, exploring the conceptual features of each and initiating an analysis of their application in the public schools.
Statistical Analysis of Contact-Induced Air Bearing Vibrations

Air bearing vibrations at nanometer clearance levels are a major impediment to reducing head media spacing. Modern air bearings typically exhibit debilitating self-excited vibrations at fly heights of about 1–2 nm. At this point, peak head media spacing and contact pressures will increase, leading to performance and reliability issues. There has been considerable work performed to understand and improve air bearing stability at and around the point of contact, resulting in numerous experimental methods and design concepts in the literature. An area where additional research is worthwhile is the statistical behavior of contact vibrations. This paper explores the time dependence of fly height by using a simplified 2D air bearing with a mechanics based contact simulation. A comparison with measurements of fly height vibration demonstrates the utility of the simplified model and underscores the importance of proper time scale considerations.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Alternating Turing machines and the analytical hierarchy.

We use notions originating in Computational Complexity to provide insight into the analogies between Computational Complexity and Higher Recursion Theory. We consider alternating Turing machines, but with a modified, global, definition of acceptance. We show that a language is accepted by such a machine iff it is inductive (Π1). Moreover, total alternating machines, which either accept or reject each input, accept precisely the hyper-arithmetical (∆1) languages. Also, bounding the permissible number of alternations we obtain a characterization of the levels of the arithmetical hierarchy. The novelty of these characterizations lies primarily in the use of finite computing devices, with finitary, discrete, computation steps. We thereby elucidate the analogy between the polynomial-time and the arithmetical hierarchies, as well as between their respective limits, namely the classes of the polynomial-space and Π1 languages.
The Hypersomnias Other Than the Sleep Apnea Syndromes and the Narcolepsies

(1982). The Hypersomnias Other Than the Sleep Apnea Syndromes and the Narcolepsies. American Journal of EEG Technology: Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 77-83.
Getting the Most Out of Trade Fairs in International Marketing

Firms involved in international marketing make use of many types of promotion methods to enhance sales and their perceived image. Trade fairs can be an effective way to gain exposure and enhance potential sales overseas. Despite the growth in international trade fairs in recent years, there are potential problems and at times they are not a very good way to spend the promotion budget Good strategy and tactical planning is necessary, however, to take full advantage of the possibilities that international trade fairs have to offer. Many U.S. firms do not utilize international trade fairs as effectively as their European counterparts. This article offers market managers some guidelines for getting the most out of trade fairs in international marketing.
Comparison of Permanent Versus Absorbable Suture in the Tongue-in-Groove Technique in Endonasal Rhinoplasty:

The tongue-in-groove technique in endonasal rhinoplasty is a commonly used method for making changes in tip rotation and projection. We examine the outcomes of absorbable and permanent suture tongue-in-groove technique in relation to maintaining postoperative tip rotation and projection. A retrospective review of the preoperative and postoperative photographs of 18 patients treated with endonasal tongue-in-groove technique were analyzed. Twelve patients were treated with nylon suture and 6 with polydioxanone suture (PDS). There were 9 females (50%) and 9 males (50%), with the age ranging from 17 to 49 years. The mean follow-up time was 12.1 months. All patients were treated by the senior author in a New York City hospital. All patients were treated with the tongue-in-groove technique in endonasal rhinoplasty; 5.0 clear Nylon suture was used on 12 patients and 5.0 clear PDS on 6 patients. Using an unpaired t test and an alpha value of 0.05, the difference between the preoperative and postoperative tip rota...
Ureaplasma infection-mediated release of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and PGP: a novel mechanism of preterm rupture of membranes and chorioamnionitis

Ureaplasma infection-mediated release of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and PGP: a novel mechanism of preterm rupture of membranes and chorioamnionitis
Identification of Residues Important for Ion and Lipid Transport in a TMEM16 Scramblase

The TMEM16 family comprises Ca2+-activated Cl- channels and phospholipid scramblases. The recent crystal structure of a fungal homologue, nhTMEM16, revealed an important architectural feature of this protein family in the form of a bilayer-spanning hydrophilic groove that is directly exposed to the membrane and provides a possible pathway for lipid translocation. Mutations that alter ion channel activity of the TMEM16 proteins localize around the groove, suggesting that the ion and lipid pathways coincide. However, an initial report suggested that nhTMEM16, unlike other TMEM16 scramblases, does not mediate ion transport. Here, we show that nhTMEM16 mediates simultaneous ion and lipid transport and that its properties closely resemble those of afTMEM16.To test the hypothesis the hydrophilic groove forms a shared pathway for ions and lipids we mutated residues facing the groove to tryptophan (Trp), as its bulky and hydrophobic side chain should impair transport. We then investigated how these mutations affect scrambling and ion transport. Of the 17 Trp-mutants tested, 40% had little to no effect on scrambling ( 50% reduction). Interestingly, the impact on ion transport closely mirrored that on scrambling, consistent with the idea that these two functions are tightly coupled. We identify a set of 3 residues which define a constriction in the groove, which when mutated to Trp cause a dramatic reduction in the rate of scrambling. Unexpectedly however, this effect is independent of the size of the introduced side chain as mutations to Alanine (Ala) has a comparably adverse impact on scrambling. Taken together our results indicate that the specific chemico-physical properties of these 3 residues lining the groove is crucial to lipid and ion transport of nhTMEM16.
In the Style of Ozu: Critical Making and Postwar Japanese Cinema

Interest in modern and contemporary Japanese visual culture—whether through film, art history, or literature—is growing among students who already have an exposure to and love for Japanese popular culture via visual media such as manga, anime, video, and social media. In combination with student demand for courses that engage with the visual, there is institutional demand for innovative courses that offer experiential and active learning approaches to critical inquiry. This pedagogical essay introduces the concept of “critical making” and the importance of new modes of student assessment that engage with creative acts of making. It discusses the development and application of a semester-long student filmmaking project in Postwar Japanese Cinema and concludes with a critique of the project and the broader implications for including critical making in East Asian studies courses that emphasize the study of visual culture. This student film project reflects my background and training in Japanese art, cinema, and visual culture—not in filmmaking or media production—and is just one example of how to approach the study of postwar Japanese cinema through the lens of critical making.
Indium-doped Co3O4 nanorods for catalytic oxidation of CO and C3H6 towards diesel exhaust

Abstract Platinum-group metals are widely used as diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) for exhaust control. It is a challenge to improve performance and reduce the cost of DOCs, while also to avoid interference of hydrocarbons and sintering of platinum metals at high temperatures. We present here an indium-doped Co 3 O 4 uniform nanorod catalyst whose catalytic performance in CO, C 3 H 6 , and even NO oxidation is comparable to platinum-group DOCs in diesel exhaust. No obvious deactivation was observed in long-term stability tests under simulated diesel exhaust conditions. These indium-doped Co 3 O 4 nanorods might open a promising pathway towards low-cost efficient diesel exhaust control systems. Characterization results indicated that lattice oxygen could be much more easily abstracted by hydrogen or carbon monoxide from indium-doped Co 3 O 4 than from Co 3 O 4 and the physical mixture Co 3 O 4 and In 2 O 3 . The presence of indium with its large cation radius could influence the chemical status of surface/chemisorbed oxygen in Co 3 O 4 -In 2 O 3 nanorods, thereby increasing the mobility of lattice oxygen involved in the catalytic oxidation reaction. The reaction mechanism of catalytic oxidation of CO and C 3 H 6 were evaluated based on kinetic and FTIR studies. For CO oxidation, activated CO 3 * reduced by adsorbed CO* in an irreversible step to generate the final product of CO 2 could be considered as the kinetically-relevant step. DRIFT spectroscopy confirmed that only stable carbonate species were observed over Co 3 O 4 -In 2 O 3 nanorods that might be further reduced by CO to form CO 2 . For C 3 H 6 oxidation, the incorporation of activated oxygen (O*) into anion vacancy of catalyst surface was the kinetically-relevant step, while the active sites on catalyst surface should be totally covered by the intermediates of C 3 H 6 or its generated species, which actually acted as the most abundant surface intermediates (MASI). DRIFT spectroscopy confirmed that C 3 H 6 and its related intermediates like formate, acetate, and acetone species would be formed over Co 3 O 4 -In 2 O 3 nanorods.
Incorporating abstraction methods into system-analysis integration methodology for discrete event logistics systems

Analysis models, such as discrete event simulation models, are used to support design and operation of discrete event logistics systems (DELS). The time and expertise required to construct these analysis models can be significantly reduced by automatically generating them from formal models of the systems being analyzed. DELS analysis models can be constructed from system abstractions much more reliably when the system and analysis are specified at compatible levels of abstraction. Formal modeling languages, such as those used in object-orientation, make abstraction explicit, simplifying the mappings between system and analysis models and increasing reusability of the integration. In this paper, we propose fundamental abstractions for DELS and identify corresponding libraries of analysis models. These are used in a system-analysis integration methodology that incorporates abstraction as an explicit step, providing a path to refine and extend those abstractions and model libraries to generate analysis models.
Corrosion behaviour of aluminium alloys in deep-sea environment: A review and the KM3NeT test results

Abstract The interest in deep-sea environment is increasing both in the scientific and business community. Nevertheless, in situ corrosion studies are difficult to be executed due to high experimental cost and technical problems, consequently they are quite uncommon. After a summary of the scarce available literature about deep-sea environment studies on corrosion of aluminium alloys, results of an in situ exposure of Al 5083 H111, Al 6082 T6, Al 7075 T651, Al 8090 T81 alloys are presented. Specimens were exposed for 6, 12, and 18 months in deep-sea, at a depth of approximately 3350 m, off the Capo Passero (Sicily, Italy) in the KM3NeT project framework. Corrosion attack was evaluated by gravimetric weight loss measurements. Localised corrosion was investigated by using a digital camera and ImageJ software in addition to different microscopic techniques to better identify morphological/chemical details. Al 7075 T651 and Al 8090 T81 alloys performed much worse than Al 5083 H111 and Al 6082 T6 alloys. Al 6082 T6 alloy was the most resistant to corrosion, while Al 8090 T81 suffered the most relevant damage. Both Al 5083 H111 and Al 6082 T6 did not show any significant visible corrosion attack, while both Al 7075 T651 and Al 8090 T81 suffered severe localised attack. Al 8090 T81 experienced mainly pitting corrosion, while Al 7075 T651 was seriously affected by pitting, crevice, and exfoliation. The microstructural heterogeneity of both Al 7075 T651 and Al 8090 T81 alloys increases susceptibility to localised corrosion attack thus discouraging any deep-sea use of these alloys.
Role of ivabradine and heart rate lowering in chronic heart failure: guideline update.

INTRODUCTION This review summarizes the current management of heart failure (HF) in patients with reduced ejection fraction and the potential role of heart rate lowering agents in select populations, as recommended in the updated guidelines. Areas covered: PubMed was searched for studies that evaluated the role of heart rate lowering or ivabradine in HF management. Expert commentary: Targeting heart rate may offer benefit when added to renin-angiotensin aldosterone antagonists, and beta-blockers. Ivabradine is a heart rate lowering agent that acts on the funny current (If) in the sinoatrial node, thereby reducing heart rate without directly affecting cardiac contraction and relaxation. Clinical data from a phase III trial demonstrated that ivabradine reduced the composite end point of cardiovascular death or hospital admission for worsening systolic HF, while maintaining an acceptable safety profile in patients receiving standard of care therapy. These data, in addition to more recently published guidelines, suggest ivabradine as a promising new treatment option for lowering heart rate after optimizing standard therapy in select patients with chronic HF.
Effect of the pineal gland on alcohol consumption by congenitally blind male rats

Congenitally blind rats drank more of a 5% alcohol solution than water while congenitally blind pinealectomized rats drank more water than did the intact rats. Daily injections of melatonin did not...
Analytic/Synthetic, Necessary/Contingent, and a Priori/a Posteriori : Distinction

The article begins with a summary of three important philosophical dichotomies:, and the analytic/synthetic distinction, the a priori/a posteriori distinction, and the necessary/contingent distinction. The summary also includes a discussion of their alleged connections. The bulk of the article is devoted to W. V. O. Quine's rejection of the analytic/synthetic distinction as an unprincipled distinction that serves no useful theoretical explanatory purpose. Reactions to Quine's critique are also covered. The article concludes with a discussion of Kripke's case for the necessary a posteriori and the contingent a priori.
Celiac disease: From basic immunology to bedside practice

Abstract Celiac disease (CD), or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is a life-long disorder characterized by a severe damage of the small intestinal mucosa when ingesting gluten, a protein fraction found in wheat, rye and barley. Both in Europe and in the United States, the prevalence of CD in the general population is high, ranging between 0.3 and 1%. The clinical spectrum is highly variable, and most cases remain currently undiagnosed because of atypical presentation (the celiac iceberg). CD is a multi-factorial disorder with an immunological pathogenesis that depends on both genetic and environmental factors. The diagnosis of CD is based on the small intestinal biopsy findings, but can be suspected using serological testing (e.g., the anti-gliadin antibody (AGA), the anti-endomysial antibody (EMA) and the recently developed anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) assay). The latter, coupled with the determination of total serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), currently seems the best buy for the screening of CD. EMA should be used as a pre-biopsy (confirmatory) test while AGA determination should be restricted to the diagnostic work-up of younger children (IgG and IgA in parallel) or patients with IgA deficiency (IgG only). In selected cases, the high negative predictive value of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing can be useful for diagnostic purposes.
Bariatric Surgery in Patients with Systolic and Diastolic Heart Failure: Insights from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample

Purpose Obesity is an established risk factor for the development of heart failure (HF). Weight loss after bariatric surgery may have a positive impact in long-term HF outcomes; however, there is scarcity of data exploring the safety of bariatric surgery in this population. Methods Using the 2010-2015 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, we identified the overall demographic characteristics and incidence of in-hospital complications in HF patients after bariatric procedures. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between HF and in-hospital outcomes. Results A total of 963,603 patients underwent bariatric procedures. Of these, 3,427 (0.36%) had systolic HF (sHF) and 6,327 (0.66%) had diastolic HF (dHF). Patients with HF were older and had a higher burden of comorbidities as appraised by Charlson Comorbidity Index (Table 1). HF patients had greater length of stay; this was consistent across sHF (4 vs 18 days; p Conclusion HF patients who underwent bariatric surgery in this national cohort had an increased risk of in-hospital complications when compared to patients without HF. Further studies are needed to better select candidates and balance the risk of short-term complications against potential long-term benefits.
Auditors and Relationship Banking

This study examines whether a bank’s relationship with a borrowing firm’s external auditor through a shared client portfolio affects loan pricing. I find that when lenders’ portfolios are more concentrated in firms engaging a particular auditor, borrowers who engage that auditor enjoy lower spreads. This relation is only evident when the lender is the lead arranger who is primarily responsible for information gathering about the borrower. Tests suggest the reduction in information asymmetry facilitating these lower borrowing costs occurs via banks’ enhanced ability to interpret the audited financial statements when they have greater familiarity with the external auditor. My results are relevant to debt-seeking firms who should be mindful of their auditor’s relationship with prospective lenders, as well as regulators seeking to better understand how auditors can affect corporate financing outcomes.
Simulating two pushdown stores by one tape in O ( n 1.5 √log n ) time

Abstract Based on graph separator theorems, we develop a new simulation technique which allows us to resolve several open problems for on-line computations: (1)One tape can nondeterministically simulate two nondeterministic pushdown stores in 0( n 1.5 √log n ) time. Together with the Ω(n 1.5 /tr log n) lower bound, this solves the open problem 1 in P. Duris et al. (“Proceedings, 15th ACM Symp. on Theory of Computing, 1983,” pp. 127–132) for the one-tape versus two pushdown store case. It also disproves the conjectured Ω( n 2 ) lower bound which holds in the deterministic case (W. Maass, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 292 (1985), 675–693; M. Li and P. B. M. Vitanyi, Inform. and Computation , in press.) (2) The languages actually used by Maass and Freivalds ( Inform. Process. 77 (1977), 839–842) can be accepted in O ( n 2 log log n /√log n ) and O ( n 1.5 / tr log n ) time by a one-tape TM, respectively. Therefore they cannot be used to obtain the Ω(n 2 ) lower bound for one tape nondeterministically simulating two tapes. The algorithm depends on a new graph separator theorem. (3) Three pushdown stores are better than two pushdown stores for nondeterministic machines. This anwwers a rather old open problem of R. V. Book and S. A. Greibach ( Math. Systems Theory 4 (1970), 97–111) and P. Duris and Z. Galil ( in “Proceedings, 14th ACM Symp. on Theory of Comput., 1982,” pp. 1–7). (4) One tape can nondeterministically simulate one nondeterministic queue in 0( n 1.5 √log n ) time. This disproves the conjectured Ω(n 2 ) lower bound which holds in the deterministic case.
Chapter 1 – Adult Forensics

Publisher Summary This chapter explores several subjects that focus on the interplay of law and psychology in the adult forensic arena. The concept of competency to stand trial recognizes the potential implications of mental or emotional impairments on an individual's functional capacities as a criminal defendant. The implications of competency issues and developments for the forensic psychologist are profound. It is uncommon for a judge to disagree with the recommendation of a mental health professional. Often a full competency hearing is not necessary if all parties involved including the defense attorney, prosecuting attorney, and the judge stipulate that they are in agreement regarding the determination of the defendant's competence or incompetence, and if they agree after taking into consideration the forensic evaluation results. Thus, the role of the practicing forensic psychologist is to assists in defining the future of the defendant whose competency is in question. A more significant development concerning competency and policy is that of involuntary medication to restore competency.
Commercial Weight Loss Programs

Commercial weight loss programs have taken over the weight loss industry as widely accepted and relatively affordable options as a means to lose weight. The need for these programs varies from underequipped physicians to providing reasonably priced alternatives to clinical support. In this chapter, we’ll explore the various types of commercial programs available and the differences between them, ending with a look at how commercial weight loss program providers and consumers can work together to meet consumer demand and deliver outcome-based results.
Deep vein thrombosis protocol optimization to minimize healthcare worker exposure in coronavirus disease-2019.

OBJECTIVE: There are no societal ultrasound (US) guidelines detailing appropriate patient selection for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) imaging in patients with COVID-19, nor are there protocol recommendations aimed at decreasing exposure time for US technologists. We aimed to provide COVID-19-specific protocol optimization recommendations limiting US technologist exposure while optimizing patient selection. METHODS: A novel two-pronged algorithm was implemented to limit the DVT US studies on patients with COVID-19 prospectively, which included direct physician communication with the care team and a COVID-19-specific imaging protocol was instated to reduce US technologist exposure. To assess the pretest risk of DVT, the sensitivity and specificity of serum d-dimer in 500-unit increments from 500 to 8000 ng/mL and a receiver operating characteristic curve to assess performance of serum d-dimer in predicting DVT was generated. Rates of DVT, pulmonary embolism, and scan times were compared using t-test and Fisher's exact test (before and after implementation of the protocol). RESULTS: Direct physician communication resulted in cancellation or deferral of 72% of requested examinations in COVID-19-positive patients. A serum d-dimer of >4000 ng/mL yielded a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 70% (95% confidence interval, 0.54-0.86) for venous thromboembolism. Using the COVID-19-specific protocol, there was a significant (50%) decrease in the scan time (P < .0001) in comparison with the conventional protocol. CONCLUSIONS: A direct physician communication policy between imaging physician and referring physician resulted in deferral or cancellation of a majority of requested DVT US examinations. An abbreviated COVID-19-specific imaging protocol significantly decreased exposure time to the US technologist.