cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preoperative carotid artery screening in elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery

The role of preoperative screening for carotid artery disease in elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures is not clearly established. This prospective study was designed to determine the prevalence of carotid disease in this population and to identify preoperative risk factors for carotid artery stenosis. During a 54-month interval, 1087 patients of a consecutive series of 1184 patients 65 years of age and older who underwent cardiac surgical procedures (91% had coronary artery disease) were evaluated before operation with carotid duplex ultrasonography. The prevalence of disease was 17.0% for 50% or greater stenosis and 5.9% for 80% or greater stenosis. With use of a stepwise, logistic regression model of 12 preoperative variables, five variables were found by multivariate analysis to be significant (p less than or equal to 0.05) predictors of 80% or greater stenosis: female sex, peripheral vascular disease, history of transient ischemic attack or stroke, smoking history, and left main coronary artery disease. If all patients with at least one risk factor were screened, then this model predicts that 95% of patients with 80% or greater stenosis and 91% of patients with 50% or greater stenosis would be identified before operation. The probability of carotid disease in a given patient can also be estimated (range, 5% to 65%). Carotid endarterectomy combined with cardiac surgical procedures was performed on 46 patients who were either symptomatic (16) or had 80% or greater stenosis (30). The overall stroke rate for the 1087 patients was 2.0% (22 patients), and the 30-day mortality rate was 5.2% (56 patients).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Case of Recurrent Exercise-Induced Acute Renal Failure and Renal Hypouricemia with R90H Mutation in a SCL22A12 Gene

Acute renal failure with severe loin pain and patch renal ischemia after anaerobic exercise (ALPE) is a rare cause of exercise-induced acute kidney injury. Some ALPE patients also have renal hypouricemia. Mutations in the SCL22A12 gene are among the major factors of hypouricemia. Education for the prevention of relapse and genetic counseling should be recommended to ALPE patients with renal hypouricemia. This paper reports a 25-year-old man who showed recurrent exercise-induced ARF and renal hypouricemia with R90H mutation in his SCL22A12 gene.
VSTOL AUTONOMOUS TAKEOFF FLIGHT CONTROL

An autonomous takeoff mode for a VSTOL aircraft flight control system is developed. In low-speed situations, such as takeoff, landing, and hover, aerodynamic forces are negligible compared with the reaction control forces produced by engine thrust. This fact is applied in an approximately optimal real-time controller that guides the vehicle from a stationary starting position to a prescribed final altitude, flight path angle, and velocity in minimum time. This flight control scheme is formulated as an optimal control problem whose solution is expanded using regular perturbation methods. The first two terms of this expansion have shown close agreement with the optimal solution on many related problems. In this work, the inertial forces are considered to dominate the motion, and the aerodynamic, forces are included in the first-order correction. The zeroth-order problem is characterized by being analytically integrable where the value of certain parameters are obtained through iteration. The firstorder corrections require numerical quadrature integration, but no iteration. To ensure dominance of the zeroth-order term, the expansion is augmented with state jumps associated with the aerodynamic forces distributed judiciously over the flight path.
Accelerated 3D echo‐planar spectroscopic imaging at 4 Tesla using modified blipped phase‐encoding

Whole-brain echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) often substantially lengthens MRI/MRSI (magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging) protocols. To halve acquisition time, application of a blipped phase-encoding (PE) gradient during the EPSI readout (RO) was previously suggested by PE of the even RO echoes in k-space at an interstitial location along kPE, separated from the odd RO echoes, effectively reducing the number of PEs by a factor of 2. However, the approach is very susceptible to phase inconsistencies between even and odd RO echoes in the presence of B0 inhomogeneities and gradient imbalance, leading to ghosting in the PE direction. In this work, the blipped PE gradient is placed in between pairs of even/odd RO gradient lobes to avoid these problems. This approach is demonstrated in a phantom and in normal human brain in vivo at 4T. While the proposed method allows substantial reduction in metabolite ghosting, it may be limited by the presence of a relatively large spurious signal at the Nyquist frequency. Magn Reson Med 58:1061–1066, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Embedding stakeholder analysis in object oriented organizational modeling

Techniques are described which are used by the authors to introduce stakeholder analysis into an object-oriented organizational model. Knowledge-based representations of stakeholders' positions are used to assess their impact on simulated decision scenarios. The architecture of an object/rule-oriented stakeholder tool is described, as well as its interfaces with an object-oriented environment for organizational modeling. The process used by the authors for eliciting positions and modeling their impact on the organization is also described. >
A MIMO radar system approach to target tracking

In this paper, tracking performnace of MIMO radar systems with distributed antennas and non-coherent processing is studied. The Bayesian Cramer-Rao bound (BCRB) on target location and velocity tracking is derived and the effect of the radars geometric layout and the target location on tracking accuracies is analyzed. The impact of the number of radars on the estimation errors is examined and the contribution of the target reflectivity and path loss to tracking performance is evaluated.
Automatic assembly sequences generation by pattern-matching

The problem of automatically finding all the feasible assembly sequences for a set of n parts that compose a mechanical object is presented. The method proposed is feasible and practical in generating all the feasible assembly sequences when the number of parts is greatly increased. Previous work has shown that the question-answer pattern required 2l operations (here l is the total number of the liaisons and is bound between n-1 and (n/sup 2/-n)/2). An efficient network partitioning and pattern-matching operation is proposed to obtain precedence relations of the parts. This approach results in only l questions to be answered. The performance shows that the proposed algorithm can achieve a 50% reduction of questions asked. The proposed method shows feasibility and economy for the assembly of a large number of parts. Detailed algorithms, analysis, and examples are presented to show the effectiveness of the scheme. >
Routine cognitive errors: A trait-like predictor of individual differences in anxiety and distress

Five studies (N=361) sought to model a class of errors—namely, those in routine tasks—that several literatures have suggested may predispose individuals to higher levels of emotional distress. Individual differences in error frequency were assessed in choice reaction-time tasks of a routine cognitive type. In Study 1, it was found that tendencies toward error in such tasks exhibit trait-like stability over time. In Study 3, it was found that tendencies toward error exhibit trait-like consistency across different tasks. Higher error frequency, in turn, predicted higher levels of negative affect, general distress symptoms, displayed levels of negative emotion during an interview, and momentary experiences of negative emotion in daily life (Studies 2–5). In all cases, such predictive relations remained significant with individual differences in neuroticism controlled. The results thus converge on the idea that error frequency in simple cognitive tasks is a significant and consequential predictor of emotional...
Directing Benefits to Need: Evaluating the Distributive Consequences of Urban Economic Development

Evaluation of targeted development programs is made difficult by undefined or multiple goals, reliance on inappropriate aggregate units and levels for analysis, and neglect of distributional conseq...
Bariatric surgery literature in nonbariatric surgery journals: July 2010 – December 2010

u d The following articles on bariatric surgery and/or morbid obesity topics have been published during the last 6 months of 2010 in journals other than Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases or Obesity Surgery. They were retrieved from PubMed using the search criteria: “obesity or bariatric surgery, or gastric bypass.” They are allocated to a series of headings (and subheadings) or descriptors of their content, although some articles might cross several headings. I have selected the descriptor that seemed most pertinent clinically. Article titles that I thought particularly important for bariatric surgeons are printed in bold, to which some overall assessment from the abstract or full article review by myself has been added.
FUZZY MODELLING AND THE PREDICTION OF POROSITY AND PERMEABILITY FROM THE COMPOSITIONAL AND TEXTURAL ATTRIBUTES OF SANDSTONE

A new method is presented here for predicting porosity and permeability from the compositional and textural characteristics of sandstones. The method employs fuzzy modelling which is a linguistic paradigm based on fuzzy logic, rooted in the theory of fuzzy sets. The essentials of fuzzy modelling are explained using an example in which porosity and permeability values of a sandstone are predicted from five compositional and textural attributes. Fuzzy modelling can be accomplished in five steps: (i) Identification of input and output variables. In this paper, the inputs are five compositional and textural parameters, namely: relative amounts of ductile grains, rigid grains and detrital matrix, to gether with grain size, and the Trask sorting coefficient. The output is either porosity or permeability. (ii) Fuzzy clustering of output values. (iii) Formation of membership grades of input data. (iv) Generation of fuzzy rules; and (v) Prediction via fuzzy inference. Compared to statistical modelling (i. e. multiple regression analysis), fuzzy modelling is not only assumption-free but is also tolerant of outliers. Fuzzy modelling is capable of making both linguistic and numeric predictions based on qualitative knowledge and/ or quantitative data. Thus, fuzzy modelling is not only appropriate for the problem discussed here, but is also desirable for many geological problems characterized by non-numerical knowledge and imprecise information.
Interactive ray casting of geodesic grids

Geodesic grids are commonly used to model the surface of a sphere and are widely applied in numerical simulations of geoscience applications. These applications range from biodiversity, to climate change and to ocean circulation. Direct volume rendering of scalar fields defined on a geodesic grid facilitates scientists in visually understanding their large scale data. Previous solutions requiring to first transform the geodesic grid into another grid structure (e.g., hexahedral or tetrahedral grid) for using graphics hardware are not acceptable for large data, because such approaches incur significant computing and storage overhead. In this paper, we present a new method for efficient ray casting of geodesic girds by leveraging the power of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). A geodesic grid can be directly fetched from storage or streamed from simulations to the rendering stage without the need of any intermediate grid transformation. We have designed and implemented a new analytic scheme to efficiently perform value interpolation for ray integration and gradient calculations for lighting. This scheme offers a more cost-effective rendering solution over the existing direct rendering approach. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our rendering solution using real-world geoscience data.
Laminectomy and the Treatment of Lower-Back Pain in Massachusetts

During 1984–1985, laminectomy rates in Massachusetts demonstrated a 2.2-fold variation among districts. Thirty-five percent of laminectomies occurred in 7 of the 108 hospitals studied. Approximately 81% of laminectomies were performed by neurosurgeons. Rates of laminectomy decline with increasing age after 65, while rates of hospitalization for lower-back pain rise.
Remarks on analog approximations for constant group delay

On etudie les approximations analogiques du retard de groupe constant. On compare les differentes solutions apportees a ce probleme (filtre de Paynter)
Error-correcting codes for list decoding

In the list-of-L decoding of a block code the receiver of a noisy sequence lists L possible transmitted messages, and is in error only if the correct message is not on the list. Consideration is given to (n,e,L) codes, which correct all sets of e or fewer errors in a block of n bits under list-of-L decoding. New geometric relations between the number of errors corrected under list-of-1 decoding and the (larger) number corrected under list-of-L decoding of the same code lead to new lower bounds on the maximum rate of (n,e,L) codes. They show that a jammer who can change a fixed fraction p >
Methylmercury-induced inhibition of regulatory volume decrease in astrocytes: characterization of osmoregulator efflux and its reversal by amiloride

Swelling of neonatal rat primary astrocyte cultures by hypotonic media leads to regulatory volume decrease (RVD) and the resumption of resting cell volume. RVD is associated with activation of conductive K+ and Cl- channels, allowing for the escape of KCl, as well as the release of osmoregulators, such as taurine and myoinositol. As we have previously shown [D. Vitarella, H.K. Kimelberg, M. Aschner, Inhibition of RVD in swollen rat primary astrocyte cultures by methylmercury (MeHg) is due to increase amiloride-sensitive Na+ uptake, Brain Res. 732 (1996) 169-178.], MeHg, when added to hypotonic buffer inhibits RVD, primarily due to increased cellular permeability to Na+ via the Na+/H+ antiporter. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to assess the ability of cation-anion cotransport blockers to reverse the inhibitory effect of MeHg on RVD in swollen astrocytes, and to further characterize MeHg-induced changes in astrocytic osmoregulatory release processes. The studies demonstrate the following: (1) MeHg-induced inhibition of RVD is partially inhibited by the Na+/H+ antiporter blocker, amiloride, but not SITS (4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid), DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid), furosemide or bumetanide; (2) exposure of swollen astrocytes to MeHg is associated with specific effects on osmoregulatory release, leading to significant inhibition of taurine release and a significant increase in potassium and myoinositol release compared with release in hypotonic conditions.
Leishmania donovani lacking the Golgi GDP-Man transporter LPG2 exhibit attenuated virulence in mammalian hosts.

Surface phosophoglycans such as lipophosphoglycan (LPG) or proteophosphoglycan (PPG) and glycosylinositol phospholipids (GIPLs) modulate essential interactions between Leishmania and mammalian macrophages. Phosphoglycan synthesis depends on the Golgi GDP-mannose transporter encoded by LPG2. LPG2-null (lpg2 ) Leishmania major cannot establish macrophage infections or induce acute pathology, whereas lpg2 Leishmania mexicana retain virulence. lpg2 Leishmania donovani has been reported to survive poorly in cultured macrophages but in vivo survival has not been explored. Herein we discovered that, similar to lpg2 L. major, lpg2 L. donovani promastigotes exhibited diminished virulence in mice, but persisted at consistently low levels. lpg2 L. donovani promastigotes could not establish infection in macrophages and could not transiently inhibit phagolysosomal fusion. Furthermore, lpg2 promastigotes of L. major, L. donovani and L. mexicana were highly susceptible to complement-mediated lysis. We conclude that phosphoglycan assembly and expression mediated by L. donovani LPG2 are important for promastigote and amastigote virulence, unlike L. mexicana but similar to L. major.
Directional medium access protocol (DMAP) with power control for wireless ad hoc networks

Protocols for mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are often designed with the assumption that nodes are equipped with omnidirectional antennas. Spatial reuse in such networks can be significantly improved by using directional antennas, leading to higher system capacity. This gain is associated with a substantial energy saving that results for beamforming the transmitter and/or receiver antennas in the appropriate directions. However, several medium access problems (e.g., hidden terminal, deafness) resurface when directional antennas are integrated into existing MAC protocols. In this paper, we propose a power-controlled MAC protocol for directional antennas that ameliorates many these problems. Our protocol uses separate control and data channels to reduce collisions. It allows for dynamic adjustment of the data-packet transmission power, such that this power is just enough to overcome interference at the receiver. Simulation results demonstrate that the combined gain from using directional antennas and power control results in significant energy saving and improved throughput performance.
Between Art and Artifact: Archaeological Replicas and Cultural Production in Oaxaca, Mexico (Brulotte)

This work is a book review considering the title Between Art and Artifact: Archaeological Replicas and Cultural Production in Oaxaca, Mexico by Ronda L. Brulotte.
Three algorithms for a class of multidimensional assignment problems

The assignment problem of matching the elements of two sets at some cost or to some benefit is well known and can be solved in polynomial time. However, many applications, particularly those in remote sensing and computer vision, require matching elements from more than two sets at some cost. Such problems are called multidimensional assignment problems and are known to be NP-hard. For time-critical applications and nontrivial multidimensional assignment problems, fast near-optimal algorithms are the only alternative. This paper compares three such algorithms: greedy, limited branch and bound, and Lagrangian relaxation.
Cellular Metabolism and Dose Reveal Carnitine‐Dependent and ‐Independent Mechanisms of Butyrate Oxidation in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Dietary fiber has been suggested to suppress colorectal cancer development, although the mechanisms contributing to this beneficial effect remain elusive. Butyrate, a fermentation product of fiber, has been shown to have anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on colorectal cancer cells. The metabolic fate of butyrate in the cell is important in determining whether, it acts as an HDAC inhibitor or is consumed as a short-chain fatty acid. Non-cancerous colonocytes utilize butyrate as the primary energy source whereas cancerous colonocytes increase glucose utilization through the Warburg effect. In this study, we show that butyrate oxidation is decreased in cancerous colonocytes compared to non-cancerous colonocytes. We demonstrate that colorectal cancer cells utilize both a carnitine-dependent and carnitine-independent mechanism that contributes to butyrate oxidation. The carnitine-dependent mechanism is contingent on butyrate concentration. Knockdown of CPT1A in colorectal cancer cells abolishes butyrate oxidation. In terms of selectivity, the carnitine-dependent mechanism only regulated butyrate oxidation, as acetate and propionate oxidation were carnitine-independent. Carnitine decreased the action of butyrate as an HDAC inhibitor and suppressed induction of H3 acetylation by butyrate in colorectal cancer cells. Thus, diminished oxidation of butyrate is associated with decreased HDAC inhibition and histone acetylation. In relation to the mechanism, we find that dichloroacetate, which decreases phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase, increased butyrate oxidation and that this effect was carnitine-dependent. In conclusion, these data suggest that colorectal cancer cells decrease butyrate oxidation through inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase, which is carnitine-dependent, and provide insight into why butyrate shows selective effects toward colorectal cancer cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1804-1813, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Non-Radioisotopic Estimate of Body Water and its Spaces in Hypertonic Expansion

Mathematically rigorous formulae of apparent sodium volume of distribution for body water and of stable sodium chloride space for extracellular volume were derived and applied to data from five anuric dogs infused with hypertonic saline. The error of the formula used in the past to compute apparent sodium volume of distribution was also computed and the errors introduced in the calculation of sodium chloride space by the experimental methods applied were corrected. Apparent sodium volume of distribution, computed from a correct formula, is a measure of body water and corrected estimates of sodium chloride space agree with radio-sulphate space estimates of extracellular volume.
Application of SWAN+ADCIRC to tide-surge and wave simulation in Gulf of Maine during Patriot's Day storm

Abstract The southern coast of the Gulf of Maine in the United States is prone to flooding caused by nor'easters. A state-of-the-art fully-coupled model, the Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model with unstructured grids and the ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) model, was used to study the hydrodynamic response in the Gulf of Maine during the Patriot's Day storm of 2007, a notable example of nor'easters in this area. The model predictions agree well with the observed tide-surges and waves during this storm event. Waves and circulation in the Gulf of Maine were analyzed. The Georges Bank plays an important role in dissipating wave energy through the bottom friction when waves propagate over the bank from offshore to the inner gulf due to its shallow bathymetry. Wave energy dissipation results in decreasing significant wave height (SWH) in the cross-bank direction and wave radiation stress gradient, which in turn induces changes in currents. While the tidal currents are dominant over the Georges Bank and in the Bay of Fundy, the residual currents generated by the meteorological forcing and waves are significant over the Georges Bank and in the coastal area and can reach 0.3 m/s and 0.2 m/s, respectively. In the vicinity of the coast, the longshore current generated by the surface wind stress and wave radiation stress acting parallel to the coastline is inversely proportional to the water depth and will eventually be limited by the bottom friction. The storm surge level reaches 0.8 m along the western periphery of the Gulf of Maine while the wave set-up due to radiation stress variation reaches 0.2 m. Therefore, it is significant to coastal flooding.
Abdominal actinomycosis mimicking acute appendicitis

A 52-year-old Hispanic woman presented to the emergency department, reporting worsening sharp lower right quadrant abdominal pain for 3 days. CT of the abdomen and pelvis showed evidence of inflammation in the peritoneal soft tissues adjacent to an enlarged and thick-walled appendix, an appendicolith, no abscess formation and a slightly thickened caecum consistent with acute appendicitis. During laparoscopic appendectomy, the caecum was noted to be firm, raising suspicion of malignancy. Surgical oncology team was consulted and open laparotomy with right hemicolectomy was performed. Pathology reported that the ileocaecal mass was not a malignancy but was, rather, actinomycosis. The patient was discharged after 10 days of intravenous antibiotics in the hospital, with the diagnosis of abdominal actinomycosis. Although the original clinical and radiological findings in this case were highly suggestive of acute appendicitis, abdominal actinomycosis should be in the differential for right lower quadrant pain as it may be treated non-operatively.
Market-Based Joint Decisions on Price, Delivery Time, Service Level, and Investment or Supplier Selection

Product demand is modeled as a linear function of attributes including price, guaranteed delivery time, service level and/or quality. For different market segments, market characteristics, namely customer sensitivity on those attributes, are different. A firm or a supplier could be characterized by operation performances in cost, delivery time, service level and/or quality. Actual delivery time is deterministic or stochastic. Service level and guaranteed delivery time are independent decision variables under deterministic delivery time while service level is dependent on the guaranteed delivery time under stochastic delivery time. With stochastic delivery time, the service level is not always binding at the minimal value reserved by the manager or the market, as assumed in most literature. Results reveals that there may exist limits on performance reduce with cost increase or cost increase with performance enhancement. Specifically, the option with less cost must be chosen if the cost difference is more than one value while the option with better performance must be chosen if the performance difference is more than some specific value. Those specific values are dependent on current performance and market characteristics. Moreover, results denote that operation characteristics should be matched with market characteristics. Consequently, a market-based approach for supplier selection or investment is proposed in consideration of operation performances in cost, delivery time, service level, and/or quality in an integrated manner.
Supportive Housing: An Evidence-Based Intervention for Reducing Relapse among Low Income Adults in Addiction Recovery

Within the ranks of the homeless are individuals coping with substance addiction and/or chronic physical or mental disability. Their special needs often pose significant barriers to successfully re-integrate into society. For these individuals, simply securing a roof overhead may not be an adequate solution. Supportive housing combines housing with access to on-site social services to assist persons coping with disabling physical and behavioral health conditions. This study examined whether an association could be found between length of residency in supportive housing and subjective well-being. For the purposes of this study, subjective well-being was measured by length of sobriety, self-efficacy, and employment.
COURTSHIP AND MATING SOUNDS IN SPECIES OF THE DROSOPHILA AFFINIS SUBGROUP.

Evidence has accumulated that sounds produced by courting Drosophilas serve for recognition and acceptance in mating, and interspecific differences of such sounds may be important for reproductive isolation (e.g. Ewing and Bennet-Clark, 1968). It has been shown (Miller, Goldstein, and Patty, 1975) that the widespread North American species Drosophila athabasca consists of three semispecies with different courtship sounds. We now report an investigation of sounds related to courtship and mating in five other sibling species of the D. affinis subgroup: affinis, algonquin, azteca, narragansett, and tolteca. Additional observations of such sounds were also made on the three athabasca semispecies and on hybrids between semispecies "eastern B" and D. azteca.
Optimized scalable circular grating with efficient photon extraction for Nitrogen Vacancy centers in a bulk diamond

We numerically demonstrate an optimized circular grating for Nitrogen-Vacancy centers with collection efficiency of 35.8% for Zero-Phonon emission into NA within 0.5, which is improved to 63.9% by adding a conductive layer. The optimal structure is fabricated using transferred hard mask lithography.
The building of the model of information appliance based on wireless

Put forward one model of information appliance based on wireless,and detailedly introduce its system function,structure and working principle.Expounding the key technology of the communication and each module from customer to home appliance.Using the advanced technology like as GPRS,cluster communication、bluetooth and Jini etc to descript and analyse at the important communication link,and gave out the way and the structure diagram by these technology to design and deal with problems.
Preparation of Enriched Plant Clathrin-Coated Vesicles by Differential and Density Gradient Centrifugation

Methods for the subcellular fractionation and enrichment of specific intracellular compartments are essential tools in the analysis of compartment composition and function. In vitro characterization of isolated cell organelles and other endomembrane intermediates, including exploration of the compartment protein ensemble, offers strong clues of in vivo function identity. Here, we describe methodology for the isolation of clathrin-coated vesicles from Arabidopsis thaliana suspension-cultured cells on the basis of differential and density centrifugation.
Targeting the Innate Immune Response to Improve Cardiac Graft Recovery after Heart Transplantation: Implications for the Donation after Cardiac Death

Heart transplantation (HTx) is the ultimate treatment for end-stage heart failure. The number of patients on waiting lists for heart transplants, however, is much higher than the number of available organs. The shortage of donor hearts is a serious concern since the population affected by heart failure is constantly increasing. Furthermore, the long-term success of HTx poses some challenges despite the improvement in the management of the short-term complications and in the methods to limit graft rejection. Myocardial injury occurs during transplantation. Injury initiated in the donor as result of brain or cardiac death is exacerbated by organ procurement and storage, and is ultimately amplified by reperfusion injury at the time of transplantation. The innate immune system is a mechanism of first-line defense against pathogens and cell injury. Innate immunity is activated during myocardial injury and produces deleterious effects on the heart structure and function. Here, we briefly discuss the role of the innate immunity in the initiation of myocardial injury, with particular focus on the Toll-like receptors and inflammasome, and how to potentially expand the donor population by targeting the innate immune response.
What's bad about this habit, May 2009

After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeley's ingenious sophistry to prove the nonexistence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal. I observed that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it. I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it – “I refute it thus.” – James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson There is nothing … more abstract than reality. – Giorgio Morandi, interview with Edouard Roditi A bad habit is something you do, without being fully aware of it, that makes life harder than it needs to be. It is a bad habit of physicists to take their most successful abstractions to be real properties of our world. Since the distinction between real and abstract is notoriously problematic, you might wonder what it means to wrongly confer reality on something abstract. I shall illustrate our habit of inappropriately reifying our successful abstractions with several examples. Perhaps the least controversial examples are provided by quantum mechanics. The quantum state may well be the most powerful abstraction we have ever found. Are quantum states real? In considering what that question might mean, recall that in the early days Erwin Schrodinger thought that the quantum state of a particle—in the form of its wavefunction—was as real a field as a classical electromagnetic field is real. He abandoned that view when he recognized that nonspreading wavepackets were a peculiarity of the harmonic oscillator, and that the wavefunction of N particles is a field only in a 3 N -dimensional space. But that does not prevent advocates of the de Broglie–Bohm “pilot wave” interpretation of quantum mechanics from taking the wavefunction of N particles to be a real field in 3 N -dimensional configuration space. They give that high-dimensional configuration space just as much physical reality as the rest of us ascribe to ordinary three-dimensional space. The reality of the wavefunction is manifest in its ability to control the motion of (real) particles, just as a classical electromagnetic field is able to control the motion of classical charged particles.
Catholic Women, International Engagement and the Battle for Suffrage in Interwar France: the case of the Action Sociale de la Femme and the Union Nationale pour le Vote des Femmes

ABSTRACTThis article explores the feminist activism of two French Catholic women's organisations, the Action Sociale de la Femme (ASF) and the Union Nationale pour le vote des Femmes (UNVF), in the aftermath of the First World War. It reveals the interconnectedness of French Catholic women's national and international work by examining their demands for political rights, their promotion of higher education for women and their campaign for women's equal access to jobs. In the post-World War I years, Catholic women leaders from the ASF and the UNVF argued that women needed rights, not male protection, and that women were uniquely qualified to lead France into a more powerful, peaceful future. As a result, the ASF and UNVF offered Catholic women serious encouragement for choices other than motherhood that few other sources provided in the interwar years.
Genotype-by-genotype interactions between an insect and its pathogen

Genotype-by-genotype (G×G) interactions are an essential requirement for the coevolution of hosts and parasites, but have only been documented in a small number of animal model systems. G×G effects arise from interactions between host and pathogen genotypes, such that some pathogen strains are more infectious in certain hosts and some hosts are more susceptible to certain pathogen strains. We tested for G×G interactions in the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) and its baculovirus. We infected 21 full-sib families of gypsy moths with each of 16 isolates of baculovirus and measured the between-isolate correlations of infection rate across host families for all pairwise combinations of isolates. Mean infectiousness varied among isolates and disease susceptibility varied among host families. Between-isolate correlations of infection rate were generally less than one, indicating nonadditive effects of host and pathogen type consistent with G×G interactions. Our results support the presence of G×G effects in the gypsy moth-baculovirus interaction and provide empirical evidence that correlations in infection rates between field-collected isolates are consistent with values that mathematical models have previously shown to increase the likelihood of pathogen polymorphism.
Foreign Investment in the Real Property Transaction Act

This chapter provides outlines Foreign Investment in the Real Property Act (FIRPTA) rules, which authorize the United States to tax foreign persons on dispositions of US real property interests. This includes but is not limited to a sale or exchange, liquidation, redemption, gift and transfers. Persons purchasing US real property interests (transferees) from foreign persons, certain purchasers’ agents, and settlement officers are required to withhold 10 % of the amount realized on the disposition (special rules for foreign corporations). The debate surrounding several proposals to repeal FIRPTA are also covered.
Context aware group nearest shrunken centroids in large-scale genomic studies

Abstract Recent genomic studies have identified genes related to specific phenotypes. In addition to marginal association analysis for individual genes, analyzing gene pathways (functionally related sets of genes) may yield additional valuable insights. We have devised an approach to phenotype classification from gene expression profiling. Our method named “group Nearest Shrunken Centroids (gNSC)” is an enhancement of the Nearest Shrunken Centroids (NSC) (Tibshirani, Hastie, Narasimhan and Chu 2002) which is a popular and scalable method to analyze big data. While fully utilizing the variable structure of gene pathways, gNSC shares comparable computational speed as NSC if the group size is small. Comparing with NSC, gNSC improves the power of classification by utilizing the gene pathway information. In practice, we investigate the performance of gNSC on one of the largest microarray datasets aggregated from the internet. We show the e↵ectiveness of our method by comparing the misclassification rate of gNSC with that of NSC. Additionally, we present a novel application of NSC/gNSC on context analysis of association between pathways and certain medical words. Some newest biological findings are rediscovered.
Single-Camera Trap Survey Designs Miss Detections: Impacts on Estimates of Occupancy and Community Metrics.

The use of camera traps as a tool for studying wildlife populations is commonplace. However, few have considered how the number of detections of wildlife differ depending upon the number of camera traps placed at cameras-sites, and how this impacts estimates of occupancy and community composition. During December 2015-February 2016, we deployed four camera traps per camera-site, separated into treatment groups of one, two, and four camera traps, in southern Illinois to compare whether estimates of wildlife community metrics and occupancy probabilities differed among survey methods. The overall number of species detected per camera-site was greatest with the four-camera survey method (P<0.0184). The four-camera survey method detected 1.25 additional species per camera-site than the one-camera survey method, and was the only survey method to completely detect the ground-dwelling silvicolous community. The four-camera survey method recorded individual species at 3.57 additional camera-sites (P = 0.003) and nearly doubled the number of camera-sites where white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were detected compared to one- and two-camera survey methods. We also compared occupancy rates estimated by survey methods; as the number of cameras deployed per camera-site increased, occupancy estimates were closer to naive estimates, detection probabilities increased, and standard errors of detection probabilities decreased. Additionally, each survey method resulted in differing top-ranked, species-specific occupancy models when habitat covariates were included. Underestimates of occurrence and misrepresented community metrics can have significant impacts on species of conservation concern, particularly in areas where habitat manipulation is likely. Having multiple camera traps per site revealed significant shortcomings with the common one-camera trap survey method. While we realize survey design is often constrained logistically, we suggest increasing effort to at least two camera traps facing opposite directions per camera-site in habitat association studies, and to utilize camera-trap arrays when restricted by equipment availability.
Multifold Electrical Conductance Enhancements at Metal–Bismuth Telluride Interfaces Modified Using an Organosilane Monolayer

Controlling electrical transport across metal-thermoelectric interfaces is key to realizing high efficiency devices for solid state refrigeration and waste-heat harvesting. We obtain up to 17-fold increases in electrical contact conductivity Σc by inserting a mercaptan-terminated organosilane monolayer at Cu–Bi2Te3 and Ni–Bi2Te3 interfaces, yielding similar Σc for both metals by offsetting an otherwise 7-fold difference. The Σc improvements are underpinned by silane-moiety-induced inhibition of Cu diffusion, promotion of high-conductivity interfacial nickel telluride formation, and mercaptan-induced reduction of Bi2Te3 surface oxides. Our findings should enable incorporating nanomolecular layers with appropriately chosen terminal moieties in thermoelectric device metallization schemes without metal diffusion barriers.
JOINT MOBILIZATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PERSISTENT INSERTIONAL ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY: A CASE REPORT.

Background & purpose Insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) can be a challenging condition to manage conservatively. Eccentric exercise is commonly used in the management of chronic tendinopathy; however, it may not be as helpful for insertional tendon problems as compared to mid-portion dysfunction. While current evidence describing the physical therapy management of IAT is developing, gaps still exist in descriptions of best practice. The purpose of this case report is to describe the management of a patient with persistent IAT utilizing impairment-based joint mobilization, self-mobilization, and exercise. Case description A 51-year-old male was seen in physical therapy for complaints of posterior heel pain and reduced running capacity. He was seen by multiple physical therapists previously, but reported continued impairment, and functional restriction. Joint-based non-thrust mobilization and self-mobilization exercise were performed to enhance his ability to run and reduce symptoms. Outcomes The subject was seen for four visits over the course of two months. He made clinically significant improvements on the Foot and Ankle Activity Measure and Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles tendon outcomes, was asymptomatic, and participated in numerous marathons. Improvements were maintained at one-year follow-up. Discussion Mobility deficits can contribute to the development of tendinopathy, and without addressing movement restrictions, symptoms and functional decline related to tendinopathy may persist. Joint-directed manual therapy may be a beneficial intervention in a comprehensive plan of care in allowing patients with chronic tendon changes to optimize function. Level of evidence Therapy, Level 4.
Regulation of acetyl-CoA synthetase transcription by the CrbS/R two-component system is conserved in genetically diverse environmental pathogens

The CrbS/R two-component signal transduction system is a conserved regulatory mechanism through which specific Gram-negative bacteria control acetate flux into primary metabolic pathways. CrbS/R governs expression of acetyl-CoA synthase (acsA), an enzyme that converts acetate to acetyl-CoA, a metabolite at the nexus of the cell's most important energy-harvesting and biosynthetic reactions. During infection, bacteria can utilize this system to hijack host acetate metabolism and alter the course of colonization and pathogenesis. In toxigenic strains of Vibrio cholerae, CrbS/R-dependent expression of acsA is required for virulence in an arthropod model. Here, we investigate the function of the CrbS/R system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas entomophila, and non-toxigenic V. cholerae strains. We demonstrate that its role in acetate metabolism is conserved; this system regulates expression of the acsA gene and is required for growth on acetate as a sole carbon source. As a first step towards describing the mechanism of signaling through this pathway, we identify residues and domains that may be critical for phosphotransfer. We further demonstrate that although CrbS, the putative hybrid sensor kinase, carries both a histidine kinase domain and a receiver domain, the latter is not required for acsA transcription. In order to determine whether our findings are relevant to pathogenesis, we tested our strains in a Drosophila model of oral infection previously employed for the study of acetate-dependent virulence by V. cholerae. We show that non-toxigenic V. cholerae strains lacking CrbS or CrbR are significantly less virulent than are wild-type strains, while P. aeruginosa and P. entomophila lacking CrbS or CrbR are fully pathogenic. Together, the data suggest that the CrbS/R system plays a central role in acetate metabolism in V. cholerae, P. aeruginosa, and P. entomophila. However, each microbe's unique environmental adaptations and pathogenesis strategies may dictate conditions under which CrbS/R-mediated acs expression is most critical.
Chemical Transport Knockout for Oxidized Vitamin C, Dehydroascorbic Acid, Reveals Its Functions in vivo

Despite its transport by glucose transporters (GLUTs) in vitro, it is unknown whether dehydroascorbic acid (oxidized vitamin C, DHA) has any in vivo function. To investigate, we created a chemical transport knockout model using the vitamin C analog 6-bromo-ascorbate. This analog is transported on sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters but its oxidized form, 6-bromo-dehydroascorbic acid, is not transported by GLUTs. Mice (gulo-/-) unable to synthesize ascorbate (vitamin C) were raised on 6-bromo-ascorbate. Despite normal survival, centrifugation of blood produced hemolysis secondary to near absence of red blood cell (RBC) ascorbate/6-bromo-ascorbate. Key findings with clinical implications were that RBCs in vitro transported dehydroascorbic acid but not bromo-dehydroascorbic acid; RBC ascorbate in vivo was obtained only via DHA transport; ascorbate via DHA transport in vivo was necessary for RBC structural integrity; and internal RBC ascorbate was essential to maintain ascorbate plasma concentrations in vitro/in vivo.
Effects of Familiarization on Intelligibility of Dysarthric Speech in Older Adults With and Without Hearing Loss

Purpose Familiarization tasks offer a promising platform for listener-targeted remediation of intelligibility disorders associated with dysarthria. To date, the body of work demonstrating improved ...
Gendered styles of student-faculty interaction among college students.

Abstract Scholars have examined gender differences in many areas of college life, but we know little about how men and women may interact differently with faculty—an activity with strong links to student outcomes. Using data from the National Survey of Student Engagement, I investigate whether men and women demonstrate different styles of interaction with faculty. I find that women are more likely than men to engage frequently in instrumental interactions, such as emailing and discussing course logistics with faculty. In contrast, men are more likely than women to have frequent higher order interactions, such as discussing ideas and participating in research. These findings introduce a new typology of student-faculty interaction and contribute to our understanding of gendered pathways through higher education.
Inhibition of NF-κB Signaling as a Strategy in Disease Therapy

As described extensively in this issue, NF-κB transcription factors regulate a number of important physiological processes, including inflammation and immune responses, cell growth and survival, and the expression of certain viral genes. Moreover, NF-κB activity is elevated in and contributes to the pathology of several human diseases, including many cancers and chronic inflammatory diseases. Therefore, there has been great interest in the characterization and development of methods to limit NF-κB signaling for pharmacological intervention. This article describes some of the approaches that have been employed to inhibit NF-κB using in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Moreover, some examples of the clinical use of NF-κB inhibitors are discussed, primarily for the treatment of two B-cell malignancies, multiple myeloma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Finally, the rationale and strategies for inhibiting specific NF-κB subunit activity for disease therapy are discussed.