cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protective Immunity against Experimental Pulmonary Cryptococcosis in T Cell-Depleted Mice

Individuals with defects in T cell-mediated immunity (CMI) are highly susceptible to infection with Cryptococcus neoformans. The purpose of these studies was to determine if protection against experimental pulmonary cryptococcosis can be generated in T cell-deficient hosts. BALB/c mice were depleted of CD4⁺and/or CD8⁺ T cells or given an isotype control antibody prior to vaccination with a C. neoformans strain, designated H99γ, previously shown to induce protection against C. neoformans infection in immunocompetent mice. Mice depleted of CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells, but not both subsets, survived an acute pulmonary infection with C. neoformans strain H99γ and a subsequent second challenge with wild-type C. neoformans strain H99. We observed a significant increase in the percentage of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells expressing the activation marker CD69 in the lungs of mice immunized with C. neoformans strain H99γ prior to a secondary challenge with wild-type cryptococci. CD4⁺ T cells within the lungs of immunized mice also appeared to acquire a predominantly activated effector memory cell phenotype (CD69⁺ CD44⁺ CCR7⁻ CD45RB⁻ CD62L⁻) following a second pulmonary challenge with wild-type C. neoformans, compared to CD4⁺ T cells from naive mice. Lastly, immunization of immunocompetent mice with C. neoformans strain H99γ prior to depletion of CD4⁺ and/or CD8⁺ T cells resulted in significant protection against a second challenge with wild-type C. neoformans. Our studies demonstrate that protective immunity against pulmonary cryptococcosis can be generated in immunosuppressed hosts, thus supporting the development of cryptococcal vaccines.
Passive peritoneal drainage improves fluid balance after surgery for congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: In some centers, passive peritoneal drainage (PD) is implemented following surgery for congenital heart disease. The utility of this practice has yet to be studied. We hypothesized that passive PD can promote negative fluid balance without compromising intravascular volume. METHODS: A retrospective review of infants who underwent repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) between 6/2006 and 8/2010 was completed. Data are represented as mean ± standard deviation. RESULTS: Thirty-six infants underwent AVSD repair, 18 of whom had PD catheters placed without complication. Infants with passive PD had longer duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (211 ± 59 vs 137 ± 41 min, P < 0.001) and aortic cross-clamp (148 ± 29 vs 102 ± 21 min, P < 0.001); had higher Aristotle complexity score (12.6 ± 3 vs 10.7 ± 2, P = 0.03) and ventilatory support immediately after surgery (ventilation index score 19.5 ± 6.5 vs 14.3 ± 2.5, P = 0.004); and received greater fluid administration (225 ± 6 3 vs 168 ± 45 ml kg −1 , P = 0.002) in the first 48 postoperative hours. Despite these differences, infants with passive PD achieved negative fluid balance more rapidly (12 ± 10 vs 27.3 ± 13 h, P < 0.0001) and to a greater extent (-73 + 55 vs +2.6 + 39 mL kg -1 at 48 h, P = 0.002). Moreover, postoperative hemodynamics, urine output, creatinine clearance, blood urea nitrogen, peak lactate, and duration of mechanical ventilation were similar between groups.
A Dramatic Story of Hope and Reality

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation seemed to be so promising for patients with metastatic breast cancer. Advanced breast cancer was a devastating disease with limited treatment options. Though responses were frequent, long-term remissions were generally uncommon, and median survival was perceived to be short. Conventional-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy were inadequate and surgery of limited practicality. Attemptstoimproveoutcomefocusedonthegrowingbodyof evidence at that time that increased dose intensity could overcome inherent tumor resistance, particularly with alkylating agents. A strong relationship of dose to response was demonstrated both in vitro and in early clinical trials in various solid tumors, but, ultimately, dose escalation was limited by bone marrow destruction and the resultant increased likelihood of infection and bleeding. The 1980s saw the development and accessibility of the necessary technology of hematopoietic stem-cell collection, cryopreservation, and storage. Advances in supportive care for patients with prolonged cytopenia and transient organ dysfunction also allowed for the widespread use of high-dose alkylating agent regimens and autologous stem-cell transplantation. This approach was applied to various chemotherapyresponsive malignancies, particularly leukemia, lymphoma, germ cell cancer, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. Preliminary results showed high response rates, even in patients with relapsed and chemotherapy-resistant breast cancer, with relatively low rates of morbidity and mortality when the dismal prognosis of this group of patients was taken into consideration. A number of prominent cancer centers began to focus on this approach for breast cancer, and a number of moderately sized phase II trials were reported suggesting long-term survival that appeared superior to reported historical data. The degree of evidence for benefit was at least as extensiveasmanypriorestablishedtherapies,andhigh-dosechem
A Novel Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-3 Activator (Alda-89) Protects Submandibular Gland Function from Irradiation without Accelerating Tumor Growth

Purpose: To determine the effect of Alda-89 (an ALDH3 activitor) on (i) the function of irradiated (radiotherapy) submandibular gland (SMG) in mice, (ii) its toxicity profile, and (iii) its effect on the growth of head and neck cancer (HNC) in vitro and in vivo . Experimental Design: Adult mice were infused with Alda-89 or vehicle before, during, and after radiotherapy. Saliva secretion was monitored weekly. Hematology, metabolic profile, and postmortem evaluation for toxicity were examined at the time of sacrifice. Alda-89 or vehicle was applied to HNC cell lines in vitro , and severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice transplanted with HNC in vivo with or without radiation; HNC growth was monitored. The ALDH3A1 and ALDH3A2 protein expression was evaluated in 89 patients with HNC and correlated to freedom from relapse (FFR) and overall survival (OS). Results: Alda-89 infusion significantly resulted in more whole saliva production and a higher percentage of preserved acini after radiotherapy compared with vehicle control. There was no difference in the complete blood count, metabolic profile, and major organ morphology between the Alda-89 and vehicle groups. Compared with vehicle control, Alda-89 treatment neither accelerated HNC cell proliferation in vitro , nor did it affect tumor growth in vivo with or without radiotherapy. Higher expression of ALDH3A1 or ALDH3A2 was not significantly associated with worse FFR or OS in either human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive or HPV-negative group. Conclusion: Alda-89 preserves salivary function after radiotherapy without affecting HNC growth or causing measurable toxicity in mice. It is a promising candidate to mitigate radiotherapy-related xerostomia. Clin Cancer Res; 19(16); 4455–64. ©2013 AACR .
Goldstone Solar System Radar Observatory: Earth-Based Planetary Mission Support and Unique Science Results

The Goldstone Solar System Radar (GSSR) facility is the only fully steerable radar in the world for high-resolution ranging and imaging of planetary and small-body targets. These observations provide information on surface characteristics, orbits, rotations, and polar ices for a wide variety of solar system objects. The resulting data are used not just for scientific studies of these objects, but also for frequent support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) flight projects, including many solar system exploration missions over the last three decades. For example, the GSSR has contributed to the Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs), Cassini, Hayabusa (MUSES-C), MESSENGER, NEAR, SOHO recovery, Mars Pathfinder, Lunar Prospector, Clementine, Magellan, and Viking. Other recent examples include measurement of lunar topography at high resolution near the lunar south pole, which is of particular interest concerning the impact site of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission, and the characterization and orbit refinement of near-Earth asteroids, both for asteroid impact hazard mitigation and for identification of potential targets for future spacecraft missions. We also present important radar scientific results including near-Earth object (NEO) radar imaging of especially interesting objects, and the results from high accuracy determination of Mercury rotation via radar speckle displacement (RSD).
Trends in International Internet Defamation Suits Targeting a Solution

Emerging trends in international Internet defamation suits from the US, Canada, Australia and the UK, and international efforts in the European Union, American Law Institute, International Bar Association and the Hague Convention to harmonize the laws in international Internet defamation are evaluated to see emerging areas of commonality that might be useful in harmonizing the laws in the phenomenon of global Internet defamation liability. This study proposes the utilization of existing commonalities in laws, as well as emerging standards from the efforts to harmonize laws by the EU and current international judicial dispositions, as parameters for an international agreement on Internet torts.
CP violation, Higgs couplings, and supersymmetry

Supersymmetric extensions of the standard model generically contain additional sources of $\mathrm{CP}$ violation. We discuss how at one loop a potentially large $\mathrm{CP}$ violating coupling of the lightest Higgs boson ${h}^{0}$ to leptons is induced in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). The $\mathrm{CP}$ violating couplings of ${h}^{0}$ in extensions of the MSSM, such as the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model (NMSSM) are also considered. We indicate how this $\mathrm{CP}$ violation might be observed; in particular a polarization-dependent production asymmetry, in the context of a muon collider, provides a means to access this coupling cleanly. In the MSSM, existing limits on the electric dipole moment of the electron, coupled with standard universality assumptions, severely constrains any such signal. Nevertheless, extensions of the MSSM, such as the NMSSM, allow $\mathrm{CP}$-violating signals as large as 100%.
Reconstructing Contaminant Deposition in a San Francisco Bay Marina, California.

Two sediment cores were collected from a marina in the San Francisco Bay to characterize historical sediment contamination resulting from the direct discharge of industrial wastewater from Naval Air Station Alameda. Depth profiles of trace metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and radionuclides were determined with a 12-cm spacing down to a depth of 120 cm. The chronology of sediment accumulation is established by depth profiles of sedimentary time markers in conjunction with information on site history. The traditional approach of determining sediment accumulation rates by measuring atmospheric 210 Pb deposition was obscured by a larger source of 210 Pb in the sediments from the decay of anthropogenic 226 Ra, likely from luminescent paints used at this facility and released to the marina. The sedimentation rates inferred from the data indicate that the greatest amount of contamination by trace metals and petroleum hydrocarbons took place between 1940 and 1960. In addition, anthropogenic 226 Ra activities are positively correlated with some of the contaminants in the sediments, allowing the wastewater discharged from the facility to be distinguished from baywide contamination. In locations such as this, where there is a complex history of contaminant deposition, a source-specific tracer may be the only feasible method of attributing historical contamination to a point source.
Approaches to landcare—a century of soil conservation in Iceland

Organized soil conservation in Iceland began in 1907, as a response to severe land degradation and desertification that was threatening the existence of several communities. During the first 75 years, many of the most threatening areas of accelerated soil erosion were fenced and seeded with sand stabilizers. These projects had a high success rate, halting the advancement of sand dunes and other forms of highly accelerated erosion. However, they were limited in scope, and often concentrated on the symptoms of the problems rather than the underlying causes, such as improper grazing management. On a national scale, not enough was being achieved in mitigating the extensive ecosystem degradation. This period of soil conservation in Iceland was characterized by single-issue, top-down approaches, a lack of appropriate incentives for soil conservation and weak laws for protection of the rangelands. During the last two decades there has been a gradual shift to more participatory strategies, community involvement, and ecosystem management for multiple benefits. These changes have greatly increased community involvement in projects, stimulated conservation awareness and improved land use. The ties between agricultural policy and soil-conservation issues are also being strengthened, especially by linking part of governmental subsidies for sheep production to land-use factors. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complexing Properties of Diphonix, a New Chelating Resin with Diphosphonate Ligands, Toward Ga(III) and In(III)

Abstract The complexing properties of Diphonix, a new chelating ion-exchange resin, toward indium and gallium cations was investigated. Variables included bead size, contact time, solution pH, and the presence of competing cations. The resin, which contains diphosphonic acid ligands, displayed rapid rates of complexation and high selectivity under acidic conditions. Metal uptake from 1 M sulfuric acid solution under continuous flow conditions was 0.47 mmol/g (33.0 mg/g) for gallium and 0.76 mmol/g (87.8 mg/g) for indium. The resin may be regenerated by elution with 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid or hydrochloric acid.
A Converse Lyapunov Theorem for a Class of Dynamical Systems which Undergo Switching

The authors investigate the stability of a system in which the dynamics at any instant in time will follow one of a fixed set of vector fields. They allow switching between members of the family of vector fields to be completely random. The focus of this paper is to prove a converse Lyapunov theorem for this class of systems.
Phil Zimbardo Remembers Neal Miller

Abstract Philip Zimbardo reports on his experiences with Neal Miller during Zimbardo's graduate student years at Yale. He describes Miller's classroom teaching, his role as mentor for his students' research, and his dedication to the research process. He reports that even a dinner conversation with Miller could generate a new experimental paradigm.
Reversible Disruption of mSWI/SNF (BAF) Complexes by the SS18-SSX Oncogenic Fusion in Synovial Sarcoma

Recent exon sequencing studies have revealed that over 20% of human tumors have mutations in subunits of mSWI/SNF (BAF) complexes. To investigate the underlying mechanism, we studied human synovial sarcoma (SS), in which transformation results from the translocation of exactly 78 amino acids of SSX to the SS18 subunit of BAF complexes. We demonstrate that the SS18-SSX fusion protein competes for assembly with wild-type SS18, forming an altered complex lacking the tumor suppressor BAF47 (hSNF5). The altered complex binds the Sox2 locus and reverses polycomb-mediated repression, resulting in Sox2 activation. Sox2 is uniformly expressed in SS tumors and is essential for proliferation. Increasing the concentration of wild-type SS18 leads to reassembly of wild-type complexes retargeted away from the Sox2 locus, polycomb-mediated repression of Sox2, and cessation of proliferation. This mechanism of transformation depends on only two amino acids of SSX, providing a potential foundation for therapeutic intervention.
Sustaining active-living communities over the decades: lessons from a 1930s Greenbelt town.

Greendale, Wisconsin, was intentionally created with many of the design and planning principles that active-living advocates promote today. This case study examines the processes behind sustaining these particular planning and design prin- ciples over time in light of economic and regional challenges that have faced not just Greendale but most town centers over the last fifty years. Despite these chal - lenges, the walkable nature of Greendale's center remains strong today, in terms of both activity and community identity. While many circumstances are specific to this particular town, useful lessons can be drawn for those new urbanist (NU) communi- ties being developed in greenfields and suburbs today, many of which are strikingly similar to Greendale — relatively small, low density, and located within metropolitan areas. Greendale's success resulted from (1) attending to the retail/commercial prod- uct mix; (2) attracting nonresidents to use the community's retail and public space; and (3) capitalizing on community investment not simply from residents' organizing efforts but, more important in this case, from corporate community involvement by a Greendale business firm whose interests and values coincided with those of the community.
Dna2 nuclease-helicase structure, mechanism and regulation by Rpa

DNA carries the genetic information that is essential for organisms to survive and reproduce. It is made of two strands that twist together to form a double helix. However, these strands can be damaged when the DNA is copied before a cell divides, or by exposure to radiation or hazardous chemicals. To prevent this damage from causing serious harm to an organism, cells activate processes that rapidly repair the damaged DNA. “Homologous recombination” is one way in which cells can repair damage that has caused both strands of the DNA to break in a particular place. In the first step, several enzymes trim one of the two DNA strands at each broken end to leave single stranded “tails”. Dna2 is one enzyme that is involved in making these tails, but it can only bind to single-stranded DNA so it only acts after another enzyme has made some initial cuts. The exposed single stranded DNA then searches for an intact copy of itself elsewhere in the genome, which promotes its repair. It is important that only one of the two DNA strands is trimmed at each end otherwise the repair will fail. A protein called Rpa is bound to the DNA and is required for Dna2 to correctly trim the DNA. However, it is not clear exactly how Rpa2 regulates Dna2. Zhou et al. used a technique called X-ray crystallography to analyze the three-dimensional structures of Dna2 when it is bound to single stranded DNA and when it is bound to Rpa. The experiments show that Dna2 adopts a cylindrical shape with a tunnel through which the single-stranded DNA passes through. The region of Dna2 that is capable of trimming DNA – which is called the nuclease domain – is embedded within the tunnel. The entrance to the tunnel is too narrow to allow double-stranded DNA to enter, so this explains why Dna2 can only act on double-stranded DNA that already has a small single-stranded section at the end. Inside the tunnel, Dna2 displaces Rpa from one of the strands, which allows Dna2 to trim the DNA. However, other molecules of Rpa remain firmly bound to the other strand to protect it from Dna2. These enzymes also act in a similar way to trim DNA before it is copied in preparation for cell division. Zhou et al.’s findings provide an explanation for how Rpa determines which strand of DNA is trimmed by Dna2. Further work is needed to understand how Dna2 and Rpa work with other enzymes to trim DNA.
Labor Market Risk Premia

This paper views an employee as an asset to the employer. I calculate the labor market return of the United States under minimal search model restrictions. I apply financial economics methods to understand the labor market return. Contrary to the common belief in the search literature, I find that almost all of the job value fluctuation comes from changes of expectations of future risk premium and not from future cash-flow or future employee retention rate. Bond market return predictors provide additional information for the labor market while stock market predictors do not. Then, I build a search-and-matching model with endogenous time-varying risk premium and show that the model does a good job at matching key moments and fluctuations in labor market data.
Laparoscopic Burch colposuspension and overlapping sphincteroplasty for double incontinence.

OBJECTIVES 1. To assess the effectiveness of laparoscopic Burch and overlapping sphincteroplasty in treating urinary and fecal incontinence. 2. To determine the importance of unilateral pudendal neuropathy in fecal incontinence. METHOD Forty-six women with proven genuine stress incontinence and anal sphincter tears were treated with a laparoscopic Burch colposuspension. Patients with detrusor instability, intrinsic sphincter dysfunction, idiopathic fecal incontinence, and prior anal surgery were excluded. Objective postoperative testing for urinary continence included a cough stress test and bladder neck ultrasound, with repeat urodynamic studies if either test was positive. Fecal incontinence was graded with a clinical scoring index. The anal evaluation included sonography, sigmoidoscopy, manometry, and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group I (n = 34) had no neuropathy, and Group II (n = 12) had unilateral neuropathy. RESULTS At 1-year follow-up, 40 patients (89%) were objectively dry, but 3 (7%) had recurrent genuine stress incontinence, and 2 (4%) had detrusor instability. Fecal incontinence cure rate was 82% in Group I and 58% in Group II. Group I had greater improvement in anal physiology studies than did Group II. Sphincter breakdown was the most common cause of recurrent fecal incontinence in Group I, but 4 of 5 patients with persistent incontinence in Group II had intact sphincters. DISCUSSION Burch colposuspension is effective in treating genuine stress incontinence. Anal sphincteroplasty is effective in treating fecal incontinence due to obstetrical tears in the absence of pudendal neuropathy. Even unilateral neuropathy can significantly impair surgical outcomes.
Numerical anamorphosis: an artistic exploration

Anamorphoses have been know for centuries, as distorted images needing to be seen in a mirror from a special point of view in order to see the non-distorted image. During Renaissance, they have been associated to mathematical techniques for drawing such pictures efficiently, on specific mirror shapes (in the case of cylindrical or conical mirrors). We can expect in the next years a strong interest in such type of images, because of the emergence of various contexts and physical supports for image visualization (soft or deformable screens, lightmapping, projection of images on dynamic objects, etc...). Solving the numerical problem of anamorphosis in the general case belongs to the same class of problems as when the trend is to control image deformation as long as image is seen projected on, or reflected by, a non-planar surface, which can be of arbitrary shape. In this work, we show how raycasting technique, well-known in the computer graphics community, can be used to provide an efficient general framework for such rendering.We describe an effective procedure for building general anamorphoses. A generalization of the method leads to the conception of three-dimensional anamorphic sculptures, usable for 3D printing anamorphic objects. We exhibit, through several artworks, tangible and virtual examples.
Light is Loud A Sound Driven LED Suit

We approach performance as fundamentally a hybrid situ- ation: that performer and technology are united in a post- phenomenological embrace. Light is Loud takes this as a starting point: the form of the performer is subsumed into an array of lights that takes the temporal shape of a self- referential text. The loss of the human form in the piece be- comes a critical statement on the ambiguity of hybridity. In a completely darkened space, a figure with some strips of LEDs speaks a short poem overtly on the nature of “loud”. While the title of the piece, Light is Loud , suggests “daz- zling”, the effect is a meditation on the nature of quiet.
Composition of renal lymph and its significance.

Various concepts of the function of renal lymph have been evolved, based largely on indirect evidence(1). The present report deals chiefly with electrolyte concentrations in renal lymph, preliminary data from a study designed to obtain more direct and definitive evidence of its function.Procedure. Healthy mongrel dogs of both sexes were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (25 mg/kg). A polyethylene catheter was inserted into jugular vein via 15 gauge needle and utilized for plasma sampling and administration of fluids and drugs. The thoracic duct was cannulated and thoracic duct lymph collected in most experiments. Both ureters were catheterized at their junction with the bladder and urine collected separately from each kidney. Femoral arterial pressure was recorded with a mercury manometer. A left flank incision was employed to expose the kidney. The fat at both poles was usually ligated to engorge the capsular lymphatics and permit their cannulation with #50 polyethylene tubing. Renal lymph was colle...
The brainstem and traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is commonly associated with impaired arousal immediately after injury. Individuals with chronic TBI also experience daytime sleepiness. Studies in rodents have revealed that the orexin system is acutely disrupted after TBI with both a decrease in orexin concentration and
No Sparks Fly: Policy Participants Agree on Thinning Trees in the Lake Tahoe Basin

This article reports an analysis of mail-in questionnaires of policy participants in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The results show all stakeholder affiliations are concerned about the severity of fire risk relative to other important issue areas in the Basin, support thinning trees to reduce fire risk, and are skeptical that thinning trees will have adverse effects on scenic resources in the Basin. Support for thinning tress is strong among stakeholders with pro-development beliefs and with advanced degrees but is minimally influenced by owning property in the Basin.
An Exploration of the Use of Chronometric Methodology in Mapping Automatically Activated Cognitive Associations

Chronometric techniques have been widely used by psychologists to explore cognitive structures, parallel and serial information processing, attention capacity, information retrieval processes, and learning. Marketing applications of the technique have centered upon investigations into consumer information storage patterns, strength of consumer preferences and certainty of subject responses in surveys. This paper is an exploratory investigation of the use of Chronometric measures in consumer research to map automatically activated pathways of cognitive association which are likely to be activated under conditions of low involvement. Guidelines for researchers interested in this use of Chronometrie analysis are presented.
The Association Between Insurance and Transfer of Noninjured Children From Emergency Departments.

Study objective Among children requiring hospital admission or transfer, we seek to determine whether insurance is associated with the decision to either admit locally or transfer to another hospital. Methods This cross-sectional study used Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project 2012 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. Pediatric patients receiving care in emergency departments (EDs) who were either admitted or transferred were included. Clinical Classifications Software was used to categorize patients into noninjury diagnostic cohorts. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for potential confounders, including severity of illness and comorbidities, and incorporating nationally representative weights were used to determine the association between insurance and the odds of transfer relative to admission. Results A total of 240,620 noninjury pediatric ED events met inclusion criteria. Patient and hospital characteristics, including older age and nonteaching hospitals, were associated with greater odds of transfer relative to admission. Patients who were uninsured or had self-pay had higher odds of transfer (odds ratio [OR] 3.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.08 to 7.09) relative to admission compared with those with private insurance. Uninsured and self-pay patients also had higher odds of transfer across all 13 diagnostic categories, with ORs ranging from 2.96 to 12.00. Patients with Medicaid (OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.90 to 1.22) and other insurances (OR 1.14; 95% CI 0.87 to 1.48) had similar odds of transfer compared with patients with private insurance. Conclusion Children without insurance and those considered as having self-pay are more likely to be transferred to another hospital than to be admitted for inpatient care within the same receiving hospital compared with children with private insurance. This study reinforces ongoing concerns about disparities in the provision of pediatric ED and inpatient care.
The dialectic of Hebb and homeostasis.

It has become widely accepted that homeostatic and Hebbian plasticity mechanisms work hand in glove to refine neural circuit function. Nonetheless, our understanding of how these fundamentally dist...
Comparative Politics: Taking Stock and Looking Forward

This paper offers meta-reflections on the field of comparative politics, that is, the study of politics around the world through the comparison of different countries. It presents and elaborates a general framework for assessing social scientific knowledge that identifies four main products of research: concepts and conceptual systems, theories and theoretical systems, descriptions, and explanations. It applies this framework to the field of comparative politics and, with regard to each of these four research products, it identifies baseline practices and knowledge, the strengths and weaknesses of research practices and results, and outlines key challenges and opportunities. The importance of articulating ideas drawn from different perspectives, as well as the different aspects of the research process, is highlighted.
Breaking $$1 - 1/e$$ Barrier for Non-preemptive Throughput Maximization

In this paper we consider one of the most basic scheduling problems where jobs have their respective arrival times and deadlines. The goal is to schedule as many jobs as possible non-preemptively by their respective deadlines on m identical parallel machines. For the last decade, the best approximation ratio known for the single machine case (\(m = 1\)) has been \(1-1/e - \epsilon \approx 0.632\) due to [Chuzhoy-Ostrovsky-Rabani, FOCS 2001 and MOR 2006]. We break this barrier and give an improved 0.644-approximation. For the multiple machine case, we give an algorithm whose approximation guarantee becomes arbitrarily close to 1 as the number of machines increases. This improves upon the previous best \(1 - 1/(1 + 1/m)^m\) approximation due to [Bar-Noy et al., STOC 1999 and SICOMP 2009], which converges to \(1-1/e\) as m goes to infinity. Our result for the multiple-machine case extends to the weighted throughput objective where jobs have different weights, and the goal is to schedule jobs with the maximum total weight. Our results show that the \(1 - 1/e\) approximation factor widely observed in various coverage problems is not tight for the non-preemptive maximum throughput scheduling problem.
Optimal achievable rate trade-off in cooperative cognitive radio systems

A relay-aided cooperative underlay cognitive radio system with random number of secondary users (SU), and an interference constraint at the primary receiver (PR) is considered. When the primary (PU) is active, those SUs whose interference at the PR is above a threshold will amplify-and-forward PU's signal to enhance the PU's performance, and those SUs below this threshold will proceed with their own transmission in an underlay fashion. As the mean number of relay SUs increases, the PU's performance is improved but causes degradation of SU system performance. We study the optimal trade-off between the achievable rate of the SU and PU systems in the large mean number of SUs regime. This is then followed by a derivation of the optimal ratio between the mean number of relays and underlay SUs. Monte-Carlo simulations are used to verify our analytical results.
How Does More Frequent Reporting Reduce Information Asymmetry

In countries around the world, policymakers debate whether companies should report semiannually or quarterly. This study contributes to that debate by examining the mechanism behind the drop in information asymmetry that accompanies a switch to quarterly reporting. Using U.S. data, I show that Amihud (2002) illiquidity, a common information asymmetry proxy, grows by 10.7% over the intervening period between two quarterly earnings announcements. This growth occurs gradually throughout the entire period. A semiannual reporter that switches to quarterly reporting will cut this growth time in half by cutting each semiannual reporting period into two quarterly reporting periods. As a result, it will reduce information asymmetry in what would have been the second half of the semiannual reporting period. I confirm this in international settings, where I find that switching from semiannual to quarterly reporting reduces Amihud (2002) illiquidity by up to 5% in the second half of each semiannual period.
Demographic and temporal variations in immunity and condition of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the southern Beaufort Sea

Assessing the health and condition of animals in their natural environment can be problematic. Many physiological metrics, including immunity, are highly influenced by specific context and recent events to which researchers may be unaware. Thus, using a multifaceted physiological approach and a context-specific analysis encompassing multiple time scales can be highly informative. Ecoimmunological tools in particular can provide important indications to the health of animals in the wild. We collected blood and hair samples from free-ranging polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea and examined the influence of sex, age, and reproductive status on metrics of immunity, stress, and body condition during 2013-2015. We examined metrics of innate immunity (bactericidal ability and lysis) and stress (hair cortisol, reactive oxygen species, and oxidative barrier), in relation to indices of body condition considered to be short term (urea to creatinine ratio; UC ratio) and long term (storage energy and body mass index). We found the factors of sex, age, and reproductive status of the bear were critical for interpreting different physiological metrics. Additionally, the metrics of body condition were important predictors for stress indicators. Finally, many of these metrics differed between years, illustrating the need to examine populations on a longer time scale. Taken together, this study demonstrates the complex relationship between multiple facets of physiology and how interpretation requires us to examine individuals within a specific context.
Second Hand Clothing Acquisition: Demographic and Psychographic Characteristics of theSecond Hand Shopper

Understanding sustainability as it relates to second hand clothing acquisition can play an important role in decreasing the total amount of waste that ends up in the landfill. Americans generated a total of 250 million tons of trash in 2010 and in contrast recycled only 85 million tons of waste. Approximately 13 million tons of textiles were discarded during the same period but only 1.3 million tons were recycled (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). A focus on maximizing clothing usefulness and lengthening life span could significantly decrease the amount of textiles that end up in landfills.
The Russian Empire 1450–1801: Kollmann, Nancy Shields Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press 512 pp., $110.00, ISBN 978-0199280513 Publication Date: March 2017

Professor Kollman's latest book, like her three earlier monographs, is a sure winner. Expertly conceived and written, this tripartite work virtually places the reader inside the classroom of a mast...
Resonant Scattering and Crack Sizing

Theoretical consideration of ultrasonic scattering from interior cracks has received considerable attention in recent years. These studies have led to scattering amplitude computations for ultrasonic backscatter from circular cracks by the method of optimal truncation (MOOT) (1, 2) and by T-matrix techniques (3). A key observation in these results is that a peak in the magnitude of the scattering amplitude is found to occur at approximately ka = 1, where k is the longitudinal wave number and a the crack radius, which is independent of the scattering direction. Up to the present, however, adequate experimental verification of these findings have been impossible due to a lack of suitable laboratory samples.
Nucleoside Triphosphate Phosphohydrolases

The pivotal role of ATP in energy metabolism is manifest in the frequency with which biological energy transducers are represented at the enzyme level as ATPases. Although some endergonic work processes may be coupled directly to electron transport or to electrochemical fluxes, energy transfer through ATP is apparently the most common mode.
Multidrug-resistance conferred by RalBP1/RLIP76

5953 RLIP76 (RALBP1) is a Ral-effector and Rho/Rac GAP protein that functions as a multispecific transporter for cellular metabolites and amphiphilic xenobiotic compounds. Its physiological function appears to be present in a variety of membrane movement functions, most prominently, chemotaxis and clathrin-coated pit mediated receptor endocytosis that regulates activity of extracellular signals including insulin, TGF and EGF. One of its physiological substrates is the glutathione-conjugate such as leukotriene C4, a key determinant of chemotaxis, and another is 4-hydroxynonenal-S-glutathione, the metabolite of a potent apoptosis inducing lipid-peroxidation product. Because it is a very broad specificity transporter, it can utilize many un-metabolized amphiphilic xenobiotics as substrates, which compete for transport with its physiological substrates. In lung cancer cells, RLIP76 has been shown to confer resistance to alkylating agents, (which are metabolized to glutathione-conjugates), as well as un-metabolized xenobiotic toxins including chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin, daunorubicin, vincristine, vinblastine and vinorelbine. In lung cancer cells, inhibition of RLIP76 in the absence of chemotherapy drug induced apoptosis through increased cellular accumulation of 4-hydroxynonenal, whereas its inhibition in the presence of toxic chemotherapy agents synergistically increased cytotoxicity. The role of RLIP76 in multidrug-resistance in other cell types was not known. Present studies in K562 human myelogenous leukemia cell line showed that RLIP76 over-expression in these cells results in resistance to cisplatin, melphalan, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, vincristine, vinblastine, vinorelbine, and mitomycin-C. Conversely, inhibition of RLIP76 by specific antibodies targeted for the cell-surface domains causes increased drug-accumulation along with synergistically increasing cytotoxicity in multiple relatively resistant cell types including melanoma, colon, and prostate cancer. Taken together with our previous studies in lung cancer, these results show that RLIP76 confers multidrug-resistance in epithelial as well as hematological neoplasia, and demonstrate the potential utility of targeting RLIP76 in treatment of other resistant cancers.
Sparse CSB_Coo Matrix-Vector and Matrix-Matrix Performance on Intel Xeon Architectures

The CSB_Coo sparse matrix format is especially useful in situations such as eigenvalue problems where efficient SPMV and transposed SPMV_T operations are required. One strategy to increase the arithmetic intensity of large scale parallel solvers is to use a blocked eigensolver such LOBPCG and to operate on blocks of vectors to achieve greater performance. However, this solution is not always practical as MPI communication may be higher leading to inefficiencies or the increased memory usage of dense vectors may be impractical. Additionally the Lanczos algorithm is well tested in production and may be preferred in some situations. On modern architectures vectorization is key for obtaining good performance. In this paper we show the performance optimization and benefits of vectorization with AVX-512 Conflict Detection (CD) instructions in the case of a standard SPMV operation on a single vector. We also present a modified version of the CSB_Coo format which allows more efficient vector operations. We compare and analyze performance on Haswell, Xeon Phi (KNL and KNM) and Intel Xeon Scalable processors (Skylake).
Molecular logic of mTORC1 signalling as a metabolic rheostat

The protein kinase complex mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) serves as a key conduit between growth signals and the metabolic processes underlying cell growth. The activation state of mTORC1 is controlled by intracellular nutrients and energy, as well as exogenous hormones and growth factors, thereby integrating local and systemic growth signals. Here we discuss the molecular logic of the mTORC1 signalling network and its importance in coupling growth signals to the control of cellular metabolism. After activation, mTORC1 promotes the conversion of available nutrients and energy into the major macromolecular species contributing to cellular mass, including proteins, nucleic acids and lipids, while suppressing the autophagic recycling of these macromolecules back into their nutrient constituents. Given that uncoupling of mTORC1 from its normal regulatory inputs contributes to many diseases-including cancer, genetic tumour syndromes, metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders-understanding the molecular logic of the mTORC1 network and how to modulate it may present therapeutic opportunities for treatment of a broad range of diseases and potentially even for the extension of lifespan.
Colorectal cancer survivors' challenges to returning to work: A qualitative study.

Objective To assess the challenges and needs of colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors in maintaining employment and returning to work (RTW) from the perspectives of both CRC survivors and employers in the United States. Methods Semi-structured interviews with CRC survivors (n = 10) and employers (n = 4) were transcribed, coded and thematically analysed using NVivo 12 software. Results Workplace challenges for survivors included the following: inadequate availability of paid and unpaid leave, limited availability of workplace accommodations, and employers' lack of knowledge about CRC and the recovery process. Survivors were concerned about the lack of adequate financial resources to take unpaid leave and the need to relearn control of bodily functions. Workplace challenges for employers of cancer survivors included the following: limited institutional flexibility to provide individualised accommodations, communication with frontline managers about leave availability for employees and communication with employees about legal protections and limitations. Employers perceived that employees were unwilling to take leave. Conclusion Colorectal cancer survivors in the US face difficult, sometimes insurmountable, challenges when trying to balance their physical and financial needs within the constraints of employment. Employers recognise challenges associated with this concern. Multi-level interventions-ranging from flexible work schedules to training for frontline managers-might facilitate the RTW process.
An exceptional Sage and the need for the Messenger: The politics of fiṭra in a 12th-century tale

This paper argues that Ibn Ṭufayl (d. 1185) in his Ḥayy ibn Yaqẓān offers a surprisingly intellectual reading of the term fiṭra (pl. fiṭar) and one that has significant consequences for our understanding of the story. We will see that at crucial junctures in the text, fiṭra emerges solely in an intellectual context, implying a gulf amongst humanity that defies common understandings of the term as egalitarian. This gulf, I argue, illuminates the political implications of the tale. For while he emphasizes the broad compatibility of the more established, revealed and the philosophical path recently arrived in Andalusia, Ibn Ṭufayl, with the help of fiṭra, shows that the philosophical life is one for the very few. Attention to Ibn Ṭufayl's use of fiṭra might thus explain one of his reasons for writing this tale for the court. Its overall message heightens the role of religion and tempers the political significance of philosophy in two ways: by arguing that only select individuals have the capacity to access truth independently from revelation; and by denying these exceptionally gifted the ability to communicate their findings to the masses.
Decisional regret in left ventricular assist device patient-caregiver dyads.

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to investigate decisional regret among left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients and their caregivers. Methods This study was a single center, cross-sectional survey of patients after LVAD implantation and their caregivers. Subjects were recruited at their outpatient heart failure appointments. Patients and caregivers at least three months from LVAD implantation completed a 5-item, validated decisional regret scale. Summative scores on a 0–100 point scale were determined for patient and caregivers (0 = no regret). Subgroup analysis included gender, LVAD indication (bridge to transplant (BTT) or destination therapy (DT)), time from LVAD implantation, and caregiver relationship. Dyad discordance was defined as a patient-caregiver difference of ≥2 points on any regret scale question. Results Fifty patients were approached for participation. Thirty-three LVAD patient-caregiver dyads were enrolled in the study (19 male, 14 female patients; 8 male, 25 female caregivers). Patients had a mean age of approximately 50 years. Caregivers had a mean age of approximately 54 years. Patients had a median regret score of 10 (Interquartile range (IQR): 0–30), while caregivers had a median regret score of 20 (IQR: 0–25). Median regret scores of female patients were significantly higher than that of male patients (27.5 vs 0, p = 0.0038). BTT patients had numerically lower regret than DT patients, but this was not statistically significant. Patients who had been implanted for greater than three years had the highest regret scores. Discordance in at least one domain of the regret scale was present in 19 out of 33 (57.6%) dyads. Conclusions While decisional regret was reasonably low in this population, comparatively, there was significantly increased decisional regret among female patients and patients further from LVAD implantation. Differences between patients and caregivers were also observed. These findings highlight the need for robust support and continual attention to expectations before and after LVAD implantation.
Enhanced MWIR Led Performance with a Plasmonic Grating

To improve the efficiency of GaSb-based mid-wave infrared LEDs, we investigated the enhanced spontaneous emission by a dipole in a thin slab numerically. A Purcell factor around 5 was achieved by combining a thin waveguide and plasmonic grating.
Fluoroscopic Images of Spinal Procedures and Radiation Safety

Fluoroscopy of the spine is the primary imaging tool of the interventional pain physician. Fluoroscopy safety requires an understanding of cumulative exposure limits and in what ways clinicians can limit exposure to themselves, to those assisting with the procedures, and to the patient. Knowledge of fluoroanatomy is important to safely perform interventional techniques using this technology. This chapter demonstrates basic images that should be understood and be able to obtain on one’s own when performing basic interventional techniques for spine treatment.