cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sonography of the kidney and urinary tract.

Sonography has become integral to the evaluation and management of patients with renal disease. Although many of the procedures discussed in this issue are not feasible for all nephrologists, sonography clearly is. It is convenient and saves time, both for the physician and the patient, and the equipment is not expensive. It is not a difficult skill to learn, as evidenced by the growing number of nephrologists who have learned it, and it greatly enhances the practice of nephrology. Even nephrologists who do not plan to acquire this skill should be familiar with it to understand the indications and limitations, and to participate in its interpretation. Sonography, both the performance and interpretation, is an acquired skill that requires hands-on training, supervision, and practice, and thus cannot be learned solely by reading. Therefore, the goal here is not to teach sonography but rather to provide a basic overview of sonography, discuss its role in nephrology, and present information relevant to incorporating sonography into a nephrology practice.
Rare-event simulation for infinite server queues

We discuss rare-event simulation methodology for computing tail probabilities for infinite-server queues. Our theoretical discussion also offers some new simulation insights into the change-of-measure associated with the Gartner-Ellis theorem of large deviations.
Opioids for palliation of refractory dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Purpose of reviewDyspnea, a distressing symptom, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients is often unrelieved. The purpose of this article is to examine the efficacy of opioids administered orally, in nebulized form and other routes in dyspnea relief. Additionally, factors that inhibit the
Isolation of Conditionally Putrescine-Deficient Mutants of Escherichia coli

Mutants defective in the conversion of arginine to putrescine were found by screening clones from mutagenized cultures for inability to produce urea during growth in arginine-supplemented media. Two partially blocked mutants were isolated; one was deficient in arginine decarboxylase and the other was deficient in agmatine ureohydrolase. As predicted from the pattern of putrescine synthesis in Escherichia coli , these mutants were conditionally putrescine-deficient. When grown in either minimal or ornithine-supplemented media, conditions which lead to preferential utilization of the ornithine to putrescine pathway, the mutants had normal intracellular polyamine levels. However, when the mutants were placed in arginine-supplemented media, the level of intracellular putrescine was lowered markedly. Under conditions where intracellular putrescine was 1% of normal, the doubling time of the mutants was increased approximately 10%. The putrescine-deficient mutants had wild-type morphology, normal levels of protein and ribonucleic acid (RNA), and stringent amino acid control of RNA synthesis.
Analysis of leaf area index and fraction of PAR absorbed by vegetation products from the terra MODIS sensor: 2000-2005

The analysis of two years of Collection 3 and five years of Collection 4 Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) data sets is presented in this article with the goal of understanding product quality with respect to version (Collection 3 versus 4), algorithm (main versus backup), snow (snow-free versus snow on the ground), and cloud (cloud-free versus cloudy) conditions. Retrievals from the main radiative transfer algorithm increased from 55% in Collection 3 to 67% in Collection 4 due to algorithm refinements and improved inputs. Anomalously high LAI/FPAR values observed in Collection 3 product in some vegetation types were corrected in Collection 4. The problem of reflectance saturation and too few main algorithm retrievals in broadleaf forests persisted in Collection 4. The spurious seasonality in needleleaf LAI/FPAR fields was traced to fewer reliable input data and retrievals during the boreal winter period. About 97% of the snow covered pixels were processed by the backup Normalized Difference Vegetation Index-based algorithm. Similarly, a majority of retrievals under cloudy conditions were obtained from the backup algorithm. For these reasons, the users are advised to consult the quality flags accompanying the LAI and FPAR product
Microbial electrolysis desalination and chemical-production cell for CO2 sequestration.

Abstract Mineral carbonation can be used for CO 2 sequestration, but the reaction rate is slow. In order to accelerate mineral carbonation, acid generated in a microbial electrolysis desalination and chemical-production cell (MEDCC) was examined to dissolve natural minerals rich in magnesium/calcium silicates (serpentine), and the alkali generated by the same process was used to absorb CO 2 and precipitate magnesium/calcium carbonates. The concentrations of Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ dissolved from serpentine increased 20 and 145 times by using the acid solution. Under optimal conditions, 24 mg of CO 2 was absorbed into the alkaline solution and 13 mg of CO 2 was precipitated as magnesium/calcium carbonates over a fed-batch cycle (24 h). Additionally, the MEDCC removed 94% of the COD (initially 822 mg/L) and achieved 22% desalination (initially 35 g/L NaCl). These results demonstrate the viability of this process for effective CO 2 sequestration using renewable organic matter and natural minerals.
Cold War Conflicts and Cheap Cabaret: Sexual Politics at the 1975 United Nations International Women's Year Conference

In a widely read memoir, a Bolivian union militant signals the moment of her alienation from the nongovernmental organisation tribune of the United Nations’ 1975 International Women's Year (IWY) conference in Mexico City by describing her dismay when she encountered a group of women clamouring for sexual rights, reiterating a persistent narrative about a trade-off between sexual rights and other forms of social justice. Drawing on feminist performance theory, this article examines the political performances of three central figures at IWY – Domitila Barrios de Chungara, Betty Friedan and Mexican theatre director Nancy Cardenas – to explore the ways that political performances rooted in distinct scenarios, or historical contexts, generated a confusion of meanings around campaigns for sexual rights.
Helically Ridged Ureteric Stent Facilitates the Passage of Stone Fragments in an Experimental Porcine Model

We have developed a ureteric stent with features designed to facilitate active expulsion of ureteric stone fragments. Its unique characteristics include a helix-like ridge along a thin central core; the superior edge of the ridge is bevelled caudally and the inferior is concave. The ridge's outer edge is smooth and hydrophilic. As the stent is moved in relation to the ureteric wall (owing to respiratory motion and/or peristalsis), stone fragments will slip over the superior edge of the helical ridge. Once past this edge, they cannot migrate in a cephalad direction; they will pass down the helical trough or be ratcheted by the repetitive bevel and emerge through the ureteric orifice. To evaluate the effectiveness of the design it was compared with a conventional, smooth-surfaced double-pigtail stent in an ex vivo porcine model. A single artificial stone fragment (3 x 2 x 2 mm, 4 x 3 x 2 or 5.5 x 3 x 2 mm) was placed in the proximal ureter and the stent was moved up and down (56 studies with each type of stent). The helically ridged stent required a mean of 79 excursions (standard deviation 60, range 8-291). In contrast, the conventional stent was unable to move any stone fragments--even after more than 1000 excursions.
Control configuration selection for distillation columns

Most two-product distillation columns can be described as 5 × 5 plants, but the control system design is usually simplified by means of the following procedure: 1Choose two manipulated inputs for composition control (corresponding to a specific control configuration). 2Design the level and pressure control system (usually three SISO controllers). 3Design a 2 × 2 controller for composition control. This paper provides guidelines for step 1, which is considered the most important. Ratios (e.g., L/D or V/B) are frequently chosen as manipulated inputs in step 1. It is shown that the ratio configurations are effectively complex multivariable controllers that provide, among other features, improved flow disturbance rejection.
A MATLAB platform for characterizing MIMO-OFDM communications with software-defined radios

A new MATLAB-based, wireless measurement platform using an existing software-defined radio architecture is presented. It augments IEEE 802.11g MIMO-OFDM physical layer schemes with new designs such as Maximal Ratio Combining, Alamouti coding, and Spatial Multiplexing. The platform provides a series of metrics, including channel capacity, Error Vector Magnitude (EVM), and Post-Processing Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PP-SNR) to characterize link and network performance. The software implementation and test protocol of the platform are presented with a validation study demonstrating its application.
Benefits Associated with an Early Hemoglobin Response to Epoetin Alfa Therapy in the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Related Anemia

Although previous studies have recognized that timely correction of anemia is desirable, no published research quantifies the association between the timeliness of the hemoglobin rise and patients' outcomes. This study evaluates whether anemic patients with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy and who experienced an early response to epoetin alfa (> or = 1 g/dL hemoglobin increase at the end of 4 weeks of treatment) experienced better clinical and drug utilization outcomes compared with patients who did not experience an early response. Three large, open-label, community studies of epoetin alfa for the treatment of chemotherapy-related anemia were retrospectively analyzed to assess the association of early hemoglobin response to subsequent transfusion requirements, subsequent hemoglobin response, quality of life, and epoetin alfa dosage administered over the study. Two epoetin alfa dosing regimens were evaluated: 10,000 units 3 times weekly with potential escalation to 20,000 units, and 40,000 units once weekly with potential escalation to 60,000 units. In all studies, patients who experienced an early hemoglobin response had statistically lower subsequent transfusion requirements, higher rates of subsequent hemoglobin response, shorter time to hemoglobin response, better improvements in quality of life scores, and lower average weekly epoetin alfa dose than patients who did not experience an early hemoglobin response. Similar proportions of patients experienced early response in the 3-times weekly and once-weekly epoetin alfa regimens. This ad hoc analysis found that early hemoglobin response to epoetin alfa therapy was associated with improved clinical benefits and drug utilization. Early hemoglobin response may therefore be considered as a desired goal of epoetin alfa therapies.
Advances in Understanding of the Crystal Chemistry of Hexavalent Uranium

Research concerning the crystal chemistry of hexavalent U by the Environmental Mineralogy and Crystal Structures research group at Notre Dame has resulted in the description of more than 110 new structures of uranyl compounds (including 36 minerals). New insights into the crystal chemistry of U6+ are presented, with emphasis on recently discovered novel structural connectivities. The structural hierarchy of uranyl minerals and compounds, which was first established for 180 structures in 1996, has been extended to include 145 new structures. The hierarchy is based upon polymerization of polyhedra containing higher-valence cations, and consists of five distinct classes: structures containing isolated polyhedra (7), finite clusters of polyhedra (41), chains of polyhedra (52), sheets of polyhedra (184), and frameworks of polyhedra (41). The dominance of sheets in uranyl compounds (57% of known structures) arises from the unequal distribution of bond-valences within the uranyl polyhedra. Topological relations of the sheets in uranyl compounds are best understood by analysis of the topological distribution of anions within sheets in which sharing of polyhedral edges dominates, and by graphical representation of the connectivity of polyhedra in cases where sharing of vertices of polyhedra dominates the sheet.
Into the Clinic With Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab

In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of nivolumab for treatment of squamous and nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pembrolizumab for use in patients with NSCLC tumors that express PD-L1. This commentary discusses issues with these two drugs relative to best practices and target populations.
Stump the Experts

A 68 year old male presented with a lesion of his forehead that had gradually progressed in size over the past 4 years. The lesion was asymptomatic and had not bled. What is the diagnosis
Two compartment kinetic model with multiple artificial capillary units

A two compartment in-vitro model was designed to simulate human pharmacokinetics and to expose bacterial cultures to changing drug concentrations, thereby avoiding limitations of conventional antibiotic testing at constant drug levels. Serially placed bacterial compartments, representing extravascular infection sites, interface with a central compartment through artificial capillaries. Drug concentrations within the culture chambers closely mimic interstitial concentrations in vivo. Simultaneous first order elimination kinetics of two drugs with different half-lives were simulated to study antibacterial effects of drug combinations. This in-vitro model is an efficient tool for optimal dosage regimen design and the study of synergistic/antagonistic effects of antibiotic combinations.
On the computation of a retina resistivity profile for applications in multi-scale modeling of electrical stimulation and absorption

This study proposes a methodology for computationally estimating resistive properties of tissue in multi-scale computational models, used for studying the interaction of electromagnetic fields with neural tissue, with applications to both dosimetry and neuroprosthetics. Traditionally, models at bulk tissue- and cellular-level scales are solved independently, linking resulting voltage from existing resistive tissue-scale models as extracellular sources to cellular models. This allows for solving the effects that external electric fields have on cellular activity. There are two major limitations to this approach: first, the resistive properties of the tissue need to be chosen, of which there are contradicting measurements in literature; second, the measurements of resistivity themselves may be inaccurate, leading to the mentioned contradicting results found across different studies. Our proposed methodology allows for constructing computed resistivity profiles using knowledge of only the neural morphology within the multi-scale model, resulting in a practical implementation of the effective medium theory; this bypasses concerns regarding the choice of resistive properties and accuracy of measurement setups. A multi-scale model of retina is constructed with an external electrode to serve as a test bench for analyzing existing and resulting resistivity profiles, and validation is presented through the reconstruction of a published resistivity profile of retina tissue. Results include a computed resistivity profile of retina tissue for use with a retina multi-scale model used to analyze effects of external electric fields on neural activity.
Molecular And Cellular Pathology Of Meniere’s Disease

The etiopathogenesis of Meniere’s disease has remained controversial since the early 1900s. Many investigators have studied the molecular and cellular pathology of the inner ear in patients with this disorder. Three basic pathologic mechanisms have emerged; fibrosis of the endolymphatic sac and vestibular epithelia, altered glycoprotein metabolism, and immune-mediated inner ear disease. This article reviews the current understanding of these three basic pathologic processes.
Encryption Policy for the Global Information Infrastructure

Cryptology policy deals not only with various technological encryption methods but also with thorny political and administrative problems. It is a challenge to address these in a timely and open manner. The problems arise in law enforcement, civil liberties, and export control policy. They must be confronted if a rational cryptographic policy is to provide a framework in which technological solutions can operate.
Structural basis of the disorder in the tandem zinc finger domain of the RNA-binding protein Tristetraprolin

Tristetraprolin (TTP) and TIS11d are two human RNA-binding proteins that belong to the CCCH-type tandem zinc finger family. In the RNA-free state, TIS11d coordinates a zinc ion in each of its two fingers, while TTP coordinates a single zinc ion with the N-terminal zinc finger. We have previously identified three residues, located in the C-terminal half of a short α-helix in the second zinc finger, that control how structured the RNA-binding domain is in these two proteins: Y151, L152, and Q153 in TTP and H201, T202, and I203 in TIS11d. Here, we have used molecular dynamics, NMR spectroscopy, and other biochemical methods to investigate the role of these three residues in the stability of the RNA-binding domain. We found that the intrahelical hydrogen bond formed by the T202 hydroxyl group in the C-terminal zinc finger of TIS11d is necessary to allow for π–π stacking between the side chains of a conserved phenylalanine and the zinc-coordinating histidine. We demonstrated that the lack of this hydrogen bond...
Multiobjective, Socioeconomic, Boundary-Emanating, Nearest Distance Algorithm for Stormwater Low-Impact BMP Selection and Placement

AbstractStormwater low-impact development (LID) has become an important method for the reduction of stormwater runoff emanating from impervious surfaces to local water bodies. The extra runoff from human-made impervious surfaces overloads water bodies with polluted runoff. Since many LID best management practices (BMPs) exist, and many areas have multiple subcatchments, it is important to carefully select which BMPs to place in each subcatchment and its placement in order to minimize cost, but also to give the highest chance of owner BMP maintenance. LID BMPs are often constructed on private land and maintenance can be at the owner’s expense and, therefore, not guaranteed. A new algorithm, entitled multi-objective, socio-economic, boundary-emanating, nearest distance (MOSEBEND), that is easily used by practitioners is introduced and demonstrated here for a road in a community showing that the algorithm allows the selection of the set of BMPs on the various subcatchments with the lowest cost, highest runof...
Summary of the Hypothesized Factors for Closed-End Fund Discounts

In chapter three we summarize and explain the hypothesized factors commonly offered in the literature to explain the existence and persistence of closed-end investment company discounts.
Cellular Assays for Ferredoxins: A Strategy for Understanding Electron Flow through Protein Carriers That Link Metabolic Pathways.

The ferredoxin (Fd) protein family is a structurally diverse group of iron–sulfur proteins that function as electron carriers, linking biochemical pathways important for energy transduction, nutrient assimilation, and primary metabolism. While considerable biochemical information about individual Fd protein electron carriers and their reactions has been acquired, we cannot yet anticipate the proportion of electrons shuttled between different Fd-partner proteins within cells using biochemical parameters that govern electron flow, such as holo-Fd concentration, midpoint potential (driving force), molecular interactions (affinity and kinetics), conformational changes (allostery), and off-pathway electron leakage (chemical oxidation). Herein, we describe functional and structural gaps in our Fd knowledge within the context of a sequence similarity network and phylogenetic tree, and we propose a strategy for improving our understanding of Fd sequence–function relationships. We suggest comparing the functions o...
Effect of Temperature on Survival of Yeast in 45° and 65° Brix Orange Concentrate

A study was conducted to determine the effect of cold-temperature storage on yeast survival in 45° and 65° Brix orange concentrate under simulated conditions of bulk storage. Suspensions were prepared from each of three strains of yeast which had been identified as to genus and species. Orange concentrates at 45° and 65° Brix were inoculated to contain approximately 1,000,000 organisms per ml. Inoculated samples were then stored at -17.8, -9.4, -1.1, and 4.4 C. Samples were analyzed for total viable yeast periodically during 15 months of storage. No yeast growth occured in either 45° or 65° Brix concentrate at temperatures below 4.4 C. Survival curves of one of the test organisms in both 45° and 65° Brix are presented. Yeast died faster in 45° Brix at -17.8 C than at -9.4 or -1.1 C, while in 65° Brix survival was greater at lower temperatures. Mold was detected in 45° Brix at -1.1 C and below after 7 or more months. In 65° Brix, mold was observed after 12 months at all temperatures above -17.8 C. Some samples showed a slight brown discoloration after extended periods of storage.
Comparative analysis of environmental impacts of agricultural production systems, agricultural input efficiency, and food choice

Global agricultural feeds over 7 billion people, but is also a leading cause of environmental degradation. Understanding how alternative agricultural production systems, agricultural input efficiency, and food choice drive environmental degradation is necessary for reducing agriculture's environmental impacts. A meta-analysis of life cycle assessments that includes 742 agricultural systems and over 90 unique foods produced primarily in high-input systems shows that, per unit of food, organic systems require more land, cause more eutrophication, use less energy, but emit similar greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) as conventional systems; that grass-fed beef requires more land and emits similar GHG emissions as grain-feed beef; and that low-input aquaculture and non-trawling fisheries have much lower GHG emissions than trawling fisheries. In addition, our analyses show that increasing agricultural input efficiency (the amount of food produced per input of fertilizer or feed) would have environmental benefits for both crop and livestock systems. Further, for all environmental indicators and nutritional units examined, plant-based foods have the lowest environmental impacts; eggs, dairy, pork, poultry, non-trawling fisheries, and non-recirculating aquaculture have intermediate impacts; and ruminant meat has impacts ~100 times those of plant-based foods. Our analyses show that dietary shifts towards low-impact foods and increases in agricultural input use efficiency would offer larger environmental benefits than would switches from conventional agricultural systems to alternatives such as organic agriculture or grass-fed beef.
Stall control for axial compressors

Abstract Rotating stall is a primary constraint for the performance of flow compressors. This paper establishes a necessary and sufficient condition for a feedback controller to locally stabilize the critical equilibrium of the uniform flow at the inception of rotating stall. The explicit condition obtained in this paper provides an effective synthesis tool for the stall control
The fidus interpres and the fact of slavery: Rethinking classical and patristic models of translation

ABSTRACTCicero and St Jerome are often thought to belong to opposite schools of translation theory. This assumption neglects an important continuity between the two translators, namely their unders...
Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1)

Transplantation is considered one of the most effective ways to overcome terminal dysfunction and failure of some organs. By transplanting organs or tissues between two genetically distinct individuals, an immune mediated response is triggered in the transplant recipient that evokes a potent inflammatory reaction, causing cell injury/death and leading to graft dysfunction and rejection. So far the main therapeutic strategy used to maintain graft function and survival has been to modulate the host immune response directed against the transplanted organ. In the case of an immediately vascularized transplant, the endothelial cell (EC) monolayer lining the blood vessels of the graft acts as the first target of the anti-graft immune response. We have suggested that the survival of grafts may relay on how these cells react to the anti-graft immune response: whether in a rejection-promoting or a “protective”
Modulating the Catalytic Performance of an Immobilized Catalyst with Matrix Effects - A Critical Evaluation

Microgels with embedded binuclear copper(II) complex were prepared in the presence of galactose and mannose as biomimetic catalysts for the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds. The study was designed to elucidate matrix effects responsible for the high catalytic proficiency (kcat/KM × knon) of the microgels that reaches up to 1.7 × 106 upon hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-mannopyranoside. The experimental results reveal differences of sugar coordination to the binuclear copper(II) complex in coordination sites, binding strength, overall geometry, and binding energies that differ by 7.1 kcal/mol and are based on experiments using UV–Vis spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. Accompanying computational analyses, based on density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/m6-31G(d) level of theory, further support the experimental results of sugar coordination by suggesting plausible binding sites of sugar coordination and providing additional insight into the cause of substrate discrimination during...
Structural and Functional Analyses of Cyanobacterial Photosystem I

The photosystem I (PS I) reaction center is a multisubunit, photo-oxidoreductase that catalyzes the oxidation of reduced plastocyanin (or cytochrome c6) in the thylakoid lumen and the reduction of soluble [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin (or flavodoxin) in the stroma. A major advance in our understanding of the reaction center has resulted from the crystallization and X-ray structural analysis of PS I trimers from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus by the groups of Witt and Saenger [1]. A detailed structural model of the PS I complex has recently been described at a nominal resolution of 4 A [2, 3].
Assist-as-Needed Controller to a Task-based Knee Rehabilitation Exoskeleton

This research aims to design and implement an assist-as-needed controller and patient recovery tracking system into a novel task based knee rehabilitation exoskeleton device. The level of support from the exoskeleton is measured through the force sensing resistors (FSR) placed in the interface of lower- leg and the exoskeleton. The signal from the FSR is used as a feedback to control the actuator torque. The intent of the user to start, stop, move left, and right are associated with muscle activities, surface electromyography (sEMG) signals in the upper-leg. The preliminary results have shown that the system has provided the user a visual display of the amount of recovery and history while providing full autonomy to control the exoskeleton device. The successful implementation of these features can eliminate the need of constant supervision, and hence saves time and reduces cost of the rehabilitation process; which can also be used in a home-based or telerehabilitation settings.
Platelet Transfusions in Neonates - Less Is More.

Thrombocytopenia is common in preterm neonates. At some point during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, this condition affects up to 73% of infants with a birth weight of less than 100...
Management and outcomes in mitral valve prolapse with ventricular arrhythmias undergoing ablation and/or implantation of ICDs.

Background While there is an association between isolated mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the baseline characteristics and outcomes of patients with isolated MVP who experience ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and then subsequently undergo catheter ablation and/or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation are unknown. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all patients at the Cleveland Clinic with isolated MVP between 1997 and 2016 who underwent VA catheter ablation or secondary prevention ICD implantation. Results Of 617 screened patients, we identified 43 patients with isolated MVP and significant VA who underwent ICD placement (n = 13, 30%) or catheter ablation (n = 30, 70%). Both leaflets were most commonly involved (n = 22, 52%) with posterior MVP being next most common (n = 15, 36%). The most common foci of VA origin was the left ventricular papillary muscle (n = 9, 27%). Ablation was successful in the majority of cases (n = 20, 65%). At a mean follow-up of 2.5 years, 11 patients (26%) had recurrent VT. Conclusions Patients with isolated MVP and VA were more likely to have bileaflet prolapse and at least moderate mitral regurgitation. VA originated more commonly from left-sided foci. While ablation was acutely successful in the majority of cases, there was still a moderate rate of VA recurrence. There is still more study needed on factors that will predict malignant VAs and management of these VAs in the MVP population.
Leveraging Post-Processing Methodologies to Estimate Circular-Polarized Radiation Patterns of Phased Arrays

In this paper, a post-processing technique, specifically designed for phased array measurements in the far-field anechoic chamber, is investigated to rebuild circular-polarized radiation patterns. The circular-polarized array patterns are reconstructed by two cross-polarized fields from the quad-ridged horn antenna. One advantage of this technique is that the original anechoic chamber setup remains the same, and this method greatly alleviates the efforts of implementing a circularly polarized measurement. The post-processing technique is broadband ready if a broadband receiver is used. In this paper, a thirty-two-element volumetric random-phased array is demonstrated to evaluate the estimated result and benchmarked with another measuring technique of adding a 90° hybrid coupler.
The impact of insurance type on listing status and wait-list mortality of patients with left ventricular assist devices as bridge to transplantation.

AIMS Adequate health insurance coverage is necessary for heart transplantation (HT) candidates. Prior studies have suggested inferior outcomes post HT with public health insurance. We sought to evaluate the effects of insurance type on transplantation rates, listing status and mortality prior to HT. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients ≥18 years old with a left ventricular assist device implanted and listed with 1A status were identified in the United Network for Organ Sharing registry between January 2010 and December 2017, with follow-up through March 2018. Patients were grouped based on the type of insurance private/self-pay (PV), Medicare (MC), and Medicaid (MA) at the time of listing. We conducted multivariable competing risks regression analysis on listing status and mortality on the waiting list, stratified by insurance type at the time of listing. We identified 2604 patients listed in status 1A (PV: 51.4%, MC: 32.1%, and MA: 16.5%). MA patients were younger (43.5 vs. 56.4 for MC vs. 51.5 for PV, P < 0.001) and less frequently White (P < 0.001). The cumulative incidence of HT did not differ among the three insurance types (PV: 74.8%, MC 76.3%, and MA 71.1%, P = 0.14). The cumulative mortality on the waiting list prior to HT was not different among groups (PV: 29.3%, MC 26.3%, and MA 21.8%, P = 0.94). Μore patients with MA were removed from the list because of improvement of their condition (MA 40.3% vs. MC 28.3% and PV 32.8%). CONCLUSIONS We did not detect any disparities in listing status and mortality among different insurance types.
American Race Relations and the Legacy of British Colonialism

Colonial rule distorts a colony’s economy and its society, and British rule was no exception. British policies led to a stratified American colonial society with slaves on the bottom and white settlers on top. The divided society functioned through laws that imposed rules and defined roles of the respective races. This occurred in other colonies too, often leading to strife that continues today. Especially since World War II the United States seems finally to have been able to remove many laws and practices that had created barriers between races in the divided society. Appeals to legitimacy, such as by abolitionists and the Civil Rights Movement, were essential to change laws from support of the divided society to instruments for disestablishing it. Thanks to the rule of law – another important British legacy -- the U.S. is much farther along than many former colonies in making progress. By highlighting the history of the interplay of two fundamental concepts, the divided society and the rule of law, and briefly contrasting the experiences of other former colonies, this book shows how the United States has made significant long-term progress, although incomplete, and ways for this to continue today.
New Advances in the Planning and Management of Orbital Zygomaticomaxillary Fractures

Recent technologies have allowed the craniomaxillofacial surgeon to plan, execute, and critically evaluate the postoperative results to improve the general outcomes of the facial trauma. In this chapter, the authors will discuss in details all the recent advances and the technologies that are available to the surgeons to utilize.
A novel online calculator predicting short-term postoperative outcomes in patients with metastatic brain tumors

Establishing predictors of hospital length of stay (LOS), discharge deposition, and total hospital charges is essential to providing high-quality, value-based care. Though previous research has investigated these outcomes for patients with metastatic brain tumors, there are currently no tools that synthesize such research findings and allow for prediction of these outcomes on a patient-by-patient basis. The present study sought to develop a prediction calculator that uses patient demographic and clinical information to predict extended hospital length of stay, non-routine discharge disposition, and high total hospital charges for patients with metastatic brain tumors. Patients undergoing surgery for metastatic brain tumors at a single academic institution were analyzed (2017–2019). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of extended LOS (> 7 days), non-routine discharge, and high total hospital charges (> $ 46,082.63). p 0.7, and all three models demonstrated adequate calibration (p > 0.05). The final models are available as an online calculator ( https://neurooncsurgery.shinyapps.io/brain_mets_calculator/ ). Our models predicting postoperative outcomes allow for individualized risk-estimation for patients following surgery for metastatic brain tumors. Our results may be useful in helping clinicians to provide resource-conscious, high-value care.
Siren Song: understanding Pakistan through its Women Singers

Fawzia Afzal-Khan’s latest monograph, Siren Song: Understanding Pakistan through its Women Singers is a thoroughly original intervention that is at once immersed in traditions, conveying insights a...
Research on Arithmetic

In this article, Joseph-Louis Lagrange analyzed those numbers which may be represented by the quadratic form $Bt^2 + Ctu + Du^2$. After proving a few theorems on the divisors of such numbers (and their possible forms), Lagrange developed a method for minimizing $C$ in order to determine systematically the possible forms for the divisors of numbers represented by the forms $t^2 \pm au^2$. This article was originally published as "Recherches d'Arithmetique" in the 1773 volume of the Nouveaux Memoires de l'Academie royale des Sciences et Belles-Lettres de Berlin (printed 1775), pp. 265-312. It is the first of two articles on this subject, the latter of which appeared in the 1775 volume of the Nouveaux Memoires.
Colonial and Post-Colonial Goan Literature in Portuguese: Woven Palms

As Paul Melo e Castro notes in the introduction, this edited volume takes Goa to be “a product of manifold influences … from both East and West and a global history connected to … the Indian Ocean ...
Biosynthesis of Glycogen and Starch in Cryptococcus laurentii

Abstract Cells of Cryptococcus laurentii, when grown in liquid culture on 2% glucose close to neutral pH, showed glycogen granules throughout the cytoplasm. Glycogen levels of C. laurentii cells reached maximal levels just before onset of stationary phase. Concomitantly, a sharp rise in total and specific activity of glycogen synthetase was observed. Conversely, glycogen phosphorylase reached its highest specific activity approximately 3 hr after the glycogen peaked and remained high until most of the endogenous glycogen was utilized. Uridine diphosphoglucose pyrophosphorylase activity was always an order of magnitude higher than glycogen synthetase during log phase, but fell off rapidly after the cells reached stationary growth. Kinetic properties of the glycogen synthetase showed that the enzyme is always activated by glucose-6-phosphate, although the degree of activation by glucose-6-phosphate was found to be somewhat variable. The accelerated uptake of glucose commencing with the onset of stationary phase is explained by the rapid formation of extracellular acidic polysaccharide, which continues as long as there is glucose in the medium. In cells grown at pH 3.4, where no detectable extracellular acidic polysaccharide was formed, glucose uptake drastically declined when the cells reached stationary phase. These cells also contained glycogen-like granules in the cytoplasm. The evidence presented indicates that these granules are in fact glycogen, and that its structure does not resemble that of the starch excreted by cells grown at acidic pH.
Temporal position modulation of biphoton correlations through pump frequency tuning

We describe and demonstrate a novel approach for controlling the temporal position of the biphoton correlation by pump frequency tuning. Our method relies on precise waveguide engineering as well as the nonlocal dispersion cancellation effect.
STRATEGIC OKLAHOMA POLITICIANS: ANALYSIS OF THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

In this study, Oklahoma House of Representatives races from 1974-1988 are examined to the conclusion that attorneys and previous officeholders are the two best employment categories from which to stage successful challenges to an incumbent or election to an open seat. Additionally, although open seats are more easily obtained than when an incumbent is present, parity can be approached by a minority party over time by adhering to the suggested electability model.lfthe public mood is changing in the 90's, the implications of the model could become even more significant.
Interactive effects of subjective memory complaints and hypertension on learning and memory performance in the elderly

AbstractThis study evaluated whether the relation between subjective memory complaints and cognitive performance is influenced by the presence of hypertension in the elderly. One hundred and five healthy older adults, 70–89 years of age, with and without hypertension treatment or diagnosis, completed a scale of subjective memory complaints. Participants were divided into those with mild memory concerns and those with minimal or no complaints. All participants completed a battery of neuropsychological tests including measures of verbal and nonverbal memory. After controlling for differences in age, gender, education, and overall intellectual ability, there were significant main effects for memory concerns and significant interactions for memory complaints and hypertension on several measures of memory performance. There were no main effects for hypertension on memory performance. Simple effects analyses of the interactions showed that the hypertensive complainers demonstrated poorer performance on measures...
Portable biosensor detection of the harmful dinoflagellate Alexandrium using surface plasmon resonance and peptide nucleic acid probes

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is a major human health issue that occurs worldwide. Species of the marine dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium can produce dangerous amounts of paralytic shellfish toxins responsible for PSP poisoning at extremely low cell densities. Current detection and identification methods for Alexandrium typically used by coastal managers are time-consuming, expensive, require special training, and are typically unable to distinguish between toxin-producing and non toxin-producing species. Therefore, there is a need for new methods to address these issues. We have developed a field-deployable method that uses surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and species-specific peptide nucleic acid probes to detect Alexandrium rRNA. This instrument has been tested using synthetic nucleotide sequences and validated against the industry-standard Biacore SPR instrument. This instrument can reliably discriminate between synthetic nucleotide sequences designed to mimic two species of Alexandrium found to co-occur in the Gulf of Maine, and also has a higher sensitivity to low nucleotide concentrations than the Biacore instrument.
A study of strategic performance measurement systems: Characteristics and outcomes

This large-scale study of 1,990 responses from practitioners in a wide range of industries developed and tested a model of relationships among strategic performance measurement systems (SPMS) characteristics and outcomes. Using path analysis and stepwise regression, we found that two SPMS characteristics (design purpose and information technology use), together with system effectiveness, explain close to 50% of the SPMS impact on business results.
Effective Propagation Kernels in Structured Media with Broad Spatial Correlations, Illustration with Large-Scale Transport of Solar Photons Through Cloudy Atmospheres

It is argued that, to directly target the mean fluxes through a structured medium with spatial correlations over a significant range of scales that includes the mean-free-path, one can use an effective propagation kernel that will necessarily be sub-exponential. We come to this conclusion using both standard transport theory for variable media and a point-process approach developed recently by A. Kostinski. The ramifications of this finding for multiple scattering and effective medium theory are examined. Finally, we describe a novel one-dimensional transport theory with asymptotically power-law propagation kernels and use it to shed new light onto recent observations of solar photon pathlength in the Earth’s cloudy atmosphere.
Virtual prototyping of WDM avionics networks

This paper introduces a library for simulation modeling of optical communication networks, focusing on performance analysis for advanced aerospace platforms, and features a case study of virtual prototyping for comparison of several system design strategies.
Haemoglobin: Cooperativity in Protein–Ligand Interactions

Haemoglobin (Hb) is an essential component of the circulatory system of vertebrates. Its chief physiological function is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. Hb binds oxygen cooperatively, that is the affinity of the protein for the first oxygen molecule is less than that for subsequent oxygen molecules. Human adult Hb was among the first proteins whose complete three-dimensional structure was determined by X-ray crystallography and it has been used as a model for understanding allosteric proteins. Recent X-ray crystallographic and multinuclear NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) studies of both ligated and unligated forms of Hb have shown that many structures exist in crystalline and solution states. These results have challenged the classical two-structure allosteric model of this protein. To understand Hb at the atomic level, we need to correlate the structural, dynamic and functional properties of hemoglobin in solution. Key Concepts: There are many T- and R-types of crystal structures of unligated and ligated forms of haemoglobin, in contrast to the classical two-structure model for haemoglobin allostery. The structures of haemoglobin in both unligated and ligated forms in solution are different from those in crystals and exist as dynamic ensembles of various structures. The ligand-binding data for proximal histidyl-detached recombinant haemoglobins show that Perutz's proximal histidyl coupling mechanism contributes approximately two-thirds to the total interaction energy between haems and that there are alternative coupling pathways for the remaining third. The Bohr effect, a heterotropic effect, is an excellent example of a global network of electrostatic interactions, rather than a few specific amino acid residues, that play a dominant role in an important physiological function of haemoglobin. Recent experimental results strongly suggest that allosteric proteins, such as haemoglobin, may require multiple pathways for signal communication, as is illustrated in the cooperative oxygenation and in the Bohr effect. Haemoglobin is a molecule with considerable plasticity. The classical two-structure mechanism for haemoglobin allostery cannot account for the structure, dynamics and function of the haemoglobin molecule and needs revision. Keywords: cooperativity; allosteric interactions; Bohr effect; haemoglobin structure–dynamics–function relationship; crystal structures of haemoglobin determined by X-ray crystallography; solution structures of haemoglobin determined by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy
Yeast Adenylic Acid as a Substrate for Serum Acid Phosphatase

Yeast adenylic acid was investigated as a substrate for serum acid phosphatase determination. It was compared as a substrate primarily with β-glycerophosphate and found to be very similar in selectivity and sensitivity. There appears to be no significant advantage in the use of yeast adenylic acid over β-glycerophosphate for this purpose.