cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Voltage Sensitivity of the Na+/K+ Pump: Structural Implications

It is now firmly established that the Na+/K+ pump in its normal forward mode exports three sodium ions and imports two potassium ions per cycle (13,22,25). The enzyme thus produces a transmembrane electric current as it hydrolyzes ATP and must, like any chemical battery, for thermodynamic reasons be sensitive to the voltage difference across the cell membrane. For a given Na+:K+:ATP stoichiometry and known conditions (ion gradients; free energy of ATP hydrolysis) only the equilibrium (zero-current or “reversal”) potential can be computed (6). In typical animal cells the reversal potential is expected to be quite negative (≤ -200 mV), i.e. probably beyond experimental reach (4). The shape of the steady-state current-voltage relationship (I-V curve) away from the reversal potential is determined by the kinetic properties of the pump, in particular by the voltage sensitivity of individual steps in the pump’s reaction cycle. Were every step and its voltage sensitivity known, the I-V curve could be deduced from first principles. While such detailed knowledge is lacking, several researchers have examined the predictions of more or less elaborate models. The most comprehensive of these (e.g. 17,18) incorporate possible voltage sensitivity of ion binding, ion translocation, and protein conformational steps. We review here the converse problem: given an experimental voltage dependence curve, what information can be extracted regarding the kinetics of various steps in the pump cycle? Several groups including ours have exploited the pump’s voltage sensitivity to discover during which step(s) a charge is moved across an electric field, or a field is moved across a charge (17).
Canonical Representations of Indigenous Women in Latin American Literature

Chapter 1 traces the Latin American canonical depiction of Indigenous women in fiction and non-fiction. By interrogating the characterization and representation of Indigenous females from the colonial period forward in literary works, we are able to flesh out the paradigms of oppression and colonization with which they dialogue, or are in contention. Setting the stage for how Indigenous woman has been portrayed in the collective imaginary through hegemonic works provides the point of departure for understanding the construction of a gendered self-affirming and self-determined identity in contemporary writing.
Spatial Adaptivity Applied to the Variational Nodal Pn Equations

A spatial adaptive grid method is presented for the solution of two-dimensional neutron transport problems employing the spherical harmonics method within the framework of the variational nodal met...
Chromo-Civilization and Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee

(1988). Chromo-Civilization and Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee. ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews: Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 137-139.
Silence, Youth, and Change

This chapter considers why white Southern interviewees seem to have lost autobiographical recollections of many events of the Civil Rights Movement. Gill shows that most interviewees have only vague memories of Virgil Ware’s shooting. Even though Virgil was killed by a respected classmate, he is not central to memories. Whites in Birmingham maintain a ‘coalition of silence’ about the Civil Rights Movement that allows forgetting. They also claim new collective identities. Gill argues that Alabama whites who came of age in the 1960s, began to change sides. Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, influential whites allied with black youth organizations to seek their own freedoms. The student movement at the University of Alabama demonstrates a new identity that emerged in this generation.
Reconstitution of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteostasis network highlights essential cofactor interactions with chaperone DnaK

During host infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) encounters several types of stress that impair protein integrity, including reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and chemotherapy. The resulting protein aggregates can be resolved or degraded by molecular machinery conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes. Eukaryotic Hsp104/Hsp70 and their bacterial homologs ClpB/DnaK are ATP-powered chaperones that restore toxic protein aggregates to a native folded state. DnaK is essential in Mycobacterium smegmatis, and ClpB is involved in asymmetrically distributing damaged proteins during cell division as a mechanism of survival in Mtb, commending both proteins as potential drug targets. However, their molecular partners in protein reactivation have not been characterized in mycobacteria. Here, we reconstituted the activities of the Mtb ClpB/DnaK bichaperone system with the cofactors DnaJ1, DnaJ2, and GrpE and the small heat shock protein Hsp20. We found that DnaJ1 and DnaJ2 activate the ATPase activity of DnaK differently. A point mutation in the highly conserved HPD motif of the DnaJ proteins abrogates their ability to activate DnaK, although the DnaJ2 mutant still binds to DnaK. The purified Mtb ClpB/DnaK system reactivated a heat-denatured model substrate, but the DnaJ HPD mutants inhibited the reaction. Finally, either DnaJ1 or DnaJ2 is required for mycobacterial viability, as is the DnaK-activating activity of a DnaJ protein. These studies lay the groundwork for strategies to target essential chaperone-protein interactions in Mtb, the leading cause of death from a bacterial infection.
The influence of state‐level policy environments on the activation of the Medicaid SBIRT reimbursement codes

Aims To examine how institutional constraints, comprising federal actions and states’ substance abuse policy environments, influence states’ decisions to activate Medicaid reimbursement codes for screening and brief intervention for risky substance use in the United States. Methods A discrete-time duration model was used to estimate the effect of institutional constraints on the likelihood of activating the Medicaid reimbursement codes. Primary constraints included federal Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) grant funding, substance abuse priority, economic climate, political climate and interstate diffusion. Study data came from publicly available secondary data sources. Results Federal SBIRT grant funding did not affect significantly the likelihood of activation (P = 0.628). A $1 increase in per-capita block grant funding was associated with a 10-percentage point reduction in the likelihood of activation (P = 0.003) and a $1 increase in per-capita state substance use disorder expenditures was associated with a 2-percentage point increase in the likelihood of activation (P = 0.004). States with enacted parity laws (P = 0.016) and a Democratic-controlled state government were also more likely to activate the codes. Conclusion In the United States, the determinants of state activation of Medicaid Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) reimbursement codes are complex, and include more than financial considerations. Federal block grant funding is a strong disincentive to activating the SBIRT reimbursement codes, while more direct federal SBIRT grant funding has no detectable effects.
Surface reconstruction and induced uniaxial magnetic fields on Ni films

Metal ceramic interfaces are important in applications as diverse as magnetic storage media to support catalysts. Understanding the correlation between the films structure and its properties is very important for applications. For example the lattice mismatch between substrate and epilayer during heteroepitaxial growth induces strain as well as defects on the structure of the films that in turn affect the magnetic properties. We have previously shown that it is possible to obtain epitaxial (001) and (111) Ni films grown on MgO substrates. [1] In particular we observed that the crystalline quality of the films improved considerably after 10 nm of film growth and annealing of the films indicated significant reduction of the surface roughness. In addition, after annealing (001) Ni films we observed nano-patterning of the surface through self-assembly of periodic “stripes”. We will now present our analysis of the magnetic properties of these films, in particular the azimuthal dependence of the magnetization reversal, using MOKE, and we will attempt to correlate our findings with the surface characterization obtained with STM.
The influence of continuous versus interval walking exercise on knee joint loading and pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether knee contact force and knee pain are different between continuous and interval walking exercise in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Twenty seven patients with unilateral symptomatic knee OA completed two separate walking exercise sessions on a treadmill at 1.3 m/s on two different days: 1) a continuous 45 min walking exercise session, and 2) three 15 min bouts of walking exercise separated by 1 h rest periods for a total of 45 min of exercise in an interval format. Estimated knee contact forces using the OpenSim software and knee pain were evaluated at baseline (1st minute of walking) and after every 15 min between the continuous and interval walking conditions. Results A significant increase from baseline was observed in peak knee contact force during the weight-acceptance phase of gait after 30 and 45 min of walking, irrespective of the walking exercise condition. Additionally, whereas continuous walking resulted in an increase in knee pain, interval walking did not lead to increased knee pain. Conclusion Walking exercise durations of 30 min or greater may lead to undesirable knee joint loading in patients with knee OA, while performing the same volume of exercise in multiple bouts as opposed to one continuous bout may be beneficial for limiting knee pain.
Study for phosphorus contamination to high voltage transistors

Threshold voltage ( $\text{V}_{\text{TH}}$ ) needs to be well controlled to determine the switching point of the transistors. However, $\text{V}_{\text{TH}}$ variation was observed on high voltage transistor during development phase. Investigations show that the $\text{V}_{\text{TH}}$ variation was caused by phosphorus contamination from wafer backside. Various wet chemical cleaning methods were evaluated to understand the effectiveness for the phosphorus decontamination. Good $\text{V}_{\text{TH}}$ result was achieved with improved cleaning solution.
Accelerated quasicontinuum: a practical perspective on hyper-QC with application to nanoindentation

AbstractHyper-QC is a multiscale method based on the quasicontinuum (QC) method in which time is accelerated using hyperdynamics through the addition of a suitable bias potential. This paper describes the practical details of implementing and carrying out hyper-QC simulations and introduces a novel mechanism-based bias potential for deformation processes in face-centred cubic (fcc) systems. The factors limiting the maximum achievable acceleration are discussed. The method is demonstrated for nanoindentation into a thin film of single crystal fcc nickel at near experimental loading rates. Speed up factors as high as 10,000 are achieved. The simulations reveal a thermally activated dislocation nucleation mechanism with a logarithmic dependence on temperature and indenter velocity in agreement with a theoretical model.
Cargo navigation across 3D microtubule intersections

The eukaryotic cell's microtubule cytoskeleton is a complex 3D filament network. Microtubules cross at a wide variety of separation distances and angles. Prior studies in vivo and in vitro suggest that cargo transport is affected by intersection geometry. However, geometric complexity is not yet widely appreciated as a regulatory factor in its own right, and mechanisms that underlie this mode of regulation are not well understood. We have used our recently reported 3D microtubule manipulation system to build filament crossings de novo in a purified in vitro environment and used them to assay kinesin-1-driven model cargo navigation. We found that 3D microtubule network geometry indeed significantly influences cargo routing, and in particular that it is possible to bias a cargo to pass or switch just by changing either filament spacing or angle. Furthermore, we captured our experimental results in a model which accounts for full 3D geometry, stochastic motion of the cargo and associated motors, as well as motor force production and force-dependent behavior. We used a combination of experimental and theoretical analysis to establish the detailed mechanisms underlying cargo navigation at microtubule crossings.
A Rotatable Trans-rectal Probe for Simultaneous Ultrasound and Optical Imaging of Prostate

We present a novel rotatable trans-rectal probe coupled with commercial trans-rectral ultrasound (TRUS) probe, which allows for simultaneous bimodal imaging of prostate with near-infrared light and ultrasound.
Simulating vegetation response to climate change in the Blue Mountains with MC2 dynamic global vegetation model

Abstract Warming temperatures are projected to greatly alter many forests in the Pacific Northwest. MC2 is a dynamic global vegetation model, a climate-aware, process-based, and gridded vegetation model. We calibrated and ran MC2 simulations for the Blue Mountains Ecoregion, Oregon, USA, at 30 arc-second spatial resolution. We calibrated MC2 using the best available spatial datasets from land managers. We ran future simulations using climate projections from four global circulation models (GCM) under representative concentration pathway 8.5. Under this scenario, forest productivity is projected to increase as the growing season lengthens, and fire occurrence is projected to increase steeply throughout the century, with burned area peaking early- to mid-century. Subalpine forests are projected to disappear, and the coniferous forests to contract by 32.8%. Large portions of the dry and mesic forests are projected to convert to woodlands, unless precipitation were to increase. Low levels of change are projected for the Umatilla National Forest consistently across the four GCM’s. For the Wallowa-Whitman and the Malheur National Forest, forest conversions are projected to vary more across the four GCM-based simulations, reflecting high levels of uncertainty arising from climate. For simulations based on three of the four GCMs, sharply increased fire activity results in decreases in forest carbon stocks by the mid-century, and the fire activity catalyzes widespread biome shift across the study area. We document the full cycle of a structured approach to calibrating and running MC2 for transparency and to serve as a template for applications of MC2.
Instrumentation and Safety Controls for Tandem Mirror Fusion Reactors

In the present study the authors identified some key parameters that require continuous measurement by the instrumentation and control system to assure safe operation in tandem mirror reactors. Failure modes possible in each subsystem of the plant have also been identified. Particular emphasis was placed on the heat transport and flux monitoring systems. In addition, general factors to be considered in the design and the performance requirements of the plant instrumentation and control system are outlined.
Prostaglandin H2 Causes Calcium Mobilization in Intact Human Platelets

It was originally suggested that thromboxane A2 (TxA2) production is a prerequisite for platelet activation induced by arachidonic acid (AA) addition. More recently, however, evidence has accumulated that suggests that, under the appropriate conditions, prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) can also play a role in the platelet activation process. In this regard, Needleman et al. (1976) have shown that when AA was added to washed platelets incubated with the thromboxane synthase inhibitor im-idazole (Needleman et al., 1976, 1977a,b; Moncada et al., 1976, 1977), thromboxane synthesis was blocked, but platelet aggregation was not inhibited (Needleman et al., 1977b). Based on these findings, they proposed that PGH2 is itself active in causing platelet aggregation.
TAR: Enabling Fine-Grained Targeted Advertising in Retail Stores

Mobile advertisements influence customers' in-store purchases and boost in-store sales for brick-and-mortar retailers. Targeting mobile ads has become significantly important to compete with online shopping. The key to enabling targeted mobile advertisement and service is to learn shoppers' interest during their stay in the store. Precise shopper tracking and identification are essential to gain the insights. However, existing sensor-based or vision-based solutions are neither practical nor accurate; no commercial solutions today can be readily deployed in a large store. On the other hand, we recognize that most retail stores have the installation of surveillance cameras, and most shoppers carry Bluetooth-enabled smartphones. Thus, in this paper, we propose TAR to learn shoppers' in-store interest via accurate multi-camera people tracking and identification. TAR leverages widespread camera deployment and Bluetooth proximity information to accurately track and identify shoppers in the store. TAR is composed of four novel design components: (1) a deep neural network (DNN) based visual tracking, (2) a user trajectory estimation by using shopper visual and BLE proximity trace, (3) an identity matching and assignment to recognize shopper's identity, and (4) a cross-camera calibration algorithm. TAR carefully combines these components to track and identify shoppers in real-time. TAR achieves 90% accuracy in two different real-life deployments, which is 20% better than the state-of-the-art solution.
Kin Recognition and Social Behavior in Microtine Rodents

The mechanism and function of kin recognition were examined within the framework of the social systems of vole species. Association is a proximate mechanism that underlies kin recognition for vole species that have been examined. Yet association during preweaning may not be adequate for all species at certain times of year. Some vole species form communal groups during the breeding season, whereas other species nest communally during the nonbreeding season. Moreover, individuals of some species of voles nest together at high densities, whereas individuals of other species disperse at high densities. Familiarity based on association is the cue that voles use to discriminate between close relatives and unrelated individuals. Voles do not recognize unfamiliar close relatives. Consequently, the ability to recognize kin may be limited to individuals that are philopatric or have repeated contacts with close relatives. Therefore, the ability to recognize kin may be dependent on the mating system, social organization, and habitat of a particular species.
Utility of CT imaging in a novel form of high-dose-rate intraoperative breast radiation therapy.

Introduction Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is an alternative to whole breast radiation following breast conserving surgery. Conventional breast IORT is limited by lack of cross-sectional imaging. In response, our institution developed Precision Breast IORT (PB-IORT) which utilizes intraoperative computed tomography (CT) images for confirmation of brachytherapy applicator placement and for treatment planning. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of CT imaging in PB-IORT in the first 103 patients treated in two prospective clinical trials. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the first 103 patients treated with PB-IORT. All patients underwent breast surgery and placement of a multi-lumen brachytherapy applicator. Patients had a CT scan followed by high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy. Endpoints were the number of patients having more than one CT during PB-IORT and the number of treatment plans having image-based modifications. Results After initial CT scan, 27 patients (26.2%) had findings prompting surgical applicator adjustment. One patient underwent an additional scan to localize a biopsy clip and aid in excision to negative margin. Eighty-one patients (78.6%) had dosimetry modifications based on CT findings with 36 plans (35.0%) adjusted to protect the skin or chest wall and 45 plans (43.7%) to protect both the skin and chest wall. Conclusions Computed tomography findings prompted treatment alterations in the majority of patients treated with PB-IORT to enhance tissue conformity and to sculpt the radiation dose away from normal tissues. CT imaging is unique to PB-IORT. These findings suggest the potential clinical superiority of PB-IORT given its allowance for patient-specific alterations.
The conquest of hearts: the central role of Ottoman nostalgia within contemporary Turkish populism

In contemporary Turkey, populism goes hand in hand with neo-Ottoman nostalgia. They make a stigmatized duo, as nostalgia is interpreted as lingering in the past and populism is deemed as the opium of the uninformed, emotional masses. In this paper, I complicate this vision through an ethnographic discourse analysis of the 2016 Conquest of Constantinople Rally, organized by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). I show how nostalgia helps boost the authenticity claim that social performances seek to achieve. In a ritualistic setting, the rally portrays a Manichean worldview predating to Ottoman times, underlines the power of the “people” against nefarious others, and is organized around a leader who is posited as a savior. By relying on forty-five in-depth interviews in five cities, I investigate the extent to which this social performance convinces the audience. Three interpretative perspectives emerged from participants’ responses: Spectacle Seekers see the rallies as a necessity and as providing emotional uplift as the state’s duty; Appraising Skeptics approve the commemoration, yet are skeptical of the authenticity of the effort; and History Guardians deem the Ottoman past as sacred and regard the AKP’s use of it as emotional manipulation.
Comparison of plant and animal signal transducing systems.

A number of substances, ions, cyclic nucleotides and products of phospholipid hydrolysis, have been reported from animal systems to function as second messengers important to growth control. These substances function as parts of the same or different signal transducing systems and are produced in response to external stimuli transmitted across the plasma membrane to effect growth limiting reactions at the interior of the cell (Fig. 1).
Abstract P023: Predictors of Oral Anticoagulation Resumption Among Atrial Fibrillation Patients Surviving an Intracranial Hemorrhage

Background: The clinical benefit of resuming oral anticoagulation (OAC) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who have survived an intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) remains unclear. It is important to u...
Impacts of urban carbon dioxide emissions on sea-air flux and ocean acidification in nearshore waters

Greatly enhanced atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels relative to well-mixed marine air are observed during periods of offshore winds at coastal sensor platforms in Monterey Bay, California, USA. The highest concentrations originate from urban and agricultural areas, are driven by diurnal winds, and peak in the early morning. These enhanced atmospheric levels can be detected across a ~100km wide nearshore area and represent a significant addition to total oceanic CO2 uptake. A global estimate puts the added sea-air flux of CO2 from these greatly enhanced atmospheric CO2 levels at 25 million tonnes, roughly 1% of the ocean’s annual CO2 uptake. The increased uptake over the 100 km coastal swath is of order 20%, indicating a potentially large impact on ocean acidification in productive coastal waters.
In Reply: A Retrospective Comparative Analysis of Titanium Mesh and Custom Implants for Cranioplasty.

BACKGROUND Autologous bone removed during craniectomy is often the material of choice in cranioplasty procedures. However, when the patient's own bone is not appropriate (infection and resorption), an alloplastic graft must be utilized. Common options include titanium mesh and polyetheretherketone (PEEK)-based custom flaps. Often, neurosurgeons must decide whether to use a titanium or custom implant, with limited direction from the literature. OBJECTIVE To compare surgical outcomes of synthetic cranioplasties performed with titanium or vs custom implants. METHODS Ten-year retrospective comparison of patients undergoing synthetic cranioplasty with titanium or custom implants. RESULTS A total of 82 patients were identified for review, 61 (74.4%) receiving titanium cranioplasty and 21 (25.6%) receiving custom implants. Baseline demographics and comorbidities of the 2 groups did not differ significantly, although multiple surgical characteristics did (size of defect, indication for craniotomy) and were controlled for via a 2:1 mesh-to-custom propensity matching scheme in which 36 titanium cranioplasty patients were compared to 18 custom implant patients. The cranioplasty infection rate of the custom group (27.8%) was significantly greater (P = .005) than that of the titanium group (0.0%). None of the other differences in measured complications reached significance. Discomfort, a common cause of reoperation in the titanium group, did not result in reoperation in any of the patients receiving custom implants. CONCLUSION Infection rates are higher among patients receiving custom implants compared to those receiving titanium meshes. The latter should be informed of potential postsurgical discomfort, which can be managed nonsurgically and is not associated with return to the operating room.
Translamina Terminalis Approach to Laser-Assisted Resection of Thalamomesencephalic Cavernous Malformation

Cavernous malformations of the midbrain require careful consideration of the risks and benefits of intervention as well as the optimal surgical approach for these challenging lesions. Excellent results can be achieved with careful surgical planning and technique. We demonstrate a contralateral left pterional craniotomy for a translamina terminalis approach to carbon dioxide laser-assisted microsurgical resection of a thalamomesencephalic cavernoma in a 59-year-old woman with progressive debilitating diplopia secondary to partial third nerve palsy (Video 1). We performed a contralateral left modified pterional craniotomy in which we limited dissection of the temporalis muscle to approximately one third rather than extending the muscle split down to the zygoma. The cavernous malformation was resected with no complications, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 3. She noted immediate improvement and nearly complete resolution of symptoms over ensuing weeks. This approach offers a direct route to the lesion with minimal brain transgression, while avoiding the critical structures within the interpeduncular cistern, including the basilar artery and thalamomesencephalic perforating arteries, as well as bordering neural structures, including cerebral peduncles, oculomotor nerves, and mamillary bodies. Use of the carbon dioxide laser with its 0.55-mm tip offers a low surgical profile and allows for precise cutting, thus minimizing thermal damage to surrounding tissues. The translamina terminalis approach through a pterional craniotomy offers a safe and potentially less morbid alternative to select thalamomesencephalic lesions compared with exposure through the mesencephalic surface, which in our experience often necessitates an orbitozygomatic craniotomy.
Designing a Chinatown anti-displacement map and walking tour with communication asset mapping

This paper illustrates a design activism project that led to a co-designed ‘anti-displacement map’ and ‘walking tour’ in Chicago’s Chinatown. The work argues that one way to deploy urban design pro...
Identifying regional COVID-19 presence early with time series analysis

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States was January 20, 2020 in Washington, while the first globally confirmed cases were in China in December 2019. The CDC's Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network is used to track the amount of people who seek medical attention for influenza-like illnesses, along with the illness cause. The metric rILI- is used to assess the amount of people who test negative for influenza or any other specific cause. To assess the evidence of COVID-19 presence in the US in late December 2019 or early January 2020, rILI- data from 2010 to mid-March 2020 was used to perform three types of analysis. First, we forecast prediction intervals using data until mid-November 2019 and compared the predictions with observed values for the subsequent 16 weeks. Second, we performed residual hypothesis testing by removing the trend and seasonality in order to compare residuals from before and after November 17, 2019. Third, we used changepoint analysis to identify major changes in trend and seasonality. This study provides strong evidence of COVID-19 presence in the US in late December 2019 or early January 2020. Combined with the knowledge that COVID-19 was spreading across other parts of the world, anomalous patterns in ILINet data should have been a warning sign that COVID-19 was already spreading in the US. The purpose of the study was not to identify specific states, but South Dakota has the strongest evidence, followed by California, Delaware, Maine, and New Mexico.
Simulation of proximal catheter occlusion and design of a shunt tap aspiration system.

Total and partial proximal catheter occlusions are well-known complications of ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS). When this occurs, surgeons often attempt to perform a shunt tap. However, the degree of obstruction in a proximal catheter that ultimately leads to shunt malfunction is unknown. We developed a benchtop model to simulate proximal catheter occlusion with two hydrostatic reservoirs connected by a VPS catheter system. The Centurion compass device was used to measure pressure across the valve digitally. Wires of varying diameters (equalling different occlusion percentages) were inserted into the catheter’s proximal end to stimulate obstruction. A mock shunt tap aspiration was then performed by incorporating a pressure transducer. As a general trend, pressure reading on the device decreases as occlusion increases. At higher levels of occlusion (> 45%), the blockage begins to significantly impede the flow through the catheter, and the pressure drops at a faster rate compared with lower occlusion percentages. The pressure reading converges quickly to 0 with increasing blockage after about 70%. The Centurion compass is able to detect large changes in pressure as evidenced by the major differences in pressure readings between no occlusion, 45%, and 84%. The shunt will not function at 84%. In order to determine the threshold for occlusion beyond which fluid cannot be withdrawn, we tested five levels of occlusion (0%, 33%, 63%, 84%, and 100%) at various aspiration pressures and determined that fluid can still be produced with 0–84% occlusion, but no fluid could be produced at 100% occlusion. We developed a model of proximal shunt obstruction and found that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow through a VPS is unaffected up to 33% occlusion, begins to become impaired at 45% occlusion, and is miniscule at 84% occlusion. Shunt aspiration was not possible at 84% occlusion. Pressure measured at the reservoir is accurate and correlates with intracranial pressure (ICP) up to approximately 60% proximal occlusion. With partial occlusion up to 70%, ventricular pressure will dictate shunt function.
Fingerprints of quantum criticality in locally resolved transport.

Understanding electrical transport in strange metals, including the seeming universality of Planckian $T$-linear resistivity, remains a longstanding challenge in condensed matter physics. We propose that local imaging techniques, such as nitrogen vacancy center magnetometry, can locally identify signatures of quantum critical response which are invisible in measurements of a bulk electrical resistivity. As an illustrative example, we use a minimal holographic model for a strange metal in two spatial dimensions to predict how electrical current will flow in regimes dominated by quantum critical dynamics on the Planckian length scale. We describe the crossover between quantum critical transport and hydrodynamic transport (including Ohmic regimes), both in charge neutral and finite density systems. We compare our holographic predictions to experiments on charge neutral graphene, finding quantitative agreement with available data; we suggest further experiments which may determine the relevance of our framework to transport on Planckian scales in this material. More broadly, we propose that locally imaged transport be used to test the universality (or lack thereof) of microscopic dynamics in the diverse set of quantum materials exhibiting $T$-linear resistivity.
Superior outcomes with double-balloon enteroscopy for small bowel lesion marking followed by intracorporeal as opposed to extracorporeal resection and reconstruction.

Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is used for the diagnosis and therapy of small bowel disease. Endoscopic sampling and marking small bowel lesions destined for surgery permit intracorporeal resection and reconstruction (IRR), thereby facilitating a complete minimally invasive technique. There are limited data that compare outcomes of IRR to conventional extracorporeal resection and reconstruction (ERR). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcomes of patients undergoing pre-operative DBE for lesion marking followed by laparoscopic IRR compared to those undergoing ERR. A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent DBE followed by small bowel resection from 2006 to 2017 at a single tertiary care medical center. IRR was defined as laparoscopic inspection to identify the lesion (previously marked by DBE or by laparoscopic-assisted DBE) followed by intra-abdominal bowel resection and anastomosis with specimen extraction via minimal extension of a laparoscopic port site. ERR was defined as extracorporeal resection and/or reconstruction performed via a conventional or mini-laparotomy abdominal incision. A total of 82 patients met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Thirty-two patients (39%) had ERR and 50 patients (61%) had IRR. The most common indications for DBE were small bowel bleeding (76%) and small bowel mass or thickening on prior imaging studies (16%). Successful DBE was higher in the IRR group when compared to the ERR group, but not significantly different (90% vs 75%, p-value 0.07). Patients who underwent IRR had faster bowel function recovery (2 vs 4 days, p < 0.01), shorter time to discharge (3 vs 7 days, p < 0.01), and fewer post-operative complications (10 vs 18; p < 0.01), when compared to the ERR group. DBE successfully facilitated laparoscopic small bowel IRR and this approach was associated with faster return of bowel function, shorter recovery time, and decreased morbidity when compared to ERR.
Molecular Characterization of Peritoneal Mesotheliomas.

Background Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPeM) is clinically distinct and less studied than malignant pleural mesothelioma. We report the genomic and immunophenotypic features of a prospectively collected MPeM cohort. Methods Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed on MPeM tumors. Genomic near-haploidization (GNH) was assessed. WT1, BAP1, mesothelin, VISTA, and PD-L1 were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) when tissue was available. Overall survival (OS) was stratified by selected genomic and IHC features. Results Fifty consented patients with MPeM (45 epithelioid, 5 non-epithelioid) demonstrated common alterations in BAP1 (60%; 30/50), NF2 (24%; 12/50) SETD2 (22%; 11/50), and TP53 (16%; 8/50). Seventy-six percent (38/50) of specimens were evaluable for allele-specific copy number analysis; 8% (3/38) had GNH. IHC positivity rates were 93% (37/40) for mesothelin, 96% (46/48) for WT1, 50% (19/38) for PD-L1 and 89% (34/38) for VISTA. BAP1 loss by IHC was observed in 76% (29/38), including five wildtype on NGS. Combining NGS and IHC for BAP1, OS was worse with alteration/loss compared to wildtype/retained in all patients (n=37 vs. 13, 43.8 vs. 117.3 months; p=0.04) Three of thirty patients had a pathogenic germline variant: POT1 I78T, MUTYH R109Y, BAP1 E402*. Conclusion MPeM has a distinct biology and genomic composition. CDKN2A/B alterations were rare in MPeM while BAP1, NF2, TP53, SETD2, LATS2 were common. BAP1 alteration/loss was associated with shorter survival when all patients were included. A notable minority of specimens had GNH associated with NF2, TP53, and SETDB1 mutations. Pathogenic germline mutations were found in 3 of 30 patients.
Why Isn’t Congress More Corrupt? A Preliminary Inquiry

In the aftermath of the indictment of New York state assembly speaker Sheldon Silver on corruption charges, law professor (and recent reformist gubernatorial candidate) Zephyr Teachout published an op-ed in the New York Times entitled “Legalized Bribery.” In it, she argued that campaign contributions are a “gateway drug” to bribes and that politicians are “pre-corrupted” by taking campaign contributions and doing favors for contributors. She wants campaign finance limits, public financing, and limits on outside income for legislators. Although Teachout used powerful rhetoric, and suggested worthy reforms, I see her as offering an empirical hypothesis about the relationship between campaign contributions and bribery: the easier it is to take campaign contributions, and the higher the contribution limits, the more politicians are primed to be bribed and therefore the more public corruption cases will emerge.But if campaign contributions lead to corruption, why do we not see more corruption in Congress? After all, members of Congress may take up to $5,400 each election; they also may set up leadership PACs to take more money often used to benefit themselves, and now they can help Super PACs raise money. Further, prosecutors and the media have great incentives to uncover public corruption of our national legislature. Yet we see much more public corruption prosecuted on the state and local level than in Congress. New York legislators, for example, are 7 times more likely to be convicted of corruption-related offenses than members of Congress. Further, public corruption prosecution rates vary significantly from state to state, in ways which seems uncorrelated with campaign finance laws. The preliminary evidence does not support the Teachout hypothesis.In this short Essay written for a symposium in the Fordham Law Review, I explore three possible explanations for relatively low rates of bribery and corruption in Congress compared to many states. I then make suggestions for reform based upon these explanations. First, the presence of muckracking media, widely consumed by the relevant public, deters corruption. Second, thanks to gridlock, complex rules, and committee structures, members of Congress may have less influence to sell than state and local officials, and therefore there is less demand by corrupt persons and entities to bribe them. Finally, part time legislators may have greater incentive to act corruptly than full time legislators because of a need for additional money to supplement their incomes. In the end, the preliminary evidence supports only the first argument, that media attention is the best deterrent to corruption and explains both the relative lack of corruption in Congress and variation among the states. Based upon my preliminary analysis, I suggest we deal with public corruption primarily through subsidies of investigative journalism on the state level (the “ProPublica” model) and through appropriate law enforcement. The campaign finance problem is separate, and requires its own solutions.
Noble Gas Compounds: Reliable Computational Methods

Because of the general interest in the bonding in noble gas (Ng) compounds and the lack of experimental data coupled with large discrepancies, reliable theoretical calculations are very important for the prediction of their structures and thermodynamics. We describe an approach for the prediction of heats of formation to ±1 kcal mol−1 (chemical accuracy) based on molecular orbital theory level using coupled cluster (CCSD(T), coupled cluster with single and double excitations plus a perturbative triples correction) theory extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS) limit with the correlation-consistent basis sets including relativistic effective core potentials (RECPs). Additional corrections to the valence correlation energies include core–valence (CV) correlation, molecular scalar relativistic corrections, atomic spin–orbit corrections, and zero-point vibrational energies. Applications of this approach for the determination of the structure of XeF6, the heats of formation of the xenon fluorides and krypton fluorides, and the methyl cation affinities (MCAs) of the Ngs are described. XeF6 is predicted to have C3v symmetry only at the highest computational levels. The experimental heats of formation of XeF4 and XeF6 require significant revision. The predicted heats of formation for KrF4 and KrF6 show that it will be extremely difficult to synthesize these compounds. The calculations show that there are serious issues with the experimental MCAs of all of the Ngs except for Ne. Keywords: coupled cluster theory (CCSD(T)); noble gas halides; heats of formation; methyl cation affinities; correlation-consistent basis sets; molecular orbital theory; noble gas chemistry; xenon hexafluoride; accurate calculations
Inference concerning physical systems

The question of whether the universe "is" just an information-processing system has been extensively studied in physics. To address this issue, the canonical forms of information processing in physical systems -- observation, prediction, control and memory -- were analyzed in [24]. Those forms of information processing are all inherently epistemological; they transfer information concerning the universe as a whole into a scientist's mind. Accordingly, [24] formalized the logical relationship that must hold between the state of a scientist's mind and the state of the universe containing the scientist whenever one of those processes is successful. This formalization has close analogs in the analysis of Turing machines. In particular, it can be used to define an "informational analog" of algorithmic information complexity. In addition, this formalization allows us to establish existence and impossibility results concerning observation, prediction, control and memory. The impossibility results establish that Laplace was wrong to claim that even in a classical, non-chaotic universe the future can be unerringly predicted, given suffcient knowledge of the present. Alternatively, the impossibility results can be viewed as a non-quantum mechanical "uncertainty principle". Here I present a novel motivation of the formalization introduced in [24] and extend some of the associated impossibility results.
Chapter 2.2 Principles of quantitative microdialysis

Abstract In vivo microdialysis relies principally on diffusion as the mechanism for solute exchange between the tissue and the probe perfusate. Mathematical models for describing microdialysis have been formulated based on known concepts of diffusion through tissue and the membranes with which probes are currently constructed. The models predict that the rate of exchange is strongly influenced by processes that remove the analyte from the tissue interstitium. This presents an opportunity to derive additional information about the clearance processes from microdialysis measurements. Experimental and mathematical approaches that have been developed to date for exploiting this possibility are presented in a revised framework suitable for both hydrophilic and lipophilic analytes.
I Mix What I Like! In Defense and Appreciation of the Rap Music Mixtape as “National” and “Dissident” Communication

The rap music mixtape is hip hop’s original mass medium. Yet, despite its importance historically and its current relevance within hip hop, the mixtape remains one of the more overlooked aspects of the world’s most popular cultural expression. Similarly, the interdisciplinary approach applied here—seeking to place the mixtape within a broader international anticolonial struggle and also to examine the mixtape as a “national” mass medium developing within a colonized “hip-hop nation,”—is also an underappreciated and potentially fruitful approach to the mixtape and communication as examples that help to expose those colonial relationships. By taking popular, but rarely explored concepts of hip hop as a “nation” and applying theories of internal colonialism, the mixtape’s history and current position assume different meanings.
Long-Term Pioglitazone Treatment Improves Learning and Attenuates Pathological Markers in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are agonists at peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma-type (PPAR-γ) receptors and are used clinically for the treatment of type 2 diabetes where they have been shown to reestablish insulin sensitivity, improve lipid profiles, and reduce inflammation. Recent work also suggests that TZDs may be beneficial in Alzheimer's disease (AD), ameliorating cognitive decline early in the disease process. However, there have been only a few studies identifying mechanisms through which cognitive benefits may be exerted. Starting at 10 months of age, the triple transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTg-AD) with accelerated amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and tau pathology was treated with the TZD pioglitazone (PIO-Actos) at 18 mg/Kg body weight/day. After four months, PIO-treated animals showed multiple beneficial effects, including improved learning on the active avoidance task, reduced serum cholesterol, decreased hippocampal amyloid-β and tau deposits, and enhanced short- and long-term plasticity. Electrophysiological membrane properties and post-treatment blood glucose levels were unchanged by PIO. Gene microarray analyses of hippocampal tissue identified predicted transcriptional responses following TZD treatment as well as potentially novel targets of TZDs, including facilitation of estrogenic processes and decreases in glutamatergic and lipid metabolic/cholesterol dependent processes. Taken together, these results confirm prior animal studies showing that TZDs can ameliorate cognitive deficits associated with AD-related pathology, but also extend these findings by pointing to novel molecular targets in the brain.
A calibration technique for SAR analog-to-digital converter based on INL testing with quantization bits and redundant bit

A calibration technique for SAR analog-to-digital converters is proposed in this paper which is ready to be integrated on chip. This technique is based on the integral nonlinearity (INL) test and utilizes one redundant bit and extra two quantization bits to improve the calibration accuracy. In the calibration mode, mismatch errors are saved as higher-bit level INL information and then translated to calibration codes. During the conversion, higher-bit level outputs are adjusted and truncated to generate the required bits. Finally, 0.375LSB improvement of INL is observed by theoretical analysis and the effectiveness of this method is verified by simulations in which the maximum INL is reduced from 0.9LSB to 0.23LSB.
The isolation and primary structure of a 22-kDa extracellular matrix protein from bovine skin.

Abstract The primary structure of a 22-kDa protein which was isolated during the purification of bovine skin dermatan sulfate proteoglycan is described. The uronate-rich fraction from DEAE-Sepharose chromatography of a 7.8 M urea extract of bovine fetal skin was subjected to gel filtration on Sepharose CL-6B in 4 M guanidine HCl. A prominent component of mass 22 kDa was separated from the proteoglycan and further purified on octyl-Sepharose. The primary structure of this component was determined and found to contain three repeat regions. Each of the three sections contains a similar pattern of looped disulfide bonds. A six-amino acid consensus sequence, Asp-Arg-Glx-Trp-Asn/Gln/Lys-Phe/Tyr, is found in each loop. This domain may be involved in associations of the molecule with other extracellular matrix components.