cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probing new physics with τ-leptons at the LHC

We discuss new physics that can show up in the τ+τ− production process at the LHC but not in the dimuon or the dielectric channels. We consider three different generic possibilities: a new resonance in the Drell-Yan process in the form of a non-universal Z′; a new non-resonant contribution to qq¯→τ+τ− in the form of leptoquarks; and contributions from gluon fusion due to effective lepton gluonic couplings. We emphasize the use of the charge asymmetry both to discover new physics and to distinguish between different possibilities
Motivational Interviewing to Address Suicidal Ideation: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Veterans

Objective Although the months following discharge from psychiatric hospitalization are a period of acute risk for veterans, there is a dearth of empirically supported treatments tailored to veterans in acute psychiatric hospitalization. Method We conducted a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of Motivational Interviewing to Address Suicidal Ideation (MI-SI) that explored and resolved ambivalence, and a revised MI-SI (MI-SI-R) that resolved ambivalence, on suicidal ideation (SI) in hospitalized veterans who scored > 2 on the Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Participants were randomized to receive MI-SI plus treatment as usual (TAU), MI-SI-R+TAU, or TAU alone. MI-SI+TAU and MI-SI-R+TAU included two in-hospital therapy sessions and one telephone booster session. Participants completed follow-up assessments over 6 months. Results Participants in all groups experienced reductions in the presence and severity of SI, but there were no significant differences among the groups. For the presence of SI, results were in the hypothesized direction for both MI-SI+TAU conditions. Conclusions Results are nondefinitive, but the effect size of both versions of MI-SI+TAU on the presence of SI was consistent with prior MI findings. Exploratory analyses suggest MI-SI-R may be preferable to MI-SI. More intensive MI-SI-R with a greater number of follow-ups may increase its effectiveness.
New Genus and Species of Turtle Blood Fluke (Platyhelminthes: Digenea: Schistosomatoidea) Infecting Six-Tubercled Amazon River Turtles, Podocnemis sextuberculata (Pleurodira: Podocnemididae) from the Amazon River Basin (Peru)

Herein we describe a new species of turtle blood fluke (TBF) and propose a new genus to accommodate it, Pitiutrema revelae n. gen., n. sp. This blood fluke infects the heart of six-tubercled Amazon River turtles (Podocnemis sextuberculata [Cornalia, 1849] [Pleurodira: Podocnemididae]) in the headwaters of the Amazon River near Iquitos, Peru. It resembles the other 2 described species of South American freshwater TBFs (Atamatam amazoniensis Bullard and Roberts, 2019, and Paratamatam iquitosiensis Bullard and Roberts, 2019) by having a dorsoventrally flattened and ovoid body, an oral sucker with anteroventral spines, 2 inter-cecal testes arranged in a column, inter-gonadal terminal genitalia, an inter-cecal and post-ovarian Laurer's canal pore, and a Y-shaped excretory bladder. It differs from all other nominal TBFs by having the combination of an aspinose body that lacks mammillae, a tapered (not broadly rounded) posterior body end, a ventral sucker, slightly M-shaped or inverse U-shaped ceca, a deeply-lobed (dendritic) ovary, a transverse uterus, and a dispersed vitellarium. The new genus is further unique among TBF genera by having an anterior to posterior sequence of ventral sucker, anterior testis, ovary, cirrus sac (lateral to posterior half of ovary), and posterior testis. The phylogenetic results and placement of the new taxon (1) were both predicted by our morphological diagnosis and comparisons with related taxa, (2) further indicated monophyly of the nominal South American freshwater TBFs, (3) reaffirmed the marine derived lineage identity of the nominal South American freshwater TBFs, and (4) highlighted that the single cercarial sequence (TBF sp. W-810) from an ampullariid in Brazil does not share a recent common ancestor with any of the nominal South American freshwater TBFs. The new species is the eighth TBF reported from a side-necked turtle (Pleurodira), the first TBF from a member of Podocnemididae, and the third freshwater TBF from South America.
Cognitive Function in Pulmonary Disease

A number of pulmonary diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), not only effect the lungs but have well-described effects on the brain and behavior. Many individuals with pulmonary disorders experience new and often severe morbidities including cognitive impairments and psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. These morbidities last for years and in the case of COPD and asthma may worsen with increased disease severity. This chapter will describe the cognitive impairments in patients with COPD, asthma, and ARDS. The chapter will also discuss mechanisms of injury, including hypoxia which is a common mechanism across these disorders. Finally, the chapter will discuss treatments for cognitive impairments with an emphasis on cognitive rehabilitation.
Nursing Research and Outcomes

Research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement activities are avenues where radiology nurses and advanced practice providers enhance patient care and promote safe clinical practices. The chapter provides an overview of clinical methods of inquiry. Research studies relevant to the area of radiology and future areas for research are also discussed.
Do sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors affect renal hemodynamics by different mechanisms in type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Cardiovascular and renal outcome trials demonstrate nephroprotection with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in people with type 2 diabetes. Attenuation of hyperfiltration is believed to be responsible for the nephroprotection, and studies in young adults with type 1 diabetes suggest that afferent arteriolar vasoconstriction induced by a tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism may be responsible for this effect. The study by van Bommel et al. suggests that this mechanism may not hold true in older adults with type 2 diabetes, who instead attenuate elevated glomerular filtration rate via post-glomerular vasodilation.
Hiplife Music in Ghana: Postcolonial Performances of the Good Life

This article examines how common-sense ideas of development are reinforced in Ghanaian popular culture. Specifically, using Sarkodie as a case study, I analyze how he constructs a successful entrepreneurial branded self, which then becomes an index of a “good life.” I also use participant observations and interviews conducted in Accra. I argue that hiplife artists’ success and their performances of success not only underscore their desire to access the good life but also to create distance from notions of poverty and “backwardness” associated with underdevelopment. Nonetheless, the images of success in mainstream hiplife do not necessarily reflect the everyday realities of most Ghanaians, and are, at times, deemed inauthentic. These misrepresentations may reinforce the fallacy of developmentalism.
THE CHALLENGES OF TREATING FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS WITH ACL INJURIES: IS THERE A BEST GRAFT CHOICE?

Introduction:While Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are common in female soccer players, the optimal graft option is currently unclear.Purpose:The purpose of this study was to compare outc...
Robotic Subcostal Hernia Repair: Totally Extraperitoneal (TEP)

Subcostal hernias are atypical hernias, which may be difficult to repair using traditional methods such as open onlay repair. The difficulty is mainly due to the proximity of the hernia to the costal margin, which limits the space needed for adequate defect closure, mesh fixation, and mesh overlap. Minimally invasive subcostal hernia repair can be achieved with both intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal mesh placement techniques. Although the intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) technique is commonly adopted for a variety of midline hernias, the repair of subcostal hernias may prove challenging with an intraperitoneal approach because of their proximity to vital structures, especially at the stage of mesh fixation.
The Association of Preoperative Smoking With Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Preoperative smoking is an easily modifiable risk factor and has associations with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. It is important to clarify these risks for specific procedures to provide improved and evidence-based quality of care. The purpose of the present study aims to identify the associations between preoperative smoking and 30-day postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. Methods We used R statistics to conduct a multivariable logistic regression analysis followed by a propensity score matching analysis to explore the association between preoperative smoking and postoperative outcomes. Results A final cohort of 67,897 patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty was selected for analysis. After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds of postoperative pulmonary complications (odds ratio [OR], 1.352; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.075-1.700; P = .01), infectious complications (OR, 1.310; 95% CI, 1.094-1.567; P = .003), and extended hospital stay (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.099-1.251; P Conclusions After controlling for potential confounding variables, our multivariable regression analysis revealed a significant increase in pulmonary and infectious complications as well as significantly longer hospital stays in our smoking population. When using a propensity score matching analysis, an increase in infectious complications as well as extended hospital stay was observed. Given the concerning prevalence of smoking in the United States, our data provide updated information toward a growing mass of literature supporting smoking cessation before surgical operations.
Shiga toxin suppresses noncanonical inflammasome responses to cytosolic LPS

Inflammatory caspase-dependent cytosolic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) sensing is a critical arm of host defense against bacteria. How pathogens overcome this pathway to establish infections is largely unknown. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is a clinically important human pathogen causing hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. We found that a bacteriophage-encoded virulence factor of EHEC, Shiga toxin (Stx), suppresses caspase-11-mediated activation of the cytosolic LPS sensing pathway. Stx was essential and sufficient to inhibit pyroptosis and interleukin-1 (IL-1) responses elicited specifically by cytosolic LPS. The catalytic activity of Stx was necessary for suppression of inflammasome responses. Stx impairment of inflammasome responses to cytosolic LPS occurs at the level of gasdermin D activation. Stx also suppresses inflammasome responses in vivo after LPS challenge and bacterial infection. Overall, this study assigns a previously undescribed inflammasome-subversive function to a well-known bacterial toxin, Stx, and reveals a new phage protein-based pathogen blockade of cytosolic immune surveillance.
Particle–fluid–wall interaction of inertial spherical particles in a turbulent boundary layer

We study the dynamics of dilute, slightly negatively buoyant, millimetre-size spherical particles fully suspended in a smooth-wall open channel flow. The Reynolds number is . Particle image velocimetry and tracking are used to obtain simultaneous, time-resolved flow fields and particle trajectories. Particles travel at a lower mean velocity than the fluid: in the log layer this is due to the oversampling of slow fluid regions, but closer to the wall the cause is instantaneous slip between particles and fluid. The particle Reynolds stresses exceed those of the fluid. Near the wall, the particle streamwise diffusivity is larger than the momentum diffusivity, while the opposite is true for the wall-normal component. The particle transport is strongly linked to ejections, while the role of sweeps is marginal, and there is no evidence of turbophoresis. The concentration profile follows a power law with a shallower slope than predicted by equilibrium theories that neglect particle inertia. Upward-/downward-moving particles display positive/negative mean streamwise acceleration due to the particle–fluid slip. The particles that contact the wall are faster than the local fluid both before reaching the wall and after leaving it. Therefore, they are decelerated by drag and pushed downward by shear-induced lift. The durations of wall contact follow exponential distributions with characteristic time scale close to the particle response time. Lift-offs coincide with particles meeting a fluid ejection. These observations emphasize the competing effects of inertia and gravity.
Single calcium channel nanodomains drive presynaptic calcium entry at individual lamprey reticulospinal presynaptic terminals

Synchronous neurotransmission is central to efficient information transfer in neural circuits, requiring precise coupling between action potentials, Ca2+ entry and neurotransmitter release. However, determinations of Ca2+ requirements for release, which may originate from just single channels, remain largely unexplored in simple active zone synapses common in the nervous system, key to addressing synaptic dysfunction in numerous neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we present single channel resolution analyses of evoked active zone Ca2+ entry, using cell attached patch clamp and lattice light sheet microscopy, at single central lamprey reticulospinal presynaptic terminals. Our findings show a small pool of Ca2+ channels at each terminal, comprising subtypes N (CaV2.2), P/Q (CaV2.1) and R (CaV2.3), implicated in neurotransmitter release. Significantly, of this pool only 3-6 channels open upon depolarization. High temporal fidelity lattice light sheet imaging reveals AP-evoked Ca2+ transients exhibiting quantal amplitude variations between action potentials and stochastic variation of precise locations of Ca2+ entry within the active zone. Further, VGCC numbers at each active zone correlate to the number of presynaptic primed synaptic vesicles. Together, our findings indicate 1:1 association of Ca2+ channels with primed vesicles, suggesting Ca2+ entry via as few as one channel may trigger neurotransmitter release.
Bilateral Lung Transplantation for End-Stage Respiratory Failure from COVID-19 Pneumonia

Introduction The SARS-CoV-2 virus is causing severe end-stage fibrosis and respiratory failure in otherwise healthy individuals. Lung transplant (LTX) has been performed internationally in select patients for this indication, but there is limited evidence on its role in COVID-19. We describe a patient who received a bilateral LTX 12 weeks after an initial diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. Case Report A 51-year-old male with hypertension and presented to an outlying hospital with dyspnea, fever and exposure to SARS-CoV-2. He was hypoxic and a diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia was made by nasopharyngeal swab. He was treated with dexamethasone, remdesivir, and convalescent plasma, mechanical ventilation and eventually femoral VV-ECMO cannulation to maintain oxygenation. He was extubated and was transitioned to a left subclavian dual-limb 30 Fr VV-ECMO cannula for improved rehabilitation. He was then transferred to our center for LTX consideration given refractory ARDS. Evaluation for LTX revealed pulmonary hypertension, negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR and deconditioning but no absolute contraindications. He participated in intensive rehabilitation and progressed to assisted steps despite severe deconditioning and hypoxia. He was listed for a bilateral lung transplant with a lung allocation score of 90 and received a donor offer 7 days after listing and after 82 days on ECMO. He underwent bilateral LTX via clamshell exposure with central VA ECMO support. Intraoperatively, the lungs were densely consolidated with severe hilar adenopathy without peripheral adhesions. Post-operatively, he was transitioned back to his original VV ECMO circuit and then decannulated on post-op day 3. Standard induction with basiliximab and immunosuppression with IV methylprednisolone, mycophenolate and tacrolimus was administered. He had a transient elevation of liver enzymes on post-operative day 1 and an early planned tracheostomy was performed due to deconditioning. He has since, been progressing well on oxygen via tracheostomy collar and is able to speak with a one-way valve and participate in rehabilitation. Summary For patients with irreversible end-stage lung disease after COVID-19 pneumonia, LTX is a viable option. Timely transfer to a lung transplant center and intensive rehabilitation are essential. Standard established immunosuppression and post-transplant protocols should be followed.
Biology's Contributions to Social Psychiatry's Future

Objective: To create conditions favorable to social psychiatry overcoming constraints on the range of interventions that psychiatry makes available to patients and communities. Methods: The author reviewed the history of psychiatry's range of practices, research, and training from mid-20th century to present and social concerns with future risks to mental health and well-being. Using Medline, Google, legislative sources, and major news reports, he ascertained the relationships among psychiatric activities, social policies, community resources, and public attitudes toward sciences relevant to health care. Results: Since mid-20th century, psychiatry has become increasingly evidence based in molecular and related fields of biology. After mid-20th century, this biological turn eclipsed social psychiatry functions quickly in the United States with the withdrawal of federal public funding and a constriction of commercial funding for patient care. By the 21st century, professional priorities and governmental federalist funding priorities precluded most psychiatric activities beyond office and hospital-based patient care. With these shifts, American psychiatry did not support social psychiatry practices and other international needs for mental health services. Modern biologically oriented psychiatry limits its future abilities to meet national and international social psychiatry needs by not calling upon 21st century evolutionary biological. By fostering balance and integration among individuals, populations, environments, and a group's historical cultural heritage, Darwin's biology validates social psychiatry adapting a full range of primary, secondary, and tertiary preventive mental health-care services, training, and research resources to meet individual and population's needs. Conclusions: A community's needs define psychiatry's social role in health care. Evolutionary biology promises social psychiatry a comprehensive conceptual grounding focused on how an individual and population affect and are affected by their environments and histories. Without this broad scientific foundation, psychiatry may forfeit the opportunity to gain public trust of how science comprehensively informs and supports human health and well-being.
RiboTRIBE: Monitoring Translation with ADAR-meditated RNA Editing

RNA translation is tightly regulated to ensure proper protein expression in cells and tissues. Translation is often assayed with biochemical assays such as ribosome profiling and TRAP, which are effective in many contexts. These assays are however not ideal with limiting amounts of biological material when it can be difficult or even impossible to make an extract with sufficient signal or sufficient signal:noise. Because of our interest in translational regulation within the few Drosophila adult circadian neurons, we fused the ADAR catalytic domain (ADARcd) to several small subunit ribosomal proteins and assayed mRNA editing in Drosophila S2 cells. The strategy is named RiboTRIBE and is analogous to a recently published APOBEC-based method. The list of RiboTRIBE-edited transcripts overlaps well with ribosome profiling targets, especially with more highly ranked targets. There is also an enriched number of editing sites in ribosome-associated mRNA comparing to total mRNA, indicating that editing occurs preferentially on polyribosome-associated transcripts. The use of cycloheximide to freeze translating ribosomes causes a substantial increase in the number of RiboTRIBE targets, which is decreased by pretreating cells with the chain terminating drug puromycin. NOTE: Additional experiments performed after first submitting this manuscript to BioRxiv estimate that less than 5% of Rps28b-ADAR is ribosome-associated. This is because the vast majority of the fusion protein sediments at the top of a polyribosome gradient. We therefore suggest that most editing reported in the manuscript is not catalyzed by ribosome-associated ADAR (10/2/2021).
Determining Decomposition Levels for Wavelet Denoising Using Sparsity Plot

We present a method to select decomposition levels for noise thresholding in wavelet denoising. It is essential to determine the accurate decomposition levels to avoid inadequate noise reduction and/or signal distortion by noise thresholding. We introduce the concept of sparsity plot that captures the abrupt transition from noisy to noise-free Detail component, readily revealing the cut-off for the maximum decomposition levels. The method uses the sparsity parameter to determine the noise presence in each detail component and measures the magnitude change in the sparsity values to distinguish between noisy and noise-free Detail components. The method is tested on both model and experimental signals, and proves effective for various signal lengths and types, as well as different Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNRs). The method can be embedded with any wavelet denoising method to improve its performance. The code is available via GitHub and denoising.cornell.edu, as well as the corresponding author’s group website ( http://signalsciencelab.com ).
Structural Effects on Superconductivity

The aim of the article is to discuss some aspects of the effects of structure and structural transformations of solids on their superconductive properties.
Improved demonstration of cartilage narrowing in the knee joint using standing PA flexed radiographs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare standing PA flexed (SPAF) knee radiographs of the knees with standing full-extension AP(SAP) radiographs for demonstration of narrowing of the articular cartilage of the knee joint and the presence and size of osteophytes and to determine if sclerosis is a predictor of the severity of joint space narrowing. DESIGN: 220 knees in 110 consecutive patients visiting the orthopaedic clinic with knee pain and having both SPAF radiographs and SAP radiographs at the same visit were evaluated by a musculoskeletal radiologist for cartilage narrowing in the knee joint using a scale 0-3 with 0= normal and 3= bone on bone. Osteophytes were also graded 0-3 and sclerosis as present or absent. PATIENTS: The subjects were patients of one of the authors (C.A.J) who ordered both types of radiographs on most of his patients. RESULTS: In 47% of knees the SPAF radiograph showed narrowing more severe than the SAP radiograph. In 5% the SAP view showed narrowing more severe than the SPAF view. In the medial compartment the SPAF view showed significantly larger osteophytes than the SAP view. The osteophyte size difference was not significant in the lateral compartment. If sclerosis was present on the AP view, there was a greater than 80% chance that the SPAF view would show greater narrowing. CONCLUSION: The SPAF radiograph frequently shows more cartilage narrowing in the knee joint than does the SAP view. It is valuable for routine use or when the clinical severity of arthritis in the knee joint seems to be greater than that demonstrated on the AP standing view. Sclerosis on the SAP view makes it especially likely that the SPAF view will show greater cartilage narrowing.
Semiconductor Diode Laser Mode-Locking by a Waveguide Array

We demonstrate theoretically that robust mode-locking can be achieved in an edge-emitting semiconductor diode laser with a waveguide array architecture. The waveguide array provides an ideal saturable absorption mechanism for initial start-up from noise, as well as pulse shaping and stabilization. One element in the waveguide array is forward-biased to generate gain, while nonlinear coupling to the other elements results in an effective saturable absorber. This new approach can be integrated directly with standard edge-emitting designs.
Preferential Utilization of Acetate by Astrocytes Is Attributable to Transport

Exogenous acetate is preferentially metabolized by astrocytes in the CNS, but the biochemical basis for this selectivity is unknown. We observed that rat cortical astrocytes produce14CO2 from 0.2 mm[14C]acetate at a rate of 0.43 nmol/min per milligram of protein, 18 times faster than cortical synaptosomes. Subsequent studies examined whether this was attributable to cellular differences in the transport or metabolism of acetate. The activity of acetyl-CoA synthetase, the first enzymatic step in acetate utilization, was greater in synaptosomes than in astrocytes (5.0 and 2.9 nmol/min per milligram of protein), indicating that slower metabolism in synaptosomes cannot be attributed to lack of enzymatic activity. [14C]Acetate uptake in astrocytes is rapid and time-dependent and follows saturation kinetics ( V max, 498 nmol/min per milligram of protein; K m, 9.3 mm). Uptake is inhibited stereospecifically by l-lactate as well as by pyruvate, fluoroacetate, propionate, and α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (CHC). Preloading astrocytes withl-lactate or acetate, but not d-lactate, pyruvate, or glyoxylate, transaccelerates [14C]acetate uptake. Acetate uptake by astrocytes appears to be mediated by a carrier with properties similar to that of monocarboxylate transport. In contrast, studies with synaptosomes provided no evidence for time-dependent, saturable, transaccelerated, or CHC-inhibitable uptake of [14C]acetate. The high rate of transport in astrocytes compared with synaptosomes explains the rapid incorporation of [14C]acetate into brain glutamine over glutamate. These findings provide support for the use of acetate as a marker for glial metabolism and suggest that extracellular acetate in the brain generated from acetylcholine and ethanol metabolism is accumulated first by astrocytes.
Retrotransposons and Human Disease

Retrotransposition is a ‘copy-and-paste’ mechanism whereby a retrotransposable element is copied from one genomic location and inserted into another genomic location, using a ribonucleic acid intermediate. The consequences of the retrotransposon-associated alterations of the genomic landscape range from silent events to changes contributing to species-specific and individual differences as well as a broad spectrum of diseases. Retrotransposon-induced genetic variation can lead to inactivation or alteration of expression of critical genes via insertional mutagenesis, loss of genomic sequences through nonallelic homologous recombination or in association with de novo integration. In addition to these well-recognised mutagenic events, some retroelements such as LINE-1 can induce deoxyribonucleic acid double-strand breaks that, if repaired unfaithfully, may lead to mutations. Moreover, retroelements have also contributed to generation of novel genes or functions through pseudogene formation, exonisation or shuffling of genetic material during retrotransposition. Thus, a complete understanding of their cumulative effect on any given genome or on genome evolution remains elusive. Key Concepts: Retroelements are currently active in the human genome, but only a limited number of functional loci are retrotranspositionally competent. Retrotransposition is a multistep process that requires LINE-1 proteins and cellular factors. Human retrotransposons (LINE-1, Alu and SVA) contribute to disease through several mechanisms. LINE-1 ORF2 protein induces DNA double-strand breaks, but their contribution to human disease is not yet characterised. LINE-1 expression varies among germ line, normal somatic tissues and cancer. Retrotransposition can occur in the germ line, normal somatic tissues and cancer. There is variation in the rate of LINE-1, Alu and SVA retrotransposition. The estimated frequency of LINE-1-, Alu- and SVA-associated diseases is likely an underestimation of their contribution to human disease. Keywords: retrotransposons; L1 elements; alu elements; insertional mutagenesis; unequal homologous recombination; double-strand breaks; DNA damage
Deporting the Pardoned

Federal immigration laws make noncitizens deportable on the basis of state criminal convictions. Historically, Congress implemented this scheme in ways that respected the states’ sovereignty over their criminal laws. As more recent federal laws have been interpreted, however, a state’s decision to pardon, expunge, or otherwise set-aside a conviction under state law will often have no effect on the federal government’s determination to use that conviction as a basis for deportation. While scholars have shown significant interest in state and local laws regulating immigrants, few have considered the federalism implications of federal rules that ignore a state’s authority to determine the continuing validity of its own convictions. This Article contends that limitations on the preclusive effect of pardons, expungements, appeals, and similar post-conviction processes undermine sovereign interests in maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system, calibrating justice, fostering rehabilitation, and deciding where to allocate resources. In light of the interests at stake, Congress should be required to clearly express its intent to override pardons and related state post-conviction procedures. A federalism-based clear statement rule for statutory provisions that restrict generally applicable criminal processes would not constrain Congress’s power to set immigration policy, because Congress remains free to make its intent clear in the statute. But the rule would ensure that Congress, rather than an administrative agency, has made the deliberative choice to upset the usual constitutional balance of federal and state power.
Shark meets man: the research and academic life of Donald Richard Nelson (1937-1997)

This symposium is dedicated to the memory of Donald Richard Nelson, a pioneer in the study of shark behavior and sensory biology, a dedicated teacher, and friend to many. Don was an ultimate marine biologist who studied these enigmatic animals submerged in their own environment. He had many talents that ranged from expert diver to ethologist to cinematographer to engineer. Persistence and a critical approach to scientific challenges were his landmarks, and these qualities touched all of his students and many of his colleagues. His pleasant nature, never-ending friendship and dependable support are missed by many.
Is fast fashion sustainable? The effect of positioning strategies on consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the strategies that fast fashion retailers use to position sustainability by applying the stimulus-organism-response model. Specifically, this study investigated how sustainability positioning strategies influenced perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) effort, price value and brand equity. Design/methodology/approach – A between-subject Web experiment was used to test the research model. Four versions of the questionnaire were developed on a commercial online survey Web site, in which the surveys were randomly distributed to participants and data were collected. Findings – The findings of this study suggest that sustainability positioning strategies can lead to the positive perceived CSR effort, thus giving support to the effectiveness of sustainability marketing for fast fashion retailers. Furthermore, purchase intentions are significantly influenced by perceived CSR effort, price value and brand equity. Originality/value – This study provides i...
Bernoulli and poly-Bernoulli polynomial convolutions and identities of p-adic Arakawa–Kaneko zeta functions

We evaluate the ordinary convolution of Bernoulli polynomials in closed form in terms of poly-Bernoulli polynomials. As applications we derive identities for p-adic Arakawa–Kaneko zeta functions, including a p-adic analogue of Ohno’s sum formula. These p-adic identities serve to illustrate the relationships between real periods and their p-adic analogues.
Assessment of Bermudagrass and Bunch Grasses as Feedstock for Conversion to Ethanol

Research is needed to allow more efficient processing of lignocellulose from abundant plant biomass resources for production to fuel ethanol at lower costs. Potential dedicated feedstock species vary in degrees of recalcitrance to ethanol processing. The standard dilute acid hydrolysis pretreatment followed by simultaneous sacharification and fermentation (SSF) was performed on leaf and stem material from three grasses: giant reed (Arundo donax L.), napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.), and bermudagrass (Cynodon spp). In a separate study, napiergrass, and bermudagrass whole samples were pretreated with esterase and cellulose before fermentation. Conversion via SSF was greatest with two bermudagrass cultivars (140 and 122 mg g−1 of biomass) followed by leaves of two napiergrass genotypes (107 and 97 mg g−1) and two giant reed clones (109 and 85 mg g−1). Variability existed among bermudagrass cultivars for conversion to ethanol after esterase and cellulase treatments, with Tifton 85 (289 mg g) and Coastcross II (284 mg g−1) being superior to Coastal (247 mg g−1) and Tifton 44 (245 mg g−1). Results suggest that ethanol yields vary significantly for feedstocks by species and within species and that genetic breeding for improved feedstocks should be possible.
A Scheduled Control Framework for Electrospinning Process in Nanofiber-Based Textile Fabrication

The piezoelectric property exhibited by certain polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has been effectively utilized in developing piezoelectric-based film sensors and actuators with application to acoustic transducers, smart fabric and nanomanipulator controllers. The PVDF-based fabric, made of nonwoven nanofibers, is produced by "electrospinning" process in which a jet is ejected in the form of Taylor cone with the application of high voltage to a polymer droplet suspended at the tip of a nozzle. A simple physical model of the fluid jet to investigate the variation of fiber diameter with variation in system parameters is presented in this paper. It is observed that the major parameters that influence the fiber properties are magnitude of the electrostatic field, distance between the nozzle tip and collector grid, infusion rate, concentration of the polymer solution and design of the collector. Presently, the parameterization results from open loop experiments correspond exactly to equations obtained from the model. An image-based feedback control of the electrospinning process based on this model is thus proposed to optimize the nonwoven fiber properties (e.g. fiber diameter). The feedback control is achieved by obtaining and processing images of the jet formation from a high speed camera and analyzing the fiber thickness and jet stability shape.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Interpretation of nondestructive tests on unknown bridge foundations using artificial neural networks

To aid in determining the depth of unknown bridge foundations, two artificial neural networks were trained to predict the length of piles from sonic mobility test data. Synthetic mobility data generated using a one-dimensional model of the foundation system was used to train the networks. To simulate bridge bents and pile caps, a massive element atop the pile was included in the model. The source and receiver positions were on top of the simulated bent or cap. The first network was trained using `raw' mobility data; the second network was trained using `enhanced' mobility data in which the response of the bent or cap was subtracted from the response of the whole foundation system to emphasize resonances associated with the pile tip. Both networks yielded accurate predictions of pile length when tested with additional synthetic data. The networks also yielded reasonably accurate predictions of pile length when tested with experimental mobility data from two bridges. improved artificial neural networks would likely result if they were trained using experimental, rather than synthetic, data.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Proton radiotherapy in management of pediatric base of skull tumors.

Abstract Purpose: Primary skull base tumors of the developing child are rare and present a formidable challenge to both surgeons and radiation oncologists. Gross total resection with negative margins is rarely achieved, and the risks of functional, structural, and cosmetic deficits limit the radiation dose using conventional radiation techniques. Twenty-nine children and adolescents treated with conformal proton radiotherapy (proton RT) were analyzed to assess treatment efficacy and safety. Methods and Materials: Between July 1992 and April 1999, 29 patients with mesenchymal tumors underwent fractionated proton (13 patients) or fractionated combined proton and photon (16 patients) irradiation. The age at treatment ranged from 1 to 19 years (median 12); 14 patients were male and 15 female. Tumors were grouped as malignant or benign. Twenty patients had malignant histologic findings, including chordoma ( n = 10), chondrosarcoma ( n = 3), rhabdomyosarcoma ( n = 4), and other sarcomas ( n = 3). Target doses ranged between 50.4 and 78.6 Gy/cobalt Gray equivalent (CGE), delivered at doses of 1.8–2.0 Gy/CGE per fraction. The benign histologic findings included giant cell tumors ( n = 6), angiofibromas ( n = 2), and chondroblastoma ( n = 1). RT doses for this group ranged from 45.0 to 71.8 Gy/CGE. Despite maximal surgical resection, 28 (97%) of 29 patients had gross disease at the time of proton RT. Follow-up after proton RT ranged from 13 to 92 months (mean 40). Results: Of the 20 patients with malignant tumors, 5 (25%) had local failure; 1 patient had failure in the surgical access route and 3 patients developed distant metastases. Seven patients had died of progressive disease at the time of analysis. Local tumor control was maintained in 6 (60%) of 10 patients with chordoma, 3 (100%) of 3 with chondrosarcoma, 4 (100%) of 4 with rhabdomyosarcoma, and 2 (66%) of 3 with other sarcomas. The actuarial 5-year local control and overall survival rate was 72% and 56%, respectively, and the overall survival of the males was significantly superior to that of the female patients ( p = 0.002). Of the patients with benign tumors, 1 patient (giant cell tumor) had local failure at 10 months. The other 8 patients continued to have local tumor control; all 9 patients were alive at last follow-up (actuarial 5-year local control and overall survival rate of 89% and 100%, respectively). Severe late effects (motor weakness and sensory deficits) were observed in 2 (7%) of 29 patients. Conclusion: Proton RT for children with aggressively recurring tumors after major skull base surgery can offer a considerable prospect of tumor control and survival. Longer follow-up is necessary to assess the real value of protons, in particular with regard to bone growth and cosmetic outcome.
Two Numerical Methods for Modeling Variably Saturated Flow in Layered Media

Two alternative methods for numerical modeling of variably saturated flow in layered media are developed. The first method is based on a space and time finite difference discretization of the mixed form of Richards' equation. The solution of the resulting equations follows the scheme introduced by Celia et al. The unique features in the proposed solution are treatments of (i) the saturated–unsaturated transition and (ii) the interface between material layers. In the second method, following work by Marinelli and Durnford, Richards' equation is discretized in time. At each time step a system of two first-order equations in space is obtained. These equations are solved with an ordinary differential equation (ODE) shooting method. The ODE solution uses a fixed space grid and first order Euler integration. Both the finite difference and shooting methods are used to model the drainage of an initially saturated one-dimensional three-layer soil column. Grid converged results indicate a close agreement between the finite difference and shooting method predictions.
Molecular Determinants of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel Inhibition by Gem

High voltage-activated (HVA) Ca2+ channels, including L-, N- and P/Q-type channels, are potently inhibited by the Rem, Rem2, Rad, and Gem/Kir (RGK) family of small GTP-binding proteins. This inhibition was widely thought to depend on the direct association between RGK proteins and the β subunit (Cavβ) of HVA Ca2+ channels, but we recently found that P/Q channel inhibition by Gem protein in inside-out membrane patches required Cavβ but not the Gem-Cavβ interaction, and that Gem coimmunoprecipitated with the P/Q channel α1 subunit in a Cavβ-independent manner. Thus, we proposed that direct interactions between Gem and the α1 subunit (Cavα1) of HVA Ca2+ channels are critical for Gem inhibition. In this study, we investigate the molecular determinants on Cavα1 that are important for Gem inhibition. We construct chimeras between the α1 subunit of P/Q channels and the Gem-insensitive low voltage-activated T-type channels, which do not bind or require Cavβ. We find that grafting the α-interaction domain (AID), the high-affinity Cavβ binding site on Cavα1, or grafting the entire AID-containing I-II loop from P/Q channel into T-channels (TPQ I-II loop), is sufficient for Cavβ binding and gating regulation but does not bestow RGK inhibition. However, adding the first two transmembrane segments (IIS1-IIS2) of the second homology repeat onto the TPQ I-II loop construct, produced a Gem-sensitive T-channel. This inhibition persists with non-interacting Gem and Cavβ mutants, indicating that the Cavβ-Gem interaction is not necessary, just as in the case of Gem inhibition of P/Q channels. In complementary experiments, substituting only IIS1-IIS2 of P/Q channel α1 with that of T-channel's severely attenuates RGK inhibition. This supports a paradigm in which Gem directly binds and inhibits Cavβ-primed Cavα1 on the plasma membrane. We are currently investigating the role of other Cavα1 regions in Gem inhibition.
ÉVolution De La Cocirculation Des Monnaies

La > implique l`utilisation habituelle de deux ou plusieurs monnaies a l`interieur d`une meme economie. Cette etude examine les methodes permettant d`evaluer l`importance de la circulation des monnaies etrangeres dans une economie. L`observation des faits montre incontestablement qu`on utilise largement le dollar E.U., le deutsche mark et d`autres devises au-dehors du pays qui emet chacune de ces monnaies nationales; on s`en sert pour regler normalement des transactions ordinaires, ou bien pour speculer, ou encore pour epargner. Comme la cocirculation n`est pas souvent chiffree, les estimations statistiques des flux internationaux de capitaux et des agregats monetaires risquent d`etre
A second course of high-dose melphalan and auto-SCT for the treatment of relapsed AL amyloidosis

High-dose melphalan and auto-SCT (HDM/SCT) induces hematological complete responses (HCRs) in 40% of patients with immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis. However, relapses occur in 8% of patients who initially achieve HCR. We conducted a study to explore the feasibility and efficacy of a second HDM/SCT in this setting. Eleven patients were enrolled. Five patients underwent repeat stem cell mobilization with G-CSF; the others had stem cells cryopreserved from the first mobilization. Six patients received 200 mg/m2 HDM; five patients received modified HDM at 140 mg/m2. Engraftment occurred at a median of 10 days for neutrophils and 12 days for platelets. There was no treatment-related mortality or death within the first year, but significant grade III/IV non-hematological toxicities occurred. In all, 4 of 11 patients (36%) achieved HCR at 1 year. Two of these patients are in continuous remission at 3 and 6 years; the other two relapsed at 2 and 3 years. Of the four patients who achieved partial hematological response at 1 year, three have relapsed at a median of 3 years. Three patients died of progressive disease at 1–2 years. In conclusion, one-third of patients with AL amyloidosis who relapse after HDM/SCT can achieve HCR with a second SCT.
Thinking Outside the Circle: The Place of Kierkegaard in Stern's Understanding Moral Obligation

Abstract In Understanding Moral Obligation, Robert Stern presents an interesting account of the history of ethics from Kant through Hegel and Kierkegaard. I argue that Stern in this account misinterprets Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling and Works of Love by reading them as presenting a Divine Command Theory of moral obligation, as a philosophical account meant to compete with those of Kant and Hegel. It mistakes, indeed subverts, Kierkegaard's purposes to read him as engaging in a philosophical dialectic in these texts. I argue that Stern's reading renders Kierkegaard's contribution internal to a philosophical dialectic that Kierkegaard means to speak against, from a position expressly and resolutely external to it.
Astronomy - Worlds of mutual motion

Two asteroids beyond Neptune have been found to orbit one another. This binary system in the Kuiper belt shows marked differences from binary objects elsewhere in the Solar System.
Horticultural and Biochemical Variations Due to Seed Source and Production Methods in Three Echinacea spp.

We evaluated 4 years of organically produced Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpurea, and E. pallida, comparing commercial organic seed source against public germplasm and open-field production against screened cages to prevent leafhopper transmission of aster yellows. Both seed sources produced excellent root yields, with fourth-year E. angustifolia yield, at 1,504 kg ha−1, greater in the open field than under screened cages. Yields were equivalent across E. purpurea treatments, averaging 4,845 kg ha−1. E. pallida yield, at 8,510 kg ha−1, was greater under screened cages. Open-field Echinacea plants experienced more disease than those under screened cages. Cichoric acid, chlorogenic acid, and echinacoside levels were acceptable across all treatments. Alkamides 8 + 9, associated with immune-modulating effects, increased over the years.