cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stretchable Biofuel Cells as Wearable Textile-based Self-Powered Sensors.

Highly stretchable textile-based biofuel cells (BFCs), acting as effective self-powered sensors, have been fabricated using screen-printing of customized stress-enduring inks. Due to the synergistic effects of nanomaterial-based engineered inks and the serpentine designs, these printable bioelectronic devices endure severe mechanical deformations, e.g., stretching, indentation, or torsional twisting. Glucose and lactate BFCs with single-enzyme and membrane-free configurations generated the maximum power densities of 160 and 250 μW cm−2 with the open circuit voltages of 0.44 and 0.46 V, respectively. The textile-BFCs were able to withstand repeated severe mechanical deformations with minimal impact on its structural integrity, as was indicated from their stable power output after 100 cycles of 100% stretching. By providing power signals proportional to the sweat fuel concentration, these stretchable devices act as highly selective and stable self-powered textile sensors. Their applicability to sock-based BFCs and self-powered biosensors and mechanically compliant operations was demonstrated on human subjects. These stretchable skin-worn “scavenge-sense-display” devices are expected to contribute to the development of skin-worn energy harvesting systems, advanced non-invasive self-powered sensors and wearable electronics on a stretchable garment.
A probabilistic analysis of meteorically altered δ13C chemostratigraphy from late Paleozoic ice age carbonate platforms

The stratigraphic expression of meteoric diagenesis in carbonates is a glimpse into the weathering, fluid transport, and biological productivity of the ancient near-surface terrestrial environment. To infer this environmental information, we use a probabilistic approach to merge an isotope-based reactive transport model with chemostratigraphic data from carbonates that were subaerially exposed during an expansion of the late Paleozoic ice age in the middle Carboniferous. The rate of carbon flowing through the carbonate platform relative to the rate of carbon reacting between mineral and fluid phases controls the length scale, curvature, and magnitude of the diagenetic carbon isotope profiles. The ratio of advection to reaction is determined for seven stratigraphic sections, and the advection rate is used to estimate the minimum carbonate weathering associated with each profile. These carbonate weathering rates extrapolated over the expansive shallow carbonate platforms of the middle Carboniferous indicate that glacioeustatic fall may have caused a 20%–50% increase in the dissolved CaCO3 flux to the ocean. The complex feedbacks among carbonate weathering and accumulation, atmospheric p CO2, glacioeustasy, and passive margin subsidence may have played an unexplored role in the glacial-interglacial climate dynamics of the late Paleozoic ice age.
Inhibiting Metal Oxide Atomic Layer Deposition: Beyond Zinc Oxide.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of several metal oxides is selectivity inhibited on alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au, and the eventual nucleation mechanism is investigated. The inhibition ability of the SAM is significantly improved by the in situ H2-plasma pretreatment of the Au substrate prior to the gas-phase deposition of a long-chain alkanethiol, 1-dodecanethiol (DDT). This more rigorous surface preparation inhibits even aggressive oxide ALD precursors, including trimethylaluminum and water, for at least 20 cycles. We study the effect that the ALD precursor purge times, growth temperature, alkanethiol chain length, alkanethiol deposition time, and plasma treatment time have on Al2O3 ALD inhibition. This is the first example of Al2O3 ALD inhibition from a vapor-deposited SAM. The inhibitions of Al2O3, ZnO, and MnO ALD processes are compared, revealing the versatility of this selective surface treatment. Atomic force microscopy and grazing-incidence X-ray fluorescence further reveal ins...
The Classical Hodgkin-Huxley ODEs

In the 1940s, Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley clarified the fundamental physical mechanism by which electrical impulses are generated by nerve cells, and travel along axons, in animals and humans. They experimented with isolated pieces of the giant axon of the squid. They summarized their conclusions in a series of publications in 1952; the last of these papers [76] is arguably the single most influential paper ever written in neuroscience, and forms the foundation of the field of mathematical and computational neuroscience. This chapter is an introduction to the Hodgkin-Huxley model.
Clinical and procedural outcomes with the SAPIEN 3 versus the SAPIEN XT prosthetic valves in transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives The SAPIEN 3 valve (S3V) was designed to overcome the shortcomings of its predecessor, the SAPIEN XT (SXT) valve. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare their clinical outcomes and procedural characteristics. Methods PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched by two independent reviewers. The clinical outcomes of interest were paravalvular leakage (PVL), major vascular complications (MVC), bleeding, acute kidney injury (AKI), device success, need for post dilation all-cause mortality and procedural details. Results Fifteen observational cohort studies were included in the analysis involving a total of 4,496 patients. Of these, 1,700 were S3V recipients and 2,796 were SXT recipients. The S3V group showed fewer complications compared to the SXT group with respect to PVL (5.58% vs. 19.35%, OR: 0.27, P: 0.000), MVC (4.07% vs. 9.13%, OR: 0.44, P: 0.002), bleeding (6.40% vs. 12.03%, OR: 0.50, P: 0.003), 30-day mortality (3.29% vs. 5.68%, OR: 0.51, P: 0.000), and stroke (1.48% vs. 2.86%, OR: 0.49, P: 0.014). Device success was higher in the S3V (98.18% vs. 93.76%, OR: 3.14, P: 0.000). Cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, AKI and post-dilatation were not significantly different. Permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) was higher in S3V recipients (13.29% vs. 9.23%, OR: 1.58, P: 0.000). Procedure time was shorter for the S3V (71.94 vs. 86.85, P: 0.016) and used less contrast volume (129.36 vs. 161.18, P: 0.049). Conclusions Patients receiving the S3V had lower risk of PVL, MVC, bleeding, mortality, and stroke. PPI was somewhat higher in the S3V group. S3V implantation was faster and used less contrast.
Rectal Douching Associated with Receptive Anal Intercourse: A Literature Review

To inform the development of HIV-prevention rectal douches, we reviewed the scientific literature and online instructional videos on rectal douching associated with receptive anal intercourse (RAI). Up to 88% of men who practice RAI ever have douched, while 43–64% have douched recently. Of them, 87–97% douche before RAI and 13–48% afterwards. Water, occasionally mixed with soap or salt, is used most often, although up to 31% of men use commercial products. Douching is more common among individuals reporting substance use, sexually transmitted infections, or being HIV-infected. Scant literature is available on women’s rectal douching practices, but it is apparently less frequent than among men (32 vs. 70%). Videos advise using 2–3 doses of liquid and retaining it for 10–30 s before expelling. These findings can inform the development of a safe and acceptable rectal douche for HIV prevention.
Functional mastery of health ownership: A model for optimum health

The aim of this paper is to introduce the Functional Mastery of Health Ownership (FMHO) model and to develop an operational definition of functional mastery as it applies to a positive health outcome for patients with chronic illness or an altered life situation. Daily functioning within the negative disease burden of chronic illness is the goal of individuals living within the constraints of morbidity. Functional mastery fosters health ownership and helps to predict successful control over life circumstances for optimum wellness within the parameters of the limitations of the effects of illness. Significant to nursing, the FMHO conceptual framework uses four foundational influences to assess a patient's ability to not only master function within the disease process, but also to sustain function and best health over time. The FMHO model provides a tool for practitioners to enable individualized care as patients move through the disease process and adapt to changes over time.
Visualizing Basketball’s Past: The Historical Imagination of ESPN’s Basketball Documentaries

ESPN’s 22 basketball-themed documentaries are popular and influential sources for students and fans interested in basketball history. I offer close readings of two films, There’s No Place Like Home and The Fab Five, to shed light on how they (and to some degree the corpus as a whole) portray basketball history, reflect on the historiographical task of portraying the past, and affectively engage viewers to adopt certain stances with respect to the past and its portrayal. There’s No Place Like Home invites viewers to share in a fantasy of basketball as a decontextualized static idea whose history can be possessed. By contrast, The Fab Five challenges viewers to view basketball history as contested terrain where conflicting power vectors of language, culture, and society intersect.
Treatment of glenohumeral arthritis pain utilizing spinal cord stimulation.

Background Dorsal column stimulation may be utilized to treat non-neuropathic pain attributed to glenohumeral arthritis. Case description An 84-year-old female presented with right shoulder pain for 3 years. She was diagnosed with glenohumeral arthritis and a complete loss of the joint space. She was treated with a dorsal column stimulator, requiring the electrodes to be placed from the inferior aspect of C3 to the superior aspect of T1. Six weeks postoperatively, she reported >90% coverage of her shoulder pain, demonstrated increased right arm function, and a reduction in her use of narcotics. Conclusion Dorsal column stimulation of C3-T1 proved to be an effective alternative treatment for drug-resistant glenohumeral arthritis in an 84-year-old female with a complete loss of the joint space.
Large-grain, oriented, and thin zeolite MFI films from directly-synthesized nanosheet coatings

Directly synthesized zeolite MFI nanosheets are promising building blocks for MFI thin films with large and oriented grains. The secondary growth of MFI nanosheets on Si wafers in tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH) silica sols was investigated, and conditions that result in well-oriented and intergrown film microstructure were established. This has enabled the fabrication of thin (∼300 nm) b-oriented MFI films with large grain-size (>2 μm) from seed-removed nanosheet monolayer coatings. Moreover, the faceted and anisotropic shape of MFI nanosheets allowed the measurement of MFI growth in different crystallographic directions and confirmed the twinning-free preferential growth along the c-axis (a lateral direction of the nanosheet), compared to the b-axis (the direction normal to the nanosheet basal plane), with ratios in a range between 4 and 11.
Workers' health risk behaviors by state, demographic characteristics, and health insurance status.

INTRODUCTION Employers often lack data about their workers' health risk behaviors. We analyzed state-level prevalence data among workers for 4 common health risk behaviors: obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, and missed influenza vaccination (among workers older than 50 years). METHODS We analyzed 2007 and 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, restricting the sample to employed respondents aged 18 to 64 years. We stratified health risk behavior prevalence by annual household income, educational attainment, health insurance status, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS For all 4 health risk behaviors, we found significant differences across states and significant disparities related to social determinants of health - income, education, and race/ethnicity. Among uninsured workers, prevalence of smoking was high and influenza vaccinations were lacking. CONCLUSION In this national survey study, we found that workers' health risk behaviors vary substantially by state and by workers' socioeconomic status, insurance status, and race/ethnicity. Employers and workplace health promotion practitioners can use the prevalence tables presented in this article to inform their workplace health promotion programs.
Savonarola and Cardinal Ximines: Millenarian Thinkers and Actors at the Eve of the Reformation

In the course of the fifteenth century various end of the world predictions were being circulated, some from Joachimite and pseudo-Joachimite sources, often leading to movements of believers to prepare for the Apocalypse. The radical changes going on politically and economically fed into this. The fall of Constantinople, the rapid incursions of the Moslem Turks into the heart of Europe and throughout the Mediterranean, the political upheavals all over Europe, seemed to portend monumental providential developments. One of the most dramatic of these was that led by Girolamo Savonarola in Florence, Italy.
HLA antigens in different age groups.

HLA typing was performed for 17 antigens on cells from 189 unrelated, normal white Caucasians. No significant differences (p>0.05) in distributions of different markers were found among the age groups. There does not seem to be a relation between heterozygosity at HLA-A and HLA-Bloci and survival until old age.
Learning and Tacit Collusion by Artificial Agents in Cournot Duopoly Games

We examine learning by artificial agents in repeated play of Cournot duopoly games. Our learning model is simple and cognitively realistic. The model departs from standard reinforcement learning models, as applied to agents in games, in that it credits the agent with a form of conceptual ascent, whereby the agent is able to learn from a consideration set of strategies spanning more than one period of play. The resulting behavior is markedly different from behavior predicted by classical economics for the single-shot (unrepeated) Cournot duopoly game. In repeated play under our learning regime, agents are able to arrive at a tacit form of collusion and set production levels near to those for a monopolist. We note that Cournot duopoly games are reasonable approximations for many real-world arrangements, including hourly spot markets for electricity.
Nanotechnology for Environmental Remediation: Materials and Applications.

Environmental remediation relies mainly on using various technologies (e.g., adsorption, absorption, chemical reactions, photocatalysis, and filtration) for the removal of contaminants from different environmental media (e.g., soil, water, and air). The enhanced properties and effectiveness of nanotechnology-based materials makes them particularly suitable for such processes given that they have a high surface area-to-volume ratio, which often results in higher reactivity. This review provides an overview of three main categories of nanomaterials (inorganic, carbon-based, and polymeric-based materials) used for environmental remediation. The use of these nanomaterials for the remediation of different environmental contaminants—such as heavy metals, dyes, chlorinated organic compounds, organophosphorus compounds, volatile organic compounds, and halogenated herbicides—is reviewed. Various recent examples are extensively highlighted focusing on the materials and their applications.
Problem-Solving Skills of the U.S. Workforce and Preparedness for Job Automation:

Automation and advanced technologies have increased the need for a better understanding of the skills necessary to have a globally competitive workforce. This study used data from the Program for t...
Cesarean for non-reassuring fetal status: effect of obesity on decision to delivery interval.

To evaluate the impact of obesity on the decision to delivery interval. We compared the interval to delivery in normal, obese (BMI 30–40 kg/m2), and morbidly obese (BMI over 40 kg/m2) women. In a planned sub-analysis, we evaluated those who underwent emergency cesarean. We included 447 (25.3%) subjects: 157 normal, 200 obese, and 90 morbidly obese. We found no significant difference in the decision to delivery interval, mean ± SD (minutes): 39 ± 24, 44 ± 28, and 46 ± 28, p = 0.10. In the setting of emergency delivery we did find significantly prolonged intervals: 18 ± 8, 23 ± 16, and 30 ± 19 in non-obese, obese, and morbidly obese, respectively, p = 0.04. We found similar decision to delivery intervals in women of varying BMI. In the setting of emergency cesarean delivery, we found increasing BMI to be associated with significant delays to delivery.
Social Work Theory

Abstract Social work theories serve as the foundation for social work practice by providing an understanding, explanation, and prediction of human behavior and social structures. Seven general categories of theories used in social work practice are reviewed and their relevance to the stages of social work practice of assessment, intervention, evaluation, and endings are discussed.
Teaching Mathematics through Concept Motivation and Action Learning

This is a practice-led, conceptual paper describing selected means for action learning and concept motivation at all levels of mathematics education. It details the approach used by the authors to devise insights for practitioners of mathematics teaching. The paper shows that this approach in mathematics education based on action learning in conjunction with the natural motivation stemming from common sense is effective. Also, stimulating questions, computer analysis (internet search included), and classical famous problems are important motivating tools in mathematics, which are particularly beneficial in the framework of action learning. The authors argue that the entire K-20 mathematics curriculum under a single umbrella is practicable when techniques of concept motivation and action learning are in place throughout that broad spectrum. This argument is supported by various examples that could be helpful in practice of school teachers and university instructors. The authors found pragmatic cause for action learning within mathematics education at virtually any point in student academic lives.
Bioinformatics Resource Manager: a systems biology web tool for microRNA and omics data integration

The Bioinformatics Resource Manager (BRM) is a web-based tool developed to facilitate identifier conversion and data integration for Homo sapiens (human), Mus musculus (mouse), Rattus norvegicus (rat), Danio rerio (zebrafish), and Macaca mulatta (macaque), as well as perform orthologous conversions among the supported species. In addition to providing a robust means of identifier conversion, BRM also incorporates a suite of microRNA (miRNA)-target databases upon which to query target genes or to perform reverse target lookups using gene identifiers. BRM has the capability to perform cross-species identifier lookups across common identifier types, directly integrate datasets across platform or species by performing identifier retrievals in the background, and retrieve miRNA targets from multiple databases simultaneously and integrate the resulting gene targets with experimental mRNA data. Here we use workflows provided in BRM to integrate RNA sequencing data across species to identify common biomarkers of exposure after treatment of human lung cells and zebrafish to benzo[a]pyrene (BAP). We further use the miRNA Target workflow to experimentally determine the role of miRNAs as regulators of BAP toxicity and identify the predicted functional consequences of miRNA-target regulation in our system. The output from BRM can easily and directly be uploaded to freely available visualization tools for further analysis. From these examples, we were able to identify an important role for several miRNAs as potential regulators of BAP toxicity in human lung cells associated with cell migration, cell communication, cell junction assembly and regulation of cell death. Overall, BRM provides bioinformatics tools to assist biologists having minimal programming skills with analysis and integration of high-content omics’ data from various transcriptomic and proteomic platforms. BRM workflows were developed in Java and other open-source technologies and are served publicly using Apache Tomcat at https://cbb.pnnl.gov/brm/ .
Bipartite network structures and individual differences in sound change

This paper assesses the influence of social network structure, and the role of the individual, in shaping the loss of the regional vowel system in the Southern U.S. city of Raleigh, North Carolina. The entire front vowel system, including monophthongal /aɪ/ as in ride , is shifting toward the national standard. Previous network studies in sociolinguistics have focused on individual-level network characteristics, such as integration in dense local networks or contact with speakers from different neighborhoods or ethnic groups. By contrast, the Raleigh study focuses on individuals’ positions in the community network structure as represented by a bipartite network of people and the schools they attended. Bipartite networks indicate social proximity between people via their shared participation in an event or organization. With a 189-speaker sample of Raleigh natives, the network measure of structural equivalence offers a view of Raleigh’s community network structure and of the individual’s role in advancing the shift away from the Southern vowel system. Structural equivalence is the extent to which nodes inhabit similar positions within a social network. In this case, it describes the extent to which pairs of speakers attended the same schools. A distance matrix containing each pair’s network proximity is used to predict speakers’ linguistic similarity. The role of the individual and of the social indexicality of Southern variants is considered in the context of aggregate patterns of variation.
Equity Investments at Berkshire Hathaway

As Berkshire Hathaway had reported in its 2018, first quarter, 10-Q, it was “engage[d] in a number of diverse business activities.” Maria knew that Berkshire Hathaway bought the stock of numerous other companies. She assumed that the company's holdings in the common stock of other companies represented various ownership percentages, and she wanted to explore that possibility more extensively. Excerpt UVA-C-2416 Rev. Jan. 11, 2019 Equity Investments at Berkshire Hathaway Maria's head hurt…again! She was trying to make sense of some of the Berkshire Hathaway Company's (Berkshire Hathaway) investment-related disclosures. She wanted to take a look at the Oracle of Omaha's (i.e., Warren Buffet's) investment-related disclosures in Berkshire Hathaway's 2018, first quarter, 10-Q report filed with the US Securities & Exchange Commission (see Exhibit 1 for pertinent parts). This report was the first one filed using the FASB's new rules pertaining to financial instruments (ASU 2016-01). Maria was curious as to how Berkshire Hathaway's financial picture might have been affected. Berkshire Hathaway Overview As Berkshire Hathaway had reported in its 2018, first quarter, 10-Q, it was “engage[d] in a number of diverse business activities” (see Exhibit 2). Those activities included insurance (GEICO), railroad (BNSF Railway), civil aviation (NetJets), consumer products (the Kraft Heinz Company (Kraft Heinz) and Fruit of the Loom), utilities (PacifiCorp.), manufacturing (Lubrizol), building products (Shaw Products, Johns Manville, and Benjamin Moore), and a host of others. . . .
Examine the effectiveness of using traditional techniques for teaching and learning CUDA programming

The purpose of this study was to examine the problems instructors currently face in teaching Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) programming model, the weaknesses of the traditional teaching techniques, and the difficulties students encounter with the traditional instructional methods. This study included a target population of professors and graduate assistants of both genders who were teaching and learning CUDA in the traditional way at 298 universities. The general findings indicated that the traditional way of teaching CUDA appears to be inadequate in bringing across the complicated ideas of scientific CUDA concepts, especially the programming side.
Intrinsically 89 Zr-labeled Gd 2 O 2 S:Eu nanophosphors with high in vivo stability for dual-modality imaging.

Radioluminescence imaging (RLI) employs high energy particles from radioisotope decay for in situ excitation of selected nanophosphors. Co-injection of radiopharmaceuticals and nanophosphors suffers from suboptimal RL efficiency owing to the large separation between the source and the emitter. In addition, vastly different pharmacokinetic profiles of the two further impede the practical applications of this approach. To overcome the above challenges, chelator-free radiolabeled nanophosphors with excellent RL efficiency and dual-modality imaging capabilities have been proposed. Abundant O2- donors on Gd2O2S:Eu could intrinsically chelate oxophilic radionuclide 89Zr with ~80 % labeling yield. Positron emission tomography demonstrated superb long-term radiostability of [89Zr]Gd2O2S:Eu@PEG nanoparticles in vivo, and a conventional optical imaging system was used to study radiouminescence properties of [89Zr]Gd2O2S:Eu@PEG nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo.
Examining the impact of COVID-19 on stress and coping strategies in individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions.

Purpose/objective This study aimed to describe the perceived stress levels and coping mechanisms related to COVID-19, and whether coping is related to well-being in people with self-reported chronic conditions and disabilities. Research Method/Design: A cross-sectional survey design was implemented. The total number of participants were 269 individuals with self-reported disabilities and chronic conditions (Mage = 39.37, SDage = 12.18). We examined the relationship between perceived stress and coping strategies related to COVID-19, and which COVID-19 coping strategies were associated with well-being after controlling for demographic and psychological characteristics. Results Correlation analyses demonstrated that perceived stress related to COVID-19 was positively associated with coping strategies including self-distraction, denial, substance use, behavioral disengagement, venting, planning, religion, and self-blame. Further, hierarchical regression results demonstrated that active coping, denial, use of emotional support, humor, religion, and self-blame were associated with participants' well-being after controlling for demographic and psychological characteristics. Conclusions/implications This exploratory study findings suggest that measuring and quantifying COVID-19 related stress and coping strategies in individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities can help clinicians and researchers understand potential effects of COVID-19 among people with chronic conditions and disabilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
External Environment, Trust and East-West Trade

A model of trust and commitment in international interfirm alliances in conditions of legal uncertainty/hostility is presented with propositions for testing. Conditions in four Central and East European countries are profiled with respect to varying legal environments and the potential effects of those environments on foreign investment and cooperation.
Transforming Fixed-Length Self-avoiding Walks into Radial SLE8/3

We conjecture a relationship between the scaling limit of the fixed-length ensemble of self-avoiding walks in the upper half plane and radial SLE8/3 in this half plane from 0 to i. The relationship is that if we take a curve from the fixed-length scaling limit of the SAW, weight it by a suitable power of the distance to the endpoint of the curve and apply the conformal map of the half plane that takes the endpoint to i, then we get the same probability measure on curves as radial SLE8/3. In addition to a non-rigorous derivation of this conjecture, we support it with Monte Carlo simulations of the SAW. Using the conjectured relationship between the SAW and radial SLE8/3, our simulations give estimates for both the interior and boundary scaling exponents. The values we obtain are within a few hundredths of a percent of the conjectured values.
Microfluidic encapsulation of Xenopus laevis cell-free extracts using hydrogel photolithography.

Summary Cell-free extract derived from the eggs of the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis is a well-established model system that has been used historically in bulk aliquots. Here, we describe a microfluidic approach for isolating discrete, biologically relevant volumes of cell-free extract, with more expansive and precise control of extract shape compared with extract-oil emulsions. This approach is useful for investigating the mechanics of intracellular processes affected by cell geometry or cytoplasmic volume, including organelle scaling and positioning mechanisms. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Geisterfer et al. (2020) .
Utilizing Cosmic Feminism and Critical Organic Writing to Deconstruct Female Oppression: A Connection with Women in Things Fall Apart

This chapter uses the tools of Cosmic feminism—organic writing, indigenous knowledge, and meditation—to deconstruct oppression and to connect to the work of Chinua Achebe.
The conserved ER-transmembrane protein TMEM39 coordinates with COPII to promote collagen secretion and prevent ER stress

Abstract Dysregulation of collagen production and secretion contributes to aging and tissue fibrosis of major organs. How premature collagen proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) route as specialized cargos for secretion remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we report that TMEM39, an ER-localized transmembrane protein, regulates production and secretory cargo trafficking of procollagen. We identify the C. elegans ortholog TMEM-39 from an unbiased RNAi screen and show that deficiency of tmem-39 leads to striking defects in cuticle collagen production and constitutively high ER stress response. RNAi knockdown of the tmem-39 ortholog in Drosophila causes similar defects in collagen secretion from fat body cells. The cytosolic domain of human TMEM39A binds to Sec23A, a vesicle coat protein that drives collagen secretion and vesicular trafficking. TMEM-39 regulation of collagen secretion is independent of ER stress response and autophagy. We propose that roles of TMEM-39 in collagen secretion and preventing ER stress are likely evolutionarily conserved.
Advances in IBM Z Water Cooling: z13, z14, z15

IBM z15™ continued a broadening of the physical transformation of the mainframe into a new "true 19-inch" frame form-factor. This was done to meet the requirements of a broad range of data centers, including supporting various energy efficiency initiatives. z15 continues to offer a choice of client air cooled (RCU, internal radiator) or client water cooled (WCU) systems for cooling the high-performance processor modules. This paper provides an historical perspective on IBM Z water cooling, focusing on the internal radiator cooling solution, which is a closed loop, preassembled and pretested, enterprise-class cooling solution that, once filled, requires no scheduled maintenance. A review of prior system (z13, z14) thermal design and performance will be put in the context of the thermal challenges introduced by the new form-factor in z15. The paper highlights the thermal design of the cold plates used to cool the processor modules and the performance of various cold plate designs (from 0.30 mm fins to 0.15 mm fins). Overall system thermal performance is described, focusing on improvements in the radiator heat exchanger and transition from system-level air-moving devices to high performance fans. This will be put in the context of supporting the ASHRAE A3 (4th Edition) data center environment without sacrificing processor frequency.
Effects of Liver Metastases and Liver-Metastasis-Directed Radiotherapy on Response to Immunotherapy.

Purpose/objective(s) Liver metastases (LM) are associated with diminished anti-tumor immunity and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). In preclinical models, liver-metastasis-directed radiotherapy (LRT) restores sensitivity to ICB; however, there is limited human data supporting this hypothesis. We therefore examined the outcomes of patients with LM treated with LRT and ICB. Materials/methods We reviewed the records of patients who received LRT and anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-CTLA-4 therapy. Patients were classified as receiving LRT before ICB, concurrently with the start of ICB (within 21 days), or as salvage during ICB (> 21 days after initiation). Outcome measures included time to failure of ICB (TTF) and overall survival, both defined from the initiation of ICB. For patients who received RT before or concurrently with ICB, outcomes were further stratified by presence of active LM at the time of ICB initiation. Patients who received LRT during ICB were excluded from comparative analyses to avoid potential immortal time bias. Results We identified 41 patients who received both ICB and LRT. 27 (66%) patients were male. The median age at LRT was 57 (26 - 80). Patients received a median of 2 lines of systemic therapy (0-4) before ICB. Tumor types included colorectal cancer (n = 20), non-small cell lung cancer (n = 10), anal squamous cell carcinoma (n = 5), melanoma (n = 4), and bladder cancer (n = 2). 16 patients were treated with LRT before ICB, 9 of whom recurred in the liver and had active LM at the start of ICB. 12 patients received LRT concurrently with ICB initiation, and 13 patients received salvage LRT during ICB. 95% (39/41) of patients had disease involving at least 2 organs at the time of ICB. Among the 28 patients treated with LRT before or concurrently with ICB, the presence of active, untreated LM (n = 21) at the time of the ICB initiation was associated with shorter TTF (HR 6.0, 95% CI 1.7 - 21.0, P = 0.005) and overall survival (HR 5.4, 95% CI 1.2 - 23.8, P = 0.025). The median TTF for patients with treated LM at ICB (n = 7) was 874 days (95% CI 111 - NR) vs. 78 days (95% CI 54 - 126) for patients with active LM (n = 21). Patients treated with LRT concurrently with the start of ICB (n = 12) did not have improved TTF compared to patients with active, untreated LM at the time of ICB who had prior LRT (n = 9) (P = 0.41). Among 13 patients treated with salvage RT during ICB, the median time to subsequent treatment failure was 101 days (95% CI 61 - NR). Conclusion This analysis suggests that patients with treated LM have improved TTF compared with patients with active LM at the time of ICB. This provides the first data in humans that treatment of LM may improve response to ICB and sheds light on the importance of LRT and ICB timing. Prospective studies to further investigate the use and timing of LRT and ICB are warranted.
Nanostructural Characteristics and Interfacial Properties of Polymer Fibers in Cement Matrix.

Concrete is the most used material in the world. It is also one of the most versatile yet complex materials that humans have used for construction. However, an important weakness of concrete (cement-based composites) is its low tensile properties. Therefore, over the past 30 years many studies were focused on improving its tensile properties using a variety of physical and chemical methods. One of the most successful attempts is to use polymer fibers in the structure of concrete to obtain a composite with high tensile strength and ductility. The advantages of polymer fiber as reinforcing material in concrete, both with regard to reducing environmental pollution and the positive effects on a country’s economy, are beyond dispute. However, a thorough understanding of the mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced concrete requires a knowledge of fiber/matrix interfaces at the nanoscale. In this study, a combination of atomistic simulations and experimental techniques has been used to study the nanostructure of...
A2A adenosine receptor: a novel therapeutic target in renal disease

Present strategies in the treatment of inflammatory renal injury have focused on developing agents that specifically target individual mechanisms thought to contribute toward the pathogenesis of th...
A Context Dependent Method for Comparing Sequences

A scoring scheme is presented to measure the similarity score between two biological sequences, where matches are weighted dependent on their context The scheme generalizes a widely used scoring scheme. A dynamic programming algorithm is developed to compute a largest-scoring alignment of two sequences of lengths m and n in O(mn) time and O(m+n) space. Also developed is an algorithm for computing a largest-scoring local alignment between two sequences in quadratic time and linear space. Both algorithms are implemented as portable C programs. An experiment is conducted to compare protein alingments produced by the new global alignment program with ones by an existing program.
Enhanced pion production in DCC dynamics

In order to elucidate the enhancement of pion production that may occur during dynamical scenarios of interest in connection with disoriented chiral condensates, we study the evolution of boson modes whose frequencies have a given arbitrary time dependence. The quantum-field treatment yields expressions for the time dependence of observables that depend only on the initial state and specific state-independent enhancement coefficients which can be obtained from the given evolution of the frequency. It is shown how these coefficients also can be obtained within an entirely classical framework by judicious usage of the dependence of the resulting enhancement on the phase of the initial state. Illustrative application is made for frequency evolutions obtained from idealized simulations of high-energy heavy-ion collisions and it is shown how the non-equilibrium evolution of the order parameter may lead to significant enhancements in the final pion spectra.
Carrier-suppressed microwave fiber-optic source using intracavity modulation

Summary form only given. We demonstrate a carrier suppressed source that reduces the problem of relative drift between the carrier and filter wavelengths. The source consists of a ring laser cavity with an intracavity optical modulator and a frequency selective output coupler (FSOC). The FSOC transmits light at a frequency /spl omega//sub 0/ and couples light out of the cavity for frequencies outside of the narrow passband centered around /spl omega//sub 0/. When this optical signal is demodulated by a photodetector, the DC electrical power is reduced more than the RF power. Hence, optical amplification to the maximum photodetector DC power results in a net RF gain as compared to the case with the same DC power without carrier suppression. An advantage of this system is that the carrier field is passively locked to the frequency that is maximally transmitted through the FSOC.
HISTOCHEMICAL OBSERVATIONS OF A BRENNER CELL TUMOR WITH MASCULINIZATION.

F o R M A N Y years, the Brenner cell tumor was considered hormonally inactive; however, more recent direct evidence indicates that some tumors may be capable of steroid synthesis. The present case is that of an obstetrical patient, with a Brenner cell tumor, who experienced severe masculinization during pregnancy. Testosterone was synthesized from the excised tumor when stimulated in vitro with human chorionic gonadotropin. This facet of the Brenner cell tumor is reported by Hamwi and co-worker9 while the in vitro viosynthetic steroid conversion of this Brenner cell tumor is reported by Besch and associates.? The purpose of this paper is to describe the histochemical observations on this tumor because, after a comprehensive review of the literature, similar data have not been reported.
Multilateral Cooperation and Congress: The Legislative Process of Securing Funding for the World Bank

International relations has demonstrated the contribution national legislatures make toward global cooperation. Yet what explains variation in securing funding for International Organizations (IOs) through the US Congress? I derive a theory of interaction from studies of interest groups in American politics and argue that the cause of funding delays and their resolution can be found where groups advance policy reform agendas through Congressional channels. Using process tracing of successive case studies, the article presents evidence from International Development Association (IDA) replenishments. It situates the rationality of members of Congress and other national and transnational actors within the context of a formal, domestic political institution whose budgetary process is deeply conflicted and subject to constant change. Thus, the theory offered here could be used by either rationalists or constructivists to support a material or ideational explanation for Congressional action.
Beyond liberalization III

Abstract At present, transfer within a telecommunications monopoly from some users to others support universal service. With the onset of competition in the USA, a complex system of contributory access charges, revenue pools and other devices has been added. Yet these arrangements are not suitable in a competitive environment. This article therefore develops an alternative system for the financing of universal service that is compatible with a multi-provider world. The proposal is for an accounting system that would debit a carrier's added value and credit its transfers to universal service schemes. It creates a fund to support portable vouchers for the benefited users and credits for low-density areas. It operates on the premise of competitive neutrality - equal rights and equal burdens to all carriers, and customer choice.
El director de sistemas, como impulsor de la empresa

The CIO's (Chief Information Officer) role has evolved. Previously this function was focused, fundamentally, in assuring that the entire information technology platform was prepared for giving support for business' operations. At this moment, CIO's role goes further on the development of the business strategy. In fact, CIOs have a fundamental role promoting innovation. This article analyzes the three key CIO's challenges as an innovation agent: drive business model transformation, enable external and internal collaboration and ignite business and technology integration.
Correlation of Severity of Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy With Triplet Repeat Expansion in TCF4

Importance The CTG18.1 triplet repeat expansion in TCF4 has recently been found to be a common functional variant contributing significant risk to the development of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) in Eurasian populations. Objectives To determine the effect of the expanded CTG18.1 allele of TCF4 on FECD severity and to correlate CTG triplet repeat allele length to the severity of FECD. Design, Setting, and Participants In a cross-sectional analysis, we studied 139 index cases (probands and unrelated individuals) with FECD recruited from a cornea referral practice at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, from April 2010 through February 2015. The triplet repeat polymorphism CTG18.1 was genotyped using a combination of short tandem repeat analysis, triplet repeat–primed polymerase chain reaction assay, and Southern blot analysis. Severity of FECD was graded using a modified Krachmer grading system (severity scale of 0-6 based on extent of confluent guttae). Main Outcomes and Measures The CTG triplet repeat length of the largest allele was compared with the Krachmer grade of FECD severity, keratoplasty proportion, and central corneal thickness in the white subset. Results Eighty-five of 122 white index cases with FECD (69.7%) harbored the triplet repeat expansion. The mean (SD) Krachmer grade was 5.61 (0.76) in the group with the repeat expansion compared with 5.11 (1.05) in the group without the expanded repeats ( P = .01). Forty-seven participants with the repeat expansion (55.3%) had undergone keratoplasty at the time of recruitment, compared with 13 (35.1%) of those without the expansion ( P = .0497). There was a positive correlation of Krachmer grade to triplet repeat number ( P = .002) and a nominal association of the keratoplasty proportion with triplet repeat number ( P = .04). The mean (SD) central corneal thickness was 605.9 (50.5) μm in the group with the expanded repeats compared with 581.3 (50.5) μm in the group without the expansion ( P = .04). Conclusions and Relevance The Krachmer grade of disease severity was greater in FECD cases with the CTG18.1 triplet repeat expansion in TCF4 than in those without the expansion. The CTG triplet repeat allele length was positively correlated with the Krachmer grade of severity. The TCF4 triplet repeat expansion resulted in a more severe form of FECD, with clinical and surgical therapeutic implications.
Cross-Country Comparisons of the Effects of Leverage, Intangible Assets, and Tax Havens on Corporate Income Taxes

To our knowledge, this paper provides the most comprehensive analysis, to date, of the role of leverage, intangible assets, and tax havens in reducing firm-level corporate income taxes. Using publicly available financial statement information for 3,926 public corporations from 62 countries from 2005 to 2009, we find evidence consistent with multinationals lowering their current income tax expense by issuing long-term debt, relying disproportionately on intangibles in their production, and establishing subsidiaries in tax havens. We also find wide cross-country variation in the use of debt and intangibles, but little variation in the use of tax havens. American multinationals appear to use debt more than other countries to lower their taxes. Besides enhancing our knowledge about international taxes, these findings should provide some empirical underpinning for ongoing policy debates about the taxation of multinationals.
Deck-Stiffened Arch Bridges of Robert Maillart

This paper describes Maillart's controversial analysis for the elegant thin concrete arches he designed from 1924 to 1934. Starting from a clear understanding of structural behavior, Maillart designed these arches so that almost all the live-loading bending would be taken by the stiff deck, thus leaving the thin arch to carry little more than axial compression. The validity of his simplified analysis is confirmed by comparing his results to those from a modern computer analysis. By emphasizing design thinking instead of analytic refinement, Maillart achieved works of art in structural engineering. His approach is then contrasted to American arch studies during the same decade (1924–1934) to show how American emphasis on analytic refinement seems to have narrowed the vision of design possibilities. As late as 1972 Maillart's design ideas seem still do not to be clearly understood.