cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Landslides: Processes, Prediction, and Land Use [An interview with the author]

As population grows and land use needs change, humans become more vulnerable to landslide hazards. An AGU book, Landslides: Processes, Prediction, and Land Use, written by Roy C. Sidle and Hirotaka Ochiai, suggests that different human activities exacerbate landslide risk, and details current methods in landslide prediction and modeling techniques. In this issue, Eos talks with Sidle. Sidle has studied landslides for nearly 30 years and is currently head of the Slope Conservation Section at Kyoto University's Disaster Prevention Research Institute (Japan).
OPTIMIZATION OF COMPOSITE STRUCTURES

Structural optimization is introduced and examples which illustrate potential problems associated with optimized structures are presented. Optimized structures may have very low load carrying ability for an off design condition. They tend to have multiple modes of failure occurring simultaneously and can, therefore, be sensitive to imperfections. Because composite materials provide more design variables than do metals, they allow for more refined tailoring and more extensive optimization. As a result, optimized composite structures can be especially susceptible to these problems.
Restoration and reconstruction from overlapping images for multi-image fusion

This paper describes a technique for restoring and reconstructing a scene from overlapping images. In situations where there are multiple, overlapping images of the same scene, it may be desirable to create a single image that most closely approximates the scene, based on the data in all of the available images. For example, successive swaths acquired by NASA's moderate imaging spectrometer (MODIS) will overlap, particularly at wide scan angles, creating a severe visual artifact in the output image. Resampling the overlapping swaths to produce a more accurate image on a uniform grid requires restoration and reconstruction. The one-pass restoration and reconstruction technique developed in this paper yields mean-square optimal resampling, based on a comprehensive end-to-end system model that accounts for image overlap and is subject to user-defined and data-availability constraints on the spatial support of the filter.
Mexican Parenting Questionnaire (MPQ).

The present study was conducted in four phases and constructed a self-report parenting instrument for use with Mexican immigrant mothers of children aged 6 to 10. The 14-item measure was based on s...
Line filter design for parallel connected converter systems

The authors analyze and design line filters for a parallel connected power converter system under central-limit control with maximum current limit. Since the parallel connected converter modules (CMs) in the system may not all be in the active state simultaneously, an optimal line filter is designed for each CM instead of using only one design for the overall system. In addition, a second line filter is inserted between the source and the converter system to further reduce the EMI. The design procedure is described in detail and a design example is used to illustrate this approach. >
Current status of indices of plaque

Microbial plaque has been described by the Council on Dental Therapeutics of the American Dental Association in their recently drafted Guidelines for acceptance of products for the management of dental plaque and gingivitis. The choice of an index system to be used in plaque trials should be made in terms of the objective of the trial, the size of the population, the period of the study, and the type and extent of change anticipated. The indices currently in use estimate the quantity of plaque in terms of tooth area covered or the thickness of material in the area measured. The Silness and Loe and the modified Turesky methods have been suggested as acceptable indices for the estimation of cleansing ability.
Polarized distribution of viral envelope proteins in the plasma membrane of infected epithelial cells

Abstract The surface distribution of the envelope glycoproteins of Influenza, Sendai and Vesicular Stomatitis viruses was studied by immunofluorescence and immunoelectromicroscopy in infected epithelial cell monolayers, from which these viruses bud in a polarized fashion. It was found that before the onset of viral budding, the envelope proteins are exclusively localized into the same plasma membrane domains of the epithelial cells from which the virions ultimately bud: the glycoproteins of Influenza and Sendai were detected at the apical surface, while the G protein of Vesicular Stomatitis virus was concentrated at the basolateral region. On the other hand, Sendai virus nucleocapsids, which can be easily identified in the cytoplasm before viral assembly, could be observed throughout the cell, not showing any preferential localization near the surface that the virions utilize for budding. These results are consistent with a model in which the asymmetric distribution of viral envelope proteins, rather than a polarized delivery of nucleocapsids, directs the polarity of viral budding. Furthermore, the asymmetric surface localization of viral glycoproteins suggests that these proteins share with intrinsic surface proteins of epithelial cells common biogenetic mechanisms and informational features or "sorting out" signals that determine their compartmentalization in the plasma membrane.
DADOS-Survey: an open-source application for CHERRIES-compliant Web surveys.

Background The Internet has been increasingly utilized in biomedical research. From online searching for literature to data sharing, the Internet has emerged as a primary means of research for many physicians and scientists. As a result, Web-based surveys have been employed as an alternative to traditional, paper-based surveys. We describe DADOS-Survey, an open-source Web-survey application developed at our institution that, to the best of our knowledge, is the first to be compliant with the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES). DADOS-Survey was designed with usability as a priority, allowing investigators to design and execute their own studies with minimal technical difficulties in doing so.
Greening the Grid: Implementing Climate Change Policy Through Energy Efficiency, Renewable Portfolio Standards, and Strategic Transmission System Investments

Climate change policy has crossed a tipping point over the past five years: there are now widespread calls for action on the problem after decades of debate about whether climate change is happening, whether it is human-induced, and whether it is a significant problem that we need to deal with seriously. Nowhere does this have more profound ramifications than in the electric utility industry. Nationally, electricity generation accounts for 41% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil-fuel combustion while the transportation sector accounts for 33%. These two sectors therefore account for three-fourths of all CO2 emissions in the United States. Any U.S. strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions therefore requires a serious reduction in GHG emission from the electricity sector. This is especially important to the extent that increased electrification of the transportation sector is pursued as a strategy for reducing either GHG or other air pollutants in that sector. This Article evaluates policy options and recommends principles to guide policy design and implementation for the transition to the Climate Change Era for electricity regulation, industry structure, and generation technology choice. It describes the primary institutional forums and tools that will affect the electricity sector’s response to climate change, as well as to the obstacles that impede an economically efficient and environmentally responsible response. In particular, this Article demonstrates that an integrated regulatory approach is required to encourage significant investment in energy efficienc, renewable generation, and new transmission. This investment will further the climate change policy goals necessary to stabilize global temperatures. Moreover, lessons from California’s extensive experience promoting significant improvements in energy efficiency and investments in renewable generation capacity show how both the states and the federal government have important roles to play in this transition. State policy innovation is a key component of future electricity sector regulation regardless of the outcome of international negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) or the passage of new climate change legislation by the U.S. Congress. This Article offers a set of implementation lessons important for greening the grid through energy efficiency, renewable portfolio standards, and strategic transmission system investments.
Micronuclei Assay — A Predictive Variable for Tumor Response to Treatment

Our preliminary data indicate that the formation of micronuclei (MN) in treated tumor cells is a predictive variable for tumor response to treatment. In a pilot study involving four patients who received both radiation therapy and hyperthermia, fine needle aspirate (FNA) samples were taken and analyzed before therapy, and after each 1000 centigray (cGy) up to 3000 cGy. The results indicate a correlation between increasing formation of micronuclei and decreasing tumor volume. All of the patients in this Study have had their tumors under control for at least one year.
Chloride channels and endocytosis: ClC-5 makes a Dent

Ion channels are ubiquitous pore-forming membrane proteins found in virtually every cell of every living organism. In mammals, a vast array of ion channel types participate in numerous vital physiological processes such as membrane excitability, cell volume regulation, signal transduction, secretion, and absorption. Therefore, it is not surprising that hereditary conditions can occur because of mutations in genes which encode critical components of ion channel molecules (1). Since 1989, more than 25 human disease entities have been identified as “ion channelopathies.” Studies of ion channel disease syndromes have contributed greatly to our understanding of specific disease pathogenesis and, in some cases, have revealed new insights into the relationship between ion channel structure and function (2–6). In this issue of Proceedings , Gunther, et al . study the cellular localization of a kidney chloride channel (ClC-5) implicated in the pathogenesis of X-linked hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis (prototype syndrome, Dent’s disease) and infer the probable function of this molecule (7). The ClC chloride channel family, to which ClC-5 belongs, has been recognized only within the past decade (8); yet one-third of all identified mammalian ClC isoforms have been linked to human genetic diseases (Table 1) (9–12). Soon after the first member of this gene family was sequenced from Torpedo electric organ (ClC-0) (13), a mammalian homolog expressed exclusively in skeletal muscle (ClC-1) was identified as the gene for myotonia congenita (9, 10, 14), an unusual syndrome associated with muscular stiffness caused by delayed relaxation of muscle following voluntary contractions. The candidacy of ClC-1 was initially based on solid physiological evidence of diminished sarcolemmal chloride conductance in a curious animal model, the myotonic or “fainting” goat (15). Another mammalian ClC isoform expressed in the kidney (ClC-KB), was added recently to the list …
Observations of Polarity Reversal in Shoaling Nonlinear Internal Waves

Observations off the New Jersey coast document the shoaling of three groups of nonlinear internal waves of depression over 35 km across the shelf. Each wave group experienced changing background conditions along its shoreward transit. Despite different wave environments, a clear pattern emerges. Nearly symmetric waves propagating into shallow water develop an asymmetric shape; in the wave reference frame, the leading edge accelerates causing the front face to broaden while the trailing face remains steep. This trend continues until the front edge and face of the leading depression wave become unidentifiable and a near-bottom elevation wave emerges, formed from the trailing face of the initial depression wave and the leading face of the following wave. The transition from depression to elevation waves is diagnosed by the integrated wave vorticity, which changes sign as the wave’s polarity changes sign. This transition is predicted by the sign change of the coefficient of the nonlinear term in the KdV equation, when evaluated using observed profiles of stratification and velocity.
Biological activity of acyl glucose esters from Datura wrightii glandular trichomes against three native insect herbivores.

Datura wrightii is dimorphic for leaf trichome type in southern California. “Sticky” plants produce glandular trichomes that secrete acylsugars, whereas velvety plants produce nonglandular trichomes. Glandular trichomes confer resistance to some potential insect herbivores and are associated with reduced feeding in the field by two native coleopteran herbivores: the tobacco flea beetle, Epitrix hirtipennis, and a weevil, Trichobaris compacta. In contrast, another native beetle, Lema daturaphila, damages sticky and velvety plants similarly in the field. A series of choice and no-choice “ester removal” and “ester addition” feeding experiments were performed in the laboratory to evaluate the role of acylsugars in feeding by all three insect species. Consumption of sticky leaves after their esters were removed by washing was compared to consumption of unwashed sticky leaves and velvety leaves in ester removal experiments. Consumption of velvety leaves was measured after acylsugars were applied to those leaves in controlled amounts in the ester addition experiments. Consumption by E. hirtipennis was reduced by acylsugars in all experiments. Consumption by T. compacta was reduced by acylsugars in the ester removal experiments, but not in the ester addition experiments. The location of the acylsugars at the tip of a long trichome, rather than simply on the leaf surface, may be an important component of the biological activity of acylsugars against T. compacta in nature. Consumption by L. daturaphila was not significantly reduced by acylsugars in any experiment. The acylsugars caused no significant mortality of any of the three insect species.
Embedding 3D radiology models in portable document format.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to discuss how to convert cross-sectional images into a 3D model and embed them in a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. Four programs are used: OsiriX, MeshLab, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat. Step-by-step instructions are provided. CONCLUSION. Embedding 3D radiology models into PDF files is a powerful tool that may be used for clinical, educational, and research purposes.
Mozart’s Viennese orchestras

Musicians of the 18th century were, by and large, pragmatists. Contemporary documents are also available that shed light on Viennese performances of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's dances and sacred works. By investigating sets of performance parts from Mozart's estate, it is even possible to make informed guesses about the sizes of the orchestras in his public and private concerts—events which are otherwise poorly documented. This chapter discusses Viennese orchestras that performed Mozart's works during his lifetime, focusing particularly on orchestral size and balance. Mozart's Viennese concerts were held not only in the Burgtheater and the Karntnertortheater, but also in the Mehlgrube, in the casino in the Trattnerhof, in Jahn's restaurant in the Himmelpfortgasse, in the Augarten, in public squares, in Masonic lodges and in a wide variety of private residences. Few performances of Mozart's sacred works are known with certainty to have taken place in Vienna during his lifetime.
Protection of Neonatal Rats from Prolonged Hyperoxia by Treatment with Keratinocyte Growth Factor † 1650

Protection of Neonatal Rats from Prolonged Hyperoxia by Treatment with Keratinocyte Growth Factor † 1650
Decarceration and its possible effects on inmates, staff, and communities

Few current criminal justice scholars, practitioners, and politicians expected to witness the phenomenon of decreasing correctional populations. Yet, there is evidence at local, state, and regional...
Catholics and Apprentices: An Example of Men's Philanthropy in Late Nineteenth-Century France

On April 18, 1883 eighty men gathered in a ramshackle theater on the outskirts of Lyon to hear Dom Bosco, charismatic father of Turinese working class youth, bless the founding of a new charitable organization. The abbe Louis Boisard had founded the Apprenticeship Workshops, an industrial enterprise organized according to Christian principle, promising to transform needy youths into skilled craftsmen and committed defenders of the Church. Dom Bosco's audience surely expected pious exhortations, reminders of the duty incumbent on those blessed with a fortune to provide for those without. Dom Bosco, however, depicted a nightmare vision: hordes of working poor without religion rebuking their masters, their evil passions whipped up by demagogues. He followed it with an urgent call to arms:
Notes on Weighing Mature Fowls in Experimental Work

Abstract As the result of thirty years’ experience in weighing fowls at the West Virginia Experiment Station the following observations may be of interest to other experimenters. TIME OF WEIGHING Laying hens should be disturbed as little as possible. Just before they naturally leave the perches in the morning is the best time for weighing them. At that time the body weight may be obtained more accurately than later in the day when amount of feed in the digestive system is more variable, also the laying of the birds is not interfered with, and they can be caught with a minimum of trouble and confusion. CONFINING THE BIRDS TO THE PERCHES It is necessary to enclose the perches so that the birds can not escape while being caught. This can be one satisfactorily by means of frames covered with wire netting which are permanently hinged about the perches and which may . . .
Effect of rodents killing in two large reservoirs region

Objective To study the effects of rodents killing in large reservoir region,and provide scientific basis for rodent control.Methods Investigating the density of rodents,0.005% bromadiolone was given to the Baise reservoir region,while 0.037 5% racumin was taken in the Longtan reservoir region in Guangxi.Results The deratization rate was 83.34% in the Baise reservoir region,and 86.65% in the Longtan reservoir region.Conclusion Bromadiolone and racumin have good effect on killing rodents in reservoir region,the comprehensive control measure is more effective to reduce the rodent density than the single use of rodenticide.
Prenatally Diagnosed Cases of Binder Phenotype Complicated by Respiratory Distress in the Immediate Postnatal Period

Binder phenotype, or maxillonasal dysostosis, is a distinctive pattern of facial development characterized by a short nose with a flat nasal bridge, an acute nasolabial angle, a short columella, a convex upper lip, and class III malocclusion. We report 3 cases of prenatally diagnosed Binder phenotype associated with perinatal respiratory impairment.
Structural Design and Research on Oil Chamber Flow Field for Closed Hydrostatic Guideway of Precision CNC Machine

To fulfill the accuracy requirement of precision NC machine tools,a kind of closed hydrostatic guideway system was designed based on thin film feedback throttler,and the structural parameters of the guideway were calculated according to the infinite stiffness principle. Three-dimensional software SolidWorks and Gambit were used to establish oil chamber model of hydrostatic guideway and generate mesh respectively. Under the same inlet pressure,the distribution laws of flow field in static pressure chamber and temperature field were obtained respectively during the guideway stopping and moving. It is concluded that,the distribution of flow field in static pressure chamber is symmetrical,and when relative velocity increases,the pressure near edge zone of flow field in static pressure chamber decreases unregularly,and the temperature of the zone rises increasingly,which will cause cavitation,oil emitting heat and the kinematic accuracy of guideway reducing.
A shunt pathway limits the CaaX processing of Hsp40 Ydj1p and regulates Ydj1p-dependent phenotypes

The modifications occurring to CaaX proteins have largely been established using few reporter molecules (e.g. Ras, yeast a-factor mating pheromone). These proteins undergo three coordinated COOH-terminal events: isoprenylation of the cysteine, proteolytic removal of aaX, and COOH-terminal methylation. Here, we investigated the coupling of these modifications in the context of the yeast Ydj1p chaperone. We provide genetic, biochemical, and biophysical evidence that the Ydj1p CaaX motif is isoprenylated but not cleaved and carboxylmethylated. Moreover, we demonstrate that Ydj1p-dependent thermotolerance and Ydj1p localization are perturbed when alternative CaaX motifs are transplanted onto Ydj1p. The abnormal phenotypes revert to normal when post-isoprenylation events are genetically interrupted. Our findings indicate that proper Ydj1p function requires an isoprenylatable CaaX motif that is resistant to post-isoprenylation events. These results expand on the complexity of protein isoprenylation and highlight the impact of post-isoprenylation events in regulating the function of Ydj1p and perhaps other CaaX proteins.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor

Type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1) is also known as von Recklingausen's disease. Among patients affected by NF1, fast-growing plexiform type neurofibromas have a high rate of malignant transformation and need to be distinguished from benign plexiform neurofibromas. Here, we describe an emergent case presentation with rapid transformation of neurofibromatosis into a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in a male patient in his early 20's, who was admitted with a 4-day history of urinary retention, pelvic “fullness,” and lower back pain. Highlighted are computed tomography imaging characteristics of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, exemplified by a large retroperitoneal/pelvic mass compressing the bladder and both ureters, resulting in bilateral hydronephrosis and urinary retention, and prompting urgent surgical resection. Associated MRI images and an intraoperative photograph are also presented. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Patient care, Medical knowledge, Systems-based practice
Cardiac Surgery in Patients with Drug Eluting Stents:The Risk of Stopping Clopidogrel

Recommendations for the duration of clopidogrel (Plavix®, Bristol Meyers Squibb, New York, NY) therapy following drug eluting stent (DES) insertion have been subject to recent criticism. Suggested recommendations for the continuation of clopidogrel have been extended to one year following DES insertion. However, patients with a previously inserted DES who now require cardiac surgery are requested to stop clopidogrel perioperatively. The safety of this practice is unclear. We report two cases of elective cardiac surgical intervention after the insertion of DES complicated by perioperative or intraoperative acute coronary ischemia attributed to DES closure.
Ultrathin high-resolution flexographic printing using nanoporous stamps

Since its invention in ancient times, relief printing, commonly called flexography, has been used to mass-produce artifacts ranging from decorative graphics to printed media. Now, higher-resolution flexography is essential to manufacturing low-cost, large-area printed electronics. However, because of contact-mediated liquid instabilities and spreading, the resolution of flexographic printing using elastomeric stamps is limited to tens of micrometers. We introduce engineered nanoporous microstructures, comprising polymer-coated aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as a next-generation stamp material. We design and engineer the highly porous microstructures to be wetted by colloidal inks and to transfer a thin layer to a target substrate upon brief contact. We demonstrate printing of diverse micrometer-scale patterns of a variety of functional nanoparticle inks, including Ag, ZnO, WO3, and CdSe/ZnS, onto both rigid and compliant substrates. The printed patterns have highly uniform nanoscale thickness (5 to 50 nm) and match the stamp features with high fidelity (edge roughness, ~0.2 μm). We derive conditions for uniform printing based on nanoscale contact mechanics, characterize printed Ag lines and transparent conductors, and achieve continuous printing at a speed of 0.2 m/s. The latter represents a combination of resolution and throughput that far surpasses industrial printing technologies.
Centrosome reduction during mammalian spermiogenesis

Publisher Summary Spermiogenesis is the terminal differentiation of postmeiotic germ cells into spermatozoa. The cellular and molecular pathways of centrosome reduction during mouse, rhesus, and human spermiogenesis are described. This chapter discusses the fundamental events and stages of centrosome reduction during mammalian spermiogenesis. The developmental stages of isolated mouse spermatids show remarkable events of centrosomal changes: round spermatid stage, elongating spermatid stage, and late elongating stage. The process of centrosome reduction extends throughout the entire testicular and epididymal stages of spermiogenesis and comprises four stages: (a) loss of microtubule nucleating function, (b) formation of transitional microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs), (c) loss of centrosomal proteins, and (d) centriole degeneration. The observation of a systematic degeneration of distal centriole and γ-tubulin in nonrodent mammalian sperm implies that centrosome reduction could be a ubiquitous phenomenon taking place in all mammalian sperm to varying degrees, the mouse sperm representing the highest state and exhibiting complete loss of both centrioles and centrosomal proteins. The complete absence of centrosomes in mouse sperm consolidates the hypothesis that murine oocytes can compensate for the lack of paternal centrosomal contribution. The lack of a standard distal centriole and γ-tubulin in rhesus and human sperm does not interfere with the formation of the zygotic centrosome during fertilization and bipolar spindles during cleavages.
Production of cellulose nanofibers using phenolic enhanced surface oxidation

In this study we demonstrate that lignin monomers formed as byproducts of pulping or bioprocessing of lignocellulosic biomass is an effective enhancer to oxidize cellulose surfaces with ozone for the production of cellulose nanofibers (CNF). Never dried softwood pulp with minimum mercerization was enzymatically treated leading to a homogeneous pulp slurry with a higher reactivity. The slurry was oxidized by ozone gas in the presence of syringic acid, a lignin degradation model compound, as an oxidation enhancer at room temperature and pH 11. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations showed that stable CNF bundles with 3-10nm widths and lengths >100nm were obtained after ultrasonication of the oxidized product in water. Extensive characterization of the new CNF films revealed the nanofibers had carboxylate content similar to conventional carboxylated cellulose prepared by TEMPO-mediated oxidation. Based on NMR spectra, chemical conversion of the syringic acid during oxidation is proposed.
Cubic gauche polymeric nitrogen under ambient conditions.

The long-sought cubic gauche phase of polymeric nitrogen (cg-PN) with nitrogen-nitrogen single bonds has been synthesized together with a related phase by a radio-frequency plasma reaction under near-ambient conditions. Here, we report the synthesis of polymeric nitrogen using a mixture of nitrogen and argon flowing over bulk β-sodium azide or β-sodium azide dispersed on 100 nm long multiwall carbon nanotubes. The cg-PN phase is identified by Raman and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. The synthesis of the cubic gauche allotrope of high energy density polymeric nitrogen under near-ambient conditions should therefore enable its optimized production and applications as a “green” energetic material and a potential catalyst for different chemical reactions. Polymeric phases of nitrogen are promising as environmentally-friendly, high energy-density materials, but are inherently unstable. Here, the authors report the synthesis and stabilization of polymeric nitrogen in its cubic gauche phase under near-ambient conditions, via plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition.
The Association Between Trait Mindfulness and Cardiovascular Reactivity During Marital Conflict

Because stress from marital conflict negatively impacts cardiovascular health, understanding the association between trait mindfulness and cardiovascular functioning in the context of marital conflict may translate into physical health benefits. In this study, data from married couples (N = 90) were collected to examine the intrapersonal and interpersonal associations between trait mindfulness and cardiovascular reactivity in response to a conflict discussion task. Actor–partner interdependence models showed that partners’ individual trait mindfulness scores were significantly related to their own levels of blood pressure during conflict and recovery, and partners’ levels of trait mindfulness were significantly related to their own heart rate variability during conflict discussion but not during conflict recovery. In addition, husbands’ levels of trait mindfulness were significantly related to wives’ cardiovascular reactivity during conflict; likewise, wives’ levels of trait mindfulness were significantly related to husbands’ cardiovascular reactivity during conflict. Findings suggest that higher levels of trait mindfulness may be linked with healthy cardiovascular functioning for individuals and their romantic partners.
Regulation of factor VIIIa by human activated protein C and protein S: inactivation of cofactor in the intrinsic factor Xase.

Factor VIIIa is a trimer of A1, A2, and A3-C1-C2 subunits. Inactivation of the cofactor by human activated protein C (APC) results from preferential cleavage at Arg336 within the A1 subunit, followed by cleavage at Arg562 bisecting the A2 subunit. In the presence of human protein S, the rate of APC-dependent factor VIIIa inactivation increased several-fold and correlated with an increased rate of cleavage at Arg562. (Active site-modified) factor IXa, blocked cleavage at the A2 site. However, APC-catalyzed inactivation of factor VIIIa proceeded at a similar rate independent of factor IXa, consistent with the location of the preferential cleavage site within the A1 subunit. Addition of protein S failed to increase the rate of cleavage at the A2 site when factor IXa was present. In the presence of factor X, cofactor inactivation was inhibited, due to a reduced rate of cleavage at Arg336. However, inclusion of protein S restored near original rates of factor VIIIa inactivation and cleavage at the A1 site, thus overcoming the factor X-dependent protective effect. These results suggest that in the human system, protein S stimulates APC-catalyzed factor VIIIa inactivation by facilitating cleavage of A2 subunit (an effect retarded in the presence of factor IXa), as well as abrogating protective interactions of the cofactor with factor X.
Safety and efficacy of foscarnet for the management of ganciclovir-resistant or refractory cytomegalovirus infections: A single-center study.

Background Infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality following solid organ transplantation. Resistance to ganciclovir can rarely develop via mutations in UL97 or UL54. There are limited published studies assessing the safety and efficacy of foscarnet for the management of ganciclovir-resistant or refractory cytomegalovirus infection and many centers are reluctant to utilize this important therapy because of concerns about toxicity. Methods Solid organ recipients transplanted between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2014 who received at least 1 dose of foscarnet were retrospectively reviewed to assess treatment outcomes, tolerability, and safety of foscarnet. Results Ten of 31 (32.3%) patients who received foscarnet during the study period died during treatment with foscarnet, whereas all 21 surviving recipients successfully cleared infection. Of these surviving patients, 3 (14.3%) developed significant renal dysfunction, defined as >25% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate during treatment; one-third had definitive renal biopsy results consistent with foscarnet-induced toxicity. Conclusion Although mortality was high in this population, foscarnet use, with proper precautions, was generally safe and significant renal dysfunction was lower than previously reported in other sources, even with extended use.
Simple retrograde cerebral perfusion is as good as complex antegrade cerebral perfusion for hemiarch replacement.

Cerebral complication is a major concern after aortic arch surgery, which may lead to death. Thus, cerebral protection strategy plays the key role to obtain respectable results in aortic arch repair. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was introduced in 1970s to decrease the ischemic insults to the brain. However, safe duration of circulatory arrest time was limited to 30 minutes. The 1990s was the decade of evolution for cerebral protection, in which two adjuncts for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest were introduced: retrograde and antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) techniques. These two cerebral perfusion techniques significantly decreased incidence of postoperative neurological dysfunction and mortality after aortic arch surgery. Although there are no large prospective studies that demonstrate which perfusion technique provide better outcomes, multiple retrospective studies implicate that ACP may decrease cerebral complications compared to retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) when a long circulatory arrest time is required during aortic arch reconstructions. To date, many surgeons favor ACP over RCP during a complex aortic arch repair, such as total arch replacement and hybrid arch replacement. However, the question is whether the use of ACP is necessary during a short, limited circulatory arrest time, such as hemiarch replacement? There is a paucity of data that proves the advantages of a complex ACP over a simple RCP for a short circulatory arrest time. RCP with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is the simple, efficient cerebral protection technique with minimal interference to the surgical field—and it potentially allows to flush atheromatous debris out from the arch vessels. Thus, it is the preferred adjunct to deep hypothermic circulatory arrest during hemiarch replacement in our institution.
The Williams step increases the stability and accuracy of the hoRA time filter

Abstract The explicit weakly-stable second-order accurate leapfrog scheme is widely used in the numerical models of weather and climate, in conjunction with the Robert–Asselin (RA) and Robert–Asselin–Williams (RAW) time filters. The RA and RAW filters successfully suppress the spurious computational mode associated with the leapfrog method, but also weakly damp the physical mode and degrade the numerical accuracy to first-order. The recent higher-order Robert–Asselin (hoRA) time filter reduces the undesired numerical damping of the RA and RAW filters and increases the accuracy to second up-to third-order. We prove that the combination of leapfrog-hoRA and Williams' step increases the stability by 25%, improves the accuracy of the amplitude of the physical mode up-to two significant digits, effectively suppresses the computational modes, and further diminishes the numerical damping of the hoRA filter.
READING THE EXCURSUS ON WOMEN AS A MODEL OF MODERN TEMPORALITY IN GOTTFRIED'S TRISTAN

This paper's central argument is that the temporal structure of the Frauen-excursus in Tristan is compatible with an understanding of history that was emerging around 1200. The structure of the excursus is essentially dialectical, and as such has broader implications for an understanding of Gottfried's views of human relationships as well as of the specific historical moment in which he composed the work. Gottfried's presentation of a linear-sequential view of time relies on Judeo-Christian typology, as various analyses of the excursus have established. However, this linear-sequential view is consistently undermined by a questioning and relativizing of that typological version of the past. This questioning occurs within a narrative structure derived from Latin rhetoric, the partes oratoriae. Gottfried's dependence on and experimentation with this structure, and the excursus's self-reflexive content, reveal history as processual and prefigure later concepts of historical time. The love relationships that occur within this processual time are, in Gottfried's presentation, characterized by the lovers' ability to learn from the exempla that represent the past and to use the reconstructed past in the service of their own earthy futures.
An Oscillatory Correlation Theory of Temporal Pattern Segmentation

Acoustic energy from many different sources is present in the environment at all times. In order for a listener to recognize and understand the auditory environment, it is necessary to disentangle the acoustic wave form and analyze each separate event. This process is referred to as temporal pattern segmentation, or auditory scene analysis (Bregman, 1990). Its task is to break down an auditory scene, or total acoustic input, into a number of coherent segments, each of which has a high probability of coming from the same source. Temporal pattern segmentation (temporal segmentation for short) is a remarkable achievement of the auditory system, playing a fundamental role in auditory perception. It has much in common with visual segmentation of a scene into different objects. Segmentation can be based on either current input or prior knowledge. Segmentation based on current input relies on the similarities of local qualities within the input pattern itself, such as frequency, timing, or amplitude. On the other hand, segmentation based on prior knowledge relies on patterns stored in memory to segregate the auditory input. These two processes occur simultaneously in auditory scene analysis.
Gastrointestinale Motilitätsstörungen bei Intensivpatienten

Gastrointestinale Motilitatsstorungen sind bei Intensivpatienten ein haufiges Problem. Sie konnen den gesamten Gastrointestinaltrakt betreffen und den Krankheitsverlauf erheblich komplizieren. Am haufigsten finden sich Magenentleerungsverzogerungen, Diarrho und Obstipation. Eine Vielzahl von Ursachen kommt in Betracht. Neben Veranderungen des vegetativen Nervenstatus (besonders erhohter Sympathikotonus) spielen vor allem Medikamente (z. B. Katecholamine, Opiate, Sedativa, Anticholinergika), Elektrolyt- und Glukosestoffwechselstorungen sowie Entzundungsmediatoren eine wichtige Rolle. Zur Therapie steht eine ganze Reihe von motilitatswirksamen Pharmaka zur Verfugung, die angesichts ihrer unterschiedlichen Ansatzpunkte und Wirkmechanismen eines differenzierten Einsatzes bedurfen.
Case 23-2018: A 36-Year-Old Man with Episodes of Confusion and Hypoglycemia.

A Man with Episodes of Confusion and Hypoglycemia A 36-year-old man presented with episodes of altered mental status that had increased in frequency over 6 years. The episodes typically occurred at...
“Conservative” ideology and the politics of local food

Analysis of conservative political participation in local food initiatives tends to be critical and dismissive, positing this participation as self-serving, individualistic, exclusionary, nativist, or reactionary. While there are nefarious aspects to certain forms of conservative local food politics, my research at three farmers’ markets in the Upper Midwest reveals that self-identified conservatives can and do hold more nuanced positions. Those with whom I met recognize the need for both local and broader change, are concerned about marginalized and struggling people, are troubled by the impacts of conventional agriculture on the health of farmers, consumers, and other species, and are humble and willing to listen to other perspectives. Most analyses of food systems miss these nuanced perspectives because they approach American political ideology through a rigid left–right binary. Using more fluid approaches to understanding political ideology can create room for recognizing the complexity and diversity of views pigeon-holed under the label of “conservatism.” Along with these different approaches, a politics of empathy and mutual respect across ideological difference can help reveal common values, concerns, and aspirations for changing the food system. Recognizing these commonalities can help build a broader base of support for food system transformation.
DRONE: Direct Tracking of DNA Cytidine Deamination and Other DNA Modifying Activities

Enzymes that catalyze DNA modifying activities including cytidine deamination and cytosine methylation play important biological roles and have been implicated pathologically in diseases such as cancer. Here, we report Direct Resolution of ONE dalton difference (DRONE), an ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-based analytical method to track a single dalton change in the cytosine-to-uracil conversion catalyzed by the human apolipoprotein B m-RNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3) cytidine deaminases, implicated in cancer and antiviral defense. Additionally, we demonstrate broad applicability by tracking other important DNA modifications and assessing epigenetic enzyme inhibition. We have extended our methodology to obtain data on two distinct deamination events in the same oligonucleotide substrate designed from a putative APOBEC substrate, diversifying the utility of the described method. DRONE provides an important foundation for in-depth analysis of DNA-modifying enzymes and...
Effectiveness of public investment on growth in sub-Saharan Africa

The aim of the paper is to explain why public investment may not be as effective as expected in promoting growth in some countries, especially in low-income countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Given the unquestionable importance of public investment for private capital accumulation and economic growth, this low effectiveness of public investment can lead to serious problems in economies, such as low-investment trap. In the literature, there are several different reasons given, such as the quality of institutions, as possible determinants of the productivity of public capital and investment. While controlling for other possible factors, this paper provides two new explanations for the low effectiveness of public investment: the threshold effect and the volatility effect of investment. It is proposed that public investment can effectively promote economic growth only if it is high (threshold effect) and stable (volatility effect) enough. In the paper, a simple growth model illustrates the possible impacts of the volatility and the level of public investment on economic growth. Empirical analysis then follows. The analysis covers the period of 1980–2014 and a large set of sub-Saharan countries where the negative consequences of the threshold and the volatility effects of public investment have been felt strongly. In order to identify the possible negative impacts of the high volatility and the low level of public investment on growth, the countries are first classified based on their income levels. In the empirical analysis, some indicators of the quality of governance, which are also expected to be important determinants of the effectiveness of public investment, are included to control for the impact of corruption. The empirical results indicate that public investment is indeed much lower in per capita terms as well as highly volatile in relatively low-income countries. For this group of countries, even though public investment is still a statistically significant determinant of economic development, it is relatively less effective in increasing economic growth. The economic impact of public investment on growth is much larger and highly significant for relatively middle- and high-income countries. The regression results provide a clear evidence that the effectiveness of public investment significantly declines when its per capita level is below a threshold. The findings also indicate that a higher volatility of public investment can lower growth rates significantly, especially in the low-income group where volatility is highest.
Psychometric g: Definition and substantiation.

The construct known as psychometric g is arguably the most important construct in all of psychology largely because of its ubiquitous presence in all tests of mental ability and its wide-ranging predictive validity for a great many socially significant variables, including scholastic performance and intellectual attainments, occupational status, job performance, income, law abidingness, and welfare dependency. Even such nonintellectual variables as myopia, general health, and longevity, as well as many other physical traits, are positively related to g. Of course, the causal connections in the whole nexus of the many diverse phenomena involving the g factor is highly complex. Indeed, g and its ramifications cut across the behavioral sciences-brain physiology, psychology, sociology-perhaps more than any other scientific construct.
Stress Testing the Banking Agencies

One of the major regulatory innovations that has emerged over the decade following the financial crisis is the development of regulatory stress tests for large financial institutions. But the role of stress tests as a pillar of financial regulation has been placed in jeopardy by a recent wave of reforms within Congress and the Trump Administration. Existing legal scholarship provides minimal guidance for evaluating this development, because it lacks a coherent account of what the Dodd-Frank Act’s stress testing programs can and should do. This article fills that gap. First, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the promise and limits of financial stress tests. That analysis reveals that both Dodd-Frank’s architects as well as its reformist skeptics have misconceived the vices and virtues of the post-crisis stress testing rules. As it stands, the current procedures bear surprisingly little relation to the systemic risks they were designed to address. At the same time, claims that those rules represent a harmful escalation of regulatory burdens, discretion or uncertainty are overstated. Second, the article moves beyond critique and charts a practical path forward by identifying a simple yet fundamental twist to the administration of stress tests which would enable them to effectively perform the functions they were intended to serve. Specifically, it outlines a set of reforms that transform stress tests into tool for diagnosing weaknesses in the regulatory requirements promulgated by federal banking agencies, rather than in the banks themselves. By stress testing for regulatory failure, the market failures which lead to financial crises are more likely to be prevented. The broader contribution of this article is to highlight the need for a genuinely interdisciplinary approach to financial regulation, which focuses on how subtle aspects of legal structure interact with the underlying economic principles governing financial markets. The post-crisis stress tests present a classic case on why taking both the law and economics of financial regulation seriously is easier said than done. But they also show that without such an approach, regulatory cost-and-benefits are misapprehended, basic policy questions prove impossible to answer, and unintended consequences abound.