cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrated Auto-Reconfigurable Power-Supply Network With Multidirectional Energy Transfer for Self-Reliant Energy-Harvesting Applications

This paper presents an integrated, auto-reconfigurable power-supply network to enhance system lifetime and efficiency in self-reliant energy-harvesting applications. Carbon nanotube (CNT) supercapacitors are employed as both energy storage devices and power sources, thereby achieving multidirectional energy exchange. By leveraging advanced semiconductor processes, a low-volume, cost-effective single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) power management unit (PMU) is developed, which connects all the supercapacitors into an autonomous power-supply network. The PMU enables reversible power flows, shorter power-delivery paths, and effective energy reutilization, which enhances the reliability and flexibility of the system. The use of CNT supercapacitors features small form factor and high energy/power density, making them highly attractive for power-constrained devices. A prototype of the PMU is fabricated with a $0.35\mbox{-}\upmu \text{m}$ N-well CMOS process, with a chip area of approximately $4.3\;\text{mm}^{2}$ . The PMU interconnects 3-CNT supercapacitors in the power-supply network, and operates from 1.5 to 3 V. The measured peak energy-transfer efficiency is 85.03%. The supercapacitors deliver an energy density of 6.2 Wh/kg, at a high power density of 79 kW/kg and exhibit excellent stability of 98.5% retention, at a current density of 50 A/g.
It hurts when it really matters Electoral effect of party position shift regarding sociocultural issues

Do political parties’ shifts on sociocultural issues, which signify the withdrawal of ideological commitment and disturb their supporters, cause vote loss? We argue that the negative electoral impact of positional shifts is constrained by party supporters’ opinion as well as parties’ ideological strength on sociocultural issues. Using data on party positions and ideologies in Western Europe from 1990 to 2008, we find that only parties holding strong ideologies on sociocultural issues lose votes by shifting their positions on these issues. Even these parties, however, do not lose votes when their position shifts in the same direction as that of their supporters. The results indicate that niche parties are straightforwardly affected by position shifts regarding sociocultural issues; they should adopt different strategies between values they endorse and those they reject; and political parties should not be worried about vote loss from position shifts as long as they follow their supporters’ opinions.
Local Modes and Degenerate Perturbation Theory

Nonlinearity can lead to the localization of energy. Beyond this simple statement lies a myriad of models, mechanisms, theories, and approximations of theories directed at understanding energy localization in specific physical systems. Successful application of these mathematical models requires understanding the distinguishing features of the behavior each describes. As discussed in [11] and [9], the Discrete Self-Trapping Equation (DST) $$ \left( {i\frac{d} {{dt}} - \omega _0 } \right)\bar A + \gamma diag\left( {\left| {A_1 } \right|^2 ,...,\left| {A_f } \right|^2 } \right)\bar A + \varepsilon M\bar A = 0 $$ (1) is one such mathematical model, used to describe the anharmonic bond vibrations of polyatomic molecules. In this paper, the nonlinear dynamical system of Eq. (1) is considered to represent the time evolution of the complex amplitudes of classical oscillators and thus it can be quantized. The aim here is to present, in the context of other well-known energy-localization models, the particular characteristics of the mechanism for energy localization in the quantum-mechanical version of Eq. (1), the Quantized DST system (QDST).
Expression of platelet C1 inhibitor

Human platelets contain a pool of C1 inhibitor (C1 INH) distinct from that in plasma. Twelve normal platelet samples washed by centrifugation had a mean platelet C1 INH antigen level of 19.3 +/- 2.8 ng (mean +/- SEM) per 10(8) platelets. These values contrast with the mean +/- SEM platelet C1 INH antigen level of 6.1 +/- 0.9 per 10(8) platelets from 12 C1 INH-deficient patients. The level of platelet C1 INH correlated (r = .7) with the level of plasma C1 INH in normal individuals and patients with classic hereditary angioedema. Platelet C1 INH, like plasma C1 INH, was a 105-Kd protein on immunoblots of solubilized platelets and in thrombin- or collagen-induced platelet releasates. On indirect immunofluorescence, morphologically and immunochemically identifiable elutriated human megakaryocytes had C1 INH antigen. Using nested primer polymerase chain reaction, C1 INH mRNA was detected in megakaryocytes. When activated, human platelets expressed a portion of their total pool of C1 INH antigen on their membrane. Using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for C1 INH as a quantitative, indirect antibody consumption assay, the surface of unstimulated platelets had 0.55 +/- 0.4 ng C1 INH/10(8) platelets (mean +/- SEM). When activated with thrombin, platelets secreted 7.37 +/- 2.2 ng C1 INH/10(8) platelets into the suspension buffer and simultaneously expressed 4.4 +/- 1.2 ng C1 INH/10(8) platelets on their external membrane. These studies showed that activated platelets secreted 38% of their C1 INH and externalized another 23% of the total platelet C1 INH on their membrane. Furthermore, in 125I-anti-C1 INH Fab' binding experiments to platelets, about 8 ng of the antibody fragment specifically bound to 10(8) activated platelets. These data suggest that level of platelet C1 INH packaged into platelet alpha-granules is modulated by the amount of protein produced in megakaryocytes. Platelet alpha-granule C1 INH can both be secreted from platelets and expressed on their activated membranes. The cell membrane expression of C1 INH may be important to modulate the activity of the proteases of the complement and contact systems of plasma proteolysis in the microenvironment of the inflammatory response.
Exposure of platelet fibrinogen-binding sites by collagen, arachidonic acid, and ADP: inhibition by a monoclonal antibody to the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex.

Following stimulation with adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen, or arachidonic acid, unstirred human platelet suspensions bind 125I- fibrinogen in a reaction that reaches completion within 30 min. Scatchard analysis of these binding data reveals two sets of binding sites with all 3 agents: a high affinity site (Kd 0.029–0.045 microM) binding 1000–1600 fibrinogen molecules per platelet, and a lower affinity site (Kd 1.2–2.0 microM) binding 46,000–76,000 fibrinogen molecules per platelet. At a concentration of apyrase that inhibited ADP-induced fibrinogen binding by greater than 85%, fibrinogen binding induced by collagen and arachidonic acid was only partially affected. This suggests that fibrinogen binding induced by collagen or arachidonic acid does not require released ADP. We isolated a monoclonal antibody, B59.2, which precipitated the glycoprotein IIb- IIIa complex from solubilized platelet membranes. Binding of labeled antibody to platelets before or after exposure to ADP, collagen, or arachidonic acid showed a single class of approximately 22,000 binding sites with Kd 0.019 microM. Binding of B59.2 was complete within 1 min and was not inhibited by EDTA. Preincubation of platelet suspensions with a 2.1 microM concentration of B59.2 caused inhibition of secretion and aggregation, but not of thromboxane-B2 synthesis, in response to 1 microgram/ml collagen, 40 microM arachidonic acid, or 4 microM ADP, concentrations of aggregating agents that produced complete aggregation and secretion in the absence of B59.2. At this concentration of B59.2, fibrinogen binding to stimulated platelets was inhibited by approximately 45%-55%. These data demonstrate that collagen and arachidonic acid can expose fibrinogen binding sites independently of released ADP; and that the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex is involved in secretion, aggregation, and fibrinogen binding, but not in thromboxane synthesis occurring in response to collagen, arachidonic acid, or ADP.
The crisis of Swiss identity

The seriousness of the crisis Something has gone wrong with the Swiss model which had seemed so successful. In the May 2014 issue of Schweizer Monat , Rene Scheu, the editor-in-chief, described the country as a ‘Land of Myths’: The Swiss flag flies everywhere; those who hold it high are less patriotic than insecure; from the low taxes to the strong army to the free market for labour, the Swiss cling to concepts that in the best cases exist as relics … More strongly than ever the Swiss seem to feel uncomfortable and to question their small state. The newspapers are full of discussions about Swiss identity: what is it? How did it arise? Can it be preserved? When they publicly search their souls in this way, the Swiss begin by assuming that they are not like other European peoples. The central argument of this book is that they are right. There is, or was, a Sonderfall Schweiz , a Swiss special case, which emerged from the fusion of geographic factors, the evolution of the micro-economy, the survival of archaic, communal forms, the early commercialisation of meat and milk products, the physical strength of mountaineers, the accumulation of urban wealth, neutrality, the peculiar religious mosaic, the use of direct democratic devices, federalism, communal autonomy, multilingualism, and those unwritten rules of behaviour which lead to concordance and magic formulae, conflict avoidance and tolerance. This specialness made the Swiss feel both superior and uneasily inferior to other states. By comparison with their more homogeneous neighbours such as the French, Germans or Italians, they feel somehow abnormal. All of them feel ‘Swiss’ outside Switzerland. As one Swiss friend put it to me, ‘Swissness, which is strong in New York, evaporates in the train from Zurich to Solothurn.’ Inside the country they disintegrate into all sorts of micro-identities – cantonal such as Basler, Zurcher, Vaudois, Jurassien or regional such as the Italian Swiss, who divide into Sottocenerini and Sopracenerini (those who live below and those who live above Monte Ceneri) or ultimately into identities as citizens of one of the communes. Outsiders find this hard to understand. There is something unnatural about a country without a proper national identity. Ever since the French Revolution, nationalists of every colour have attempted to seduce or browbeat the three main Swiss linguistic communities into surrendering their apparently unnatural allegiance to Switzerland.
PRMT1-Mediated Methylation of DUSP4 Determines Megakaryocyte-Erythroid Lineage Choice By Regulating p38 Signaling

Abstract Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) expression level is correlated with short survival rate of acute myeloid leukemia patients. PRMT1 contributes to leukemogenesis via direct interaction with leukemic fusion proteins such as AML1-ETO and MLL-EEN. Our previous studies have shown that PRMT1 blocks megakaryocyte (MK) terminal differentiation. Inhibition of PRMT1 enzymatic activity promotes apoptosis and differentiation of acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL) cells. To understand the molecular mechanisms of PRMT1-mediated leukemogenesis, we apply bioorthognal profiling of protein methylation technology to identify PRMT1 substrates. A dual specificity protein phosphatase, DUSP4 was found a PRMT1 substrate. In literature, high expression of DUPS4 is linked to idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia and silencing of DUSP4 expression causes chemo-resistance in solid tumors and abnormal innate immune response to parasitic infections. To understand the role of DUSP4 in megakaryocytic differentiation, we ectopically expressed DUSP4 and found that it enhances megakaryocyte development. In liquid culture system, DUSP4 knockdown in human CD34+ cells crippled MK differentiation induced by TPO. In TPO+EPO culture system, DUSP4 knockdown in human CD34+ cells gave rise to more erythroid cells (CD71+) at the expense of MK cells (CD41+). Therefore, DUSP4 is essential for MK differentiation. To understand how PRMT1-mediated methylation of DUSP4 blocks MK differentiation, we mapped the DUSP4 methylation site. We found that the DUSP4 methylation mutant has a longer half-life compared to DUSP4 wild type. Further studies confirmed that DUSP4 protein stability is controlled by methylation-induced ubiquitylation. Although DUSP4 has been shown to dephosphorylate ERK, JNK and p38 kinases in overexpression systems, we found that during megakaryocytic differentiation DUSP4 specifically targets p38. These results are consistent with the findings in literature that p38 is required for erythroid differentiation, while ERK is required for megakaryocytic differentiation. Therefore, DUSP4 is responsible for turning off p38 signaling pathway, which pushes cells to erythroid lineage. Furthermore, we found that DUSP4 is associated with chromatin and dephosphorylates histone H3S10; while the methylation mutant DUSP4 locates in cytoplasm, therefore can still dephosphorylate p38 but not H3S10. Given that H3S10 phosphorylation may play a critical role in endomitosis, we also studied whether overexpression of DUSP4 antagonize aurora kinase activity to promote megakaryocytic differentiation in AMKL cell lines, containing OTT-Mal translocation or trisomy 21/down syndrome. We have tested an array of PRMT1 inhibitors to boost DUSP4 activity for potential curative therapy using AMKL leukemia mouse models. Our data support the notion that targeting PRMT1-DUSP4 pathway is a valid therapeutic approach for AMKL. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Heat and mass transfer coefficients and bifurcation analysis of coupled homogeneous-catalytic reactions

Abstract We analyze the problem of flow in a channel with homogeneous reaction(s) in the bulk and catalytic reaction(s) on the wall and develop a reduced order 3-mode model in terms of mixing-cup, wall and channel cross-section averaged concentrations and temperatures. Unlike classical two-phase models that contain a single inter-phase transfer coefficient, the 3-mode models contain three transfer coefficients representing the inter and intra-phase heat/mass transfer. We determine the dimensionless inter and intra-phase transfer coefficients (Nusselt and Sherwood numbers) that appear in the reduced order model as a function of position (Graetz coordinate), Peclet and local Damkohler numbers. We illustrate the use of the reduced order models to determine the bifurcation (ignition/extinction) features of coupled homogeneous-catalytic reactions in monolith channels and gauze reactors using propane combustion as an example. The 3-mode model is also used to analyze and determine the maximum temperature in catalytically assisted combustion in a channel in the convection dominated limit.
Information about sellers' past behavior in the market for lemons

Abstract This paper studies the role of time-on-the-market information in dynamic trading environments under adverse selection. I consider a sequential search model in which (informed) sellers receive price offers from (uninformed) buyers and analyze both the case in which buyers receive no information about sellers' trading histories and the case in which buyers observe sellers' time-on-the-market. I analyze how the observability of time-on-the-market influences agents' trading behavior and investigate its welfare implications in both the single-seller environment and the stationary market environment.
Understanding cortical topographical changes in liminally contractable muscles in SCI: importance of all mechanisms of neural dysfunction

Understanding cortical topographical changes in liminally contractable muscles in SCI: importance of all mechanisms of neural dysfunction
Distinct oligomerization and fibrillization dynamics of amyloid core sequences of amyloid-beta and islet amyloid polypeptide

A direct observation of amyloid aggregation from isolated peptides to cross-β fibrils is crucial for understanding the nucleation-dependence process, but the corresponding macroscopic timescales impose a major computational challenge. Using rapid all-atom discrete molecular dynamics simulations, we capture the oligomerization and fibrillization dynamics of the amyloid core sequences of amyloid-β (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease and islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in type-2 diabetes, namely Aβ16-22 and IAPP22-28. Both peptides and their mixture spontaneously assemble into cross-β aggregates in silico, but follow distinct pathways. Aβ16-22 is highly aggregation-prone with a funneled free energy basin toward multi-layer β-sheet aggregates. IAPP22-28, on the other hand, features the accumulation of unstructured oligomers before the nucleation of β-sheets and growth into double-layer β-sheet aggregates. In the presence of Aβ16-22, the aggregation of IAPP22-28 is promoted by forming co-aggregated multi-layer β-sheets. Our study offers a detailed molecular insight to the long-postulated oligomerization-nucleation process in the amyloid aggregations.
HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibition Delays DNA Repair and Promotes Senescence After Tumor Irradiation

Despite significant advances in combinations of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, altered fractionation schedules and image-guided radiotherapy, many cancer patients fail to benefit from radiation. A prevailing hypothesis is that targeting repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSB) can enhance radiation effects in the tumor and overcome therapeutic resistance without incurring off-target toxicities. Unrepaired DSBs can block cancer cell proliferation, promote cancer cell death, and induce cellular senescence. Given the slow progress to date translating novel DSB repair inhibitors as radiosensitizers, we have explored drug repurposing, a proven route to improving speed, costs, and success rates of drug development. In a prior screen where we tracked resolution of ionizing radiation-induced foci (IRIF) as a proxy for DSB repair, we had identified pitavastatin (Livalo), an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor commonly used for lipid lowering, as a candidate radiosensitizer. Here, we report that pitavastatin and other lipophilic statins are potent inhibitors of DSB repair in breast and melanoma models both in vitro and in vivo When combined with ionizing radiation, pitavastatin increased persistent DSBs, induced senescence, and enhanced acute effects of radiation on radioresistant melanoma tumors. shRNA knockdown implicated HMG-CoA reductase, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, and protein farnesyl transferase in IRIF resolution, DSB repair, and senescence. These data confirm on-target activity of statins, although via inhibition of protein prenylation rather than cholesterol biosynthesis. In light of prior studies demonstrating enhanced efficacy of radiotherapy in patients taking statins, this work argues for clinical evaluation of lipophilic statins as nontoxic radiosensitizers to enhance the benefits of image-guided radiotherapy. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(2); 407-18. ©2017 AACRSee all articles in this MCT Focus section, "Developmental Therapeutics in Radiation Oncology."
A Novel Photo‐thermochemical Approach for Enhanced Carbon Dioxide Reforming of Methane

We report a new approach of photo-thermo-chemical CO2(dry) reforming of methane (PTC-DRM) to produce syngas using concentrated sunlight as the energy input. A unique catalyst, Pt supported Si-modified CeO2, was designed for this novel PTC-DRM reaction by integrating photocatalytic and thermocatalytic effects, where Pt was the thermocatalytic DRM catalyst and co-catalyst for photocatalysis, CeO2 was the DRM support and semiconductor photocatalyst, and Si was the promoter and stabilizer. Under 30 equivalent suns irradiation at 600 °C in 30 h, the production rates of H2 and CO reached a stable level at 90 and 154 mmol g−1 h−1, respectively, which were 5 and 2 times higher than those obtained in the dark at the same temperature. The significantly enhanced catalytic performance and stability under solar irradiation, taking advantages of the synergy of photocatalytic and thermocatalytic effects, demonstrates the feasibility of a new direction in low-carbon fuel production from sunlight.
Heterotaxy syndrome and associated arrhythmias in pediatric patients.

Background Heterotaxy syndrome (HS) is a rare disorder with complex anatomy involving misarrangements of the cardiac conduction system. Arrhythmias may be related to anatomic variations and contribute to morbidity. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between arrhythmias, anatomy, and outcomes in a large HS cohort. Methods A single-center retrospective review of patients ≤21 years of age diagnosed with HS was performed. Results A total of 337 patients were included in the study. During median follow-up of 7 years (interquartile range 2–16 years), 129 patients (38%) had ≥1 clinically significant rhythm disturbance: tachyarrhythmias in 75 (22%), bradyarrhythmias in 29 (9%), and both in 25 (7%). Factors associated with tachyarrhythmia by multivariate analysis were at least moderate atrioventricular valve regurgitation (hazard ratio [HR] 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–2.50), single ventricle anatomy (HR 2.30; 95% CI 1.09–4.85), and pulmonary venous obstruction (HR 2.33; 95% CI 1.45–3.76). Isomerism subtype was not associated with tachyarrhythmias. In adjusted and unadjusted analyses, bradyarrhythmias (symptomatic sinus/atrial bradycardia and high-grade or complete heart block) were associated with left atrial isomerism (LAI) compared to right atrial isomerism (HR 7.12; 95% CI 3.01–16.9). The overall transplant-free survival of the cohort was 66%. Tachyarrhythmias, but not bradyarrhythmias, were associated with mortality or need for transplant (HR 2.24; 95% CI 1.45–3.46). Conclusion Clinically significant arrhythmias are common in HS. Although bradyarrhythmias are associated with LAI, tachyarrhythmia occurrence may depend more on hemodynamic and anatomic factors than isomerism subtype. Tachyarrhythmias, but not bradyarrhythmias, are associated with death or need for transplant.
Mothers of Corn: Wixárika women, verbal performances, and ontology:

Wixaritari (pl.) from Western Mexico perform a series of ceremonies through the cultivation and harvesting of Corn. In communities outside Wixarika land, families align their ceremonies to the acad...
Determining solid-fluid interface temperature distribution during phase change of cryogenic propellants using transient thermal modeling

Abstract Control of boil-off of cryogenic propellants is a continuing technical challenge for long duration space missions. Predicting phase change rates of cryogenic liquids requires an accurate estimation of solid-fluid interface temperature distributions in regions where a contact line or a thin liquid film exists. This paper described a methodology to predict inner wall temperature gradients with and without evaporation using discrete temperature measurements on the outer wall of a container. Phase change experiments with liquid hydrogen and methane in cylindrical test cells of various materials and sizes were conducted at the Neutron Imaging Facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Two types of tests were conducted. The first type of testing involved thermal cycling of an evacuated cell (dry) and the second involved controlled phase change with cryogenic liquids (wet). During both types of tests, temperatures were measured using Si-diode sensors mounted on the exterior surface of the test cells. Heat is transferred to the test cell by conduction through a helium exchange gas and through the cryostat sample holder. Thermal conduction through the sample holder is shown to be the dominant mode with the rate of heat transfer limited by six independent contact resistances. An iterative methodology is employed to determine contact resistances between the various components of the cryostat stick insert, test cell and lid using the dry test data. After the contact resistances are established, inner wall temperature distributions during wet tests are calculated.
Avoiding abelian powers in partial words

We study abelian repetitions in partial words, or sequences that may contain some unknown positions or holes. First, we look at the avoidance of abelian pth powers in infinite partial words, where p > 2, extending recent results regarding the case where p = 2. We investigate, for a given p, the smallest alphabet size needed to construct an infinite partial word with finitely or infinitely many holes that avoids abelian pth powers. We construct in particular an infinite binary partial word with infinitely many holes that avoids 6th powers. Then we show, in a number of cases, that the number of abelian p-free partial words of length n with h holes over a given alphabet grows exponentially as n increases. Finally, we prove that we cannot avoid abelian pth powers under arbitrary insertion of holes in an infinite word.
Albumin Metabolism in the Nephrotic Syndrome. Implications for Patient Management

The urinary loss of as little as 3.5 g of protein a day (1,2), the amount of protein in half a hen’s egg, may cause the entire constellation of the nephrotic syndrome: severe hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and edema formation. Although total body albumin stores are quite large, (400 g for a 70 kg person) (3-5) extensive depletion of all albumin pools occurs in the nephrotic syndrome (6-9). The mean value for proteinuria in a number of studies is about 8 g/day (6-9), not all of which is albumin, but viewed in the context of normal protein intake, even this external loss is small in absolute terms. At first glance it would appear to be a fairly simple matter to correct hypoproteinemia by simply replacing the protein lost in the urine with increased dietary protein. Unfortunately, increasing dietary protein intake has no significant beneficial effect in the clinical management of hypoalbuminemia in the nephrotic syndrome (7, 10-12). Increased dietary protein intake fails to increase either serum albumin concentration or body albumin pools in patients with the nephrotic syndrome (7, 11-13), or in animals with experimentally induced renal disease (14). Since the human liver normally synthesizes 12 to 14 grams of albumin a day (15, 16) and can more than double this rate of albumin production (6-9, 16, 17), it is not immediately apparent why hypoalbuminemia results from the urinary loss of this relatively small amount of protein.
Statistical Mechanics: Probabilistic Point of View and the Concept of “Temperature”

The concept of temperature is intuitive and constitutes an everyday experience. From a fundamental point of view, the notion of temperature is rigorously defined within the thermodynamic theory of systems at equilibrium, as the inverse of the variation ∆S of the entropy with respect to a variation of the energy ∆E, at fixed system volume. If the variation of entropy ∆S is large for a given variation of energy ∆E, the temperature is small: the system has few excited states and is quite ordered; a change of energy leads to the activation of many states and thus to a large change of the entropy. If the variation of entropy ∆S is small for a given variation of ∆E of energy, the temperature is large: the system is sufficiently excited and disordered that the entropy (which roughly quantifies the number of excited states) is almost insensitive to the energy.
Membrane and Particulate-Associated Proteins

Membrane proteins are chemically much the same as soluble proteins, with a similar amino acid profile, although they do contain, on average, a slightly higher proportion of nonpolar amino acids. Following cell disruption in a neutral, isotonic buffer that does not contain detergents, many proteins are associated with insoluble components of the cell extract. Integral membrane proteins, material trapped within an organelle, and other proteins that are strongly associated with the cytoskeletal matrix will all be found in the particulate fraction. When one considers that the cytosol is responsible for roughly 75% of cellular protein, a protein exclusively found in the precipitate will be enriched fourfold over the crude extract. This section discusses strategies for dissociating a membrane into its individual components in such a way that the protein of interest retains its bioactivity and becomes amenable to standard purification and analytical procedures. Since there exists no single procedure to characterize the different types of membrane proteins, several methods will be presented to begin this process.
Improvement of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate after implementation of the 2010 resuscitation guidelines.

Objective The implementation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines, updated every five years, appears to improve patient survival rates after Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA). The aim of this study is: 1) to measure the level of improvement in the prognosis of OHCA patient survival rates for the years 2009 and 2010 and the following two years 2011 and 2012; and 2) correlate the improvement in prognosis with the updated 2010 Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Guidelines. Method We performed a retrospective observational study based on Geneva's OHCA register that includes data from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2012. We compared the evolution of prognostic factors that influenced survival at hospital discharge between the periods before and after the implementation of the 2010 guidelines. We then compared the survival rates between each period. Finally, we adjusted the effects on survival in the second period to prognostic factors not linked with the care provided by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams, using a multivariable logistic regression model. Changes in advanced resuscitation treatment provided by EMS personnel were also examined. Results 795 OHCA were resuscitated between 1st January, 2009 and 31st December, 2012. The prognosis of patient survival at the time of hospital discharge rose from 10.33% in 2009-2010 to 17.01% in 2011-2012 (p = 0.007). After making adjustments for the effect of improved survival rates on the second period with factors not related to care provided by EMS teams, the odds ratio (OR) remains comparable (OR = 1.87, 95% CI [1.08-3.22]). Measured changes in treatment provided by EMS personnel were minor. Conclusions Survival rate for OHCA patients improved significantly in 2011-2012. This study suggests that it was probably the improvement in the quality of care provided during CPR and post-cardiac arrest care that have contributed to the increase in survival rates at the time of hospital discharge.
Agile Procurement Finance and Its KPI

In the modern world characterized by change and volatility of the environment, it is essential to approach also procurement finance from an agility point of view. The starting point is the capability to measure the key process indicators, analyze them, develop the procurement finance, and verify the indicators against the objectives of the organization. In order to be successful, it is essential to lean the processes, digitize them, and take a modular approach, both in the system architecture and in the development of new applications. The key process indicators with which to start should be connected with the supply, the control, and the profitability. The glue among all these factors are the data. Their management and reporting is the best way to direct the agility development.
From Hopelessness to Transformation in Geography Classrooms.

AbstractWe renew a call for action and build on work by geographers and others who have detailed how hopelessness emerges and the consequences this has for teaching and learning about the environment in universities. Scholars have written about a sense of hopelessness in students and faculty, anecdotal evidence supports it, and a survey we distributed in our courses confirms it. Here we contribute to this ongoing conversation by examining possibilities and limitations college teachers navigate when trying to implement teaching strategies that may help foster hope and agency in their students in relation to environmental issues. We conclude by putting forth three steps for educators to initiate efforts to encourage a sense of possibility in students and conclude with specific actions educators can take individually and collectively to overcome hopelessness in university classrooms and beyond.
SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF CHARDONNAY SEED SUPPLEMENTS IN IMPROVING PERIPHERAL VASCULAR HEALTH: A DOUBLE-BLINDED RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Peripheral endothelial dysfunction (PED) is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Similar to Mediterranean diet, Chardonnay seeds are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and mono-(MUFA)/poly-(PUFA) unsaturated fatty-acids. In a randomized double-blinded controlled trial we investigated the
Abstract P411: Does Age at Natural Menopause Influence Changes in Left Ventricular Structure and Function During the Menopausal Transition? The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Introduction: The association between menopause and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) is controversial. Cardiac structure and function are important predictors of future CVD events, however, ev...
Gambling in Emerging Adulthood: the Role of Adolescent Depressive Symptoms, Antisocial Behaviors, and Alcohol Use

Emerging adults (ages 18–29) display higher prevalence of gambling participation and problem gambling as well as co-occurrence with other risk behaviors compared to other age groups. Consequences of these co-occurring conditions may lead to psychological symptoms, behavioral problems, and socioeconomic and medical costs. Depressive symptoms, antisocial behaviors, and alcohol use are known risk factors for gambling participation and problem gambling. However, scarce research has examined the co-occurrence of those adolescent risk factors and later gambling behaviors in emerging adulthood longitudinally. Using multiple waves of National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) data, we examined the relationship between earlier depressive symptoms, antisocial behaviors, alcohol use, and gambling behaviors at wave III, and later gambling participation and problem gambling (wave IV) in emerging adults ages 18–29, using multinomial logistic regression. Our findings suggest that earlier antisocial behaviors and gambling behaviors increased later risk for gambling participation and problem gambling. Past-year alcohol use and heavy drinking were associated with the increased risk of gambling participation but not problem gambling. Earlier depressive symptoms decreased the risk of gambling participation later among those who endorsed antisocial behaviors. Emerging adulthood may be a critical developmental period in the development of comorbid conditions of gambling and other risk behaviors. The results contribute evidence supporting the importance of early prevention and intervention for the co-occurrence of gambling and other risk behaviors in emerging adulthood.
Keratoglobus with ARCL1B (EFEMP2 gene) cutis laxa.

Abstract Purpose To report a case of keratoglobus in a patient with autosomal recessive (AR) cutis laxa. Observations A 38 year old male presented with decreased vision in both eyes uncorrectable with spectacles and a history of corneal rupture in the left eye from incidental trauma a decade prior. His ocular exam was consistent with keratoglobus. His medical and family history indicated AR cutis laxa. Conclusions and importance We believe that this is the first reported case of keratoglobus associated with cutis laxa.
Design and validation of a nanoscale cross-wire probe (X-NSTAP)

A nano-sized crossed thermal anemometer (X-NSTAP) was developed and validated for measurements of two-components of velocity at high Reynolds numbers. The new sensor design is based on the single-component nanoscale thermal anemometry probe (NSTAP) previously used to acquire streamwise velocity measurements at high Reynolds numbers. The new sensor can, simultaneously, measure two components of velocity with a spatial resolution of $$42\times 42\times 50 \, \upmu {\text {m}}$$ , an order of magnitude smaller in each dimension than conventional cross-wires. The new X-NSTAP design features several structural and manufacturing modifications to improve the aerodynamic performance of the sensor compared to previous nanoscale cross-wire designs. The effects of different manufacturing modifications were evaluated using dye visualizations over scale models of the sensor tip. The pitch sensitivity of the final sensor design was evaluated in an open-loop wind-tunnel and was comparable to the single-component NSTAP design. The X-NSTAP was then deployed in the Princeton Superpipe to acquire axial and radial velocity measurements up to friction Reynolds numbers, $$Re_\tau = 24{,}000$$ with good agreement to existing studies.
The Contribution of Thermally-Pulsing Asymptotic Giant Branch and Red Super Giant Stars to the Luminosities of the Magellanic Clouds at 1-24 um

We present the near- through mid-infrared flux contribution of thermally-pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) and massive red super giant (RSG) stars to the luminosities of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC, respectively). Combined, the peak contribution from these cool evolved stars occurs at ~3-4 um, where they produce 32% of the SMC light, and 25% of the LMC flux. The TP-AGB star contribution also peaks at ~3-4 um and amounts to 21% in both galaxies. The contribution from RSG stars peaks at shorter wavelengths, 2.2 um, where they provide 11% of the SMC flux, and 7% for the LMC. Both TP-AGB and RSG stars are short lived, and thus potentially impose a large stochastic scatter on the near-IR derived mass-to-light ratios of galaxies at rest-frame 1-4 um. To minimize their impact on stellar mass estimates, one can use the M/L ratio at shorter wavelengths (e.g. at 0.8 - 1 um). At longer wavelengths (>=8 um), emission from dust in the interstellar medium dominates the flux. In the LMC, which shows strong PAH emission at 8 um, TP-AGB and RSG contribute less than 4% of the 8 um flux. However, 19% of the SMC 8 um flux is from evolved stars, nearly half of which is produced by the rarest, dustiest, carbon-rich TP-AGB stars. Thus, star formation rates of galaxies, based on an 8 um flux (e.g. observed-frame 24 um at z=2), may be biased modestly high, especially for galaxies with little PAH emission.
Transforming Global Health with AI

Transforming Global Health with AI Artificial intelligence could revolutionize health and health care in low- and middle-income countries by addressing the large knowledge and judgment gaps that ma...
End points for therapeutic trials for BPD: lessons learned from clinical trials

Abstract Drug development for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) prevention and treatment has been hampered by definitions that are inconsistently applied and are only modestly correlated with post hospital discharge outcomes that are important to families and relevant to life-long lung health. Development and validation of early predictive biomarkers to better target and individualize therapies will advance intervention trials. A respiratory scoring system prior to hospital discharge that reflects parenchymal disease severity, incorporates contemporary practices, has high sensitivity and specificity for longer term endpoints that are acceptable to regulatory agencies and meaningful to clinicians and families will accelerate therapeutic discovery.
Spatial Variability of Soil Properties in Created, Restored, and Paired Natural Wetlands

To better understand patterns of spatial variability in soil properties of created wetlands (CWs), restored wetlands (RWs), and natural wetlands (NWs), we sampled four CW or RW-NW pairs in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina using a spatially explicit design. The site pairs spanned a range of hydrogeomorphic (HGM) settings common in the Coastal Plain. We hypothesized that: (i) spatial variability of soil properties in riverine wetlands would be structured along gradients running perpendicular to streams, while spatial variability of soil properties in nonriverine wetlands would be structured in patches related to local factors (microtopography, vegetation); and (ii) soil properties of CWs and RWs would exhibit less spatial variability than soil properties of NWs as prior land-use and mitigation activities tend to homogenize soil properties. Trend surface analysis revealed that even in plots selected for homogeneous topography, linear and nonlinear trends were present in CWs, RWs, and NWs across all subclasses. Moran's I analysis indicated that fine-scale variability for bulk density (D b ), soil organic matter (SOM), and pH was more prevalent in NWs than in paired CWs or RWs. At certain sites, prior land-use and mitigation activities reduced spatial variability of soil properties such as sand content, while at other sites, they increased or had no effect on variability of soil properties such as SOM. Thus, patterns of variability were complex and differed among soil properties, sites, and HGM subclasses. A better understanding of this phenomenon will help us to incorporate appropriate variability into wetland mitigation design and construction, improving creation and restoration of functional wetlands.
A modular proof of the properness of the Coleman-Mazur eigencurve.

We give a new proof of the properness of the Coleman-Mazur eigencurve. The question of whether the eigencurve satisfies the valuative criterion for properness was first asked by Coleman and Mazur in 1998 and settled by Diao and Liu in 2016 using deep, powerful Hodge- and Galois- theoretic machinery. Our proof is short and explicit and uses no Galois theory. Instead we adapt an earlier method of Buzzard and Calegari based on elementary properties of overconvergent modular forms. To facilitate this, we extend Pilloni's geometric construction of overconvergent forms of arbitrary weight farther into the supersingular locus. Along the way, we show that the Hecke operator $U_p$ is injective on spaces of forms of large overconvergence radius of any analytic weight.
Lost in translation “en el Fil”: Actualizing structural humility for Indigenous Mexican farmworkers in California

This study demonstrates how we espoused a structural competent point of reference and operationalized the concept of structural humility for the purposes of conducting a communication evaluation strategy in support of California farmworkers. Strengthened by Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed and the principles of critical race theory, a two-phase qualitative research process was developed to understand whether state agency resources were adequately addressing workplace vulnerabilities in the agricultural fields. We conducted, first, a comprehensive content analysis of labor educational resources and, second, a series of focus groups with California Labor Agency staff, community advocacy organizations, and farmworkers of Mestizo and Indigenous Mexican origin. This study makes a significant contribution to structural humility scholarship, addressing the structural systems of power that perpetuate the marginalization of immigrant and Indigenous farmworkers. The methodology and findings advance support for organizations that work with immigrant and Indigenous populations and seek to interrogate sociopolitical inequities.
Comparing methods of performing geographically targeted rural health surveillance.

Worsening socioeconomic conditions in rural America have been fueling increases in chronic disease and poor health. The goal of this study was to identify cost-effective methods of deploying geographically targeted health surveys in rural areas, which often have limited resources. These health surveys were administered in New York’s rural Sullivan County, which has some of the poorest health outcomes in the entire state. Comparisons were made for response rates, estimated costs, respondent demographics, and prevalence estimates of a brief health survey delivered by mail and phone using address-based sampling, and in-person using convenience sampling at a sub-county level in New York’s rural Sullivan County during 2017. Overall response rates were 27.0% by mail, 8.2% by phone, and 71.4% for convenience in-person surveys. Costs to perform phone surveys were substantially higher than mailed or convenience in-person surveys. All modalities had lower proportions of Hispanic respondents compared to Census estimates. Unadjusted and age-adjusted prevalence estimates were similar between mailed and in-person surveys, but not for phone surveys. These findings are consistent with declining response rates of phone surveys, which obtained an inadequate sample of rural residents. Though in-person surveys had higher response rates, convenience sampling failed to obtain a geographically distributed sample of rural residents. Of modalities tested, mailed surveys provided the best opportunity to perform geographically targeted rural health surveillance.
Experimental analysis and analytical modeling of Enhanced-Ragone plot

Abstract In this study, we propose an experimentally validated Enhanced-Ragone plot (ERp) that displays key characteristics of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in terms of their cathode composition and operating conditions, and can be employed as a design tool to guide energy storage system (ESS) selection for applications ranging from electrified vehicles to stationary grid storage. We build the ERp using experiments - under different C-rate and operating temperature - from cylindrical graphite anode LIBs of the type 1865 nickel-cobalt-aluminum-oxide, 2170 nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide and 2665 iron-phosphate. Moreover, for each LIB tested, six cell samples are used to assess the statistical significance and repeatability of the data collected. A zero-th order equivalent circuit-based modeling approach is then proposed and experimentally validated to predict the specific energy and specific power on the ERp. Finally, the proposed ERp framework is showed on a case study of battery sizing in electric vehicle applications.
Disparities in Pre-Orchiectomy Sperm Cryopreservation Among Testicular Cancer Patients at a Public Safety Net Hospital and a Private Tertiary Care Center.

ABSTRACT Objective To compare pre-orchiectomy sperm cryopreservation use in testicular cancer patients at a private tertiary care academic center and an affiliated public safety-net hospital. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent radical orchiectomy for testicular cancer at a private tertiary-care hospital, which cared primarily for patients with private health insurance, and at a public “safety-net” facility, which cared for patients regardless of insurance status. Clinical and demographic predictors of cryopreservation use prior to orchiectomy were determined by chart review. Results A total of 201 patients formed the study cohort, 106 (53%) at the safety-net hospital and 95 (47%) at the private hospital. Safety net patients were more likely to be non-White (82% vs 15%, P Conclusion Among patients with testicular cancer, disparities exist in use of sperm cryopreservation between the private and safety-net settings. Barriers to the use of cryopreservation in the safety-net population should be sought and addressed.
Turbomachinery Blade Surrogate Modeling Using Deep Learning

Recent work has shown that deep learning provides an alternative solution as an efficient function approximation technique for airfoil surrogate modeling. In this paper we present the feasibility of convolutional neural network (CNN) techniques for aerodynamic performance evaluation. CNN approach will enable designer to fully utilize the ability of computers and statistics to interrogate and interpolate the nonlinear relationship between shapes and flow quantities, and rapidly perform a thorough optimization of the wide design space. The principal idea behind the current effort is to uncover the latent constructs and underlying cross-sectional relationships among the shape parameters, categories of flow field features, and quantities of interest in turbo-machinery blade design. The proposed CNN method is proved to automatically detect essential features and effectively estimate the pressure loss and deviation much faster than CFD solver.