cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mutational analysis of the potential catalytic residues of the VV G1L metalloproteinase

The vaccinia virus G1L open-reading frame is predicted to be a metalloproteinase based upon the presence of a conserved zinc-binding motif. Western blot analysis demonstrates G1L undergoes proteolytic processing during the course of infection, although the significance of this event is unknown. In order to determine which amino acid residues are important for G1L activity, a plasmid-borne library of G1L constructs containing mutations in and about the active site was created. Transient expression analysis coupled with a trans complementation assay of a conditionally-lethal mutant virus suggest that, of the mutants, only glutamic acid 120 is non-essential for G1L processing to occur.
Absence of calcium‐independent phospholipase A2β impairs platelet‐activating factor production and inflammatory cell recruitment in Trypanosoma cruzi‐infected endothelial cells

Both acute and chronic phases of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection are characterized by tissue inflammation, mainly in the heart. A key step in the inflammatory process is the transmigration of inflammatory cells across the endothelium to underlying infected tissues. We observed increased arachidonic acid release and platelet‐activating factor (PAF) production in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) at up to 96 h of T. cruzi infection. Arachidonic acid release is mediated by activation of the calcium‐independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) isoforms iPLA2β and iPLA2γ, whereas PAF production was dependent upon iPLA2β activation alone. Trypanosoma cruzi infection also resulted in increased cell surface expression of adhesion molecules. Increased adherence of inflammatory cells to T. cruzi‐infected endothelium was blocked by inhibition of endothelial cell iPLA2β or by blocking the PAF receptor on inflammatory cells. This suggests that PAF, in combination with adhesion molecules, might contribute to parasite clearing in the heart by recruiting inflammatory cells to the endothelium.
The emerging relationship between neuromyelitis optica and systemic rheumatologic autoimmune disease

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are associated with autoantibodies that target aquaporin-4 and, in many cases, multiple other autoantibodies, including antinuclear antibody and antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens. The clinical syndromes that define NMO and NMOSD, especially longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and optic neuritis, can also occur in the context of established rheumatologic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren syndrome and other organ-specific autoimmune diseases. These observations raise questions fundamental to both clinical practice and etiologic research. For example, they could suggest that NMO is one manifestation of a genetic tendency toward humoral autoimmunity. Alternatively, they might indicate that NMO is a central nervous system complication of a multisystem rheumatologic disease. We describe the historical background of this controversy, summarize the current evidence that addresses NMO–systemic autoimmunity relat...
Minimization of beam squint in microstrip reflectarrays using an offset feed

Microstrip reflectarrays utilize the advantages of planar antenna technology in providing an alternative to parabolic reflectors. The main barrier to implementing a microstrip reflectarray in many applications where reflectors have traditionally been used is that the gain bandwidth is typically only 5 percent (defined for a 1 dB drop from peak gain) for a microstrip reflectarray. Factors that limit reflectarray gain bandwidth are discussed. Reflectarrays can be designed with a prime focus feed, or an offset feed. Using a prime focus feed is the most straightforward approach, however this configuration results in aperture blockage effects. Also, in reflectarrays which are scanned off broadside, beam squint with frequency will occur for a prime focus feed. The offset feed is more attractive in that aperture blockage effects are minimized, at the expense of a slightly more complicated design and analysis procedure. A further advantage is that the effect of beam squint with frequency can be greatly minimized by choosing the correct offset position. In this paper a comparison of beam squint in prime focus and offset fed microstrip reflectarrays is investigated. A simple criterion for minimizing beam squint with frequency is presented, and results from an analysis of a linear reflectarray are discussed.
Over-the-horizon radars with multipath-enabled super-resolution using time-reversal

This paper describes an over-the-horizon radar with a high resolution imaging capability using time-reversal. By incorporating the extended virtual aperture concept enabled by multipath interference into a double-pass conjugate image scanning scheme, high resolution radar imaging can be achieved without requiring extensive computation or apriori knowledge of environmental conditions. Initial theoretical and experimental results to prove the concept are provided.
Microsystem Cooler Development

A patented microsystem Stirling cooler is under development with potential application to electronics, sensors, optical and radio frequency (RF) systems, microarrays, and other microsystems. The microsystem Stirling cooler is most suited to volume-limited applications that require cooling below the ambient or sink temperature. Primary components of the planar device include: two diaphragm actuators that replace the pistons found in traditional-scale Stirling machines; and a micro-regenerator that stores and releases thermal energy to the working gas during the Stirling cycle. The use of diaphragms eliminates frictional losses and bypass leakage concerns associated with pistons, while permitting reversal of the hot and cold sides of the device during operation to allow precise temperature control. Three candidate microregenerators were custom fabricated for initial evaluation: two constructed of porous ceramic, and one made of multiple layers of nickel and photoresist in an offset grating pattern. An additional regenerator was prepared with a random stainless steel fiber matrix commonly used in existing Stirling machines for comparison to the custom fabricated regenerators. The candidate regenerators were tested in a piezoelectric-actuated test apparatus designed to simulate the Stirling refrigeration cycle. In parallel with the regenerator testing, electrostatically-driven comb-drive diaphragm actuators for the prototype device have been designed for deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) fabrication.
Tackling the reproducibility problem in storage systems research with declarative experiment specifications

Validating experimental results in the field of storage systems is a challenging task, mainly due to the many changes in software and hardware that computational environments go through. Determining if an experiment is reproducible entails two separate tasks: re-executing the experiment and validating the results. Existing reproducibility efforts have focused on the former, envisioning techniques and infrastructures that make it easier to re-execute an experiment. In this position paper, we focus on the latter by analyzing the validation workflow that an experiment re-executioner goes through. We notice that validating results is done on the basis of experiment design and high-level goals, rather than exact quantitative metrics. Based on this insight, we introduce a declarative format for specifying the high-level components of an experiment as well as describing generic, testable conditions that serve as the basis for validation. We present a use case in the area of distributed storage systems to illustrate the usefulness of this approach.
Transfusions in trauma

Trauma associated with massive bleeding carries a high mortality even in the setting of early care in a trauma center. Such patients develop a significant coagulopathy soon after injury which contributes to these poor outcomes. Practices such as aggressive resuscitation with crystalloid fluids and red blood cell (RBC) transfusions appear to be associated with worse outcomes when compared to a practice of early blood product resuscitation with a ratio of plasma to platelets to RBCs approaching 1:1:1. Early therapy with tranexamic acid (TXA) appears beneficial as well, perhaps helping to prevent fibrinolysis. Viscoelastic testing offers advantages over conventional coagulation testing in the evaluation of further fibrinolysis and offers some guidance for additional targeted therapy. Many societies and organizations have released updated guidelines and recommendations that reflect these changes.
Synthetic biology: Building genetic containment

Since the 1980s, scientists have worked on designing genetic codes to reinforce containment and control of genetically engineered microbes. New mechanistic studies of “deadman” and “passcode” gene circuits provide a flexible platform to build new safety switches.
Pediatric phase I drug tolerance: a review and comparison of recent adult and pediatric phase I trials.

Purpose: We evaluated the ratio of pediatric to adult maximum tolerated doses (MTDs) from 70 Phase I studies conducted between 1975 and 1995. The aim of this study was to determine whether previously observed differences in drug tolerance between adult and pediatric Phase I patients have persisted over the 20-year period of this analysis. Patients and Methods: Phase I trials of pediatric and adult patients with solid tumors as the predominant diagnosis and sharing similar dosing regimens were evaluated. For consistent comparison between Phase I studies, the MTD was defined as the drug dose one level below that yielding dose-limiting toxicity in >30% of patients. The ratio of pediatric to adult MTDs was calculated and plotted chronologically by year of pediatric study closure. Statistical evaluation of MTD ratios included regression and correlation analysis. The extent of therapy before Phase I study entry was also examined. Results: Ninety-three Phase I studies were reviewed. Twenty-one drugs (70 studies) met our criteria for paired review of MTDs and analysis of the variation of ratio with time. The pediatric to adult MTD ratios ranged from 0.4 to 2.8, with a median of 1.2. Regression analysis of the ratio of MTD versus date of pediatric study closure supports a linear relationship of decreasing ratio with time (p<0.01). Analysis of the regression line predicts MTD ratios of 2.02 and 0.76 for 1974 and 1995, respectively. Of patients included in this analysis, 37.1% and 68.6% of adult and pediatric patients, respectively, were considered to have been heavily pretreated before study entry. A significant (p<0.001) downward trend with time was observed in the proportion of adult patients entering Phase I studies who had received both radiation and chemotherapy. Conclusions: The results of this review continue to show an equal or greater drug tolerance in the pediatric population when compared with adult patients for most drugs studied during Phase I trials. However, there appears to be a significant trend of decreasing differences in drug tolerance between pediatric and adult Phase I patients with time, as defined by the descent of the MTD ratio toward values <1.0. Mechanisms to explain greater drug tolerance with children and the observation of decreasing maximum toletared dose ratios with time are discussed. Limited data suggest that changes in degree of therapy before Phase I study entry may be influencing the MTD radio.
Commonly Prescribed Medications Among Patients in Hospice Care for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Purpose:End-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presents health care providers with challenges of providing optimal palliative care for patients who follow a less predictable traject...
Detailing Ionosorption over TiO2, ZrO2, and HfO2 from First Principles

Identifying the principles of surface to adsorbate charge transfer is key to a better understanding of metal oxide materials as both catalysts and gas sensors. The mechanism responsible for gas sen...
Analog time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) optical focusing inside scattering media with high power gain(Conference Presentation)

Focusing light deep inside scattering media plays a key role in such biomedical applications as high resolution optical imaging, control, and therapy. In recent years, wavefront shaping technologies have come a long way in controlling light propagation in complex media. A prominent example is time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) focusing, which allows noninvasive introduction of “guide stars” inside biological tissue to guide light focusing. By measuring the optical wavefront emanating from an ultrasound focus created at the target location, TRUE determines the desired wavefront non-iteratively, and achieves focusing at the target position via a subsequent optical time reversal. Compared to digital counterparts that employ slow electronic spatial light modulators and cameras, analog TRUE focusing relies on nonlinear photorefractive crystals that inherently accommodate more spatial modes and eliminate the troublesome alignment and data transfer required by digital approaches. However, analog TRUE focusing suffers from its small gain, defined as the energy or power ratio between the focusing and probing beams in the focal volume. Here, by implementing a modified analog TRUE focusing scheme that squeezes the duration of the time-reversed photon packet below the carrier-recombination-limited hologram decay time of the crystal, we demonstrated a photon flux amplification much greater than unity at a preset focal voxel in between two scattering layers. Although the energy gain was still below unity, the unprecedented power gain will nevertheless benefit new biomedical applications.
Field Balancing Test of Large-scale Rotor in Critical Speed

Turbine rotor will undergo strong vibration through the critical speed,and it would shut down when the amount of imbalance over the standard.In order to make the unit a smooth start,the balance treatment in the critical speed of the rotor should be taken sufficient attention.This article describes the method of the rotor dynamic balance test in the critical speed,and obtains some of the conclusions of the impact coefficient.It has an important significance to the rotor dynamic balance test in the critical speed.
Synthesis, Structure and Contrast Efficacy of Bismuth (III) Chelated with 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-Tetramethylene Phosphonate and its Incorporation into Nano-Assembled Capsules

This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in University Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. For more information, please contact pdxscholar@pdx.edu. Recommended Citation Maier, Karley B., "Synthesis, Structure and Contrast Efficacy of Bismuth (III) Chelated With 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-Tetramethylene Phosphonate and Its Incorporation Into Nano-Assembled Capsules" (2016). University Honors Theses. Paper 256.
Effects of Neutron Collimation, Beam Size, and Spectrum on In-Phantom Performance of Realistic Epithermal Neutron Beams for BNCT

Sensitivity studies of the collimator and fast neutron filter/moderator designs of the MIT fission converter epithermal neutron beam have been conducted to examine the effects of beam collimation or directionality, beam size (i.e., neutron spatial distribution), and neutron spectrum on dosimetric performance in a water-filled ellipsoidal head phantom. The effects of these beam parameters have already been studied using ideal beams, i.e., monoenergetic, photon-free neutron beams with varying maximum neutron emission angle and beam size.1 In those ideal beam studies, the effect of each parameter was examined separately by varying one parameter with the others fixed. However, in actual beam design, these three parameters, especially beam directionality and beam size, (and intensity as well), vary simultaneously, resulting in a much more complex optimization problem. The current study examines the effects of these beam characteristics using realistic epithermal neutron beams to evaluate their relative importance in treating brain tumors.
Intrinsic Foot Muscle Activation During Specific Exercises: A T2 Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Context: The intrinsic foot muscles maintain the medial longitudinal arch and aid in force distribution and postural control during gait. Impaired intrinsic foot-muscle function has been linked to various foot conditions. Several rehabilitative exercises have been proposed to improve it; however, literature that identifies which individual muscles are activated during specific intrinsic foot-muscle exercises is lacking. Objective: To describe changes in activation of the intrinsic plantar foot muscles after 4 exercises as measured with T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Setting: Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Eight healthy National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate cross-country and track athletes (5 men and 3 women: age = 20 ± 0.93 years, height = 180.98 ± 10.84 cm, mass = 70.91 ± 7.82 kg). Intervention(s): Participants underwent T2 MRI before and after each exercise. They completed 1 set of 40 repetitions of each exercise ...
Combining mask and OPC process verification for improved wafer patterning and yield

As technology advances into deep submicron nodes, the mask manufacturing process accuracy become more important. Mask Process Correction (MPC) has been transitioning from Rules-Based Mask Process correction to Model-Based Mask Process Correction mode. MPC is a subsequent step to OPC, where additional perturbation is applied to the mask shapes to correct for the mask manufacturing process. Shifting towards full model-based MPC is driven mainly by the accuracy requirements in advanced technology nodes, both for DUV and EUV processes. In the current state-of-the-art MPC process, MPC is completely decoupled from OPC, where each of them assumes that the other is executing perfectly. However, this decoupling is not suitable anymore due to the limited tolerance in the mask CDU budget and the increased wafer CDU requirements required from OPC. It is becoming more important to reduce any systematic mask errors, especially where they matter the most. In this work, we present a new combined-verification methodology that allows testing the combined effect of mask process and lithography process together and judging the final wafer patterning quality. This has the potential to intercept risks due to superposition of OPC and MPC correction residual errors, and capturing and correcting such a previously hidden source of patterning degradation.
Long-term symptom burden and orodental health of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivors following treatment with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or sequential therapy (ST).

9530 Background: OPC treatment is associated with significant long-term toxicity. Very little is known about the long-term symptom burden and orodental health in OPC survivors >2 yrs from treatment...
Economic and Legal Concepts of Competition

I. Economic Concepts of Competition OMPETITION is the selective mechanism of a private-enterprise economy. Given free choice by buyers and sellers, there is always some profit to be made by producing more efficiently than one's rivals and bidding trade away from them, to the point where everyone's profits have been eroded to the bare minimum. The only way to escape the pauper's fate is for the business enterprise to seek out innovations in products, processes, or sources of supply which yield new profits, whereupon the cycle is repeated. The action of business enterprise is a perpetual flight from the zero-profit abyss. To alter the metaphor, and borrowing from the language of tax enforcement, it is in the interest of enterprise either to avoid or evade the unending pressure on profits-avoidance by innovation, evasion by stopping the pressure or at least weakening it; and the degree of success in evasion is what we call the degree of monopoly. The "power" to attain economies of production and distribution may be lumped in with the "power" to limit competition-by those who are interested only in protecting their incomes, which either kind of "power" can do. But if we are interested in the results of one kind of "power" or another-and if we aren't, we have no particular expertise-then of course there is a solid body of economic theory to let us conclude that it makes a good deal of difference for the national income whether businessmen predominantly avoid or evade the competitive pressure toward zero profits. If the size and growth of the national income are a matter of first-rate importance, this distinction between one or another "power" is vital. It is worth while reflecting on another loaded word. The Chief Justice of the United States once called our basic anti-trust statute "a charter of
Ccr4 And Pop2 Control Poly(A) Tail Length In Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Messenger RNA degradation is an important aspect of post-transcriptional gene regulation and shortening the poly(A) tail is often the rate-limiting step in mRNA degradation. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae , the Ccr4-Not complex is the major deadenylase and contains two subunits with exoribonuclease domains, Ccr4 and Pop2. Although the role of Ccr4 and Pop2 in deadenylation has previously been studied using individual reporter mRNAs, their activity has not been studied transcriptome-wide. Here, we describe END-seq, a method to accurately measure poly(A) tail lengths of individual mRNAs transcriptome-wide, and have used this assay to examine the impact of deleting or mutating Ccr4 and Pop2 on steady state poly(A) tail length. We found that Ccr4 and Pop2 have differential effects on the poly(A) tail lengths of individual mRNAs. Additionally, though Pop2 has previously been reported to have exonuclease activity, mutations that render it catalytically inactive have no effect on steady-state poly(A) tail lengths. Furthermore, mutations that disrupt the interaction between Ccr4 and Pop2 result in longer poly(A) tails. We also observe an inverse correlation between codon optimality and poly(A) tail length - transcripts containing predominantly optimal codons display fewer changes in poly(A) tail length upon deletion of Ccr4 or Pop2 than those containing less optimal codons. Together, these results indicate that Pop2 modulates poly(A) tail length, at least partially, via its association with Ccr4 and that Pop2 improves the function of Ccr4 in regulating poly(A) tail length. These data provide important insights into poly(A) tail length dynamics in yeast and demonstrate that END-seq is an efficient and accurate method to study poly(A) tail length.
Psychosocial functioning in eating disorders: Social anxiety, alexithymia and lack of assertiveness / Funcionamiento psicosocial en los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria: Ansiedad social, alexitimia y falta de asertividad

Abstract There is a great conclusive amount of information about the deficit of psychosocial functioning in eating disordered patients. Objective: To describe the evidence on the influence of social anxiety, alexithymia and lack of assertiveness as predisposing, triggering and perpetuating factors of eating disorders (ED) symptomatology and the impairment of social behaviors and/or attitudes in patients suffering from anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia nervosa. Method: An exhaustive review of the national and international specialized literature was made. Results: Social anxiety that may become a social phobia (avoidance of interpersonal contact), alexithymia (difficulty to identify and/or express feelings and sensations) that may be associated to depression and lack of assertiveness (discapacity in social competence to confront communicational events) reach significatively higher prevalence rates in eating disordered patients compared to control subjects. Conclusions: The evidence supports the significant interference in social skills, in the therapeutic management and in the outcome of eating disordered patients related to these comorbidities. It is imperative its early identification and clinical approach in order to prevent the emergence of ED. Key words : Eating disorders, Psychosocial functioning, Social anxiety, Alexithymia, Assertiveness. Resumen Existe una gran cantidad de informacion concluyente sobre el deficit del funcionamiento psicosocial en las pacientes con trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA). Objetivo: Describir la evidencia acerca de la influencia de la ansiedad social, la alexitimia y la falta de asertividad como factores predisponentes, desencadenantes y perpetuantes de la sintomatologia de los TCA y el deterioro de las conductas y/o actitudes sociales de pacientes portadoras de anorexia nerviosa y/o bulimia nerviosa. Metodo: Revision exhaustiva de la literatura especializada nacional e internacional. Resultados: La ansiedad social que puede manifestarse como fobia social (evitacion del contacto interpersonal), la alexitimia (dificultad para identificar y/o expresar sentimientos y sensaciones) que puede asociarse principalmente a la depresion y la falta de asertividad (discapacidad en la competencia social para confrontar los eventos comunicacionales) alcanzan cifras de prevalencia significativamente mas altas en las pacientes alimentarias comparadas con sujetos controles. Conclusiones: La evidencia apoya la interferencia significativa en las habilidades sociales, en el manejo terapeutico y en el desenlace de las pacientes con TCA relacionada con estas comorbilidades. Es imperativo su identificacion y abordaje clinico precoz para prevenir la aparicion de los TCA. Palabras claves : Trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, funcionamiento psicosocial, ansiedad social, alexitimia, asertividad.
Early-life risperidone enhances locomotor responses to amphetamine during adulthood

Antipsychotic drug prescriptions for pediatric populations have increased over the past 20 years, particularly the use of atypical antipsychotic drugs such as risperidone. Most antipsychotic drugs target forebrain dopamine systems, and early-life antipsychotic drug exposure could conceivably reset forebrain neurotransmitter function in a permanent manner that persists into adulthood. This study determined whether chronic risperidone administration during development modified locomotor responses to the dopamine/norepinephrine agonist, D-amphetamine, in adult rats. Thirty-five male Long-Evans rats received an injection of one of four doses of risperidone (vehicle, .3, 1.0, 3.0mg/kg) each day from postnatal day 14 through 42. Locomotor activity was measured for 1h on postnatal days 46 and 47, and then for 24h once a week over the next two weeks. Beginning on postnatal day 75, rats received one of four doses of amphetamine (saline, .3, 1.0, 3.0mg/kg) once a week for four weeks. Locomotor activity was measured for 27h after amphetamine injection. Rats administered risperidone early in life demonstrated increased activity during the 1 and 24h test sessions conducted prior to postnatal day 75. Taking into account baseline group differences, these same rats exhibited significantly more locomotor activity in response to the moderate dose of amphetamine relative to controls. These results suggest that early-life treatment with atypical antipsychotic drugs, like risperidone, permanently alters forebrain catecholamine function and increases sensitivity to drugs that target such function.
Half-life of Mn 51

The half-life of $^{51}\mathrm{Mn}$ was measured by serial gamma spectrometry of the 511-keV annihilation photon following decay by ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{+}$ emission. Data were collected every 100 seconds for 100,000--230,000 seconds within each measurement ($n=4$). The 511-keV incidence rate was calculated from the 511-keV spectral peak area and count duration, corrected for detector dead time and radioactive decay. Least-squares regression analysis was used to determine the half-life of $^{51}\mathrm{Mn}$ while accounting for the presence of background contaminants, notably $^{55}\mathrm{Co}$. The result was $45.59\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07$ min, which is the highest precision measurement to date and disagrees with the current Nuclear Data Sheets value by over $6\ensuremath{\sigma}$.
A cryogenic thermal source for detector array characterization

We describe the design, fabrication, and validation of a cryogenically compatible quasioptical thermal source for characterization of detector arrays. The source is constructed using a graphite-loaded epoxy mixture that is molded into a tiled pyramidal structure. The mold is fabricated using a hardened steel template produced via a wire electron discharge machining process. The absorptive mixture is bonded to a copper backplate enabling thermalization of the entire structure and measurement of the source temperature. Measurements indicate that the reflectance of the source is <0.001 across a spectral band extending from 75 to 330 GHz.
Using Nanoscale Domain Size To Control Charge Storage Kinetics in Pseudocapacitive Nanoporous LiMn2O4 Powders

Pseudocapacitive materials can produce charge storage devices that have both high energy and power density. Although many pseudocapacitive anode materials have been identified, there is a lack of equivalently fast charging cathode materials necessary to create full-cell devices. Recently, thin-film studies from our group have identified nanoporous LiMn2O4 with ∼15 nm domains as a pseudocapacitive cathode material. In this work, we use this insight to create nanoporous LiMn2O4 powders that can be used in practical, slurry-type thick electrode systems. Using these materials, we specifically examine the role of crystalline domain size in controlling charge storage kinetics. Four nanoporous LiMn2O4 powders were synthesized with crystallite sizes of 10, 20, 40, and 70 nm, and their charge/discharge kinetics were studied. Smaller crystallite sizes showed lower capacity but faster charge/discharge speeds, longer cycle life, and higher capacitive contribution based on kinetic analysis, whereas larger crystallite ...
"Basket Becomes Codex: A Poem by Trevino Brings Plenty in the Portland Art Museum"

This essay brings several contexts together to examine a poem by Trevino Brings Plenty, "Little, Cultural, Teapot Curio Exposes People": Native material rhetorics (stories about objects and what they mean when connected with their communities), Tribalography (how stories bring ideas to life), Brings Plenty’s latest book of poetry, museum collection history, the history of spruce root basketry, and the policies and programming of the Portland Art Museum. When the poem resonates in all of these contexts, it works as a powerful revision of how museum objects have been understood in the past, and presents a new story about the significance of even the most seemingly trivial objects.
Optical Absorption Spectra of Neutron Irradiated Optical Fibers in the 0. 7–1. 1 µ m Region

Many applications of fiber optic waveguides, especially military applications, may subject the waveguides to nuclear radiation environments of gamma rays and energetic neutrons. 1 To date most studies of radiation induced absorption in optical waveguides have been carried out using primarily ionizing sources: electrons, gamma rays, and x-rays.2, 3, 4, 6 In this study we have examined six different fibers to determine their radiation induced absorption due to neutron irradiation. The fibers tested are as follows: 1) an ITT (GS-02), 55 µm core, step index fiber with Ge and P doping and low OH content (3–5 ppm). 2) an ITT (GG-02), 50 µm core, graded index fiber with Ge doping only and low OH content. 3) an ITT (GG-02, 60 µm core, graded index fiber with Ge and P doping and low OH content. 4) an ITT (PS-05), 125 µm core, plastic clad silica fiber with a high OH content. 5) a 250 µm core, step index, medium loss suprasil fiber. 6) an IRT high loss plastic fiber.
Stop Taking the Bait: The Dilution of Miranda Does Not Make America Safer from Terrorism

On December 25, 2009, a Nigerian tried to blow up a plane over Detroit, Michigan. On May 1, 2010, an American tried to set off explosives in New York’s Times Square. Neither man succeeded. After both arrests, lawmakers clamored for more flexibility to interrogate terror suspects and for the suspension (if not elimination) of their Miranda rights. The Supreme Court subsequently decided three cases that severely dilute Miranda protections and Fifth Amendment rights. An examination of these decisions reveals that they fail to make America safer from terrorism.Worse still, the dilution of American citizens’ rights sends a dangerous message to budding terrorists, that as long as they attempt to harm Americans, the American people will be scared and the government will use that fear to restrict liberties. Continuing to react in this manner will increase the number of attempted terrorist attacks, creating demand for more oppressive laws to fight this increase in terrorism, which in turn will beget more terrorist attacks. If this cycle is not broken, America could wind up becoming the type of repressive regime it is fighting so hard against.
What's in a name?: Conflations and contradictions in contemporary U.S. discourses of human trafficking

Synopsis Human trafficking, broadly defined as the forced movement of individuals within and between nation–state boundaries, is a local, national, and transnational phenomenon that has captured the public and scholarly imaginary in the past decade. This article takes to task situating the disparate definitions, meanings, and debates within contemporary literatures on trafficking. Focusing on the United States, this article traces key trafficking terminologies like “smuggling,” “modern day slavery,” and “sexual slavery.” Herein I aim to make theoretic sense of scholarly interventions made on behalf of trafficked persons and to examine the scholarly and political efficacy of trafficking discourses.
Two-field axion-monodromy hybrid inflation model: Dante's Waterfall

We describe a hybrid axion-monodromy inflation model motivated by the Dante's Inferno scenario. In Dante's Inferno, a two-field potential features a stable trench along which a linear combination of the two fields slowly rolls, rendering the dynamics essentially identical to that of single-field chaotic inflation. A shift symmetry allows for the Lyth bound to be effectively evaded as in other axion-monodromy models. In our proposal, the potential is concave downward near the origin and the inflaton trajectory is a gradual downward spiral, ending at a point where the trench becomes unstable. There, the fields begin falling rapidly towards the minimum of the potential and inflation terminates as in a hybrid model. We find parameter choices that reproduce observed features of the cosmic microwave background, and discuss our model in light of recent results from the BICEP2 and Planck experiments.
PALEOCLIMATE | Time Scales of Climate Change

Climate varies across a range of different timescales. This article discusses both time-domain and frequency-domain illustrations of climatic variations. In the frequency domain, a schematic variance spectrum describes the general increase in the variability of climate with increasing timescale, and the several timescales of greater variability that are related to the influence of external controls of climate and to internal mechanisms that generate quasi-periodic variations. In the time domain, examples from some representative time series illustrate the small number of typical or characteristic kinds of variation that recur across the full range of timescales. In addition to variations in its mean state, the climate system also experiences changes in variability over time, and such changes are examined using evolutionary spectral analysis. The potential for observing spurious periodicities in time series is also briefly addressed. The article also discusses the potential for observing spurious periodicities in time series.
The Constitution and the Law of Nations

Under the original understanding of the Constitution, customary international law features in the U.S. legal system as general law. It is not law of the United States within the meaning of Articles III or VI of the Constitution, and so does not serve as a basis for federal question jurisdiction or override contrary state law. Under the original understanding, the Constitution does not confer the protections of the international law of state-state relations on either foreign states or governments that have been recognized as such by federal political actors. Congress may confer those protections by statute, but in the absence of statute or treaty, they rest on general law. The Constitution’s text indicates that the laws of the United States referred to in Articles III and VI consist entirely of federal statutes. The Federal Convention’s drafting process indicates that members of the convention had that understanding of the text they produced. That process also indicates that the drafters probably understood the laws referred to by the Take Care Clause of Article II to consist of federal statutes. Prominent figures in the ratification debates treated Articles III and VI as using the term “laws of the United States” to refer to statutes. The First Congress drafted the Judiciary Act of 1789 on the assumption that the laws of the United States referred to in Articles III and VI were federal statutes. During the 1793 prosecution of Gideon Henfield for non-statutory criminal violations of the United States’ neutrality, a number of leading figures took the position that the federal courts could entertain prosecutions under unwritten law. It is unlikely, however, that any of them meant to assert that the law of nations was law of the United States within the meaning of Articles III or VI.
Self-powered Sensing and Time-Stamping of Tampering Events

While many techniques exist for detecting mechanical tampering in an integrated circuit supply-chain, estimating the time-of-occurrence of the tampering event has proven to be challenging. This work builds upon our previously demonstrated self-powered mechanical event detector and self-powered timing device to report a chip-scale system that can accurately timestamp the occurrence of the tampering event. The proposed system uses a combination of Fowler-Nordheim tunneling for continuous time-keeping and a linear hot-electron injector for sensing and recording of mechanical events. Using devices fabricated in a0.5 μ -m standard CMOS process, we demonstrate event time-stamping with an accuracy of 95% over a duration of 3 days. This accuracy can be further improved by incorporating a parametric model during the system calibration phase.
A peer-to-peer (P2P) platform business model: the case of Airbnb

This study applies the resource exchange theory and social exchange theory perspectives in examining the structural relationships among value-creating components, trusting beliefs, and platform loyalty. An online survey (N = 320) was implemented to collect data from American respondents. Structural equation modeling analysis was conducted to test the proposed hypotheses. Results showed that the value-creating components of platform quality, compatibility, market opportunity, and fairness except for convenience had significant positive effects on trusting beliefs. Trusting beliefs positively influenced both switching resistance loyalty. Subsequently, switching resistance loyalty positively influenced loyalty to the platform. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
6 – Exponentials and Logarithms

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses exponentials and logarithms. It presents two of the most important classes of functions of mathematics: the exponential and logarithmic functions. There are two different ways to define the exponential and logarithmic functions. In a sense to be made precise shortly, exponential and logarithmic functions are inverses of one another. If a be a positive number, then an exponential function is a function of the form f(x) = ax, where x can be any real number. In discussing the logarithm to the base a, if x = ay then the logarithm to the base a of x is y, written as, y = logax.
Assessment of Maternal Glycemia and Newborn Size Among Pregnant Women Who Use Wood Stoves in Northern New England.

This cohort study uses data from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study to assess maternal glycemia and newborn size among pregnant women who use wood-burning stoves in their New England homes.
How do we know what babies know? The limits of inferring cognitive representations from visual fixation data

Most infant cognitive studies use visual fixation time as the measure of interest. There are, however, some serious methodological and theoretical concerns regarding what these studies reveal about...
Inert and seed-competent tau monomers suggest structural origins of aggregation

Tauopathies feature progressive accumulation of tau amyloids. Pathology may begin when these amplify from a protein template, or seed, whose structure is unknown. We have purified and characterized distinct forms of tau monomer: inert (Mi) and seed-competent (Ms). Recombinant Ms triggered intracellular tau aggregation, induced tau fibrillization in vitro, and self-assembled. Ms from Alzheimer disease also seeded aggregation and self-assembled in vitro to form seed-competent multimers. We used crosslinking with mass spectrometry to probe structural differences in Mi vs. Ms. Crosslinks informed models of local peptide structure within the repeat domain which suggest relative inaccessibility of residues that drive aggregation (VQIINK/VQIVYK) in Mi, and exposure in Ms. Limited proteolysis supported this idea. Although tau monomer has been considered to be natively unstructured, our findings belie this assumption and suggest that initiation of pathological aggregation could begin with conversion of tau monomer from an inert to a seed-competent form.
Urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and adolescent sleep duration.

Some environmental chemicals, such as phthalates, are capable of disrupting endocrine function related to the development and regulation of sleep patterns. However, the contribution of phthalate exposure to inadequate sleep during adolescence is unknown. We aim to evaluate the association between phthalate exposure and short sleep duration during adolescence. Methods We used data from participants 16-17 years of age in the 2005-2010 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants reported typical sleep duration during weekdays, which we categorized into short sleep duration (less than 8 hours per night) and adequate sleep duration (8 or more hours) based on consensus guidelines. We used weighted logistic regression to evaluate the association between log10-transformed urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and odds of short sleep duration. Results An interquartile range increase in di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites, monocarboxynonyl phthalate, monocarboxyoctyl phthalate, and mono-isobutyl phthalate was associated with 1.48 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.02, 2.16), 1.64 (95% CI = 1.17, 2.32), 1.46 (95% CI = 0.99, 2.16), and 1.92 (95% CI = 1.08, 3.43) times the odds of short sleep duration, respectively. Furthermore, we observed monotonic dose-response relations between some phthalate metabolites and odds of short sleep duration. Conclusions Our results suggest that higher urinary concentrations of several phthalate metabolites are associated with short sleep duration during adolescence. Understanding the contribution of modifiable environmental factors to inadequate sleep duration is of great public health importance because inadequate sleep can have substantial health implications.
First principles computation of composition dependent elastic constants of omega in titanium alloys: implications on mechanical behavior.

For decades the poor mechanical properties of Ti alloys were attributed to the intrinsic brittleness of the hexagonal ω-phase that has fewer than 5-independent slip systems. We contradict this conventional wisdom by coupling first-principles and cluster expansion calculations with experiments. We show that the elastic properties of the ω-phase can be systematically varied as a function of its composition to enhance both the ductility and strength of the Ti-alloy. Studies with five prototypical β-stabilizer solutes (Nb, Ta, V, Mo, and W) show that increasing β-stabilizer concentration destabilizes the ω-phase, in agreement with experiments. The Young’s modulus of ω-phase also decreased at larger concentration of β-stabilizers. Within the region of ω-phase stability, addition of Nb, Ta, and V (Group-V elements) decreased Young’s modulus more steeply compared to Mo and W (Group-VI elements) additions. The higher values of Young’s modulus of Ti–W and Ti–Mo binaries is related to the stronger stabilization of ω-phase due to the higher number of valence electrons. Density of states (DOS) calculations also revealed a stronger covalent bonding in the ω-phase compared to a metallic bonding in β-phase, and indicate that alloying is a promising route to enhance the ω-phase’s ductility. Overall, the mechanical properties of ω-phase predicted by our calculations agree well with the available experiments. Importantly, our study reveals that ω precipitates are not intrinsically embrittling and detrimental, and that we can create Ti-alloys with both good ductility and strength by tailoring ω precipitates' composition instead of completely eliminating them.
Nature in the Urban Context: Renaturalisation as an Important Dimension of Urban Resilience and Planning

?Como afrontan nuestras ciudades los retos que plantea un clima mas calido, la perdida de biodiversidad?y un importante agotamiento de los recursos? ―Este articulo analiza las oportunidades y los beneficios de aplicar elconceptos de renaturalizacion y reconstruccion de ciudades. Introduce soluciones basadas en la naturaleza (NBS) enplanificacion urbana que se integran con el objetivo de mejorar la resiliencia urbana y ralentizar ladisminucion de la biodiversidad, que se puede aplicar en dos areas: a traves de la concepcion de nuevosbarrios; y a traves de la regeneracion y reverdecimiento de partes existentes pero desatendidas dela ciudad, como zonas industriales abandonadas postindustriales o distritos economicamente debiles.El contacto con la naturaleza es fundamental para la existencia humana, el bienestar urbano y una buena calidad de vida. VerdeLos espacios de las ciudades, grandes o pequenas, contribuyen a la salud y el bienestar. Sin embargo, muchas ciudades,incluso en EE. UU. y Europa, no ofrecen a los residentes facil acceso a espacios verdes dentro de la ciudad.Mejorar un mejor acceso a los espacios verdes y ampliar los jardines y parques generara un gran numerode beneficios, como servicios ecosistemicos, mejor gestion del agua para mejorar las inundaciones urbanascontrol, ralentizando la perdida de biodiversidad, contribuyendo a la seguridad alimentaria, con el potencial deRestaurar ecosistemas danados. Ademas, los espacios verdes adicionales y las NBS ayudan a mantener frescas las ciudadesdurante las olas de calor y mejorar el microclima urbano.Como la mayoria de nuestras ciudades siguen creciendo y calentandose, la magnitud del problema es significativa. Por ejemplo, enEn 2020, las ciudades de la Union Europea albergaron a mas del 70 por ciento de la poblacion europea, y estaSe espera que la cifra aumente a mas del 80 por ciento a mediados de siglo. Esto se traduce en 36millones de nuevos ciudadanos urbanos en Europa solo para 2050, que necesitaran vivienda, empleo, atencion medicay acceso a espacios verdes (datos: UE-Comision, 2018).En este contexto, las soluciones basadas en la naturaleza y la reverdecimiento pueden generar importantes beneficios para los ciudadanos.mejorar la salud y el bienestar urbanos, y ofrecer la oportunidad de desplegar la naturaleza de forma eficaz enayudar a resolver los principales desafios sociales, como la inclusion social, la seguridad alimentaria y el riesgo de desastresreduccion. Sin embargo, como muestra la discusion de este articulo, es esencial que el diseno de NBS seatotalmente integrado con otras intervenciones de planificacion complementarias y busca sinergias en todossectores.