cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Morphology development during phase inversion of a PS/PE blend in isothermal, steady shear flow

Abstract The morphological changes occurring during the phase inversion of a polystyrene/polyethylene blend subjected to isothermal, steady shear flow are investigated and characterized. The isothermal, steady shear flow field provides a well-defined thermal and flow history. This contrasts with previous work on phase inversion, which was conducted in complex flow fields with large temperature gradients. The well-defined flow field permits a more detailed examination of the sequence of morphological changes during phase inversion than was accomplished previously. Both components are observed to initially deform into a sheet morphology. At strains of 200–780, the (initially continuous) minor component begins to break up, allowing the (initially dispersed) major component to coalesce. The blend becomes co-continuous around strains of 330–1500. At strains of 500–2000, the major component continues coalescing. The minor component breaks up into fibers and drops at strains of 800–3000. Breakup of the minor-component sheets is not observed until the sheets are less than 1 μm thick. Deformation and breakup of the initially dispersed phase is observed in this shear flow field, despite a viscosity ratio in excess of 10. For the system studied here, phase inversion does not occur under no-flow conditions.
Evaluation of the Braak Staging Scheme for Parkinson's disease: Introduction to a Panel Presentation

Braak and colleagues have proposed a staging scheme for Parkinson's disease (PD) based on patterns of abnormal immunostaining for alpha-synuclein. They have proposed a temporal sequence in which the appearance of Lewy bodies and neurites in brainstem structures represent the earliest manifestations of the disease, and that this involvement of non-dopaminergic structures long antedates involvement of the substantia nigra and the appearance of the cardinal motor signs that are now required for diagnosis. This proposed scheme has had a wide and profound impact on many aspects of current thinking about PD, and it has already received wide acceptance. Given the importance and growing acceptance of the Braak staging scheme, the Scientific Program Committee for this Educational Symposium to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation agreed that it would be highly worthwhile to devote an entire session of the Scientific Program to consideration of the Braak staging scheme. There was a consensus among members of the Committee that, given the importance of the Braak scheme, it would be of value to create a venue that would stimulate and encourage a thorough and incisive critical analysis.
Meiotic Recombination in Human Oocytes

Studies of human trisomies indicate a remarkable relationship between abnormal meiotic recombination and subsequent nondisjunction at maternal meiosis I or II. Specifically, failure to recombine or recombination events located either too near to or too far from the centromere have been linked to the origin of human trisomies. It should be possible to identify these abnormal crossover configurations by using immunofluorescence methodology to directly examine the meiotic recombination process in the human female. Accordingly, we initiated studies of crossover-associated proteins (e.g., MLH1) in human fetal oocytes to analyze their number and distribution on nondisjunction-prone human chromosomes and, more generally, to characterize genome-wide levels of recombination in the human female. Our analyses indicate that the number of MLH1 foci is lower than predicted from genetic linkage analysis, but its localization pattern conforms to that expected for a crossover-associated protein. In studies of individual chromosomes, our observations provide evidence for the presence of “vulnerable” crossover configurations in the fetal oocyte, consistent with the idea that these are subsequently translated into nondisjunctional events in the adult oocyte.
Using Peer Feedback to Enhance the Quality of Student Online Postings: An Exploratory Study

This study investigates the impact of peer feedback used as an instructional strategy to increase the quality of students’ online postings. While peer feedback has been demonstrated to support students’ learning in traditional classrooms, little is known about its efficacy in online discussions. To address this gap, we examined students’ perceptions of the value of giving and receiving peer feedback, specifically related to the quality of discussion postings in an online course. In addition, we investigated the impact of that feedback by comparing the quality of students’ postings, based on Bloom’s taxonomy, from pre-course to post-course. Results suggest that the quality of students’ postings was maintained through the use of peer feedback despite students’ preferences for instructor feedback. Students noted that peer feedback can be valuable and, more importantly, described how giving peer feedback not only reinforced their learning but enabled them to achieve higher understanding.
Enhancing Quality of Life of Families Who Use Adult Day Services: Short- and Long-Term Effects of the Adult Day Services Plus Program

Purpose: This study examined the short- and long-term effects ofAdult DayServices Plus (ADSPlus), a low-cost care management intervention designed to enhance family caregiver well-being, increase service utilization, and decrease nursing home placement of impaired older adults enrolled in adult day care. Design and Methods: We used a quasi-experimental design, to recruit 129 caregivers from three adult day centers. Two centers offered adult day services and ADSPlus(n=67);thethirdcenter(n=62)offeredonly routine adult day services. ADS Plus involved a staff social worker who provided care management and support to family caregivers through face-to-face and telephonecontact. Education, counseling, andreferral services were offered for 12 months. Results: At 3month follow-up, ADS Plus participants (n = 106) reported less depression (p = .016), improved confidence managing behaviors (p = .013) and enhanced well-being (p = .001) compared with controls. Long-term effects analyses (n = 69) showed that, compared with controls, ADS Plus participants continued to report less depression (p = .005) and enhanced confidence managing behaviors (p = .007). Also, intervention participants used adult day services on average 37 days more than controls (p = .003) and had fewer nursing home placements (n=8) than controls (n=17). Implications: ADS Plus is cost efficient and is easy to implement within adult day centers. It affords important clinical and public health benefits, including enhanced caregiver well-being, greater adult day service use, and fewer nursing home
Variable Clinical Presentation of an MUC1 Mutation Causing Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease Type 1

Background and objectives The genetic cause of medullary cystic kidney disease type 1 was recently identified as a cytosine insertion in the variable number of tandem repeat region of MUC1 encoding mucoprotein-1 (MUC1), a protein that is present in skin, breast, and lung tissue, the gastrointestinal tract, and the distal tubules of the kidney. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the clinical characteristics of families and individuals with this mutation. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Families with autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease were referred for genetic analysis over a 14-year period. Families without UMOD or REN mutations prospectively underwent genotyping for the presence of the MUC1 mutation. Clinical characteristics were retrospectively evaluated in individuals with the MUC1 mutation and historically affected individuals (persons who were both related to genetically affected individuals in such a way that ensured that they could be genetically affected and had a history of CKD stage IV or kidney failure resulting in death, dialysis, or transplantation). Results Twenty-four families were identified with the MUC1 mutation. Of 186 family members undergoing MUC1 mutational analysis, the mutation was identified in 95 individuals, 91 individuals did not have the mutation, and111 individuals were identified as historically affected. Individuals with the MUC1 mutation suffered from chronic kidney failure with a widely variable age of onset of end stage kidney disease ranging from 16 to >80 years. Urinalyses revealed minimal protein and no blood. Ultrasounds of 35 individuals showed no medullary cysts. There were no clinical manifestations of the MUC1 mutation detected in the breasts, skin, respiratory system, or gastrointestinal tract. Conclusion MUC1 mutation results in progressive chronic kidney failure with a bland urinary sediment. The age of onset of end stage kidney disease is highly variable, suggesting that gene–gene or gene–environment interactions contribute to phenotypic variability.
The effect of ceded reinsurance on solvency of primary insurers

Primary insurance companies diversify their underwriting risk and thus improve their financial stability through buying reinsurance contracts. However, excessive use of reinsurance by an insurance company may signal the presence of financial difficulties. In fact, as research shows, a less solvent insurer tends to use more reinsurance because of its inability to raise needed capital in the financial market. Thus, regulators need to pay extra attention to insurers that overly use reinsurance since such behavior could signal an insurer's disproportionately high risk and its eventual probability of insolvency.
Musculoskeletal simulation-based parametric study of optimal gait frequency in biped locomotion

Researchers have hypothesized that animal locomotory patterns seen are consistent with the resonant frequencies endowed by their musculoskeletal structures. Further it is posited that systems succeed in minimizing their energy expenditure by moving at this resonant frequency. We choose to systematically study this hypothesis in the specific context of bipedal locomotion. Researchers have sought to correlate the preferred strike frequency with the resonant frequencies of the model or used indirect measurement such as oxygen consumption, electromyography (EMG) to assess expended effort. In our study, we employed virtual prototyping with a capable musculoskeletal simulation model to study the same hypothesis. We benchmark against the available literature and demonstrate that valuable insights can be obtained that can complement the current knowledge-base in biped locomotion.
Effects of Induced Frustration upon Performance on the Rosenzweig P-F Study

The perceived locus of control of induced frustration was varied and its effects upon college males' performance on the P-F Study was investigated. 30 male students in introductory psychology were assigned in equal numbers to an external frustration, an internal frustration, and a control condition. Subjects in the external frustration condition were given an explanation for poor performance to lead them to perceive their frustration as caused by chance. In contrast, subjects in the internal frustration condition were left with the impression that they alone were responsible for their poor performance. The frustrated groups subsequently were administered the P-F Study. The control group participated only in taking the P-F Study. The hypothesis that the externally frustrated group would give more extrapunitive, ego-defensive responses than the control group was confirmed. Partial support was found for the hypothesis that the internally frustrated group would give more intropunitive, ego-defensive responses...
THz generation using extrinsic photoconductivity at 1550 nm

1550-nm pulses from a fiber-mode-locked laser are used to drive an ErAs:GaAs photoconductive switch, resulting in easily measured THz radiation with average broadband (~0.1 to 1.0 THz) power of ≈0.1 mW. The new THz switching mechanism is attributed to fast extrinsic photoconductivity that generates photocarriers (probably electrons) from the ErAs nanoparticles embedded in the material with a lifetime of ~0.45 ps (354 GHz bandwidth). This is the first known demonstration of useful THz power generation by extrinsic photoconductivity.
Snow Model Verification Using Ensemble Prediction and Operational Benchmarks

Hydrologic model evaluations have traditionally focused on measuring how closely the model can simulate various characteristics of historical observations. Although advancing hydrologic forecasting is an often-stated goal of numerous modeling studies, testing in a forecasting mode is seldom undertaken, limiting information derived from these analyses. One can overcome this limitation through generation, and subsequent analysis, of ensemble hindcasts. In this study, long-range ensemble hindcasts are generated for the available period of record for a basin in southwestern Idaho for the purpose of evaluating the Snow– Atmosphere–Soil Transfer (SAST) model against the current operational benchmark, the National Weather Service’s (NWS) snow accumulation and ablation model SNOW17. Both snow models were coupled with the NWS operational rainfall runoff model and ensembles of seasonal discharge and weekly snow water equivalent (SWE) were evaluated. Ensemble predictions from both the SAST and SNOW17 models were better than climatology forecasts, for the period studied. In most cases, the accuracy of the SAST-generated predictions was similar to the SNOW17-generated predictions, except during periods of significant melting. Differences in model performance are partially attributed to initial condition errors. After updating the SWE state in the snow models with the observed SWE, the forecasts were improved during the first 2–4 weeks of the forecast window and the skills were essentially equal in both forecasting systems for the study watershed. Climate dominated the forecast uncertainty in the latter part of the forecast window while initial conditions controlled the forecast skill in the first 3–4 weeks of the forecast. The use of hindcasting in the snow model analysis revealed that, given the dominance of the initial conditions on forecast skill, streamflow predictions will be most improved through the use of state updating.
Radon‐induced neoplastic transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells

Epidemiological studies have shown that inhalation of radon is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer among underground miners. The cellular and molecular mechanisms for radon-induced carcinogenesis are not clear. By using a human papillomavirus-immortalized human bronchial epithelial cell line, we show here that a single 30 cGy dose of these high-energy particles induced tumorigenic conversion of the cells 3–4 months postirradiation at frequencies estimated to be ∼4 × 10−7. Transformed cells arise through a series of sequential steps, including altered growth kinetics, loss of response to serum-induced terminal differentiation, anchorage-independent growth, and rumorigenesis, with each preceding stage representing a necessary yet insufficient step toward the later, more malignant phase. Northern and Western blot analyses showed overexpression of the G1 cell-cycle-control kinase, cyclin D1. Analysis of genomic DNA from the tumorigenic cell lines using polymerase chain reaction amplification and restriction enzyme analysis demonstrated no mutation in the K-ras oncogene, which has frequently been found to be mutated in human lung cancers. Western blot analysis showed that both control BEP2D cells and their tumorigenic variants contained phosphorylated Rb proteins. This model provides an opportunity to study the cellular and molecular changes at the various stages in radiation carcinogenesis involving human cells. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Comments on the use of propositional logic to examine sustainability concepts

Abstract Patten [1998. Ecological Modelling, 108(1–3):97–105] uses propositional logic to explore three properties of sustainability: stability, continuation and longevity. Here, I discuss some of the inconsistencies between the statements in the text and those expressed in propositional logic. In addition, I examine some of the conclusions reached by Patten in the context of dynamic systems theory. A model of a zero-sum system demonstrates that part stability does not necessarily imply system sustainability as conferred by stability, and that part continuation does not necessarily imply system sustainability as conferred by continuation. The statements of propositional logic are about models of the real world, and herein lies its utility. Propositional logic in principle can help us to identify the formal relationships between sustainability concepts in our models, and to begin to tie together results from both ecology and systems theory by pointing out incongruities between intuition and theory. A formal implementation of sustainability is challenging for two reasons. First, sustainability comprises many properties, not all of which can be applied to every ecosystem at all times and over all scales. Second, the nature of any formal system representation has inherent biases derived from the identification and aggregation of its measures and their organizational structure.
A model of base-call resolution on broad-spectrum pathogen detection resequencing DNA microarrays

Oligonucleotide microarrays offer the potential to efficiently test for multiple organisms, an excellent feature for surveillance applications. Among these, resequencing microarrays are of particular interest, as they possess additional unique capabilities to track pathogens’ genetic variations and perform detailed discrimination of closely related organisms. However, this potential can only be realized if the costs of developing the detection microarray are kept at a manageable level. Selection and verification of the probes are key factors affecting microarray design costs that can be reduced through the development and use of in silico modeling. Models created for other types of microarrays do not meet all the required criteria for this type of microarray. We describe here in silico methods for designing resequencing microarrays targeted for multiple organism detection. The model development presented here has focused on accurate base-call prediction in regions that are applicable to resequencing microarrays designed for multiple organism detection, a variation from other uses of a predictive model in which perfect prediction of all hybridization events is necessary. The model will assist in simplifying the design of resequencing microarrays and in reduction of the time and costs required for their development for new applications.
Plant responses, climate pivot points, and trade-offs in water-limited ecosystems

Plant species in dryland ecosystems are limited by water availability and may be vulnerable to increases in aridity. Methods are needed to monitor and assess the rate of change in plant abundance and composition in relation to climate, understand the potential for degradation in dryland ecosystems, and forecast future changes in plant species assemblages. I employ nearly a century of vegetation monitoring data from three North American deserts to demonstrate an approach to determine plant species responses to climate and critical points over a range of climatic conditions at which plant species shift from increases to decreases in abundance (climate pivot points). I assess these metrics from a site to regional scale and highlight how these indicators of plant performance can be modified by the physical and biotic environment. For example, shrubs were more responsive to drought and high temperatures on shallow soils with limited capacity to store water and fine-textured soils with slow percolation rates, whereas perennial grasses were more responsive to precipitation in sparse shrublands than in relatively dense grasslands and shrublands, where competition for water is likely more intense. The responses and associated climate pivot points of plant species aligned with their lifespan and structural characteristics, and the relationship between responses and climate pivot points provides evidence of the trade-off between the capacity of a plant species to increase in abundance when water is available and its drought resistance.
Agricultural Change as an Incremental Process

Abstract At least two major views of agro-ecosystem change can be recognized–systematic and incremental. Systematic change involves the addition of new fields and associated features that are constructed completely prior to cultivation; incremental change involves gradual transformation of fields and features in conjunction with cultivation. The systematic view has been the more dominant of the two, particularly as applied to interpretations of past agro-ecosystems. Using present-day data on temporales or runoff-dependent fields in eastern Sonora, Mexico, this study describes one case of incremental agro-ecosystem change. Small, individual fields are developed into a more complex system by progressive modification resulting from the cumulative actions of individual farmers. In this case, the resulting constructional form of the agro-ecosystem alone does not allow assessment of the process of its development. Interpretations of past agro-ecosystems should recognize that both change processes are possible.
An efficient, adaptive algorithm for large‐scale random vibration analysis

An efficient, adaptive and robust algorithm is proposed to reduce the cost of large-scale stationary and transient random vibration analysis of structures excited by multiple partially correlated nodal and/or base excitations. The cost saving is accomplished by computing integrals selectively, and yet attempting to maintain a level of accuracy desired by the analyst. Recently, proposed closed-form solutions for fully coherent propagating band-limited white-noise excitation are used to rank approximately the terms in the modal covariance matrix. Terms are then evaluated starting from the most important one, and the computations are terminated in such a way that the accuracy level requested by the user is satisfied in an approximate sense.
Now Hiring: The Faculty of the Future.

Community colleges across the United States are experiencing an extraordinarily high demand for new instructors. Institutions must make sound, long-term decisions by selecting candidates who honor the community college's past while heralding its future.
Local polariton modes and resonant tunneling of electromagnetic waves through periodic Bragg multiple quantum well structures

We study analytically defect polariton states in Bragg multiple quantum well structures and defect-induced changes in transmission and reflection spectra. Defect layers can differ from the host layers in three ways: exciton-light coupling strength, exciton resonance frequency, and interwell spacing. We show that a single defect leads to two local polariton modes in the photonic band gap. These modes cause peculiarities in reflection and transmission spectra. Each type of defect can be reproduced experimentally, and we show that each of these plays a distinct role in the optical properties of the system. For some defects, we predict a narrow transmission window in the forbidden gap at the frequency set by parameters of the defect. We obtain analytical expressions for corresponding local frequencies as well as for reflection and transmission coefficients. We show that the presence of the defects leads to resonant tunneling of the electromagnetic waves via local polariton modes accompanied by resonant enhancement of the field inside the sample, even when a realistic absorption is taken into account. On the basis of the results obtained, we make recommendations regarding the experimental observation of the effects studied in readily available samples.
Raman Spectroscopy and Optical Properties of Porous Silicon

Raman spectroscopy has shown that porous Si films produced by electrochemical and chemical dissolution of Si contain crystalline Si wires and spherites ~ 3 nm in diameter and/or amorphous Si. The optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra obtained from most of the samples are consistent with the quantum confinement of excitons in Si nanostructures. Other samples composed only of amorphous Si produced a different photoluminescence attributed to the formation of silicon oxyhydride species.
Miocene Hominoid Discoveries from Rudabánya

Recent discoveries and new interpretations of hominoids living 8–14 million years ago (m.y.a.), including species from several geographical regions, have generated interest in reevaluating the nature of the middle to late Miocene hominoid radiation. Current evidence from both the fossil record and biochemical studies of modern taxa suggest that this time period was crucial for hominoid and, perhaps, hominid differentiation (Zihlman et al., 1978; Sarich and Cronin, 1976, 1977; McHenry and Corruccini, 1980). Functional and phylogenetic affinities of primarily dental and some craniofacial specimens from Hungary, Turkey, Greece, China, and Pakistan, in addition to earlier discoveries from India and Kenya, indicate a far more complex pattern of hominoid/hominid evolution than once assumed (Kretzoi, 1975; Andrews and Tobien, 1977; Pilbeam et al., 1977, 1980; Pilbeam, 1978; Vasishat et al., 1978; Simons, 1976, 1977, 1978; Simons and Pilbeam, 1978; Qi, 1979; Xu and Lu, 1979; Jia, 1980; Kay, 1981; Andrews and Cronin, 1982; see also Lewis, 1934, 1937, Simons, 1961, 1964, 1968, 1972; Simons and Pilbeam,1965; Prasad, 1964, 1969; Conroy and Pilbeam, 1975; Khatri, 1975; Leakey, 1962, 1967, 1968; Le Gros Clark and Leakey, 1951; Andrews, 1971; Walker and Andrews, 1973; Andrews and Walker, 1976). Pilbeam (1978), for example, formerly a staunch supporter of the special role of the middle Miocene Ramapithecus as the first hominid (Pilbeam, 1966, 1968, 1972; Simons and Pilbeam, 1978), no longer promotes this genus, “ramapithecines,” or “ramapithecids,” as the definitive candidates for the earliest hominids (but see Simons, 1977). He now envisions several related groups of middle—late Miocene hominoids shifting into new habitats and exhibiting dietary changes and does not link them phylogenetically to extant taxa. Historically, not all researchers have seen middle—late Miocene hominoids like Ramapithecus as the key to human evolution (Hrdlicka, 1935; Frisch, 1967; Genet-Varcin, 1969; Eckhardt, 1972; Vogel, 1975; Frayer, 1976; Sarich, 1971). Recent discoveries have provided fuel for these old and some new controversies. Greenfield (1979), for instance, revitalizes the case for dryopithecine affinities of these fossil populations by focusing on the new data as well as on specimens in established collections. Controversies over taxonomic status of fossil groups, no doubt, will continue.
Tenant's Handbook: Your Legal Right to Lead Safe Housing

Although lead poisoning has not received widespread attention, it remains a major health problem in this country. It is estimated that some 57 million homes in the United States contain lead-based paint. The statistics indicate 2.2 million of those homes are in California. Furthermore, approximately 1.8 million homes in the United States are believed to be occupied by children under age seven where lead dust or chips are readily produced. It is estimated that more than 580,000 California children under age six live in older housing likely to contain lead-based paint.
Intracellular pH and Ca2+ homeostasis in the pH paradox of reperfusion injury to neonatal rat cardiac myocytes

Ischemia is characterized by anoxia and a large decrease of tissue pH. After a critical period of ischemia, reperfusion precipitates irreversible injury. Previous work showed that reperfusion injury to cultured neonatal myocytes was precipitated by a rapid return to physiological pH, a "pH paradox" (Bond, J., B. Herman, and J. Lemasters. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 179: 798-803, 1991). The aim of this study was to measure intracellular pH (pHi) and cytosolic free Ca2+ during the pH paradox of reperfusion injury to cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. pHi and free Ca2+ were measured by ratio imaging of 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein and fura 2 fluorescence. To simulate ATP depletion and acidosis of ischemia, myocytes were incubated with 20 mM 2-deoxyglucose plus 2.5 mM NaCN at pH 6.2. During simulated ischemia, pHi dropped to < 6.5 and subsequently remained constant. During this time, some blebbing but little hypercontraction occurred. After 3 or 4 h of simulated ischemia, inhibitors were removed and cells were incubated at pH 7.4 to simulate reperfusion. pHi began to increase, blebbing accelerated, and myocytes hypercontracted. As pHi increased, viability was lost. The same occurred if pH was increased but metabolic inhibitors were not removed. Monensin, a Na(+)-H+ ionophore, accelerated the increase of pH after reperfusion and hastened cell killing. Hypercontraction, blebbing, and loss of viability did not occur when inhibitors were removed at pH 6.2 or in the presence of dimethylamiloride, an inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange. Protection was associated with maintenance of an acidotic pHi. Free Ca2+ progressively increased during simulated ischemia. After simulated reperfusion, free Ca2+ increased further.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Identification of the virus-specific proteins of respiratory syncytial virus temperature-sensitive mutants by immunoprecipitation.

AbstractThe proteins of Long strain RSV and three temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of the A2 strain were compared by pulse labeling virus-infected cells with [35S]methionine and [3H]glucosamine followed by analysis of the cell lysates by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. At the permissive temperature (30°) proteins ranging in molecular weight from 24,000 to 50,000 (VP24, VP27, VP33, VP44) could be identified. Immunoprecipitation of viral lysates by immune rabbit serum demonstrated antigenic similarity with VP27, VP44, VP50, and VP67 in all ts mutants and Long strain RSV. [3H]Glucosamine labeling demonstrated glycoproteins of 90,000 (GP90) and 50,000 (GP50) in Long strain and GP90 in the ts mutants.
Common neurodegenerative pathways in obesity, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease ☆

Cognitive decline in chronic diabetic patients is a less investigated topic. Diabetes and obesity are among the modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. Studies have identified several overlapping neurodegenerative mechanisms, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation that are observed in these disorders. Advanced glycation end products generated by chronic hyperglycemia and their receptor RAGE provide critical links between diabetes and AD. Peripheral inflammation observed in obesity leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Although the brain is an immune-privileged organ, cross-talks between peripheral and central inflammation have been reported. Damage to the blood brain barrier (BBB) as seen with aging can lead to infiltration of immune cells into the brain, leading to the exacerbation of central inflammation. Neuroinflammation, which has emerged as an important cause of cognitive dysfunction, could provide a central mechanism for aging-associated ailments. To further add to these injuries, adult neurogenesis that provides neuronal plasticity is also impaired in the diabetic brain. This review discusses these molecular mechanisms that link obesity, diabetes and AD. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Quality in Diabetes/Obesity and Critical Illness Spectrum of Diseases - edited by P. Hemachandra Reddy.
Social medicine as a paradigm for innovative developments in public health

The integration of national health authorities into the regional administrative departments in Bavaria at January 1st 1997 offers the chance to a further, demand-oriented development of the tasks of public health service, according to the situation of requirements of state and communes. Each layer of action educes a separate view on problems. National concern of public health care is above all health protection, medical supervision and the composition of special medical estimates. Public health care developed in communal responsibility first and foremost serves provisions for existence of citizens. Looking after national concerns of public health in a figurative sphere of activity, public health care has ist main focus in the fields of health and social issues (health education and assistance, social-compensatory tasks), prevention and health promotion. Today in research and teaching at universities these tasks are represented by social medicine and the public health research associations. They are elaborating the specialized and the orientation-related knowledge. The public health assistance institutions as well as prevention and health promotion obtaining increasing importance in our health service, developments are necessary that enable the public health service in Bavaria to fulfill these communal tasks in the future.
Octave-spanning supercontinuum generation via microwave frequency multiplication

We demonstrate a system based on telecom components for the generation of a coherent octave-spanning supercontinuum from a continuous-wave laser. The system utilizes direct multiplication of a 10 GHz signal derived from a commercial synthesizer to carve pulses from the laser, which are then iteratively chirped and compressed in two stages. After reducing the repetition rate of the resulting pulse train to 2.5 GHz using selective transmission through an electro-optic gate, propagation through highly-nonlinear fiber generates an octave-spanning supercontinuum spectrum. We discuss the impact of the noise of the modulation frequency on the coherence of the supercontinuum and discuss its mitigation. Close agreement between experiment and theory is shown throughout, and we use our ability to precisely model the experiment to propose an extension of the system to 20 GHz repetition rate.
Security Management and Policies

Publisher Summary This chapter describes some common and influential policy models. Other policy models speak to different types of policies. For example, the Chinese Wall model deals with conflicts of interest, and models rules for some commercial firms. The Clinical Information Systems Security model describes rules governing control of medical information. Traducement deals with accountability, in particular in the recording of real estate and other legal documents. These models grew out of specific policies and situations. Ideally, the policy is complete, so every action, and every state of the system, is either allowed (secure) or not allowed (non-secure). Unfortunately, unless the policies are specified mathematically, the imprecisions and inherent ambiguities in the natural languages create confusion. Computer security textbooks present policy models by classifying them as models for confidentiality, integrity, and availability. But specifics of these services often affect the construction of policies just as much as the services themselves. Policy models are important because they allow users to abstract properties of specific systems and policies, so they can focus on the goals of the policies and the ideas underlying how those goals are to be achieved. They also enable one to understand properties of types of policies, and perhaps more importantly, what the policies cannot provide. Finally, models allow users to examine their policies, to see where they are lacking and how to augment them to provide the desired protection.
The Nocturnal Avian Migration Experiment Final Campaign Report

Remote sensing techniques are playing a greater role in ornithology, and radar has proven a valuable tool for high resolution, long-term observations of airborne animals. The major disadvantage in radar remote sensing is the current inability to gain taxonomic information from these measurements. One solution is the incorporation of collocated acoustic monitoring that can provide recordings of species-specific nocturnal flight calls of migrating birds in flight. In addition, by taking multichannel recordings of these calls, the position of the calling bird can be calculated and linked to collocated radar measurements.
AG311, a small molecule inhibitor of complex I and hypoxia-induced HIF-1α stabilization

Cancer cells have a unique metabolic profile and mitochondria have been shown to play an important role in chemoresistance, tumor progression and metastases. This unique profile can be exploited by mitochondrial-targeted anticancer therapies. A small anticancer molecule, AG311, was previously shown to possess anticancer and antimetastatic activity in two cancer mouse models and to induce mitochondrial depolarization. This study defines the molecular effects of AG311 on the mitochondria to elucidate its observed efficacy. AG311 was found to competitively inhibit complex I activity at the ubiquinone-binding site. Complex I as a target for AG311 was further established by measuring oxygen consumption rate in tumor tissue isolated from AG311-treated mice. Cotreatment of cells and animals with AG311 and dichloroacetate, a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibitor that increases oxidative metabolism, resulted in synergistic cell kill and reduced tumor growth. The inhibition of mitochondrial oxygen consumption by AG311 was found to reduce HIF-1α stabilization by increasing oxygen tension in hypoxic conditions. Taken together, these results suggest that AG311 at least partially mediates its antitumor effect through inhibition of complex I, which could be exploited in its use as an anticancer agent.
Clinical updates in adult immune thrombocytopenia.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) occurs in 2 to 4/100 000 adults and results in variable bleeding symptoms and thrombocytopenia. In the last decade, changes in our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disorder have led to the publication of new guidelines for the diagnosis and management of ITP and standards for terminology. Current evidence supports alternatives to splenectomy for second-line management of patients with persistently low platelet counts and bleeding. Long-term follow-up data suggest both efficacy and safety, in particular, for the thrombopoietin receptor agonists and the occurrence of late remissions. Follow-up of patients who have undergone splenectomy for ITP reveals significant potential risks that should be discussed with patients and may influence clinician and patient choice of second-line therapy. Novel therapeutics are in development to address ongoing treatment gaps.
Low-energy shelf response in thin energy-dispersive X-ray detectors from Compton scattering of hard X-rays

Abstract Silicon drift detectors have been successfully employed in both soft and hard X-ray spectroscopy. The response function to incident radiation at soft X-ray levels has been well studied and modeled, but less research has been published on response functions for these detectors to hard X-ray input spectra above 20 keV. When used with hard X-ray sources a significant low energy, non-peak response exists which can adversely affect detection limits for lighter elements in, for example, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. We present a numerical model that explains the non-peak response function of silicon drift detectors to hard X-rays based on incoherent Compton scattering within the detector volume. Experimental results are presented and numerically compared to model results.
Improved speaker recognition system for stressed speech using deep neural networks

Good speaker recognition systems should identify the speaker irrespective of what is spoken, including non-speech sounds that are often produced during natural conversations. In this work, the inclusion of breath sounds in the training phase of the speaker recognition is analyzed using the popular Gaussian mixture model-universal background model (GMM-UBM) and deep neural network (DNN) based systems. It is shown that the DNN-based systems have a better learning capability to perform well even on unseen data compared to GMM-UBM-based systems. Specifically, enhancement in speaker recognition performance is obtained on unseen stressed speech data by training systems with both breath sounds and modal speech. Experimental results show that inclusion of breath sounds in training data reduces the equal error rate (EER) of the speaker recognition system on stressed speech by 40% to 50% in absolute terms. It is also shown that increasing the number of hidden layers help DNNs to improve the performance even on unseen data.
Structural vs. compositional disorder in thermal conductivity reduction of SiGe alloys

We use equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to determine the relative role of compositional and structural disorder in a phononic thermal conductivity reduction by studying three 50-50 SiGe alloy structures: ordered alloys, disordered alloys, and amorphous alloys, as well as pure amorphous Si and Ge structures for reference. While both types of disorders significantly reduce thermal conductivity, structural disorder is much more effective to this aim. The examination of phonon lifetimes in disordered alloys shows high values in a low frequency regime governed by Umklapp scattering that are reduced rapidly with increasing frequency following Rayleigh scattering behavior. The local properties analysis reveals that the structural disorder leads to elastic heterogeneities that are significantly larger than density heterogeneities, which is likely the key reason for amorphous semiconductor alloys having lower thermal conductivity than disordered alloys. Temperature dependence of thermal conductivity indi...
Verbal working memory and inhibition-concentration in adults with cochlear implants.

Objectives Neurocognitive functions contribute to speech recognition in postlingual adults with cochlear implants (CIs). In particular, better verbal working memory (WM) on modality-specific (auditory) WM tasks predicts better speech recognition. It remains unclear, however, whether this association can be attributed to basic underlying modality-general neurocognitive functions, or whether it is solely a result of the degraded nature of auditory signals delivered by the CI. Three hypotheses were tested: 1) Both modality-specific and modality-general tasks of verbal WM would predict scores of sentence recognition in speech-shaped noise; 2) Basic modality-general neurocognitive functions of controlled fluency and inhibition-concentration would predict both modality-specific and modality-general verbal WM; and 3) Scores on both tasks of verbal WM would mediate the effects of more basic neurocognitive functions on sentence recognition. Study Design Cross-sectional study of 30 postlingual adults with CIs and thirty age-matched normal-hearing (NH) controls. Materials and Methods Participants were tested for sentence recognition in speech-shaped noise, along with verbal WM using a modality-general task (Reading Span) and an auditory modality-specific task (Listening Span). Participants were also assessed for controlled fluency and inhibition-concentration abilities. Results For CI users only, Listening Span scores predicted sentence recognition, and Listening Span scores mediated the effects of inhibition-concentration on speech recognition. Scores on Reading Span were not related to sentence recognition for either group. Conclusion Inhibition-concentration skills play an important role in CI users' sentence recognition skills, with effects mediated by modality-specific verbal WM. Further studies will examine inhibition-concentration and WM skills as novel targets for clinical intervention. Level of Evidence 4.
Incentives for Present-Biased Preferences

This paper studies the self-control problem caused by time inconsistent preference and investigates the existence of the incentive scheme that would achieve the efficient outcome for present-biased agents. For naive agents who have misbelief about their future preference, they intend to procrastinate current effort into the future to enjoy immediate gratification. For sophisticated agents who are aware of future time inconsistency, self-control problem is mitigated but not eliminated. In view of such problems, I find there exist optimal incentive schemes to induce best performance of such agents. What's more, the optimal scheme need not vary between naive agents and sophisticated agents who share the same degree of present bias and time consistent impatience, which could be an important implication for policy makers to create incentives for better performance.
Effects of 90 Days of Resveratrol Supplementation on Cognitive Function in Elders: A Pilot Study

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this trial was to study the effects of chronic resveratrol use on cognitive function in humans. Design: The authors conducted a double-blind, Phase IIa randomized, placebo-controlled trial to obtain preliminary estimates of the effects of resveratrol supplementation on cognitive function over a 90-day period in older adults. Location: University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. Subjects: Sedentary, overweight older adults (N = 32; age range: 65–93 years, M age = 73.34 years, SD age = 7.02 years). Intervention: Participants were randomized to one of three treatment groups (placebo, 300 mg/day resveratrol, 1000 mg/day resveratrol) for 90 days. Outcome measures: Cognitive function was assessed before and after treatment using a well-characterized test battery: Trail Making, Digits Forward and Backward, Erikson-Flanker, Controlled Oral Word Association, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, and Task Switching. Results: Psychomotor speed improved on the Trail Making Test part A...
912 Cleaning and disinfection in home healthcare: integrating qualitative and quantitative methods to assess caregivers’ exposure to cleaning and disinfection products

Introduction In the United States, home care (HC) aide is one of the fastest growing jobs. Aides perform both personal care and cleaning and disinfection (C and D) tasks in the clients’ homes. There is clear scientific evidence of asthma and other respiratory effects with C and D work. This presentation demonstrates how mixed research methods assessed the nature of C and D work and health-related exposures in HC. Methods The Safe Home Care Project conducted 9 focus groups comprising 80 HC aides and 5 in-depth interviews with HC employers’ and workers’ representatives. All focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Computer-assisted thematic analysis of all transcripts was conducted. The results informed the development of (i) the microbiology field study in 46 seniors’ homes to measure micro-organisms and soil on common household surfaces and how effectively ‘green’ and bleach-containing products cleaned these surfaces, and (ii) the laboratory study to measure airborne C and D product exposures among HC aides (n=20) who performed C and D tasks in a simulated bathroom with 4 different products. Result HC aides sanitise bathrooms and kitchens frequently. Bleach-containing products are commonly applied and HC clients mostly decide which C and D products are used. The microbiology study showed that both ‘green’ and bleach-containing products removed micro-organisms on tested surfaces. The laboratory study showed that the bleach-containing cleaning product generated high airborne chlorine exposures: over 60% of the aides exceeded 1 ppm for chlorine -- a permissible exposure limit of the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Discussion Mixed methods research techniques provide complementary data for assessing and characterising C and D exposures in HC. Use of bleach-containing products can generate high airborne chlorine exposures. Chlorine is a respiratory irritant. It seems prudent to limit the unnecessary use of bleach in HC and carefully discern -- on a client-by-client basis -- whether bleach is needed for infection prevention.
U.S.-China Rivalry in Southeast Asia: Power Shift or Competitive Coexistence?

U.S.-China comprehensive competition is currently playing out on an increasingly global scale. The competition's primary locus is the vast Indo-Asia-Pacific region, and it is centered in Southeast ...