cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative Contributions of Biodiversity and Environment to Benthic Ecosystem Functioning

Current concern about biodiversity change associated with human impacts has raised scientific interest in the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning. However, studies on this topic face the challenge of evaluating and separating the relative contributions of biodiversity and environment to ecosystem functioning in natural environments. To investigate this problem, we collected sediment cores at different seafloor locations in Saanich Inlet and the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada, and measured benthic fluxes of oxygen and five nutrients (ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and silicate). We also measured 18 environmental variables at each location, identified macrofauna, and calculated a suite of species and functional diversity indices. Our results indicated that, examined separately, macrobenthic functional richness (FRic) predicted benthic flux better than species richness, explaining ~ 20% of the benthic flux variation at our sites. Environmental variables and functional diversity indices collectively explained 62.9% of benthic flux variation, with similar explanatory contributions from environmental variables (21.4%) and functional diversity indices (18.5%). The 22.9% shared variation between environmental variables and functional diversity indices demonstrate close linkages between species and environment. Finally, we also identified funnel feeding as a key functional group represented by a small number of species and individuals of maldanid and pectinariid polychaetes, which disproportionately affected benthic flux rates relative to their abundance. Our results indicate the primary importance of environment and functional diversity in controlling ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, these results illustrate the consequences of anthropogenic impacts, such as biodiversity loss and environmental changes, for ecosystem functioning.
A low power programmable dual-slope ADC for single-chip RFID sensor nodes

An 8-bit, 15 kS/s programmable dual-slope (DS) Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) used in a single-chip RFID sensor nodes is presented. The ADC can be programmed to turn on and off by the RFID control unit to save power by almost 50%. Fabricated in 130 nm CMOS process, it occupies a small area of 0.06 mm2. ADC characterization is done on a stand-alone ADC that is always active, and consumes a low dynamic power of 44 µW. The measured differential non-linearity (DNL) is within +/− 0.6 LSB, effective number of bits (ENOB) is 7 bit.
Diffraction-Free Space-Time Pulsed Light Sheets

We report on diffraction-free space-time pulsed light sheets with a control over the beam profile at the pulse center. We demonstrate diffraction-free propagation up to 25 mm of a light sheet with a central peak having a FWHM of 7 µm.
Low-dose aspirin reduced combined 3-month risk for stroke, MI, and death after carotid endarterectomy

Source Citation Taylor DW, Barnett HJ, Haynes RB, et al. Low-dose and high-dose acetylsalicylic acid for patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy: a randomised controlled trial. ASA and Carotid E...
INVISO: A Cross-platform User Interface for Creating Virtual Sonic Environments

The predominant interaction paradigm of current audio spatialization tools, which are primarily geared towards expert users, imposes a design process in which users are characterized as stationary, limiting the application domain of these tools. Navigable 3D sonic virtual realities, on the other hand, can support many applications ranging from soundscape prototyping to spatial data representation. Although modern game engines provide a limited set of audio features to create such sonic environments, the interaction methods are inherited from the graphical design features of such systems, and are not specific to the auditory modality. To address such limitations, we introduce INVISO, a novel web-based user interface for designing and experiencing rich and dynamic sonic virtual realities. Our interface enables both novice and expert users to construct complex immersive sonic environments with 3D dynamic sound components. INVISO is platform-independent and facilitates a variety of mixed reality applications, such as those where users can simultaneously experience and manipulate a virtual sonic environment. In this paper, we detail the interface design considerations for our audio-specific VR tool. To evaluate the usability of INVISO, we conduct two user studies: The first demonstrates that our visual interface effectively facilitates the generation of creative audio environments; the second demonstrates that both expert and non-expert users are able to use our software to accurately recreate complex 3D audio scenes.
Severe autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

A 61-year-old man with a known history of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and stage IV chronic kidney disease presented with a 6-month history of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. In addition to the ADPKD, the right kidney had a 4.4 cm inferior pole mass concerning for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Preoperative imaging (figure 1), a coronal CT of abdomen and pelvis, demonstrates bilateral ADPKD. His total kidney volume was calculated to be 9980.5 mL, which in combination with his age made him a ‘1E’ (most severe) based on the Mayo Clinic risk stratification schema. The following aggregate of issues led the patient to undergo bilateral open nephrectomies: the suspicion for malignancy associated with the right renal mass, a slight increase in malignancy risk associated with polycystic kidney disease in general, and the likely need for postoperative dialysis if left with …
Origins and Entry into the New World

Human beings had to have come from the Eastern Hemisphere to the Western, since Homo sapiens sapiens originated in the Eastern Hemisphere. We ask: from where in the Eastern Hemisphere did the Amerindians come? How did they reach the New World? When did this happen? We summarize the available literature insofar as possible.
Sleep-Related Movement Disorders in Children

Sleep-related movement disorders (SRMDs) are a group of conditions that are primarily characterized by relatively simple, usually stereotyped, repetitive motor behaviors and movements occurring during drowsiness and sleep. Nocturnal sleep disturbances or symptoms of sleep fragmentation like daytime sleepiness, irritability, or inattention are a prerequisite for a diagnosis of an SRMD.
Discussion with Dirk Forrester and Pamela Herman

Mr. Fox-Penner: “Are there any proposals you are aware of for bringing back energy credits for federal income tax purposes?”
STATISTICAL METHODS | Data Analysis: Time Series Analysis

A sequence of data entries is called a time series. Most time series have a random character. A time series where there is no correlation from one member of the series to another is called white noise . Models of time series can be constructed from white noise by having each new entry a sum of a white noise contribution and a linear combination of previous entries. Special insights can be gained by examining the Fourier representation of the time series by developing it into a series of sinusoids of different frequency. A brief review of the technique is presented with attention to errors due to the limited sample or record length of a given time series.
Keyless Signature Blockchain Infrastructure: Facilitating NERC CIP Compliance and Responding to Evolving Cyber Threats and Vulnerabilities to Energy Infrastructure

The U.S. power grid is a complex system of systems that requires secure, reliable and trustworthy energy delivery systems. Grid modernization has increased the speed and size of data sets exchanged on these systems. Exasperating the challenge is these systems are increasingly distributed creating new data fidelity and interoperability challenges for grid operators struggling to balance and incorporate distributed energy resources. Blockchain technology provides an atomically verifiable cryptographic signature to help increase the trustworthiness of energy delivery systems at the grid's edge. This is especially important as distribution level as energy delivery systems and field devices have increasing operational and security requirements that are often diametrically opposed: as data, speed and analytic requirements increase, security and functionality requirements increase, as the grid's edge incorporate distributed energy resources and transacts in real time, availability is prioritized over the integrity and confidentially of that data. This paper explores how a keyless signature blockchain infrastructure (KSBI) technology may help facilitate NERC CIP compliance and securing critical energy infrastructure from evolving cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
Strongly interacting Fermi gases

Strongly interacting gases of ultracold fermions have become an amazingly rich test-bed for many-body theories of fermionic matter. Here we present our recent experiments on these systems. Firstly, we discuss high-precision measurements on the thermodynamics of a strongly interacting Fermi gas across the superfluid transition. The onset of superfluidity is directly observed in the compressibility, the chemical potential, the entropy, and the heat capacity. Our measurements provide benchmarks for current many-body theories on strongly interacting fermions. Secondly, we have studied the evolution of fermion pairing from three to two dimensions in these gases, relating to the physics of layered superconductors. In the presence of p-wave interactions, Fermi gases are predicted to display toplogical superfluidity carrying Majorana edge states. Two possible avenues in this direction are discussed, our creation and direct observation of spin-orbit coupling in Fermi gases and the creation of fermionic molecules of 23 Na 40 K that will feature strong dipolar interactions in their absolute ground state.
Hardware-In-The-Loop Implementation of a Grid Connected PV System

This paper presents a methodology and algorithm for validating the performance of a grid connected Photovoltaic (PV) system. The paper also aims at observing irradiance change of PV arrays and its effect on the load side of the converter using real time simulation. With this real time platform, it is possible to evaluate the system behavior with the uncertainties exist in PV production and the controller performance in maintaining DC bus voltage fixed. The methodology uses OPAL-RT as the Hardware-In-The-Loop (HIL) platform to model the system by means of its MATLAB based library. The power electronic elements are directly implemented in FPGA part of OPAL-RT, while the controller and mathematical model of PV arrays are implemented in its CPU part. The HIL results are presented to show the effect of irradiance change on the system variables. The presented HIL simulation platform also offers a verification for the system control algorithm design.
The far-reaching HAND of cART: cART effects on astrocytes

Following the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the morbidity and mortality from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been drastically curtailed and HIV has now become a chronic manageable disease. Persons living with HIV (PLWH) are living longer and experiencing significant co-morbidities and conditions of aging. NeuroHIV, clinically defined as HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND) and pathologically manifested by persistent inflammation in the CNS despite cART, is a significant co-morbid condition for PLWH. In the pre-cART era, HIV mediated much of the pathogenesis in the Central Nervous System (CNS); in the cART era, with low to undetectable viremia, other mechanisms may be contributing to persistent neuroinflammation. Emerging data point to the adverse effects at the cellular level of cART, independent of HIV. Astrocytes are the most abundant cells in the CNS, playing vital roles in maintaining CNS homeostasis (e.g. metabolic support to neurons, clearance of neurotransmitters, ion balance, modulation of synaptic functions and maintaining the structural integrity of the blood brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, any disruption of their function will have wide repercussions in the CNS. In this review, we will address current knowledge and gaps on the impact of antiretrovirals (ARVs) on astrocytes and physiologic consequences in the CNS. Understanding the status of this field, will provide a practical framework to elucidate the potential role of cART-mediated dysregulation of astrocytes in neuroHIV pathogenesis and inform therapeutic strategies that are "neuro-friendly". Graphical abstract CNS-penetrating cART have the potential to cause resting astrocytes to become activated into an A1 or neurotoxic phenotype. These cells can in turn secrete inflammatory cytokines that affect surrounding microglia macrophages, as well as neurotoxic factors that impact nearby neurons. In addition, impairment in the physiologic functions of astrocytes will result in altered BBB permeability and disrupted metabolic homeostasis. CNS=Central Nervous System; cART=combined antiretroviral therapy; BBB=blood brain barrier.
University-district partnerships to improve field experiences: Associations with candidate perceptions and performance

Abstract Education Preparation Programs (EPPs) are increasingly pressured to demonstrate alignment between program supports and candidates’ outcomes. Using mixed methods, we studied the Early Field Immersion School (EFIS), an effort to improve candidates’ early field experiences. Participants included 171 candidates enrolled in a graduate certificate program and 11 university-based faculty. EFIS candidates spent increased time in early field experiences, yet EFIS was not associated with candidates’ performance at program exit. Although we found that while candidates and faculty alike valued EFIS supports, participation was negatively associated with perceptions of preparedness. We discuss these discrepancies and offer suggestions for ongoing research.
Investigating the effects of Functional Ice (FICE) on Salmonella-food safety, microbial spoilage and quality of raw poultry thigh meat during refrigerated storage

In meat processing, antimicrobial treatment applied during slaughter and deboning may not control pathogens and spoilage organisms during subsequent transportation and storage. "Functional Ice" (FICE), an innovation over traditional ice, was investigated for its effects on food safety, shelf life, and quality of raw poultry thigh meat during refrigerated storage. FICE was prepared by freezing aqueous solutions of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) (2.5% and 5% w/v) and sodium lactate-sodium diacetate (SL-SD) (1% and 2.5% v/v). Potable water was used to prepare ice for the control treatment. Thigh meat inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium (108 CFU/sample) was placed in FICE treatments, stored at 4 °C and sampled at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h (n = 375). Weight pick-up was recorded for the uninoculated thighs. Additionally, shelf life and quality were evaluated for 8 days on tray-packed thighs that were stored in FICE treatments for 48 h (STPP 5%, and SL-SD 2.5%). Differences among treatments were determined using ANOVA with LSMeans (p ≤ 0.05). Results indicated that inoculated thighs stored in individual STPP 5%, and SL-SD 2.5% treatments lead to a significant reduction in Salmonella Typhimurium compared to the control (p ≤ 0.05) after 48 h of storage. FICE treated thighs showed higher yields, lower cook loss, and an extended shelf life of 1-2 days, without any color changes. FICE has the potential to improve food safety and shelf life while improving the yields and quality during storage and transportation of raw poultry meat.
Transplant center experience influences spontaneous survival and waitlist mortality in acute liver failure: An analysis of the UNOS database.

Transplant centers coordinate complex care in acute liver failure (ALF), for which liver transplant (LT) can be lifesaving. We studied associations between waitlist outcomes and center (1) ALF waitlist volume (low: <20; medium: 20-39; high: 40+ listings) and (2) total LT volume (<600, 600-1199, 1200+ LTs) in a retrospective cohort of 3248 adults with ALF listed for LT at 92 centers nationally from 2002 to 2019. Predicted outcome probabilities (LT, died/too sick, spontaneous survival [SS]) were obtained with multinomial regression, and observed-to-expected ratios were calculated. Median center outcome rates were 72.6% LT, 18.2% died/too sick, and 6.1% SS. SS was significantly higher with greater center ALF volume (median 0% for low-, 5.9% for medium-, and 8.6% for high-volume centers; P = .039), while waitlist mortality was highest at low-volume centers (median 21.4%, IQR: 16.1%-26.7%; P = .042). Significant heterogeneity in center performance was observed for waitlist mortality (observed-to-expected ratio range: 0-4.1) and particularly for SS (0-6.4), which persisted despite accounting for recipient case mix. This novel study demonstrates that increased center experience is associated with greater SS and reduced waitlist mortality for ALF. More-focused management pathways are needed to improve ALF outcomes at less-experienced centers and to identify opportunities for improvement at large.
Radiation effects in confined spherically expanding flames: Application to C5C10 flames at engine-relevant conditions

Abstract Radiation heat loss introduces one of the main uncertainties associated with the determination of laminar flame speeds from experiments using the spherically expanding flame constant volume method. In this study, a radiation model was developed to solve for the volumetric radiative power in spherical geometry using discrete transfer method accounting for spectrally dependent emission and absorption. The model was validated against the results obtained from the discrete ordinate method. Subsequently, the newly developed radiation model was integrated into a hybrid thermodynamic-radiation model used to derive laminar flame speeds from experimental pressure-time history data. Laminar flame speeds were measured for flames of C5 C10 n-alkanes and isooctane for pressure and unburned mixture temperature ranges of 13–25 atm and 540 – 670 K respectively, and the data are reported with properly derived uncertainties. Additionally, the data are free from measurable instability-induced effects and to assure that a systematic analysis of cell formation was undertaken. Comparison of the experimental data with predicted laminar flame speeds showed consistency and reasonable agreement with two kinetic models. The development of new modeling tools over the last few years, allows for the derivation of accurate laminar flame speeds using the spherically expanding flame constant volume method for engine-relevant fuels and thermodynamic conditions, which other methods cannot accommodate.
Cortical Neuron Activity in the Temporal Organization of Behavior

Neuropsychological studies in primates have implicated the prefrontal cortex and also (with regard to vision) the inferotemporal cortex in the integration of temporally separate items of sensory information. Single-unit studies support such evidence and point to the involvement of neurons in those neocortical regions in the mechanisms of temporal integration. Sustained elevations and diminutions of firing related to the retention of cues in delay tasks suggest participation of those neurons in the mnemonic process that makes that form of integration possible. Protracted and color-dependent changes of firing, after color cues to be provisionally retained by the animal in performance of a task, indicate that inferotemporal neurons are specifically involved in visual short-term memory.
Light availability influences the intensity of nectar robbery and its effects on reproduction in a tropical shrub via multiple pathways.

PREMISE The multiple exogenous pathways by which light availability affects plant reproduction (e.g., via influence on attraction of mutualists and antagonists) remain surprisingly understudied. The light environment experienced by a parent can also have transgenerational effects on offspring via these same pathways. METHODS We evaluated (a) the influence of light availability on floral traits in Odontonema cuspidatum, (b) the relative importance of the pathways by which light influences nectar robbery and reproductive output, and (c) the role of parental light environment in mediating these relationships. We conducted a reciprocal translocation experiment using clonally propagated ramets and field surveys of naturally occurring plants. RESULTS Light availability influenced multiple floral traits, including flower number and nectar volume, which in turn influenced nectar robbery. But nectar robbery was also directly influenced by light availability, due to light effects on nectar robber foraging behavior or neighborhood floral context. Parental light environment mediated the link between light availability and nectar robber attraction, suggesting local adaptation to low-light environments in floral visitor attraction. However, we found no transgenerational effect on reproduction. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that exogenous pathways by which light influences plants (particularly through effects on floral antagonists) can complicate the positive relationship between light availability and plant reproduction. Our results are among the first to document effects of light on floral antagonists and clonal transgenerational effects on flower visitor attraction traits.
Targeted nanoscale therapeutics for myocardial infarction

Nanoscale therapeutics have promise for the administration of therapeutic small molecules and biologics to the heart following myocardial infarction. Directed delivery to the infarcted region of the heart using minimally invasive routes is critical to this promise. In this review, we will discuss the advances and design considerations for two nanoscale therapeutics engineered to target the infarcted heart, nanoparticles and adeno-associated viruses.
Evaluating Drought Responses of Surface Ozone Precursor Proxies: Variations With Land Cover Type, Precipitation, and Temperature

Prior work suggests drought exacerbates U.S. air quality by increasing surface ozone concentrations. We analyze 2005-2015 tropospheric column concentrations of two trace gases that serve as proxies...
Endovascular Thrombectomy of COVID-19-Related Large Vessel Occlusion: A Systematic Review and Summary of the Literature

Despite an overall reduction in the number of stroke cases presenting to hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, a remarkably high incidence of acute cerebrovascular disease associated with the infection has been reported. In this systematic review, we assess the neurological outcomes and complications of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for large vessel occlusions (LVO) in COVID-19 patients. A literature search was performed in PubMed from December 1, 2019 through September 1st, 2020 using different combinations of suitable keywords. Ten studies reporting EVT outcomes and complications were identified. Two studies that included non-LVO pathologies and COVID-19 negative patients with the outcomes analysis were excluded. Patient demographics, comorbidities, anatomic thrombus location, neurological and angiographic outcomes were assessed. A total of 8 studies, in addition to our institutional case series, were ultimately included in this review. The mean age was 62.2 years, of which 67.6% were males. M1 segment involvement was the most commonly reported (53.8%) thrombus location. The mean NIHSS at presentation was 20.4 with no significant change at 24 h. Successful revascularization (TICI ≥ 2b) was achieved in 89%. Early proximal cerebral re-occlusion was reported in 6 patients (11%) and cerebral hemorrhage in 3 patients (4%). In hospital mortality was reported in 15 patients (28.8%). Despite angiographically successful EVT of LVOs in the majority of patients, this literature analysis demonstrates overall poor outcomes and high mortality in COVID-19 patients post EVT. An unusual incidence of early intracerebral proximal arterial re-occlusion was notable.
Effect of heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an ultra-high strength martensitic steel fabricated via laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing

Abstract A newly developed ultra-high strength martensitic steel, AF9628, has generated academic and industrial attention due to its combination of high yield strength and ductility at a low cost. Several studies have demonstrated that this steel can be successfully additively manufactured (AM) using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). However, as-printed parts have displayed microstructural inhomogeneity, anisotropy, and a discrepancy in mechanical properties as compared to the traditionally processed material. There is currently no work detailing the effects of post processing heat treatments on the microstructure or mechanical properties of as-printed AF9628. In the interest of producing robust near-net-shape parts with complex geometries, this work explores the effects of LPBF and post processing heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AF9628. Parts fabricated by LPBF were subjected to three different quench and temper heat treatment schedules. Quench and temper treatments displayed refined equiaxed prior-austenitic grain structures, reducing grain size by up to 45%. Significant variability was observed in Vickers hardness measurements of as-printed samples due to tempered and untempered bands of martensite alternating throughout the microstructure caused by thermal cycling during printing. Heat treatments were observed to increase the overall hardness of the material and reduce variability. As-printed samples displayed a tensile strength of 1.41 GPa, 10% elongation, and a Charpy impact toughness of 28 J. Quench and temper heat treatments were observed to increase tensile strengths to 1.66 GPa, but reduce the elongation to 7.6% and impact toughness to 24 J. Understanding the effects of these post-processing treatments is expected to allow for property optimization of AF9628 additively manufactured parts.
Persuasive Communication Skill Development for Corporate Communication Practitioners in Sino-American Contexts

Getting our message across is harder today than it has ever been. Our audiences are more distracted than ever before due to the overwhelming barrage of information. Not only is there more information, but we also have drastically shortened attention spans. Our audiences have evolved to try to become more successful in the information age and have had to adapt how they listen. As a society, we have created many tools to help us find what we need and filter out what is not relevant. We live in an always-on world that provides instant gratification in a couple of mouse clicks.
Multispectral Chemically Vapor-Deposited ZnS: An Initial Characterization

Standard-grade chemically vapor-deposited (CVD) ZnS has a dark orange, yellow milky appearance and exhibits a substantial amount of scatter in the near infrared, which limits its usefulness at the shorter wavelengths. 1 Recently, we have succeeded in developing a "multispectral" CVD-ZnS material configuration, which is colorless and shows evidence of much improved transmittance throughout the spectral range of interest. In this paper, we report on work that has been carried out in the context of assessing the properties of this material, particularly with regard to (a) Infrared absorption. Thermocouple calorimetry measurements conducted at 1.3, 2.7, and 3.8 μm indicate that multispectral CVD Zns has effective absorption coefficients of 1 x 10 - 3 cm - 1 or less, thus establishing this material as a credible candidate for chemical-laser window applications. (b) Elastic behavior. Measurements of Young's modulus (87.6 GPa) and Poisson's ratio (0.318) in conjunction with sound-velocity measurements in the longitudinal mode (5.47 km/sec) demonstrate that multispectral CVD ZnS behaves precisely as predicted for a randomly-oriented single-phase polycrystalline aggregate of cubic ZnS. (c) Fracture mechanics. The results of Knoop hardness, flexural strength, and laser-damage experiments will be presented; we will also discuss techniques for improving the fracture toughness.
MOCVD growth parameter study of InP-based materials for high-performance HEMTs

Metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) has been a very attractive technique for the epitaxial growth of III-V compound semiconductors for microwave and optoelectronic device applications due to its simplicity and flexibility. As in many other growth techniques, MOCVD requires the optimization of the growth conditions to obtain desirable material properties for specific applications. InAlAs/InGaAs HEMT's have demonstrated excellent electrical characteristics using MBE grown structures and more recently MOCVD grown devices have also shown promising but not yet equivalent performance. It is therefore important to perform a systematic evaluation of the growth criteria determining the properties of InP-based HEMT's grown by MOCVD. It is the purpose of this paper to address the issue of MOCVD growth criteria and to provide experimental validation for them by demonstrating state of the art device characteristics. >
Microfluidic encapsulated NEMS resonators for sensor applications

We present two novel methods to create microfluidic encapsulated nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) resonator arrays. NEMS arrays were encapsulated in individually accessible parallel microfluidic channels defined in glass. The channels could be filled with fluid as well as evacuated to sub-millitorr pressures for optical measurement of resonant device motion. Each 200 nm thick silicon nitride NEMS resonator was 3 mum wide with lengths ranging from 5 to 10 mum. The demonstrated resonant frequencies ranged from 3 to 10 MHz with quality factors of up to 3,500 (under vacuum). These devices showed no stiction after repeated wetting and drying while in the channels. The presented work demonstrates an important step towards a chip level total analytical system using NEMS devices in applications such as mass based biosensors
Re-evaluating sarcoplasmic reticulum function in heart failure

Heart failure presently afflicts an estimated 5 million Americans with a 4 year mortality rate approaching 50% (ref. 1). The failing human heart transitions into a dilated state characterized by ventricular remodeling, collagen deposition and reduced contractility. The molecular etiology of this phenotype is closely associated with reduced calcium transients and prolongation of diastolic calcium re-sequestration leading to decreased cardiac contractility2. Critical intracellular regulators of calcium cycling within cardiac myocytes are the sarcoplasmic reticulum associated calcium ATPase pump, SERCA2, and its negative regulator phospholamban (PLB). The deterioration in calcium cycling characteristic of the failing human heart has been largely associated with a reduction in SERCA2 activity resulting from reduced protein concentrations or from enhanced inhibition mediated by PLB (ref. 2). Indeed, targeted ablation of PLB in the mouse allows unrestricted SERCA2 activity resulting in a dramatic increase in baseline calcium cycling and enhanced contractility in the unstimulated state2.
Simultaneous bidirectional PAM-4 link with built-in self-test

This paper presents a new design of a simultaneous bidirectional PAM-4 wired transmission system that uses built-in self-test (BIST) to adjust the level of pre-emphasis that is applied. The BIST circuitry consists of a pattern generator and detector, a signal comparator and a high-pass filter. It outputs an error indicator that is used as a control signal in the adaptive pre-emphasis block. The feedback loop inherent in a simultaneous bidirectional link provides a natural opportunity to carry information about the channel characteristics without the need for an extra dedicated wire. The design has been verified using the Cadence SpectreRF and Verilog-A simulators and the channel loss characteristics are based on an FR-4 material model extracted from the Cadence Transmission Line Model Generator.
Covalent Capture of Self‐Assembled Soft Materials

This chapter describes the covalent capture of soft materials with examples from covalently captured liquid crystals as well as gels of small molecules and polymers. The interplay of self-assembly and the incorporation of various covalent bonds, including irreversible and covalent reversible bonds, are discussed. The development of basic, tunable association units allowing the systematic control of molecular assembly and covalent capture is speculated. Keywords: self-assembly; covalent capture; cross-linking; soft mater; liquid crystal; polymer; columnar phase; gel
Supercritical entanglement in local systems: Counterexample to the area law for quantum matter

Abstract Quantum entanglement is the most surprising feature of quantum mechanics. Entanglement is simultaneously responsible for the difficulty of simulating quantum matter on a classical computer and the exponential speedups afforded by quantum computers. Ground states of quantum many-body systems typically satisfy an “area law”: The amount of entanglement between a subsystem and the rest of the system is proportional to the area of the boundary. A system that obeys an area law has less entanglement and can be simulated more efficiently than a generic quantum state whose entanglement could be proportional to the total system’s size. Moreover, an area law provides useful information about the low-energy physics of the system. It is widely believed that for physically reasonable quantum systems, the area law cannot be violated by more than a logarithmic factor in the system’s size. We introduce a class of exactly solvable one-dimensional physical models which we can prove have exponentially more entanglement than suggested by the area law, and violate the area law by a square-root factor. This work suggests that simple quantum matter is richer and can provide much more quantum resources (i.e., entanglement) than expected. In addition to using recent advances in quantum information and condensed matter theory, we have drawn upon various branches of mathematics such as combinatorics of random walks, Brownian excursions, and fractional matching theory. We hope that the techniques developed herein may be useful for other problems in physics as well.
Extra-sentential Dependencies, Meaning Representation, and Generics

We outline a fragment of the system of semantic rules for computing coherent continuations at any point in discourse by uncovering various links existing between an utterance and its context. In this paper, we describe an extension of this method to handle changes in the level of reference in discourse. In order to accomplish this we develop a multi-level model for representing and manipulating various types of non-singular terms, and define the notion of "remote", inter-level reference. In this context, we discuss a possible representation for selected types of generic sentences.
Market Conditions and Housing Choices: A Comparison of Homeownership Across Three Decades

This article uses information on out-of-pocket housing cost and house price appreciation along with the geo-coded version of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to consider the differences in the impact of these and other variables on the tenure choices of sample households across three time periods, the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s. Specifically, an extended continuous time probability model is used to examine households' transitions from renting to owning and subsequent possible transitions either back to rental tenure or to another owned home during our three observation periods. Coefficient estimates show that financial variables such as house price appreciation and out-of-pocket housing cost play an important role in determining all the transitions. In addition, the analysis demonstrates the interesting result that the cumulative likelihoods of homeownership derived from the model are consistently lower than the probabilities of an initial transition to homeownership from rental tenure during the observation period. Finally, the magnitude and timing of the impact on homeownership of a policy experiment that eliminates the mortgage interest deduction are shown to differ substantially across the three decades.
On the theoretical limits of detecting cyclic changes in cardiac high-energy phosphates and creatine kinase reaction kinetics using in vivo ³¹P MRS.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is absolutely required to fuel normal cyclic contractions of the heart. The creatine kinase (CK) reaction is a major energy reserve reaction that rapidly converts creatine phosphate (PCr) to ATP during the cardiac cycle and at times of stress and ischemia, but is significantly impaired in conditions such as hypertrophy and heart failure. Because the magnitudes of possible in vivo cyclic changes in cardiac high-energy phosphates (HEPs) during the cardiac cycle are not well known from previous work, this study uses mathematical modeling to assess whether, and to what extent, cyclic variations in HEPs and in the rate of ATP synthesis through CK (CK flux) could exist in the human heart, and whether they could be measured with current in vivo 31P MRS methods. Multi-site exchange models incorporating enzymatic rate equations were used to study the cyclic dynamics of the CK reaction, and Bloch equations were used to simulate 31P MRS saturation transfer measurements of the CK reaction. The simulations show that short-term buffering of ATP by CK requires temporal variations over the cardiac cycle in the CK reaction velocities modeled by enzymatic rate equations. The maximum variation in HEPs in the normal human heart beating at 60 min–1 was approximately 0.4 m m and proportional to the velocity of ATP hydrolysis. Such HEP variations are at or below the current limits of detection by in vivo 31P MRS methods. Bloch equation simulations show that 31P MRS saturation transfer estimates the time-averaged, pseudo-first-order forward rate constant, kf,ap′, of the CK reaction, and that periodic short-term fluctuations in kf′ and CK flux are not likely to be detectable in human studies employing current in vivo 31P MRS methods. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
"Oh God, She is Looking at Every Little Thing I am Doing!" Student Teachers' Constructions of the Observation Experience

This qualitative study examines the variance in the ways that four student teachers made meaning of the experience of being observed by their cooperating teachers and university supervisors. Using Kegan’s (1994) theory of cognitive development, the study focuses on the differences in the ways the teacher candidates constructed the prospect of being observed, and the varied ways they received and interpreted feedback. The study found that for two of the participants feedback from a mentor was very important to their teaching identity; because of this observations were both significant and anxiety inducing. However the second two participants were able to remove their identities from feedback and thus felt observations were an opportunity to think about how to improve their teaching. The participants also differed in whether they expected the post observation conference to be a time to receive expert knowledge or to discuss solutions and best practice.
Developing a Health Policy-Ready Practice Workforce: Violence and Health Disparities in Interprofessional Education

s / Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice 1 (2015) 48e77 52 DEVELOPING A HEALTH POLICY-READY PRACTICE WORKFORCE: VIOLENCE AND HEALTH DISPARITIES IN INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION Candace W. Burton PhD, RN, AFN-BC. Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Scholar Research Scientist for Intimate Partner Violence & Sexual Assault, VCU Institute for Women's Health Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Health Nursing Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing Background/Introduction Violence is a significant cause of and factor in health disparities, particularly among vulnerable populations. Developing a health care workforce that is prepared to address violence from a health policy standpoint necessitates integration of educational perspectives on both health disparities and violence.
Long-Term Effects of Tillage on Soil Chemical Properties and Grain Yields of a Dryland Winter Wheat–Sorghum/Corn–Fallow Rotation in the Great Plains

Tillage systems and nutrient management influence soil chemical properties that can impact the long-term sustainability of dryland production systems. This study was conducted to compare the effects of no-till (NT) and conventional till (CT) on the soil chemical properties and grain yield of a dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]/corn (Zea mays L.)-fallow rotation. The effects of tillage practice over a 27-yr period (1962-1989) and the effect of the conversion of CT to NT over a 14-yr period (1989-2003) on selected soil chemical properties [pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS), soil organic C (SOC), K, Ca, Mg, and Bray-P] at different soil depths was determined. The addification rate of the NT treatment from 1962 to 2003 was also determined. The study was conducted at North Platte, NE on a Holdrege silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, music Typic Argiustolls). In 1989, there were differences in soil chemical properties between CT and NT at some depths after 27 yr. However, in 2003, 14 yr after converting from CT to NT, there were no differences in the soil chemical properties compared with continuous NT. In 1989 and 2003, the soil chemical properties varied with soil depth. The acidification rate from 1962 to 2003 for the NT treatment in the 0- to 15-cm depth was 1.3 kmol H + ha -1 yr -1 . This rate of addification represents 38% of the total potential acidity from N fertilizer applications over 41 yr. Addification was attributed to nitrification of ammonium-based fertilizers and leaching of NO 3 - . Long-term winter wheat (1966-1983) and grain sorghum (1964-1988) grain yields were higher for NT (2718 and 4125 kg ha -1 ) than CT (2421 and 3062 kg ha -1 ). Retention of soil moisture as a result of increased residue cover under NT likely contributed to higher NT yields. Soil chemical properties in the wheat-sorghum/corn-fallow rotation will likely continue to change as a result of current management practices. Lime additions may become necessary in the future to ensure the sustainability of crop production in this system.
What have we learnt from the highest-Tc superconducting Hg-based cuprates?

Abstract Hg-based high-temperature superconductors (Hg-HTSs) have a similar layered structure to that in most other superconducting cuprates. The weakly attached Hg cations can be swapped with Tl ones in a cation exchange process, which allows exploration of the physical properties associated closely to the charge reservoir block change as a consequence of the Hg–Tl cation exchange. This paper intends to provide an overview of over a decade long investigation of Hg(Tl)-HTSs thin films processed in forward and reverse cation exchange, and from which to elucidate the interesting aspects that are related to the superconductivity of these fascinating materials.
Plant Sterols as Anticancer Nutrients: Evidence for Their Role in Breast Cancer

While many factors are involved in the etiology of cancer, it has been clearly established that diet significantly impacts one's risk for this disease. More recently, specific food components have been identified which are uniquely beneficial in mitigating the risk of specific cancer subtypes. Plant sterols are well known for their effects on blood cholesterol levels, however research into their potential role in mitigating cancer risk remains in its infancy. As outlined in this review, the cholesterol modulating actions of plant sterols may overlap with their anti-cancer actions. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women and there remains a need for effective adjuvant therapies for this disease, for which plant sterols may play a distinctive role.
Emerging from Bankruptcy with When‐Issued Trading

We examine the set of firms that emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and traded on a when-issued basis before their official return to the regular way in NASDAQ, Amex, or NYSE. We find that this when-issued market is liquid and price efficient. The when-issued closing price is a good indicator of the first closing price in the regular way market. Emerging firms that have when-issued trading experience lower regular way volatility and smaller relative spreads than those without when-issued trading. Our probit regressions show that firm size is an important determinant of the adoption of when-issued trading.
Transcriptional markers of sub-optimal nutrition in developing Apis mellifera nurse workers

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) contribute substantially to the worldwide economy and ecosystem health as pollinators. Pollen is essential to the bee’s diet, providing protein, lipids, and micronutrients. The dramatic shifts in physiology, anatomy, and behavior that accompany normal worker development are highly plastic and recent work demonstrates that development, particularly the transition from nurse to foraging roles, is greatly impacted by diet. However, the role that diet plays in the developmental transition of newly eclosed bees to nurse workers is poorly understood. To further understand honey bee nutrition and the role of diet in nurse development, we used a high-throughput screen of the transcriptome of 3 day and 8 day old worker bees fed either honey and stored pollen (rich diet) or honey alone (poor diet) within the hive. We employed a three factor (age, diet, age x diet) analysis of the transcriptome to determine whether diet affected nurse worker physiology and whether poor diet altered the developmental processes normally associated with aging. Substantial changes in gene expression occurred due to starvation. Diet-induced changes in gene transcription occurring in younger bees were largely a subset of those occurring in older bees, but certain signatures of starvation were only evident 8 day old workers. Of the 18,542 annotated transcripts in the A. mellifera genome, 150 transcripts exhibited differential expression due to poor diet at 3d of age compared with 17,226 transcripts that differed due to poor diet at 8d of age, and poor diet caused more frequent down-regulation of gene expression in younger bees compared to older bees. In addition, the age-related physiological changes that accompanied early adult development differed due to the diet these young adult bees were fed. More frequent down-regulation of gene expression was observed in developing bees fed a poor diet compared to those fed an adequate diet. Functional analyses also suggest that the physiological and developmental processes occurring in well-fed bees are vastly different than those occurring in pollen deprived bees. Our data support the hypothesis that poor diet causes normal age-related development to go awry. Poor nutrition has major consequences for the expression of genes underlying the physiology and age-related development of nurse worker bees. More work is certainly needed to fully understand the consequences of starvation and the complex biology of nutrition and development in this system, but the genes identified in the present study provide a starting point for understanding the consequences of poor diet and for mitigating the economic costs of colony starvation.