cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Moderate alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease: a review

Consumption of alcoholic beverages has been a prominent feature of many cultures since the ancient civilisations. Throughout history, the pros and cons of alcohol have been debated. Although the original debates stemmed from the public perception of intoxication, current research has convincingly demonstrated the permanent physiological damage due to prolonged overconsumption. However, the effect of “moderate” alcohol consumption on overall health remains controversial. The beneficial effects of alcohol on the cardiovascular system have been touted since the 18th century, but the bulk of scientific research has accumulated over the last few decades. The majority of the literature suggests that alcohol in moderation is beneficial on the cardiovascular system, and excess is detrimental to overall health. The deleterious effects of heavy alcohol consumption on health are numerous: aerodigestive cancers; haemorrhagic stroke and cardiomyopathy; hepatic cirrhosis; fetal alcohol syndrome; fatal car crashes, and suicides. However, these effects have not been documented among light to moderate drinkers.#### Key messages Although the risks substantially outweigh the benefits for heavy consumption, the burden of coronary heart disease (CHD) has tipped the scale in favour of moderate alcohol consumption for overall health. …
Altered Lipid Composition and Enhanced Nutritional Value of Arabidopsis Leaves following Introduction of an Algal Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase 2

Enhancement of acyl-CoA-dependent triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis in vegetative tissues is widely discussed as a potential avenue to increase the energy density of crops. Here, we report the identification and characterization of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii diacylglycerol acyltransferase type two (DGTT) enzymes and use DGTT2 to alter acyl carbon partitioning in plant vegetative tissues. This enzyme can accept a broad range of acyl-CoA substrates, allowing us to interrogate different acyl pools in transgenic plants. Expression of DGTT2 in Arabidopsis thaliana increased leaf TAG content, with some molecular species containing very-long-chain fatty acids. The acyl compositions of sphingolipids and surface waxes were altered, and cutin was decreased. The increased carbon partitioning into TAGs in the leaves of DGTT2-expressing lines had little effect on transcripts of the sphingolipid/wax/cutin pathway, suggesting that the supply of acyl groups for the assembly of these lipids is not transcriptionally adjusted. Caterpillars of the generalist herbivore Spodoptera exigua reared on transgenic plants gained more weight. Thus, the nutritional value and/or energy density of the transgenic lines was increased by ectopic expression of DGTT2 and acyl groups were diverted from different pools into TAGs, demonstrating the interconnectivity of acyl metabolism in leaves.
A characterization of α-bungarotoxin binding in the brain of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus

Abstract The binding of 125 I-labeled α-bungarotoxin to membrane fragments prepared from Limulus brain tissue has been investigated. Toxin binding approaches saturation in the range of 30 to 40 n m , with maximum binding of 2 to 6 pmol/mg of protein. The saturation kinetics and the rate of displacement of bound toxin are consistent with multiple toxin binding sites. Pharmacological studies show that binding is inhibited by both cholinergic agonists and antagonists, I 50 ′s for inhibition by d -tubocurarine, nicotine, decamethonium, carbachol, and atropine are 2 × 10 −6 , 7 × 10 −6 , 2 × 10 −5 , 6 × 10 −4 , and 3 × 10 −4 m , respectively. Nicotinic ligands inhibited binding much more effectively than muscarinic ligands. Toxin binding activity was solubilized with Triton X-100. Velocity sedimentation analysis of the solubilized activity revealed three separate components. Seventy to eighty percent of the binding activity had a sedimentation coefficient of 8.6 S. The remaining activity was composed of two components with sedimentation coefficients of 15.1 and 17 S.
Are gut peptides a new class of anorectic agents

In the past 20 years, the mechanisms of the satiating effect of food that terminate a meal have been inves- tigated intensively in rodents and in humans. This research has revealed that three peptides, cholecystokinin, pancreatic gluca- gon, and bombesin, released by ingested food from the gastroin- testinal tract decrease meal size in a specific, dose-related manner without signs ofacute toxicity or tolerance. In humans, the three peptides decrease meal size without decreasing the reported pleasure or satisfaction of the meal. Although their chemical structure and specific effect justify calling these peptides a new class of anorectic agents, not enough work has been done to evaluate their efficacy for weight loss in obese humans or their safety when administered for months. Am J Clin Nuir 1 992;55:283S-5S.
Magnetic resonance myocardial fiber-orientation mapping with direct histological correlation

Functional properties of the myocardium are mediated by the tissue structure. Consequently, proper physiological studies and modeling necessitate a precise knowledge of the fiber orientation. Magne...
Discovery of diversity in xylan biosynthetic genes by transcriptional profiling of a heteroxylan containing mucilaginous tissue

The exact biochemical steps of xylan backbone synthesis remain elusive. In Arabidopsis, three non-redundant genes from two glycosyltransferase (GT) families, IRX9 and IRX14 from GT43 and IRX10 from GT47, are candidates for forming the xylan backbone. In other plants, evidence exists that different tissues express these three genes at widely different levels, which suggests that diversity in the makeup of the xylan synthase complex exists. Recently we have profiled the transcripts present in the developing mucilaginous tissue of psyllium (Plantago ovata Forsk). This tissue was found to have high expression levels of an IRX10 homolog, but very low levels of the two GT43 family members. This contrasts with recent wheat endosperm tissue profiling that found a relatively high abundance of the GT43 family members. We have performed an in-depth analysis of all GTs genes expressed in four developmental stages of the psyllium mucilagenous layer and in a single stage of the psyllium stem using RNA-Seq. This analysis revealed several IRX10 homologs, an expansion in GT61 (homologs of At3g18170/At3g18180), and several GTs from other GT families that are highly abundant and specifically expressed in the mucilaginous tissue. Our current hypothesis is that the four IRX10 genes present in the mucilagenous tissues have evolved to function without the GT43 genes. These four genes represent some of the most divergent IRX10 genes identified to date. Conversely, those present in the psyllium stem are very similar to those in other eudicots. This suggests these genes are under selective pressure, likely due to the synthesis of the various xylan structures present in mucilage that has a different biochemical role than that present in secondary walls. The numerous GT61 family members also show a wide sequence diversity and may be responsible for the larger number of side chain structures present in the psyllium mucilage.
The Xenopus Chk1 Protein Kinase Mediates a Caffeine-sensitive Pathway of Checkpoint Control in Cell-free Extracts

We have analyzed the role of the protein kinase Chk1 in checkpoint control by using cell-free extracts from Xenopus eggs. Recombinant Xenopus Chk1 (Xchk1) phosphorylates the mitotic inducer Cdc25 in vitro on multiple sites including Ser-287. The Xchk1-catalyzed phosphorylation of Cdc25 on Ser-287 is sufficient to confer the binding of 14-3-3 proteins. Egg extracts from which Xchk1 has been removed by immunodepletion are strongly but not totally compromised in their ability to undergo a cell cycle delay in response to the presence of unreplicated DNA. Cdc25 in Xchk1-depleted extracts remains bound to 14-3-3 due to the action of a distinct Ser-287-specific kinase in addition to Xchk1. Xchk1 is highly phosphorylated in the presence of unreplicated or damaged DNA, and this phosphorylation is abolished by caffeine, an agent which attenuates checkpoint control. The checkpoint response to unreplicated DNA in this system involves both caffeine-sensitive and caffeine-insensitive steps. Our results indicate that caffeine disrupts the checkpoint pathway containing Xchk1.
Reactions to Men and Women Who Cry: A Study of Sex Differences in Perceived Societal Attitudes versus Personal Attitudes:

This study examined sex differences and similarities in sex-role attitudes using reactions to males' and females' crying as the stimulus situation. 285 male and 307 female students completed questionnaires. Subjects were asked to indicate their reactions to the sight of a woman crying and to the sight of a man crying. They were also asked to indicate how they thought “people” react to the sight of a man or a woman crying. Subjects perceived “people” as holding a double standard of crying, with much greater acceptance of females' than of males' crying. The proportion of subjects of both sexes who considered crying by males acceptable was significantly greater than the proportion who felt “people” would find it acceptable. Women seemed to hold a unisex standard of crying, while male subjects endorsed a double standard.
Creating a microcosm of industry in the classroom

Electronic Commerce has challenged traditional business thinking. Electronic Businesses are expected to be always available, from anywhere in the world, rich in content and experience, customizable to the user, and conform to technology standards. Features available in such an enterprise must support both Business-to-Customer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B) electronic commerce. We have designed an innovative course that teaches students how to develop an organization's Enterprise Architecture that becomes part of a microcosm of the consumer entertainment industry in the classroom. Seven groups represent each of three levels of businesses within the industry (manufacturing, distribution, and retail) and together they develop an online community to sell movies, books and music to the general public - a la Amazon.com. Students were given three major projects designed to lead to a fully-functioning, integrated industry architecture: an enterprise portal, internal messaging system and B2B communication via XML. Because students were overwhelmed by the amount of work required to complete the projects, we plan to break the tasks into weekly lab assignments for the next offering that build up to the overall working architecture.
Will the Department of Labor Find the Missing Fiduciary Link? Part 2

The DOL has a unique opportunity to advance the view that the sole interest rule is unsound, particularly in the investment advisory context, and this Article proposes how it should be modernized. This article analyzes a subcomponent of the “Prudent Person Rule” under ERISA Sec. 404(a)(1) (B), which is that of the duty to monitor, in this case, the investment advisor by the trustee. This Article proposes that the present Prudent Person Rule should be updated since the exclusive-benefit rule wrongfully precludes employers from also being considered beneficiaries by the Courts under ERISA. As a result of this preclusion, courts have been forced to indulge in pretense, such as the notion that benefits to employers are merely “incidental,” in order to reconcile ERISA with the economic realities of determining who should be a beneficiary and to what extent. Recognition of these requested changes will not automatically transform ERISA fiduciary law from a difficult task to an elementary one. Often, the issues w...
Inhibition of renin activity slows down the progression of HIV-associated nephropathy.

In the present study, we evaluated the effect of inhibition of renin activity (aliskiren) on the progression of renal lesions in two different mouse models (Vpr and Tg26) of human immunodeficiency ...
Does baccalaureate nursing education for registered nurses foster professional reading

Reading activities of registered nurses (RNs) were investigated using an untreated comparison group design study. The study group consisted of RN students (N = 60) enrolled in a baccalaureate in nursing (BSN) program at four distance education sites in northeast and central Texas who were queried about their reading activities. Total reading time of professional literature was reported at the time they started the nursing sequence of courses in their baccalaureate nursing program and 6 months after completion of these courses. The purposes of reading various types of professional literature also were identified by asking the respondent's interest, the perceived amount of application, and the commitment to reading this literature. RN counterparts at worksites of the RN-BSN students (N = 67) were respondents in the comparison group. After completing the BSN program, these nurses showed more interest in and commitment to reading and were more concerned about applying knowledge gained from reading in their nursing practice.
Assurance patterns for distributed real-time embedded systems

Recently, there has been a significant increase in demand for distributed real-time embedded systems (DREs). As the demand for DREs has increased, so has the complexity of these systems, thus prompting the need for more rigorous, repeatable, and cost-effective development techniques. We propose to make several contributions in the rigorous development of DREs: object analysis patterns, specification patterns, and an integrated modeling and analysis approach for the formal analysis of DRE system models. These contributions are presented collectively as assurance patterns that emphasize the analysis phase of DREs, with the intent of preventing and detecting errors in the early stages of development prior to coding and fabrication. Industrial projects play a major role in validating our techniques.
Resistivity Arrays as an Early Warning System for Monitoring Runoff Holding Ponds

Monitoring wells are installed to intercept contaminants inadvertently discharged from inground structures designed to retain salt-affected wastewaters; however, several difficulties with collection and data interpretation limit their effectiveness. Therefore, improved monitoring methods are needed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of resistivity array technology as an early warning system to monitor for unintended basin discharge. Subsurface resistivity arrays were installed at two Nebraska sites: a beef cattle feedyard located at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska (FyA) and a commercial cattle feeding operation (FyB). Monitoring well data did not identify any unintended discharge events during the study period. However, the resistivity array (RA) system detected a discharge event that was localized in the non-saturated zone adjacent to the pond at FyB within one day following a precipitation event. Monitoring the unsaturated portion allows the RA system a capacity beyond traditional monitoring wells, which can only intercept discharge carried in groundwater. Also, the RA system effectively measured a larger area ( i.e ., a virtual curtain) compared to the point measure typical of monitoring wells. Therefore, RA technology provides broader coverage and is more tolerant to placement issues for intercepting discharge. Finally, the capacity to automate the RA system provides a means to continuously monitor unintended subsurface discharge from runoff holding ponds. This continuous monitoring system is more likely to detect discharge events than the bi-annual sampling typically required for monitoring wells. Automatic and continuous monitoring provides feedyard operators options to better manage environmental impacts associated with runoff holding ponds.
Subcutaneously implanted tissue chambers: a pathophysiological study

Tissue and fluid changes occurring within tissue chambers were characterised as a function of time after subcutaneous implantation in cattle. Cytological and chemical investigation revealed that the composition of fluid within chambers approached the theoretical composition of true interstitial fluid as time after implantation progressed. Erythrocyte and leucocyte numbers decreased sharply immediately after implantation and had reached stable numbers by 40 days after implantation. At this stage, chamber fluid samples had lower total protein and albumin concentrations, higher K+ and Cl− concentrations and lower pH than corresponding blood samples. Despite an ongoing low-grade chronic inflammatory reaction resulting in fibrous encapsulation of chambers, the vascularity of chamber tissue did not diminish with lime after implantation. By 40 days after implantation, the cellular and chemical constituents had stabilised enough to allow use of the model to study drug distribution.
A review of the significance of animal food products as potential pathways of human exposures to dioxins

The polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (dioxins) are groups of compounds with similar chemical and toxicological properties. Carcinogenicity was considered the most serious toxic end point when setting previous regulatory policies, but recent concerns have focused on the possible endocrine-disrupting activities of the dioxins. Toxicity is related to the 2,3,7,8 pattern of chlorine substitution, a pattern that also leads to chemical and metabolic stability. Dioxins are practically insoluble in water and concentrate in lipids of biological systems, leading to low background concentrations in fat of the general human population. Major environmental sources of dioxins are emissions from industrial chlorination processes and combustion of materials containing chlorine. Inhalation and water have been ruled out as significant exposure pathways, which suggests that food is the primary source. Pathways of entry into food chains are atmospheric transport of emissions and their subsequent deposition on plants, soils, and water. The major food sources seem to be fat-containing animal products and some seafoods. This conclusion is based on evaluations of potential environmental pathways involving dioxins and related compounds. Generally, dioxins and other lipophilic compounds are not taken up and translocated by plants, so residues in foods and feeds derived from seeds should be negligible. Animals on high-roughage diets, or those that ingest contaminated soil, are the most likely to accumulate dioxin residues from the environment. The conclusion that animal products are a major source of human exposure requires verification by appropriate food sampling programs and animal metabolism studies. If it is desirable to reduce human exposure to dioxins via the food supply, reduction of sources would be a more effective strategy than changing agricultural practices and food consumption patterns.
In-stent Restenosis

In-stent restenosis (ISR) is the narrowing of a stented coronary artery lesion. The mean time from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to ISR was 12 months with drug-eluting stents (DES) and 6 months with bare metal stents (BMS). ISR typically presents as recurrent angina. The use of DES has significantly reduced the rate of ISR compared with BMS. Predictors of ISR include patient, lesion, and procedural characteristics. Intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, and fractional flow reserve are important tools for the anatomic and hemodynamic assessment of ISR. Treatment options for ISR include percutaneous coronary intervention with DES.
Thiol–ene Cross-Linked Polymer Gate Dielectrics for Low-Voltage Organic Thin-Film Transistors

We report a low-temperature processed, hydroxyl-free poly(vinyl phenyl) (PVP) dielectric layer cross-linked using thiol–ene chemistry. This new dielectric material exhibited a high dielectric constant as compared to conventional hydroxyl-free polymer dielectrics, e.g. polystyrene, and allowed for cross-linking at 80 °C, which is lower than the glass transition temperature of most commonly used plastic substrates, e.g. poly(ethylene terathalate) (PET). Due to the absence of hydroxyl groups, the dielectric layer displayed more stable performance than other previously reported cross-linked PVP dielectrics. The low-temperature processing, high air stability, and low current–voltage hysteresis while retaining high device performances are important advantages of this new dielectric material.
Efficient quantum-state estimation by continuous weak measurement and dynamical control.

We demonstrate a fast, robust, and nondestructive protocol for quantum-state estimation based on continuous weak measurement in the presence of a controlled dynamical evolution. Our experiment uses optically probed atomic spins as a test bed and successfully reconstructs a range of trial states with fidelities of $\ensuremath{\sim}90%$. The procedure holds promise as a practical diagnostic tool for the study of complex quantum dynamics, the testing of quantum hardware, and as a starting point for new types of quantum feedback control.
Attenuation of endotoxin-induced increase in glucose metabolism by platelet-activating factor antagonist

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) has recently been proposed as a putative mediator of various pathophysiologic events during endotoxemia. The aim of the present study was to determine the relative importance of PAF in producing the alterations in carbohydrate metabolism following endotoxin. Chronically catheterized conscious rats were treated with SRI 63-441, a specific PAF receptor antagonist, or saline prior to Escherichia coli endotoxin (100 micrograms/100 g body weight, LD10) administration. Hemodynamic and whole-body glucose kinetic changes, the latter assessed by a constant intravenous infusion of [6-3H] glucose, were determined throughout the 4-hr experimental protocol. Endotoxin induced a transient 30-35% reduction in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in animals treated with saline. The PAF-antagonist attenuated this hypotensive effect, and MABP was only reduced by 14-18%. Endotoxin increased plasma glucose and lactate levels, as well as the rate of glucose appearance (Ra) in saline-treated rats. The PAF antagonist reduced the hyperglycemia by 60-75% and tended to prevent the hyperlactacidemia. The endotoxin-induced elevation in glucose Ra was also attenuated by 55%. A similar degree of hyperglucagonemia was observed following endotoxin in both groups, and plasma insulin concentrations were not different. However, plasma catecholamine levels were significantly lower (30-70%) in endotoxemic rats treated with the PAF antagonist. These results suggest that the enhanced production of PAF following endotoxin may be responsible, at least in part, for the early hemodynamic changes. The role of PAF as a mediator of endotoxin-induced glucose dyshomeostasis, however, may be secondary to its hemodynamic effects.
Harnessing the power of Drosophila genetics.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of the strategies and methods of Drosophila genetics that are most useful to the cell biologist. The chapter illustrates ways to obtain a collection of mutagenized chromosomes and outlines a way to clone a gene associated with an interesting mutant phenotype. The chapter discusses the ways to screen for desired phenotypes. Examining large numbers of flies for a rare mutation is extremely labor intensive. Thus, the efficiency of a mutagen is a major consideration, although this needs to be weighed in terms of the desirability of the sorts of mutations produced. The chapter discusses the various types of mutagenesis that are routinely employed, along with considerations that may govern the choice of a particular method. In many cases, investigators induce mutations on wild-type chromosomes so as to avoid any decrease in viability resulting from the use of a multiply marked chromosome. However, inducing the mutation on a marked chromosome can be subsequently advantageous in identifying homozygotes.
Clinical echocardiography in acquired heart disease.

Echocardiography directly reflects cardiac anatomy and pathology. This article describes ~how echocardiography can be of assistance to the clinician, particularly in differentiating cardiac from noncardiac symptoms and in providing bedside quantitative assessment of regional and global left ventricular function.
Mining Organizations’ Networks: Multi-Level Approach1

This chapter presents six examples of organization-related social network mining: 1) interorganizational and sentiment networks in the Deepwater BP Oil Spill events, 2) intraorganizational interdepartmental networks in the Savannah College ofArt and Design (SCAD), 3) who-to-whom email networks across the organizational hierarchy the Ford Motor Company's automotive engineering innovation: "Sync R w/ MyFord Touch", 4) networks of selected individuals who left that organization, 5) semantic associations across email for a corporate innovation in that organization, and 6) assessment of sentiment across its email for innovations over time. These examples are discussed in terms of motivations, methods, implications, and applications.
Young Thomas More and the Arts of Liberty: More's Life of Pico della Mirandola (c. 1504–1507)

Liberty above all things he loved, to which both his own natural affection and the study of philosophy inclined him; and for that he was always wandering and flitting and would never take himself to any certain dwelling. … [Pico] to the end that, all the charge and business of rule or lordship set aside, he might lead his life in rest and peace, … all his patrimony and dominions … he sold. Thomas More, Life of Pico Well aware of the enticements of philosophic pleasure and the difficulties of achieving that “true virtue” of the princeps , Cicero gave his son the following advice in his last philosophic work, the work that More would later echo “almost word for word.” [M]y dear Cicero, while the whole field of philosophy is fertile and productive …, still no part is richer or more fruitful than that which deals with moral duties; for from these are derived the rules for living a consistent and good life. ( De Officiis 3.5) Because his son was studying then in Athens with the best philosophers of the time “to purchase, as it were, … a store of bonarum artium ,” Cicero warns him that the intense effort involved may well be “work rather than pleasure,” but that he had a “heavy responsibility” to succeed in doing so (6). When More translates the reference to this passage in the Life of Pico , he eliminates Cicero's name and substitutes “doctrine” for “good arts” ( bonarum artium ), and although he translates studia humanitatis as “studies of humanity,” More indicates in this early work that Pico's idea of humanitas is far different from Cicero's and his own.
Exhibiting Music: Case Studies in Imagining, Performing, and Collecting Sound

Museums have long been thought of as “quiet” spaces, in which visitors walk slowly through galleries to look at material cultures in glass cases. Music and sound have begun to pervade the quiet spaces of museums in the forms of aural installations and performance-based programs. They are no longer galleries for solely visual engagement, but loud spaces in which visitors and audiences listen to recordings, experience live performances, and participate by themselves singing and playing in workshops, classes, installations, and impromptu demonstrations. This article explores three case studies in exhibiting music. The first is the exhibition Ragamala: Garland of Melodies, which was on display at the Royal Ontario Museum and sought to demonstrate the fluidity between the South Asian arts. The second is an investigation of some of the formal and informal performance-based programming at the Aga Khan Museum. The last case study focuses on a future project, in which collectors of Indian audio cultures will submit contributions to help construct a history of sound in India. Each case study is motivated by a series of central questions: what constitutes “exhibiting music”? What are the broader implications of and consequences for exhibiting music in each case? How does exhibiting music in a museum impact a visitor’s experience? What kinds of new stories are told in exhibiting music and sound? The three case studies respond to these questions and provoke issues and possibilities for further critical inquiry. They show that museums are dynamic spaces with incredible potential to inspire multi-experiential engagement.
Kontorovich-Lebedev Transforms

$$g(y) = \int\limits_0^\infty f (x){k_{ix}}(y)dx$$ (1) $$f(x) = 2{\pi ^{ -2}}x sinh(\pi x) \int\limits_0^\infty g (y){k_{ix}}(y){y^{ -1}}dy$$ (2) was given by Kontorovich and Lebedev (1938, 1939) in connection with the solution of certain boundary value problems of the wave equation. The mathematical theory was developed by Lebedev (1946, 1949).
Gene expression profiles of ion channels and receptors in mouse resistance arteries: Effects of cell type, vascular bed, and age.

OBJECTIVE Receptors and ion channels of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) are integral to the regulation of vessel diameter and tissue blood flow. Physiological roles of ion channels and receptors in skeletal muscle and mesenteric arteries have been identified; however, their gene expression profiles are undefined. We tested the hypothesis that expression profiles for ion channels and receptors governing vascular reactivity vary with cell type, vascular bed, and age. METHODS Mesenteric and superior epigastric arteries were dissected from Old (24-26 months) and Young (3-6 months) C57BL/6J mice. ECs and SMCs were collected for analysis with custom qRT-PCR arrays to determine expression profiles of 80 ion channel and receptor genes. Bioinformatics analyses were applied to gain insight into functional interactions. RESULTS We identified 68 differences in gene expression with respect to cell type, vessel type, and age. Heat maps illustrate differential expression, and distance matrices predict patterns of coexpression. Gene networks based upon protein-protein interaction datasets and KEGG pathways illustrate biological processes affected by specific differences in gene expression. CONCLUSIONS Differences in gene expression profiles are most pronounced between microvascular ECs and SMCs with subtle variations between vascular beds and age groups.
Fully-automated grating coupler design through adjoint optimization

By leveraging adjoint optimization, we develop an efficient algorithm for designing 1D grating couplers for different functionalities without any human input and use it to design a fiber-to-chip blazed grating with under 0.18 dB loss.
Silicon Photonics Enabling the Disaggregated Data Center

The interconnection network is a technology block to improved performance of the data center. Disaggregation enabled by silicon photonics is a route to low latency, cost and energy efficient solutions.
Loopless Generation of Linear Extensions of a Poset

Canfield and Williamson gave the first loopless algorithm for generating all linear extensions of a poset. It elegantly generates all signed extensions, resulting in each extension appearing somewhere with each sign, but retains only every other one independent of its sign. It uses an array for the extension. In this paper we give another loopless algorithm for generating all the linear extensions. It generates each extension only once and uses a list for the extensions.
AN EVALUATION SIMULATOR FOR THE SCOTT VAN

ABSTRACT A simple driving simulator for evaluating the physical capabilities of severely handicapped prospective drivers of the Scott van was developed and evaluated. The simulator utilized a two-dimensional tracking task using the driving controls of the Scott van, a uni-lever servo controlled vehicle designed especially for the severely disabled population. Twenty-five able-bodied subjects and 9 quadriplegics tested the simulator and then drove the Scott van. Simulator RMS tracking error and the number of traffic cones knocked down during prescribed maneuvers were the respective performance measures for these two tests. Experimental data indicated that the simulator performances correlated very well with the corresponding driving performances. Our simulator, therefore, appears to be a valuable evaluation tool by giving objective, repeatable, and quantitative data on severely handicapped prospective drivers. A person who performs well in our simulator tests is likely to perform well in behind-the-wheel driving tests; he is thus a good candidate for further driver training.
Electrodiagnostic Studies and the Evaluation of Peripheral Neuropathies

Electrodiagnostic studies cannot determine the specific etiology of most peripheral neuropathies. However, the electromyographer can, with a well-designed study, comment on the primary pathophysiology of the neuropathy being evaluated on the basis of the results of nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography. By combining electrodiagnostic classification of the neuropathy with the known clinical data, the electromyographer should be able to provide a reasonable differential diagnosis, which should help the referring physician select additional diagnostic studies. In particular, electrodiagnosis plays an important role in identifying treatable acquired demyelinating motor greater than sensory neuropathies, which may appear clinically to be other neuromuscular disorders having poorer prognoses.
Lessons From Leprosy: Peripheral Neuropathies and Deformities in Chronic Demyelinating Diseases.

In light of the World Health Organization’s push to accelerate progress toward a leprosy-free world by 2020, it is fitting to look back on the evolution of progress in treating lepromatous neuropathy and limb deformities. To date, no surgeon has had as great an impact on the understanding and treatment of this disease as Dr Paul Brand. Before Dr Brand’s accomplishments, few surgeons participated in the management of the deformed leprous patient. By challenging conventional beliefs, Dr Brand revealed that many of the deformities associated with leprosy were in fact caused by nerve damage and subsequent limb anesthesia. His pioneering work centered on tendon transfers to provide hand and foot mobility to leprous patients, revolutionizing the surgical management of this patient population and restoring functionality to the lives of otherwise stigmatized and functionally handicapped individuals. In the process, he provided us with the surgical principles and techniques that we still apply today. Because of its predilection for the peripheral nervous system, leprosy also provides an excellent opportunity to investigate mechanisms of demyelination and chronic nerve degeneration in nonacute peripheral neuropathies. Processes underlying demyelination of infectious, traumatic, and genetic etiologies overlap and precede the onset of acute neuronal derangement. Glial pathology has been shown to be a common pathological element in leprosy, Charcot–Marie–Tooth type I, multiple sclerosis, and chronic nerve compression injury. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of lepromatous neuropathy with its subsequent deformities as it relates to the pathophysiology, surgical management, and potential therapeutic targets of other modern peripheral neuropathies.
Reducing Crime: A Companion for Police Leaders

How do I reduce crime in my police command? How do I tackle chronic crime problems? How do I address the long-term issues that have plagued my community? How do I analyze crime and criminal behaviour? How do I show evidence of success in crime reduction? What works, what doesn’t, and how do we know? Providing answers to these questions and more, this engaging and accessible book offers a foundation for leadership in modern policing. Blending concepts from crime science, environmental criminology, and the latest research in evidence-based policing, the book draws on examples from around the world to cover a range of issues such as: how to analyze crime problems and what questions to ask, why the PANDA model is your key to crime reduction, key features of criminal behavior relevant to police commanders, the current research on what works in police crime prevention, why to set up systems to avoid surprises and monitor crime patterns, how to develop evidence of your effectiveness, forming a crime reduction plan, tracking progress, and finally, how to make a wider contribution to the policing field. Crammed with useful tips, checklists and advice including first-person perspectives from police practitioners, case studies and chapter summaries, this book is essential reading both for police professionals taking leadership courses and promotion exams, and for students engaged with police administration and community safety.
Alcoholic Beverage Sales Promotion: An Initial Investigation of the Role of Warning Messages and Brand Characters among Consumers over and under the Legal Drinking Age:

In a between-subjects study, the authors examine the influence of brand and warning information on various consumer attitudes and beliefs regarding alcoholic beverages held by youthful consumers bo...
The Development and Validation of Survey Items on Upper Elementary Students' Perspectives and Attitudes on CS

Demand for K-6 computer science (CS) curricula is growing considerably. Many of the existing curricula have been developed by domain experts who are comfortable with specific and technical terminology, which they expect students to master. However, children are not always comfortable with these terms nor do they understand general concepts like 'coding' in the way that the curriculum designers intend. This is a problem because many researchers use self-report and attitudinal survey instruments with the implicit belief that the students' understanding of the terms and concepts resemble their own. This mismatch may invalidate results. For this project, we report on our modification of a validated survey to measure upper elementary students' attitudes about and perspectives on CS by attempting to understand the appropriate language to use when querying children about these topics. We use an iterative, design-based research approach that is informed by educational and psychological cognitive interview processes. We interviewed two groups (N=64) of upper elementary students on their understanding of computer science concepts and attitudes toward coding. Our findings indicate that 4th and 5th grade students could not explain the terms computer programs nor computer science as we had expected and that they struggled to understand how coding may connect with or support their learning in other domains. These results will help to guide the development of appropriate survey instruments and course materials for K-6 students, which both match their use of broad domain concepts and therefore inform their understanding and improve their outcomes.
Direction Dependence Analysis in the Presence of Confounders: Applications to Linear Mediation Models Using Observational Data.

Statistical methods to identify mis-specifications of linear regression models with respect to the direction of dependence (i.e. whether x→y or y→x better approximates the data-generating mechanism...
'On Behalf of all Young Women Trying to Be Better than they Are': Feminism and Quakerism in the Nineteenth Century: The Case of Anna Deborah Richardson

Historians of the early British women's movement have frequently drawn connections between the theology and practice of Quakerism and the involvement of female Friends in nineteenth-century 'women's rights' campaigns. These connections are usually expressed in terms of religious, organizational and environmental factors particular to Quakerism, and embody the assumption that the cultural milieu of Quaker women was peculiarly conducive to the development of 'feminist consciousness'. This article examines the complexity of these assumed links, through an exploration of the life and writings of Anna Deborah Richardson (1832-1872) of Newcastle Monthly Meeting. Through her close association with Emily Davies, who established the first women's college at Cambridge, Anna was part of the first organized British women's movement in the 1860s. The article considers how far her feminist activities were motivated and inspired by her membership of the Society of Friends, or whether factors outside her religious community exercised a more significant influence.
Correlations of Calf Muscle Macrophage Content With Muscle Properties and Walking Performance in Peripheral Artery Disease

Background Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis characterized by reduced blood flow to the lower extremities and mobility loss. Preliminary evidence suggests PAD damages skeletal muscle, resulting in muscle impairments that contribute to functional decline. We sought to determine whether PAD is associated with an altered macrophage profile in gastrocnemius muscles and whether muscle macrophage populations are associated with impaired muscle phenotype and walking performance in patients with PAD. Methods and Results Macrophages, satellite cells, and extracellular matrix in gastrocnemius muscles from 25 patients with PAD and 7 patients without PAD were quantified using immunohistochemistry. Among patients with PAD, both the absolute number and percentage of cluster of differentiation (CD) 11b+CD206+ M2-like macrophages positively correlated to satellite cell number (r=0.461 [P=0.023] and r=0.416 [P=0.042], respectively) but not capillary density or extracellular matrix. The number of CD11b+CD206- macrophages negatively correlated to 4-meter walk tests at normal (r=-0.447, P=0.036) and fast pace (r=-0.510, P=0.014). Extracellular matrix occupied more muscle area in PAD compared with non-PAD (8.72±2.19% versus 5.30±1.03%, P<0.001) and positively correlated with capillary density (r=0.656, P<0.001). Conclusions Among people with PAD, higher CD206+ M2-like macrophage abundance was associated with greater satellite cell numbers and muscle fiber size. Lower CD206- macrophage abundance was associated with better walking performance. Further study is needed to determine whether CD206+ macrophages are associated with ongoing reparative processes enabling skeletal muscle adaptation to damage with PAD. Registration URL: https://www.clini​caltr​ials.gov; Unique identifiers: NCT00693940, NCT01408901, NCT0224660.
Light-matter interactions in films of randomly distributed unidirectionally scattering dielectric nanoparticles

We theoretically investigate the light scattering characteristics of monolayer films composed of randomly positioned unidirectionally scattering dielectric nanoparticles that support overlapping electric and magnetic dipole modes. We show using generalized Mie theory that the optical response of both sparse and dense nanoparticle films can be understood from the scattering properties of the individual dielectric nanoparticles, despite random particle-particle coupling effects, and validate these results with full wave electromagnetic simulations. The spectral, angular, and polarization dependent reflection and transmission scattering characteristics of these random particle films are also shown to be strikingly different from those of homogeneous dense solid thin films of equivalent dielectric permittivity.
Feature Analysis, Tracking, and Data Reduction: An Application to Multiphase Reactor Simulation MFiX-Exa for In-Situ Use Case

As we enter the exascale computing regime, powerful supercomputers continue to produce much higher amounts of data than what can be stored for offline data processing. To utilize such high compute capabilities on these machines, much of the data processing needs to happen in situ, when the full high-resolution data is available at the supercomputer memory. In this article, we discuss our MFiX-Exa simulation, which models multiphase flow by tracking a very large number of particles through the simulation domain. In one of the use cases, the carbon particles interact with air to produce carbon dioxide bubbles from the reactor. These bubbles are of primary interest to the domain experts for these simulations. For this particle-based simulation, we propose a streaming technique that can be deployed in situ to efficiently identify the bubbles, track them over time, and use them to down-sample the data with minimal loss in these features.
Model laboratories: A quick-start guide for design of simulation experiments for dynamic systems models

Abstract The use of dynamic systems models by scientists, managers, and policy-makers is becoming more common due to the increasingly complex nature of ecological and socio-economic problems. Unfortunately, most scientific training in the life sciences only includes dynamic modeling as elective, supplementary courses at a beginners-level, which is not conducive to generating the expertise needed to properly develop, test, and learn from dynamic modeling approaches and risks utilization of poor quality models and adoption of unreliable recommendations. The objective of this paper is to fill part of that gap, particularly regarding model experimentation, by summarizing key concepts in experimental design for simulation experiments and illustrating hands-on examples of experiments needed for developing a deeper understanding of complex, dynamic systems. The experiments include extreme conditions testing, sensitivity analyses of model behaviors given variation in both parameter values and graphical (table) functions, and “what-if?” experiments (e.g., counterfactual trajectories, boundary-adequacy tests, and intervention threshold experiments). Each experimental example describes the theoretical foundation of the test, illustrates its application using an ecological systems model, and increases in degree of difficulty from novice to advanced skill levels. By doing so, we demonstrate consistent, scientific means to glean valuable insights about the model's structure-behavior link, uncover any unforeseen model flaws or incorrect formulations, and enhance the confidence (validity) of the model for its intended use.
Meta-analysis of oyster impacts on coastal biogeochemistry

Overfishing, nutrient-fuelled hypoxia and habitat destruction have reduced oyster populations to a fraction of their former abundance. Over the past two decades there has been a widespread effort to restore oyster reefs and develop oyster aquaculture. Yet it remains unclear how re-introduction of large oyster populations will change coastal biogeochemistry. Of particular interest is whether oysters may help offset excess nitrogen loading, which is responsible for widespread coastal water quality degradation, low oxygen conditions and biodiversity declines. Here we used a meta-analysis approach to assess how oysters alter inorganic nutrient cycling, with a focus on nitrogen removal. Additionally, we examined how oysters alter greenhouse gas emissions. We demonstrate that oysters enhance removal of excess nitrogen by stimulating denitrification, promote efficient nutrient recycling and may have a negligible greenhouse gas footprint. Further, oyster reefs and oyster aquaculture appear to have similar biogeochemical function, suggesting the potential for sustainable production of animal protein alongside environmental restoration. Oysters clean nutrient-polluted waters, but their populations have crashed. This study synthesizes research on oyster impacts and finds that they help remove excess nitrogen and promote nutrient recycling without contributing greatly to greenhouse gas emissions.