cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interior morphology of high-performance polyethylene fibers revealed by modulus mapping

Abstract This work elucidates the undisturbed interior morphology of commercial ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) high-performance fibers through atomic force microscopy (AFM) modulus mapping of interior surfaces exposed by a novel focused ion beam (FIB)-notched sample preparation technique. The imaging shows unequivocally the presence of epitaxial crystals in the interior of highly drawn UHMWPE fibers. Overall, AFM observations and measurements were made for three different commercial fiber types, illustrating five basic UHMWPE morphologies: (i) extended chain fibrils (shish), (ii) interlocking and (iii) standalone kebab or epitaxial crystals, (iv) voids or interface between fibrils, and (v) tie chains across voids. Furthermore, microfibrils were bundled into groups separated by voids or amorphous material. Bundled groups of microfibrils group together to form macrofibrils, typically separated by larger voids or amorphous material. Additionally, stretched tie-chain bridges provide connectivity between some fibrils. Each of these five features (extended chain fibrils, interlocking and standalone epitaxial crystals, voids and tie-chains) varies across the three types of commercial fibers, and sometimes across the individual fiber interiors. AFM contact modulus values measured transverse to the fiber draw axis were found to vary considerably within different morphological domains. The distribution of morphology sizing was quantified for each of the examined fibers. The measurement of internal facets have major implications for fiber modeling and processing, such as optimization of draw ratios to affect the extent and arrangement of epitaxial crystalline morphologies and thus improve mechanical performance.
Calculating potential energy curves with fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo: CO and N 2

This study reports on the prospect for the routine use of Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) for the electronic structure problem, applying fixed-node Diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) to generate highly accurate Born-Oppenheimer potential energy curves (PECs) for small molecular systems. The singlet ground electronic states of CO and N2 were used as test cases. The PECs obtained by DMC employing multiconfigurational trial wavefunctions were compared with those obtained by conventional high-accuracy electronic structure methods such as multireference configuration interaction and/or the best available empirical spectroscopic curves. The goal was to test whether a straightforward procedure using available QMC codes could be applied robustly and reliably. Results obtained with DMC codes were found to be in close agreement with the benchmark PECs, and the n3 scaling with the number of electrons (compared with n7 or worse for conventional high-accuracy quantum chemistry) could be advantageous depending on the system size. Due to a large pre-factor in the scaling, for the small systems tested here, it is currently still much more computationally intensive to compute PECs with QMC. Nevertheless, QMC algorithms are particularly well-suited to large-scale parallelization and are therefore likely to become more relevant for future massively parallel hardware architectures.
Developing Culturally Competent Preservice Teachers

An unfortunate, yet persistent, truth in U.S. public schools is the large achievement gap existing between children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and their White, middle-class counterparts. The potential for cultural dissonance between contemporary teachers and their students necessitates that educators must persistently seek culturally responsive practices. Much has been written regarding strategies for culturally responsive pedagogy; therefore, this article moves beyond a review of culturally responsive pedagogy. Rather than providing teacher candidates with more suggestions for culturally responsive teaching activities, the authors provide teacher educators with specific resources for facilitating the development of cultural competence among preservice teachers.
A Community Health Advisor Program to Reduce Cancer Screening Disparities in the Deep South and Appalachia: The American Cancer Society’s CHA Collaborative:

Introduction. Cancer disparities continue to exist in the United States. Community health advisors (CHAs) can play a critical role in addressing cancer disparities. The American Cancer Society (ACS...
Renal Toxicity Presenting with a Fracture in an HIV Positive Adolescent

Tenofovir is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor commonly used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children and adolescents. We report a case of an HIV-positive adolescent male who had been treated with an antiretroviral regimen consisting of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) with a stable CD4 count. Two and a half years after starting tenofovir, he experienced a right third metatarsal shaft fracture after minor trauma, which was treated successfully with a cast. He was found to have osteopenia for which he was treated with oral phosphate and calcium/vitamin D supplementation. Three months later, he then presented with severe hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, normal anion gap metabolic acidosis, glycosuria, and proteinuria, which were consistent with a diagnosis of acquired Fanconi's syndrome. Subsequently, his electrolyte abnormalities were corrected with replacement of potassium, phosphate, and bicarbonate (Shohl's solution). His antiretroviral regimen was switched to abacavir/lamivudine and raltegravir. Acquired Fanconi's syndrome is a known but uncommon adverse effect of treatment with tenofovir, and an awareness that it can cause osteopenia and present with fractures can alert the physician to manage and prevent this potentially serious side effect.
Statins are ineffective at reducing neuroinflammation or prolonging survival in scrapie-infected mice

Neuroinflammation is a prominent component of several neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, tauopathies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and prion diseases. In such conditions, the ability to decrease neuroinflammation by drug therapy may influence disease progression. Statins have been used to treat hyperlipidemia as well as reduce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in various tissues. In previous studies, treatment of scrapie-infected mice with the type 1 statins, simvastatin or pravastatin, showed a small beneficial effect on survival time. In the current study, to increase the effectiveness of statin therapy, we treated infected mice with atorvastatin, a type 2 statin that has improved pharmacokinetics over many type 1 statins. Treatments with either simvastatin or pravastatin were tested for comparison. We evaluated scrapie-infected mice for protease-resistant PrP (PrPres) accumulation, gliosis, neuroinflammation and time until advanced clinical disease requiring euthanasia. All three statin treatments reduced total serum cholesterol ≥40 % in mice. However, gliosis and PrPres deposition were similar in statin-treated and untreated infected mice. Time to euthanasia due to advanced clinical signs was not changed in statin-treated mice relative to untreated mice, a finding at odds with previous reports. Expression of 84 inflammatory genes involved in neuroinflammation was also quantitated. Seven genes were reduced by pravastatin, and one gene was reduced by atorvastatin. In contrast, simvastatin therapy did not reduce any of the tested genes, but did slightly increase the expression of Ccl2 and Cxcl13. Our studies indicate that none of the three statins tested were effective in reducing scrapie-induced neuroinflammation or neuropathogenesis.
The bacteriophage DNA packaging machine.

Large dsDNA bacteriophages and herpesviruses encode a powerful ATP-driven DNA-translocating machine that encapsidates a viral genome into a preformed capsid shell or prohead. The key components of the packaging machine are the packaging enzyme (terminase, motor) and the portal protein that forms the unique DNA entrance vertex of prohead. The terminase complex, comprised of a recognition subunit (small terminase) and an endonuclease/translocase subunit (large terminase), cuts viral genome concatemers. The terminase–viral DNA complex docks on the portal vertex, assembling a motor complex containing five large terminase subunits. The pentameric motor processively translocates DNA until the head shell is full with one viral genome. The motor cuts the DNA again and dissociates from the full head, allowing head-finishing proteins to assemble on the portal, sealing the portal, and constructing a platform for tail attachment. A body of evidence from molecular genetics and biochemical, structural, and biophysical approaches suggests that ATP hydrolysis–driven conformational changes in the packaging motor (large terminase) power DNA motion. Various parts of the motor subunit, such as the ATPase, arginine finger, transmission domain, hinge, and DNA groove, work in concert to translocate about 2 bp of DNA per ATP hydrolyzed. Powerful single-molecule approaches are providing precise delineation of steps during each translocation event in a motor that has a speed as high as a millisecond/step. The phage packaging machine has emerged as an excellent model for understanding the molecular machines, given the mechanistic parallels between terminases, helicases, and numerous motor proteins.
Lisfranc Fracture/Dislocation Treated with ORIF

A Lisfranc injury sustained by an adult male while playing football is the clinical case used to describe how to address patients in whom a Lisfranc injury is suspected. First a complete set of X-rays should be taken including but not limited to AP, oblique, and lateral views of the affected foot. Patients with subtle lesions could benefit from additional imaging to aid the diagnosis. Better clinical outcomes are obtained when patients with acute unstable Lisfranc injuries are treated with ORIF. Screws, plates, or interosseous sutures can be used for fixation and have comparable stability. Regardless of which implants are used, an anatomic reduction is the main determinant for achieving good results. Posttraumatic arthritis is the most common complication of Lisfranc injuries. Patients with pure ligamentous injuries do well with primary arthrodesis but, despite the lack of strong evidence, the use of interosseous sutures may be advantageous when treating these types of injuries, especially in athletes.
Introducing quaternion multi-valued neural networks with numerical examples

Abstract This paper introduces a new quaternion multi-valued neural network architecture and demonstrates its potential with numerical examples of multi-channel prediction and classification. A variety of real-valued learning structures have been introduced in prior literature; an important example is the multilayer perceptron neural network, which forms the underlying basis for modern deep learning architectures. However, in multidimensional information processing problems, real-valued learning structures perform suboptimally due to distortion of inter-channel relationships. A natural way to represent multidimensional data is using quaternions, a four-dimensional associative normed division algebra over the real numbers that allows for the multiplication and division of points in three-dimensional space. This paper introduces quaternion multi-valued neural networks, which perform nonlinear operations on the three-dimensional phase of quaternion data points. As shown with two numerical examples, the proposed quaternion multi-valued neural network outperforms existing learning structures, particularly in cases where limited training data is available.
Submerged or sidestream? The influence of module configuration on fouling and salinity in osmotic membrane bioreactors

Abstract The role of submerged and sidestream forward osmosis (FO) membrane module configuration in osmotic membrane bioreactors (OMBRs) was investigated. Experiments were performed under identical conditions (solids retention time, bioreactor volume, feed solution, draw solute, and draw solution concentration) to isolate the effect of FO module configuration and associated hydrodynamics on water flux, reverse salt flux, and membrane fouling. Steady-state water flux of fouled membranes was the same for submerged and sidestream configurations and two draw solution concentrations, leading to the concept of a homeostatic flux in OMBRs similar to the critical flux in conventional membrane bioreactors. For the 35 g/L NaCl draw solution, specific reverse salt flux (SRSF) was 1.61 ± 0.01 and 0.59 ± 0.07 g/L for submerged and sidestream configurations, respectively and for the 100 g/L NaCl draw solution, SRSF was 2.22 ± 0.25 and 1.05 ± 0.35 g/L for submerged and sidestream configurations, respectively. Despite a significant increase in driving force, fouled membranes did not have higher steady-state water flux; instead, the 100 g/L draw solution resulted in greater membrane fouling; foulant cake layers were 2 to 4 times thicker, likely due to higher initial water flux that resulted in more foulants being transported to the membrane surface. Experimental results were used as model inputs to predict results for a larger scale system. Model results predicted lower steady-state bioreactor salinities in the sidestream configuration, particularly when longer solids retention times were used.
Leveraging survivorship care to identify recurrent melanoma.

181Background: The University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee is the regions only academic medical center. This includes the Cancer Institute, where in 2013 a division dedicated...
Sense amplifier offset cancellation and replica timing calibration for high-speed SRAMs

A CMOS SRAM design in 130 nm BiCMOS SiGe technology is presented. A 10Kb array was designed to operate at a 500 MHz clock and a 1.5 V supply. The SRAM array is implemented in four 2.5Kb quadrants with shared column and row addresses and local quadrant decoding. A calibrated and tunable replica timing structure technique is used to generate optimal sense amplifier (SA) enable timing by replicating both column and row delay of the memory simultaneously using replica bitline and replica wordline structures. A new capacitive offset cancellation technique for current-mode SA is proposed. Using replica timing and capacitive offset cancellation techniques optimizes operation speed for the most process-invariant timing and smallest SA area. Monte Carlo simulations were performed on both the current mode sense amplifier with capacitive offset cancellation (CSAcoc), and a conventional latch type CSA without offset cancellation for 200 runs of process and mismatch. The CSAcoc performed without read failures across the design space at ∼100ps faster read access time with 50% less SA area.
Studies on the respiratory enzymes of the adrenal gland. I. The medulla.

In contrast to the thoroughness with which the respiratory enzymes of such tissues as heart muscle and liver have been studied, information concerning these enzymes in the adrenal gland is scant. Such information as is available suggests that an unusual pattern for the cytochromes exists in this tissue. Cohen and Elvehjem (2) commented on the "peculiar cytochrome spectrum"of the adrenal medulla of the cow. They concluded that a very strong cytochrome c component was present, and that cytochrome a and 6 were absent. Huszak (3) noted that the adrenal cortex possessed a nearly normal cytochrome pattern. In the medulla he could observe no cytochrome a or c bands, but reported a strong band in the region of 559 rnp which he attributed to cytochrome 5. Since Huszak could demonstrate no cytochrome oxidase activity in the medulla, he felt that oxidation of substrates proceeded by way of a peroxidative mechanism. Tsou (4), on the other hand, was able to demonstrate cytochrome oxidase activity in the medulla, but little if any cytochrome c. He observed the presence of a strong band at 561 millimicron which was referred to as cytochrome b. In view of these divergent conclusions and in the light of newer methods and knowledge, it seemed worth-while to reinvestigate some of the oxidative pathways in the adrenal gland. The present study deals with the adrenal medulla, and an accompanying paper deals with the cortex (5). It will be shown here that the adrenal medulla contains the regular mitochondrial cytochrome system. In addition, this tissue contains a hemochromogen which is apparently microsomal in origin and is abundantly present in the epinephrine-containing granules. The presence in the medulla of the enzymes succinate dehydrogenase,reduced di- and triphosphopyridine nucleotide-cytochrome c reductase,and transhydrogenase is also demonstrated.
WORKING AND NONWORKING MOTHERS AND THEIR INFANTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MATERNAL CAREGIVING CHARACTERISTICS AND INFANT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

As more mothers of infants enter the work force, behavioral scientists and concerned laymen raise questions about the effective ness of the working mother in her maternal role and about the im pact of her employment (and subsequent nonmaternal care) on the infant. Although the issue of whether mothers of infants should work or not is of critical concern, and the personal opinions of many are readily published and available, little empirical information is avail able to guide individual decisions or public policy. Conflicting view points confuse even the most well-informed behavioral scientists. Some major theorists believe that separation of mother and infant in the first year of life has a detrimental effect on the developing mother-infant relationship (e.g., Baer, 1954; Bowlby, 1951). Some suggest that the stresses of outside employment impair the working mother's functioning in her maternal role: Myrdal and Klein (1966) discuss the possibility of serious conflict between the demands of the mother role and the worker role. Representatives of the opposing viewpoint suggest that an in fant's experiences in nonmaternal care may be enriching and enhance cognitive and social development. Furthermore, Ricciuti writes, . . it is felt, the availability of good substitute care outside the home might even enhance the relationship between mother and child since it would facilitate fulfillment of the mother's own work or career
Pre- and Post-Radiotherapy Sexual Functioning in Prostate Cancer Patients

The purpose of this study is to describe sexual function in patients with localized prostate cancer (LPC) before and after radiation therapy. Patients who were going to receive radiation therapy for LPC participated in a prospective quality of life study. Responses to questions regarding sexual function were extracted from Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Prostate, Beck Depression Inventory, and Piper Fatigue Scale. Complete responses across all the study periods were present in 40 of the 62 patients who participated in the study. Twenty-eight patients were married. Patients' mean age was 67.6 years (range 55 to 79). Thirty-five percent of the patients were sexually active at Pre-radiotherapy, (PRT); 37.5% at completion of radiotherapy, (CRT); and 40% at long-term follow-up (FRT1). Twenty-two percent reported normal erection at PRT and CRT evaluation. At FRT1 30% of patients reported to have normal erection. There was no significant change in the satisfaction with sexual activity across the study periods. Relatively more patients reported a decline in sexual interest at CRT and FRT1 as compared with PRT assessment. At FRT1, 40% of the patients as compared with 32.5% PRT reported fatigue interfering in their sexual activity. Sexual problems were common even before starting radiotherapy. It may be concluded that radiotherapy frequently did not cause sexual problems. Pre-treatment sexual history should be considered in management of sexual problems in these patients.
Approving a Process for Production

The introduction of a new process into the factory often precipitates a great deal of confusion and defective products. The primary cause is a lack of thorough investigation of the nature of the process, its precision capabilities, and the optimum opera..
Building bridges between halide perovskite nanocrystals and thin-film solar cells

The development of halide perovskite (HP) based thin film solar cells has been unprecedented in the past few years, and there is significant ongoing effort aiming to make perovskite solar cells (PSCs) more efficient and stable. Parallel to the PSC research, there is growing interest in exploring the synthesis and physiochemical behaviors of HP nanocrystals (NCs). While these HP NCs inherently possess many unique properties that are suitable for the use in PSCs, the reported effort of incorporating HP NCs into PSCs is still highly limited. As a result, there is a gap between HP NC and PSC research. In this context, we provide here a brief review of the established HP NC synthesis and a discussion of the several recent studies pertaining to the use of HP NCs in PSCs. Based on these, we provide perspectives on promising directions for bridging the gap between HP NC and PSC research in the future.
Abstract A46: Heterotypic nucleosomes and PRC2 role in diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas

Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) harbor a characteristic lysine-to-methionine mutation on histone H3 (H3K27M) that potently inhibits Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) enzymatic activity; however, the precise roles of H3K27M and PRC2 in tumorigenesis remain elusive. Here we perform epigenomic profiling of patient-derived H3K27M mutant DIPG cell lines and demonstrate that H3K27M resides in nucleosomes with H3K27acetylation (H3K27ac) and colocalizes with bromodomain proteins at actively transcribed genes. In contrast, PRC2 is excluded from H3K27M occupied regions but, strikingly, the PRC2 complex is required for maintaining oncogenic potential. Finally, we demonstrate that pharmacologic bromodomain inhibition suppresses tumor growth in vivo. Altogether our results indicate that H3K27M drives accumulation of H3K27ac and point to bromodomain proteins inhibition as a powerful clinical strategy against DIPG. Citation Format: Andrea Piunti. Heterotypic nucleosomes and PRC2 role in diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Pediatric Cancer Research: From Basic Science to the Clinic; 2017 Dec 3-6; Atlanta, Georgia. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(19 Suppl):Abstract nr A46.
Effects of Interface Bonding on the Residual Stresses in Cold-Sprayed Al-6061: A Numerical Investigation

A contact model that accounts for interfacial cohesion and thermal conduction is developed to investigate the influence of bonding on the final residual stresses build-up in cold spray. The residual stress evolution in the cold-sprayed Al-6061 coating on an Al-6061 substrate is investigated via three-dimensional single-particle and multi-particle impact simulations. It is shown that the interface bonding mainly affects the local residual stress distribution near the interfaces. The residual stresses are largely due to the kinetic peening and bonding effects. The thermal cooling has negligible influence. In general, this work finds that peening introduces compressive stress, while bonding causes relaxation. The balance between the peening and the bonding effects, which depends strongly on the local bonding environment, determines the final residual stress in the system. This work suggests that the interface bonding should be considered as one of the essential factors in numerical modeling of the residual stresses evolution in cold spray.
Ants, wind, and low litter deposition contribute to the maintenance of fire-protective clearings around Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi)

Abstract In Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) forests, which once supported a frequent, mostly low severity fire regime, fire suppression has led to notable changes in forest structure and fuel loads. In parts of California, prescribed fire has been used to decrease fuel loads and reduce the risk of high intensity fire in these forests. Previous work has shown that circular litter-free clearings form around Jeffrey pine trees following prescribed burns and that they can reduce tree damage and potentially increase the chance of survival in a subsequent wildfire. In this study we aim to determine the factors responsible for maintaining clearings around trees after a fire occurs. Using a set of field experiments and observational studies, we show that a combination of natural processes, including reduced litter deposition near trees, and the movement of needles away from trees by ants (Formica sibylla) and wind, reduce the amount of litter near trees and likely contribute to the long-term maintenance of clearings. Stem flow resulting from rare heavy rain events also appears to play a role in clearing maintenance. All of the abiotic factors investigated interact with the physical structure of the tree to remove pine needles from the bases of trees, but ants move needles independently to facilitate clearing maintenance and indirectly enhance tree fitness when fires occur. Given how generally common F. sibylla is in Jeffrey pine habitat and the relative stability of the abiotic processes that also contribute to maintaining clearings (wind, precipitation, and needle fall), we may expect to see clearings form in other Jeffrey pine forests after prescribed fires are introduced.
Fiber-constrained dielectric elastomer composites: Finite deformation response and instabilities under non-aligned loadings

Abstract This paper is concerned with the development of finite-strain constitutive models for electro-active composites consisting of initially aligned, rigid dielectric fibers of elliptical cross-section that are distributed randomly in a dielectric elastomer matrix. For this purpose, we make use of a variational approach that partially decouples the mechanical and electrostatic contributions to the overall energy and leads to a minimum principle for the average orientation of the fibers. The resulting macroscopic electroelastic constitutive model accounts for electric and mechanical torques on the fibers, as well as for the microstructure and its evolution under finite deformations. In particular, the model characterizes the rotation of the fibers for general externally applied electromechanical loadings, predicting bifurcation instabilities for the special case of aligned loadings. To elucidate the main features of the model, we consider the application to a dielectric elastomer composite actuator and investigate the effects of fiber aspect ratio and initial fiber orientation on its macroscopic response. In addition, the new results are compared with the predictions of an earlier model approximating the fiber rotations by purely mechanical effects.
Application of chiral (E)-crotylsilanes in synthesis: The asymmetric synthesis of the C1C17 polypropionate fragment of rutamycin B

The asymmetric synthesis of the polypropionate fragment of rutamycin B is reported employing chiral allylsilane bond construction methodology for the introduction of six of the nine stereogenic centers. In this paper, the construction of the C3C12 subunit and its coupling to the aldehyde 12 through a Mukaiyama-type aldol reaction are described.
Extracting Occupants’ Energy-Use Patterns from Wi-Fi Networks in Office Buildings

Abstract Wi-Fi networks are currently considered as an efficient and economical tool for occupancy sensing in office buildings. Studies particularly indicated that these networks could be utilized to understand/predict occupants' energy-use patterns. Despite the value that investigating this possibility could provide for the current research, it has not been well explored how energy-use pattern information could be extracted from Wi-Fi system information. In response, this study utilizes statistical analyses to investigate the correlation of Wi-Fi flows with miscellaneous electric loads (MELs) in office buildings. MELs account for more than one-third of office-building energy consumption and are the best representative of occupants' energy-use patterns. In the pursuit of the objective, data from two offices were collected over a 3-month period of time. Results from the analyses show that an average 92% of MELs energy consumption could be predicted through the Wi-Fi flows in a building. This finding thereby demonstrates that occupants' energy-use patterns are highly positively correlated to Wi-Fi flows in a building and accordingly, the information of Wi-Fi networks could be utilized to understand/interpret these patterns. This significantly contributes to the current body of research and can be used to support efforts into understanding/enhancing occupants’ energy-use behaviors. In addition, since Wi-Fi networks are a major subset of internet of things (IoT) hardware systems and IoT implementation for intelligent energy management in buildings significantly depends on occupant energy-use patterns, this research helps IoT-based efforts by displaying how these patterns could be extracted from IoT infrastructure.
Interracial encounters with the police: findings from the NCVS police-public contact survey

AbstractThe public regularly encounter law enforcement. In an era of the Blacks Lives Matter movement and associated discord with law enforcement, understanding the contours of police--public relat...
Cloud-Hosted Intelligence for Real-time IoT Applications

Deploying machine learning into IoT cloud settings will require an evolution of the cloud infrastructure. In this white paper, we justify this assertion and identify new capabilities needed for real-time intelligent systems. We also outline our initial efforts to create a new edge architecture more suitable for ML. Although the work is still underway, several components exist, and we review them. We then point to open technical problems that will need to be solved as we progress further in this direction.
Addressing the needs of children of immigrants and refugee families in contemporary ECEC settings: findings and implications from the Children Crossing Borders study

Children Crossing Borders was an ambitious study of the intersection of im/migration and early childhood education in five countries: England, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States. This ar...
Relationships Between Profiles of Physical Activity and Major Mobility Disability in the LIFE Study

Objectives To examine the relationship between time spent in light physical activity (LPA) and in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and the pattern of accumulation on the risk for major mobility disability (MMD) in a large multicenter study of physical activity (PA) and aging, the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study. Design Data were collected from individuals randomized to a PA intervention as part of the LIFE study, an eight-center single-blind randomized clinical trial conducted between February 2010 and December 2013. Setting Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Study PARTICIPANTS: Older adult participants (78.4 years; N = 507) at risk for MMD. Intervention All older adults included in these analyses were randomized to a structured PA intervention that included two center-based plus three to four home-based exercise sessions per week with a primary goal of walking for 150 minutes weekly. Participants attended the intervention for 2.5 years on average. Measurements MMD was defined as the inability to complete a 400-m walk within 15 minutes and without assistance. Physical function was assessed via the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Actigraph accelerometers were used to quantify amount and variability in LPA and MVPA. Results In an adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression, we identified a significant interaction (P = .017) between SPPB score and LPA amount and variability such that more LPA was associated with a reduced risk for MMD among those with higher initial function, as was lower variability (eg, via distributing LPA across the day). The SPPB × MVPA interaction was significant (P = .04), such that more MVPA was associated with lower MMD risk among those with lower function. Finally, greater MVPA variability was associated with lower risk for MMD. Conclusion A prescription of PA for older adults should account for key factors such as physical function and emphasize both amount and pattern of accumulation of PA from across the intensity continuum. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1476-1483, 2020.
Heavy meson tomography of cold nuclear matter at the electron-ion collider

Abstract An important part of the physics program of the future electron-ion collider is to understand the nature of hadronization and the transport of energy and matter in large nuclei. Open heavy flavor production in deep inelastic scattering provides a new tool to address these critical questions. We present the first calculation of D-mesons and B-meson cross sections in electron-nucleus collisions at the EIC by including both next-to-leading order QCD corrections and cold nuclear matter effects. Our formalism employs generalized DGLAP evolution to include the contribution of in-medium parton showers, and is based on methods developed in soft-collinear effective theory with Glauber gluons that describe inclusive hadron production in reactions with nucleons and nuclei. The comprehensive study summarized here allows us to identify the optimal observables, center-of-mass energies, and kinematic regions most sensitive to the physics of energy loss and hadronization at the EIC.
Docking Characterization and in vitro Inhibitory Activity of Flavan-3-ols and Dimeric Proanthocyanidins Against the Main Protease Activity of SARS-Cov-2

We report to use the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-Cov-2 to screen plant flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins. Twelve compounds, (-)-afzelechin (AF), (-)-epiafzelechin (EAF), (+)-catechin (CA), (-)-epicatechin (EC), (+)-gallocatechin (GC), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (+)-catechin-3-O-gallate (CAG), (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (ECG), (-)-gallocatechin-3-O-gallate (GCG), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), procyanidin A2 (PA2), and procyanidin B2 (PB2), were selected for docking simulation. The resulting data predicted that all 12 metabolites could bind to Mpro. The affinity scores of PA2 and PB2 were predicted to be -9.2, followed by ECG, GCG, EGCG and CAG, -8.3 to -8.7, and then six flavan-3-ol aglycones, -7.0 to -7.7. Docking characterization predicted that these compounds bound to three or four subsites (S1, S1’, S2, and S4) in the binding pocket of Mpro via different spatial ways and various formation of one to four hydrogen bonds. In vitro analysis with 10 available compounds showed that CAG, ECG, GCG, EGCG, and PB2 inhibited the Mpro activity with an IC50 value, 2.98±0.21, 5.21±0.5, 6.38±0.5, 7.51±0.21, and 75.3±1.29 µM, respectively, while CA, EC, EGC, GC, and PA2 did not have inhibitory activities. To further substantiate the inhibitory activities, extracts prepared from green tea (GT), two muscadine grapes (MG), cacao, and dark chocolate (DC), which are rich in CAG, ECG, GAG, EGCG or/and PB2, were used for inhibitory assay. The resulting data showed that GT, two MG, cacao, and DC extracts inhibited the Mpro activity with an IC50 value, 2.84 ±0.25, 29.54 ±0.41, 29.93±0.83, 153.3±47.3, and 256.39 ±66.3 µg/ml, respectively. These findings indicate that on the one hand, the structural features of flavan-3-ols are closely associated with the affinity scores; on the other hand, the galloylation and oligomeric types of flavan-3-ols are critical in creating the inhibitory activity against the Mpro activity.
Incidence and timing of offspring asthma, wheeze, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy and association with maternal history of asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Background Studying the developmental precursors of allergy may help explain the mechanisms (or etiology) of allergic disease. We studied childhood respiratory and allergic diseases in a pre-birth cohort from the United States. Objective We assessed the associations between maternal history of asthma and the development of respiratory and allergic diseases in offspring. We also assessed associations with maternal history of allergic rhinitis. Methods Maternal history of asthma and allergic rhinitis was self-reported during early pregnancy. Offspring respiratory and allergy information was obtained from electronic medical records. Adjusted Cox proportional hazard models assessed the associations between maternal history of asthma and development of respiratory and allergic diseases in the offspring up to 8 years. A similar approach was used for maternal history of allergic rhinitis. Results Children born to women with a history of asthma had a 77% greater risk of developing asthma, a 45% greater risk of atopic dermatitis/eczema, and a 65% greater risk of wheeze (all p Conclusions Maternal history of asthma was significantly associated with offspring respiratory and allergic diagnoses. The association between maternal history of asthma and offspring asthma and atopic dermatitis is a novel finding. Our findings may guide physicians who counsel families with a history of maternal asthma and allergic rhinitis about their child's risk of developing respiratory and allergic diseases.
Why is standing up for women’s equality still relevant in 2021?

It is 2021. The world is reeling from the ravages of a merciless pandemic that knew no borders and killed at will. When scientific collaboration, market forces and societal will resulted in the creation, testing, approval and deployment of multiple vaccines that may yet stop the virus in its tracks. Where most were forced to live apart, and yet joined up like never before. And yet, it has been a year where the privileges of a few were starkly overshadowed by the destitution of many. A year where inherent societal inequalities in many nations were held in sharp focus. Where the poor and disadvantaged were much more likely to be infected and die of the virus, and where untreated premorbid conditions hastened their demise. Many governments used the necessary restrictions of civil liberties to their advantage, and many congregated to protest. Where do women feature in this? The author explores the impact of inequalities on women and why women do need to stand up for equality and justice, now more than ever before.
Protean Kinematics: A Blended Model of VR Physics.

Avatar research largely focuses on the appearance and external characteristics of avatars, but has not considered how avatar movements, and the characteristics of those movements might affect user reactions. Avatar movement represents a complex blend of inputs/outputs, physical/virtual experience, and affordances/actions. With \textit{Protean kinematics}, we offer a systematic exploration into the role of movement in virtual reality (VR), and expand avatar-user appearances-based effects of the Proteus Effect to a theory of movement-based effects in affecting social perceptions (about others) and idealized perceptions (about self). We propose that the perceptual experience of VR must account for a series of hippocampal (e.g., place cells, grid cells) and entorhinal neurons (e.g., speed cells) that fire topologically in accordance to physical movement in physical space. The current work contributes to avatar embodiment with both a theoretical (typology) and methodological (physics-based measurement) approach to understanding the complex blend of physical inputs and virtual outputs that occur in VR. Offered is a novel method of distilling the blend of physical and virtual kinematics in VR to contribute to modern understandings of human-agent interaction and cognitive psychology.
Neutron Diffraction Investigations of the Magnetic Ordering in Fe Br 2 , Co Br 2 , Fe Cl 2 , and Co Cl 2

Neutron diffraction experiments have been performed on anhydrous Fe${\mathrm{Br}}_{2}$, Co${\mathrm{Br}}_{2}$, Fe${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$, and Co${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ at temperatures from 295\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K to 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K to investigate the existence of magnetic ordering in these hexagonal layer-type structures. All four compounds have an antiferromagnetic transition at low temperatures to structures in which the atomic magnetic moments within a metal layer form ferromagnetic sheets and the moments in adjacent layers are antiparallel. In the iron compounds the moments are oriented parallel to the hexagonal $c$ axis and in the cobalt compounds the moment orientation is perpendicular to that axis. Values of the atomic magnetic moments are close to those expected for the divalent metallic ions if the orbital contribution is quenched. Small-angle scattering experiments on Fe${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ and Co${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ have shown that the ferromagnetic coupling between moments within a layer is much stronger than the antiferromagnetic coupling between atoms in adjacent layers, and single-crystal investigations on these two compounds have determined the method by which large net magnetization values are obtained at temperatures below ${T}_{N}$ in moderate magnetic fields.
Nonprofit Organizational Performance and Resource Development Strategies

Empirical research on charitable behaviors of individuals continues to expand and has growing implications for nonprofit leaders, policymakers, and fundraising professionals. In this exploratory analysis, we examine individual charitable giving and volunteering using primary survey data across a range of demographic and socioeconomic factors to analyze the interaction between giving and volunteering. What is different about the giving patterns of volunteers versus nonvolunteers? What is different about the volunteering pattern of givers versus nongivers? Do individuals give to the same causes to which they volunteer? Our findings provide important evidence about the links between giving and volunteering behaviors, and we offer substantive recommendations about resource development strategies that can be used to attract and expand charitable gifts of time and money. Each is an important resource for nonprofit organizations and critical to their effective performance.
Effects of high subsonic flow on sound propagation in a variable-area duct

The propagation of sound in a converging-diverging duct containing a quasi-one-dimensional steady flow with a high subsonic throat Mach number was studied. The behavior of linearized acoustic theory at the throat of the duct was shown to be singular. This singularity implies that linearized acoustic theory is invalid. The explicit singular behavior was determined and used to sketch the development (by the method of matched asymptotic expansions) of a nonlinear theory for sound propagation in a sonic throat region.
Introduction Self-Organization in Nonlinear Optics — Kaleidoscope of Patterns

During all of its “coherent” lifetime optics, or rather should we say radio physics, the more mature and developed field for coherence and nonlinear problems, has been an assiduous discipline. Fourier optics, harmonics generation, parametric excitation, adaptive optics (the reader may continue this list), all these different directions taken by modern optics along with all of their underlying concepts appeared earlier in radio physics. It is easy to understand this friendship, with such strong and unequal rights, as the foundation for coherent and nonlinear optics was laid in the early 1960s by radio physicists unfaithful to their discipline.
Weighted STOP-Bang and screening for sleep-disordered breathing.

The authors would like to acknowledge the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) cohort implemented by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and supported by grants (U01HL53916, U01HL53931, U01HL53934, U01HL53937, U01HL53938, U01HL53940, U01HL53941, U01HL64360) from the National Institutes of Health.
Preservation solution impacts physiologic function and cellular viability of human saphenous vein graft

Introduction Recent clinical data suggest intraoperative preservation of human saphenous vein (HSV) in normal saline is associated with vein graft failure. We evaluated the influence of several preservation media on acute physiologic function and cellular viability of HSV conduit. Methods Unprepared (UP) HSV obtained from coronary artery bypass graft patients was characterized on a muscle bath after 2-hour storage in 6 solutions: Plasma-Lyte A, 0.9% NaCl (normal saline), University of Wisconsin solution, Celsior solution, autologous whole blood, or glutathione-ascorbic acid L-arginine (GALA) solution. Vascular smooth muscle contractility was assessed after exposure to depolarizing KCl and phenylephrine. The relaxation of phenylephrine-precontracted HSV to sodium nitroprusside and carbachol (endothelial-independent and -dependent relaxation, respectively) was also assessed. Cellular viability was determined via the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Rat aortae were used to assess the effect of pH during graft preservation on endothelial-dependent relaxation. Results Preservation of HSV in normal saline and autologous whole blood impaired contractile responses to KCl relative to UP tissues, whereas preservation in University of Wisconsin solution and Celsior solution enhanced contractile responses (P Conclusion Preservation of HSV in normal saline causes graft injury leading to impaired physiologic function and decreased viability of the HSV. This harm is mitigated by the use of buffered salt solutions as preservation media.
Interactions of H2O2, EGTA and Patch Pipette Recording Methods in Feline Ventricular Myocytes

Abstract Free radical generating systems produce a sequence of changes in the action potentials of isolated cardiac myocytes. Efforts to understand the nature of the alterations in ionic currents have yielded mixed results. The use of patch-pipettes for voltage-clamp experiments and manipulation of pipette solution composition may contribute to the confusion. In this study, action potentials were recorded from feline ventricular myocytes during exposure to 100 μM H2O2. Action potential changes recorded with conventional, high resistance microelectrodes occurred in three stages as previously reported. The action potential changes recorded with patch-pipettes showed increases in action potential duration, notch and plateau potentials over time. These cells did not display after depolarizations or loss of excitability as seen with conventional microelectrodes. With the patch-pipette method, untreated control cells had time-dependent changes in the action potentials. When the pipette filling solution was modified by the addition of 5 mM EGTA, the H2O2-induced changes appeared reduced but not eliminated. The initial control values of action potential parameters before exposure to H2O2 varied with the presence or absence of EGTA. These data show both direct effects of EGTA and of time on action potential parameters independent of H2O2-exposure. These artifacts of the patch-pipette method and the composition of the pipette solutions affect the sequence of changes in the action potential during exposure to H2O2.
Examination of the Back in the Geriatric Patient

Older people often complain of back pain, but it usually is not a major complaint except in the presence of serious disease such as malignancy, compression fractures from osteoporosis, or disc-space infections. When back pain is a serious symptom in the elderly patient, the physician should look beyond the obvious evidences of degenerative joint disease for these other more serious conditions. Satisfactory examination of the back does not require an undue amount of time. It is important that it be done systematically. Simple, rapid, and adequate procedures are described.