cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fear potentiation is associated with hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function in PTSD

Summary A central problem in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the inability to suppress fear under safe conditions. We have previously shown that PTSD patients cannot inhibit conditioned fear. Another relevant finding in PTSD is the hypersensitivity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis feedback. Given their common neurobiological pathways, alterations in HPA function in PTSD may be associated with impaired fear inhibition. The present study examined the relationship between HPA axis function and fear-potentiated startle and inhibition of conditioned fear in trauma-exposed individuals. We used a conditional discrimination procedure (AX+/BX−), in which one set of shapes (AX+) was paired with aversive airblasts to the throat (danger signal), and the same X shape with a different shape (BX−) were presented without airblasts (safety signal). The paradigm also included a transfer of fear inhibition test (AB). In addition to fear-potentiated startle, blood was drawn for neuroendocrine analysis and the dexamethasone suppression test (DEX) was performed; cortisol and ACTH were assessed at baseline and post-DEX. Ninety highly traumatized individuals recruited from Grady Hospital in Atlanta, GA participated in the study. The sample was divided into those who met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD ( n = 29) and Non-PTSD controls ( n = 61) using the PTSD symptom scale (PSS). Both groups showed significant reduction in cortisol and ACTH levels after DEX. Subjects with PTSD had higher fear-potentiated startle to the safety signal, BX− ( F (1,88) = 4.44, p F (1,88) = 5.20, p
Lifestyle medicine: the future of chronic disease management

Lifestyle medicine is a new discipline that has recently emerged as a systematized approach for management of chronic disease. The practice of lifestyle medicine requires skills and competency in addressing multiple health risk behaviours and improving self-management. Targets include diet, physical activity, behaviour change, body weight control, treatment plan adherence, stress and coping, spirituality, mind body techniques, tobacco and substance abuse. This review focuses on the impact of a healthy lifestyle on chronic disease, the rarity of good health and ...
Local shear transformations in deformed and quiescent hard-sphere colloidal glasses

We perform a series of deformation experiments on a monodisperse, hard-sphere colloidal glass while simultaneously following the three-dimensional trajectories of roughly 50,000 individual particles with a confocal microscope. In each experiment, we deform the glass in pure shear at a constant strain rate [(1-5)×10(-5) s(-1)] to maximum macroscopic strains (5%-10%) and then reverse the deformation at the same rate to return to zero macroscopic strain. We also measure three-dimensional particle trajectories in an identically prepared quiescent glass in which the macroscopic strain is always zero. We find that shear transformation zones exist and are active in both sheared and quiescent colloidal glasses, revealed by a distinctive fourfold signature in spatial autocorrelations of the local shear strain. With increasing shear, the population of local shear transformations develops more quickly than in a quiescent glass and many of these transformations are irreversible. When the macroscopic strain is reversed, we observe partial elastic recovery, followed by plastic deformation of the opposite sign, required to compensate for the irreversibly transformed regions. The average diameter of the shear transformation zones in both strained and quiescent glasses is slightly more than two particle diameters.
Plasma irisin levels progressively increase in response to increasing exercise workloads in young, healthy, active subjects

Background: Irisin, a recently discovered myokine, has been shown to induce browning of white adipose tissue, enhancing energy expenditure and mediating some of the beneficial effects of exercise. We aimed to estimate the time frame of changes in irisin levels after acute exercise and the effect of different exercise workloads and intensities on circulating irisin levels immediately post-exercise. Methods: In a pilot study, four healthy subjects (22.5G1.7 years) underwent maximal workload exercise (maximal oxygen consumption, VO2 max) and blood was drawn at prespecified intervals to define the time frame of pre- and post-exercise irisin changes over a 24-h period. In the main study, 35 healthy, non-smoking (23.0G3.3 years) men and women (nZ20/15) underwent three exercise protocols R48-h apart, in random order: i) maximal workload (VO2 max); ii) relative workload (70% of VO2 max/10 min); and iii) absolute workload (75 W/10 min). Blood was drawn immediately pre-exercise and 3 min post-exercise. Results: In the pilot study, irisin levels increased by 35% 3 min post-exercise, then dropped and remained relatively constant. In the main study, irisin levels post-exercise were significantly higher than those of pre-exercise after all workloads (all, P!0.001). Post-to-pre-exercise differences in irisin levels were significantly different between workloads (PZ0.001), with the greatest increase by 34% following maximal workload (PZ0.004 vs relative and absolute). Conclusions: Circulating irisin levels were acutely elevated in response to exercise, with a greater increase after maximal workload. These findings suggest that irisin release could be a function of muscle energy demand. Future studies need to determine the underlying mechanisms of irisin release and explore irisin's therapeutic potential.
Human recombinant palmitoyl protein thioesterase-1 (PPT1) for preclinical evaluation of enzyme replacement therapy for infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis

Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL, also known as Haltia-Santavuori disease) is a lysosomal storage disorder of infants and children characterized by blindness, seizures and a progressive neurodegenerative course. Recent clinical trials have involved neural stem cells and gene therapy directed to the central nervous system; however, enzyme replacement therapy has never been addressed. In the current paper, we describe the production of human recombinant PPT1 (the defective enzyme in INCL) by standard methods in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. The enzyme is largely mannose 6-phosphorylated as assessed by mannose 6-phosphate receptor binding (80% bound) and taken up rapidly by immortalized patient lymphoblasts, where clearance of PPT substrates was demonstrated (EC(50) of 0.25 nM after overnight incubation). When injected intravenously into PPT1-deficient mice, the clearance of recombinant human PPT1 from plasma was rapid, with a half-life of 10 min. Most of the injected dose was distributed to the kidney and liver and potentially corrective levels were also observed in heart, lung and spleen. Brain uptake was minimal, as expected based on experience with other intravenously administered lysosomal enzymes. The enzyme may be useful as an adjunct to central nervous system-directed therapies and could be used as a starting point for modifications designed to improve brain delivery.
Evolving shale gas management: water resource risks, impacts, and lessons learned

Unconventional shale gas development promises to significantly alter energy portfolios and economies around the world. It also poses a variety of environmental risks, particularly with respect to the management of water resources. We review current scientific understanding of risks associated with the following: water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing; wastewater treatment, discharge and disposal; methane and fluid migration in the subsurface; and spills and erosion at the surface. Some of these risks are relatively unique to shale gas development, while others are variations of risks that we already face from a variety of industries and activities. All of these risks depend largely on the pace and scale of development that occurs within a particular region. We focus on the United States, where the shale gas boom has been on-going for several years, paying particular attention to the Marcellus Shale, where a majority of peer-reviewed study has taken place. Governments, regulatory agencies, industry, and other stakeholders are challenged with responding to these risks, and we discuss policies and practices that have been adopted or considered by these various groups. Adaptive Management, a structured framework for addressing complex environmental issues, is discussed as a way to reduce polarization of important discussions on risk, and to more formally engage science in policy-making, along with other economic, social and value considerations. Data suggests that some risks can be substantially reduced through policy and best practice, but also that significant uncertainty persists regarding other risks. We suggest that monitoring and data collection related to water resource risks be established as part of planning for shale gas development before activity begins, and that resources are allocated to provide for appropriate oversight at various levels of governance.
Exploring the effect of current sheet thickness on the high‐frequency Fourier spectrum breakpoint of the solar wind

The magnetic power spectrum of the solar wind at 1 AU exhibits a breakpoint at a frequency of about 0.1–1 Hz, with the spectrum being steeper above the breakpoint than below the breakpoint. Because magnetic discontinuities contain much of the Fourier power in the solar wind, it is suspected that current sheet thicknesses (i.e., discontinuity thicknesses) may play a role in determining the frequency of this breakpoint. Using time series measurements of the solar wind magnetic field from the Wind spacecraft, the effect of current sheet thicknesses on the breakpoint is investigated by time stretching the solar wind time series at the locations of current sheets, effectively thickening the current sheets in the time series. This localized time stretching significantly affects the magnetic power spectral density of the solar wind in the vicinity of the high-frequency breakpoint: a substantial fraction of the Fourier power at the breakpoint frequency is contained in current sheets that occupy a small fraction of the spatial volume of the solar wind. It is concluded that current sheet thickness appears to play a role in determining the frequency fB of the high-frequency breakpoint of the magnetic power spectrum of the solar wind. This analysis of solar wind data is aided by comparisons with power spectra generated from artificial time series.
Infrainguinal revascularization after renal transplantation.

Abstract Background Although evidence suggests that end-stage renal disease is associated with poor limb salvage and patient survival after arterial revascularization, little is known about the effect of renal transplantation. We analyzed the outcome in patients with renal transplants who underwent infrainguinal bypass procedures. Methods Data prospectively entered into our vascular registry were reviewed for all patients who underwent lower extremity bypass procedures from January 1, 1990, through January 31, 2002. Sixty patients were identified who had a functioning renal allograft at infrainguinal revascularization. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated for limb salvage, patency, and patient survival and were compared with the Mantel-Cox log- rank test. Results Sixty patients (40 men, 20 women; mean age, 47.1 years) underwent 76 bypass procedures in 71 limbs. Preoperative demographic data included diabetes (59 of 60 patients, 98.3%), coronary artery disease (26 of 60 patients, 43.3%), and preoperative serum creatinine concentration (SCr) greater than 2.0 mg/dL (9 of 60 patients, 11.7%). Mean follow-up was 25.1 months. Overall major complication rate was 11.8%, and 30-day mortality rate was 1.3%. Survival was 93.3% at 1 year and 66.6% at 5 years. Limb salvage was 87% at 1 year and 78% at 5 years. Primary graft patency was 78% at 1 year and 44% at 5 years. Preoperative SCr less than or equal to 2.0 mg/dL was associated with improved overall patient survival (5-year survival, 73.4% vs 37.5%; P = .01, log-rank test). Limb salvage and patency rates were not significantly affected by preoperative SCr greater than 2.0 mg/dL. Conclusions Lower extremity bypass can be performed safely and effectively in patients who have undergone renal transplantation. However, the importance of a well-functioning renal allograft at surgery is demonstrated by marked improvement in patient survival.
A Study of an Aromatic Annulation Procedure

Abstract Over the past five years several novel procedures for aromatic annulation have been developed1. The useful benzene annulation method devised by Hauser and Rhee1a could in principle be modified for application to alicyclic ketones, thus providing a straightforward synthesis of tetrahydronaphthalenes such as the terpene calamenin 1 2.
A note on the shameful conjecture

Let P G ( q ) denote the chromatic polynomial of a graph G on n vertices. The 'shameful conjecture' due to Bartels and Welsh states that, P G ( n ) P G ( n - 1 ) ? n n ( n - 1 ) n . Let µ ( G ) denote the expected number of colors used in a uniformly random proper n -coloring of G . The above inequality can be interpreted as saying that µ ( G ) ? µ ( O n ) , where O n is the empty graph on n nodes. This conjecture was proved by F.M. Dong, who in fact showed that, P G ( q ) P G ( q - 1 ) ? q n ( q - 1 ) n for all q ? n . There are examples showing that this inequality is not true for all q ? 2 . In this paper, we show that the above inequality holds for all q ? 36 D 3 / 2 , where D is the largest degree of G . It is also shown that the above inequality holds true for all q ? 2 when G is a claw-free graph.
Lupin bean meal toxicosis in swine.

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Iron contamination in silicon technology

This article continues the review of fundamental physical properties of iron and its complexes in silicon (Appl. Phys. A 69, 13 (1999)), and is focused on ongoing applied research of iron in silicon technology. The first section of this article presents an analysis of the effect of iron on devices, including integrated circuits, power devices, and solar cells. Then, sources of unintentional iron contamination and reaction paths of iron during device manufacturing are discussed. Experimental techniques to measure trace contamination levels of iron in silicon, such as minority carrier lifetime techniques (SPV, μ-PCD, and ELYMAT), deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS), total X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and vapor-phase decomposition TXRF (VPD-TXRF), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), mass spectrometry and its modifications (SIMS, SNMS, ICP-MS), and neutron activation analysis (NAA) are reviewed in the second section of the article. Prospective analytical tools, such as heavy-ion backscattering spectroscopy (HIBS) and synchrotron-based X-ray microprobe techniques (XPS, XANES, XRF) are briefly discussed. The third section includes a discussion of the present achievements and challenges of the electrochemistry and physics of cleaning of silicon wafers, with an emphasis on removal of iron contamination from the wafers. Finally, the techniques for gettering of iron are presented.
Gene Regulation, Alternative Splicing, and Posttranslational Modification of Troponin Subunits in Cardiac Development and Adaptation: A Focused Review

Troponin plays a central role in regulating the contraction and relaxation of vertebrate striated muscles. This review focuses on the isoform gene regulation, alternative RNA splicing, and posttranslational modifications of troponin subunits in cardiac development and adaptation. Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulations such as phosphorylation and proteolysis modifications, and structure-function relationships of troponin subunit proteins are summarized. The physiological and pathophysiological significances are discussed for impacts on cardiac muscle contractility, heart function, and adaptations in health and diseases.
A Preliminary Study of the Oxidation and Physical Properties of TiC‐Base Cermets

The TiC-base cermets investigated contained Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, NiAl, ferrosilicon, or Duriron as the metallic constituent. They were evaluated on the basis of strengths at 75° and 1800°F., oxidation resistance at 2000°F., and the degree of chemical reaction between the carbide and metal as determined metallographically. Metallographic and X-ray studies were conducted on the oxide layers to determine a qualitative mechanism of oxidation. Results of these studies indicated Tic plus NiAl to be the most promising composition and oxygen diffusion to be the governing factor in the oxidation mechanism of all the cermets studied.
Some new identities for colored partition

In this paper, we discover several new identities on colored partitions and provide proofs for them. Many colored partition identities presented in the paper do not belong to the general and unified combinatorial framework provided by Sandon and Zanello. Most of our proofs depend upon new modular equations given by employing the method of reciprocation.
Fighting 'Demographic Destiny': A Legal Analysis of Attempts of the Strategies White Enclaves Might Use to Maintain School Segregation

This Article analyzes the legality of three approaches that white enclaves have used to perpetuate racial school segregation. Part I of this Article examines how white enclaves use Supreme Court precedent to mount legal challenges to deter voluntary school desegregation plans. Part II explains how white enclaves manipulate school assignment policies to maintain school segregation. Part III discusses how white enclaves increase their power over school boards through at-large elections.
The LCLS variable-energy hard X-ray single-shot spectrometer.

The engineering design, implementation, operation and performance of the new variable-energy hard X-ray single-shot spectrometer (HXSSS) for the LCLS free-electron laser (FEL) are reported. The HXSSS system is based on a cylindrically bent Si thin crystal for dispersing the incident polychromatic FEL beam. A spatially resolved detector system consisting of a Ce:YAG X-ray scintillator screen, an optical imaging system and a low-noise pixelated optical camera is used to record the spectrograph. The HXSSS provides single-shot spectrum measurements for users whose experiments depend critically on the knowledge of the self-amplified spontaneous emission FEL spectrum. It also helps accelerator physicists for the continuing studies and optimization of self-seeding, various improved mechanisms for lasing mechanisms, and FEL performance improvements. The designed operating energy range of the HXSSS is from 4 to 20 keV, with the spectral range of order larger than 2% and a spectral resolution of 2 × 10−5 or better. Those performance goals have all been achieved during the commissioning of the HXSSS.
Can social media help us reason about mental health

Millions of people each year suffer from depression, which makes mental illness one of the most serious and widespread health challenges in our society today. There is therefore a need for effective policies, interventions, and prevention strategies that enable early detection and diagnosis of mental health concerns in populations. This talk reports some findings on the potential of leveraging social media postings as a new type of lens in understanding mental illness in individuals and populations. Information gleaned from social media bears potential to complement traditional survey techniques in its ability to provide finer grained measurements of behavior over time while radically expanding population sample sizes. The talk highlights how this research direction may be useful in developing tools for identifying the onset of depressive disorders, for use by healthcare agencies; or on behalf of individuals, enabling those suffering from mental illness to be more proactive about their mental health.
Dental Students' and Faculty Members' Concepts and Emotions Associated with a Caries Risk Assessment Program

The objective of this study was to identify concepts and emotions associated with using an established Caries Risk Assessment (CRA) and Caries Risk Management (CRM) program in a dental school. Five focus groups with students and faculty members were conducted. Transcripts of the focus group discussions were qualitatively analyzed for emotions, using Plutchik's wheel of emotions, and were inductively evaluated for concepts (stability coefficients, Scott's π, 0.65-0.71). A total of twenty-five students took part in three focus groups (D2, D3, and D4 separately), and fifteen faculty members participated in two groups. Few frequency differences existed across students and faculty in terms of emotions (278 in faculty members' discourse; 276 in students'). From these, 535 concepts were assembled in seven groups of semantically distinct concepts. Faculty members verbalized more numerous concepts than students (300 vs. 235). Skepticism about the effectiveness of the CRA/CRM program represented the most significant barrier to comprehensive student and faculty support. The findings also suggested that, in order to dispel misconceptions, clearer messages, simpler forms and systems, and better tailored foci of the program for diverse patient, student, and faculty subgroups are needed. Ultimately, buy-in from users depends on CRA forms and programs that are seen as relevant, useful, and simple, offering tangible outcomes for patients and clinicians.
Late Woodland Settlement and Subsistence in Southern New England Revisited: The Evidence from Coastal Rhode Island

Archaeological investigations at Woodland sites in the Narragansett Bay drainage have aided in a refinement of Late Woodland settlement and subsistence models. Popular theory holds that intensive maize horticulture and the formation of tribal villages occurred relatively late in the prehistoric period or possibly were the result of European Contact. Archaeological investigations in coastal sections of Rhode Island indicate that village settlements and likely intensive maize horticulture were elements of Late Woodland settlement and subsistence behavior in and around Narragansett Bay and not Contact period phenomena.
Building Information Modeling Implementation-Current and Desired Status

The paper presents a methodology, which helps to extend Building Information Modeling (BIM) beyond the pre-construction stage and facilitate its implementation during the operation and maintenance (O&M) phase of a facility's life cycle. In each phase, a large amount of information is exchanged among various project participants. This information can be categorized into graphical and non-graphical data. Traditionally, these two information categories exist as independent entities and are not linked to each other. This non-linkage decreases the project participants' productivity due to implementation of time consuming information retrieval methods, and regeneration of data. BIM implementation increases the project participants' productivity by facilitating easy information access, and reusage of data. The objective of the study is to create 3D as-built model and facilitate access to the facility's O&M information through it. This facilitates BIM implementation during operation and maintenance phase of the life cycle. The paper presents the techniques to produce the 3D as-built model and steps to associate facility maintenance information to it.
SEXUAL SELECTION AND THE EVOLUTION OF PAIR-BONDING IN SOLDIER BEETLES.

Anecdotal treatments of Darwin's (1871) concept of sexual selection have been frequent; quantitative evidence has been rare, however, requiring as it does demonstration of the operation of selection in nature, with regard to particular secondary sexual traits. Indeed, the measurement of any aspect of fitness in nature is notoriously complex and difficult. Conditions exist, however, which render feasible a direct approach to one component, mating success, in natural populations of certain species. (See, e.g., Mason, 1964; Mason, 1969; Thornhill, 1976; Davies and Halliday, 1977; Eanes et al., 1977; Scheiring, 1977; McCauley and Wade, 1978. This is made possible in certain insect species (notably beetles but members of other orders as well) because copulation is long-lasting in the field and very large numbers of mating pairs as well as unmated individuals can be collected and their characteristics compared. Nonmating fractions will, naturally, always contain some individuals with varying capabilities to mate. Differences between mating and nonmating fractions collected in this way will, therefore, be an underestimate of differences existing in the population. Many of the papers mentioned above demonstrate some correlation between mating success and the sizes of individuals; rarely is any other sort of characteristic considered, although certainly characteristics other than size must be relevant to mating success. For example, does color pattern sometimes influence an individual's success in mating? More particularly, what is the relationship between mating success and primary and secondary sexual characteristics? The current study deals with characteristics of various sorts, including characteristics which have clear sexual implications and so relate directly to sexual selection as conceived by Darwin.
Anti-IL-17 therapy in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

IL-17 has a role in inflammation in RA, and its levels in joints correlate with disease severity. Multiple RCTs have been performed to study effects of anti-IL-17 agents. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the efficacy and safety of anti-IL-17 agents in the management of RA. This work is based on a systematic review of studies retrieved by a sensitive search strategy in PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL from inception through 9/7/15. Study selection criteria were the following: adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) with RAs, random selection of patients for anti-IL-17 therapy and treatment response compared to placebo. We performed systematic literature review per PRISMA guideline and two investigators independently selected seven randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for meta-analysis. We used random effect model calculating odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) to measure the efficacy with ACR20/50/70 responses and the safety with adverse events. Seven studies with total of 1226 patients including 905 in anti-IL-17 group and 321 in placebo were included in the meta-analysis. Anti-IL-17 was effective in achieving ACR20 and ACR50 compared to placebo (OR 2.47, 95 % CI 1.29–4.72, P = 0.006, I 2 77 % and OR 2.94, 95 % CI 1.37–6.28, P = 0.005, I 2 64 %, respectively). Data analysis for ACR70 showed a favorable trend toward anti-IL-17 (OR 2.62, 95 % CI 1–6.89, P = 0.05, I 2 15 %). Subgroup analysis of ACR20 for individual anti-IL-17 agents showed that ixekizumab was more effective than placebo, while secukinumab showed a trend toward achieving the ACR20 response. However, brodalumab was not effective compared to placebo. Safety analysis did not show increased risk of any or serious adverse effects by anti-IL-17 compared to placebo (OR 1.23, 95 % CI 0.94–1.61, P = 0.13, I 2 = 0 % and OR 1.28, 95 % CI 0.57–2.88, P = 0.55, I 2 = 0 %, respectively). This meta-analysis concludes that anti-IL-17 is effective in the treatment of RA without increased risk of any or serious adverse effects; however, the results are limited by significant heterogeneity and small duration of studies.
Clinical Study on Therapeutic Effect of Dan Hong Injection for Pulmonary Hypertension in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic significance of Dan Hong injection for pulmonary hypertension in COPD.Methods In control group,15 patients accepted the conventional therapy.On the basis of the conventional treatment,15 patients in the treatment group received Dan Hong injection(20mL) in 5% glucose injection(250mL) or in normal saline(250mL) ivgtt qd,with 14 days in each course.The pulmonary arterial pressure of two groups were compared.Results The pulmonary arterial pressure of two groups was reduced after treatment,and there was significant difference in the pulmonary arterial pressure between before and after treatment and between treatment group and control group(P0.05).Conclusion Dan Hong injection has a good clinical effect on pulmonary hypertension in COPD.
Restorative Justice and Restorative History for the Sexually Transmitted Disease Inoculation Experiments in Guatemala.

The author comments on the inoculation of people with sexually transmitted diseases in Guatemala from 1946 to 1948 and into the 1950s and considers the reasons behind the research and the need for reparations. According to the author, the study in Guatemala was approved by the Syphilis Study Section of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The syphilis study in Tuskegee, Alabama, in the 1950s is also mentioned.
Synthesis, chemical characterization and nonlinear optical properties of thallium(III) phthalocyanine halide complexes

The synthesis, chemical characterization and nonlinear optical properties of a family of soluble thallium(III) phthalocyanine(Pc) halide complexes are reported. Tl(t-Bu4Pc)X (X = Cl, Br, or I) were made from 4-t-butylphthalonitrile via oxidation of a dithallium(I) phthalocyanine complex and were characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopy (UV-vis, 1H NMR and X-ray fluorescence) and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Transient white light absorption measurements of the iodo complex in toluene showed a broad band (440 – 610 nm) excited state absorption with a multiexponential decay dominated by species with lifetimes of ~4.8 ± 1 ps and > 20 ns. The ratio of the long lived excited state absorption coefficient to that of the ground state is ~100 at 500 nm. Nonlinear transmission and Z-scan experiments (532 nm, f5 optics) confirmed the above and also showed that the real part of the nonlinear refractive index is negative.
A new approach for preparing SiC particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites by applying electromagnetic field

A new method for preparing SiC particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites was introduced. In order to improve the ingot surface and homogeneity of structure, low frequency electromagnetic field was applied during the direct chilling casting process. The experimental results show that the new method can be used to prepare SiC particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites; under the effects of the low frequency electromagnetic field, the microstructure of ingot is refined and the distribution of SiC particles is improved.
Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Applications of Protein By-Products

Protein is a major component in the food system and the demand for protein supply has increased substantially in recent decades. To ensure the sustainability of the protein supply, one of the key issues is to not only reduce by-products during food processing, but also, more importantly, to explore exhaustive utilization of waste-derived proteins by transforming “gutter to gold.” Although waste proteins may be used in various industries, the most promising way is to find new applications in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Waste proteins are produced from different sources, including plant by-products, dairy waste, as well as blood, hides, skin, and visceral proteins after removal from animals. Each waste protein source has its unique physicochemical properties and characteristics for specialized applications. This chapter will discuss their current utilizations and promising futures at a source-to-source basis, with specific focus on applications in the fields of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Brains, genes and power.

Gene expression data from more than 500 human brains shed light on the molecular consequences of genetic variation that contributes to schizophrenia.
Pharmacology: Inside-out receptor inhibition

Structures of two chemokine receptor proteins in complex with small molecules reveal a previously unknown binding pocket that could be a drug target for treating a range of diseases involving this receptor family. See Letters p.458 & p.462 Chemokine receptors are a family of G-protein-coupled receptors that regulate the migration of immune cells; their function has been implicated in a range of diseases. Two groups reporting in this issue of Nature describe crystal structures of two different chemokine receptors bound to small-molecule inhibitors. Tracy Handel and colleagues describe the structure of CCR2—a promising drug target for autoimmune, inflammatory and metabolic diseases as well as cancer—bound to orthosteric (BMS-681) and allosteric (CCR2-RA-[R]) antagonists. Fiona Marshall and colleagues describe the structure of CCR9—involved in immune cell recruitment to the gut and a promising drug target in inflammatory bowel disease—in complex with the selective CCR9 antagonist vercirnon. Both CCR2 and CCR9 structures reveal an allosteric pocket on the cytoplasmic face of the receptor. This allosteric pocket appears to be highly druggable, and homologous pockets may be present on other chemokine receptors.
Graded Exercise Testing Protocols for the Determination of VO2max: Historical Perspectives, Progress, and Future Considerations

Graded exercise testing (GXT) is the most widely used assessment to examine the dynamic relationship between exercise and integrated physiological systems. The information from GXT can be applied across the spectrum of sport performance, occupational safety screening, research, and clinical diagnostics. The suitability of GXT to determine a valid maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) has been under investigation for decades. Although a set of recommended criteria exists to verify attainment of VO2max, the methods that originally established these criteria have been scrutinized. Many studies do not apply identical criteria or fail to consider individual variability in physiological responses. As an alternative to using traditional criteria, recent research efforts have been directed toward using a supramaximal verification protocol performed after a GXT to confirm attainment of VO2max. Furthermore, the emergence of self-paced protocols has provided a simple, yet reliable approach to designing and administering GXT. In order to develop a standardized GXT protocol, additional research should further examine the utility of self-paced protocols used in conjunction with verification protocols to elicit and confirm attainment of VO2max.
Live demonstration: A 1024-pixel CMOS multi-modality sensing array for cell-based assays

We propose to exhibit a live demonstration of a CMOS multi-modality cellular biosensor array chip that can facilitate drug screening and cell-based assays. The multi-modality sensing functionality enables real-time measurements of multiple physiological parameters of biological cells and cell clusters, such as their electric potential, impedance, optical opacity, and bioluminescent imaging. Compared with existing single-modality sensors, our multi-modality sensor captures multi-physics cellular responses with a high spatiotemporal resolution, substantially expanding our capabilities of monitoring cellular states and understanding complex drug mechanistic effects. For our live demonstration, we will operate our CMOS sensor chip with testing samples to present its multi-modality sensing capability and clinical relevance.
Finite Element Analysis of an Under-Actuated Robotic Device for Knee Loading Applications

Knee loading is one form of joint loading modalities, which potentially provides a therapeutic regimen to stimulate bone formation and prevent degradation of joint tissues [1]. Healing of knee injuries is sensitive to many environmental stimuli. Since mechanical stimuli are crucial for the growth, development, and maintenance of articular cartilage and bone, we have developed an innovative robotic knee loading device to achieve this goal [2]. This device induces mechanical loading to stimulate articular cartilage and bone, and it potentially reduces the healing time of injuries such as bone fractures. The robotic device, described in this study, is an improved version over previous joint loading devices [1], in which loads are applied at specific points with non-uniform loading around the knee joint. In this paper, finite element analysis (FEA) of this robotic device has been presented that includes static structural analysis and modal frequencies of the device for two different material configurations used in the design. The study shows that the design with ABS plastic material offers the desired margin of safety while reducing the weight and cost.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Limiting lagrangians: A primal approach

In this paper, we consider a convex program with either a finite or an infinite number of constraints and its formal Lagrangian dual. We show that either the primal program satisfies a general condition which implies there is no duality gap or that there is a nonzero vectord with the following properties: First, whenevered is added to the objective function, where e is a positive number not greater than one, the resulting program satisfies the general sufficient condition cited above for no duality gap. Second, the optimal value of this perturbed program is attained and tends to the optimal value of the original program as e tends to zero. Third, the optimal solutions of the perturbed programs form a minimizing sequence of the original program. As a consequence of the above, we derive the limiting Lagrangian theory of Borwein, Duffin, and Jeroslow.
Approaching complete CO conversion and total H2 recovery for water gas shift reaction in a high-temperature and high-pressure zeolite membrane reactor

Abstract Water gas shift reaction of syngas and subsequent H2/CO2 separation are key operations for large-scale H2 production from fossil fuels and agricultural and forestry biomass with CO2 capture. In this study, a tubular zeolite membrane reactor has been demonstrated for the first achievement of nearly complete CO conversion and total H2 recovery with simultaneous production of a high pressure pure CO2 stream for water gas shift reaction at high temperature and high pressure. When operated at 500 °C and 20 bar, the membrane reactor attained CO conversion > 99.9% and H2 recovery > 99.9% with a high pressure pure CO2 retentate under practically meaningful gas hourly space velocity of 15,000 h−1 and steam-to-CO ratio of 3.5. The zeolite membrane reactor with proven long-term stability is promising for further development and practical considerations.
Random Forest Classifier in SDN Framework for User-Based Indoor Localization

Wireless indoor localization has gained importance over the past few years. Its application ranges from turning on entertainment devices when we walk in a room to complementing biometric security systems. While present technology employing radio-frequency exists for indoor positioning, deploying these systems can be expensive and consume a lot of power. As smart systems make their way in our daily life, there is a need to develop models that can integrate with existing technology without the need of specialized hardware. We propose a random forest approach for indoor localization using a Software Defined Network (SDN) framework. This model uses random forest based cross validation to train itself and perform indoor localization. The SDN framework is responsible for coordinating the IoT devices and monitoring security threats. The system is tested using Wi-Fi signals obtained from seven different routers. The highest accuracy of 98.3% is achieved using k-fold cross validation of 3 and mtry = 2. To verify its applicability, the model was tested against other algorithms such as kNN, Support Vector Machines and Neural Networks. Random forest performs best in this scenario.
Authentication-Based on Biomechanics of Finger Movements Captured Using Optical Motion-Capture

In this paper, we propose an authentication approach based on the uniqueness of the biomechanics of finger movements. We use an optical-marker-based motion-capture as a preliminary setup to capture goniometric (joint-related) and dermatologic (skin-related) features from the flexion and extension of the index and middle fingers of a subject. We use this information to build a personalized authentication model for a given subject. Analysis of our approach using finger motion-capture from 8 subjects, using reflective tracking markers placed around the joints of index and middle fingers of the subjects shows its viability. In this preliminary study, we achieve an average equal error rate (EER)—when false accept rate and false reject rate are equal—of 6.3% in authenticating a subject immediately after training the authentication model and 16.4% ERR after a week.
The Effect of Hip Assistance Levels on Human Energetic Cost Using Robotic Hip Exoskeletons

In order for the lower limb exoskeletons to realize their considerable potential, a greater understanding of optimal assistive performance is required. While others have shown positive results, the fundamental question of how the exoskeleton interacts with the human remains unknown. Understanding the optimal assistance magnitude is not simply relevant for control, it is a critical knowledge for exoskeleton designers. An accurate understanding of assistance levels will enable the designers to minimize exoskeleton mass and improve the performance by avoiding excessive actuators and drivetrains. We explored the relationship between the assistance magnitude and the energetic cost benefits by using a series elastic actuator driven powered hip exoskeleton. The exoskeleton controller mimics a human biological hip moment to provide the assistance during the gait cycle. Ten able-bodied subjects walked using the exoskeleton with different magnitudes of assistance in both hip flexion and extension. Generally, the resulting metabolic cost across different assistance conditions showed a U-shape trend which was consistent across all subjects (p < 0.01). The interpreted optimal assistance point through the quadratic fit resulted in a 6% metabolic cost reduction with respect to the no-assistance condition. The study validated that simply increasing the assistance level did not yield higher energetic return.
Characterization of radiance from the ocean surface by hyperspectral imaging.

A novel snapshot hyperspectral imager is introduced for ocean color (OC) applications and its capabilities are demonstrated. The instrument provides hyperspectral radiance images with a wide field-of-view (FOV) and short exposure time, which is valuable for the direct characterization of the wind-roughened surface in various illumination conditions and wind speeds. Uncertainties in the total(Lt), sky (Ls) and derived water-leaving (Lw)radiances at viewing angles of 20–60° are determined as a function of wind speed together with associated correlation coefficients and variances of the sea surface reflectance coefficient ρ. Estimated Lw uncertainties can partially explain the inaccuracy of satellite retrievals in the blue bands in the coastal waters. It is shown that in above-water measurements in no-glint conditions with viewing and azimuth angles of 40° and 90°, respectively, for both Lt(λ) and Ls(λ) the impact of FOV is minimal at least up to measured W = 5.7 m/s for full-angle FOV of 4° and larger. Implications of uncertainties for the derivation of water leaving radiance in above-water ship-borne and AERONET-OC measurements are discussed.
The Evolution of China's Banking System, 1993–2017

This book traces the development of China’s banking system through the first 25 years of China’s socialist market economy up to the present. It examines how China’s leaders have chosen their own path for reforming and regulating the banking sector and shows how this approach has differed significantly from the neoliberal approach promoted by the West. The book demonstrates the effectiveness of the Chinese approach, contrasting China’s relative success in weathering the Asian financial crisis with the huge disruption experienced by other East and Southeast Asian nations which had followed the neoliberal model much more closely. The book explains how China’s officials were able to resist the persistent efforts of foreign financial institutions to gain control of China’s financial sector, particularly around the time of China’s entry to the World Trade Organization. It argues that China’s increasing influence in international financial institutions after the global financial crisis can help mitigate the risk of future financial crises and promote global financial stability.