cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematic coarse-graining of potential energy landscapes and dynamics in liquids

Recent efforts have shown that the dynamic properties of a wide class of liquids can be mapped onto semi-universal scaling laws and constitutive relations that are motivated by thermodynamic analyses of much simpler models. In particular, it has been found that many systems exhibit dynamics whose behavior in state space closely follows that of soft-sphere particles interacting through an inverse power repulsion. In the present work, we show that a recently developed coarse-graining theory provides a natural way to understand how arbitrary liquids can be mapped onto effective soft-sphere models and hence how one might potentially be able to extract underlying dynamical scaling laws. The theory is based on the relative entropy, an information metric that quantifies how well a soft-sphere approximation to a liquid's multidimensional potential energy landscape performs. We show that optimization of the relative entropy not only enables one to extract effective soft-sphere potentials that suggest an inherent scaling of thermodynamic and dynamic properties in temperature-density space, but that also has rather interesting connections to excess entropy based theories of liquid dynamics. We apply the approach to a binary mixture of Lennard-Jones particles, and show that it gives effective soft-sphere scaling laws that well-describe the behavior of the diffusion constants. Our results suggest that the relative entropy formalism may be useful for “perturbative” type theories of dynamics, offering a general strategy for systematically connecting complex energy landscapes to simpler reference ones with better understood dynamic behavior.
High field tokamak reactors

Abstract The use of high magnetic fields (magnetic field at the plasma axis B t = 7–14 T) in ignited tokamak reactor designs is described. High field operation provides a means of significantly reducing reactor size, of increasing fusion power density and of facilitating reactor maintenance by allowing for a reduction in the complexity of the overall system. A design has been developed for an ignition test reactor which uses copper magnets with a Bitter plate design. The toroidal magnetic field at the plasma axis is 12.5 T. The ignition test reactor design utilizes neutral beam heating in conjunction with adiabatic compression of the plasma in major radius. A design for a demonstration power reactor is described. A Nb 3 Sn toroidal field magnet with a field of 13.1 T at the coil winding and 7.4 T at the plasma is utilized. Future directions for high field reactor studies include considerations of RF heated ignition test reactors and the use of 200 GHz gyrotron radiation for electron cyclotron resonance heating of demonstration power reactor plasmas.
Calculating in-plane frequencies of multispan cables using the Exterior-Matrix Method

The Exterior-Matrix Method (EMM) is applied to the in-plane dynamical equations of a shallow elastic catenary. The transfer matrices of the composite system are expanded so that asymptotic analysis can be done for the general case. The main idea is to find the 4-by-4 transfer matrices for each span of the cable system, and the transfer matrices for the joint, which could be an insulated pole. Then, by using the exterior matrices, the 6-by-6 matrices which correspond to the transfer matrices can be found. At first it seems surprising to use 6-by-6 matrices instead of the 4-by-4 transfer matrices, but with the exterior matrices, the determinant of the product need not be taken. This allows one to immediately take approximations of the matrices without worry that the highest-order terms will cancel. As a bonus to using the exterior matrices, an angle for the insulator will be allowed, which generalizes the work done by Simpson (Proc IEE 113(5):870–878, 1966). The practical use of this method is illustrated by finding the normal frequencies of a symmetrical 3-span system.
Neurotoxicity of pyridoxine analogs is related to coenzyme structure.

In very high doses, pyridoxine is neurotoxic in humans and other animals. Using morphometry and a model system of dorsal root ganglion neurons in culture, we found that several analogs of pyridoxine were neurotoxic in vitro. Those that may be converted into active coenzymes— pyridoxal, pyridoxine, and pyridoxamine— were almost equal in, toxicity. Pyridoxic acid, which is not active, was nontoxic. Pyridoxamine 5-phosphate, which cannot enter cells, also was nontoxic. Several hypotheses that link coenzyme function to toxic effect are described.
Utilization and Outcomes of Inpatient Urological Care at Safety Net Hospitals

Purpose: Because proposed funding cuts in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may impact care for urological patients at safety net hospitals, we examined the use, outcomes and costs of inpatient urological surgery at safety net vs nonsafety net facilities prior to health care reform.Materials and Methods: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample we performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent inpatient urological surgeries from 2007 through 2011. We defined the safety net burden of each hospital based on the proportion of Medicaid and self-pay discharges. We examined the distribution of urological procedures performed and compared in-hospital mortality, prolonged length of stay and costs in the highest quartile of burden (safety net) vs the lowest quartile (nonsafety net).Results: The distribution of urological procedures differed by safety net status with less benign prostate surgery (9.1% safety net vs 11.4% nonsafety net) and major cancer surgery (26.9% vs 34.3%), and more ...
Independent generation of 5-(2'-deoxycytidinyl)methyl radical and the formation of a novel cross-link lesion between 5-methylcytosine and guanine.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can damage DNA. Although a number of single nucleobase lesions induced by ROS have been structurally characterized, only a few intrastrand cross-link lesions have been identified and characterized, and all of them involve adjacent thymine and guanine or adenine. In mammalian cells, the cytosines at CpG sites are methylated. On the basis of the similar reactivity of 5-methylcytosine and thymine toward hydroxyl radical and the similar orientation of adjacent thymine guanine (TG) and 5-methylcytosine guanine (mCG) in B-DNA, we predict that the cross-link lesion, which was identified in TG and has a covalent bond formed between the 5-methyl carbon atom of T and the C8 carbon atom of G, should also form at mCG site. Here, we report for the first time the independent generation of 5-(2‘-deoxycytidinyl)methyl radical, and our results demonstrate that this radical can give rise to the predicted novel intrastrand cross-link lesion in dinucleoside monophosphates d(mCG) and d(GmC). Furt...
Adaptive Power and Resource Management Techniques for Multi-threaded Workloads

As today's computing trends are moving towards the cloud, meeting the increasing computational demand while minimizing the energy costs in data centers has become essential. This work introduces two adaptive techniques to reduce the energy consumption of the computing clusters through power and resource management on multi-core processors. We first present a novel power capping technique to constrain the power consumption of computing nodes. Our technique combines Dynamic Voltage-Frequency Scaling (DVFS) and thread allocation on multi-core systems. By utilizing machine learning techniques, our power capping method is able to meet the power budgets 82% of the time without requiring any power measurement device and reduces the energy consumption by 51.6% on average in comparison to the state-of-the-art techniques. We then introduce an autonomous resource management technique for consolidated multi-threaded workloads running on multi-core servers. Our technique first classifies applications according to their energy efficiency measure, then proportionally allocates resources for co-scheduled applications to improve the energy efficiency. The proposed technique improves the energy efficiency by 17% in comparison to state-of-the-art co-scheduling policies.
The effect of nitrogen source and crop rotation on the growth and yield of processing tomatoes

Four crop rotation and management systems were studied in 1994 and 1995 in relation to growth and yield of irrigated processing tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). The four treatments were three four-year rotation systems [conventional (conv-4), low input and organic] and a two-year rotation system [conventional (conv-2)]. The four-year rotation was tomato-safflower-corn-wheat(or oats+vetch)/beans, and the two-year rotation was tomato-wheat. Purple vetch (Vicia sativa L.) was grown as a green manure cover crop preceeding tomatoes in the low input and organic systems. Nitrogen was supplied as fertilizer in the conventional systems, as vetch green manure plus fertilizer in the low input system and as vetch green manure plus turkey manure in the organic system. Tomato cv. Brigade was direct-seeded in the conventional systems and transplanted to the field in the low input and organic systems. In both years the winter cover crop was composed of a mixture of vetch and volunteer oats with N contents of 2.2% in 1994 and 2.7% (low input) or 1.8% (organic) in 1995. In 1994 yields were higher in conventionally grown tomatoes because a virus in the nursery infected the transplants used in the low input and organic systems. In 1995 tomatoes grown with the low input and conv-4 systems had similar yields, which were higher than those of tomatoes grown with the conv-2 and organic systems. N uptake by the crop was greater than 200 kg N ha−1 for high yield (> 75 t ha−1) and uptake rates of 3 to 6 kg N ha−1 day−1 during the period of maximum uptake were observed. The lower yield with the organic system in 1995 was caused by a N deficiency. The main effect of the N deficiency was a reduced leaf area index and not a reduction of net assimilation rate (NAR) or radiation use efficiency (RUE). Nitrogen deficiency was related to low concentration of inorganic N in the soil and slow release of N from the cover crop + manure. A high proportion of N from the green manure but only a low proportion of N from the manure was mineralized during the crop season. In the conventional systems, the estimated mineralized N from the soil organic matter during the crop season was around 85 kg ha−1. A hyperbolic relationship between N content and total dry weight of aboveground biomass was observed in procesing tomatoes with adequate N nutrition. Lower yields with the conv-2 than with the conv-4 system were due to higher incidence of diseases in the two year rotation which reduced the NAR and the RUE. Residual N in the soil in Oct. (two months after the incorporation of crop residues) ranged between 90 and 170 kg N ha−1 in the 0–90 cm profile.
Diffusivity of a drug preservative in bromobutyl rubber

Sorption of phenylethyl alcohol (a model drug preservative) by bromobutyl rubber (a polymer used in drug packaging) is characterized by relatively low apparent diffusivities at room temperature (D 10 -10 cm 2 /s) and a high solubility that leads to considerable swelling of the polymer. The sorption curves for thin samples exhibit non-Fickian anomalies, which are normally observed only in glassy polymers, including two-stage sorption and sorption overshoot. The desorption curves were much more Fickian. The swelling kinetics were very slow, and true equilibrium was not reached in the time frame of most of the experiments, which ranged up to 78 days. This produced lower apparent diffusivities and higher activation energies for sorption compared to desorption.
Rectified Asteroid Albedos and Diameters from IRAS and MSX Photometry Catalogs

Rectified diameters and albedo estimates of 1517 main-belt asteroids selected from IRAS and the Mid-Course Space Experiment asteroid photometry catalogs are derived from updated infrared thermal models, the Standard Thermal Model and the Near-Earth Asteroid Thermal Model (NEATM), and Monte Carlo simulations, using new Minor Planet Center compilations of absolute magnitudes (H values) constrained by occultation- and radarderived parameters. The NEATM approach produces a more robust estimate of albedos and diameters, yielding albedos of pv (NEATM mean) = 0.081 ± 0.064. The asteroid beaming parameter (η) for the selected asteroids has a mean value of 1.07 ± 0.27, and the smooth distribution of η suggests that this parameter is independent of asteroid properties such as composition. No trends in η due to size-dependent rotation rates are evident. Comparison of derived values of η as a function of taxonomic type indicates that the beaming parameter values for S- and C-type asteroids are identical within the standard deviation of the population of beaming parameters.
An Autoradiographic Analysis Of Rat Brain Nicotinic Receptor Plasticity Following Dietary Choline Modification

Choline is known to be involved with numerous physiological functions of the nervous system and also acts as a direct acting agonist of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The purpose of this study was to conduct a brain region-specific evaluation of changes in nAChR subtype expression following dietary choline modification. In addition, we assessed changes in body weight, food/water intake, as well as changes in spatial learning (Morris Water Maze) in response to dietary choline modification. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to standard, choline supplemented or choline deficient diets for periods of 14 or 28 days. Choline supplemented animals gained significantly less weight over the course of the experiment, in spite of the fact that there were minimal differences in food consumption between the dietary regimens. Spatial memory did not differ between animals maintained on a standard rat diet, and the choline supplemented food. Brains of the animals kept on the diets for 14 and 28 days were used for quantitative autoradiographic analysis of nicotinic receptor subtypes using 125I-Bungarotoxin (alpha7) and 125I-Epibatidine (non-alpha7). There were no significant differences in nicotinic receptor binding or physiologic parameters measured between animals fed standard and choline deficient diets. However 2 weeks of dietary choline supplementation caused significant up-regulation of alpha7 receptors without significant effect on the density of non-alpha7 nAChRs. Increases in BTX binding predominantly occurred in cortical and hippocampal brain regions and ranged between 14 and 30% depending on the brain region. The results of our study suggest that choline acts as a selective agonist at alpha7 nicotinic cholinergic receptors in the rat central nervous system.
Future arts: by and for whom, and for what?

A bit over 30 years ago, pianist Glenn Gould wrote a visionary article entitled “The Art of Recording” (High Fidelity, April 1966) in which he predicted that the live performance of music would disappear and be replaced by the wonders of studio recording. He went far beyond this, stating that “elevator music”—already a fairly pervasive irritant at the time—could become a revolutionary force in arts and expression, turning from a soporific into a stimulant, subliminally teaching people the essential listening and creative skills of music, and elevating—as it were—music to replace language as a universal form of emotional communication.
Colonial Prisons and Anti-colonial Resistance in French Indochina: The Thai Nguyen Rebellion, 1917

Between the pacification of Tonkin in the late 1880s and the Nghe-Tinh Soviet Movement of 1930–31, the Thai Nguyen Rebellion was the largest and most destructive anti-colonial uprising to occur in French Indochina. On August 31, 1917, an eclectic band of political prisoners, common criminals and mutinous prison guards seized the Thai Nguyen Penitentiary, the largest penal institution in northern Tonkin. From their base within the penitentiary, the rebels stormed the provincial arsenal and captured a large cache of weapons which they used to take control of the town. Anticipating a counterattack, the rebels fortified the perimeter of the town, executed French officials and Vietnamese collaborators and issued a proclamation calling for a general uprising against the colonial state. Although colonial forces retook the town following five days of intense fighting, mopping-up campaigns in the surrounding countryside stretched on for six months and led to hundreds of casualties on both sides.
Cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, and pancreatitis

Cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, and pancreatitis are common conditions in the adult patient population that may be challenging to recognize because of their variable clinical presentations and broad differential diagnoses. This article discusses the pathophysiology of each condition and its common complications. The clinical presentation and evaluation of patients is reviewed with emphasis on current diagnostic tests used to identify severity of illness and the presence of complications. Treatment options are presented for straightforward as well as complicated initial management and disposition.
Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: We Have the Will, But Do We Have the Way?

As Rippe, Angelopoulos, and Zuckley pointed out, coronary heart disease “represents the quintessential lifestyle disease of developed countries,” offering both opportunities and challenges for the routine practice of lifestyle medicine. Although the empirical evidence provides a compelling rationale for the modification of preventable cardiovascular risks, their review prompts discussion of the continuing tendency for practice to lag behind knowledge, the persisting challenges to narrowing this knowledge-practice divide, and the emerging trends that may further advance cardiovascularrisk reduction efforts.
Short communication: Analysis of milk yield and composition for dairy heifers limit-fed lower forage diets during the rearing period

Methods to improve feed efficiency in dairy heifers have been studied that employ limit feeding and high concentrate or highly digestible diet ingredients. To date, the published studies have used differing daily gains, diet components, and management systems. All of these studies have had limited numbers of animals, which limits the power of each study by itself. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate, using all available studies, the overall effect of limit feeding dairy heifers during the rearing phase on milk production and composition during the first lactation. To accomplish this objective, responses from published experiments were analyzed using random effects meta-analytic procedures. The results of this analysis confirmed the results of the individual experiments in that no significant differences were found in lactation performance between the limit-fed, lower forage diets and the higher forage control diets. Heterogeneity of results between experiments was low to moderate for the response variables evaluated, indicating that the results were reasonably consistent among the trials. Limit feeding of higher concentrate diets represents a viable alternative to traditional high forage heifer feeding systems when environmental or economic conditions favor these systems.
RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF CRANBERRY CELL WALL MATERIAL

Rheological properties of cell wall material suspensions recovered from pressed cranberries were studied with rotational viscometers at 25°C. The general power law equation was found to be an adequate model, the flow behavior index decreasing, and the consistency coefficient and yield stress Increasing, as concentration increased. Time dependency and pseudoplastic or mixed-type flow behavior were observed. Large yield stresses at low concentrations suggested potential use of cell wall material as a food. thickener.
On Wave Dependency of Altimeter Sea Returns—Weak Fetch Influence on Short Ocean Waves

Abstract At low and intermediate winds, altimeter returns are from ocean waves having their length longer than the radar wavelength. These waves, mainly ripples, are generated and modified by wind stress and dominant ocean waves. The wind stress coefficient is greater with steeper dominant waves prevailing at shorter fetches, and the attenuation of ripples is also stronger with steeper dominant waves. The combined influence of dominant waves on the altimeter wind algorithm is shown to be small as a result of these compensatory effects at short fetches, with an intensified generation by the augmented wind stress and an escalated suppression by steeper dominant waves.
Los Angeles Chinatown: Tourism, Gentrification, and the Rise of an Ethnic Growth Machine

In this paper, I examine how Los Angeles Chinatown is situated within the new economic and social dynamics of race, space, and power in the global city. As a participant observer in Los Angeles Chinatown activities, I have given as well as attended public lectures and through volunteering with the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California and the Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles. Working with the historical museums, I directed students of Occidental College in conducting oral histories of people in Chinatown. I also conducted several interviews with art gallery owners and staff of the cultural preservation and heritage organizations in Los Angeles Chinatown on the new art scene, gentrification, and redevelopmental trends in Chinatown.
Abstract P016: Galectin-3 and Incident Heart Failure among Patients with Pre-existing Coronary Artery Disease: the ADVANCE Study

Galecin-3 (Gal-3) is a novel beta-galactoside-binding lectin implicated in pro-fibrotic pathways that are upregulated during cardiac remodeling. Gal-3 has been associated with poor prognosis among patients with heart failure and with development of heart failure after acute coronary syndrome. In this study we sought to ascertain: 1) the cross-sectional demographic, behavioral and clinical correlates of serum levels of Gal-3, and 2) its independent predictive value for incident heart failure among 1,312 participants in The Atherosclerotic Disease, VAscular FunctioN and GenetiC Epidemiology (ADVANCE) Study whose initial presentation of coronary artery disease (CAD) between 10/2001 and 12/2003 was acute myocardial infarction (n=871; mean ± SD age; 62 ± 8 years; 23% female) or stable angina (n=441; mean ± SD age; 61 ± 8 years ; 34% female). Gal-3 was measured in frozen serum collected at the baseline examination (2002 to 2004) with the ARCHITECT assay (Abbott Diagnostics, Abbott Park, IL). Follow-up for incid...
Acceleration of fibrin polymerization by calcium ions.

Calcium ions are known to accelerate the formation of a visible clot upon the addition of thrombin to plasma or fibrinogen. The experiments described demonstrate that this effect of calcium ions is not upon the rate of release of fibrinopeptides from fibrinogen, but rather upon the aggregation of soluble fibrin monomers or polymers, independent of the action of fibrin-stabilizing factor.
SSA Call for Submissions: Outstanding Dissertation Prize

Syrian Studies Association Prize for Outstanding Dissertation on Syria: Call for Submissions In order to promote and highlight excellence in research on Bilad al-Sham, the Syrian Studies Association awards annual prizes for the best writing on Syria. In 2012, the SSA seeks submissions for the most outstanding doctoral dissertation completed between September 1, 2010 and Sept. 1, 2012. In order to be considered for the prize, candidates must join the association at the student rate of $10.00 per year. Information about the Syrian Studies Association is available at: http://www.ou.edu/ssa/index.html Submissions in languages other than English are welcomed; all submissions should be sent electronically. A $100.00 cash award will accompany the winning entry. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 1, 2012. All submissions should be sent to Steve. Tamari, Chair of the Prize Committee at stamari@siue.edu . Winners will be announced at the SSA annual meeting in November 2012. Inquiries can be directed to Steve.
Comorbid Development of Infection and Cancer

Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death around the world, causing more than 12 million deaths each year. The long-term effects of these illnesses, as a major public health problem, have raised particular concerns since some infectious agents have been associated with different types of chronic diseases, including cancer. Although cancer development can be multi-factorial in origin, several types of solid organ or hematologic cancers are caused by infectious agents (Shurin MR, Immunol Targets Ther 1:1–6, 2012). Approximately 15 % of all cancers occurring worldwide could be attributed to infections, a global total of 1.2 million cases per year (Kuper H, Adami HO, Trichopoulos D et al., J Intern Med 248:171–183, 2000). A substantial body of evidence also support the notion that infection itself or associated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which can cause genetic mutations, thus promoting cancer development or enhancing epithelial-mesynchymal transition (EMT), an important mechanism that enable cancer metastasis (Voronov E et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:2645–2650, 2003; Grivennikov SI and Karin M, Curr Opin Genet Dev 20:65–71, 2010). On the other hand, immunosuppression caused by the cancer itself or immunosuppressive drugs used for cancer treatment increase the risk and severity of infections, which in turn provide positive feedback mechanism that further enhance cancer metastasis (Khayr W, Haddad RY, Noor SA, Dis Mon 58:239–249, 2012). For instance, ~50–80 % of patients suffering from various hematological malignancies develop infections, which contribute to a higher incidence of mortality in these patients (Yadegarynia D, Tarrand J, Raad I, Rolston K, Clin Infect Dis 37:1144–1145, 2003).
Numerical Differentiation Formulas

(1957). Numerical Differentiation Formulas. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 64, No. 10, pp. 721-723.
A tandem dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cell for light driven hydrogen production

Combining a dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cell for hydrogen production based on a SnO2 photoanode in series with a dye-sensitized photovoltaic solar cell using a TiO2 photoanode yields a tandem system for the generation of H2 from hydroquinone using only light energy and no applied electrical bias. To target distinct portions of the solar spectrum, a more blue-absorbing free base porphyrin and a more red-absorbing Si phthalocyanine chromophore are used at the two photoelectrodes. With incorporation of a suitable water oxidation catalyst, a similar approach could enable tandem photochemical water splitting without the need for p-type semiconductors.
Kinship Care in the United States

Within the last decade in the United States, kinship care (placement with relatives or those non-related friends of family known as fictive kin) has evolved from an infrequently utilised option for...
On the Biology of the Harlequin Bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

At 77°F and approximately 50% RH, the developmental period from egg to adult averaged 48.2±6.5 days, and females laid their first egg masses about 10.7 days after maturing, so that the average life cycle required 58.9±8.9 days. Average production of egg masses was 4.3 (51 eggs) per female during a 17-day period; female longevity averaged 10 days more than that of males. After the initial mating, copulation usually occurred following the deposition of each egg mass, but was not necessary for egg viability. Optimum temperature for embryonic development was 85°–90°F, and the hatch was more than 90% at temperatures from 65° to 90°; humidity did not appear to affect the rate of embryonic development or egg viability. There were 5 nymphal instars, of increasing duration in the successive stages. Only 30% of the bugs completed their life cycle on a natural food source (cabbage) under imposed laboratory conditions. Mortality resulted largely from inability of the bugs to complete ecdysis.
Antioxidant Use in Broiler Feeds

Abstract The efficacy of Endox®, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), and Ethoxyquin® for preservation of vitamin A was tested in three trials by placing four replicates of pelleted feed (ca. 27 kg each) in galvanized metal cans with tight-fitting lids. The vitamin premix used contained no antioxidant. After the feed was sampled, the cans were equipped with thermocouples and placed outside for 30 days. The data suggest that Endox® and Ethoxyquin® are equal in effectiveness and that both may be superior to BHT.
Are antidepressants safe to use in children and adolescents

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating 10 antidepressants to determine possible increase of depression or suicidality in children and adolescents while on the medication. Results of the data analysis should be available in the summer of 2004. Language: en
Study on Inspection Algorithm for Dynamic Voltage Restorer

Because dynamic voltage restorer(DVR) is the most economical and efficient device for voltage sag compensation,study on DVR inspection algorithms is one of the most important tasks in DVR design.Common algorithms include derivation of voltage of each phase,DQ transformation method by delaying single phase voltage by 60° to construct three-phase voltage,DQ decomposition method through derivation to construct three-phase virtual voltage,and two-point method.Through theoretical analysis of each algorithm and simulated waveform studies on actual devices,it is concluded that the two-point method has many advantages,such as clear in principle,simple to implement,and high accuracy,etc.,so that it is more appropriate for engineering DVR device inspection.
Fat-water MRI of a diet-induced obesity mouse model at 15.2T

Quantitative fat-water MRI (FWMRI) methods provide valuable information about the distribution, volume, and composition of adipose tissue (AT). Ultra high field FWMRI of animal models may have the potential to provide insights into the progression of obesity and its comorbidities. Here, we present quantitative FWMRI with all known confounder corrections on a 15.2T preclinical scanner for noninvasive in vivo monitoring of an established diet-induced obesity mouse model. Male C57BL/6J mice were placed on a low-fat (LFD) or a high-fat diet (HFD). Three-dimensional (3-D) multiple gradient echo MRI at 15.2T was performed at baseline, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after diet onset. A 3-D fat-water separation algorithm and additional processing were used to generate proton-density fat fraction (PDFF), local magnetic field offset, and [Formula: see text] maps. We examined these parameters in perirenal AT ROIs from LFD and HFD mice. The data suggest that PDFF, local field offset, and [Formula: see text] have different time course behaviors between LFD and HFD mice over 16 weeks. This work suggests FWMRI at 15.2T may be a useful tool for longitudinal studies of adiposity due to the advantages of ultra high field although further investigation is needed to understand the observed time course behavior.
A Dual Mode 700 MSamples/s 6-bit, 200MSamples/s 7-bit A/D Converter in 0.25 Micron Digital CMOS

The design of a high speed A/D converter for hard disk drive read channels is described. It has 6-bits of resolution at full speed, as well as a 7-bit mode operating at a lower speed. The 7-bit mode is useful for servo signal processing. This A/D converter has been implemented in a four level metal, single poly 0.25μm CMOS technology. The chip operates at a speed of up to 700 MSamples/s in the 6-bit mode while maintaining an SNDR of greater than 35 dB at input frequencies of up to one fourth the sampling rate. In the 7-bit mode, the device operates at up to 200 MSamples/s with a SNDR greater than 40 dB. It occupies an active area of 0.45 sq. mm and consumes less than 187 mW of power.
Landscape-scale response to local habitat restoration in the regal fritillary butterfly ( Speyeria idalia ) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

The butterfly Speyeria idalia was once a widespread species in the midwestern United States, but declined precipitously during the 1980s. By the early 1990s in NW Indiana and adjacent NE Illinois, it was reduced to a single site where it persisted as a precarious three deme metapopulation managed using prescribed fire. In 1996, a large-scale high diversity restoration was initiated at the site to restore ecological connectivity for grassland and oak barrens communities across the site. Among many restoration goals, we included restoring connectivity for habitat restricted insect communities across the highly fragmented site. In support of that goal, we included over 620 local genotype plant species in the restoration. S. idalia responded positively to the restoration and was the most abundant butterfly across the site in 2014. Ironically, we incorrectly considered the primary hostplant at the site, Viola bicolor, to be non-native when we initiated the restoration and did not include it in our seed mixes. This weedy annual aggressively expanded into the restoration without our assistance. We believe that we transformed the precarious metapopulation into a well-connected patchy population across the restoration. In addition, the butterfly occupied previously unoccupied habitats far beyond the restoration. This suggests that we have created a regional mainland—island metapopulation structure, with the restoration serving as a source of immigrants that sustains colonization rates at or above the rate of local deme extinction across a landscape that currently spans almost 60 km.
Effects of Increased Heteropogon contortus (Tanglehead) on Rangelands: The Tangled Issue of Native Invasive Species☆

ABSTRACT Heteropogon contortus recently and rapidly increased in dominance in grasslands where it once had been aminor component. Ecological effects of this increase are unknown, but landmanagers are concerned about the potential negative economic and ecological impacts. We examined compositional and structural characteristics of the vegetation community along a gradient of dominance of H. contortus to quantify changes, compare the effects to invasions by nonnative grasses, and provide insights about management. As H. contortus increased, grass richness decreased across the gradient by 6 species·m-2 (95% CI: 2–10) in summer and 10 species·m-2 (6–15) in winter. Cover of other native grasses decreased 8–10% in both seasons for every 10% increase in H. contortus. Presence of seven individual plant species and cover of five species decreased, but presence of five species and cover of one species increased with H. contortus. Canopy cover increased and soil nutrients were higher in dense H. contortus, potential...
EEG Monitoring and Antiepileptic Drugs in Children with Severe TBI

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes substantial morbidity and mortality in US children. Post-traumatic seizures (PTS) occur in 11–42% of children with severe TBI and are associated with unfavorable outcome. Electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring may be used to detect PTS and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may be used to treat PTS, but national rates of EEG and AED use are not known. The purpose of this study was to describe the frequency and timing of EEG and AED use in children hospitalized after severe TBI. Retrospective cohort study of 2165 children at 30 hospitals in a probabilistically linked dataset from the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) and the Pediatric Health Information Systems (PHIS) database, 2007–2010. We included children (age 24 h, and non-missing disposition. The primary outcomes were EEG and AED use. Overall, 31.8% of the cohort had EEG monitoring. Of those, 21.8% were monitored on the first hospital day. The median duration of EEG monitoring was 2.0 (IQR 1.0, 4.0) days. AEDs were prescribed to 52.0% of the cohort, of whom 61.8% received an AED on the first hospital day. The median duration of AED use was 8.0 (IQR 4.0, 17.0) days. EEG monitoring and AED use were more frequent in children with known risk factors for PTS. EEG monitoring and AED use were not related to hospital TBI volume. EEG use is relatively uncommon in children with severe TBI, but AEDs are frequently prescribed. EEG monitoring and AED use are more common in children with known risk factors for PTS.
Women's land rights, rural social movements, and the state in the 21st-century Latin American agrarian reforms

This paper addresses the disjuncture between women's formal land rights and their attaining these in practice, examining the four agrarian reforms carried out by progressive governments after 2000 in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela. It finds that while all four strengthened women's formal land rights, only the reforms in Bolivia and Brazil resulted in a significant share and number of female beneficiaries. In both countries, strong national-level rural women's movements were the main advocates behind women's land rights in a context in which they formed part of the coalition that brought these regimes to power. In Bolivia, women have benefited principally through joint titling of land to couples in the country's massive land regularization programme. Brazil's reform has been the most redistributionary, and women have benefited through the priority given to female household heads as well as the mandatory joint allocation of land to couples in the agrarian reform settlements.
Permeable Wall Effects on Poiseuille Flow

The effects of permeable walls on Poiseuille flow are investigated. Due to the transfer of forward momentum across the permeable interface, a very thin boundary layer region is induced within the porous material adjacent to the interface. The boundary layer structure is found herein, and it depends strongly on the properties of the material in the boundary regions. The present theory agrees with available experiments very well. However, more controlled experimental data are still needed.
Distinguishing between metabolically active and dormant bacteria on paper

Switching between metabolically active and dormant states provides bacteria with protection from environmental stresses and allows rapid growth under favorable conditions. This rapid growth can be detrimental to the environment, e.g., pathogens in recreational lakes, or to industrial processes, e.g., fermentation, making it useful to quickly determine when the ratio of dormant to metabolically active bacteria changes. While a rapid increase in metabolically active bacteria can cause complications, a high number of dormant bacteria can also be problematic, since they can be more virulent and antibiotic-resistant. To determine the metabolic state of Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium, we developed two paper-based colorimetric assays. The color changes were based on oxidoreductases reducing tetrazolium salts to formazans, and alkaline phosphatases cleaving phosphates from nitrophenyl phosphate salt. Specifically, we added iodophenyl-nitrophenyl-phenyl tetrazolium salt (INT) and methylphenazinium methyl sulfate to metabolically active bacteria on paper and INT and para-nitrophenyl phosphate salt to dormant bacteria on paper. The color changed in less than 60 min and was generally visible at 103 CFU and quantifiable at 106 CFU. The color changes occurred in both bacteria, since oxidoreductases and alkaline phosphatases are common bacterial enzymes. On one hand, this feature makes the assays suitable to a wide range of applications, on the other, it requires specific capture, if only one type of bacterium is of interest. We captured Salmonella or E. coli with immobilized P22 or T4 bacteriophages on the paper, before detecting them at levels of 102 or 104 CFU, respectively. Determining the ratio of the metabolic state of bacteria or a specific bacterium at low cost and in a short time, makes this methodology useful in environmental, industrial and health care settings.
Management of Anticoagulation in Patients With Prostate Cancer Receiving Enzalutamide

Enzalutamide, a novel, oral androgen receptor antagonist used for the treatment of metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer, has been shown to improve overall and progression-free survival, prolong time to initiation of chemotherapy, reduce skeletal-related events, and carry a favorable adverse effect profile. Metastatic prostate cancer is a disease of older men, a population with an increased incidence of medical comorbidities warranting anticoagulation. Prostate cancer itself, along with some of its therapies, is also prothrombotic. Enzalutamide interacts with several anticoagulants through various mechanisms, making their concurrent use clinically challenging. As such, complex decisions about anticoagulation in these patients are frequently encountered by treating physicians. In this review, we describe the potential interactions between enzalutamide and various anticoagulants, and suggest management paradigms based on the current body of knowledge for patients with atrial fibrillation, venous ...
Seasonal and canopy height variation in n-alkanes and their carbon isotopes in a temperate forest

Abstract The stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of terrestrial leaf wax components, such as n-alkanes (δ13Calk), is used extensively to address questions about past changes in vegetation, climate and the carbon cycle. To interpret sedimentary δ13Calk values, characterization of the environmental and biological controls on carbon isotopic fractionation during plant metabolism is required, especially for fractionation that occurs during photosynthesis (ɛleaf-CO2 or Δleaf) and n-alkane biosynthesis (ealk-leaf). Although much is understood about controls on ɛleaf-CO2, little is known about seasonal or within canopy variation in n-alkane composition and ealk-leaf. To address the gap, we sampled 5 common tree species (Acer rubrum, Acer saccharum, Juniperus virginiana, Sassafras albidum and Ulmus americana) from buds to senescing leaves from within a single temperate forest in southwestern Ohio, USA. We measured n-alkane concentration, δ13Calk, leaf biomass δ13C (δ13Cleaf), δ13C of atmospheric CO2 within the canopy, luminous flux and specific leaf area (SLA). In angiosperms, δ13Calk values were low in the buds, increased substantially (4–6‰) to the highest values in young leaves and then decreased (1–3‰) in mature leaves. Seasonal variation in δ13Calk values generally tracked changes in δ13Cleaf, but the fractionation between leaf and n-alkanes (ealk-leaf) was variable, with lower values in buds (−6.7 ± 1.1‰) than in young leaves (−4.9 ± 2.3‰). Later in the growing season, ealk-leaf values stabilized and ranged between −2.5 and −6.5‰, with a mean of −4.3 ± 1.4‰ in angiosperms. Stabilization of δ13Calk values coincided with settling of SLA and increase in average chain length (ACL). For the conifer, temporal variation in δ13Calk values was smaller (ca. 2‰) compared with the angiosperms, and ealk-leaf values slightly increased when n-alkane production increased. Average ealk-leaf value in the conifer at the end of the growing season was −5.0 ± 0.7‰. We speculate that ealk-leaf variation in both angiosperms and the conifer reflects changes in the source of carbon for plant metabolism, as well as the timing of wax synthesis. We also tested canopy effects on n-alkane concentration and carbon isotopic fractionation at different heights and extent of canopy closure. n-Alkane concentrations were higher at the top of the canopy by 2–8 times than in the lower canopy. The eleaf-CO2 values were more negative at the lower two thirds of the canopy than the upper one third of the canopy by 2–4‰ in two species with closed canopies. The ealk-leaf values did not vary with height and extent of canopy closure. To further explore the link between canopy leaves and leaf litter, we compared δ13Calk values of mature canopy leaves with those in leaf litter collected during senescence, and the offsets were within ca. 1‰. The results confirm indications that leaf litter δ13Calk values reflect those of the upper canopy leaves due to not only high leaf biomass in the upper canopy but also to high n-alkane production.
The Caregiving Ambition Framework

The caregiving ambition framework offers a new approach to understanding work-life issues in terms of aspirations to nurture and care for others. I propose that caregiving ambition varies along two...
13 – Rock Block Modeling with Interactive Graphics

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on rock block modeling with interactive graphics and describes the development of computer codes, with interactive computer graphics as an integral part, for the analysis of the deformational behavior and stability of jointed rock masses. The static stability of the blocky system is analyzed using graph connectivity. A procedure for dynamic analysis of a blocky system is developed, based on the same topological data structure used in the program for static analysis. The blocks are simulated as moving points in configuration space. The measures of both rotation and deformation are attached to the moving blocks. The use of topology and quaternions reduces memory requirement and computing time for the geometrical data structure and simplifies considerably the geometrical logic for block–block collision and kinematic calculation in dynamic analysis. Rock blocks can move and tumble with respect to a stationary observer, or, equivalently, the blocky system can be fixed in orientation while the viewer moves around the system zooming in or out for a more or less detailed view.
Mutation Induction and Detection in Arabidopsis

Mutation is an infrequent event, and the stability of the various gene loci is quite different. Additional complexity appears when mutability is studied in different taxonomic groups displaying a variety of genome organization. Higher plants permit the study of mutation in three types of genomes: nuclear, plastidic and mitochondrial. In Arabidopsis the size of the nuclear genome is about 1. 3 × 1012 dalton whereas the chloroplast and the mitochondrial genomes are estimated to be 4 to 5 orders of magnitude smaller. The nuclear genome of Arabidopsis is much less redundant than that of other higher plants, thus mutation can be detected at an estimated 19,688 loci during embryonic development and the total number of loci with visible mutations appears to be 27,875.
Role of GPx3 in PPARγ-induced protection against COPD-associated oxidative stress

Cigarette smoke, a source of numerous oxidants, produces oxidative stress and exaggerated inflammatory responses that lead to irreversible lung tissue damage. It is the single, most significant risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although an intrinsic defense system that includes both enzymatic and non-enzymatic modulators exists to protect lung tissues against oxidative stress, impairment of these protective mechanisms has been demonstrated in smokers and COPD patients. The antioxidant enzyme GSH peroxidase (GPx) is an important part of this intrinsic defense system. Although cigarette smoke has been shown to downregulate its expression and activity, the underlying mechanism is not known. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a nuclear hormone receptor with antioxidant effects. PPARγ activation has demonstrated protective effects against cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Molecular mechanisms for PPARγ's antioxidant function likewise remain to be elucidated. This study explored the link between PPARγ and GPx3 and found a positive association in cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-exposed human bronchial epithelial cells. Moreover, we provide evidence that identifies GPx3 as a PPARγ transcriptional target. Attenuation of antioxidant effects in the absence of GPx3 highlights the antioxidant's prominent role in mediating PPARγ's function. We also demonstrate that ligand-mediated PPARγ activation blocks CSE-induced reactive oxygen species and hydrogen peroxide production via upregulation of GPx3. In summary, our findings describing the molecular mechanisms involving GPx3 and PPARγ in CSE-induced oxidative stress and inflammation may provide valuable information for the development of more effective therapeutics for COPD.