cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic heterogeneity of obesity-related brain vulnerability: one-size interventions will not fit all

Intact memory and problem solving are key to functional independence and quality of life in older age. Considering the unprecedented demographic shift toward a greater number of older adults than children in the United States in the next few decades, it is critically important for older adults to maintain work productivity and functional independence for as long as possible. Implementing early interventions focused on modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline at midlife is a strategy with the highest chance of success at present, bearing in mind the current lack of dementia cures. We present a selective, narrative review of evidence linking nutrition, body composition, vascular health, and brain function in midlife to highlight the phenotypic heterogeneity of obesity-related brain vulnerability and to endorse the development of individually tailored lifestyle modification plans for primary prevention of cognitive decline.
Mentoring Undergraduates into Cyber-Facilitator Roles

There is a shortage of training programs for research cyber-facilitators and the need is only growing, especially in academia. This paper will discuss the importance of developing a workforce at the undergraduate level, creating a formal program for training and mentoring undergraduates in Research Computing at Purdue University, and how the approach to mentoring has evolved. The hands-on training and mentoring program has changed from one with students working as junior HPC administrators, performing hardware break-fix in a relative vacuum, to one with students working closely with their mentors, building real-world cyberinfrastructure solutions, such as distributed computing environments. More recently, the mentoring program has grown to include facilitating and supporting research applications with the Purdue user community. Finally, outcomes for the students in these programs lessons learned will be discussed.
An Efficient Numerical Method for Determination of Shapes, Sizes and Orientations of Flaws for Nondestructive Evaluation

The generalized pulse-spectrum technique (GPST)1 is a versatile and effcient iterative numerical algorithm for solving inverse problems (to determine the unknown coefficients, initial-boundary values, sources, and geometries of the space domain from the additionally measured data in the space-time domain or the space-complex frequency domain) of a system of nonlinear partial differential equations. Mathematically, inverse problems of partial differential equations can be formulated as ill-posed nonlinear operator equations. It is important to point out that the GPST is not a single narrowly defined iterative numerical algorithm but a broad class of iterative numerical algorithms based on the concept that either the nonlinear operator equation is first linearized by any one of the Newton-like iteration methods and then each iterate is solved by using a stabilizing method, e.g., the Tikhonov’s regularization method2, or the stabilizing method is first applied to the nonlinear operator equation and then the regularized nonlinear problem is solved by using a Newton-like iteration method. Hence different choices of various Newton-like iteration methods and stabilizing methods lead to different special forms of GPST, and the efficiency of GPST will then depend upon the particular choices of them and how efficiently one can treat every minute step in the numerical algorithm.
Probabilistic Databases of Universal Schema

In data integration we transform information from a source into a target schema. A general problem in this task is loss of fidelity and coverage: the source expresses more knowledge than can fit into the target schema, or knowledge that is hard to fit into any schema at all. This problem is taken to an extreme in information extraction (IE) where the source is natural language. To address this issue, one can either automatically learn a latent schema emergent in text (a brittle and ill-defined task), or manually extend schemas. We propose instead to store data in a probabilistic database of universal schema. This schema is simply the union of all source schemas, and the probabilistic database learns how to predict the cells of each source relation in this union. For example, the database could store Freebase relations and relations that correspond to natural language surface patterns. The database would learn to predict what freebase relations hold true based on what surface patterns appear, and vice versa. We describe an analogy between such databases and collaborative filtering models, and use it to implement our paradigm with probabilistic PCA, a scalable and effective collaborative filtering method.
Relationship disturbances and parent-child therapy. Sleep problems.

Sleep disturbances in infancy have been used as an example to demonstrate a spectrum of relationship pathology. A recently proposed classification scheme that focuses on the child’s age and nighttime interactions was presented. Two relationship disturbances, sleep-onset protodysomnia and night-waking protody- somnia, have been defined, and a case that uses the nosology for diagnosis and treatment within the framework of parent-infant intervention is presented. Evaluation of the individual child’s behavior in an objective manner and assessment of the parent- child relationship build the foundation for successful intervention with relationship disturbances using parent-child therapies.
Revisiting the effects of molybdenum and tungsten alloying on corrosion behavior of nickel-chromium alloys in aqueous corrosion

Abstract Minor alloying additions such as molybdenum (Mo) have major effects on the localized corrosion resistance of corrosion resistant alloys containing chromium. However, progress in alloy development is mostly based upon empirical observations, where any mechanistic insights are largely relegated to the latter stages of localized corrosion (i.e., stabilization and propagation) that are more readily accessible experimentally. For instance, it is well understood that Mo and tungsten (W) affect repassivation of local active, as well as widespread transpassive, corrosion sites and Mo surface enrichment during corrosion is well-documented. In this paper, a comprehensive examination of the functions and mechanism by which selected Mo and W operate to improve the passivity and resistance to breakdown during the initial stages of localized corrosion of the most common Ni-based solid solution alloys is presented. It is shown that Mo and W exert considerable influence on many stages of corrosion, including both passivation and film breakdown, re-enforcing old and introducing more recent ideas in this comprehensive review of the current state of corrosion research on Ni-Cr-(Mo + W) alloys.
The Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at 100: A Century of Authorship

Abstract Objective To describe the authors who have contributed articles to the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (APMR this declined to
An Expansin-Like Candidate Effector Protein from Pratylenchus penetrans Modulates Immune Responses in Nicotiana benthamiana

The root lesion nematode (RLN) Pratylenchus penetrans is a migratory species that attacks a broad range of crops. After the RLN is initially attracted to host roots by root exudates and compounds, it releases secretions that are critical for successful parasitism. Among those secretions are nematode virulence factors or effectors that facilitate the entry and migration of nematodes through the roots and modulate plant immune defenses. The recognition of the effectors by host resistance proteins leads to effector-triggered immunity and incompatible plant-nematode interactions. Although many candidate effectors of the RLN and other plant-parasitic nematodes have been identified, the detailed mechanisms of their functions and particularly, their host targets remain largely unexplored. In this study, we sequenced and annotated genes encoding expansin-like proteins, which are major candidate effectors of P. penetrans. One of the genes, Pp-EXPB1, which was the most highly expressed during nematode infection in different plant species, was further functionally characterized via transient expression in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana and global transcriptome profiling of gene expression changes triggered by this candidate effector in plants. As a result of this investigation, the biological roles of Pp-EXPB1 in nematode parasitism were proposed, the putative cellular targets of the proteins were identified, and the molecular mechanisms of plant responses to the nematode-secreted proteins were outlined.
Evaluation of temporomandibular joint function after orthognathic surgery using a jaw tracker.

Objective:It has been reported that temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function after orthognathic surgery differs from normal patients. Dysfunction of the joints occurs often even in the general public...
16 – PLAQUE ASSAYS

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on plaque assays. The plaque assay is an infectious quantitative assay that quantifies the number of infectious virus particles present in a virus suspension. In the plaque assay, dilutions of a virus sample are added to confluent cell monolayers and allowed to adsorb. The unabsorbed virus is washed off and an overlay medium is added. The plaque assay is a very sensitive assay in that, theoretically one plaque is initiated by infection from a single infectious virus particle, and the number of plaques can be quantified. Because virus samples are inevitably heterogeneous populations, infectivity is not an all-or-nothing phenomenon and is dependent on the assay conditions. In segmented viruses like influenza, two or more noninfectious virus particles adsorbing to the same cell can complement each other to produce infectious virus progeny if their defects are in different genes.
A Defense of Kwame Gyekye’s Moderate Communitarianism

An avowed communitarian, Gyekye follows the lead of such African communitarians as Menkiti who believe that the community is ontologically prior to the individual. However, unlike Menkiti and other...
Risk-Taking Behaviors Among Athletes

Risk-taking among athletes represents a significant health concern worthy of a provider’s consideration. While athletes are perceived as role models for health and wellness, a number of studies suggest that athletes may be more likely to participate in risk-taking than their nonathlete counterparts, though the data supporting these finds remains limited. In this chapter, we consider behaviors such as seatbelt and helmet omission, riding with an intoxicated driver, driving while intoxicated, carrying a weapon, being involved in physical fighting, gambling, sexual risk-taking, and using tobacco products.
Waveguide cavity optomagnonics for microwave-to-optics conversion

Cavity optomagnonics has emerged as a promising platform for studying coherent photon-spin interactions as well as tunable microwave-to-optical conversion. However, current implementation of cavity optomagnonics in ferrimagnetic crystals remains orders of magnitude larger in volume than state-of-the-art cavity optomechanical devices, resulting in very limited magneto-optical interaction strength. Here, we demonstrate a cavity optomagnonic device based on integrated waveguides and its application for microwave-to-optical conversion. By designing a ferrimagnetic rib waveguide to support multiple magnon modes with maximal mode overlap to the optical field, we realize a high magneto-optical cooperativity, which is three orders of magnitude higher compared to previous records of the magneto-optical cooperativity obtained on polished yttrium iron garnet spheres. Furthermore, we achieve tunable conversion of microwave photons at around 8.45 GHz to 1550 nm light with a broad conversion bandwidth as large as 16.1 MHz. The unique features of the system point to novel applications at the crossroad between quantum optics and magnonics.
Limitations of Applying Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films to Predict Bioavailability of Metal Mixtures in Aquatic Systems with Unstable Water Chemistries.

The present study accessed the use of diffusive gradients in thin film (DGT) as a surrogate for estimating the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in a freshwater mussel. We coupled DGTs with mussels and deployed them in a constructed wetland. Water quality parameters were measured for a 4-d period on 3 continuous occasions during 12-d trials in the summer and winter; metal speciation was modeled for each occasion. Higher cumulative rainfall and water turbidity during the summer trial resulted in higher particulate metal concentrations compared to the winter trial. Mussel accumulated metals did not correlate with DGT-measured metals but positively correlated with particulate metals in the summer because filtering particulate food mainly contributed to the bioaccumulation. In contrast, the winter trial suggested a positive correlation between metal bioaccumulation and DGT-measured metals because uptake of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from water mainly contributed to the bioaccumulation, and the labile metal species complexed with DOM generally overlapped with DGT-targeted metals. Though Cu has a higher affinity for organic ligands than Zn, the interactions between Cu and Zn in the mixture did not impede their uptake and bioaccumulation. The deployment duration when DGTs and mussels are coupled to compare metal bioavailability should be no less than 12 d so that mussels have enough time to accumulate contaminants from the environmental media. In summary, DGT is a convenient surrogate for biomonitoring, but it may not fit the real environment such as the aquatic system with unstable water chemistries. Geochemical modeling is good at calculating metal speciation but inferior to DGT in predicting bioavailability and mimicking bioaccumulation. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2485-2495. © 2020 SETAC.
Clothoid-based Moving Formation Control Using Virtual Structures

Formation control is a canonical problem in multi-agent systems as many multi-agent problems require agents to travel in coordination at some point during execution. This paper develops a method for coordinated moving formation control by building upon existing virtual structures approaches to define the relative vehicle positions and orientations and building upon clothoid-based motion planning to create the desired motion of the structure. The result is a coordinated formation control method that respects individual curvature constraints of each agent while allowing agents to track their desired positions within the formation with asymptotic convergence.
Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma extending retrograde into the superior vena cava.

To the Editor: We are writing in regard to the article by Portillo-Sanchez and colleagues.1 Our group has a strong interest in cardiac sarcoma; we have operated on 10 patients with primary pulmonary artery sarcoma and have reported the first 8 of those.2 We have never seen a pulmonary artery sarcoma grow retrograde into the right ventricle—indeed, all have grown distally, within the pulmonary artery trunks. This case resembles the clinical and pathologic presentation of intravenous leiomyomatosis. This entity begins in the uterine veins and can occur long after a hysterectomy. It can occupy the entire vena cava, extending contiguously into the right heart, or it can break off and present as a right atrial tumor, extending into the pulmonary artery. These tumors tend to have a coiled appearance much like the one shown in the article and might be free within the vessel or attached. An intravenous leiomyomatosis tumor resembles a leiomyoma but can have bizarre nuclei and has been mistaken for low-grade leiomyosarcoma.3 It is thought to be a variant of malignant perivascular epitheloid cell tumor (PEComa). Pelvic imaging, particularly of the left uterine veins, would be useful in this case. We congratulate the authors on a well-presented case and successful surgical outcome. We maintain a pulmonary artery sarcoma registry and would be very interested in reviewing the pathology of this tumor with the authors. Shanda H. Blackmon, MD Michael J. Reardon, MD Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas
Diagnosing a periprosthetic shoulder infection: A systematic review.

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding accurate shoulder prosthetic joint infection (PJI) diagnosis. Methods Using PRISMA guidelines, we analyzed 25 studies reporting on 5535 patients and 646 infections. Results Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) cultures were positive in 60% of patients. Serum markers WBC, CRP, ESR, and IL-6 appear to lack diagnostic reliability. Synovial IL-6 and alpha-defensin may be more accurate in detecting infections. Conclusion Synovial IL-6 and alpha-defensin appear to have greater utility than serum markers. These may be incorporated into new criteria to accurately diagnose shoulder PJI. Level of evidence IV.
Evaluating Directional Dependency of Selective Laser Sintered Patient Specific Biodegradable Devices to Improve Predictive Modeling and Design Verification

Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, of the bioresorbable polymer $$\varepsilon$$ -polycaprolactone (PCL) is an emerging tissue engineering solution addressing patient specific anatomies. Predictively modeling the mechanical behavior of 3D printed parts comprised of PCL improves the ability to develop patient specific devices that meet design requirements while reducing the testing of extraneous design variants and development time for emergency devices. Predicting mechanical behavior of 3D-printed devices is limited by the variability of effective material moduli that are determined in part by the 3D printing manufacturing process. Powder fusion methods, specifically laser sintering, are known to produce parts with internal porosity ultimately impacting the mechanical performance of printed devices. This study investigates the role of print direction and part size on the material and structural properties of laser sintered PCL parts. Solid PCL cylinders were printed in the XY (perpendicular to laser) and Z direction (parallel to laser), scanned using microcomputed tomography, and mechanically tested under compression. Compositional, structural, and functional properties of the printed parts were evaluated with differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography, microcomputed tomography, and mechanical testing. Computational models of printed and scanned cylinders were fit to experimental data to derive effective moduli. Effective moduli were used to predict the mechanical behavior of splints used for emergency repair of severe tracheobronchomalacia. Laser sintering did not cause significant differences in polymer material properties compared to unmanufactured powder. Effective moduli (Eeff) were greater for larger part sizes (p < 0.01) and for parts oriented in the XY direction compared to the Z direction (p < 0.001). These dependencies were congruent with the differences in void volumes associated with the print direction (p < 0.01) and part size (p < 0.01). Finite element models of splint parallel compression tests utilizing the Eeff dependent on print direction and size agreed with experimental closed compression tests of splints. Evaluating the microstructural properties of printed parts and selecting effective moduli for finite element models based on manufacturing parameters allows accurate prediction of device performance. These findings allow testing of a greater number of device design variants in silico to accomodate patient specific anatomies towards providing higher quality parts while lowering overall time and costs of manufacturing and testing.
Holding Open the Door for Others Like Me.

Holding Open the Door for Others Like Me When a Black, nonbinary Ob/Gyn residency applicant didn’t match to a position, they reexamined their experience: Was the discrimination their grandfather ha...
Appreciating Group Processes and Dynamics

A class of students is a group. As such, it is subject to all we know about group dynamics. It would be impossible to address even a small fraction of the complex issue of group dynamics in the classroom within a brief essay, but a few thoughts are certainly warranted.
Regulation of the Immune System by NF-κB and IκB

NF-κB/Rel transcription factor family participates in diverse biological processes including embryo development, hematopoiesis, immune regulation, as well as neuronal functions. In this review, the NF-κB/Rel signal transduction pathways and their important roles in the regulation of immune system will be discussed. NF- κB/Rel members execute distinct functions in multiple immune cell types via the regulation of target genes essential for cell proliferation, survival, effector functions, cell trafficking and communication, as well as the formation of lymphoid architecture. Consequently, proper activation of NF- κB/ Rel during immune responses to allergens, auto-antigens, allo-antigens, and pathogenic infection is crucial for the integrity of host innate and adaptive immunity.
Relationship Between Lower Esophageal Sphincter Pressure and Serum Gastrin Concentration in Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome and Other Clinical Settings

The relationship between lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and serum gastrin concentration was examined in 16 normal subjects and in groups of patients with the following diagnoses: 17 with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES), 18 with gastroesophageal reflux, and 28 patients with previous operations for peptic ulcer disease, including 9 with vagotomy and pyloroplasty (V and P); 12 with vagotomy, subtotal gastrectomy, and gastroduodenostomy (Billroth I); and 7 with vagotomy, subtotal gastrectomy, and gastrojejunostomy (Billroth II). Mean (±SEM) basal LES pressure in ZES patients, 15.4 ± 1.2 mm Hg, was not significantly different from the mean LES pressure in normal subjects, 14.3 ± 1.2 mm Hg. Mean fasting serum gastrin concentration, however, in ZES patients, 2,034 ± 834 pg/ml, was significantly greater than that in normal subjects, 48.1 ± 4.7 pg/ml (P
Testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, and frailty in older men.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether testosterone (T) levels are associated with frailty or its components. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study conducted in three waves (T1: 1987–1989, T2: 1995–1997, T3: 2002–2004). SETTING: Communities in the Boston, Massachusetts, area. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred forty-six men aged 50 to 86 at T3 with complete data on frailty components and hormone measurements. MEASUREMENTS: The frailty phenotype was defined as the presence of three or more of the following: weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, slowness, and weakness. Men were classified as frail (≥3 components), intermediate (1–2 components), and nonfrail (0 components). Whether total and free T or sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) levels were associated cross-sectionally with frailty and with degree of frailty was determined. Potential confounders such as age, chronic disease, lifestyle factors, diet, and physical activity were considered. RESULTS: No association was observed between total or free T and the frailty phenotype after adjusting for confounders. Conversely, a significant association was observed between SHBG and frailty phenotype with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.25 (95% confidence interval=1.06–1.46) per 10-nM increase in SHBG levels. Associations between hormones and degree of frailty were similar to those for overall frailty. Of frailty components, grip strength and physical activity, but not exhaustion, slow walking, or weight loss, were associated with total T levels, whereas SHBG was related to weight loss, exhaustion, and physical activity. CONCLUSION: Total and free T levels were not associated with frailty phenotype, but SHBG was. Furthermore, T and SHBG levels were associated with some, but not all, components of frailty. Therefore, T trials in older men should focus on men experiencing decreases in strength.
Amniotic fluid volumes in the second half of pregnancy

Abstract The volume of amniotic fluid in 64 patients during the second half of pregnancy, using P.A.H. has been previewed. A total of 95 determinations were performed. The importance of prospective studies and repeated determinations in individual patients is emphasized as being essential for the acquisition of valid data, not only in respect to normal pregnancy, but also in the presence of such complications as pre-eclampsia and hydramnios.
Funding Consumer Directed Employment Outcomes

The topical theme for this special issue of the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation is Funding Consumer Directed Employment Outcomes. Here is a very brief overview of the evolution of practices around each of the three components of supported employment contained in this topic – funding, consumer directed supports, and employment outcomes. Funding: Concepts and practices around funding supported employment services have moved over the years from working to develop state and community level agreements to fund supported employment services to a focus on aligning dollars prescriptively to individualized employment supports. For many years, funding representatives controlled funding decisions and allocations, including choice of service providers. Funding practices do vary greatly from state to state and funds for supported employment continue to be scarce in many communities. However, there are an increasing number of examples where consumers control funding decisions through vouchers or personal budgets; where funding representatives meet proactively to match resources to very personalized employment plans; and where funding is matched to targeted employment outcomes. Consumer Directed: Increasingly, an emphasis on self-determination and informed consumer choice is now the cornerstone of quality supported employment services. The first step in framing an employment plan is asking the question: What are a person’s dreams, interests, and passions related to living and working in the community? The next step is to set up a process where the consumer exercises control over key steps in turning those dreams into employment. Choice of provider; satisfaction with the job outcome as a prerequisite for payment to the provider; the opportunity to turn a job into a career: The extent that the person receiving supports controls these choices are true measures of the extent to which supported employment is consumer directed. Employment Outcomes: Employment outcomes in supported employment have at times drawn heavily on entry-level jobs in a limited band of predominantly service occupations. Sometimes these jobs were forced choice situations, if a person with a significant or most significant disability was to work. Increasingly, careful job matches are the basis for employment outcomes, frequently involving negotiated arrangements with employers. The concepts of resource ownership, business within a business, and telework are truly representatives of consumer directed employment outcomes. The five papers presented in this issue are reflective of the evolution in supported employment over the last two decades as represented by the current best practices in funding, consumer directed supports, and employment outcomes. Dan O’Brien, Laurie Ford, and JoAnne Malloy review demonstrations on how alternate funding arrangements such as personal budgets and vouchers can help improve employment outcomes
Piezoelectric power extraction from bending waves: Electroelastic modeling, experimental validation, and performance enhancement

Abstract Existing research in vibration-based energy harvesting has focused mostly on the harvesting of deterministic or stochastic vibrational energy available at a fixed position in space. Such an approach is convenient for designing and employing linear and nonlinear vibration-based energy harvesters, such as base-excited cantilevers with piezoelectric laminates. This work presents a mathematical framework for the harvesting of one-dimensional bending waves propagating in infinite and semi-infinite beams as an alternative. For this purpose, the fully coupled electroelastic problem with piezoelectric patches bonded to a long slender beam is solved and conversion of incident wave energy into usable electricity while minimizing the traveling waves reflected and transmitted from the harvester domain is analyzed. The analysis shows that the efficiency of power transfer from elastic waves can be significantly improved beyond the typical wavelength matching in terms of both efficiency and bandwidth by resistive–inductive loading. It is also shown that enhancements to efficiency can be obtained by localized obstacles in mechanical domain, and fully anechoic boundary conditions can be obtained on finite beams by resistive–inductive impedance matching. These enhancement methods are most effective and practical when piezoelectric patch lengths and obstacle to patch distances are ∼ > λ /4, where evanescent fields become insignificant, while the model can readily accommodate the presence of evanescent waves for arbitrary patch lengths. The validity and application of the proposed methods are demonstrated with experimental case studies using a long slender beam.
The Constitutional Philosophy of Barack Obama: Democratic Pragmatism and Religious Commitment†

Objectives This article examines whether Barack Obama has a Constitutional philosophy and, if so, what those ideas are. Methods The article notes contrasting scholarly views on whether Obama's career exhibits consistent ideas and on the content of his ideas. It uses interpretive exposition of Obama's major writings, speeches, and presidential initiatives, based on all of Obama's writings and speeches through 2010, to identify Obama's ideas. Results Obama generally expresses and acts on views that accord with modern democratic pragmatist philosophic beliefs in deliberative democracy. It has not been fully recognized that Obama interprets the meaning of the U.S. Constitution as embodying these beliefs; that he blends this Constitutional view with egalitarian commitments that he identifies with black church social justice values; and that he sees the American Constitutional system's central goal as building greater public unity without effacing diversity. Conclusions Obama belongs to the modern democratic pragmatist tradition elaborated by American thinkers and political leaders since the Progressive era, but his distinctive Constitutional version of this outlook stresses deliberative democratic processes, black church social justice values, and the contention that the goal of the American Constitutional system is “e pluribus unum,” “out of many, one.”
Homeostasis and the glycogen shunt explains aerobic ethanol production in yeast

Aerobic glycolysis in yeast and cancer cells produces pyruvate beyond oxidative needs, a paradox noted by Warburg almost a century ago. To address this question, we reanalyzed extensive measurements from 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy of yeast glycolysis and the coupled pathways of futile cycling and glycogen and trehalose synthesis (which we refer to as the glycogen shunt). When yeast are given a large glucose load under aerobic conditions, the fluxes of these pathways adapt to maintain homeostasis of glycolytic intermediates and ATP. The glycogen shunt uses glycolytic ATP to store glycolytic intermediates as glycogen and trehalose, generating pyruvate and ethanol as byproducts. This conclusion is supported by studies of yeast with a partial block in the glycogen shunt due to the cif mutation, which found that when challenged with glucose, the yeast cells accumulate glycolytic intermediates and ATP, which ultimately leads to cell death. The control of the relative fluxes, which is critical to maintain homeostasis, is most likely exerted by the enzymes pyruvate kinase and fructose bisphosphatase. The kinetic properties of yeast PK and mammalian PKM2, the isoform found in cancer, are similar, suggesting that the same mechanism may exist in cancer cells, which, under these conditions, could explain their excess lactate generation. The general principle that homeostasis of metabolite and ATP concentrations is a critical requirement for metabolic function suggests that enzymes and pathways that perform this critical role could be effective drug targets in cancer and other diseases.
Reinforcement of Piezoelectric Polymers with Carbon Nanotubes: Pathway to Next-generation Sensors

Piezoelectric polymers such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) are being currently utilized as low-cost sensors in many structural vibration control applications and measurements. Their low electromechanical coupling coefficient, however, has always been a concern when utilized in different applications. In order to remedy this, carbon nanotubes, known for their extraordinary properties, can be mixed with such piezoelectric polymers as they have the potential to improve the electromechanical response of these polymers. Along this line of reasoning, different types of nanotubes; namely, single-walled and multiwalled are blended with a copolymer of PVDF. Through extensive experimental vibration testing and theoretical verification, it is found that the nanotube-based polymers yield better response characteristics than those of the plain piezoelectric polymers. More specifically, it is demonstrated that the dominant mechanism responsible for improved sensing performance is the increased Young’s modulus of e...
Accidents, claiming, and regional subcultures: are medical errors and malpractice lawsuits related to social capital?

Abstract Method This study examined states' performance on Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs), statistics on malpractice lawsuits, and analogous data on automobile accidents to identify state-level patterns in safety and claiming. Results Hospital safety varied in a pattern similar to highway safety on the state level, suggesting that cultural traits may play a greater role than differences in legal or other environmental factors. States performing well or poorly in hospital and driver safety tended to correspond with states grouped together in regional culture typologies developed by Elazar and Lieske. Traits of regional culture also are associated with variations in tort claiming. Conclusions The paper offers a theory of social capital as an important factor affecting safety and tort claiming. Where the regional culture is one of high cohesion and trust, people may exercise a higher degree of caution and vigilance in their interaction with others, and feel less inclination to file lawsuits subsequent to accidents.
Quantitative solubility relationships and the effect of water uptake in triglyceride/monoglyceride microemulsions.

Purpose This paper aims to elucidate quantitative relationships between small molecule solubility/water-uptake in triglyceride/monoglyceride lipid formulations, the chemical structure of the solute, and the solvent composition.
Explaining counterfactuals of freedom

Counterfactuals of creaturely freedom (CCFs) are notoriously puzzling. One puzzle has to do with truth-making: we wonder how any CCFs could be true prior to the existence of all creatures. Another, less addressed puzzle has to do with truth-explaining: what antecedent conditions or facts might explain a given CCF? The usual answer to the ‘explanation’ question is that true CCFs are brute: nothing explains them. We motivate an alternative answer by arguing that there can be an explanation of CCFs if there can be an explanation of free actions. Our argument reveals that theoretical frameworks, such as Molinism, that make use of CCFs do not automatically carry an explanatory cost.
Money v.s. prestige: Cultural attitudes and occupational choices

Abstract This paper studies the occupational choices of highly educated native-born American males and links their choices to cultural attitudes toward pecuniary rewards and social prestige in their ancestral countries. These cultural attitudes were reported in the World Values Survey, which surveyed individuals' opinions on a series of subjects in various societies. The empirical analysis verifies that cultural attitudes play a significant role in occupational choices: when other factors that may be correlated with one's opportunity and advantage are controlled for, a stronger cultural demand for pecuniary rewards leads individuals to choose more lucrative jobs, and a stronger demand for social prestige leads them to choose more prestigious jobs. The paper further explores the neighborhood effects on cultural transmission and finds a positive relationship between the proportion of the population from the same ancestry in the residential area and the effects of cultural attitudes on occupational selection.
Monolayer adsorption for the subcritical lattice gas and partially miscible binary mixtures

Abstract Lattice theories have been used extensively to predict and correlate liquid–liquid equilibria in mixtures. Lattice theories also have been used to predict the behavior of gases adsorbing onto solid surfaces. Here, we use a lattice model based on the ideas of Ono and Kondo to predict the phase behavior in adsorbed monolayers for systems that are below their bulk-phase critical points. For such an analysis, it is important that molecular behavior in the bulk and the adsorbed layer is based on consistent assumptions. Here, this is accomplished by treating the fluid in the bulk as well as in the adsorbed layer as a strictly regular solution. Interesting new adsorption isotherms and phase diagrams are generated that provide useful insights into adsorption of both lattice gases (i.e., “mixtures” of molecules and holes) and dense lattice liquids (i.e., “mixtures” of molecules without holes), illustrating the similarities between adsorption of gases and liquids.
RF ICs for GPS applications

The large growth in commercial GPS systems has had a big impact on the RF section of GPS receivers. The digital interface has moved closer to the front-end and highly integrated RFICs are commonplace in modern GPS receivers. The next generation of RFICs for Navstar's applications will enable joint GPS and GLONASS operation, minimise power consumption and be optimised for maximum RFI rejection.
Generalized voter models

We examine a one-dimensional class of interacting particle systems which generalize some voter models. This class includes a particular case in the class of models of catalytic surfaces introduced by Swindle and Grannan. We show that this class has the “clustering” property of ordinary finite-range voter models, at least when one is concerned with translation-invariant measures on the state space.
Protein Composition and Movements of Membrane Swellings Associated with Primary Cilia

Dysfunction of many ciliary proteins has been linked to a list of diseases, from cystic kidney to obesity and from hypertension to mental retardation. We previously proposed that primary cilia are unique communication organelles that function as microsensory compartments that house mechanosensory molecules. Here we report that primary cilia exhibit membrane swellings or ciliary bulbs, which based on their unique ultrastructure and motility, could be mechanically regulated by fluid-shear stress. Together with the ultrastructure analysis of the swelling, which contains monosialodihexosylganglioside (GM3), our results show that ciliary bulb has a distinctive set of functional proteins, including GM3 synthase (GM3S), bicaudal-c1 (Bicc1), and polycystin-2 (PC2). In fact, results from our cilia isolation demonstrated for the first time that GM3S and Bicc1 are members of the primary cilia proteins. Although these proteins are not required for ciliary membrane swelling formation under static condition, fluid-shear stress induced swelling formation is partially modulated by GM3S. We therefore propose that the ciliary bulb exhibits a sensory function within the mechano-ciliary structure. Overall, our studies provided an important step towards understanding the ciliary bulb function and structure.
Virtual Field Test for cognitive-dynamic spectrum access radios and spectrum usage inventory

A RF spectrum survey was conducted during a Navy exercise in the summer of 2013 to characterize the electromagnetic environment of a military surface ship and the associated emissions of complementary ships present during the exercise. The spectrum survey system consists of receiver antennas, a real-time spectrum analyzer, computer and associated instrumentation. The spectrum range from 20 MHz–6000 MHz and from 9390 MHz–9430 MHz were surveyed and captured in 40 MHz bandwidth blocks. For each 40 MHz block, the I/Q data of the spectrum was saved in the .mat format compatible with MATLAB®; a screenshot of each collected spectrum band was also saved. The I/Q data represents the environment, however, it cannot be used in that format for a spectrum usage inventory. The I/Q data is post-processed to provide a spectrum utilization profile for a particular frequency band. MATLAB® scripts were created to generate a matrix of integer values to represent multiple granularity levels of the absolute power in the spectrum represented by the collected data. The dimensions of the matrix can be scaled to provide a time or frequency resolution and power granularity level supporting the analysis needs. A total of 138 GB of data were collected in three days on board the ship. During the exercise, other research groups performed collections at different shore and shipboard locations. Comparative analysis of the data sets with associated position information tagging provides a basis for understanding of the propagation characteristics in the marine environment. The resulting data sets are shared with the US Department of Defense community through incorporation into the DoD Wireless Networking Library, a resource sponsored by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. The collected data set can also be manipulated to create specific testing scenarios. The resulting scenarios have been used to regenerate the spectral environment with an arbitrary waveform generator that is a component of the Virtual Field Test Testbed. Regeneration of the synthesized spectral environment scenarios is used in the research and development of cognitive or dynamic spectrum access radios, as well as legacy radios to understand the performance of the radios under relevant spectral conditions. The collection, processing, regeneration and application of the spectrum environment in the Virtual Field Test Testbed are described.
Splitting of the circadian rhythm of activity is abolished by unilateral lesions of the suprachiasmatic nuclei

The circadian rhythm of activity in vertebrates often splits into two components after continuous exposure to constant light. This observation suggests that at least two circadian pacemakers underlie the activity rhythm. After unilateral ablation of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei in hamsters, the splitting phenomenon was eliminated and a single rhythm of activity was established. The period of the new circadian activity rhythm different from the periods of the split rhythm and that preceding the split. These results suggest an interaction between the bilaterally paired suprachiasmatic nuclei in the generation of the circadian rhythm of activity.
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus rafinesque, neutrophil adhesion to selected extracellular matrix proteins, lipopolysaccharide, and catfish serum

Adhesion of leukocytes to endothelium and extracellular matrix proteins is an important step in the inflammatory process. Therefore, the adhesion of channel catfish neutrophils to a surface coated with extracellular matrix proteins, LPS, and non-immune catfish serum was evaluated. Stimulation of neutrophils with phorbol dibutyrate (PDBU) resulted in at least two-fold increases in cellular adhesion to all substrates tested except laminin. When EDTA was included during or after PDBU stimulation, neutrophil adhesion to fibrinogen and LPS coated surfaces was reduced to the level of unstimulated neutrophils or to 50-60% of that for stimulated neutrophils. Similarly, EDTA and Ca2+/Mg2+ deficient medium reduced homotypic aggregation of PDBU stimulated neutrophils to background levels. Adhesion of stimulated neutrophils to fibrinogen coated surfaces was inhibited 44, 33, and 50% when soluble fibrinogen, fibronectin, and serum, respectively, were used to block the adhesion assay. The tripeptide integrin adhesion recognition sequence, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), caused 83% reduction and the fibrinogen-binding inhibitor protein caused 10% reduction in binding of stimulated neutrophils to fibrinogen coated surfaces. Two hexapeptides tested did not reduce neutrophil adhesion to fibrinogen. The binding of channel catfish neutrophils to the matrices used in the present study is suggestive that integrin mediated adhesion occurs during biological and pathological processes of teleosts.
Analytical calculation of the frequency shift in phase oscillators driven by colored noise: implications for electrical engineering and neuroscience.

We provide an analytical expression for the mean frequency shift in phase oscillators as a function of the standard deviation, $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ and the autocorrelation time, $\ensuremath{\tau}$ of small random perturbations. We show that the frequency shift is negative and proportional to ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{2}$. Its absolute value increases monotonically with $\ensuremath{\tau}$, approaching an asymptote determined by the ${\text{L}}^{2}$-norm of the phase-response curve. We validate our theoretical predictions with computer simulations and discuss their implications for the design of electronic oscillators and for the encoding of information in biological neural networks.
Enumeration of dimer (domino) configurations

Abstract Exact enumerations are given for the number of arrangements of q dimers on regular two- and three-dimensional point lattices.
Matrix theory of skin effect in laminations

Abstract This paper presents a mathematical technique for determining the magnetic and electric field intensities and the current density in plane conducting metal plates of constant permeability produced by an external impressed alternating magnetic field. The fundamental Maxwell field equations are used as the basis of the analysis and expressions for the amplitudes of the fields and currents are written in matrix form. It is demonstrated how the field and current distribution may be simply and systematically determined in composite laminated plates such as those used in transformers by a simple matrix multiplication procedure. The technique simplifies the calculations involving skin effect and magnetic shielding.
Twin-Screw Extrusion Processing of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Feeds Using Various Levels of Corn-Based Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)

ABSTRACT Increasing demand for seafood products and rising demand for fish meal for commercial fish feeds is driving the search for effective alternative protein sources. Twin-screw extrusion trials were conducted to study the production of nutritionally balanced feeds for rainbow trout fingerlings (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Six isocaloric (≈4.61 kcal/g) ingredient blends with a target protein content of >45% db were formulated with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and other feed ingredients. The moisture contents of the diets were initially adjusted to 5–7% db, and then extruded at 250 rpm using dual 1.9 mm dies with varying amounts of steam (7.2–7.7 kg/hr) injected into the conditioner and water (4.3–6.5 kg/hr) into the extruder. Mass flow rates, moisture contents, and temperatures were measured during processing and moisture content, water activity, unit density, bulk density, expansion ratio, compressive strength, compressive modulus, pellet durability index, water s...