cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combustion waves in hydraulically resistant porous media in a special parameter regime

Abstract In this paper we study the stability of fronts in a reduction of a well-known PDE system that is used to model the combustion in hydraulically resistant porous media. More precisely, we consider the original PDE system under the assumption that one of the parameters of the model, the Lewis number, is chosen in a specific way and with initial conditions of a specific form. For a class of initial conditions, then the number of unknown functions is reduced from three to two. For the reduced system, the existence of combustion fronts follows from the existence results for the original system. The stability of these fronts is studied here by a combination of energy estimates and numerical Evans function computations and nonlinear analysis when applicable. We then lift the restriction on the initial conditions and show that the stability results obtained for the reduced system extend to the fronts in the full system considered for that specific value of the Lewis number. The fronts that we investigate are proved to be either absolutely unstable or convectively unstable on the nonlinear level.
Magnesium Metabolism of Human and Rabbit Erythrocytes

A modification of the magnesium ammonium phosphate precipitation method for the determination of serum magnesium was devised to determine the magnesium content of erythrocytes. The concentration of magnesium in the red cells of healthy hospital personnel was 4.67 ± 0.92 mEq./L. An increase in erythrocyte magnesium concentration was observed in patients with reticulocytosis. Experimental production of reticulocytosis by the administration of phenylhydrazine to rabbits confirmed these clinical observations. No significant in vitro uptake of Mg28 from the suspending medium occurred in mature human erythrocytes or in mature or immature erythrocytes from rabbits. The relative tissue uptake of Mg28 in the bone marrow was significantly increased in animals in whom anemia and marked reticulocytosis were produced by phenylhydrazine. Relative activity was decreased in the hearts, spleens, and kidneys of these animals. Since there is no evidence for significant exchange of magnesium in immature or mature erythrocytes in the peripheral circulation, it is concluded that the magnesium content of erythrocytes is increased in the bone marrow prior to their release into the peripheral circulation.
Iterative Reconstruction Results in Larger Computed Tomography Measurements of Iliofemoral Artery Diameter in Patients Referred for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that improved iterative reconstruction increases image quality and reduces artifacts for iliofemoral artery computed tomography imaging in patients referred for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS We examined 56 consecutive patients undergoing computed tomography for possible TAVR and compared image quality and iliofemoral artery size between adaptive statistical iterative reconstructions (ASIRs) and improved model-based iterative reconstructions (MBIRs). RESULTS Model-based iterative reconstruction (vs ASIR) was associated with improved (P < 0.001 for each) image quality (3.4 ± 0.8 vs 2.8 ± 1.0), beam hardening (3.5 ± 0.8 vs 3.0 ± 1.1), and wall definition (3.6 ± 0.6 vs 3.1 ± 0.8). Image signal-to-noise ratios (20.4 ± 10.1 vs 13.7 ± 6.6, P < 0.001) were also increased with MBIR as compared with ASIR. Mean iliofemoral artery size was larger using MBIR compared with ASIR (left, 7.7 ± 1.5 vs 7.4 ± 1.7 mm, P < 0.001; right, 7.8 ± 1.2 vs 7.4 ± 1.5 mm, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS In patients referred for TAVR, improved MBIR resulted in higher image quality, reduced artifacts, and larger iliofemoral artery diameters compared with standard iterative reconstructions.
Regional cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide during cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with cerebrovascular disease.

In patients with cerebrovascular disease, hypercarbia may cause redistribution of regional cerebral blood flow from marginally perfused to well-perfused regions (intracerebral steal), as evidenced by regional cerebral blood flow studies during carotid endarterectomy. 1 During hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, the pH-stat method of acid-base management produces relative hypercarbia. 2 To determine whether pH-stat management produces relative hypercarbia. 2 To determine whether pH-stat management induces intracerebral steals, we investigated nine patients with cerebrovascular disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. During hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, arterial carbon dioxide tension was varied in random order between 40 mm Hg and 60 mm Hg (uncorrected for body temperature). Regional cerebral blood flow was measured by clearance of 133 xenon injected into the arterial inflow cannula. Nasopharyngeal temperature (26.8°-28.0° ± 2.2°-3.0° C), perfusion flow rate (2.14-2.18 ± 0.70-0.73 L/min/m2), mean arterial pressure (67-68 ± 6-9 mm Hg), arterial carbon dioxide tension (302-308 ± 109-113 mm Hg), and hematocrit (23% ± 4%) were maintained within narrow limits in each patient during arterial carbon dioxide tension manipulation. Global mean cerebral blood flow values were similar to previously reported values in patients free of cerebrovascular disease 2 ; patients in this study averaged 15.2 ± 2.5 ml/100 gm/min at an arterial carbon dioxide tension of 46.1 ± 8.4 mm Hg and 25.3 ± 6.1 ml/100 gm/min at an arterial carbon dioxide tension of 71.1 ± 11.8 mm Hg. Carbon dioxide reactivity, defined as mean global cerebral blood flow (in ml/100 gm/min) ÷ arterial carbon dioxide tension (in mm Hg), was similar in the region having the lowest regional cerebral blood flow and in the brain as a whole. No patient developed evidence of an intracerebral steal at the higher arterial carbon dioxide tension. During hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, higher levels of arterial carbon dioxide tension, such as those associated with the pH-stat management technique, are apparently not associated with potentially harmful redistribution of cerebral blood flow in patients with cerebrovascular disease.
Photorefractive Incoherent-To-Coherent Optical Converter: Physical And Materials Considerations

Volume holographic storage in photorefractive Bi12Si020 (BSO) crystals is utilized to perform dynamic incoherent-to-coherent image conversion by means of selective spatial erasure of a uniform grating with white (or quasi-monochromatic) light. Preliminary results with binary and grey level transparencies are presented, and the conversion process is described in terms of a simple model which relates the diffracted intensity to the space-variant effective modulation ratio.
Gardner’s Syndrome

Gardner's syndrome is an autosomal dominant genodermatosis. Familial polyposis of the colon, osteomas, and cutaneous epidermoid cysts are characteristic features. Colon cancer will develop in all affected individuals unless prophylactic colectomy is performed. The follow-up and management of patients with Gardner's syndrome require a coordinated effort by physicians with expertise in gastroenterology, general surgery, oral surgery, radiology, endocrinology, neurology, ophthalmology, and dermatology. Genetic and psychological counseling should also be available for these patients.
Establishing the Hydride Donor Abilities of Main Group Hydrides

Interest in reductions with main group hydrides has been reinvigorated with the discovery of frustrated Lewis pairs. Computational analysis showed that the borohydride of the commonly used Lewis acid B(C6F5)3 was determined to be 15 kcal/mol less reducing than borohydride ([BH4]−), 22 kcal/mol less reducing than aluminum hydride ([AlH4]−), and 41 kcal/mol less reducing than superhydride ([HBEt3]−). In addition to [HB(C6F5)3]−, a hydride donor ability scale with an estimated error of ∼3 kcal/mol includes 132 main group hydrides with gradually changing reducing capabilities spanning 160 kcal/mol. The scale includes representatives from organosilanes, organogermanes, organostannanes, borohydrides, boranes, aluminum hydrides, NADH analogues, and CH hydride donors. The large variety of reducing agents and the wide span of the scale (ranging from 0.5 to 160 kcal/mol in acetonitrile) make the scale a useful tool for the future design of metal-based or main group reducing agents.
Dynamics of tRNA fragments and their targets in aging mammalian brain

Background: The progress of next-generation sequencing technologies has unveiled various non-coding RNAs that have previously been considered products of random degradation and attracted only minimal interest. Among small RNA families, microRNA (miRNAs) have traditionally been considered key post-transcriptional regulators. However, recent studies have reported evidence for widespread presence of fragments of tRNA molecules (tRFs) across a range of organisms and tissues, and of tRF involvement in Argonaute complexes. Methods: To elucidate potential tRF functionality, we compared available RNA sequencing datasets derived from the brains of young, mid-aged and old rats. Using sliding 7-mer windows along a tRF, we searched for putative seed sequences with high numbers of conserved complementary sites within 3' UTRs of 23 vertebrate genomes. We analyzed Gene Ontology term enrichment of predicted tRF targets and compared their transcript levels with targets of miRNAs in the context of age. Results and Discussion: We detected tRFs originating from 3’- and 5’-ends of tRNAs in rat brains at significant levels. These fragments showed dynamic changes: 3’ tRFs monotonously increased with age, while 5’ tRFs displayed less consistent patterns. Furthermore, 3’ tRFs showed a narrow size range compared to 5’ tRFs, suggesting a difference in their biogenesis mechanisms. Similar to our earlier results in Drosophila and compatible with other experimental findings, we found “seed” sequence locations on both ends of different tRFs. Putative targets of these fragments were found to be enriched in neuronal and developmental functions. Comparison of tRFs and miRNAs increasing in abundance with age revealed small, but distinct changes in brain target transcript levels for these two types of small RNA, with the higher proportion of tRF targets decreasing with age. We also illustrated the utility of tRF analysis for annotating tRNA genes in sequenced genomes.
Aspirin increases mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.

The metabolic effects of salicylates are poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of aspirin on fatty acid oxidation. Aspirin increased mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid oxidation, but inhibited peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation, in two different cell lines. Aspirin increased mitochondrial protein acetylation and was found to be a stronger acetylating agent in vitro than acetyl-CoA. However, aspirin-induced acetylation did not alter the activity of fatty acid oxidation proteins, and knocking out the mitochondrial deacetylase SIRT3 did not affect the induction of long-chain fatty acid oxidation by aspirin. Aspirin did not change oxidation of medium-chain fatty acids, which can freely traverse the mitochondrial membrane. Together, these data indicate that aspirin does not directly alter mitochondrial matrix fatty acid oxidation enzymes, but most likely exerts its effects at the level of long-chain fatty acid transport into mitochondria. The drive on mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation may be a compensatory response to altered mitochondrial morphology and inhibited electron transport chain function, both of which were observed after 24 h incubation of cells with aspirin. These studies provide insight into the pathophysiology of Reye Syndrome, which is known to be triggered by aspirin ingestion in patients with fatty acid oxidation disorders.
Single-Wavelength Silicon Evanescent Lasers

The silicon evanescent device platform provides electrically pumped active device functionality on a low-loss silicon-on-insulator waveguide platform. We present here recent research in the area of single-wavelength silicon evanescent lasers that utilize distributed feedback, distributed Bragg reflector (DBR), and sampled grating (SG) DBR laser topographies.
Characterization of bone quality in prostate cancer bone metastases using Raman spectroscopy

Prostate cancer is the most common primary tumor in men, with a high propensity to metastasize to bone. Bone metastases in prostate cancer are associated with active pathologic bone remodeling, leading to increased mortality and morbidity. Detailed characterization of bone metastases is important in the management of prostate cancer. Raman spectroscopy was applied in this study to investigate the structure and composition of metastatic bone in prostate cancer with the ultimate goal of identifying spectral features that are related to the alterations in bone quality as the bone metastases develop. Osteoblastic-, osteolytic- and tumor-absent bone specimens from prostate cancer patients were investigated using bench-top Raman microspectroscopy. Raman derived measurements of collagen mineralization, mineral crystallinity, and carbonate substitution were calculated. The osteolytic lesions demonstrated significantly lower collagen mineralization, determined by phosphate ν1/proline, and higher carbonate substitution than normal and osteoblastic bones. Mineral crystallinity was significantly lower in both blastic and lytic specimens. In addition, a significant increase in the ratio of hydroxyproine: proline was observed in the osteoblastic specimen, indicating an increase in the content of hydroxyproline at the blastic lesions. This study demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy shows promise in determining alterations in osteoblastic and osteolytic bone metastases as well as assessing the response of metastatic bone to therapies.
Study of π+π− scattering in π−p → π+π−Xo via a chew low extrapolation

Abstract An unconstrained Chew Low extrapolation has been performed using 50 000 events from the reaction π − → π + π − X o at 15 GeV/ c , with − t c ) 2 . An energy independent phase shift analysis was performed. Results on the ππ cross section, p-wave and s-wave phase shifts in the mass range (525–975) MeV are presented. We find a unique solution for the s-wave phase shift below 750 MeV.
Using a genome-scale metabolic network model to elucidate the mechanism of chloroquine action in Plasmodium falciparum

Chloroquine, long the default first-line treatment against malaria, is now abandoned in large parts of the world because of widespread drug-resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. In spite of its importance as a cost-effective and efficient drug, a coherent understanding of the cellular mechanisms affected by chloroquine and how they influence the fitness and survival of the parasite remains elusive. Here, we used a systems biology approach to integrate genome-scale transcriptomics to map out the effects of chloroquine, identify targeted metabolic pathways, and translate these findings into mechanistic insights. Specifically, we first developed a method that integrates transcriptomic and metabolomic data, which we independently validated against a recently published set of such data for Krebs-cycle mutants of P. falciparum. We then used the method to calculate the effect of chloroquine treatment on the metabolic flux profiles of P. falciparum during the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle. The model predicted dose-dependent inhibition of DNA replication, in agreement with earlier experimental results for both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant P. falciparum strains. Our simulations also corroborated experimental findings that suggest differences in chloroquine sensitivity between ring- and schizont-stage P. falciparum. Our analysis also suggests that metabolic fluxes that govern reduced thioredoxin and phosphoenolpyruvate synthesis are significantly decreased and are pivotal to chloroquine-based inhibition of P. falciparum DNA replication. The consequences of impaired phosphoenolpyruvate synthesis and redox metabolism are reduced carbon fixation and increased oxidative stress, respectively, both of which eventually facilitate killing of the parasite. Our analysis suggests that a combination of chloroquine (or an analogue) and another drug, which inhibits carbon fixation and/or increases oxidative stress, should increase the clearance of P. falciparum from the host system.
Regulator Of Cell Cycle (Rgcc) Expression During The Progression Of Alzheimer's Disease

Unscheduled cell cycle reentry of postmitotic neurons has been described in cases of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may form a basis for selective neuronal vulnerability during disease progression. In this regard, the multifunctional protein regulator of cell cycle (RGCC) has been implicated in driving G1/S and G2/M phase transitions through its interactions with cdc/cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (cdk1) and is induced by p53, which mediates apoptosis in neurons. We tested whether RGCC levels were dysregulated in frontal cortex samples obtained postmortem from subjects who died with a clinical diagnosis of no cognitive impairment (NCI), MCI, or AD. RGCC mRNA and protein levels were upregulated by ∼50%-60% in MCI and AD compared to NCI, and RGCC protein levels were associated with poorer antemortem global cognitive performance in the subjects examined. To test whether RGCC might regulate neuronal cell cycle reentry and apoptosis, we differentiated neuronotypic PC12 cultures with nerve growth factor (NGF) followed by NGF withdrawal to induce abortive cell cycle activation and cell death. Experimental reduction of RGCC levels increased cell survival and reduced levels of the cdk1 target cyclin B1. RGCC may be a candidate cell cycle target for neuroprotection during the onset of AD.
Dental caries clusters among adolescents.

Objectives There have been very few longitudinal studies of dental caries in adolescents, and little study of the caries risk factors in this age group. The purpose of this study was to describe different caries trajectories and associated risk factors among members of the Iowa Fluoride Study (IFS) cohort. Methods The IFS recruited a birth cohort from 1992 to 1995, and has gathered dietary, fluoride and behavioural data at least twice yearly since recruitment. Examinations for dental caries were completed when participants were ages 5, 9, 13 and 17 years. For this study, only participants with decayed and filled surface (DFS) caries data at ages 9, 13 and 17 were included (N=396). The individual DFS counts at age 13 and the DFS increment from 13 to 17 were used to identify distinct caries trajectories using Ward's hierarchical clustering algorithm. A number of multinomial logistic regression models were developed to predict trajectory membership, using longitudinal dietary, fluoride and demographic/behavioural data from 9 to 17 years. Model selection was based on the akaike information criterion (AIC). Results Several different trajectory schemes were considered, and a three-trajectory scheme—no DFS at age 17 (n=142), low DFS (n=145) and high DFS (n=109)—was chosen to balance sample sizes and interpretability. The model selection process resulted in use of an arithmetic average for dietary variables across the period from 9 to 17 years. The multinomial logistic regression model with the best fit included the variables maternal education level, 100% juice consumption, brushing frequency and sex. Other favoured models also included water and milk consumption and home water fluoride concentration. The high caries cluster was most consistently associated with lower maternal education level, lower 100% juice consumption, lower brushing frequency and being female. Conclusions The use of a clustering algorithm and use of Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) to determine the best representation of the data were useful means in presenting longitudinal caries data. Findings suggest that high caries incidence in adolescence is associated with lower maternal educational level, less frequent tooth brushing, lower 100% juice consumption and being female.
Finite groups and complexity theory: from leningrad to saint petersburg via las vegas

Finite groups have affected complexity theory and complexity theory has had an impact on computational group theory. This paper is a personal account of the author's journey through the evolution of some of these interconnections, culminating in recent definitive results on the matrix group membership problem
Comparison of control strategies for energy efficient building HVAC systems

A framework for the design and simulation of a building envelope and an HVAC system is used to compare advanced control algorithms in terms of energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and computational complexity. Building models are first captured in Modelica [1] to leverage Modelica's rich building component library and then imported into Simulink [15] to exploit Simulink's strong control design environment. Four controllers with different computational complexity are considered and compared: a proportional (P) controller with time varying temperature bounds, a tracking linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controller with time varying tuning parameters, a tracking disturbance-aware linear quadratic regulator (d-LQR) controller with time varying tuning parameters which incorporates predictive disturbance information and a model predictive controller (MPC). We assess the performance of these controllers using two defined criteria, i.e. energy and discomfort measured with appropriate metrics. We show that the d-LQR and MPC, when compared to the P controller, manage to reduce energy by 41.2% and 46% respectively, and discomfort from 3.8 to 0. While d-LQR and MPC have similar performance with respect to energy and discomfort, simulation time in the case of d-LQR is significantly less than the one of MPC.
Dialogic Communication in Collaborative Problem Solving Groups.

Abstract Discourse, especially dialogic communication between students in collaborative problem-solving groups, plays a central role in educational reforms informed by learning science. This study examined the quality of discourse in problem-based learning groups in a university course. The study found a low incidence of high quality dialogue (dialogic communication, elaboration and co-construction of ideas, productive disciplinary discourse) in 12 one-hour planning meetings. The most competent students took leadership in groups and made the majority of the conceptual contributions. Although there was a reasonable amount of time spent connecting theories to cases, there was little time spent in high-level analysis and very few instances of true dialogic discourse. The majority of time was devoted to activities involving organizing, planning and logistics and organizing the presentation. There was very little off-task behavior. Key Words: Classroom Discourse, undergraduate education, learning science.
The influence of implicit self-theories on consumer financial decision making

Abstract This research investigates the influence of implicit self-theories of personality on consumers' financial decisions. We show that consumers who believe that personality traits are malleable (i.e., incremental theorists) prefer riskier investments because they are promotion-focused. However, consumers who believe that personality traits are fixed (i.e., entity theorists) prefer risk-averse investments because they are prevention-focused. Furthermore, we demonstrate the mediating role of a regulatory focus by both measuring and manipulating this construct. The theoretical and managerial implications of our research are discussed.
Footballer’s Shoulder

The shoulder is a common area for traumatic injury in the adolescent football player. The most common areas of injury include the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, sternoclavicular joint (SC), and glenohumeral joint. The AC joint is susceptible to sprains, fractures, and dislocations, often termed as “separated shoulder,” most commonly following a direct blow injury such as a fall onto the shoulder. The SC joint is rarely injured, but posterior SC joint dislocations do occur and can be life threatening and thus require accurate and prompt diagnosis and treatment. The glenohumeral joint can dislocate following traction injuries to the outstretched arm which may require sideline reduction and eventual surgical repair. Proper diagnosis and treatment of these injuries requires an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the adolescent athlete as well as the anticipated outcomes following treatment.
High-sensitivity plasma density retrieval in a common-path second-harmonic interferometer through simultaneous group and phase velocity measurement

Precise measurements of the plasma density in ionized gas cells and discharged capillaries are critical to the design and operation of plasma-based accelerators, active plasma lenses, and plasma-based radiation sources. In this manuscript, a spectral-domain common-path second-harmonic interferometer is upgraded with the simultaneous measurement of the group and phase velocity, allowing for high-sensitivity density characterization (from the phase velocity advance) without the need for phase tracking from zero-density (enabled by the group velocity delay). The technique is applied to 1.5-cm-long plasma structures, without density ambiguity in parameter scans with >2π phase jumps. The single-shot sensitivity in phase retrieval is demonstrated at 63 mrad, equivalent to a density-length product of 1.8·1015 cm−2. This is an improvement of ×45 compared to group velocity analysis alone.
In Biomedicine, Thin Is Still In: Obesity Surveillance among Racialized, (Im)migrant, and Female Bodies

Currently there is a plethora of research literature which constructs obesity as an alarming new global pandemic associated with a multitude of acute and chronic diseases rooted in lifestyle factors. Although most of these claims related to obesity are well accepted in the research community, some challenges remain. For instance, lifestyle factors only partially explain the risks of developing obesity. In this paper, I have advocated for greater caution in interpreting some of the medical claims of obesity due to the epistemological and methodological assumptions that inform certain groups of obesity researchers. While most of the literature has reported lifestyle factors and behavior modification as the major mechanisms to achieving health and wellbeing, a few scholars have raised issues about structural factors.
High density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I are associated with greater cerebral perfusion in multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Background The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the associations of multiple sclerosis (MS) neurodegeneration serum cholesterol profiles is currently unknown. Objective To determine associations between lipid profile measures and cerebral perfusion-based indices in MS patients. Methods Seventy-seven MS patients underwent 3 T MRI. Cerebral blood volume (CBV), time-to-peak (TTP) and mean transit time (MTT) measures were computed from dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) for normal-appearing brain tissue (NABT), GM, cortex, deep gray matter (DGM) and thalamus. Total cholesterol, low and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C) and the apolipoproteins (Apo), ApoA-I, ApoA-II, ApoB, ApoC-II and ApoE levels were measured in plasma. Age and body mass index (BMI)-adjusted correlations were used to assess the associations between PWI and lipid profile measures. Results Higher HDL-C levels were associated with shorter MTT, which are indicative of greater perfusion, in NABT (p = 0.012), NAWM (p = 0.021), GM (p = 0.009), cortex (p = 0.014), DGM p = 0.015; and thalamus p = 0.015). The HDL-C-associated apolipoproteins, ApoA-I and ApoA-II, were associated with shorter MTT of the same brain regions (all p Conclusion The HDL pathway is associated with better global brain perfusion and faster cerebral blood delivery as measured by shorter MTT and TTP, respectively. ApoC-II may be associated with lower cortical and DGM perfusion.
Risk factors for faecal carriage of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in a college community: a penalised regression model.

ABSTRACT Objectives Bacterial antimicrobial resistance is a serious global public-health threat. Intestinal commensal drug-resistant bacteria have been suggested as an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), which may be acquired via food. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with faecal carriage of drug-resistant commensal Escherichia coli among healthy adults focused on their dietary habits. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study targeting healthy adult volunteers in a college community. Faecal samples and questionnaires were obtained from 113 volunteers. We conducted backward elimination logistic regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) methods to identify risk factors. Results We analysed responses from 81 of 113 volunteers who completed the questionnaire. The logistic regression and LASSO methods identified red meat consumption to be associated with an increased risk [OR = 6.13 (95% CI 1.83–24.2) and 1.82, respectively] and fish consumption with a reduced risk [OR = 0.27 (95% CI 0.08–0.85) and 0.81] for carriage of multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli, adjusted for biological sex, employment status, frequently used supermarket and previous travel. Conclusion Dietary habits are associated with risk of faecal carriage of MDR E. coli. This study supports the growing evidence that food may be an important source of ARGs present in human commensal E. coli.
Higher Education and the Enduring Value of Hospitality: Reflections for the 21st Century

The 21st century is a perilous time for international collaboration among university actors. Mobility and international exchange have come to a total standstill as the world shelters in place, trying to slow down the course of a pandemic. However, the crisis of hospitality in higher education has been long in the making. Within universities, internationalization has been driven by profits and revenues for decades, while discussions of core values have been cast aside as utopian or idealistic. There are thousands of displaced, imprisoned and exiled academics, and there are millions of university-aged refugees in the world, with only a tiny fraction of them entering universities. Beyond university walls, scepticism toward the other has been brewing, popularizing xenophobic nationalism and construing mobility as a threat that must be curtailed or regulated to new extremes. As some governments have turned to authoritarianism, universities have become targets, and government actions have resulted in significant numbers of displaced and unemployed academics, many of whom look beyond national borders to find spaces where the pursuit of their ideas is less threatening and where they can exercise their intellectual calling. Responding to these needs requires hospitality, which is not unprecedented, but that has become a lower priority among many others such as the constant pressure to move up the rankings or league tables.
Ethical dilemmas in skeletal collection utilization: Implications of the Black Lives Matter movement on the anatomical and anthropological sciences

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has brought to the public eye longstanding issues of social and racial injustice which have permeated the experiences of individuals of African ancestry in the United States and abroad for centuries. Motivated by a desire to disassemble a framework of systemic racism, the BLM movement has infiltrated numerous social and political arenas including the sciences, demanding change. The impact of the BLM movement is evident in the attention recently garnered by protests of museum skeletal collections' acquisition and handling of African/African American human remains. It is from this vantage point that we explore the ethical issues pervasive within United States skeletal collections and forensically relevant issues surrounding the unclaimed decedents of marginalized populations; colonial/imperial ideological formations, which construct and sustain power differentials in anatomization; and conceive of a path forward that prioritizes personhood.
Perceptions of managers and Spanish-speaking employees in the Iowa horticultural industry

Horticulture is the fastest-growing sector of the agricultural industry, and this is true particularly in Iowa where the number of private horticultural businesses has more than doubled since 1993. The industry is relying more on non-English speaking employees, especially Spanish-speaking workers, for golf course maintenance, landscape installation, and nursery production. Determining and serving the educational and training needs of a workforce that is not fluent in English is historically difficult for university extension programs. This study assessed educational needs and technical issues of English-speaking managers of primarily Spanish-speaking workers in the horticultural industry in Iowa, with special attention to language and cultural issues. Four focus groups were conducted with managers recruited in cooperation with state professional horticultural associations. Communication gaps and challenges interpreting cultural differences were cited as key difficulties experienced by managers of Latino workers. The study produced a list of ideas for educational initiatives that would improve lateral (two-way) communications and delivery of Iowa-specific horticultural education and job-site training between Englishspeaking managers and Latino employees.
Metasurface optical antireflection coatings

We demonstrate a new strategy of optical antireflection coatings employing metasurfaces with designer surface properties in the mid-wave infrared. It has very little requirement on the choice of materials and is scalable to other wavelengths.
The Domestic Politics of Unpopular Wars: Assessing the Influence of Public Opinion on Presidential Decision Making

Abstract will be provided by author. This paper presents some of the findings from a larger project where I examine the reasons that democratic countries abandon involvement in peripheral wars. Here, I present the findings from my case study on the U.S.’ involvement in the Vietnam War from 1965-1975. To approach the research question, I first derive two hypotheses from the literature on imperial overextension. The first hypothesis holds that public support for a peripheral war will drop when the war leads to high costs, such as the implementation of conscription or new taxes; at this point leaders should take steps to end the war. The second hypothesis holds that the public will support a war so long as they believe their country is winning; an exogenous shock, in the form of a major policy failure, will cause a sharp drop in public support, and a policy change. I find that although these hypotheses can explain trends in public opinion during the Vietnam War, they do not explain the behavior of political leaders. I then outline a set of hypotheses derived from sociological framing theory. I argue that when a war becomes unpopular, leaders do not always follow public opinion and end the conflict; instead, leaders often seek to revive support for the war by reframing the policy debate, and inflating the costs of withdrawal. Framing theory predicts that if a leader is popular, and faces no opposition from other political elites, then he will succeed in rallying public support for prolonging the war. In contrast, if a leader faces sustained opposition from his political opponents, who outline a counterframe justifying a withdrawal, he will relent, and exit the conflict. After testing the framing hypotheses in the Vietnam case study, I conclude by using framing theory to offer some insights into two recent cases where leaders escalated unpopular wars. I examine Bush’s decision to send more troops to Iraq in 2007, and Obama’s 2009 decision to increase the number of soldiers in Afghanistan.
Multiple restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the human epidermal growth factor receptor gene.

Abstract We have examined the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor gene for structural alterations in fresh human tumors. DNA samples from 92 patients with solid tumors (lung cancer, 37; breast cancer, 24; head and neck cancer, 17; other tumors, 14) were analyzed and compared with those from 22 leukemia patients and 14 individuals without malignant neoplasms. When DNA samples were digested with Hin dIII restriction endonuclease, Southern blot analysis demonstrated 3 distinct polymorphic bands (9.8, 11, and 12 kilobases) after hybridization to the HER-A64-1 probe and another 2 distinct polymorphic bands (4.9 and 5.2 kilobases) after hybridization to the HER-A64-3 probe. Pedigree analysis of 43 members of a single family and comparative analysis of tumor and normal DNA samples from the same patients demonstrated that the variations in fragment size observed were due to 2 independent restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the region of the EGF receptor gene. Amplification of the EGF receptor gene was detected in 3 cases of breast cancer, but not in other tumors studied. We conclude that the human EGF receptor gene has multiple restriction fragment length polymorphisms and that in fresh human tumor samples rearrangement and amplification of the gene occur infrequently, if ever, within the region encompassed by the 2 complementary DNA probes used.
Efficient synthesis of universal repeat-until-success quantum circuits.

Recently it was shown that the resources required to implement unitary operations on a quantum computer can be reduced by using probabilistic quantum circuits called repeat-until-success (RUS) circuits. However, the previously best-known algorithm to synthesize a RUS circuit for a given target unitary requires exponential classical runtime. We present a probabilistically polynomial-time algorithm to synthesize a RUS circuit to approximate any given single-qubit unitary to precision $ϵ$ over the $\text{Clifford}+T$ basis. Surprisingly, the $T$ count of the synthesized RUS circuit surpasses the theoretical lower bound of $3\text{ }{\mathrm{log}}_{2}(1/ϵ)$ that holds for purely unitary single-qubit circuit decomposition. By taking advantage of measurement and an ancilla qubit, RUS circuits achieve an expected $T$ count of $1.15\text{ }{\mathrm{log}}_{2}(1/ϵ)$ for single-qubit $z$ rotations. Our method leverages the fact that the set of unitaries implementable by RUS protocols has a higher density in the space of all unitaries compared to the density of purely unitary implementations.
Outcome criteria for lupus nephritis trials: A critical overview

Lupus nephritis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Traditional outcome criteria such as doubling of serum creatinine, end-stage renal disease and death have been used in controlled therapeutic trials, but are limited by their low incidence and the extended period of time required to reach them. More recently, discussions have focused on composite outcome measures, such as remission and relapse, as well as measures of health-related quality of life, general lupus activity and cumulative damage indexes. We review the strengths and weaknesses of several outcome criteria, and we propose criteria for both small pilot studies and large definitive trials.
Steroid receptor binding to nuclei: Effect of assay conditions on the integrity of chromatin

Abstract Various incubation conditions previously used in cell-free assays of steroid receptor binding to nuclei were evaluated on the basis of their effect on the integrity of the nuclear chromatin. Incubation of nuclei for 60 min in whole cytosol containing no added salt at 25°C resulted in significant DNA degradation and some proteolysis. This deterioration in the integrity of the chromatin increased its capacity to bind the [ 3 H]-progesterone-receptor complex, possibly via exposure of previously “masked” acceptor sites. Decreasing the temperature and/or increasing the salt concentration reduced or eliminated these changes in the chromatin. Incubation of nuclei in an ammonium sulfate-fraction of the cytosol, which contained the partially purified progesterone receptor, resulted in no detectable deterioration of the chromatin integrity irrespective of the temperature (⩽25°C) or the added salt concentration (0–0.15 M KCl). These results suggest that some of the conflicting reports on the nature of the nuclear acceptor sites for steroid receptors could be due to the use of inappropriate assay conditions, which permit degradation of the nucleo-protein and result in altered levels of steroid receptor binding. (Steroid/ Progesterone/Nuclei/Chromatin.)
Interview: The need to tailor pain management approaches to individual requirements.

Robert L Barkin talks to Roshaine Gunawardana, Commissioning Editor: Dr Barkin has authored over 150 publications including journals, book chapters and CD-Roms. He is a reviewer for over 30 journals, on the editorial board of nine journals and is an Associate Editor of the American Journal of Therapeutics. He received his BSc. Pharmacy degree from St Louis College of Pharmacy and Allied Science St Louis, MO, USA in 1963, an MBA in Healthcare Administration at DePaul University Chicago, IL, USA in 1976 and a doctorate in Clinical Pharmacy at Purdue University, IN, USA in 1985. Dr Barkin is engaged in a very active in-patient and out-patient practice with a collaborative arrangement with five anesthesiologist and consults with physical medicine and rehabilitation, rheumatology, oncology, neurology, neurosurgery, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry and chemical dependency/addiction specialists. He has presented over 500 formal lectures in the USA, Poland, India, China, Taiwan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Aus...
Shortage of teachers in geriatrics in the USA

President and CEO of the International Longevity Center and Co-Chair, Alliance for Health and the Future, Professor of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Levy Place, New York, NY, USA E-mail: robertb@ilcusa.org ‘There is a severe shortage of teachers in academic geriatrics in the USA and, as a result, there is a grave shortage of geriatricallytrained primary care physicians (internists and family practitioners), as well as specialists.’
The Lightning Arrestor-Connector Concept: Description and Data

Experimental and theoretical data show that a new compact lightning arrestor can be incorporated into a multipin connector housing to protect components in missile, aircraft, and ground systems from lightning energy. This energy is sometimes transmitted into component compartments causing component burnout, ignition of explosives, and circuit malfunctions. By properly incorporating the lightning arrestor-connector, these effects can be minimized or eliminated. The lightning arrestor-connector concept has been analyzed, and prototype devices have been tested extensively at Sandia Laboratories. Production for use in several missile systems has begun. The design and initial development of the device is described along with data demonstrating the device behavior under simulated lightning tests.
Reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy of ethylene on palladium (111) at high pressure

The adsorption of ethylene adsorbed on Pd(111) at ∼ 300 K is studied using reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy which confirms the formation of an ethylidyne species because of the presence of vibrational mode at 1329 cm−1 with a less-intense peak at 1089 cm−1. The 1329 cm−1 methyl mode is well away from any vibrational modes of gas-phase ethylene, which allows the spectrum of the surface species to be collected in the presence of high pressures (up to ∼ 1 torr) of ethylene. These results reveal that ethylidyne is present on the surface in the presence of gas-phase ethylene and that there may be a slight increase in coverage. The width of the line, however, increases substantially by 5.3±0.4 cm−1 torr−1. This effect is ascribed to a loss of order in the ethylidyne layer probably caused by co-adsorption of ethylene.
The effect of sprue attachment design on castability and porosity

Abstract Sprue attachment design is an important and controversial variable that can affect casting characteristics of castability and porosity. Four sprue attachment designs—straight, flared, abrupt constriction, and gradual constriction—were investigated. Standardized wax copings simulating complete veneer metal ceramic crowns with knife-edge margins were sculpted on refractory investment dies, sprued, invested, and cast with Olympia alloy. The specimens were embedded, sectioned, and polished. Castability was analyzed by measuring the width of the cast meniscus of the margins. The margin widths of the flared and the straight sprue attachment groups were significantly less than the abrupt or gradual constriction attachment group ( p p
Constraints on viscous dissipation of plate bending from compressible mantle convection

Abstract Tectonic plates on the Earth's surface bend at plate boundaries as they subduct into the mantle, thus generating viscous dissipation. It has been proposed that viscous dissipation due to plate bending accounts for more than 40% of the total viscous dissipation in mantle convection. The proposed large bending dissipation at subduction zones may have significant effects on the Earth's thermal evolution history. However, recent studies show that viscous dissipation from plate bending may not be as significant as previously suggested. Here based on an energetics argument of mantle convection and previously estimated bending dissipation for present-day Earth's subduction zones, we show that the total dissipation in the Earth's mantle is 10.0–15.5 TW and that the bending dissipation only accounts for
Environs and neighbours in the “Two Nations” residential differentiation in mid-nineteenth-century Leeds

Abstract Residential patterns by social strata at several spatial scales in mid-nineteenth-century Leeds indicate that descriptions of early Victorian cities as dichotomous arrangements of rich and poor or middle class and working class were somewhat misleading. Although a small but growing minority of the middle class were increasingly concentrated in the most desirable sections of the city, the remaining residents lived in environs and amongst neighbours of diverse social strata. Moreover, the level of residential differentiation actually diminished during the three decades under scrutiny. To the degree that contemporary observers attempted to define the socio-geographic impact of industrial capitalism, they perhaps emphasized the residential segregation of the wealthy which was not new at the expense of the diminished residential differentiation of the less affluent. Diminishing levels of residential differentiation in the middle decades of the century also suggest that the increasingly differentiated residential patterns of late Victorian cities did not emerge from a gradual increase in the complexity of early Victorian arrangements.
Double differential cross sections for electron capture to the continuum of bare H and He projectiles in noble gases and hydrocarbons

Abstract Using Ar, CH4 and C4H8 gas targets and 0.8 MeV/u H+ and He2+ beams, 0° electron cusp spectra differential in angle (∼0.3° steps) and energy ( d 2 σ d EΩ ) were analyzed for intratarget variations of ΔE E vs θ 0 and cusp peak centroid energy vs θ for comparison with our previous d σ d E measurements with θ0 = 3.0°.