cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Constraints on the coupled thermal evolution of the Earth's core and mantle, the age of the inner core, and the origin of the 186 Os/ 188 Os "core signal" in plume-derived lavas

The possibility that some mantle plumes may carry a geochemical signature of core/mantle interaction has rightly generated considerable interest and attention in recent years. Correlated 186Os–187Os enrichments in some plume-derived lavas (Hawaii, Gorgona, Kostomuksha) have been interpreted as deriving from an outer core with elevated Pt/Os and Re/Os ratios due to the solidification of the Earth's inner core (c.f., [A.D. Brandon, R.J. Walker, The debate over core–mantle interaction, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 232 (2005) 211–225.] and references therein). Conclusive identification of a “core signal” in plume-derived lavas would profoundly influence our understanding of mantle convection and evolution. This paper reevaluates the Os-isotope evidence for core/mantle interaction by examining other geochemical constraints on core/mantle interaction, geophysical constraints on the thermal evolution of the outer core, and geochemical and cosmochemical constraints on the abundance of heat-producing elements in the core. Additional study of metal/silicate and sulfide/silicate partitioning of K, Pb, and other trace elements is needed to more tightly constrain the likely starting composition of the Earth's core. However, available data suggest that the observed 186Os enrichments in Hawaiian and other plume-derived lavas are unlikely to derive from core/mantle interaction. 1) Core/mantle interaction sufficient to produce the observed 186Os enrichments would likely have significant effects on other tracers such as Pb- and W-isotopes that are not observed. 2) Significant partitioning of K or other heat-producing elements into the core would produce a “core depletion” pattern in the Silicate Earth very different from that observed. 3) In the absence of heat-producing elements in the core, core/mantle heat flow of ∼ 6–15 TW estimated from several independent geophysical constraints suggests an inner core age (< ∼ 2.5 Ga) too young for the outer core to have developed a significant 186Os enrichment. Core/mantle thermal and chemical interaction remains an important problem that warrants future research. However, Os-isotopes may have only limited utility in this area due to the relatively young age of the Earth's inner core.
Pulse-like and crack-like dynamic shear ruptures on frictional interfaces: experimental evidence, numerical modeling, and implications

Destructive large earthquakes occur as dynamic frictional ruptures along pre-existing interfaces (or faults) in the Earth’s crust. One of the important issues in earthquake dynamics is the local duration of relative displacement or slip. Seismic inversions show that earthquakes may propagate as self-healing pulse-like ruptures, with local slip duration being much shorter than the overall rupture duration. Yet many classical models produce crack-like ruptures, with local slip durations comparable to the overall rupture duration. We study rupture modes in an experimental set up designed to mimic a fault prestressed both in compression and in shear. Our experiments demonstrate systematic variation from crack-like to pulse-like rupture modes as nondimensional shear prestress is decreased. The results of our experiments are consistent with theories of ruptures on interfaces with velocity-weakening friction. To consider the possibility that slip-weakening friction can also result in such rupture mode transition in the presence of the dynamic nucleation procedure employed by the experimental setup, we conduct numerical simulations with linear slip-weakening friction. In the simulations, we use the parameter regimes that were shown in previous studies to reproduce supershear transition distances obtained in the same experimental setup. We find that simulations with linear slip-weakening friction are unable to reproduce pulse-like ruptures, even in the presence of the dynamic initiation procedure. Our experimental results and simulations imply that velocity-weakening friction plays an important role in dynamic behavior of shear ruptures and needs to be included in earthquake models.
Die Entdeckung der Röntgenstrahlen

Es war gegen Ende Oktober des Jahres 1895, als sich der Direktor des Physikalischen Institutes an der Universitat Wurzburg, Prof. W. C. Rontgen, entschlos, seinem Interesse an den durch die Arbeiten von Hertz und Lenard und anderen Forschern in den Vordergrund des wissenschaftlichen Interesses geruckten elektrischen Entladungserscheinungen im luftverdunnten Raum nachzugehen. In einem der einfachen Arbeitszimmer des Physikalischen Institutes der Universitat stellte er eine Apparatur auf, wie sie zu jener Zeit in vielen physikalischen Laboratorien und Vorlesungsraumen in der ganzen Welt zu finden war: eine Ruhmkorffsche Induktionsspule mit Quecksilberunterbrecher und eine Hittorfsche Vakuumrohre, deren Verhalten beim Durchgang des mit der Spule erzeugten hochgespannten Stromes er studieren wollte. Eine einfache Apparatur — und doch das Resultat der Arbeit genialer Denker und Forscher dreier Jahrhunderte, eines Gilbert, Guericke, Torricelli, Boyle, Hauksbee, Abbe Nollet, Galvani, Volta, Oerstedt, Ampere, Ohm, Faraday, Franklin, Henry, Plucker, Helmholtz, Hittorf, Crookes, Hertz, Goldstein, Lenard und vieler anderer. Eine einfache Apparatur — und doch das Handwerkszeug zur Entdeckung einer Naturerscheinung, die als Markstein in naturwissenschaftlichem und medizinischem Wissen fur alle Zeiten bestehen wird!
Equation of Motion Calculation of Mass Shifts in Nonrelativistic Quantum Mechanics

In the spirit of a recent calculation by Moniz and Sharp we have used the Heisenberg equations of motion to determine the self-mass of a nonrelativistic electron. We find, in contrast with their results, that this mass shift agrees with that obtained from the second-order energy-shift calculation. Possible sources for this discrepancy are noted.
On relative normal complements in finite groups. III

Given a finite group G and subgroups H and Ho with Ho < H, we let 7r denote the set of prime divisors of (H: Ho), and we denote this configuration by (G, H, Ho, 7T). Pamela Ferguson has shown that if H/HIo is solvable, then under certain conditions there exists a unique relative normal complement Go of H over Ho. In this paper we give alternative proofs of her two theorems. Let G be a finite group and S a set of primes. The complementary set of primes will be denoted by 7'. Let 7T(G) denote the set of prime divisors of j G j . We call G a 'i-group if 'r(G) C vr. An element x of G is a rr-element if (x) is a 'i-group. Every element x of G has a unique decomposition, x = x,x,, = x.,xq., into a 'i-element x 7r and a 7''-element xX. Both xX and x., are powers of x. Two elements x and y belong to the same 'n-section of G if their 'i-parts x and y, are conjugate in G. If S is a subset of G we let SG,' denote the union of all gn-sections of G that intersect S. We let (G, H, Ho, 'rr) denote the following configuration. Let G be a finite group with subgroups H and Ho such that Ho AH and 'i = 7r(H/HO). Given thlis, and given a subgroup Go of G, Go is called a relative normal complement of H over Ho if Go AG, G = GOH, and Ho = Go n H. For (G, H, Ho, ri) we consider the following conditions: (A) Any two 7T-elements of H Ho that are G-conjugate are H-conjugate. (BO) For each 7T-element of H Ho we have CG(x) = O,<(CG(x))CH(x). (C) I(H-HO)G,I= (G: H)IH-HoI . Pamela Ferguson has proved the following two theorems [1]. THEOREM 1. If (G, H, Ho, 7T) satisfies conditions (BO) and (C) and H/Ho is solvable, then there exists a unique relative normal complement Go of H over Ho and Go G (H -Ho)G THEOREM 2. If (G, H, Ho, ') satisfies conditions (A) and (BO) and H/Ho is solvable, then there exists a unique relative normal complement Go of H over Ho and = G-(H-Ho)G X Theorem 2 was proved by Reynolds [3, Theorem 2] in the case that H/Ho is a p-group. It is the purpose of this paper to give alternative proofs of these theorems. First we prove a lemma to the effect that the two theorems are equivalent. Received by the editors July 26, 1982. 1980 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 20D20.
Can steroid use be a precipitant in the development of an eating disorder

Objective Corticosteroids have a wide range of clinical indications in the treatment of both acute and chronic medical illnesses, and weight gain is a well-documented side effect of their use. In this paper, we describe eight individuals with an eating disorder, which appeared following steroid administration for a medical condition. Method These findings, support the possibility that the excessive weight gain resulting from steroid use can be a precipitating factor in the development of an eating disorder, particularly among female adolescents and young women who are preoccupied with their appearance and weight. Results Physicians caring for women receiving corticosteroids should therefore familiarize themselves with these patients' pre-morbid and current eating habits, as well as their weight, dieting and body image histories. Discussion The relevance of these cases for furthering our understanding of the development and treatment of eating disorder is also discussed. © 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 30: 118–122, 2001.
Escherichia coli xonA (sbcB) mutants enhance illegitimate recombination

Mutations of Escherichia coli K-12 were isolated that increase the frequency of deletion formation. Three of these mutations map to the gene sbcB at 43.5 min on the E. coli chromosome. Two types of mutations at sbcB have been previously defined: sbcB-type that suppress both the UV sensitivity and recombination deficiency of recBC mutants, and xonA-type that suppress only the UV sensitivity. Both types are defective for production of exonuclease I activity. The mutations isolated here were similar to xonA alleles of sbcB because they suppressed the UV sensitivity of recBC mutants but did not restore recombination proficiency. Indeed, two previously characterized xonA alleles were shown to increase the frequency of deletion formation, although an sbcB allele did not. This result demonstrates that loss of exonuclease I activity is not sufficient to confer a high deletion phenotype, rather, the product of the sbcB gene possesses some other function that is important for deletion formation. Because deletion formation in this system is recA independent and does not require extensive DNA homology, these mutations affect a pathway of illegitimate recombination.
Long-Run Underperformance And The Offering Price Clustering Phenomenon

The study proposes a new informational role for the offering price of an equity IPO. Offering prices are quoted either in whole prices (e.g., $2, $11, $19, etc) or fractional prices (e.g., $2.35, $11.15, $15.75, etc). Using Jay R. Ritter’s sample of 1,526 IPOs issued during the period 1975 to 1984, the study examines the relation between the presence of whole price clusters and long-run underperformance. The results indicate that fractional offering prices are associated with better long-run performance.
Four-dimensional sonography of the fetal heart with spatiotemporal image correlation directed at the interventricular septum.

Objective. The purpose of this report is to describe a new technique to visualize the fetal interventricular cardiac septum in its entirety in a uniform fashion. Methods. Using spatiotemporal image correlation, a technique of volume data manipulation is described to produce standard long-axis, short-axis, and "face-on" views of the interventricular septum. Results. Using the detailed description of volume data manipulation, examples of large and small ventricular septal defects are presented. Condusions. By using a standardized technique of volume manipulation, complete assessment of the interventricular septum is accomplished. Incorporating the technique into routine fetal heart evaluation is easily accomplished and may aid in the fetal diagnosis of ventricular septal defects.
Using Nurse Ratings of Physician Communication in the ICU To Identify Potential Targets for Interventions To Improve End-of-Life Care.

Abstract Background: Communication among doctors, nurses, and families contributes to high-quality end-of-life care, but is difficult to improve. Objective: Our objective was to identify aspects of communication appropriate for interventions to improve quality of dying in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This observational study used data from a cluster-randomized trial of an interdisciplinary intervention to improve end-of-life care at 15 Seattle/Tacoma area hospitals (2003–2008). Nurses completed surveys for patients dying in the ICU. We examined associations between nurse-assessed predictors (physician-nurse communication, physician-family communication) and nurse ratings of patients' quality of dying (nurse-QODD-1). Results: Based on 1173 nurse surveys, four of six physician-nurse communication topics were positively associated with nurse-QODD-1: family questions, family dynamics, spiritual/religious issues, and cultural issues. Discussions between nurses and physicians about nurses' concerns f...
Role of Calcium in Alpha-Adrenergic Regulation of Liver Function

The liver can be affected by the sympathetic nervous system via epinephrine and norepinephrine released into the bloodstream from the adrenal medulla or via norepinephrine released from adrenergic nerve endings within the liver. As is the case for other tissues of the body, the receptors to these catecholamines are of two major types designated α- and β-adrenergic receptors. The liver α-receptors are mainly of the α l -subtype (Hoffman et al. 1979,1981) and the liver β-receptors are mainly of the β 2 -subtype (Morgan et al. 1983).
Characterizing Sierra Nevada snowpack using variable-resolution CESM

AbstractThe location, timing, and intermittency of precipitation in California make the state integrally reliant on winter-season snowpack accumulation to maintain its economic and agricultural livelihood. Of particular concern is that winter-season snowpack has shown a net decline across the western United States over the past 50 years, resulting in major uncertainty in water-resource management heading into the next century. Cutting-edge tools are available to help navigate and preemptively plan for these uncertainties. This paper uses a next-generation modeling technique—variable-resolution global climate modeling within the Community Earth System Model (VR-CESM)—at horizontal resolutions of 0.125° (14 km) and 0.25° (28 km). VR-CESM provides the means to include dynamically large-scale atmosphere–ocean drivers, to limit model bias, and to provide more accurate representations of regional topography while doing so in a more computationally efficient manner than can be achieved with conventional general ...
Impact Analysis of Facility Failures on Healthcare Delivery Process: Use Case–Driven Approach

AbstractThe healthcare industry is growing in complexity, and providing a safe healthcare setting increases the challenges for many healthcare facility managers. Most facility information is not linked to the healthcare delivery process, making it difficult to identify interactions and overlaps that may have critical implications for the smooth operation of the healthcare delivery process and patient safety. This paper focused on an impact analysis of facility failures on the healthcare delivery process and involved a combination of research methods including a case study, interviews with key healthcare practitioners as part of a case study in a major hospital, and cognitive walk-throughs with domain experts. The interactions of facility information with the healthcare delivery process helped to identify critical facility failures through planned and unplanned safety events. Use cases, use-case diagrams, scenario interaction diagrams, and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) were developed to learn an...
Partition of Space

(1943). Partition of Space. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 50, No. 9, pp. 541-544.
Local Cerebral Blood Flow Measured by CT After Stable Xenon Inhalation

A safe, practical, clinically applicable, noninvasive method for measuring local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) using inert xenon (Xes) and a 60 sec CT scanner has been developed in the baboon. Direct measurement of expired Xes concentration after short inhalation (4–7 min) of 40% Xes and the use of computer-programmed autoradiographic formulas allow accurate, reproducible measurements of LCBF using serial 60 sec scans of regions as small as 0.04 cm3. LCBF measurements are possible with a Single 1 min scan. The method reduces radiation exposure, obviates a costly fourth-generation scanner, avoids anesthetic effects of Xes, and reduces the 30 min/scan saturation period. It is less expensive than emission tomography and minimizes problems of overlap and Compton scatter inherent in 133Xe and positron-emission blood flow measurements. Regions of zero perfusion are demonstrable in three dimensions. Tissue solubility and partition coefficients, as well as LCBF, are measured in vivo with high resolution and reproducibility so that minor regional changes in physical properties of tissue that alter solubility are measured. These enhance the potential clinical usefulness of CT scanning.
Design and Implementation of Integrated Information Exchange System of Electric Vehicle and Power Grid

In order to take full advantage of the large scale connection of electric vehicle to power grid,and to consider the security and stability of power grid at the same time,the integrated information exchange system of electric vehicle and power grid is designed. The system structure,principle and main functions are introduced. The system consists of four parts,including the intelligent terminal of electric vehicle,the information exchange and access device of charging station,the real-time information exchange and monitoring and management center,the communication link. The system has functions such as the electric vehicle information monitoring,the charging station information monitoring,the intelligent alert and alarm of battery charging and discharging,the real-time inquiring of vehicle charging queue,the searching of shortest charging path,the WEB publishing and the GIS display and so on. The development and application of the system will not only provide a great basic platform for the large-scale application of electric vehicle,and but also has great significance to the security and stability of power grid.
Transcriptome analysis indicates that GmAGAMOUS-Like 15 may enhance somatic embryogenesis by promoting a dedifferentiated state

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is an important avenue for regeneration of many plants. Although documented over half a century ago, the process of SE remains poorly understood and many factors impact upon competence for SE. We recently reported that a Glycine max ortholog of a MADS-domain transcription factor that promotes SE in Arabidopsis also enhances SE in soybean. We recently assessed transcriptomes in 35Spro:GmAGL15 compared to control during an early time-course of SE and in response to 35Spro:AtAGL15. We expand here upon discussion of the types of genes regulated by overexpression of AGL15 and characterize the step of SE that may be affected by altered accumulation of AGL15.
What was forbidding wrong like in practice

At the end of all this analysis of the doctrines of the scholars, it is natural to ask what forbidding wrong was really like in the pre-modern Islamic world. But in attempting to answer this question, we are almost entirely at the mercy of the same scholars. They are not just the guardians of doctrine; they are also the authors of the biographical works that give us most of our material for the study of the practice of the duty. We have no journalists, anthropologists, novelists or secularists to give us different perspectives. We thus have almost no way to emancipate ourselves from the world-view of the scholars, short of not believing a word they say. With rare exceptions, the best we can do is to use common sense to discount some of what they tell us, and occasional cunning to go behind it. This chapter will accordingly describe the practice of forbidding wrong pretty much as the scholars saw it. As already indicated, one of the best sources for this enterprise is biographical literature. The Muslim scholars devoted biographical works to such groups as poets, grammarians, Koran reciters, and even women – but above all to their fellow scholars. Before modern times the idea does not seem to have occurred to anyone to collect into a single work biographical material on those who forbade wrong. But the broad range of biographical literature contains much scattered evidence of the practice of forbidding wrong by individual Muslims.
Derailed: The Locomotive Inspection Act and the Need toExtend the Field Preemption

III. SUPREME COURT CASE LAW: THE NAPIER AND KURNS DECISIONS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS 746 A. Field Preemption: The Basics 747 B. Napier v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company 747 C. Kurns v. Railroad Friction Products Corporation 749 D. The Practical Effect of Napier and Kurns 750 E. Recovery for Injury 751
Scoliosis after thoracoplasty. A study of thirty patients.

Thirty adult patients who had thoracoplasties for pulmoary tuberculosis were carefully studied to define the syndrome of thoracoplastic scoliosis. After thoracoplasty, a mild-to-moderate cervicothoracic scoliosis occurs. In most cases the convexity is toward the side of resection and the rotation is toward the concavity. The major curve is limited to the segments of the thoracic spine adjacent to the resected ribs and the apex of the curve is centrally placed in the region of the resected ribs. The degree of curvature is directly proportional to the number of ribs resected, and those patients who have had transversectomies have greater degrees of curvature. Most of the angular deformity develops within one week after surgery and there is virtually no progression after one year in adult patients. It is clear from this study and the experimental studies of others that the rib cage is an important support of the vertebral column. Several theories are presented regarding the role of the rib cage.
Nietzsche, Tragedy, and the Theory of Catharsis

Nietzsche’s view of catharsis has attracted some but not a great deal of attention. Part of the reason is that he rarely makes use of the term itself, whether in his Birth of Tragedy or elsewhere, and when he does he is rather dismissive, seemingly rejecting out of hand the Aristotelian-inspired theory of tragic catharsis in its ancient or modern (notably, classicizing) forms. Catharsis would appear to be an unrewarding area for understanding Nietzsche. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that The Birth of Tragedy appears to foreground Nietzsche’s rejection of tragic catharsis in its classical form, and the book is surely very much about catharsis in this sense. As it happens, a closer look at both this work and a handful of later texts on tragedy in Nietzsche’s writings suggests that catharsis theory is everywhere on his mind even where the term is not being mentioned, not least of all in The Birth of Tragedy , where it is fully operative in the form of pity or co-suffering ( Mitleid[en] ), identificatory fear and horror ( Furcht, Schrecken ), and redemptive discharge ( Erlosung, Entladung ). Nor is his view as clear-cut as his emphatic rejection of Aristotelian catharsis might appear to indicate. His view of catharsis is neither simple nor entirely uniform across his corpus. Nietzsche’s understanding of catharsis proves to be much closer to the view he appears to reject, and much closer to classicism’s reading of tragedy than one might suppose.
Selective Capture of Histidine-tagged Proteins from Cell Lysates Using TEM grids Modified with NTA-Graphene Oxide

We report the fabrication of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grids bearing graphene oxide (GO) sheets that have been modified with Nα, Nα-dicarboxymethyllysine (NTA) and deactivating agents to block non-selective binding between GO-NTA sheets and non-target proteins. The resulting GO-NTA-coated grids with these improved antifouling properties were then used to isolate His6-T7 bacteriophage and His6-GroEL directly from cell lysates. To demonstrate the utility and simplified workflow enabled by these grids, we performed cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) of His6-GroEL obtained from clarified E. coli lysates. Single particle analysis produced a 3D map with a gold standard resolution of 8.1 A. We infer from these findings that TEM grids modified with GO-NTA are a useful tool that reduces background and improves both the speed and simplicity of biological sample preparation for high-resolution structure elucidation by cryo-EM.
Finding needles of interested tweets in the haystack of Twitter network

Drug use and abuse is a serious societal problem. The fast development and adoption of social media and smart mobile devices in recent years bring about new opportunities for advancing computer-based strategies for understanding and intervention of drug-related behaviors. However, the existing literature still lacks principled ways of building computational models for supporting effective analysis of large-scale, often unstructured social media data. Part of the challenge stems from the difficulty of obtaining so-called ground-truth data that are typically required for training computational models. This paper presents a progressive semi-supervised learning approach to identifying Twitter tweets that are related to personal and recreational use of marijuana. Based on a small, labeled dataset, the proposed approach first learns optimal mapping of raw features from the tweets for classification, using a method of weakly hierarchical lasso. The learned feature model is then used to support unsupervised clustering of Web-scale data. Experiments with realistic data crawled from Twitter are used to validate the proposed approach, demonstrating its effectiveness.
Effective Utilization of Paired Reads to Improve Length and Accuracy of Contigs in Genome Assembly

Paired-end sequencing is a commonly used technology to help more accurately determine the genomic location of individual reads and resolve repeats in genome assembly. Despite this, most assemblers perform initial assembly based on individual reads alone, and use paired-end information as an afterthought -- to extend or scaffold contigs. In this paper, we propose a technique to embed read pair information directly into the de-Bruijn graph of reads in the form of distance constraints between graph nodes. We present an assembly algorithm that produces longer and more accurate contigs by utilizing the distance constraints in traversing the graph. In particular, we utilize the collective information represented by distance constraints along a contig constructed so far to resolve ambiguities that arise in further extending it. We also describe a model to facilitate the graph traversal with non-uniform read coverage. We illustrate our techniques on a readset generated from part of N. meningitidis genome, a repeat rich viral genome, and compare our results with other assemblers.
Community Health Records: Establishing a Systematic Approach to Improving Social and Physical Determinants of Health

To systematically improve population health in the United States, community health records (CHRs) must be defined, developed, and implemented. Like electronic and personal health records, CHRs have both unique and overlapping information. CHRs contain data about communities, including the social, physical, and lifestyle determinants of health. These records will serve to complement electronic and personal health records to provide a more complete view of population health, allowing stakeholders to target community health and quality-of-life interventions in a data-driven and evidence-based manner, establishing the basis from which organizations can develop a systematic approach to improving community health. This commentary calls on the United States to conduct a set of consensus activities to define and implement CHRs.
The Multitextured Lives of Women of Color

In this commentary, I suggest that our work with women of color should be held together by three primary threads: (a) appreciation for history as we decipher and interpret the adaptive strategies of women of color; (b) recognition of the intersections of race, gender, and class as central to our work; and (c) self-critical examination of the meanings we attach to “difference.” The papers in the current special issue provide good examples regarding the importance of each thread. I argue that attention to these three themes should help us to keep our focus on contextually driven questions and to move forward our appreciation for the lives of women of color.
Consistency of Self-Reinforcement Rates Over Different Tasks; and Sex, Task Success, and Ability as Determinants of Rates of Self-Reinforcement

Several correlates of rates of self-reinforcement were investigated, with a sample of 90 seventh grade students. An indirect, negative relationship between amount of task ambiguity and rates of self-reinforcement was found. Sex, ability level, and task success were generally not significantly correlated with self-reinforcement rates. Obtained rates of self-reinforcement were moderately consistent over 3 dissimilar tasks.
A comparative study of the storage assisted wind power conversion systems

This paper reviews three types of storage assisted wind power conversion systems (WPCS) that harvest the entirety of their wind power with assistance from an added compressed air or hydraulic subsystem. Configurations of a compressed-air assisted wind power conversion system (CA-WPCS) and a hydraulic wind power conversion system (H-WPCS) are explained and compared. The results of a numerical simulation show that these enhanced systems increase the power production compared to a benchmark wind turbine without storage. In addition, the results show that the CA-WPCS has the largest increase because the pneumatic subsystem in CA-WPCS is in parallel with the generator while the hydraulic power train in H-WPCS is in tandem with the generator. Having the subsystem in parallel allows some power generation to be done without using the subsystem and thus saves on the conversion loss.
Insulin Signaling Regulates Oocyte Quality Maintenance with Age via Cathepsin B Activity

Summary A decline in female reproduction is one of the earliest hallmarks of aging in many animals, including invertebrates and mammals [1–4]. The insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling (IIS) pathway has a conserved role in regulating longevity [5] and also controls reproductive aging [2, 6]. Although IIS transcriptional targets that regulate somatic aging have been characterized [7, 8], it was not known whether the same mechanisms influence reproductive aging. We previously showed that Caenorhabditis elegans daf-2 IIS receptor mutants extend reproductive span by maintaining oocyte quality with age [6], but IIS targets in oocytes had not been identified. Here, we compared the transcriptomes of aged daf-2(−) and wild-type oocytes, and distinguished IIS targets in oocytes from soma-specific targets. Remarkably, IIS appears to regulate reproductive and somatic aging through largely distinct mechanisms, although the binding motif for longevity factor PQM-1 [8] was also overrepresented in oocyte targets. Reduction of oocyte-specific IIS targets decreased reproductive span extension and oocyte viability of daf-2(−) worms, and pqm-1 is required for daf-2(−) 's long reproductive span. Cathepsin-B-like gene expression and activity levels were reduced in aged daf-2(−) oocytes, and RNAi against cathepsin-B-like W07B8.4 improved oocyte quality maintenance and extended reproductive span. Importantly, adult-only pharmacological inhibition of cathepsin B proteases reduced age-dependent deterioration in oocyte quality, even when treatment was initiated in mid-reproduction. This suggests that it is possible to pharmacologically slow age-related reproductive decline through mid-life intervention. Oocyte-specific IIS target genes thereby revealed potential therapeutic targets for maintaining reproductive health with age.
Preexisting Conditions Determine the Occurrence of Unplanned Readmissions after Procedures for Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Background Readmissions after surgical procedures are increasingly considered a metric to indicate the quality of care received during the index hospitalization. Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) requiring peripheral vascular interventions (PVIs) or lower extremity bypasses (LEBs) often have several serious medical comorbidities. Risk factors associated with readmission after PVI and LEB have previously been identified. The purpose of this study is to compare the readmissions among patients receiving PVI and LEB procedures to identify risk factors associated with high risk of readmission. Methods The 2013 Procedure-targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database and generalized 2013 general and vascular surgery ACS-NSQIP Program User Files were used for this study. Patient, diagnosis, and procedure characteristics of patients undergoing PVI and LEB were assessed. Odds ratios (ORs) with confidence intervals (CIs) for PVI versus LEB groups within the subgroups of these characteristics were then obtained where significant associations existed between the study groups. Results A total of 3,742 patients (males: 2,384 [63.7%] and females: 1,358 [36.3%]) underwent surgical procedures for lower extremity PAD during the year 2013. Among these patients, 1,096 (29.3%) were treated with endovascular interventions and 2,646 (70.7%) were treated with surgical bypasses. Patients were divided into 2 groups: PVI (n = 1,096) and LEB (n = 2,646) groups. Each group was further subdivided into 2 groups: readmission and no readmission. The incidence of readmission was as follows: PVI group (n = 147, 13.4%) and LEB (n = 425, 16.1%). The PVI and LEB groups showed a significant association with readmission within the following factors: dialysis dependency (PVI 32.6% vs. LEB 19.1%, OR: 2.06, CI: 1.13–3.75, P 30 (PVI 9.9% vs. LEB 18.4%, OR: 0.49, CI: 0.33–0.73, P = 0.009). Conclusions Readmissions after lower extremity endovascular or surgical interventions can be used as a quality metric. Patients with dialysis dependency, COPD, in need of emergent operation, or having cardiac arrest are highly likely to be readmitted if treated with endovascular interventions. Similarly, patients with high body mass index are highly likely to be readmitted if treated with open surgical bypasses.
“It’s Complicated”: Exploring the Mindfulness-Alcohol Use Connection in Undergraduate Students

We sought to further clarify the underlying connections between facets of mindfulness, alcohol use, and mental health. A total of 203 at-risk college students at a southeastern university participated in this quantitative, cross-sectional study. We specifically explored (1) the extent to which dispositional mindfulness correlated with neuroticism (i.e., anxiety, depression, and happiness) and (2) the connection between facets of mindfulness and problematic alcohol use, including the predictive ability of mindfulness traits to recent drinking-related consequences. Results revealed low mindfulness was associated with higher negative emotion and lower happiness. In contrast, nuanced relationships were found among mindfulness facets and risky alcohol use. Specifically, Acting with Awareness was a significant negative predictor of recent drinking-related consequences, while Nonjudging was a significant positive predictor. Mindfulness appears to be a protective factor for neurotic subtraits, though further research is needed to clarify the impact of mindfulness facets on alcohol and other substance use behaviors.
Phenology — how time creates spatial structure in endophagous insect populations

The deme formation hypothesis predicts that short-lived insects with long-lived hosts can adapt to the traits of individual plants and form genetically differentiated sub-populations. Several life-history traits have beensuggested that could predispose insects to deme formation, the most important being dispersal, feeding mode, and mating system. There is little evidence that adult dispersal ability or mating system promote fine-scale adaptation, but feeding mode appears to be important to the evolution of herbivore demes. Phenology (defined as the timing of life cycles) is now known to be individually variable and highly heritable; even a slight mismatch between an herbivore and its host can reduce egg and larval survival, or isolate adults from potential mates. This is particularly critical for internally-feeding insects that are in close and continuous contact with plants. Here I argue that endophagy, combined with insect and plant variation in phenology, are important predictors of deme formation, and a driving force behind fine scale genetic structure in herbivore populations.
Behavioral Responses of Sexually Active Mud Snails: Kariomones and Pheromones

We postulated that kariomones and pheromones function to organize egg capsule deposition and breeding aggregations of mud snails (Ilyanassa obsoleta). Sexually active male and female mud snails were exposed to water-born odors from juvenile snails, nonaggregated female snails, oysters, egg capsule depositing snails, sexually active males, sexually active females, and copulating snails and tested for a follow response using a ring assay. Neither sex responded to juvenile odor or to odor of sexually inactive females. Snails turned and followed water born odors from oysters. when tested with the odors of sexually active males, sexually active females, and copulating pairs, we found sex-specific differences in responses. Sexually active females followed the odor of sexually active males and ignored sexually active female odor. Sexually active males followed the odor of sexually active females and ignored sexually active male odor. Both sexes followed the odor of copulating pairs and egg capsule depositing snails. Snail activities in breeding aggregations are organized by at least three pheromones and one kariomone, and reflect the multifunctionaLity of the aggregations.
In-situ XAFS spectroscopic studies of DCL catalysts

Publisher Summary A high pressure, high temperature X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) cell is developed for the in situ investigations of the structure and reactions of direct-coal liquefaction catalysts. Three different nanoscale iron-based catalysts are examined and found to exhibit a transformation of the iron oxyhydroxide phase to the pyrrhotite phase. The transformation temperatures are significantly different for the three catalyst systems. For all of the catalysts, the transformation occurs over a range of temperature. The lack of a sharp transition is probably due to a range of particle sizes, with smaller catalyst particles transforming at a lower temperature and larger particles at higher temperatures. Pyrrhotite exhibits several phases, depending on the vacancy in Fe 1-x S matrix. Vacancy rearrangement over a range of temperatures can lead to changes in the XAFS results.
Vitamin D Analogs and the Treatment of Cancer

Vitamin D is well known among biological scientists as being required for mineralization of the skeleton (1). In its absence, the disease rickets is precipitated in the young and osteomalacia in the adult (1). No reports of increased incidence of cancer in vitamin D deficiency have yet appeared. Because of the mineral actions of vitamin D, its possible connection to cancer has been considered remote. With the discovery of the vitamin D endocrine system revealing its ultimate active form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) has come the realization that it acts analogously to the steroid hormones. The appearance of the receptor to 1,25-(OH)2 D3 in a large number of tissues not previously appreciate to be target organs has suggested a more widespread role of this vitamin (2). A major new function of the vitamin was discovered when Abe et al. (3) and Tanaka et al. (4) found that this compound induced differentiation of promyelocytic cells, M1 and HL-60, into monocytes with a cessation of growth. Similarly, additions of this hormone to osteogenic sarcoma cells or breast cancer cells suppress their growth and induce a differentiation response (5,6).
The geometry of the elementary catastrophes (1). the cuspoids

The Elementary Catastrophes arise as stable singularities in a system of potentials parameterized by a manifold C (the Control Space) on a manifold X (the Behavior Space) and represented by a smooth map: $$V:CxX \to R.$$
Off to a Slow Start: Four Profiles of Slow Readers in Second Grade

Assessments of oral reading rate in words correct per minute (WCPM) have proliferated in elementary classrooms. This study explores the similarities and differences among students at the end of sec...
Predictive value of scoring tools in determining heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation:

There are currently no scoring tools validated for use in predicting heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. This study aims to determine the predictive value of the Warkentin 4T score, Lilo-Le Louet score, and the heparin-induced thrombocytopenia expert probability score in detecting heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. This was a single center, retrospective, observational cohort study of patients at Rush University Medical Center. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia-positive patients were defined as those with an optical density greater than or equal to 0.4, consistent with a positive anti-platelet 4 heparin antibody. Out of 39 patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, six (15.4%) were found to be anti-platelet 4-positive. A heparin-induced thrombocytopenia diagnosis was confirmed by serotonin-release assay in two patients (5.1%). The 4T, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia expert probability, and Lilo-Le Louet scoring tools all demonstrated a low positive predictive value (21.4%, 16.7%, and 6.7%, respectively), with the 4T and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia expert probability scores demonstrating the highest specificity (66.7% and 84.8%, respectively) and lowest sensitivity (50% and 16.7%, respectively). The Lilo-Le Louet score had high sensitivity (100%) and low specificity (12.5%) in post-cardiopulmonary bypass patients. Based on the findings of this study, all three scoring tools have limited utility for predicting heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Upgrade of the Spallation Neutron Source Injection and Extraction Kicker Pulse Verification Systems

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) injection system transports a chopped, 1ms H- ion beam from the linac into the accumulator ring, where two electrons are stripped from each ion, resulting in a proton beam propagating in the ring. The injection kickers use a 1400A current source with a 1ms discharge time to paint the optimum phase space of the injected proton population. The accumulation ring stacks 1us bunches from the 1ms beam pulse to increase peak beam current by a factor of ~1000. The accumulated beam is deflected by fourteen 33kV, 700ns pulsed extraction kicker magnets and delivered to the mercury target, where neutrons are spalled for science experiments. Protecting the accelerator from an errant beam—which may result from asynchronous firing or insufficient magnetic-field intensity in kicker systems—requires a system that monitors and verifies the pulsed current in the kicker magnets prior to and during each 60Hz beam pulse. In addition, the extraction system pulse-forming network (PFN) is verified to be correctly charged and ready for triggering prior to injecting the beam into the linac from the ion source. This paper describes the two verification systems requirements, limitations of the existing systems, and development of new systems.
Supercontinuum Generation in Dispersion-Engineered PECVD SiN Waveguides for a Yb-Fiber Laser Frequency Comb

We present the development of a self-referencing Yb-fiber laser frequency comb based on octave-spanning supercontinuum generation from dispersion-engineered silicon nitride waveguides, fabricated with the standard, readily available plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process.
Reconfigurable Gates with Sub-10nm Ambipolar SB-FinFETs for Logic Locking & Obfuscation

Examples of compact reconfigurable logic gates utilizing Schottky-barrier (SB) FinFETs that take advantage of workfunction engineering (WFE) are provided. When applied to independent-gate SB-FinFETs, WFE has been shown to be capable of forming minimalist two transistor (2T) NAND,NOR and XOR logic gates that can lower power and area requirements by a factor of (5×) and (2×), respectively, with similar PDP figures as conventional FinFET logic circuits. Here, we introduce a new class of work-function engineered reconfigurable logic gates that can implement multiple logic functionality. Examples of reconfigurable gates include 2T gates that can implement (1-NOR-NOR-NAND) and (0-NAND-NAND-NOR) output functions as well as a 4T gate (1-AB’-A’B-OR) that can provide four distinct functional outputs with only two select bits. TCAD simulations are used to verify logic operation and disclose dynamic performance of the proposed ultra-compact reconfigurable circuits. Optimized for maximum reconfigurability, the PDP figures are higher by an order of magnitude as compared to the static logic circuits built using the same FinFET architecture. The fine-grain and ultra-fast reconfigurability of these circuits would be especially welcomed for logic-locking and obfuscation operations used to enhance hardware security in IC design.
Low-Carbon Mobility

A tremendous amount of energy is used for getting us and our stuff around. Humans have always been a mobile species, always on the go. But the advent of cheap energy coupled with our new transportation technologies let humans move farther, faster, and more often. As we described earlier, cheap modes of transportation have resulted in deleterious environmental impacts from energy extraction, pollution, and the infrastructures built to move people and stuff around. Transportation and its energies also have structured social relations in unequal ways. In the US, cheap energy helped facilitate suburban sprawl, leading to urban pollution when all these suburban cars were used each day in the city.