cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-Protein Foods and Physical Activity Protect Against Age-Related Muscle Loss and Functional Decline

Background Some clinical trials suggest that protein supplementation enhances the effects of resistance exercise on skeletal muscle mass (SMM); fewer studies examine the effects of diets rich in protein-source foods on SMM and functional status among community-dwelling adults. Methods Data from the Framingham Offspring study including diet (three-day records, exams 3 and 5), physical activity (exams 2 and 4), percent SMM (%SMM) (exams 6 and 7), and functional performance (exams 5 through 8) were used to evaluate independent and combined effects of physical activity and high-protein foods on adjusted mean %SMM (using analysis of covariance) and risk of functional decline (using Cox proportional hazard's models). Analyses were adjusted for such factors as age, education, height, smoking, and fruit and grain consumption). Results Higher intakes of protein-source foods (red meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and soy, nuts, seeds and legumes) were associated with higher %SMM over 9 years, particularly among women. Men and women with higher intakes of foods from animal sources had a higher % SMM regardless of activity; beneficial effects of plant-based protein foods were only evident in physically active adults. Active subjects with higher intakes of animal or plant protein-source foods had 35% lowest risks of functional decline. Among less active individuals, only those consuming more animal protein-source foods had reduced risks of functional decline (HR: 0.7l; 95% CI: 0.50-1.01). Conclusion Higher intake of animal-protein foods, alone and especially in combination with a physically active lifestyle, was associated with preservation of muscle mass and functional performance in older adults.
Single-bit compressive imaging system for the mmW and THz bands

We present, a novel 64 × 64-pixel imaging system utilizing a low-cost single-bit comparator sensor and a compressive sensing algorithm for mmW and THz bands. To validate the proposed methodology, a photoexcited high-resistivity Silicon wafer is used as the spatial light modulator and a 2-port vector network analyzer is used as the source-receiver pair. Recording only the “sign” of the measured signal, the proposed approach can reconstruct 4K-pixel image of the scene using only 1,024 measurements at 690 GHz.
On Enhancing Fault Tolerance of Virtual Backbone in a Wireless Sensor Network with Unidirectional Links

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a collection of energy constrained sensor node forming a network which lacks infrastructure or any kind of centralized management. In such networks, virtual backbone has been proposed as the routing infrastructure which can alleviate the broadcasting storm problem occurring due to consistent flooding performed by the sensor node, to communicate their sensed information. As the virtual backbone nodes needs to carry other nodes’ traffic, they are more subject to failure. Hence, it is desirable to construct a fault tolerant virtual backbone. Most of recent research has studied this problem in homogeneous networks. In this chapter, we propose solutions for efficient construction of a fault tolerant virtual backbone in a WSN where the sensor nodes have different transmission ranges. Such a network can be modeled as a disk graph (DG), where link between the two nodes is either unidirectional or bidirectional. We formulate the fault tolerant virtual backbone problem as a k-Strongly Connected m-Dominating and Absorbing Set (k, m) SCDAS problem. As the problem is NP-hard, we propose an approximation algorithm along with the theoretical analysis and conjectured its approximation ratio.
Alcohol Abuse and Culturally Marginal American Indians

A task-centered group approach for culturally marginal American Indians is proposed. The author emphasizes the structure of the group. Marginal cultural status of Indians, dominant American Indian ...
Quantum nondemolition detection with optical fibers

The act of measurement of a quantum mechanical variable introduces uncertainty in subsequent measurements made on the same system but not necessarily for the same variable. Back-action-evading or quantum nondemolition measurement schemes perturb variables conjugate to the one being measured, which itself remains unchanged by the measurement process. Thus repeated measurements of the quantum nondemolition detection (QND) variable can determine its evolution without disturbing it.
Nucleation and growth kinetics in a cooling crystallizer

iv INTRODUCTION 1 LITERATURE REVIEW 4 Nucleation 4 Crystal Growth 7 Crystal Size Distribution 10 THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT 20 Effect of Solids in Suspension on Size Distribution 20 Effect of Residence Time on Size Distribution 2? EXPERIMENTAL 29 Equipment 29 Crystallizer 29 Auxiliary equipment 32 Crystal sizing equipment 35 Theory of the Coulter Counter 35
Mitochondrial ND1 sequence analysis and association of the T4216C mutation with Parkinson's disease.

Mitochondrial dysfunction originating from mutations in Complex I genes may play a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, the entire ND1 coding sequence was sequenced in 84 newly diagnosed PD cases and 127 age/gender-matched controls. Numerous missense mutations were found at low frequency (<5%), whereas a thymidine to cytosine missense mutation at position 4216 that results in the replacement of tyrosine with histidine was found in 25% of the PD case samples and in 18% of the controls. When calculated according to gender, the 4216 mutation was observed in 26% of the male cases versus 16% of male controls (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.85; 95% CI = 0.79-4.34). In contrast, females exhibited approximately equal frequencies among cases (22.5%) and controls (21%), yielding an OR of 1.08 (95% C.I. = 0.36-3.22). The findings indicate only a weak association of this genetic variant with PD.
BSCL Use Plan: Solving Biomass Recalcitrance

Technical report describing NREL's new Biomass Surface Characterization Laboratory (BSCL). The BSCL was constructed to provide the most modern commercial surface characterization equipment for studying biomass surfaces.
Evaluation of the Anterior Chamber Angle in Glaucoma: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology

Objective To assess the published literature pertaining to the association between anterior segment imaging and gonioscopy and to determine whether such imaging aids in the diagnosis of primary angle closure (PAC). Methods Literature searches of the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were last conducted on July 6, 2011. The searches yielded 371 unique citations. Members of the Ophthalmic Technology Assessment Committee Glaucoma Panel reviewed the titles and abstracts of these articles and selected 134 of possible clinical significance for further review. The panel reviewed the full text of these articles and identified 79 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, for which the panel methodologist assigned a level of evidence based on a standardized grading scheme adopted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Three, 70, and 6 studies were rated as providing level I, II, and III evidence, respectively. Results Quantitative and qualitative parameters defined from ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT), Scheimpflug photography, and the scanning peripheral anterior chamber depth analyzer (SPAC) demonstrate a strong association with the results of gonioscopy. There is substantial variability in the type of information obtained from each imaging method. Imaging of structures posterior to the iris is possible only with UBM. Direct imaging of the anterior chamber angle (ACA) is possible using UBM and OCT. The ability to acquire OCT images in a completely dark environment allows greater sensitivity in detecting eyes with appositional angle closure. Noncontact imaging using OCT, Scheimpflug photography, or SPAC makes these methods more attractive for large-scale PAC screening than contact imaging using UBM. Conclusions Although there is evidence suggesting that anterior segment imaging provides useful information in the evaluation of PAC, none of these imaging methods provides sufficient information about the ACA anatomy to be considered a substitute for gonioscopy. Longitudinal studies are needed to validate the diagnostic significance of the parameters measured by these instruments for prospectively identifying individuals at risk for PAC. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
Autonomic regulation of neuroimmunological responses: implications for multiple sclerosis.

The expression of neural regulatory molecules by immune cells that infiltrate the nervous system upon injury may be a mechanism for cross regulation between the nervous system and the immune system. Several lines of evidence implicate nerve growth factor signaling through its receptors as a potential source of communication between the two systems. The expression of β-adrenergic receptors and sympathetic innervation of lymphoid organs represents another example of communication between the immune and the nervous system. In this review, we discuss mechanisms of how factors in common between the nervous system and the immune system may result in regulatory circuits which are important in both healthy and diseased states. These studies may have relevance for a number of inflammatory conditions in humans, including multiple sclerosis.
Post-marketing Surveillance in Italy: A Comparison between Firm-sponsored and Independent Trials with Prazosin

Abstract According to Wardell (“Postmarkeing Surveillance: Case-study Approach” in: Drug Monitoring, F.H. Gross & W.H.W. Inman eds, Academic Press, 1977, pp. 241–54), uncontrolled postmarketing surveillance (PMS) studies should be reevaluated due to the results obtained in some of them. It is true that they contain — as do many other studies — bias and errors, but these points must not be emphasized more for the socalled “uncontrolled” thant for the other studies. Prazosin, still according to Wardell (I.c.), would be an interesting example for PMS. We compared the results obtained in three different PMS studies conducted in Italy on prazosin since. 1978, the year the product was put on the market in our country. One of these studies (V. Forte et al., in: Problemi e prospettive dell'ipertensione arteriosa, C. Bartorelli et al.1 eds, ESAM, 1978, pp. 325–36) was sponsored by the manufacturers of the drug and involved 1606 hypertensive kpatients. The orthe two were sponsored by independent national medical associations (ANCE and ANMCO) and involved 453 (C. Fernandez et al., in press, in: Biologia e Medicina, 1980) and 201 patients (unpublished data). The results obtained in these three studies were compared in terms of efficacy and safety of the drug during its praticai use by GPs and/or cardiologists. No important difference was observed between the results of the three studies.
Systematic review of medication synchronization in community pharmacy practice.

Abstract Background Medication non-adherence costs more than 100 billion dollars in avoidable hospitalizations yearly. As a result, community pharmacies have implemented medication synchronization programs to improve adherence. One function of most medication synchronization programs is the alignment of all of a patient's medications to refill on a single date. While aligning refills is a standard aspect of most programs, other features vary making it difficult to identify which program components lead to improved adherence. Objective To review available literature and identify core components of medication synchronization and associated implementation techniques in community pharmacy. Methods A systematic review was performed by searching electronic databases for studies, reviews, and other sources for grey literature discussing medication synchronization in community pharmacy settings. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they documented the operation of medication synchronization program in a community pharmacy. A framework analysis identified common themes present in the literature. Results Twenty-six studies met criteria for final inclusion in this review. The majority of studies were retrospective cohorts, commentaries, and implementation guides. A wide variety of core components were included as part of medication synchronization program descriptions in the available literature. Several core components were identified as consistent throughout most of the published literature. These components were the identification and enrollment of patients, inclusion of a medication review and patient assessment, the alignment of refills, a formal process for preparation of medications, and the delivery of medications and other services. Conclusions This review identified several common themes of medication synchronization in the literature, which could help standardize medication synchronization within community pharmacy and facilitate future research. Themes found in this review provide the foundation upon which a consensus definition of medication synchronization can be built.
Reconstructing Gravity on Cosmological Scales

We present the data-driven late-time reconstruction of gravitational theories and dark energy models on cosmological scales. We showcase the power of present cosmological probes at constraining these models and quantify the knowledge of their properties that can be acquired through state of the art data. This reconstruction exploits the power of the effective field theory approach to dark energy and modified gravity phenomenology, which compresses the freedom in defining such models into a finite set of functions that can be reconstructed across cosmic times using cosmological data. We consider several model classes described within this framework and thoroughly discuss their phenomenology and data implications. We find that some models can alleviate the present discrepancy in the determination of the Hubble constant as inferred from the cosmic microwave background and as directly measured. This results in a statistically significant preference for the reconstructed theories over the standard cosmological model.
What Causes of Chronic Abdominal Pain, Both Common and Uncommon, Should Be Considered and Investigated by the Emergency Medicine Provider?

Adult patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with chronic or recurrent abdominal pain pose many challenges in management and disposition for the emergency care provider. It is important to be aware of potentially life-threatening causes of chronic abdominal pain and consider commonly missed diagnoses which may be amenable to specific therapies. Chronically recurring abdominal pain is a symptom of many clinical entities. Functional or nonorganic disorders are diagnoses of exclusion. As with many chronic pain patients, frequent visits to the ED are often characteristic of opiate dependence and may complicate the search for undiagnosed but treatable conditions.
Implementation of STEM Policy: A Case Study of a STEM-Focused Urban Charter School

This case study explores policy implementation of a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-focused charter school policy over three-year period. The expert institution studied, Gateway Science Academy of St. Louis (GSA) as a K-12 district, has used a STEM-focused curriculum model over seven years. This case study uses the Fullan Change Theoryâ€™s seven core principles to investigate the GSA districtâ€™s use of the New Generation Science Standards (NGSS)/Project Lead The Way (PLTW) implementation and integration process. The purpose of this study was to explore the GSA school districtâ€™s STEM policy implementation within the lens of the Fullan Change Theory. The researcher interviewed teachers and administrators and conducted classroom observations in order to collect data to investigate policy implementation. The study also reviewed relevant literature on effective policy implementations. In addition to interviews and classroom observation data, additional data was collected and analyzed, including: teacher lesson plans, standardized test scores, and monthly activity logs. Findings indicate the most successful STEM-policy implementation depends on staff motivation, administrative support, professional development, and team-lesson planning
A Conceptual-Theoretical-Empirical Structure for the Study of Alzheimer Informal Caregivers and Home Health Care Nursing Services:

The purpose of this article is to describe the process used to create a conceptual-theoretical-empirical structure for a proposed study of policies for home health care nursing services for informa...
To Tweet or Not to Tweet: An Academic General Pediatric Section’s Experience

Background: The Pew Research center stated that social media use has increased from 7% in 2005 to 65% in 2015. One popular form of social media is Twitter. Twitter users post “tweets” of 140 characters or less and users can follow each other, and “re-tweet” or “like” posts. Users can also choose to “follow” and directly receive tweets of other users or organizations. Twitter also utilizes hashtags (#) to identify tweets related to certain topics and serve as a searchable term. A popular hashtag used by AAP members is #tweetiatrician …
Almost positive curvature on the Gromoll-Meyer sphere

Gromoll and Meyer have represented a certain exotic 7-sphere $\Sigma^7$ as a biquotient of the Lie group $G = Sp(2)$. We show for a 2-parameter family of left invariant metrics on $G$ that the induced metric on $\Sigma^7$ has strictly positive sectional curvature at all points outside four subvarieties of codimension $\geq 1$ which we describe explicitly.
The Role of the University Library in Creating Inclusive Healthcare Hackathons: A Case Study with Design Thinking Processes

Librarians can utilize design-thinking practices to develop instructional materials, in the development of new products and services, and in prototyping novel solutions to problems. This paper will...
Pulse sediment event does not impact the metabolism of a mixed coral reef community

Abstract Sedimentation can bury corals, cause physical abrasion, and alter both spectral intensity and quality; however, few studies have quantified the effects of sedimentation on coral reef metabolism in the context of episodic sedimentation events. Here, we present the first study to measure coral community metabolism - calcification and photosynthesis - in a manipulative mesocosm experiment simulating a pulse sediment event. We exposed a mixed benthic community composed of 75% live carbonate rubble cover and 25% Montipora capitata coral cover to an approximately 275 mg cm−1 (sediment accumulation) acute pulse sediment loading event. No differences were found in net calcification or net photosynthesis between the control and treated mesocosms 48 h and 25 d following exposure to pulse sediment input. Results from this community experiment indicate the ability of Montipora capitata, a common reef coral, to persist under these acute sediment levels, demonstrating resistance to episodic sediment events.
Chapter 16 – Alternative Exit and Restructuring Strategies: Reorganization and Liquidation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses bankruptcy and liquidation as alternative restructuring or exit strategies for failing firms. Bankruptcy is a federal legal proceeding designed to protect the technically or legally insolvent firm from lawsuits by its creditors until a decision is made to liquidate or reorganize the firm. In the absence of a voluntary settlement out of court, the debtor firm may voluntarily seek protection from its creditors by initiating bankruptcy or be forced into bankruptcy by its creditors. Once a petition is filed, the debtor firm is protected from any further legal action related to its debts until the bankruptcy proceedings are completed. Bankruptcy enables a failing firm to reorganize, while protected from its creditors, or to cease operation by selling its assets to satisfy all or a portion of the firm's outstanding debt. This chapter examines in detail how reorganization and liquidation take place both inside and outside the protection of the bankruptcy court. This chapter also discusses common strategic options for failing firms and how to value such firms, the current state of bankruptcy prediction models, and empirical studies of the performance of firms experiencing financial distress.
Chapter 15 – Food Rheology

Rheology studies the flow and deformation of matter and is an important tool to characterize fundamental material properties of food systems. Fluid mechanics is the foundation of food rheology and the correlation of stress and strain can be used to describe rheological properties of food systems in different models. The Herschel–Bulkley model is commonly adopted for fluids, while semi-solid materials are presented by models that describe both solid-and liquid-like properties. Bulk materials can be studied in different testing modes using various geometries based on material characteristics. For semi-solid materials, small amplitude oscillatory shear tests are conveniently used to probe rheological properties without interfering with structures and dynamics of structural development. Besides bulk properties, rheology can be used to study oil/water and air/water interfaces to provide useful information for understanding emulsions and foams.
A three-dimensional conceptualization of authentic inquiry-based practices: a reflective tool for science educators

Authenticity is a term that has become ubiquitous within the field of science education, particularly when it relates to the practices of science. These practices are a key feature of science educa...
Scott Alan Mori (1941—2020): An Appreciation

Scott Alan Mori (1941—2020) was among the most distinguished and prolific botanists in the 129-year history of The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). He spent nearly 40 years of his career at NYBG before retiring in 2014 as Nathaniel Lord Britton Curator of Botany, and then serving as Curator Emeritus until his death on August 12, 2020. Over the course of his career he collected more than 27,000 herbarium specimens, described and named 125 new taxa, had at least 70 new taxa named in his honor, wrote more than 130 scientific papers and dozens of popular articles and blog posts, authored or edited 18 books or monographs, and was the major professor for 11 graduate students. His decades of professional accomplishments brought him many of the most prestigious awards in botany. He was awarded the Engler Medal in Silver from the International Association of Plant Taxonomy for the best publication in systematic botany in 2002. He received the David Fairchild Medal for Plant Exploration in 2007 from the National Tropical Botanical Garden. He won the Asa Gray Award in 2007 from the American Society of Plant Taxonomists. This article examines the multi-faceted legacy of Scott Mori as a great neotropical plant explorer, botanical scholar, author, educator, mentor, conservationist, colleague, and friend. This article also reviews the places that he visited, the projects on which he worked, and the people with whom he collaborated, with appreciative commentaries provided by some of the many individuals he profoundly influenced over the years.
Queer(ing) the Affective

This chapter starts with a brief theoretical discussion between the tension between affect theory and discourse studies. Then the chapter outlines hegemonic sensibilities, in other words the ways in which feelings are structured to align with normative social structures. Lastly, the chapter analyzes queer discourses on affect and structures of feeling.
Brain Energy Deficit as a Source of Oxidative Stress in Migraine: A Molecular Basis for Migraine Susceptibility

People with migraine are prone to a brain energy deficit between attacks, through increased energy demand (hyperexcitable brain) or decreased supply (mitochondrial impairment). However, it is uncertain how this precipitates an acute attack. Here, the central role of oxidative stress is adduced. Specifically, neurons' antioxidant defenses rest ultimately on internally generated NADPH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate), whose levels are tightly coupled to energy production. Mitochondrial NADPH is produced primarily by enzymes involved in energy generation, including isocitrate dehydrogenase of the Krebs (tricarboxylic acid) cycle; and an enzyme, nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT), that depends on the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation to function, and that works in reverse, consuming antioxidants, when energy generation fails. In migraine aura, cortical spreading depression (CSD) causes an initial severe drop in level of NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), causing NNT to impair antioxidant defense. This is followed by functional hypoxia and a rebound in NADH, in which the electron transport chain overproduces oxidants. In migraine without aura, a similar biphasic fluctuation in NADH very likely generates oxidants in cortical regions farthest from capillaries and penetrating arterioles. Thus, the perturbations in brain energy demand and/or production seen in migraine are likely sufficient to cause oxidative stress, triggering an attack through oxidant-sensing nociceptive ion channels. Implications are discussed for the development of new classes of migraine preventives, for the current use of C57BL/6J mice (which lack NNT) in preclinical studies of migraine, for how a microembolism initiates CSD, and for how CSD can trigger a migraine.
Intubation-Related Laryngeal Deficiency and Vocal Fold Immobility in Pediatric Premature Patients

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS We report a posterior laryngeal rating system and measures of voice disability in pediatric patients undergoing phonosurgery for vocal fold paralysis. Posterior glottic deficiency may account for persistent voice disability. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective Study. METHODS Retrospective analyses of 66 subjects with primary unilateral vocal fold paralysis were reviewed for the status of posterior glottis and voice disability (Pediatric Voice Handicap Index [pVHI]). Gestation age (GA), weight, and medical/surgical history were reviewed. The width, length, and depth of the larynx were analyzed to create a reproducible rating scale. RESULTS Mean GA was 29 weeks, with an intubation history for all subjects, with 90% having a left vocal fold immobility. Cardiac surgery was performed in 92% of subjects. A progressive rating (type 0-3) Benjamin Defect Severity Scale (BDSS) was developed to rate the absence or presence of a posterior abnormality. BDSS-2 and BDSS-3 subjects were more likely to have low birth weight. Extremely preterm GA was more likely to be associated with BDSS-1 (mild) or BDSS-2. History of multiple and prolonged intubations were seen more frequently in BDSS-2 or BDSS-3. Post-op pVHI reduced an average of 15 points for BDSS-0 to BDSS-2, but only 3 points for BDSS-3. Post-op pVHI matched normal values for preintervention dysphonic children. CONCLUSIONS The presence of a persistent breathy voice after intervention for unilateral vocal fold immobility is potentially associated with posterior glottic defects. Low birth weight with multiple/prolonged intubation is more likely to be present with higher-grade BDs, whereas low GA is more likely to be associated with BDSS-1 to BDSS-2. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 131:2550-2557, 2021.
"Writing into the Rupture": Visual Selves in Mary-Kim Arnold’s Litany for the Long Moment

Multimedia texts are gaining more footing in the Asian American literary world, especially following Theresa Hak Kyung Cha’s pre-eminent Dictee (1982). While lesser known, Mary-Kim Arnold’s Litany for the Long Moment (2018) is a highly referential lyric essay that employs visual elements, including personal ephemera, to consider the unrelenting complexities of Asian American identity. Analyzing Arnold’s formal intervention into Asian American literature through Francesca Woodman’s photography and Roland Barthes’ photography theory reveals that visual subjects are evasive and unknowable. Paradoxically, memorabilia has the power to rupture linear notions of time and cast into doubt what we know about past and present selves. Arnold’s engagement with the visual also extends to the body, and throughout the text she unsettles hegemonic constructions of gender and racial signification. Ultimately, an analysis of Litany for the Long Moment reveals that visual subjects rupture the concept of a stable self. Throughout this thesis, I draw from the fields of photography, poststructuralism, and critical race studies to argue that visual representation is not a sufficient mode of racial empowerment. Building off of Arnold’s claims about “writing into the rupture,” lack is not a closure, but an opening through which we can interrogate what it means to be a self.
A matter of choice: Should students self-select exercise for their nonspecific chronic low back pain? A controlled study.

To explore the effect of autonomy to choose exercise-therapy (ET) for nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) on treatment adherence and clinical outcomes.Forty-six students were recruited from ...
Increasing water and wastewater utility participation in demand response programs

Abstract The reliance of water utilities on the electric grid, and their ability to buffer its peak demands, are important components of the energy–water nexus. Demand response (DR) among water and wastewater utilities is an underutilized resource for balancing electric loads and is increasingly important as the energy industry transitions to cleaner but intermittent renewables. Challenges to greater participation include water operators’ risk aversion, DR research that misses water sector stakeholders, the hourly and seasonal variability of water demand, the intricacies of power rate schedules, and a lack of convincing data on payback. Actions by particular groups can help overcome these challenges. Power utilities should acknowledge water operators’ risk preferences, work with them to develop site-specific DR practices, and educate them on rate schedules and DR necessity. Water utilities should learn about their power bills and share information about their water operations that will help power companies assess DR potential. DR researchers should consider water operators’ risk perceptions, explore ways to work around hourly flow variations, involve water sector co-authors in their work, develop DR case studies with cost-benefit analyses, and share their research with water sector audiences. These actions will help increase DR penetration in the water sector.
Majorana bands, Berry curvature, and thermal Hall conductivity in the vortex state of a chiral p -wave superconductor

Majorana quasiparticles localized in vortex cores of a chiral $p$-wave superconductor hybridize with one another to form bands in a vortex lattice. We begin by solving a fully microscopic theory describing all quasiparticle bands in a chiral $p$-wave superconductor in a magnetic field, then use this solution to build localized Wannier wave functions corresponding to Majorana quasiparticles. A low-energy tight-binding theory describing the intervortex hopping of these is then derived, and its topological properties---which depend crucially on the signs of the imaginary intervortex hopping parameters---are studied. We show that the energy gap between the Majorana bands may be either topologically trivial or nontrivial, depending on whether the Chern number contributions from the Majorana bands and those from the background superconducting condensate add constructively or destructively. This topology directly affects the temperature-dependent thermal Hall conductivity, which we also calculate.
Method for Plastic Design of Frames

An approximate optimizing criterion is introduced in the problem of optimum design of frames. The new criterion, having the form of the elastic energy, drastically reduces the difficulties of the problem by transforming it to one of elastic analysis. In addition, it is more realistic than those previously used in that it does not require the vanishing of the cross section wherever the bending moment becomes zero. This eliminates the mathematical irregularities that complicate the problem and the absurd results to which these irregularities lead. The new criterion is applied to the minimum weight design of a portal frame, of which the continuously varying cross section depends on a single parameter and the strength, derived from resistance to bending alone, is exhausted only at plastic collapse; an upper bound of the approximation error is established. Furthermore, ways are indicated by which the approximation can be improved and the method can be applied to elastic design or the design of structures, the strength of which depends on their resistance to torsion and axial loading as well.
Automated SLA Monitoring for Web Services

SLA monitoring is difficult to automate as it would need precise and unambiguous specification and a customizable engine that collects the right measurement, models the data and evaluates the SLA at certain times or when certain events happen. Also most of the SLA neglect client side measurement or restrict SLAs to measurements based only on server side. In a cross-enterprise scenario like web services it will be important to obtain measurements at multiple sites and to guarantee SLAs on them. In this article we propose an automated and distributed SLA monitoring engine.
Glucose Absorption and Hepatic Gluconeogenesis in Dairy Cows Fed Diets Varying in Forage Content

One dry and four lactating Holstein cows were prepared with chronic catheters in the mesenteric, hepatic and portal veins and used to study glucose absorption and hepatic gluconeogenesis. The dry cow was used in a preliminary assessment of the methods. In the main experiment high concentrate and high forage diets, providing equal energy intake, were delivered in hourly portions from an automatic feeder as total mixed rations. A few data were collected with the high concentrate ration fed ad libitum in early lactation. A few additional observations were made with limited feed intake by using the same cows subsequent to the main experiment. Portal and hepatic vein blood flow rates were determined by using para-aminohippuric acid. Glucose entry rates were significantly higher during ad libitum feeding of the high concentrate diet than during feeding of the two diets with restricted intake. There was no difference between high concentrate and high forage diets when fed at equal energy intakes. Net glucose appearance in portal blood was demonstrated. Data from this study and from the literature were used to develop general relationships between digestible energy intake and 1) portal vein blood flow, 2) rate of portal appearance of glucose and 3) total splanchnic glucose entry rate.
Site-directed mutagenesis of Petunia hybrida 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase: Lys-23 is essential for substrate binding.

Abstract Chemical modification of Escherichia coli 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, a target for the nonselective herbicide glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine), with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate suggested that Lys-22 (equivalent to Lys-23 of the Petunia hybrida enzyme) is a potential active site residue (Huynh, Q. K., Kishore, G. M., and Bild, G. S. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 735-739). To investigate the possible role of this residue in the reaction mechanism, we have used site-directed mutagenesis to replace Lys-23 of the P. hybrida enzyme with 3 other amino acid residues: Ala, Glu, and Arg. Analysis of these mutant enzymes indicates that of these only the Lys-23 to Arg mutant enzyme is active; the other two replacements (Ala and Glu) result in inactivation of the enzyme. Two of the mutant enzymes (Lys-23 to Arg and Ala) were purified to homogeneity and characterized. The purified Lys-23 to Arg mutant enzyme is less sensitive than the wild type enzyme to pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. It showed identical Km values for substrates and a 5-fold higher I50 value for glyphosate in comparison with those from the wild type enzyme. Binding studies using fluorescence measurements revealed that the substrate shikimate 3-phosphate and glyphosate were able to bind the purified Lys-23 to Arg mutant enzyme but not to the purified catalytically inactive Lys-23 to Ala mutant enzyme. The above results suggest that the cationic group at position 23 of the enzyme may play an important role in substrate binding.
Antitumor activity of the type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor and cytotoxic conjugate in vitro.

Many cancer cell lines and cancers overexpress receptor bound urokinase plasminogen activator on the cell surface. The urokinase plasminogen activator bound to its receptor remains on the cell surface for a prolonged period of time. When urokinase plasminogen activator/urokinase plasminogen activator receptor complex binds plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), the inhibitor triggers a series of events leading to internalization of the entire complex. This mechanism makes a very attractive target for localization and internalization of PAI-1-based cytotoxic compounds in cancer treatment. We investigated the antitumor activity of PAI-1/A-chain cholera toxin in vitro . Fibrosarcoma-derived HT1080 cells treated with PAI-1 conjugate showed at least 4 times higher cell killing than the control KD normal fibroblast cell line.
The significance of far-infrared spectra of the interstellar medium

This paper deals with the analysis of interstellar clouds through infrared and submillimeter observations. The determination of temperature, density, state of ionization and abundance of different chemical constituents is discussed for clouds exhibiting a range of optical depths. There is a preferred choice of spectral features useful for examining different types of gaseous complexes. The prospects for improving our understanding of chemical reaction schemes in interstellar clouds are outlined. Prime advances may be expected in improved data on the abundance of atoms; diatomic hydrides; other small, hydrogen-containing molecules; and their ions.
Measuring spontaneous deleterious mutation process

Parameters of the deleterious mutation process can be estimated using the data on genotypes, phenotypes, or fitnesses. These data can be on long-term evolution, on short-term changes, or on the properties of equilibrium populations. The two most important parameters at the genomic level, the total deleterious mutation rate U and the mutational pressure on fitness P, remain poorly known. Reliable data on the rates of presumably neutral evolution, together with less certain estimates of the functionally important fraction of the genome, suggest that in mammals U > 1. The magnitudes of inbreeding depression in populations of selfers imply U ∼ 1 in flowering plants. The straightforward way to estimate P is to assay the decline of fitness in populations with relaxed selection. The relevant data are contradictory, possibly because the results of the measurement of fitness depend strongly on the environmental conditions.
Emergent Metal–Insulator Transitions Associated with Electronic Inhomogeneities in Low-Dimensional Complex Oxides

A prominent feature of complex oxides is the coexistence of competing electronic phases. The separation of metallic and insulating phases is believed to be responsible for a variety of emergent transport phenomena, including quantum criticality in ruthenates and colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) in manganites. Interestingly, the phase boundaries between neighboring phases can often be displaced by small perturbations such as chemical doping, heating, stress, and electric or magnetic field, leading to intriguing metal–insulator transitions (MITs). The association of the emergent MIT with electronic inhomogeneities is particularly pronounced in low-dimensional materials which are uniquely suited to studying the MIT and phase evolutions in response to modification of the order parameters. Here, we present a few examples to illustrate the intimate interplay between emergent MIT and the competing electronic phases in functional metal oxide materials, including a percolative MIT near the critical temperature of the Mott transition in a Mn-doped bilayer ruthenate Sr3Ru2O7 crystal surface, and the abrupt conductance changes and reemergent MIT in manganite nanowires of La5/8 − x Pr x Ca3/8MnO3. This experimental research has benefited from new developments in the fabrication and characterization of low-dimensional oxide materials and nanostructures. A rare glimpse of the microscopic phase separation, the dynamic phase percolation, and the strain-tuned MIT has been provided. The results indicate the critical role of electron–lattice interactions in phase separation and suggest that the origin of phase coexistence is much more strongly influenced by strain than local chemical inhomogeneity, both for ruthenates and manganites.
Influence of HLA-A2 on the Effectiveness of Platelet Transfusions in Alloimmunized Thrombocytopenic Patients

Platelet transfusions from donors selectively mismatched for cross-reactive and certain non-cross-reactive HLA antigens were found to be more effective in HLA-A2 negative than in HLA-A2 positive, alloimmunized thrombocytopenic patients. The two groups of patients responded equally well to platelets matched for antigens of the HLA-A and B loci. Certain alloimmunized patients negative for HLA-A2 continued to respond satisfactorily to platelets selectively mismatched for non-cross-reactive HLA antigens as long as platelets containing HLA-A2 were avoided. The data indicate that platelet transfusion support can be provided within a broader range of donor-recipient HLA antigenic disparity to HLA-A2 negative alloimmunized patients than to those who are positive for this antigen.
Collaborative planning over low bandwidth tactical networks

Collaboration planning (CP) and the Inmarsat on the move satellite system were key enabling technologies for corps and division level commanders during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). CP consists of planning tools such as whiteboarding, chat, voice conferencing, and file sharing with numerous collaborative tools commercially available today. The DoD standard for collaboration is the Defense Collaboration Tool Suite (DCTS). While the Inmarsat and DCTS capabilities provided significant improvements in capability for the warfighter, the scalability of these technologies is limited. The commercial CP tools within DCTS such as Microsoft's Net Meeting are optimized for operation on high speed wired networks, and consequently do not operate well over low bandwidth tactical networks. Additionally the Inmarsat architecture employed is very cost prohibitive when scaled beyond a handful of army commanders. This paper provides an overview of a prototype tactical collaboration tool (TCT) that was developed to operate over low bandwidth wireless networks, along with recommendations for improving the Inmarsat satellite architecture. The paper includes an analysis of the performance of the TCT over a simulated Inmarsat network, and contrasts it against commercial CP tools.
The Impact of EBV Status on Characteristics and Outcomes of Posttransplantation Lymphoproliferative Disorder

We examined the associations of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status with characteristics and outcomes of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) by studying 176 adult solid organ transplant recipients diagnosed with PTLD between 1990 and 2013 (58 [33%] EBV-negative; 118 [67%] EBV-positive). The proportion of EBV-negative cases increased over time from 10% (1990-1995) to 48% (2008-2013) (p < 0.001). EBV-negative PTLD had distinct characteristics (monomorphic histology, longer latency) though high-risk features (advanced stage, older age, high lactate dehydrogenase, central nervous system involvement) were not more common compared to EBV-positive PTLD. In multivariable analysis, EBV negativity was not significantly associated with worse response to initial therapy (adjusted odds ratio, 0.84; p = 0.75). The likelihood of achieving a complete remission (CR) was not significantly different for EBV-negative versus EBV-positive PTLD including when therapy was reduction of immunosuppression alone (35% vs. 43%, respectively, p = 0.60) or rituximab (43% vs. 47%, p = 1.0). EBV negativity was also not associated with worse overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.91; p = 0.71). Our findings indicate that EBV status is not prognostic or predictive of treatment response in adults with PTLD. The high proportion of EBV-negative disease diagnosed in recent years highlights the need for new strategies for prevention and management of EBV-negative PTLD.
Damage Presence/Growth Monitoring Sensors

An interdigitated PVDF transducer (PVDF IDT) has been built in this study. This sensor generates and receives Lamb waves for damage detection. Its main features are low unit cost, easy installation, small size, superb flexibility, and the capability for wireless operation and remote interrogation. The PVDF IDT developed in this study has been applied on laminated plates composed of anisotropic carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials with a series of embedded defects. Results have shown that these PVDF IDTs are able to qualitatively identify the existence of defects by generating size-sensitive outcomes. The interpretation of the complex wave signals has been conducted through the employment of advanced signal-processing methods. Time-frequency representations (TFRs) such as the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) has been employed for data analysis. Keywords: damage detection; structural health monitoring; PVDF IDTs; Lamb waves; time-frequency representations; continuous wavelet transform
Somatotypes of College Football Players

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe the somatotypes of an outstanding college football team. Thirty-five football lettermen at San Diego State were somatotyped and compared by position, and with other samples. The findings indicated that there were somatotype and size differences between playing positions and between players at different college levels. Some somatotypes which are rare in the general population are common in football teams. The dominant physique in this study was the extreme endomorphic mesomorph. Gross size is an outstanding characteristic of college football players.
Androgen-Induced Prostate-Specific Antigen Gene Expression Is Mediated via Dihydrotestosterone in LNCaP Cells

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in American males. Androgens play an essential role in prostate development, growth and pathogenesis of benign prostate hyperplasia, and prostate cancer. Although testosterone is the main androgen secreted from the testes, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent androgen converted from testosterone by 5alpha-reductase isozymes, type 1 and 2, is the major androgen in the prostate cells. Thus, 5alpha-reductase(s) are critical in determining androgen activity in the prostate. However, it is unclear in prostate tumor cells whether 1 or 2 5alpha-reductase isozymes are expressed and whether they are functionally important. In the present report, we studied the importance of 5alpha-reductase isozymes in the androgen induction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) gene expression in LNCaP prostatic tumor cells. Treatment with either testosterone or DHT in LNCaP cells produced dose- and time-dependent increases in PSA levels in the cell media and in PSA messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in the cells. However, testosterone-induced but not DHT-induced PSA gene expression was significantly inhibited by finasteride, a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we demonstrated for the first time that both 5alpha-reductase-1 and 5alpha-reductase-2 mRNAs were expressed in LNCaP cells using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and RT-PCR Southern blot analysis. These results suggest that both 5alpha-reductase isozymes are present and functionally important in prostatic tumor LNCaP cells and that DHT is a major mediator of androgen induction of PSA gene expression in these cells.