cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulated performance of an optical system that uses deconvolution of multiple phase-diverse aberrated images

Aperture size imposes, by way of diffraction, a fundamental limit on the spatial resolution that can be attained with an imaging system that operates at a given distance from a target. It is therefore natural to seek to improve image resolution by increasing the size of the collection aperture of a remote sensing system. On the other hand, as aperture size increases it becomes technically more difficult, and financially much more expensive, to maintain a figure quality that holds geometrical aberrations to a level that is negligible compared to diffraction effects. This paper presents an analysis of an approach that combines active optics with what has been called a post-detection phase diversity technique [R. A. Gonsalves, "Phase retrieval and diversity in adaptive optics," Opt. Eng. 21, 829-832 (1982)]. The basic concept is to allow for variable focus as an inherent system capability, in order to acquire multiple defocused images, each one of which has slightly different, and complementary, spatial frequency content. The proper deconvolution and merging of these images produces a composite image that is superior to the image that can be acquired at any single focal setting. This paper presents the theoretical basis of this approach, and numerical simulations that include the effects of noise and various levels of third order spherical aberration.
Action of Graphite as a Lubricant

THE lubricating properties of graphite have considerable practical importance and scientific interest. The explanation often quoted for the mechanism is based on the assumption that the loosely bound graphite layers slide easily over each other like a pack of cards when graphite is used as a lubricant between moving surfaces1. In this communication we report briefly on experiments which indicate that a hitherto unconsidered mechanism might be important.
The Tensile Properties and Microstructure of Ti-Tic Composites with Al Additions

The relationship between the tensile properties and microstructure of Ti-TiC composite materials with Al additions was investigated. Composites containing 40–50% TiC by volume were produced using standard casting procedures from the melt. Ultimate tensile strengths of 1113 MPa with 1–2 % ductility were found in these materials. Results show that the tensile properties are controlled by the size and distribution of TiC particles.
Grazer Interactions with Four Species of Lyngbya in Southeast Florida

Blooms of the toxic cyanobacteria Lyngbya spp. have been increasing in frequency and severity in southeast Florida in recent years. Lyngbya produces many active secondary metabolites which often act as feeding deterrents to generalist herbivores, possibly increasing the longevity of these nuisance blooms. Whilst diverse arrays of small invertebrate consumers are often found in association with Lyngbya, little is known of their grazing selectivity among species of Lyngbya. This study examines the feeding preference of grazers for four local Lyngbya species (Lyngbya majuscula, Lyngbya confervoides, Lyngbya polychroa and Lyngbya spp.). Stylocheilus striatus and Haminoea antillarum showed no dietary selectivity between L. polychroa, L. majuscula and Lyngbya spp. in multiple choice feeding assays, whereas Bulla striata showed a distinct preference for L. polychroa (P < 0.001). To determine whether preference might be related to species-specific secondary metabolites, L. majuscula, L. confervoides and L. polychroa non-polar and polar extracts were incorporated into artificial diets and offered to a range of mesograzers. No significant difference was noted in feeding stimulation or deterrence amongst extracts and the controls for any of the grazers. When fed a monospecific diet of L. polychroa, S. striatus consumed more (P < 0.001) and attained a higher daily biomass (P = 0.004) than S. striatus fed L. confervoides. As L. polychroa and L. confervoides often co-exist on local coral reefs and yield dense numbers of S. striatus, host switching to a more palatable species of Lyngbya may have important implications regarding top-down control of local blooms leading to proliferation of one species and decimation of another. S. striatus fed a diet of L. polychroa consumed more (P = 0.003), had a greater increase in body mass (P = 0.020) and higher conversion efficiency (P = 0.005) than those fed L. confervoides regardless of host origin. Possible explanations for host switching between species of Lyngbya related to morphology, toxicity and nutrient requirements for growth are discussed.
A multiscale finite element method for the Helmholtz equation

It is well known that when the standard Galerkin method is applied to the Helmholtz equation it exhibits an error in the wavenumber and the solution does not, therefore, preserve the phase characteristics of the exact solution. Improvements on the Galerkin method, including Galerkin least-squares (GLS) methods, have been proposed. However, these approaches rely on a dispersion analysis of the underlying difference stencils in order to reduce error in the solution. In this paper we propose a multiscale finite element for the Helmholtz equation. The method employs a multiscale variational formulation which leads to a subgrid model in which subgrid scales are incorporated analytically through appropriate Green's functions. It is shown that entirely new and accurate methods emerge and that GLS methods can be obtained as special cases of the more general subgrid model.
Variable coupling of active Na+ + K+ transport in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells: regulation by external Na+ and K+.

The effects of altered external sodium and potassium concentrations on steady state, active Na+ + K+ transport in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells have been investigated. Membrane permeability to Na+ and K+, intracellular [Na+] and [K+], and membrane potential were measured. Active cation fluxes were calculated as equal and membrane potential were measured. Active cation fluxes were calculated as equal and opposite to the net, diffusional leak fluxes. Elevation of external K+ (6–60 Mm)by equivalent replacement of Na+ (154–91 mM) inhibits both active Na+ and K+ fluxes, but not proportionally. This results in a decrease of the coupling ratio (rp = -Jkp/J) as external K+ is increased. Elevation of external K+ (3–68 mM) at constant Na+ (92mM) inbibits J, but is without effect on J. The coupling ratio declines from 1.01 ± 0.14 to 0.07 ± 0.05, a 14-fold alteration. Reduction of external Na+ (154–25 mM) at constant K+ (6mM) depresses J, but is without effect on J. The coupling ratio increases from 0.63 ± 0.04 at 154 mM Na+ to 4.5 ± 2.04 at 25 mM Na+. The results of this investigation are consistent with the independent regulation of active cation fluxes by the transported species. Kinetic analysis of the data indicates that elevation of external sodium stimulates active sodium efflux by interacting at “modifier sites” at the outer cell surface. Similarly, external potassium inhibits active potassium influx by interaction at separate modifier sites.
STUDIES ON THE STRUCTURE AND REPLICATION OF THE NUCLEIC ACID OF POLIOVIRUS.

Abstract The decay of incorporated P 32 has been employed as an analytical tool in establishing the number of strands in poliovirus ribonucleic acid and in investigating the nature of the intracellular ribonucleic acid and its mode of replication. The efficiency of decay inactivation of extracellular labeled poliovirus and its extracted nucleic acid suggests that poliovirus may contain its genetic information in a single strand of nucleotides. Additional support for this claim was provided by the observation that the “suicide” rate was independent of the temperature at which decay took place. Examination of the time course of the evolution of P 32 -resistance during intracellular development revealed that the synthesis of viral ribonucleic acid and the development of radioresistance are temporally related. These experimental findings have given rise to speculations on the events taking place in cells infected with poliovirus.
Applying open source principles to collaborative learning environments

Open source software provides an example not only of a viable software development methodology, but also a model for collaborative construction of artifacts. Open source communities exemplify principles that are important in collaborative learning environments. This paper explores how open source efforts can be used as inspiration for the creation of collaborative learning experiences in a university course. Concrete public deliverables and use of collaborative technology help students explore ill-defined projects that are personally meaningful. This paper provides a description of open source principles, their role in designing collaborative learning experiences, the application of these principles in a university course, and the findings based on analysis of course projects and collaborative technology.
Targeting malaria parasite proteins to the erythrocyte

The intraerythrocytic stages of the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum reside within a parasitophorous vacuole (PV) and set up unique ‘extraparasite, intraerythrocyte’ protein-trafficking pathways that target parasite-encoded proteins to the erythrocyte cytoplasm and cell surface. Two recent articles report the identification of trafficking motifs that regulate the transport of parasite-encoded proteins across the PV. These articles greatly aid the annotation of the parasite ‘secretome’ catalog of proteins that are targeted to the erythrocyte cytoplasm or cell membrane.
Axon terminals of the intrinsic neurons in the nucleus lateralis of the cerebellum. An electron microscope study.

The large projection neurons of the lateral nucleus have long axons, which leave the cell mass in the superior cerebellar peduncle. These axons emit myelinated recurrent collaterals which have synaptic varicosities en passant. The varicosities are 2–5 μm in diameter and contain round, agranular synaptic vesicles ranging between 280 and 480 A with diameters of approximately 400 A. The vesicles lie in a moderately dark axoplasmic matrix with a mean packing density of 281/μm2. The varicosities synapse through Gray's type 1 junctions with dendrites and thorns of large and small neurons. They constitute 22% of the total axonal population on dendrites of large neurons and 10% on dendrites of small neurons. The recurrent collateral system may provide a means for positive feedback to the same neuron and other neurons of the neuropil.
Unmasking invisible ideologies: A commentary on Rojek's “Leisure and emotional intelligence”

(2010). Unmasking invisible ideologies: A commentary on Rojek's “Leisure and emotional intelligence”. World Leisure Journal: Vol. 52, No. 4, pp. 261-264.
Survey of MeCP2 in the Rett syndrome and the non-Rett syndrome brain

The clinical and neuropathologic aspects of Rett syndrome suggest that an arrest of brain development produces the phenotype, but it is not understood how the gene implicated in Rett syndrome, methyl-CpG protein 2 (MeCP2), is regulated during brain development. In this study, the ontogeny of MeCP2 is examined in the developing human brain and in the female Rett syndrome brain to evaluate the relationship between MeCP2 expression and brain development in health and disease, respectively. Immunocytochemistry using an antibody to the C-terminal region of the protein was performed in paraffin sections of the developing brain to define the age and the sites of MeCP2 protein expression. In development, there is no MeCP2 expression in the germinal matrix or in the progenitor cells. At 10 to 14 weeks' gestation, the neurons of the brain stem and the Cajal-Retzius and subplate neurons of the cortex express MeCP2. By midgestation, some neurons of the basal ganglia express MeCP2, and at late gestation, the most mature cortical neurons in the lower cortical layers are positive. The postnatal cortex continues to increase its expression of neuronal MeCP2. In the Rett syndrome brain, fewer neurons express MeCP2 than in the normal brain. This reduction is most apparent in the brain stem and thalamus. The neurons of the cerebral cortex show the least reduction. We conclude that the regulation of MeCP2 abundance is related to human brain development, being expressed in neurons when they appear mature. In Rett syndrome, however, the expression pattern of MeCP2 does not completely resemble that of the normal immature brain, suggesting that the maintenance of MeCP2 might be determined in specific neurons by factors other than those controlling maturation. In the developing brain, synaptic activity and plasticity could be necessary to maintain MeCP2 in selected neuronal populations.
Structural and functional imaging of normal bone marrow and evaluation of its age-related changes.

A number of noninvasive imaging techniques have been used for the evaluation of bone marrow, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bone marrow scintigraphy. The appearance of bone marrow on MRI varies considerably depending on the proportion of red and yellow marrow, and the composition of the red marrow and its distribution with relation to age and sex. The composition of bone marrow also can vary under physiological and pathological conditions. MRI is a highly sensitive technique for evaluating the bone marrow, but it is limited in its practical use for whole-body bone marrow screening. Bone marrow scintigraphy with radiolabeled compounds such as technetium-99m-labeled nanocolloid and monoclonal antibodies has the advantage of evaluating the entire bone marrow, and has been used for the diagnosis of various bone marrow disorders. In addition, 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging can be used to evaluate bone marrow metabolism and disease and to provide information about the state of the primary tumor, lymph nodes, and distant metastases. Understanding of the appearance of normal bone marrow, including age- and sex-specific differences with each of these imaging modalities, is essential to permit accurate diagnosis of benign and malignant bone marrow disorders. We present a review of MRI and scintigraphy of normal bone marrow with some emphasis on FDG-PET imaging in assessing marrow activity in normal and abnormal states and also present preliminary data regarding normal age-related changes in bone marrow through use of FDG-PET, as well as the role of segmentation of bone marrow on MRI for quantitative calculation of the metabolic volumetric product for red marrow metabolism using FDG-PET.
Effect of chlordecone (Kepone) on calcium transport mechanisms in rat heart sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Previous studies from our laboratory have indicated that chlordecone (Kepone®, CD), an organochlorine insecticide, inhibited cardiac sodium pump activity and catecholamine uptake suggesting that CD may interfere with cardiac function. Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium pump has an important role in myocardial contraction and relaxation, besides Na+ transport. Since CD interferes with cardiac Na+ ion translocases, we have studied CD effects on cardiac SR calcium pump activity. Experiments were carried out both in vitro and in vivo. SR was isolated from heart ventricles of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Cardiac SR Ca2+-ATPase, 45Ca-uptake and cAMP as well as calmodulin (CaM) dependent protein phosphorylation were measured. Ca2+-ATPase was differentiated into low affinity and high affinity forms by measuring the activity using 50 and 0.7 μM free Ca2+ respectively. CD in vitro inhibited 45Ca-uptake by SR in a concentration dependent manner with an IC50 value of 7 μM and SR 45Ca-uptake was totally inhibited at 20–30 μM CD. In agreement with this, both high affinity and low affinity Ca2+-ATPases, which are involved in Ca2+ transport across membranes, were also inhibited by CD in a concentration dependent manner with IC50 values of 0.7 and 3.2 μM respectively. Both Ca2+-ATPase and 45Ca-uptake by cardiac SR were significantly lower in rats treated with CD (25, 50 or 75 mg/kg) when compared to control rats. cAMP as well as CaM significantly elevated the 32P-binding to SR proteins in vitro to about 70–80%. In the presence of CD, this 32P-binding was reduced, however, not concentration dependent. In agreement with in vitro studies, 32P-bound to proteins was significantly lowered in rats treated with CD. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the cardiac SR revealed the presence of at least 30 comassie blue-stainable bands with mobilities corresponding to molecular weights ranging from 9 to 120 kDa using 15% acrylamide gels. Autoradiographs from samples incubated in the presence of cAMP or CaM indicated 32P-incorporation in 7 bands. Of these, bands corresponding to about 24 kDa and adjacent lower molecular weights decreased in their intensity by CD in vitro as well as in vivo. These results indicate that CD treatment may be reducing SR calcium transport mechanisms by altering phosphorylation of a number of proteins including phospholamban in rat cardiac SR.
A Common Motif within the Negative Regulatory Regions of Multiple Factors Inhibits Their Transcriptional Synergy

DNA regulatory elements frequently harbor multiple recognition sites for several transcriptional activators. The response mounted from such compound response elements is often more pronounced than the simple sum of effects observed at single binding sites. The determinants of such transcriptional synergy and its control, however, are poorly understood. Through a genetic approach, we have uncovered a novel protein motif that limits the transcriptional synergy of multiple DNA-binding regulators. Disruption of these conserved synergy control motifs (SC motifs) selectively increases activity at compound, but not single, response elements. Although isolated SC motifs do not regulate transcription when tethered to DNA, their transfer to an activator lacking them is sufficient to impose limits on synergy. Mechanistic analysis of the two SC motifs found in the glucocorticoid receptor N-terminal region reveals that they function irrespective of the arrangement of the receptor binding sites or their distance from the transcription start site. Proper function, however, requires the receptor's ligand-binding domain and an engaged dimer interface. Notably, the motifs are not functional in yeast and do not alter the effect of p160 coactivators, suggesting that they require other nonconserved components to operate. Many activators across multiple classes harbor seemingly unrelated negative regulatory regions. The presence of SC motifs within them, however, suggests a common function and identifies SC motifs as critical elements of a general mechanism to modulate higher-order interactions among transcriptional regulators.
Real-time disease surveillance using Twitter data: demonstration on flu and cancer

Social media is producing massive amounts of data on an unprecedented scale. Here people share their experiences and opinions on various topics, including personal health issues, symptoms, treatments, side-effects, and so on. This makes publicly available social media data an invaluable resource for mining interesting and actionable healthcare insights. In this paper, we describe a novel real-time flu and cancer surveillance system that uses spatial, temporal, and text mining on Twitter data. The real-time analysis results are reported visually in terms of US disease surveillance maps, distribution and timelines of disease types, symptoms, and treatments, in addition to overall disease activity timelines on our project website. Our surveillance system can be very useful not only for early prediction of seasonal disease outbreaks such as flu, but also for monitoring distribution of cancer patients with different cancer types and symptoms in each state and the popularity of treatments used. The resulting insights are expected to help facilitate faster response to and preparation for epidemics and also be very useful for both patients and doctors to make more informed decisions.
Computers In Mental Health: An Historical Overview And Summary Of Current Status

This paper reviews the development and current status of computer-supported mental health information systems. It describes and provides principal references both for general and for specialized information systems in a wide variety of application areas. It also comments on some of the special problems and emerging directions of computer applications in the mental health field.
Uncorrelated estimates of dark energy evolution

Type Ia supernova data have recently become strong enough to enable, for the first time, constraints on the time variation of the dark energy density and its equation of state. Most analyses, however, are using simple two or three-parameter descriptions of the dark energy evolution, since it is well known that allowing more degrees of freedom introduces serious degeneracies. Here we present a method to produce uncorrelated and nearly model-independent band power estimates of the equation of state of dark energy and its density as a function of redshift. We apply the method to recently compiled supernova data. Our results are consistent with the cosmological constant scenario, in agreement with other analyses that use traditional parametrizations, though we find marginal (2-sigma) evidence for w(z)<-1 at z<0.2. In addition to easy interpretation, uncorrelated, localized band powers allow intuitive and powerful testing of the constancy of either the energy density or equation of state. While we have used relatively coarse redshift binning suitable for the current set of ~150 supernovae, this approach should reach its full potential in the future, when applied to thousands of supernovae found from ground and space, combined with complementary information from other cosmological probes.
Biodegradation of RDX within soil-water slurries using a combination of differing redox incubation conditions

Biodegradation of 14C-tagged hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) was studied in aerobic, anaerobic, and anaerobic/aerobic slurries to identify the conditions maximizing RDX-mineralization in Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant (CAAP, NE) groundwater. Supplementation with phosphate and adequate quantities of acetate caused 25% mineralization of RDX in 3 weeks by microorganisms native to CAAP. Under anaerobic conditions, the same supplementation resulted in 20% mineralization in 3 weeks and 30% mineralization in 6 weeks. The highest degree of mineralization (50%) was obtained under aerobic conditions when the contaminated groundwater was augmented with a consortium of three microbes isolated from another RDX contaminated soil (Hastings, NE) in addition to supplemented with phosphate and acetic acid. Use of complex organic sources (potato or corn starch) slowed down the rates of mineralization under anaerobic conditions, but rapid mineralization ensued as soon as the aerobic conditions were created. Final RDX concentrations in aqueous phase were below detection limit under most conditions. Assimilation of RDX by the cells was negligible.
Proteomic Characterization of Yersinia pestis Virulence

The Yersinia pestis proteome was studied as a function of temperature and calcium by two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis. Over 4,100 individual protein spots were detected, of which hundreds were differentially expressed. A total of 43 differentially expressed protein spots, representing 24 unique proteins, were identified by mass spectrometry. Differences in expression were observed for several virulence-associated factors, including catalase-peroxidase (KatY), murine toxin (Ymt), plasminogen activator (Pla), and F1 capsule antigen (Caf1), as well as several putative virulence factors and membrane-bound and metabolic proteins. Differentially expressed proteins not previously reported to contribute to virulence are candidates for more detailed mechanistic studies, representing potential new virulence determinants.
Environmental Susceptibility of the Sperm Epigenome During Windows of Male Germ Cell Development

Male germ cells require multiple epigenetic reprogramming events during their lifespan to achieve reproductive capacity. An emerging body of compelling data demonstrates that environmental exposures can be embodied within the developing male germ cell as epigenetic marks. In turn, these epigenetic marks can impart information at fertilization to affect the trajectory of offspring health and development. While it is recognized that in utero epigenetic reprogramming of male germ cells is a particularly susceptible window to environmental exposures, other such windows exist during germ cell development. The objective of this review is to discuss epigenetic reprogramming events during male germ cell development and to provide supporting evidence from animal and human studies that during specific periods of development, germ cells are susceptible to environmentally induced epigenetic errors. Moving forward, the nascent field of sperm epigenetics research is likely to advance our understanding of paternal environmental determinants of offspring health and development.
Dialogue management in the Mercury flight reservation system

This paper describes the dialogue module of the Mercury system, which has been under development over the past year or two. Mercury provides telephone access to an on-line flight database, and allows users to plan and price itineraries between major airports worldwide. The main focus of this paper is the dialogue control strategy, which is based on a set of ordered rules as a mechanism to manage complex dialogue interactions. The paper also describes the interactions between the dialogue component and the other servers of the system, mediated via a central hub. We evaluated the system on 49 dialogues from users booking real flights, and report on a number of quantitative measures of the dialogue interaction.
Infrared matrix isolation study of the oxidation of H2S by CrCl2O2

The thermal and photochemical reactions between CrO2Cl2 and H2S have been investigated using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. Twin-jet co-deposition of the two reagents into argon matrices at 14 K followed by irradiation with light of λ > 300 nm led to the growth of a number of new bands. These have been assigned to the HSOH–CrCl2O complex, and to SO2. These assignments were supported by deuterium isotopic substitution and high level density functional calculations. Merged-jet deposition with the reaction zone at temperatures above 125 °C led to substantial yields of SO2 and HCl, as well as the complex of HCl with excess parent H2S. The evidence suggests that the thermal and photochemical reactions may follow different pathways.
Coupling algorithms for mixed-level circuit and device simulation

A general framework for mixed-level circuit and device simulation is described. This framework was used in the development of the simulation program CODECS (coupled device and circuit simulator). Various algorithms to couple the device and circuit simulators for DC and transient analyses have been implemented in CODECS. These algorithms are evaluated based on their convergence properties and run-time performance. This study provides guidelines for choosing a particular coupling algorithm. A modified two-level Newton algorithm is used for DC analysis, whereas a full block-LU decomposition algorithm is used for transient analysis. This combination of algorithms provides reasonable convergence and run-time performance. A simple latency scheme provides a 50% speedup. Coupling for small-signal AC and pole-zero analyses are described. >
The influence of merged muscle excitation modules on post-stroke hemiparetic walking performance

article i nfo Article history: Received 29 August 2012 Accepted 4 June 2013 Background: Post-stroke subjects with hemiparesis typically utilize a reduced number of modules or co-excited muscles compared to non-impaired controls, with at least one module resembling the merging of two or more non-impaired modules. In non-impaired walking, each module has distinct contributions to important biomechanical functions, and thus different merged module combinations post-stroke may result in different functional consequences. Methods: Three-dimensional forward dynamics simulations were developed for non-impaired controls and two groups of post-stroke hemiparetic subjects with different merged module combinations to analyze how paretic leg muscle contributions to body support, forward propulsion, mediolateral control and leg swing are altered. Findings: The potential of the plantarflexors to generate propulsion was impaired in both hemiparetic groups while the remaining functional consequences differed depending on which modules were merged. Paretic leg swing was impaired during pre-swing when Modules 1 (hip abductors and knee extensors during early stance), and 2 (plantarflexors during late stance) were merged and during late swing when Modules 1 and 4 (hamstrings during late swing into early stance) were merged. When Modules 1 and 4 were merged, body support during early stance was also impaired. Interpretation: These results suggest that improving plantarflexor ability to generate propulsion is critical during rehabilitation regardless of module composition. If Modules 1 and 2 are merged, then rehabilitation should also focus on improving paretic leg pre-swing whereas if Modules 1 and 4 are merged, then rehabil- itation should also focus on improving early stance body support and late paretic leg swing.
Drone Operations in Current US Counterterrorism Strategy in Africa

JURIST Guest Columnist Kevin Govern of the Ave Maria School of Law says says the US must pursue a full spectrum of "smart power" capabilities in Africa, to include but not be limited to the use of drones for surveillance or targeted killing strikes.
Resistance of W/Fu rats to adrenal regeneration hypertension.

SummaryThe procedure for producing adrenal regeneration hypertension did not cause an increase in the systolic blood pressure of W/Fu animals. The regenerating adrenal gland in W/Fu animals was not restored to normal; reduced numbers of mitochondrial cristae were seen and the mitochondria were smaller in size; regeneration was complete in Sprague-Dawley rats of the Holtzman strain and there was a severe form of hypertensive, cardiovascular disease.The authors are grateful to Mrs. Yam Pun, Mrs. Neonile Fylypiw, Mr. Luther Joseph, Mrs. Geneva Joseph, Mrs. Elisabeth Lawson, and Mr. Robert Linsmair for skilled technical assistance.
Entropic destruction of heavy quarkonium in the quark-gluon plasma

Abstract The excitations of a bound state immersed in a strongly coupled system are often delocalized and characterized by a large entropy, so that the state is strongly entangled with the rest of the statistical system. If this entropy S increases with the separation r between the constituents of the bound state, S = S ( r ) , then the resulting entropic force F = T ∂ S / ∂ r (T is temperature) can drive the dissociation process. Lattice QCD indicates a large amount of entropy associated with the heavy quark pair in strongly coupled quark-gluon plasma. This entropy S ( r ) peaks at temperatures 0.9 T c ≤ T ≤ 1.5 T c ( T c is the deconfinement temperature) and grows with the inter-quark distance r. This peak in the holographic description arises because the heavy quark pair acts as an eyewitness to the black hole formation in the bulk – the process that describes the deconfinement transition. In terms of the boundary theory, this entropy likely emerges from the entanglement of a “long string” connecting the quark and antiquark with the rest of the system. We argue that the entropic mechanism results in an anomalously strong quarkonium suppression in the temperature range near T c . This entropic destruction may thus explain why the experimentally measured quarkonium nuclear modification factor at RHIC (lower energy density) is smaller than at LHC (higher energy density), possibly resolving the “quarkonium suppression puzzle” – all of the previously known mechanisms of quarkonium dissociation operate more effectively at higher energy densities, and this contradicts the data.
Is primary anastomosis safe in the surgical management of complications of acute diverticulitis

The purpose of this article is to determine whether primary anastomosis is a safe option in the surgical management of complications of acute diverticulitis in low-risk patients. Over the past century, the management of diverticulitis has evolved from a three-stage procedure to resection and primary anastomosis. In the beginning of the century, Mayo described drainage and proximal colostomy, a three-stage procedure. This was done by performing a diverting colostomy but leaving the diseased segment of colon, hoping that the inflammation would subside. Later, the patient went back for resection of the diseased segment. Then a third procedure was performed for reversal of the colostomy. Around the late 1970s to early 1980s, it was found that patients had better outcomes if the diseased segment was resected during the first operation-the Hartman procedure. During the late 1990s to early 2000s, some surgeons began performing resection and primary anastomosis in selected groups of patients with diverticulitis. There have been a number of studies published showing that resection and primary anastomosis has an acceptable morbidity and mortality. However, most of these studies are retrospective and do not achieve statistical significance. They also do not attempt to establish guidelines to help decide which patients are good candidates for resection and primary anastomosis. The goal of this study is to establish safe and reasonable practice guidelines that can be applied to a selected group of (low-risk) patients. This study is a retrospective review of all the patients treated surgically for complications of acute diverticulitis from 1998 to 2003 at United Hospital Medical Center in Port Chester, New York. Patients were classified as high or low risk based on their age, APACHE II score, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and Hinchey score. There were a total of 66 patients operated on for complications of acute diverticulitis (left-sided) over this 5-year period. Thirty-six of them underwent resection and primary anastomosis and 30 underwent the Hartman procedure. Of the 36 who underwent resection and primary anastomosis, 19 were considered low risk. There were no complications in this low-risk group who underwent primary anastomosis. Patients who were low risk based on the mentioned criteria can safely undergo resection and primary anastomosis.
Error analysis of stored grain inventory determination

Citation: Turner A., J. Jackson, N. Koeninger, S. McNeill, M. Montross, M. E. Casada, J. M. Boac, R. Bhadra, R. G. Maghirang, and S. A. Thompson. 2016. Error Analysis of stored grain inventory determination. Transactions of ASABE 59(3): 1061-1072
Reproduction and Breeding

Publisher Summary Rats have been used extensively in various areas of reproductive research, including fecundity and fertility studies, behavioral aspects of reproduction, and screening of compounds for teratogenic effects. Familiarity with and understanding of normal reproductive traits and behavior of rats are imperative for these areas of scientific investigation. Lordosis is a characteristic mating behavior of the female rat. Although both estrogen and progesterone are involved in the reflex, estrogen alone is sufficient to induce the behavior. Testosterone is essential to the exhibition of mating behavior in male rats. Castrated males show no sexual behavior. Olfactory cues from pheromones are also critical to male sexual behavior. Auditory stimuli play important roles in the reproductive behavior of both sexes. Copulation in rats occurs most often during the latter portion of the dark cycle. The male initiates mating behavior with genital sniffing of a female in estrus. The receptive female displays hopping and ear-quivering resulting in male mounting, which in turn solicits lordosis from the female. Mounting behavior consists of combinations of intromission and ejaculation. It is found that for rat breeding colonies, the mating format used is an important consideration for determining size of the colony, production of progeny, and the required levels of caretaker involvement.
To Imagine a World Where All Lives Truly Mattered

Any discussion of All Lives Matter is the antithesis of itself. If all lives truly mattered, the social and political discourse dominating society would not consistently demonize and depict as crim...
Sketches of prehistory and history

This book’s variety of purpose was played down when Chapter N1 put forward a modern synthesis centered around the concept of self-affine variability. This chapter, to the contrary, describes how the reprints classified into Parts II, III and IV fit together historically. It also examines conceptual connections and relevant historical events; all assertions are documented.
"Gendered Networking: Gender, Homophily, and Context in Networking Relationships"

The focus of this study is on the different networking behaviors between male and female managers, because gender can shape the patterns of social interactions. This board focus is analytically narrowed via 1) a concentration on one certain domain - public managers working in local governments, 2) an investigation of how gender influences their networking activities and what situational factors intensify or ameliorate this gender effect, and 3) an examination of homophily in network relationships. This study aims to empirically explore gender differences in public managers’ networking relationships using a series of data drawn from local governments, particularly public school districts in Texas. To develop a better understanding of whether and how female public managers engage differently in networking relationships, this paper investigates two different types of networking-overall networking behaviors and manager-initiated (proactive) networking behaviors. We find that gender makes differences in manage...
Nucleotide resolution mapping of influenza A virus nucleoprotein-RNA interactions reveals RNA features required for replication

Influenza A virus nucleoprotein (NP) association with viral RNA (vRNA) is essential for packaging, but the pattern of NP binding to vRNA is unclear. Here we applied photoactivatable ribonucleoside enhanced cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP) to assess the native-state of NP–vRNA interactions in infected human cells. NP binds short fragments of RNA (~12 nucleotides) non-uniformly and without apparent sequence specificity. Moreover, NP binding is reduced at specific locations within the viral genome, including regions previously identified as required for viral genome segment packaging. Synonymous mutations designed to alter the predicted RNA structures in these low-NP-binding regions impact genome packaging and result in virus attenuation, whereas control mutations or mutagenesis of NP-bound regions have no effect. Finally, we demonstrate that the sequence conservation of low-NP-binding regions is required in multiple genome segments for propagation of diverse mammalian and avian IAV in host cells. Influenza A virus packaging depends on interactions between nucleoprotein (NP) and viral RNA (vRNA), but the pattern of NP binding is unclear. Using PAR-CLIP, Williams et al. here show that NP binds vRNA non-uniformly and that RNA structures in low-NP binding regions are important for packaging.
Missing data treatments matter: an analysis of multiple imputation for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures.

Abstract Background Context The presence of missing data is a limitation of large datasets, including the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). In addressing this issue, most studies use complete case analysis, which excludes cases with missing data, thus potentially introducing selection bias. Multiple imputation, a statistically rigorous approach that approximates missing data and preserves sample size, may be an improvement over complete case analysis. Purpose The present study aims to evaluate the impact of using multiple imputation in comparison with complete case analysis for assessing the associations between preoperative laboratory values and adverse outcomes following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures. Study Design/Setting This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. Patient Sample Patients undergoing one-level ACDF were identified in NSQIP 2012–2015. Outcome Measures Perioperative adverse outcome variables assessed included the occurrence of any adverse event, severe adverse events, and hospital readmission. Methods Missing preoperative albumin and hematocrit values were handled using complete case analysis and multiple imputation. These preoperative laboratory levels were then tested for associations with 30-day postoperative outcomes using logistic regression. Results A total of 11,999 patients were included. Of this cohort, 63.5% of patients had missing preoperative albumin and 9.9% had missing preoperative hematocrit. When using complete case analysis, only 4,311 patients were studied. The removed patients were significantly younger, healthier, of a common body mass index, and male. Logistic regression analysis failed to identify either preoperative hypoalbuminemia or preoperative anemia as significantly associated with adverse outcomes. When employing multiple imputation, all 11,999 patients were included. Preoperative hypoalbuminemia was significantly associated with the occurrence of any adverse event and severe adverse events. Preoperative anemia was significantly associated with the occurrence of any adverse event, severe adverse events, and hospital readmission. Conclusions Multiple imputation is a rigorous statistical procedure that is being increasingly used to address missing values in large datasets. Using this technique for ACDF avoided the loss of cases that may have affected the representativeness and power of the study and led to different results than complete case analysis. Multiple imputation should be considered for future spine studies.
Healthcare Costs for Insured Older U.S. Adults with Hearing Loss.

Objectives To measure 18‐month healthcare cost difference attributable to hearing loss (HL) in older adults. Design Matched cohort. Setting Retrospective analysis of administrative healthcare bills of insured older Americans. Participants Older U.S. adults with health insurance in 3 cohorts matched based on HL diagnosis using propensity score methods (N=904,750). Measurements Comparison groups were defined as those with and without HL diagnosis using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, diagnosis codes from billing records. Outcomes measured include 18‐month total healthcare payments and healthcare payments broken down according to payment type (inpatient, outpatient, prescription, hearing services). Three comparison cohorts were examined for these outcomes: individuals covered by Medicare plus supplemental private insurance (Cohort 1, n=782,216), those covered only under Medicare (Cohort 2, n=105,296), and those within the Medicare sample that were dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid coverage (Subcohort 3, n=17,238). The quality of the propensity score match was examined using standardized differences in means or proportions between all matched covariates, and cost outcomes were analyzed using multiple generalized linear regression models. Results Fully adjusted models showed significantly higher 18‐month healthcare payments for individuals with a diagnosis of HL without indication of use of hearing services than in those without a HL diagnosis in the 3 samples (payment differences: $3,587 Cohort 1, $3,779 Cohort 2, $4,657 Subcohort 3; all p<.001). Payment differences were also found between individuals with HL and indications of hearing services and those without HL. Conclusion We observed more than 20% higher total healthcare payments over 18 months for a group of insured individuals with HL regardless of insurance type or hearing services use, indicating that negative health‐related effects of HL may increase healthcare use unrelated to HL. Thus, clinical care to ameliorate HL may improve overall health.
Quality of life (QOL) of people living with substance users in urban and rural community of Delhi

Abstract Background and objectives A substance dependent person in the family affects almost all aspects of family life. This leads to problems, difficulties or adverse events which impact the lives of family members and affects the quality of life (QOL) of whole family. The present study was aimed to evaluate QOL of people living with substance users in urban and rural regions of Delhi as well as to determine some factors associated with it. Method A cross sectional study was conducted on 500 people staying in urban and rural areas of Delhi state of India. Samples were selected by using simple random method. WHOQOL-Bref instrument was used to assess the QOL. Analysis and results Analysis was done by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The level of significance was set at p The results of the study showed that the majority of sample was female, in the age group of 26–35 years. 45.2% of the family member had one or more substance user in the family. The people staying with user group had poor quality of life as compared with people with no substance user in the family. As compared to urban area, people in rural area had poor quality of life. Education, marital status, monthly income of the family significantly affected the quality of life. The lowest score was obtained in the psychological and environmental domain of QOL, which was the evidence that people with substance user in the family are suffering psychologically and their environmental condition is not good. Interpretation and conclusion This study concluded that the family members living with substance use disorders tended to have a poor quality of life. Caregiver quality of life needs special attention, so that burden of mental health problems can be reduced. There is a need of special clinics along with the treatment of substance use to deal with the caregiver’s problems and to improve their overall quality of life.
Effects of telazol and nembutal on retinal responses.

Purpose: Compare the effects of Nembutal, a barbiturate, and Telazol, a dissociative anesthetic, on photoreceptor and post-receptoral retinal responses. Methods: Dark adapted infant and adult albino rats were anesthetized with intraperitoneal injection of Nembutal or Telazol. ERG responses to full-field stimuli were recorded over a 6–8 log unit range from dim intensities at which the scotopic threshold response (STR) was observed to those that saturate the a-wave. The rod photoresponse, b-wave, oscillatory potentials (OPs), and STR parameters of rats in the Nembutal and Telazol groups were compared. Results: For both infants and adults, the saturated amplitudes of the photoresponse and the b-wave were larger in Telazol than Nembutal rats, but sensitivity of the photoresponse did not differ significantly between Telazol and Nembutal rats. The STR was seen only in the Telazol responses of adults. There was little differential effect of the two agents on the OPs. Conclusions: Photoreceptor and postreceptoral responses recorded under Nembutal and Telazol anesthesia differ significantly. These results may inform selection of anesthetic for studies of animal models.
Surgical management of aspiration.

Chronic recurrent aspiration can occur in patients suffering from a diverse group of pathologic processes. Many innovative surgical procedures are available to compensate for severe functional deficits. An open-minded, eclectic approach is the best way of preventing the disastrous sequelae of chronic aspiration.