cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ENERGY SCALING OF PHASE-CONJUGATE LASERS AND BRILLOUIN CONJUGATORS

Phase conjugation offers a practical, realistic approach for scaling solid-state lasers to high energies and high peak powers with a minimum increase in complexity. The specific approach reviewed in this article involves coherently combining the outputs of multiple parallel amplifiers in a single phase-conjugate oscillator-amplifier configuration. In this configuration, the use of phase conjugation eliminates the phase distortions that would otherwise result from individual amplifiers having different optical lengths. Using this approach, the laser output energy can be scaled well beyond the limits imposed by traditional volume constraints of crystalline laser media. Since an increase in output energy also implies an increase in the energy incident on the phase-conjugate mirror (PCM), the energy scalability of PCMs based on stimulated Brillouin scattering has been actively investigated over the past decade. Practical single-cell PCMS offer somewhat limited energy scaling potential. However, the investigations reviewed in this article show that a series combination of two Brillouin cells can accommodate energies of several tens of joules. Finally, we suggest how future development efforts involving diode-pumped solid-state lasers will also benefit from application of phase conjugation when medium energies or high pulse repetition frequencies are required.
Nucleic acid synthesis in mustard gas-treated E. coli B.

Following exposure to dilute aqueous solutions of mustard gas, suspensions of E. coli B do not produce DNA although PNA is formed in nearly normal amounts. When the treated cells are infected with virus T2, DNA is synthesized and RNA is not. The DNA formation continued after the virus titer reached a maximum.
Broadband electrical permittivity of gold for plasmonics and nano-optics applications

We measure the electrical permittivity of different bulk and film gold samples by spectroscopic ellipsometry from 200 nm to 20 μm, resolving inconsistencies on plasmon resonances, lifetime, and SPP propagation associated with imprecise current literature values.
Testing the Effects of Holding Forward Contracts On the Behavior of Suppliers in an Electricity Auction

The objective of this paper is to test how spot prices are affected by forward contracts using experimental economics. One set of tests used students to represent suppliers in an electricity auction with 1) no forward contracts, 2) permanent forward contracts, and 3) renewable forward contracts. In the latter test, the price of a new forward contract is affected by conditions in the spot market. An identical set of tests was also conducted using computer agents to represent all of the suppliers. The objective was to demonstrate that computer agents can be used effectively to test electricity auctions and do additional sensitivity tests to supplement the results obtained using humans. The results show that holding a forward contract is an effective way to mitigate high prices if the same contract is held for all trading periods and the price of this contract is independent of the spot prices (i.e. is fixed). However, there is more speculation and the spot prices are higher when a forward contract is renewed periodically and spot prices influence the forward price. With a renewable forward contract, a price spike increases a supplier's current earnings in the spot market and expected future earnings from a new forward contract. The overall conclusion is that long-term bilateral contracts will reduce speculative behavior, but this effect will be dissipated in an active forward market with a large amount of secondary trading. The results using computer agents were encouraging. In the first set of tests, two students competed in each market with four computer agents. In almost all cases, the average earnings of the computer agents were higher than the average earnings of the students. In the tests with all computer agents, two computer agents replaced the students, and these agents (latent speculators) were more likely to speculate than the other computer agents. The average spot prices and average earnings with all computer agents corresponded closely to the highest values obtained by the students.
A switched current cyclic A/D conversion technique

A cyclic analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion algorithm using the switched-current technique is described. The proposed algorithm requires three steps for each bit conversion and can be implemented using class AB regulated cascode current copiers. The approach is insensitive to process component mismatches. The proposed cyclic converter can be used as a bit cell for implementing pipeline structures for high speed applications.
Instruction and Cognition

During learning, instruction can guide cognitive processing, which in turn influences what is learned. Keywords: learning; instruction; knowledge; transfer
Spatial and Temporal Variations of Photosynthetic Parameters in Relation to Environmental Conditions in Coastal Waters of the Northern Gulf of Mexico

On a series of eight cruises conducted in the northern Gulf of Mexico, efforts were made to characterize temporal and spatial variability in parameters of the photosynthesis-irradiance saturation curve (P mas B , αB, Ik) and to relate the observed variations to environmental conditions. Experiments to examine the importance of diel variation in upper mixed layer populations were conducted in July–August 1990 and March 1991. During July–August 1990, P max B and Ik showed significant increases and αB decreased during the photoperiod in both river plume and shelf-slope populations. During March 1991, no consistent covariance of P-I parameters with local time was found, although highest values of αB in the river plume were observed in early morning. Seasonal variation in P max B and αB were correlated with temperature. Spatial variations of photosynthetic parameters in the upper mixed layer ranged from twofold to threefold within any given cruise. Variations of photosynthetic parameters in the upper mixed layer were related to principal components derived from environmental variables, including temperature, salinity, nutrients, mixed layer depth, attenuation coefficient, and daily photosynthetically available radiation (PAR). Greater than 70% of the variation in the environmental variables could be accounted for by two principal components; the majority of this variation was associated with the first principal component, which was generally strongly correlated with salinity, nutrients, mixed layer depth, and attenuation coefficient. Correlations of P max B , αB, and Ik with the first principal component were found to be significant in some cases, an indication that spatial variability in P-I parameters was related to river outflow. Variation of P-I parameters in relation to depth and PAR were evaluated by regressions with principal components derived from depth, temperature, and mean daily PAR. For most cruises, P max B and Ik were negatively correlated with the first principal component, which was strongly positively correlated with depth and negatively correlated with daily PAR. This was consistent with a decrease in both P max B and Ik with depth that could be related to decreasing daily PAR. Positive correlations of αB with the first principal component for two cruises, March 1991 and April 1992, indicated an increasing trend with depth. In conclusion, relationships between P-I parameters and environmental variables in the region of study were significant in some cases, but variation between cruises made it difficult to generalize. We attributed this variation to the physically dynamic characteristics of the region and the possible effects of variables that were not included in the analysis such as species composition. Our findings do support the view that a limited set of observations may be adequate to characterize P-I parameter distributions in a given region within a restricted period of time.
Thermally Activated Processes in the Earth: Creep and Seismic Attenuation

Summary Non-elastic behaviour of crystalline material results from the thermally activated motion of crystal imperfections; perfect crystals are perfectly elastic. The mobility of crystal defects is determined by an activation energy, E*, an activation volume, V*, and an activation entropy, S*, which to a good approximation are independent of temperature and pressure. Consequently the mobility of a crystal imperfection depends on depth in the Earth in a characteristic way, increasing rapidly at first due to the steep thermal gradient near the surface and then decreasing due to the effect of pressure. Thermally activated movement of imperfections controls diffusion, phase transformation kinetics, high temperature creep, recrystallization and the damping of elastic waves in solid mantle material. Diffusion creep, in which the motion of dislocations is not required, results from the diffusion of atoms in a stress gradient and produces viscous flow at geologically significant rates in a polycrystalline solid. The viscosity of the mantle resulting from diffusion creep passes through a minimum and is strongly depth dependent. A characteristic depth dependence of the damping of elastic waves is also found but the viscosity cannot be deduced from the observed internal friction.
Random-noise filter based on circular correlation

In this work we consider various Fourier series representations of an additive noise-contaminated signal f(t). Fourier estimates of the signal are obtained by first establishing a fundamental frequency estimate and a residual error signal. Repeated additions of higher harmonics yield smaller root-mean-square error signals. However, a minimal square error is not used to terminate the iterations. The minimum circular correlation coefficient [1] is used to terminate the iteration at a five percent level of confidence. The resulting Fourier series g(t) is used as the analytic estimate of the original signal. The resulting filter, known as an SFilter, have been applied in the electromagnetic pulse processing area [2,3]. The filter follows from classical works in digital signal processing [4,5].
Interactions between bubbles in magmas and lavas: effects of bubble deformation

The interactions between two deformable bubbles are studied in order to determine the effects of deformation on bubble dynamics and to determine the limits in which the effects of deformation can be ignored. Deformation due to hydrodynamic interactions with other bubbles leads to alignment of horizontally offset bubbles and thus an enhanced rate of coalescence. Bubble alignment may produce spatial inhomogeneities in bubble concentrations in magmas, which implies temporal variations in the concentration and size of bubbles in erupting magmas and spatial variations in solidified lavas. An approximate quantitative model for the rate of coalescence of deformable bubbles is developed based on a series of experiments. The effects of deformation can be ignored if the largest bubbles have radii less than about 5 mm in silicate magmas.
Automated characterization of cell shape changes during amoeboid motility by skeletonization

Background: The ability of a cell to change shape is crucial for the proper function of many cellular processes, including cell migration. One type of cell migration, referred to as amoeboid motility, involves alternating cycles of morphological expansion and retraction. Traditionally, this process has been characterized by a number of parameters providing global information about shape changes, which are insufficient to distinguish phenotypes based on local pseudopodial activities that typify amoeboid motility. Results: We developed a method that automatically detects and characterizes pseudopodial behavior of cells. The method uses skeletonization, a technique from morphological image processing to reduce a shape into a series of connected lines. It involves a series of automatic algorithms including image segmentation, boundary smoothing, skeletonization and branch pruning, and takes into account the cell shape changes between successive frames to detect protrusion and retraction activities. In addition, the activities are clustered into different groups, each representing the protruding and retracting history of an individual pseudopod. Conclusions: We illustrate the algorithms on movies of chemotaxing Dictyostelium cells and show that our method makes it possible to capture the spatial and temporal dynamics as well as the stochastic features of the pseudopodial behavior. Thus, the method provides a powerful tool for investigating amoeboid motility.
Landscape of the PARKIN-dependent ubiquitylome in response to mitochondrial depolarization

The PARKIN ubiquitin ligase (also known as PARK2) and its regulatory kinase PINK1 (also known as PARK6), often mutated in familial early-onset Parkinson's disease, have central roles in mitochondrial homeostasis and mitophagy. Whereas PARKIN is recruited to the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) upon depolarization via PINK1 action and can ubiquitylate porin, mitofusin and Miro proteins on the MOM, the full repertoire of PARKIN substrates--the PARKIN-dependent ubiquitylome--remains poorly defined. Here we use quantitative diGly capture proteomics (diGly) to elucidate the ubiquitylation site specificity and topology of PARKIN-dependent target modification in response to mitochondrial depolarization. Hundreds of dynamically regulated ubiquitylation sites in dozens of proteins were identified, with strong enrichment for MOM proteins, indicating that PARKIN dramatically alters the ubiquitylation status of the mitochondrial proteome. Using complementary interaction proteomics, we found depolarization-dependent PARKIN association with numerous MOM targets, autophagy receptors, and the proteasome. Mutation of the PARKIN active site residue C431, which has been found mutated in Parkinson's disease patients, largely disrupts these associations. Structural and topological analysis revealed extensive conservation of PARKIN-dependent ubiquitylation sites on cytoplasmic domains in vertebrate and Drosophila melanogaster MOM proteins. These studies provide a resource for understanding how the PINK1-PARKIN pathway re-sculpts the proteome to support mitochondrial homeostasis.
Unsteady, Turbulent Convection into a Homogeneous, Rotating Fluid,with Oceanographic Applications

Abstract Turbulent convection into a homogeneous, rotating fluid has been generated in laboratory tanks, for both laterally confined and unconfined domains. When a given experiment was in a solid-body rotation, a source located at the top surface of the water column was activated to release denser saltwater into the underlying, less-dense fluid of total depth H. As a result, a downward propagating 3D turbulent front was formed. Eventually, at a transition depth zc, rotational effects dominated the turbulence and many quasi-2D vortices were generated, which then penetrated downward beneath the upper 3D turbulent layer. Measurements in the confined experiments gave zc ≈ (12.7 ± 1.5) (B0/f3)1/2; the mean diameter (Dv) of the quasi-2D vortices as Dv≈(15.0±1.5) (B0/f3)1/2, their downward speed of propagation (uc) as uc ≈ (1.0 ± 0.1) (B0/f)1/2, and the maximum swirl velocity (uv) of an individual vortex as uv ≈ (4.0 ± 0.4)(B0/f)1/2 (where B0 is the surface buoyancy flux and f the Coriolis parameter). All are in...
Yoga Enhances Positive Psychological States in Young Adult Musicians

Although yoga has been shown to be a viable technique for improving the performance of the mind and body, little attention has been directed to studying the relationship between yoga and the psychological states of flow and mindfulness. Musicians enrolled in a 2-month fellowship program in 2005, 2006 and 2007 were invited to participate in a yoga and meditation program. Fellows not participating in the yoga program were recruited separately as controls. All participants completed baseline and end-program questionnaires evaluating dispositional flow, mindfulness, confusion, and music performance anxiety. Compared to controls, yoga participants reported significant decreases in confusion and increases in dispositional flow. Yoga participants in the 2006 sample also reported significant increases in the mindfulness subscale of awareness. Correlational analyses revealed that increases in participants' dispositional flow and mindfulness were associated with decreases in confusion and music performance anxiety. This study demonstrates the commonalities between positive psychology and yoga, both of which are focused on enhancing human performance and promoting beneficial psychological states. The results suggest that yoga and meditation may enhance the states of flow and mindful awareness, and reduce confusion.
National Technological Specialization and Sectoral Growth Rates in Patenting

The previous two Chapters have mapped the different countries’ sectoral strengths and weaknesses in technological activity by using patent data as an indicator. We have already stressed that the quality of individual patents is highly skewed, and that while some have a dramatic economic impact, many patents never become actual innovations. In the previous Chapter we also considered an indicator of their impact, i.e. patent citations, and significant cross-country differences were shown to exist in the average impact of patented inventions at the aggregate level. At the sectoral level, however, a strong positive correlation emerged between the specialization profiles measured on the number of patents and of the citations received.
Gene Identification in Alternating Hemiplegia

Researchers at Georg Augustus University Gottingen, Germany studied the genetics of alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) in 24 patients aged 8-35 years, using whole-exome sequencing to identify de novo mutations associated with the disease.
Approaches to Food Safety Education Among Critical Groups

Because everyone serves as a stakeholder in food safety, food safety education is important and must be addressed. Because children are impressionable, it is imperative that food safety education be addressed at the K-12 level. As children learn the basics of food safety, they will continue to establish safe food-handling and preparation practices as they mature. Recognizing that the numbers of non-English-speaking laborers employed in the meatpacking and food-manufacturing industries will continue to grow, it is evident that these individuals must learn safe food-handling behaviors and methods. Although food processors continue to develop and improve methods of safe food production, proper food-handling techniques can be difficult to teach to individuals when native language is not used, such as Spanish-speaking laborers in an English-speaking work environment. This chapter will address approaches to teaching food safety to different audiences. Special attention will be devoted to the following audiences: K-12 school systems, non-English-speaking laborers and community groups, food volunteer workers, and mom bloggers.
Larval Growth and Behavior of the Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Callus Initiated from Susceptible and Resistant Corn Hybrids

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), larvae were reared on callus initiated from two leaf-feeding resistant and two susceptible corn, Zea mays L., hybrids. Mean weights of larvae reared for 7 days on callus of the resistant and susceptible hybrids were 29.5 and 50.0 mg, respectively. When newly hatched larvae were given a choice of callus initiated from resistant or susceptible corn hybrids, twice as many preferred the susceptible hybrids. Therefore, both antibiosis and nonpreference appeared to be mechanisms of resistance operating in the callus of the resistant hybrids. The use of callus offers additional techniques for investigating fall armyworm resistance in corn.
Managerial Motivation Development: A Study of College Student Leaders

The article examines the impact of a formal managerial motivation training program on campus student leaders. It analyzes the results of a special managerial motivation development training course ...
Stability in a linear theory of elastic rods

A linear dynamical theory of elastic rods is formulated from a theory of one-dimensional oriented continua. Sufficient conditions for stability, uniqueness and instability of a rod under applied dissipative forces and couples are given.
Regional atrial distensibility

We studied 12 open-chest dogs to determine whether there are regional differences in left atrial distensibility. Sonomicrometer crystal pairs were used to measure the anteroposterior diameters of the left atrial body and appendage simultaneously over a wide range of intracardiac pressures and volumes obtained by intravenous saline infusion. Left atrial pressure-natural strain data for the body and appendage were fitted to an exponential function. The mean coefficient of the left atrial monoexponential pressure-strain relationship was greater for the body than appendage (3.1 +/- 1.1 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.7 mmHg, P less than 0.01). The Y-intercepts were not significantly different (5.2 +/- 1.7 vs 4.9 +/- 1.8 mmHg). The maximum minus minimum left atrial dimension, an index of the reservoir function of the atrium, increased with volume infusion in both the body and appendage and was significantly greater in the appendage than body at each level of left atrial pressure. Similarly, atrial systolic shortening fraction increased with volume infusion, and regional shortening was greater in the appendage than the body at each level of left atrial pressure. We conclude that regional differences in atrial distensibility exist in vivo and may play an important role in modulating systolic and diastolic function of the left atrium.
Diaphragm muscle sarcopenia in Fischer 344 and Brown Norway rats

New Findings What is the central question of this study? Several rat models are commonly used to study the physiology of ageing (e.g. Fischer 344 and Brown Norway rats are recommended by the USA National Institute of Ageing). Diaphragm muscle sarcopenia (ageing-related muscle weakness and atrophy) remains incompletely described in these rat models. What is the main finding and its importance? Diaphragm muscle sarcopenia is present in both the Fischer 344 and Brown Norway rat strains, but appears more pronounced in Fischer 344 rats. The risk for respiratory diseases increases in adults >65 years of age, which may be attributable in part to ageing-related weakening and atrophy (i.e. sarcopenia) of the diaphragm muscle (DIAm). The mechanisms underlying DIAm sarcopenia remain unknown. Based on existing evidence, we hypothesized that sarcopenia is most evident in type IIx and/or IIb DIAm fibres, i.e. more fatigable motor units. Currently, the USA National Institute on Aging supports Fischer 344 (F344) and Brown Norway (BN) rat strains for ageing-related research, yet DIAm sarcopenia has not been evaluated comprehensively in either strain. Thus, the present study examined DIAm sarcopenia in older adult F344 (24 months old, 50% survival) and BN rats (32 months old, 50% survival), compared with young adult (6-month-old) F344 and BN rats. Measurements of contractility, contractile protein concentration, fibre type distribution and fibre cross-sectional area were obtained from midcostal DIAm strips. Maximal specific force was reduced by ∼24 and ∼13% in older F344 and BN rats, respectively. Additionally, although the cross-sectional area of type I and IIa DIAm fibres was unchanged in both F344 and BN rats, the cross-sectional area of type IIx and/or IIb DIAm fibres was reduced by ∼20 and ∼15% in F344 and BN rats, respectively. Thus, although there was ageing-related DIAm weakness and atrophy, selective to type IIx and/or IIb DIAm fibres, in both F344 and BN rats, the sarcopenic phenotype was more pronounced in F344 rats.
Mechanism of Acupoint Application with Anticancer Plaster in Rats Bearing Lewis Lung Carcinoma

Objective:To observe the mechanism of acupoint application with anticancer plaster in rats bearing Lewis lung carcinoma.Methods:C57BL/6 mice were implanted with Lewis lung carcinoma by axilla subcutaneous injection. From the second day, the mice were treated with anticancer plaster every other day for 5 times. 24 hours after the last treatment, the mice were killed. The cell cycle of the tumor was analyzed by flow cytometry. The NK cell activity and lymphocyte transformation rate were observed. Result:Acupoint application with anticancer plaster has an effect on raising the G1 phase fraction, lowing the S and G2/M phase fraction and reducing the proliferation index(PI). Meanwhile,this therapy has no effect on NK cell activity and lymphocyte transformation rate. Conclusion:These results indicated that the acupoint application with anticancer plaster could inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells.
The Supply Chain Robust Coordination Strategy Based on Buy-back Contract Under Limited Demand Information

Robust coordination with buyback contract for a supply chain with only knowing demand mean and interval based on minimax regret criterion is studied.Under the framework of buyback contract,a supply chain coordination model for a two-stage supply chain system with unknown detailed demand distribution is developed by using the performances of supply chain system and its members under optimal decision minus which under robust decision as the objective functions.Under the condition of only knowing demand interval and mean,the robust order policy of integrated supply chain,together with the robust contract coordination policy of decentralized one and the deviations of their performances based on minimax regret criterion are proposed by using robust optimization technology.Furthermore,regrets of supply chain system and its members who do not operating optimally for information lacking are analyzed under different service level and contract parameters.At last,numerical calculation are carried out to verify the robustness and effectiveness of supply chain buyback contract coordination strategy obtained by robust optimization.The results show that supply chain robust coordination strategy based on buyback contract can reduce the impact of demand uncertainty on the performance of supply chain system and its members effectively.Specially,compared to only knowing demand interval,obtaining additional information about mean value can improve the operational performance of supply chain.
Development of a system framework for implementation of an enhanced role-based access control model to support collaborative processes

We previously developed an enhanced Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) model to support information access management in the context of team collaboration and workflow. We report in this paper a generic system framework to implement the enhanced RBAC with three functional layers: (1) encoding of access control policies; (2) interpretation of the encoded policies; and (3) application of policies to specific cases and scenarios for information access management. Based on this system framework, we have successfully applied the enhanced RBAC model to the New York State HIV Clinical Education Initiative (CEI) for coordination of clinical education programs. An evaluation has shown that the enhanced RBAC can be effectively used for information access management in collaborative processes. Future work includes extension of this system framework to support the continuous development of the enhanced RBAC and deployment of it to other domain applications for clinical education, biomedical research, and patient care.
Effects of Soybean Vein Necrosis Virus on Life History and Host Preference of Its Vector, Neohydatothrips variabilis, and Evaluation of Vector Status of Frankliniella tritici and Frankliniella fusca

Soybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV) is an emerging Tospovirus that is now considered to be the most widespread soybean virus in the United States. SVNV is transmitted from plant-to-plant by soybean thrips, Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach). We hypothesized that a positive interaction between the host plant, SVNV, and the vector may have resulted in the widespread distribution of the virus in a short span of time. Our study found that SVNV-infected N. variabilis females produced significantly more offspring compared with non-infected females. No other life-history trait varied between SVNV-infected and non-infected thrips. There was considerable variation in SVNV copy number in infected thrips ranging from 10(2) -10(6) Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between SVNV copy number and fecundity in infected N. variabilis This suggests that excessive virus accumulation may result in lower viability of N. variabilis In choice tests, SVNV-infected N. variabilis preferred to feed on non-infected leaflets compared with infected leaflets. Vector competence assays indicated that Frankliniella tritici and Frankliniella fusca can transmit SVNV, but at a lower efficiency than N. variabilis Comparison of life history of between the primary and secondary vectors showed that N. variabilis had the highest fecundity, but F. tritici had the shortest development time and greatest larval survival. Taken together, the increased fecundity of SVNV-infected N. variabilis, their apparent preference for non-infected host plants, in conjunction with the ability of secondary vectors to survive and reproduce on soybean may, in part, explain the rapid spread of SVNV in the United States.
miRNA analysis between malignant and benign tissue and circulating exosomes (CE) in patients (pts) with tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

6088 Background: The identification of a specific miRNA pattern in HNSCC is challenging given the heterogeneity of this disease and different methodologies used in prior studies. Here we chose to g...
A diffusion model analysis of episodic recognition in preclinical individuals with a family history for Alzheimer's disease: The adult children study.

Objective: A family history of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) increases the risk of developing AD and can influence the accumulation of well-established AD biomarkers. There is some evidence that family history can influence episodic memory performance even in cognitively normal individuals. We attempted to replicate the effect of family history on episodic memory and used a specific computational model of binary decision making (the diffusion model) to understand precisely how family history influences cognition. Finally, we assessed the sensitivity of model parameters to family history controlling for standard neuropsychological test performance. Method: Across 2 experiments, cognitively healthy participants from the Adult Children Study completed an episodic recognition test consisting of high- and low-frequency words. The diffusion model was applied to decompose accuracy and reaction time (RT) into latent parameters which were analyzed as a function of family history. Results: In both experiments, individuals with a family history of AD exhibited lower recognition accuracy and this occurred in the absence of an apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 allele. The diffusion model revealed this difference was due to changes in the quality of information accumulation (the drift rate) and not differences in response caution or other model parameters. This difference remained after controlling for several standard neuropsychological tests. Conclusions: These results confirm that the presence of a family history of AD confers a subtle cognitive deficit in episodic memory as reflected by decreased drift rate that cannot be attributed to APOE. This measure may serve as a novel cognitive marker of preclinical AD.
Molecular beam epitaxy of low-bandgap InGaN

Molecular beam epitaxy has played, and will continue to play, a substantial role in the development of indium gallium nitride (InGaN). There has been a resurgence of interest in InGaN, particularly with high indium fraction, since the downward refinement of the bandgap of InN from 1.9 eV to ~0.67 eV. As such, InGaN is expected to have an increasing impact on a wide range of optoelectronic devices, owing to the large range of bandgaps possible, 0.67–3.4 eV. Compared to other growth techniques, molecular beam epitaxy has certain advantages that can help overcome a number of challenges present in depositing high-quality InGaN layers. A review of the current status of InGaN growth by molecular beam epitaxy that highlights specific issues and potential strategies regarding the fabrication of high indium fraction layers will be presented. Also summarised are current efforts to produce photodiodes and solar cells based on InGaN.
Expression of β-Adrenergic Receptor Subtypes in Proliferative, Involuted, and Propranolol-Responsive Infantile Hemangiomas

ImportancePropranolol hydrochloride has become the primary medical treatment for problematic infantile hemangioma; however, the expression of propranolol's target receptors during growth, involutio...
Effect of diallyl disulfide on physiological performance of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

AbstractEphestia kuehniella Zeller is a key pest by severe deficiencies on quantity and quality of stored products. Due to concerns made by synthetic insecticides, use of natural products (like botanical insecticides) is of great importance as an alternative pest management. In the current study, the effect of diallyl disulfide was determined on digestive enzymes and those involved in intermediary metabolism of E. kuehniella. Concentration of 0.31% was obtained as LC50 of diallyl disulfide followed by bioassay experiments. Activities of α-amylase, proteases, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase significantly decreased in the treated larvae, while the adverse effects were observed in case of triacylglyceride-lipase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, aldolase and acid phosphatase. Results confirmed that diallyl disulfide interrupted larval digestion by lower activities of digestive enzymes indicating significant effect on intermediary metabolism.
Consequences of Runaway and Thrownaway Experiences for Sexual Minority Health During the Transition to Adulthood

ABSTRACTSexual minority youth are more likely to run away from home or experience homelessness, leaving them at increased risk of victimization and negative health outcomes. In this study, the authors use a developmental perspective that considers both vulnerable beginnings in families and the risky trajectories that follow to explore the connections between running away or being thrown out by parents and sexual minority women's and men's health in adulthood. Using four waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), the authors consider multiple dimensions of health and several potential intervening mechanisms. Findings suggest that runaway and thrownaway experiences have persistent negative effects on health into adulthood, in part because of their association with sexual victimization, educational attainment, and relationships with parents. Sexual minority men who have been thrown out by parents report a greater likelihood of suicidal ideation, smoking, an...
Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma associated with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis (GN) is an uncommon complication of lymphoma which has been most commonly described in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL); however, association between GN and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is al...
Rapid genotype “independent” Zea mays L. (maize) transformation via direct somatic embryogenesis

Constitutive expression of the Zea mays L. (maize) morphogenic transcription factors Baby Boom (Bbm) and Wuschel2 (Wus2) in maize can not only greatly increase transformation efficiency but can also induce phenotypic abnormalities and sterility. In an effort to alleviate the pleiotropic effects of constitutive expression, a genome wide search was undertaken to find suitable maize promoters to drive tissue and timing-specific expression of the transformation enhancing genes Bbm and Wus2. A promoter from a maize phospholipid transferase protein gene (Zm-PLTP pro ) was identified based on its expression in leaves, embryos, and callus while being downregulated in roots, meristems, and reproductive tissues. When Zm-PLTP pro driving Bbm was transformed into immature maize embryos along with a Wus2 expression cassette driven by the nopaline synthase promoter (Nos pro ::Wus2) abundant somatic embryos rapidly formed on the scutella. These embryos were individual and uniformly transformed and could be directly germinated into plants without a callus phase. Transformed plants could be sent to the greenhouse in as little as 1 mo and regenerated plants matched the seed-derived phenotype for the inbred and were fertile. However, T1 seed from these plants had poor germination. Replacing Nos pro with a maize auxin-inducible promoter (Zm-Axig1 pro ) in combination with Zm-PLTP pro ::Bbm, allowed healthy, fertile plants to be regenerated. Single-copy T1 seed germinated normally and had a predominantly wild-type inbred phenotype. For maize, this callus-free transformation process has worked in all inbred lines tested.
Food and Culture in Chiloé: Potatoes, Curanto, and Chicha

This chapter explores the culture and botany of Chiloe through its food. Drawing from participant observation fieldwork and interviews carried out between 2006 and 2017, I focus on the history and social significance of potatoes (a staple of the region for millennia), curanto (a longstanding earth-bake tradition), and chicha (hard apple cider, the most common homemade alcoholic beverage in rural southern Chile). More than simple pastimes or sources of nourishment, these three foods are emblems of a larger islander identity today. They represent the fusion of Spanish, Huilliche, and Chono cultures, as well as unique work patterns and social relations that islanders uphold as representative of a rural and highly esteemed way of life.
A Comparison of the Observed Longwave Radiation Flux to Calculations Based on Kondratyev's and Brunt's Methods

Methods derived by Brunt and Kondratyev to estimate the net radiation in infrared wavelengths at the ground are compared to observations and to each other. Estimates by the two methods consistently have about the same value, which indicates that the effects of temperature and moisture stratification above the surface layer. which are included in Kondratyev's method but not in Brunt's are either not important or not correctly modeled in Kondratyev's simplified theoretical approach.
Comparative learning and retention of conventional and instructional TV methods

Each of the 20 elementary schools in the Anaheim City School District were randomly assigned to one of the three method groups. The present studies included the entire group of fourth and fifth grade pupils who received instruction either conventionally or with one of the two ITV methods. The two studies compared pupils’ achievement and retention by method group, intelligence, and sex. Groups receiving the televised social studies instruction performed significantly better on the end-of-term examinations than did the control groups. On the one and two-year delayed posttests, contrary to expectation, all groups had significantly higher means than on the immediate posttests. The basic explanation for the phenomenon was thought to be maturation since many items appear to have tapped reasoning ability as well as content knowledge. This interpretation was supported by the fact that greater gain was noted on the two-year delayed posttest than on the one-year detention measure. The hypothesis was further strengthened by the analysis by item type, the factual items showing the least increase over the time interval. No differential change or gain existed for method groups for the oneyear study. In the two-year study the control group showed greater gain, but its mean remained below that of the TV group.
Holocene climate reconstructions from tandem trace-element and stable-isotope composition of ostracodes from Coldwater Lake, North Dakota, U.S.A.

The geochemistry of ostracode shells and bulk carbonates in a 19-meter sediment core documents at century-scale resolution the evolution of water chemistry in Coldwater Lake, North Dakota, providing a continuous paleohydrologic record of Holocene climate change in the northern Great Plains. A combination of δ18O, δ13C, Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca in ostracode calcite aided by Sr/Ca in bulk carbonates are used to constrain the paleoclimatic reconstructions. A fresh-water phase in the early Holocene, indicated by the absence of Candona rawsoni and low concentrations of Sr/Ca in bulk carbonate, was followed by a sharp increase in salinity between 10 800 and 8900 yr B.P. The climate was predominately dry during the late part of the early Holocene and most of the middle Holocene (8900–5000 yr B.P.), when the lake was very sensitive and recorded a series of dry and wet oscillations. Maximum salinity occurred around 5500 yr B.P. and was followed by a gradual decrease between 5000 and 2400 yr B.P. From 2400 yr B.P. the δ18O, Mg/Ca, and Sr/Ca in the ostracodes indicate generally wet conditions interrupted by a series of lesser salinity and temperature oscillations lasting until 600 yr B.P. Ostracode geochemistry indicates that a warm and dry climate returned at about the time of the Little Ice Age (600–150 yr B.P.). Ostracode δ13C shows a ong-term increasing trend during the Holocene, which suggests that lake productivity and atmospheric CO2 exchange made greater contributions to the hypolimnetic carbon pool as the lake became shallower with time.
Classification and the Specialized Library: Creating a Local Expansion of NLM Classification for Chiropractic Materials

Libraries with specialized collections often face unique challenges to providing access to their materials. Cataloging tools, including subject headings and classification systems, are often better suited for less focused collections. Call number classification systems in particular are problematic for libraries with greater depth in certain subject areas. Users expect to be able to walk to the shelf and browse everything about a certain topic in the same section. This is a reasonable request in small libraries, but it is often difficult when working within existing schemas. In response to this problem, the University of Western States Library developed its own expansion to National Library of Medicine Classification in order to better serve its users. In order for our small, specialized library to provide better access to its focused collection, the author decided to think outside of the classification box and create an expansion for NLM Classification focused on specific chiropractic therapeutic techniques. I was inspired by an NLM expansion for alternative healthcare developed at National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) that UWS has used for many years to provide better browsability for materials on alternative therapies. In particular, the section of NUNM Classification on medicinal herbs inspired the development of a similar expansion for chiropractic, with each technique assigned its own Cutter number.
Estimating the hospital costs of inpatient harms

Objective To estimate the additional hospital costs associated with inpatient medical harms occurring during an index inpatient admission and costs from subsequent readmissions within 90 days. Data source 2009 to 2011 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's State Inpatient Databases from 12 states. Study design We compare hospital costs incurred by patients experiencing a specific harm during their hospital stay to the costs incurred by similar patients who did not experience that harm. Data extraction We extracted records for adult patients admitted for a reason other than rehabilitation or mental health, were at risk of a harm, and were admitted for less than a year. Principal findings The costliest inpatient harms, such as surgical site infections and severe pressure ulcers, are associated with approximately $30 000 in additional index stay costs per harm. Less costly harms, such as catheter- or hospital-associated urinary tract infections and venous thromboembolism, can add $6000 to $13 000. Birth and obstetric traumas add as little as $100. Conclusions Our analysis represents rigorous estimates of the hospital costs of a variety of inpatient harms; these should be of interest to health care administrators and policy makers to identify areas for cost savings to the health care system.
Foreclosing on Two Liens

A considerations of the consequences, under California's antideficiency rules, of foreclosing when the creditor holds two liens on the same property.
Human ehrlichiosis at a tertiary-care academic medical center: Clinical associations and outcomes of transplant patients and patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Abstract Background Ehrlichiosis is an acute febrile tick-borne disease which can rarely be a trigger for secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Methods We reviewed our experience with Ehrlichia infections at a tertiary-care academic medical center. Results Over 10 years, 157 cases of ehrlichiosis were identified. Ten patients (6.4%) had infection with E. ewingii, 7(4.5%) of whom were transplant patients as compared to 3(1.9%) non-transplant patients (p = .035). Transplant patients were more likely to have leukopenia and elevated creatinine compared to immunocompetent patients; length of hospital stay and early mortality were not different between the two groups. Ten patients met the HLH-2004 diagnosis criteria, which could be an underestimation of HLH occurrence as most patients were not completely evaluated for these criteria. We calculated the H-Score to find the probability of HLH; 25 patients scored high making the occurrence rate of HLH at least 16%. Ehrlichia-induced HLH patients (N = 25) had more anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated creatinine and AST. Moreover, they had a significantly longer hospital stay (median 9 days) compared to patients without HLH (median 4 days) (p = .006). Conclusions Ehrlichia-induced HLH is a potential serious complication with relatively high occurrence rate; patients manifest severe disease with end-organ damage requiring longer hospital stay.