High-Resolution, Real-Space Imaging of Conformational Structures of Poly-L-Proline Helixes

In 1954, Edsall postulated that the imino-acid proline, which is a frequently found constituent of protein molecules, is a key determinant to the three-dimensional architecture of proteins. It not only should play a fundamental role in stabilizing helical structures of polypeptides, it should allow for sharp bends and even for a complete reversal of the direction of a helix looping back on itself. No direct evidence has yet been published to prove this prediction. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we have presented high-resolution, real-space images of two conformations of poly-L-proline, where one structure clearly exhibits the predicted 180° back-folding behavior. The measured length, 1.89 nm, of the repeating unit cells agrees with available X-ray data for poly-L-proline I with cis-peptide bonds. We further observe aggregated poly-L-proline II, consisting of highly-ordered, periodically and parallel-linked trans-peptide chains which are 2.4 nm apart from each other. Stacking of these aggregates with their orientation rotated by 90° is also observed

Implementing Spirometry-Driven Evidence-Based Asthma Care in a Primary Care Practice

This project was a quality improvement initiative employing an educational intervention to increase the awareness and stress the importance of utilizing spirometry in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of asthma. Clinical support staff received training on how to perform spirometry and providers received education on the interpretation and utility of spirometry results to drive care to improve outcomes for clients with asthma. Project outcomes examined the self-rated confidence to perform and interpret spirometry before and after the intervention and the subsequent utilization pattern of office-based spirometry at the primary care clinic. For clinical support staff, the self-comfort level at performing spirometry increased by an average of 32.1% after the training session, and the average overall confidence level in ability to perform spirometry on clients in the imminent future was 74.8%. For providers, the self-reported comfort-level in their ability to interpret spirometry reports increased by an average of 30.8%. There was also an average overall 96.3% confidence in the providers’ perceptions of their ability to accurately interpret a spirogram in the imminent future following the educational session. In-office spirometry use from 2015 to 2016 increased by twofold. This primary care office utilized their spirometer as much during the one month following this project’s interventions than it did the entire 2015 fiscal year. Valuable experience was gained implementing this project and recommendations for future initiatives are explored. This document discusses the background information, problem statement, intervention, evaluation methods, outcomes, sustainability, and dissemination methods related to the project

Motivational Objects in Natural Scenes (MONS): A Database of >800 Objects

In daily life, we are surrounded by objects with pre-existing motivational associations. However, these are rarely controlled for in experiments with natural stimuli. Research on natural stimuli would therefore benefit from stimuli with well-defined motivational properties; in turn, such stimuli also open new paths in research on motivation. Here we introduce a database of Motivational Objects in Natural Scenes (MONS). The database consists of 116 scenes. Each scene contains 2 to 7 objects placed at approximately equal distance from the scene center. Each scene was photographed creating 3 versions, with one object (“critical object”) being replaced to vary the overall motivational value of the scene (appetitive, aversive, neutral), while maintaining high visual similarity between the three versions. Ratings on motivation, valence, arousal and recognizability were obtained using internet-based questionnaires. Since the main objective was to provide stimuli of well-defined motivational value, three motivation scales were used: (1) Desire to own the object; (2) Approach/Avoid; (3) Desire to interact with the object. Three sets of ratings were obtained in independent sets of observers: for all 805 objects presented on a neutral background, for 348 critical objects presented in their scene context, and for the entire scenes. On the basis of the motivational ratings, objects were subdivided into aversive, neutral, and appetitive categories. The MONS database will provide a standardized basis for future studies on motivational value under realistic conditions

Analysis of a turbine rotor containing a transverse crack at Oak Creek Unit 17

Transient increases in one, two and three per revolution vibration characteristics of a low pressure steam turbine were observed during steam temperature reduction operations. Vibration and fracture mechanics analyses suggested the presence of a transverse shaft crack which was eventually identified by ultrasonic inspection and confirmed by destructive sectioning. Signature analyses of vibration data recorded over a two-year period prior to crack identification are correlated with fatigue crack growth, which occurred intermittently during transient temperature decreases. The apparent increased response of the rotor to vibration is due to asymmetric stiffness changes introduced by the growing transverse crack. The vibration response is predicted to increase with increasing crack depths in excess of 10% of the shaft diameter. Fracture mechanics analyses predict that fatigue crack growth occurred during periods of steam temperature decrease, when high surface tensile stresses are present. These same transient thermal stresses are shown to have retarded and prevented subsequent fatigue crack growth during steady operation

N-particle sector of quantum field theory as a quantum open system

We give an exposition of a technique, based on the Zwanzig projection formalism, to construct the evolution equation for the reduced density matrix corresponding to the n-particle sector of a field theory. We consider the case of a scalar field with a $g \phi^3$ interaction as an example and construct the master equation at the lowest non-zero order in perturbation theory.Comment: 12 pages, Late

Virtual edge illumination and one dimensional beam tracking for absorption, refraction, and scattering retrieval

We propose two different approaches to retrieve x-ray absorption, refraction, and scattering signals using a one dimensional scan and a high resolution detector. The first method can be easily implemented in existing procedures developed for edge illumination to retrieve absorption and refraction signals, giving comparable image quality while reducing exposure time and delivered dose. The second method tracks the variations of the beam intensity profile on the detector through a multi-Gaussian interpolation, allowing the additional retrieval of the scattering signal

Modelling the atmosphere of the carbon-rich Mira RU Vir

Context. We study the atmosphere of the carbon-rich Mira RU Vir using the mid-infrared high spatial resolution interferometric observations from VLTI/MIDI. Aims. The aim of this work is to analyse the atmosphere of the carbon-rich Mira RU Vir, with state of the art models, in this way deepening the knowledge of the dynamic processes at work in carbon-rich Miras. Methods. We compare spectro-photometric and interferometric measurements of this carbon-rich Mira AGB star, with the predictions of different kinds of modelling approaches (hydrostatic model atmospheres plus MOD-More Of Dusty, self-consistent dynamic model atmospheres). A geometric model fitting tool is used for a first interpretation of the interferometric data. Results. The results show that a joint use of different kind of observations (photometry, spectroscopy, interferometry) is essential to shed light on the structure of the atmosphere of a carbon-rich Mira. The dynamic model atmospheres fit well the ISO spectrum in the wavelength range {\lambda} = [2.9, 25.0] {\mu}m. Nevertheless, a discrepancy is noticeable both in the SED (visible), and in the visibilities (shape and level). A possible explanation are intra-/inter-cycle variations in the dynamic model atmospheres as well as in the observations. The presence of a companion star and/or a disk or a decrease of mass loss within the last few hundred years cannot be excluded but are considered unlikely.Comment: 15 pages. Accepted in A&

RHEA v1.0: Enabling fully coupled simulations with hydro-geomechanical heterogeneity

Realistic modelling of tightly coupled hydro-geomechanical processes is relevant for the assessment of many hydrological and geotechnical applications. Such processes occur in geologic formations and are influenced by natural heterogeneity. Current numerical libraries offer capabilities and physics couplings that have proven to be valuable in many geotechnical fields like gas storage, rock fracturing and Earth resources extraction. However, implementation and verification of the full heterogeneity of subsurface properties using high-resolution field data in coupled simulations has not been done before. We develop, verify and document RHEA (Real HEterogeneity App), an open-source, fully coupled, finite-element application capable of including element-resolution hydro-geomechanical properties in coupled simulations. To extend current modelling capabilities of the Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE), we added new code that handles spatially distributed data of all hydro-geomechanical properties. We further propose a simple yet powerful workflow to facilitate the incorporation of such data to MOOSE. We then verify RHEA with analytical solutions in one and two dimensions and propose a benchmark semi-analytical problem to verify heterogeneous systems with sharp gradients. Finally, we demonstrate RHEA\u27s capabilities with a comprehensive example including realistic properties. With this we demonstrate that RHEA is a verified open-source application able to include complex geology to perform scalable, fully coupled, hydro-geomechanical simulations. Our work is a valuable tool to assess challenging real-world hydro-geomechanical systems that may include different levels of complexity like heterogeneous geology and sharp gradients produced by contrasting subsurface properties