Overwhelmed to Action: Digital Preservation Challenges at the Under-resourced Institution

Digital preservation advocates at small or mid-sized institutions struggle with the expectations of implementing a digital preservation program. Given that they operate with fewer resources than their larger colleagues, implementation can seem overwhelmingly difficult. With digital preservation a pressing issue, how do these libraries begin to tackle the challenge? Advocates at Milner Library have had the advantage of collaborating on the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Leadership Grant, Preserving (Digital) Objects With Restricted Resources (POWRR). This case study examines how they have applied the lessons they have learned to go from being overwhelmed to taking action. Along the way, they have encountered several misconceptions and challenges. This paper reviews the misconceptions and suggests approaches to the challenges of digital preservation. Some of the challenges include: minimal funds, change fatigue, lack of training, lack of engagement, and difficulty in framing the argument for administrators. Milner Library digital preservation advocates have approached the task by seeking collaborations, raising awareness, and starting small. It is possible to start the cultural change that is required to implement a digital preservation program, even with restricted resources

All-mass n-gon integrals in n dimensions

We explore the correspondence between one-loop Feynman integrals and (hyperbolic) simplicial geometry to describe the "all-mass" case: integrals with generic external and internal masses. Specifically, we focus on $n$-particle integrals in exactly $n$ space-time dimensions, as these integrals have particularly nice geometric properties and respect a dual conformal symmetry. In four dimensions, we leverage this geometric connection to give a concise dilogarithmic expression for the all-mass box in terms of the Murakami-Yano formula. In five dimensions, we use a generalized Gauss-Bonnet theorem to derive a similar dilogarithmic expression for the all-mass pentagon. We also use the Schl\"afli formula to write down the symbol of these integrals for all $n$. Finally, we discuss how the geometry behind these formulas depends on space-time signature, and we gather together many results related to these integrals from the mathematics and physics literature.Comment: 49 pages, 8 figure

Phytoecdysteroids Do Not Have Anabolic Effects in Skeletal Muscle in Sedentary Aging Mice

Skeletal muscle mass and strength are lost with aging. Phytoecdysteroids, in particular 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), increase protein synthesis in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells and muscle strength in young rats. The objective of this study was to determine whether an extract from Ajuga turkestanica (ATE), enriched in phytoecdysteroids, and 20E affect skeletal muscle mass and fiber size, fiber type, activation of the PI3K–Akt signaling pathway, and the mRNA levels of MAFbx, MuRF-1, and myostatin in sedentary aging mice. Aging male C57BL/6 mice (20 months old) received ATE, 20E, or vehicle (CT) once per day for 28 days or a single acute dose. Treatment did not alter body, muscle, or organ mass; fiber cross-sectional area; or fiber type in the triceps brachii or plantaris muscles. Likewise, protein synthesis signaling markers (i.e., phosphorylation of AktSer473 and p70S6kThr389) measured after either 28 days or acutely were unchanged. Neither ATE nor 20E treatment for 28 days affected the mRNA levels of MAFbx, MuRF-1, and myostatin. In conclusion, these data indicate that phytoecdysteroid treatment does not alter muscle mass or fiber type, nor does it activate protein synthesis signaling in the skeletal muscle of sedentary aging mice