Time-Restricted Feeding Improves Bone Health in Mice

Description
Time restricted eating (TRE) is an increasingly popular diet strategy that has shown promise for weight loss and improving metabolic health. The impact of TRE on bone health has not been extensively studied, and the goal of this experiment is

Time restricted eating (TRE) is an increasingly popular diet strategy that has shown promise for weight loss and improving metabolic health. The impact of TRE on bone health has not been extensively studied, and the goal of this experiment is to provide more insight into this subject. 32 10-week old female mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 8). These included low fat diet fed ad-libitum, low fat time restricted feeding (TRF), high fat diet fed ad-libitum, and high fat TRF. The mice adhered to these diets for 9 weeks, with the TRF groups having access to food for 8 hours per day until the sacrifice. At nine weeks, the TRF mice had significantly lowered body weight, improved body composition, and a lower fasting blood glucose. The TRF groups also experienced significant improvements in the trabecular bone density of the tibia, femur, and L3 vertebral body. This was found alongside reductions in osteoclast count and activity in the TRF mice. When compared to a baseline group of 10-week old mice, it was found that the TRF group had significantly less bone loss relative to the ad-libitum fed mice. Improvements in metabolic health, gut barrier function, and inflammation may have all contributed to the observed improvements in bone health. These results reveal a promising and previously unrecognized dietary tool to improve bone health and counteract age-related bone loss.
Date Created
2024-05
Agent

Characterizing Thin-Film MgB2 for the Development of Superconducting Devices

Description
We describe the fabrication and characterization of magnesium diboride (MgB2) thin films for applications in superconducting devices. MgB2 shows great potential as a superconducting thin-film material due to its high transition temperature (Tc ≅ 39 K) and its level of

We describe the fabrication and characterization of magnesium diboride (MgB2) thin films for applications in superconducting devices. MgB2 shows great potential as a superconducting thin-film material due to its high transition temperature (Tc ≅ 39 K) and its level of nonlinear kinetic inductance that could enable a large current-controlled phase shift for accessibility to higher frequencies (0.5 – 3 THz). Compared to other high-temperature superconductors like YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO), FeSe, and BaFe2As2 that require complex deposition techniques and have intricate crystal structures, MgB2 stands out due to its simple synthesis process and suitability for thin-film fabrication. We measure Coplanar Waveguide (CPW) and inverted microstrip MgB2 resonators that yield an internal quality factor of up to 15,000 at 4.2 K. By DC-biasing 3-μm wide CPW and inverted microstrip transmission lines, we demonstrate current-tunable phase-delays between 0 and 2π radians, showcasing the nonlinear kinetic inductance in MgB2. Understanding the total loss and nonlinear kinetic inductance of MgB2 allows for the design and realization of THz frequency superconducting devices, which are crucial for astrophysics and quantum sensors. MgB2 thin films find applications in Hot Electron Bolometers (HEBs), Thermal Kinetic Inductance Detectors (TKIDs), THz Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifiers (TWPAs), and THz frequency multipliers.
Date Created
2024-05
Agent

On the Supernatural Rights of the Dead

Description
The secular rights surrounding dead bodies are conditional and possess unfortunate shortcomings. The existence of ghosts as representatives of the supernatural seem to make up for those shortcomings and provide a firmer foundation for rights. Thus I explore the existence

The secular rights surrounding dead bodies are conditional and possess unfortunate shortcomings. The existence of ghosts as representatives of the supernatural seem to make up for those shortcomings and provide a firmer foundation for rights. Thus I explore the existence of supernatural rights of the dead as present in a wide basis of belief systems. From this I examine the connection between the supernatural rights and the current discussions on secular rights of the dead, finding the supernatural rights acting as an impetus for the secular.
Date Created
2024-05
Agent

The Cosmic Neutrino Background Asymmetry near the Surface of the Earth

Description
It has been recently claimed that there is a local enhancement of neutrino-antineutrino asymmetry in the Cosmic Neutrino Background (CNB) near the surface of the Earth of order $10^{-4}$ due to the in-matter potential experienced by relic neutrinos. This asymmetry

It has been recently claimed that there is a local enhancement of neutrino-antineutrino asymmetry in the Cosmic Neutrino Background (CNB) near the surface of the Earth of order $10^{-4}$ due to the in-matter potential experienced by relic neutrinos. This asymmetry is significantly larger than the expected $10^{-9}$ from the baryon asymmetry and is a promising step towards detecting the CNB. However, this claim makes many simplifying assumptions to reach this outcome, the most significant of which is the geometry used to model the Earth. Here, we approach the problem with a more realistic geometry for the Earth, and we find that the neutrino-antineutrino asymmetry near Earth is $10^{-8}$, which agrees with other recently reported results from other authors}.
Date Created
2024-05
Agent

Perception Versus Reality: The Dangers of Artificial Intelligence

Description
Historical trends of artificial intelligence have, as shown by recent quantitative and qualitative studies, shown that the reported threats (as understood by the general public) are vastly different from the tech industry’s most pressing and vital concerns. The modern AI

Historical trends of artificial intelligence have, as shown by recent quantitative and qualitative studies, shown that the reported threats (as understood by the general public) are vastly different from the tech industry’s most pressing and vital concerns. The modern AI that most people interact with on a daily basis are mostly helpful commercialized products or generative AI, leading to a cultural mindset where AI is an assistant capable of autonomous tasks. Popular fictional depictions of artificial intelligence clearly demonstrate that those perceptions of threats fall closely in line with the sorts of actions portrayed by AI characters, suggesting that pop media has a significant influence over its audience’s understanding of AI technology and its potential ramifications. To mitigate harm that AI tools can inflict upon the general public, there is an immediate need for technology-specific legislation, incentives and deterrents, and oversight so that artificial intelligence can be regulated and controlled.
Date Created
2024-05
Agent

Modeling SKYSURF Completeness Data for Comparison to the Hubble Space Telescope Exposure Time Calculator

Description
Using Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) data from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) archival project "SKYSURF", we model completeness with respect to the exposure time and background of an image. This is accomplished by adding simulated objects with varying magnitudes

Using Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) data from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) archival project "SKYSURF", we model completeness with respect to the exposure time and background of an image. This is accomplished by adding simulated objects with varying magnitudes and sizes into these HST images, and determining the matching rate for each set of parameters. The fifty percent completeness results then can be compared to the Exposure Time Calculator (ETC), in order to assess the differences between it and our analysis of the archive data. We find that for larger objects and exposures the ETC predicts higher completeness magnitudes, while for smaller objects, the ETC predicts lower magnitudes.
Date Created
2024-05
Agent

Understanding Base Thrust of Highly Truncated Aerospike Nozzles

Description
This thesis examines how a recently proposed concept for a highly-truncated aerospike nozzle can be expected to perform at altitudes corresponding to ambient pressures from sea-level to full vacuum conditions, as would occur during second-stage ascent and during second-stage descent and return to

This thesis examines how a recently proposed concept for a highly-truncated aerospike nozzle can be expected to perform at altitudes corresponding to ambient pressures from sea-level to full vacuum conditions, as would occur during second-stage ascent and during second-stage descent and return to Earth. Of particular importance is how the base pressure varies with ambient pressure, especially at low ambient pressures for which the resulting highly underexpanded flows exiting from discrete thrust chambers around the truncated aerospike merge to create a closed (unventilated) base flow. The objective was to develop an approximate but usefully accurate and technically rooted way of estimating conditions for which the jets issuing from adjacent thrust chambers will merge before the end of the truncated aerospike is reached. Three main factors that determine the merging distance are the chamber pressure, the altitude, and the spacing between adjacent thrust chambers. The Prandtl-Meyer expansion angle was used to approximate the initial expansion of the jet flow issuing from each thrust chamber. From this an approximate criterion was developed for the downstream distance at which the jet flows from adjacent thrust chambers merge. Variations in atmospheric gas composition, specific heat ratio, temperature, and pressure with altitude from sea-level to 600 km were accounted for. Results showed that with decreasing atmospheric pressure during vehicle ascent, the merging distance decreases as the jet flows become increasingly under-expanded. Increasing the number of thrust chambers decreases the merging distance exponentially, and increasing chamber pressure results in a decrease of the merging distance as well.
Date Created
2024-05
Agent

Predicting Help-Seeking Behaviors in Adult ADHD

Description
A proposal for the investigation of help-seeking and help-seeking behaviors in adults with ADHD. Analyzes pre-existing literature in adults and children and adapts model for children that can be generalized to college students. Proposes a statistical moderation effect between predictors and help-seeking behaviors.
Date Created
2024-05
Agent

Learning Continuous 2D Diffusion Maps from Particle Trajectories without Data Binning

Description
Diffusion coefficients often vary across regions, such as cellular membranes, and quantifying their variation can provide valuable insight into local membrane properties such as composition and stiffness. Toward quantifying diffusion coefficient spatial maps and uncertainties from particle tracks, we use

Diffusion coefficients often vary across regions, such as cellular membranes, and quantifying their variation can provide valuable insight into local membrane properties such as composition and stiffness. Toward quantifying diffusion coefficient spatial maps and uncertainties from particle tracks, we use a Bayesian method and place Gaussian Process (GP) Priors on the maps. For the sake of computational efficiency, we leverage inducing point methods on GPs arising from the mathematical structure of the data giving rise to non-conjugate likelihood-prior pairs. We analyze both synthetic data, where ground truth is known, as well as data drawn from live-cell single-molecule imaging of membrane proteins. The resulting tool provides an unsupervised method to rigorously map diffusion coefficients continuously across membranes without data binning.
Date Created
2024-05
Agent

Gait Changes in Male RBD Patients with Abnormal DAT Scan and Confirmed Synucleinopathy

Description

While REM Sleep Behavior disorder (RBD) has been linked with synucleinopathies, difficulties persist in clinically convenient diagnostic tools which can differentiate between underlying diseases. Identifying markers in the gait of RBD patients may ease the diagnostic process and indicate potential

While REM Sleep Behavior disorder (RBD) has been linked with synucleinopathies, difficulties persist in clinically convenient diagnostic tools which can differentiate between underlying diseases. Identifying markers in the gait of RBD patients may ease the diagnostic process and indicate potential or status for developing more severe disorders. Individuals were referred to Movement Disorders Center of Arizona (MDCA) by a sleep specialist with a confirmed diagnosis of RBD, or those who were clinically indicated after questioning. All participants underwent a skin-biopsy test for α-synuclein, I-ioflupane dopamine transporter(DAT) scan, and had their gait velocity, cadence and stride dynamics assessed by an automated gait analysis system.

Date Created
2023-05
Agent