Fruit consumption and adiposity status in adults: A systematic review of current evidence

The aim of this review was to update current understanding of the potential association between fruit consumption and adiposity status in adult populations. Electronic databases were searched from January 1, 1997 to the search date of August 15, 2014, retrieving 4382 abstracts that were reviewed for eligibility: randomized controlled trial (RCT) or prospective cohort (PC), published in English, assessing the effect of whole fruit or fruit juice consumption on adiposity in healthy adult populations. Quality ratings for the 11 included RCTs were either positive (n = 2), neutral (n = 8), or negative (n = 1), while the six included PCs were either positive (n = 4) or neutral (n = 2). Consumption of whole fruit was found to contribute to a reduced risk for long-term weight gain in middle-aged adults. Experimental trials suggest this beneficial effect of whole fruit is mediated by a reduction in total energy intake. Fruit juice, however, had an opposing effect, promoting weight gain over the long term. This review reinforces national food-based dietary guidelines, encouraging the consumption of whole fruits and replacing fruit juices with plain water, as part of a broader set of dietary strategies to reduce total dietary energy intake in adult populations.     

Balancing behavioral privacy and information utility in sensory data flows

Miniaturized smart sensors are increasingly being used to collect personal data which embed minute details of our everyday life. When shared, the data streams can easily be mined to draw a rich set of inferences regarding private behaviors and lifestyle patterns. Disclosure of some of these unintended inferences gives rise to the notion of behavioral privacy different from traditional identity privacy typically addressed in the literature. From the provider’s perspective, we summarize these privacy concerns into three basic questions: (i) Whom to share data with? (ii) How much data to share? and (iii) What data to share?In this paper, we outline the architecture of SensorSafe as a software-based framework with support for three basic mechanisms to allow privacy-aware data sharing. First, it provides a library of routines accessible using a simple GUI for providers to define fine-grained, context-dependent access control. Second, it uses the trust network between consumers and providers to derive the optimal rate of information flow which would maintain both provider privacy and consumer utility. Finally, it introduces a compressive sensing based feature-sharing procedure to further control the amount of information release. We provide simulation results to illustrate the efficacy of each of these mechanisms.     

Time-domain validation for sample-data uncertainty models

We consider time-domain model validation for sampled-data systems with H_∞-compatible uncertainty models. These uncertainty models consist of a nominal continuous-time plant model together with given bounds for system uncertainty and signal disturbances. The validation problem is to determine whether or not a given discrete sampled input-output data record is consistent with a postulated uncertainty model. Based on continuous-time interpolation theorems, we provide validation algorithms for unstructured, additive uncertainty models that reduce to convex programming. We treat both linear time-invariant and linear time-varying modeling uncertainty sets     

“Ripple effects” and forecasting home prices in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Phoenix

We examine the time-series relationship between house prices in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. First, temporal Granger causality tests reveal that Los Angeles house prices cause house prices in Las Vegas (directly) and Phoenix (indirectly). In addition, Las Vegas house prices cause house prices in Phoenix. Los Angeles house prices prove exogenous in a temporal sense and Phoenix house prices do not cause prices in the other two markets. Second, we calculate out-of-sample forecasts in each market, using various vector autoregressive and vector error-correction models, as well as Bayesian, spatial, and causality versions of these models with various priors. Different specifications provide superior forecasts in the different cities.     

Coarsening of Mesoporous α-Al2 3 Ceramics

Until recently, the processing of high surface area alumina ceramics has been restricted to transitional phases such as , , and . In this study, a nanocrystalline -Al_{2 3} powder (100 m²/g) was processed into mesoporous -Al_{2 3} ceramics with surface areas in the range 20 to 80 m²/g. Hence, the opportunity exists to study the effect of thermal treatment on the pore structure of a high surface area -Al_{2 3} ceramic in the temperature range 600°C to 1000°C. The reduction in surface area was characterized as pure coarsening by surface diffusion. Examination of the pore structure showed both intraparticle pores and interparticle pores in the temperature range 600°C to 800°C and only interparticle pores above 800°C. The powder particles were dense and polycrystalline. However, much of their internal structure is lost in heat treatments above 1000°C.     

Characterization of the malonyl-/acetyltransacylase domain of the multifunctional animal fatty acid synthase by expression in Escherichia coli and refolding in vitro

cDNAs of various lengths encoding the second domain of the multifunctional fatty acid synthase (FAS) have been expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant proteins refolded in vitro to catalytically active monomeric malonyl-/acetyltransacylases. FAS residues 428-487, previously thought to represent the amino terminus of the malonyl-/acetyltransacylase, can be omitted from the recombinant enzyme with no loss in catalytic activity. This shortened transacylase, consisting of FAS residues 488-809, can be repeatedly denatured and renatured in vitro with reproducibly high recovery and no loss in specific activity. When expressed as a soluble enzyme in Spodoptera frugiperda cells, this transacylase has the same specific activity as the enzyme that has been refolded in vitro. The refolded transacylase consisting of FAS residues 488-809, but not the longer enzyme consisting of residues 428-815, can be crystallized readily. These results suggest that FAS residues 428-487, previously thought to represent the amino terminus of the malonyl-/acetyltransacylase, are not required for catalysis of the transacylase reaction. This region of the FAS is less well conserved than the transacylase catalytic domain and may constitute an extended structural linker that facilitates the functional interaction between the transacylase and acyl carrier protein domains.      

Thermohydraulic Calculation of VVER and SCWR Reactor Channels

Atomic Energy - The results of a comparative thermohydraulic calculation of the core channels of two types of nuclear reactors – VVER and VVER-SKD, differing in the coolant parameters at the...     

Controllability and Universal Three-qubit Quantum Computation with Trapped Electron States

We show how to control and perform universal three-qubit quantum computation with trapped electron quantum states. The three qubits are the electron spin, and the first two quantum states of the cyclotron and axial harmonic oscillators. We explicitly show how universal three-qubit gates can be performed. As an example of a quantum algorithm, we outline the implementation of the three-qubit Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm in this system.      

Methodology for estimation of potential for solar water heating in a target area

Proper estimation of potential of any renewable energy technology is essential for planning and promotion of the technology. The methods reported in literature for estimation of potential of solar water heating in a target area are aggregate in nature. A methodology for potential estimation (technical, economic and market potential) of solar water heating in a target area is proposed in this paper. This methodology links the micro-level factors and macro-level market effects affecting the diffusion or adoption of solar water heating systems. Different sectors with end uses of low temperature hot water are considered for potential estimation. Potential is estimated at each end use point by simulation using TRNSYS taking micro-level factors. The methodology is illustrated for a synthetic area in India with an area of 2 sq. km and population of 10,000. The end use sectors considered are residential, hospitals, nursing homes and hotels. The estimated technical potential and market potential are 1700 m² and 350 m² of collector area, respectively. The annual energy savings for the technical potential in the area is estimated as 110 kW h/capita and 0.55 million-kW h/sq. km. area, with an annual average peak saving of 1 MW. The annual savings is 650-kW h per m² of collector area and accounts for approximately 3% of the total electricity consumption of the target area. Some of the salient features of the model are the factors considered for potential estimation; estimation of electrical usage pattern for typical day, amount of electricity savings and savings during the peak load. The framework is general and enables accurate estimation of potential of solar water heating for a city, block. Energy planners and policy makers can use this framework for tracking and promotion of diffusion of solar water heating systems.