cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Life cycle progression and sexual development of the apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum.

The apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium is a leading global cause of severe diarrhoeal disease and an important contributor to early childhood mortality. Currently, there are no fully effective treatments or vaccines available. Parasite transmission occurs through ingestion of oocysts, through either direct contact or consumption of contaminated water or food. Oocysts are meiotic spores and the product of parasite sex. Cryptosporidium has a single-host life cycle in which both asexual and sexual processes occur in the intestine of infected hosts. Here, we genetically engineered strains of Cryptosporidium to make life cycle progression and parasite sex tractable. We derive reporter strains to follow parasite development in culture and in infected mice and define the genes that orchestrate sex and oocyst formation through mRNA sequencing of sorted cells. After 2 d, parasites in cell culture show pronounced sexualization, but productive fertilization does not occur and infection falters. By contrast, in infected mice, male gametes successfully fertilize female parasites, which leads to meiotic division and sporulation. To rigorously test for fertilization, we devised a two-component genetic-crossing assay using a reporter that is activated by Cre recombinase. Our findings suggest obligate developmental progression towards sex in Cryptosporidium, which has important implications for the treatment and prevention of the infection. Infection with Cryptosporidium parvum is a leading cause of severe diarrhoeal disease and childhood mortality worldwide. Using tools they recently developed to genetically engineer Cryptosporidium, the authors define life cycle stage-specific markers and generate reporter parasites, making life cycle progression and parasite sex tractable.
Changes in biological production of the cyanobacterium, Nostoc sp. strain MAC, under subinhibitory concentrations of tannic acid and related compounds

The effects of gallic acid, methyl gallate, propyl gallate and tannic acid on cell growth, protein synthesis, photosynthesis, membrane function and metabolic activity of Nostoc sp. strain MAC were quantitatively investigated. Treatment of MAC with 1/2 inhibitory concentrations of tannic acid and related compounds resulted in a severe decline in biological production. Chlorophyll a and c-phycocyanin syntheses were inhibited by over 90%. Glutamine synthetase and nitrate reductase activities were suppressed by at least 45% and 56%, respectively. The percentage inhibition of total cell yield was around 40%, whereas that of total protein was around 80%. In addition, cellular potassium loss was 2–5 times that of control cultures and was accompanied by a loss in phosphate of about 1.2 times that of control cultures. However, gallic acid did not inhibit c-phycocyanin synthesis, nor did tannic acid or propyl gallate inhibit the activity of glutamine synthetase. Methyl gallate had no effect on electrolyte efflux. The control of biomass accumulation in relation to the production of off-flavor compounds in cyanobacteria by natural tannin compounds may have important aquacultural implications.
Line-length-dependent dislocation mobilities in an FCC stainless steel alloy

Abstract Using molecular dynamics simulations, we compute the mobility of an edge dislocation in a random FCC Fe0.70Ni0.11Cr0.19 alloy over temperatures from 100 to 900 K and shear stresses up to 600 MPa. Dislocation mobilities are shown to be intrinsically length-dependent when the line length is below a minimum value, with shorter lines having a reduced mobility. We show that this minimum line length is sensitive to both temperature and stress. We develop a drag model with terms accounting for solute, phonon, and singular drag mechanisms, and fit the model to MD data in the length-independent regime. Using the drag parameters from this fit, we implement a kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) model for dislocation motion in the solute-drag-dominated regime. The kMC model is then used to explain the length dependence of the mobility and further characterize the statistical solute environment experienced by the dislocation. Our methods and findings are readily extensible to other crystal structures (e.g., HCP, BCC).
Searches and Expected Signatures at DØ

In many cases new physics manifests itself as appearance of new heavy particles with small production cross sections and typically searches for the new phenomena are limited by statistics requiring highest possible luminosity.
Initial calculations for source term of Molten Salt Reactors

Abstract This paper provides an overview of the current MSR design space and lists unique features of the various designs under consideration. Some general considerations for source terms calculation for Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) are explained. Applicability and limitations of terminology currently defined for legacy light water reactor (LWR) systems are discussed in the view of MSRs and the need for updated terminology is discussed. Calculations carried out for the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) are discussed with a qualitative comparison to the designs presented. The nature of the fission products (FPs) and actinides for Low enriched uranium, thorium and fast U/Pu fuel cycles employed in representative molten salt reactor systems are discussed. Computational results are obtained from a code (Serpent 2) with online reprocessing. Divergence in source terms when fission product bubbling is demonstrated. The source release for each molten salt reactor during postulated accidents is also presented.
Measuring transverse relaxation rates of the major brain metabolites from single-voxel PRESS acquisitions at a single TE

Purpose To compare transverse relaxation rates of brain metabolites estimated from single-TE PRESS acquisitions with more conventionally derived rates estimated from multiple-TE PRESS acquisitions. Methods Single-voxel (8 mL) PRESS data within white matter from 6 subjects were acquired at five different TEs. Transverse relaxation rates R2 of N-acetylaspartate, creatine, and choline were estimated from a single TE using full versus right-side-only sampling of the echo. These R2 values were compared with R2Hahn values obtained from the multiple-TE PRESS acquisitions. Results Following baseline subtraction and RMS weighting, interindividual mean R2 values from TE = 288 ms magnitude spectra for choline, creatine, and N-acetylaspartate were highly correlated with respective R2Hahn values (r2 = 0.99). Paired individual measurements at this TE showed less correlation (r2 = 0.48), primarily due to the N-acetylaspartate resonance. Using TE = 360 ms data for N-acetylaspartate and 288 ms for choline and creatine resulted in an improved correlation coefficient (r2 = 0.80). The average absolute intra-individual differences in the estimated R2 s between single-TE and Hahn method was 9.6 ± 7.7%. Conclusion For the major brain metabolite singlets, R2Hahn values showed correlations with more fragile measurements of R2 from a single TE that are worthy of interest. Because the left side of long-TE spin echoes is available "for free" from an acquisition perspective, and although the single-TE method for estimating R2 values is associated with lower precision, the reduction in scan time may be clinically helpful.
An Empirical Analysis of Project Performance Outcomes for Best-Value Procurement in Design–Bid–Build Projects

AbstractThe best-value (BV) procurement method has been increasingly used by owners in the context of design–bid–build (DBB) project delivery. The objective of this study was to determine whether a...
Constructing Distributed Schedulers Using the MESSIAHS Interface Language

The MESSIAHS project is invesfigafing mechanisms that suppori fask placement in heterogeneous, distributed, autonomous systems. MESSIAHS provides a substrate on which scheduling algorithms can be implemented. These mechanisms were designed to support diverse task placement and load balancing algorithms. As pari of this work, we have constructed an interface layer to the underlying mechanisms. This includes the MESSIAHS Interface Language (MIL) for constructing distributed schedulers. This paper gives an overview O~MESSIAHS, describes a sample interface layer iq detail, and gives ezample implementations of well-known algorithms from the literature built using fhis layer.
Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy Instrument for Flow-Through Measurement of Dissolved Carbon Dioxide in the Ocean

The measurement of dissolved carbon dioxide is important for understanding many ocean processes. Here we present the design and field deployment of a TDLAS sensor for the measurement of dissolved carbon dioxide.
SEEKR2: Versatile Multiscale Milestoning Utilizing the OpenMM 7.5 Molecular Dynamics Engine

We present SEEKR2 (Simulation-Enabled Estimation of Kinetic Rates Version 2) – the latest iteration in the family of SEEKR programs for using multiscale simulation methods to computationally estimate the kinetics and thermodynamics of molecular processes, in particular, ligand-receptor binding. SEEKR2 generates equivalent, or improved, results compared to the earlier versions of SEEKR, but with significant increases in speed and capabilities. SEEKR2 has also been built with greater ease of usability with extensible features to enable future expansions of the method. Now, in addition to supporting simulations using NAMD, calculations may be run with the fast and extensible OpenMM simulation engine. The Brownian dynamics portion of the calculation has also been upgraded to Browndye 2.
WHAT IS MANAGERIAL MEDIOCRITY? Definition, Prevalence, and Negative Impact (Part 1)

This study examines the extent and impact of mediocrity in management. Mediocrity among public managers is defined as having only a modest commitment to contemporary values and practices of public administration. Based on a national survey of senior managers in city governments with populations over 50,000, this study finds that in about 41% of jurisdictions most managers have only a mediocre commitment to contemporary values and practices. Managerial mediocrity is shown to have strong, negative impacts on workplace productivity and on citizen trust in government. This first of two articles concludes with practical tips for assessing mediocrity in the workplace. The second article, which also is in this issue of PPMR, focuses on strategies for addressing managerial mediocrity.
The inverse rook problem on Ferrers boards

Rook polynomials have been studied extensively since 1946, principally as a method for enumerating restricted permutations. However, they have also been shown to have many fruitful connections with other areas of mathematics, including graph theory, hypergeometric series, and algebraic geometry. It is known that the rook polynomial of any board can be computed recursively. The naturally arising inverse question -- given a polynomial, what board (if any) is associated with it? -- remains open. In this paper, we solve the inverse problem completely for the class of Ferrers boards, and show that the increasing Ferrers board constructed from a polynomial is unique.
To Follow: The Wake of Jacques Derrida

This book collects 10 years of Peggy Kamuf's writing on the work and friendship of Jacques Derrida. This study discusses the key aspects of Derrida's thought, either from a single work or across several texts. Kamuf engages with a broad array of his work, from the 1960s to the posthumous publication of his teaching seminars. She also considers press interviews and the collaboration on a film. These close readings are punctuated by brief recollections from their long friendship. The chapters trace a reflection that undergoes the sudden event of Derrida's death. Rather than take this interruption as its premise, however, the book sets out from Derrida's own teaching that mourning begins with friendship and not just at the death of the friend. Thus, the strict chronology of the chapters, from 2000 to 2010, highlights a general illusion of 'before' and 'after' that comes undone over the course of the sequence.
The nucleotide regulatory sites on the mitochondrial KATP channel face the cytosol

The mitochondrial KATP channel (mitoKATP) is richly endowed with regulatory sites for metabolites and drugs, but the topological location of these sites is unknown. Thus, it is not known whether ATP, GTP and acyl CoA esters regulate mitoKATP from the matrix or cytosolic side of the inner membrane, nor whether they all act from the same side. The experiments reported in this paper provide an unambiguous answer to these questions. Electrophysiological experiments in bilayer membranes containing purified mitoKATP showed that current is blocked asymmetrically by ATP. K+ flux experiments using proteoliposomes containing purified mitoKATP showed that mitoKATP is unipolar with respect to regulation by Mg2+, ATP, GTP, and palmitoyl CoA and that all of these ligands react on the same pole of the protein. This demonstration was made possible by the new finding that mitoKATP is 85–90% oriented inward or outward in liposomes, depending on the presence or absence of Mg2+ in the reconstitution buffer. K+ flux experiments in respiring rat liver mitochondria showed that mitoKATP was inhibited by palmitoyl CoA and activated by GTP when these agents were added to the external medium. Given that the inner membrane is impermeant to these ligands and that mitoKATP is unipolar with respect to nucleotide regulation, it follows that the regulatory sites on mitoKATP face the cytosol.
Patterns of smoking behavior among physicians in Yerevan, Armenia

Physicians can play an important role in smoking prevention and control. This study will identify smoking prevalence among physicians in Yerevan, Armenia. It will also explore how the smoking behaviors of physicians, their perceived ability to influence patient smoking behavior, and their knowledge about health outcomes related to smoking influence their interaction with patients. A cross-sectional, self-administered, anonymous survey was conducted in July, 2004, among 12 healthcare facilities in Yerevan. Analyses are based on responses from 240 physicians, representing a 70% response rate. The percentage of current smokers was significantly higher in men than women (48.5% vs. 12.8% regular and 6.8% vs. 4.5% occasional). Among current smokers, 52.7% of men compared with 13.0% of women had previously smoked in the presence of patients. Only 35.3% felt well prepared to assist patients to quit smoking. Physicians who smoke are less likely to ask their patients about their smoking behavior or believe their example is likely to influence their patients. Level of perceived preparedness to assist patients to quit smoking was positively associated with knowledge about known health risks associated with smoking. Smoking prevalence is high among physicians in the 12 healthcare facilities in Yerevan, and a large percentage of physician smoke in the presence of their patients. Physician smoking behavior and knowledge of smoking related health outcomes in Yerevan influences whether they counsel patients regarding smoking.
Patients' Attitudes Toward Medical Student Participation Across Specialties: A Systematic Review.

Phenomenon: Medical students commonly participate in patient care in a variety of different settings. However, a systematic review of patients' attitudes toward medical student participation across specialties has not been performed. Approach: The authors searched 7 databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ERIC, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science) between January 1, 1999, and August 5, 2014. Two authors independently screened the results and selected articles that were written in English, were published in a peer-reviewed journal, and used a structured or semistructured survey or interview to determine patients' attitudes toward medical student participation in their care. Study quality was assessed using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument. Findings: Fifty-nine studies were included. Average study quality was low. Sixty-one unique evaluation instruments were used, and 34 instruments (56%) lacked validity data. Patient satisfaction was not significantly affected by medical stude...
The Importance of Family, Race, and Gender for Multiracial Adolescent Well-being.

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), this study investigates patterns of well-being among multiracial adolescents. Specifically, this article addresses three questions. First, using various categorizations for multiracial background, are there measurable differences in emotional and social well-being among White, minority, and multiracial adolescents? Second, do multiracial adolescents with a White mother tend to fare differently than those with a minority mother? Third, does variation in family-based social capital—including parental involvement, parent-child relationship quality, and family structure—contribute to observed well-being differences among multiracial and monoracial adolescents? Results suggest that multiracial adolescents experience more negative social and emotional well-being outcomes when their mother is a minority. This finding persists even when controlling for sources of family-based social capital.
Decay of the spin echo in a pulsed magnetic field gradient NMR

The additional attenuation of the spin echo of a pulsed magnetic field gradient NMR caused by the diffusion of the spins carrying molecules is calculated for a time dependent diffusion coefficient. The cases of a Constant D0, of an exponential decay with time, and an abrupt drop from D0 to zero at time t0 are considered. In all cases the time dependence of the experimentally observed attenuation is less steep than that of D. The time scale, however, Changes very little. The calculation was based on the consideration that the diffusion transports the precessing spins to a location with a different Larmor frequency so that a complete reversal after the 180° pulse is not possible any more. Hence, any deviation from a straight line in a plot of the excess attenuation versus δ2(1 − δ/3Δ) may by interpreted in terms of a time dependence of the diffusion coefficient.
Field-effect transistors with graphene channels and quantum dots: Gate control and photo-induced effects

Field effect transistors with channels made of graphene layer(s) are explored. The graphene layer(s) are brought into contact with semiconductor quantum dots and the effects of pump light on its electrical characteristics are assessed. Negative differential resistance (NDR) is observed as a function of gate voltage and as a function of pump light illumination. The dots' photoluminescence (PL) has increased abruptly to twice its value as a function of source-drain voltage.
A plasticity and anisotropic damage model for plain concrete

A plastic-damage constitutive model for plain concrete is developed in this work. Anisotropic damage with a plasticity yield criterion and a damage criterion are introduced to be able to adequately describe the plastic and damage behavior of concrete. Moreover, in order to account for different effects under tensile and compressive loadings, two damage criteria are used: one for compression and a second for tension such that the total stress is decomposed into tensile and compressive components. Stiffness recovery caused by crack opening/closing is also incorporated. The strain equivalence hypothesis is used in deriving the constitutive equations such that the strains in the effective (undamaged) and damaged configurations are set equal. This leads to a decoupled algorithm for the effective stress computation and the damage evolution. It is also shown that the proposed constitutive relations comply with the laws of thermodynamics. A detailed numerical algorithm is coded using the user subroutine UMAT and then implemented in the advanced finite element program ABAQUS. The numerical simulations are shown for uniaxial and biaxial tension and compression. The results show very good correlation with the experimental data.
Comparison of δ18O Measurements in Nitrate by Different Combustion Techniques

Three different KNO3 salts with δ18O values ranging from about −31 to +54‰ relative to VSMOW were used to compare three off-line, sealed glass tube combustion methods (widely used for isotope studies) with a more recently developed on-line carbon combustion technique. All methods yielded roughly similar isotope ratios for KNO3 samples with δ18O values in the midpoint of the δ18O scale near that of the nitrate reference material IAEA-NO-3 (around +21 to +25‰). This reference material has been used previously for one-point interlaboratory and intertechnique calibrations. However, the isotope ratio scale factors by all of the off-line combustion techniques are compressed such that they are between 0.3 and 0.7 times that of the on-line combustion technique. The contraction of the δ18O scale in the off-line preparations apparently is caused by O isotope exchange between the sample and the glass combustion tubes. These results reinforce the need for nitrate reference materials with δ18O values far from that of ...
PRE-TRANSPLANT CHEMOTHERAPY DOES NOT AFFECT POST TRANSPLANT OUTCOME IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING OHT FOR AL CARDIOMYOPATHY

Light-chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis can be treated with cardiac transplantation (HT) followed by high dose melphalan chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant. We hypothesized that chemotherapy (CTX) prior to HT targeting clonal plasma cell light chain production may lead to improved
Pattern Recognition of the Steel Rod Based on Artificial Neural Network and SVM

The steel rod is an important part for project fields , and it is large-scale to be used. it is apt to crack, corrosion and so on in the poor working conditions. In order to recognize correctly the type of defects, a method was presented to extract frequency band energy feature by using wavelet package decomposition. In the meantime, to extract the peak-peak value in the time-domain and make the mixed feature vector. With the way of pattern recognition, the best recognition way was got by comparing the BP artificial neural network(ANN), PNN(probability neural network) artificial neural network and "one-versus-one" support vector machine(SVM).The result showed that the recognition rate of SVM was more suitable for defects’ identification in steel rod.
The limiting case of zero shear modulus in linear elasticity

In this paper we study the behavior of an isotropic homogeneous material with strain-stress relation % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaeq4WdmNaai% ikaiaadweacaGGPaGaeyypa0JaaGOmaiabeY7aTjaadweacqGHRaWk% cqaH7oaBcaGGOaGaaeiDaiaabkhacaqGGaGaamyraiaacMcacaWGjb% aaaa!462B!\[\sigma (E) = 2\mu E + \lambda ({\text{tr }}E)I\] when μ tends to zero by using a decomposition of a Hilbert space and a minimization problem of an energy functional in some subspace. The existence and uniqueness of the solution of the differential system in this limiting case subject to certain boundary condition is also obtained in this work.
Development of mental models by display augmentation

An important consideration in the design of any user interface is the relationship between the displayed information and the mental model that results after interaction with the interface. This relationship was investigated in a previous set of eight experiments for a second-order tracking task. Mental models for the task were determined through transfer experiments that forced the operators to apply their mental models to novel situations. The results indicate that, when interacting with displays containing different augmenting cues, the mental models developed are different from each other. The possibility is investigated of representing individual subjects' mental models of this system as series of rules. An experiment is reported in which the rules are generated from the collected data. Results indicate that the number of rules exhibited and the quality of the rules are dependent on the kind of augmenting cues used during training. More rules were exhibited for those subjects trained on a consistent augmenting cue than those trained on an inconsistent augmenting cue or for those trained in a no-cue control condition. >
Optimizing Patching-based multicast for video-on-demand in wireless mesh networks

In this work, we study the application of video-on-demand (VoD) in wireless mesh networks (WMN), a next generation edge technology to provide broadband data access in residential, business and even city-wise networks. We adopt a Patching-based multicast technique to better utilize the bandwidth resources in the mesh network. We optimize the Patching-based multicast by addressing two critical problems, namely, the Minimum Cost Multicast Tree (MCMT) problem and the Maximum Benefit Multicast Group (MBMG) problem. The MCMT problem is to find a MCMT in the network. We show that finding such a tree in the WMN can be formulated as a graph theory problem, which is to find the tree with minimum number of non-leaf nodes, and which spans all the nodes in the multicast group. We further prove the problem is NP-hard and propose a fast greedy algorithm to accommodate the real-time feature of the VoD application. We solve the MBMG problem by minimizing the communication of a Patching group in the entire network. A Markov model is proposed to capture the growth of the multicast group in the WMN. Simulation study results validate the proposed solutions of the two problems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. In this work, we optimize the Patching-based multicast for video-on-demand (VoD) in wireless mesh networks by addressing two critical problems, namely, the Minimum Cost Multicast Tree (MCMT) problem and the Maximum Benefit Multicast Group (MBMG) problem at the network layer and the application layer respectively. We prove the MCMT problem is NP-hard and propose a fast greedy algorithm to accommodate the real time feature of the VoD application. We solve the MBMG problem by minimizing the communication of a Patching group in the entire wireless mesh networks. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toward convergent inquiry into self-hypnosis

Abstract From both theoretical and therapeutic perspectives, there is a need to expand and integrate current lines of research into the phenomenon of self-hypnosis and its clinical application. Some issues and research implications are outlined that concern the need to (a) delineate the phenomenon, (b) convergently assess it through behavioral and phenomenological techniques, and (c) investigate the consequences of its private use. Behavioral, experiential, and consequential measures of self-hypnosis are seen as methodologically distinct ways of convergently assessing the phenomenon. The adoption of multiple strategies of inquiry into the nature and function of self-hypnosis may allow a better understanding of it from the respective viewpoints of those who seek to understand, to teach, and to use the technique.
Structures of Germanium Clusters: Where the Growth Patterns of Silicon and Germanium Clusters Diverge

We have performed a systematic ground state geometry search for ${\mathrm{Ge}}_{n}$ neutrals and cations in the $n\ensuremath{\le}16$ size range using density functional theory--local density approximation and gradient-corrected methods. Like their silicon analogs, medium-sized Ge clusters are stacks of tricapped trigonal prism subunits. However, the structures of ${\mathrm{Ge}}_{n}$ and ${\mathrm{Si}}_{n}$ for $n\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}13$ and $n\ensuremath{\ge}15$ differ in details. The onset of the structural divergence between the growth patterns of Si and Ge clusters is confirmed by the measurements of gas phase ion mobilities, fragmentation pathways, and dissociation energies.
Tumor-seeking Salmonella amino acid auxotrophs

A paradigm change in the treatment of cancer is urgently needed. Bacteria offer many advantages, including natural cytotoxity, motility, chemotaxis and a relative large genome to manipulate for tumor targeting. Salmonella, Clostridium, Bifodobacterium and Escherichia coli have been shown to control tumor growth and promote survival in animal models. We have developed an effective bacterial cancer therapy by engineering Salmonella typhimurium amino acid auxotrophs which grow in viable as well as necrotic areas of tumors, but not normal tissue. The S. typhimurium A1-R mutant, which is auxotrophic for leu-arg, is tumor-seeking and has antitumor efficacy against the major types of cancer. The approach described here is a significant improvement over previous bacterial tumor-therapy strategies that require combination with toxic chemotherapy.
Artificial Reestablishment of the Lichen Cladonia cristatella

Slow drying stimulated the artificial development of fruiting structures by Cladonia cristatella Tuck. Fructification of the fungal partner occurred in the absence of its algal symbiont. Only newly isolated mycobionts produced the reproductive structures. Soredia and squamules were formed in response to the joint effect of slow drying and nutrient-poor conditions.
“A Guided Tour of Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences” by Roel Snieder

Many of us who studied physics as undergraduates were encouraged to take a course in mathematical methods. The one I took, at MIT, was called Advanced Calculus for Application and was taught by Francis Hildebrand using his textbook of the same title (Prentice-Hall, 1962). Here we first probed the mysterious Bessel and Legendre functions, learned to steer integration paths around the complex plane, and learned to transform x to k (and t to omega) and back again with abandon. We all found this stuff rather mysterious and intimidating. Oddly, I used rather little of it in subsequent physics courses (which were much more into different but equally mysterious quantum mechanical operations, such as those relating to spin). Only when I started to learn seismology as a grad student did the math methods find a real niche in my brain. Bessel and Legendre functions described the free oscillations of the Earth (or at least would if the Earth had the good sense to be homogeneous). Steering contours through branch cuts—ah! branch cuts!—were necessary to pull the first-arriving head …
Immunization procedures for anti-idiotypic antibody induction in mice and rats.

Abstract Anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab2) mimicking antigens (Ags)-defined by antibodies (Ab1) directed to tumors or pathogens have elicited Ag-specific humoral, cellular and/or protective immunity in experimental animals and in humans. In immunizations of rodents with Ab1, factors such as animal species, form of Ab1 and choice of adjuvant are crucial for the successful induction of Ab2 as candidate vaccines against tumors and pathogens. Here we survey the outcome of 362 fusion events (each event representing one animal), using nine immunization schedules in mice and seven schedules in rats and including 10 different Ab1 directed against human tumor- and immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)-associated Ags. Ab1 IgG or F(ab′) 2 were administered uncoupled or coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). As adjuvants, complete and incomplete Freund's adjuvant (CFA/IFA), lipid A, aluminum hydroxide, TiterMax or vaccinia virus were used. In syngeneic immunizations with murine Ab1 in mice, F(ab′) 2 coupled to KLH and emulsified in CFA/IFA preferentially induced Ab2 mimicking tumor or HIV-1 associated epitopes. In xenogeneic immunizations with mouse Ab1 in rats, various forms of Ab1 and adjuvants successfully induced Ab2 mimicking tumor Ags.
Electro-optic and second-harmonic generation measurement in 3-methyl-4-methoxy-4'-nitrostilbene (MMONS) single-crystal thin-films

Summary form only given. Significant effort has been devoted to investigate organic second-order optical materials with potential applications in frequency conversion and electro-optic modulation. Among these materials, 3-methyl-4-methoxy-4'-nitrostilbene (MMONS) possesses one of the largest d-coefficients with a reasonably broad transparency window. We report the growth of single-crystal thin-films of MMONS, polarization dependent UV-visible absorption, second-harmonic generation, and electro-optic measurements of these films.
Analysis of the Fermi-contact interactions of the shallow-donor electron in phosphorus-doped silicon.

A first-principle calculation of ${|\ensuremath{\psi}(0)|}^{2}$ is presented for P, As, and Sb impurities in Si. The agreement with experiment is excellent for P, poor for As and Sb. An attempt was then made to analyze the electron-nuclear-double-resonance results for the transferred hyperfine resonance of P impurities in Si. While it was not possible to unambiguously identify the various lines, it is possible to group the resonance lines such that groups of lines can be identified with groups of sites.
Assessment of Dynamic Properties of a Crowd Model for Human-Structure Interaction Modeling

Abstract Occupants of a structure are thought to behave as a dynamic spring-mass-damper system interacting with the structure through a phenomenon known as human–structure interaction. Understanding this interaction is critical for vibration serviceability as neglecting to account for its effects may result in an overestimation of the dynamic response of a structure, and as a result, a more costly structural design. An experimental study has been performed and the results are compared with analytical models constructed with the parameters proposed by the Joint Working Group (JWG) in the United Kingdom for modeling occupants as a spring-mass-damper system. The results indicate that the parameters of the “active and mostly standing” crowd model satisfactorily represent the dynamic response of the structure with passive occupants standing with bent knees. However, the parameters of the “predominantly seated” crowd model did not adequately simulate the dynamic response of the structure when passive occupants were seated on the structure. A new set of parameters for passive standing occupants, not specifically addressed by the Joint Working Group, was also assessed yielding acceptable results. This study asserts that at least three different models, with varying parameters, are necessary to thoroughly understand the effects of human–structure interaction. The experimental results confirm the applicability of the JWG parameters for active occupants and verify the appropriateness of previously proposed parameters for modeling the passive standing occupant.
Monte Carlo simulations of dose deposition applied to clinical radiation therapy

The application of Monte Carlo simulation of radiation transport to the various radiation procedures involved in the treatment of cancer patients with photons and electrons is reviewed. The most important steps in the chain of events from dosimeter calibration to treatment plan calculations to dose verification are assessed with respect to their accuracy and precision impact in radiation therapy. Monte Carlo simulations have been applied to every step of this chain and offer significant gains in accuracy and understanding to the basic physical processes. Some medical-electron-accelerator Monte Carlo codes derive from general codes, while others have been specifically designed to accelerate computation speed for treatment planning purposes. Several thousand articles on the subject have already been published and, with advances in PC computing power, the future of Monte Carlo simulations is guaranteed.
Ladies' Water Aerobics Swim Group

Over the course of the past year (2012-2013), the author has been swimming at his local YMCA (Y). Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday he observed a group of between 10-12 women participating in an aerobics swim group. It gradually dawned on him that this was a recreational, activity support group. What impressed him was the way the women interacted with one another; they were always talking, laughing and clearly enjoying one another’s company. In June of this year, the author decided to approach one of the members of the group and see if she would be willing to share some of her experiences of attending the group. This resulted in her speaking and e-mailing all of the women, who in turn e-mailed and spoke to the author about their reasons for participating in and the benefits they derived from the group. The paper incorporates the narratives of the women regarding the reasons for joining and also the numerous, physical, psychological, emotional, mental health, and social benefits of the group. The author also provides the reader with a number of theoretical concepts from groupwork literature, which further reinforce the numerous benefits of the Ladies’ Aerobic Swim Group.
Serum proteomic patterns as a predictor of severity in acute pancreatitis.

Background: Approximately 20% of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) develop a severe and potentially life-threatening course. Serum proteomic pattern analysis for disease diagnos
Reply to Deary and Pagliari: Is g intelligence or stupidity?☆

Abstract Deary and Pagliari (1991) pointed out that Spearman had presented data showing the same pattern in correlations found by Detterman and Daniel (1989). Correlations among tests are about twice as high for low-IQ subjects as for high-IQ subjects. Spearman suggested that this effect be called the “law of diminishing returns”. He thought that smarter people had more “g”. He also reasoned that, as in psychophysical effects, a constant increment would be less discriminable when added to a large base (high-IQ) than to a small base (low-IQ). These differences in discriminability are what caused the correlations to be lower in groups of high-IQ subjects. But Spearman was wrong on two counts. First, any constant added to either or both members of pairs of observations has no effect on the resulting correlation. So size of base could not produce differences in correlation. Second, if g is defined as whatever causes tests to be positively intercorrelated, then low-IQ subjects have more g than high-IQ subjects because their test scores are more highly correlated. Amount of g, as g interpreted by Spearman, represents stupidity, not intelligence. An alternative explanation for these effects is provided.
Rb-Sr glauconite isochron, Maestrichtian unit of Peedee Formation (Upper Cretaceous), North Carolina

Five hand-picked, authigenic glauconite concentrations that were analyzed for Rb, Sr, and Sr isotopic composition yielded an isochron age of 68.1 ± 1 m.y. (λ Rb 87 = 1.39 × 10 −11 yr −1 ) for Maestrichtian strata in North Carolina. The initial (Sr 87 /Sr 86 ) 0 ratio calculated from the isochron is 0.7070 ± 0.0004 and is in good agreement with previous estimates of the strontium isotopic composition of sea water during Late Cretaceous time. The excellent fit of the isochron age into current age boundaries of the Maestrichtian suggests that the Rb-Sr isochron method could be more widely applied to glauconite.
“Out of the Broom Closet”: The Social Ecology of American Wicca

The fastest growing form of religious identification, spirituality, or “new” religious movement in American society over the last decade is Wicca and related forms of “Neo-Paganism.” However, with no national organization and minimal local organization, little is known about its distribution across a privatized religious landscape nor about the features of state social and cultural environments that are receptive or contrary to its spread. This study uses Internet data to create estimates of the comparative strength of Wiccan-Pagan identification across the 50 states and conducts multivariate analyses of the ability of variables suggested in prior research to explain its distribution. Not only are the findings consistent with expectations, but differences in correlates of Wicca using the Internet data in contrast to existing measures of “New Age” spirituality highlight the empirical importance of maintaining distinctions between the two.
The Effects of pH on the Polyaniline Switching Reaction

Polyaniline (PAN) films were prepared using sequential linear potential sweeps in sulfuric, dimethylbenzenesulfonic, and hydrochloric acids. The films were converted from their reduced form to an oxidized state in several different supporting electrolytes, and a mechanism of oxidation has been proposed, based on cyclic voltammetry experiments at differentpH. Apparent diffusion coefficients for bisulfate, chloride, and dimethylbenzenesulfonate in several PAN films were obtained, using a potential step technique. The results demonstrate that electrical neutrality in PAN films is maintained at a pH below 1 by the egress of hydronium ion, whereas at pH above 2, neutrality is maintained by the insertion of anions into the film.
Effect of Explosive Shock Waves on Ceramic Powders

Powders of several ceramic materials were subjected to explosive shock waves and changes in their physical properties were studied. Very fine particle sized SiC and B4C could be produced without introducing impurities. Strong line broadening in the X-ray diffraction pattern of shocked powders was observed and correlated with lattice strain and crystallite size reduction. Shocked CaCO3 turned blue when exposed to X rays. Shocked powders gave higher tapped densities, higher green densities after pressing, and were unusually responsive to sintering. Explosive shocking may be a unique way of “cold-working” ceramics and may permit subsequent control of their microstructure through primary recrystallization.
Effects of small neutral molecules on phospholipid bicelle ordering.

The effects of small neutral molecules on the liquid-crystalline ordering of dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC)/dihexanoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DHPC) bicelles (q = 3.0 and 3.5) were studied via 2H, 31P, and 13C variable-temperature NMR. The addition of chloroform (up to ∼90 mM, with a lipid concentration of ∼120 mM) was observed to reduce the temperature onset of bicelle ordering by up to ∼10 °C, likely resulting from the depression of the DMPC phase transition temperature. The temperature for the collapse of the bicelle phase was also significantly reduced; the observed effects amount to a downward shift in temperature (and reduction in range) of the liquid-crystalline portion of the bicelle phase diagram with increasing dopant concentration. Other model dopants (e.g., tetrahydrofuran and benzene) yielded smaller effects. Additionally, the variable bicelle alignment permitted the characterization of the ordering of chloroform molecules within the lipid phase.
Immunosuppressive activity of serum during the development of Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis

Abstract The development of Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE), an auto-immune disease directed against the central nervous system, causes a marked increase of serum contained alpha globulins. Serum with elevated alpha globulins decreases the uptake of 3 H-thymidine into mitogen stimulated normal or immune lymphocytes. The increased alpha globulin levels and immunosuppressive activity parallel the development of clinical signs.
Preliminary Resource Assessment of Coalbed Methane in the U.S.

Preliminary results of the DOE Methane Recovery from Coalbeds Project reveal that many of the coal regions in the United States have significant volumes of coalbed methane. Preliminary gas-in-place resource estimates were made based on the volume of coal-in-place and on direct methane-desorption data. Those basins showing high potential include the Northern Appalachian, Arkoma, Piceance, Warrior, Illinois, and Greater Green River. 5 refs.
Constraints imposed by the data on a successful theory of high-temperature superconductivity

Data for high-temperature superconductivity are analyzed in order to determine the required nature of a successful general theory of oxide superconductivity. (1) The p-type nature of high-temperature superconductivity requires a model based on oxygen. (2) Since ideal (Rare- earth) Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 compounds superconduct at approximately equals 92 K even for magnetic rare-earth ions, but the same compounds do not superconduct when many of the same magnetic ions occupy Ba-sites, the superconductivity must originate in the charge-reservoir region, not in the cuprate planes. (3) The recent observation of photo-induced superconductivity in YBa 2 Cu 3 O x , but not in La 2 CuO 4 , indicates the importance of charge-balance and whether the dopant oxygen is interstitial or substitutional. (4) Pair-breaking data require that a successful model be three-dimensional. (5) The observation of granular superconductivity in PrBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 requires a successful model to be inhomogeneous. (6) Many data require that the superconductivity originate in charge-reservoirs, rather than in cuprate planes. The following classes of models are ruled out: (1) Cu +2 ↔Cu +3 valence fluctuations models; (2) spin-fluctuation and d-wave pairing models; (3) hybridization and t-J models of the insulating nature of PrBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 ; (4) all models based on the charge-transfer hypothesis; (5) all two- dimensional models; and (6) all homogeneous models.
Inhibition of Oncogenic Transcription Factor REL by the Natural Product Derivative Calafianin Monomer 101 Induces Proliferation Arrest and Apoptosis in Human B-Lymphoma Cell Lines

Increased activity of transcription factor NF-κB has been implicated in many B-cell lymphomas. We investigated effects of synthetic compound calafianin monomer (CM101) on biochemical and biological properties of NF-κB. In human 293 cells, CM101 selectively inhibited DNA binding by overexpressed NF-κB subunits REL (human c-Rel) and p65 as compared to NF-κB p50, and inhibition of REL and p65 DNA binding by CM101 required a conserved cysteine residue. CM101 also inhibited DNA binding by REL in human B-lymphoma cell lines, and the sensitivity of several B-lymphoma cell lines to CM101-induced proliferation arrest and apoptosis correlated with levels of cellular and nuclear REL. CM101 treatment induced both phosphorylation and decreased expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-XL, a REL target gene product, in sensitive B-lymphoma cell lines. Ectopic expression of Bcl-XL protected SUDHL-2 B-lymphoma cells against CM101-induced apoptosis, and overexpression of a transforming mutant of REL decreased the sensitivity of BJAB B-lymphoma cells to CM101-induced apoptosis. Lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of NF-κB signaling upstream components occurred in RAW264.7 macrophages at CM101 concentrations that blocked NF-κB DNA binding. Direct inhibitors of REL may be useful for treating B-cell lymphomas in which REL is active, and may inhibit B-lymphoma cell growth at doses that do not affect some immune-related responses in normal cells.
The role of aromatization in androgen stimulation of gerbil scent marking.

The androgen dependent scent marking behavior of male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) can be stimulated after castration by either testosterone or estrogen, but not by dihydrotestosterone (DHT). To determine if DHT fails to evoke scent marking because it cannot be aromatized to form an estrogen, two other nonaromatizable androgens, 1α-methyltestosterone and 6α-fluorotestosterone, were studied. 6α-Fluorotestosterone and its propionate ester stimulated scent marking in castrated male gerbils as effectively as testosterone and its ester did. Hence, an androgen's aromatizability does not determine its ability to influence gerbil scent marking behavior.
A NEW ANTICOAGULANT, VITAMIN B6: RESULTS OF A COMPARATIVE STUDY WITH HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE SULPHATE, IN VITRO.

THE following drugs inhibit the clotting of human blood in vitro: glutathione, 2,3-dimercaptopropanol, cysteine hydrochjoride1, oxytetracycline, neomycin, streptomycin2, the disodium salt of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid3, the potassium, salt of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid4, chloroquine phosphate5, and hydroxychloroquine sulphate6.