cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
First‐Principles Investigations of Solid Iron at High Pressure and Implications for the Earth's Inner Core

Density functional theory is used to investigate the equation of state, phase stability, magnetism, elasticity, and high temperature properties of iron. The equations of density functional theory are solved with the state-of-the-art linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) method with gradient-corrected exchange-correlation functionals. A parametric tight-binding Hamiltonian, which is fit to the results of the elaborate LAPW calculations, is used to investigate elasticity and high temperature properties, the latter in the cell model approximation. The results of these calculations show that (1) the bcc phase of iron is mechanically unstable above 150 GPa and is unlikely to exist in the inner core (2) the anisotropy of hcp iron is similar in its magnitude and symmetry to that of the inner core, indicating that this is the stable phase of iron in this region and that the inner core is either very strongly textured, or that it consists of a single crystal, and (3) iron is significantly denser than the inner core, indicating the presence of a few weight percent light alloying elements in the solid inner core.
A Laundry Surface for Braids

Laundry surfaces for closed braid diagrams are presented. It is shown that braid diagrams are characterized by linking matrices obtained by lifting cycles from these surfaces. Oriented link types are then characterized by equivalence classes of linking matrices. Similar equivalence classes can be composed of Gordon and Litherland forms or Seifert matrices.
Combinatorial proofs of generating function identities for F-partitions

In his memoir in 1984, George E. Andrews introduces many general classes of Frobenius partitions (simply F-partitions). Especially, he focuses his interest on two general classes of F-partitions: one is F-partitions that allow up to k repetitions of an integer in any row, and the other is F-partitions whose parts are taken from k copies of the nonnegative integers. The latter are called k colored F-partitions or F-partitions with k colors. Andrews derives the generating functions of the number of F-partitions with k repetitions and F-partitions with k colors of n and leaves their purely combinatorial proofs as open problems. The primary goal of this article is to provide combinatorial proofs in answer to Andrews' request.
Stable carbon isotope values reveal evidence of resource partitioning among ungulates from modern C3-dominated ecosystems in North America

Abstract Resource use and niche partitioning has rarely been shown in ancient C3-dominated environments through analysis of stable isotope values, even though before 7 million years ago worldwide environments were predominantly composed of C3 plant taxa. This study explores whether the analysis of stable carbon isotopes from ungulate tissues can accurately identify resource use and niche partitioning in a modern C3-dominated ecosystem in North America, in order to lay the groundwork for application to more ancient ecosystems. δ13C values were obtained from the scat, collagen, and tooth enamel from populations of Antilocapra americana, Bison bison, Cervus elaphus, Odocoileus hemionus, and Ovis canadensis in Yellowstone National Park, and used to trace isotopic uptake and incorporation from the diet into herbivore hard tissues. Significant differences were observed among taxa in δ13C values from all three of the sample materials. Scrutinizing the carbon isotope values further showed that elk and mule deer had the widest range in isotopic values, implying the widest range of resource use. Similarities among taxa in the δ13C of scat concur with other studies that attribute the similarities to winter habitat use. Because (1) significant differences were observed in the δ13C values of scat, collagen and ultimately tooth enamel and (2) the isotopic inputs of carbon are relatively well understood, and (3) carbon isotope values can be obtained from non-altered fossil material, this methodology appears practicable for objectively examining ecological relationships, such as resource use and niche partitioning, among taxa in ancient C3-dominated ecosystems of North America and elsewhere, and suggests the technique will be valuable in investigating resource use and niche partitioning among taxa prior to the C4 global carbon shift.
Unionization and rates of personal violence (suicide and homicide).

For a sample of 34 nations Stack (1981) found that nations with a higher influx of immigrants had higher suicide rates. The present study examined homicide rates as well as suicide rates as a function of immigration rates using Lynn's (1971) sample of 18 industrialized nations: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the USA, and West Germany. (Data for Switzerland were not available.) Long-term immigration rates were obtained for 1969 from' the United Nations (19721, suicide and homicide rates for 1970 from the WHO (1973), and data for the two control variables used by Stack (the percent of elderly and females in the labor force in 1970) from the World Bank (1976). Immigration rates were not significantly correlated with either suicide rates (Pearson r = 0.10) or homicide rates (r = -0.08). In the multiple regression, immigration rates played no part in the prediction of suicide rates or homicide rates. For suicide rates, using a backward multiple regression, the percentage of females in the Iabor force played a significant role in the regression giving a multiple R of 0.78. For homicide rates, neither the percentage of women in the labor force nor the proportion of elderly played a significant role in the regression. Thus, the present analyses, using a sample of industrialized nations, did not replicate Stack's earlier finding on the rate of immigration to nations and their suicide rates, indicating the importance of the particular sample nations chosen for the analyses.
A two-equation turbulence model for dispersed dilute confined two-phase flows

Abstract A two-equation model for low Reynolds number turbulence has been developed for dispersed dilute two-phase confined flows. The two equations describe the conservation of turbulence kinetic energy and dissipation rate of that energy for the carrier fluid. The model is based on the closure for high Reynolds number two-phase flows reported previously. In order to validiate the proposed model, a turbulent two-phase pipe flow (air laden with spherical uniform-size particles) is predicted. The predictions of the mean flow properties of the two phases and the turbulence characteristics of the carrier phase show good agreement with the available experimental data.
Biologically based pesticide dose estimates for children in an agricultural community.

Current pesticide health risk assessments in the United States require the characterization of aggregate exposure and cumulative risk in the setting of food tolerances. Biologic monitoring can aggregate exposures from all sources and routes, and can integrate exposures for chemicals with a common mechanism of action. Its value was demonstrated in a recent study of organophosphorus (OP) pesticide exposure among 109 children in an agricultural community in Washington State; 91 of the children had parents working in agriculture. We estimated individual OP pesticide doses from urinary metabolite concentrations with a deterministic steady state model, and compared them to toxicologic reference values. We evaluated doses by assuming that metabolites were attributable entirely to either azinphos-methyl or phosmet, the two OP pesticides used most frequently in the region. Creatinine-adjusted average dose estimates during the 6- to 8-week spraying season ranged from 0 to 36 microg/kg/day. For children whose parents worked in agriculture as either orchard applicators or as fieldworkers, 56% of the doses estimated for the spray season exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chronic dietary reference dose, and 19% exceeded the World Health Organization acceptable daily intake values for azinphos-methyl. The corresponding values for children whose parents did not work in agriculture were 44 and 22%, respectively. The percentage of children exceeding the relevant reference values for phosmet was substantially lower (< 10%). Single-day dose estimates ranged from 0 to 72 microg/kg/day, and 26% of these exceeded the EPA acute reference dose for azinphos-methyl. We also generated dose estimates by adjustment for total daily urine volume, and these estimates were consistently higher than the creatinine-adjusted estimates. None of the dose estimates exceeded the empirically derived no-observable-adverse-effect levels for these compounds. The study took place in an agricultural region during a period of active spraying, so the dose estimates for this population should not be considered representative of exposures in the general population. The findings indicate that children living in agricultural regions represent an important subpopulation for public health evaluation, and that their exposures fall within a range of regulatory concern. They also demonstrate that biologically based exposure measures can provide data for health risk evaluations in such populations.
A Numerical Approach to Separate the Modes of Fracture in Interface Crack Propagation

Delamination between layers with different fiber orientations is an important problem in applications of fiber composites. Although finite element analysis is widely used to calculate energy release rates, results in the literature and in the present work show that the individual Mode I and Mode II energy release rates do not converge, and this is typical of interface cracks at bimaterial interfaces. This problem was addressed by noting that delaminations occur at the resin-rich layer between layers with different orientations, and refining the analysis to include this feature. As has been noted by others, enclosing the delamination crack in an homogeneous layer removes the difficulties associated with interface cracks, and convergence of Mode I and Mode II energy release rates is achieved. Results are given that establish the effect of the thickness and material properties of the interface layer on the Mode I and Mode II energy release rates. Calculations for beam-type geometries that are representative of double cantilever beam and end-notched flexure specimens are presented, that illustrate the effect of material properties, loading, and the compliance of the delaminated sections on the mode mixity.
Needs assessment of family caregivers of cancer survivors: three cohorts comparison

Purpose/Background: Caregivers' quality of life (QOL) may be maximized when the caregivers' needs in the context of cancer care are met. Therefore, determining what needs are not being satisfied for family caregivers should be the first step in the development of programs designed to enhance caregivers' QOL. Method: The 28-item Needs Assessment of Family Caregivers-Cancer (NAFC-C) scale was developed and validated with caregivers at three different survivorship phases: at 2 months (n=162), 2 years (n=896), and 5 years (n=608) post-diagnosis. Results: The NAFC-C helped to identify caregivers whose needs were less likely to be met, based on their age and ethnicity. Furthermore, the extent to which caregivers' psychosocial needs were not being met was a consistent and strong predictor of poor mental health across all phases of survivorship, beyond the effects of a host of demographic characteristics. Conclusion: Findings suggest that interventions designed to help caregivers manage their own emotional distress as well as the survivors' distress, find meaning in the cancer caregiving experience, and foster supportive familial relationship will benefit caregivers by improving their QOL, not only during the time of diagnosis and treatment but years after. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Living in hazardous waterscapes: Gendered vulnerabilities and experiences of floods and disasters

Considerable literature exists on floods and weather-related disasters, but limited attention has been given to the varied social implications of hazards in the lives of people, especially from a gender perspective. This is particularly poignant in floodplains and coastal areas, where water is a key element in giving, sustaining and taking away life and livelihood. Critical social and geographical analyses enable better understanding of the ways hazardous waterscapes are perceived, experienced and negotiated by people across social categories in their everyday life. This article attempts to highlight the gendered and classed coping strategies and adaptation measures that men and women engage with (that both challenge and reproduce social relations and vulnerabilities) in their attempts to survive in hazardous environments. Drawing from an analysis of the gendered dynamics of floods and disasters as well as the interventions that were undertaken via the Flood Action Plan in Bangladesh, I demonstrate the di...
Numerically induced stochasticity

The true motion of a particle in a one-dimensional potential well is regular, since conservation of energy constrains the velocity ν each value of the coordinate x. Nonetheless, when the orbit is computed numerically, stochastic behavior can result. We have considered simple integrators as mappings from (x, ν) at one discrete time level to (x, ν) at the next. In general, when the timestep size Δ is small enough there are closed orbits, while for larger values there is chaos. Chaos can result for surprisingly small values of Δ in cases where the physical phase plane includes a separatrix. The behavior of the leapfrog mover as applied to motion in a particular double-well potential is examined in detail. Here, the onset of Stochasticity occurs at step sizes much smaller than the stability threshold associated with the harmonic dependence of the potential at large |x|. Other one-dimensional wells and movers are also treated; implications of the area-preserving and energy conserving attributes possessed by some movers are discussed. A new variant of the Standard Map, displaying symmetry about both x = 0 and ν = 0 in its phase plane, is introduced.
Polar Movement of Gibberellic Acid through Young Coleus Petioles

For several decades the only type of growth regulator believed to move with strong polarity through plants was the endogenous auxin indole-3-acetic acid (9, 15, 25). After it had been demonstrated that both naphthalene-acetic acid (8, 16) and the weed killer 2,4-D also moved with strong polarity when tested under the same conditions as IAA (17, 18), investigations were started on other types of growth regulators. Several cytokinins have been tested for polar movement through excised sections. The first reports of polarity in the movement of benzyladenine (1, 20) could not be confirmed in more detailed investigations by Fox and Weis (7). If kinetin moved at all through excised sections, it usually moved without polarity (14, 24). Adenine, a weak cytokinin, also moved without polarity through Coleus petiole sections (24). The two authors who have studied gibberellin movement through excised sections concluded that gibberellin moved through pea stems, but without polarity. Kato (13) used primarily ultraviolet absorption to estimate the gibberellic acid extracted from receiver blocks of agar.3 Presumably forced to do so because of the insensitivity of this method, he used extremely high concentrations of GA34 in the donor blocks (1.4 grams per liter, in contrast to the milligram per liter concentration of GA3 typically used in physiological experiments). Clor (3), purporting to confirm Kato, added tritium-labeled gibberellin of unstated purity, concentration, or even structure and then counted the label extractable from tissue slices. No evidence was presented that any of the label thus counted was still with the "gibberellic acid." Basipetally polar movement has been reported for both synthetic and natural abscisic acid isolated from tomato fruits in transport experiments with explants, petiole, and internode segments of Coleus rhenaltianus (6). Milborrow (19) has stated that abscisic acid labeled with radioisotope moves with 3:1 basipetal polarity through petiolar sections. By analogy with the active transport systems studied in cell physiology (22), we could expect more than just two plant hormones to show polar movement. The two negative reports with GA3 did not convince us that this expectation was unfoundedClor's because of its cited inadequacies, and Kato's because the levels of GA3 in the donor were so high. (The polarity of IAA
Boson Stars: Gravitational Equilibria of Self-Interacting Scalar Fields

Spherically symmetric gravitational equilibria of self-interacting scalar fields $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ with interaction potential $V(\ensuremath{\varphi})=\frac{1}{4}\ensuremath{\lambda}{|\ensuremath{\varphi}|}^{4}$ are determined. Surprisingly, the resulting configuration may differ markedly from the noninteracting case even when $\ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\ll}1$. Contrary to generally accepted astrophysical folklore, it is found that the maximum masses of such boson stars may be comparable to the Chandrasekhar mass for fermions of mass ${m}_{\mathrm{fermion}}\ensuremath{\sim}{\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{4}}{m}_{\mathrm{boson}}$.
The revolution to come

Barlow (1997) reminds us of the revolutionary beginnings of the behavior therapy movement, and points to the need for broader dissemination of our treatments. In this commentary, changes in health care delivery are examined, along with the role of doctoral-level psychologists within the emerging health care system. With behavior therapy's history of clearly specified treatment procedures and expected outcomes, we are uniquely well positioned to joint our own revolution to the larger health care revolution. Suggestions are made for rethinking the role of doctoral-level psychologists in the modern health care milieu.
Effects Of Mitochondrial Depolarization On Cardiac Electrical Activity In An Integrated Multiscale Model Of The Myocardium

Metabolic or oxidative stress can trigger the abrupt collapse or oscillation of mitochondrial membrane potential, which activates KATP current and alters the cardiac action potential. This mechanism can introduce both temporal and spatial dispersion of electrical excitability in the form of a “metabolic sink”, leading to heterogeneous conduction in the tissue, reentrant tachyarrhythmias, or fibrillation. To quantitatively study this mechanism, a 2D monodomain model of the myocardium (5×5cm2; 200 micron resolution) was developed, comprised of 63,000 nodes, each representing an integrated cellular model of cardiac excitation-contraction coupling, mitochondrial energetics, and ROS-induced ROS release (ECME-RIRR). Oxidative stress was initiated in a central circular zone of the tissue by increasing the fractional mitochondrial ROS production (shunt) during oxidative phosphorylation from 2% to 10%. Model simulations show that mitochondrial dynamics bifurcate during stimulation at 1 Hz and complete depolarization of αΨm ensues in the sink zone. Within the metabolic sink, sarcolemmal KATP currents increase, action potentials dramatically shorten, and the refractory period is abbreviated. These effects are enhanced by increasing the KATP density. In addition, fast and irregular electric activity (ventricular fibrillation) in the electrically paced tissue is observed when an S2 stimulus is introduced within or near the border of the metabolic sink, but only when the sink exceeds a critical size (r>0.4cm). Phase singularity analysis indicates that the fibrillatory activity is initiated at sites close the border zone. The results emphasize the power of integrating cellular electrophysiological, Ca2+ handling, and metabolic subsystems into a multiscale model to simulate emergent macroscopic phenomena in the heart. Moreover, the results provide a proof-of-concept of the metabolic sink hypothesis and a new tool to study its role in arrhythmogenesis and sudden cardiac death.
Defecation by Salpa thompsoni and its contribution to vertical flux in the Southern Ocean

Measurements of the defecation rate of Salpa thompsoni were made at several stations during two cruises west of the Antarctic Peninsula in 2004 and 2006. Rates were quantified in terms of number of pellets, pigment, carbon and nitrogen for a wide size range of both aggregate and solitary salps. Measured defecation rates were constant over several hours when salps were held at near-surface conditions from which they had been collected. The defecation rate per salp increased with both salp size and the ambient level of particulate organic matter (POM) in the upper water column. The weight-specific defecation rate ranged between 0.5 and 6% day−1 of salp body carbon, depending on the concentration of available particulate matter in the water. Carbon defecation rates were applied to biomass estimates of S. thompsoni to calculate daily carbon defecation rates for the populations sampled during the two cruises. Dense salp populations of over 400 mg C m−2 were calculated to produce about 20 mg C m−2 day−1, comparable to other major sources of vertical flux of organic material in the Southern Ocean. Measured sinking rates for salp fecal pellets indicated that the majority of this organic material could reach deep sediments within a few days, providing a fast and direct pathway for carbon to the deep ocean.
597 COPPER AND MANGANESE LEVELS IN INFANTS FOLLOWING EXCHANGE TRANSFUSION

Levels of copper (Cu) (N=17) and manganese (Mn) (N=12) were evaluated in infants before and following a double volume exchange transfusion and compared to levels of these elements in donor blood. The change in serum copper levels following exchange transfusion was significant (P=0.037). Exchange transfusion did not significantly alter manganese levels. Following an exchange transfusion, serum Cu levels are significantly elevated while serum manganese levels remain unchanged. This study supported in part by a University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Small Grant Award.
Class of variational Ansätze for the spin-incoherent ground state of a Luttinger liquid coupled to a spin bath

Interacting one-dimensional electron systems are generally referred to as ``Luttinger liquids,'' after the effective low-energy theory in which spin and charge behave as separate degrees of freedom with independent energy scales. The ``spin-incoherent Luttinger liquid'' describes a finite-temperature regime that is realized when the temperature is very small relative to the Fermi energy, but larger than the characteristic spin energy scale. Similar physics can take place in the ground state, when a Luttinger liquid is coupled to a spin bath, which effectively introduces a ``spin temperature'' through its entanglement with the spin degree of freedom. We show that the spin-incoherent state can be written as a factorized wave function, with a spin wave function that can be described within a valence bond formalism. This enables us to calculate exact expressions for the momentum distribution function and the entanglement entropy. This picture holds not only for two antiferromagnetically coupled $t\ensuremath{-}J$ chains, but also for the $t\ensuremath{-}J$-Kondo chain with strongly interacting conduction electrons. We argue that this theory is quite universal and may describe a family of problems that could be dubbed ``spin incoherent.''
THERMAL AND PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS OF METHYLRHENIUM DIPEROXIDE : FORMATION OF METHYL HYDROPEROXIDE IN ACETONITRILE

Compared to the system in aqueous solution, the equilibration reactions in acetonitrile between MTO and the methylrhenium peroxides CH3ReO2(η2-O2) (A) and CH3ReO(η2-O2)2(H2O) (B) are slower but more favored thermodynamically. In CH3CN, small concentrations of water facilitate the formation of A (especially) and B. These species decompose to methyl hydroperoxide and perrhenic acid in CD3CN, rather than to methanol and perrhenic acid as in aqueous solution. The proposed mechanism involves the intramolecular migration of the methyl group to a peroxo oxygen, followed by hydrolysis, and it is facilitated by photolysis. The potential use of B as photocatalyst does not seem promising, however.
CAL programming tutors that guide students in solving problems and help students building skills.

This paper has been removed because it is redundant with a work the authors presented at an earlier conference whose proceedings ACM had already published. See: http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1953163.1953254
Organizational theory and the stages of risk communication.

The evolution of risk communication has been described as a series of communication strategies. This article suggests that organizational theory provides another dimension to understanding the evolution of risk communication, and that risk communication can be seen as an organizational adaptation of chemical manufacturers to external pressure. Following the tragedy in Bhopal the chemical manufacturing sector's loss of legitimacy led to destabilization of its authority and to increased uncertainty in its external environment. Risk communication was one means to increase legitimacy, thereby decreasing uncertainty and potential impact on resources. However, although risk communication may evolve from crises of legitimacy, the concept of “isomorphism”—conformance to norms within a corporate sector—predicts this need not be the case.
Information Technology and Financial Services Competition

This paper analyzes the impact of two dimensions of technological progress on competition in financial services. On the one hand, better information technology may result in improved information processing; on the other, it might also lead to low cost or even free access to information through, for example, informational spillovers. In the context of credit screening, we show that better access to information decreases interest rates and the returns from screening. However, an improved ability to process information increases interest rates and bank profits. Hence, predictions regarding the pricing of financial claims hinge on the overall effect ascribed to the technological progress. Our results generalize to other financial markets where informational asymmetries are prime determinants of profitability, such as insurance and securities markets.
Dynamic compression characteristics of flexible foams. I. Similarity model, analysis, and experiments

A simple mathematical model is proposed, based on dimensional similarity parameters, to describe the characteristics of flexible plastic foams under impact conditions. The model assumes that the foam is rate-dependent material, when the dynamic stress is a function of the strain and the strain rate. The similarity parameters include the geometric dimension of the foam, the mass of the absorbing body, and the drop height. By using this model, one can predict the maximum deformation, the maximum decelerations, and the time-pulse period for a wide range of drop heights and masses, by conducting several drop tests. We verified the efficacy of this model by performing free-fall drop tests with flexible polyurethane foam having a uniform density of 240 kg/m3.
Analysis and Interpretation of Hard X-Ray Emission from the Bullet Cluster (1ES 0657–558), the Most Distant Cluster of Galaxies Observed by RXTE

Evidence for non-thermal activity in clusters of galaxies is well established from radio observations of synchrotron emission by relativistic electrons. New windows in the Extreme Ultraviolet and Hard X-ray ranges have provided for more powerful tools for the investigation of this phenomenon. Detection of hard X-rays in the 20 to 100 keV range have been reported from several clusters of galaxies, notably from Coma and others. Based on these earlier observations we identified the relatively high redshift cluster 1E0657-56 (also known as RX J0658-5557) as a good candidate for hard X-ray observations. This cluster, also known as the bullet cluster, has many other interesting and unusual features, most notably that it is undergoing a merger, clearly visible in the X-ray images. Here we present results from a successful RXTE observations of this cluster. We summarize past observations and their theoretical interpretation which guided us in the selection process. We describe the new observations and present the constraints we can set on the flux and spectrum of the hard X-rays. Finally we discuss the constraints one can set on the characteristics of accelerated electrons which produce the hard X-rays and the radio radiation.
Structures of K42N and K42Y sperm whale myoglobins point to an inhibitory role of distal water in peroxidase activity.

Sperm whale myoglobin (Mb) functions as an oxygen-storage protein, but in the ferric state it possesses a weak peroxidase activity which enables it to carry out H2O2-dependent dehalogenation reactions. Hemoglobin/dehaloperoxidase from Amphitrite ornata (DHP) is a dual-function protein represented by two isoproteins DHP A and DHP B; its peroxidase activity is at least ten times stronger than that of Mb and plays a physiological role. The `DHP A-like' K42Y Mb mutant (K42Y) and the `DHP B-like' K42N mutant (K42N) were engineered in sperm whale Mb to mimic the extended heme environments of DHP A and DHP B, respectively. The peroxidase reaction rates increased ∼3.5-fold and ∼5.5-fold in K42Y and K42N versus Mb, respectively. The crystal structures of the K42Y and K42N mutants revealed that the substitutions at position 42 slightly elongate not only the distances between the distal His55 and the heme iron but also the hydrogen-bonding distances between His55 and the Fe-coordinated water. The enhanced peroxidase activity of K42Y and K42N thus might be attributed in part to the weaker binding of the axial water molecule that competes with hydrogen peroxide for the binding site at the heme in the ferric state. This is likely to be the mechanism by which the relationship `longer distal histidine to Fe distance – better peroxidase activity', which was previously proposed for heme proteins by Matsui et al. (1999) (J. Biol. Chem. 274, 2838–2844), works. Furthermore, positive cooperativity in K42N was observed when its dehaloperoxidase activity was measured as a function of the concentration of the substrate trichlorophenol. This serendipitously engineered cooperativity was rationalized by K42N dimerization through the formation of a dityrosine bond induced by excess H2O2.
PTEN loss confers BRAF inhibitor resistance to melanoma cells through the suppression of BIM expression

This study addresses the role of PTEN loss in intrinsic resistance to the BRAF inhibitor PLX4720. Immunohistochemical staining of a tissue array covering all stages of melanocytic neoplasia (n = 192) revealed PTEN expression to be lost in >10% of all melanoma cases. Although PTEN expression status did not predict for sensitivity to the growth inhibitory effects of PLX4720, it was predictive for apoptosis, with only limited cell death observed in melanomas lacking PTEN expression (PTEN-). Mechanistically, PLX4720 was found to stimulate AKT signaling in the PTEN- but not the PTEN+ cell lines. Liquid chromatography multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (LC-MRM) was performed to identify differences in apoptosis signaling between the two cell line groups. PLX4720 treatment significantly increased BIM expression in the PTEN+ (>14-fold) compared with the PTEN- cell lines (four-fold). A role for PTEN in the regulation of PLX4720-mediated BIM expression was confirmed by siRNA knockdown of PTEN and through reintroduction of PTEN into cells that were PTEN-. Further studies showed that siRNA knockdown of BIM significantly blunted the apoptotic response in PTEN+ melanoma cells. Dual treatment of PTEN- cells with PLX4720 and a PI3K inhibitor enhanced BIM expression at both the mRNA and protein level and increased the level of apoptosis through a mechanism involving AKT3 and the activation of FOXO3a. In conclusion, we have shown for the first time that loss of PTEN contributes to intrinsic BRAF inhibitor resistance via the suppression of BIM-mediated apoptosis.
Situational influences on the selection or avoidance of compliance‐gaining strategies: A test of motivation to communicate

This study examined the relationship between motivation and compliance‐gaining strategy selection across three different interpersonal communication situations. In general, results suggested that motivation to control others is a predictor of strategy selection whereas low levels of general motivation may be associated with strategy avoidance. Implications for theorizing concerning the situation as a construct and the role of motivation are discussed.
Absorptiometric determination of hafnium with molybdophosphoric acid

A sensitive method for the absorptiometric determination of hafnium has been developed. It is based on the reaction of hafnium with molybdophosphoric acid at pH 4.0. The method follows Beer's law in the range 0–14 parts per million hafnium. Data on interfering substances are presented.
Dyslexic Adults Can Learn from Repeated Stimulus Presentation but Have Difficulties in Excluding External Noise

We examined whether the characteristic impairments of dyslexia are due to a deficit in excluding external noise or a deficit in taking advantage of repeated stimulus presentation. We compared non-impaired adults and adults with poor reading performance on a visual letter detection task that varied two aspects: the presence or absence of background visual noise, and a small or large stimulus set. There was no interaction between group and stimulus set size, indicating that the poor readers took advantage of repeated stimulus presentation as well as the non-impaired readers. The poor readers had higher thresholds than non-impaired readers in the presence of high external noise, but not in the absence of external noise. The results support the hypothesis that an external noise exclusion deficit, not a perceptual anchoring deficit, impairs reading for adults.
Stochastic simulation of dislocation glide in tantalum and Ta-based alloys

We employ a kinetic Monte Carlo algorithm to simulate the motion of a1/2〈111〉-oriented screw dislocation on a {011}-slip plane in body centered cubic Ta and Ta-based alloys. The dislocation moves by the kink model: double kink nucleation, kink migration and kink–kink annihilation. Rates of these unit processes are parameterized based upon existing first principles data. Both short-range (solute–dislocation core) and long-range (elastic misfit) interactions between the dislocation and solute are considered in the simulations. Simulations are performed to determine dislocation velocity as a function of stress, temperature, solute concentration, solute misfit and solute–core interaction strength. The dislocation velocity is shown to be controlled by the rate of nucleation of double kinks and the dependence of the double kink nucleation rate on stress and temperature are consistent with existing analytical predictions. In alloys, dislocation velocity depends on both the short- and long-range solute dislocation interactions as well as on the solute concentration. The short-range solute–core interactions are shown to dominate the effects of alloying on dislocation mobility. The present simulation method provides the critical link between atomistic calculations of fundamental dislocation and solute properties and large scale dislocation dynamics that typically employ empirical equations of motion.
What Can We Expect from the “Cadillac Tax” in 2018 and Beyond?

One controversial aspect of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the provision to impose a 40% excise tax on insurance benefits above a certain threshold, commonly referred to as the “...
Four eponyms in coma

A 45-year-old woman suddenly became comatose several days after a renal transplantation. On examination, her systolic blood pressure had reached 260 mm Hg and her pulse was 28 beats per min. She had a left-sided, wide, light-fixed pupil. She localised to a pain stimulus but required intubation for airway protection. CT scan of head showed a large acute subdural haematoma, with shift of the midline structures and crowding …
Rhetorical Strategy in the Composition of the Pentateuch

Greco-Roman theorists of rhetoric pointed out the persuasive force of story, list and divine sanction in combination and considered it dangerous. That practical insight, if not that evaluation, was shared by writers throughout the ancient world who on its basis structured texts of various types to maximize their rhetorical power. In ancient Israel, where law was published through public readings of entire documents, the need to maximize the texts' persuasive force led writers to employ the same rhetorical strategy. Thus law finds itself in the company of story and divine sanctions in almost all of Israel's extant legal traditions until the late first millennium BCE. As these traditions were combined into ever larger blocks of material, the setting in public readings of whole documents must have become increasingly anachronistic. Yet the rhetoric of story, list and divine sanction still shapes the maze of genres and traditions which make up the Pentateuch.
A disabling sports injury of the great toe

An unusual and disabling sports injury of the hallux is described. This consisted of a torn lateral conjoined tendon, capsule, and collateral ligaments, causing varus metatarsophalangeal instability. The surgical treatment is described along with the follow-up evaluation.
Bromoformate formation in dimethylformamide

Dimethylformamide (DMF) is shown to react in a stereospecific, regioselective fashion with bromonium, or α-bromocarbonium ions, generated from a variety of olefins and N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in the presence of water. The bromoformate is often accompanied by dibromide and bromohydrin; at least some of the latter arising from hydrolysis of the bromoformate. Although alkyl and aryl migration is not observed, rearrangement products derived from cationic intermediates through proton loss are found. The mechanism of formation of bromoformate is elucidated through the use of DMF-18O.
The Yang-Baxter Equation in Knot Theory

The role played by the Yang-Baxter equation in generating knot invariants using the method of statistical mechanics is reexamined and elucidated. The formulation of knot invariants is made precise with the introduction of piecewise-linear lattices and enhanced vertex and interaction-round-a-face (IRF) models with strictly local weights. It is shown that the Yang-Baxter equation and the need of using its solution in the infinite rapidity limit arise naturally in the realization of invariances under Reidemeister moves III. It is also shown that it is essential for the vertex models be charge-conserving, and that the construction of knot invariants from IRF models follows directly from the vertex model formulation.
Verification of the New FAST v8 Capabilities for the Modeling of Fixed-Bottom Offshore Wind Turbines: Preprint

Coupled dynamic analysis has an important role in the design of offshore wind turbines because the systems are subject to complex operating conditions from the combined action of waves and wind. The aero-hydro-servo-elastic tool FAST v8 is framed in a novel modularization scheme that facilitates such analysis. Here, we present the verification of new capabilities of FAST v8 to model fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines. We analyze a series of load cases with both wind and wave loads and compare the results against those from the previous international code comparison projects-the International Energy Agency (IEA) Wind Task 23 Subtask 2 Offshore Code Comparison Collaboration (OC3) and the IEA Wind Task 30 OC3 Continued (OC4) projects. The verification is performed using the NREL 5-MW reference turbine supported by monopile, tripod, and jacket substructures. The substructure structural-dynamics models are built within the new SubDyn module of FAST v8, which uses a linear finite-element beam model with Craig-Bampton dynamic system reduction. This allows the modal properties of the substructure to be synthesized and coupled to hydrodynamic loads and tower dynamics. The hydrodynamic loads are calculated using a new strip theory approach for multimember substructures in the updated HydroDyn module of FAST v8. These modules more » are linked to the rest of FAST through the new coupling scheme involving mapping between module-independent spatial discretizations and a numerically rigorous implicit solver. The results show that the new structural dynamics, hydrodynamics, and coupled solutions compare well to the results from the previous code comparison projects. « less
Properties of pion-condensed neutron stars

Abstract The influence of a pion condensate on some properties of neutron star structure is discussed. Appreciable effects can show up in the maximum mass, the radius, and the moment of inertia.
Vision and the establishment of direction-selectivity: a tale of two circuits

Direction-selective neurons, which respond selectively to motion in one direction, have been characterized in visual circuits across many species. Recently, the development of these directional neurons has been explored in both retina and primary visual cortex (V1). The development of direction-selective cells in V1 requires visual experience. In contrast, direction-selective ganglion cells in retina are present at the age of the earliest light responses. The vision-independent signals guiding the asymmetric wiring underlying retinal direction selectivity remain unknown. The details of how retinal and cortical circuits extract motion information could explain their differing requirements for visual experience in development.
A Winchester hard-disk integrated computer-assisted instructional laboratory: Hardware and data management considerations

The hardware configuration at the University of Kentucky is discussed with emphasis on a Winchester technology hard disk as the integrating feature. Advantages and disadvantages of this configuration are discussed in light of the issues of software transportability, ease of use for students, and system maintenance. The Winchester disk is compared to floppy drives as a means of program and data storage. The importance of proper, clear, and organized documentation is stressed. The conclusion is that each system can complement the other in a functional computer learning laboratory.
Spatial dispersion in the dielectric constant of GaAs

Abstract Birefringence in single crystal GaAs due to the dependence (or spatial dispersion) of the dielectric constant has been measured from 0.95 μ to 1.8 μ. Considerable enhancement was observed as the absorption edge was approached. The observed temporal dispersion in the birefringence was found to agree well with the prediction of a 4-band model involving no adjustable parameters. Within a model a direct relation was found to exist between the frequency dependence of the spatial dispersion and the warping of the J = 3 2 valence bands.
A comparison of sampling techniques for VOCs in soil

Abstract Samples (5 g) of an organic soil spiked with a standard volatile organic compound mixture were collected by two methods. One group of samples was weighed upon transfer with a spatula into vials, an aqueous sodium bisulfate solution and a magnetic stirring bar were added and the vial was immediately capped. The other group of samples was obtained with a coring sampler that collected a volume of soil equivalent to 5 g. The sample was immediately transferred into similarly prepared vials. The vials were then sealed with septum-sealed screw caps. Analytes were extracted from the soil matrix using a purge-and-trap technique, SW-846 EPA Method 5035, and then separated, identified, and quantitated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry SW-846 EPA Method 8260. Samples obtained by means of the coring sampler consistently gave lower recoveries than did those samples that were manually weighed and placed in a sample vial.
Clozapine and seizures.

Epileptiform EEG changes, myoclonus, and seizures are reported in some patients treated with clozapine. Although these are undesirable side effects, the excitation of specific neuronal networks by clozapine and other neuroleptics may be important for the therapeutic effect of this class of agents. In these experiments, intraperitoneal clozapine 2–16 mg/kg produced dose-related myoclonic jerks in partially restrained rats. Paroxysmal slow waves and spike activity were recorded from implanted electrodes in amygdala, hippocampus, and cortex following higher doses of clozapine, but the EEG abnormalities were not correlated with the myoclonic jerks. Single doses of chlorpromazine (8 and 16 mg/kg) rarely produced myoclonic jerks but provoked generalized tonic seizures in two animals preceded by multiple myoclonic jerks in one. Myoclonus and seizures reflect increased excitability of the central nervous system. It is possible that clozapine and other neuroleptics exert a therapeutic effect by increasing excitability in critical subcortical areas of the brain.
Synthesis and development of a multifunctional self-decontaminating polyurethane coating.

A unique, durable, nonleaching antimicrobial urethane coating possessing energy-dampening properties is reported. Five novel diol-functionalized quaternary ammonium bromide salts were designed, synthesized, and cross-linked with a commercial polyisocyanate to afford novel multifunctional self-decontaminating coatings. Leaching of the antimicrobial into the environment is eliminated because of the biocidal tether. The effectiveness of these molecules to self-concentrate at the air–polymer interface without addition of other surface modifying additives proved extremely advantageous, and consequently resulted in microphase separation as confirmed by AFM. The coatings were designed to continuously decontaminate against a variety of pathogenic bacteria in addition to affording preliminary dampening properties. Minimum inhibitory concentration studies as well as surface antimicrobial evaluations were conducted using both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, viscoelastic properties, hardness, ...
Naphthenic Acids in Crude Oils Characterized by Mass Spectrometry

The presence of naphthenic acids in crude oils is of concern in the petroleum industry due to their corrosivity to refinery units. It is desirable to determine the ring type and carbon number distributions because the corrosivity of naphthenic acids is dependent on the sizes and structures. The characterization of naphthenic acids is also of interest to geochemical studies, particularly migration and biodegradation, and to refinery wastewater treatment for environmental compliance. We have evaluated chemical ionization, liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (fast ion bombardment), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), and electrospray ionization in both positive and negative ion modes for the determination of molecular distribution of acids without derivatization. Negative-ion APCI using acetonitrile as a mobile phase yields the cleanest spectra with good sensitivity among the ionization techniques evaluated. The selectivity of negative-ion APCI for naphthenic acids has also been demonstrated ...
Power harvesting and telemetry in CMOS for implanted devices

Implanted sensors offer many advantages to those studying the behavior of the human body. Unfortunately, the need to power and communicate with devices often requires tradeoffs that compromise their usefulness. We describe a power harvesting and telemetry chip that allows operation without wires or batteries. The chip has been fabricated in 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS. The chip is able to supply 2 mA at 33 V to associated sensors using inductive coupling. Tests reveal the characteristics of this chip under different loads and at different distances from the transmission coil. With the preliminary coils, functionality could be maintained with over 28 mm between the two coils. To evaluate the performance of the chip in conditions mimicking implantation in the body, water bearing colloids were introduced between the two coils. This resulted in a small loss of transfer efficiency, with no change in the behavior of the chip.