cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective lateral lymph node dissection after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer.

Background Lateral lymph node metastasis is one of the leading causes of local recurrence in patients with advanced mid or low rectal cancer. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) can effectively reduce the postoperative recurrence rate; thus, NCRT with total mesorectal excision (TME) is the most widely accepted standard of care for rectal cancer. The addition of lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) after NCRT remains a controversial topic. Aim To investigate the surgical outcomes of TME plus LLND, and the possible risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis after NCRT. Methods This retrospective study reviewed 89 consecutive patients with clinical stage II-III mid or low rectal cancer who underwent TME and LLND from June 2016 to October 2018. In the NCRT group, TME plus LLND was performed in patients with short axis (SA) of the lateral lymph node greater than 5 mm. In the non-NCRT group, TME plus LLND was performed in patients with SA of the lateral lymph node greater than 10 mm. Data regarding patient demographics, clinical workup, surgical procedure, complications, and outcomes were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the possible risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis in NCRT patients. Results LLN metastasis was pathologically confirmed in 35 patients (39.3%): 26 (41.3%) in the NCRT group and 9 (34.6%) in the non-NCRT group. The most common site of metastasis was around the obturator nerve (21/35) followed by the internal iliac artery region (12/35). In the NCRT patients, 46% of patients with SA of LLN greater than 7 mm were positive. The postoperative 30-d mortality rate was 0%. Two (2.2%) patients suffered from lateral local recurrence in the 2-year follow up. Multivariate analysis showed that cT4 stage (odds ratio [OR] = 5.124, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.419-18.508; P = 0.013), poor differentiation type (OR = 4.014, 95%CI: 1.038-15.520; P = 0.044), and SA ≥ 7 mm (OR = 7.539, 95%CI: 1.487-38.214; P = 0.015) were statistically significant risk factors associated with LLN metastasis. Conclusion NCRT is not sufficient as a stand-alone therapy to eradicate LLN metastasis in lower rectal cancer patients and surgeons should consider performing selective LLND in patients with greater LLN SA diameter, poorer histological differentiation, or advanced T stage. Selective LLND for NCRT patients can have a favorable oncological outcome.
Particle Pile-ups and Planetesimal Formation

Solid particles in protoplanetary disks that are sufficiently super-solar in metallicity overcome turbulence generated by vertical shear to gravitationally condense into planetesimals. Super-solar metallicities result if solid particles pile up as they migrate starward as a result of aerodynamic drag. Previous analyses of aerodynamic drift rates that account for mean flow differences between gas and particles yield particle pile-ups. We improve on these studies not only by accounting for the collective inertia of solids relative to that of gas, but also by including the transport of angular momentum by turbulent stresses within the particle layer. These turbulent stresses are derived in a physically self-consistent manner from the structure of marginally Kelvin-Helmholtz turbulent flows. They are not calculated using the usual plate drag formulae, whose use we explain is inappropriate. Accounting for the relative inertia of solids to gas retards, but does not prevent, particle pile-ups, and generates more spatially extended regions of metal enrichment. Turbulent transport hastens pile-ups. We conclude that particle pile-up is a robust outcome in sufficiently passive protoplanetary disks. Connections to observations of circumstellar disks, including the Kuiper Belt, and the architectures of planetary systems are made.
A Framework for Applying the Learning Sciences to MOOC Design

Evidence-based practices grounded in the learning sciences provide an opportunity for improved learning experiences in traditional in-person, as well as in hybrid and online environments. We advocate specifically that large-scale, online learning experiences, such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) can benefit from applications of the learning sciences. To that end, we present a description of how and why we use specific learning science practices in a biochemistry MOOC with the intention to contribute to the discussion about the quality of online learning experiences, and lower the barrier for other practitioners seeking a framework for implementing evidence-based course design. We believe that the application of the learning sciences can make online learning experiences more rigorous and effective, and practitioners should optimize the use of these strategies through clever tests in specific contexts.
Anharmonic vibrational frequencies of ammonia borane (BH3NH3).

The fundamental vibrational frequency of the B–N stretch in BH3NH3 has eluded gas-phase experimental observation for decades. This work offers a theoretical anharmonic prediction of this mode to be 644 cm−1, using a Cartesian quartic force field at the CCSD(T)-F12/cc-pVTZ-F12 level of theory. The other fundamental frequencies reported herein have a mean absolute error of only 5 cm−1 from the seven available gas-phase experimental frequencies, making the anharmonic vibrational frequencies and rotational constants the most accurate computational data available for BH3NH3 to date. The inclusion of Fermi, Coriolis, and Darling–Dennison resonances is a major source of this accuracy, with the non-resonance-corrected frequencies having a mean absolute error of 10 cm−1. In particular, the inclusion of the 2ν6 = ν5 type 1 Fermi resonance increases the B–N stretching frequency by 14 cm−1 compared to previous work. Ammonia borane also represents one of the largest molecules ever studied by quartic force fields, making this work an important step in extending the breadth of application for these theoretical rovibrational techniques.
Overproduction of docosahexaenoic acid in Schizochytrium sp. through genetic engineering of oxidative stress defense pathways

Oxidation and peroxidation of lipids in microorganisms result in increased levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive aldehydes, and consequent reduction of cell growth and lipid accumulation. To reduce oxygen-mediated cell damage and increase lipid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production in Schizochytrium sp., we strengthened the oxidative stress defense pathways. Overexpression of the enzymes thioredoxin reductase (TRXR), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), glutathione peroxidase (GPO), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (ZWF) strongly promoted cell growth, lipid yield, and DHA production. Coexpression of ZWF, ALDH, GPO, and TRXR enhanced ROS-scavenging ability. Highest values of dry cell weight, lipid yield, and DHA production (50.5 g/L, 33.1 g/L, and 13.3 g/L, respectively) were attained in engineered strain OaldH-gpo-trxR by shake flask fed-batch culture; these were increases of 18.5%, 80.9%, and 114.5% relative to WT values. Our findings demonstrate that engineering of oxidative stress defense pathways is an effective strategy for promoting cell robustness, lipid yield, and DHA production in Schizochytrium.
Mechanical Reinforcement Technique for Flat Radomes at Millimeter-Wave Frequencies

A technique to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of flat radomes integrated with high-power horns is presented. Specifically, metallic strips, referred to as rebars (from reinforcing bars), are deployed as structural reinforcement across the radome-enclosed antenna aperture. This enables the use of thinner, more fragile materials, with lower loss and permittivity, as protective covers without detrimentally affecting the RF performance. A maximum gain greater than 15.4 dBi and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) < 1.5 are maintained with the rebar across the 18–45 GHz band for a given horn and radome. Moreover, the pressurization handling for the baseline radome is improved from 5 to 14 psig while theoretically maintaining the ability to support 750 W of continuous wave power. The studies are carried out in the electrical, thermal, and mechanical domains.
In vivo architecture of the telomerase RNA catalytic core in Trypanosoma brucei.

Telomerase is a unique ribonucleoprotein (RNP) reverse transcriptase that utilizes its cognate RNA molecule as a template for telomere DNA repeat synthesis. Telomerase contains the reverse transcriptase protein, TERT and the template RNA, TR, as its core components. The 5'-half of TR forms a highly conserved catalytic core comprising of the template region and adjacent domains necessary for telomere synthesis. However, how telomerase RNA folding takes place in vivo has not been fully understood due to low abundance of the native RNP. Here, using unicellular pathogen Trypanosoma brucei as a model, we reveal important regional folding information of the native telomerase RNA core domains, i.e. TR template, template boundary element, template proximal helix and Helix IV (eCR4-CR5) domain. For this purpose, we uniquely combined in-cell probing with targeted high-throughput RNA sequencing and mutational mapping under three conditions: in vivo (in WT and TERT-/- cells), in an immunopurified catalytically active telomerase RNP complex and ex vivo (deproteinized). We discover that TR forms at least two different conformers with distinct folding topologies in the insect and mammalian developmental stages of T. brucei. Also, TERT does not significantly affect the RNA folding in vivo, suggesting that the telomerase RNA in T. brucei exists in a conformationally preorganized stable structure. Our observed differences in RNA (TR) folding at two distinct developmental stages of T. brucei suggest that important conformational changes are a key component of T. brucei development.
Breast cancer after prophylactic mastectomy (bilateral or contralateral prophylactic mastectomy), a clinical entity: presentation, management, and outcomes

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) and bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) markedly decrease the possibility of new breast cancer (BC) ipsilateral to the prophylactic mastectomy (PM). Given its relative infrequency, little is known about the clinical characteristics, presentation, and management of BC after PM. Between 1960 and 1993, 1065 women underwent BPM and 1643 women with unilateral BC treated with therapeutic mastectomy underwent CPM at our institution. Medical records were reviewed, and study-specific questionnaires were sent to all women. BC after PM included locoregional invasive BC or ductal carcinoma in situ ipsilateral to the PM. BC developed ipsilateral to the PM in 25 patients (13 after BPM; 12 after therapeutic mastectomy and CPM). Median follow-up after PM was 22 years (range 3–34 years). Presentations included clinically isolated local disease in 17 patients (68 %); disease limited to the axilla without evidence of local primary disease in 4 (16 %); synchronous local and axillary disease in 1 (4 %); and synchronous local disease and distant metastases in 3 (12 %). The 17 patients presenting with isolated local disease were most commonly managed with completion or redo mastectomy (65 %) or local excision (29 %), followed by consideration of adjuvant therapy. The 5-year disease-free survival estimate was 69 % (95 % CI 52–94 %) for the 22 patients who had isolated locoregional BC after PM and were treated with curative intent. Although rare, BC after PM can occur. The most common presentation, disease localized to the mastectomy site, can be managed with resection and consideration of adjuvant therapy.
Atomic Displacement Effects in Neutron Transmutation Doping

The production of defects in silicon by neutron irradiation and the effects of subsequent thermal annealing are reviewed for their impact on neutron transmutation doping. Recoiling atoms from fast neutron interactions are the dominant contribution to the energy available for producing atomic displacements. Energy deposition considerations indicate that defect clusters are created but amorphous zone formation is highly unlikely. Extensive defect reordering occurs at room temperature with resultant vacancy- vacancy, vacancy-impurity, interstitial-insterstitial, and interstitial-impurity interactions. Many irradiation-produced defects have been characterized and identified for annealing temperatures 500°C, and to understand the interaction processes in their formation. Although the concentrations of residual defects are relatively low, these residual defects are of primary importance for neutron transmutation doping and also for ion implantation.
Single and incremental trauma models: a biomechanical assessment of spinal instability

Biomechanical analysis of spinal injury in the laboratory requires the development of trauma models that simulate spinal instability. Current experimental trauma protocols consist of two types: single or incremental impacts. The incremental protocol has several advantages. However, the equivalence of the spinal instabilities produced by the two trauma protocols is currently unproven. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the single and incremental trauma models produce equivalent soft tissue instabilities in the lumbar spine. Ten freshly frozen porcine lumbar spines were divided into two functional spinal units (FSUs), L2-L3 and L4-L5. FSUs were then randomized to either the single trauma (ST) or incremental trauma (IT) protocol. The IT protocol consisted of four sequentially increasing high-speed axial compression traumas, while the ST protocol was a single impact of the same magnitude as the final trauma of the IT. Before and after the final trauma, each FSU underwent flexibility testing under flexion/extension, lateral bending, and axial torsion pure moments. No significant differences were found in neutral zone or range of motion between IT and ST specimens in any of the three axes of motion, either before or after the trauma. In addition, no differences were found between the normalized motions of the IT and ST groups. The FSUs subjected to incremental trauma do not suffer greater injury than those subjected to a single impact. The data support the equivalency of the subfailure soft tissue injuries of the spine caused by the incremental and single trauma protocols respectively. This finding is important, because only with the incremental trauma protocol is one able to obtain injury threshold, study injury progression in the same specimen, produce a defined injury more accurately, and efficiently utilize scarce human cadaveric specimens.
Modeling and maintaining engineering knowledge: issues and solutions

We discuss issues related to managing repositories of engineering knowledge. We focus in particular on the issues of modeling the knowledge and maintaining its logical and structural integrity as it evolves.
Synaptic localization of α5 GABA (A) receptors via gephyrin interaction regulates dendritic outgrowth and spine maturation

GABAA receptor subunit composition is a critical determinant of receptor localization and physiology, with synaptic receptors generating phasic inhibition and extrasynaptic receptors producing tonic inhibition. Extrasynaptically localized α5 GABAA receptors are largely responsible for tonic inhibition in hippocampal neurons. However, we show here that inhibitory synapses also contain a constant level of α5 GABAA receptors throughout neuronal development, as measured by its colocalization with gephyrin, the inhibitory postsynaptic scaffolding protein. Immunoprecipitation of the α5 subunit from both cultured neurons and adult rat brain coimmunoprecipitated gephyrin, confirming this interaction in vivo. Furthermore, the α5 subunit can interact with gephyrin independent of other synaptically localized alpha subunits, as shown by immunoprecipitation experiments in HEK cells. By replacing the α5 predicted gephyrin binding domain (Residues 370–385) with either the high affinity gephyrin binding domain of the α2 subunit or homologous residues from the extrasynaptic α4 subunit that does not interact with gephyrin, α5 GABAA receptor localization shifted into or out of the synapse, respectively. These shifts in the ratio of synaptic/extrasynaptic α5 localization disrupted dendritic outgrowth and spine maturation. In contrast to the predominant view of α5 GABAA receptors being extrasynaptic and modulating tonic inhibition, we identify an intimate association of the α5 subunit with gephyrin, resulting in constant synaptic levels of α5 GABAAR throughout circuit formation that regulates neuronal development. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 1241–1251, 2015
Social Factors in Health Care Systems Planning

Access to physicians' offices, clinics, and hospitals has become more difficult especially for inner city residents who cannot travel by car. The alternative has been to use hospital emergency room...
A recycle flow flotation machine model

Abstract Residence time measurements were made on a Denver laboratory flotation machine with and without the DR ring assembly. Soluble and insoluble tracers were used (a dye and fine quartz, respectively), and the variables studied were tank liquid volume, V , water and air volumetric flow rates, Q and QA respectively, and some geometric and design variables. By analogy with nominal residence time, t N (= V Q ) , a term “effective residence time” t E is defined by: f (t)= exp [− t t E where f(t) is the fraction of tracer remaining in the tank at time t. Perfect mixing is indicated if and only if: (i) data satisfies the exponential relationship; and (ii) t E t N = 1 . Using the soluble tracer the machine behaved substantially as a perfect mixer under all operating conditions, except with the DR ring at values of QA nearly double the natural aeration capacity of the machine; condition (i) above was satisfied, but t E t N ∼ 1.1 . With the insoluble tracer the machine behaved as a perfect mixer only without air. As QA increased, t E t N increased from unity to about 1.2, and the effect was emphasized by the DR ring. In all cases condition (i) above was satisfied. A model in which the flow pattern in the tank includes a large component of pulp recirculation through the impeller region is developed. This model can account for the experimental findings but the details remain to be elucidated.
Long-term follow up of patients proceeding to transplant using plerixafor mobilized stem cells and incidence of secondary myelodysplastic syndrome/AML

We report the long-term follow up of 49 patients (pts) enrolled on plerixafor compassionate use protocol. Thirty-seven pts (76%) had failed one previous mobilization attempt, while 12 (24%) had failed two or more previous attempts. Using the combination of plerixafor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, we collected⩾2.5 × 106 CD34+cells/kg in 33 pts (67%). Forty-three of the 49 pts proceeded to an auto-SCT (ASCT). The median days to WBC and platelet engraftment were 11 (range, 9–13 days) and 16 (range, 11–77 days) days post ASCT, respectively. The median WBC count, Hb and platelet counts 1 year after ASCT were 4.7 × 109/L, 12.2 g/dL and 109 × 109/L, respectively. With median follow up of 42 months (range <1–54 months), 21 pts had evidence of disease progression. Five pts developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/AML at median of 29 months post ASCT. The cumulative incidence of MDS/AML at 42 months was 17% (95% confidence interval, 6 to 32%). Development of secondary MDS/AML in pts proceeding to ASCT after plerixafor mobilization needs to be studied further in a larger cohort.
Resolution of simian virus 40 proteins in whole cell extracts by two-dimensional electrophoresis: heterogeneity of the major capsid protein.

Abstract The major capsid protein (VP1) of simian virus 40 (SV40) has been analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. This system separates protein according to isoelectric point by isoelectric-focusing, and according to molecular weight by sodium dodecylsulphate electrophoresis (O'Farrell 1975). VP1 synthesis in infected CV-1 cells can be monitored directly by analysis of unfractionated whole cell extracts; the resolution of VP1 from cellular proteins allows its detection as early as 13 hr after infection. The two-dimensional separation of VP1 reveals that it is heterogeneous, consisting of one major protein (molecular weight 47,000 daltons and isoelectric point of approximately pH 6.8) and five minor protein components. The minor forms of VP1 are 10% of the total VP1 and differ from the major form of VP1 both in molecular weight (by approximately 500 daltons) and isoelectric point (ranging from approximately pH 6.7 to pH 6.9). Evidence is presented to show that two of the minor forms are phosphorylated derivatives of VP1, and it is further suggested that all the different forms of VP1 are the result of modifications of the primary product of translation. A temperature-sensitive mutant of the BC complementation group (BC11) of SV40 results in the synthesis of VP1 with an altered electrophoretic mobility; both the major form of VP1 and the minor forms are shifted in their isoelectric points. In addition to the specific case of SV40, two aspects of these studies should be generally significant to investigators studying eucaryotic gene expression by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis: first, the genetic origin of a protein can be determined by a temperature-sensitive mutation which causes a charge change in the resultant protein; and second, two or more protein spots on a two-dimensional separation may be the products of a single gene.
Friction and molecular order of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers on Au(111) at elevated temperatures measured by atomic force microscopy

The influence of temperature on the frictional properties and molecular structure of hexadecanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) adsorbed on gold has been measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in a vacuum environment. The frictional response of hexadecane thiol films decreases significantly when the as-deposited SAM film is heated from room temperature to 330 K, with a corresponding increase in surface order. The changes observed during the first heat treatment are irreversible, with the room-temperature frictional response lowered by approximately a factor of 4. However, subsequent heating cycles produce a reversible change in interfacial friction for temperatures up to 350 K, with interfacial friction increasing with increasing temperature. Further heating the SAM film above 370 K produces a significant and irreversible increase in friction. At 400 K, the lattice-resolved structure of the Au(111) surface is observed, indicating the instability and initial stages of desorption of the alkanethiol...
Effects of folate supplementation on the risk of spontaneous and induced neural tube defects in Splotch mice.

Background Neural tube defects (NTDs) are among the most common human congenital malformations. Although clinical investigations have reported that periconceptional folic acid supplementation can reduce the occurrence of these defects, its mechanism remains unknown. Therefore, the murine mutant Splotch, which has a high incidence of spontaneous NTDs, along with the inbred strains SWV and LM/Bc, were used to investigate the relationship between folate and NTDs. Methods To investigate whether folates could reduce spontaneous NTDs, heterozygous Splotch dams (+/Sp) were treated with either folate or folinic acid throughout neurulation, gestational day (GD) 6.5 to 10.5. On GD 18.5 the dams were sacrificed and the fetuses examined for any neural tube defects. Subsequently, Sp/+ dams were treated with arsenic while receiving either a folate or folinic acid supplementation. Similar experiments were performed in the LM/Bc and SWV strains. Results Neither folate nor folinic acid supplements reduced the frequency of spontaneous NTDs in the embryos from Splotch heterozygote crosses. Arsenic increased the frequency of NTDs and embryonic death in the Splotch, LM/Bc and SWV litters and folinic acid failed to ameliorate the teratogenic effect of this metal. A folate supplement given to arsenic-treated dams proved to be maternally lethal in all three strains. Conclusions Splotch embryos were not protected from either spontaneous or arsenic-induced NTDs by folinic or folic acid supplementation. Furthermore, folinic acid supplements did not reduce the incidence of arsenic-induced NTDs in either the LM/Bc or SWV litters. Teratology 65:63–69, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
2. ‐‐ DEVELOPMENT OF DIRECTION SENSE AND THREE SYNDROMES OF IMPAIRMENT∗

∗ The authors are supported in research by Research Grant HD‐00325 and Research Career Development Award HD‐K3‐18,635, The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, United States Public Health Service.
Light-Scattering Accessory for Beckman DK Spectrophotometers

The light-scattering accessory for Beckman DK spectrophotometers consists of a unit which fits over the cell compartment utilizing the sample beam of the spectrophotometer to illuminate the light-scattering cell. A photomultiplier tube can be rotated around the cell, allowing the ratio of scattered light to reference light to be recorded as a function of angle, wavelength, polarization, or time. A high degree of versatility has been designed into the instrument.
Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress

Both dispositional mindfulness and mindfulness-based interventions have been found to be associated with less psychological distress. The current study investigated three mechanisms by which mindfulness might exert its beneficial effects: emotion regulation, nonattachment, and reduced rumination. Correlational self-report data were collected from two independent, nonclinical samples of undergraduates. Structural equation modeling was then used to test the role of these three mechanisms in mediating the relationship between mindfulness and a psychological distress factor, consisting of measures for depressive and anxious symptomatology. The model was respecified based on the first sample and retested in the second sample. Results confirmed an inverse relationship between mindfulness and psychological distress. Furthermore, emotion regulation, nonattachment, and rumination significantly mediated this relationship.
Interface imaging by scanning internal photoemission

A scanning internal photoemission (SIP) technique is used to obtain a high resolution map or image of the potential energy barrier at an insulator interface. The image is produced by displaying the internal photocurrent produced by a monochromatic beam of light scanned across the sample. A special technique was developed for focusing the light to a spot less than one micrometer in diameter. Photoemission images of a Si-SiO2, interface "stained" with a fractional monolayer of sodium are presented along with photoemission and reflectivity images of a Nb2O5,-Bi interface. These SIP images show inhomogeneities related to structural variations, impurities, and defects at the interface that previously were inaccessible to observation.
Coherent Raman spectra of the nu1 mode of carbon suboxide.

High-resolution (0.001 cm - 1 ) coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) has been used to study the v 1 symmetric CO stretching mode of the quasi-linear molecule carbon suboxide, C 3 O 2 . Q-branch transitions are seenthat originate from the ground state and from thermally populated levels of the v 7 CCC bending mode, which is of unusually low frequency. The intensity variation of the Q-branch features on cooling to about 120 K in a jet expansion requires the reversal of the order of assignment given in a previous Raman study at low resolution. The identification of the v 1 Σ g + ← Σ g + transition from the ground state is confirmed by the absence of J o d d Q-branch lines in the resolved CARS spectrum. Analysis of this band in terms of a quasi-linear model gives a good fit to the observed transitions and leads to vibrational-rotational parameters (in cm - 1 ) of v 1 = 2199.9773(12) and (B' - B") = -2.044(6) x 10 - 4 . Other transitions originating from higher v 7 levels occur at only slightly lower wavenumber values and permit the calculation of the double minimum potential in the Q 7 bending coordinate. The results indicate that the ground-state barrier to linearity (21.5 cm - 1 ) increases by only 0.6 cm - 1 when the CO symmetric stretch is excited.
Nonlinear control of a fluidized bed reactor using approximate feedback linearization

Two approaches to approximate feedback linearization are applied to the nonlinear control of a fluidized bed reactor. The first approach, third order approximate input−state linearization, results in improved performance for setpoint tracking over a narrow region around the operating point. On the basis of an analysis of the assumptions of approximate input−state linearization, an approximate input−output linearization scheme is proposed. Implementation of a control scheme for the fluidized bed reactor based upon this approach resulted in excellent setpoint tracking over a 30 °C temperature range in the reactor. The issues of nonlinear model selection and computational issues are discussed. Finally, a novel internal model control based nonlinear anti-windup scheme is implemented to ensure that improved performance is obtained without violating hard actuator constraints.
Simulation of a computer with variable hardware and variable instruction set

Parallel processing systems are used today in many applications such as in vision, robotics, real-time processes etc. It is therefore important to develop simulators to aid automated design of parallel-processing systems. This Paper discusses development of a Meta-simulator for simulating and analyzing such systems. This could form a part of a general multi-processor system CAD package. The statistical results derived using the simulator can be used to generate Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) elements providing reduced hardware complexity and improved overall system performance. Two methods of implementation - namely using, Instruction Set Processing Specification, ISPS and High Level Language, C are reviewed and compared. Evaluation of candidate architectures requires use of high level and assembly languages for writing benchmark programs for the simulator. We therefore discuss the notion of Meta-Assembler and Meta-Compiler also.
Raman Spectrum of Mass-Selected Terbium Dimers in Argon Matrixes

We report on the absorption, resonance Raman, and Raman excitation profile spectra of mass-selected terbium dimers in argon matrixes. An absorption band found between 620 and 680 nm was assigned to...
Effect of substrate on Ca2+-concentration required for activity of the Ca2+-dependent proteinases, μ- and m-calpain

Abstract The Ca2+ concentrations required for half-maximal activity of μ- and m-calpain purified from bovine skeletal muscle were tested using four different protein substrates and three different synthetic peptide substrates. Hammersten casein, the commonly used substrate for measuring μ- and m-calpain activity, required 2.5 μM Ca2+ for half-maximal activity of μ-calpain and 290 μM Ca2+ for half-maximal activity of m-calpain. When Hammersten casein was dialyzed against 8 M urea and 10 mM EDTA to remove all endogenous Ca2+, it required 1.9 and 290 μM Ca2+ for half-maximal activity of μ- and m-calpain, respectively. Rabbit skeletal muscle myofibrils and rabbit skeletal muscle troponin required 65 μM and 24 μM Ca2+ for half-maximal activity of μ-calpain and 380 μM and 580 μM Ca2+ for half-maximal activity of m-calpain, respectively. The three synthetic substrates tested, Suc-Leu-Tyr-MCA, Boc-Leu-Thr-Arg-MCA, and Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-MCA, required 1.6 μM to 3.7 μM Ca2+ for half-maximal activity of μ-calpain and 200 to 560 μM Ca2+ for half-maximal activity of m-calpain.
Demystifying the Role of Chinese Commercial Actors in Shaping China’s Foreign Assistance: The Case of Post-war Sri Lanka

Hedging against its potential exclusion from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other mega trading agreements, China embarked on its 21st Century Maritime Silk Road agenda to generate growth through supply chain integration and infrastructure construction in South Asian economies. However, the characteristics of China’s business-led and elite-oriented overseas development practices created policy gaps in high-risk countries. Based on interviews and fieldwork focused on Chinese State-Owned-Enterprises (SOEs) in Sri Lanka, this paper explores how globalization changed the nature of these SOEs: from policy executor to both policy maker and market actor in host countries and in China. However, these changes in nature and influence of key Chinese economic actors in host countries are actually not reflected by, and are in fact out of step with, the 1994 regulation that lays down the principle of non-interventionism in foreign assistance. Such a mismatch between expansionist business and restrained regulation leads to a new paradigm where businesses, especially SOEs, serve as a bridge between the host country and Beijing to identify areas where business interest and development needs intersect, thereby shaping development financing distribution in a way that facilitates SOEs’ ascension of the global value chain. However, the exclusion of the local private sector from expressing the most pressing needs makes the new paradigm insufficient to integrate the local supply chain. This, in turn, implies the new paradigm is less able to address debt sustainability problems, and geopolitical and ethnic tension in high-risk regions. In order to redress this imbalance, this paper proposes the inclusion of the private sector and civil society into China’s mainly business-led overseas development paradigm.
Energy transduction in Escherichia coli. The effect of chaotropic agents on energy coupling in everted membrane vesicles from aerobic and anaerobic cultures.

Abstract 1. 1. The transduction of energy from the oxidation of substrates by the electron transport chain or from the hydrolysis of ATP by the Mg 2+ -ATPase was measured in everted membrane vesicles of Escherichia coli using the energy-dependent quenching of quinacrine fluorescence and the active transport of calcium. 2. 2. Treatment of everted membranes derived from a wild-type strain with the chaotropic agents guanidine-HCl and urea caused a loss of energy-linked functions and an increase in the permeability of the membrane to protons, as measured by the loss of respiratory-linked proton uptake. 3. 3. The coupling of energy to the quenching of quinacrine fluorescence and calcium transport could be restored by treatment of the membranes with N , N ′-dicyclohyexylcarbodiimide. 4. 4. Chaotrope-treated membranes were found to lack Mg 2+ -ATPase activity. Binding of crude soluble Mg 2+ -ATPase to treated membranes restored energy-linked functions. 5. 5. Membranes prepared from a wild-type strain grown under anaerobic conditions in the presence of nitrate retained respiration-linked quenching of quinacrine fluorescence and active transport of calcium after treatment with chaotropic agents. 6. 6. Everted membrane vesicles prepared from an Mg 2+ -ATPase deficient strain lacked respiratory-driven functions when the cells were grown aerobically but were not distinguishable from membranes of the wild-type when both were grown under anaerobic conditions in the presence of nitrate. 7. 7. It is concluded (a) that chaotropic agents solubilize a portion of the Mg 2+ -ATPase, causing an increase in the permeability of the membrane to protons and (b) that growth under anaerobic conditions in the presence of nitrate prevents the increase in proton permeability caused by genetic or chemical removal of the catalytic portion of the Mg 2+ -ATPase.
African American and European American Mothers’ Limit-Setting with Their 36 Month-Old Children

Current literature suggests that African American (AA) parents may use higher levels of control and more authoritarian decision-making and disciplinary practices, but sometimes with less negative effects relative to European-American (EA) parents. Descriptive observational studies of actual limit-setting and disciplinary behaviors in AA families, however, are lacking. In this study, maternal limit-setting behaviors and patterns were observed, described, and compared in 50 AA and 66 EA mothers (ages 18–53) with their 36 month-old children. Controlling for demographic risk and children’s gender, there were no ethnic differences in the distribution of maternal limit-setting patterns, and an authoritative limit-setting pattern was the most common pattern in both ethnic groups. AA and EA mothers using an authoritative pattern used firm control along with greater use of less-directive and empathic strategies such as reasoning, distractions, and sensitive support of their child’s autonomy. These data provide support for the normative use of age-appropriate authoritative limit-setting in AA and EA mothers with 36 month-old children.
Fluid density profile transitions and symmetry breaking in a closed nanoslit.

The density profiles in a fluid interacting with the two identical solid walls of a closed long slit were calculated for wide ranges of the number of fluid molecules in the slit and temperature by employing density functional theory in the local density approximation. Two potentials, the van der Waals and the Lennard-Jones, were considered for the fluid-fluid and the fluid-walls interactions. It was shown that the density profile corresponding to the stable state of the fluid considerably changes its shape with increasing average density (rhoav) of the fluid inside the slit, the details of changes being dependent on the selected potential. For the van der Waals potential, a single temperature-dependent critical value rhosb of rhoav was identified, such that for rhoav /= rhosb it is described by an asymmetric one. This transition constitutes a spontaneous symmetry breaking of the fluid density distribution in a closed slit with identical walls. For rhoav >/= rhosb, a metastable state, described by a symmetric density profile, was present in addition to the stable asymmetric one. The shape of the symmetric profile changed suddenly at a value rhoc-h > rhosb of the average density, the density rhoc-h being almost independent of temperature. Because of the shapes of the profiles before and after the transformation, this transition was named cup-hill transformation. At the transition point, the density of the fluid near the walls decreased suddenly from a liquid-like value becoming comparable with the density of a gaseous phase, and the density in the middle of the slit increased suddenly from a gaseous-like value becoming on the order of the density of a liquid phase. For the Lennard-Jones potential, there are two temperature-dependent critical densities, rhosb1 and rhosb2, such that the stable density profile is asymmetric (symmetry breaking occurs) for rhosb1 </= rhoav </= rhosb2 and symmetric for rhoav outside of the latter interval. These critical densities occur only for temperatures lower than a certain temperature, Tsb,0. The cup-hill transition is similar to that for the van der Waals potential at low temperatures but becomes smoother with increasing temperature.
Mid-Cretaceous (late Albian) change from rift to retroarc foreland basin in southwestern New Mexico

Cretaceous (Aptian-Turonian) sedimentary rocks in southwestern New Mexico were deposited in two stages that were controlled primarily by tectonism. During the first stage, from Aptian through middle Albian time, a maximum of 1,900 m of siliciclastic and carbonate sediment accumulated in a west-northwest-trending rift basin. Lithic and arkosic sediment was derived initially from intrabasin uplifts and subsequently from a west-northwest-trending, basement-cored rift shoulder that marked the northern boundary of the basin. Decreases in subsidence and siliciclastic sedimentation rate in mid-Albian time were a response to wearing down of the rift shoulder and marked the end of the first stage of sedimentation. Beginning in late Albian time, what is now southwestern New Mexico experienced increases in tectonic subsidence and siliciclastic sedimentation rate. As much as 1,500 m of quartzarenite and shale was deposited in the southwestern part of the study area, and ∼300 m of upper Albian, Cenomanian, and Turanian sediment onlapped the former rift shoulder. Paleocurrent and facies data indicate that sediment dispersal was eastward, southeastward, and northeastward. The second stage of sedimentation took place in a retroarc foreland basin that was complementary to a compressional orogenic belt in what is now southeastern Nevada, southeastern California, western Arizona, and/or Sonora, Mexico.
Charge Carrier Motion in Disordered Conjugated Polymers: A Multiscale Ab Initio Study

We developed an ab-initio multiscale method for simulation of carrier transport in large disordered systems, based on direct calculation of electronic states and electron-phonon coupling constants. It enabled us to obtain the never seen before rich microscopic details of carrier motion in conjugated polymers, which led us to question several assumptions of phenomenological models, widely used in such systems. The macroscopic mobility of disordered poly(3- hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymer, extracted from our simulation, is in agreement with experimental results from the literature.
Online Energy Budgeting for Virtualized Data Centers

Increasingly serious concerns about the IT carbon footprints have been pushing data center operators to cap their (brown) energy consumption. Naturally, achieving energy capping involves deciding the energy usage over a long timescale (without foreseeing the far future) and hence, we call this process "energy budgeting". The specific goal of this paper is to study energy budgeting for virtualized data centers from an algorithmic perspective: we develop a provably-efficient online algorithm, called eBud (energy Budgeting), which determines server CPU speed and resource allocation to virtual machines for minimizing the data center operational cost while satisfying the long-term energy capping constraint in an online fashion. We rigorously prove that eBud achieves a close-to-minimum cost compared to the optimal offline algorithm with future information, while bounding the potential violation of energy budget constraint, in an almost arbitrarily random environment. We also perform a trace-based simulation study to complement the analysis. The simulation results are consistent with our theoretical analysis and show that eBud reduces the cost by more than 60% (compared to state-of-the-art prediction-based algorithm) while resulting in a zero energy budget deficit.
Nonlinearity management: An approach to highenergy fiber lasers

We directly reduce the adverse effects of nonlinearity on short-pulse propagation by the use of nonlinear refraction of controllable sign. Example applications of this nonlinearity management include a novel design for high-energy fiber lasers.
Management Chair Professorships in the United States

Abstract In this article, the authors provide a profile of the 281 management chair professorships in the United States in 1997. They found that the number of management chair professorships increased by 14.7% from 1993 to 1997 and that the most popular teaching and research interest areas were strategic management/business policy, organizational behavior, production/operations management, quantitative methods/management science, human resources and personnel management, and organization theory. The authors also carried out telephone interviews of 16 major schools to collect information on endowment fund requirements, selection criteria for qualified chairholders, performance measures for chair professors, and the preferential treatments provided for enhancing a chairholder's job satisfaction.
SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC STUDIES OF TRANSCURIUM ELEMENT HALIDES AND OXYHALIDES IN THE SOLID STATE

The present state of a microscale spectrophotometric technique is described. The unique advantages of applying both spectrophotometric and X-ray powder diffraction methods on the sample, in order to identify and characterize newly synthesized compounds, are also discussed.
Continuous electrical stimulation decreases retinal excitability but does not alter retinal morphology.

Retinal prostheses aim to provide visual perception through electrical stimulation of the retina. Hence they have to operate between threshold charge density and maximum safe charge density. To date most studies in the retina have concentrated on understanding the threshold, while stimulation safety has predominantly been studied in structures other than the retina. Toward this end, the present study focuses on determining the effect of continuous electrical stimulation of the retina both on retinal morphology and on the electrically evoked responses in the superior colliculus in a rodent model. The results demonstrate that the retina is able to tolerate 1 h long stimulation with only minor changes evident in retinal histology when examined three to 14 days later, even at charge densities (0.68 mC cm−2) above the safe limit of platinum delivered at high stimulus frequency (300 Hz). However, this continuous electrical stimulation causes an elevation in the threshold of the electrically evoked response in the superior colliculus, indicating some form of adaptation to continuous stimulation.
Probing the effects of π–π stacking on the controlled radical polymerization of styrene and fluorinated styrene

The addition of the π–π stacking agent octafluorotoluene (OFT) resulted in up to a 50% reduction in monomer conversion after 24 h for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) reactions of styrene, when performed at 85 °C with 1 eq of OFT compared with styrene in the initial reaction mixture. Monitoring the progress showed that the ATRP of styrene in the presence of either OFT or hexafluorobenzene (HFB) maintained a linear relationship between monomer conversion and number average molecular weights, while showing a first order rate dependence on monomer. The effects of π–π stacking on the KATRP could be overcome by using adjusting the redox activity of the metal-ligand complex while maintaining reaction temperatures of 85 °C. Further experiments showed that nitroxide-mediated polymerizations of St were affected to an identical extent by the presence of the π–π stacking agent HFB. The ATRP of pentafluorostyrene (PFSt) in the presence of π–π stackers benzene or toluene showed an increase in monomer conversion compared with reactions in their absence, consistent with Mn π–π stacking increasing the stability of the active radical. Interactions between the π–π stacking agents OFT and HFB and the aromatic groups in the ATRP of St or PFSt were verified by 1H NMR analysis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Mitochondrial defects in cardiomyopathy and neuromuscular disease

Over the past 11 years, a considerable body of evidence has accumulated implicating defects in the mitochondrial energy-generating pathway, oxidative phosphorylation, in a wide variety of degenerative diseases including myopathy and cardiomyopathy. Most classes of pathogenic mitochondrial DNA mutations affect the heart, in association with a variety of other clinical manifestations that can include skeletal muscle, the central nervous system (including eye), the endocrine system, and the renal system. To better understand the pathophysiologic basis of mitochondrial diseases and their role in myopathy and cardiomyopathy, several mouse models of mitochondrial disease have been prepared. Mitochondrial DNA mutations from cultured cells have been introduced into mice; nuclear DNA genes involved in mitochondrial energy production and reactive oxygen species detoxification have been genetically inactivated, which resulted in mice with hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy, respectively. Physiologic characterization of these mice has confirmed the importance of decreased mitochondrial energy production, increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, and the mitochondrial initiation of apoptosis in mitochondrial disease. With these insights, new therapeutic approaches for neuromuscular and cardiac disease have been suggested.