cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Natural evolution inspired design of light trapping structure in thin film organic solar cells

Light trapping has been developed to effectively enhance the efficiency of the thin film solar cell by extending the pathlength for light interacting with the active materials. Searching for optimal light trapping design requires a delicate balance among all the competing physical processes, including light refraction, reflection, and absorption. The existing design methods mainly depend on engineers’ intuition to predefine the topology of the light-trapping structure. However, these methods are not capable of handling the topological variation in reaching the optimal design. In this work, a systematic approach based on Genetic Algorithm is introduced to design the scattering pattern for effective light trapping. Inspired by natural evolution, this method can gradually improve the performance of light trapping structure through iterative procedures, producing the most favorable structure with minimized reflection and substantial enhancement in light absorption. Both slot waveguide based solar cell and a more realistic organic solar with a scattering layer consisting of nano-scale patterned front layer is optimized to maximize absorption by strongly coupling incident sun light into the localized photonic modes supported by the multilayer system. Rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) is implemented to evaluate the absorbance. The optimized slot waveguide cell achieves a broadband absorption efficiency of 48.1% and more than 3-fold increase over the Yablonovitch limit and the optimized realistic organic cell exhibits nearly 50% average absorbance over the solar spectrum with short circuit current density five times larger than the control case using planar ITO layer.
A natural substance that regulates the cell cycle in complex plant tissues

Abstract A natural substance which regulates the cell cycle of seedling roots of Pisum sativum has been isolated and identified as 1-(3-(4,5-dihydro-2-furanone)-5-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrole-2-carboxyaldehyde. This compound interacts with trigonelline to determine the percentages of cells in G1 and in G2 in pea root meristems. Both purified natural and synthetic compounds are active at concentrations of 5 × 10 −6 M.
A Dyadic Approach to Predicting Well-Being in Later Life

This study compares the effects of a number of variables previously found to be important predictors of well-being such as income, health, and social interaction on one dimension of well-being, hap...
Methamphetamine-induced neural and cognitive changes in rodents.

Aims Although psychostimulant drug abuse carries with it several potential health risks, the chronic abuse of amphetamines carries the danger of permanent brain injury. The purpose of these experiments is to develop animal models to understand the long-lasting influences of methamphetamine exposure on cerebral cortex and cognitive function. Methods The approach taken is to administer a regimen of methamphetamine known to be neurotoxic to dopamine and serotonin nerve terminals in the rat, and to investigate the influences of that dosing regimen on (i) cortical neuron integrity and function using anatomical stains and (ii) novel object recognition memory. Results In rodents, repeated administration of methamphetamine during a single day produces long-lasting damage to striatal dopamine and forebrain serotonin terminals as well as degeneration of somatosensory cortical neurons. The degeneration of somatosensory cortical neurons may represent only the most visible form of long-term deleterious effects on cerebral cortex, as exposure of rats to methamphetamine can reduce the immediate early gene responses of neurons in widespread cortical areas, even long after exposure to the drug. Together with the death and long-lasting functional impairments of cortical neurons, rats exposed to methamphetamine have impaired cognitive function. When tested for object recognition memory, methamphetamine-treated rats show deficiencies lasting for at least 3 weeks after drug exposure. Conclusions Using a rodent model, these findings provide an avenue to study the cortical influences of methamphetamine and their cognitive sequelae.
On the Role of the Conserved Aspartate in the Hydrolysis of the Phosphocysteine Intermediate of the Low Molecular Weight Tyrosine Phosphatase

The usual rate-determining step in the catalytic mechanism of the low molecular weight tyrosine phosphatases involves the hydrolysis of a phosphocysteine intermediate. To explain this hydrolysis, g...
Does differential predation permit invasive and native mosquito larvae to coexist in Florida

1. The hypothesis that selective predation on larvae of the invasive Aedes albopictus (Skuse) could account for its stable coexistence with the native mosquito species and inferior competitor Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Say) in Florida treeholes and container systems was tested experimentally.2. Functional responses of the two dipteran predators Toxorhynchites rutilus (Coquillett) and Corethrella appendiculata (Grabham) were evaluated separately for A. albopictus and O. triseriatus prey. Both predators exhibited type II functional responses and consistently consumed more of the invasive species. Handling time of T. rutilus feeding upon O. triseriatus was significantly longer than when preying upon the invasive species.3. When either predator species was offered varying ratios of the two prey species, A. albopictus was consumed preferentially. The absence of a prey ratio effect on preference indicated that switching probably does not occur.4. The higher maximum feeding rate upon, and preference for, A. albopictus suggests that differential predation may foster coexistence of the invasive and native mosquito prey species in Florida.
Development Of Miscible Blends From Intrapolymer Repulsive Interactions: Polycarbonate/Polystyrene Ionomers

The phase behavior of blends of zinc sulfonated polystyrene (ZnSPS) and bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) was studied as a function of the sulfonation level and the molecular weight of the ZnSPS ionomer. The system exhibits upper critical solution temperature (UCST) behavior. The cloud point temperatures increased with increasing ZnSPS molecular weight and decreased with increasing sulfonation level. No strong interactions between ZnSPS and PC were detected by FTIR. The composition dependence of the glass transition temperatures of the miscible blends exhibited negative deviation from linear additi vity, which is consistent with no or weak interactions between ZnSPS and PC. Miscibility is believed to arise from strong repulsive interactions between the charged and uncharged species on the ionomer chain.
Neurodevelopmental outcome of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia prospectively enrolled in an interdisciplinary follow-up program.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study was to evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcome in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Methods Between June 2004 and September 2007, 41 CDH survivors were prospectively enrolled in an interdisciplinary follow-up program. Neurodevelopmental status was evaluated using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (prior 2006, n=9), the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (after 2006, n=27), or the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence III (children older than 4 years, n=5). Scores were grouped as average, mildly delayed, and severely delayed by standard deviation intervals (115-85, 71-84, Results Median age at last assessment was 24 months (range, 6-62). Average, mixed, mildly delayed, and severely delayed scores for neurocognitive and language skills were found in 49%, 19%, 17%, and 15%, respectively. Psychomotor scores were normal, mildly delayed, and severely delayed in 46%, 23%, and 31%, respectively. Autism was present in 7%. Abnormal muscle tonicity was found in 51% (49% hypotonic, 2% hypertonic). Multivariate risk factors for borderline or delayed neurodevelopmental, neurocognitive, and/or psychomotor outcome were intrathoracic liver position ( P = .02), presence of a right-sided CDH ( P = .02), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation need ( P P = .02), O 2 requirement at 30 days of life ( P P Conclusions The prospective evaluation in an interdisciplinary follow-up program uncovered striking morbidities in neurodevelopmental status in approximately half of the CDH infants. The most common neurologic sequelae are neuromuscular hypotonicity and psychomotor dysfunction. Patient-specific factors are important determinants of adverse neurologic outcome.
Asymmetric information contests

Abstract We consider how asymmetries in information affect contest behavior. We find two effects drive behavior-risk and perceptions of an opponent's value. Our results also suggest that the more tractable one-sided asymmetric information contest might be sufficient to capture contest behavior under uncertainty. However, the efficiency of a contest is sensitive to asymmetric information and the distribution a players' values because players with relatively low values can have an increased probability of success. Thus, it is important (a) to account for information asymmetries to avoid biasing predicted efficiency, and (b) to recognize that this bias is unsystematic.
A transaction-based approach to policy intervention

A transaction-based approach to policy intervention is presented. The approach overcomes a number of weaknesses in current approaches to policy intervention. The approach involves three main conceptual elements: transactions, transaction governance mechanisms, and governance principles. The transaction is taken to be the basic unit of analysis. Profiles of transactions vary along a number of transaction dimensions. Transaction governance mechanisms - such as, for example, government service, regulation, contracts, vouchers, markets, taxes, and self-service - are each suitable for governing transactions having particular profiles. A mechanism will fail when used to govern transactions not fitting the profile. Governance principles are criteria or expectations - for example, efficiency, justice and liberty - used to judge how well a mechanism fulfills or achieves important societal goals. Specific choices of governance mechanisms (from the set that are technically feasible) therefore should be made according to how well they satisfy these governance principles. Public high school education is used as an example to illustrate the approach. A number of conclusions are offered.
Entrepreneurial land developers: Joint production, local externalities, and mixed housing developments

Abstract Housing developments (condos and suburban developments) are not necessarily homogeneous. Developers provide different types of units of various sizes and other characteristics catering to different types of customers. In this paper, we allow joint production and local consumption externalities within each development, and show that land developers who seek a profit-maximizing set of units in developments may provide mixed developments. We show that there exists an equilibrium, and that every equilibrium is Pareto efficient. We provide examples in which mixed developments arise in a long-run equilibrium. We relate this work to a widely used hedonic pricing model by Rosen (1974) , and to an equilibrium concept under asymmetric information by Rothschild and Stiglitz (1976) .
Massive Transfusion in Traumatic Shock

Abstract Background Hemorrhage after trauma is a common cause of death in the United States and globally. The primary goals when managing traumatic shock are the restoration of oxygen delivery to end organs, maintenance of circulatory volume, and prevention of ongoing bleeding through source control and correction of coagulopathy. Achieving these goals may require massive transfusion of blood products. Although use of blood products may be lifesaving, dose-related adverse effects are well described. Discussion Complications of massive transfusion include interdependent derangements such as coagulopathy, hypothermia, acidosis, and electrolyte abnormalities, as well as infectious and immunomodulatory phenomena. This article explores the pathogenesis, implications, prevention, and treatment of these complications through the use of massive transfusion protocols. Particular attention is given to the optimal ratio of blood products transfused in large volume resuscitation and prevention of secondary coagulopathy. Conclusions Observational data indicate that the development and use of a massive transfusion protocol may reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with large-volume resuscitation of patients with hemorrhagic shock. Such protocols should include a pre-defined ratio of packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets transfused; most commonly, the ratio used is 1:1:1. Additionally, such protocols should monitor for and correct hypothermia, hypofibrinogenemia, and electrolyte disturbances such as hypocalcemia and hyperkalemia.
Searching the web using composed pages

Given a user keyword query, current Web search engines return a list of pages ranked by their “goodness” with respect to the query. However, this technique misses results whose contents are distributed across multiple physical pages and are connected via hyperlinks and frames [3]. That is, it is often the case that no single page contains all query keywords. Li et al. [3] make a first step towards this problem by returning a tree of hyperlinked pages that collectively contain all query keywords. The limitation of this approach is that it operates at the page-level granularity, which ignores the specific context where the keywords are found within the pages. More importantly, it is cumbersome for the user to locate the most desirable tree of pages due to the amount of data in each page tree and a large number of page trees.
Popular Unrest and the 1911 Revolution in Jiangsu

What is the nature of the Chinese revolution of 1911? Who took part in it and why? How do historians interpret it? These questions still beg further consideration. What seems indisputable at this stage of research, however, is that the small groups of revolutionaries and their loosely organized alliance, the Tongmenghui, did not play a solo in the concert of the 1911 Revolution. Recent scholarship on the subject, which tends to study the revolution on the provincial level, confirms that a variety of social classes participated in the revolution-a picture far more complicated than we once believed. When all provincial pictures emerge, they may well challenge and modify some of the generalizations and hypotheses derived from the general studies of the revolution. My study proposes to take a closer look at the situation in Jiangsu province. However, this short paper can only focus on one specific aspect: the significance of the province's unrest for the Revolution of 1911. The success of the revolution-that is, the downfall of the Qing dynasty-owed much to the defection of the province's urban and rural elite, particularly the gentry and the merchants (shen shang). Thanks to their endorsement and support,
Uncertainty quantification for the reliability of the analytical analysis for the simplified model of CO2 geological sequestration

A hydro-mechanical model with analytical solutions including pressure evolution and geomechanical deformation for geological CO2 injection and sequestration were introduced in our previous work. However, the reliability and accuracy of the hydro-mechanical model and the companion analytical solution are uncertain because of the assumptions and simplifications in the analytical model, though it was validated by a few example cases. This study introduce the method to efficiently measure the accuracy of the analytical model, and specify the acceptable input parameters range that can guarantee the accuracy and reliability of the analytical solution. A coupled hydro-geomechanical subsurface transport simulator STOMP was adopted as a reference to justify the reliability of the hydro-mechanical model and the analytical solution. A quasi-Monte Carlo sampling method was applied to efficiently sample the input parameter space.
Fabrication of a versatile substrate for finding samples on the nanometer scale.

Summary With increasing interest in nanometer scale studies, a common research issue is the need to use different analytical systems with a universal substrate to relocate objects on the nanometer scale. Our paper addresses this need. Using the delicate milling capability of a focused ion beam (FIB) system, a region of interest (ROI) on a sample is labelled via a milled reference grid. FIB technology allows for milling and deposition of material at the sub 20-nm level, in a similar user environment as a standard scanning electron microscope (SEM). Presently commercially available transmission electron microscope (TEM) grids have spacings on the order 100 μm on average; this technique can extend this dimension down to the submicrometre level. With a grid on the order of a few micrometres optical, FIBs, TEMs, scanning electron microscopes (SEMs), and atomic force microscopes (AFM) are able to image the ROI, without special chemical processes or conductive coatings required. To demonstrate, Au nanoparticles of ∼ 25 nm in size were placed on a commercial Formvar®- and carbon-coated TEM grid and later milled with a grid pattern. Demonstration of this technique is also extended to bulk glass substrates for the purpose of sample location. This process is explained and demonstrated using all of the aforementioned analytical techniques.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment enhances tumor cell antigenicity

Several groups, including our own, have reported that PDT enhances the host anti-tumor immune response and it is known that the enhanced immune response plays a role in the overall tumor response to PDT. The mechanism behind this enhancement is unknown, however it has been shown that the initiation of an inflammatory response and the infiltration of neutrophils into the tumor bed is critical to the tumor response. We have shown that PDT induces the expression of chemokines that play a critical role in neutrophil infiltration. Recent studies in our laboratory have shown that in addition to affecting the inflammatory and chemokine/cytokine response, PDT also alters the immunogenicity of the tumor, either through changes in antigen structure or enhancement of presentation of tumor associated antigens by host antigen presenting cells to tumor specific T cells. These recent studies and the underlying mechanisms will be discussed.
A novel approach to accelerate attainment of thermal steady state in coupled thermomechanical analysis of machining

Abstract A novel approach for obtaining the steady state temperature distribution of cutting tools involves reducing the specific heat capacity of the cutting tool by a scale factor and carrying out a short duration single step thermomechanical analysis. Reduction of the specific heat causes the thermal time constant of the tool to be reduced by the same scale factor, making it closer to the mechanical time constant required for stabilization of the chip geometry, and enables rapid attainment of mechanical and thermal steady state conditions. As expected, FEA results show that the steady state temperature distribution achieved by the reduced specific heat approach is exact. Results obtained from a single step simulation of the first 1200 μs of cutting, using this approach, are found to be more accurate than those obtained using the time consuming multistep analysis approach used to date. Rapid attainment of an accurate steady state temperature distribution permits tool wear rate to be calculated accurately using tool wear models. This enables tracking of changes in tool geometry due to wear over time, and resulting changes in the machining process and quality of parts produced. It is also shown that this approach is essential for accurate simulation of processes such as saw-tooth chip formation, where the ‘steady state’ involves local periodic thermomechanical changes, and leads to accurate thermomechanical results so long as the specific heat of the local region experiencing significant thermal oscillations is not scaled. An estimate for the size of this boundary layer, related to the wavelength of the thermal waves, is also given. The reduced specific heat approach can be used in many other applications involving a range of phenomena coupled with temperature, where the thermal changes are the most sluggish and take the most time to reach steady state.
Limits of nationalist mobilization: Bromberg/Bydgoszcz in the Kaiserreich, 1900–1918

Discussions about ethnic mobilization in eastern Europe have emphasized efforts of nationalist leaders to demarcate their community from their neighbors in mixed areas where ethnic boundaries and identities were blurred. Demarcation became a common means of defining the community both geographically and culturally, a process which later facilitated the community's mobilization. In the German Empire, however, the Polish–German demarcation was already stark, since it mostly coincided with Catholic–Protestant demarcations. But while the Polish community mobilized quickly and showed great solidarity, the German community did not. Using the Bromberg/Bydgoszcz administrative district as a model, the article argues that the local German community's internal divisions limited its ability to mobilize. Germans agreed on the need for greater German community solidarity, but differed on conceptualizations of its ideal structure and form. Liberal nationalists, envisioning a more egalitarian community defined by a comm...
Hierarchical Linear Modeling Analysis of Change in Maternal Knowledge Over the Transition to Adolescence

Change in maternal knowledge over the transition to adolescence was assessed using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). In addition, maternal warmth, behavior control, and adolescent delinquency were considered as predictors of knowledge as well as time-varying covariates. Five years of self-report data were collected from 159 mothers and their early adolescents, beginning when the adolescents were in fourth grade. The results indicated that there was a significant mean decrease in maternal knowledge over time for both mother and adolescent reports. In addition, the data followed a quadratic trend, which was necessary to account for the slight increase in knowledge from T1 to T2. Maternal warmth, but not maternal behavior control, was a consistent predictor of the knowledge trajectory. Adolescent delinquency also predicted change in knowledge over time. Adolescent gender, mother’s T1 marital status, and change in mother’s marital status were not significant predictors. The study makes several important con...
Evaluation of a vessel-sealing device for use in laparoscopic ovariectomy in mares.

Objective— To evaluate a vessel-sealing instrument (LigaSure™) as a method for hemostasis of the ovarian vasculature. Study design— Prospective study. Animals or sample population— Thirteen mares (8 experimental, 5 patients), aged 2 to 20 years and weighing 405 to 500 kg. Methods— Thirteen mares had standing bilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy using a vessel-sealing device (LigaSure) to provide hemostasis. Eight reproductively normal experimental mares were divided into 2 groups: 1 group was re-examined laparoscopically 72 hours and the other group 10 days after the initial standing laparoscopic ovariectomy. The vessel-sealing device uses high current and low voltage, along with pressure, to reorganize the collagen into a translucent seal to achieve hemostasis of the ovarian vasculature. Results— No major operative or postoperative complications were encountered. Complete hemostasis of the ovarian pedicle was accomplished. One mare had a fever for 24 hours' postoperatively; this responded to a single dose of flunixin meglumine. Conclusions— The LigaSure appears to be a safe method for hemostasis of the ovarian vasculature. Clinical relevance— Benefits of the LigaSure include no foreign material remaining in the abdomen and minimal to no need for surgical dissection before application. The LigaSure eliminates complications with potential ligature slippage and bleeding during dissection.
Shock-tube measurements of soot oxidation rates☆

Abstract Surface oxidation rates of two types of carbon black, which are representative of soot formed during the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, have been measured in a shock tube over the range of temperature 1700–4000°K and of pressure 0.05–13 atm of oxygen. The results illustrate that the specific surface reaction rate is nearly the same as that which has previously been measured for the oxidation of pyrolytic graphite samples, and can be approximately correlated by a semiempirical formula for pyrolytic graphite oxidation proposed by Nagle and Strickland-Constable.
Comparison of two self-consistent Al(111) film calculations

We report that the surface resonance found near $(\frac{3}{4})\overline{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}\overline{M}$ in the two-dimensional Brillouin zone in an Al(111) band calculation by Wang et al. is also present in the calculation of Mednick and Kleinman. We also discuss differences between the two calculations in the planar average of valence charge density and the work function.
Analysis of peptides and proteins in their binding to GroEL

The GroEL-GroES is an essential molecular chaperon system that assists protein folding in cell. Binding of various substrate proteins to GroEL is one of the key aspects in GroEL-assisted protein folding. Small peptides may mimic segments of the substrate proteins in contact with GroEL and allow detailed structural analysis of the interactions. A model peptide SBP has been shown to bind to a region in GroEL that is important for binding of substrate proteins. Here, we investigated whether the observed GroEL-SBP interaction represented those of GroEL-substrate proteins, and whether SBP was able to mimic various aspects of substrate proteins in GroE-assisted protein folding cycle. We found that SBP competed with substrate proteins, including α-lactalbumin, rhodanese, and malate dehydrogenase, in binding to GroEL. SBP stimulated GroEL ATP hydrolysis rate in a manner similar to that of α-lactalbumin. SBP did not prevent GroES from binding to GroEL, and GroES association reduced the ATPase rates of GroEL/SBP and GroEL/α-lactalbumin to a comparable extent. Binding of both SBP and α-lactalbumin to apo GroEL was dominated by hydrophobic interaction. Interestingly, association of α-lactalbumin to GroEL/GroES was thermodynamically distinct from that to GroEL with reduced affinity and decreased contribution from hydrophobic interaction. However, SBP did not display such differential binding behaviors to apo GroEL and GroEL/GroES, likely due to the lack of a contiguous polypeptide chain that links all of the bound peptide fragments. Nevertheless, studies using peptides provide valuable information on the nature of GroEL-substrate protein interaction, which is central to understand the mechanism of GroEL-assisted protein folding.
Short-term response of Dicamptodon tenebrosus larvae to timber management in southwestern Oregon

In the Pacific Northwest, previous studies have found a negative effect of timber management on the abundance of stream amphibians, but results have been variable and region specific. These studies have generally used survey methods that did not account for differences in capture probability and focused on stands that were harvested under older management practices. We examined the influences of contemporary forest practices on larval Dicamptodon tenebrosus as part of the Hinkle Creek paired watershed study. We used a mark–recapture analysis to estimate D. tenebrosus density at 100 1-m sites spread throughout the basin and used extended linear models that accounted for correlation resulting from the repeated surveys at sites across years. Density was associated with substrate, but we found no evidence of an effect of harvest. While holding other factors constant, the model-averaged estimates indicated; 1) each 10% increase in small cobble or larger substrate increased median density of D. tenebrosus 1.05 times, 2) each 100-ha increase in the upstream area drained decreased median density of D. tenebrosus 0.96 times, and 3) increasing the fish density in the 40 m around a site by 0.01 increased median salamander density 1.01 times. Although this study took place in a single basin, it suggests that timber management in similar third-order basins of the southwestern Oregon Cascade foothills is unlikely to have short-term effects of D. tenebrosus larvae. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Effects of cold-restraint stress on rat gastric and hepatic glutathione: A potential determinant of response to chemical carcinogens

Abstract Stressor-induced decreases in glutathione (GSH) concentrations were demonstrated in the liver and the gastric mucosa. Either food deprivation and/or the time of day the stressor was administered could affect the extent of stressor-induced decreases in GSH. The system described may be useful for further exploration of potential stressor-induced alterations in susceptibility to chemical carcinogens and/or other toxins whose expression of biological activity may be dependent upon GSH.
Aberrant fusomes in the ovarian cystocytes of the FS (1) 231 mutant of Drosophila melanogaster meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Abstract The three-dimensional arrangements of tumor cells were analyzed in reconstructions made from electron micrographs of serially sectioned ovaries of Drosophila melanogaster homozygous for the female sterile (1) 231 mutation. Special attention was paid to the pattern of fusomes extending through ring canals between interconnected tumor cells. Cystocytes within mutant ovaries undergo 3-4 supernumerary cell divisions; the probability of complete cytokinesis being 0.53. The occurrence of long, unbranched chains of interconnected cells suggests that the spindles are sometimes oriented abnormally at mitosis, parallel to the long axis of the cluster. The rims of canals between cystocytes do not appear to undergo the normal morphological changes during development. Tumor cells with 4 or 5 canals were observed, but these did not differentiate into oocytes. Fusomes were found in all sectioned canals, but fusomes often were not joined within cells having 2 or more canals. A loss of mitotic synchrony was observed within certain clusters. The evidence suggests that aberrant fusome formation is the underlying cause of the atypical patterns of cytokinesis characterizing the fs231 mutation.
Using Artificial Neural Networks to Implement Real-Time Optimized Multi-objective Power Plant Control in a Multi-Agent System

Abstract There are many benefits to using a multi-agent system for power plant control, such as the ability to perform multiple computationally intensive tasks in parallel such that effective optimized real-time control can be achieved. These parallel tasks include neural network training, parameter optimization, and system monitoring. The multi-agent system approach also allows for intelligent control that is robust and flexible in that it can autonomously make decisions and adjust to partial control system failure to maintain control with minimal performance degradation, to name a few of the potential benefits. It is the goal of this paper to detail the implementation of neural networks as models of the power plant system to allow effective online performance evaluation of the power plant in the optimization processes, where the optimization processes provides optimized control setpoints and feedback gain values. Though equations are available for the power plant model used here, the larger, more complex power plant systems for which this MAS control system is ultimately being designed will either not have equations available or the model is too computationally complex for use in real-time operation, making it necessary to have a simpler model such as an artificial neural network.
Assessing Young Children's Social Concept Development.

A number of questions regarding the nature of social concept development in young children were investigated in this study. In an earlier study, a social concept picture-sorting task was developed to obtain normative data on young children's social concept development. For this replication study, a larger more heterogeneous sample was used consisting of 64 kindergarten and 65 first grade public school students from lower to upper middle-class socioeconomic levels. Profile analysis was used to compare grades, sex, and racial groups. All three variables had a significant impact on performance. Significant differences in difficulty were found among the nine concepts measured. Three of the most difficult concepts (family-not family, those who protect us, and past-present) are commonly included in early childhood curriculum. These results suggest that the level of concept development needs to be considered in planning social studies curriculum and instruction for young children.
Cue-dependent effects in recall of categorized lists.

Noncued and cued recall of categorized lists are similar in a number of ways: They show the same rate of gain in item recall with increasing category size; they both produce serial position effects within categories; and they both show a “some-or-none” pattern of with-category recall frequency. Cued and noncued recall differ in other respects: There is a great improvement in item and in category recall attendant on the provision of cues, and only noncued recall displays a list position effect. The points of similarity are taken to indicate that both cued and noncued recall measure the same underlying processes. The points of differences suggest the utility of cueing procedures in identifying the origin of characteristics of recall, according to the principle that any feature of noncued recall that is altered by provision of cues must originate in the retrieval process; features resistant to such modification represent encoding or storage effects.
Moment preserving schemes for Euler equations

A high order accurate finite difference scheme is proposed for one-dimensional Euler equations. In the scheme a set of first three moments of each signal are preserved during the updating. The scheme is one of 5th order in space and 4th order in time. This feature is different from that in typical existing methods in which the use of the first three polynomials results in only 3rd order accuracy in space. The scheme has different features from the existing high order schemes, and the most noticeable are the simultaneous discretization both in space and time, and the use of moments of Riemann invariants instead of primitive physical variables. Numerical examples are given to show the accuracy of the scheme and its robustness for the flows involving shocks.
Inhibition of the photochemical activity of isolated chloroplasts. I. Salts

Abstract The data and conclusions as listed below are valid only under the experimental conditions used as described in the section on Materials and Methods . 1. 1. Univalent inorganic anions inhibit the Hill reaction of isolated chloroplast fragments in the order: SCN − > I − > F − > NO 3 − > ClO 3 − > Br − > Cl − . 2. 2. Univalent inorganic cations at high concentrations inhibit in the order: NH 4 + > Cs + > Rb + > K + = Na + = Li + 3. 3. Univalent fatty acid ions inhibit in the order: formate > acetate > propionate > n -butyrate n -valerate. 4. 4. A mass-law mechanism is shown to provide a promising initial interpretation for the inhibition by univalent ions. 5. 5. Multivalent anions are less effective than univalent anions, while bivalent cations are more effective than univalent cations as chloroplast inhibitors.
THE IMPACT OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND GENERATION PRACTICES IN SHAPING GENERAL EDUCATION AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Much of the blame for the perceived failure of general education (GE) has been placed on the use of the single discipline distribution method, the GE curriculum structure used at most community colleges. Colleges have been accused of using this method as a way to generate large amounts of revenue rather than achieving student learning goals. To explore this problem, a study was conducted at a multicampus community college district in northern California to determine if GE is structured and implemented for the primary purpose of generating large amounts of revenue, and if a disproportionately higher rate of return (difference between cost and income) is generated from GE compared with non‐GE curriculum. Data were collected through interviews, observations, surveys, and college fiscal and administrative documents from 1988 through 1990. Only a small difference between the cost/income ratio for GE (.55/1.0) and non‐GE (.58/1.0) curriculum was found. Less than 1% of the GE courses had high enrollments (more t...
Mouse Dfa is a repressor of TATA-box promoters and interacts with the Abt1 activator of basal transcription.

Our study of the mouse Ate1 arginyltransferase, a component of the N-end rule pathway, has shown that Ate1 pre-mRNA is produced from a bidirectional promoter that also expresses, in the opposite direction, a previously uncharacterized gene (Hu, R. G., Brower, C. S., Wang, H., Davydov, I. V., Sheng, J., Zhou, J., Kwon, Y. T., and Varshavsky, A. (2006) J. Biol. Chem. 281, 32559–32573). In this work, we began analyzing this gene, termed Dfa (divergent from Ate1). Mouse Dfa was found to be transcribed from both the bidirectional P_(Ate1/Dfa) promoter and other nearby promoters. The resulting transcripts are alternatively spliced, yielding a complex set of Dfa mRNAs that are present largely, although not exclusively, in the testis. A specific Dfa mRNA encodes, via its 3′-terminal exon, a 217-residue protein termed Dfa^A. Other Dfa mRNAs also contain this exon. DfaA is sequelogous (similar in sequence) to a region of the human/mouse HTEX4 protein, whose physiological function is unknown. We produced an affinity-purified antibody to recombinant mouse DfaA that detected a 35-kDa protein in the mouse testis and in several cell lines. Experiments in which RNA interference was used to down-regulate Dfa indicated that the 35-kDa protein was indeed Dfa^A. Furthermore, Dfa^A was present in the interchromatin granule clusters and was also found to bind to the Ggnbp1 gametogenetin-binding protein-1 and to the Abt1 activator of basal transcription that interacts with the TATA-binding protein. Given these results, RNA interference was used to probe the influence of Dfa levels in luciferase reporter assays. We found that Dfa^A acts as a repressor of TATA-box transcriptional promoters.
Deformation fracture criterion for bodies with V-notches under the conditions of longitudinal shear

The force fracture criterion is especially extensively used for the analysis of the limiting equilibrium of bodies with V-notches. In this case, the critical stress intensity factor depends on the opening angle of the notch. We propose a deformation fracture criterion containing only standard characteristics of the material, i.e., the yield strength and crack resistance. The criterion is developed on the basis of the closed solution of the elastoplastic problem for an infinite wedge under the conditions of longitudinal shear.
Pion-Skyrmion scattering: Collective coordinates at work

It is argued that the Skryme model, and more generally, the picture of the nucleon as a chiral soliton, can give a qualitatively correct picture of pion-nucleon scattering, considering both group-theoretic and more scheme-dependent results. The properties of the nucleon and its excited states in large-N quantum chromodynamics are discussed qualitatively. Then the pion-nucleon S-matrix is reduced. It is found that the model succeeds at the first level of calculation in producing many of the features of pion-nucleon scattering which are revealed by experiment, but that many aspects of the description need to be better understood, including the treatment of nonleading corrections near threshold and the inclusion of inelastic channels. 22 refs., 8 figs. (LEW)
CKD classification based on estimated GFR over three years and subsequent cardiac and mortality outcomes: a cohort study

Background It is unknown whether defining chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on one versus two estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) assessments changes the prognostic importance of reduced eGFR in a community-based population.
On the relationship between iron concentration and induced polarization in marsh soils

Induced polarization (IP) measurements (0.1–1000 Hz) were conducted on seventeen clay and peat marsh soils that were subsequently analyzed for heavy metal concentrations, moisture content, organic matter, porosity, specific surface area, and pore fluid conductivity. A Cole-Cole model was fit to each sample and model parameters analyzed in terms of physicochemical properties. We found a linear relation between the normalized chargeability ( mn ) and estimated surface area to pore volume ( Sp ) when iron content (ranging from 0.25% to 1.63% by volume) is accounted for as a polarizable element of the soil. In fact, the dependence of mn on volumetric Fe concentration per unit volume of the bulk soil is described by a linear relationship with a correlation coefficient ( R2 ) of 0.94. As Fe concentration is a critical biogeochemical parameter, our findings suggest that IP measurements may provide a hitherto unrecognized approach to probing soil geochemistry, iron cycling and anaerobic microbial activity. Furthe...
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Activated Gene-1 Over Expression in Transgenic Mice Suppresses Intestinal Neoplasia

Background & Aims: The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene (NAG-1) was identified as a proapoptotic, antitumorigenic protein in vitro, induced by many antitumorigenic and chemopreventive drugs including cyclooxygenase inhibitors. However, its antitumorigenic activity has not been elucidated in vivo. Methods: Transgenic mice were generated that ubiquitously overexpress human NAG-1 under the control of a chicken β-actin promoter (CAG). The NAG-1 transgenic mice ( NAG- Tg+ ) were characterized, and then the antitumorigenic activity was evaluated with 2 colorectal carcinogenesis models: chemical induction with azoxymethane and genetic induction using the Apc Min+ mutation. Results: NAG- Tg+ showed no apparent phenotype other than a reduction in body weight, particularly in males. To examine whether NAG-1 expression would suppress intestinal tumorigenesis, the NAG- Tg+ mice were treated with the colorectal carcinogen azoxymethane. NAG- Tg+ mice developed 50% fewer aberrant crypt foci and no tumors, in comparison with nontransgenic littermates. This result demonstrates that expression of this human protein in vivo can suppress chemically induced carcinogenesis in the colon. The NAG- Tg+ mice were also crossed with Apc Min+ mice to determine the effect of the transgene on intestinal polyp formation. NAG- Tg+ mice heterozygous for the Apc Min+ mutation had a significantly reduced polyp load (60%) compared with nontransgenic Apc Min+ littermates. Conclusions: Our results support NAG-1 as an important regulator of intestinal adenoma growth in vivo and suggest that NAG-1 may act as a tumor suppressor gene.
On the power of affected relative pair designs for linkage studies.

Summary Using the recurrence risk ratio (λ), Risch (1990b) indicated that affected pairs of distant relatives are preferable to affected sib-pairs for linkage analysis when λ is large and the mode of inheritance is additive. By using the optimum test for affected sib-pairs instead of the test used by Risch (1990b), the range of values of λ for which the affected sib-pair design has larger or smaller power than other pairs is clarified. Risch’s conclusion remains true when λO > 2.5, however, sib-pairs have larger power for lower values. As affected sib-pairs occur smore frequently than other relative pairs, when ascertainment costs are non-negligible, they may be the most cost-effective relative pairs to use. In his seminal article Risch (1990b) demonstrated that affected pairs of distant relatives provide more power in studies of linkage than affected sib-pairs. This report points out that the test used to analyze affected sib pairs was not the optimal one (Knapp, 1994). For affected sib-pair data we show that the means test (Blackwelder & Elston, 1985), the locally optimum one for the additive model considered by Risch, is nearly equivalent to the likelihood ratio test derived from the NeymanPearson (NP) theory and has noticeably improved power over the test studied by Risch. For all types of relative pairs, Risch used a test based on n 0 (the number of these pairs having no allele IBD). Except for affected sibs, this procedure is the optimum test because they can only share 0 or 1 allele IBD. In order to compare the power of various statistical designs, one should use the optimum test for each design under consideration. While Risch’s conclusion that for the additive mode of inheritance and large genetic effects, e.g. λS = λO ≥ 3, distant relative pairs can provide more power is correct, our results show that for small to modest effects
Regulation and function of proinflammatory TH17 cells.

Naive CD4(+) helper T (TH) cells, upon activation by antigen-presenting cells (APC), differentiate into different types of effector cells that are characterized by their distinct cytokine production profiles and immune regulatory functions. In addition to TH1 and TH2 cells, a third subset of effector TH cells has recently been described and termed TH17. Since their identification, TH17 cells have emerged as crucial players in infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In this review, we summarize the latest discoveries on the cytokine-mediated regulation and transcriptional programming of TH17 cells and their roles in different immune responses and diseases.
Do child care regulations affect the child care and labor markets

The effect of child care regulations on outcomes in the child care market and the labor market for mothers of young children is examined. The analysis uses a time series of cross sections and examines the robustness of previous cross-section findings to controls for state-level heterogeneity. Child care regulations as a group have statistically significant effects on most outcomes, with or without state fixed effects. However, regulations do not vary enough within state over time to allow precise identification of most individual regulation effects. The great majority of estimated regulation effects in all specifications are small and insignificantly different from 0. Some of the estimated effects seem reasonable in sign and magnitude, but others are clearly implausible. © 2003 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
To Fashion Identity

Book reviewed in this article: The Hostage, Zayd Mutee' Dammaj, Translated by May Jayyusi and Christopher Tingley Ramza, Out el Kouloub, Translated with an Introduction by Nayra Atiya