cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EPR study of neutron-irradiated silicon: A positive charge state of the 〈 100 〉 split di-interstitial

The $\mathrm{Si}\ensuremath{-}P6$ spectrum shows an intrinsic tetragonal symmetry with the ${C}_{2}$ axis along $〈100〉$ and distortion forces the principal axes of the $g$ tensor to be displaced in the {100} plane. The $g$ tensor previously identified by Jung and Newell was found to be due to the motionally averaged state caused by the atomic motion which occurs near 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. A stress-induced defect alignment was achieved by applying a uniaxial stress along $〈100〉$ and $〈110〉$ but none occurred for a stress along $〈111〉$. The degree of alignment was measured to be $\frac{{n}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}}{{n}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}}=17$ at 2000 ${\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}/\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{2}$, i.e., an order of magnitude larger than that for vacancy-associated defects in irradiated silicon. Detailed analysis of the stress response indicates that the defect stabilization is predominantly controlled by the bonding orbitals in the {110} plane. Based on two sets of $^{29}\mathrm{Si}$ hyperfine structure as well as on the motional effect and stress alignment, we established the microscopic structure of the defect as a positive charge state of two self-interstitials adjacent to a substitutional atom along a $〈100〉$ axis (i.e., the $〈100〉$ split di-interstitial). An extended-H\"uckel-theory calculation was also carried out for this defect model embedded in a 47-atom cluster, the results of which further support our identification. The migration energy of the di-interstitial is estimated to be 0.6 (\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2) eV.
A feasible algorithm for distributed resource allocation with noisy communication and computation

Abstract We aim to apply a simple deterministic feasible resource allocation algorithm to wireless sensor networks. Since wireless sensor networks are inherently subject to computation and communication noises, we modify this deterministic algorithm into a stochastic algorithm and show that under suitable conditions, the stochastic algorithm converges to the optimal value almost surely.
Evaluating Design-Build Procurement Documents for Highway Projects: How Good Are They?

Recent innovations by the Arizona Department of Transportation in the use of design-build procurement for highway construction are presented. Explosive population growth in Arizona has pushed the department to the limits of its capacity and challenged it to develop innovative ways to stretch its resources to meet the constituents' needs. In 1996 the department spearheaded the passage of a pilot design-build law aimed at completing public construction projects more rapidly than could be done using traditional methods. An evaluation made of the procurement documents used for the second design-build project in this pilot program is described. The project reconstructed an extremely congested 12.9-km (8-mi) segment of Interstate 17, a primary artery carrying 180,000 vehicles per day through the city of Phoenix, widening it from 6 lanes to 10. The department used a two-step method for the selection of the winning design-build team from both a request for qualification and a request for proposal. Both documents were evaluated for the clarity of thought and the fairness of the point distribution methodology used by the selection teams. The responding teams were also surveyed about their costs expended during the proposal process. The primary method of data gathering was by written survey of all the proposing teams followed by unstructured interviews with responding principals. Analysis of the data gathered clearly showed the areas in which the procurement documents were unclear and in which the department needed to make corrections for future projects.
Remuneration and absenteeism on a large construction site

While scholarly consensus is that construction absenteeism is a serious and widespread problem, aggregate US and Canadian data show construction absenteeism rates substantially below cross-industry averages. While construction absenteeism research focuses on workplace culture and norms, contractors continue to manage absenteeism primarily as an individual problem. While remuneration and labour market conditions are generally acknowledged to influence construction absenteeism, little research has focused on these factors. High labour turnover in construction resolves the first two conundrums. Adapting to higher labour turnover by limiting investment in firm-specific human capital, contractors are quicker to fire absent workers reducing construction’s measured absentee rates. Higher labour turnover also constrains contractors’ ability to shape workplace culture while facilitating the individual treatment of absentee workers. The construction absentee literature’s methodological focus on workplace surveys ex...
Comparative studies of the rat and pigeon liver fatty acid synthetases.

Abstract The fatty acid synthetase of rat liver has been prepared in an essentially homogenous state by a similar, but nonidentical, procedure to that used for the purification of the pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase. Both of these complexes synthesize free palmitic acid from acetyl- and malonyl-CoA in the presence of NADPH. Enzymic activities for the decarboxylation of malonyl-CoA and the synthesis of HMG-CoA and triacetic acid lactone are also associated with both fatty acid synthetases. The properties of the rat liver fatty acid synthetase have been investigated, and compared to those of the pigeon liver enzyme. Close similarities were observed in molecular weight, thiol dependency, binding stoichiometry for acetyl- and malonyl-CoA, 4′-phosphopantetheine content, sulfhydryl and flavin content, inhibition by sulfhydryl binding reagents, pH optimum and amino acid composition. It is suggested, therefore, that the complexes have very similar structures. However, marked differences in the ease of dissociation in phosphate buffers below 0.5 m were observed, together with differences in stability of the enzymes on electrophoresis and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. These results indicate that some differences exist in the binding of subunits in the two complexes.
This Business of Topology

Lewin's introduction of topological psychology was an exciting innovation as well as an object of ridicule. The reasons for its function as a fighting slogan for the Lewinian school and for its decline are analyzed. Topology provided a fruitful metaphor, but its mathematical use was insufficiently developed, partly because topology was an underdeveloped field of mathematics at the time. However, Lewin showed foresight in insisting on the need for a mathematics applicable to psychology. Modern developments in topology, especially catastrophe theory, are shown to be productive for psychological theory and its applications, thus justifying Lewin's intuition.
New emissive fac-tricarbonylchlorobis(ligand)rhenium(I) complexes prepared from pyridine/thiophene hybrid ligands ☆

Abstract Stille coupling between tributyl-(2,3-dihydro-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-stannane and 4-bromopyridine resulted in the preparation of the new pyridine/thiophene hybrid ligand 4-(2,3-dihydro-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-pyridine [4-py-EDOT] (1). Reaction of 1, 4-thiophen-2-yl-pyridine (2), or 4-[2,2′]bithiophenyl-5-yl-pyridine (3) with ClRe(CO)5 resulted in the isolation of complexes 4–6, ClRe(L)2(CO)3, where L=1, 2, or 3 respectively. The solid-state structure of 4 was determined by X-ray crystallography, which clearly shows the fac arrangement of the three CO ligands and the two 4-py-EDOT ligands arranged cis to one another. The metal complexes 4–6 have been characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, ESI or FAB MS, FTIR, UV–Vis, fluorescence, and elemental analysis.
Synthesis and structures of chiral halo[N,N-dimethyl-α-(2-naphthyl)ethylamine-3,C,N] mercury (II) complexes

Abstract HgCl2 reacts with enantiomerically pure 3-lithio-(S)-(−) or (R)-(+)-N,N-dimethyl-α-(2-naphthyl)ethylamine, (S) or (R)-LiTMNA, to produce (S)c(R)Hg-{HgCl[C10H6CH(Me)NMe2]}, 2a′, or (S)c(R)Hg-{HgCl[C10H6CH(Me)NMe2]}, 2a, in fair yields. The bromide (2b) and iodide (2c) analogs were prepared in good yields by reaction of 2a with NaBr and NaI, respectively. The crystal structures of 2a′, 2b and 2c show that the Hg atom in each compound is three-coordinate, T-shaped, and slightly pyramidal in the solid state. These three compounds form exclusively as the (S)c(R)Hg or (R)c(S)Hg diastereomers with average Hg–C and Hg–N distances of 2.08 (2) A and 2.65 (2) A, respectively. The Hg–N bond is weak and is easily cleaved in solution to form temperature-dependent equilibrium mixtures of two- and three-coordinate species as deduced from variable temperature NMR spectroscopy.
Similarity of the 0.35 M NaCl soluble nuclear proteins and the nonhistone chromosomal proteins.

Abstract Nuclear proteins which are extractible with 0. 35 M NaCl and the nonhistone chromosomal proteins which are not soluble at this salt concentration separate on analytical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into the same 11 main fractions. Only one fraction (less than 7% of the total proteins) is specific for the nonhistone chromosomal proteins and is not found among the proteins soluble in 0. 35 M NaCl.
A Rasch Differential Item Functioning Analysis of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument: Identifying Race and Gender Differential Item Functioning Among Juvenile Offenders

The juvenile justice system needs a tool that can identify and assess mental health problems among youths quickly with validity and reliability. The goal of this article is to evaluate the racial/ethnic and gender differential item functioning (DIF) of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) using the Rasch Model. Data are presented from 3,906 assessments of male and female juvenile offenders between 13 and 17 years of age who are incarcerated in the California Youth Authority. DIF is identified in some items, raising concerns about the Suicide Ideation subscale as well as the Traumatic Experiences subscale that may require some further examination and revision.
The thermodynamics of lanthanide tartrate formation in aqueous solution

Abstract The thermodynamic parameters for the formation of the 1:1 lanthanide tartrate complexes have been determined at zero ionic strength. The variation in the formation constants with atomic number of the cation is small due to a compensation effect involving ΔH10 and TΔS10. There is a large difference in ΔH10 and TΔS10 for the lighter and heavier lanthanide ions. Both thermodynamic parameters are considerably more positive for the heavier ions. The variation in the entropy and enthalpy of formation in the lanthanide series is discussed in terms of the degree that the hydroxy group of the tartrate ion in involved in the bonding, and a decrease in coordination for the heavier lanthanide tartrate complexes.
Family Therapy with Sexual Minority Youths: A Systematic Review

There is no consensus about best practices for therapy with sexual minority youths and their families because (1) information is scattered across years (1987–2013) and (2) a breadth of therapeutic orientations is represented. This article systematically reviews and synthesizes all existing work to present cohesive guidelines for therapists. Research databases were searched for articles published through June 2013 that reported on any common issues, strategies, or research findings for family therapy in which a young person has adopted a sexual minority identity or reported same-sex attractions, and the focus was explicitly on disclosure of same-sex orientation.Fifteen studies (12 clinical writing articles and 3 articles with outcome data) that reported on issues or recommendations for therapy were evaluated. The authors categorized recommendations into two areas: treatment logistics (e.g., session structure and type) and therapeutic content issues (e.g., parental meaning to coming out). There is considera...
Pattern Recognition and Signaling Mechanisms of RIG-I and MDA5.

Most organisms rely on innate immune receptors to recognize conserved molecular structures from invading microbes. Two essential innate immune receptors, RIG-I and MDA5, detect viral double-stranded RNA in the cytoplasm. The inflammatory response triggered by these RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) is one of the first and most important lines of defense against infection. RIG-I recognizes short RNA ligands with 5’-triphosphate caps. MDA5 recognizes long kilobase-scale genomic RNA and replication intermediates. Ligand binding induces conformational changes and oligomerization of RLRs that activate the signaling partner MAVS on the mitochondrial and peroxisomal membranes. This signaling process is under tight regulation, dependent on post-translational modifications of RIG-I and MDA5, and on regulatory proteins including unanchored ubiquitin chains and a third RLR, LGP2. Here we review recent advances that have shifted the paradigm of RLR signaling away from the conventional linear signaling cascade. In the emerging RLR signaling model, large multimeric signaling platforms generate a highly cooperative, self-propagating and context-dependent signal, which varies with the subcellular localization of the signaling platform.
Non-specific reactions of the glutathione oxidant “diamide” with mammalian cells☆

Abstract Diazenedicarboxylic acid bis (N, N-dimethylamide) (“diamide”) is said to be a specific glutathione (GSH) oxidant in red cells. In Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, however, the reagent reacts with 15–20% of the protein-bound SH groups and with 12% of the reduced pyridine nucleotides at the dose required for complete removal of glutathione. Glucose completely reverses the diamide-induced loss of protein SH and GSH within 15 min at 37°; recovery of the reduced pyridine nucleotide pool requires approximately 3 min. We conclude that diamide is not absolutely specific for GSH in nucleated mammalian cells.
Impact of the invasive shrub Amur honeysuckle ( Lonicera maackii) on shrub-layer insects in a deciduous forest in the eastern United States

Invasive Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) creates a dense shrub layer in deciduous forests in eastern North America that negatively impacts native herbs and tree seedlings. We predicted that higher vegetative cover caused by this shrub would increase abundance and diversity of insects and alter composition of insect assemblages. We used paired plots, one with and one without honeysuckle, in ten forest locations in southwestern Ohio, USA, to sample insects and measure diversity and vertical cover of vegetation in the shrub layer. Vertical cover of this vegetation was higher on honeysuckle-present plots, but diversity of shrub-layer vegetation did not differ between honeysuckle-present and honeysuckle-absent plots. Species diversity of Hexapoda, Coleoptera, and Psocoptera, richness of Hexapoda, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Psocoptera, and abundance of Hexapoda, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Psocoptera were higher on honeysuckle-present than on honeysuckle-absent plots. Evenness did not differ between honeysuckle treatments. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling distinguished taxonomic composition in honeysuckle-present plots from that in honeysuckle-absent plots. Presence of vertical cover explained higher richness of Hexapoda and Coleoptera, and higher abundance of Hexapoda, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Psocoptera. Attributes of honeysuckle, independent of its contribution to vertical cover, explained increases in richness of Hexapoda, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera and abundance of Hexapoda, Hymenopera, and Psocoptera. These attributes of honeysuckle could include a more complex vegetative structure, a greater availability of resources such as food, detritus, or shelter, and/or a more favorable cooler and moister microenvironment. To more fully understand the mechanisms causing increased richness and abundance of insects in honeysuckle-present areas, detailed studies on these attributes of honeysuckle would be necessary.
Theoretical Tracing of a Novel Route from Molecular Precursors through Polymers to Dense, Hard C3N4 Solids

We investigate theoretically a novel experimental polymer route to C3N4 materials. Starting with simple molecules, we follow the initial steps of oligomerization of several carbodiimide based C3N4 precursors. A sequence of hypothetical models with a chemically resonable structure for the resulting low-density C3N4 polymers is constructed. Simulating high pressures, we show that one hypothetical polymer structure might undergo a polymorphic transition into cubic C3N4. Another one is transformed into a novel dense 3/4-connected C3N4 structure with odd-membered rings and C−C and N−N bonds.
Effects of Prior High-Intensity Exercise on Glucose Metabolism in Normal and Insulin-resistant Men

The effects of prior high-intensity cycle exercise (85% VO2 max) to muscular exhaustion on basal and insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism were studied in obese, insulin-resistant, and normal subjects. Six obese (30.4% fat) and six lean (14.5% fat) adult males underwent two separate, two-level hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studies (100-min infusions at 40 and 400 mU/m2/min), with and without exercise 12 h earlier. Carbohydrate oxidation was estimated by indirect calorimetry using a ventilated hood system, and endogenous glucose production by D-(3-3H)-glucose infusion. Glycogen content and glycogen synthase activity (GS %l) were measured in vastus lateralis muscle biopsies before and at the end of each insulin clamp procedure. After exercise, the obese and lean subjects had comparably low muscle glycogen concentrations (0.10 versus 0.08 mg/g protein, respectively), and equal activation of muscle GS activity (54.4 versus 45.3 GS %l, respectively). In the obese subjects, insulin-stimulated glucose disposal was increased significantly, but not totally corrected to normal. In both groups there was a comparable increase in nonoxidative glucose disposal (NOGD), whereas glucose oxidation was decreased and lipid oxidation was increased. Thus, the major effect of prior exercise was to increase insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in the obese subjects and to alter the pathways of glucose metabolism to favor NOGD and decrease glucose oxidation. No correlation was found between the exercise-induced increase in GS %l and NOGD, except in the normal subjects during maximal insulin stimulation. Thus, glycogen synthase activity does not appear to be rate-limiting for NOGD at physiologic insulin concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Stimulation of melanotic expression in a melanoma cell line by theophylline

Theophylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, was found to be a potent stimulator of melanogenesis in the RPMI 3460 hamster melanoma cell line. This stimulation was greater than that caused by either dibutyryl cyclic AMP (db-cAMP) or another phosphodiesterase inhibitor, papaverine. Theophylline and db-cAMP treatments also produced strikingly different morphologies in the monolayered cells. The theophylline effect on melanogenesis was diminished by db-cAMP, whereas simultaneous treatment of cells with db-cAMP and papaverine produced greater stimulation of melanotic activity than either agent acting alone. Theophylline, therefore, may have phenotypic effects that are at least partially independent of phosphodiesterase inhibition. Theophylline stimulated melanin biosynthesis, as measured by rates of 2- [2-14C] thiouracil incorporation, and also caused an increase in the level of tyrosinase (EC 1.10.3.1) activity. This melanotic stimulation was prevented by the presence of cordycepin or cycloheximide. Theophylline inhibited DNA synthesis and mitosis in the melanoma cell cultures but stimulated protein synthesis. However, inhibition of proliferation and the first appearance of induced melanotic activity did not bear an immediate direct relationship to one another.
Integrated dynamic and simulation model on coupled closed-loop workstation capacity controls in a multi-workstation production system

In this paper, a dynamic model coupled with a simulation model is introduced to control a multi-workstation production system such that a given performance measure is achieved. In particular, we consider closed loop capacity controls for regulating WIP (Work-in-Process) at individual workstation. The capacity adjustments are consisted of both compensation for local disturbances and predictive control of downstream effects of capacity adjustments make up-stream in the system. Using real data collected from an industrial production system, we are able to demonstrate that our hybrid dynamic and simulation framework can effectively predict lead times associated with each workstation and thus to correctly plan production using a static capacity control system.
FORMULATING AND ANALYZING MULTI-STAGE SENSOR PLACEMENT PROBLEMS

The optimization of sensor placements is a key aspect of the design of contaminant warning systems for automatically detecting contaminants in water distribution systems. Although researchers have generally assumed that all sensors are placed at the same time, in practice sensor networks will likely grow and evolve over time. For example, limitations for a water utility’s budget may dictate an staged, incremental deployment of sensors over many years. We describe optimization formulations of multi-stage sensor placement problems. The objective of these formulations includes an explicit trade-off between the value of the initially deployed and final sensor networks. This trade-off motivates the deployment of sensors in initial stages of the deployment schedule, even though these choices typically lead to a solution that is suboptimal when compared to placing all sensors at once. These multi-stage sensor placement problems can be represented as mixed-integer programs, and we illustrate the impact of this trade-off using standard commercial solvers. We also describe a multi-stage formulation that models budget uncertainty, expressed as a tree of potential budget scenarios through time. Budget uncertainty is used to assess and hedge against risks due to a potentially incomplete deployment of a planned sensor network. This formulation is a multi-stage stochastic mixed-integer program, which are notoriously difficult to solve. We apply standard commercial solvers to small-scale test problems, enabling us to effectively analyze multi-stage sensor placement problems subject to budget uncertainties, and assess the impact of accounting for such uncertainty relative to a deterministic multi-stage model.
Heat transfer ahead of moving condensation fronts in thermal oil recovery processes

This is a study of heat transfer in the liquid zone preceding an advancing condensation front in a 1-dim oil reservoir undergoing a thermal recovery process such as hot waterflood, steam injection or in situ combustion. A model is developed that allows for heat transfer by horizontal conduction and convection in the reservoir and by vertical (conjugate) conduction in the surrounding the reservoir formations to account for the lateral heat losses. The model is formulated in terms of an integro-differential equation involving an integral representation of the lateral heat losses for a region with a moving boundary. According to the magnitude of the Peclet number, and the velocity of the advancing front, various analytical expressions that describe the temperature distribution in the hot liquid zone are derived. The discussion emphasizes the cases Pe ⪢ 1 (high injection rates) and Pe = 1 (low injection rates). The case of arbitrary Pe is treated by a quasisteady state approximation.
Raman and infrared spectra, ab initio and DFT calculations, and vibrational assignments for 2,3-cyclopentenopyridine.

Abstract The structural properties of 2,3-cyclopentenopyridine (pyrindan) have been investigated using several spectroscopic and computational techniques. The Raman and infrared spectra of the molecule have been recorded and a full vibrational assignment was proposed on the basis of experimental and theoretical results. The vapor-phase Raman spectrum was successfully obtained at 260°C without sample decomposition. Density functional theory (DFT) and Moller-Plesset (MP2) calculations predict that the presence of the nitrogen atom in the six-membered ring has almost no effect on the barrier to inversion (587 cm −1 ) and puckering frequency (139 cm −1 ) as compared to the values previously determined (488 cm −1 and 143 cm −1 ) for the indan molecule.
Mathematical optimization techniques for multi-phase radiation treatment design

A mathematical model for optimal external beam radiotherapy treatment design over multiple treatment phases is presented. The solution procedure is discussed and illustrated on a case of boost treatment for lung cancer. The models are integrated with current radiobiological software to produce an optimal design over both phases of treatment displayed by means of computer graphics.
Say Anything: Using Textual Case-Based Reasoning to Enable Open-Domain Interactive Storytelling

We describe Say Anything, a new interactive storytelling system that collaboratively writes textual narratives with human users. Unlike previous attempts, this interactive storytelling system places no restrictions on the content or direction of the user’s contribution to the emerging storyline. In response to these contributions, the computer continues the storyline with narration that is both coherent and entertaining. This capacity for open-domain interactive storytelling is enabled by an extremely large repository of nonfiction personal stories, which is used as a knowledge base in a case-based reasoning architecture. In this article, we describe the three main components of our case-based reasoning approach: a million-item corpus of personal stories mined from internet weblogs, a case retrieval strategy that is optimized for narrative coherence, and an adaptation strategy that ensures that repurposed sentences from the case base are appropriate for the user’s emerging fiction. We describe a series of evaluations of the system’s ability to produce coherent and entertaining stories, and we compare these narratives with single-author stories posted to internet weblogs.
Isolation and Mapping of Small Cauliflower Mosaic Virus DNA Fragments Active as Promoters in Escherichia coli

Abstract Small EcoRI* fragments of cauliflower mosiac virus DNA (strain CM4-184), which act as promoters for the tetracycline resistance gene on the promoter probe plasmid pBRH4 in Escherichia coli, have been isolated and mapped on the viral genome. Two regions of the viral genome contain DNA sequences with promoter activity in E. coli. Two independent cloned fragments from one region direct a high level of tetracycline resistance (up to 38 μg of tetracycline per ml). Two independent fragments from the second region of the viral genome also direct tetracycline resistance, but at lower levels. The activity of the two fragments with the strongest promoter activity in E. coli may direct transcription of the viral genome in a clockwise direction. This is consistent with the direction of transcription predicted from sequence analysis of the viral DNA (Franck et al., Cell 21: 285-294, 1980). One of these fragments maps at the start of a large open translational reading frame which is predicted to contain the coding sequence for the viral coat protein. Each promoter-active fragment is located in the 5′-terminal portion of one of the six open reading frames predicted from the DNA sequence.
Cross-Serotype Neutralization of Dengue Virus in Aotus nancymae Monkeys

Previously, we observed that serum from humans immune to dengue serotype 1 (dengue-1) neutralized the American genotype of dengue serotype 2 (American-2) to a greater extent than it neutralized the Asian genotype of dengue serotype 2 (Asian-2). To determine if this activity is protective, Aotus nancymae monkeys were infected with dengue-1 followed by either American-2 or Asian-2. Dengue-1-infected animals produced antibody with neutralizing titers of 2656 antibodies against dengue-1, 409 against American-2, and <20 against Asian-2. Infection with American-2 did not produce detectable viremia in either dengue-1-immune or dengue-1-naive animals. These findings support the hypothesis that dengue-1 immunity might have prevented disease or altered the severity of disease in individuals sequentially infected with dengue-1 and American-2.
High‐Frequency Ultrasonic Characterization of Sintered Silicon Carbide

High-frequency 60- to 160-MHz ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation was used to characterize variations in density and microstructural constituents of sintered SiC bars. Ultrasonic characterization methods included longitudinal velocity, reflection coefficient, and precise attenuation measurements. The SiC bars were tailored to provide bulk densities ranging from 90 to 98 percent of theoretical, average grain sizes ranging from 3.0 to 12.0 microns, and average pore sizes ranging from 1.5 to 4.0 microns. Velocity correlated with specimen bulk density irrespective of specimen average grain size, average pore size, and average pore orientation. The attenuation coefficient was found to be sensitive to both density and average pore size variations, but was not affected by large differences in average grain size.
Computational models for cylindrical catalyst particles

A study is made of computational methods for predicting the performance of cylindrical catalyst particles in reactions with nonlinear kinetics. Accurate two-dimensional collocation solutions are obtained and used to test simplified solution methods. A novel parametric integration method is used to traverse the region of multiple solutions. The local stability of several states is determined.
Gene-by-socioeconomic status interaction on school readiness.

In previous work with a nationally representative sample of over 1,400 monozygotic and dizygotic twins born in the US, Tucker-Drob et al. (Psychological Science, 22, 125–133, 2011) uncovered a gene × environment interaction on scores on the Bayley Short Form test of mental ability (MA) at 2 years of age—higher socioeconomic status (SES) was associated not only with higher MA, but also with larger genetic contributions to individual differences in MA. The current study examined gene × SES interactions in mathematics skill and reading skill at 4 years of age (preschool age) in the same sample of twins, and further examined whether interactions detected at 4 years could be attributed to the persistence of the interaction previously observed at 2 years. For early mathematics skill but not early reading skill, genetic influences were more pronounced at higher levels of SES. This interaction was not accounted for by the interaction observed at 2 years. These findings indicate that SES moderates the etiological influences on certain cognitive functions at multiple stages of child development.
Rectal Temperature and Blood Chemical Responses of Young Chickens Given E. Coli Endotoxin

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of intravenous injections of bacterial endotoxin in broiler chicks. In both experiments 5-week-old chicks were given a single intravenous injection of either distilled water (control) or 1 mg/kg Escherichia coli endotoxin (serotype 0127:B8) in a volume of 1 ml/kg. In Experiment 1 rectal body temperatures were taken every hour for 24 hr postinjection. In Experiment 2, rectal temperatures and blood samples were taken at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 24 hr following the administration of endotoxin. Hematocrits and plasma glucose, protein, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and inorganic phosphorus were measured at each time interval. Birds receiving endotoxin showed a significant increase in rectal temperature from 2 hr until 17 hr postinjection. The febrile response was biphasic with temperatures peaking at 3 to 5 hr and again at 9 to 12 hr. No significant changes in hematocrits occurred following endotoxin injection. Plasma protein, potassium, and calcium decreased significantly, while glucose increased significantly after endotoxin administration. No significant changes in plasm a magnesium, sodium, or inorganic phosphorus were observed in endotoxin-treated chicks.
Analysis of Structural Dynamics in the Ribosome by TLS Crystallographic Refinement

A major goal in the study of ribosome structure and function is to obtain a complete description of the conformational dynamics of the ribosome during the many steps of protein synthesis. Here, we report a new approach to the study of ribosome dynamics using translation-libration-screw (TLS) refinement against experimental X-ray diffraction data. TLS analysis of complexes of the 70 S ribosome suggests that many of its structural features have an inherent tendency for anisotropic movement. Analysis of displacements of the 30 S and 50 S ribosomal subunits reveals an intrinsic bias for “ratchet-like” intersubunit rotation. The libration axes for both subunits pass through the peptidyl transferase center (PTC), indicating a tendency for structural rotations to occur around the site of peptide bond formation. The modes of anisotropic movement of ribosomal RNA components, including the head of the 30 S subunit, the L1 and L11 stalks and the two main arms of the tRNAs were found to correlate with their respective modes of movement previously inferred from comparisons of ribosomes trapped in different functional states. In the small subunit, the mobilities of features interacting with the Shine–Dalgarno helix are decreased in the presence of the Shine–Dalgarno helix, supporting the proposal that that formation of the Shine–Dalgarno helix during initiation may contribute to stabilization of the small subunit for optimal interaction with initiator tRNA fMet . The similarity of TLS parameters for two independently solved structures of similar ribosome complexes suggests that TLS analysis can provide useful information about the dynamics of very large macromolecular objects and at resolutions lower than those at which TLS refinement has commonly been applied. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
An estimator correlator receiver for frequency selective multipath fading channels

An estimator-correlator receiver structure using wideband signaling using PN sequences is developed for multipath frequency selective fading channels. Expressions for the error performance of the receiver for binary and M-ary FSK signaling schemes, for equal and unequal average SNR per path, are presented. Results of analytical performance evaluation of the receiver are presented and a comparison with a square law Rake correlator receiver is made.
Immunochemical tests of potential fertility.

There are many methods of determining the physiological basis of cyclical periods of potential fertility: calculations sensations or physical or chemical biosensors. This article reviews the development of self-tests of potential fertility using immunoassay of hormone metabolites in urine. Indices of potential fertility in urine are the concentration of principal metabolites of steroid hormones and luteinizing hormone (LF). The ovaries produce an estimated 50-800 mcg of estradiol/day the most active estrogen which is concentrated in the peripheral circulation during the preovulatory period of rapid follicular growth. Measurements may be taken from the blood saliva or cervico-vaginal fluid and urine as estrogen-3 or 17 beta-glucuronide. The metabolism of progesterone shows changes at carbon atoms 3 11 17 and 20. Urine contains lower concentrations of 5 beta-pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide (P3G) followed by 5 beta-pregnanediol glucuronide and 5 alpha-pregnanediol glucuronide. Methods of measurement are presented including the mean changes in the urinary concentrations of estrogen 3-glucuronide (E3G) and P3G and their concentration ratio in relation to day 1 of menses the day of luteinizing hormone LH peak and the time limits for ovulation during menstrual cycle. A laboratory test of E3G in early morning urine (EMU) from 38 subjects showed that delineating a defined fertile period (day of maximum follicular diameter minus 3 to day plus 2) was possible in 89% of cases. New methods with immunotubes or immunostrips novel antibodies and idiometric assay attempt to improve the signal/background ratio; each method is described. Immunotubes for measuring steroid glucuronide may be light absorbing light emitting (fluorescence polarization) and light emitting with time resolved fluorescence. Each procedure is described. The present technology demonstrates that immunoassays can be performed as self-tests and what remains to be done is ascertaining the most appropriate one for determining potential fertility.
A preliminary report: effects of zinc and micronutrient repletion on growth and neuropsychological function of urban Chinese children.

Zinc is essential for growth and cognition of experimental animals. Past research found zinc repletion improved growth of stunted Chinese children. Therefore we measured effects of zinc repletion on growth and neuropsychological functions of children.Double-blind randomized controlled treatment trial.Elementary schools in low income districts of Chongqing, Qingdao and Shanghai.Three hundred-seventy-two 6 to 9 year old first graders.Treatments were 20 mg zinc, 20 mg zinc with micronutrients, or micronutrients alone. The micronutrient mixture was based on guidelines of the US NAS/NRC. Treatments were assigned to classrooms of 40 or more children each, and administered by teachers 6 days per week for 10 weeks.Changes in knee height and neuropsychological functions.Zinc alone had the least effect on growth while zinc with micronutrients had the largest effect; micronutrients alone had an intermediate effect. Zinc-containing treatments improved neuropsychological functions, but micronutrients alone had little ...
Self-Assembled Epitaxial Au-Oxide Vertically Aligned Nanocomposites for Nanoscale Metamaterials.

Metamaterials made of nanoscale inclusions or artificial unit cells exhibit exotic optical properties that do not exist in natural materials. Promising applications, such as super-resolution imaging, cloaking, hyperbolic propagation, and ultrafast phase velocities have been demonstrated based on mostly micrometer-scale metamaterials and few nanoscale metamaterials. To date, most metamaterials are created using costly and tedious fabrication techniques with limited paths toward reliable large-scale fabrication. In this work, we demonstrate the one-step direct growth of self-assembled epitaxial metal–oxide nanocomposites as a drastically different approach to fabricating large-area nanostructured metamaterials. Using pulsed laser deposition, we fabricated nanocomposite films with vertically aligned gold (Au) nanopillars (∼20 nm in diameter) embedded in various oxide matrices with high epitaxial quality. Strong, broad absorption features in the measured absorbance spectrum are clear signatures of plasmon res...
Toxicity of new spinal agents.

Abstract The clinical success of perispinal administration of opiates for pain relief has demonstrated the power of manipulating the neurochemistry of the spinal cord. This article briefly discussed reasons for increased interest in new spinal agents and some of the issues associated with determining their clinical safety.
Molecular Self-Titration as a Mechanism of Gene Regulation

In systems biology, molecular titration is a mechanism for introducing sensitivity of genetic networks to their regulatory proteins. Since most eukaryotic transcription factors lack chemical control by low-molecular-weight hormones or metabolites, transcription factors have evolved various strategies, such as cooperative DNA binding and sequestering partner proteins, to generate sensitivity in the expression of the genes that they regulate. The ETS superfamily of transcription factors, which are broadly distributed in the animal kingdom, regulate target genes in an active monomeric state. On the one hand, many ETS members, such as the master transcription factor PU.1, are involved in critical cell-fate decisions and signaling pathways that require highly sensitive output responses, yet no coherent mechanism exists for generating the required sensitivity. On the other hand, dimerization of ETS proteins in both DNA-bound and free states via their DNA-binding domain has been reported, but its purpose and biophysical nature remain obscure. We propose that dimerization serves as a sensitivity-generating mechanism by molecular self-titration: self-association sequesters free ETS proteins in inactive dimers, while dimerization in the DNA-bound state inhibits transactivation by the active protein/DNA complex. With the positive auto-regulation of the PU.1 (Spi1) gene generating self-amplification of PU.1, homodimerization would provide the minimal negative feedback needed to prevent explosion and maintain stable dynamics of PU.1 target genes in the absence of additional interactions. We are defining the thermodynamic and structural parameters of the PU.1 homodimer in the free and DNA-bound states. The data show that dimerization involves previously unexplored molecular surfaces that are distinct from the “orthosteric” protein/DNA contact interface and offer insight into how molecular self-titration would participate in the dynamics of PU.1-dependent gene expression.
Smart e-Textile-Based Nanosensors for Cardiac Monitoring with Smart Phone and Wireless Mobile Platform

Wireless monitoring of Cardiac activity for diagnostic purposes as well as rehabilitative applications has gained significant traction over the past decade. The integration of the nanotextile-based sensors in regular clothing can make the health monitoring system completely unobtrusive and “invisible” for everyday use. A significant research effort has been underway to bring these technologies out of the lab and encourage their use in clinical practice. In this paper, we review the promising efforts made in this direction and address some of the remaining impediments to the wide adoption of these technologies. Based on the existing literature, we conclude that the clinical adoption of these systems may require a trade-off between existing diagnostic techniques for Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) and techniques that can be reproducibly and robustly implemented on textiles.We focus specifically on the measurement of Cardiac Biopotentials (CBP) using smart nanotextile garments and wireless systems.
Abstract 4559: Sprouty2 differentially regulates signaling and phenotypic responses of glioblastoma cells to DNA damaging agents and receptor kinase inhibitors

Key to improving glioblastoma patient survival is the exploration of the signaling mechanisms that regulate cellular response to approved and investigational therapeutics, including DNA damaging agents and targeted therapeutics such as EGFR and MET kinase inhibitors. Previous work from our group demonstrated that Sprouty2 (SPRY2) surprisingly acted more as a tumor promoter than tumor suppressor in glioblastoma cell lines and tumor xenografts, with SPRY2 knockdown reducing proliferation of human glioblastoma cells and antagonizing the growth of subcutaneous tumor xenografts in mice. We hypothesized here that these effects may result from a perturbation in the cell cycle and that such effects may augment cell cycle shifts induced by DNA damaging agents or kinase inhibitors. Flow cytometry measurements indicated shifts in DNA content distribution in glioblastoma cell lines consistent with cell cycle arrest in response to SPRY2 knockdown alone, and that these shifts were substantially augmented by carboplatin or to a lesser degree by a combination of EGFR and MET inhibitors, but not by temozolomide. Western blotting indicated that SPRY2 knockdown resulted in increased phosphorylation of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM), a kinase involved in the DNA damage response pathway, at a serine residue (1981) that regulates the dissociation of inactivate ATM homodimers into activated monomers. In response to carboplatin, but not the other therapeutics tested, a robust increase was observed in Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) phosphorylation at serine 345, which has been reported to cause cell cycle arrest. This effect was further enhanced by SPRY2 knockdown, which may help explain why the largest cell cycle perturbations were observed in SPRY2-deficient cells treated with carboplatin. Increased phosphorylation of p38 was also observed in response to carboplatin or EGFR and MET inhibitors. This may have contributed to cell cycle arrest, but may also have cooperated with the inhibition of AKT phosphorylation that occurred only in response to EGFR and MET inhibition to drive cell death, an effect that was also augmented by SPRY2 knockdown. Overall, this work has identified a small network of SPRY2-regulated signaling processes that control phenotypic responses of glioblastoma cells to different clinically relevant therapeutics and provides motivation for further study of the role of SPRY2 in glioblastoma. Citation Format: Nisha G. Sosale, Sally Shin, Matthew J. Lazzara. Sprouty2 differentially regulates signaling and phenotypic responses of glioblastoma cells to DNA damaging agents and receptor kinase inhibitors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4559.
Keyless covert communication over Multiple-Access Channels

We consider a scenario in which two legitimate transmitters attempt to communicate with a legitimate receiver over a discrete memoryless Multiple-Access Channel (MAC), while escaping detection from an adversary who observes their communication through another discrete memoryless MAC. If the MAC to the legitimate receiver is “better” than the one to the adversary, in a sense that we make precise, then the legitimate users can reliably communicate on the order of √n bits per n channel uses with arbitrarily Low Probability of Detection (LPD) without using a secret key. We also identify the pre-constants of the scaling, which leads to a characterization of the covert capacity region.
Impact of STI stress on hot carrier degradation in 5V NMOSFET

The effects of shallow trench isolation (STI) induced mechanical stress on hot carrier degradation of 5V NMOSFET with different source(S)/drain(D) areas are studied. It is found that increased compressive STI stress with S/D area reduction can enhance the drain side impact ionization rate due to band gap narrowing effect which results in more hot carrier generation. TCAD simulations are also performed to explain the hot carrier degradation dependence on STI stress.