cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantum prediction of ultra-low thermal conductivity in lithium intercalation materials

Abstract Lithium-intercalated layered transition-metal oxides, LixTMO2, brought about a paradigm change in rechargeable batteries in recent decades and show promise for use in memristors, a type of device for future neural computing and on-chip storage. Thermal transport properties, although being a crucial element in limiting the charging/discharging rate, package density, energy efficiency, and safety of batteries as well as the controllability and energy consumption of memristors, are poorly managed or even understood yet. Here, for the first time, we employ quantum calculations including high-order lattice anharmonicity and find that the thermal conductivity κ of LixTMO2 materials is significantly lower than hitherto believed. More specifically, the theoretical upper limit of κ of LiCoO2 is 6 W/m-K, 2–6 times lower than the prior theoretical predictions. Delithiation further reduces κ by 40–70% for LiCoO2 and LiNbO2. Grain boundaries, strain, and porosity are yet additional causes of thermal-conductivity reduction, while Li-ion diffusion and electrical transport are found to have only a minor effect on phonon thermal transport. The results elucidate several long-standing issues regarding the thermal transport in lithium-intercalated materials and provide guidance toward designing high-energy-density batteries and controllable memristors.
Nonadiabatic contributions to Bragg-regime dynamics in atomic Kapitza-Dirac scattering

Atomic Kapitza-Dirac Bragg regime scattering is a multiphoton process in which a neutral atom undergoes a change of momentum through an interaction with a coherent light source. When the Bragg conditions are met, the outgoing atom beams are spatially quantized. Counterpropagating lasers act as pump and probe scattering from far-off-resonant excited intermediate electronic states, leaving the atoms in the electronic ground state with quantized transverse momentum. Each nontrivial scattering event imparts transverse velocity and therefore kinetic energy to the deflected atoms through recoil. In the Bragg regime, the loss of energy in the light fields is equal to the gain of kinetic energy in the atom. Energy nonconserving intermediate states, which are described by nonadiabatic contributions, are not accounted for by first-order off-resonant states. By comparing the solutions of increasing orders of off-resonant intermediate states, it becomes clear that calculating the correct Pendell\"osung frequencies and phases requires including an ever increasing number of off-resonant states in proportion to the square root of the field strength.
Drosophila GFAT1 and GFAT2 enzymes encode obligate developmental functions.

Glutamine: fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) enzymes catalyse the first committed step of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) using glutamine and fructose-6-phosphate to form glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P). Numerous species (e.g. mouse, rat, zebrafish, chicken) including humans and Drosophila encode two broadly expressed copies of this enzyme but whether these perform redundant, partially overlapping or distinct functions is not known. To address this question, we produced single gene null mutations in the fly counterparts of gfat1 and gfat2. Deletions for either enzyme were fully lethal and homozygotes lacking either GFAT1 or GFAT2 died at or prior to the first instar larval stage. Therefore, when genetically eliminated, neither isoform was able to compensate for the other. Importantly, dietary supplementation with D-glucosamine-6-phosphate rescued GFAT2 deficiency and restored viability to gfat2-/- mutants. In contrast, glucosamine-6-phosphate did not rescue gfat1-/- animals.
Introduction to Scanning Probe Lithography

Semiconductor lithography is the patterning process used to define the structures that make up integrated circuits (ICs). The semiconductor industry has historically scaled down the size of printed features on ICs because scaling both improves transistor performance and reduces the area that devices occupy. Today the patterning technology employed in manufacturing is photolithography, a process that uses ultraviolet light to define submicron-sized features in photosensitive polymers. Since photolithography is rapidly approaching fundamental resolution limitations, a new high-resolution patterning technique may be required to continue the industry’s trend toward higher performance electron devices, increased packing densities, and higher density memories.
Confirmation Bias and Irrational Decision-Making: Implications for HRD in South Korea and Other Countries

Seeking diverse information is a necessary skill in democratic societies, but humans tend to have confirmation bias by resisting information that is contrary to their beliefs. Confirmation bias often leads to making irrational decisions that result in undesirable outcomes including financial losses in business and economic activities, failure to explore one’s own career potential, and political and ideological polarization. This study is a comparative analysis of contemporary issues associated with confirmation bias between South Korea and other countries based on a systematic review of 48 studies published in the past ten years. This synthesis of the literature has important implications for HRD practices that could incorporate confirmation bias training to help individuals mitigate their confirmation bias, broaden their horizons, and make more rational decisions.
Linking Individual Data From the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Center and Local Trauma Registry: Development and Validation of Probabilistic Matching Algorithm.

Background Linking records from the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) database to the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) provides a unique opportunity to study early variables in predicting long-term outcomes after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). The public use data sets of SCIMS and NTDB are stripped of protected health information, including dates and zip code. Objectives To develop and validate a probabilistic algorithm linking data from an SCIMS center and its affiliated trauma registry. Method Data on SCI admissions 2011-2018 were retrieved from an SCIMS center (n = 302) and trauma registry (n = 723), of which 202 records had the same medical record number. The SCIMS records were divided equally into two data sets for algorithm development and validation, respectively. We used a two-step approach: blocking and weight generation for linking variables (race, insurance, height, and weight). Results In the development set, 257 SCIMS-trauma pairs shared the same sex, age, and injury year across 129 clusters, of which 91 records were true-match. The probabilistic algorithm identified 65 of the 91 true-match records (sensitivity, 71.4%) with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 80.2%. The algorithm was validated over 282 SCIMS-trauma pairs across 127 clusters and had a sensitivity of 73.7% and PPV of 81.1%. Post hoc analysis shows the addition of injury date and zip code improved the specificity from 57.9% to 94.7%. Conclusion We demonstrate the feasibility of probabilistic linkage between SCIMS and trauma records, which needs further refinement and validation. Gaining access to injury date and zip code would improve record linkage significantly.
Signal transduction through Cys-loop receptors is mediated by the nonspecific bumping of closely apposed domains

One of the most fundamental questions in the field of Cys-loop receptors (pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, pLGICs) is how the affinity for neurotransmitters and the conductive/nonconductive state of the transmembrane pore are correlated despite the ∼60-A distance between the corresponding domains. Proposed mechanisms differ, but they all converge into the idea that interactions between wild-type side chains across the extracellular-transmembrane-domain (ECD-TMD) interface are crucial for this phenomenon. Indeed, the successful design of fully functional chimeras that combine intact ECD and TMD modules from different wild-type pLGICs has commonly been ascribed to the residual conservation of sequence that exists at the level of the interfacial loops even between evolutionarily distant parent channels. Here, using mutagenesis, patch-clamp electrophysiology, and radiolabeled-ligand binding experiments, we studied the effect of eliminating this residual conservation of sequence on ion-channel function and cell-surface expression. From our results, we conclude that proper state interconversion ("gating") does not require conservation of sequence-or even physicochemical properties-across the ECD-TMD interface. Wild-type ECD and TMD side chains undoubtedly interact with their surroundings, but the interactions between them-straddling the interface-do not seem to be more important for gating than those occurring elsewhere in the protein. We propose that gating of pLGICs requires, instead, that the overall structure of the interfacial loops be conserved, and that their relative orientation and distance be the appropriate ones for changes in one side to result in changes in the other, in a phenomenon akin to the nonspecific "bumping" of closely apposed domains.
Climate Change Beyond Environmentalism Part II: Near-Term Climate Mitigation in a Post-Regulatory Era

This Article is the second in a two-part series exploring key obstacles to effective climate change emissions reduction efforts in the United States and potential solutions. Part I explored the inter-sectional threats of climate change, its discriminatory impacts on the economically disadvantaged, people of color, women, children, and animals; and the unique role animals play as both a cause and victims of climate change emissions. This Article draws on the conclusions in Part I to explore both a new climate policy strategy and potential operational tactics for the proposed new climate coalition. After discussing the potential benefits of refocusing climate change mitigation strategies on short-term methane control opportunities, this Article discusses whether the campaign tactics deployed by the animal protection movement over the last decade to address farm animal abuses could be a model for a new collaborative effort to control climate change emissions in an era where the efficacy and existence of regulatory control measures is in doubt.
Effective prophylaxis of COVID-19 in rhesus macaques using a combination of two parentally-administered SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies

SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory borne pathogenic beta coronavirus that is the source of a worldwide pandemic and the cause of multiple pathologies in man. The rhesus macaque model of COVID-19 was utilized to test the added benefit of combinatory parenteral administration of two high-affinity anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; C144-LS and C135-LS) expressly developed to neutralize the virus and modified to extend their pharmacokinetics. After completion of kinetics study of mAbs in the primate, combination treatment was administered prophylactically to mucosal viral challenge. Results showed near complete virus neutralization evidenced by no measurable titer in mucosal tissue swabs, muting of cytokine/chemokine response, and lack of any discernable pathologic sequalae. Blocking infection was a dose-related effect, cohorts receiving lower doses (6, 2 mg/kg) resulted in low grade viral infection in various mucosal sites compared to that of a fully protective dose (20 mg/kg). A subset of animals within this cohort whose infectious challenge was delayed 75 days later after mAb administration were still protected from disease. Results indicate this combination mAb effectively blocks development of COVID-19 in the rhesus disease model and accelerates the prospect of clinical studies with this effective antibody combination.
Stock Prices of Architectural, Engineering, and Construction Firms as Leading Economic Indicator: A Computational Deep-Learning Econometrics Model to Complement the Architecture Billings Index

Abstract Investments in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector can be used by governments to introduce desired changes in the economy, which gives an indication of the future...
Protesting with guns and conflating the First and Second Amendments: The case of the Bundys

This article analyzes the legal discourse surrounding two armed anti-government confrontations – at Bunkerville, Nevada, in 2014, and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in 2016 – to und...
Ancestral Maya Economies in Archaeological Perspective

1. The materiality of practice in ancestral Maya economies 2. Situating Maya societies in space and time 3. Feeding a hungry landscape 4. Gendered labor and socially constructed space 5. Ritual works: monumental architecture and generative schemes of power 6. Naturalized authority of the royal court 7. Social identity and daily practice of artisan production 8. Places, practices, and people of commerce 9. Flowery speech of Maya tributary arrangements 10. Skeining the threads.
Applications of Score Distributions in Information Retrieval

Researchers have recently shown that document scores of a number of different text search engines may be fitted on a per query basis using an exponential distribution for the set of non-relevant documents and a normal distribution for the set of relevant documents. This model fits a large number of different search engines including probabilistic search engines like INQUERY, vector space search engines like SMART and also LSI search engines and a language model engine. The model also appears to be true of search engines operating on a number of different languages. This leads to the hypothesis that all ‘good’ text search engines operating on any language have similar characteristics.
Biochemically engineered stromal cell-derived factor 1-alpha analog increases perfusion in the ischemic hind limb

Background Despite promising therapeutic innovation over the last decade, peripheral arterial disease remains a prevalent morbidity, as many patients are still challenged with peripheral ischemia. We hypothesized that delivery of engineered stromal cell-derived factor 1-alpha (ESA) in an ischemic hind limb will yield significant improvement in perfusion. Methods Male rats underwent right femoral artery ligation, and animals were randomized to receive a 100 μL injection of saline (n = 9) or 6 μg/kg dosage of equal volume of ESA (n = 12) into the ipsilateral quadriceps muscle. Both groups of animals were also given an intraperitoneal injection of 40 μg/kg of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF). Perfusion was quantified using a laser Doppler imaging device preoperatively, and on postoperative days 0, 7, and 14. Immunohistochemistry was performed to quantify angiogenesis on day 14, and an mRNA profile was evaluated for angiogenic and inflammatory markers. Results Compared with the saline/GMCSF group at day 14, the ESA/GMCSF-injected animals had greater reperfusion ratios (Saline/GMCSF, 0.600 ± 0.140 vs ESA/GMCSF, 0.900 ± 0.181; group effect P = .006; time effect P P P P = .03). Conclusions Delivery of ESA significantly improves perfusion in a rat model of peripheral arterial disease via improved neovasculogenesis, a finding which may prove beneficial in the treatment strategy for this debilitating disease.
Micro-Fluidic Diffusion Coefficient Measurement

A new method for diffusion coefficient measurement applicable to micro-fluidics is presented. The method utilizes an analytical model describing laminar dispersion in rectangular micro-channels. The method was verified through measurement of fluorescein diffusivity in water and aqueous polymer solutions of differing concentration. The diffusivity of fluorescein was measured as 0.64 × 10-9m2/s in water, 0.49 × 10-9m2/s in the 4 gm/dl dextran solution and 0.38 × 10-9m2/s in the 8 gm/dl dextran solution.
Many-Group Cross-Section Adjustment Techniques for Boiling Water Reactor Adaptive Simulation

Computational capability has been developed to adjust multigroup neutron cross sections, including self-shielding correction factors, to improve the fidelity of boiling water reactor (BWR) core modeling and simulation. The method involves propagating multigroup neutron cross-section uncertainties through various BWR computational models to evaluate uncertainties in key core attributes such as core k{sub eff}, nodal power distributions, thermal margins, and in-core detector readings. Uncertainty-based inverse theory methods are then employed to adjust multigroup cross sections to minimize the disagreement between BWR core modeling predictions and observed (i.e., measured) plant data. For this paper, observed plant data are virtually simulated in the form of perturbed three-dimensional nodal power distributions with the perturbations sized to represent actual discrepancies between predictions and real plant data. The major focus of this work is to efficiently propagate multigroup neutron cross-section uncertainty through BWR lattice physics and core simulator calculations. The data adjustment equations are developed using a subspace approach that exploits the ill-conditioning of the multigroup cross-section covariance matrix to minimize computation and storage burden. Tikhonov regularization is also employed to improve the conditioning of the data adjustment equations. Expressions are also provided for posterior covariance matrices of both the multigroup cross-section and core attributes uncertainties.
Landscape, Locative Media, and the Duplicity of Code

Amid the buzz and clatter of the diner, Nancy checks her phone; Sid should be here soon. Two hours ago he checked in at the grocery store on the way home from the office, and his Tweet from 34 seconds ago indicates that he is “heading into town with @nancyt.” She opens the Places app on her phone to monitor his progress, and is horrified to note that two of her least favorite high school friends are right here in the Country Kitchen of all places. Time for a quick exit. She looks around; Bebe with her distinctive blond hair is sitting at the bar, but a brunette, not the redheaded Sheila, sits beside her. Safely in the street outside, she takes out her phone again, and unblocks Sheila’s Facebook profile. That explains it: 361 profile pictures of her grinning face, the most recent mobile upload showcasing her “new look <3.” Nancy needs a new plan, so checks her coupons app: a Mexican restaurant 0.2 miles away has a happy hour special, she notes; two seconds later she is perusing its four star user rating and a glowing review by “Herbert_Garrison,” a recommended reviewer with 36 Urbanspoon contributions to his name. Looks good. She taps for walking directions, updates her status, and texts Sid the change of venue as she checks in.
Abstract P042: Associations Between Echocardiographic Arterial Compliance and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in African Americans: The ARIC Study

Background: The stroke volume to pulse pressure ratio (SVPP), derived by echocardiography, is a validated estimate of arterial compliance. SVPP has been shown to predict fatal coronary disease in Europeans; however, its prognostic value in African Americans and associations with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) are unknown. Methods: We analyzed a subset (N=2059) of African Americans (mean age 59 ± 6 years, 65% female) in the ARIC study, who were free of prevalent cardiovascular disease and imaged by echocardiography in 1993-1995. Echocardiographic arterial compliance was determined 2 ways: by the SVPP, and a simplified arterial compliance index (ACI). Stroke volume was calculated by multiplying the aortic velocity-time integral (VTI) with the cross-sectional area of the left ventricular outflow tract (CSA). Pulse pressure was derived by subtracting the diastolic from systolic blood pressure. SVPP = VTI*CSA /PP. The ACI was calculated using the VTI as a surrogate for stroke volume: ACI = VTI / PP, as 75% of echocardiograms were missing CSA. Cox regression was used to model associations between ACI and subsequent CVD (defined as first incident stroke, coronary event, or heart failure), after controlling for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, total cholesterol, and glomerular filtration rate. A complete-case sensitivity analysis of participants with measured CSA (N=519) was conducted, to compare ACI and SVPP hazard ratios of CVD. Finally, missing stroke volume measurements were imputed by Monte Carlo Markov Chains, and risks between simulated SVPP and CVD assessed. Results: Over a mean follow up of 13 ± 4 years, 544 participants (26%) developed CVD. The lowest (representing greater arterial stiffness) compared to highest ACI quartile was associated with increased CVD risk (HR=2.67, 95%CI: 1.97 - 3.63). For each 1-unit decrease in ACI quartile, the HR of CVD increased 39% (HR = 1.39, 95%CI: 1.26 - 1.53). In the complete case analysis, the CVD hazard ratio contrasting lowest to highest quartiles was 1.88 (95% CI: 1.12 - 3.17) for ACI, and 1.81 (95%CI: 1.10 - 2.99) for SVPP. Each 1-unit decrease in arterial compliance quartile increased HR of CVD by 30% (HR = 1.30, 95%CI: 1.10 - 1.54) for ACI, compared to 24% (HR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.05 - 1.45) for SVPP. By multiple imputation, a 1-unit decrease in simulated SVPP quartile increased CVD risk 18% (HR = 1.18, 95%CI: 1.08 - 1.28). Conclusions: This is the first study to examine the prognostic value of echocardiography-derived arterial compliance in African Americans. We observed that the ACI and SVPP were associated with incident CVD in African Americans, after controlling for cardiac risk factors and anthropometry. Risks associated with SVPP, a validated measurement of arterial compliance, and the ACI, a novel simplified index, show close agreement in complete-case analyses of incident CVD in African Americans.
Tau aggregation and toxicity in tauopathic neurodegenerative diseases.

Since its discovery as a structural component of neurofibrillary lesions of Alzheimer's disease more than twenty years ago, tau protein has been implicated in the cascade of events associated with neurodegeneration. Specifically, the “tau hypothesis” posits that misfunction of tau, which occurs in response to unknown stimuli, results in its intracellular assembly into filaments that eventually prove toxic to the cells that produce them. The tau hypothesis is supported by numerous neuropathological and genetic observations of authentic human disease cases. However, experiments designed to study aggregate toxicity in biological models suggest that some aggregate species may be inert or could potentially serve a neuroprotective function. Distinguishing these possibilities experimentally has been complicated by currently available biological models, which do not fully recapitulate aggregation conditions seen in disease. Additional model systems which better approximate physiological conditions may help elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in aggregation associated toxicity. Here we examine the accumulated evidence linking aggregation and neurodegeneration, and experimental approaches to the problem of tau aggregation-mediated toxicity.
Transient behavior in multiple criteria path planning problems

A recursive, constructive algorithm for solving multicriterion problems with time-dependent cost functions is presented. This method is a direct generalization of dynamic programming. Under these assumptions, the set of efficient decisions is itself a function of time. The algorithm is used to demonstrate an analysis of the transient behavior of this set by means of an example from fire egress modeling. >
Data scientists, data management and data policy

US science agencies have or will soon have a requirement that externally funded projects have “data management plans.” Projects with a large budget or a tradition of data access and repositories do not see the impact as significant. However, the impact of the requirement can be particularly challenging for single investigators and small collaborations, especially in multidisciplinary research. These data represent what is known as Dark Data (Heidorn, 2008) in the long tail of science, where the data sets may be relatively small and the funding and expertise for handling also small. But just developing tools or putting computer scientists with the investigators is not sufficient.
Automatic Cloud Tracking Applied to GOES and METEOSAT Observations

An improved automatic processing method for the tracking of cloud motions as revealed by satellite imagery is presented and applications of the method to GOES observations of Hurricane Eloise and Meteosat water vapor and infrared data are presented. The method is shown to involve steps of picture smoothing, target selection and the calculation of cloud motion vectors by the matching of a group at a given time with its best likeness at a later time, or by a cross-correlation computation. Cloud motion computations can be made in as many as four separate layers simultaneously. For data of 4 and 8 km resolution in the eye of Hurricane Eloise, the automatic system is found to provide results comparable in accuracy and coverage to those obtained by NASA analysts using the Atmospheric and Oceanographic Information Processing System, with results obtained by the pattern recognition and cross correlation computations differing by only fractions of a pixel. For Meteosat water vapor data from the tropics and midlatitudes, the automatic motion computations are found to be reliable only in areas where the water vapor fields contained small-scale structure, although excellent results are obtained using Meteosat IR data in the same regions. The automatic method thus appears to be competitive in accuracy and coverage with motion determination by human analysts.
Effects of rosuvastatin on myeloperoxidase levels in patients with chronic heart failure: A randomized placebo-controlled study

Abstract Background Studies indicate that myeloperoxidase (MPO) is associated with disease progression and severity in heart failure (HF), while it may provide a mechanistic link between inflammation and adverse cardiac remodeling. The mechanisms that regulate MPO are unclear, while it is unknown whether specific treatments such as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and xanthine oxidase inhibitors may modify MPO. Therefore in the present study we examined the effects of rosuvastatin and allopurinol on MPO levels in patients HF. Methods Sixty clinically stable patients with systolic HF were randomized to receive rosuvastatin 10mg/day, allopurinol 300mg/day or placebo and followed up for 1 month. Plasma levels of MPO and serum levels of soluble CD40 ligand, interleukin-6, and oxidized LDL were determined using ELISA. All measurements were made before and after 1-month treatment. Results Rosuvastatin significantly reduced plasma levels of MPO ( p =0.003), which remained unchanged in the other groups. Furthermore, the change of MPO levels in the rosuvastatin-treated group was significantly different compared with the other groups ( p p =0.009), while the other inflammatory markers remained unchanged in all groups. In the total population, a significant correlation was observed between the baseline levels of MPO and hsCRP ( r =0.275, p =0.027), fibrinogen ( r =0.278, p =0.025), and sCD40L ( r =0.288, p =0.021). Conclusions Short-term treatment with rosuvastatin regulates inflammatory process in patients with heart failure by significantly reducing plasma levels of MPO. This finding reveals a novel pleiotropic effect of statins in patients with heart failure, and provides further insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of MPO in heart failure.
Modeling of force-velocity relationships in nine skeletal muscles

The force-velocity relationships of nine skeletal muscles in the cat's hindlimb were obtained and modeled using a least squares estimation of Hill's Model. Large variations were found between the models of the different muscles tested. It was found that muscle architecture and fiber composition are the most important contributors to each muscle's force-velocity model.
Effect of cholesterol on the release of amphotericin B from PEG-phospholipid micelles.

Micelles formed from PEG-DSPE solubilize high levels of the poorly water-soluble antifungal amphotericin B (AmB). AmB release from PEG-DSPE micelles is slow in buffer but remarkably rapid in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Sequential changes in the absorbance spectrum of AmB in PEG-DSPE micelles point to a rapid dissociation of incorporated drug in the presence of BSA. In this context, we have studied micelles formed from PEG-DSPE which coincorporate cholesterol (PEG-DSPE|cholesterol). 1H NMR measurements point to a lower mobility of lipid in PEG-DSPE|cholesterol micelles compared to PEG-DSPE micelles. The absorbance spectrum of AmB incorporated in PEG-DSPE|cholesterol micelles is distinct from that in PEG-DSPE micelles, which may point to differences in the drug−micelle interaction. AmB release from PEG-DSPE|cholesterol micelles is slow in buffer and in the presence of BSA. The absorption spectrum of AmB in PEG-DSPE|cholesterol micelles remained unchanged in BSA, further supporting stable inc...
Multi-objective optimization for actuator and sensor layouts of actively controlled 3D buildings

This paper investigates the multi-objective optimization of active control systems for vibration control of three-dimensional (3D) high-rise buildings under a variety of earthquake excitations. To this end, a novel multi-objective genetic algorithm is developed through the integration of the best features of a non-dominated sorting II (NS2) genetic algorithm (GA) and an implicit redundant representation (IRR) GA. The proposed NS2-IRR GA finds not only minimum distributions of both actuators and sensors within structures, but also minimum dynamic responses of 3D structures. Linear quadratic Gaussian controllers, hydraulic actuators and accelerometers are used for implementation of active control systems within the 3D buildings. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed NS2-IRR GA, two 3D building models are investigated using finite element methods, including low- and high-rise buildings. It is shown that the proposed NS2-IRR GA is effective in finding not only optimal locations and numbers of both ...
IgM and IgG alloantibody responses to MHC class I and II following rat renal allograft rejection. Effects of transplantectomy and posttransplantation blood transfusion

Renal allograft rejection in rats and humans is a potent inducer of alloantibody to donor major histocompatibility complex antigens. Alloantibody in such presensitized recipients can cause hyperacute rejection of subsequent renal allografts. In order to characterize alloantibody production in rats presensitized by renal graft rejection, ACI (RT1a) kidneys were transplanted into untreated fully allogeneic PVG (RT1c) recipients and allowed to reject while one native kidney remained in situ for host survival. Serum samples collected at weekly intervals were analyzed by flow cytometry for IgM and IgG antibody binding to ACI lymphoid target cells. The specificity of alloantibody responses was assessed by (1) differential binding to congenic rat strain target cells expressing only donor class I (PVG.R1) versus both donor class I and II (PVG.1A) antigens, (2) differential binding to unseparated donor lymphoid target cells versus lymphoid target cells depleted of class II MHC antigen-expressing cells, and (3) specific blocking of monoclonal antibodies to donor class I (R2/10P, R2/15S) or class II (F17.23.2) epitopes. Alloantibody responses to both donor class I and II MHC antigens were detected. The initial IgM response to donor class I MHC antigens peaked at the time of rejection, followed by a steady decline to relatively low levels by 4 weeks posttransplantation. The IgM response to donor class II MHC antigens was found to be cyclical with apparent peaks at day 7 and 5-6 weeks. The IgG response to donor class I and class II MHC antigens reached maximum by 5-6 weeks before slowly decreasing. IgM and IgG alloantibody specific for class I and class II MHC antigens could be detected through 19 weeks posttransplantation. The effects on circulating alloantibody of two manipulations, posttransplantation donor specific blood transfusion and allograft removal, were examined in this model. The alloantibody responses to class I MHC antigens were not affected by giving DSBT weekly beginning at day 14 after transplantation. However, posttransplantation DSBT eliminated the second peak of IgM alloantibody to class II MHC antigens seen approximately 5-6 weeks posttransplantation and also decreased circulating IgG specific for class II antigens. Transplantectomy at day 5-7 days after transplantation had no apparent effect on circulating IgM or IgG alloantibody through 7 weeks posttransplantation. These data indicate that in a fully allogeneic rat renal allograft model alloantibody responses are elicited to both class I and II MHC donor antigens, but that the kinetics and regulation of the responses to class I differ from those to class II alloantigens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A continuum of learning: from rote memorization to meaningful learning in organic chemistry

The Assimilation Theory of Ausubel and Novak has typically been used in the research literature to describe two extremes to learning chemistry: meaningful learning versus rote memorization. It is unlikely, however, that such discrete categories of learning exist. Rote and meaningful learning, rather, are endpoints along a continuum of learning. This paper reports the results of a qualitative investigation of students' experiences in a spiral, organic chemistry curriculum, specifically describing additional positions along the learning continuum between meaningful learning and rote memorization.
Toward the electronic structure of real DNA

To assess the effect of the electric field produced by the PO−4 K+ double layer on the band structure of the homopolynucleotides, cndo/2 and mindo/2 ∞ calculations have been performed for these systems using a point charge potential for the ions. The results show a considerable broadening of the physically interesting bands. A comparison of the band structures of the polynucleotides with that of a two-dimensional polyglycine network indicates the possibility of a charge transfer from the polypeptide chain to the sugar-phosphate chain and suggests a mechanism of both electronic and hole conduction in a nucleoprotein. Finally some methods to treat the electronic structure of aperiodic DNA are discussed, and a new procedure for taking into account the effect of a cluster of impurities or defects on the band structure of periodic DNA models is briefly outlined.
Effect of age on cholesterol uptake and utilization by rat adrenals: I. Internalization of lipoprotein-derived cholesteryl esters

Abstract Previous studies from this laboratory have documented a progressive age-related decline in trophic hormone (or second messenger cAMP) stimulated corticosterone production in isolated adrenocortical cells. In the current study, we examined the possibility that the aging process exerts this effect by interfering with an early step in the delivery of lipoprotein-derived cholesteryl esters to the cell. As such, we monitored the ability of two different rat adrenocortical cell model systems (intact perfused adrenal glands and primary cultures of adrenocortical cells from 5- and 18- to 20-month-old rats) to internalize lipoprotein cholesteryl esters, and to convert the newly internalized cholesteryl esters to corticosterone production. The results indicate that lipoprotein (hHDL 3 and rHDL) cholesteryl ester internalization (by both the endocytic and ‘selective’ pathways) is comparable in adrenocortical cells of the young and old rats. However, despite this, both the mass of corticosterone produced and the ratio of newly internalized (radiolabeled) cholesteryl ester incorporated into corticosterone is dramatically reduced in cells of the older animals. Thus, the lipoprotein uptake pathway appears to be intact in adrenals of older rats, but the intracellular processing of internalized cholesteryl ester is defective.
The Structure of the Micas and Related Minerals.

With the aid of the general principles(1) governing the structures of complex ionic crystals I have formulated a structure for talc, pyrophillite, the micas, and the brittle micas which is substantiated by the x-ray examination of the minerals, explains their remarkable physical properties, and leads to a general chemical formula unifying the widely varying analyses reported for different specimens. This structure is described in the following paragraphs.
The effect of time delays on Caribbean coral-algal interactions.

Abstract The analysis of ecological models often focuses on their asymptotic behavior, but there is increasing recognition that it is important to understand the role of transient behavior. By introducing a time delay into a model of coral–algal interactions in Caribbean coral reefs that exhibits alternative stable states (a favorable coral rich state and a degraded coral-depleted state), we demonstrate the criticality of understanding the basins of attraction for stable equilibria in addition to the systems' asymptotic behavior. Specifically, we show that although the introduction of a time delay into the model does not change the asymptotic stability of the stable equilibria, there are significant changes to their basins of attraction. An understanding of these effects is necessary when determining appropriate reef management options. We then demonstrate that this is a general phenomenon by considering similar behavior underlying the changes in the basins of attraction in a simple Lotka–Volterra model of competition.
A prospective follow-up of alcohol septal ablation for symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy--the Baylor experience (1996-2002).

Background: There is a paucity of data on the long-term outcome of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) for symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to evaluate the longer-term outcome of ASA therapy for symptomatic HOCM. Methods: In all, 137 patients were enrolled consecutively (1996–1999) and 130 (95%) (74 men, 56 women, aged 51 ± 17 years) underwent ASA and had serial prospective follow-up for up to 5 years (mean follow-up 3.6 ± 1.4 years). Evaluation included angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society [CCS] score), dyspnea (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class), duration of exercise on treadmill, and echocardiographic indices. Results: Ethanol (3.5 ± 1.5 cc), injected into 1.5 ± 0.6 arteries, induced a mean peak plasma creatine kinase (CK) of 1676 ± 944 units. Complications of procedures included death 1.5% (2/130), heart block requiring permanent pacemaker 13% (17/130), and coronary dissection 4.4% (6/130). Baseline versus last follow-up visit: NYHA class decreased from 3.0 ± 0.4 to 1.2 ± 0.6 (p < 0.01); CCS angina score from 2.0 ± 0.8 to 0.08 ± 0.4 (p < 0.01); and duration of exercise increased from 322 ± 207 to 443 ± 200s (p < 0.01). Resting left ventricular outflow tract gradient at baseline versus last follow-up visit showed a decrease from 74 ± 30 to 4 ± 13 (p < 0.01), and the dobutamine-provoked gradient of 88 ± 29 decreased to 21 ± 21 (p < 0.01) mmHg. All-cause mortality over the duration of follow-up was 7.7% (10) giving an annual rate of 2.1%, and cardiac mortality was 2.3% (3) reflecting an annual rate of 0.6%. Conclusions: Alcohol septal ablation decreased symptoms and improved exercise performance, indicating that it is an effective procedure for symptomatic HOCM.
Dose and treatment factors in radiation-related pericardial effusion associated with the mantle technique for Hodgkin's disease.

A retrospective review of 83 patients with Stage I-III Hodgkin's disease treated with an upper mantle field revealed a rate of radiation-related pericardial effusion (RRP) of 28.9% (24/83). Clinical presentation was asymptomatic effusion in 10/24 and symptomatic effusion in 14/24. RRP was self-limited in all but 4 patients, who progressed to chronic effusion requiring pericardiectomy (4/24). A midplane mediastinal dose of 4000 rads in 4 weeks was given with an anteriorly weighted mantle field that resulted in an average pericardial dose of 5325 rads (1823 ret) and an average midplane cardiac dose of 4625 rads (1558 ret). The rate of RRP was correlated with increasing degree of mediastinal Hodgkin's disease. Increased incidence of RRP with increasing cardiac and pericardial dose could not be proven statistically. Factors which may facilitate pericardial effusion following a basic radiation injury are discussed.
On the tail of the arrival process

We examine the cause of the tail of the distribution of the number of packet and byte arrivals at backbone routers. One possible cause is that sometimes there are a large number of active connections resulting in a large number of arrivals in a short period of time. Another possibility is that the tail is due to one or a few very fast connections. By examining time-stamped packet headers from several backbone links, we find that the tail is neither strictly from many users nor strictly from fast connections. Rather, at some times and some time-scales, we find that the tail (the skewness of the distribution in particular) is strongly influenced by the tail of the distribution of the number of active connections, while at other times, the tail of the number of arrivals is due to the tail of the distribution of the connection bit-rates.
Cognitive Motor Interference During Walking in Multiple Sclerosis Using an Alternate-Letter Alphabet Task

Abstract Objective To examine cognitive motor interference (CMI) during walking using a simple, standardized, and well-refined alphabet dual-task (DT) paradigm in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) in whom cognitive and walking impairment often co-occur. Design A single time point, cross-sectional study. Setting A university clinical laboratory. Participants Individuals with MS (N=61; mean age ± SD, 50.8±9.3y) performed 4 walking trials over a 4.6-m walkway to determine gait parameters. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Gait parameters were assessed over 4 walking trials. The first 2 walks involved the single task (ST) of walking only; the second 2 walks involved participants performing the DT of reciting alternate letters of the alphabet while walking. The gait parameters recorded during the ST and DT walks were used to compute a dual-task cost (DTC) of walking (% change in gait parameter between ST and DT walks) as a metric of CMI. Results Our multivariate analysis with univariate follow-ups indicated CMI during walking based on slower velocity ( η p 2 =.59; F=84.6; P η p 2 =.46; F=51.6; P η p 2 =.38; F=36; P η p 2 =.34; F=31; P η p 2 =.31; F=27.3; P r |≤.240). Conclusions The alphabet DT paradigm is easily administered and well refined. We highlight its ability and acceptability to determine CMI during walking in people with MS, independent of disease status.
Reasons and Causes: Children's Understanding of Conformity to Social Rules and Physical Laws

The notion of conformity to law is an explanatory principle that appears in commonsense theories of both intentional and natural phenomena. Yet, adults distinguish sharply between conformity mediated by intentions and conformity mediated by physical interactions. To what extent do young children also see these processes as different? Three- to 5-year-old children gave different justifications for why actors “can't” violate physical laws or social rules. Consequences and permission/obligation were said to produce conformity to social rules. Justifications for laws involved reference to physical limitations or explicit statements of impossibility. Two follow-up studies assessed understanding of the role of mental states in producing conformity. Older preschool-aged children (but not 3-year-olds) appreciated that conformity to social rules depended on the knowledge and intentions of actors, whereas conformity to physical laws was independent of mental state. These studies suggest that, by age 5, children recognize different sorts of constraint or modality expressed in laws.
Enhanced stereotypies after repeated injections but not continuous amphetamines

Abstract Immediately following repeated daily injections of d-amphetamine, rats showed enhanced motor stereotypies when injected with amphetamine or apomorphine. Other rats administered the same amount of amphetamine but in a continuous regime using silicone pellets were conversely hyperactive when initially tested with amphetamine and subsensitive to apomorphine. It is the continuous regime which most clearly produces amphetamine psychosis in humans.
The blue up-conversion emission of glass ceramics doped with Er3+ ion upon green line (19436 cm−1) excitation

Abstract Some spectroscopic properties of PbF 2 +GeO 2 :ErF 3 glass ceramics under green line (19436 cm −1 excitation were investigated at room temperature. Both absorption and emission spectra have been measured. The up-conversion of green radiation into violet (26455 cm −1 ) and blue (24582 cm −1 ) emission from Er 3+ ion was observed in the compounds. The up-conversion process involves a two-photon absorption for these violet and blue emission bands. A fluorescence efficiency of 3.34×10 −4 has been estimated for the blue up-conversion emission at room temperature from the sample doped with 1.8 mol% ErF 3 .
A common size parameter for hydrophobic binding of inhibitors by α-Chymotrypsin, alkylated α-Chymotrypsin, and yeast alcohol dehydrogenase☆

Abstract An increase in polarity of the methionine-192 residue of α-chymotrypsin brought about by the procedure of Lawson and Schramm has been shown to decrease the apparent affinity of the enzyme for the substrate (methyl hippurate) and to increase the apparent rate constant for the decomposition of the Michaelis complex. A parallel decrease in affinity of the modified enzyme for simple hydrocarbon inhibitors has been demonstrated. Thus the decrease in hydrophobic binding is capable of explaining the decreased affinity of the enzyme for methyl hippurate. Yeast alcohol dehydrogenase apparently has a similar nonspecific hydrophobic site, since it has been shown that simple hydrocarbons act as competitive inhibitors for NAD+. All of the enzymes studied (α-chymotrypsin, alkylated α-chymotrypsin, and yeast alcohol dehydrogenase) exhibited the same size dependence as far as the simple hydrocarbon inhibitors are concerned. The slope of ΔF ° of complex formation vs. molecular surface area of the hydrocarbon for a homologous series of these hydrocarbons was approximately 0.12. An extraction theory suggested in an earlier paper indicated that a slope of 0.12 with this homologous series would be obtained with any enzyme which complexes by this mechanism. It is suggested that a hydrophobic fold or slot is located at or near the catalytic site of the enzymes investigated which contributes to the binding of normal substrates.
Indoor radon: Source characterization

Sources for indoor radon including radon from soils and rock infiltrating the substructure of a home and radon from water usage, building materials, outside air, and burning natural gas are reviewed. It is generally accepted that radon from soils and rock is the principal source for indoor radon. Correlations between indoor radon levels and soil characteristics are discussed for six areas in New York State. These results indicate that soils can be characterized for radon availability and transport into homes by a combination of soil parameters including the source strength (soil radium concentration or soil-gas radon concentration), soil permeability for gas flow and, depth of soils to bedrock or water table.