cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Topology Optimization of Fluid Problems by the Lattice Boltzmann Method

We consider the optimal design of flow domains for Navier-Stokes. The problem is solved by a topology optimization approach varying the effective porosity of a fictitious material. The boundaries of the flow domain are represented by potentially discontinuous material distributions. Navier-Stokes flows are traditionally approximated by finite element and finite volume methods. These schemes, however, are particularly sensitive to the discretization of the flow along the boundaries, leading to significant robustness issues in the case of non-smooth boundary representations. Therefore, we study the potential of the lattice Boltzmann method for approximating low Mach-number incompressible viscous flows for topology optimization. In the lattice Boltzmann method the geometry of flow domains is defined in a discontinuous manner, similar to the approach used in material based topology optimization. In addition, this nontraditional discretization method features parallel scalability and allows for high-resolution fluid meshes. In this paper, we show how the variation of the porosity can be used in conjunction with the lattice Boltzmann method for the optimal design of fluid domains. An adjoint formulation of the sensitivity equations will be presented and the potential of this topology optimization approach will be illustrated by a numerical examples.
Real-time implementation of a fuzzy logic controller for dc-dc switching converters

This paper presents a successful implementation of a fuzzy logic controller structure for dc-dc switching converters and evaluates experimentally its sensitivity for variable supply voltages and load resistance variations. The optimum topology of the controller structure is determined using experimental tests. An advanced test bed system is used to evaluate the robustness capacities of the controller under varying loading conditions and input voltage variations. The experiment is performed using a low cost micro-controller PIC16F877 in order to verify the design performance over a wide range of operating conditions. Experimental results are obtained using appropriate scaling factors associated with the input variables of the fuzzy controller. The controller show very interesting tracking features and is able to cope with load changes and input voltage variations. The proposed controller structure is general and can be directly applied to any dc-dc converter topologies. The fuzzy controller structure is compared experimentally with the existing PI control used in industry. It yields a better dynamic performance without overshoot.
Education and the Gender Gaps in Health and Mortality

The positive associations between education and health and survival are well established, but whether the strength of these associations depends on gender is not. Is the beneficial influence of education on survival and on self-rated health conditioned by gender in the same way, in opposite ways, or not at all? Because women are otherwise disadvantaged in socioeconomic resources that are inputs to health, their health and survival may depend more on education than will men’s. To test this hypothesis, we use data from the National Health Interview Survey-Linked Mortality Files (NHIS-LMF). We find that education’s beneficial influence on feeling healthy and on survival are conditional on gender, but in opposite ways. Education has a larger effect on women’s self-rated health than on men’s, but a larger effect on men’s mortality. To further examine the mortality results, we examine specific causes of death. We find that the conditional effect is largest for deaths from lung cancer, respiratory disease, stroke, homicide, suicide, and accidents. Because women report worse health but men’s mortality is higher, education closes the gender gap in both health and mortality.
Prognostic Risk Stratification and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Surgical Treatment for Renal Cell Carcinoma with Vascular Tumor Thrombus

OBJECTIVES Approximately 4% to 10% of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) present with vascular tumor thrombus. Often, these patients also present with metastatic disease. This study examined the clinical outcome and morbidity of patients with RCC and vascular tumor thrombus treated with aggressive surgical therapy. METHODS From 1989 to 2006, 118 patients were identified with Stage pT3b or pT3c RCC who had undergone radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy. Disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival were measured by Kaplan-Meier statistics with the log-rank test to assess differences in survival stratified by the clinical and pathologic variables. Cox regression techniques were used to identify significant predictors of DSS. RESULTS The median follow-up was 18 months (range 1 month to 13.55 years). Tumor thrombus was at the level of the renal vein in 67 patients (56.8%), the infradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava in 39 (33%), and the supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava in 12 patients (10%). Of the 118 patients, 42 (35.6%) presented with metastasis. The median tumor size was 8.2 cm. The 5-year overall survival rate was 40.7%. The 5-year DSS rate was 60.3% in those without metastasis and 10% in those with metastasis (P <0.001). The level of tumor thrombus did not significantly affect survival (P = 0.85). When the patients without metastasis were analyzed separately, nodal positivity (P = 0.03) and a tumor diameter greater than 7 cm (P = 0.05) were significant predictors of DSS. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the role of radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy in patients with RCC and vascular tumor thrombus. The absence of significant morbidity makes aggressive radical surgery feasible in the patients with tumor thrombus and metastatic disease. The current TNM staging system may need to be revised, given the evidence that the level of tumor thrombus invasion does not affect the survival outcomes.
When cultural maintenance means linguistic convergence: Pennsylvania German evidence for the Matrix Language Turnover hypothesis

Research on languages in contact has shown evidence of structural convergence, as well as internally motivated language change; one language which has been frequently studied in this light is Pennsylvania German (PG). Myers-Scotton 1993 posits that convergence involves a change in the selection of the language which sets the morpho-syntactic frame involved in language production. This is called a turnover in the Matrix Language (ML). Data from PG collected in the 1940s, as compared with data collected in the late 1970s and 1980s, indicate that an ML turnover is underway in the sectarian communities; the language can be characterized as having a composite ML. The primary features of convergence in these data are English lexical-conceptual structures in the tense system, English morphological realization patterns in verb phrases, and the increased syntactization of word order in PG. There is only weak evidence for the introduction of English system morphemes at this stage. The loss of case-marking does not conform to English patterns; this indicates that much of the influence of language contact occurs at the lexical-conceptual level. (Pennsylvania German, convergence, Matrix Language Frame Model, code-switching, borrowing, language contact)
COLEMANITE AS GLAZE MATERIAL1

Experiments were made to find a natural frit which would replace lead and eliminate fritting. Colemanite supplemented by kryolith was found satisfactory, at least at certain temperatures.
Midproject findings from a study of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's policy on smokeless tobacco use.

In this paper we present midproject findings from a longitudinal survey of 5,000 male athletes at 56 randomly selected American colleges and universities. The study monitors athletes' compliance with and perceptions of the effects of an organizational policy that restricts smokeless tobacco (ST) use. In 1996 and 1997, 77% of users reported that they complied with the policy during competition. During the same period there was a significant increase in the number of users who complied with policy during practices and of those who credited the policy with contributing to a decline in their overall tobacco consumption (14% vs 68%, p <.001; 17% vs 23%, p <. 01; respectively). The findings suggest that organizational policies that regulate ST use can have an impact on young adult ST use.
1.5 /spl mu/m direct space-to-time pulse shaper utilizing a diffractive optical element for pattern generation

Summary from only given. We demonstrate the first operation of a direct space to time (DST) pulse shaper in the 1.55 /spl mu/m band, desirable for optical communications applications. Additionally we report the use of a phase-only diffractive optical element (DOE) for essentially loss-free spatial pattern generation at the input to the DST pulse shaper. Although phase-only filters are commonly used in the familiar Fourier transform pulse shaper, our current work constitutes the first application of phase-only filters for the DST pulse shaping configuration.
Tight Long-term Dynamic Doxycycline Responsive Nigrostriatal GDNF Using a Single rAAV Vector

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) gene transfer is being developed as a treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). Due to the potential for side effects, external transgene regulation should enhance this strategy's safety profile. Here, we demonstrate dynamic control during long-term expression of GDNF using a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based bicistronic tetracycline (tet)-off construct. Nigrostriatal GDNF overexpression induces body weight alterations in rodents, enabling longitudinal in vivo tracking of GDNF expression after nigral vector delivery. Regulated GDNF expression was highly sensitive to dietary doxycycline (DOX), displaying undetectable striatal GDNF levels at serum DOX levels below those required for antimicrobial activity. However, in the absence of DOX, striatal GDNF levels exceeded levels required for efficacy in PD models. We also demonstrate the absence of a series of known GDNF-associated side effects when using direct intrastriatal vector delivery. Therefore, this single rAAV vector system meets most of the requirements for an experimental reagent for treatment of PD.
Time Course of Error-Potentiated Startle and its Relationship to Error-Related Brain Activity

Errors are aversive, motivationally-salient events which prime defensive action. This is reflected in a potentiated startle reflex after the commission of an error. The current study replicates and extends previous work examining the time course of error-potentiated startle as a function of startle lag (i.e., 300 ms or 800 ms following correct and error responses). In addition, the relationship between error-potentiated startle and error-related brain activity in both the temporal (error-related negativity, ERN/Ne) and spectral (error-related theta and delta power) domains was investigated. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 32 healthy undergraduates while they performed an arrowhead version of a flanker task. Complex Morlet wavelets were applied to compute oscillatory power in the delta- and theta-band range. Consistent with our previous report, startle was larger following errors. Furthermore, this effect was evident at both early and late startle probe times. Increased delta and theta power after an error was associated with larger error-potentiated startle. An association between ERN amplitude and error-potentiated startle was only observed in a subgroup of individuals with relatively large ERN/Ne amplitude. Among these individuals, ERN/Ne magnitude was also related to multiple indices of task performance. This study further supports the notion that errors are aversive events that prime defensive motivation, and that error-potentiated startle is evident beyond the immediate commission of an error and can be predicted from error-related brain activity.
NBBS path selection framework

This paper describes the path selection function in Networking BroadBand Services (NBBS), which is IBM's architecture for high-speed, multimedia networks. The distinguishing feature of a multimedia network is its ability to integrate different applications with different traffic characteristics and service requirements in the network, such as voice, video, and data. In order to meet their service requirements, it is necessary for the network to provide unique quality-of-service (QOS) guarantees to each application. QOS guarantees, specified as multiple end-to-end performance objectives, translate into path and link constraints in the shortest path routing problem. For a general cost function, shortest path routing subject to path constraints is known to be a nonpolynomial- (NP-) complete problem. The NBBS path selection algorithm, a heuristic solution based on the Bellman-Ford algorithm, has a polynomial order of complexity. The algorithm finds a minimum hop path satisfying an end-to-end delay (or delay variation) constraint, that in most cases also optimizes a load balancing function. To reduce the number of path constraints, other QOS requirements such as packet loss ratio are implemented as a link constraint. The notion of primary and secondary links is used to minimize the long-term overall call blocking probability by dynamically limiting the hop count of a given path. The path selection algorithm developed for point-to-point connections is described first, followed by its extension to the case of point-to-multipoint connections.
Memo to Telecenter Planners

In the village of Wu'an, Hebei Province, in Mainland China (China), a farmer named Li Suotian continually received agricultural market information via the Internet. He discovered that an Israeli variety of tomatoes sold well in the Province. Based on this information from the Internet, he decided to grow this variety of tomatoes in place of grains, and his income grew eight times larger. A changing agriculture and rural life means more decisions that need more information and more communication.
Kynch theory and compression zones

Kynch's theories of sedimentation are reinterpreted, modified, and extended to be valid for batch sedimentation in which a zone of compacting sediment forms at the bottom of the column. The development has several steps: First, it is shown that a concentration discontinuity, any part of whose chord plots above the curve on a Kynch plot of settling flux vs. particle concentration, will be unstable and immediately give rise to a different concentration distribution. From this it is deduced that Kynch characteristics, or loci of constant concentration, must propagate either from the origin of a height vs. time plot, or tangentially from the locus of the compression or suspension-sediment discontinuity. A Kynch-like construction is derived to relate the settling rate at the top of the suspension (measured by its subsidence rate) to the concentration arriving at the surface at that time. It makes use of two tangents, one to the settling curve (as in Kynch), and another to the locus of the compression discontinuity. Finally a construction, analagous to that of Talmage and Fitch, is deduced for determining required thickener area.
A novel rat model for the study of intraosseous metastatic spine cancer.

Object. Although metastatic spinal disease constitutes a significant percentage of all spinal column tumors, an accessible and reproducible animal model has not been reported. In this study the authors describe the technique for creating an intraosseous spinal tumor model in rats and present a functional and histological analysis. Methods. Eighteen female Fischer 344 rats were randomized into two groups. Group 1 animals underwent a transabdominal exposure and implantation of CRL-1666 breast adenocarcinoma into the L-6 vertebral body (VB). Animals in Group 2 underwent a sham operation. Hindlimb function was tested daily by using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scale. Sixteen days after tumor implantation, animals were killed and their spines were removed for histological assessment. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. By Day 15 functional analysis showed a significant decrease in motor function in Group 1 animals (median functional score 2 of 21) compared with Group 2 rats (...
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders: T-cell lymphoma following cardiac transplant.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a frequently fatal complication occurring after transplant. The majority of cases are of B-cell origin but a smaller percentage of cases are of T-cell origin. The etiology of these disorders is unclear, however, EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) in the context of immunosupperssion is thought to play a role, particularly in B-cell PTLD. We report a case of T-cell PTLD limited to the bone marrow occurring eight years post-cardiac transplantation and review the literature on T-cell PTLD after heart transplant.
Laminar organization and ultrastructure of GABA-immunoreactive neurons and processes in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the tree shrew ( Tupaia belangeri )

The distribution and ultrastructure of neurons and neuropil labeled by an antiserum to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were examined in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri). The LGN of this species segregates center type and cell class into three distinct pairs of laminae: a medial pair (laminae 1 and 2) containing ON-center cells, a more lateral pair (4, 5) containing OFF-center cells, and 2 laminae (3, 6) containing W-like cells. The relationship between this laminar segregation and the distribution of GABA immunoreactivity was investigated in the present study. GABA-immunoreactive neurons and neuropil were present in all six of the laminae. However, both the density of labeled cells (adjusted for neuronal density across laminae) and the density of labeled neuropil showed a medial-to-lateral gradient. The adjusted density of labeled cells was higher laterally than medially, and the density of labeled neuropil was significantly greater in the more lateral OFF-center laminae and W-like laminae than in the medial two ON-center laminae. Thus, inhibitory, GABAergic influences may modulate to different degrees the visual signals in the ON, OFF, and W pathways. Labeled cells had a mean cross-sectional area (107 microns 2) approximately one-half that of unlabeled cells (216 microns 2). They constitute 16-34% of the neurons in the LGN. At the electron microscope level, three different kinds of labeled profile were observed. Vesicle containing profiles like the F2 profiles of cat were postsynaptic to retinal terminals and presynaptic to conventional dendrites. F1 axon terminals with dense clusters of vesicles were also labeled as were some myelinated axons. Another labeled profile, which we suggest should be called an F3 process, was a large dendrite of irregular caliber with punctate groups of vesicles near the synapse. Our results suggest that GABAergic circuitry is an important part of the functional organization in the LGN of the tree shrew.
Using Focused Conversation in the Classroom

Focused conversation is a method of collecting observations, emotions, interpretations, and decisions from groups that have shared a significant experience. This article reports how the author used focused conversation to discuss the events of September 11 with students in three sections of a master’s-level organizational change class in the week following the Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. It discusses ways of using focused conversation in the classroom and in the workplace in a wide range of applications.
Simulation run length planning for stochastic loss models

We derive approximate formulas for the asymptotic variance of estimators of the steady-state blocking probability in a multi-server loss system. These formulas can be used to predict simulation run lengths required to obtain desired statistical precision before the simulation has been run, which can aid in the design of simulation experiments. It is natural to delete an initial portion of the simulation run to allow the system to approach steady state when it starts out empty. As the system size increases, the time to approach steady state becomes a greater portion of the overall simulation time as system size increases.
Seeded graph matching for correlated Erdös-Rényi graphs

Graph matching is an important problem in machine learning and pattern recognition. Herein, we present theoretical and practical results on the consistency of graph matching for estimating a latent alignment function between the vertex sets of two graphs, as well as subsequent algorithmic implications when the latent alignment is partially observed. In the correlated Erdos-Renyi graph setting, we prove that graph matching provides a strongly consistent estimate of the latent alignment in the presence of even modest correlation. We then investigate a tractable, restricted-focus version of graph matching, which is only concerned with adjacency involving vertices in a partial observation of the latent alignment; we prove that a logarithmic number of vertices whose alignment is known is sufficient for this restricted-focus version of graph matching to yield a strongly consistent estimate of the latent alignment of the remaining vertices. We show how Frank-Wolfe methodology for approximate graph matching, when there is a partially observed latent alignment, inherently incorporates this restricted-focus graph matching. Lastly, we illustrate the relationship between seeded graph matching and restricted-focus graph matching by means of an illuminating example from human connectomics.
Panel sequencing for clinically oriented variant screening and copy number detection in 142 untreated multiple myeloma patients.

We employed a customized Multiple Myeloma (MM)-specific Mutation Panel (M3P) to screen a homogenous cohort of 142 untreated MM patients for relevant mutations in a selection of disease-specific genes. M3Pv2.0 includes 77 genes selected for being either actionable targets, potentially related to drug–response or part of known key pathways in MM biology. We identified mutations in potentially actionable genes in 49% of patients and provided prognostic evidence of STAT3 mutations. This panel may serve as a practical alternative to more comprehensive sequencing approaches, providing genomic information in a timely and cost-effective manner, thus allowing clinically oriented variant screening in MM.
The Use of Behavior Change Techniques and Theory in Technologies for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Treatment in Adults: A Comprehensive Review

This review examined the use of health behavior change techniques and theory in technology-enabled interventions targeting risk factors and indicators for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and treatment. Articles targeting physical activity, weight loss, smoking cessation and management of hypertension, lipids and blood glucose were sourced from PubMed (November 2010-2015) and coded for use of 1) technology, 2) health behavior change techniques (using the CALO-RE taxonomy), and 3) health behavior theories. Of the 984 articles reviewed, 304 were relevant (240=intervention, 64=review). Twenty-two different technologies were used (M=1.45, SD=+/-0.719). The most frequently used behavior change techniques were self-monitoring and feedback on performance (M=5.4, SD=+/-2.9). Half (52%) of the intervention studies named a theory/model - most frequently Social Cognitive Theory, the Trans-theoretical Model, and the Theory of Planned Behavior/Reasoned Action. To optimize technology-enabled interventions targeting CVD risk factors, integrated behavior change theories that incorporate a variety of evidence-based health behavior change techniques are needed.
Germline Stem Cell Differentiation Entails Regional Control of Cell Fate Regulator GLD-1 in Caenorhabditis Elegans

Germline stem cell differentiation in Caenorhabditis elegans is controlled by glp-1 Notch signaling. Cell fate regulator GLD-1 is sufficient to induce meiotic entry and expressed at a high level during meiotic prophase, inhibiting mitotic gene activity. glp-1 signaling and other regulators control GLD-1 levels post-transcriptionally (low in stem cells, high in meiotic prophase), but many aspects of GLD-1 regulation are uncharacterized, including the link between glp-1-mediated transcriptional control and post-transcriptional GLD-1 regulation. We established a sensitive assay to quantify GLD-1 levels across an ∼35-cell diameter field, where distal germline stem cells differentiate proximally into meiotic prophase cells in the adult C. elegans hermaphrodite, and applied the approach to mutants in known or proposed GLD-1 regulators. In wild-type GLD-1 levels elevated ∼20-fold in a sigmoidal pattern. We found that two direct transcriptional targets of glp-1 signaling, lst-1 and sygl-1, were individually required for repression of GLD-1. We determined that lst-1 and sygl-1 act in the same genetic pathway as known GLD-1 translational repressor fbf-1, while lst-1 also acts in parallel to fbf-1, linking glp-1-mediated transcriptional control and post-transcriptional GLD-1 repression. Additionally, we estimated the position in wild-type gonads where germ cells irreversibly commit to meiotic development based on GLD-1 levels in worms where glp-1 activity was manipulated to cause an irreversible fate switch. Analysis of known repressors and activators, as well as modeling the sigmoidal accumulation pattern, indicated that regulation of GLD-1 levels is largely regional, which we integrated with the current view of germline stem cell differentiation.
The Effects of Limited, Restricted Music Practice on Overnight Memory Enhancement.

During evening practice sessions, 32 nonpianist musicians learned a short melody on piano, and then either learned a second short piano melody, learned a difficult unfamiliar piece on their principal instruments, practiced familiar material on their principal instruments, or engaged in no other music-related motor behavior prior to sleep; practice on the target melody was limited in terms of time and number of repetitions. All participants returned the next morning and were tested on their performance of the target piano melody. Previous research has revealed overnight enhancement of skills as a result of sleep. In the current study, however, our participants showed significant decrements in performance between evening training and morning test, though the extent of the decrements varied. We speculate that the lack of overnight improvements may have resulted from our regulating participants’ practice of the target melody during the training sessions and that strict, limited practice protocols may interfer...
Two-layer Model for Electroabsorption and Built-in Potential Measurements on a-Si:H pin Solar Cells

Modulated Electroabsorption (EA) measurements have been widely used to estimate built-in potentials ( V bi ) in semiconductor devices. The method is particularly simple in devices for which the built-in potential is dropped in a single layer of the device. However, experimental results in amorphous silicon and organic devices can involve at least 2 layers. In the present paper we consider the information which can be obtained about 2-layer semiconductor devices from electroabsorption measurements. In particular we describe a 2-layer EA model appropriate to a-Si:H based pin solar cells, for which both the p + and i layers contribute to the EA signal. We present an analysis of capacitance and second harmonic measurements which yields the EA coefficient for the p + layer of the device, and we present measurements on a-Si:H pin devices which appear consistent with this analysis. Wavelength dependent EA then yields the built-in potential across the 2-layer device.
Up or Down-regulated High Expressed Genes in Different Stage from Thyroid of H22 Tumour Mice

Objective:To reveal the character of highly expressed Genes in different stage from the thyroid of H22 Tumour Mice.Meth-ods:By the quantitative four diagnosis and syndrome differentiation methods and GeneChip Mouse Exon 1.0 ST Array,we observed thyroid gene expression about poisonous pathogenic factors syndrome and asthenia of qi syndrome on earlier period tumour mice.Highly expressed highly are analyzed in the paper.Results:in early period,there are 1 up-regulated gene lfi27 and 2 down-regulated high expressed genes,namely AY036118 and Dub2a in middle stage,25 up-regulated high expressed genes were Ktklb27,Crispl,Fas,H2-Ea and GOs2.In in-termediate and advanced stage,there are 1 up-regulated and 3 down-regulated high expressed genes,the former namely Miff,the latter kind namely Sparc,Co14al and Co13al.Conclusion The expression and functional characteristics of some genes present certain ternds,for exam-ple,in middle stage,the up-regulated high expressed genes are much more than that in other two stages.These genes involved in cellular ar-chitecture,movement,proliferation,apoptosis may be related to Tumorigenesis.In these genes above,most genes were less researched in thyroid physiology and pathology.They function in thyroid and the thyroid function in Tumorigenesis expecting more study.
Renal Plasmacytoma: A Case Report and Summary of Reported Cases

AbstractAlthough multiple myelomas occur fairly frequently, extramedullar plasmacytomas are uncommon. To date, only 7 cases of renal plasmacytoma have been documented. We report case 8 and discuss its management.
Endothelial and astrocytic cell membranes in relation to the composition of cerebral extracellular fluid.

In this chapter we review experiments performed to investigate the ultrastructure of cerebral microvessels and adjacent glial cells. The purpose of these experiments was to study: 1) the pathways of solute movement after infusion of hyperosmotic fluids, and 2) the specialized structures, called assemblies, within astrocytic membranes. The increased number of assemblies found near microvessels and in the glia limitans might be involved in the regulation of the composition of cerebral extracellular fluid.
Implementation of Conformal Cooling & Topology Optimization in 3D Printed Stainless Steel Porous Structure Injection Molds

Abstract This work presents implementation of numerical analysis and topology optimization techniques for redesigning traditional injection molding tools. Traditional injection molding tools have straight cooling channels, drilled into a solid body of the core and cavity. The cooling time constitutes a large portion of the total production cycle that needs to be reduced as much as possible in order to bring in a significant improvement in the overall business of injection molding industry. Incorporating conformal cooling channels in the traditional dies is a highly competent solution to lower the cooling time as well as improve the plastic part quality. In this paper, the thermal and mechanical behavior of cavity and core with conformal cooling channels are analyzed to find an optimum design for molding tools. The proposed design with conformal cooling channels provides a better alternative than traditional die designs with straight channels. This design is further optimized using thermo-mechanical topology optimization based on a multiscale approach for generating sound porous structures. The implemented topology optimization results in a light-weight yet highly effective die cavity and core. The reduction in weight achieved through the design of dies with porous structures is meant to facilitate the adoption of additive manufacturing for die making by the tooling industry.
Biophysical Studies of Liposome Encapsulated Pokeweed Antiviral Protein and its use as a HIV Therapeutic

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the human immune system, compromising its effect in regards to disease prevention. HIV results in the destruction of CD4 cells, which are vital in the defense against human immune responses. HIV can severely damage the immune system and lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). There is presently no cure or effective HIV vaccine and as a result it is important to seek alternative measures in the defense against HIV/AIDS. Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP), a protein isolated from pokeweed plant, Phytolacca americana, provides a new and profoundly promising direction in the field of HIV/AIDS research. PAP plays a vital role in the immune system of pokeweed and is a ribosome inactivating protein (RIP), inhibiting viral protein production. PAP possesses antiviral properties, and reduces the infectivity of many plant and animal viruses, including HIV-1. My project focuses on mechanisms using liposomal encapsulated PAP, targeted to infected cells as a therapeutic for HIV infection. Steady state fluorescence was used to identify the thermodynamic parameters of interaction between PAP and HIV RNA. PAP binds to the m7 GTP cap and the 5′ UTR region of HIV RNA. Various isoforms of PAP were tested and the optimal affinity was identified as a Km of 20.09 nM. Fluorescence observed V.S [m7 GTP] was plotted through nonlinear regression using the Prism 6.0 program. Varying liposomes were prepared in order to identify the optimal characteristics for PAP encapsulation. Liposomes were lyophilized through rotary evaporation and later extruded to ensure homogeneity. Fluorescent titration enables the testing of liposomal PAP encapsulation efficiency. It was concluded that a 1/1 v% mixture of liposomes DOPE-DOTAP is most efficient for PAP encapsulation. These accomplishments will enable further modification of the liposomes by covalently conjugating HIV-specific monoclonal antibodies (anti-pg120 and/or anti-pg41), thus facilitating the selectivity of the liposomal PAP to the target tissues (HIV-infected CD4+ lymphocytes). With the aforementioned completed the basis for PAP-liposome interactions can be established and also the modulation of these interactions in order to target HIV-infected cells.
Perfluoro-tert-butyl Homoserine Is a Helix-Promoting, Highly Fluorinated, NMR-Sensitive Aliphatic Amino Acid: Detection of the Estrogen Receptor·Coactivator Protein-Protein Interaction by 19F NMR.

Highly fluorinated amino acids can stabilize proteins and complexes with proteins, via enhanced hydrophobicity, and provide novel methods for identification of specific molecular events in complex solutions, via selective detection by 19F NMR and the absence of native 19F signals in biological contexts. However, the potential applications of 19F NMR in probing biological processes are limited both by the strong propensities of most highly fluorinated amino acids for the extended conformation and by the relatively modest sensitivity of NMR spectroscopy, which typically constrains measurements to mid-micromolar concentrations. Herein, we demonstrate that perfluoro-tert-butyl homoserine exhibits a propensity for compact conformations, including α-helix and polyproline helix (PPII), that is similar to that of methionine. Perfluoro-tert-butyl homoserine has nine equivalent fluorines that do not couple to any other nuclei, resulting in a sharp singlet that can be sensitively detected rapidly at low micromolar c...
Leadership Behaviors and Team Preparation Ability of the Footvolley Coaches in Thailand Footvolley Games

The research on the leadership behaviors of the coaches and the ability to prepare footvolley teams for Thailand Footvolley Games, has a purpose of studying the levels of leadership behaviors of the coaches and the ability to prepare footvolley teams for Thailand Footvolley Games and to find the correlation between leadership behaviors of the coaches and the ability to prepare the footvolley teams for Thailand Footvolley Games. The model group in the study consisted of 375 athletes and coaching staff of footvolley in the 2016 Footvolley Competition of Thailand. Tools are questionnaires, statistic is by mean, t-Test, one way ANOVA, Pearson’s simple correlation moment. The findings are, that the levels of leadership behaviors of the coaches are high, the levels of the ability to prepare footvolley teams are high. It is also found that the levels of correlation between the leadership behaviors and the ability to prepare the footvolley teams of the coaches are high, with statistic significant at .01 and the correlation coefficient at .776.
“Contraceptive Care for Adolescents in School-Based Health Centers Is Essential!”: The Lived Experience of Nurse Practitioners

Adolescents often face hurdles that may interfere with accessing contraceptive services. School-based health centers (SBHCs) are available to many teens in the United States; however, only half of SBHCs that serve adolescents are permitted to provide contraception. The aim of this descriptive phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of nurse practitioners (NPs) providing contraceptive care to teens in SBHCs. Twelve NPs were interviewed and Colaizzi's method of descriptive phenomenological analysis was used to describe the lived experience of NPs providing contraceptive care to adolescents in SBHCs. Three themes emerged: Contraception is an Essential Part of Care for Teens Using SBHCs; Frustration! There are so Many Hurdles to Negotiate; and Walking a Fine Line. Despite the restrictions on SBHC services and the hurdles the NPs encountered, they remained committed to providing contraceptive services and seized available opportunities to provide health education and support for the adolescents accessing the SBHCs.
Sexual(ized) Terrorist Threats in an Age of Marriage Equality

Lugo-Lugo and Bloodsworth-Lugo consider the fact that the 9/11 era has witnessed two parallel happenings in relation to state and federal recognition of same-sex marriage. As a number of states passed amendments to their constitutions prohibiting the legal recognition of same-sex couples, Supreme Court decisions rendered them unconstitutional. Same-sex couples have been part of the public discourse on sexuality—a discourse that, at times, positioned these couples on a par with terrorist threats. The authors explain that different groups across the United States have construed same-sex marriage as a threat to American society. They examine public discourse around same-sex marriage, and develop a feminist analysis around same-sex couples within a society that has been trained to identify threats to the stability and security of the nation.
A Kinetic Dearomatization Strategy for an Expedient Biomimetic Route to the Bielschowskysin Skeleton.

Bielschowskysin (1), the flagship of the furanocembranoid diterpene family, has attracted attention from chemists owing to its intriguing and daunting polycyclic architecture and medicinal potential against lung cancer. The high level of functionalization of 1 poses a considerable challenge to synthesis. Herein, a stereoselective furan dearomatization strategy of furanocembranoids was achieved via the intermediacy of chlorohydrins. The stereochemical course of the kinetic dearomatization was established, and the C3 configuration of the resulting exo-enol ether intermediates proved to be essential to complete the late-stage transannular [2+2] photocycloaddition. Overall, this biomimetic strategy starting from the natural product acerosolide (9) featured an unprecedented regio- and highly stereoselective furan dearomatization, which provided rapid access to the pivotal exo-enol ethers en route to the intricate bielschowskyane skeleton.
Geometric constraints on the space of N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SCFTs. Part II: construction of special Kähler geometries and RG flows

This is the second in a series of three papers on systematic analysis of rank 1 Coulomb branch geometries of four dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SCFTs. In [1] we developed a strategy for classifying physical rank-1 CB geometries of $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SCFTs. Here we show how to carry out this strategy computationally to construct the Seiberg-Witten curves and one-forms for all the rank-1 SCFTs. Explicit expressions are given for all 28 cases, with the exception of the N f =4 su(2) gauge theory and the E n SCFTs which were constructed in [2, 3] and [4, 5].
Freetime: Making Your Leisure Count. By Jan Gault

(1984). Freetime: Making Your Leisure Count. By Jan Gault. Journal of Leisure Research: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 269-270.
Abstract 330: BRCA1 and BLM helicase compensate for replication fork defects in the absence of 53BP1 protein

53BP1 is well-known for its involvement in DNA double strand break (DSB) repair, binding DNA and influencing choice of DSB repair. In S/G2 phases of the cell cycle, 53BP1 accumulates at DSBs, but can be removed by BRCA1, allowing end-resection and homology-directed repair (HDR) to occur. Without BRCA1, HDR is defective unless 53BP1 is also lost, in which case HDR can proceed. Such secondary mutation is relevant as a mechanism of acquired chemoresistance in BRCA1 deficient tumors. BRCA1 is also important for maintaining replication fork stability, particular for blocking end resection by MRE11a at a collapsed fork. We therefore set out to ask whether 53BP1 also plays a role in maintenance of fork stability and how this role relates to the role of BRCA1 at a collapsed fork. 53BP1 has been indicated to co-localize with collapsed forks and indeed we find that in its absence fork stability is compromised in a DNA2, but not MRE11a, dependent manner. With decreased fork stability in the absence of 53BP1 we observe increased HDR, indicating a role for BRCA1 to compensate for the lack of 53BP1 by promoting HDR. However, if both 53BP1 and BRCA1 are both necessary for fork stability, then there must be additional compensating mechanisms providing fork stability when both are absent. In fact, absence of both 53BP1 and BRCA1 results in better replication progression than when either 53BP1 or BRCA1 alone are absent. A third mechanism of fork stabilization was identified involving BLM; a RecQ helicase involved in dissolving homologous recombination intermediates, can facilitate fork restart and reverse fork regression. Additionally, BLM has been shown to interact with both 53BP1 and BRCA1, is found at stalled replication forks, and promotes BRCA1 recruitment to sites of DNA damage. Targeting BLM in cells with impaired 53BP1 and BRCA1 increases chemosensitivity to DNA damaging agents, supporting the redundant nature of these three proteins at stalled replication forks. Our findings indicate that targeting BLM may be an effective treatment for HDR defective cancers that have developed chemoresistance; with applicability to BRCA1 and homologous recombination deficient cancers, such as breast, ovarian, and Ewing sarcoma. Citation Format: Erin H. Sybouts, Sonal S. Tonapi, Alexander J. Bishop. BRCA1 and BLM helicase compensate for replication fork defects in the absence of 53BP1 protein [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 330.
Polar Wandering, Continental Drift, and the Onset of Quaternary Glaciation

Continents occupied much of the region around the north pole during the glaciations that occurred in the late Paleozoic and late Cenozoic eras. The geologic evidence is thus at least permissive that polar continentality is a necessary condition for glaciation. However, continents also occupied the polar regions during most of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras at times when glaciation did not occur, so that clearly polar continentality is not a sufficient condition for glaciation. Polar wandering has been linked to the onset of glaciation by several theories which suggest that glaciation began as the rotation axis migrated toward potential glaciation generating regions such as Antarctica or the Arctic Ocean. These theories are not in agreement with paleomagnetic evidence, which indicates that the rotation axis has been within the present polar region for an interval at least 10 times longer than the interval of glaciation. Similarly, rates of continental drift are too small to permit changes in the configuration of the continents to have played an important role in the onset of Quaternary glaciation. The possibility remains that vertical movements of land masses, many of which occurred at the end of the Pliocene, may have played a significant role in the initiation of Quaternary glaciation.
A fixed-point characterization of linearly reductive groups

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a fixed-point characterization of unipotent groups, viz., if G is a connected linear algebraic group over the field k , then G is unipotent if and only if, for all proper geometrically connected G -schemes X over k , the fixed-point scheme X G is connected. To give an analogous characterization of linearly reductive groups, the chapter presents the proof for the following theorem: Let G be a linear algebraic group over the field k. Then G is linearly reductive if and only if for all smooth algebraic G- schemes X over k , the fixed-point scheme X G is smooth. A linear algebraic group over k , means a reduced affine group scheme of finite type over k . If G is a linear algebraic group over k , by a G -scheme X over k it is meant that a scheme X over k , plus a map of schemes α: G x X → X satisfies the usual axioms for an action of G on X . If X is a G -scheme, the fixed-point scheme X G is the largest closed subscheme of X on which G acts trivially.
Now You Hear It, Now You Don't: Perception of English Regular Past – ed in Naturalistic Input

De precedentes recherches ont demontre que les formes regulieres du passe des verbes anglais sont difficiles a percevoir. Or les chercheurs qui se sont interesses a cette perception ont jusqu’a mai...
Two-wavelength thermoreflectance in steady-state thermal imaging

A methodology of thermoreflectance (TR) imaging using two different optical wavelengths for nonintrusive surface temperature measurement is developed. Compared with the existing single wavelength TR imaging, two-wavelength thermoreflectance (2WTR) imaging collects the required TR signals for temperature measurement solely from the heated target. Therefore, target movement between heated and unheated conditions due to thermal expansion, which is a main obstacle for current single wavelength TR imaging, is properly handled. As a result, a steady state temperature distribution of a heated target can now be determined by the 2WTR imaging method, which is especially useful in determining the operating temperature of microelectronic devices which are sensitive to physical contacts during a measurement. With the 2WTR method, the surface temperature of a microscale gold resistor under different input currents is measured and compared with the results from the corresponding single wavelength TR and heat transfer simulations. The experimental results indicate that 2WTR not only provides temperature measurement with no nonphysical temperature values caused by the target movement, but also has potential for providing a higher signal-to-noise ratio than single wavelength TR when a high bit-depth spatial light modulator and the two optical wavelengths adopted are appropriately selected.