cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surrogate Model Assisted Design of Silicon Anode Considering Lithiation Induced Stresses

Silicon-based lithium ion battery anodes are attracting considerable attention due to their high theoretical capacity. However, the significant volume change of silicon during lithiation/de-lithiation cycles restricts its application. A novel bi-continuous Si anode, designed to mitigate the effect of cycling-induced volume changes, is investigated in this study. The effects of the design parameters and the operating conditions of the anode are explored via multi-physics simulation model. It is found that, with the novel anode structure, battery charging C rate has little impact on the mechanical properties. However, the anode structural design parameters would largely influence the stress distribution on the anode. Thus, a Gaussian Processes (GP) based surrogate model is developed to assist the design optimization of the Si anode, while using the simulated results from a multiphysics simulation model as training data. An optimized Si anode design can then be extracted efficiently based upon the developed surrogate model.
Alterations in Polyamine Metabolism in Patients With Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2-Deficient Cells.

Background Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a destructive lung disease that affects primarily women, is caused by loss-of-function mutations in TSC1 or TSC2, leading to hyperactivation of mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Rapamycin (sirolimus) treatment suppresses mTORC1 but also induces autophagy, which promotes the survival of TSC2-deficient cells. Based on the hypothesis that simultaneous inhibition of mTORC1 and autophagy would limit the availability of critical nutrients and inhibit LAM cells, we conducted a phase 1 clinical trial of sirolimus and hydroxychloroquine for LAM. Here, we report the analyses of plasma metabolomic profiles from the clinical trial. Methods We analyzed the plasma metabolome in samples obtained before, during, and after 6 months of treatment with sirolimus and hydroxychloroquine, using univariate statistical models and machine learning approaches. Metabolites and metabolic pathways were validated in TSC2-deficient cells derived from patients with LAM. Single-cell RNA-Seq was employed to assess metabolic enzymes in an early-passage culture from an LAM lung. Results Metabolomic profiling revealed changes in polyamine metabolism during treatment, with 5′-methylthioadenosine and arginine among the most highly upregulated metabolites. Similar findings were observed in TSC2-deficient cells derived from patients with LAM. Single-cell transcriptomic profiling of primary LAM cultured cells revealed that mTORC1 inhibition upregulated key enzymes in the polyamine metabolism pathway, including adenosylmethionine decarboxylase 1. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that polyamine metabolic pathways are targeted by the combination of rapamycin and hydroxychloroquine, leading to upregulation of 5′-methylthioadenosine and arginine in the plasma of patients with LAM and in TSC2-deficient cells derived from a patient with LAM upon treatment with this drug combination. Trial Registry ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01687179; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov. Partners Human Research Committee, protocol No. 2012P000669.
Autonomous stabilizer for incompressible photon fluids and solids

We suggest a simple approach to populate photonic quantum materials at nonzero chemical potential and near-zero temperature. Taking inspiration from forced evaporation in cold-atom experiments, the essential ingredients for our low-entropy thermal reservoir are (a) interparticle interactions and (b) energy-dependent loss. The resulting thermal reservoir may then be coupled to a broad class of Hamiltonian systems to produce low-entropy quantum phases. We present an idealized picture of such a reservoir, deriving the scaling of reservoir entropy with system parameters, and then propose several practical implementations using only standard circuit quantum electrodynamics tools, and extract the fundamental performance limits. Finally, we explore, both analytically and numerically, the coupling of such a thermalizer to the paradigmatic Bose-Hubbard chain, where we employ it to stabilize an $n=1$ Mott phase. In this case, the performance is limited by the interplay of dynamically arrested thermalization of the Mott insulator and finite heat capacity of the thermalizer, characterized by its repumping rate. This work explores an approach to preparation of quantum phases of strongly interacting photons, and provides a potential route to topologically protected phases that are difficult to reach through adiabatic evolution.
A Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification Prediction Aid for the Joint Typhoon Warning Center's Areas of Responsibility

AbstractIn late 2017, the Rapid Intensification Prediction Aid (RIPA) was transitioned to operations at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). RIPA probabilistically predicts seven rapid intensif...
Longitudinal Health Related Quality of Life After Open Radical Cystectomy: Comparison of Ileal Conduit, Indiana Pouch, and Orthotopic Neobladder.

Objective To characterize the health-related quality of life reported by patients who received an ileal conduit (IC), Indiana pouch, or neobladder urinary diversion after radical cystectomy. Materials and Methods The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Vanderbilt Cystectomy Index survey was administered to patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy and urinary diversion from 2015-2018. Surveys were completed prior to radical cystectomy and then longitudinally throughout the postoperative course. Results A total of 146 patients completed questionnaires over a median of 12.3 months, 83 (56.8%) received an IC, 31 (21.2%) an Indiana pouch, and 32 (21.9%) an orthotopic neobladder. There were no significant differences in health related quality of life among urinary diversion groups considering the Trial Outcome Index scores, general overall FACT-G assessment, or total Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Vanderbilt Cystectomy Index instruments. Patients who received IC were older and had higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores (p Conclusions To our knowledge this is the first and largest quality of life analysis comparing all three methods of urinary diversion in a longitudinal fashion utilizing a standardized, validated, treatment-specific health survey. Proper preoperative counseling is critical to ensure understanding of the benefits of available urinary diversion.
Cell-Cycle-Dependent ERK Signaling Dynamics Direct Fate Specification in the Mammalian Preimplantation Embryo

Despite the noisy nature of single cells, multicellular organisms robustly generate different cell types from one zygote. This process involves dynamic cross regulation between signaling and gene expression that is difficult to capture with fixed-cell approaches. To study signaling dynamics and fate specification during preimplantation development, we generated a transgenic mouse expressing the ERK kinase translocation reporter and measured ERK activity in single cells of live embryos. Our results show primarily active ERK in both the inner cell mass and trophectoderm cells due to fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling. Strikingly, a subset of mitotic events results in a short pulse of ERK inactivity in both daughter cells that correlates with elevated endpoint NANOG levels. Moreover, endogenous tagging of Nanog in embryonic stem cells reveals that ERK inhibition promotes enhanced stabilization of NANOG protein after mitosis. Our data show that cell cycle, signaling, and differentiation are coordinated during preimplantation development.
Selective extinctions resulting from random habitat destruction lead to under‐estimates of local and regional biodiversity loss in a manipulative field experiment

Land-use change is a significant cause of anthropogenic extinctions, which are likely to continue and accelerate as habitat conversion proceeds in most biomes. One way to understand the effects of habitat loss on biodiversity is through improved tools for predicting the number and identity of species losses in response to habitat loss. There are relatively few methods for predicting extinctions and even fewer opportunities for rigorously assessing the quality of these predictions. In this paper, we address these issues by applying a new method based on rarefaction to predict species losses after random, but aggregated, habitat loss. We compare predictions from three rarefaction models, individual-based, sample-based, and spatially clustered, to those derived from a commonly used extinction estimation method, the species-area relationship (SAR). We apply each method to a mesocosm experiment, in which we aim to predict species richness and extinctions of arthropods immediately following 50% habitat loss. While each model produced strikingly accurate predictions of species richness immediately after the habitat loss disturbance, each model significantly underestimated the number of extinctions occurring at both the local (within-mesocosm) and regional (treatment-wide) scales. Despite the stochastic nature of our small-scale, short-term, and randomly applied habitat loss experiment, we found surprisingly clear evidence for extinction selectivity, for example, when abundant species with low extinction probabilities were extirpated following habitat loss. The important role played by selective extinction even in this contrived experimental system suggests that ecologically driven, trait-based extinctions play an equally important role to stochastic extinction, even when the disturbance itself has no clear selectivity. As a result, neutrally stochastic null models such as the SAR and rarefaction are likely to underestimate extinctions caused by habitat loss. Nevertheless, given the difficulty of predicting extinctions, null models provide useful benchmarks for conservation planning by providing minimum estimates and probabilities of species extinctions.
Age-Related Disease Risks in Younger versus Older B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Survivors.

BACKGROUND Younger cancer survivors may develop age-related diseases due to the cancer treatment that they undergo. The aim of this population-based study is to estimate incidence of age-related diseases besides cardiovascular disease among younger versus older B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) survivors compared with their respective general population cohorts. METHODS Survivors of B-NHL were diagnosed between 1997 and 2015 from the Utah Cancer Registry. Using the Utah Population Database, up to 5 cancer-free individuals from the general population were matched with a B-NHL survivor on sex, birth year, and state of birth. Hazard ratios (HR) for age-related disease outcomes, which were identified from medical records and statewide health care facility data, were estimated using Cox Proportional Hazards models for B-NHL survivors diagnosed at <65 years versus ≥65 years at least 5 years since B-NHL diagnosis. RESULTS Comparing 2,129 B-NHL survivors with 8,969 individuals from the general population, younger B-NHL survivors had higher relative risks of acute renal failure [HR, 2.24; 99% confidence interval (CI), 1.48-3.39; Pheterogeneity = 0.017), pneumonia (HR, 2.42; 99% CI, 1.68-3.49; Pheterogeneity = 0.055), and nutritional deficiencies (HR, 2.08; 99% CI, 1.48-2.92; Pheterogeneity = 0.051) ≥5 years after cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSION Younger B-NHL survivors had higher relative risks of acute renal failure, pneumonia, and nutritional deficiencies than older B-NHL survivors compared with their respective general population cohorts, ≥5 years after cancer diagnosis.
Enhanced Residual Disorder in Silicon from Recoil Implantation of Oxygen and Nitrogen by Arsenic Implants Through Dielectric Layers

Channeling effect measurements have been used to evaluate the enhanced residual disorder found in silicon after implantation of arsenic through thin oxide and nitride layers. The disorder is found to be a function of both the dielectric layer thickness and the arsenic dose. Measurements after anneal of the implants at 1000°C for 30 minutes indicate the amount of damage increases with As dose and dielectric layer thickness. Simulation of the “knock-on” implantation by oxygen or nitrogen implants allows the inference of the number of recoils as a function of As energy and layer thickness. For the case of a 480A SiO2 layer and 1016 As/cm2 implanted at 200 keV approximately 4 × 10l5/cm2 forward oxygen recoil atoms are produced. In general the residual damage for equivalent nitride layers was found to be approximately one-half that measured for oxide implants. Erosion of the films due to sputtering by the As implantation indicated that the number of atoms sputtered away is equivalent to 30–50A of SiO2 for a dose of 2 × 1016 As/cm2.
User-Centered Information Design for Improved Software Usability

Information -- Its Role in Software Usability. What is User-Centered Information Design (UCID). The UCID Process. Managing UCID. Analyzing Users and Tasks. Goal-Setting for Software Usability and Information Quality. Designing the Information Architecture. Designing the Specifications and Prototypes. Designing Interface Labels. Designing System Messages. Designing Online Information Elements. Designing Printed Information Elements. Achieving Critical Design Goals. Evaluating Information -- Two-Level Approach.
Gastroduodenal Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is one of 2 archetypes of chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease, the other being ulcerative colitis. Crohn's disease is defined by chronic inflammation that may involve any site of the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus, most commonly the terminal ileum and proximal colon (1). Rarely, Crohn's disease may affect the stomach and duodenum. The unusual clinical features of gastroduodenal Crohn's disease and the various treatments available, including medical, endoscopic, and surgical, are discussed in this article.
Alspach's Problem: The Case of Hamilton Cycles and 5-Cycles

In this paper, we settle Alspach's problem in the case of Hamilton cycles and 5-cycles; that is, we show that for all odd integers $n\ge 5$ and all nonnegative integers $h$ and $t$ with $hn + 5t = n(n-1)/2$, the complete graph $K_n$ decomposes into $h$ Hamilton cycles and $t$ 5-cycles and for all even integers $n \ge 6$ and all nonnegative integers $h$ and $t$ with $hn + 5t = n(n-2)/2$, the complete graph $K_n$ decomposes into $h$ Hamilton cycles, $t$ 5-cycles, and a $1$-factor. We also settle Alspach's problem in the case of Hamilton cycles and 4-cycles.
Investor Personality in Investor Questionnaires

We explore, through a survey of more than 2,500 people, the links between personality and risk tolerance, overconfidence, maximization, regret, trust, attributing success to luck or skill, and life-satisfaction. Risk tolerance is high among those with high levels of Extraversion and Openness but relatively low among those with high levels of Conscientiousness. Overconfidence is high among those with relatively high levels of Extraversion but relatively low among those with high levels of Agreeableness. Knowledge about these links is important to financial advisors who must know their clients so they might guide them.
Electron Microscopy of Measles Virus Replication

Replication of measles virus in HeLa cells was examined by electron microscopy with ultrathin sectioning and phosphotungstic acid negative staining methods. The cytoplasmic inclusion bodies consisted of masses of helical nucleocapsid which was similar in structure to the nucleocapsid found in measles virions. The cytoplasmic helical nucleocapsid appeared to align near the HeLa cell membrane, and the membrane differentiated into the internal membrane of the viral envelope and the outer layer of the short projections. The viral particles were released by a budding process involving incorporation into the viral envelope of membrane which was contiguous to but morphologically altered from the membrane of the HeLa cells. The intranuclear inclusion bodies were composed of tubular structures similar to those found in the cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. These structures aggregated to crystalline arrangement. The relationship between nuclear inclusion body and replication of measles virus was not clear.
Sylvester Matrix and Common Factors in Polynomial Matrices

With the coefficient matrices of the polynomial matrices replacing the scalar coefficients in the standard Sylvester matrix, common factors exist if and only if this (generalized) Sylvester matrix is singular and the coefficient matrices commute. If the coefficient matrices do not commute, a necessary and sufficient condition for a common factor to exist is that a submatrix of the ratio (transfer) coefficient matrices is of less than full row rank. Whether coefficient matrices commute or not, a nonsingular (generalized) Sylvester matrix is always a sufficient condition for no common factors to exist. These conditions hold whether common factors are unimodular or not unimodular. These results follow from requiring that in the potential alternative pair of polynomial matrices with the same matrix ratio, i.e. with the same transfer function, all coefficient matrices beyond the given integers p and q are null matrices. Algebraically these requirements take the form of linear equations in the coefficient matrices of the inverse of the potential common factor. Lower block triangular Toeplitz matrices appear in these equations and the sequential inverse of these matrices generates sequentially the coefficient matrices of the inverse of the common factor. The conclusions follow from the properties of infinite dimensional diagonally dominant matrices.
The First Global Financial Crisis of the 21st Century

The global economy was expected to suffer from negative growth for the full year in 2009, a phenomenon not seen since World War II. While the U.S. subprime mortgage disaster was blamed as the original instigator, it was noted that the "global imbalances" of the U.S. current account deficit funded for many years by other nations such as China was also a chief culprit of the crisis as well. Policymakers around the world recognized that the scope and scale of the financial crisis required a coordinated global response. Yet there were conflicting views on what kind of action was needed to address the first global financial crisis of the 21st century.
Tyrosinase reaction and subsequent chitosan adsorption for selective removal of a contaminant from a fermentation recycle stream.

In the industrial production of penicillin V, the phenoxyacetate precursor is added to the fermentor to direct biosynthesis. When used for producing semisynthetic penicillins, the penicillin V is often hydrolyzed to 6-aminopenicillanic acid with the regeneration of the phenoxyacetate precursor. To reduce raw-material as well as waste-disposal costs, it is desirable to recycle the phenoxyacetate precursor. Unfortunately, the recycle stream is generally contaminated by the p-hydroxylated derivative of this precursor. We examined a two-step approach to eliminate this contaminant. In the first step the tyrosinase enzyme was used to selectively convert the p-hydroxyphenoxyacetate contaminant to a reactive intermediate—presumably its quinone. In the second step, the tyrosinase-generated reactive intermediate was allowed to react with and strongly bind to chitosan. In contrast, the phenoxyacetate precursor was neither oxidized by tyrosinase nor bound to chitosan. When concentrated phenoxyacetate solutions were tested, the combination of tyrosinase and chitosan effectively converted low levels of the p-hydroxyphenoxyacetate contaminant and removed its products from solution, while the concentration of the phenoxyacetate precursor was unaffected.
Time Series Analysis of Power Loading Patterns for Agricultural Tractors

Evenly-spaced data with missing values was processed using power spectral density and autoregressive moving-average methods. Auto-Regressive Moving Average (ARMA) models were developed to represent field tillage patterns for a drill, a drag/harrow, chisel or NH3 applicator, and disk tools.
Ultraviolet-Induced Changes in the Infectivity of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

The infectivity of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain B6 irradiated with short-wavelength ultraviolet light was followed as a function of dose. Previously reported enhancements of B6 infectivity by ultraviolet irradiation, in samples inoculated after 1.75 hr of dark incubation at 27 C, or immediately following irradiation, were found to occur most frequently after losses in cell viability of 60% and of 90% or more, respectively. Changes in colony-forming ability and tumor-initiating ability with increasing dose showed no obvious correlation until the maximal infectivity promotion of samples inoculated immediately after irradiation was reached. Thereafter, both bacterial responses typically decreased in parallel. With low dose rates, infectivity promotions were obtained with less than 10% loss in cell viability. Data for tumor appearance and tumor growth resulting from inoculations with irradiated cultures showed no significant differences from controls, nor did the age of the bacterial culture or age of the host plant influence the response. The infectivity promotion appears to result from an increase in the proportion of viable cells that will subsequently initiate tumors. The characteristics of this ultraviolet infectivity promotion are shown to be most similar to those found in prophage and bacteriocin induction.
Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans harbours type IV secretion system genes on a plasmid and in the chromosome.

Nine contiguous genes encoding a potential type IV secretion system have been identified in the chromosome of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strain VT747 and on a plasmid (pVT745) in strain VT745. Seven of these genes encode predicted proteins that share significant homology with type IV secretion proteins in Bordetella pertussis (ptl operon), Brucella melitensis biovar suis and Agrobacterium tumefaciens (virB operons), where they are involved in protein secretion, pathogen intracellular survival and multiplication, and DNA transport, respectively. Results of previous studies have demonstrated that pVT745 is a conjugative plasmid and that a secondary plasmid, pMMB67, can be mobilized from strain VT745. Given these results, it was hypothesized that (1) the type IV secretion genes on pVT745 are responsible for these two functions and (2) the type IV VT747 chromosomal genes also play a role in the transport of DNA. Wild-type and mutant strains of VT745 were evaluated for their conjugative abilities. Wild-type mating efficiency was 10−6 transconjugants per donor, while the mutant strain yielded no transconjugants. Wild-type VT745 harbouring a co-resident plasmid, pMMB67, mobilized pMMB67 at a frequency of 10−6, while VT747 was unable to mobilize this plasmid. These results support the hypothesis that the plasmid-encoded type IV secretion system on pVT745 is involved in DNA transport. However, the chromosomally encoded secretion system may not play a role in DNA transport in strain VT747. While the precise function of these chromosomal genes in strain VT747 has not been determined, Northern blot analyses demonstrated that these genes are expressed in both Act. actinomycetemcomitans strains VT745 and VT747.
A miniature gas chromatograph for atmospheric monitoring

Abstract The techniques of integrated circuit processing have been utilized to miniaturize the main components of a gas chromatography system. A 1.5-m long separating column, sample injection valve, and output thermal conductivity detector are all fabricated on a single 5-cm diameter silicon wafer. These components are combined with a sophisticated microcomputer system, to form an advanced, portable gas analysis and data logging system. The present prototype instrument package is about 20×22×10 cm and weighs about 3 kg. The instrument is capable of automatically sampling the air at one minute intervals during an 8 h shift, measuring the concentrations of up to 10 different gases, calculating and storing the average and peak concentrations of those gases, and sounding an alarm if potentially dangerous environmental conditions are detected. It can also be used as a survey instrument to take and analyze samples and provide concentration information within 30 sec of sampling. The small size, advanced capabilities, and ease of operation of the system should have a significant impact on the fields of industrial hygiene and occupational safety and health. The instrument will greatly expand the ability to monitor workers' exposures to toxic gases and therefore aid in the reduction of such exposures, and provide better epidemiological data in future health studies.
The meandering of steps on GaAs(100)

Abstract The zincblende structure of GaAs gives rise to two types of steps on a GaAs(100) surface. In a model using abrupt bulk-termination, these steps would be labelled A or B, depending upon whether they are As or Ga terminated, and in the [011] or [011] directions, respectively. Since these steps are structurally and chemically different, one expects them to have different roles in epitaxy. We have used reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) to study the morphology of each of these two types of steps on surfaces prepared by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The results show large differences in the qualitative and quantitative structural disorder of these two step configurations. During static conditions of no growth, but with an As 4 flux provided, the A-steps were straight over long distances. However the terraces between them exhibit large fluctuations in length. Conversely, the B-steps are highly kinked, but are seperated by terraces which show little length variation. For the A-steps, the terrace length fluctuations are greatly reduced by changing the reconstruction from the 2×4 or 1×1 or by initiating growth. During growth, the difference between RHEED intensity oscillations on the two surfaces is striking. For identically prepared and simultaneously mounted wafers that had been oriented 2° from the (100), the A-surface showed intensity oscillations over a range in temperatures. By contrast, the B-surface exhibited only faint oscillations that were rapidly damped. In addition, during growth of GaAs on stepped Si(100) surfaces, growth on surfaces prepared to yield A-steps gave much smoother morphologies than on surfaces prepared to yield B-steps.
Energy-based hybrid excitation control for synchronous generators

This paper presents an energy-based hybrid control, which replaces the traditional automatic voltage regulator (AVR) for excitation control of a synchronous generator connected to an infinite power system. The proposed controller is based on energy representation of the power system by using a port-controlled Hamiltonian form. The controller uses a hierarchical hybrid architecture characterized by continuous-time dynamics at the lower level of the hierarchy and logical decision-making units at the higher level of the hierarchy. The lower-level units, i.e., the subcontrollers, are each designed for a power system operating mode and directly interact with the power system to be controlled; while the higher-level decision-making units perform logical checks that identify system mode of operation and activates the corresponding lower-level unit; the activated lower-level unit then executes continuous control actions for the power system. Consequently, the controller can adapt to different power system operating modes. Simulation studies are carried out to show the effectiveness of the proposed controller for excitation control of the synchronous generator.
Analysis of asymmetirc, deterministic bit shift errors in a hard disk file

An extensive statistical analysis of soft errors occurring in an IBM 3380 K hard-disk file has been made. About 90% of the errors was bitshift-induced involving a single bit. There was a high degree of early/late asymmetry. It is shown that decreasing system signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) increases the error rate, but reduces the early/late asymmetry. The repeatability of errors suggests that most errors happen at or near a media-direct site. Self-consistent write-process modeling, taking into account media defects, indicates bitshift and amplitude degradation commensurate with the experimental results. >
The Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae HMW1C-Like Glycosyltransferase Mediates N-Linked Glycosylation of the Haemophilus influenzae HMW1 Adhesin

The Haemophilus influenzae HMW1 adhesin is an important virulence exoprotein that is secreted via the two-partner secretion pathway and is glycosylated at multiple asparagine residues in consensus N-linked sequons. Unlike the heavily branched glycans found in eukaryotic N-linked glycoproteins, the modifying glycan structures in HMW1 are mono-hexoses or di-hexoses. Recent work demonstrated that the H. influenzae HMW1C protein is the glycosyltransferase responsible for transferring glucose and galactose to the acceptor sites of HMW1. An Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae protein designated ApHMW1C shares high-level homology with HMW1C and has been assigned to the GT41 family, which otherwise contains only O-glycosyltransferases. In this study, we demonstrated that ApHMW1C has N-glycosyltransferase activity and is able to transfer glucose and galactose to known asparagine sites in HMW1. In addition, we found that ApHMW1C is able to complement a deficiency of HMW1C and mediate HMW1 glycosylation and adhesive activity in whole bacteria. Initial structure-function studies suggested that ApHMW1C consists of two domains, including a 15-kDa N-terminal domain and a 55-kDa C-terminal domain harboring glycosyltransferase activity. These findings suggest a new subfamily of HMW1C-like glycosyltransferases distinct from other GT41 family O-glycosyltransferases.
Analysis of plasma-based flow control mechanisms through large-eddy simulations

High-fidelity simulations will become ever more important in the future if their use is routinely extended beyond engineering prediction to scientific analysis of the underlying physics. In particular, carefully conducted simulations can provide insight into aspects that are difficult if not impossible to explore in experiments. In this paper, we highlight such use of CFD to understand plasma-based flow control techniques, with emphasis on how the disturbances couple to the flowfield for actuators that are heat (as opposed to force) based. We present results with a relatively new type of actuator, the Nano-Second Dielectric Barrier Discharge (NS-DBD), which is formed by a flush mounted and embedded electrode combination excited by sharp (O(50) ns) pulses. A numerical model is presented and then applied to explore control of a stalled NACA 0015 airfoil at 15° angle of attack. These new results are assimilated with prior efforts on Localized Arc Filament Plasma Actuators (LAFPAs), to examine the differences in response of free versus bounded shear layers. It is shown that the initial manifestation of the disturbance occurs in the form of weak streamwise vortices. At the low levels of excitation of interest in scalable application, pulsing is essential for amplification in both types of shear layers. Hairpin-like structures characteristic of entrainment are also a common feature. Differences are evident however due to the no-slip condition of the boundary layer, where multiple induced counter-rotating vortices are observed prior to breakdown.
Tippe Top Inversion as a Dissipation-Induced Instability

By treating tippe top inversion as a dissipation-induced instability, we explain tippe top inversion through a system we call the modified Maxwell--Bloch equations. We revisit previous work done on this problem and follow Or's mathematical model [SIAM J. Appl. Math., 54 (1994), pp. 597--609]. A linear analysis of the equations of motion reveals that the only equilibrium points correspond to the inverted and noninverted states of the tippe top and that the modified Maxwell--Bloch equations describe the linear/spectral stability of these equilibria. We supply explicit criteria for the spectral stability of these states. A nonlinear global analysis based on energetics yields explicit criteria for the existence of a heteroclinic connection between the noninverted and inverted states of the tippe top. This criteria for the existence of a heteroclinic connection turns out to agree with the criteria for spectral stability of the inverted and noninverted states. Throughout the work we support the analysis with numerical evidence and include simulations to illustrate the nonlinear dynamics of the tippe top.
Institutional Research and Decision Making: A Bibliographic Essay.

A review of literature dealing with the relationship between the institutional research function and the decision-making process in higher education reveals a wide range of opinion. At one extreme are those who believe that institutional researchers should be little more than purveyors of data for use by the executive decision makers. At the other extreme are the advocates of an active institutional research role in policy analysis and decision making. A recurring theme in the literature summarized here is the precarious nature of an institutional researcher's position in the unique organizational milieu of higher education. Most sources agree that an institutional research office must be perceived by all parties as completely neutral in order to maintain credibility with both faculty and administration.
Field trial and study of route-tracking beamforming over high-speed railway

Provision of high data rate services on train has attracted a great attention recently. To evaluate the improvement of route-tracking beamforming over high-speed railway communication system, a low-complexity platform was proposed and experiments were carried out over Taiwan High Speed Railway (THSR) train. With Global Positioning System (GPS) information feedback and antenna direction adjustment the received signal strength indicator (RSSI), Carrier to Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (CINR), throughput and cell coverage were improved. Also the influence over path loss model and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) throughput behavior were analyzed. To conclude, this research provides evaluation steps and analysis reference for deploying route-tracking beam-forming technology over high-speed railway communication system
Novel evolutionary variation in transcription and location of two chloroplast genes

We have found major evolutionary changes in the types of transcripts produced by specific chloroplast genes, in particular those encoding the large subunit (LS) of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and a photosystem II polypeptide (PII). Two distinct patterns of LS gene transcripts are revealed by hybridizing an LS gene probe to electrophoretically separated RNA from 19 angiosperms. Most species, including pea, contain the single transcript of approximately 1.6 kb previously observed in corn, spinach and mustard. However, in mung bean and other members of the legume genera Vigna and Phaseolus, the 1.6 kb transcript represents only a minor fraction of LS transcripts, and instead, two larger LS transcripts of approximately 2.4 and 2.6 kb predominate. The PII gene produces a single transcript in pea and most other species examined, while members of the related legume genera Vigna, Phaseolus and Glycine contain two additional transcripts which are smaller in size and probably represent specific RNA breakdown products. A single species, sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus), contains a second PII transcript which is 0.2 kb larger than the approximately 1.2 kb transcript found in all species. The LS and PII genes map to the same 5 kb region in both pea and mung bean and are transcribed off the same DNA strand. In contrast, published studies indicate that the two genes are approximately 50 kb apart and are transcribed off opposite DNA strands in five other chloroplast genomes. These differences are probably the consequence of an approximately 50 kb inversion which distinguishes the pea and mung bean genomes from those of most other angiosperms (1).
Mode of action of antibiotics. II. Specificity of action of antimycin A and ascosin.

Abstract In a previous report it has been shown that the antibiotic ascosin inhibits the cytochrome linked electron transport system at the same site as does antimycin. This antimycin sensitive site lies between coenzyme Q or cytochrome b and cytochrome c1. Both antimycin and ascosin exhibit no antibacterial activity. This inactivity of antimycin and ascosin against bacteria is due to the absence of the antimycin sensitive site from their electron transport systems. The possibilities of other factors such as impermeability and inactivation of the antibiotic by the bacteria have been eliminated. The present investigation also shows that the electron transport systems of fungi, higher plants (corn) and mammalian tissues are similar.
Mechanistic Studies of Aliphatic Ligand Hydroxylation of a Copper Complex by Dioxygen: A Model Reaction for Copper Monooxygenases

Mechanistic studies on the aliphatic ligand hydroxylation in a copper complex of tridentate ligand 1a {N,N-bis[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]-2-phenylethylamine} by O2 have been performed in order to shed light on the structure and reactivity of the active oxygen species of our functional model for copper monooxygenases (Itoh, S.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 4714). When the copper complex [CuII(1a)(ClO4)2] was treated with an equimolar amount of benzoin and triethylamine in CH2Cl2 under O2 atmosphere, efficient hydroxylation occurred selectively at the benzylic position of the ligand to provide oxygenated product 2a {N,N-bis[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]-2-phenyl-2-hydroxyethylamine} quantitatively. An isotope labeling experiment using 18O2 confirms that the oxygen atom of the OH group in 2a originates from molecular oxygen. Spectroscopic analyses using UV−vis, resonance Raman, and ESR on the reaction of [CuI(1a)]+ and O2 at low temperature show that a μ-η2:η2-peroxodicopper(II) complex is an initially formed intermed...
Electrical Breakdown in Composite Insulating Systems: Liquid-Solid Interface Parallel to the Field

The location of electrical breakdown in a composite insulating system has been measured. In these experiments, a paper sample was mounted so that it connected the two electrodes. Electrode structures ranging from plane-plane to sphere sphere were used. The electrode-paper system was tested in oil to determine the properties of an oil paper interface. The data indicated that, in a carefully prepared system, the breakdown will not necessarily occur at the interface. In addition, it was found that breakdown voltages were not significantly lower for those breakdowns which occurred at the interface than for those which did not. It was noted that if the paper was not dried or if many gaseous voids were left in or on the paper, the breakdown regularly occurred at the interface and at a lower voltage.
Inflation with SU(5)

A simple extension of the SU(5) Higgs system is presented and shown to yield a satisfactory inflationary scenario.
Size Effect on Strength of Laminate-Foam Sandwich Plates

Experiments on size effect on the failure loads of sandwich beams with PVC foam core and skins made of fiber-polymer composite are reported. Two test series use beams with notches at the ends cut in the foam near the top or bottom interface, and the third series uses beams without notches. The results demonstrate that there is a significant nonstatistical (energetic) size effect on the nominal strength of the beams, whether notched or unnotched. The observed size effect shows that the failure loads can be realistically predicted on the basis of neither the material strength concept nor linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM). It follows that nonlinear cohesive (quasi-brittle) fracture mechanics, or its approximation by equivalent LEFM, must be used to predict failure realistically. Based on analogy with the previous asymptotic analysis of energetic size effect in other quasibrittle materials, approximate formulas for the nominal strength of notched or unnotched sandwich beams are derived using the approximation by equivalent LEFM. Different formulas apply to beams with notches simulating pre-existing stress-free (fatigued) cracks, and to unnotched beams failing at crack initiation. Knowledge of these formulas makes it possible to identify from size effect experiments both the fracture energy and the effective size of the fracture process zone.
Seeps regulate stream nitrate concentration in a forested Appalachian catchment.

Surface seeps can be defined as locations where upwelling ground water saturates the surface for most of the year and excess ground water can be delivered to the stream channel via surface flowpaths. If a stream is predominantly fed by seeps, then ground water added to the stream via these surface flowpaths may result in reduced interactions with the subsurface riparian zone. It is generally believed that seep ground water that upwells and then flows along surface flowpaths can be subject to diminished denitrification and biologic uptake processes. Seep effects on stream nitrate (NO 3 ) concentration were studied in Baldwin Creek (5.35 km 2 ), southwestern Pennsylvania. Nitrate retention within seep zones was evaluated over a 1-yr period (May 2002-2003) using a monthly, nested (top and bottom of seep) sampling approach along 15 individual seeps. Seep samples were analyzed for NO 3 -N, NH 3 -N, and dissolved organic carbon, along with stream waters and streamflow measurements at seven stream stations. Seeps were generally NO 3 sinks with concentrations decreasing downseep: 31% median annual reduction and 73% maximum monthly reduction. During cold and wet periods, seeps frequently behaved as NO 3 sources to the stream (NO 3 concentrations increased or remained constant downseep). Seep temperature and discharge were related to seasonal variability in seep NO 3 retention. Seasonal variations in stream NO 3 concentration have been attributed to upland soil and vegetation processes in numerous watersheds. At Baldwin Creek, seep NO 3 processing regulated the seasonal variability of stream NO 3 concentrations. These results suggest that seeps provide important water quality functions and can modulate the effects of elevated regional N deposition in Appalachian catchments.
The influence of substituents on the photocyclodehydrogenation of 1,2-diphenylcyclopentenes II: meta substituents

Abstract The photocyclodehydrogenation of several mono-meta-substituted 1,2-diphenylcyclopentenes into 2- and 4-substituted phenanthrene derivatives was investigated under various conditions (varying solvent, concentration of oxidant and temperature). As with the para-substituted isomers, the primary photocyclization step into a 4 a ,4 b -dihydrophenanthrene (DHP) is not influenced by the substitutents. The two phenanthrenes are not always obtained in a ratio of 1:1. Depending on the substituent, solvent, oxidant and temperature the ratio can reach values larger than 50:1. Deviations from a ratio of 1:1 originate from the competition between oxidation and thermal ring opening of the DHPs which, in the cases studied, are formed in nearly equal amounts. The thermal ring opening of the DHPs is influenced by substituents: substituents at C2 raise the activation energy and those at C4 lower the activation energy. An isokinetic relationship is found for the thermal ring opening. The results are compared with those of substituted stilbenes and with the results of force field calculations.
Discriminative stimulus control by the anxiogenic ß-carboline FG 7142: Generalization to a physiological stressor

Abstract Drug discrimination was employed to investigate the similarities between FG 7142-induced anxiogenesis and the stress produced by exposure to either a novel environment or to footshock. Eight rats were trained to discriminate between the stimulus properties of the s-carboline FG 7142 (5.0 mg/kg) and its vehicle in a two-lever, food motivated operant task. Once trained, decreasing doses of FG 7142 produced fewer FG 7142-appropriate responses and the dose-response relationship yielded an ED50 of 1.45 mg/kg. Rats were subsequently sujected to two physiological/environmental stressors, footshock and novelty, and then tested in the discriminative paradigm. Exposure to novelty resulted in partial FG 7142-appropriate responding, whereas footshock sessions produced responding predominately on the FG 7142-appropriate lever. This is the first report of stimulus control by FG 7142 and it is likely that the interoceptive cue state produced by this compound is anxiogenic in nature, as reported to occur in man. The anxiogenc nature of the FG 7142 discriminative stimulus is supported by the generalization of FG 7142 to the state produced following stressful environmental manipulation.
The cost of being excluded: impact of excluded medications under Medicare part D on nursing home residents.

A Medicare outpatient drug benefit, one component of the Medicare Modernization and Improvement Act of 2003 (MMA), takes effect on January 1, 2006. This new prescription drug benefit is voluntary for most Medicare-eligible beneficiaries, however it is mandatory for dually eligible individuals—those covered by both Medicare and Medicaid. This is because the Medicaid pharmacy benefit for the dually eligible ceases to exist after January 1, 2006. This has several implications that could adversely impact accessibility to medications that these individuals need to maintain optimal health. Obviously this is particularly important to those of us involved in long-term care (LTC) because many of our patients are currently provided their prescription benefit through Medicaid. It is also worth noting up front that despite the major impact to this vulnerable population it truly was not a group considered during the political debate that resulted in this legislation. Rather, the authors of this legislation were focused almost completely on the general community-based seniors with very little focus on those living in LTC facilities. The result is a system that has the potential to adversely affect this already at-risk population. The purpose of this article is to examine these implications and discuss ways to deal with this provision of the MMA. Some of the most serious implications of the drug benefit for the dually eligible are a number of limitations to the Medicare prescription drug coverage. The legislation excludes from coverage the following drugs or classes of drugs, or their medical uses:
Learning structural affordances through self-exploration

The goal of this paper is to develop a cognitive developmental approach for a humanoid robot so that it can provisionally discover self-affordance relations between certain arm limb movements and corresponding motor units by exploring the outcomes of its random arm movements while in a crawling position. Learning of the right and the left arm affordances is based on self-exploration and a set of experience similarly to how a human baby discovers action-effect relations of own arm movements. We address the early development of self-affordances, similar to infants, which encodes the relationships between actions, objects, and the effect on the environment.
Sarcoidosis: a historical perspective

Sarcoidosis is a malady that generates immense interest and anxiety among the sufferers and their care providers. This commonplace inflammatory disease also engenders enthusiastic controversy among those who study its cause and causation. Sarcoidosis has been with us for more than 150 years. Its colorful history has been written many times, in many places, and by many people. Here is the tale written with readers of Clinics in Dermatology in mind because sarcoidosis was not only first described by a dermatologist, but it was also nurtured in its infancy by a group of brilliant international dermatologists featured in the story.