cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complement Fragment C4d and C3d Deposition in Pediatric Heart Receipients With a Positive Crossmatch

Background Pediatric heart transplant recipients with a positive complement-dependent cytotoxic (CDC) donor–recipient crossmatch are at high risk for rejection. We sought to correlate the pattern of C3d and C4d myocardial capillary deposition and pericapillary macrophage infiltration, possible markers of antibody-mediated rejection, to clinical evidence of rejection in these patients. Methods Were studied 15 pre-sensitized pediatric patients who had 21 rejection episodes, as defined by International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) biopsy Grade ≥2R and/or the development of abnormal left ventricular (LV) function at >1 week after transplant. Archived paraffin-embedded endomyocardial biopsies ( n = 74) from these patients were subjected to immunoperoxidase staining for C3d, C4d and CD68 in duplicate. Positive and negative controls were included for each assay. Results C3d deposition was present in 74 of 74 (100%) specimens. C4d deposition was present in 6 of 74 (8%) biopsies from 4 patients. Biopsies with C4d deposition had ISHLT Grade ≥2R cellular infiltration in 5 of 6 specimens. Pericapillary macrophage infiltration, defined as positive staining for CD68, was found in 34 of 74 (46%) biopsies, and was associated with ISHLT Grade ≥2R in 10 of 34 (29%). Conclusions C3d deposition was universally present after heart transplantation with a CDC + donor/recipient crossmatch. C4d deposition and pericapillary macrophage infiltration were found with some, but not all, episodes of rejection. Further study is needed to understand the significance of the presence of complement fragments and pericapillary macrophage infiltration in these endomyocardial biopsies.
Change over Time in Incidence of Ganciclovir Resistance in Patients with Cytomegalovirus Retinitis

BACKGROUND In the mid-1990s, the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) resistance to ganciclovir was estimated to be approximately 25% by 1 year after diagnosis of retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. METHODS Two hundred fifty-seven patients with CMV retinitis were enrolled in a prospective observational study during 1993-2003 and were treated with ganciclovir. Demographic characteristics and data on CMV disease, antiretroviral therapy, and ganciclovir resistance were recorded for all patients. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) load and CMV load were measured for patients enrolled in 1996 or later. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression methods were used to examine incidence of resistance. RESULTS The 2-year incidence of resistance was 28% among patients enrolled before 1996 and 9% among those enrolled in or after 1996 (P=.001). All cases of resistance occurred among patients with CD4+ T cell counts <50 cells/microL, and positive CMV culture results at baseline were associated with a approximately 4-fold increase in resistance. Among patients whose CMV and HIV loads were measured, a detectable CMV load at baseline and during follow-up was associated with increased risk of resistance, but a detectable HIV load was not. CONCLUSIONS Rates of resistance have decreased from the high levels seen in the pre-HAART era. Better control of CMV replication may have contributed to this decrease.
Pulmonary resections following prior definitive chemoradiation therapy are associated with acceptable survival.

OBJECTIVES: The benefits of salvage resection for lung cancer recurrence following high-dose curative-intent chemoradiation therapy are unclear. We assessed survival after salvage lung resection following definitive chemoradiation. METHODS: Medical records of patients undergoing lung cancer resections at our institution following definitive chemoradiation therapy were reviewed from June 2006 to August 2012. A multivariate Cox proportional model was used to assess the factors associated with improved survival. RESULTS: Fourteen patients had chemoradiation therapy before lung resection (pneumonectomy, lobectomy or segmentectomy). Pretherapy cancer stage was Stage III in 11 patients, Stage IV in 2 and Stage II in 1. Postoperative 2-year survival was 49%. Patients had a median disease-free interval before resection of 33 months. No variables were found to be associated with improved post-chemoradiation survival from the time of definitive treatment or postoperative survival. Complications occurred in 6 (43%) patients, with 2 of those complications directly attributable to post-chemoradiation changes. There were no perioperative deaths within 90 days.
Cixutumumab for patients with recurrent or refractory advanced thymic epithelial tumours: a multicentre, open-label, phase 2 trial

Summary Background No standard treatment exists for refractory or relapsed advanced thymic epithelial tumours. We investigated the efficacy of cixutumumab, a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor in thymic epithelial tumours after failure of previous chemotherapy. Methods Between Aug 25, 2009, and March 27, 2012, we did a multicentre, open-label, phase 2 trial in patients aged 18 years or older with histologically confirmed recurrent or refractory thymic epithelial tumours. We enrolled individuals who had progressed after at least one previous regimen of platinum-containing chemotherapy, had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, and had measurable disease and adequate organ function. Eligible patients received intravenous cixutumumab (20 mg/kg) every 3 weeks until disease progression or development of intolerable toxic effects. The primary endpoint was the frequency of response, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. We also did pharmacodynamic studies. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00965250. Findings 49 patients were enrolled (37 with thymomas and 12 with thymic carcinomas) who received a median of eight cycles of cixutumumab (range 1–46). At the final actuarial analysis when follow-up data were updated (Nov 30, 2012), median potential follow-up (from on-study date to most current follow-up date) was 24·0 months (IQR 17·3–36·9). In the thymoma cohort, five (14%) of 37 patients (95% CI 5–29) achieved a partial response, 28 had stable disease, and four had progressive disease. In the thymic carcinoma cohort, none of 12 patients (95% CI 0–26) had a partial response, five had stable disease, and seven had progressive disease. The most common grade 3–4 adverse events in both cohorts combined were hyperglycaemia (five [10%]), lipase elevation (three [6%]), and weight loss, tumour pain, and hyperuricaemia (two each [4%]). Nine (24%) of 37 patients with thymoma developed autoimmune conditions during treatment (five were new-onset disorders), the most common of which was pure red-cell aplasia. Two (4%) patients died; one was attributed to disease progression and the other to disease-related complications (respiratory failure, myositis, and an acute coronary event), which could have been precipitated by treatment with cixutumumab. Interpretation Cixutumumab monotherapy is well-tolerated and active in relapsed thymoma. Development of autoimmunity during treatment needs further investigation. Funding Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis at the National Cancer Institute (National Institutes of Health), ImClone Systems.
Choice of Geometry for the Alvarez Section of the FMIT Deuteron Linac

The Hanford Fusion Materials Irradiation Test (FMIT) 35-MeV linac is intended to produce neutrons for materials studies. Its operation will be virtually continuous for at least 20 years. Such operation implies that the accelerator design must be conservative to avoid excessive downtime and that the accelerator be economical of power. The initial design of the linac drift-tube section was preceded by more than 800 SUPERFISH computer runs. SUPERFISH allows the selection of a geometry for the FMIT machine that has very nearly the maximum value of ZT2 consistent with Kilpatrick's criterion. This maximum value insures that power costs will be as low as possible while keeping the maximum surface fields at a level conservative enough to prevent sparking. The optimization procedure is examined to show how the best geometry is achieved. The drift-tube section will operate at 80 MHz with an average 1.4 MV/m gradient. As presently conceived, it will consist of two tanks, one 248 cm in diameter and about 18.-m long and the other 240 cm in diameter and about 14.-m long. The number of drift-tubes will be 73 if a stable phase of -30° is chosen.
Polyethylene glycol 4000 vs. lactulose for the treatment of neurogenic constipation in myelomeningocele children: a randomized-controlled clinical trial

Summary Aim To compare the therapeutic effectiveness and tolerability of low daily doses of polyethylene glycol 4000 vs. lactulose in the treatment of neurogenic constipation in children with myelomeningocele. Methods Sixty-seven children with chronic neurogenic constipation were randomized allocated to receive either polyethylene glycol 4000 (0.50 g/kg) or lactulose (1.5 g/kg) for 6 months. Patients or their parents reported frequency and modality of evacuation and side effects on a diary card. Primary outcome was bowel frequency ≥3/week, and the second one was side effects at the end of treatment. Results Complete remission of constipation was reported by a significantly (P < 0.01) higher number of patients treated with polyethylene glycol compared with lactulose. At the end of the study, 46% patients of polyethylene glycol group and 22% of the lactulose group were asymptomatic. Compared with lactulose, patients treated with polyethylene glycol reported higher bowel frequency (5.1 vs. 2.9 bowel movements/week, P < 0.01) and reduction of encopresis. Neither lactulose nor polyethylene glycol caused clinically-significant serious side effects and palatability was similar. Conclusions Polyethylene glycol 4000 compared with lactulose provided a higher success rate, without significant side effects, for the treatment of constipation in myelomeningocele children.
Creation and Characterization of 5-Fluorodeoxyuridine-resistant Arg50 Loop Mutants of Human Thymidylate Synthase

Thymidylate synthase catalyzes the reductive methylation of dUMP to dTMP and is essential for the synthesis of DNA. Fluoropyrimidines, such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), are used extensively in cancer therapy. In the cell, 5-FU is metabolized to 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate, a tight binding covalent inhibitor of thymidylate synthase. Recent studies have identified 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (5-FdUR) and antifolate-resistant mutants of human thymidylate synthase (TS) that contain single residue substitutions within the highly conserved Arg50-loop, which binds the pyrimidine substrate (Y. Tong et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273: 11611-11618, 1998). We have used random sequence mutagenesis to gain structure-function information about the TS and to create novel drug-resistant mutants for gene therapy. A library of 1.5 million mutants of the Arg50-loop and the nearby residue Tyr 33 was selected to identify mutants of the human enzyme with the ability to complement a thymidylate synthase-deficient Escherichia coli strain and form colonies in the presence of 5-FdUR. E. coli-harboring plasmids that were encoding TS with single, double, and triple amino acid substitutions were identified that survive at dosages of 5-FdUR clearly lethal to E. coli harboring either wild-type thymidylate synthase or constructs encoding previously characterized drug resistant mutants. Four 5-FdUR-resistant mutants were purified to apparent homogeneity. Kinetic studies indicate that these enzymes are highly efficient. Inhibition constants (Ki) for the double mutant K47Q;D48E and the triple mutant D48E;T51S;G52C in the presence of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate were determined to be 75 to 100 times higher, respectively, than that of the wild-type enzyme. These mutant TSs, or others similarly created and selected, could be used to protect bone marrow cells from the cytotoxic side effects of 5-FU chemotherapy.
A multisensory zone in rat parietotemporal cortex: intra- and extracellular physiology and thalamocortical connections.

Multisensory integration is essential for the expression of complex behaviors in humans and animals. However, few studies have investigated the neural sites where multisensory integration may occur. Therefore, we used electrophysiology and retrograde labeling to study a region of the rat parietotemporal cortex that responds uniquely to auditory and somatosensory multisensory stimulation. This multisensory responsiveness suggests a functional organization resembling multisensory association cortex in cats and primates. Extracellular multielectrode surface mapping defined a region between auditory and somatosensory cortex where responses to combined auditory/somatosensory stimulation were larger in amplitude and earlier in latency than responses to either stimulus alone. Moreover, multisensory responses were nonlinear and differed from the summed unimodal responses. Intracellular recording found almost exclusively multisensory cells that responded to both unisensory and multisensory stimulation with excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and/or action potentials, conclusively defining a multisensory zone (MZ). In addition, intracellular responses were similar to extracellular recordings, with larger and earlier EPSPs evoked by multisensory stimulation, and interactions suggesting nonlinear postsynaptic summation to combined stimuli. Thalamic input to MZ from unimodal auditory and somatosensory thalamic relay nuclei and from multisensory thalamic regions support the idea that parallel thalamocortical projections may drive multisensory functions as strongly as corticocortical projections. Whereas the MZ integrates uni- and multisensory thalamocortical afferent streams, it may ultimately influence brainstem multisensory structures such as the superior colliculus.
The evolving field of biodefence: therapeutic developments and diagnostics

The threat of bioterrorism and the potential use of biological weapons against both military and civilian populations has become a major concern for governments around the world. For example, in 2001 anthrax-tainted letters resulted in several deaths, caused widespread public panic and exerted a heavy economic toll. If such a small-scale act of bioterrorism could have such a huge impact, then the effects of a large-scale attack would be catastrophic. This review covers recent progress in developing therapeutic countermeasures against, and diagnostics for, such agents.
On micromechanics approximation for the effective thermoelastic moduli of multi-phase composite materials

Abstract It has been shown that for multi-phase composite materials, the Mori–Tanaka and self-consistent approaches may give non-symmetric effective moduli, may violate some exact connections between the effective moduli, may violate the Hashin–Shtrikman variational bounds, and may exhibit incorrect behavior at the unitary (100%) reinforcement concentration limit. An effective-medium-field micromechanics approximation using normalized concentration factors is proposed and is shown to overcome these difficulties. Such a normalization is necessary to satisfy the consistency relationship.
Distress and DNA repair in human lymphocytes.

This research assessed differences in DNA repair in lymphocytes from high-and low-distressed individuals. A median split on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Scale 2 divided 28 newly admitted nonpsychotic psychiatric inpatients into high- and low-distress subgroups. The high-distress subgroup had significantly poorer DNA repair in lymphocytes exposed to X-irradiation than low-distress subjects. We also found that lymphocytes obtained from this psychiatric sample had significantly poorer DNA repair than lymphocytes from nonpsychiatric control subjects when compared 5 hr after X-irradiation. A high level of distress therefore appears to be associated with significant dysfunctional differences at the molecular level which may have important implications for health. These data provide evidence for a direct pathway through which distress could influence the incidence of cancer.
Got Issues? An Empirical Study About Framing Them

Grounded in framing theory and the analyses of judges and commentators, this article examines issue statements in a sample of recent briefs from six states. The data cover various aspects of issue statements, including sentence structure, length, and the most common beginning words. Issue statements from recent briefs provide examples throughout the discussion. The article concludes with recommendations for framing effective issue statements.
Debating Patriarchy: Discursive Disputes over Spousal Authority among Evangelical Family Commentators

Theoretical paradigms that have called attention to the contemporary "war" over the family suggest that religious conservatives in general, and evangelical Protestants in particular, are among the most vociferous defenders of a "traditional" patriarchal family structure. However, a handful of recent inquiries on contemporary evangelical spousal roles has suggested that conservative Protestants are not unanimous in their support for a patriarchal family structure. Drawing on insights from poststructuralist theories of discourse and gender theory, this study augments such investigations by analyzing the rhetoric contained within a large sample of popular evangelical family manuals. I demonstrate that leading conservative Protestants are engaged in a rancorous debate about spousal authority relatione, with evangelical pur­ veyors of patriarchy attracting significant criticism from prominent biblical feminists and a growing coterie of egalitarian evangelical commentators. After delineating the most salient points of this internecine debate, I trace these antagonists' divergent recommendations for the allocation of spousal authority to their distinctive assumptions about (1) the nature of masculinity and femininity, and (2) Bible's instructions for familial decision making. I conclude by specifying several directions for future empirical research, and by explicating this study's challenge to prevailing assumptions concerning the religious contours of the war over the family.
Crystallization and Mechanical Properties of Poly(l-lactide)-Based Rubbery/Semicrystalline Multiblock Copolymers

The crystallization and mechanical properties of triblock and multiblock copolymers containing 70 vol % semicrystalline poly(l-lactide) (L) and 30 vol % rubbery poly(ethylene-co-ethylene) (E/EE) were investigated. The multiblock copolymer was synthesized directly from the triblock copolymer (denoted LE/EEL). Specifically, the dihydroxyl-terminated LE/EEL served as a macromonomer in a step-growth polymerization in which stoichiometric quantities of sebacoyl chloride were added, resulting in (LE/EEL)⟨3.6⟩, a multiblock copolymer with an average of 3.6 triblock copolymer units connected together. Additionally, triblock and multiblock copolymers were blended together in order to systematically tune ⟨n⟩ and uncover the role of block number on properties. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) indicated that despite differences in ⟨n⟩, all samples had an order-to-disorder transition temperature TODT ≈ 190 °C, which is above the melting temperature (Tm) of poly(l-lactide). Small-angle X-ray scattering measurements (S...
Sunlight Stability and Rain-Fastness of Formulations of Baculovirus heliothis

Sunlight-Ultraviolet, with an activity spectrum from 290 to 400 nm, is the most destructive factor affecting the persistence of baculoviruses. Benzopurpurin (a disazo dye) and carbon provided the best protection when polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIB) of Baculovirus heliothis were exposed to an artificial spectrum simulating sunlight-UV (UV). Greater than 75% of the original PIB activity was still present after 48 h of sunlight-UV. When sprayed on soybeans and exposed to natural sunlight, only formulations with carbon provided significant protection of PIB. The half-life of formulations were PIB-only 4.9 ± 1.4 h (mean ± SE), PIB + polymer (pyrrolidone-based sticker) 3.3 ± 0.6 h, PIB + polymer + benzopurpurin 3.4 ± 0.7 h, and PIB + polymer + carbon 27.7 ± 5.2 h. PIB of B. heliothis tenaciously adhere to soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, leaflets after spraying and drying. Less than 6% of the PIB activity of nonformulated PIB was lost after a drenching, simulated rainfall. More than 97% of the original PIB activity of carbon formulations was still present on soybean leaflets after 10 h of exposure to sunlight-UV. In contrast, <20% was present for formulations without carbon.
Sovereign Power, Human Rights and Hypocrisy Costs

When states espouse a pro-human-rights position but act inconsistently with that position - in other words, when they exercise sovereign power in ways inconsistent with their public proclamations about the value or propriety of compliance with human rights and international law - their actions are not costless. State compliance practice may result from instrumental or principled reasons. However, if the Schmittian theory of the state of exception applies in the modern liberal state, even those states that support human rights for principled reasons may find their commitment to the rule of law faltering. In this paper, I describe why states that may have principled (or endogenous and non-instrumental) reasons for supporting human rights may nonetheless violate those values. Using the Central Intelligence Agency's high value terrorist detainee program as a case study, I defend a theory of hypocrisy costs. These are the costs that accrue to a state when its philosophically or morally sincere public statements - specifically, its evangelism about a certain value, norm, principle, or law - are inconsistent with its practice. These can be further categorized as internal and external hypocrisy costs. Ultimately, hypocrisy costs make it harder for a state that has principled reasons for supporting human rights to further foreign policy goals that implicate moral positions.
Surgery of the Achilles' tendon

Without question, injury to the Achilles' tendon is one of the commonest running injuries involving the lower extremity. Repair of acute and delayed ruptures is discussed. Tendonitis is by far commoner than ruptures. The pathology and conservative and surgical treatments are discussed.
The Importance of STEM Education in the Elementary Grades: Learning from Pre-service and Novice Teachers' Perspectives

We seek to understand how pre-service and novice teachers view the importance of STEM education in the elementary grades. A sample of prospective and early career elementary teachers was surveyed using an anonymous online questionnaire. The questionnaire asked for demographic information and this prompt: “Is STEM education important at the elementary level? Why or why not?” A constant comparative approach was used to analyze responses to provide insights about respondents’ beliefs. We found that all participants responded that yes, STEM education was important at the elementary years, but that several themes emerged when considering reasons given, and that the types of responses given varied in terms of subject and complexity when comparing responses by respondents’ second major. These findings paint an initial picture of what future elementary STEM instruction might look like, insofar as teachers’ beliefs can influence instructional choices. Additionally, these findings may have implications for teacher educators and for pre- and in-service teacher education.
Revealing the landscape: Detecting trends in a scientific corpus

Scientific literature is growing at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, various stakeholders need to grasp novel trends and innovations in order to make sound policy decisions in real time. Modern data mining techniques can be leveraged to ease the burden of manually combing through thousands of documents. In this paper we present a data product for exploration and filtration of a large corpus of citations from several distinct commercial databases. The end goal is a highly interactive user interface for intuitive corpus exploration on the front end, supported by data ingestion, merging, inference, and novelty detection capabilities on the back end. Due to the high dimensionality of textual data, dimensionality reduction and summarization are major requirements for effective exploratory analysis. Toward these ends we apply a topic model, specifically the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model. The resulting dimensionality reduction improves the comprehensibility of the corpus for the end user, while also allowing a speedup of document-document comparison. Document similarity is computed using Hellinger distance, which is a Euclidean distance in a transformed topic-weight space, and thus nearest document queries can be implemented efficiently using a kd-tree data structure. Further information reduction is achieved through the use of a supervised nonparametric trend detection algorithm originally developed in the context of social media (Twitter), in order to suggest terms of potential interest to the user based on their likelihood of embodying significant trends. To our knowledge the application of this technique in the scientometric domain is novel.
Complex Causative Verbs

Chapter 7 analyzed two classes of causative verbs, change-of-location verbs like put and deliver and change-of-state verbs like render and convert, which all behaved in parallel – when their place linked, their theme did not. That is, they were all 2-argument verbs. This was predicted by the Prohibition Against Double Fusion given the geometry of their CSs and it was confirmed by the argumenthood tests on their postverbal NPs. At the end of Chapter 7, Section 2, we encountered a different sort of causative, break, whose theme linked even when its optional place linked. No PADF violation occurred because its CS is more complex, similar to resultative CSs, but without the extent component.
Defined Host–Guest Chemistry on Nanocarbon for Sustained Inhibition of Cancer

Signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT-3) is known to be overexpressed in cancer stem cells. Poor solubility and variable drug absorption are linked to low bioavailability and decreased efficacy. Many of the drugs regulating STAT-3 expression lack aqueous solubility; hence hindering efficient bioavailability. A theranostics nanoplatform based on luminescent carbon particles decorated with cucurbit[6]uril is introduced for enhancing the solubility of niclosamide, a STAT-3 inhibitor. The host-guest chemistry between cucurbit[6]uril and niclosamide makes the delivery of the hydrophobic drug feasible while carbon nanoparticles enhance cellular internalization. Extensive physicochemical characterizations confirm successful synthesis. Subsequently, the host-guest chemistry of niclosamide and cucurbit[6]uril is studied experimentally and computationally. In vitro assessments in human breast cancer cells indicate approximately twofold enhancement in IC50 of drug. Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence imaging demonstrate efficient cellular internalization. Furthermore, the catalytic biodegradation of the nanoplatforms occur upon exposure to human myeloperoxidase in short time. In vivo studies on athymic mice with MCF-7 xenograft indicate the size of tumor in the treatment group is half of the controls after 40 d. Immunohistochemistry corroborates the downregulation of STAT-3 phosphorylation. Overall, the host-guest chemistry on nanocarbon acts as a novel arsenal for STAT-3 inhibition.
Computational Neuroscience: Theory, Development and Applications in Modeling The Basal Ganglia

Inspiring entire computing paradigms, hardware platforms and theories of nervous system function, the field of computational neuroscience has grown steadily since its emergence in the mid1980s. The motivation behind it is to mathematically describe the nervous system in terms of how the structures process information. Simulating the brain this way can be done at varying levels of abstraction and biological realism; providing insight into the function of the nervous system or supporting empirical evidence. This dissertation presents a snapshot of the computational neuroscience landscape. It begins begins with the mathematical theory, moving to implementation, and finally ending with its application. It is by no means a complete picture but provides a basic understanding of how mathematical modeling contributes to neuroscience. This begins by presenting the design considerations behind high-performance neural simulation environments. A concept which is then extended with a novel implementation for the exchange of spiking information in high-performance cluster environments. A framework for creating virtual environments for embodied modeling is then developed and discussed. Finally, a toolkit for efficiently analyzing the large amounts of data generated by these spiking models is presented. Once these tools are established the focus is shifted to models of the basal ganglia. After a brief background, spiking models capable of action-selection through reinforcement learning are described. These borrow from the basal ganglia but are developed for implementation on neuromorphic hardware and are therefore necessarily simplified. The networks are embodied in virtual environments and their performance based on two tasks is explored under varying conditions. Finally, the use of a simple hybrid neuron is explored in several published models of the basal ganglia; demonstrating the first example of a hybrid neuron in biologically faithful models of the basal ganglia 12:00 pm, Wednesday, December 12, 2012 Scrugham Engineering and Mines (SEM) room 201 For more information contact Dr. Fred Harris @ 784-6571 (Fred.Harris@cse.unr.edu)
Application of GMPEs to estimate the minimum magnitude and peak ground acceleration of prehistoric earthquakes at Hollywood, SC

Abstract In this study, the minimum earthquake magnitude and peak ground acceleration required to initiate liquefaction at the time of prehistoric earthquakes that date back to 11,000 years before present at the Hollywood site located in the South Carolina Coastal Plain were computed. The soils at this site are estimated to be about 120,000 to 130,000 years old. In-situ geotechnical data, including cone penetration data with pore water pressure measurements, were used with empirical methods that account for the age of the soil deposit to back analyse the peak ground acceleration. Results were then combined with the corresponding values obtained using Ground Motion Prediction Equations (GMPEs) to obtain a proper estimation of amax-M of the prehistoric earthquakes at the Hollywood site. When the age of the earthquake was not considered, the minimum magnitude ranged from 5.8 to 6.5 and the corresponding peak ground acceleration ranged from 0.25 to 0.32 g. When the age of the earthquake was considered, the minimum magnitude was found to be 0.2 to 0.3 units lower depending on earthquake age and the GMPE model. For the most recent prehistoric earthquake with the age of 546 ± 17, the minimum magnitude ranged from 5.6 to 6.3 with corresponding acceleration ranging from 0.21 to 0.28 g.
A multi-class advance-reservation scheduler

High-speed dynamic virtual-circuit services, using multiprotocol label switching and advance-reservation schedulers, are being offered by several research-and-education network providers such as Internet2 and ESnet, and also by commercial providers. This paper develops and evaluates a multi-class batch scheduling algorithm for channels on a link across a reservation window of multiple timeslots. The scheduler runs an optimization algorithm to either admit a call and assign it a specific timeslot, or reject the call. The primary goal of the algorithm is to maximize link utilization, and a secondary goal is to minimize mean response time, while simultaneously considering call-blocking and response-time fairness across the different classes. Our evaluation showed that it is easier to achieve these multiple goals at higher loads. But recognizing that fairness often requires sacrificing mean response time, a tunable fairness relaxation parameter is included in the algorithm to allow operators flexibility in their service offerings.
Partisanship and Prosecutorial Decision Making: An Experiment

This paper reports an experiment that simulated prosecutorial decision making. Prosecutorial decision making is of great importance since upwards of ninety percent of criminal verdicts are meted out by prosecutors. That means that prosecutors, rather than judges and juries, dispense the lion share of criminal convictions. The study was designed to examine three questions. First, the study examined the objectivity of prosecutors’ assessment of the facts of cases. A prior study (presented at CELS, 2008) demonstrated that the mere assignment of participants to adversarial roles distorts and polarizes their views of the case (as compared to one another, and vis-a-vis a neutral assignment). The current study finds that a prosecutor’s view of the case is affected also by situational variables which can be characterized partisanship. This effect is of practical importance given its influence on prosecutorial decision making, especially in the plea bargaining (process by which more than 90% of convictions are obtained), and also because the structure and incentives in DA offices often promote partisanship. Second, the study was designed to test the specific role of anger in the making of a prosecutorial decision. Normatively, judgments of culpability in such cases ought to be based entirely on a factual determination; emotions, particularly anger, ought to play no role. Research on anger has found that arousal of anger results in higher attributions of blame, perception of intentionality, lower thresholds of evidence, and dismissal of alternative explanations and mitigating circumstances. Our manipulation of partisanship resulted in greater anger towards the suspect. Mediational analysis and Structural Equation Modeling revealed that while anger mediated the effect of the assignment on the verdict and the interpretation of the facts, it was also mediated by them in return. This bi-directionality is consistent with coherence based reasoning and the underlying mechanisms of parallel constraint satisfaction. This finding also complicates the distinction between “integral” and “incidental” arousal of anger. The study was designed also with novel basic-psychological objective in mind. Specifically, it was designed to explore the underlying cognitive mechanism by which “hot” and “cold” cognitions interact. Though a considerable body of past research has demonstrated that the two types of cognition affect one another, there is scant evidence pointing to the mechanism by which this occurs. This study provides experimental support for the conclusion that hot cognitions are incorporated in coherence based reasoning, alongside cold cognitions. Both types of cognitions are driven by Gestaltian forces (specifically, parallel constraint satisfaction processing) towards a point of equilibrium, at which all cognitions involved - the assessments of the facts, overall judgments, motivation, affect, and emotions - come together at a point of maximum coherence.
Magnetic excursions in the late Matuyama Chron (Olduvai to Matuyama-Brunhes boundary) from North Atlantic IODP sites

The sedimentary record of late Matuyama magnetic excursions, between the end of the Olduvai Subchron and the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary, has relied on North Atlantic ODP Sites 983/984, and individual recordings at ODP Site 1021 from the California Margin, and Core MD972143 from the west Philippine Sea. North Atlantic IODP Sites U1305, U1306, U1307 (Eirik Drift, off SE Greenland) and Site U1308 (central Atlantic) provide new records from u-channel samples and discrete (8-cm3) cubic samples, collected from multiple holes drilled at each site. The results confirm the existence of the Intra-Jaramillo, Punaruu, Bjorn, Gardar and Gilsa excursions, and possibly the Kamikatsura excursion. These excursions are not recorded at all sampled sites, although they do correspond to excursions recorded at ODP Sites 983/984, and to relative paleointensity (RPI) minima recorded at all studied sites. For some records, including that of the Bjorn excursion (1251 ka), antipodal magnetization directions yield virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) that reach high northern latitudes, implying that the excursion involved reversal of the main axial dipole field. On the other hand, excursions are often partially and inadequately recorded, attributable to a combination of the brevity of geomagnetic excursions, bioturbation and filtering of the magnetization signal by the DRM (detrital remanent magnetization) acquisition process, non-uniform sedimentation rates at millennial/centennial scales, and possibly unrecognized drilling/sampling disturbance.
Robust mapping rule estimation for power flow analysis in distribution grids

The increasing integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) calls for new monitoring and operational planning tools to ensure stability and sustainability in distribution grids. One idea is to use existing monitoring tools in transmission grids and some primary distribution grids. However, they usually depend on the knowledge of the system model, e.g., the topology and line parameters, which may be unavailable in primary and secondary distribution grids. Furthermore, a utility usually has limited modeling ability of active controllers as they may belong to a third party like residential customers. To solve the modeling problem in traditional power flow analysis, we propose a support vector regression (SVR) approach to reveal the mapping rules between different variables and recover useful variables based on historical data. We illustrate the advantages of using the SVR model over traditional regression method that finds line parameters in distribution grids. Specifically, the SVR model is robust enough to recover the mapping rules when the regression method fails. This happens when 1) there are measurement outliers, 2) there are active controllers, or 3) measurements are only available at some part of a distribution grid. We demonstrate the superior performance of our method through extensive numerical validation on different scales of distribution grids and IEEE test buses. Robustness of our method is observed.
Bioart and Bildung-Wetware: Art, Agency, Animation, an Exhibition as Case Study.

Recent events in the field of biology have further unfixed the definition of life. The negotiability of “life” is at the center of the exhibition “Wetware: Art, Agency, Animation” at the Beall Center for Art + Technology at the University of California, Irvine. The exhibition includes art by nine international artists working in the avant-garde area of contemporary art called “bioart.” This article is devoted to the unique educational space opened through the practice of bioart, focusing on how the exhibition brings the scientific question “What is life?” to a public audience. Bildung, a term that translates as education but encompasses exploration and growth, is based on the holistic unity of science and art and is used here to show that neither science nor art sacrifices legitimacy or distinction within bioart. Art can suggest design and be useful; science can point to abstraction and be poetic. Bioart inspires a chain of curiosity about the form, materials, media that artists use to probe, shape, direct, and display scientific processes and concepts.
Acculturative Stress, Psychological Distress, and Religious Coping Among Latina Young Adult Immigrants.

Religion is a source of strength in Latina/o culture during challenging life transitions, such as the immigration process. Guided by a sociological stress–process model, this study examines relatio...
Oxides and nitrides for nanophotonics and energy applications

We study transition metal nitrides and transparent conducting oxides as alternate plasmonic materials in the visible and near-infrared for applications such as on-chip interconnects, metasurfaces, local heating, photocatalysis and ultrafast modulation.
Revisiting Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General

The author discusses the "Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General," released in 2000 as the first ever "Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health" to inform Americans about the importance of oral health and the impact of oral health on overall health.
Sonography of pediatric superficial lumps and bumps: illustrative examples from head to toe

Superficial lumps and bumps are extremely common in children, and the vast majority ultimately prove to be benign. Duplex/color Doppler ultrasound (US) has emerged as the first-line imaging modality for the evaluation of these superficial pediatric masses because it provides a means for rapid acquisition of information including size, shape, location, internal content and vascularity. More important, it does so without utilizing radiation, iodinated contrast material or sedation/anesthesia. In this review, we present the sonographic findings of a variety of cases ranging from head to toe that are either uncommonly seen or were diagnosed in an atypical fashion (i.e. ultrasound). In situations where the lesion is too deep, hyperechoic or large to be fully assessed within the field of view or if malignancy is suspected, then additional cross-sectional imaging is warranted for further evaluation.
Electrical Textile Valves for Paper Microfluidics

This paper describes electrically-activated fluidic valves that operate based on electrowetting through textiles. The valves are fabricated from electrically conductive, insulated, hydrophobic textiles, but the concept can be extended to other porous materials. When the valve is closed, the liquid cannot pass through the hydrophobic textile. Upon application of a potential (in the range of 100-1000 V) between the textile and the liquid, the valve opens and the liquid penetrates the textile. These valves actuate in less than 1 s, require low energy (≈27 µJ per actuation), and work with a variety of aqueous solutions, including those with low surface tension and those containing bioanalytes. They are bistable in function, and are, in a sense, the electrofluidic analog of thyristors. They can be integrated into paper microfluidic devices to make circuits that are capable of controlling liquid, including autonomous fluidic timers and fluidic logic.
Hydrogen Production from High-Temperature Fuel Cells

Hydrogen is a likely energy carrier of the future due to the absence of carbon, low emissions when converted in various end-use technologies, and ability to be cleanly and efficiently produced from various domestic primary energy sources. In 2003 the Federal government launched theHydrogen Fuel Initiative with a total budget of $1.2 billion over 5 years in order to accelerate research and development of fuel cell technologies [12]. Importantly, major automobile manufacturers are operating fuel cell vehicles that run on pure hydrogen gas, and several fuel cell buses are in operation in major cities around the world. Companies such as Shell, Air Products and Chemicals, Chevron, and Air Liquide are developing hydrogen production, distribution, and dispensing technologies for hydrogen vehicles along with strategies to deploy them. Moreover, the state of California intends to reduce the carbon content of transportation fuels through the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Additional legislation in the areas of energy and climate, such as that contained in California laws entitled AB32, AB1493, SB76, and SB1368, highlight California’s commitment to ensuring low greenhouse gas emissions for both electricity and transportation fuels [12]. Many other places around the world, including Germany and fellow European Union countries, Japan, China, and Korea, are advancing hydrogen fueling and vehicle technology. Therefore, developing a highly efficient, low-emission, and economically viable hydrogen production and delivery methodology is of great importance from environmental, social, economic, and political perspectives.
Collagen-Mimetic Proteins with Tunable Integrin Binding Sites for Vascular Graft Coatings

Achieving graft endothelialization following implantation continues to be a challenge in the development of "off-the-shelf," small-caliber, arterial prostheses. Coating grafts with biomolecules to support the retention, migration, and differentiation of adherent endothelial precursor cells (EPCs) is a promising approach toward improving graft endothelialization. Designer Collagen Scl2-2 with 1 integrin binding site per strand (DC2-1X) is a Streptococcus pyogenes-derived, collagen-like protein that has previously been evaluated as a graft coating due to its ability to resist platelet aggregation and to promote attachment and migration of "late outgrowth" EPCs (EOCs). However, these prior assessments were performed in the absence of physiological shear. In addition, although DC2-1X coatings supported increased migration rates relative to native collagen coatings, EOC attachment and spreading remained inferior to collagen controls at all DC2-1X concentrations assayed. Thus, the objectives of the present work were the following: (1) to improve EOC attachment on DC2 coatings by modulating the number and spacing of DC2 integrin binding sites (IBS) and (2) to evaluate the retention, migration, and differentiation of adherent EOCs under physiological shear stress. Using single point mutations, three novel DC2 variants were generated containing either two IBS (DC2-2X) or three IBS (DC2-3X1 and DC2-3X2) per strand. After initial evaluation of the potential of each DC2 variant to support increased EOC attachment relative to DC2-1X, DC2-2X and DC2-3X1 coatings were further assessed under physiological shear for their capacity to promote EOC retention, migration, and differentiation relative to DC2-1X and collagen controls. An increase in the number of IBS from 1 to 3 significantly improved EOC retention on DC2 coatings while also supporting increased average migration rates. Moreover, EOCs on DC2-3X1 coatings showed increased gene-level expression of intermediate endothelial cell differentiation markers relative to collagen. Overall, the current results suggest that DC2-3X1 warrants further investigation as a vascular graft coating.
The Adding-Doubling Method

This chapter describes the adding-doubling method for solving the radiative transport equation. The advantages and disadvantages of the method are presented, followed by sections describing its theory and computer implementation. A detailed example is given with intermediate numerical results. Accurate tables with values of reflection and transmission for slabs of varying thicknesses with mismatched boundaries are given.
Discussion: The Practice of Psychotherapy with Schizophrenics

As a discussant, I must convey to you what I regard as the impossibility of my task. Each of these men—Will, Paul, Schulz, and Wynne—has given us a paper. These are windows on—an intriguing glimpse of—the larger corpus of their work. And it would not be too much to say of each of them that—in different areas—using different language and techniques, different conceptual frameworks—they are and have been among the giants who have moved our small science of man and the treatment of schizophrenia along. Of that larger corpus of these papers, I can only say that they continue to enlighten—to suggest.