cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Motivation and Persuasion

Motivation and persuasion are at the heart of most organizational communication. In fact, many business communication theories are linked to rhetoric, a key theory in this category. Simply stated, motivational and persuasive messages guide how we get things done in organizations. Just as important, these same messages impact the well-being of organizational stakeholders—employees, and customers included of course. Yet there are different paths to modeling these processes within business communication theory, and this chapter captures some major approaches. We also touch upon some compelling issues for scholars and managers here. Have we fully considered and taken action about relevant ethical implications? And, have we effectively partnered theories in this category with pertinent ones from cultural characteristics and organizational structures to better explore organizational communication behaviors and their meaningful outcomes?
BLISS in the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis

The optimal treatment of lupus nephritis remains a vexing challenge for nephrologists. Induction therapy for patients with active disease usually includes cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in combination with corticosteroids. These treatments have improved outcomes. Yet, only 30%–50
Do public R&D subsidies produce jobs? Evidence from the SBIR/STTR program

Abstract Governments make substantial investments in small businesses to promote innovation and create jobs. While there is extensive evidence that R&D policies catalyze innovation, there is less empirical evidence on their employment effects. We examine the impact of public R&D subsidies on net job creation with a two-study empirical research design that draws upon first-time recipients of the U.S. SBIR/STTR program from the five leading federal agencies from 2000 to 2015. This two-study design enables us to analyze the extensive and intensive margins of the program. For the first study, we compare federal recipients to a matched set of non-recipients and find awardees hire fewer employees than their counterparts. For the second study, we leverage a natural experiment to investigate the employment effects of additional matching funds from state governments. We find evidence that federal recipients that receive noncompetitive matching funds also hire fewer employees than federal recipients located in states without the match. We investigate a series of features that may accelerate or attenuate the total effect and find that ventures substitute away from hiring toward partnering and gaining access to external resources. Moreover, firms with heightened levels of risk, indicated by medium-to-low credit records, account for the greatest difference. These results highlight tensions for ventures as they balance competing expectations of the program to stimulate innovation while also creating jobs. Policymakers should reconsider whether emphasizing direct job growth is appropriate when evaluating this type of R&D program.
From Class to Culture: Ideological Landscapes of the Left Thought Collective in the West, 1950s–1980s

The paper explores the evolution of the political and ideological landscapes of the left thought collective in the West. Heavily influenced by the classical Marxian paradigm prior to the 1950s, it gradually shifted to the matters of culture and identity between the 1950s and the 1980s. In the left ideological paradigm, this transformation became known as the “cultural turn”; some early left authors also referred to this shift as “Cultural Marxism.” The latter became a favorite word of choice for scholars and writers on the right. Social scholarship on both sides of the political spectrum have frequently stressed the important role of the so-called Frankfurt School in pioneering the abovementioned transformation. This paper argues that, as far as the mainstreaming of the cultural turn, there were more important intellectual sources that not only came to privilege culture and identity but they also expanded the geography of the left thought collective beyond Europe. These sources included racialized Marxism of C.L.R James, William Dubois, and Frantz Fanon (1940s-1960s) and British Cultural Studies, which gradually phased out economic determinism and the class-based approach of classical Marxism by shifting attention to the Third World, race and gender minorities within Western countries, and identity matters in general.
Sensor-Based Estimation of Dim Light Melatonin Onset Using Features of Two Time Scales

Circadian rhythms influence multiple essential biological activities, including sleep, performance, and mood. The dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) is the gold standard for measuring human circadian phase (i.e., timing). The collection of DLMO is expensive and time consuming since multiple saliva or blood samples are required overnight in special conditions, and the samples must then be assayed for melatonin. Recently, several computational approaches have been designed for estimating DLMO. These methods collect daily sampled data (e.g., sleep onset/offset times) or frequently sampled data (e.g., light exposure/skin temperature/physical activity collected every minute) to train learning models for estimating DLMO. One limitation of these studies is that they only leverage one time-scale data. We propose a two-step framework for estimating DLMO using data from both time scales. The first step summarizes data from before the current day, whereas the second step combines this summary with frequently sampled data of the current day. We evaluate three moving average models that input sleep timing data as the first step and use recurrent neural network models as the second step. The results using data from 207 undergraduates show that our two-step model with two time-scale features has statistically significantly lower root-mean-square errors than models that use either daily sampled data or frequently sampled data.
Composition, structure and stability of surfaces formed by Ni deposition on Pd(111)

Abstract Surface composition and structure of deposited Ni ultrathin films grown on a Pd(111) surface and their thermal stability have been studied using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low energy ion scattering (LEIS) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In experiments where up to 2 monolayers (ML) of Ni was deposited onto Pd(111) at 300 K, the initial film growth followed a non-ideal layer-by-layer growth mode, in which the majority of the surface was covered by a single atomic layer of Ni, but the second Ni layer started to appear before the first layer was completed. Annealing the Ni/Pd(111) surface to 600 K caused Ni interdiffusion into subsurface layers and the outermost surface was mainly Pd. This structure, designated as Pd–Ni–Pd(111), was not stable in the presence of surface oxygen. Ni segregated to the topmost surface layer to form a (2 × 2) superstructure after exposing the Pd–Ni–Pd(111) surface at 590 K to 350 L O2. The oxygen-induced segregation of Ni is consistent with predictions from density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
Strategic channel activity preannouncements: An exploratory investigation of antecedent effects

Abstract Preannouncements about strategic channel activities (SCAPs) are a highly appealing means of achieving communication with key stakeholders. However, no major study has investigated possible antecedent effects related to SCAPs. We propose and test a model of three environmental indirect effects operating through two mediating variables that affect the firm's likelihood to issue SCAPs. The results show that the three environment factors—industry antitrust activity, industry dynamism, and competitor retaliation—affect either customer's tendency to engage in select channel arrangements or the selling firm's reputation-building activities (or both), which in turn affect the firm's likelihood to issue SCAPs.
Über die Wirbelstromdämpfung bei ferromagnetischen Schichten

A ferromagnetic disc is placed between two conducting plates of infinite extent, so that the axis of the disc is perpendicular to the plates. The magnetization in the disc is homogeneous and varies with timet>0 in a known but arbitrary fashion. The eddy current distribution in the plates and the magnetic field which they generate in the disc are represented with the help of a Laplace transform with respect to time and a Hankel transform with respect to the distance from the center of the disc. In the special case where the distances perpendicular to the conducting plates are small compared to the radius of the disc, these two transforms can be inverted. The eddy currents and the generated magnetic fields are then easily visualized.
Leaflet length and left main coronary artery occlusion following transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Coronary artery occlusion during transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a rare complication. However, it is a very severe and life-threatening event. Although there are some possible causes of this phenomenon, definite etiologies and predictors are unknown because of the small number. We describe one case of left main coronary artery occlusion immediately after deployment of a prosthetic valve. The patient became hypotensive and developed cardiopulmonary arrest. However, the coronary artery was successfully stented with a help of cardiopulmonary bypass and he recovered well. In this case, pre-procedural computed tomography (CT) showed the adequately high coronary height and no other significant conventional predictor for coronary occlusion. The examinations were retrospectively reviewed and the CT showed a long leaflet compared to the coronary sinus complex. The fluoroscopy appeared to show the long leaflet covering the left main coronary artery ostium immediately after the valve deployment. The height of the coronary artery ostium from the aortic annulus appeared sufficiently high in this case and did not explain the coronary compromise; leaflet length in relation to the coronary sinus dimension seemed more relevant. The ratio between leaflet length and curved coronary sinus height (L/C) may be one novel predictor for coronary artery occlusion.
Entrainment of viruses from septic tank leach fields through a shallow, sandy soil aquifer.

A study was conducted which focused on movement of naturally occurring human enteroviruses from a subsurface wastewater disposal system through a shallow aquifer. The potential for significant entrainment of virus particles was evidenced by their recovery at down-gradient distances of 67.05 m and from aquifer depths of 18 m. A significant negative correlation was observed between virus occurrence and the distance from the “septage” (leaching pool) source. Virus occurrence could not be statistically correlated with either total or fecal coliforms, indicating the limitations of current microbial water quality indicators for predicting the virological quality of groundwater.
Oxygenation and Oxygenases

Biological oxygenation reactions in which molecular oxygen is incorporated directly into organic subsrates are catalyzed by the enzymes known as oxygenases. These enzymes, first discovered in 1955, have since been found to be very widely distributed in nature. In dioxygenase-catalyzed reactions, both atoms of the oxygen molecule are incorporated into the organic substrate, whereas monooxygenases incorporate only one of these oxygen atoms into the substrate. Currently, over 200 oxygenases enzymes are known, and these enzymes are all classified in EC groups 1.13 and 1.14. Among the reactions catalyzed by oxygenases are hydroxylations of methane and other alkanes, aromatics, flavonoids, menthol, and cholesterol; oxygenation of olefins, sulfur, and other heteroatoms; oxygenative cleavage of aromatic rings; and oxygenative decarboxylations. Oxygenases also catalyze the first step in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins; key steps in the biosynthesis and interconversion of antibiotics; and important bioremediation reactions critical to maintenance of the environment. A number of biotechnological applications for oxygenases have been emerging in recent years, and progress is also being made in the development of nonenzymatic model systems that might mimic the functional or structural properties of oxygenase enzymes. Keywords: monooxygenases; dioxygenases; enzymatic oxygenation; hydroxylases; oxidoreductases; prostaglandin; bioremediation; deacetoxycephalosporin; cyclooxygenases
Association of empty nest with depressive symptom in a Chinese elderly population: A cross-sectional study

Background: Empty nest has been becoming the main family pattern among old people, and influencing the traditional family providing for the aged in China. This study aimed to investigate the association of empty nest with depressive symptom in a Chinese elderly population. Methods: Our study was based on the baseline investigation of Zhejiang Major Public Health Surveillance which was conducted in 2014. The final analyzed sample consisted of 9215 participants aged no less than 60 years. Subjects completed a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, living arrangements, behavioral risk factors, health status, subjective assessments, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale. Results: More than half of the participants were empty nest elders (57.4%). The overall prevalence of depressive symptom was 10.3%, while it was higher in empty nest group than in non-empty nest group (11.6% vs. 8.6%, Po0.001). A positive association was found between empty nest and depressive symptom, the OR (95%CI) was 1.223(1.045, 1.431). After stratified by gender/age/education level/employment status, this association was just prominent in participants of male, 70 years old and above, primary school education, and retirees. No matter living with spouse or living alone, empty nesters were more likely to have depressive symptoms than non-empty nesters. Limitations: Cross-sectional study could not make a causation conclusion. The social supports of participants were not been investigated in detail. Conclusions: Empty nest elders, especially those who are male, 70 years old and above, primary school education, and retired, are more vulnerable to depressive symptom.
The Politics of Paying Interest on Bank Reserves: A Criticism of Bernanke's Exit Strategy

The Federal Reserve has recently activated its newly acquired powers to pay interest on reserves of depository institutions. The Fed maintains that its new policy increases economic efficiency and intends it to play a lead role in the exit from quantitative easing. This paper argues it is a bad policy that has a deflationary bias; is costly to taxpayers, and that cost will increase as normal conditions return; and establishes institutional lock-in that obstructs desirable changes to regulatory policy. The paper recommends repealing the Fed's power to pay interest on bank reserves. Second, the Fed should repeal regulation Q, which prohibits payment of interest on demand deposits. Third, the Fed should immediately implement an alternative system of asset-based reserve requirements (liquidity ratios) that will improve monetary control and can help exit quantitative easing at no cost to the public purse. Now is the optimal time for this change.
The structures of the lipopolysaccharide core components from Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli CE3 and two of its symbiotic mutants, CE109 and CE309.

The structures for the core regions of the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli CE3 and two symbiotic mutants were determined by g.l.c.-m.s., proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (n.m.r.), fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry (f.a.b.-m.s.), and by comparison with known structures from the LPS of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii ANU843. The core oligosaccharides were separated into two components, P2-2 and P2-3, by gel-filtration chromatography using Bio-Gel P2. The P2-2 oligosaccharide from CE3 is a tetrasaccharide consisting of 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (Kdo), mannose, galactose and galacturonic acid. The mannosyl residue is alpha-linked to O-4 of Kdo, and the galactosyl and galactosyluronic residues are alpha-linked to O-4 and O-6, respectively, of the mannosyl residue. The P2-2 oligosaccharide from mutant CE109 is missing the galactosyluronic residue, while that from mutant CE309 is missing both the galactosyl and galactosyluronic residues. The P2-3 oligosaccharide from CE3 LPS is a trisaccharide consisting of two galactosyluronic residues alpha-linked to the O-4 and O-7 of Kdo. Fraction P2-3 from mutant CE309 has the same structure as CE3 P2-3. Fraction P2-3 from mutant CE109 contains galacturonic acid and Kdo, but its structure differs from that of CE3 P2-3.
Structure and dynamics of biomolecules probed by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy is still a suitable and prominent method for probing the relationship between structure, dynamics and function of biomolecules. In this context, resonance Raman spectroscopy is of particular relevance since it allows the site-specific investigation of chromophores (aromatic amino acid residues, nucleotides, heme groups) which are directly involved in mechanisms pivotal for the function of the respective molecules. Time-resolved spectroscopy (Raman and IR) is utilized to explore, e.g., structural changes in heme proteins upon ligand photolysis. Conventional visible Raman is still a useful tool to explore peptides and proteins and to determine the orientation of oriented nucleic acid fibres. Copyright  2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. papers describing different applications of Raman scattering to these types of biomolecules. It is organized in a way which groups interrelated review and research articles together. Owing to their traditional relevance for resonance Raman spectroscopy, heme proteins occupy a significant part of the protein section.
Effects of dung presence, dung amount and secondary dispersal by dung beetles on the fate of Micropholis guyanensis (Sapotaceae) seeds in Central Amazonia

The study of seed fate is crucial for understanding fruit-frugivore interactions. One factor that can greatly influence the fate of seeds dispersed through mammal defecation, is the dung that accompanies the seeds. Dung attracts dung beetles and rodents; the former eat and bury dung, the latter feed on seeds. In this study the fate of Micropholis guyanensis subsp. guyanensis seeds surrounded by no dung and by 5, 10 and 25 g of howler monkey dung was followed until seedling establishment. The depths at which dung beetles bury the seeds were measured, and the effect of burial depth on seedling emergence was determined. Although initial seed fates differed among treatments, the same percentage of seedlings established from seeds without faecal material, and from seeds with 5, 10 and 25 g of dung. However, a significantly higher proportion of seedlings established from buried seeds when compared to seeds that remained on the surface. The percentage of seedlings establishing in a controlled germination experiment decreased significantly with increasing burial depth. The effect of dung beetle activity should be taken into consideration when assessing the role that mammal endozoochory plays on seed dispersal ecology of tropical plants. These results provide further evidence for the emerging realization that the study of secondary seed dispersal and post-dispersal events is crucial for a more complete understanding of plant regeneration.
A truncation/recoupling method for eigenvalues and eigenvectors ideal for parallel computation

We review a new truncation/recoupling method to obtain eigenvalues and eigenvectors of anF-mode vibrational Hamiltonian. In particular we focus on the block diagonalization aspects of the method which are ideal for massive parallelization, and we demonstrate this using H2O2 as an example. We then present vibrational energies for non-rotating HO2 and HCN, which illustrate several key advantages of this method.
A discrete semianalytical procedure for aerodynamic sensitivity analysis including grid sensitivity

Abstract A discrete semianalytical sensitivity analysis procedure has been developed for calculating aerodynamic design sensitivities. The sensitivities are numerically calculated using direct differentiation of the discretized flow equations. A new approach has been developed and employed to calculate the sensitivities of the discretized grid, which are integral to the calculation of the aerodynamic sensitivities. Representative results from the grid sensitivity analysis and semianalytical sensitivity analysis procedures are compared with those obtained from the finite difference approach to establish their efficiency and accuracy. The developed procedures offer significant savings in computing time over the finite difference approach, thus allowing the use of comprehensive analysis procedures in design optimization.
Increased ALZ-50 Immunoreactivity in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome:

Neuronal expression of the ALZ-50 epitope was investigated in hippocampus and medulla from infants dying of sudden infant death syndrome or known causes (controls). Hippocampal studies include data...
Theoretical and methodological implications of variability in infant brain response during a recognition memory paradigm

Abstract Previously published reports have sought to elucidate the development of visual recognition memory in the human infant by investigating the modulation of infant ERPs by a familiar and novel face (e.g., de Haan and Nelson, 1997 , de Haan and Nelson, 1999 . Variability in infants’ brain responses elicited under the same mnemonic condition, however, has not been previously examined. The present report undertook two separate analyses in order to examine two kinds of variability: variability in the brain’s response to a stimulus over time as a function of stimulus repetition, and variability in the brain’s response between subjects as a function of the total number of trials completed in an ERP session. There were three major findings: (a) the mid-latency negative component (Nc) and long-latency slow wave (SW) were found to dissociate cognitive processes associated with familiarity from processes associated with stimulus repetition, (b) individual differences in the number of trials an infant completes in an ERP session were observed to be associated with differences in the amplitude and latency of the Nc, and (c) individual differences in the number of trials an infant completes appear to reflect differences in the extent to which the familiar and novel faces are encoded. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to models of habituation and preferential looking, infant ERP methodology, and developmental processes.
The nature of interfacial phenomena at copper-titanium/alumina and copper-oxygen/alumina interfaces

Abstract Experiments with liquid copper-titanium alloy and copper-3 w/o oxygen alloys in contact with polycrystalline alumina in both a sessile drop and capillary rise configuration are used to demonstrate that reactive metals such as copper-titanium alloys in contact with ceramic surfaces exhibit a complex wetting behavior. Although both liquids form acute contact angles in the sessile drop configuration, the copper-titanium liquid does not rise to significant heights in a capillary tube. The observed acute angle morphology of liquid copper-titanium alloys in the sessile drop experiment is a consequence of reaction layer formation. with gravity assisting the liquid to spread into an acute angle configuration. In contrast, in addition to forming an acute angle in the sessile drop configuration, the copper-oxygen alloys also instantly infiltrate micro-capillary channels in alumina.
Commentary on "a roadmap for the prevention of dementia II. Leon Thal Symposium 2008." Facilitating Alzheimer's disease drug development in the United States.

Therapeutic research of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is on the brink of a major advance. The field is poised to add effective disease-modifying treatments to our current symptomatic agents. The basic scientific understanding of AD pathophysiology has yielded a number of exceedingly promising targets for intervention, with many drugs now in various phases of clinical testing. Whether we reach a breakthrough within 5 or 15 years will be determined by the national will. In addition to financial support (specifically, funding by the National Institutes of Health for AD translational research), several concrete steps will facilitate progress toward bringing the next generation of therapeutics to the market. These steps are related to some important issues specific to the development of disease-modifying AD treatments, as well as some broader clinical research issues. 2. Change the diagnostic criteria for AD A diagnosis of AD should indicate the presence of neurobiological abnormalities that, if unchecked, will eventually lead to dementia. At present, diagnostic criteria require the presence of dementia [1]. But we now have tools that allow the documentation of reduction in cerebral metabolic rate [2], amyloid and tau dysregulation [3], amyloid deposition in the brain [4], and regional brain atrophy [5], many years before the appearance of the functional impairments of dementia. Further, we can measure subtle cognitive decline many years before clinically important impairment occurs [6]. Based on observations regarding the prevalence of brain amyloid deposition and mild cognitive decline in the nondemented elderly, we can estimate that the number of cases of ‘‘neurobiological AD’’ is at least 2–3 times larger than the number of cases of clinical AD according to current criteria. In other words, there are now at least 10–15 million people in the United States with AD pathology, though only about 5 million are demented. Appreciation of the ‘‘true’’ prevalence of AD will encourage a more reasonable allocation of resources. But more importantly, the millions of people with early AD neurobiology represent the proper target population for effective disease-modifying interventions. The recently proposed research criteria for AD serve as an excellent start in the process of adjusting diagnoses based on our growing understanding of the neurobiology of AD [7].
SIMS matrix effects in Alx Ga1 – xAs: Influence of instrumental parameters

The influence of instrumental parameters on the matrix effects (ion and sputtering yield variations) observed in AlxGa1 – xAs are critically evaluated. Ion and sputtering yield data from three different SIMS instruments (ARL IMMA, Cameca IMS-3F and Atomika SIMS) are examined. The influence of primary ion (O2+) energy and incident angle on the extent of surface oxidation was examined using AES. Although relative ion yields varied linearly with the matrix composition in all instances, these ion yield variations differed greatly (a factor of 50) between instruments. These differences were attributed to differences in the surface oxygen concentrations produced by the SIMS instruments. AlAs was shown to be completely oxidized under each of the SIMS ion bombardment conditions. However, the oxygen levels incorporated in GaAs and the other Al poor specimens depended largely on the incident angle and to a lesser extent on the ion energy. Small incidence angles (normal incidence) promoted the most extensive oxidation of the Al-poor specimens, resulting in the smallest ion yield variations with matrix. As with the relative ion yields, relative sputtering yields varied linearly with the matrix composition in all instances. However, in contrast to relative ion yields, the relative sputtering yields did not change significantly under the different instrumental conditions. It was concluded that incident angle and ion energy had approximately the same influence on the sputtering yields obtained from the reference and the sample matrices. Thus, the relative sputtering yields were insensitive to changes in these ion beam parameters.
The pattern of direct foreign investment and economic growth

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between the sectoral pattern of direct foreign investment (DFI) and growth using theoretical and empirical analysis. The theoretical analysis suggests that different patterns of DFI—because of their differential effects on the North-South terms of trade and on Southern technological development—can be expected to affect growth in host countries differently. The empirical analysis using crosscountry growth equations, however, is unable to detect any effects of the pattern of DFI on growth. It is argued that detailed case studies of particular countries would be valuable for exploring the empirical issues involved.
Shepherding of the Uranian rings. I. Kinematics

We identify several orbital resonances involving the newly discovered satellites, 1986U7 and 1986U8, and the Uranian rings. The most important resonances in eccentric rings are known as eccentric reson­ances and are generalizations of the more familiar Lindblad resonances. In keeping with the notation established for Lindblad resonances, we distinguish inner and outer eccentric resonances by the symbols IER and OER. We show that by reducing the absolute radius scale of the Uranian ring system by 0.0124% the 24:25 OER of 1986U7 and the 14:13 IER of 1986U8 fall at the inner and outer edges of the Є ring. The same scale change also brings the 23:22 IER of 1986U7 into coincidence with the outer edge of the δ ring and the 6:5 IER of 1986U8 close to the center of the γ ring. Furthermore, adopting the latest Voyager value of GM_u and our reduced radius scale, we find that the pattern speed of the m = 2 distortion in the δ ring corresponds to that expected for a normal mode excited either by an internal viscous overstability or parametrically by shepherd satellites. These kinematic results make a compel­ ling case for our proposed reduction in the ring radius scale and also imply that 1986U7 and 1986U8 are the inner and outer shepherds for the Є ring, that 1986U7 is the outer shepherd for the δ ring, and that 1986U8 is an outer shepherd for the γ ring.
Computing Earth mover's distances on a road map with applications to one-way vehicle sharing

The Earth mover's distance (EMD) is a measure of distance between probability distributions which is at the heart of mass transportation theory. Recent research has shown that the EMD plays a crucial role in studying the potential impact of one-way vehicle sharing paradigms like Mobility-on-Demand (MoD). While the ubiquitous physical transportation setting is the “road network”, characterized by systems of roads connected together by interchanges, most analytical works about vehicle sharing represent distances between points in a plane using the simple Euclidean metric. Instead, we consider the EMD when the ground metric is taken from a class of one-dimensional, continuous metric spaces, reminiscent of road networks. We produce an explicit formulation of the Earth mover's distance given any finite road network R. The result generalizes the EMD with a Euclidean ℝ 1 ground metric, which has remained one of the only known non-discrete cases with an explicit formula. Our formulation casts the EMD as the optimal value of a finite-dimensional, real-valued optimization problem, with a convex objective function and linear constraints. In the special case that the input distributions have piece-wise uniform (constant) density, the problem reduces to one whose objective function is convex quadratic. Both forms are amenable to modern mathematical programming techniques.
Individuals with sociopathic behavior caused by frontal damage fail to respond autonomically to social stimuli

Abstract Following damage to ventromedial frontal cortices, adults with previously normal personalities develop defects in decisionmaking and planning that are especially revealed in an abnormal social conduct. The defect repeatedly leads to negative personal consequences. The physiopathology of this disorder is an enigma. We propose that the defect is due to an inability to activate somatic states linked to punishment and reward, that were previously experienced in association with specific social situations, and that must be reactivated in connection with anticipated outcomes of response options. During the processing that follows the perception of a social event, the experience of certain anticipated outcomes of response options would be marked by the reactivation of an appropriate somatic state. Failure to reactivate pertinent somatic markers would deprive the individual of an automatic device to signal ultimately deleterious consequences relative to responses that might nevertheless bring immediate reward (or, alternatively, signal ultimately advantageous outcomes relative to responses that might bring immediate pain). As an example, activation of somatic markers would (1) force attention to future negative consequences, permitting conscious suppression of the responses leading to them and deliberate selection of biologically advantageous responses, and (2) trigger non-conscious inhibition of response states by engagement of subcortical neurotransmitter systems linked to appetitive behaviors. An investigation of this theory in patients with frontal damage reveals that their autonomic responses to socially meaningful stimuli are indeed abnormal, suggesting that such stimuli fail to activate somatic states at the most basic level. On the contrary, elementary unconditioned stimuli (e.g. a loud noise) produce normal autonomic responses.
Cadherin-1, -2 and -4 expression in the cranial ganglia and lateral line system of developing zebrafish

Cadherins are cell adhesion molecules that play important roles in development of a variety of tissues and organs including the nervous system. In this study we analyzed expression patterns of three zebrafish classical (type I) cadherins (cadherin-1, -2, and -4) in the embryonic zebrafish cranial ganglia and lateral line system using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods. All three cadherins exhibit distinct spatiotemporal patterns of expression during cranial ganglia and lateral line system development. cadherin-1 message was detected in the trigeminal and facial ganglia, in the lateral line ganglia, and in most of neuromasts in the lateral lines. Cadherin-2 mRNA and protein were expressed by the majority of the cranial ganglia and lateral line system. Both cadherins were found in embryos younger than 24 hours post fertilization as well as in 2-3-day old embryos and larvae. In contrast, cadherin-4 mRNA and protein expression was detected in embryos older than 30 hours post fertilization and limited to the trigeminal, statoacoustic, and vagal cranial ganglia, and the lateral line ganglia of older embryos and larvae.
Cyclin-dependent Kinase Inhibitors Uncouple Cell Cycle Progression from Mitochondrial Apoptotic Functions in DNA-damaged Cancer Cells

DNA damage results in transcriptional induction of p53 target genes, including the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21(Cip1) (CDKN1A) and the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA). Depending on the cellular context, p21(Cip1) and PUMA mediate cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, respectively. By imposing cell cycle arrest at the expense of apoptosis, p21(Cip1) can sharply reduce the effectiveness of DNA-damaging anticancer agents in colorectal cancer cells. We investigated the link between cell cycle progression and the onset of apoptosis in DNA-damaged cells by analyzing the activation of the apoptotic cascade in p21(Cip1)-deficient HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. DNA damage induced a similar level of p53 activation and PUMA induction in p21(Cip1)-deficient cells compared with wild-type isogenic counterparts. p21(Cip1) did not act as a direct blocker of PUMA. However, only p21(Cip1)-deficient cells showed extensive cytochrome c release, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and caspase activation. An increase in caspase activation occurred as these cells reached M-phase and incurred polyploidy. When ectopically expressed in p21(Cip1)-deficient HCT116 cells, p21(Cip1), its family member p27(Kip1), and the structurally unrelated CDK inhibitor p16(Ink4a) were similarly effective at causing cell cycle arrest and inhibiting DNA damage-induced apoptotic events such as cytochrome c release, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and activation of the caspase cascade. These observations suggest that by blocking dysregulated cell cycle progression, CDK inhibitors can influence the sensitivity of the mitochondria to proapoptotic signals in DNA damage-induced cancer cells.
On Conditional Independence, Mixing, and Association

Abstract This is a follow-up to a recent article by Prakasa Rao [15] on conditional independence, conditional mixing and conditional association. The purpose of this article is to derive rigorously some results following from conditioning. To this end, a brief review is presented of the concepts of conditional independence of events, classes of events, and random variables, followed by a conditional version of a factorization theorem, as well as a first installment of some basic results. Next, the concepts of conditional covariance and variance are introduced, and a second installment of basic results follows. Furthermore, a certain representation of the covariance is established in detail, followed by a conditional version of it, as well as a generalization. The concept of the conditional characteristic function is also recalled, and a certain inequality is established. Finally, the concept of conditional positive (negative) quadrant dependence, as well as that of conditional positive (negative) associat...
High-strength steels for possible use in prestressed concrete nuclear reactor vessels

Abstract The micro and macro mechanisms of fracture are reviewed. The features that limit the ductility and toughness of steels having yield strengths above 100,000 psi are emphasized. Comparisons are made between the properties of quenched and tempered low-alloy steels, maraging steels and some laboratory steels that are now being investigated. Possible upper limits for strength and ductility are considered.
Effects of In-Plane π’ Bonding on Electronic Transition Energies for Inorganic Polymers

The electronic structure of organic and inorganic polymeric systems are well described in terms of their molecular symmetry, even with the large bond polarity shown by such systems as polyphosphazenes. We have performed calculations using the semi-empirical CNDO/1 method to determine the valence electronic structure for a series of model phosphonitrilic and organic compounds. The optical transition energies for phosphonitrilic compounds are greater than their organic counterparts as a result of in-plane {pi}{prime} bonding interactions. The extent of these interactions is modulated by the electronegativity of the substituent groups on the phosphorus atoms. We report values for the vertical ionization energy and electronic absorption wavelengths, and use molecular orbital contour analysis to show the effects of ligand electronegativity on the {pi}{prime} network. 15 refs., 3 tabs.
Surface Properties of Bottlebrush Polymer Thin Films

Bottlebrush polymer thin films may be attractive for the preparation of antifouling and/or stimuli-responsive surface coatings due to the high grafting density and conformational flexibility of polymeric side chains, but bottlebrush polymer thin films have not been previously reported and their surface properties are unknown. Herein, we report a study of the surface properties of mixed bottlebrush polymer (MBBPs) films. MBBPs with hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains are synthesized using a “grafting-through” ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) approach. Stimuli-responsive MBBPs films are prepared by spin-casting a solution of MBBPs onto a solid surface, and the resulting film morphology and surface properties are characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS), water contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The water contact angles of MBBPs films decrease or ...
Integrating Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Environmental Cleanup Activities at CERCLA and RCRA Sites

Although the release or threatened release of hazardous substances into the environment often creates liability for both cleanup costs and natural resource damages liability, the process of planning and conducting cleanup and the process of assessing natural resource damages are most often conducted separately. However, the substantial similarities between the two processes often present opportunities to integrate significant steps in each. Such integration has the potential to reduce both the cost of measuring and, often, resolving the full range of environmental claims at a given cleanup site and the time it takes to do so. It can also lead to faster restoration of injured natural resources and the services they provide to the public and the environment. One key reason for the lack of integration is the fact that cleanup managers generally know little if anything about the natural resource damage assessment process, while the public officials authorized to assess damages to natural resources know little about the cleanup process. This article identifies the similarities between the cleanup and natural resource damage assessment processes and provides guidance on when and how to integrate the two. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mechanism of the E. coli τ Processivity Switch during Lagging-Strand Synthesis

Abstract The E. coli replication machinery employs a β clamp that tethers the polymerase to DNA, thus ensuring high processivity. The replicase also contains a processivity switch that dissociates the polymerase from its β clamp. The switch requires the τ subunit of the clamp loader and is regulated by different DNA structures. At a primed site, the switch is "off." When the replicase reaches the downstream primer to form a nick, the switch is flipped, and τ ejects the polymerase from β. This switch has high fidelity for completed synthesis, remaining "off" until just prior to incorporation of the last nucleotide and turning "on" only after addition of the last dNTP. These actions of τ are confined to its C-terminal region, which is located outside the clamp loading apparatus. Thus, this highly processive replication machine has evolved a mechanism to specifically counteract processivity at a defined time in the lagging-strand cycle.
Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour as a cause of coma

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour (DNT), a non-evolutive intracranial cortical lesion, is generally associated with epileptic seizures principally among youths. A case of a DNT which presented with uncommon clinical features, characterized by severe intracranial hypertension and progressive blindness warranting emergency surgery, is documented. In addition to the classical radiological and neuropathological features characteristic of DNTs there was a large haemorrhagic cystic haematoma as a result of repeated dissections and/or ruptures of the abnormal vessels in areas, explaining some of the atypical clinical symptoms. Therefore the need for a regular, careful clinical and radiological follow-up of cases with cystic DNTs is strongly recommended.
Cognitive impairment associated with morphological brain abnormalities on computed tomography in chronic schizophrenic patients

The Halstead-Reitan Battery (HRB), including the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, was administered to 15 young chronic schizophrenic patients in an attempt to identify blindly those patients with evidence of morphological brain abnormalities on prior computed tomography (CT). The CT scan status of 12 of 15 (80 per cent) patients was correctly identified solely on the basis of neuropsychological testing. These results supported our hypothesis that impairment on the HRB in chronic schizophrenic patients was associated with morphological abnormalities on the CT scan, and that the positive and negative CT scans of these patients could be predicted accurately.
Structural and Biologic Properties of a Human Aspartic Acid-126 Interleukin-2 Analog

Abstract Point mutations at position 141 in the murine interleukin-2 (IL-2) sequence have been reported to generate proteins with full antagonist activity on some IL-2-dependent cell lines. To evaluate the potential therapeutic utility of this observation, we have prepared recombinant human IL-2 with a point mutation at the corresponding position (Asp for Gln 126) and examined its structural and biologic properties. This mutation apparently induces minor changes in tertiary conformation accompanied by an increased sensitivity to changes in pH. The biologic activity of this analog is greatly reduced, primarily as a result of decreased affinity to the β/γ IL-2 receptor complex; however, it is only weakly antagonistic to the IL-2 response of normal peripheral blood lymphocytes.
Distributed dynamic state estimation with extended Kalman filter

Increasing complexity associated with large-scale renewable resources and novel smart-grid technologies necessitates real-time monitoring and control. Our previous work applied the extended Kalman filter (EKF) with the use of phasor measurement data (PMU) for dynamic state estimation. However, high computation complexity creates significant challenges for real-time applications. In this paper, the problem of distributed dynamic state estimation is investigated. One domain decomposition method is proposed to utilize decentralized computing resources. The performance of distributed dynamic state estimation is tested on a 16-machine, 68-bus test system.
High Performance Publisher/Subscriber Communication for Adaptive, Collaborative Web-Based Learning

The inability of current Internet-based learning systems to deal with different kinds of learners and the high cost of developing a new learning system are well known problems in elearning. To overcome these problems, we have designed a learning middleware suite, called the Collaborative and Sharable Learning (CoSL) system. CoSL is a tool set for building e-learning systems and for developing course materials for an e-learning environment. Given the geographic distribution of the components of a Web-based e-learning system, it is crucial to support fast communication between providers and consumers of e-learning course materials. In this paper, a high performance Publisher/Subscriber communication system has been designed for real-time communication between participants. CoSL allows us to build and manage global real-time learning systems in a distributed and heterogeneous environment.
Fear of Success Revisited: Introducing an Ambiguous Cue.

One criticism of Horner's fear-of-success (FOS) research concerns the fact that she defined success (being number 1 in a medical school class) for her subjects. Two aims of the present investigation were to (a) reinstate the traditional ambiguity of the projective verbal lead: “Anne (John) has succeeded,” and (b) determine the amount of FOS imagery projected by 64 male and 79 female college students to these leads. The low incidence of FOS in this present study was attributed to the opportunity subjects were given to define success for themselves. There were no significant differences in the amount of FOS projected by men and women. School-related success was the most often cited success theme. Results were supportive of the hypothesis that FOS is situationally determined.