cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gravitational Effects on Laminar Convection to Near-Critical Water in a Vertical Tube

Numerical calculation is performed to study the strongly coupled heat transfer and flow of water at near critical conditions in laminar flow in a vertical tube. Near the critical region fluid flow and heat transfer depend on the temperature and pressure because of large property variations that include transition between liquid-like behavior and gas-like behavior. The two-dimensional (r, z) model includes the effects of variable thermodynamic and transport properties such as density, specific heat, viscosity, and conductivity. Heat transfer coefficient and profiles of temperature and velocity are shown in the developing region of the tube. The very large influence of gravity on the two-dimensional flow and temperature profiles in the tube is shown. The effect of proximity to the pseudocritical point is considered. The tube wall is heated with constant wall heat flux and uniform flow is assumed in the inlet of the tube. Inlet fluid temperature, pressure, and Reynolds number are used as the main parameters. Nomenclature Cp = specific heat at constant pressure, J/kg D = tube diameter, m / = friction factor Gr = Grashof number, p^ng^inQwR4/kin^n g = acceleration caused by gravity, m/s2 h = convective heat transfer coefficient, W/m2 K k = thermal conductivity, W/m K L - tube length, m m = mass flow rate, kg/s PR - reduced pressure, plpc Pr = Prandtl number p = pressure, N/m2 Q = heat flux, W/m2 R = radius, m Re = Reynolds number at inlet, pmuinD/iJiin r = radial distance, m T = temperature, K Tpc = pseudocritical temperature, K u = local velocity in axial direction, m/s v = local velocity in radial direction, m/s y = nondimensional distance from the wall, 1 — (r/R) z - axial distance, m a — nonuniform parameter /3 = compressibility, 1/K AT = wall to bulk temperature difference, K 9 = dimensionless temperature, kin(T — Tin)/QwD jit - absolute viscosity, kg/s m p = density, kg/m3 r = shear stress, N/m2 = function variable
Magnetic anisotropy as a correction for compaction-caused palaeomagnetic inclination shallowing

SUMMARY A theoretical model presented by Jackson et al. (1991) suggests that the anisotropy of anhysteretic remanence (AAR) can be used to recognize and correct for compaction-caused inclination shallowing in sediments and sedimentary rocks. However, we have conducted experiments in which inclination shallowing is more strongly dependent on magnetic anisotropy during compaction of synthetic, clay-rich sediments containing 0.45 μm acicular magnetite than predicted by the Jackson et al. model. This discrepancy can be explained if randomization or disturbance of subvertical magnetite particles is the cause of inclination shallowing early in the compaction process. The principal experimental evidence for this effect is a decrease in magnetization intensity coincident with inclination shallowing. An intensity decrease during inclination shallowing is also observed in some DSDP cores suggesting that this randomization process may also occur in nature. After randomization magnetite particles become firmly attached to clay particles and both magnetic anisotropy and inclination shallowing show a regular increase during compaction consistent with the Jackson et al. model. We suggest that models like that of Jackson et al. can be used to correct for inclination shallowing if they are used in conjunction with an experimentally-derived relationship between inclination shallowing and magnetic anisotropy for a particular sediment.
Evolving Stochastic Controller Networks for Intelligent Game Agents

It is sometimes useful to provide intelligent agents with some degree of stochastic behavior, particularly when used in games and simulators. The less-predictable behavior that results from the randomness can make the agents seem more believable, and would encourage the players or users to address the genuine problems presented by a game or simulator rather than simply learning to exploit the embedded agents' predictability. However, such randomized behavior should not harm performance in the agents' designated tasks. This paper introduces a method, called stochastic sharpening, for training artificial neural networks as stochastic controllers for agents in discrete-state environments. Stochastic sharpening reinforces the representation of confidence values in the outputs of networks with localist encodings, and thus produces networks that recommend alternative actions on the basis of their expected utility. Such networks can be used to introduce stochastic behavior with minimal disruption of task performance, resulting in agents that are more believable and less subject to exploitation based on predictability.
Characteristics Related to Protection Order Use Among Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

One increasingly important resource for victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) is domestic violence civil protection orders (POs). Using a transdisciplinary framework, this article critically examines the use of POs by IPV victims seeking shelter services. Previous contact with police and medical professionals are the strongest predictors of having obtained a PO; education level, income, age, race, and having children in the shelter are also significant predictors of having obtained a PO. These findings are discussed in the context of previous research on help-seeking behaviors and the growing body of transdisciplinary research on violence against women.
Xyloglucan and Its Biosynthesis

The hemicellulosic polysaccharide xyloglucan (XyG), found in the primary cell walls of most plant tissues, is important for structural organization of the cell wall and regulation of growth and development. Significant recent progress in structural characterization of XyGs from different plant species has shed light on the diversification of XyG during plant evolution. Also, identification of XyG biosynthetic enzymes and examination of their interactions suggests the involvement of a multiprotein complex in XyG biosynthesis. This mini-review presents an updated overview of the diversity of XyG structures in plant taxa and recent findings on XyG biosynthesis.
Enzymic catalysis of the accumulation of acetaldehyde from ethanol in human prenatal cephalic tissues: evaluation of the relative contributions of CYP2E1, alcohol dehydrogenase, and catalase/peroxidases.

Background: The human prenatal brain is very sensitive to the toxic effects of ethanol, but very little information is available concerning the conversion of ethanol to the highly cytotoxic metabolite, acetaldehyde, in that organ. Thus, experiments were designed to investigate rates of accumulation of acetaldehyde from ethanol in the prenatal human brain. Methods: Prenatal human cephalic tissue homogenates were used as enzyme sources and were compared with analogous preparations of adult rat livers. Generated acetaldehyde was derivatized with cyclohexane-1,3-dione to yield fluorescent decahydroacrizine-1,8-dione, which was readily separated, detected, and quantitated with HPLC. Results: Detected rates of accumulation were unexpectedly high, even in the absence of added NADPH, NAD+, or H2O2, which are cofactors/cosubstrates for cytochrome P-450-, alcohol dehydrogenase- and catalase/peroxidase-catalyzed reactions, respectively. Without added cofactors/cosubstrates or other components and under linear reaction conditions, rates in human prenatal cephalic preparations were approximately 20% of those observed with analogous preparations of adult rat livers. Cofactor/cosubstrate-independent reactions were localized in the cytosolic (soluble) fraction and were strongly dependent on molecular oxygen (O2). They were not inhibited substantially by carbon monoxide (CO:O2= 80:20 vs N2:O2= 80:20) or by pyrazole in concentrations up to 10 mM and were only weakly inhibited by azide. Preincubations with excess catalase did not result in decreased activity. Reactions exhibited substrate saturation and heat inactivation indicating enzymic catalysis. Conclusions: Experiments indicated a relatively rapid accumulation of acetaldehyde from ethanol in human prenatal brain tissues and suggested that the observed cofactor/cosubstrate-independent reactions were largely independent of P-450 cytochromes, alcohol dehydrogenases, or catalase/peroxidases. Results were consistent with catalysis by an as yet unidentified cytosolic oxidase(s).
Linear and non-linear adaptive noise cancelers

Viewing noise cancellation as an input/output identification problem, designs are developed using third-order statistics which are insensitive to corruption of the reference signal by additive Gaussian noise of unknown covariance. As a by-product of designing linear noise cancelers, a parametric time-delay estimation approach is readily available. Higher-order statistics can also be employed to design nonlinear cancelers of the discrete Volterra type, which maximize the output signal-to-noise ratio. Both the linear only and the linear-quadratic designs are derived in batch and adaptive form, the latter being implemented using recursive least-squares approaches. Simulation examples are given to illustrate the new cancelers and to compare them with conventional approaches. >
Spa33, a Cell Surface-Associated Subunit of the Mxi-Spa Type III Secretory Pathway of Shigella flexneri, Regulates Ipa Protein Traffic

The Mxi-Spa type III secretion system of Shigella flexneri directs the host cell contact-induced secretion of a set of invasins, referred to as Ipas. In this study, we examined the role of Spa33 in Ipa secretion. A spa33-null mutant was both noninvasive and unable to translocate the Ipas from inner membrane to outer membrane (OM) positions of the Mxi-Spa transmembrane channel. Spa33 was found to be a Mxi-Spa substrate that is translocated to the bacterial cell surface upon the induction of Ipa secretion. This mobility may serve to drive Ipa translocation within Mxi-Spa toward OM positions. Consistent with a second distinct role in regulating Ipa traffic, the overexpression of Spa33 also blocked Ipa secretion and resulted in Ipa accumulation at the OM. Co-overexpression of Spa33 and another OM-associated element, Spa32, did not disrupt Ipa secretion, suggesting an interaction between the two proteins and an effect on the mechanism which serves to regulate Ipa release from the OM. These findings indicate that Spa33 is a mobile element within Mxi-Spa, which is required to control Ipa translocation into and out of OM positions of the secretory structure.
A simple, practical and complete O-time Algorithm for RNA folding using the Four-Russians Speedup

Background The problem of computationally predicting the secondary structure (or folding) of RNA molecules was first introduced more than thirty years ago and yet continues to be an area of active research and development. The basic RNA-folding problem of finding a maximum cardinality, non-crossing, matching of complimentary nucleotides in an RNA sequence of length n, has an O(n3)-time dynamic programming solution that is widely applied. It is known that an o(n3) worst-case time solution is possible, but the published and suggested methods are complex and have not been established to be practical. Significant practical improvements to the original dynamic programming method have been introduced, but they retain the O(n3) worst-case time bound when n is the only problem-parameter used in the bound. Surprisingly, the most widely-used, general technique to achieve a worst-case (and often practical) speed up of dynamic programming, the Four-Russians technique, has not been previously applied to the RNA-folding problem. This is perhaps due to technical issues in adapting the technique to RNA-folding.
Visualization of the phylogenetic content of five genomes using dekapentagonal maps

The methods presented here summarize phylogenetic relationships of genomes in visually appealing and informative figures. Dekapentagonal maps depict phylogenetic information for orthologous genes present in five genomes, and provide a pre-screen for putatively horizontally transferred genes. If the majority of individual gene phylogenies are unresolved, bipartition histograms provide a means of uncovering and analyzing the plurality consensus. Analyses of genomes representing five photosynthetic bacterial phyla and of the prokaryotic contributions to the eukaryotic cell illustrate the utility of the methods.
A methodology for dependability and performability analysis in SAM

Non-functional properties reflect the quality of a software system and are essential for a successful software system, but analysis of non-functional properties is less well studied compared to that of functional properties. Performance, dependability and performability are most concerned non-functional properties in lifecritical systems. In this paper, a methodology is proposed to analyze dependability and performability using a modeling and analyzing framework called SAM. By incorporating stochastic information into a SAM model, dependability and performability as well as functional properties can be analyzed at software architecture level using proper analysis techniques under the uniform SAM framework.
Trust, Risk and Public History: A View from the United States

In the public history and museum communities today there is much difference of opinion over the concept of ‘radical trust,’ which basically argues for us to give up control and trust the public to develop content for our websites and exhibitions and provide direction for our work. Most public historians and curators are happy to share authority with the public, but are we now expected to yield all authority? Are we now taking historian Carl Becker’s well-known phrase ‘everyman his own historian’ and updating it to ‘every person his or her own curator’? What is the role of historical knowledge in a world of opinion? Unfortunately, at the same time that many of us are embracing risk online, in a world we have little control or even influence over, we seem to be stepping back from risk taking in our museums, on our own turf. We’ve become risk averse—afraid to make mistakes, afraid of trying new approaches and tackling the historically controversial or the ambiguous. Rather than the ‘safe place for unsafe ideas’ that Elaine Gurian proposed, we have become no more than safe places for safe ideas. We need to push back on both fronts. Public historians should be thought leaders, not followers—not wait to see what the future holds for us but rather try to shape that future.
The potential roles of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-MET pathway inhibitors in cancer treatment

MET is located on chromosome 7q31 and is a proto-oncogene that encodes for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor, a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. HGF, also known as scatter factor (SF), is the only known ligand for MET. MET is a master regulator of cell growth and division (mitogenesis), mobility (motogenesis), and differentiation (morphogenesis); it plays an important role in normal development and tissue regeneration. The HGF-MET axis is frequently dysregulated in cancer by MET gene amplification, translocation, and mutation, or by MET or HGF protein overexpression. MET dysregulation is associated with an increased propensity for metastatic disease and poor overall prognosis across multiple tumor types. Targeting the dysregulated HGF-MET pathway is an area of active research; a number of monoclonal antibodies to HGF and MET, as well as small molecule inhibitors of MET, are under development. This review summarizes the key biological features of the HGF-MET axis, its dysregulation in cancer, and the therapeutic agents targeting the HGF-MET axis, which are in development.
Method for multi-objective optimized designs of Surface Mount Permanent Magnet motors with concentrated or distributed stator windings

A fast and efficient multi-objective design method is developed for comparison of the traditional Distributed Winding (DW) and the more popular Concentrated Winding (CW) configuration for Surface Mount Permanent Magnet (SMPM) machines. First an analytical design model previously developed for DW machines is adapted for CW machines and the accuracy is verified by Finite Element Analysis (FEA); then the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method is applied to optimize the design. With an objective function defined by the user to emphasize machine performance indexes, such as weight, volume, efficiency and so on, the PSO optimized designs of the two winding type machines provide valuable insight on winding choices. Two example objective functions and their respective optimized designs for both winding types are illustrated and analyzed. Another merit of the proposed method is that it is FEA-free, fast and efficient, which will save significant time and energy for machine designers.
Eavesdropping in the synchronous CDMA channel: an EM-based approach

The problem of blind detection in a synchronous code division multiple access (CDMA) system when there is no knowledge of the users' spreading sequences is considered. An expectation maximization (EM)-based algorithm that exploits the finite alphabet (FA) property of the digital communications source is proposed. Simulations indicate that this approach, which makes use of knowledge of the subspace spanned by the signaling multiplex, achieves the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRB). The issues of subspace estimation and timing acquisition are also considered.
Situated Simulation in the Human Conceptual System.

Four theories of the human conceptual system—semantic memory, exemplar models, feed‐forward connectionist nets, and situated simulation theory—are characterised and contrasted on five dimensions: (1) architecture (modular vs. non‐modular), (2) representation (amodal vs. modal), (3) abstraction (decontextualised vs. situated), (4) stability (stable vs. dynamical), and (5) organisation (taxonomic vs. action–environment interface). Empirical evidence is then reviewed for the situated simulation theory, and the following conclusions are reached. Because the conceptual system shares mechanisms with perception and action, it is non-modular. As a result, conceptual representations are multi-modal simulations distributed across modality‐specific systems. A given simulation for a concept is situated, preparing an agent for situated action with a particular instance, in a particular setting. Because a concept delivers diverse simulations that prepare agents for action in many different situations, it is dynamical. ...
Effects of different nitrogen amount and transplanting density on yield of Xiangliangyou 875 (a hybrid aromatic rice variety).

Xiangliangyou 875,a hybrid aromatic rice variety,was tested to study the effects of different nitrogen amount and transplanting density on its yield.The results showed that 681.8 kg/667m2 could be obtained under the cultivation conditions of sowing time on 5 April,seedlings with 50 d,6.9 kg/667m2 of pure nitrogen,10 000 seedlings/667m2 and farmyard manure 1000 kg/667m2(base manure).The paper discusses the cultivation techniques of Xiangliangyou 875 planted in the regions at an elevation of 1200 to 1400m and its economic benefits.
Responding to Clinical Psychology Practicum Competencies: An APPIC Perspective

This article offers a commentary by representatives of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) on the 2015 article written by Gonsalvez et al. related to the assessment of clinical competencies in clinical psychology practicum students. The four competency “super clusters” derived by Gonsalvez et al. result from a unique empirical hierarchical clustering approach and are sure to add important knowledge to the field. This commentary generalizes from clinical psychology education and training in Australia to the United States, expands from practica to internship and postdoctoral training, and reflects on some relevant APPIC issues and initiatives. Future research is also suggested.
The Intersection of Partner Violence and Adverse Childhood Experiences: Implications for Research and Clinical Practice

Violence against women continues to be a serious public health issue afflicting women worldwide. The intersection of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and intimate partner violence is detrimental to a woman's well-being. This review aims to identify the types of ACEs reported by women who also report partner violence and the subsequent negative impact of this combination of experiences on the women's health. The evidence supports the cumulative effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on women, particularly when coupled with experiences of intimate partner violence. Early interventions by providers have the potential to mitigate negative health outcomes of abused women and interrupt the intergenerational transmission of violence to their children.
A Re-Examination of the Super Bowl Stock Market Predictor

Krueger and Kennedy (1990) [KK] were the first to empirically document the remarkable stock market predictive power of the winner of the Super Bowl. The "model" predicts that the stock market would rise when the Super Bowl is won by a team from the old NFL, but would fall if the game was won by a member of the old AFL. This model correctly predicted the direction of five different market indices 20 times in the first 22 games (91% accuracy). An examination of the subsequent 24 games finds the model no longer possess abnormal predictive ability. When we examine the model’s returns earned after the winner of the Super Bowl is known, we find them reduced, especially in the period examined by KK. We also find the ability of the SBPM to predict the direction of subsequent change in the SP500 and the DJIA collapses to virtually zero since the publication of the KK article.
Northern Forest (G) Policy Design: A Model-Based Learning Laboratory

This case series (see also the A [UVA-OM-1107], B [UVA-OM-1110], C [UVA-OM-1111], D [UVA-OM-1112], E [UVA-OM-1113], and F [UVA-OM-1156] cases) focuses students on the boom-and-bust behaviors in the Northern Forest sawmill industry. Stakeholders, from landowners to sawmill owners to government officials to environmentalists, all want to make sure that the overall demand for saw logs, as driven by sawmill capacity, does not exceed the rate at which the trees are growing. They do not want sawmill demand to "overshoot" the productive capacity of the forest resource, a classic problem in renewable-resource economies that the region had experienced approximately a century earlier. Students are called upon to use system-thinking skills (analysis of reference modes of behaviors, causal-loop mapping, and stock-flow mapping) in creating their causal hypotheses of the underlying system structure. Students are asked to design system-structure policies to help sustain both the industry and the natural resources of the region. The G case is a PowerPoint presentation for use as a learning aid to develop a deep understanding of the issues raised in the case series. The presentation develops the causal-loop structure of the industry system and then provides various simulation-model runs that test policy alternatives.
Application of Piagetian Sensorimotor Concepts to Assessment and Curriculum for Severely Handicapped Children

People who work with very young handicapped children encounter problems in infant cognitive functioning. Standardized intelligence tests are inadequate tools for the assessment of these children's developmental capacities and the design of appropriate intervention strategies. This paper describes the adaptation of Piagetian sensorimotor concepts to the assessment of severely handicapped infants and toddlers. The objective of this procedure is to develop and validate a curriculum that will aid these children in the acquisition of sensorimotor skills.
Cost Allocation in Relation to Western Water Policies

COST allocation in the sense of apportioning joint costs of multiplepurpose projects to individual products (purposes) has been of considerable significance for western water policies in the past.1 It will be of even greater significance in the future: an increasing proportion of water resources development is taking place in the form of large, public, multiple-purpose projects. There has been an intimate connection between cost allocation and several basic and vital policy issues. These issues will be called here "economic feasibility," "repayment," "rate making," "yardstick," and "form of contract." It appears fitting that the spotlight of economic analysis be thrown on these issues. Focusing on the connection between these issues and cost allocation entails some unavoidable sacrifices. These should be made clear at the
Defining Viral Defective Ribosomal Products: Standard and Alternative Translation Initiation Events Generate a Common Peptide from Influenza A Virus M2 and M1 mRNAs

Influenza A virus gene segment 7 encodes two proteins: the M1 protein translated from unspliced mRNA and the M2 protein produced by mRNA splicing and largely encoded by the M1 +1 reading frame. To better understand the generation of defective ribosomal products relevant to MHC class I Ag presentation, we engineered influenza A virus gene segment 7 to encode the model H-2 K(b) class I peptide ligand SIINFEKL at the M2 protein C terminus. Remarkably, after treating virus-infected cells with the RNA splicing inhibitor spliceostatin A to prevent M2 mRNA generation, K(b)-SIINFEKL complexes were still presented on the cell surface at levels ≤60% of untreated cells. Three key findings indicate that SIINFEKL is produced by cytoplasmic translation of unspliced M1 mRNA initiating at CUG codons within the +1 reading frame: 1) synonymous mutation of CUG codons in the M2-reading frame reduced K(b)-SIINFEKL generation; 2) K(b)-SIINFEKL generation was not affected by drug-mediated inhibition of AUG-initiated M1 synthesis; and 3) K(b)-SIINFEKL was generated in vitro and in vivo from mRNA synthesized in the cytoplasm by vaccinia virus, and hence cannot be spliced. These findings define a viral defective ribosomal product generated by cytoplasmic noncanonical translation and demonstrate the participation of CUG-codon-based translation initiation in pathogen immunosurveillance.
Labile Toxic Compounds of the Lactarii: The Role of the Laticiferous Hyphae as a Storage Depot for Precursors of Pungent Dialdehydes

Derx (see Donk, 1972). Both possess single-spored basidia and, with L. simplicibasidium, may form the basis for a new genus in the Auriculariaceae. Laeticorticium odontoides Ryv. (Ryvarden, 1978) is not typical of Laeticor? ticium because it does not possess probasidial vesicles (this was noted in the original description) or basidia that are formed percurrently. The tropical distri? bution should be considered secondary to the nature of the basidium, which is the primary taxonomic criterion of the group of fungi under consideration here. Basidiospore shape and size and the presence of rudimentary probasidia (also seen in Dendrocorticium roseocarneum (Schw.) Lars. et Gilbn.) point to a position in Dendrocorticium.
Overexpression of PKC-βI and -δ contributes to higher PKC activity in the proximal tubules of old Fischer 344 rats

Previously, we reported that natriuretic and diuretic response to dopamine is diminished in old Fischer 344 rats, which is due to higher basal protein kinase C (PKC) activity and hyperphosphorylati...
The clap trap

Monogamy is desirable in many ways, but it is not the default mating system of the human species. Polygyny, in which a male mates with numerous females, is. There Is much evidence for this which, in turn, leads to a mystery on why monogamy took hold. Here, Barash discusses whether STIs solve the enduring mystery of human monogamy
Observation and research of anti-HBs level in family members of HBsAg positive crowd

Objective: To understand the anti-HBs level change before and after immunization through the quantitative detection of anti-HBs in negative members aged under 15 years old among the HBsAg positive crowd and provide scientific basis for immune prevention and control on those who have close contact with chronic HBV infected people,as well as adult HB vaccine immunity.Methods: Microparticle enzyme immunoassay(MELA) was adopted.Results: 30 HBsAg negative members under 15 years old from HBsAg positive crowd of 2 villages were conducted this detection.The result showed that before immunization,8 cases were 10 mIU/ml,accounting for 26.7%;9 cases were between 10 mIU/ml~50 mIU/ml,accounting for 30.0%;7 cases were between 50 mIU/ml~100 mIU/ml,accounting for 23.3%;6 cases were 100 mIU/ml,accounting for 20.0% and average GMT is 112.48 mIU/ml;while after immunization,1 case was 10 mIU/ml,accounting for 3.3%;29 cases were 100 mIU/ml,accounting for 96.7% and average GMT is 712.51 miU/ml.Conclusion: Anti-HBs level increased obviously after HB vaccine inoculation,which can be taken as an effective way to prevent and control HBV infection for those family members of HBsAg positive crowd.
Asian Americans in American History: An AsianCrit Perspective on Asian American Inclusion in State U.S. History Curriculum Standards

AbstractCompared to other groups of color, Asian Americans and their perspectives have rarely been given attention in curriculum studies. This article seeks to address the gap in the literature. It uses AsianCrit, a branch of critical race theory, as a theoretical lens to analyze and explicate common patterns across various states’ scripting of Asian American experience in their U.S. history standards. Informed by AsianCrit, the article describes and troubles invisibility and consequent messages about Asian Americans and their experience in the story of the United States told from state U.S. history standards. The study suggests the benefit of AsianCrit as a theoretical, methodological tool to read and disrupt racism embedded in curriculum scripting of U.S. history. The study also adds a new knowledge to the long-held scholarship on inclusion and representation of historically marginalized groups in official school knowledge.
The problem of resistance in nursing home consultation.

A nontraditional approach to social work consultation in a nursing home may pose a threat to established roles and routines. Resistance to such consultations is examined in terms of one home's hidd...
A software tool for testing maximum power point tracking algorithms using real working conditions

Abstract This paper presents a software application developed to study and compare maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms for photovoltaic (PV) systems. This user-friendly simulation tool is designed to image a PV system. The first edition of this tool contains a database of real time working conditions (solar irradiance and ambient temperature) based on four PV module's models (B-model, one diode based model, two diodes based model and Akbaba model), a boost DC–DC inverter with MPPT, several MPPT algorithms and a resistive load. The advantage of this work is that it permits to easily redo simulations to study the efficiency of the whole system by changing only one or more of the studied parameters. A great number of combinations are then possible: PV arrays of different sizes, different MPPT algorithms, and different working conditions allowing the analysis of the static and dynamic behavior of the MPPT algorithms. The available database allows the choice of different profiles for solar irradiance: sunny days with smooth variations and cloud covered days with sudden variations to simulate static and dynamic working conditions respectively. In addition to the comparison of the MPPT algorithms efficiency, this tool is of major interest for the analysis of the behavior of each MPPT algorithm.
On Polanyi’s Notion of Rationality

Michael Polanyi was born in 1891 in Budapest, the fifth child of a brilliant family of the educated Hungarian elite, where the two traditions of 1848 Liberalism and pre-war Marxism and the new thought from Western Europe all competed for the allegiance of the intellectuals. Polanyi started his career with a degree in medicine and joined the Austro-Hungarian army in September 1914. Taking care behind the front of the victims of infectious diseases, he succumbed himself to diphtheria and while recuperating back in Budapest wrote an extensive and innovative paper on the adsorption of gases on solids. He first published it and then converted it into a Ph.D. thesis in physical chemistry, finally getting his degree at the war’s end.
Abstract 279: Role of Caveolin-1 in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm induced by Angiotensin II

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a significant cause of mortality for adults aged >60 years. Accumulating evidence suggests that activation of the AT1 receptor by angiotensin II (AngII) in AAA formation. While several downstream signals and target proteins have been identified in this pathway, there is a huge void in our knowledge regarding the AngII-sensitive proximal events primarily responsible for AAA formation. We recently reported that caveolae membrane microdomains in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) mediate a metalloprotease ADAM17-dependent EGF receptor (EGFR) transactivation which linked to vascular remodeling induced by AngII. Given that ADAM17 expression is one of the key features in AAA, we have tested our hypothesis that caveolin-1 (Cav1), a major structural protein of caveolae, in the vasculature plays a critical role for development of AAA via its regulation on ADAM17. 8 week old male Cav1-/- mice and the control C57Bl/6 wild-type (WT) mice were co-infused with AngII and BAPN, a lysyl oxidase inhibitor, to induce AAA. We found that Cav1-/- mice did not develop AAA compared to C57Bl/6 mice in spite of hypertension assessed by telemetry in both groups. This finding suggests that the AngII signaling essential for vascular contraction remains in place in Cav1-/- mice. We found an increased expression of ADAM17 and auto-phosphorylation of EGFR in WT abdominal aortae with aneurysms that were markedly attenuated in Cav1-/- mice infused with AngII+BAPN. Furthermore, Cav1-/- mice with the infusion showed less oxidative stress and ER stress than their WT counterparts as assessed by nitrotyrosine staining and KDEL/p-eIF2a staining, respectively. In conclusion, Cav1 and presumably vascular caveolae micro-domain appear to play a critical role in the formation of AAA in mice via regulation of the ADAM17/EGFR signaling axis and subsequent induction of ER/oxidative stress.
Antifascism, Unity, and Division

In October 1945, the Saxon school administrator Herr Viehweg declared in his report on a regional meeting with school supervisors, “Our school should be democratic antifascist. We know what that means. But how do we accomplish it?”1 Viehweg went on to discuss practical considerations for setting up the “new school,” such as the need for new teachers, but, like his colleagues throughout the Soviet zone educational system, he never specified the exact ideology behind antifascist democratic education or even defined its philosophy. Practically, much of what became “antifascist democratic education” referenced earlier school reforms from both the previous century and the Weimar era, but no single educational project was inherently antifascist. There was no one definition of antifascist democratic education in the Soviet zone, just as there was never an explicit definition of antifascism.
High levels of male diploidy but low levels of genetic structure characterize Bombus vosnesenskii populations across the Western US

Patterns of genetic structure for some bee species suggest that gene flow may be limited across natural and human-created barriers and that local dispersal or natal site fidelity may be common. Interestingly, this past work has primarily focused on female bees, despite the fact that males may differ substantially in their dispersal processes. By examining genetic structure and diploidy in males, it is possible to gain insight into potential barriers to gene flow and drivers of inbreeding. In this study, we examine diploidy as well as regional and local spatial genetic structure using males of Bombus vosnesenskii, a stable bumble bee species found across western North America. Specifically, we investigate patterns of genetic structure in both island and mainland populations, across spatial scales, and over a range of natural and human-altered habitats. We document high levels of male diploidy, with significantly higher levels in mainland populations compared to island populations and increasing diploidy in areas with poor nesting habitat. Interestingly, we also find evidence of significant spatial genetic structure from 0 to 10 km and 0 to 5 km on island and mainland populations, respectively. Finally, we document low but significant genetic differentiation across the region (ΦST = 0.049). Overall, this work reveals the unique potential for biogeographic context and local habitat composition to drive male diploidy patterns in bumble bees.
What is an Ethical Chemist

Almost all decisions made by chemists, and all other scientists, in their professional lives have an ethical dimension. In both the practice of chemistry and the education of students it is essential that chemists understand the moral complexity of real-world situations, apply the relevant moral standards, and have the moral courage to make difficult choices, or the foundation of trust essential to the scientific enterprise will erode. In this lecture I will develop the fundamental concepts of scientific ethics and show how they apply to both the practice of chemistry and the relationship between chemistry and society. I will consider both day-to-day ethical problems such as authorship and the treatment of data and larger questions such as the choice of research problems and the social responsibility of scientists.
The euler characteristic

In Chapter 4 we proved that all surfaces can be classified into three types: the sphere, connected sums of tori, and connected sums of projective planes. We claimed, but did not really prove, the seemingly obvious fact that these are really different types. As you may have noticed, the obviousness of a fact never stops a mathematician from proving it. Thus, of course, our next mission is to prove that these are truly different shapes. Theoretically, there might be some way of continuously deforming the sphere so that it suddenly acquires a handle, or some way of distorting a torus so that a Ms band appears inside of it. In the language of Theorem 4.14, there might be a way of cutting and pasting the planar diagram for the Klein bottle so that it becomes the planar diagram for the torus. Lest you lose all faith, I should reassure you that none of these eventualities ever occur, but we never claimed to have investigated all possible cuttings and pastings. Two figures are topologically equivalent (Definition 2.19) if there is a homeomorphism between them. Are we then to consider all possible homeomorphisms of a space to see if one of them could possibly give the second space?
Differential roles of ERRFI1 in EGFR and AKT pathway regulation affect cancer proliferation

AKT signaling is modulated by a complex network of regulatory proteins and is commonly deregulated in cancer. Here, we present a dual mechanism of AKT regulation by the ERBB receptor feedback inhibitor 1 (ERRFI1). We show that in cells expressing high levels of EGFR, ERRF1 inhibits growth and enhances responses to chemotherapy. This is mediated in part through the negative regulation of AKT signaling by direct ERRFI1-dependent inhibition of EGFR In cells expressing low levels of EGFR, ERRFI1 positively modulates AKT signaling by interfering with the interaction of the inactivating phosphatase PHLPP with AKT, thereby promoting cell growth and chemotherapy desensitization. These observations broaden our understanding of chemotherapy response and have important implications for the selection of targeted therapies in a cell context-dependent manner. EGFR inhibition can only sensitize EGFR-high cells for chemotherapy, while AKT inhibition increases chemosensitivity in EGFR-low cells. By understanding these mechanisms, we can take advantage of the cellular context to individualize antineoplastic therapy. Finally, our data also suggest targeting of EFFRI1 in EGFR-low cancer as a promising therapeutic approach.
Concentration Dependence of Dopant Electronic Structure in Bottom-up Graphene Nanoribbons

Bottom-up fabrication techniques enable atomically precise integration of dopant atoms into the structure of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs). Such dopants exhibit perfect alignment within GNRs and behave differently from bulk semiconductor dopants. The effect of dopant concentration on the electronic structure of GNRs, however, remains unclear despite its importance in future electronics applications. Here we use scanning tunneling microscopy and first-principles calculations to investigate the electronic structure of bottom-up synthesized N = 7 armchair GNRs featuring varying concentrations of boron dopants. First-principles calculations of freestanding GNRs predict that the inclusion of boron atoms into a GNR backbone should induce two sharp dopant states whose energy splitting varies with dopant concentration. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy experiments, however, reveal two broad dopant states with an energy splitting greater than expected. This anomalous behavior results from an unusual hybridization between the dopant states and the Au(111) surface, with the dopant-surface interaction strength dictated by the dopant orbital symmetry.
Adaptive Importance Sampling (AIS)-Based System Reliability Sensitivity Analysis Method

This paper presents an adaptive importance sampling (AIS) method that can be used to efficiently compute reliability and reliability sensitivities for complicated structures that require computer-intensive calculations. The AIS approach starts from an initial approximate failure domain and incrementally changes the sampling limit state surface to reach a sampling domain that is slightly greater than the failure domain to minimize over-sampling in the safe region. Several reliability sensitivity measures are proposed that can be computed directly and easily from the AIS-based failure points and limit-state surfaces. These probability sensitivities can be used to identify key random variables and to adjust design parameters to achieve reliability-based objectives. The proposed methodology is demonstrated using a turbine blade reliability analysis example problem.
Tuberculosis Testing and Treatment of Latent Infection

Worldwide, there are more than 8 million new cases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and 3 million deaths each year. In the United States, approx 15 million people are infected with TB. In 1965, shortly after isoniazid was found to be effective for the treatment of TB, the first recommendation for treating latent M. tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in the general population was given. The American Thoracic Society recommended that all persons with evidence of previously untreated TB, with recent tuberculin test conversions, and all children younger than 3 yr of age with a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) should be treated with isoniazid. Despite broadened recommendations in 1967 and a more widespread number of people being treated with an inexpensive drug that was thought to have few side effects, the morbidity from TB never dramatically fell as had been projected. When the hepatotoxicity of isoniazid began to be recognized in the early 1970s a controversy erupted over what would be the appropriate age cutoff in low-risk people that would ensure the benefits of therapy for LTBI and outweigh the risks of treatment. Rifampin (RIF) was introduced for the treatment of LTBI in the early 1980s because the real and perceived problems with isoniazid’s hepatotoxicity and the long period of treatment required with isoniazid had impaired isoniazid’s widespread usefulness.
Quarkonium production in nuclear collisions

Abstract In these proceedings, an overview of recent quarkonium measurements in nuclear collisions carried out at both RHIC and LHC is presented. In p+p collisions, despite theoretical progresses made in understanding the production mechanisms for quarkonia, a complete picture is still yet to be achieved. In p+A collisions where measurements are done to quantify the cold nuclear matter effects, significant suppression of quarkonium production is observed for low transverse momentum region at both forward- and mid-rapidities. Furthermore, results from A+A collisions show the interplay of dissociation and regeneration contributions for charmonium at different collision energies, while a correspondence between the suppression level and the binding energy is observed for bottomonium family. Comparisons to experimental data provide stringent tests to model calculations, and help constrain the temperature of the deconfined medium created in heavy-ion collisions.
Pre-saccadic Rise Neurons In The Hindbrain Control The Timing Of Spontaneous Saccades

The spontaneous generation of saccades and fixations provides a simple model for understanding how internal brain dynamics are linked to behavior. We coupled calcium imaging with focal laser ablations in larval zebrafish to comprehensively map the activity patterns underlying the generation and control of this spontaneous behavior. We found a continuum of activity types ranging from cells that burst only during saccades, to cells that displayed tonic discharge during fixations, to neurons whose activity rose in advance of saccades by multiple seconds before falling to baseline after saccade completion. The activity of these pre-saccadic rise neurons was predictive of upcoming saccade time when analyzed under the general framework of ramp-to-threshold models. Ablations in regions where these neurons were densest led to the greatest delay in saccade initiation. The rate of rise in these neurons was variable across cells and fixations, with increased slope coupled to shorter rise times. These findings suggest that the novel class of pre-saccadic rise neurons presented here are involved in the timing of self-initiated saccadic movements.
Open Air Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

An unusual manner of carbon monoxide poisoning claimed the lives of two adults in two separate incidents. In the first case, a young man was four wheeling in a swampy area when his jeep became stuck in the mud as he continued to floor the accelerator. Carbon monoxide fumes entered the vehicle through the rusted floorboards, killing the driver. In the second case, two teens were skinny dipping behind a motor boat when they became affected by the boat exhaust. One of the youths was overcome and submerged into the lake. Both incidents were initially attributed to incorrect causes--a car accident and a drowning--because of the false notion that carbon monoxide is not a hazard in a ventilated area. The carboxyhemoglobin levels in these victims were 78 and 62% respectively. It was only through laboratory testing that carbon monoxide poisoning was identified as the cause of their demise. Physicians as well as the public need to be aware of the potential for this life threatening hazard to occur so that there can be proper emergency treatment and the prevention of fatalities.