cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microscopic look at backbending

A shell-model calculation of high-spin phenomena in the highly neutron deficient Ba-Ce-Nd region is reported. An inert spherically symmetric $Z=50=N$ core is assumed with extracore nucleons distributed among the ${g}_{\frac{7}{2}}$, ${d}_{\frac{5}{2}}$, ${d}_{\frac{3}{2}}$, ${s}_{\frac{1}{2}}$ normal-parity orbitals and the unique parity ${h}_{\frac{11}{2}}$ orbital with the number of particles within each set fixed. The normal-parity subspace is further truncated to a single irreducible representation of pseudo SU(3) made effective through the mapping $({g}_{\frac{7}{2}}{d}_{\frac{5}{2}}{d}_{\frac{3}{2}}{s}_{\frac{1}{2}})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}({\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{f}}_{\frac{7}{2}}{\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{f}}_{\frac{5}{2}}{\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{p}}_{\frac{3}{2}}{\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{p}}_{\frac{1}{2}})$. A five-dimensional quasispin classification is used for the unique-parity ${h}_{\frac{11}{2}}$ space which is restricted to states with seniority zero and two. Using a surface delta interaction we are able to reproduce the observed backbending in $_{56}^{126}\mathrm{Ba}_{70}$. The model affords a microscopic look at Coriolis antipairing and pair realignment phenomena.
Solid-phase synthesis of peptidyl α-keto heterocycles

The synthesis of structurally diverse peptidyl α-keto heterocycles via a solid-phase methodology is reported.
Persistent drainage migration in a numerical landscape evolution model

[1] Numerical landscape evolution models driven by uniform vertical uplift often develop a static drainage network and a precise balance between uplift and erosion. Small-scale physical models of uplifting drainage basins, however, continually reorganize by ridge migration and do not reach an ideal steady state. Here I show that the presence or absence of persistent drainage migration in a bedrock numerical landform evolution model depends on the flow-routing algorithm used to determine upstream contributing area. The model version that uses steepest-descent routing achieves an ideal steady state, while the model version that uses bifurcation routing results in continually-evolving drainage basins, even under conditions of uniform vertical uplift, bedrock erodibility, precipitation, and landsliding threshold. This result suggests that persistent drainage migration can occur by erosional processes alone. This result has important implications for numerical-modeling methodology, our understanding of the natural variability of landform evolution, and the interpretation of thermochronological data.
Existence of Optimal Policies for Semi-Markov Decision Processes Using Duality for Infinite Linear Programming

Semi-Markov decision processes on Borel spaces with deterministic kernels have many practical applications, particularly in inventory theory. Most of the results from general semi-Markov decision processes do not carry over to a deterministic kernel since such a kernel does not provide "smoothness." We develop infinite dimensional linear programming theory for a general stochastic semi-Markov decision process. We give conditions, general enough to allow deterministic kernels, for solvability and strong duality of the resulting linear programs. By using the developed linear programming theory we give conditions for the existence of a stationary deterministic policy for deterministic kernels, which is optimal among all possible policies.
Strand-specific mismatch correction in nuclear extracts of human and Drosophila melanogaster cell lines.

Abstract Nuclear extracts derived from HeLa and Drosophila melanogaster KC cell lines have been found to correct single base-base mispairs within open circular DNA heteroduplexes containing a strand-specific, site-specific incision located 808 base pairs from the mismatch. Correction in both extract systems is strand specific, being highly biased to the incised DNA strand. Different mispairs within a homologous set of heteroduplexes were processed with different efficiencies (G.T greater than G.G approximately equal to A.C greater than C.C), and correction was accompanied by mismatch-dependent DNA synthesis localized to the region spanning the mispair and the strand break, thus demonstrating that mismatch recognition is associated with the repair reaction. Correction of each of these heteroduplexes was abolished by aphidicolin but was relatively insensitive to the presence of high concentrations of ddTTP, indicating probable involvement of alpha and/or delta class DNA polymerase(s). These findings suggest that higher eukaryotic cells possess a general, strand-specific mismatch repair system analogous to the Escherichia coli mutHLS and the Streptococcus pneumoniae hexAB pathways, systems that contribute in a major way to the genetic stability of these bacterial species.
Femtosecond Photoelectron Imaging of Transient Electronic States and Rydberg Atom Emission from Electronically Excited He Droplets

Ultrafast relaxation of electronically excited pure He droplets is investigated by femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron imaging. Droplets are excited by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) pulses with photon energies below 24 eV. Excited states and relaxation products are probed by ionization with an infrared (IR) pulse with 1.6 eV photon energy. An initially excited droplet state decays on a time scale of 220 fs, leading predominantly to the emission of unaligned 1s3d Rydberg atoms. In a second relaxation channel, electronically aligned 1s4p Rydberg atoms are emitted from the droplet within less than 120 fs. The experimental results are described within a model that approximates electronically excited droplet states by localized, atomic Rydberg states perturbed by the local droplet environment in which the atom is embedded. The model suggests that, below 24 eV, EUV excitation preferentially leads to states that are localized in the surface region of the droplet. Electronically aligned 1s4p Rydberg atoms are exp...
Order‐restricted hypothesis testing in a variation of the normal mixture model

This paper examines likelihood-ratio tests concerning the relationships among a fixed number of univariate normal means given a sample of normal observations whose population membership is uncertain. The asymptotic null distributions of likelihood-ratio test statistics are derived for a class of tests including hypotheses which place linear inequality constraints on the normal means. The use of such tests in the interval mapping of quantitative trait loci is addressed. L'auteur examine le comportement stochastique du rapport des vraisemblances utilise pour tester l'existence de certaines relations entre les moyennes de populations normales univariees dans la situation ou l'echantillon provient d'une loi gaussienne d'origine incertaine. II determine la loi asymptotique de ce rapport, notamment dans les cas ou l'hypothese a tester s'exprime en terme d'inegalites sur des combinaisons lineaires de moyennes. II discute en outre de la pertinence de telles procedures de test pour la representation par intervalle de la localisation de traits quantitatifs.
Quantitative heteroduplex analysis.

General DNA analysis includes detection of targets, as well as identification and quantification of specific variants. Genomic DNA exists in the form of homoduplexes, with all corresponding base pairs being complementary, A:T and C:G. We call a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) molecule a heteroduplex when it contains any noncomplementary base pairs. Conformational and thermodynamic changes produced by mismatched bases facilitate the detection of heteroduplexes. Denaturation of samples followed by hybridization to promote heteroduplex formation has been used to screen diploid DNA for heterozygous variations. This form of heteroduplex analysis has focused on detection, and although it may involve a quantitative threshold, the result is essentially binary. Recent work in this area (1) and elsewhere(2) has explored new implementations and applications for a more truly quantitative form of heteroduplex analysis. One setting in which heteroduplexes commonly arise is during PCR. Although the extension process of PCR replicates genomic homoduplexes with high accuracy, if the original sample is heterozygous, heteroduplexes arise during the plateau stage when dsDNA is more likely to be formed by hybridization than extension. Denaturation and hybridization associates complementary and near-complementary strands almost randomly. Any of various methods (listed below) that can detect the presence of heteroduplexes can then be used to detect heterozygous sequence variations. If heteroduplexes are not detected, variations, if any, are known to be homozygous. Homozygous variants may sometimes be distinguished by differences in melting temperature, but these differences may be near the limit of detection even with high-resolution techniques. Indeed, 4% of human single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) exhibit a symmetry that makes homozygous variants thermodynamically identical up to the nearest-neighbor approximation (3). In this case, a 2-stage mixing strategy allows heteroduplex analysis to be used instead of melting temperature analysis for the detection …
Molecular glass photoresists containing photoacid generator functionality: a route to a single-molecule photoresist

A single molecule photoresist composed of tris(4-( tert -butoxycarbonyloxy)-3,5-dimethylphenyl) sulfonium hexafluoroantimonate (TAS-tBoc) was successfully synthesized and characterized. The synthesized triarylsulfonium was found to perform comparably to a commercial triphenylsulfonium triflate photoacid generator (PAG) when used purely as a PAG in blended molecular glass resist. TAS-tBoc formed excellent amorphous films when spin-coated out of solution. When exposed to 248 nm UV radiation, TAS-tBoc showed a sensitivity of 4 mJ/cm 2 and a contrast ratio between 6 and 15, depending on development conditions. Its etch rate under standard silicon dioxide etch conditions was 0.87 as standardized to that of tBoc-PHOST in the same RIE plasma conditions. The outgassing level of the resist under EUV exposure was determined to be 1.08 x 10 13 molecules/cm 2 , well below the maximum outgassing cutoff that is considered acceptable for EUV imaging. When imaged by e-beam, TAS-tBoc showed a relatively high dose-to-clear of 150 mC/cm 2 as compared to conventional chemically amplified photoresists. Lines down to 50 nm wide with aspect ratios of 2.5:1 were imaged using e-beam. These lines exhibited an LER of only 3.96 nm, significantly better than the typical LER for polymeric chemically amplified resist, even when imaged using e-beam, and also one of the lowest values reported for molecular glass materials in general.
Geographic partitioning of chloroplast DNA variation in the genus Datisca ( Datiscaceae )

Datisca (Datiscaceae) is a ditypic genus with an intercontinentally disjunct distribution. Chloroplast DNA restriction site data was obtained from 23 populations and four 10–20 year old herbarium specimens ofD. glomerata and three populations ofD. cannabina from throughout their geographic ranges in western North America and southwest-central Asia, respectively. InD. glomerata, plastome diversity is partitioned geographically. All populations from southern California have a common plastome, while most populations north of this region share a relatively divergent plastome (0.49% sequence divergence). Likewise, these plastomes are highly divergent (0.87% mean sequence divergence) from those found inD. cannabina. Biogeographic processes dating to the Pleistocene and Late Miocene may be responsible for these intra- and interspecific patterns of chloroplast DNA divergence.
Effects of bondline thickness on Mode-II interfacial laws of bonded laminated composite plate

For a variety of modern industries, interfacial delamination is a critical issue for the design and application of laminated composite structures. Numerous global experimental studies have been conducted to characterize the toughness of adhesively bonded composite structures. In the recent two decades, cohesive zone models (CZMs) have been receiving intensive attentions. The local interfacial traction–separation laws as the fundamental input are crucial for the successful applications of CZMs. Several local tests have also been conducted to determine the interfacial traction–separation laws in adhesively bonded joints. However, very few tests have been employed to investigate the dependency of the local interfacial traction–separation laws on the bondline thickness, particularly, for the laminated composite joints under Mode-II loading conditions. In this work, the effects of bondline thickness on the interfacial behavior have been systematically investigated at various typical bondline thicknesses (from 0.1 to 0.8 mm). The effects of adhesive thickness on the interfacial toughness, interfacial strength, and shapes of the local interfacial traction–separation laws have also been evaluated. The test results indicated that the measured Mode-II (shear test) interfacial shear strength of the composite joints increases as the adhesive layer becomes thicker. It was found a significant dependency of the measured shapes of the Mode-II interfacial laws on the bondline thickness. Several other interesting issues were also reported in this work. This work may provide valuable baseline test data for analytical and numerical modeling of fracture and failure of laminated composite structures.
Inducement of sex reversal in Sarotherodon niloticus (Linnaeus)

Abstract Two androgens, ethynyltestosterone (ET) and methyltestosterone (MT) and two estrogens, diethylstilbestrol (DES) and estrone (E) were orally administered to gonadally undifferentiated Sarotherodon niloticus fry. Diets with hormones were prepared at the following levels: ET and MT at 30 and 60 mg kg −1 of feed, DES at 25 and 100 mg kg −1 of feed, and E at 100 and 200 mg kg −1 of feed. The fish were fed at 10% body weight per day for 25-, 35- and 59-day periods. All-male populations were produced with ET-60 and MT-60 in all three treatment periods, and with ET-30 and MT-30 during the 35- and 59-day treatments. No estrogen treatment resulted in 100% female populations but only about 10% of the DES-100 treatment populations at the three durations were males. Sex ratios were significantly different ( P
1021 DETERMINATION OF SERUM BILIRUBIN BY SKIN REFLECTANCE

A non-invasive method to determine neonatal serum bilirubin concentration from skin reflectance was developed. Spectral reflectance measurements using a novel fiberoptic reflectometer (400-750 nm, 8 sec scan time) were performed on the blanched skin (3 cm2 area) on the back of 108 infants. The predicted bilirubin value from the skin reflectance was calculated as a function of the percent reflectance at 420, 460 and 510 nm. This 3-wavelength function was derived from the Kubelka-Monk theory relating reflectance to the absorption and scattering properties of the skin. The correlation of the bilirubin value predicted from the triple wavelength function and the actual serum bilirubin value for 217 determinations in 108 black and white infants showed a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.78 (P<.00001). The 95% confidence limit for the predicted bilirubin value compared to the actual bilirubin value was ±1.6 mg%. The 103 samples in the 48 black patients showed an R of 0.86 (P<.00001) with a 95% confidence limit of ±1.5 mg%. The 114 determinations in the 50 white infants showed a 95% confidence limit of ±1.4 mg%. Skin reflectance can serve as a screening tool for predicting serum bilirubin concentration in black and white neonates.
Crossing the brain-mind rubicon: How might we scientifically understand basic human emotions and core affective feelings of other animals?

Future pre-clinical modeling of psychiatric disorders will need to take animal emotional feelings more seriously than in the past. In his target article, Myron Hofer summarizes a superb research program on the maternal regulation of infant physiologies, progressing toward a gradual opening of the Pandora's Box of animal affective phenomenal consciousness that may help guide development of new psychiatric treatments. In this commentary, I summarize my own long-term perspective on this critical issue, much neglected in modern behavioral neuroscience. We can indeed empirically study the primal emotional feelings of other animals because of the tight correspondence between deep-brain stimulation induced activation of emotional-instinctual behavior patterns, and the highly consistent rewarding and punishing properties of such induced states – which are evidence-based indicators of various positive and negative emotional feelings.
Case-based design browser to support software reuse

With the proliferation of large, complex software systems, reuse of previous software designs and software artifacts, such as operation concepts, requirements, specifications and source code, is an important issue for both industry and government. Reuse has long been expected to result in substantial productivity and quality gains. To date, this expectation has been largely unmet. One reason may be the lack of tools to support software reuse.This research proposes the development of one such tool, the Design Browser. The Design Browser is a software architecture intended to support designers of large software systems in the early stages of software design, specifically conceptual design. The Design Browser is based on principles derived from cognitive engineering (e.g. Woods & Roth, 1988 a); naturalistic decision-making, particularly Klein's (1989) recognition-primed decision making model; and Kolodner's (1993) approach to case-based reasoning.As a proof-of-concept demonstration, the Design Browser was implemented for a NASA satellite control sub-system?the command management system (CMS). An empirical evaluation was conducted. It used the CMS Design Browser and participants who were part of the three user groups often involved in large-scale commercial software development. These groups are the software design team, the users and management. The results of the evaluation show that all three groups found the CMS Design Browser quite useful as demonstrated by actual performance and subjective rating.
A simple linear-time algorithm for computing the center of an interval graph

The computational problem of finding the center of a graph is motivated by a number of facility-location problems. We exploit a new characterization of interval graphs for the purpose of obtaining a linear-time algorithm for computing both the center and the diameter of an interval graph.
Real-time economic dispatch and reserve allocation using merit order loading and linear programming rules

This paper presents a real-time economic dispatch algorithm suitable for on-line generation control and for study programs. The method is based on the rules of Linear Programming and the classical method of merit order loading. The basis for the algorithm is shown as a natural progression of classical optimization algorithms. Comparison with Linear Programming is included to exhibit the flexibility of the algorithm. The inclusion of a constraint for a unit or for a system wide margin (e.g., Spinning reserve) is shown. The procedure is fast, in part, since the Simplex Tableau is not explicitly stored. The method is shown in pseudo-code. This method is very suitable for real-time economic dispatch on any Energy Management System. The method requires little computer resource and is appropriate for personal computer implementation as part of a back-up automatic generation control system. The algorithm presented in this paper had been labeled the Merit Order Reduced Gradient (MORG) since it is a combination of the Merit Order Loading and the Reduced Gradient with Linear Constraints algorithms. The present implementation uses the linearized representation of the incremental heat rate curve. However, the Merit Order Reduced Gradient (MORG) algorithm can be used with any monotonically increasing incremental heat rate curve. The implicit handling of the sparse Simplex Tableau is accomplished by accounting for the contribution of each unit to each constraint.
TRPC4 knockout mice: the coming of age of TRP channels as gates of calcium entry responsible for cellular responses.

In this issue of Circulation Research , Tiruppathi and collaborators present a second report on the phenotypic changes that develop in mice lacking the TRPC4 channels developed by the Flockerzi group at the Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology of the University of Saarland, Germany.1 This and the earlier report2 show unequivocally that TRPC channels and the Ca2+ whose entry they mediate are central players in cellular and organismic homeostasis. Increases in cytosolic Ca2+ drive a myriad of cellular responses to extracellular stimuli, either alone or in conjunction with other signaling pathways. Examples are skeletal and smooth muscle contraction, neuronal and endocrine secretions, and activation of B and T lymphocytes, of neutrophil chemotaxis, of endothelial cell NO production, and of platelet aggregation. With the exception of skeletal muscle contraction, which is mediated exclusively by Ca2+ released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in response to sarcolemmal depolarization, all other cellular responses enabled by Ca2+ depend on Ca2+ entering from the extracellular space through Ca2+-permeable ion channels. True to this adage, cardiac and smooth muscle contraction and neuro-, endo-, and exocrine secretions fail upon removal of extracellular Ca2+. Cells are negatively affected by sustained high cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and expend significant amounts of energy to keep [Ca2+]i at low, ≈100 nmol/L levels—104 times lower than present in the extracellular milieu. Entry of Ca2+ into cells is thus carefully gated. The gating is performed by just three classes of ion channels: (1) voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, structural relatives of voltage-gated sodium channels, expressed in neuronal, endocrine, and muscle cells; (2) ligand-gated ion channels, including cyclic nucleotide- and excitatory amino acid-activated ion channels, expressed in various sensory and neuronal cells; and (3) an ubiquitous set of …
Jitter performance of short length optical interconnects for rack-to-rack applications

We present eye width analysis for short multimode fiber links (≪100m) including modal noise and laser relative intensity noise. Contrary to power budgeting for traditional links, eye width budgeting is better suited for short links.
Transverse Cracking of Concrete Bridge Decks: State-of-the-Art

This state-of-the-art paper presents the results of a comprehensive literature review of the cause of transverse deck cracking. It includes compilation of experimental and analytical research results as well as survey studies on the effects of different factors on concrete deck cracking. Consistent with the past work on the subject, causes of transverse deck cracking are classified under three categories, namely: (1) material and mix design, (2) construction practices and ambient condition factors, and (3) structural design factors. The literature review revealed that the first two items have been studied extensively over the past several decades, while literature is limited on the effect of structural design factors on deck cracking. This paper evaluates the existing work in depth and presents recommendations on mix design and construction procedures to reduce the potential for transverse deck cracking. Furthermore, areas for additional research are identified.
Mechanisms of cerebellar learning suggested by eyelid conditioning

Classical eyelid conditioning has been used to great advantage in demonstrating that the cerebellum helps to improve movements through experience, and in identifying the underlying mechanisms. Results from recent studies support the hypotheses that learning occurs in both the cerebellar nucleus and cortex, and that these sites make different contributions. Specifically, results indicate that the cerebellar cortex is responsible for temporally specific learning. A combination of experimental and computational studies has been important for arriving at these conclusions, which seem to be applicable to the broad range of movements to which the cerebellum contributes.
Enhancement of the high-temperature properties of an SEBS thermoplastic elastomer by chemical modification

A procedure was developed for benzoylating the polystyrene segments in polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS) triblock copolymers. The products were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and membrane osmometry. The mechanical properties of the parent and benzoylated copolymers, measured from 25 to 150°C, indicated that benzoylation increases the utility of the polymers at elevated temperatures. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 1203–1210, 2002
R-SPLINE for local integer-ordered simulation optimization problems with stochastic constraints

R-SPLINE is a recently proposed competitor to the popular COMPASS algorithm for solving local integer-ordered simulation optimization problems that have either an unconstrained or a deterministically-constrained feasible region. R-SPLINE is a refined sample-average approximation algorithm with a structure that is particularly conducive to the inclusion of stochastic constraints. In this paper we consider one such trivial adaptation of R-SPLINE. Our aim is narrow in that we wish only to investigate the asymptotic behavior of the resulting iterates. Accordingly, we demonstrate sufficient conditions under which the proposed adaptation's iterates match the consistency and convergence rate qualities of the iterates from the originally proposed R-SPLINE. Ongoing numerical experiments show much promise but raise important questions about the choice of algorithm parameters when the adaptation is executed on problems where one or more of the constraints are binding.
Regioregular synthesis of azaborine oligomers and a polymer with a syn conformation stabilized by N-H⋅⋅⋅π interactions.

The regioregular synthesis of the first azaborine oligomers and a corresponding conjugated polymer was accomplished by Suzuki–Miyaura coupling methods. An almost perfectly coplanar syn arrangement of the heterocycles was deduced from an X-ray crystal structure of the dimer, which also suggested that NH⋅⋅⋅π interactions play an important role. Computational studies further supported these experimental observations and indicated that the electronic structure of the longer azaborine oligomers and polymer resembles that of poly(cyclohexadiene) more than poly(p-phenylene). A comparison of the absorption and emission properties of the polymer with those of the oligomers revealed dramatic bathochromic shifts upon chain elongation, thus suggesting highly effective extension of conjugation.
Comparative analysis of three sperm DNA damage assays and sperm nuclear protein content in couples undergoing assisted reproduction treatment

main results and the role of chance: Histone retention was associated with sperm DNA damage (P , 0.001), reduced embryo quality (P ¼ 0.005) and clinical pregnancies (P , 0.001). The mean percentage of sperm with DNA damage was significantly higher in sperm from non-pregnant couples compared with that from pregnant couples, as measured by TUNEL assay (15.04+ 1.16% versus 8.79+ 0.56%; P , 0.001) and alkaline Comet assay (72.79+ 2.49% versus 55.86+ 2.29%; P , 0.001). There was no association between clinical pregnancies and DNA fragmentation index measured by FCCE (12.97+ 1.46 versus 14.93+ 1.65; P ¼ 0.379). Of the protamine parameters analysed, only the P1/P2 ratio was associated with sperm count (P ¼ 0.013), men’s age (P ¼ 0.037), maturity (P ¼ 0.049) and blastocyst quality (P ¼ 0.012). Histone retention and sperm DNA damage measured by Comet and TUNEL assays were associated with fertilization rate (P , 0.05), embryo quality (P , 0.05) and implantation rate (P , 0.05). limitations,reasonsforcaution: A potential drawback of this study is that it is cross-sectional. Generally in such studies there is more than one variable that could cause the effect. Analysing sperm is one part of the equation; there are also a number of female factors that have the potential to influence ART outcomes. Therefore, given the large and well-established role of female factors in infertility, normal sperm DNA integrity and protamination do not necessarily ensure clinical pregnancy in ART. Thus, female factors can reduce the prognostic value of sperm DNA tests. Further, our use of native semen instead of prepared sperm may have iatrogenically increased the DNA damage. widerimplications of the findings: Alteration in sperm nuclear protein affects sperm DNA integrity. Further, with the current dataset, TUNEL and Comet assays appeared more predictive of ART success than FCCE.
The Effects of Positive and Negative Social Exchanges on Aging Adults

This study tested various models of the effects of positive and negative exchanges on positive and negative affect using structural equation modeling. Based on a probability sample of middle-aged and older adults, the relationships between social exchanges and psychological well-being were examined both within the total sample and within subgroups of individuals who had experienced few vs many life events. Within the general population, the Domain Specific Model resulted in the best fit. That is, positive exchanges were associated with positive affect, and negative exchanges were associated with negative affect. However, among the subgroup that had experienced more life events, there was a significantly stronger relationship between negative exchanges and negative affect. These findings suggest that, to understand the effects of social exchanges, it is important to consider the context of life events.
Effects of Varying Marijuana Potency on Deposition of Tar and Δ9-THC in the Lung During Smoking

To determine whether smoking more, compared to less, potent marijuana (MJ) cigarettes to a desired level of intoxication ("high") reduces pulmonary exposure to noxious smoke components, in 10 habitual smokers of MJ, we measured respiratory delivery and deposition of tar and delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) boost, smoking topography, including cumulative puff volume (CPV) and breathholding time, change in heart rate (deltaHR) and "high" during ad lib smoking of 0, 1.77, and 3.95% MJ cigarettes on 3 separate days. At each session, subjects had access to only a single MJ cigarette. On average, smoking topography and COHb boost did not differ across the different strengths of MJ, while THC delivery, as well as HR, were significantly greater (p < 0.01) and tar deposition significantly less (p < 0.03) for 3.95% than 1.77% MJ. Although individual adaptations in smoking topography for 3.95% compared to 1.77% MJ were highly variable, three subjects with the lowest 3.95% MJ:1.77% MJ ratios for CPV also displayed the lowest 3.95% MJ:1.77% MJ ratios for tar deposition. In vitro studies using a standardized smoking technique revealed a mean 25% lower tar yield from 3.95% than 1.77% MJ (p < 0.05), but no difference between 1.77% and 0% marijuana. Under the conditions of this study, we conclude that tar delivery is reduced relative to THC content in a minority of subjects, and this reduction appears to be due to a reduced intake of smoke (decreased CPV) and/or a reduced tar yield from the stronger MJ preparation.
Are People Willing to Pay More for Socially Responsible Products: A Meta-Analysis

Many companies have made significant investments in socially responsible products. Environmentally safe cleaning products, fair trade coffee, and sustainable seafood are just a few examples. In this paper, we conduct a meta-analysis of eighty-three published and unpublished research papers across a large number of product categories and countries and using different data collection methodologies to better understand differences in willingness to pay for socially responsible products. We use two dependent variables: the percentage premium people are willing to pay and the proportion of respondents who are willing to pay a positive premium. We find that the mean premium is 17.3% and that this percentage is lower for durable than for non-durable goods and higher for goods where the behavior benefits humans (e.g., labor practices) than animals (e.g., bigger cages) or the environment. On average, 60% of respondents are willing to pay a positive premium and this does not vary by whether the good is durable. Further, along with products that benefit humans, products that benefit animals are shown to increase the number of people willing to pay a premium compared to environmentally friendly goods. Implications for retailers, manufacturers, and future research are discussed.
Coupling of Solute and Solvent Flows in Porous Lipid Bilayer Membranes

The present experiments were designed to evaluate coupling of water and nonelectrolyte flows in porous lipid bilayer membranes (i.e., in the presence of amphotericin B) in series with unstirred layers. Alterations in solute flux during osmosis, with respect to the flux in the absence of net water flow, could be related to two factors: first, changes in the diffusional component of solute flux referable to variations in solute concentrations at the membrane interfaces produced by osmotic flow through the unstirred layers; and second, coupling of solute and solvent flows within the membrane phase. Osmotic water flow in the same direction as solute flow increased substantially the net fluxes of glycerol and erythritol through the membranes, while osmotic flow in the opposite direction to glycerol flow reduced the net flux of that solute. The observed effects of osmotic water flow on the fluxes of these solutes were in reasonable agreement with predictions based on a model for coupling of solute and solvent flows within the membrane phase, and considerably in excess of the prediction for a diffusion process alone.
Phaeohyphomycosis due to coelomycetes organisms.

Observation chez un noir de 25 ans presentant une lesion de l'avant-bras droit depuis 2 ans avec drainage purulent intermittent mais indolore
Optimality and performance limitations of Analog to Digital Converters

The paper deals with the task of optimal design of Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs). A general ADC is modeled as a causal, discrete-time dynamical system with outputs taking values in a finite set. Its performance is defined as the worst-case average intensity of the filtered input matching error. The design task can be viewed as that of optimal quantized decision making with the objective of optimizing the performance measure. An algorithm based on principles of optimal control is presented for designing general m-dimensional ADCs. The design process involves numerical computation of the candidate value function of the underlying dynamic program, which is computed iteratively, in parallel with the quantization law. A procedure is presented for certifying the numerical solution and providing an upper bound for performance of the designed ADC. Furthermore, an exact analytical solution to the optimal one-dimensional ADC is presented. It is shown that the designed one-dimensional optimal ADC is identical to the classical Delta-Sigma Modulator (DSM) with uniform quantization spacing.
Picturing Service-Learning: Defining the Field, Setting Expectations, Shaping Learning

This study used content analysis and audiencing to understand how service-learning is presented visually by institutions of higher education and interpreted by college students. Data included 834 photographs from the service-learning web pages of 63 four-year institutions in California. The majority showed a narrow range of direct service including engaging with young people in out-of-classroom activities, tending gardens, tutoring, and working at a building site. Looking at a selection of these photos, a sample of 14 college students questioned definitions and power dynamics of service and noted a pattern of those serving being White and those served being people of color. Images were perceived differently by viewers depending on their backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. If service-learning is to draw on the talents of students from diverse backgrounds and develop the knowledge, skills, and commitment to engage with society’s complex problems, then the visual representation of service should reflect those aims.
A Computational Study on the Mechanical Power Loss of a Spur Gear Pair Under the Thermal Tribo-Dynamic Condition

This study proposes a formulation for the description of the gear mesh mechanical power loss under the thermal tribodynamic condition. A six degree-of-freedom motion equation set that models the vibratory motions of a general spur gear pair is coupled with the governing equations for the description of the gear thermal mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication to include the interactions between the gear dynamics and gear tribology disciplines in the modeling of the gear mesh mechanical power loss. The important role of the gear thermal tribo-dynamics in power loss is demonstrated by comparing the predictions of the proposed model to those under the thermal quasi-static condition, and the iso-thermal tribo-dynamic condition, respectively.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Characterizing Resistance to Tetranychus urticae in Tomato

Five tomato lines selected for resistance to the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, were studied to characterize the nature of their resistance. Highly resistant PI 251303, moderately resistant ‘Anahu’ and ‘Kalohi,’ and low-resistant ‘Roma’ and T-526 were tested by 3 different procedures to define the nature of resistance. Detached leaf disks rimmed with tanglefoot were inoculated with teneral female mites and counts Were obtained on mites that died on the leaf, as a measure of antibiosis; mites that were trapped in the tanglefoot, as a measure of repellency; and oviposition, as a measure of food acceptibility and fecundity. High numbers of mites feeding on PI 251303 were either killed or repelled into the tanglefoot, and there was direct acaricidal action attributable to leaf hair exudate. This was velified by topical application of the exudate to mites. Fewer numbers of mites inoculated on leaf disks from the other lines either died or were trapped in the tanglefoot as compared with PI 251303.
Cdk2 phosphorylation of Bcl-xL after stress converts it to a pro-apoptotic protein mimicking Bax/Bak

Apoptosis is a regulated form of cell death that proceeds by defined biochemical pathways. Most apoptosis is controlled by interactions between pro-survival and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins in which death is often the consequence of permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane. Many drugs affect this equilibrium to favor apoptosis but this process is not completely understood. We show that the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin initiates an apoptotic pathway by phosphorylation of a pro-survival Bcl-2 family member, Bcl-xL, by cyclin-dependent kinase 2. The phosphorylation occurred at a previously unreported site and its biologic significance was demonstrated by a phosphomimetic modification of Bcl-xL that was able to induce apoptosis without addition of cisplatin. The mechanism of cell death induction was similar to that initiated by pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, that is, phosphorylated Bcl-xL translocated to the mitochondrial membrane, and formed pores in the membrane. This initiated cytochrome c release and caspase activation that resulted in cell death.
Abstract 2113: Caveolae-mediated endocytosis as a novel mechanism of resistance to T-DM1 ADC

Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprised of the HER2-targeting antibody trastuzumab and DM1, a microtubule depolymerizing agent covalently attached via a non-cleavable thioether linker. T-DM1 has demonstrated clinical benefit for patients with metastatic breast cancer, however activity may be limited by inherent or acquired resistance during prolonged treatment periods. The molecular mechanisms that drive clinical resistance to T-DM1, especially in HER2 positive tumors, are not well understood. We used the HER2+ cell line N87 to develop a model of T-DM1 resistance utilizing a cyclical dosing schema in which cells received T-DM1 in an “on-off” routine until a T-DM1 resistant population of N87 cells (N87-TM) was generated. N87-TM cells displayed 103-fold resistance toward T-DM1 treatment compared to the parental N87 cells. The N87-TM cells were cross-resistant to a panel of trastuzumab-ADCs (T-ADCs) with non-cleavable-linked auristatins. N87-TM cells do not have a decrease in HER2 protein levels or an increase in drug efflux pump (e.g. MDR1) protein expression compared to parental N87 cells. Comparative proteomic profiling suggested an enrichment in proteins (e.g. caveolin-1, CAV1) that mediate caveolae formation and endocytosis in the N87-TM cells. Indeed, N87-TM cells internalize ADCs into intracellular CAV1+ puncta and alter their trafficking to the lysosome compared to N87 cells. Intriguingly, T-ADCs utilizing auristatin payloads attached via an enzymatically cleavable linker (i.e. ValCit linker) overcome T-DM1 resistance in N87-TM cells. Importantly, N87-TM cells implanted into athymic mice in vivo formed T-DM1 refractory tumors which remain sensitive to T-ADCs with cleavable-linked auristatin payloads. When comparing antigen positive patient-derived xenograft models that were refractory to T-DM1 yet responded to T-ADCs with ValCit linker-payloads, CAV1 was found to be a predictive protein biomarker identifying T-DM1 refractory tumors. These data implicate caveolae-mediated endocytosis in ADC biology and suggest that alterations in this pathway may impact a tumor9s response profile to ADCs with non-cleavable linkers. We also propose CAV1 as a novel protein biomarker whose high tumoral expression predicts a refractory response to the T-DM1 ADC. Citation Format: Matthew S. Sung, Xingzhi Tan, Christine Hosselet, Michael Cinque, Erik Upeslacis, Jonathon Golas, Fang Wang, Bingwen Lu, Laurie Tylaska, Lindsay King, Jeremy Myers, Edward Rosfjord, Judy Lucas, Hans-Peter Gerber, Frank Loganzo. Caveolae-mediated endocytosis as a novel mechanism of resistance to T-DM1 ADC. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2113.
Identification of Ambergris from the New Bedford Whaling Museum by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

A new method for the separation and identification of ambrein in ambergris using adsorption chromatography and 1 H and 13 C Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (FT-NMR) is presented. We demonstrated the effectiveness of this method by analyzing an approximately 85-year-old sample of suspected ambergris from the New Bedford Whaling Museum (New Bedford, MA). Results prove that ambrein remains a major constituent of ambergris even after 85 years of storage under ordinary conditions.
A Review of “Ruin Nation: Destruction and the American Civil War”

The play on meaning in Megan Kate Nelson's title, Ruin Nation, offers a preview of her nuanced approach to the role of ruins within the American Civil War. Nelson analyzes ruination not only as a p...
KMAP-O framework for care management research of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aim To review impacts of interventions involving self-management education, health coaching, and motivational interviewing for type 2 diabetes. Methods A thorough review of the scientific literature on diabetes care and management was executed by a research team. Results This article summarizes important findings in regard to the validity of developing a comprehensive behavioral system as a framework for empirical investigation. The behavioral system framework consists of patients' knowledge (K), motivation (M), attitude (A), and practice (P) as predictor variables for diabetes care outcomes (O). Care management strategies or health education programs serve as the intervention variable that directly influences K, M, A, and P and then indirectly affects the variability in patient care outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion This review contributes to the understanding of the KMAP-O framework and how it can guide the care management of patients with type 2 diabetes. It will allow the tailoring of interventions to be more effective through knowledge enhancement, increased motivation, attitudinal changes, and improved preventive practice to reduce the progression of type 2 diabetes and comorbidities. Furthermore, the use of health information technology for enhancing changes in KMAP and communications is advocated in health promotion and development.
Information Technology in an Audit Context: Have the Big 4 Lost Their Advantage?

ABSTRACT: Audit firms use information technology (IT) to improve audit quality, effectiveness, and efficiency. While audit IT has evolved over the past decade, limited guidance is available to assist practitioners in determining how IT can be used. Our research objectives are fourfold. First, we examine to what extent auditors use and assess the perceived importance of IT in their audits. Second, we look at different-sized firms to determine whether IT adoption and implementation decisions differ by firm size. Third, we investigate changes in auditors' use and perceived importance of IT over the past decade. Fourth, we examine whether IT has impacted the communication modes used by auditors when reviewing workpapers and fraud brainstorming. Overall, Big 4 auditors were not significantly more likely to use IT than non-Big 4 auditors, suggesting that the dominance of the Big 4 firms' use of IT has lessened. In fact, there are a few applications where non-Big 4 auditors appear to have taken the lead. In addi...
Topology optimization of continuum structures subjected to filtered white noise stochastic excitations

Abstract This work addresses the challenge of topology optimization for continuum structures subjected to non-white noise stochastic excitations. The objective is to manipulate the variance of the stochastic dynamic response of a linear continuum structure through design. The excitation is modeled as filtered white noise and the solution and sensitivities are obtained using the augmented state space formulation in the frequency domain. To reduce the computational cost and maintain high accuracy, closed-form solutions are utilized for evaluating the response variance and modal truncation is adopted to reduce dimension (the effect of which is investigated). The Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization Method is used together with the Heaviside Projection Method to achieve a clear distinction between solid and void regions in the structure, and the gradient-based optimizer Method of Moving Asymptotes informed by sensitivities of the real and complex eigenvectors is used to evolve the design. The algorithm is demonstrated on design problems of minimizing the variance of stochastic response under a volume constraint and several numerical examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the method. Solutions are compared to conventional maximum stiffness solutions and, as to be expected, show markedly improved response under the considered stochastic dynamic excitation.
Secular trends in salt and soy sauce intake among Chinese adults, 1997–2011

Salt and soy sauce are the main ways of sodium intake in Chinese dietary. In this study, we used the data of the China Health and Nutrition Surveys to describe the secular trends of salt and soy sauce intake among Chinese adults from 1997 to 2011. Trends were tested by multiple linear regression models. During the past 14 years, the consumption of sodium, salt and soy sauce intake values decreased significantly across the six study periods (p < .0001) among both men and women. Averaged salt values decreased by 4.9 g/d in men and 4.1 g/d in women. Mean soy sauce intake values decreased by 9.0 g/d among men and 7.3 g/d among women. Similar significant trends were observed in all age groups, activity levels and regions (p < .0001).