cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flow liquefaction instability prediction using finite elements

In this paper, a mathematical criterion based on bifurcation theory is developed to predict the onset of liquefaction instability in fully saturated porous media under static and dynamic loading conditions. The proposed liquefaction criterion is general and can be applied to any elastoplastic constitutive model. Since the liquefaction criterion is only as accurate as the underlying constitutive model utilized, the modified Manzari–Dafalias model is chosen for its accuracy, relative simplicity and elegance. Moreover, a fully implicit return mapping algorithm is developed for the numerical implementation of the Manzari–Dafalias model, and a consistent tangent operator is derived to obtain optimal convergence with finite elements. The accuracy of the implementation is benchmarked against laboratory experiments under monotonic and cyclic loading conditions, and a qualitative boundary value problem. The framework is expected to serve as a tool to enable prediction of liquefaction occurrence in the field under general static and dynamic conditions. Further, the methodology can help advance our understanding of the phenomenon in the field as it can clearly differentiate between unstable behavior, such as flow liquefaction, and material failure, such as cyclic mobility.
Increasing Leidenfrost point using micro-nano hierarchical surface structures

The Leidenfrost effect is undesirable in cooling applications as the vapor layer on which the liquid levitates acts as a heat transfer barrier. Here, we report on increasing the Leidenfrost temperature by surface textures that can promote droplet wetting at high superheat via capillary wicking. Counterintuitively, we find that sparser rather than denser textures increase the Leidenfrost temperature. Our experimental results are consistent with a physical model that balances capillary wetting pressures with dewetting pressures exerted by the escaping vapor. The physical mechanism suggests that hierarchical textures have a higher Leidenfrost temperature compared to single-length-scale textures, which is confirmed experimentally.
Long-term follow-up after intracoronary streptokinase for myocardial infarction: A randomized, controlled study

Intracoronary streptokinase (SK) may have beneficial effects on the in-hospital course of acute myocardial infarction (MI), but long-term outcome is unknown. We evaluated the outpatient course of 50 MI patients, randomly treated with either SK (n = 24) or standard therapy (n = 26), who presented within 2.7 +/- 0.7 hours of symptoms. Coronary reperfusion occurred in 19 (79%) SK patients. Survivors were followed for a mean of 18.7 months (range 11 to 28.5); information was current in 48 patients (96%). Both groups received antiplatelet therapy for 3 months. A total of five deaths occurred in the control group and two in the SK group, including one posthospital death in each. Nonfatal MIs totaled five in control patients and three in SK patients, including five posthospital MIs (three control, one SK). Differences in major events (death or nonfatal MI) favoring SK did not quite reach statistical significance (10 control vs 5 SK). Bypass surgery was performed in seven SK and four control patients (NS). Angina occurred in more control (15) than SK (six) patients (p less than 0.01), and more control patients used long-acting nitrates (14 control, three SK; p less than 0.01). Palpitations were noted by nine control and one SK patient (p less than 0.01), and documented late arrhythmias were present in four control patients and no SK survivors (p less than 0.05). Symptoms suggestive of heart failure were present in seven control and one SK patient (p less than 0.01); two control patients were hospitalized for failure. Use of beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and other cardiac medications did not differ.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Characterizing adsorbate passage in molecular sieve pores

The rate at which molecules can pass one another inside the pores of crystalline microporous materials can be an important factor in determining the transport properties of these systems, particularly for materials with unidimensional pores. An efficient method for characterizing adsorbate passage in micropores is presented and applied to a variety of adsorbates in AlPO4-5. It is shown that adsorbate passage can be an activated process in some cases. The implications of rare adsorbate passage for the experimental characterization of tracer diffusion and for the flow of multicomponent mixtures through zeolitic membranes are briefly considered in the context of a simplified lattice gas model.
Effects of doping on the lattice parameter of SrTiO3

The effects on the lattice parameter due to incorporation of high concentrations of donor impurities in SrTiO3 are examined both experimentally and theoretically. Experimental lattice parameters were obtained from x-ray diffraction on La-doped films grown on bulk SrTiO3 substrates with carrier concentrations up to 2 × 1021 cm−3. The observed increase in lattice parameter is attributed to two causes: impurity-size and electronic effects. The latter can be attributed in part to the energy gain by lowering the conduction band upon volume expansion. These contributions are evaluated explicitly using hybrid functional calculations, with a net result in very good agreement with experiment.
Sharp conditions for existence of nontrivial invariant cones of nonnegative initial values of difference equations

It is proved that an arbitrary scalar difference equation has a nontrivial invariant cone in the set of the nonnegative initial values if and only if the associated characteristic equation has a positive root. By using this fact, there is given a construction of the maximal invariant cone in the set of nonnegative initial values via a positive root of the associated characteristic equation. Finally, the present results are compared with some earlier ones which were obtained for delay differential equations in the same direction.
Laboratory and pilot solvent extraction of extruded high-oil corn

Oil extraction of flakes and extrudates of high-oil (HO) corn was studied, using hexane as solvent. HO corn contained 19.5% oil, 70% of which was located in the germ. Microstructures of starchy endosperm and germ were analyzed by scanning electron and light microscopy. Conventionally extruded samples extracted faster and to a lower residual oil content than flakes and steam-injected extrudates. Ultrastructural disruption and cooking of conventionally extruded material was adequate to free the oil from the spherosomes and produce a porous pellet with a high proportion of “surface oil.” Encapsulation of the oil within a gelatinized starch matrix made it partly unavailable in steam-injected extrudate samples. Data presented for laboratory and pilot plant runs demonstrate that conventional extrusion is a promising pretreatment for solvent extraction of high-oil, starchy materials.
Bulk as a stimulus for satiation in Aplysia

Aplysia californica when prefed a partial meal of nonnutritional bulk eat significantly less food compared to control animals. The total mass of material consumed by animals fed bulk and then fed to satiation with seaweed was not significantly different from the mass consumed by animals fed to satiation with seaweed alone. In a second experiment, animals were fed daily, alternating weekly periods of feeding animals 50% diluted food with periods of feeding animals nutritionally normal meals. The nutritional content of diluted meals was significantly less than the nutritional content of undiluted meals. The mass of material consumed was not significantly different for diluted compared to nondiluted meals. These experiments indicate that the bulk properties of food play an important role in producing satiation in Aplysia.
Recoil corrections to elastic electron scattering in the Breit approximation

Recoil corrections to the cross sections for elastic electron scattering from spin-0 nuclei are investigated in the Breit approximation. The form of the scattering amplitude in first- and second-Born approximation is investigated in detail using time-dependent perturbation theory, and it is found that the center-of-mass (CM) frame is particularly convenient to work in. Transformation equations relating the lab and CM frames are developed. Those parts of the second-Born amplitude which correspond to the Breit amplitude are isolated, and the Briet equation with the electromagnetic Breit interaction is investigated in detail. Corrections to the scattering cross sections which are inversely proportional to the nucleus mass (recoil corrections) are calculated. Numerical results are presented for the particular case of /sup 16/O. (AIP)
Antigenicity and ability of lactic streptococcal bacteriophage to penetrate skins of rabbits and mice.

Abstract The antiphage titers of blood sera from rabbits intradermally inoculated with, or exposed to aerosols of, lactic streptococcal bacteriophage were measured and counts made of the phage particles in cardiac blood samples from mice whose tails were exposed to whey lysates containing the phage. Blood sera from the intradermally inoculated rabbits reduced the active phage particles in equal volumes of phage suspensions as much as 8 logs. This neutralizing ability varied among individual rabbits, with the number and size of the inocula and the time elapsing after the initial inoculation. The numbers of phage particles, if any, penetrating the skin and mucous membranes of rabbits exposed to aerosols three times per week for over eight months were too small to cause a significant neutralizing titer in their blood sera. The passage of lactic streptococcal phage through the intact skin was studied by immersing the tails of white Swiss mice for 15min in phage-containing whey filtrates. Phage particles were not recovered from 62% of the cardiac blood samples taken from the mice within 2 hr of the immersion of their tails. The over-all average phage count of blood samles was 115/milliliter and the maximum individual count 950/milliliter.
Prognostic Impact of Systolic Hypertension on Asymptomatic Patients With Chronic Severe Aortic Regurgitation and Initially Normal Left Ventricular Performance at Rest

The influence of systolic hypertension (SH) on the natural history of chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) and the clinical effect of antihypertensive medication on patients who have hypertension and AR are incompletely defined. Therefore, we reviewed the clinical course of 80 unoperated patients who were entered prospectively into an assessment of natural history of AR and its predictors and were asymptomatic with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at rest at study entry; 30 of 80 patients had SH (systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg); 20 of 80 patients (16 had SH) used antihypertensive drugs for the long term (not mandated by protocol). During an average 7.2-year event-free follow-up, 24 patients developed symptoms alone (n = 14), subnormal LVEF with or without symptoms (n = 8), or died suddenly (n = 2). SH tripled the average annual risk of cardiac events (8.47% vs 2.85%, p = 0.004). The effect of systolic blood pressure was independent of age, gender, diastolic blood pressure, LV diastolic dimension, fractional shortening, and LVEF at rest (p = 0.004 to <0.008). However, positive prognostic interactions existed between systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure (p <0.001), LVEF during exercise (p <0.001), change in LVEF from rest to exercise (p <0.001), and the contractility index (p <0.02). Among patients who had SH, antihypertensive therapy predicted increased event risk (average annual risk 15.46% vs 3.98%, p <0.02) and remained predictive when analysis was adjusted for potentially confounding subgroup variations at study entry (p <0.03, all models). In conclusion, SH portends poor clinical outcome in chronic severe AR. As a group, antihypertensive drugs do not mitigate outcome, although the effect of individual drugs is uncertain and at least some may be deleterious. The theoretically based practice of giving antihypertensive drugs to patients who have AR requires reexamination.
Richard H. Ward, Ph.D. (June 7, 1943-February 14, 2003): wild ride of the Valkyries.

The older one gets, the more one must get used to what Byron called “the worst of woes that wait on age,” the passing of people with whom one has shared a professional lifetime (Byron 1812). When this is preceded by a long illness, or when the person had seemed frail or vulnerable, the event is sad. But when a model of energy and vigor who had not yet reached 60 goes suddenly, the blow is hard.
Predictive modeling of composite material degradation using piezoelectric wafer sensors electromechanical impedance spectroscopy

The advancement of composite materials in aircraft structures has led to on increased need for effective structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies that are able to detect and assess damage present in composites structures. The work presented in this paper is interested in understanding using self-sensing piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) to conduct electromechanical impedance spectroscopy (EMIS) in glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) to perform structures health monitoring. PWAS are bonded to the composite material and the EMIS method is used to analyze the changes in the structural resonance and anti-resonance. As the damage progresses in the specimen, the impedance spectrum will change. In addition, multi-physics based finite element method (MP-FEM) is used to model the electromechanical behavior of a free PWAS and its interaction with the host structure on which it is bonded. The MPFEM permits the input and the output variables to be expressed directly in electric terms while the two way electromechanical conversion is done internally in the MP_FEM formulation. To reach the goal of using the EMIS approach to detect damage, several damages models are generated on laminated GFRP structures. The effects of the modeling are carefully studied through experimental validation. A good match has been observed for low and very high frequencies.
A Low-Cost Field-Programmable Pin-Constrained Digital Microfluidic Biochip

This paper introduces a field-programmable pin-constrained digital microfluidic biochip (FPPC-DMFB), which offers general-purpose assay execution at a lower cost than general-purpose direct addressing DMFBs and highly optimized application-specific pin-constrained DMFBs. One of the key cost drivers for DMFBs is the number of printed circuit board (PCB) layers, onto which the device is mounted. We demonstrate a scalable single-layer PCB wiring scheme for several FPPC-DMFB variations, for PCB technology with orthogonal routing capacity of at least three; for PCB technology with orthogonal capacity of two, more PCB layers are required, but the FPPC-DMFB retains its cost advantage. These results offer new insights on the relationship between PCB layer count, pin count, and cost. Additionally, to reduce the execution time of assays on the FPPC-DMFB, we present efficient algorithms for droplet routing, with and without contamination removal via wash droplets.
An improved architecture for advanced universal microprocessor development systems

Taken from the standpoint of a microprocessor system developer's needs, rather than known solutions, the current techniques of in circuit emulation are explored as they meet and fai l to meet developers growing demands. Support requirements are addressed in terms of the seperate and concurrent requests of the system software and hardware developers as a target system is developed. A development system designed to meet these current needs is discussed and a look is taken at the characteristics of today's development systems that will be important for their viabi l i ty in the future.
"Resonances" in the dielectric absorption of DNA?

An attempt was made to confirm previous reports of resonant-like dielectric absorption of plasmid DNA in aqueous solutions at 1–10 GHz. The dielectric properties of the sample were measured using an automatic network analyzer with two different techniques. One technique used an open-ended coaxial probe immersed in the sample; the other employed a coaxial transmission line. No resonances were observed that could be attributed to the sample; however, resonance-type artifacts were prominent in the probe measurements. The coaxial line technique appears to be less susceptible to such artifacts. We note two important sources of error in the calibration of the automatic network analyzer using the probe technique.
DIRECTION OF CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH IN THE NEAR FUTURE

Areas can be indicated where extensive carbohydrate research work will occur in the next few years. Among these are the application of new organic reactions, production of nucleosides and new antitumor agents, the organization of polysaccharides, glycoproteins and proteoglycans in cell walls, and production of new polysaccharide structures to serve special applications.
Solving the assignment problem with statistical physics

Proposes a novel method for solving the assignment problem using techniques adapted from statistical physics. The authors derive a convex effective energy function whose unique minimum corresponds to the optimal assignment. Steepest descent results in a continuous time dynamical system which is guaranteed to converge arbitrarily close to the optimal solution. This algorithm has an appealing economic interpretation and interesting connections to the discrete auction algorithm proposed by D.P. Bertsekas (1990). >
Kinetics of calcite growth: Surface processes and relationships to macroscopic rate laws

This study links classical crystal growth theory with observations of microscopic surface processes to quantify the dependence of calcite growth on supersaturation, σ, and show relationships to the same dependencies often approximated by affinity based expressions. In situ Atomic Force Microscopy was used to quantify calcite growth rates and observe transitions in growth processes on {104} faces in characterized solutions with variable σ. When σ < 0.8, growth occurs by step flow at surface defects, including screw dislocations. As σ exceeds 0.8, two-dimensional surface nucleation becomes increasingly important. The single sourced, single spirals that are produced at lower σ were examined to measure rates of step flow and the slopes of growth hillocks. These data were used to obtain the surface-normal growth rate, Rm, by the pure spiral mechanism. The dependence of overall growth rate upon dislocation source structure was analyzed using the fundamentals of crystal growth theory. The resulting surface process-based rate expressions for spiral growth show the relationships between Rm and the distribution and structures of dislocation sources. These theoretical relations are upheld by the process-based experimental rate data reported in this study. The analysis further shows that the dependence of growth rate on dislocation source structures is essential for properly representing growth. This is because most growth sources exhibit complex structures with multiple dislocations. The expressions resulting from this analysis were compared to affinity-based rate equations to show where popular affinity-based rate laws hold or break down. Results of this study demonstrate that the widely used second order chemical affinity-based rate laws are physically meaningful only under special conditions. The exponent in affinity-based expressions is dependent upon the supersaturation range used to fit data. An apparent second order dependence is achieved when solution supersaturations are very near equilibrium and growth occurs only by simple, single sourced dislocation spirals. These findings indicate the need to apply caution when deducing growth mechanisms and rate laws from temporal changes in bulk solution chemistry. Observations of various types of surface defects that give rise to step formation suggest that popular ‘rate laws’ are sample-dependent composites of rate contributions from each dislocation structure.
STATIC SMALL-ANGLE X-RAY SCATTERING STUDY OF POLYMER DEFORMATION

The small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) approach has been employed in an effort to understand the deformation mechanism of semicrystalline polymers in terms of submicroscopic structure of lamellae. Isotropic melt-pressed polyethylenes of low, medium, and high densities (LDPE, MDPE, and HDPE, respectively) having spherulitic texture were investigated by SAXS for various Static elongations between 10% and 40%. The SAXS isointensity contours of the deformed polymers are anisotropic (elliptical) with the long axis perpendicular to the stretching direction. Slice averages at various azimuthal angles between 0° and 90° reveal distinct SAXS peaks with respect to scattering angle. The peak position of SAXS profile characterizes the long period or lamellar spacing, while integrated intensity distribution is relevant to lamellar orientation. At low elongations, there is an increase in intensity at both azimuthal angles of 0° and 90°, suggesting that excess scattering arises during deformation, probably associated with lamellar untwisting process. Lamellar orientation distribution and second-order orientation are defined to account for the lamellar orientation process. Experimental results are compared with Kratky's floating rod model coupled with Stein's lamellar untwisting model. The lamellar orientation closely follows the affine deformation scheme, while the lamellar spacing deviates appreciably from it, particularly at large elongations.
Inspiration From Home: Understanding Family as Key to Adult Women’s Self-Investment

As the number of nontraditional-age students grows on college campuses, it is essential for higher education practitioners to understand if and how older students, especially women, become and remain engaged in their education. A review of the educational engagement literature reveals images of disengaged adult learners whose work and family responsibilities inhibit them from fully focusing on school. Yet other literature shows adult women excelling beyond their traditional-age peers. This qualitative study sought to better understand educational engagement for older women students. Overall, study findings revealed that although family can be a greedy institution, kin also served as a source of educational inspiration for women. A concept called self-investment is introduced as an alternative to educational engagement.
Semi-global finite-time stabilization of a class of nonlinear systems by output feedback

This paper considers the problem of semi-global finite-time stabilization by output feedback for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems. The nonlinearities of the systems considered in this paper are bounded by both higher-order and lower-order terms in unmeasurable states, which makes existing design schemes for semi-global output feedback stabilization inapplicable. In this paper, based on the homogeneous domination approach, a scaled homogeneous observer and controller are constructed to semi-globally stabilize a general class of uncertain nonlinear systems in a finite time by choosing an appropriate gain.
AIRSAR/TOPSAR Image Processing and Interpretation: An Application Example in Far West Texas, U.S.A.

Abstract JPL/NASA's AIRSAR/TOPSAR is a multipolarimetric, multifrequency, and interferometric airborne synthetic aperture radar capable of imaging in C‐, L‐, and P‐ bands (5.7, 24.5, and 68 cm) with 10 m spatial resolution. This paper introduces and explains 5 conversion processes that users need to apply to data products received from JPL's integrated AIRSAR processor. Numerical algorithms and approaches to remove both speckle and banding noises that are common in AIRSAR data have been investigated and evaluated. Among statistical adaptive speckle removal algorithms, G‐MAP (Gamma Maximum A Posteriori) had the best performance. For banding removal, a new method that we call combined principal components analysis (CPCA) has been developed. This method is proved very effective with our data. Radar signature differences were studied and compared at different wavelengths and between radar and optical (ETM+) images. Some subsurface objects (like water pipelines) were clearly visible in the radar images, especi...
Association of Depression, Psycho-Social Stress and Acculturation with Respiratory Disease Among Puerto Rican Adults in Massachusetts

To assess associations between acculturation, depression, and self-reported stress score with reported diagnosis of respiratory disease (RD) in Puerto Rican adults, participants (N = 1,168) were identified from areas of high Hispanic density in the Boston, MA metropolitan area. Eligible participants were interviewed in the home by bilingual interviewers in either Spanish or English. Scales included topics ranging from general background to depressive symptomatology. Respiratory disease was self-reported and checked against prescribed medication. More than one-third (37.8%) of subjects reported doctor-diagnosed RD. A final binary logistical regression model (N = 850), which was adjusted for potential confounders (sex, age, education, poverty) showed that RD was significantly associated with psychological acculturation (OR = 1.97, P = 0.005), depressive symptomatology (OR = 1.52, P = 0.03) high perceived stress score (OR = 1.97, P = 0.009), and current smoking (OR = 1.61, P = 0.03). Significant inverse associations included a high level of language acculturation (OR = 0.65, P = 0.03), light (OR = 0.67, P = 0.01) and moderate to heavy physical activity versus sedentary physical activity (OR = 0.40, P = 0.03). We found self reported physician diagnosed RD was associated with high perceived stress and depression, as well as higher levels of psychological acculturation. Longitudinal research is needed to determine if there is a causal pathway for these associations.
Chlorella sorokiniana-Induced Activation and Maturation of Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells through NF-κB and PI3K/MAPK Pathways.

Chlorella sorokiniana (CS) is a unicellular green alga. The extracts of Chlorella have been used as treatments for relieving hypertension and modulating immune response. The detailed mechanisms are not clear yet. In this study, we sought to study the molecular mechanisms for the polysaccharide fraction of CS-induced immune response. We pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) with CS and found that CS could maturate DCs. CS-maturated DC could activate naive T cells and stimulate T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion. Furthermore, CS activated PI3K and MAPKs signaling pathways in DCs by interacting with TLR4 receptor. These CS-activated signaling pathways could further activate NF-κB and induce IL-12 production in DCs. This study provides molecular mechanisms for CS-induced DCs activation and immune response.
SYMMETRY IN ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR SYSTEMS

Abstract Symmetry is used to define alternative categorizations to which real atomic and molecular systems may correspond. By constructing idealized models to correspond to limiting cases, it becomes possible to decide what are the best approximations and starting points for making mathematical representations of the real systems. This is illustrated with two examples: atoms with two valence electrons, and multidimensional potentials surfaces of atomic clusters. In the first example, the question is whether an independent-particle, quantum analogue of a solar system or a collective, rotor-vibrator model is more appropriate. In the second example, the problem is finding enough about the multidimensional potential to describe the dynamics of the atomic motion, without becoming overwhelmed with irrelevant data.
Investigating Enron as a public private partnership

The bankruptcy of Enron Corp. has evolved into a scandal of enormous proportions involving allegations of fraud, corruption and unethical practices on the part of Enron’s corporate executives, members of its board of directors, external auditors, and high government officials in the USA. No doubt there will be many articles written about various aspects of the Enron scandal. The focus of this paper is on the relationships between Enron’s business model and the deregulatory phase of the American economy during the 1980s and 1990s. It is the argument of this paper that deregulation in the US electricity and natural gas industries fostered the creation of the Enron business model, and that this model was unsustainable, resulting in the demise of Enron Corp. Furthermore, while Enron can be viewed as an example of capitalistic excess, the paper reveals how the Enron business model developed as an American form of a public private partnership, similar to the types of public private partnerships that have been created in recent years in the UK. Investigating Enron as a public private partnership may help us to better understand the role of public private partnerships in contemporary capitalism and shed some light on the advisability of deregulatory schemes and the unintended consequences that can result from such schemes.
Leveraging expertise in global software teams: Going outside boundaries

In order to take advantage of lower costs and wider availability of talent, managers often staff software development projects globally. While this practice may be economically appealing there are often hidden costs. This paper reports the results of a study that used social network analysis to study how people in three global software teams acquired and used available expertise through communication and acquisition strategies. We found that frequency of communication was associated with awareness and familiarity of the other person especially awareness of the person?s current work. When it came to acquiring information, members of these teams were more likely to seek specific technical information or administrative help from people outside their software team. People use others on their team with whom they have strong ties to exploit preexisting knowledge but they go to people they know uniquely outside the team for innovative ideas. We discuss the implications of these results for tools that encourage transparent work and for work and management practices.
13C-1H magnetic double-resonance study of fetal enamel matrix proteins

Recently developed 13C-1H nuclear magnetic double-resonance techniques have been used to study proteins in the intact fetal enamel matrix. Enamel protein chains undergoing rapid, almost isotropic motion were detected in scalar decoupled 13C-nmr spectra, while motionally restricted enamel protein chains were principally observed in proton-enhanced spectra. The latter spectra were obtained using a matched Hartmann-Hahn contact to transfer polarization from protons to carbons (cross-polarization). Both mobile and motionally restricted enamel protein chains were observed in dipolar decoupled 13C-nmr spectra. A comparison of integrated intensities obtained from the scalar decoupled and dipolar decoupled spectra showed that 70% of the fetal enamel protein chains exhibit rapid, nearly isotropic molecular motion (τ ≲ 10−6 sec), while the remaining 30% are rigid or undergo only anisotropic molecular motion.
Mre11 nuclease activity and Ctp1 regulate Chk1 activation by Rad3ATR and Tel1ATM checkpoint kinases at double-strand breaks.

Rad3, the Schizosaccharomyces pombe ortholog of human ATR and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mec1, activates the checkpoint kinase Chk1 in response to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Rad3ATR/Mec1 associates with replication protein A (RPA), which binds single-stranded DNA overhangs formed by DSB resection. In humans and both yeasts, DSBs are initially detected and processed by the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1Xrs2 (MRN) nucleolytic protein complex in association with the Tel1ATM checkpoint kinase and the Ctp1CtIP/Sae2 DNA-end processing factor; however, in budding yeast, neither Mre11 nuclease activity or Sae2 are required for Mec1 signaling at irreparable DSBs. Here, we investigate the relationship between DNA end processing and the DSB checkpoint response in fission yeast, and we report that Mre11 nuclease activity and Ctp1 are critical for efficient Rad3-to-Chk1 signaling. Moreover, deleting Ctp1 reveals a Tel1-to-Chk1 signaling pathway that bypasses Rad3. This pathway requires Mre11 nuclease activity, the Rad9-Hus1-Rad1 (9-1-1) checkpoint clamp complex, and Crb2 checkpoint mediator. Ctp1 negatively regulates this pathway by controlling MRN residency at DSBs. A Tel1-to-Chk1 checkpoint pathway acting at unresected DSBs provides a mechanism for coupling Chk1 activation to the initial detection of DSBs and suggests that ATM may activate Chk1 by both direct and indirect mechanisms in mammalian cells.
Personalized medicine for cystic fibrosis: the next generation.

The field of personalized medicine, based on genetic information, represents a tremendous but largely unfulfilled opportunity for a future generation of therapies [1]. While better clinical outcomes have been realized using predictive biomarkers in some forms of cancer [2], the influence of genetic information on the treatment of most other human diseases has been limited. However, in the case of the inherited genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF), pre-emptive possibilities have recently been uncovered. In particular, an investigational drug known as VX-770, has demonstrated great promise in clinical trials in patients with a specific cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) allele selected for clinical investigation based on data from in vitro studies [3,4]. This article highlights some of the opportunities and challenges associated with developing novel genotype-directed therapies for CF.
Spanning tree based algorithms for low latency and energy efficient data aggregation enhanced convergecast (DAC) in wireless sensor networks

Many wireless sensor networks (WSNs) employ battery-powered sensor nodes. Communication in such networks is very taxing on its scarce energy resources. Convergecast - process of routing data from many sources to a sink - is commonly performed operation in WSNs. Data aggregation is a frequently used energy-conversing technique in WSNs. The rationale is to reduce volume of communicated data by using in-network processing capability at sensor nodes. In this paper, we address the problem of performing the operation of data aggregation enhanced convergecast (DAC) in an energy and latency efficient manner. We assume that all the nodes in the network have a data item and there is an a priori known application dependent data compression factor (or compression factor), @c, that approximates the useful fraction of the total data collected. The paper first presents two DAC tree construction algorithms. One is a variant of the Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) algorithm and the other is a variant of the Single Source Shortest Path Spanning Tree (SPT) algorithm. These two algorithms serve as a motivation for our Combined algorithm (COM) which generalized the SPT and MST based algorithm. The COM algorithm tries to construct an energy optimal DAC tree for any fixed value of @a (=1-@c), the data growth factor. The nodes of these trees are scheduled for collision-free communication using a channel allocation algorithm. To achieve low latency, these algorithms use the @b-constraint, which puts a soft limit on the maximum number of children a node can have in a DAC tree. The DAC tree obtained from energy minimizing phase of tree construction algorithms is re-structured using the @b-constraint (in the latency minimizing phase) to reduce latency (at the expense of increasing energy cost). The effectiveness of these algorithms is evaluated by using energy efficiency, latency and network lifetime as metrics. With these metrics, the algorithms' performance is compared with an existing data aggregation technique. From the experimental results, for a given network density and data compression factor @c at intermediate nodes, one can choose an appropriate algorithm depending upon whether the primary goal is to minimize the latency or the energy consumption.
Cardiac hypertrophy in rats with iron and copper deficiency: quantitative contribution of mitochondrial enlargement.

Extract Quantitative studies of the ultrastructure of heart muscle in iron- and copper-depleted rats show an increased mitochondrial area that contributes to cardiac hypertrophy in both conditions. The mean ratios of mitochondrial/myofibrillar areas are 1.73 and 1.69, respectively, in the deficient groups compared with 0.70 in control animals. The markedly enlarged mitochondria appear to displace and distort the myofibrils. After iron-deficient rats are provided with iron, the reversal of the abnormal mitochondrial/myofibrillar ratio and of cardiac hypertrophy requires about 16 days or approximately twice as long as the complete repair of anemia. In heart muscle from iron-deficient animals, the mitochondrial cytochromes, which all contain iron, remain essentially normal in concentration. In the copper-deficient rats, in contrast, cytochrome a+a3, which contains copper, is depressed to less than one-half the normal concentration. Isolated mitochondria from heart and liver of all animals deficient in iron and copper function normally with respect to respiration and phosphorylation. Thus, a correlation between abnormality of mitochondrial structure, composition, and function is not as yet apparent. The mitochondrial contribution to the cardiac hypertrophy of iron and copper deficiency cannot be attributed entirely to increased work load secondary to anemia, particularly in copper-deficient rats whose cardiac enlargement precedes the development of anemia. The morphologic changes are distinct from those observed in experimental work hypertrophy and can represent a response to the lack of essential precursors required for the cytochromes or other mitochondrial constituents. Speculation: Cardiac hypertrophy in iron and copper deficiency is in part attributable to enlargement of the mitochondrial compartment. This results from the lack of trace metals required for the production of cytochromes or other mitochondrial constituents.
Initial-state dependence of the quench dynamics in integrable quantum systems

We identify and study classes of initial states in integrable quantum systems that, after the relaxation dynamics following a sudden quench, lead to near-thermal expectation values of few-body observables. In the systems considered here, those states are found to be insulating ground states of lattice hard-core boson Hamiltonians. We show that, as a suitable parameter in the initial Hamiltonian is changed, those states become closer to Fock states (products of single site states) as the outcome of the relaxation dynamics becomes closer to the thermal prediction. At the same time, the energy density approaches a Gaussian. Furthermore, the entropy associated with the generalized canonical and generalized grand-canonical ensembles, introduced to describe observables in integrable systems after relaxation, approaches that of the conventional canonical and grand-canonical ensembles. We argue that those classes of initial states are special because a control parameter allows one to tune the distribution of conserved quantities to approach the one in thermal equilibrium. This helps in understanding the approach of all the quantities studied to their thermal expectation values. However, a finite-size scaling analysis shows that this behavior should not be confused with thermalization as understood for nonintegrable systems.
Matching Cases and Dispute Resolution Procedures: Detailed Analysis Leading to a Mediation-Centered Approach

This article builds on the January 1994 Negotiation Journal article by Sander and Goldberg on the same taxonomy topic. But it takes a much broader view of the problem, first by also looking at others' analysis of the same problem - specifically the work of the CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, the Federal Judicial Center, and Professor Edward Dauer. Although these sources do not always use the same terminology or focus on the same types of cases, Sander and Rozdeiczer identify the three main areas of inquiry as: 1) the goals of the parties, 2) the features of the process, the case or the parties that point to a particular dispute resolution process, and 3) the capacity of a procedure to overcome impediments to effective resolution. The upshot of their analysis is that mediation is by far the most hospitable and effective process for most situations. They conclude their analysis by recommending a mediation-centered approach, consisting of the following three steps: 1) assume mediation, unless the case falls into one of the rare situations where mediation is not appropriate; 2) if mediation is appropriate, then decide what kind of mediation should be used (evaluative, facilitative, transformative etc.); 3) if mediation is not appropriate, what method(s) should be used? This involves a loopback to Part II of the article setting forth the three main areas of inquiry listed above.
Temporal lobe volume predicts Wada memory test performance in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis

The Wada test is widely used in the presurgical evaluation of potential temporal lobectomy patients to predict postoperative memory function. Expected asymmetry (EA), defined as Wada memory lateralized to the nonsurgical hemisphere, or a higher score after injection of the surgical hemisphere would be considered favorable in terms of postoperative memory outcome. However, in some cases, nonlateralized memory (NM) results, with no appreciable asymmetry, may occur because of impaired scores after both injections, often leading to denial of surgery. The reason for such nonlateralized Wada memory in patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) remains unclear. Given that quantitative morphometric magnetic resonance imaging studies in TLE patients have shown bilateral regional atrophy in temporal and extratemporal structures, we hypothesized that the volume loss in contralateral temporal structures could contribute to nonlateralized Wada memory performance. To investigate this, we examined the relationship between the volume changes of temporal structures and Wada memory scores in patients with intractable TLE with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) using an age- and gender-matched control group. Memory was considered nonlateralized if the absolute difference in the total correct recall scores between ipsilateral and contralateral injections was <11%. Among 21 patients, Wada memory was lateralized in 15 and nonlateralized in 6 patients, with all the nonlateralized scores being observed in left TLE. The recall scores after ipsilateral injection were significantly lower in patients with an NM profile than an EA profile (23 ± 14% vs. 59 ± 18% correct recall, p ≤ 0.001). However, the recall scores after contralateral injection were low but similar between the two groups (25 ± 17% vs. 25 ± 15% correct recall, p=0.97). Compared to controls, all the patients showed greater volume loss in the temporal regions. However, patients with a NM profile showed significantly more volume loss than those with a lateralized memory profile in both contralateral and ipsilateral temporal regions (p<0.05). Left hemispheric Wada memory performance correlated positively with the size of the left mesial and neocortical temporal structures (r=0.49-0.63, p=0.005-0.04). Our study suggests that volume loss in the nonsurgical temporal structures is associated with nonlateralized Wada memory results in patients with intractable TLE.
Hepatic decompensation/serious adverse events in post-liver transplantation recipients on sofosbuvir for recurrent hepatitis C virus.

Hepatic decompensation/serious adverse events in post-liver transplantation recipients on sofosbuvir for recurrent hepatitis C virus
Statistical Analysis of Plating Variable Effects on the Electrical Conductivity of Electroless Copper Patterns on Paper

We describe a process for selective metallization of paper substrates bearing inkjet printed patterns of a commercial Pd/Sn colloidal catalyst ink plated using a commercial electroless Cu bath. The electrical conductivity of the Cu films is analyzed as a function of feature geometry (line dimensions (L) and spacing (S)), type of paper (P), age of the Pd/Sn patterns (A), plating time (T), and plating temperature (H) using a two-level factorial design. Conductivity is influenced predominantly by the P, T, and H factors, with lesser contributions attributed to pair-wise interactions among several of the variables studied. Increases in T and/or H enhance conductivity of the Cu films, whereas increases in P, corresponding to the use of rougher, more porous, paper substrates, yield Cu films exhibiting decreased conductivity. Our analysis leads to a model that predicts Cu film conductivity well over the ranges of variables examined, provides guidelines for identification of optimum conditions for plating highly ...
Immunocytochemical localization of the major glutathione S-transferases in adult Schistosoma mansoni.

ABSTRACr: Indirect immunofluorescence was used to investigate the tissue distribution of the major isoenzymes of Schistosoma mansoni glutathione S-transferase (GSH S-transferase). When polyclonal rabbit antisera against GSH S-transferase isoenzymes SmGST-1, -2, and -3 were applied to cryostat or plastic-embedded sections of fixed adult worms, a punctate pattern of enzyme distribution was observed that was restricted to the parenchyma. Labeling was much more pronounced in males than females, consistent with the biochemically determined distribution of these enzymes between the sexes. Intense immunolabeling was noted within the subectocytoplasmic core tissue of the tubercles of the male that appeared to be connected to deep parenchymal cells by immunoreactive cell processes. Immunofluorescence could be blocked completely by prior incubation of antisera with affinity-purified enzyme. Although schistosome GSH S-transferases have been reported to be protective antigens, no immunoreactivity was detected within or on the tegument, including the dorsal spines of the male. The lack of tegumental immunoreactivity was confirmed by immunoblotting of tegumental membrane preparations following SDS-PAGE. Muscle fibers, vitelline cells, and cecal epithelium also failed to react. The fact that the GSH S-transferases were not uniformly distributed among all parenchymal cells suggests the existence of subpopulations of parenchymal cells that are preferentially involved in the conjugation of electrophiles with glutathione.
Second-Quantized Surface Hopping

The trajectory surface hopping method for quantum dynamics is reformulated in the space of many-particle states to include entanglement and correlation of trajectories. Used to describe many-body correlation effects in electronic structure theories, second quantization is applied to semiclassical trajectories. The new method allows coupling between individual trajectories via energy flow and common phase evolution. It captures the properties of a wave packet, such as branching, Heisenberg uncertainty, and decoherence. Applied to a superexchange process, the method shows very accurate results, comparable to exact quantum data and improving greatly on the standard approach.
Optimization of Detention Basins for Highway Runoff Control

Site specific characterization data are very important in estimating t he effectiveness of wet-weather controls (WWCs) in removing pollutants from highway and urban runoff. An analysis of urban runoff sedimentation data is used to develop first order reaction rate constants using linear regression techniques. The reaction rate constants and associated initial concentrations are used to evaluate the dependency of detention basin designs on removal rates. A continuous simulation spreadsheet model is used to evaluate the pollutant removal performance of a detention basin as a function of storage volume and release rate for a one year period. The design is optimized by minimizing the total cost of the detention basin while maintaining a specified level of pollutant load removal. Simulations were run with different reaction rat e constants and results from the optimized solutions indicate that storage-release strategies are heavily dependent on the assumed reaction rate constant. Different performance levels were also evaluated and the results indicate that attempts to achieve p ollutant load reductions above 80% are much less cost effective.