cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bench-scale nonlinear test structure for structural control research

Abstract Experimental verification of analytical and numerical studies is very important in the area of structural dynamics and control due to the presence of higher mode participation, control structure interaction, sensor noise and potential nonlinear behavior. This paper describes a bench-scale test structure that extends the typical capabilities of test structures able to incorporate higher mode participation, control structure interaction and sensor noise to include nonlinear material behavior. A portal frame test structure is designed and built to simulate the formation of plastic hinges without actually receiving any damage. To demonstrate the nonlinear test structure’s use, a semiactive control strategy employing a shear mode magnetorheological (MR) fluid damper and acceleration feedback is applied to the test structure for seismic protection. The performance of the semiactive controlled structure is compared to the uncontrolled structure for a broad range of ground motion intensities and varying levels of nonlinear structural behavior to observe the improved reliability of the semiactive controlled structure.
Local existence of Ricci solitons

The Ricci flow ∂g/∂t = −2Ric(g) is an evolution equation for Riemannian metrics. It was introduced by Richard Hamilton, who has shown in several cases ([7], [8], [9]) that the flow converges, up to re-scaling, to a metric of constant curvature. However, “soliton” solutions to the flow give examples where the Ricci flow does not uniformize the metric, but only changes it by diffeomorphisms. Soliton solutions are generated by initial data satisfying
ESOL Teachers as Advocates: An Important Role?

Due to the fact that English language learners (ELLs) often do not have the same educational opportunities or outcomes as non-ELL students in the United States, the professional standards for initial certification for teaching English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) call on ESOL teachers to advocate for them. Yet little research exists on how ESOL teachers view this role or what advocacy actions they believe are important. In this study of preservice teachers in ESOL teacher education programs, the majority of participants rate the advocacy actions as important to the ESOL teacher role. Advocacy actions in the classroom and school are rated as more important than those outside the school in the community. The study also reveals two factors that are positively associated with beliefs about the importance of advocacy: more time in the teacher education program and having other teaching experience besides ESOL. Based on this research, the author suggests more clearly delineated advocacy actions to better prepare preservice ESOL teachers in teacher education programs for classroom and school-based advocacy and to support in-service ESOL teachers in different levels of advocacy (in the classroom and school or beyond) at different stages in their careers.
Estrogen-Initiated Transformation of Prostate Epithelium Derived from Normal Human Prostate Stem-Progenitor Cells

The present study sought to determine whether estrogens with testosterone support are sufficient to transform the normal human prostate epithelium and promote progression to invasive adenocarcinoma using a novel chimeric prostate model. Adult prostate stem/early progenitor cells were isolated from normal human prostates through prostasphere formation in three-dimensional culture. The stem/early progenitor cell status and clonality of prostasphere cells was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and Hoechst staining. Normal prostate progenitor cells were found to express estrogen receptor α, estrogen receptor β, and G protein-coupled receptor 30 mRNA and protein and were responsive to 1 nm estradiol-17β with increased numbers and prostasphere size, implicating them as direct estrogen targets. Recombinants of human prostate progenitor cells with rat urogenital sinus mesenchyme formed chimeric prostate tissue in vivo under the renal capsule of nude mice. Cytodifferentiation of human prostate progenitor cells in chimeric tissues was confirmed by immunohistochemistry using epithelial cell markers (p63, cytokeratin 8/18, and androgen receptor), whereas human origin and functional differentiation were confirmed by expression of human nuclear antigen and prostate-specific antigen, respectively. Once mature tissues formed, the hosts were exposed to elevated testosterone and estradiol-17β for 1-4 months, and prostate pathology was longitudinally monitored. Induction of prostate cancer in the human stem/progenitor cell-generated prostatic tissue was observed over time, progressing from normal histology to epithelial hyperplasia, prostate intraepithelial neoplasia, and prostate cancer with local renal invasion. These findings provide the first direct evidence that human prostate progenitor cells are estrogen targets and that estradiol in an androgen-supported milieu is a carcinogen for human prostate epithelium.
Radionuclide stroke count ratios for assessment of right and left ventricular volume overload in children.

The ratio of left ventricular to right ventricular stroke counts measured by radionuclide angiography has been used in adults to estimate the severity of left-sided valvular regurgitation. The validation of this technique in children for assessment of right and left ventricular volume overload is reported herein. Radionuclide stroke count ratios in 60 children aged 0.5 to 19 years (mean 11) were determined. Based on their diagnoses, the patients were divided into 3 groups: (1) normal—40 patients with no shunts or valvular regurgitation, (2) left ventricular volume overload—13 patients with mitral or aortic regurgitation, or both, and (3) right ventricular volume overload—7 patients, 2 with severe tricuspid regurgitation, 3 with atrial septal defects, and 2 with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. The radionuclide stroke count ratio clearly differentiated these groups (p
HIFiRE-5 Flight Test Results

The Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE-5) is a hypersonic flight test vehicle designed to investigate the aerothermodynamics of a three-dimensional geometry. It is a 7-deg minor-axis half-angle elliptic cone with a 2∶1 aspect ratio and 2.5 mm nose radius. The flight test occurred in April 2012, but the upper stage of the sounding rocket failed to ignite, resulting in a peak Mach number of about 3 instead of the target of 7. The instrumentation (almost 300 thermocouples and 50 pressure transducers) performed well and provided a wealth of supersonic aeroheating and boundary-layer transition data. The pressure transducers indicated the expected dependence upon angle of attack and yaw and offer a check for the inertial measurement unit. Heat flux was calculated from paired thermocouples and boundary-layer transition locations were identified from the heating rates. Two boundary-layer transition mechanisms were encountered during the supersonic descent. One mode leads to transitio...
Decrease in triiodothyronine binding sites in chick embryo erythrocytes during early development

Specific thyroid hormone (TH) binding sites have been detected in nuclei of erythrocytes obtained from developing chick embryos. The binding characteristics and relative affinities for TH analogs were those expected of TH receptors. Nuclear triiodothyronine (T3) saturation analysis was carried out in vitro by incubating intact erythrocytes in M199 medium with 3–200 pM [125I] T3 for 1 hr at 37°C or 20–24 hr at 21°C. Nuclei were obtained by centrifugation after lysing the erythrocytes in a stabilizing buffer containing 0.3% saponin, followed by addition of Triton X-100 (final concentration 0.2%) to minimize the nonspecific binding. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding data suggested that the nuclei possess a single class of binding sites. The binding is reversible and the rate of dissociation is temperature dependent. T3 and T4 appear to bind to the same sites, but the affinity of T3 was 16 times greater. Among TH analogs tested, Triac had the highest affinity followed by l-T3, d-T3, Tetrac, l-T4, d-T4, T2, and rT3. Serial studies performed on different days of chick embryogenesis demonstrated a rapid and significant decrease of the erythrocyte nuclear T3 receptor. On Day 5, the number of T3 binding sites was maximal at 1600 ± 100 per nucleus. The number declined steadily until, by Day 20, it had reached about 60 ± 10 sites/nucleus. RBC from adult and baby chickens had <1% as many binding sites as those from Day 5 embryos. There was no significant change in the affinity of the sites (Kd ≅ 20 pM at 37°C). The reason for the loss of T3 binding sites during embryogenesis is not known. Since the plasma level of the TH increases during embryogenesis, this may reflect down regulation. Another possibility is that the change in erythrocyte population which occurs during this period involves production of erythrocytes which contain fewer T3 binding sites.
Easy on the mind, easy on the wallet: The roles of familiarity and processing fluency in valuation judgments

Although people routinely estimate the value of items in their environment, from goods and services to natural resources and lost earnings following an accident, the processes that underlie human valuation estimates are not well understood. We show that people use familiarity and fluency—the ease with which they process information—to determine an item’s value. In three experiments, participants believed that familiar forms of currency (e.g., a familiar $1 bill) had greater purchasing power than their unfamiliar counterparts (e.g., a rare and unfamiliar coin). Mechanistic analyses showed a positive correlation between participants’ familiarity with the unfamiliar currency and their estimates of its value. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of our findings for researchers, marketing experts, and policymakers alike.
Toward better vaccine safety data and safer vaccination.

In 1994 the Institute of Medicine's Vaccine Safety Committee concluded that “the evidence establishes a causal relation between measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) and thrombocytopenia. On the basis of data from Finland and Sweden, the incidence seems to be on the order of 1 per 30 000 to 40 000 vaccinated children.1” Although data available at that time were not optimal, the Committee's conclusions have stood the test of time and are supported by the accretion of evidence in subsequent studies, including the study by France et al published in this issue of Pediatrics2 that found an attributable risk of 1 case of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) per 40 000 doses of MMR administered in the second year of life. Given that the annual US birth cohort is >4 million and that the first dose of MMR is routinely recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) early in the second year of life, then ∼100 cases of ITP per year would be attributable to MMR vaccination in the United States' setting of nearly universal immunization with this vaccine. Current evidence does not suggest substantial clinical differences between ITP after MMR vaccination and ITP due to other causes. ITP is frequently treated with corticosteroids and/or intravenous immunoglobulin, and then the condition usually resolves. Chronic ITP occurs in a small percentage of cases, 2 of 20 ITP cases post-MMR among children 12 to 23 months of age in the study by France et al.2 Hemorrhages requiring blood transfusion occur rarely, and reports of intracranial hemorrhage or death are very … Address correspondence to M. Miles Braun, MD, MPH, Division of Epidemiology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, HFM-220, 1401 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. E-mail: miles.braun{at}fda.hhs.gov
Immersive virtual reality environment of a subway evacuation on a cloud for disaster preparedness and response training

Virtual Reality (VR) based training and evacuation drills in disaster preparedness has been increasingly recognized as an alternative to traditional real-life drills and table-top exercises. Immersive collaborative VR evacuation drills offer a unique way for training in emergencies. The participants can enter the collaborative VR environment setup on the cloud and participate in the evacuation drill which leads to considerable cost advantages over large-scale real-life exercises. This paper presents an experimental design approach to gather data on human behavior and emergency response in a subway environment among a set of players in an immersive virtual reality environment. Our proposed multi-user VR-based training subway environment offers flexibility to run multiple scenarios and evacuation drills for disaster preparedness and response. We present three ways for controlling crowd behavior. First by defining rules for computer simulated agents, second by providing controls to the users to navigate in the VR environment as autonomous agents and the third by providing controls to the users with a keyboard/joystick along with an immersive VR head set in real time. Our contribution lies in our approach to combine these three approaches of behavior in order to simulate the crowd behavior in emergencies.
Liver transplantation in infants younger than 1 year of age.

Objective The authors report on experience with liver transplantation for infants younger than 1 year of age. Background Data Over the last 15 years, orthotopic liver transplant has become the only lifesaving procedure available for infants with end-stage liver disease. Many transplant centers initially required infants to reach a specific weight or age to minimize morbidity and mortality. Size-appropriate infant donors also were uncommon. As a result, many children, in the first few years of life, died of their disease. The availability of reduced-size cadaveric and living-related liver transplants has offered the ability to transplant the young infant with liver failure. Methods The authors instituted a program to aggressively transplant infants with liver failure in the first year of life using both cadaveric and living-related liver donors. Results Between June 1991 and January 1995, 13 infants were transplanted for rapidly progressive liver failure. Infant age ranged from 4 to 11 months (mean, 7.5 months). The cause of liver failure included biliary atresia (11), α 1 -antitrypsin deficiency (1), and liver failure secondary to echovirus 7 (1). The United Network for Organ Sharing status at the time of transplant ranged from status 4, intensive care unit bound (4 patients) ; status 3, hospitalized (4 patients) ; or status 2, failing at home (5 patients). Six patients (46%) received cadaveric whole organ (2) or segmental transplants (4). Seven patients (54%) received left lateral segment living-related transplants from parental donors. After operation, patients received cyclosporine or FK506-based immunosuppression. Three patients (23%) required four retransplants (two cadaveric for primary nonfunction ; one living-related for graft thrombosis in the face of fungal infection and bile leak). Postoperative complications included primary nonfunction (15%), rejection (85%), graft vascular thrombosis (15%, two of three revascularized successfully), bacterial and fungal infections (77%), and viral infections (46%). Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative developed in two patients (15%). Intestinal perforation requiring reoperation developed in two patients (15%). Bile leaks requiring reoperation or transhepatic stinting or both developed in three patients (23%). Two patients died in the perioperative period (< 1 month) from a combination of primary nonfunction or graft thrombosis and sepsis. Overall survival was 85%, ranging from 11.0 months to 4.5 years. Conclusions Orthotopic liver transplantation in infants younger than 1 year of age poses significant challenges from technical and infectious complications. Despite these barriers, overall patient survival is comparable to that of older children and adults.
Caffeine and the Elderly

The most common source of dietary caffeine among the elderly is coffee, with consumption averaging about 200 mg/day. Because of the greater proportion of adipose tissue to lean body mass in older humans, and because caffeine is distributed essentially only through lean body mass, a dose of caffeine expressed as mg/kg total bodyweight may result in a higher plasma and tissue concentration in elderly compared with younger individuals. The metabolism of, and physiological responses to, caffeine is similar in elderly and younger individuals. However, there is a limited amount of evidence that responses to caffeine in some physiological systems may be greater in the elderly at doses in the 200 to 300 mg range. Although caffeine consumption increases urinary calcium levels similarly in both younger and older individuals, the preponderance of data suggest that caffeine has a greater impact on calcium metabolism and bone in older people. Evidence also suggests that increasing age is associated with increasing sensitivity to the pressor effects of caffeine. Caffeine appears to affect metabolic and neurological responses similarly in both young and elderly individuals, when differences in baseline performance are taken into account.
N2A: a computational tool for modeling from neurons to algorithms

The exponential increase in available neural data has combined with the exponential growth in computing (“Moore’s law”) to create new opportunities to understand neural systems at large scale and high detail. The ability to produce large and sophisticated simulations has introduced unique challenges to neuroscientists. Computational models in neuroscience are increasingly broad efforts, often involving the collaboration of experts in different domains. Furthermore, the size and detail of models have grown to levels for which understanding the implications of variability and assumptions is no longer trivial. Here, we introduce the model design platform N2A which aims to facilitate the design and validation of biologically realistic models. N2A uses a hierarchical representation of neural information to enable the integration of models from different users. N2A streamlines computational validation of a model by natively implementing standard tools in sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification. The part-relationship representation allows both network-level analysis and dynamical simulations. We will demonstrate how N2A can be used in a range of examples, including a simple Hodgkin-Huxley cable model, basic parameter sensitivity of an 80/20 network, and the expression of the structural plasticity of a growing dendrite and stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
Simulation of gravitational superclustering of massive neutrinos.

Results of a numerical simulation of large-scale, plane, symmetric gravitational clustering of massive neutrinos are presented. It is shown that neutrinos may cluster in galactic halos in the adiabatic scenario of galaxy formation. The population of test particles exhibits very little phase mixing, suggesting that the scale of galactic halos may be set by the neutrino mass.
‘The year of awakening’: black athletes, racial unrest and the civil rights movement of 1968

(1992). ‘The year of awakening’: black athletes, racial unrest and the civil rights movement of 1968. The International Journal of the History of Sport: Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 188-208.
A VaR Black–Litterman model for the construction of absolute return fund-of-funds

The objective is to construct fund-of-funds (FoFs) that follow an absolute return strategy and meet the requirements imposed by the value-at-risk (VaR) market risk measure. We propose the VaR Black–Litterman model which accounts for the VaR and trading (diversification, buy-in threshold, liquidity, currency) requirements. The model takes the form of a probabilistic integer, non-convex optimization problem. We first derive a deterministic reformulation of the probabilistic problem, which, depending on the information on the probability distribution of the FoF return, is the equivalent, or a close approximation, of the original problem. We then show that the continuous relaxation of the reformulated problem is a second-order cone optimization problem for a wide range of probability distributions. Finally, we use a specialized nonlinear branch-and-bound algorithm which implements the portfolio risk branching rule to construct the optimal FoF. The practical relevance of the model and solution method is shown ...
Two‐Level Security Management and the Prospects for New Democracies: A Simulation Analysis

Most new democracies face serious internal, ethnic/separatist conflicts; in addition, some face international threats. The literature on the growth of democracy in the global system and its impact on world politics does not fully account for the dual threats all states must address in managing their security. Based on theoretical work by Starr (1994) which describes the “common logic” of conflict processes in war and revolution, we outline a model of how states respond to security threats from both external and internal sources. Using computer simulation, we analyze the model and evaluate the relative importance for state security of factors such as system size, numbers of democracies in the system, extraction/allocation strategy pursued by new democracies, and government legitimacy level. Our results show that new democracies thrive in systems that are predominantly democratic. Also, ally support can provide crucial resources for new democracies facing internal threats. Finally, “endangered” democracies can recover security by attempting to buy off domestic threats rather than deter them, and by improving legitimacy.
Optimum block length for data transmission with error checking

The efficiency of a block-checking system of data transmission, in which an answer-back block-checking signal is provided to acknowledge each block of characters, or to ask for a repeat if an error is detected, is investigated. Curves of data transmission efficiency, as a function of the number of characters in a message block, are shown to have sharper peaks as the distance and error probabilities are increased. For comparison, efficiency curves are plotted for a 7-bit single-error-detecting code and for a 10-bit single-error-correcting code. A family of curves of optimum block length is given for different probabilities of error and different reply times.
Gravity Computations by Flux Density SUMMATIONS

Gravity profiles can be computed by summing flux lines uniformly radiating from source elements within a density distribution. Digital computations are performed efficiently, irregular density distributions modeled, and alterations easily made to the model to alter the profile by recomputation of only the altered elements. The concept applies to both two- and three-dimensional models and the corresponding datum plane contours. Two-dimensional computations are described and illustrated.
Tuning electrochemical performance of Si-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries by employing atomic layer deposition alumina coating

Si-based anode materials were prepared by electrospinning and carbonization using polyacrylonitrile as the spinning medium and carbon precursor. The effects of atomic layer deposition (ALD) alumina coatings with different thicknesses on the electrochemical performance of Si/C composite nanofiber anodes were investigated. Results show that when the ALD alumina coating cycle number is 28, the capacity retention at 100th cycle increases significantly from 36.1% to 82.3% and the coulombic efficiency increases from 98.4% to 99.9%, compared to those of the uncoated Si/C nanofiber anode. This demonstrates the excellent stability of ALD alumina-coated Si/C composite nanofiber anodes. The enhanced electrochemical performance is mainly due to the protective effect of conformal ALD alumina coating, which could improve the mechanical integrity of the electrode structure and prevent the side reactions between the electrode and the electrolyte.
Electrogenerated chemiluminescence. XV. On the formation of excimers and exciplexes in ECL

Abstract The emission resulting from the reaction of electrogenerated radical anions ((A - + ) and cations (D - + ) (ECL) for four systems which provide evidence for the intermediacy of excimers or exciplexes is described. The effect of solvent and supporting electrolyte concentration and the energetics of the radical ion reaction on the nature of the emission is discussed and the results are compared with previous chemiluminescence studies of Weller and Zachariasse. For one system involving trans -stilbene radical anion and tri- p -tolylamine radical cation, only radiation attributable to an exciplex formed in the initial cation-anion encounter, is observed.
Experiments in statistical mechanics

We present experiments designed to illustrate the basic concepts of statistical mechanics using a gas of “motorized molecules.” Two molecular motion machines are constructed. The pressure fluctuation machine (mechanical interaction simulator) is a working model of two gases separated by a movable piston. The Boltzmann machine (canonical simulator) is a working model of a two-level quantum system in a temperature bath. Dynamical probabilities (fraction of time) are measured using mechanical devices, such as stop watches and motion sensors. Statistical probabilities (fraction of states) are calculated using physical statistics, such as microcanonical and canonical statistics. The experiments enable one to quantitatively test the fundamental principles of statistical mechanics, including the fundamental postulate, the ergodic hypothesis, and the statistics of Boltzmann.
Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Next Millennium

Even a cursory survey of this article suggests that the pharmaceutical sciences are being rapidly transformed under the influence of both the new technologies and sciences and the economic imperatives. Of particular importance are scientific and technological advances that may greatly accelerate the critical process of discovery. The possibility of a drug discovery process built around the principles of directed diversity, self-reproduction, evolution, and self-targeting suggests a new paradigm of lead discovery, one based quite directly on the paradigms of molecular biology. Coupled with the principles of nanotechnology, we may contemplate miniature molecular machines containing directed drug factories, circulating the body and capable of self-targeting against defective cells and pathways -- the ultimate "drug delivery machine." However, science and technology are not the only factors that will transform the pharmaceutical sciences in the next century. The necessary reductions in the costs of drug discovery brought about by the rapidly increasing costs of the current drug discovery paradigms means that efforts to decrease the discovery phase and to make drug development part of drug discovery will become increasingly important. This is likely to involve increasing numbers of "alliances," as well as the creation of pharmaceutical research cells -- highly mobile and entrepreneurial groups within or outside of a pharmaceutical company that are formed to carry out specific discovery processes. Some of these will be in the biotechnology industry, but an increasing number will be in universities. The linear process from basic science to applied technology that has been the Western model since Vannevar Bush's Science: The Endless Frontier has probably never been particularly linear and, in any event, is likely to be rapidly supplanted by models where science, scientific development, and technology are more intimately linked. The pharmaceutical sciences have always been an example of use-directed basic research, but the relationships between the pharmaceutical industry, small and large, and the universities seems likely to become increasingly developed in the next century. This may serve as a significant catalyst for the continued transformation of universities into the "knowledge factories" of the 21st century. Regardless, we may expect to see major changes in the research organizational structure in the pharmaceutical sciences even as pharmaceutical companies enjoy record prosperity. And this is in anticipation of tough times to come.
Unsupervised modeling of objects and their hierarchical contextual interactions

A successful representation of objects in literature is as a collection of patches, or parts, with a certain appearance and position. The relative locations of the different parts of an object are constrained by the geometry of the object. Going beyond a single object, consider a collection of images of a particular scene category containing multiple (recurring) objects. The parts belonging to different objects are not constrained by such a geometry. However, the objects themselves, arguably due to their semantic relationships, demonstrate a pattern in their relative locations. Hence, analyzing the interactions among the parts across the collection of images can allow for extraction of the foreground objects, and analyzing the interactions among these objects can allow for a semantically meaningful grouping of these objects, which characterizes the entire scene. These groupings are typically hierarchical. We introduce hierarchical semantics of objects (hSO) that captures this hierarchical grouping. We propose an approach for the unsupervised learning of the hSO from a collection of images of a particular scene. We also demonstrate the use of the hSO in providing context for enhanced object localization in the presence of significant occlusions, and show its superior performance over a fully connected graphical model for the same task.
Theoretical studies of intermediates in sulfur oxidation cycle

Abstract A number of sulfur-oxygen compounds have been postulated as important in the atmospheric sulfur oxidation cycle. However in many cases neither the structure nor lifetime of a proposed intermediate is known either experimentally or theoretically. We have undertaken a series of ab initio quantum mechanical calculations of the structure of several of the sulfur-oxygen intermediates and of their hydrates. These calculations are used to examine the potential surface of a compound and its stability as a function of geometry. This initial study examines the HSO/HOS systems and their positive ions, the monohydrates of SO 2 and SO 3 , and the H 2 SO 2 /S(OH) 2 /HSO 2 H isomers.
Comparison of interparticle force measurement techniques using optical trapping

Abstract Optical trapping has become a powerful and common tool for sensitive determination of electrostatic interactions between colloidal particles. Two optical trapping based techniques, blinking laser tweezers and direct force measurements, have become increasingly prevalent in investigations of interparticle potentials. The blinking laser tweezers method repeatedly catches and releases a pair of particles to gather physical statistics of particle trajectories. Statistical analysis is used to determine drift velocities, diffusion coefficients, and ultimately colloidal forces as a function of the center–center separation of the particles. Direct force measurements monitor the position of a particle relative to the center of an optical trap as the separation distance between two continuously trapped particles is gradually decreased. As the particles near each other, the displacement from the trap center for each particle increases proportional to the interparticle force. Although these techniques are commonly employed in the investigation of interactions of colloidal particles, there exists no direct comparison of these experimental methods in the literature. In this study, we compare measurements of interparticle forces applying both methods to a model system of polystyrene particles in an aerosol-OT (AOT) hexadecane solution where the screening lengths are very large. We found that the interaction forces measured using the two techniques compare quantitatively with each other and Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory. Additionally, our studies show that direct force measurements can be far more sensitive than previous studies have reported and nearly as sensitive as the blinking method.
Two- and Three-Dimensional De-aliasing of Doppler Radar Velocities

Abstract Two versions of a two-dimensional approach to Doppler radar velocity de-aliasing were developed and tested on various datasets. One version used fully recursive segmentation of the data and the technique of spatial computer vision to de-alias isolated areas of velocity, whereas the other version utilized spatially constrained segmentation, objective analysis and a nonmeteorological knowledge base for de-aliasing homogenous velocity regions. The utility of the NEXRAD VAD algorithm-derived windfield information was evaluated. A recursive three-dimensional de-aliasing approach was also developed in an attempt to reduce the need for auxiliary windfield information. These approaches were tested on two- (and three) dimensional data in both R, Θ, (Φ) and X, Y, (Z) coordinates and found to produce nearly identical results. Spatial filtering of the data proved to be a nearly preprocessing step and an elective filter was developed which preserves valid velocity information while reducing computational requ...
Why Homosexuality is Abnormal

This paper defends the view that homosexuality is abnormal and hence undesirable?not because it is immoral or sinful, or because it weakens society or hampers evolutionary development, but for a purely mechanical reason. It is a misuse of bodily parts. Clear empirical sense attaches to the idea of the use of such bodily parts as genitals, the idea that they are for something, and consequently to the idea of their misuse. I argue on grounds involving natural selection that misuse of bodily parts can with high probability be connected to unhappiness. I regard these matters as prolegomena to such policy issues as the rights of homosexuals, the rights of those desiring not to associate with homosexuals, and legislation concerning homosexuality, issues which I shall not discuss systematically here. However, I do in the last section draw a seemingly evident corollary from my view that homosexuality is abnormal and likely to lead to unhappiness. I have confined myself to male homosexuality for brevity's sake, but I believe that much of what I say applies mutatis mutandis to lesbianism. There may well be significant differences between the two: the data of [51, for example, support the popular idea that sex per se is less important to women and in particular lesbians than it is to men. On the other hand, lesbians are generally denied motherhood, which seems more important to women than is fatherhood?normally denied homosexual males?to men. On this matter, [5] offers no data. Overall, it is reasonable to expect general innate gender differences to explain the major differences between male homosexuals and lesbians. Despite the publicity currently enjoyed by the claim that one's "sexual preference" is nobody's business but one's own, the intuition that there is something unnatural about homosexuality remains vital. The erect penis fits the vagina, and fits it better than any other natural orifice; penis and vagina seem made for each other. This intuition ultimately derives from, or is another way of capturing, the idea that the penis is not for inserting into the anus of another man?that so using the penis is not the way it is supposed, even intended, to be used. Such intuitions may appear to rest on an outmoded teleological view of nature, but recent work in the logic of functional ascrip tion shows how they may be explicated, and justified, in suitably naturalistic terms. Such is the burden of Section 2, the particular application to homosex
HIV latency is influenced by regions of the viral genome outside of the long terminal repeats and regulatory genes

We have previously described an in vitro primary thymocyte model for HIV latency that recapitulates several important aspects of latently infected cells obtained from patients. Our original model included a truncated HIV genome expressing only Tat, Rev, and Vpu along with a reporter gene. We have now expanded these studies to include reporter viruses encoding more complete viral genomes. We show here that regions of the viral genome outside of the long terminal repeat promoter and Tat/Rev regulatory genes can substantially affect both the basal level of HIV transcription prior to stimulation, and also the level of viral expression following costimulation via CD3 and CD28 ligation. These differences in latency phenotype between truncated and more complete HIV genomes demonstrate the importance of accessory genes in the context of HIV latency and indicate that care should be taken when interpreting data derived from heavily modified HIV genomes in latency models.
The response of an aluminum-scintillator calorimeter to electrons near the critical energy from 50 to 150 MeV and comparisons with the EGS4 program predictions☆

Abstract We measured electron shower transport through a finely granulated calorimeter composed of alternating layers of aluminum and plastic scintillator for electron energies of 53, 108 and 144 MeV. These data were in the transition region near to the critical energies for both aluminum and carbon. Previous measurements in this region suggested deviations from the predicted calorimeter energy resolution; however, our data were in agreement with resolutions calculated using the EGS4 computer program. We made detailed measurements of the penetration depth of electrons and their electromagnetic showers into the calorimeter, as well as the size of gaps where the energy was transported by neutral particles. These measurements were also found to be in general agreement with the EGS4 predictions. However, there was one significant discrepancy, the data showed significantly deeper shower penetration into the calorimeter than predicted by the program.
Mate Finding Via a Trail Sex Pheromone by Aphytis melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) Males

Finding mates is frequently problematic for parasitoid wasps. In some parasitoid species, males rely on volatile, airborne sex pheromones for locating mates, while in others they rely on contact, trail sex pheromones. This study sought to shed light on the mate finding mechanism of males of Aphytis melinus. Specifically, the goal was to determine whether A. melinus males use airborne or contact pheromones, or both, for locating mates. The study showed that A. melinus males rely on a contact, trail sex pheromone for locating mates: A. melinus males responded to substrate-borne cues left by virgin females, while they did not respond to airborne cues from virgin females. Specifically, males more frequently encountered virgin females when the females walked across an arena to a fixed encounter point compared to when they were manually placed at the encounter point, and spent greater than expected time on surfaces previously visited by virgin females compared to control surfaces not visited by females. In contrast, males did not respond to airborne cues from virgin females in an airflow olfactometer nor to traps baited with virgin females in the field, and spent similar lengths of time on surfaces visited by newly-mated or 24-h mated females versus control surfaces not visited by females. The main effect of the trail sex pheromone on the behavior of A. melinus males was to direct their search and, so, increase the likelihood of encountering mates. This effect apparently is not preceded by longer-range attraction of males via an airborne female sex pheromone. Overall, the results of this study support a hypothesis in which A. melinus males searching on substrates on which females may be present rely exclusively on a trail sex pheromone to locate mates.
Cycloaddition of benzene on Si(100) and its surface conversions.

A comprehensive ab initio study of the adsorption of benzene on the silicon(100) surface is presented. Five potential candidates ([2+2] adduct, [4+2] adduct, two tetra-σ-bonded structures, and one radical-like structure) for the reaction product are examined to determine the lowest energy adsorption configuration. A [4+2] butterfly structure is determined to be the global minimum (−29.0 kcal/mol), although one of the two tetra-σ-bonded structures (−26.7 kcal/mol) is similar in energy to it. Multireference perturbation theory suggests that the [4+2] addition mechanism of benzene on Si(100) is very similar to the usual Diels−Alder reaction (i.e., small or zero activation barrier), even though benzene adsorption entails the loss of benzene aromaticity during the reaction. On the other hand, the [2+2] cycloaddition mechanism is shown to require a relatively high activation barrier (17.8 kcal/mol), in which the initial step is to form a (relatively strongly bound) van der Waals complex (−8.9 kcal/mol). However...
The mechanism of corrosion inhibition of steel by ethynylcyclohexanol in acid solution

Abstract Ethynylcyclohexanol was found to undergo successively hydrogenation and dehydration in acid solutions containing iron powder. Its effectiveness as a corrosion inhibitor apparently depends on the properties and rate of formation of the products formed.
A Novel Vitamin K1 2,3-Epoxide Reductase (VKOR) Inhibitor, 3-Acetyl-5-Methyltetronic Acid, Reduces Experimental Glomerulonephritis

Excessive proliferation of mesangial cells is observed in various types of glomerular disease including glomerulonephritis (GN), which is progressive in nature and eventually results in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Vitamin K(1) 2,3-epoxide reductase (VKOR) and the vitamin K-dependent growth arrest-specific gene 6/Axl pathway play a key role in mesangial cell proliferation in GN. In the present study, we indicate the potential of a VKOR inhibitor, 3-acetyl-5-methyltetronic acid (AMT), to prevent the proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells and suppress the progression of GN. AMT was administered intravenously to rats once daily for 12 days and a mouse anti-Thy1 monoclonal antibody was injected intravenously after the AMT treatment on Day 6. Creatinine clearance (CCr) significantly increased and the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) significantly decreased in the AMT-treated group of the Thy-1 GN rats. In addition, glomerular and tubular damage was improved histopathologically in the AMT-treated group. AMT did not affect blood coagulation due to its unique pharmacokinetic properties. The concentration of AMT reached the IC(50) for VKOR in kidney, but not in liver. A novel VKOR inhibitor, AMT, reduced renal mesangial cell proliferation and could be a supportive treatment for GN.
Small-molecule inhibitors of signal transduction pathways in leukemia therapeutics: how to assess selectivity for malignant signals.

Small-molecule inhibitors of signal transduction pathways in leukemia therapeutics: how to assess selectivity for malignant signals
Numerical Simulation of Cell Motility at Low Reynolds Number

As length scales decrease to microns, the mechanism for swimming becomes unfortunately counter-intuitive. In the macro-world, where human intuition has developed, we swim by accelerating the liquid around us. For microorganisms, which swim at Reynolds numbers much less than unity, Stokes law does not permit accelerations. As such, the fluid movement is governed entirely by the local boundaries of the microorganism and the fluid viscosity dampens velocity fluctuations rapidly as distance away from the swimmer increases. A well known byproduct of this, Purcell’s “Scallop Theorem”, forbids reciprocal motions to generate net forward movement [1]. To overcome this, flagella propagate waves down their length and cilia have asymmetric beats. This type of motility has been described as zero-thrust swimming since the net force on the organism-fluid system must be zero [2].Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The affective differential: emotion profiles implied by diagnostic concepts.

12 clinicians were presented with a list of diagnostic terms, such as, manic, paranoid, neurotic, etc. and were asked to indicate what emotions were implied in patients by each term. The emotion scales were selected to sample systematically the various dimensions of emotion. The clinicians' ratings provided emotion profiles typically associated with each of the diagnostic constructs. In addition, the ratings were intercorrelated and factor-analyzed, using a configurational approach, to show the interrelations and degrees of affective similarity between the diagnostic concepts.
Phosphorylation influences neurosteroid modulation of synaptic GABAA receptors in rat CA1 and dentate gyrus neurones

The neurosteroid 5β-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one (5β3α) is a potent, endogenous, positive allosteric modulator of the GABAA receptor. Relatively low concentrations of 5β3α (10–100 nM), thought to occur physiologically, caused a concentration-dependent slowing of the decay of GABA-mediated miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) recorded from hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurones. However, much greater concentrations of this neurosteroid (≥300 nM) were required to similarly influence dentate granule cell mIPSCs. By contrast, the allosteric modulators pentobarbitone and flunitrazepam were equi-effective in prolonging mIPSCs in both neuronal types. Hence, the neurosteroid selectively differentiates between the synaptic GABAA receptors of these hippocampal neurones. Inhibition of either protein kinase A, or C, greatly reduced the sensitivity of CA1 synaptic GABAA receptors to 5β3α, but not pentobarbitone, whereas stimulation of PKC had no effect on steroid sensitivity. However, in dentate gyrus granule cells, activation of PKC made mIPSCs sensitive to a previously ineffective concentration of 5β3α. Collectively, these results suggest that the GABA-modulatory effects of physiological levels of the neurosteroid will not be uniformly experienced throughout the central nervous system, or even within the same brain region such as the hippocampus, but will be neurone-specific and will be dependent on the phosphorylation status of the GABAA receptor, or associated proteins.
Master Equation Analysis of Thermochemical Nonequilibrium of Nitrogen

Using a NASA database of state-to-state transition rates for N+N2, master equation studies are performed for various nonequilibrium heat bath conditions. In these master equation studies, relaxation of the rotational and vibrational modes, time variation of chemical composition, reaction rate coefficients, and average rotational and vibrational energy losses due to dissociation are each considered in strong and weak nonequilibrium conditions. A system of master equations is coupled with one-dimensional flow equations to analyze the relaxation of N2 in post-normal shock flows. From the results of master equations and the post-normal shock calculations, it is recommended that the rotational nonequilibrium of N2 should be treated as a nonequilibrium mode in hypersonic re-entry calculations.