cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Degree of Local Cooperation and Its Implication on Global Utility

In a cooperative multi-agent system that is situated in an evolving environment, agents need to dynamically adjust their negotiation attitudes towards different agents in order to achieve optimal system performance. In this paper, we construct a statistical model for a small cooperative multi-linked negotiation system. It presents the relationship between the environment, the level of local cooperation and the global system performance in a formal and clear way that allows us to explain system behavior and predict system performance. The analysis results in a set of design equations that can be used to develop distributed mechanisms that optimize the performance of the system dynamically. It helps us more concretely understand the important issue of distraction and provides us with the local attitude parameter to handle distraction effectively. This research demonstrates that sophisticated probabilistic modelling can be used to understand the behaviors of a system with complex agent interactions, and provide guidelines for the development of effective distributed control mechanisms.
OPTIMIZATION OF ENERGY DISSIPATION OF ACTIVE CONSTRAINED LAYER DAMPING TREATMENTS OF PLATES

Abstract The energy dissipation characteristics ofActiveConstrainedLayerDamping (ACLD) treatments of plates is optimized using rational design procedures. Such treatments of plates is optimized using rational design procedures. Such treatments consist of viscoelastic cores constrained by active piezo-electric layers. The optimal size and control gains of these ACLD treatments are determined using a globally stable boundary control strategy to control the strains of the active piezo-electric layers in response to the structural vibrations. The optimal parameters are obtained to maximize the sum of the passive and active loss coefficients of the ACLD treatments. The effect of the viscoelastic loss factor as well as the aspect ratio and piezo-electrical anisotropy of the constraining layer on the performance and the optimal parameters of the ACLD treatments is determined. Comparisons with optimalPassiveConstrainedLayerDamping (PCLD) indicate that the optimal ACLD is more effective in dissipating vibrational energy.
A multiphase shock tube for shock wave interactions with dense particle fields

Currently there is a substantial lack of data for interactions of shock waves with particle fields having volume fractions residing between the dilute and granular regimes. To close this gap, a novel multiphase shock tube has been constructed to drive a planar shock wave into a dense gas–solid field of particles. A nearly spatially isotropic field of particles is generated in the test section by a gravity-fed method that results in a spanwise curtain of spherical 100-micron particles having a volume fraction of about 20%. Interactions with incident shock Mach numbers of 1.66, 1.92, and 2.02 are reported. High-speed schlieren imaging simultaneous with high-frequency wall pressure measurements are used to reveal the complex wave structure associated with the interaction. Following incident shock impingement, transmitted and reflected shocks are observed, which lead to differences in particle drag across the streamwise dimension of the curtain. Shortly thereafter, the particle field begins to propagate downstream and spread. For all three Mach numbers tested, the energy and momentum fluxes in the induced flow far downstream are reduced about 30–40% by the presence of the particle field.
Chronic tiagabine administration and aggressive responding in individuals with a history of substance abuse and antisocial behavior.

Anticonvulsants, notably those which modulate GABA activity, have shown efficacy in reducing aggressive behavior. Previously, we found dose-related decreases in human aggressive responding following acute tiagabine administration. Here, we examined the effects of chronic tiagabine over a 5-week period. Twelve individuals at increased risk for aggressive and violent behavior (currently on parole/probation with personality and/or substance use disorders) were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 6) or an escalating dose sequence of placebo, 4 mg, 8 mg, 12 mg, placebo (n = 6). Data were analyzed using both frequentist and Bayesian mixed models, evaluating aggressive behavior as a function of time, dose condition, and their interaction. For aggressive responding, there was a significant interaction of drug condition and time. Aggression in the tiagabine condition decreased for each additional week in the study, while participants in the placebo condition failed to demonstrate similar change over time. For monetary-reinforced responding, no drug or drug by time interactions were observed, suggesting specificity of drug effects on aggression. The small number of subjects limits the generality of the findings, and previous studies with tiagabine are limited to acute dosing and case report investigations. However, the present data provide an indication that tiagabine merits further examination as an agent for management of impulsive aggression. Language: en
Regionally Diverse Cortical Pathology in Schizophrenia: Clues to the Etiology of the Disease

Perhaps the most surprising revelation that has emerged from recent pathologic studies of schizophrenia is the marked cortical regional heterogeneity of the disease. Areal specific alterations of many parameters have been reported (e.g., neuronal density, density of gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA]-immunoreactive cells, and concentration of synapse-associated proteins and messenger ribonucleic acid [mRNA]s). In the past 5 years, as a flood of seemingly contradictory findings have been published, divergent findings often have been regarded as further evidence of the irreplicability and futility of postmortem studies. Although some discrepancies in findings may be due to methodological differences or to the study of different cohorts of patients, a growing number of laboratories are examining the same parameter(s) in multiple cortical areas in a single brain cohort and finding regionally specific abnormalities. These findings provide compelling evidence that cortical pathology in schizophrenia is nonuniform and complex. A major challenge in contemporary schizophrenia research is to make sense of the patterning of whole brain pathology in schizophrenia, as the mosaic of neuropathologic alterations may provide clues to the disease etiology.
Bound states, shadow states and mandelstam representation

In a previous paper a technique involving complex angular momenta was used in order to prove the Mandelstam representation for potential scattering. One of the results was that the number of subtractions in the transmitted momentum depends critically on the location of the poles (shadow states) of the scattering matrix as a function of the complex orbital momentum. In this paper the study of the position of the shadow states is carried out in much greater detail. We give also related inequalities concerning bound states and resonances. The physical interpretation of the shadow states is then discussed.
Low-dose α/β blockade in the treatment of essential hypertension

Despite the recent emphasis on combination drug therapy for hypertension, little attention has been given to alpha/beta blockade using agents other than labetalol. The purpose of this study was to 1) compare the efficacy of low-dose alpha/beta blockade using doxazosin + betaxolol, versus monotherapy with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (quinapril) and a diuretic (hydrochlorothiazide [HCTZ]), and 2) assess the efficacy of low-dose doxazosin. In a crossover study, 21 hypertensive subjects were treated for 3 weeks each with HCTZ, 12.5 to 25 mg/day, quinapril, 10 to 40 mg/day, and a combination of doxazosin, 1 to 4 mg + betaxolol, 5 to 10 mg daily. Doses were titrated to achieve a systolic pressure <130 mm Hg, as assessed by self-recorded home measurements. Home blood pressure decreased 11.5/7.5 mm Hg after HCTZ, 12.9/8.8 mm Hg after quinapril, and 21.2/16.5 mm Hg after doxazosin + betaxolol (P < .001/< .001 v HCTZ and P < .002/< .001 v quinapril). The target systolic pressure was achieved by 33%, 43%, and 71% of subjects, respectively (P = .04 v HCTZ, and .03 v quinapril). Among the 8 subjects in whom doxazosin dosage was increased to the maximum of 4 mg, the mean blood pressure achieved at 4 mg did not differ from that achieved at 2 mg (136/87 v 136/88 mm Hg). We conclude that oral alpha/beta blockade is superior to monotherapy with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or a diuretic and that maximal or near maximal efficacy can be achieved at a 2-mg dose of doxazosin. Low-dose oral alpha/beta blockade merits greater consideration in the drug therapy of essential hypertension.
Cerebrovascular Disease Pathology and Parkinsonian Signs in Old Age

Background and Purpose—Mild motor symptoms including parkinsonian signs are common in old age, but their underlying neuropathology is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that cerebrovascular pathologies are related to parkinsonian signs. Methods—We studied brain autopsies from 418 deceased participants from the Religious Order Study, who underwent evaluation of parkinsonian signs with a modified version of the motor section of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Brains were evaluated for macroscopic and microinfarcts and the severity of arteriolosclerosis. Regression analyses were used to examine the association of cerebrovascular pathologies with parkinsonian signs. Results—More than 35% of cases (N=149) showed macroscopic infarcts. Almost 30% of cases without macroscopic infarcts showed pathologies not detected by conventional brain imaging: microinfarcts (N=33 [7.9%]), arteriolosclerosis (N=62 [14.8%]), or both (N=24 [5.7%]). Macroscopic infarcts, specifically multiple cortical and ≥1 subcortic...
Wireless Intelligent Sensor and Actuator Network - A Scalable Platform for Time-synchronous Applications of Structural Health Monitoring

Wireless sensor networks have attracted attention as a possible solution for applications of periodic and continuous structural health monitoring. Ensuring synchronous data acquisition across wireless nodes in large networks of sensors spatially distributed on a structure is of critical importance for many methods of structural health monitoring, especially those based on analysis of vibration. In this article we present a novel Wireless Intelligent Sensor and Actuator Network (WISAN) addressing the issue of scalability for applications of structural health monitoring. We also present a novel time synchronization algorithm that can keep the synchronization error between any number of globally distributed sensors nodes less than ±23 μs. We show proof of stability for the time synchronization algorithm. We validate WISAN in laboratory experiments, testing the actual time synchronization between randomly selected sensors in a complex network. Finally, we validate WISAN in a field experiment by reconstructing...
The structures of c-C4F8 and c-C4F8- and the adiabatic electron affinity of c-C4F8

Abstract Calculations at the 6311G(dps) level have been used to elucidate the structures of octafluorocyclobutane c-C4F8 and its negative ion c - C 4 F 8 - . With no empirical adjustments, we obtain 0.640 eV for the adiabatic electron affinity of c-C4F8. This may be compared with an experimental value of 0.63 ± 0.05 eV from the FALP method. c-C4F8 has unusual features in that there is an increase in symmetry, D2d to D4h, in going from the neutral molecule to the negative ion, and the singly occupied molecular orbital in the ion has an unexpected nodal structure.
Sensitization to systemic amphetamine produces an enhanced locomotor response to a subsequent intra-accumbens amphetamine challenge in rats.

Repeated amphetamine (AMPH) administration into the nucleus accumbens does not enhance (sensitize) the locomotor activity produced by a subsequent systemic AMPH challenge. We report here, however, that pretreatment with systemic injections of AMPH does produce a significant enhancement in the locomotor stimulant effects produced by intra-accumbens AMPH given 21 days after the last pretreatment injection of AMPH. These data support the hypothesis that neural adaptations in dopamine (DA) terminal fields are sufficient for theexpression of AMPH sensitization, although an action on DA cell bodies may be required for theinduction of AMPH sensitization.
Support groups for nursing students in psychiatric rotation.

The content and process of a support group for undergraduate nursing students in clinical rotation in an inpatient psychiatric setting is presented and analyzed. This analysis provides the basis for a discussion on the potential of integrating experiential learning about groups into undergraduate nursing curricula. It is argued that such curriculum change will allow student nurses to establish a personal practice-oriented knowledge base about group processes and about their own patterns of group participation. It is also asserted that this knowledge will prepare them to build group programs into their clinical practice. Finally, it is argued that the group participation itself serves also an immediate function in that it provides student nurses to emotionally deal with the psychological demands of nursing practice.
India's Military Problem

The first European War brought rapid changes in imperial relations. By 1917, the responsible governments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa had received from the United Kingdom not only the warmest expressions of gratitude for military aid but tangible recognition of their equality of status. Their statesmen had been taken more fully into the confidence of the imperial authorities than ever before; and even the hitherto dissident elements in the Domninions felt satisfaction in the new role which their representatives were playing in world affairs.
Guaranteed renewability in insurance

We propose a guaranteed renewability (GR) insurance in which a sequence of premiums would enable insurers to break even and would be chosen by both low- and high-risk buyers, whether or not they had suffered a loss. The premium schedule would continually decline over time, as the insurer collects more information to determine who the low-risk buyers are. The highest premiums are charged initially to protect the insurer if low-risk individuals leave for the spot market. The concluding portion of the article discusses the limitations of a GR policy in the health and environmental liability area, the most serious being instability in estimates of underlying loss trends.
Reliability and Precision of in Vivo Scapular Kinematic Measurements Using an Electromagnetic Tracking Device

Context: In vivo scapular kinematics during humeral movements are commonly assessed with electromagnetic tracking devices despite few published data related to reliability and precision of these measurements. Objective: To determine the intrasession reliability and precision of assessing scapular kinematics using an electromagnetic tracking device. Design: Scapular position and orientation were measured with an electromagnetic tracking device during humeral elevation/depression in several planes. Intrasession reliability and precision were established by comparing 2 trials performed in succession. Setting: A human-movement research laboratory. Participants: 15 healthy individuals. Main Outcome Measures: Intrasession intraclass correlation coefficients and standard error of measurement of all scapular variables were established. Results: The mean intrasession reliability for all variables was ICC = .97 ± .03. The mean intrasession precision was .99° ± .36°. Conclusions: In vivo scapular kinematics can be m...
Why the Need for the Indian Child Welfare Act

SUMMARY This article explores two historical periods that preceded the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978: the Boarding and Mission School era (1880s-1950s) and the Indian Adoption era (1950s-1970s). The assimilationist social welfare policy of those two eras led to the eventual need for special legislation that protects tribal self-determination, heritage, and family preservation.
Avoiding multiple collisions through trajectory replanning using piecewise Bézier curves

This paper presents a collision prediction and avoidance algorithm based on piecewise Bezier curves. Upon detection of an obstacle, the algorithm checks for a possible collision and modifies the vehicle's planned trajectory, if needed. Under mild assumptions, the replanned trajectory is guaranteed to avoid the collision and satisfy mission-specific constraints. The bounds on changes in position, velocity and acceleration caused by trajectory replanning are computable a priori. These bounds can be used during the mission-planning phase to guarantee satisfaction of vehicle dynamic constraints by the replanned trajectory. The algorithm presented here can be used to avoid multiple collisions under weaker assumptions as compared to previous results.
Use of nonlinear dampers to suppress Space Shuttle payload modes

This paper presents the analysis methodology and major results in use of nonlinear coulomb dampers to suppress payload modes. A problem arises from large, cantilevered, soft-mounted payloads with low-frequency payload modes that are only slightly higher than the rigid body control bandwidth of the entry mission phase. Unacceptable stability and control result. Additional attenuation was obtained from two coulomb dampers plus digital bending filters. Discussed are coulomb damper and simple payload models, failures, force unbalances, limit cycles, and optimum force level. Openand closed-loop linear and non-linear methods of analyses are presented. The IUS/TDRS (interim upper stagekracking and data relay satellite) payload is used as a case study.
Impact of Altosid on Selected Members of an Aquatic Ecosystem

Repeated treatments of the insect growth regulator (IGR), Altosid® EC4 (isopropyl 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4-dodecadienoate), at the rate of 0.1 ppm (0.27 lb/acre) to experimental ponds reduced abundance of several arthropod prey and predator species. Because of the size differential among affected species, the altered community biomass reflected the impact of Altosid more profoundly than abundance. Pupae of the mosquito, Culiseta inornata (Williston), were devastated by the IGR, representing large potential losses of biomass during the height of the mosquito breeding season. Chironomid larvae were reduced twofold by the treatment, and their importance to the biomass increased with rising spring water temperature. Preliminary laboratory and pond assays determined that Altosid induced mortality in early and late instars of the mayfly, Callibaetis pacificus Seeman. During colder winter months mayflies were eliminated from ponds under repeated treatment but populations in check ponds remained low and contribution to total biomass was slight. Rising water temperatures reduced IGR impact on the mayfly population. The ostracod, Cyprinotus sp., was a major prey component and was not affected by treatment. A major predator, the larval dytiscid beetle, Laccophilus sp., was eliminated from the treated ponds. This loss represented 84% of the predator biomass during one period. Odonata naiads comprised the 2nd major group of predators throughout the study. These naiads preyed heavily on mosquitoes and ostracods and were not affected by the IGR.
Erratum to: Groundwater Storage Changes: Present Status from GRACE Observations

Surv Geophys (2016) 37:701 DOI 10.1007/s10712-016-9370-6 ERRATUM Erratum to: Groundwater Storage Changes: Present Status from GRACE Observations Jianli Chen 1 • James S. Famiglietti 2,3 • Bridget R. Scanlon 4 • Matthew Rodell 5 Published online: 7 April 2016 O Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016 Erratum to: Surv Geophys (2016) 37:397–417 DOI 10.1007/s10712-015-9332-4 In the original article, co-author Dr. James S. Famiglietti’s last name was misspelled (an ‘‘i’’ was missing at the end). Everything else in the paper remains correct. The online version of the original article can be found under doi:10.1007/s10712-015-9332-4. & Jianli Chen chen@csr.utexas.edu Center for Space Research, University of Texas at Austin, Texas, TX 78759, USA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Texas, TX 78759, USA Hydrological Sciences Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Kinetics and products of the reactions of OH radicals with cyclohexene, 1-methyl-1-cyclohexene, cis-cyclooctene, and cis-cyclodecene.

Rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals with four C6–C10 cycloalkenes have been measured at 297 ± 2 K using a relative rate technique. The rate constants (in units of 10–11 cm3 molecule–1 s–1) were cyclohexene, 6.35 ± 0.12; cis-cyclooctene, 5.16 ± 0.15; cis-cyclodecene, 4.18 ± 0.06; and 1-methyl-1-cyclohexene, 9.81 ± 0.18, where the indicated errors are two least-squares standard deviations and do not include uncertainties in the rate constant for the reference compound 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene. In addition, a rate constant of (4.8 ± 1.3) × 10–11 cm3 molecule–1 s–1 was derived for the reaction of OH radicals with 1,6-hexanedial, relative to our measured rate constant for OH + cyclohexene. Analyses of products of the OH + cyclohexene, 1-methyl-1-cyclohexene, and cis-cyclooctene reactions by direct air sampling atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry and/or by combined gas chromatography–mass spectrometry showed the presence of products attributed to cyclic 1,2-hydroxynitrates and the dicarb...
Study of anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab and pegylated-interferon alfa-2b (Peg-IFN) for advanced melanoma.

e20018 Background: The anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab provides durable clinical benefits to 30-40% of patents with advanced melanoma.A number of murine and human studies suggest that pre-existing...
Direct influence of culture dimensionality on human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation at various matrix stiffnesses using a fibrous self-assembling peptide hydrogel.

Much is unknown about the effects of culture dimensionality on cell behavior due to the lack of biomimetic substrates that are suitable for directly comparing cells grown on two-dimensional (2D) and encapsulated within three-dimensional (3D) matrices of the same stiffness and biochemistry. To overcome this limitation, we used a self-assembling peptide hydrogel system that has tunable stiffness and cell-binding site density as well as a fibrous microarchitecture resembling the structure of collagen. We investigated the effect of culture dimensionality on human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation at different values of matrix stiffness (G' = 0.25, 1.25, 5, and 10 kPa) and a constant RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) binding site concentration. In the presence of the same soluble induction factors, culture on top of stiff gels facilitated the most efficient osteogenesis, while encapsulation within the same stiff gels resulted in a switch to predominantly terminal chondrogenesis. Adipogenesis dominated at soft conditions, and 3D culture induced better adipogenic differentiation than 2D culture at a given stiffness. Interestingly, initial matrix-induced cell morphology was predictive of these end phenotypes. Furthermore, optimal culture conditions corresponded to each cell type's natural niche within the body, highlighting the importance of incorporating native matrix dimensionality and stiffness into tissue engineering strategies. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2356-2368, 2016.
Stochastic Calculus and Geometric Brownian Motion Model

This chapter provides a fundamental understanding of elementary stochastic calculus in relevance to modern finance, particularly to pricing financial derivatives. It introduces concepts such as conditional expectation with respect to a \(\sigma\)-algebra, filtrations, adapted processes, Brownian motion (BM), martingales, quadratic variation and covariation, the Ito integral with respect to BM, Ito’s lemma, Girsanov theorem for a single BM and geometric Brownian motion (GBM) model. GBM is used to model stock prices in the Black-Scholes-Merton model for option pricing. Options and option pricing will be discussed in later chapters. An important feature of this chapter is the balance between derivational approach and descriptive approach to abstract mathematical concepts.
The Art of Nature, Klee and Tàpies

The relationships between Heidegger’s work on technology, ecology, and art are illustrated by comparison with the art of Paul Klee and Antoni Tapies. There are some striking similarities between Klee and Heidegger. Heidegger mentioned Klee’s work favorably and as an oeuvre comparable to his own on several occasions. Klee’s works and writing on nature are the focus of comparison to Heidegger’s notion of Being as a form of emerging life. Tapies had a working knowledge of Heidegger’s philosophy and he illustrated his ideas of earth and world, dwelling throughout his oeuvre.
Breast Cancer Screening in the Older Woman

The US population is aging and breast cancer incidence increases with age. However, it is not known if mammography screening helps women ≥70 years live longer since few of these women were included in randomized controlled trials evaluating mammography. Guidelines recommend that women ≥70 years with less than 10-year life expectancy not be screened since it takes approximately 10 years before a screen-detected breast cancer may impact an older woman’s survival. Older women with ≥10 year life expectancy are encouraged to consider their risk of breast cancer and the benefits and harms of mammography when deciding on screening. It is estimated that 2 of 1000 women that continue to be screened biennially from ages 70–79 may avoid breast cancer death. However, 10–30% of these women will experience a false positive test and around 30% of screen-detected cancers would not otherwise have shown up in an older woman’s lifetime. Yet nearly all women undergo treatment for these breast cancers and risks of treatment increase with age. To inform decision-making, tools are available to estimate patient life expectancy and to educate older women about the benefits and harms of mammography screening. Ideally, decision-making around mammography screening for older women would be individualized and patient-centered.
Short Bowel Syndrome

Short gut syndrome is life-altering and life-threatening disease resulting most often from massive small bowel resection. Recent advances in understanding of the perturbed physiology in these patients have translated into improved care and outcomes. This paper seeks to review the advances of care in SBS patients. Anatomic considerations still predominate the early care of SBS patients, including aggressive preservation of bowel and documentation of remnant bowel length and quality. Intestinal adaptation is the process by which remnant bowel changes to fit the physiologic needs of the patient. Grossly, the bowel dilates and elongates to increase intestinal weight and protein content. Architectural changes are noted, such as villus lengthening and deepening of crypts. In addition, gene expression changes occur that function to maximize nutrient uptake and fluid preservation. Management is aimed at understanding these physiologic changes and augmenting them whenever possible in an effort to gain enteral autonomy. Complication mitigation is key, including avoidance of catheter complications, bloodstream infections, cholestasis, and nutrient deficiencies. Multidisciplinary teams working together towards intestinal rehabilitation have shown improved outcomes. Today’s practitioner needs a current understanding of the ever-evolving care of these patients in order to promote enteral autonomy, recognize complications, and counsel patients and families appropriately.
Self-efficacy and academic performance in first-semester organic chemistry: testing a model of reciprocal causation

Self-efficacy is an affective learning outcome that has been associated with academic performance and retention in STEM. Self-efficacy has been defined as students' beliefs about their ability to complete a given task, and it can be affected by a student's positive or negative experience in a course. In this study, students' chemistry self-efficacy in an organic chemistry course and its reciprocal causation relationship with performance in the course was examined using structural equation modeling (SEM). Organic chemistry self-efficacy (OCSE) was measured five times during the semester and students' scores in four term exams and a final exam were used as measures of performance. Five different models were proposed and tested to explain the relationship between OCSE and performance. A reciprocal causation model with an exam snowball effect was found to best explain the relationship between OCSE and performance compared to other alternative models including a reciprocal causation model without the snowball effect and an autoregressive model. This model suggests a significant positive relationship between OCSE and performance throughout the semester, providing empirical support for the reciprocal relationship of these two measures. Implications for research and instruction are discussed in terms of the reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy and performance.
Phil Majerus: Champion of low-dose aspirin therapy.

On June 8, 2016, the field of hematology lost one of its giants, Phil Majerus, who died after a long illness. Phil was truly one of a kind: a biochemist extraordinaire with a passion for life, a quick wit, and a colorful personality, whose discoveries changed the practice of medicine. Phil Majerus. Image courtesy of Elaine Majerus (photographer). Phil was born on July 10, 1936 in Chicago and grew up in Quincy, Illinois, where his father owned a five-and-dime store. An outstanding athlete, Phil attended the University of Notre Dame on a tennis scholarship. Upon graduation in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree, Phil entered Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was immediately recognized as a brilliant student who was unafraid to challenge his professors when he disagreed with their opinions. Phil graduated at the top of his class and went to the Massachusetts General Hospital for residency training in internal medicine. He then secured a research associate position at the National Institutes of Health, which allowed him to work in any laboratory he selected. Phil chose to join the laboratory of P. Roy Vagelos, who was doing groundbreaking work on fatty acid biosynthesis. Although he had no background in laboratory research, within a year Phil published his first paper on the purification and properties of acyl carrier protein, the key intermediate in fatty acid biosynthesis (1). Over the next two years, Phil, working alongside Al Alberts in the Vagelos laboratory, produced a series of classic papers that defined the steps that occur during the synthesis of fatty acids. This training in biochemistry provided the foundation for his subsequent research. When his time at NIH was nearing its end, Phil entertained a … [↵][1]1Email: skornfel{at}dom.wustl.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
A power electronic transformer for PWM AC drive with lossless commutation and common-mode voltage suppression

This paper presents a novel dc/ac converter topology with a high frequency transformer-link for three-phase adjustable magnitude and frequency PWMac drives. Such drives find wide range of applications including UPS systems and drives involving renewable energy sources like solar and fuel cells. One recent potential area of application is renewable energy sources like wind or wave connected with HVDC grid. Here power conversion is single stage and bidirectional. Use of high frequency transformer results in high power density. The proposed topology minimizes the number of switching transitions between the transformer winding and the load and hence reduces common-mode voltage switching and improves the quality of the output voltage waveform. A novel modulation technique presented in this paper results in minimum common-mode voltage switching. A lossless source based commutation method has been developed to commute the energy stored in the leakage inductances of the high frequency transformer. This method also results in soft switching (ZCS) of all four-quadrant switches in the load side converter. The proposed converter has been analyzed and simulated. The presented simulation results verify the operation of the proposed topology.
Iron Efflux by PmtA Is Critical for Oxidative Stress Resistance and Contributes Significantly to Group A Streptococcus Virulence

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a human-only pathogen that causes a spectrum of disease conditions. Given its survival in inflamed lesions, the ability to sense and overcome oxidative stress is critical for GAS pathogenesis. PerR senses oxidative stress and coordinates the regulation of genes involved in GAS antioxidant defenses. In this study, we investigated the role of PerR-controlled metal transporter A (PmtA) in GAS pathogenesis. Previously, PmtA was implicated in GAS antioxidant defenses and suggested to protect against zinc toxicity. Here, we report that PmtA is a P1B4-type ATPase that functions as an Fe(II) exporter and aids GAS defenses against iron intoxication and oxidative stress. The expression of pmtA is specifically induced by excess iron, and this induction requires PerR. Furthermore, a pmtA mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to iron toxicity and oxidative stress due to an elevated intracellular accumulation of iron. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that GAS undergoes significant alterations in gene expression to adapt to iron toxicity. Finally, using two mouse models of invasive infection, we demonstrated that iron efflux by PmtA is critical for bacterial survival during infection and GAS virulence. Together, these data demonstrate that PmtA is a key component of GAS antioxidant defenses and contributes significantly to GAS virulence.
The association between physical activity and cognition in men with and without HIV infection.

Objectives HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders are highly prevalent, and physical activity (PA) is a modifiable behaviour that may affect neurocognitive function. Our objective was to determine the association between PA and neurocognitive function and the effect of HIV on this association. Methods PA was assessed in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. A neuropsychological test battery assessed global impairment and domain-specific impairment (executive function, speed of processing, working memory, learning, memory, and motor function) every 2 years. Semiannually, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test and Trail Making Test Parts A and B were performed. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the PA–neurocognitive function association. Using longitudinal data, we also assessed the PA category–decline of neurocognitive function association with multivariate simple regression. Results Of 601 men, 44% were HIV-infected. Low, moderate, and high PA was reported in 27%, 25%, and 48% of the HIV-infected men vs. 19%, 32% and 49% of the HIV-uninfected men, respectively. High PA was associated with lower odds of impairment of learning, memory, and motor function [odds ratio (OR) ranging from 0.52 to 0.57; P < 0.05 for all]. The high PA–global impairment association OR was 0.63 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39, 1.02]. Among HIV-infected men only, across multiple domains, the high PA–impairment association was even more pronounced (OR from 0.27 to 0.49). Baseline high/moderate PA was not associated with decline of any domain score over time. HIV infection was marginally associated with a higher speed of decline in motor function. Conclusions A protective effect of high PA on impairment in neurocognitive domains was observed cross-sectionally. Longitudinal PA measurements are needed to elucidate the PA–neurocognitive function relationship over time.
Education, religion, and voter preference in a Muslim country

Using a unique survey of adults in Turkey, we find that an increase in educational attainment, due to an exogenous secular education reform, decreased women’s propensity to identify themselves as religious, lowered their tendency to wear a religious head cover (head scarf, turban, or burka) and increased the tendency for modernity. We also find that education has a negative impact on women’s propensity to vote for Islamic parties. The effect of female education on religiosity is driven by those who reside in urban areas. There is no statistically significant impact of education on male religiosity and tendency to vote for Islamic parties. Increased education does not influence the propensity to cast a vote in national elections for either men or women.
Curvature regulates subcellular organelle location to control intracellular signal propagation

The shape of cell is intimately connected to its function; however, we do not fully understand the underlying mechanism by which global shape regulates cell functions. Here, using a combination of theory, experiments and simulation, we investigated how global cell curvature can affect numerous subcellular activities and organization to control signal flow needed for phenotypic function. We find that global cell curvature regulates organelle location, inter-organelle distances and differential distribution of receptors in the plasma membrane. A combination of these factors leads to the modulation of signals transduced by the M3 muscarinic receptor/Gq/PLCβ pathway at the plasma membrane, amplifying Ca2+ dynamics in the cytoplasm and the nucleus as determined by increased activity of myosin light chain kinase in the cytoplasm and enhanced nuclear localization of the transcription factor NFAT. Taken together, our observations show a systems level phenomenon whereby global cell curvature affects subcellular organization and signaling to enable expression of phenotype.
Th17 cells retain antitumor efficacy after long-term ex vivo expansion

Immunotherapies have produced impressive responses in melanoma patients by re-training their immune system to fight their cancer. One of the most successful of these methods is adoptive T cell therapy (ACT), which enriches, expands, and educates a patient’s tumor-reactive T cells before returning them to the patient. This therapy depends on infusing large numbers of cells (upwards of 10 10 cells/patient) to mediate tumor regression, while also requiring cells of durable quality capable of sustaining long-term remission. Unfortunately, CD8 + T cells which are most often used, lose their antitumor efficacy as they are expanded ex vivo to large numbers. To circumvent this dilemma, we propose the use of IL-17 producing CD4 + T cells (Th17 cells), for ACT. We found that similar to CD8 + T cells, treatment with Th17 cells was more effective with higher numbers. These numbers can be achieved as Th17 cells expanded up to 10,000 fold after three weeks of ex vivo culture. At the end of culture, Th17 cells were as effective at eradicating melanomas as Th17 cells cultured for shorter duration. Between early and late culture time points, Th17 cells retained an effector memory phenotype (CD44 + CD62L − ) without acquiring markers of full effector and exhausted status, converted to a Th1-like functional profile (from mainly secreting IL17 to co-secreting IFNγ and IL17), and maintained the ability to engraft and persist in the host. We also demonstrate the power of combining the high yield and durable potency of Th17 cells by using their total yield at late culture to control clinically significant end-stage disease. These results support the advancement of Th17 cells to clinical trials to increase the number, quality, and duration of patient responses to treatment.
Exposure to workplace smoking bans and continuity of daily smoking patterns on workdays and weekends

Abstract Introduction Individuals may compensate for workplace smoking bans by smoking more before or after work, or escaping bans to smoke, but no studies have conducted a detailed, quantitative analysis of such compensatory behaviors using real-time data. Methods 124 daily smokers documented smoking occasions over 3 weeks using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), and provided information on real-world exposure to smoking restrictions and type of workplace smoking policy (full, partial, or no bans). Mixed modeling and generalized estimating equations assessed effects of time of day, weekday (vs weekend), and workplace policy on mean cigarettes per hour (CPH) and reports of changing location to smoke. Results Individuals were most likely to change locations to smoke during business hours, regardless of work policy, and frequency of EMA reports of restrictions at work was associated with increased likelihood of changing locations to smoke (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.05–1.16; p p Conclusions There was little evidence that full bans interfered with subjects' smoking during business hours across weekdays and weekends. Smokers largely compensate for exposure to workplace smoking bans by escaping restrictions during business hours. Better understanding the effects of smoking bans on smoking behavior may help to improve their effectiveness and yield insights into determinants of smoking in more restrictive environments.
Error-correcting Codes, I

Error-correcting codes is an application of ℤ2 and other finite fields which was discovered only around 1948. Our exposition will assume some acquaintance with matrices and vectors. For a review of notation see Chapter 9A.
Design optimisation improves the performance of custom distal humeral hemiarthroplasty implants

Elevated cartilage contact stresses following distal humeral hemiarthroplasty (DHH) can lead to cartilage erosion. This study uses design optimisation techniques to modify the shape of custom anato...
Ionic liquid-coated alumina-pretreated micro gas chromatography columns for high-efficient separations

Abstract These studies demonstrate the influence of an intermediate layer of aluminum oxide on the separation performance of a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL)-coated gas chromatography silicon microcolumn. A 1 m long semipacked column having 190 μm wide and 240 μm deep rectangular cross-sectional channels with embedded arrays of micro pillars was microfabricated. A thin layer of alumina was then deposited on the surface of the channels via atomic layer deposition. Following the alumina deposition, the channels were coated with an RTIL. The separation performance of the RTIL-coated columns with and without the alumina layer was evaluated by measuring the separation efficiency and peak capacity. A substantial increase in separation efficiency was observed in the presence of the alumina layer. The alumina-pretreated columns, at optimum flow rate, exhibited as high as 8000 plates per meter, which is a 2.1-fold increase as compared to the column with no alumina layer. It is inferred that alumina coating promotes the formation of a more uniform RTIL film, thereby enhancing the separation efficiency. The peak production rates of alumina-RTIL columns for temperature-programmed separation were found to be 0.80–1.1 peaks per second, which is an improvement compared to silicon-RTIL columns. The separation performance of these columns were further evaluated by separating a standard 21-component mixture of hazardous organic compounds, a sample of kerosene, diesel, and B20 biodiesel. These studies open up new possibilities of enhancing the separation efficiency of microcolumns by coating silicon surface with a suitable material prior to depositing an ionic liquid.
Stereoselective Addition of Halogen to Conjugated Enynes and Its Application in the Total Synthesis of (−)-Kumausallene

Abstract Addition of halogen and nucleophiles to conjugated 1,3-enynes in a 1,4-fashion produces a chiral allene and a stereogenic center. The diastereo- and enantioselectivity of this process are discussed in detail. The 1,4-bromoetherification of 1,3-enynes can be applied to the synthesis of various bromoallene-containing natural products. Our diastereo- and enantioselective total synthesis of kumausallene is described in this chapter. The synthesis features a cascade reaction involving palladium-catalyzed desymmetrization and a DMF-mediated diastereoselective 1,4-bromoetherification reaction.
Chapter 6 Chromatin Remodeling and Nuclear Receptor Signaling

Nuclear receptors (NRs) constitute a large family of ligand‐dependent transcription factors that play key roles in development, differentiation, metabolism, and homeostasis. They participate in these processes by coordinating and regulating the expression of their target genes. The eukaryotic genome is packaged as chromatin and is generally inhibitory to the process of transcription. NRs overcome this barrier by recruiting two classes of chromatin remodelers, histone modifying enzymes and ATP‐dependent chromatin remodelers. These remodelers alter chromatin structure at target gene promoters by posttranslational modification of histone tails and by disrupting DNA‐histone interactions, respectively. In the presence of ligand, NRs promote transcription by recruiting remodeling enzymes that increase promoter accessibility to the basal transcription machinery. In the absence of ligand a subset of NRs recruit remodelers that establish and maintain a closed chromatin environment, to ensure efficient gene silencing. This chapter reviews the chromatin remodeling enzymes associated with NR gene control, with an emphasis on the mechanisms of NR‐mediated repression.
The Bootstrap Current and Neutral Beam Current Drive in DIII-D

Noninductive current drive is an essential part of the implementation of the DIII-D Advanced Tokamak program. For an efficient steady-state tokamak reactor, the plasma must provide close to 100% bootstrap fraction (f{sub bs}). For noninductive operation of DIII-D, current drive by injection of energetic neutral beams [neutral beam current drive (NBCD)] is also important. DIII-D experiments have reached {approx}80% bootstrap current in stationary discharges without inductive current drive. The remaining current is {approx}20% NBCD. This is achieved at {beta}{sub N} [approximately equal to] {beta}{sub p} > 3, but at relatively high q{sub 95} ({approx}10). In lower q{sub 95} Advanced Tokamak plasmas, f{sub bs} {approx} 0.6 has been reached in essentially noninductive plasmas. The phenomenology of high {beta}{sub p} and {beta}{sub N} plasmas without current control is being studied. These plasmas display a relaxation oscillation involving repetitive formation and collapse of an internal transport barrier. The frequency and severity of these events increase with increasing {beta}, limiting the achievable average {beta} and causing modulation of the total current as well as the pressure. Modeling of both bootstrap and NBCD currents is based on neoclassical theory. Measurements of the total bootstrap and NBCD current agree with calculations. A recent experiment based onmore » the evolution of the transient voltage profile after an L-H transition shows that the more recent bootstrap current models accurately describe the plasma behavior. The profiles and the parametric dependences of the local neutral beam-driven current density have not yet been compared with theory.« less
Incidence of venous thromboembolism among patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer.

e17531Background: Risk factors for VTE are well established and include active malignancy, impaired mobility and increasing age. In ovarian cancer (OC), women with extensive disease not amenable to...
Beyond Categorical Identity: To be (moral) or not to be

Organizations have social identities that encompass both a categorical identity, based on products sold or services provided, and a more idiosyncratic individual identity. Research on organizationa...
Guiding Entrepreneurs Through the Quagmire of Business Entities—Three Hypothetical Scenarios for Discussion:

Selecting the legal form of a business is a critical decision for entrepreneurs. The selection criteria include the costs to form the entity, risks involved in the particular type of business, taxa...