cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on Wall-Slip in Entangled Polymeric Liquids

In this work, it is attempted to theoretically understand the phenomenon of wall slip through empirical and molecular models. Initially, we use the framework a transient network theory. We show that the severe disentanglement in the interfacial region can give rise to non-monotonic flow curve locally in that region. Further, we generalize this model into a unified slip model, which predicts wall slip by either disentanglement or by debonding mechanism, depending upon the adhesive energy of the wall-polymer pair. The model predictions of the critical wall shear stress are in good agreement with experiments for various adhesive energies of the wall-polymer pair. The model predicts that the temperature dependence of the critical wall shear stress for debonding is different than that of disentanglement mechanism under certain experimental conditions. To validate the predictions of unified model, we measure the critical stress for sudden slip due to debonding for various temperatures using cone and plate viscometer with fluoroelastomer-coated cone. The temperature dependence of the critical stress for instability (slip) on a coated cone is found out to be inversely dependent on temperature, which expected for the case of debonding. In the final part of this thesis, we develop a parameter-free tube model for predicting the stick-slip phenomenon. The model, which is based on the contour variable model [Mead et al., 1998, Macromolecules, 31, 7895], considers the dynamics of the tethered chains, which are grafted on a highenergy wall and which are entangled with the bulk chains flowing past them. We show that the restricted relaxation modes of the tethered molecule give rise to discontinuous slip instability. More specifically, the slow relaxation of the tethered chain due to the restricted convective constraint release is unable to randomize its flow-induced orientation above a critical shear rate or stress. This decreases the resistance to flow for the bulk chains, which suddenly slip past the oriented tethered chains.
Prevention and Chemoprophylaxis in the Elderly

Upon completion of the chapter, the student will be able to: 1. Identify the important factors involved in deciding whether primary or secondary prevention interventions should be applied to a specific disease process. 2. Recognize screening guidelines that are important to the geriatrics population. 3. Provide age-appropriate preventive recommendations and lifestyle counseling.
A comparison of some rough set approaches to mining symbolic data with missing attribute values

This paper presents results of experiments on incomplete data sets obtained by random replacement of attribute values with symbols of missing attribute values. Rule sets were induced from such data using two different types of lower and upper approximation: local and global, and two different interpretations of missing attribute values: lost values and "do not care" conditions. Additionally, we used a probabilistic option, one of the most successful traditional methods to handle missing attribute values. In our experiments we recorded the total error rate, a result of ten-fold cross validation. Using the Wicoxon matched-pairs signed ranks test (5% level of significance for two-tailed test) we observed that for missing attribute values interpreted as "do not care" conditions, the global type of approximations is worse than the local type and that the probabilistic option is worse than the local type.
Macrophage Nitric Oxide Synthase: Tetrahydrobiopterin Decreases the Nadph Stoichiometry

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS; EC 1.14.23) is a P450(type hemoprotein that catalyzes the oxidation of L-arginine to citrulline and •NO. The involvement of •NO in the maintenance of vascular tone, neuronal transmission, and cytostasis [for reviews see1,2 ], as well as the adverse effects of altered •NO synthesis which include hypotension3, penile erection dysfunction4 and diabetes mellitus5 illustrate the physiological importance of •NO and the need to understand the molecular mechanism of •NO synthesis. Cloning studies6–8 have identified three different genes which encode for the NOS’s which are found in the endothelium surrounding blood vessels, the brain, and activated macrophages. Although the three NOS’s vary slightly in size (130–155 kDa subunits), the overall sequence homology and cofactor requirements suggest that the conversion of L-arginine to citrulline and •NO occurs by the same enzymatic mechanism. The complex reaction carried out by the NOS’s involves an interplay of protoporphyrin IX Fe-heme, FAD, FMN and (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B)9. Our work with the macrophage form of the NOS has demonstrated that maximum activity occurs when these cofactors / prosthetic groups are found bound to the enzyme in a 1:1 stoichiometry with the 130 kDa subunit10–12 . Loss of pterin during the purification of the NOS can occur, yielding pterin-deficient NOS which possesses a specific activity that can be directly correlated to the amount of sub-saturating bound pterin that is present12.
Quasielastic Light Scattering Studies of Micelle Formation and Cholesterol Precipitation in Model Bile Solutions

In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the solubilization and precipitation of cholesterol in bile we have employed quasielastic light scattering spectroscopy (1) (QLS) to study the aggregative behavior of bile salts, lecithin and cholesterol in aqueous solution. The QLS technique provides an accurate, non-invasive and rapid means for measuring the diffusion coefficients of macromolecules in solution (1). From the diffusion coefficients, one can deduce the mean hydrodynamic radius (h) of the macromolecules using the Stokes-Einstein relation and thereby obtain a measure of macromolecular size (2). In this paper, we provide a brief summary of our investigations on the formation of simple and mixed bile salt micelles and the process of cholesterol precipitation from supersaturated model bile solutions.
The Hydrogen Evolution Reaction: Water Reduction Photocatalysis—Improved Niobate Nanoscroll Photocatalysts for Partial Water Splitting

UV-light absorbing photocatalyst K4Nb6O17 (band gap of 3.5 eV), is a known to promote overall water splitting. This layered material can be exfoliated with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide to produce single nanosheets following ion exchange. These 2D sheets coil into 1.0 ± 0.5 μm long and 10 ± 5 nm wide nanoscrolls to reduce surface energy. Inspired by their asymmetry, these particles were exposed to photochemical deposition of Pt and IrOx (x = 1.5–2) as cocatalysts to adhere to the surface of the nanoscrolls to produce two- and three-component structures. After suspension in pure water and aqueous methanol under irradiation with UV-light, the nanostructures evolved H2 with turnover numbers ranging from 1.8 to 40 over a 5 h period, and this was directly correlated with the varying overpotentials of each catalyst for water reduction (210–325 mV). In pure water, the catalytic activity is limited by passivating surface-bound peroxides in a 1:1 stoichiometry with H2 due to incomplete water oxidation. However, slow photochemical oxygen evolution can be achieved by adding the sacrificial electron acceptor AgNO3 and under an electrochemical bias. The conduction band edge at −0.75 V at pH = 7 was extracted from the photo onset potential of the unmodified scrolls, and cocatalyst deposition was also found to depress this value by 58 mV (IrOx), 148 mV (Pt/IrOx), and 242 mV (Pt).
Impact of co-expression of maize 11 and 18 kDa δ-zeins and 27 kDa γ-zein in transgenic soybeans on protein body structure and sulfur amino acid content.

Abstract The methionine-rich seed storage proteins of maize have been expressed in transgenic plants as a means to improve the overall sulfur amino acid content of seed. Previous attempts to increase the sulfur amino acid content of soybean seeds by this approach has met with limited success. It has been shown co-expression of different class of zeins can result in their stable accumulation in transgenic plants. In this study, conventional crosses between transgenic plants individually expressing 11, 18 kDa δ-zeins and 27 kDa γ-zein were made to obtain plants that simultaneously express both the δ-zein and γ-zein. Transmission electron microscopic observation of thin-sections of transgenic soybean seeds revealed that the zeins accumulated in ER-derived protein bodies (PBs) which were found sparsely scattered in cytoplasm. The size of these PBs varied from 0.2 to 0.6 μm in soybean plants individually expressing 11, 18 kDa δ-zeins and 27 kDa γ-zein. In contrast, soybeans co-expressing the 18 kDa δ-zein and 27 kDa γ-zein the PBs was 3–4 times larger. Electron microscopic observation also revealed the sequestration of PBs inside the vacuoles where they could be subjected to degradation by vacuolar proteases. Amino acid analysis of transgenic soybean individually expressing 11, 18 kDa δ-zeins and 27 kDa γ-zein revealed only a minimal increase in the overall methionine content compared to the wild-type. In contrast, plants co-expressing 18 kDa δ-zein and 27 kDa γ-zein showed a significant increase (27%) in the methionine content compared to the control seeds.
Feces as food: The nutritional value of urchin feces and implications for benthic food webs

Abstract Algal subsidies are important to basal consumers of the deep benthos where there is little to no primary productivity. Algal detritus such as pieces of kelp that sink into deep habitats can be an important direct nutritional subsidy, but sea urchin feces may provide an additional, indirect energetic link from shallow-water macroalgae to benthic community members that are too small to handle and consume large detritus directly. Urchins digest macroalgae inefficiently, creating the potential for two key trophic consequences to the benthic food webs they live in. First, urchins act as marine ‘shredders’ creating smaller detrital particles from larger drift; second, the poor digestion may enable microbes to enrich the food value of both the digesta within the urchin guts, and the egesta (feces) after it leaves the gut. We quantified the relative nutritional value of algae and of feces of red and green sea urchins ( Mesocentrotus franciscanus and Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) fed on monodiets of various algae in laboratory experiments. We then conducted feeding experiments with an epibenthic copepod ( Tigriopus californicus ) to evaluate consequences to a model consumer of different diets including feces. We also quantified assimilation efficiencies of red urchins fed a diet of bull kelp ( Nereocystis luetkeana ). In many cases, key indicators of nutritional value (especially calories and protein content) of algal material increased after being consumed and egested by urchins, and urchin feces “aged” in seawater generally became even more calorie-rich. Benthic copepods raised on diets of urchin feces derived from kelp had faster population growth than those raised on chopped fresh kelp tissue. It is likely that microbiota inside urchin guts are driving these counterintuitive results. The creation of nutritious feces could add to the importance of urchins as a link to benthic communities that rely heavily on detritus for their success.
Performance in Noise: The Relationship Between Workload And Situation Awareness in Navy Tactical Teams:

The relationship between workload and situation awareness (SA) has been researched generally; however, the relationship between measures of SA and workload, SPAM and NASA TLX respectively, has not ...
Natural Disasters in the Americas, Dialysis Patients, and Implications for Emergency Planning: A Systematic Review

Introduction Natural hazards are elements of the physical environment caused by forces extraneous to human intervention and may be harmful to human beings. Natural hazards, such as weather events, can lead to natural disasters, which are serious societal disruptions that can disrupt dialysis provision, a life-threatening event for dialysis-dependent people. The adverse outcomes associated with missed dialysis sessions are likely exacerbated in island settings, where health care resources and emergency procedures are limited. The effect of natural disasters on dialysis patients living in geographically vulnerable areas such as the Cayman Islands is largely understudied. To inform predisaster interventions, we systematically reviewed studies examining the effects of disasters on dialysis patients and discussed the implications for emergency preparedness in the Cayman Islands. Methods Two reviewers independently screened 434 titles and abstracts from PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. We included studies if they were original research articles published in English from 2009 to 2019 and conducted in the Americas. Results Our search yielded 15 relevant articles, which we included in the final analysis. Results showed that disasters have both direct and indirect effects on dialysis patients. Lack of electricity, clean water, and transportation, and closure of dialysis centers can disrupt dialysis care, lead to missed dialysis sessions, and increase the number of hospitalizations and use of the emergency department. Additionally, disasters can exacerbate depression and lead to posttraumatic stress disorder among dialysis patients. Conclusion To our knowledge, this systematic review is the first study that presents a synthesis of the scientific literature on the effects of disasters on dialysis populations. The indirect and direct effects of disasters on dialysis patients highlight the need for predisaster interventions at the patient and health care system levels. Particularly, educating patients about an emergency renal diet and offering early dialysis can help to mitigate the negative effects of disasters.
Machine Learning-Based Models for Assessing Physical and Social Impacts Before, During and After Hurricane Michael

Multi-modal approach machine learning techniques have been used to examine Hurricane Michael’s physical sensor data of cloud cover temperature and social media data from Twitter to help stakeholders and government agencies consider the societal implications of hurricane impacts more thoroughly and understand how to plan for mitigating future storms as these disasters become more frequent. Data were obtained from Twitter and NOAA on Hurricane Michael and used to evaluate the relationship between the social sentiment and the physical data during severe weather events. Of all the classification methods employed in this study to evaluate sentiment, the naive Bayes classifier results showed the highest accuracy. Models of natural language processing have been developed to explain sentiment data. Future events prediction models have been tested to improve extreme weather events emergency management. The findings demonstrate that natural language processing and machine learning techniques, using Twitter data, are practical methods of sentiment analysis. This research carried out a social media sentiment analysis that could be used by emergency managers, government officials and decision-makers to make informed emergency response decisions.
SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Induced Interleukin 6 Signaling Is Blocked by a Plant-Produced Anti-Interleukin 6 Receptor Monoclonal Antibody

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the current COVID-19 pandemic, has caused more than 4.5 million deaths worldwide. Severe and fatal cases of COVID-19 are often associated with increased proinflammatory cytokine levels including interleukin 6 (IL-6) and acute respiratory distress syndrome. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using plants to produce an anti-IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) monoclonal antibody (mAb) and examined its utility in reducing IL-6 signaling in an in vitro model, which simulates IL-6 induction during SARS-CoV-2 infection. The anti-IL6R mAb (IL6RmAb) was quickly expressed and correctly assembled in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Plant-produced IL6RmAb (pIL6RmAb) could be enriched to homogeneity by a simple purification scheme. Furthermore, pIL6RmAb was shown to effectively inhibit IL-6 signaling in a cell-based model system. Notably, pIL6RmAb also suppressed IL-6 signaling that was induced by the exposure of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. This is the first report of a plant-made anti-IL-6R mAb and its activity against SARS-CoV-2-related cytokine signaling. This study demonstrates the capacity of plants for producing functionally active mAbs that block cytokine signaling and implies their potential efficacy to curb cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients.
Gamma-ray astronomy at 1 TeV

An outline of some problems and ideas of TeV ground based γ‐ray astronomy is given, with particular attention to the Imaging Technique. The current observational status of Cygnus X‐3 and Hercules X‐1 is then reviewed.
A matter of context: A meta‐analytic investigation of the relative validity of contextualized and noncontextualized personality measures.

The empirical evidence that has accumulated in support of the notion that personality is a valid predictor of employee performance is vast, yet debate on the matter continues. This study investigates frame-of-reference effects as they relate to the validity of self-report measures of personality. Specifically, we compare the validities of general, noncontextualized personality measures and work-specific, contextualized measures. The findings suggest that personality measures are a more valid predictor of performance when the scale items or instructions are framed specifically so as to reference work-specific behaviors. We found that the validities for noncontextualized measures of personality ranged from .02 to .22, with a mean validity of .11. The validities for contextualized measures ranged from .14 to .30, with a mean of .24. Additional moderator analyses were conducted in an effort to examine several alternate explanations for these validity differences. Specifically, we examined differences between the developmental purpose (general use vs. workplace use) and reliabilities of each type of personality measure. We also compared the validities from published studies to those from unpublished studies. Results suggest that these moderators did not have an impact on the validity differences between noncontextualized and contextualized measures.
Berlin on liberalism and objective value

Critique de l'argument de la pluralite des valeurs subjectives qui fonde le discours politique liberal actuel. A partir de l'ideal platonicien et de la justification du liberalisme en termes de metavaleurs, l'A. examine la position d'I. Berlin en faveur de la pluralite des valeurs objectives, ainsi que la critique relativiste de L. Strauss et la reponse realiste de J. Gray.
Adults With Autism

The population of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is growing at a pace that exceeds our scientific and financial resources. Few supports are available for adults with ASD, and much remains unknown about this developmental period. Fortunately, greater scientific attention is now being paid to the unique challenges and needs of adults with ASD. In this chapter we summarize research on adult outcome and prognosis, including the stability of ASD core and secondary symptoms. We discuss developmental challenges and transitions, identify the most common clinical issues presented by adults with ASD, and summarize the limited available research on adult services and treatment. Keywords: adulthood; autism spectrum disorder; development; transition
Efficient structure-based carrier frequency offset estimation for interleaved OFDMA uplink

In orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), closely spaced multiple subcarriers are assigned to different users for parallel data transmissions. The subcarriers are overlapping but orthogonal to each other such that there is no inter-carrier interference. Carrier frequency offsets between the transmitter and the uplink receiver will cause the loss of the orthogonality among subcarriers, hence introduce inter-carrier interference resulting in multiple access interference. This paper proposes a carrier frequency offset estimation algorithm for the uplink of interleaved OFDMA systems. This algorithm requires only one OFDMA block and utilizes the inner structure of the signals without any aid from training symbols or the knowledge of channels. Simulation results illustrate the high accuracy and efficiency of the proposed estimation algorithm.
The impact of ethgender on self-esteem among adolescents

This study examined the impact of ethgender, the combination of race and gender, on global and public domain aspects of adolescent self-esteem. Using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and a 3-item index, differences were observed among 10 ethgenders. Black and Hispanic males had the highest levels of global self-esteem, and Asian and Native American Females had the lowest. On public domain components white and black males had the highest scores, and Asian and Native American females had the lowest. Females (except blacks) had lower levels of both global and public domain self-esteem than did males.
The Online Theology Classroom: Strategies for Engaging a Community of Distance Learners in a Hybrid Model of Online Education

One factor contributing to success in online education is the creation of a safe and vibrant virtual community and sustained, lively engagement with that community of learners. In order to create and engage such a community instructors must pay special attention to the relationship between technology and pedagogy, specifically in terms of issues such as course design, social presence, specially tailored assignments, learner expectations, and objectives, and facilitation of sustained engagement with the course material, fellow learners, and the instructor. Several strategies for accomplishing this goal are presented here based on the author's experiences teaching second-career students in hybrid introductory theology courses at a mainline denominational seminary.
Decreased pneumotoxicity of deuterated 3-methylindole: Bioactivation requires methyl CH bond breakage☆

Abstract The bioactivation of the pulmonary toxin 3-methylindole has been postulated to proceed via the formation of an imine methide. To test this hypothesis, the toxicity in mice of 3-methylindole has been compared to the toxicity of its perdeuteromethyl analog. Deuteration of the methyl group should slow the rate of production of the corresponding imine methide and diminish the toxicity of deutero-3-methylindole, if CH bond breakage occurs prior to or during the rate-determining step. In agreement with this hypothesis, deutero-3-methylindole was synthesized and was shown to be significantly less toxic (LD50 735 mg/kg) than 3-methylindole (LD50 578 mg/kg). Both compounds produced the same lesion at the LD50 dose, bronchiolar damage and mild alveolar edema, indicating that deuteration of 3-methylindole did not change the pathologic process. However, at a much lower dose (25 mg/kg), 3-methylindole produced a mild bronchiolar lesion whereas deutero-3-methylindole did not damage lung tissue. Additionally, administration of deutero-3-methylindole caused less pulmonary edema compared to 3-methylindole, as assessed by increased wet lung weights. Finally, the depletion of pulmonary glutathione by deutero-3-methylindole was considerably slower than depletion by 3-methylindole. The electrophilic imine methide has been postulated to be the intermediate which binds with and depletes glutathione. Therefore, the evidence presented here supports the involvement of an imine methide as the primary reactive intermediate in 3-methylindole-mediated pneumotoxicity.
A 10-b 1-GHz 33-mW CMOS ADC

This paper describes a pipelined analog-to-digital converter that resolves 4 b in its first stage and amplifies the residue by a factor of 2, thereby relaxing the opamp linearity, voltage swing, and gain requirements. Calibration in the digital domain removes the effect of capacitor mismatches and corrects for the gain error. Using a one-stage opamp with a gain of 10 and realized in 65-nm CMOS technology, the ADC digitizes a 490-MHz input with a signal-to-(noise+distortion) ratio of 52.4 dB, achieving a figure of merit of 97 fJ/conversion-step.
Alternative RTNDT for Linde 80 Weld Materials

The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code provides fracture toughness curves of ferritic pressure vessel steels that are indexed by a reference temperature for nil ductility transition (RTNDT ). The ASME Code also prescribes how to determine RTNDT . The B&W Owners Group has reactor pressure vessels that were fabricated by Babcock & Wilcox using Linde 80 flux. These vessels have welds called Linde 80 welds. The RTNDT values of the Linde 80 welds are of great interest to the B&W Owners Group. These RTNDT values are used in compliance of the NRC regulations regarding the PTS screening criteria and plant pressure-temperature limits for operation of nuclear power plants. A generic RTNDT value for the Linde 80 welds as a group was established by the NRC, using an average of more than 70 RTNDT values. Emergence of the Master Curve method enabled the industry to revisit the validity issue surrounding RTNDT determination methods. T0 indicates that the dropweight test based TNDT is a better index than Charpy transition temperature based index, at least for the RTNDT of unirradiated Linde 80 welds. An alternative generic RTNDT is presented in this paper using the T0 data obtained by fracture toughness tests in the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature range, in accordance with the ASTM E1921 standard.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Induction of apoptosis by the p53-related p73 and partial inhibition by the baculovirus-encoded p35 in neuronal cells.

Abstract To better understand whether the p53-related p73 gene could induce neuronal apoptosis, we tested whether p73 induced cell killing in three neuronal cell lines and whether apoptosis could be inhibited by p35, a baculovirus-encoded protein that blocks caspase 3. Recombinant adenoviruses carrying the hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged p73β or p35, or the green fluorescent protein gene driven by the cytomegalovirus immediate–early promoter were constructed, and used to infect human SK-N-AS and SK-N-SH neuroblastoma, and rat PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Infection with Adp73β virus resulted in p73β over-expression and substantial reduction of cell viability due to apoptosis in all three neuronal cell lines as compared with the control AdGFP virus. These results indicate that p73β over-expression in neuronal cells could induce apoptotic cell death regardless of the endogenous expression of p73. The p73 effect was partially blocked by co-expression of the wild-type p35, suggesting caspase-mediated cell killing. Insertion of a hemagglutinin (HA) tag at the N-terminus of p35 markedly reduced its ability to inhibit the p73 effect compared with the wild-type p35, while insertion of an HA tag to the C-terminus of p35 had no appreciable effect. Taken together, our results suggest that the N-terminal structure of p35 is critical for its anti-apoptotic activity on p73-induced apoptosis in neuronal cells.
Depth Profiling of Stratified Layers using Variable Angle ATR

It is shown that variable-angle attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is a viable technique to recover depth profile information on the molecular level. A number of known step profiles are measured to determine the limits of applicability for this method. Thickness results obtained by using the internal reflection technique are compared with thickness determination with the use of a profilometer.
Chronic citicoline increases phosphodiesters in the brains of healthy older subjects: an in vivo phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

Rationale: Phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) in brain cell membranes decreases with age. Evidence from both animal and in vitro studies indicates that CDP-choline (citicoline) administration may increase phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) synthesis and might reverse PtdCho loss. Objectives: We investigated whether oral citicoline can increase PtdCho synthesis in the brains of older subjects by measuring levels of phosphorus-containing metabolites using proton-decoupled phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) before and after citicoline treatment. Methods: All subjects took 500 mg citicoline once orally each day for 6 weeks, then took either citicoline or placebo once orally per day for a second 6-week period. Subjects underwent a 31P-MRS scan at baseline and following 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. Results: Treatment with citicoline for 6 weeks was associated with a 7.3% increase from baseline levels in brain phosphodiesters (P=0.008), including an 11.6% increase in glycerophosphoethanolamine (P=0.002) and a 5.1% increase in glycerophosphocholine (P=0.137). Subjects who continued to take citicoline for the second 6-week period did not show significant additional increases in the levels of these metabolites. No changes were seen in other phosphorus-containing metabolites. There was a correlation between improvement on the California Verbal Learning Test and increase in phosphodiesters. Conclusions: The increases in phosphodiesters seen in this study indicate that phospholipid synthesis and turnover were stimulated by 6 weeks of oral citicoline. These results in humans support previous in vitro and animal studies and suggest that the administration of oral citicoline may be of use in reversing age-related changes in the brain.
Region growing and object classification using a neural network

A neural network architecture is presented to segment and recognize objects of interest. The architecture consists of a region growing net to segment regions of interest by propagating activity through the neural lattice formed by the image pixels using local features as synaptic weights. A supervisory net utilizes the Fourier descriptors of the segmented region to characterize its shape and control the region growing net. The neural net is applied to segment objects of varying clarity to measure its performance and robustness in the presence of cluttered backgrounds and noisy object boundaries. Finally the segmentation and supervisory nets are combined and applied to the practical problem of segmenting roads from aerial photographs. 1.
Lubricant reflow after laser heating in heat assisted magnetic recording

In heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology for hard disk drives, the media will be heated to about 500 °C during the writing process in order to reduce its magnetic coercivity and thus allow data writing with the magnetic head transducers. The traditional lubricants such as Z-dol and Z-tetraol may not be able to perform in such harsh heating conditions due to evaporation, decomposition and thermal depletion. However, some of the lubricant depletion can be recovered due to reflow after a period of time, which can help to reduce the chance of head disk interface failure. In this study, experiments of lubricant thermal depletion and reflow were performed using a HAMR test stage for a Z-tetraol type lubricant. Various lubricant depletion profiles were generated using different laser heating conditions. The lubricant reflow process after thermal depletion was monitored by use of an optical surface analyzer. In addition, a continuum based lubrication model was developed to simulate the lubricant reflow process. Reasonably good agreement between simulations and experiments was achieved.
Did the English Presbyterians Become Unitarian

Among the problems posed to one interested in Unitarianism is to explain why it was that Unitarianism evolved out of Presbyterianism in England while it emerged out of Congregationalism in the United States. The problem of the origins of Unitarianism is in this way fashioned into denominational questions. Why did English Presbyterianism become Unitarian? What explains the appearance of Unitarianism in New England Congregationalism? The purpose of this essay is to examine the denominational understanding of the genesis of English Unitarianism.
Effects of diet composition on postprandial energy availability during weight loss maintenance.

Background The major circulating metabolic fuels regulate hunger, and each is affected by dietary composition. An integrated measure of postprandial energy availability from circulating metabolic fuels may help inform dietary recommendations for weight maintenance after weight loss.
Community with the ancestors: ceremonies and social memory in the Middle Formative at Chiripa, Bolivia

In the Andes of South America, the ancestors have been known to be an important font of power and perpetuation since the Spanish began writing about the area. The question of the prominence of ancestral worship in early settled communities and its role in societal formation has been an ongoing discussion for Andean archaeologists. Recent archaeological research in the Titicaca Basin suggests that this dynamic was important in the earliest societal formation. This thesis is based in part on the evidence that early architecture was for civic memorials rather than domestic habitation. In addition the artifactual remains suggest these constructions were in part for ancestor veneration. Community creation and social experimentation charged by ritual are illustrated at the Formative site of Chiripa on the Taraco Peninsula in Bolivia. To demonstrate this thesis of community creation through rituals surrounding ancestral energies, the role of relational personhood, kinship, and social memory in community construction, based on practice theory is first outlined. Next the place of burials in the Andean world and the creation of ancestors are dealt with. Finally the ritual and memorials as seen in the archaeological evidence spanning 1500 years is traced.
Two-Tier Wage Structures: Implications for Equity Theory

This study is an application of equity theory to an examination of the effects of implementing a two-tier wage structure. Using data from 1,935 employees in retail stores, we assessed commitment to...
Synthesis of peptide-functionalized diacylaminoepindolidiones as templates for β-sheet formation

Abstract Bis -2,8-[(N-ureido-Gly-L-Phe-NMe2)-L-Pro-D-Ala-NH)]-epindolidione 1 has been synthesized in nine steps from dimethyl dihydroxyfumarate and p-nitroaniline. Design principles leading to the choice of 1 as a model for studying the folding of β-pleated sheets are discussed.
A Meal Preparation Treatment Protocol for Adults With Brain Injury

Adults with acquired brain injury often demonstrate dysfunction in meal preparation due to deficits in component cognitive-perceptual skills. Although occupational therapy for these clients routinely includes meal preparation training, there are no protocols in the occupational therapy literature to help structure that activity to address clients' cognitive-perceptual deficits. This paper describes a meal preparation treatment protocol based on cognitive-perceptual information processing theory that has been pilot tested in a treatment outcome study with adult men with traumatic or anoxic acquired brain injury. In that study, the group of 23 subjects treated with this meal preparation protocol showed significant improvement in their meal preparation skill, as measured by the Rabideau Kitchen Evaluation-Revised (RKE-R), a test of meal preparation skill, and in their cognitive-perceptual skill, as measured by the WAIS-R Block Design Test. The treatment protocol includes descriptions of the structure, grading, and cuing methods for light meal preparation activities.
Combinations of 2′-C-methylcytidine analogues with interferon-α2b and triple combination with ribavirin in the hepatitis C virus replicon system

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase is an essential enzyme for HCV replication and has multiple inhibitor binding sites making it a major target for antiviral intervention. It is apparent that no single drug can inhibit HCV replication in humans. Hence, combinations of nucleoside analogues β-d-2’-C-methylcytidine (2’-C-MeC; NM-107) or β-d-2’-deoxy-2’-fluoro-2’-C -methylcytidine (2’-F-C-MeC; PSI-6130) with interferon-a2b (IFN-a2b) or triple combination with ribavirin (RBV) were evaluated. Methods: Huh-7 cells containing the self-replicating subgenomic HCV replicon (Clone B) were used for drug combination studies. After drug treatment for 5 days, total cellular RNA was then extracted and both ribosomal RNA and HCV replicon RNA were amplified in a singlestep multiplex real-time PCR assay. Drug interaction analyses were performed using the CalcuSyn program. Results: Double combinations of 2’-C-MeC or 2’-F-CMeC with IFN-a2b at all ratios tested had weighted average combination index (CI wt ) values <1 indicating synergistic inhibition of HCV replication in the replicon system. For the triple combinations of IFN-a2b plus RBV with either 2’-C-MeC or 2’-F-C-MeC, the CI wt values at 1:1:1 ratio tested were 0.5 and 0.8, respectively, indicating synergistic antiviral effects. No apparent cytotoxicity effects were observed with any of the combinations tested. Conclusion: These promising in vitro data warrant clinical investigation of the nucleosides analogues such as 2’-C-MeC or 2’-F-C-MeC in their prodrug forms, together with IFN-a2b and RBV, for successful treatment of HCV infections.
Research of Network Testing Based on MPLS L2VPN

MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) VPN is based on MPLS technology and construct virtual private network (VPN) on backbone network, to provide users with safe, reliable, high-quality business technology VPN. MPLS L2VPN (Layer 2 VPN) is one type of solutions of MPLS VPN. The MPLS L2VPN technology, after years of researching and practicing, is becoming mature, and many RFCs and related drafts are published to standardize it. However, there is not much research of network test method on the MPLS L2VPN technology, this paper analyzes the various MPLS L2VPN solutions and make a reach on test method based on two types solutions: Martini and Kompella.
Nonlinear Postbuckling Analysis of Plates and Shells by Four-Noded Strain Element

This paper deals with the nonlinear postbuckling analysis of plates and shells by the finite element method. The four-noded C° strain element for nonlinear plate anaysis developed by the authors is first extended to the nonlinear shell analysis and then used for the nonlinear postbuckling analysis of plates and shallow shells. The element tangent stiffness matrix presented here is given explicitly, i.e., without any numerical integration. Consequently, this C° strain element is much more computationally economical and efficient than the widely used elements obtained from numerical integration. The efficiency and accuracy of the present four-noded strain element for postbuckling analysis are demonstrated by five numerical examples of various plates and shells.
A performance evaluation of sequence alignment software in virtualized environments

The prospect of simpler infrastructure management and affordability has garnered interest in cloud computing from bioinformaticians. However, the performance cost of adopting such an infrastructure model for bioinformatics is not fully known. In an effort to help quantify this performance cost, we ran synthetic benchmarks and measured the runtimes of two short-read alignment applications on cloud-like virtualization environments. The environments were implemented utilizing the KVM hypervisor, the Xen hypervisor, and Linux Containers. We compare the runtime in each environment against a physical server and offer discussion and insights. Though the applications perform similar operations, we observe that their performance characteristics differ, as do their performance in the different virtualized environments. We attribute the differences to the way that these programs utilize system resources. We find that the more CPU-bound Novoalign is much less sensitive to virtualization environments than BWA is, and has near-physical server performance even when virtualized. Additionally, we find that static CPU pinning can improve performance, and we demonstrate that Linux Containers offer performance comparable to that of a physical server.
On information rates for finite-state channels

This paper presents sufficient conditions for the direct computation of the entropy for functional (nonMarkovian) processes and thus also of the rate of information for finite-state channels. The condition for exponential convergence of the upper and lower bounds on the entropy ( Birch, 1962 ), viz., that the transition probability matrix be strictly positive, is here relaxed. Examples are presented involving simple finite-state channels.
Seafaring Capabilities in the Pre-Columbian Caribbean

At historic contact Europeans remarked on the skill and proficiency of native Caribbean Amerindians to build and travel in dugout canoes. While archaeological examples of these have been recorded throughout the circum-Caribbean, very few exist in the Antillean chain of islands. Despite this deficiency, indirect evidence of seafaring along with archaeological data has suggested to many that the sea was an artery that linked prehistoric communities together between islands and continents through exchange networks and settlement ‘lifelines’. It is clear that frequent interaction was taking place prehistorically in the region, but examination of seafaring capabilities and the general lack of hard archaeological evidence for contacts in many places suggest this was largely restricted to interaction between the islands and with South America. The fact remains that seafaring in the Caribbean, as one of the smaller aquatic realms inhabited by humans in the past, was highly influenced and largely structured by oceanographic and anemological effects that limited the development of various watercraft designs and navigational techniques which are seen in many of the other world’s seas and oceans. In this paper I: (1) synthesize what is currently known about the antiquity and development of early seafaring in the Caribbean; (2) highlight debates about the level of technologies found in the region; (3) discuss how environmental conditions likely influenced seafaring capabilities and settlement patterns; (4) outline the possible evidence for connections between the different surrounding mainland areas; and (5) provide a comparison with seafaring technologies found in the Pacific to help contextualize the Caribbean into the broader context of global seafaring.
Laparoscopic Placement of Adjustable Gastric Band in Patients with Autoimmune Disease or Chronic Steroid Use

Background Past medical or family history of autoimmune diseases and patient chronic steroid use are label contraindications for laparoscopic placement of adjustable gastric band (LAGB). We reviewed our experience with placement of LAGB in patients with autoimmune disease or chronic steroid use.
High Affinity Nucleocapsid Protein Binding to the μΨ RNA Packaging Signal of Rous Sarcoma Virus

The genomes of all retroviruses contain sequences near their 5′ ends that interact with the nucleocapsid domains (NC) of assembling Gag proteins and direct their packaging into virus particles. Retroviral packaging signals often occur in non-contiguous segments spanning several hundred nucleotides of the RNA genome, confounding structural and mechanistic studies of genome packaging. Recently, a relatively short, 82 nucleotide region of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) genome, called μΨ, was shown to be sufficient to direct efficient packaging of heterologous RNAs into RSV-like particles. We have developed a method for the preparation and purification of large quantities of recombinant RSV NC protein, and have studied its interactions with native and mutant forms of the μΨ encapsidation element. NC does not bind with significant affinity to truncated forms of μΨ, consistent with earlier packaging and mutagenesis studies. Surprisingly, NC binds to the native μΨ RNA with affinity that is approximately 100 times greater than that observed for other previously characterized retroviral NC–RNA complexes (extrapolated dissociation constant K d =1.9 nM). Tight binding with 1:1 NC-μΨ stoichiometry is dependent on a conserved UGCG tetraloop in one of three predicted stem loops, and an AUG initiation codon controvertibly implicated in genome packaging and translational control. Loop nucleotides of other stem loops do not contribute to NC binding. Our findings indicate that the structural determinants of RSV genome recognition and NC–RNA binding differ considerably from those observed for other retroviruses.
The effect of alumina structure on surface sites for alcohol dehydration

Abstract We have studied the effect of alumina form(-/, 5, and a), and impurities, on 2-propanol dehydration activity. In a steady-state flow reactor experiment, α-alumina was approximately 1000 times less reactive (in terms of moles propene formed/s/m2) than reforming grade γ-alumina. The structure of the transitional alumina (γ vs δ) played a smaller role than Na contamination in determining alcohol dehydration activity. For instance, δ-alumina was ≈3–6 times less reactive than reforming grade γ-alumina in its activity for alcohol conversion, while Na-poisoned γ-alumina was ≈180 times less reactive. The number of surface sites on these aluminas were determined using temperature-programmed reaction (TPR) of 2-propanol. It was found that ≈1–2 × 1018 alcohol molecules/m2 reacted to form propene on all of the aluminas independent of alumina form or impurity concentration. The temperature at which the alcohol reacted to form propene in the TPR experiment correlated inversely with steady-state alcohol dehydration activity. The peak desorption temperature (TP) during TPR ranged from 440 K for reforming grade γ-alumina to 600 K for α-alumina. These results are discussed in terms of a model for the nature of reactive sites on the surface of alumina.
Differential transcription factor expression in human mononuclear cells in response to amphotericin B: identification with complementary DNA microarray technology.

Study Objective. To identify genes differentially expressed in human monocytic cells exposed to amphotericin B in vitro. Design. In vitro experiment. Setting. Hospital laboratory. Material. Human mononuclear cell line, THP-1. Intervention. Human mononuclear cells were exposed to amphotericin B or media alone for 6 hours. After exposure, total RNA was isolated and reverse transcribed to complementary DNA. Differences in probe hybridization observed during blotting were measured, and genes with altered regulation were described by using human complementary DNA microarray technology. Measurements and Main Results. Of 588 genes represented on the array, 16 transcripts were found to be upregulated and 4 transcripts were downregulated in response to amphotericin B. These findings suggest that amphotericin B alters the expression of genes in human monocytic cells that play a role in many cellular functions, including immune response, signal transduction, and cell differentiation. Conclusion. Amphotericin B induces alterations in human cell gene transcription. These changes could be used to evaluate differences in toxicity or efficacy observed in patients receiving this agent.
Orientation and Penetration Depth of Monolayer-Bound p40phox-PX†

X-ray reflectivity was used to study the interaction of the PX domain of p40phox protein (p40phox-PX) with a Langmuir monolayer of a mixture of SOPC (1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), SOPS (1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine), and DPPtdIns(3)P (1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate) lipids supported on a buffered aqueous solution. The reflectivity is analyzed in terms of the known crystallographic structure of the p40phox-PX domain and a slab model that represents the lipid layer, yielding an electron density profile of the lipid layer and bound PX domains. This analysis determines the angular orientation and penetration depth of the p40phox-PX domain bound to the SOPC/SOPS/DPPtdIns(3)P monolayer. The best fit orientation is characterized by the following angles: θ = 30 ± 10° and φ = 140 ± 30°. These angles describe rotations, about axes in a coordinate system fixed to the domain, that are required to orient the domain with respect to the lipid layer at the interface...